Working a Craft Show

So over the weekend I did my first public craft show to showcase my jewelry. I thought it would be good to post about my experience.

I decided I wanted to start off with one day of the show so it could be like a learning experience for me, and I am actually glad that I did so.

I did the second day of the show and obviously because I was basically one of the last ones to come in I didnt get a very good spot. I did get moved closer into the crowd because some of the other vendors had left early. So that was good...

After being moved I did notice a HUGE increase in traffic.

I did well for it being my first day and considering everything that was going on.

I want to talk about the problems I encountered.

1st - The Weather

• It was ridiculouslly windy the day of! It was so windy that all of my displays kept blowing over. I couldnt put up my canopy due to the wind. I had to take down my second table because it was just way too much to try to keep 2 tables worth of things from falling over, plus my table cloth kept trying to blow away!!. I basically spent the first few hours of the show trying to control this! I ended up taping everything to the top of the table. A few people's canopies got blown over and broke. Everyones displays were blowing everywhere! It was crazy!

2nd - The distance from the entrance

• Because I was so far from the entrance I did not get as much foot traffic as I would have liked. Once I was moved I saw many, many more people and saw many more sales as well.

Next time I am going to make sure I get there very early so I can make sure to get a good spot. Location  is one of the most important things, so I am going to do some of my set up the night before and then finish the day of.

Next time I also want to get canopy walls so my booth can be more enclosed. Maybe just one or two will work just fine, since I am going to be using two tables.

I made frame displays to hang my earrings and necklaces from. I need to make bracelet displays for the next shows.

Also, I am going to make a bunch of soaps for the next show. I love making soaps and other products and I think it would be great to actually start selling them like I said I wanted to do way back when, but never really did.... lol

So yea, all of this and what I learned from doing my first show will hopefully lead to a much better show in the future and from now on.

Things I made sure to have on hand

• Obviously a wide range of items to be sold and displays
• 2 6' tables - I only used one - Next time just one 6' and one 4' will be fine
• Fitted black table cloths
• Decorative mirrors
• Other decorative elements - people see pretty one the outside the come looking for pretty inside :) I made floral mesh flowers to line the canopy, but used them on the table instead. Also I will be using curling ribbon to hang from the canopy next time. I also have clear glass vases to display some of the bracelets.
• I put out a candy dish, which many people walking by promptly stole from... lol
• Had to have a locking cash box and my chair, which I hardly got a chance to sit in.
• I had organza bags and shopping bags and surprisingly no one even used them...
• I also had some of my tools with me so that I could make some items which I did actually use.
• Made sure to have a receipt book and a sales book to keep track of everything.

There is other stuff I'm sure. All in all I do feel like I was as prepared as I could have been. It was definitely a learning experience for me and next time will be much better.

Hair Diary *16* - Tree Braids!

After my fiasco with the Pink Mohawk I wore my hair in a donut bun for about a week. cowashing every 1-2 days and re-bunning daily, while scarfing at night.

I did tree braids for my cousin which re-kindled my love for them. :)

A few months ago, I did a set of crochet braids and had some of the hair I used left over so I decided to use them for tree braids this time! They came out absolutely fabulous!! I love the way this hair looks on me.

So in the video I give you a quick demo on how I do them. It is very simple.



I start the braid off and braid as far back as I want the braid to show then pull out the first strand, making sure none of my own hair is coming out with it.

I then take a strand of the braiding hair and add it to the braid, then pull out another strand.

Basically every turn something is happening. I do it in a way so that it does not come out too full. I add hair every other turn and pull a strand out every turn.

So its kind of like a rhythm. Add, Pull, Pull, Add, Pull, Pull, Add, Pull, Pull.... all the way till you get to the end of the braid.

The next video I did about 2 weeks after putting the tree braids in. I usually cut into a style immediately but I had zero time to do it. Plus I wanted to do it in front of the camera, so here it is.



I basically cut it into an angled bob. The back shorter than the front, angled and layered.

About 3 weeks later I am still wearing and loving this style! I will probably wear this again very soon after I take it out.

Thinking Out Loud Thursday - TOLT *20*

Thinking Out Loud

• So I was finally able to post the Treebraid Videos from last night. Will post the blog on it later.
• I love my treebraids, much more than I loved my crochet braids.
• These past few weeks have been crazy. Been so busy, IDK what to do with myself. lol
• I have a show this weekend, which I am super excited about! 
• I should probably take pics and stuff to post on the blog...
• I made some soaps and want to make some more.
• I keep getting into these periods where I make a bunch of stuff and then I stop.
• I guess its good, because I do use it all up instead of setting it aside and forgetting about it.
• But yea, I have a lot more work to do between today and tomorrow.
• I hope, I cant get it all done. If not all damn near....
• I should start writing blog reviews on all the shows I have been watching.
• The Walking Dead is over for the season and I cant wait to see what the crazy ass governor does next season... No clue why he isnt dead yet.
• We are getting close to the end of Scandal and Spartacus.
• I am gonna be really sad to see Spartacus end. *tear* Gonna miss all the death and sex... lol
• I need to work on my time management. I have no clue how to get so much stuff done. 
• Sometimes it seems like there is no end in sight. *sigh*
• I will get it all done though. :) Wish me luck!

Hair Diary *15* - Beautiful Mess

Here is the video for this style.. Finally.

The pics below are after the hair was combed out, which is why it may look a little frizzy. The second pic below is how I usually wore my hair. I used a few bobby pins to push the front up so it wouldnt be so flat and let the back hang loose. Sometimes I braided the ends, I wore a fishtail braid at one point. I also did a loose french braid going down one side of the mohawk, which was really cute.

I had my pink & purple mohawk in for a week, maybe a little more than a week. It was beautiful! I loved the style & got tons of compliments on it.

Let's talk about the hair I used. I originally posted about this hair a few years ago in this blog post.
I ordered from a Chinese vendor who sent me this crap hair when I actually paid for custom pieces. He basically sent me whatever he had lying around because he forgot about my order completely.

I knew that the hair itself was going to be bad because I did use some of the hair from a previous batch when I first got it, and it was a tangling mess as well. I had to detangle daily and mousse it up to keep it looking nice.

Too much work!

But, I figured why let the hair go to waste, so I bleached it & colored it pink & purple!

I already knew that this wasn't great hair, but I knew how to keep it tamed for the most part.

I wore it for a few days 2 years ago in a mohawk for new years and again this past week.

With really bad hair I find it best to wash the hair daily or every other day with conditioner. This time I didn't use any product except for a silicone based to smooth flyaways a little. When I get buildup which tends to be about every few days I use shampoo.

I was pretty good with taking care of this hair in the beginning but the last few days I was traveling and didn't have time to wash the hair. I wore it in a braid to keep it nice but had an event to go to so I took the braid down.

This was a huge mistake!

Within an hour my hair began to tangle and Matt. I tried to comb it out and separate the curls but it wasn't having it!

By the time I got back to the house where I could actually do something about it it was too late.
I spent the next 2 days trying to brush out this huge dreadlock that my long, beautiful, waves had become.

I got frustrated to the point where I took the style out on the last day of my trip before I left! So now my hair is in a huge bun and I want to cut my ends again.... Lol

My next hairstyle will be a set of treebraids, using the same hair that I used for my crochet braids. I love the curl of that hair!

Stay tuned for that video! Hopefully I will have it up soon, given that I actually have time to do so... :)

Thinking Out Loud Thursday - TOLT *19*

Thinking Out Loud

• I hate that I have not had any time to myself over the past few weeks.
• I have so much work that I need to do but absolutely no time to do it.
• I love Spartacus!! And The Walking Dead. My current faves... but you probably already know that. lol
• I finally was able to finish my mohawk style video and posted to youtube.
• Dammit.. Just looking at the video makes me upset, wish I was able to wear it much longer.
• At least I looked good the few days before and after my birthday.
• I am currently deep conditioning and watching movies On Demand.
• I watched Harry Potter 8, I-Robot, and a few others so far today while working online.
• Also too bad I didn't get any really good shots of the style. 
• Most of the pics I did take were after I had combed the hair out so it was a little frizzy.
• Tree Braids, Tree Braids, Tree Braidsssss!!!!!
• I wish I could post vids more often... Need more me time!!
• I keep breaking chargers for my phone!!! Arggghhhh
• I have not a single clue how many chargers I have gone through... Its been a Lot...
• I need to return my other camera before my warranty wears out... Next month lol
• I want some sun chips and a cool ranch taco!! Off to Taco Bell!!
• Ok, Im done.. I have nothing to talk about.. lmao