Craft Show Disaster

I was at a craft show yesterday. It was, without a doubt, the worst craft show in which I have ever participated.

I have had a table at several craft shows where the sales were less than satisfying. It happens. And it happens for a variety of reasons. At Spring shows, if the weather is nice, no one wants to be indoors. Conversely, in the Winter, if the weather is bad, no one wants to go out.

Sometimes it’s my product. Not that my products are bad. They’re not—I know they’re not! But sometimes kitchen décor is not what the buying public is looking for. However, people still stop at my booth, and they still ooh and aah over my products. It’s not a total loss because I networked.

But this craft show was a complete disaster.

As someone who organizes craft shows, I know a thing or two about this.

I did what I tell everyone to do—I did my due diligence. I looked up the organizer: Carlene McCalla. She runs her own business called KaleidoscopEvents, organizing weddings, fundraising events, corporate functions. I didn’t find anything negative about her. I did have the sense that this would be the first craft show she organized, but I wasn’t going to hold that against her. We all have to start somewhere and if she can organize a wedding, she can certainly run a craft show.

So I signed up. The cost was $60 for a table. Not unreasonable. The application and contract stated that the event would be advertised, lunch would be provided for vendors and swag bags would be created for the first 50 visitors (we had the option of adding business cards and other pre-approved items).

I was disappointed when I arrived: there were only twelve tables. Then again, I reminded myself that I’ve been at small craft shows where I sold out, so I shrugged it off and set up. The show opened at eight.

I expected Carlene to come by my booth at some point, but at nine-thirty, there was still no sign of her. By ten o’clock, no shoppers had come through the door. The other vendors started getting a little anxious, and tried to contact Carlene by text and voice mail. There was no response.

Just before Noon, someone asked Dean (the man operating the snack bar) when lunch would be served. He wasn’t aware lunch was provided.

Around twelve-thirty, the vendors started getting angry. Many tried to contact Carlene, but to no avail. By two o’clock, vendors starting packing up. At this point, only six people had come through the door. A Google search of the event came up empty (other than our own Facebook notices), which means absolutely no advertising was done—not even local newspapers.

Someone commented that Carlene McCalla wasn’t in attendance because Saturday was her Sabbath. She did arrange for someone to be present in her stead, but that person left by mid-morning. Another person was asked to step up, but I think she only did it to be polite and the poor thing was left holding a very nasty bag.

I could accept this disaster as inexperience on Carlene McCalla’s part. I could say that it was a one-time malfunction. But now that I have slept on it, and I have made a few queries, I have come to the conclusion that the whole thing was a scam.

She collected our money and, other than sending us a floor plan (which, by the way, was not the same set up when we arrived), we never saw or heard from her again. When I got home, I tried to log onto her site (www.kaleidoscopevents.ca), but it has been suspended. I know it existed before—I looked it up. I would not have participated in a craft show if the promoter’s site was suspended!

I won’t be asking for a refund. I figure there’s no point because I am convinced that Carlene McCalla of KaleidoscopEvents swindled our money and we’ll never see it (or her) again.

Out with the Old, In with the New

Things are going to change around here. The Summer Solstice will be the turning point for Urban Contessa.

As of June 24, 2013, Urban Contessa will focus on the heart of the home: The Kitchen. We will continue to carry favourites (like our reversible tote bags and one-of-a-kind bookmarks) but most of our products will be hand-sewn items to decorate your table for every day living, entertaining, and celebrating special occassions.

With this new focus, we need to make room. That means clearing out our inventory.

This is your chance to own Contessa designs for a great price.

This weekend (April 27 and 28, 2013), we are attending back to back craft shows. Visit the Events page at our website to see where we are this weekend.

Come by our booth and help us clear out our inventory!

Holiday Sales for 2012

Our line-up of shows for this year's holiday season is finalized. We only have three this year. I say 'only' because we turned down a few others. Not because we don't want to participate in them, but because we have other commitments.

Elderly in-laws are taking precedence right now, but we still want to squeeze in a few shows.

Unfortunately, we won't be at the Vaughan Willard School this year. Instead, we decided to attend a different show that day. We'll be at O'Neill Collegiate on November 5. 

Of course, we can't miss the Hungarian Culture Club. After all, we need our cabbage roll fix! We'll be in Oshawa for that on November 17.

And last, but definitely not least, is the Durham Region Crafter's Community sale on December 15. As you know, this is a craft show that I organize with my partner in crime crafting, Shandell Conboy (from Dellzines). 

We hope to see you at one of these shows this season!

Ajax-by-the-Lake Marketplace

Well...to say the craft show was a bust is mild.  The rain came down in buckets and no one wants to stick around for an outdoor craft sale--even if it's under a giant tent.

Despite that, I'm not disappointed. After all, the City of Ajax doesn't charge a fee for the table, so it's not like I was out-of-pocket. Sadly, there were many vendors who simply didn't show up. Personally, I think that's unprofessional, not to mention, rude.

The people who organize craft shows put a lot of effort into it. As a vendor, you have committed to attend, have committed to sell your wares at a booth, and have committed to participate in a group event. Your absence is noticeable by virtue of the empty table in the middle of the event. It's like real estate: your home reflects on the rest of the neighbourhood.

Rather than leave empty tables, the organizers opted to take them away. I'm not sure if this was better, as it left empty spaces, but I suppose it's less obvious than an empty table.

As the table next to me was being folded up, the vendor behind me stepped up asked them if they could leave it and allow me to spread out. "You can spread out, can't you?" she said to me.

"Of course!"

They left the table, and I spread out:

This is double my original size. Needless to say, I was a little cramped before.

Despite the poor turn-out and disappointing sales, I'll go back next year, if I'm invited. It's not the City's fault that Mother Nature was cranky today. I still had a good time: I met some lovely people, chatted with old friends and found some new vendors for The DRCC.

All in all, it was a good day!

Catching Up

Honestly! My life is whipping by at light-speed!

Since my last post, I've organized -- ORGANIZED I tell ya! -- and attended The DRCC Craft show on November 12. Talk about a great time!

The view from my table:



Then I promptly left for Cuba. And when I say promptly, I mean promptly. Craft show Saturday. Cuba Sunday morning. It was a well-deserved vacation.

On the way home from the airport a week later, I began to receive text messages to attend a sale on November 26. I did quick mental inventory check. Sure. Why not?

So I went to the MaMi Shoppes' A Country Christmas in Solina. For a small town (and just about the cutest town ever!) the sale was very well attended and the UC booth did very well. Far better than I expected.

As always, Tooth Fairy Pillows and our one-of-a-kind bookmarks were the big sellers. Believe me when I say I don't have nearly that many bookmarks left. I have a lot of sewing to do this weekend!




This sale did make me realize that my table is boring and I need to step up my game.



See what I mean? Boring.

So I'm going to create a better display and I've placed an order for a table cloth with the UC logo on it. It may not be ready for the next show -- which is December 10 -- but it will certainly be ready for The DRCC's Spring Marketplace.

Stay tuned!

Craft Show - November 5, 2011

If you're in the area tomorrow, Saturday, November 5, 2011, stop by the Vaughan Willard Public School (1911 Dixie Road, Pickering) for their annual fundraiser. Urban Contessa will have a booth. Be sure to say hello!

Of course, Shandell, my crafting partner (or is that 'crafty' partner?) will be beside me, selling jewellery by Dellzines. And we'll be finalizing the floor plan for The DRCC craft sale next week.

Hope to see you tomorrow. If not, I definitely want to see you next Saturday, November 12 at The DRCC Craft Show!

Upcoming Craft Shows

Busy! Busy! Busy!

We have three...count 'em, THREE!...craft shows coming up.

This is your opportunity to get a jump start on your holiday shopping. At each craft show, we'll be carrying our usual line: elegant placemats, oversized napkins, washable tote bags, tooth fairy pillows for the kids and, as always, our one-of-a-kind bookmarks (which, by the way, make great stocking stuffers).

Swing by our Events page for details on dates, times and locations.

Be sure to stop by and say hello!

Bookmarks

My back hurts and my cutting hand is throbbing. Life could not be better!

You'll recall that I had a large stash of remnant fabric when I made a batch of tote bags. Well, I finally found the time to cut some bookmarks for the November 12, 2011 craft show I'm organizing with Shandell.

 

That's a lot of bookmarks!

The frightening thing is, I still have this much fabric to cut:

*sigh*
I should probably stop blogging and get back to cutting.

Celebrate Ajax by the Lake - 2011

Some day I'll win the lottery and spend my days preparing for and attending craft shows. In my spare time, I'll write. That's the dream, anyway.

Until then, I'll drag my sorry self through my days as a legal assistant, get my writing and sewing done at night.

It does make craft shows that much sweeter.

The Artisan's Market Place at the Celebrate Ajax by the Lake festival was so much fun. I have yet to attend a craft show that isn't. Crafters are happy people, so the vendors I meet are always nice. And craft Buyers are equally happy and love to chat. It's really a win-win situation.

As I was the only vendor selling these products, I did very well. And since the table was free (it was, after all, the first year vendors were invited to participate), the day was a win-win-WIN.



Of course, Shandell, my partner in crime, had the table beside me. We scoped out the vendors and handed out applications for the DRCC Sale in November.

Most exciting for me were the vendors behind my table. Fellow WCDR members, Vilma Blenman and Bonnie Beldan-Thomson were selling, and autographing, copies of the anthology, A Second Cup of Hot Apple Cider. Of course, I bought a copy. And it's signed by both of them. I will add it to my collection of signed books. The collection is getting quite large. I should probably count it out one day. Perhaps when I win the lottery.

(In case you were wondering, my writing can be found here.)

Almost Ready for August 27

I'm almost ready for the Celebrate Ajax by the Lake - Artisan's Market Place. I know...quite a title, isn't it?

If nothing else, you know exactly what you're getting. A celebration. By a lake. An opportunity to buy stuff. What more could you want for a Saturday afternoon?

The weather is expected to be nice and sunny on Saturday. Take a stroll along the beautiful Ajax waterfront, wander through the Market Place and get a jump start on your Christmas shopping. Be sure to stop by our booth and say hello.

I've been busy making tote bags.



And tooth fairy pillows.

Pinned and waiting for stuffing, these ones are looking a little flat.



But now that they're stuffed, they just need to have their bottoms sewn shut.



In anticipation of more sewing tonight, I filled a few bobbins.



And I'm ready to go.

Craft Show - Saturday, August 27, 2011

This year, for the first time, artisans are invited to participate in the Celebrate Ajax by the Lake Waterfront Festival.

Needless to say, Shandell and I snatched up that opportunity. Not only is it a chance to sell our product, but it's an opportunity to get vendors for our craft sale in November.

Sneaky. I know. But a crafter's gotta do what a crafter's gotta do.

So...if you're in the Durham area on Saturday, August 27, 2011, swing by the lakefront and take a stroll. We will have tote bags, placemats, tooth fairy pillows and our one-of-a-kind bookmarks for purchase. Remember...Christmas is only four months away. And we all know how fast that will go.

If nothing else, it will be a lovely walk. Stop by our booth and say hello. I'm always up for a chat!

More Totes

I took some time off from sewing. Just a small break. I knew I needed it. But every time I do it, and get back to sewing, I realize how much I miss it. And need it. It's right up there with writing for me.

I spent this morning cutting fabric for totes. As I've mentioned, Shandell and I are organizing a craft show for November 12, 2011 and since I know I'll be attending other craft shows before that (and after), I need to build up my inventory.




Cutting is half the work, so I'm glad that's out of the way. If I don't get to sewing them throughout the week, I'll spend most of next weekend sewing. And I just realized that my life is pretty lame if I'm excited about that.

The third pile of fabric from the right, the green fabric (it's green to me...I am, after all, colour-blind) was a remnant I bought.



When I unravelled it, I found this.



Really? What in the world am I supposed to do with that???



After a quick calculation, I realized they gave me more fabric than I asked for: two metres instead of one and a half. So I'm good. I simply cut up the centre of the zigzag stitch and I'll use the extra fabric for bookmarks. Which is what I use the leftover fabric for anyway. Waste not, want not.

After all the totes I sewed the last few months, I have a large stash of fabric for bookmarks. I don't know how I'm going to cut and sew them all, but somehow I always manage to get it done.

Storie Park Club House

When Anna (the woman who organizes the Hungarian Culture Club craft show twice a year) called me to ask if I was interested in participating in another one, I said: Sure, why not?

She mentioned that Karen was one of the vendors at the Spring Hungarian show and this was to be the first craft sale she organized. Been there. Done that. I know how terrifying it is, so I definitely wanted to support her.

So, Saturday past, I was at the Storie Park Club House in Oshawa.

When I arrived, I re-introduced myself to Karen. She told me her reason for organizing the show, and I teared up. Her mother died two months ago and Karen didn't want to stay home and cry. Since her mother was a volunteer at and huge supporter of the Humane Society, Karen was donating all proceeds from the show to the Human Society. A great cause and a fabulous idea.

Given that it was Karen's first craft show, it really wasn't that bad. It could have been better attended, but it was the day before Mother's Day and it was gorgeous outside. No one wants to be indoors.

Karen was upset that it wasn't as successful as she'd hoped, but I told her this was a learning experience. I thought it would be a good idea to do it every year in memory of her mother and it will get easier each year. She seemed to be encouraged by that.

The day was successful enough for me. I can't complain. The tote bags I made looked great, if I do say so myself. And I had a few placemats and table runners.





There were some interesting vendors. Of course, Shandell was there. She made me a bauble to hold my USB sticks together. Thanks, doll!



Maxine, from The Madstone Soapery, was selling handmade soaps and lotions. I bought Cocoa & Cream hand lotion. This stuff smells so good (like fresh-from-the-oven chocolate chip cookies) it's all I can do to keep from licking my hands all day. I'm sure it doesn't taste as good as it smells.



I also bought cupcakes from Denise Reid of Deelish Cakes & Catering. So good. So fattening. So worth it!



And to top it all off, Angie came out to help out with my table. It's not that I need help, per se, but it's always great to have the company. I don't get to see Angie much now that she's moved to the boonies, so it was great to catch up with gossip and people watch.

I don't have any other shows lined up for the summer. I was planning on taking it off to focus on organizing our DRCC event in November. But if something comes up, I'll definitely consider it. Why not, right?

A New Venture

So, what have I been talking about for the last few days, you might ask.

You'll recall that quite some time ago, I organized a craft show. One of the crafters was Shandell Conboy. She helped me out quite a bit and we agreed that we should organize another one.

Then life got in the way. Stupid life.

Since then, we have participated in quite a few craft shows together. The organizers know us now and put us side by side. We have spent a lot of time talking about organizing a craft show. And not just a craft show, but organizing an e-community where other crafters can get ideas, advice and answers.

Shandell and I are excited to announce the launch of The Durham Region Crafters Community.

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