Arts in the Square

Over the weekend, I took part as a vendor at an event called Arts in the Square in Oakville.  It takes place every Saturday until October and the past Saturday was my first time as a vendor at the event.  It is truly a showcase for local artists and crafters of handmade goodies.  Held in the fresh (rather hot and stifling, to be honest, last Saturday) air, it offers an opportunity to peruse the work of local artists, do a little shopping and listen to some live music.

My Table

I had a great day.  i not only spread a little more "handmade soap love" but I also looked at art, spoke to the artists themselves and listened to some great music.  As much as I had planned on ending the day with a glass of wine, 7 hours in the heat made me slight unsuitable to show myself in public on the way home.  Instead I ended it with a glass of ice tea and a cool bath.

looking forward to my next day at  Arts in the square on August 27th.

Expanding My World

I thought I would share some pictures from the last craft show I did on Saturday.  Due to a smaller table at this show, I had to change my display slightly and make it a little more vertical.  Here is the whole table.

Now for some close ups.

A good friend very generously donated the two iron shelving units and they worked out great.  Lots of space to display the soap and yet you still have the feeling like you are rummaging through your mother's or grandmother's dresser.  Not that I would recommend such behaviour but who among us hasn't done that at some point in our childhood.  It is an unexpected consequence of doing craft shows but one which I am fully appreciating.

I am still determined to keep the costs as low as possible while still displaying my soaps in an aesthetically pleasing manner, hopefully.  I found the silver dish below at the thrift store last week and love how the bubble bars look.

Beer soaps and other bath goodies

And now for the tiniest detail on the table but one of which I am very proud.  I needed something to hold the price signs with a minimum of cost.  As I have said before, I am . . . frugal.  Did some research, did some thinking but had no ideas.  Then, the day before the sale, I was doing a mock set-up and I had a genius moment.  (Okay, "genius" is an exaggeration but forgive me.  My days are made up of the little triumphs sometimes.)  Look.

 
I know it is only a toothpick stuck in a chunk of soap but there is something about it that I love.

As for the sale itself, it was a quiet day but still a good day.  First and foremost, I sent a little more of my love for hand made soap out into the world.  Secondly, each show is always such a learning experience and I have yet to end a show feeling like my day was wasted.  And finally, these craft shows are expanding my sense of community in the hand made world.  I knew that such a community existed but I guess I didn't really think it existed in my hometown.  Just as the blog world has introduced me to a more global hand made world, these shows have introduced me to a more local hand made world.  No longer do I feel that I may be the only person in my corner of the world who enjoys making things.

Pigtails and Purple Socks

I wish I had something more to say but I am short on time today.

I am packing up my soaps again and heading out later this evening for another craft show.  This time it is a Ladies' Night Out with food, drink and shopping.  It sounds like a fun evening and I am really excited to be a part of it but, yet again, a little nervous.  You know that little voice that whispers in your ear that perhaps you're not quite as good as you think you are?  I am going to try to consciously ignore that voice and listen to the little one that is jumping up and down on my shoulder with excitement.  That little voice has her hair in pigtails and loves purple socks.  Yep, I'm going to listen to her instead.

Bust or Bliss?

On a cold, wet, very wet Saturday, my first craft show happened.  Here are some pictures of my table.

Two little blue birds to greet people.

I used a drawer from my bedside table to display some of my bar soaps.

I placed my soap disks on stacks of old books to give some dimension to my table.  I also couldn't resist the opportunity to use books.

These are little pots of sugar lip scrub.  I don't think I have mentioned the lip scrub.  I developed the recipe a couple of months ago.  It's a yummy little exfoliation treat for the lips that works really well.

 

I placed my business cards in one of my grandmother's tea cups.  I am excited because I ordered some pretty new cards that should be here in a couple of weeks.  In the background, you can see larger pots of hand and body sugar scrub.  After a little bit of trial and error, I also developed this recipe a couple of months ago.  Honestly, it is really hard work having to test the scrubs but somebody had to do it.  I offered the body scrub in two scents.   A Piece of Cake is a combination of chocolate and vanilla while Citrus Burst combined lemon, orange and pink grapefruit essential oils.

 So there it is.  That was my table but how was the craft show itself?  Interesting question.  Truthfully, as a craft show, it was a bit of a bust.  I don't know if it was due to the terrible weather or a lack of advertisement but we didn't have a strong turnout which was a shame because, although it was a small show, it was a really good group of vendors.  There was pottery, hand stamped and printed cards, candles,home made preserves and chocolates, hand stamped sterling silver jewelery, children's clothing, a textile artist that made the most awesome sock monsters that two little boys now covet and hand bags.  See, good variety, right?  The people just did not come.  The more seasoned vendors were less than impressed but it was still a positive first experience for me.  I was happy with my display and now know that I was well prepared.  I was proud of my products.  I received good feedback about my products and met some new people.  And I also sold some soap.  With the low cost of the table and the fact that everything I used for my display were items I had on hand, I even made a little money.    So bust?  Maybe.  But it got my toes wet and I am ready for more.  I packed my suitcases after the  show even more determined to sell my soap.   I am now searching out my next opportunity for a show and preparing my etsy shop to include my soaps.

What may have been a bust for some, was a bit of bliss for me.  

Ready and Waiting

The craft show is tomorrow and I am ready.  I did a mock set up today.  I wanted to ensure that what I had envisioned in my head would actually work as a display.

Then everything was packed up . . .

and now I wait.  I'll share pictures from the sale later on in the weekend.

Abandoned

This morning after swimming lessons, we went to the first Christmas craft sale of the year held at the local church.  The countdown to Christmas can now officially begin.  After having a snack and visiting the children's treasure room where items were 25 cents, my three men promptly abandoned me.  Abandoned me in the sense that they went home, leaving me alone.  By myself.  At a church sale.  Alone.  So much fun.  My first stop was the Spirit of Christmas Past room where I found these little ones who will be joining us for many Christmases to come.

My next stop was at the "Nearly New" book room.

Several good finds here.  A Paddington bear book.  A book of Greek myths and gods.   Not that I need another copy of Pride and Prejudice but I couldn't resist this small hard cover edition with hand written notes in the margins.  Oh, flipping through this book, I just found a piece of paper with information about polio vaccinations.  The book that I am really excited about is the book on the bottom of the pile:  Speaking Canadian English.

  Said the famous Canadian humorist Stephen Leacock: "I myself talk Ontario English; I don't admire it, but it's all I can do; anything is better than affectation."   I cannot wait to read this book.  I have always been interested in language.  Can't wait to get to Chapter 8: Slang.

Having been abandoned meant I had to walk home and it was a beautiful day for a walk.  I bought a couple of other things but I think I'll share those on another day.  I'm going to end this post with a picture from my walk home.  These berries were too pretty to not take a picture or two of them.