What do you NEED at a Show?

My list of supplies for shows keeps growing and growing. I always forget something. Even when I create a list, without fail I will forget at least one thing that I need. Or when I get to the show I realize that there's a new item that I need to add to my list for future needs.

So, what are some of the basic items that you really need to have on hand at a show? I'm not talking about display items or tables. I'm talking about things that you will need at one point or another during the show.

• Garbage / Plastic Bags - I can't tell you how many times I have been to a show where the garbage can is ridiculously far away. Keeping your booth space clean is vitally important to maintaining a professional appearance.
• Small Table / TV Tray - I use a regular tv tray, covered with a small table cloth, as a work desk at shows. It's nice and small, not taking up valuable display space, and generally is plenty big enough for writing receipts, taking money, and working on custom orders.
• Calculator, Stapler, Scizzors, Pens, Tape (Scotch & Duct) - And any other office supplies you think you might need. Safety Pins and Paper Clips are also good things to have on hand (even if not for myself, I've had to loan them to fellow vendors).
• Business Cards - Even if you don't plan to hand them out, having business cards is more about being professional than making more sales. I don't think I've ever had someone who's taken a business card contact me after a show. But that's not why I hand them out. It only takes one great customer who contacts you after a show to make up for all the business cards handed out to no avail. You can make your own if you're so inclined, or go to www.vistaprint.com for super inexpensive (and even free!) business cards that are great quality.
• Towels / Paper Towels - I ran out of paper towels at a show once and was punished by the paper towel gods. They are great for cleaning displays (sticky kid fingers), wiping up spills, and soaking up water. I got stuck with a leaky tarp and no way to soak up the extra water. It was not fun. Regular towels work well too.
• Extra Fabric / Table Clothes - Unless you wash your fabrics after each and every show (if you do...will you wash mine too!?!) you never know if a wayward stain has made an appearance without you noticing. Plus, you can use extra fabric to cover up your storage bins (if they aren't already under your tables).
• Extra Supplies - No matter what you make (jewelry, clothing, candles, etc.) someone will want one of your items 'altered'. I learned the hard way that not having your tools of the trade with you can lead to lost sales. Now I carry an extra little storage container (with a nice little handle on the lid) with all my pliers, extra sterling findings, and a few extra beads (generally extra Swarovski crystal). And it has helped me gain sales.
• Sign Up Sheet - Do you want to just sell at this show and then walk away with your sales until next year? Or, do you want to make sales AND make contacts? Ask people to sign up with their name, phone number, e-mail address, or physical address. If you plan to do monthly updates, let them know. I rarely send out an update more than once a month, and usually less often than that. I think we all get enough e-mails.

Have I forgotten anything? Probably. I think it's genetic. :)

The Average Show Experience - Getting Set Up

Everyone's show experiences are different...that's a given. My show experience started three season's ago in 2003. As they say 'you've come long way baby'. My shows can be broken into two groups...outdoor summer shows and indoor Christmas shows.

I started doing outdoor shows just last year and boy were my eyes opened to the differences in indoor versus outdoor shows. Outdoor shows are an experience unto themselves. They require more display items, generally a tent of some sort, and more set up time. I am able to fit all my display items for indoor shows into my Rav4. For outdoor shows, I have to use the F150 and I use the bed and the all the passenger seats.

For my first outdoor show, I started setting up the night before. This helps relieve some stress because you aren't rushing around trying to get set up before the customers get there. The best investment I think I made is a handcart. I can't for the life of me find a link to the one I bought, but its handle comes out so that it can become a flat cart or an upright cart. I did find this site with lots of choices.

The second necessary item that I invested in was a canopy tent. Most higher class shows won't even let you show if you don't provide your own tent. Just be sure that your tent will fit in the space you're allotted. Setting up a tent isn't always easy. I bought mine at Costco and it requires two people to set up (or at least it does for me...I'm sure someone out there knows how to set it up by themselves). You've got the frame, the roof of the tent, and generally sides that attach to the frame. It's a workout just to get the frame up.

Being a white tarp in a sea of white tarps isn't going to help you stand out. You need to add a little extra color. Some people have big signs that attach to their tents. Having a sign with your business name also gives you more credibility. Mine isn't fancy and only cost around $50 at a local sign shop. It's a plastic material that just rolls right up and stores away easily. I also decided to go with fabric draping around the tent and in front to soften the look of the display. It looks more inviting and approachable and helps you stand out from the crowd.

But getting people to enter your booth is just the first step. You want to make sure that your display is professional and organized. I'm still working on my own setup ... it changes from show to show, but is fairly standard for both indoor and outdoor shows. The basics that I stick with however are necklace displays/easels, bracelet T-bars, and earring racks. I started out with white fabric covering my tables but added some deep wine colored table clothes on which I then put white fabric for contrast.

Height is another important factor, for both indoor and outdoor shows. Adding table height is fairly easy if you buy some PVC pipe found at any local hardware store. Four equal cuts, slid over the legs of a table can add just enough height to bring attention to your work. Don't go too high or you might run into issues with people in wheelchairs not being able to see.

These are just some of the most basic requirements for getting set up. For outdoor shows it's also a good idea to have weights (sandbags work well) to anchor your tent in case of wind. Bungie cords are great for multiple uses. Bring a couple of towels and garbage bags. I've been to some shows where the closest garbage can is too far away and keeping your booth clean is super important. It's not a bad idea to have garbage or plastic bags for indoor shows too.

Next post I'll focus on some of the smaller essential items you'll need during your show.

Craft Shows - Should You?

When I first decided to sell my jewelry I had no idea where to start. I didn't consider a website at the time because I didn't have the skills or knowledge to even know how or where to start a site. So I decided to start showing my work at craft shows and bazaars. I'm not a veteran at shows or anything...I've only been doing them for three years now and there are folks out there who've been doing this for 20 years! I know that I found it a huge undertaking to start out.

Finding shows to enter was a challenge since I was starting fairly late in the season (I didn't start looking for shows until August). The bigger shows were all booked so the shows I ended up in that first year were fairly small. A couple high school and middle school shows. I found them in the newspaper because that's the only place I knew to look. Now I check on Event Lister and search online for shows in my area (I'm not big on traveling out of state).

My first show ever I had no idea what to expect. It was at a local high school and cost me $25 to enter. I took three folding tables and some fabric. I had a few display items but nothing fancy. My work was very basic since I had just started making jewelry a few months earlier. I sold $85 worth of jewelry and was on top of the world. If I did a show now and only sold that much I'd cry, but what did I know?

Now I've invested a lot more money, time, and effort into my shows and setups. The bigger and better the show, the more expensive it is to enter. The most I've paid so far in entry fees was $500 though this year I'm jurying in one that will cost me $700 if I'm accepted. Just last year I started doing outdoor shows, which meant investing in a canopy. I found one at Costco for $300 that included a really nice rolling case for travel. Although after only 3 outdoor shows the seams started to leak. During my last outdoor show for the season I got a little wet, but I'm not getting a new one...we'll just have to seal the seams.

I bought two 4 foot folding tables and a 5 foot table and raised them using PVC pipes by about a foot to have a better viewing area. I found these great table clothes on sale at Target. It's a lot of work to put together a good display. I am always tweaking my layout...every show turns out a little bit different.

Before starting shows you have to ask yourself if you're up for it. It takes a lot of energy and organization. [And a handcart. Having a handcart is an absolute must.] A show's open hours aren't the only hours you need to account for in your schedule. You have to set up and break down and travel. I have a local show that's about 5 minutes from my house and I still have to get there two hours early in order to get everything set up. I am always, always, always exhausted after a show. If it's a two day show over a weekend I almost always take that next Monday off of my 'real' job to recover.

Once the show starts it's a lot of waiting...a hurry up and wait situation. Rush, rush, rush to get everything set up and then sit (or stand) for 6 to 8 to 10 hours while the show is open and potential customers walk in and out of your booth. A great show has lots of sales and activity and makes the day go by quickly. A slow show makes time trickle on like a leaky faucet.

Can you handle all that? There's so much more to shows ... this is just a superficial overview. I'll definitely cover this again in greater detail. Any questions are welcome!

Photo Advise

Actually, I probably need more advice than I can give. The most I can offer is that it is SO important to have bright and accurate photos. I can't stand looking at some of my earlier photos and scans. They were dark and slightly blurry. I shudder to remember them! And as a customer I immediately tune out bad pictures and move on to the next vendor.

I use a digital camera...An Olympia C-740 Ultra Zoom that we bought ... gosh, it must be 2 years ago now. Time flies! :)

I have no idea how to use it other than the 'auto' feature and to delete the photos I don't like. I'm sure if I took some time to read the book I might have more functionality but there isn't much hope that I'd understand it more unless someone took time to show me. I'm a hands on and visual learner.

But I still think that my photos have improved 100%...even though there's always room for improvement. It's hard to get bright sunlight in the Pacific Northwest, but whenever I find a sunny day I try to take some photos. [I'd love to get a lightbox but other things take priority right now.] Then, I download the photos from the camera and edit them in MS Office Picture Editor to crop, brighten, and compress. Then, if I want to add any borders or fun edits I use MS Picture It! Express.

Any advice on taking good photos?

What Inspires You?

I am inspired by so many things...the nature surrounding me; the color combinations found in pillows, rugs, clothing; even wallpaper samples. But I especially find it helpful to browse other artist's work to get out of a creative slump.

Inspiration can sometimes walk a fine line between admiration and copyright infringement. I love browsing other jeweler's website and looking at their color combinations, composition, and style. However, I never copy someone else's work. That is absolutely wrong.

Whenever I hear about another artist's work being copied my pulse goes up. Did you know that there are such disgusting people out there who will copy an original design from an artist and have it mass produced overseas? I had no idea that happened until I started making jewelry. I think it's pathetic and totally without class.

But finding inspiration from another person's work can be hugely satisfying and helpful when you're in a rut. A lot of times looking at another's work helps my brain switch to a new track that I may not have thought of before. Maybe I see a different color combination that I've never thought of before. Something catches my eye and makes me think "AHA!" Now I know what I want to do!

The only time I sit with another person's work in front of me is when I'm working on a tutorial to learn a new technique, like the amazing tutorials by Eni Oken. Otherwise, the inspiring photos I browse are tucked neatly away while I'm at my work table because I want to be especially careful not to have even a hint of copying. Immitation might be the sincerest form of flattery...but it's still wrong.

So, what inspires you?

Do You ... ETSY ?

If you've never visited this new fandangled site called Etsy then you are so missing out. It's amazing to realize how many talented people that are out there who don't show their work in galleries or craft shows near where you live. And here we have the answer!

Etsy is an online community for selling handcrafted items (as well as a variety of select vintage items). Items range from keychains to jewelry; from traditional paintings to wacky out there digital art; from t-shirts to purses...there seems to be a little bit of everything on Etsy.

My Etsy store is one of the (seems like) hundreds of other jewelry stores. It's definitely hard to be seen in such a large pond, but I keep plugging away. Other categories include Accessories, Paper Goods, Woodworking, Plants & Edibles, Pets, Patterns, Knitting, Housewares, and so much more.

So, if you're looking to buy something unique, one of a kind, limited edition, and handmade Etsy is your place. After all, Mother's Day will be here before you know it. Get her something no one else has!

And if you are a crafty type of person, open a shop. It takes work (nothing worth having is easy!) but it's definitely worth the effort.

Learning From Others

If you've ever worked super hard on a project...or if you've ever come up with a unique idea...you know how great that makes you feel. And you know how hard it can be to share the 'how' of your idea.

Luckily, not everyone is stingy with their knowledge. Some people are amazingly kind and share their ideas with others so that others can benefit from their ideas, knowledge, and experience.

I am SO thankful that Eni Oken is one of those people!!! Because of her I have learned several different techniques. One of those was an incredibly complicated ring. I've only made one of them so far because it takes a long time. I used Pink Peruvian Opal with sterling silver wire.

But she also created a tutorial for another ring (I've been obsessed with making rings lately for some reason) that was much easier. I was able to make several in an afternoon. The Amethyst one on the right is on sale at my Etsy store. The other two IOpalized "quartz" glass and Carnelian) will be up for sale at a later date.

I am very grateful that there are people like Eni out there willing to share their gifts with the world. I've run across many 'stingy' artists out there. They don't want to share with the competition. I can understand that.

It can be frustrating when you think someone has 'stolen' your idea. But I try hard to share with people who are just starting out because someone helped me...it's my job to pass it on.

Cheers!

Finding the Right Event with Event Lister

When I first started making jewelry, I made the decision to try my hand at selling my work at arts & craft shows. But I had absolutely NO idea where to find the right shows for me. I looked in the paper and did some web searches. I just didn't know how to narrow down my search.

Luckily, I ran across this wonderful service run by a great woman named Louis. It's called Event Lister. It's a database online that lists thousands of events searchable by town, zip, state, type, etc.

There are sellers and event organizers utilizing this site. If you have a show coming up, as an organizer, you can search for vendors or post your event and allow vendors to apply online. As an artisan, you can search for events in your area. You can rate events after they're over and share your experience with others.

Louis works VERY hard to make sure that all shows are decent and honestly represented. She also answers questions very quickly. She allows FREE membership for artisans, but also offers a pay service that provides more options for searches and viewing events.

Take a look. Sign up. Add your store or event and increase your visibility. :-)

Name That Stone - GASPEITE

One of my favorite stones is Gaspeite. Pronounced Ja (as in 'jacket') - Spite, it is a beautiful, bright, apple green colored stone named for Gaspe Peninsula in Canada where it was first discovered in 1966. That mine subsequently dried up, but a new source was discovered in Western Australia near the tiny town of Widgiemooltha while mining nikel sulfide.

Gaspeite is very rare. The Australian source is now dried up and the material initially mined there has been purchased by a single gemstone dealer. That's it. There's no more...unless someone someday finds more, what's on the market now is all that's available.

Which is good and bad in my eyes. Bad because it's a really great material to work with in jewelry and it'd be nice to have more of it (at lower prices). Good because it's rare, which makes it unique and more valuable. Unique is always a good thing! But it's also generally a more expensive thing. Luckily I found a vendor selling amazing quality gaspeite last year ... but even wholesale prices were upwards of $100+ for one strand. But it is the best quality I've ever seen.

I really like THIS vendor's set stone jewelry with Gaspeite. You can see the prices are fairly high for sterling silver jewelry, but again, Gaspeite is a rare mineral. My work features Gaspeite in bead form.

I currently have one bracelet available on my website with Gaspeite and Turquoise. It's a really beautiful combination with an easy to use magnetic clasp with sterling silver safety chain.

And if you believe in the healing qualities stones supposedly have, Gaspeite is said to reduce stress, bring assurance, and increase spirituality. "Mystics believe it to help heal problems with the heart, lungs and gallbladder, and it is primarily related to the heart chakra." *

Sources:
http://www.bernardine.com/gemstones/gaspeite.htm
http://ghostowntrading.safeshopper.com/2/cat2.htm?466
http://www.jewelweaver.com
http://www.rings-things.com/gemstone/g.htm
http://webmineral.com/data/Gaspeite.shtml
http://mineral.galleries.com/minerals/carbonat/gaspeite/gaspeite.htm
http://www.yourgemologist.com/gaspeite.htm

Do you have a "Crafty" idea?

If you have a good "crafty" idea and are up to writing some step by step instructions you could get your work published!

Eleanor of 'Craft Entrepreneur' is looking for people to write up some tutorials. I submitted my instructions on creating wire wrapped bobby pin barrettes. Her publish date is May 1, 2006. People who provide tutorials will earn a percentage of sales plus have their company information published.

If you are interested in submitting an idea and tutorial go to http://craftentrepreneur.com and e-mail Eleanor. She's really great, easy to work with, and will answer any questions you have. You can also view her Etsy shopw at www.howto.etsy.com.

Cheers!
www.castocreations.com
www.castocreations.etsy.com
www.risingstargallery.com

Purple Rainbow "Cha Cha" Bracelet

I've been in a purple mood lately. That happens sometimes...I get hooked on a certain color or theme. My last 7 or 8 pieces have been various shades of purple. This is one of my favorites.

This bracelet required several long hours of hand wrapping each and every dangle with sterling silver wire. It consists of these amazingly beautiful furnace glass beads together with Swarovski crystals in different shades of purple, freshwater pearl nugget beads in deep irridescent purple, and a few unique handmade Bali sterling silver beads.

I haven't been a fan of furnace glass in the past. I'd found it to be 'cheap' looking and not my style. But when I was in Tucson for the big gem shows I found this amazing furnace glass that I couldn't take my eyes off of! And it turns out the artist lives in my state.What are the odds? :) I purchased 30 ounces of her furnace glass and when it's gone, it's gone.


If you are interested in purchasing this bracelet, it is on sale at my Etsy store. The matching earrings are free with purchase.

Visit My Etsy Store Here

Green Chalcedony Earrings on ArtByUs Auction

These earrings are hand wire wrapped using sterling silver wire, green faceted Chalcedony, and Bali Sterling Silver beads. They hang down approximately 3 inches with the sterling Leverback closures. I'm happy to change them to posts or french hooks.

They are available for bidding at my ArtbyUs auction: http://www.artbyus.com/auctions.php?a=2&b=54390

The matching necklace is also up for bidding... http://www.artbyus.com/auctions.php?a=2&b=54391

You can bid or 'buy it now'.

Happy Bidding!

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog! I've finally joined the blog wagon. I read enough of them that I figured I might as well have my own.

This will be a forum mostly for showing and promoting my jewelry designs, discussing ideas, and showcasing some of my favorite vendors and fellow jewelers.

My formal website is at http://www.castocreations.com. It's just recently been redesigned with a brand new shopping cart.

Thanks for reading my first post. I am looking forward to this little experiment. :)