Sunday, May 25, 2014

like a broken record

I am gearing up for a big event. At the end of June (26th - 29th) I'll be having my very own booth at the Craft and Quilt Fair at the Melbourne Exhibition centre. (Jeff's shed). I went to the show as a guest on another booth last year and it prompted me to have a crack at it myself.

felt signs for my booth -loving myself sick
The Craft and Quilt fair is a retail fair, so for the first time in a very very long time I will be selling actual stuff.  It is a fairly hefty commitment in both time and money and I am kind of wondering what I have gotten myself in for but you know Morgan of the Crafty Squirrel ? Well, it was one of those "I'll do it if you do it" kind of conversations and Voila ! 
I'll be selling my patterns of course and also the beautiful Winterwood felt that I use for my toys. I am  thinking about some kits - but I am wary of ending up with a house full of unsold stuff, so I guess I am being a bit conservative. (says the woman who recently purchased 12,500 buttons). 
 I am thinking of shelves and backdrops and T-pins and velcro and orders and stickers and labels and signs and stripes and bobbins and all things all at once which sounds more stressful than it is actually is.
I'm thinking that even if the 'business'side of things is a flop, I'll meet heaps of crafty folk, I'll get to hang out with some awesome folks and I made some awesome social media signs for my booth ! It's a win already.
If you are planning to visit let us know, come and say Hi. I promise I won't try and hard-sell you anything. (pfft I can't even soft sell things).

29 comments:

  1. Dear Jodie I haven't been to one of these for a few years, but now I will be turning up with bells on!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'm going! Can't wait to buy some lovely felt from you, I've wanted some for ages but been undecided, I think for my first lot I need to see the colours and touch the felt, then I'll be right to order online. It will be great to see you again before your class at Warracknabeal.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'll be there, Just to see you!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Your booth will be a sellout! Can hardly wait to see it all set up and get some of that Winterwood felt!

    ReplyDelete
  5. OMG I love the social media felties! I wish I could come. How fun. 12,500 buttons!!! I'm picturing buttons glued on lamp shades and toilet tanks! :o)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. In my defense the buttons are very tiny....

      Delete
    2. And when your 4 year old tips them out they are a right bugger to pick up out of the carpet!! But the colours are so pretty and fun and they are so tiny!!!!

      Delete
  6. Wishing you all the very best with your booth. It will be fantastic.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Unfortunately I am unable to make it this year, but I wish you all the very best , hope you sell out of everything. I will tell friends who are going to watch out for you. Good Luck!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Looks as though I'll have to get early to buy some of that fabulous felt (and to see you, of course! )

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi Jods might see if Jan wants to catch the train down with me,i have a lot of friends who prefer to buy a kit saves them mucking around trying to find the bits and pieces and they like that there isnt fabric left lying around there house,so i think your kits will do well,i wish you well and i believe you will be a hit,go for it.xx

    ReplyDelete
  10. I'm sure that it will be all worth it in the long run...good luck...not that you need it.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Whoo Jodie.
    Your social media signs are awesomely cute. Are you doing any of the other states shows? I think kits would sell well. I often adopt kits at craft shows.
    Enjoy

    ReplyDelete
  12. I'll come to yours if you come to mine.

    12,500, seriously? For a (speshul circs) Koumpounaphobe that sounds like the stuff of nightmares.

    Jod you win at everything, you are just that awesome.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Take a few of your work-in-progress bag patterns. I have been volunteering at the Perth fair two days this week, and I took some hand-sewing for the quiet times. I took my sewing in the bag I made and I gave out your blog address as the source of the pattern at least half a dozen times.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I wish I lived in Melbourne I would be there buying some kits. If they don't sell at the craft fair I am sure the would sell on line, I know I would. 12,500 buttons and I'm waiting to finish an owl blanket so I thought my local shop might not have enough, but I now know somewhere that might have a few left over.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Can't wait...and I know already it will be a hit.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Apparently my husband will buy me a ticket TO Melbourne.....he is not sure how I am getting home!!! I think Adelaide is to far to walk so I will just have to live vicariously through your posts and photos!! :(
    I am sure that if you have left over kits you could sell them quickly after the show. Have fun planning and I love your felt signs, they are brilliant. If I saw them (and didn't know you) I would want to see what was on your stall.

    ReplyDelete
  17. You will be amazing Jodie! You always are. I wish I could come and give you a big hug!!

    ReplyDelete
  18. I would buy a kit with the special wool you are selling, much better to buy a kit then yardage when you making a little project like a toy for the first time. Good luck I am sure it will be exhausting but fun.

    ReplyDelete
  19. That'a always the trade off with craft fairs: having enough but not too much. I ALWAYS make too much and then end up giving away a lot as gifts (it's like accessing my own store). But I do find it really hard to stop when I'm enjoying making things. Probably why I've ended up with so many "supplies" that I have tp home in my house.

    ReplyDelete
  20. PS LOVE your social media buttons. At first I thought they were coasters.....

    ReplyDelete
  21. YEAH! You are going to be awesome jodie!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Wish I could be there. Hope is a HUGE success and you come home with empty bags.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Good luck. I'll definately say hello

    ReplyDelete
  24. Jodie many years ago I seem to recall that you had a little stall at a craft show (Maybe Stitches and Craft?) at the Caulfield race track. I had a small baby with me, so it was either about 4 years ago or about 7 years ago (can't remember which kid) and your stall was so fabulous, looked amazing and I have looked for it at other shows ever since. In fact that whole show, which was my first ever, was really good, with a great upstairs section with you and other smaller, groovier, (dare I say more interesting) stalls and the more mainstream ones downstairs. Anyway, this is a long post to say your stall will be fantastic, I think kits would go really well and certainly one thing that I do buy in kits is things like soft toys, especially if they have slightly unsual material (like doctor's flannel) or colours that I might not be able to readily get. Personally, kits that are on the easier end and could be done by older kids would also make great presents and I would buy that sort of thing. Having said that, I know diddly squat about markets, selling stuff, business or craft shows...

    ReplyDelete
  25. Go for it. I love the things you create. I think the kits would be a great idea. And if they don't all sell, you could put them in your on-line shop.
    I wish I lived closer so I could be there. Have fun and best of luck. You'll shine !
    therese.

    ReplyDelete
  26. You have natural appeal, and you can't help it, so I hope you aren't stressing.
    I am catching up on my blog reading, and your last post was quite hilarious.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Jodie! Don't stress! I'll be right next door to you!!!! It's my first show also and it's been a long haul to get everything ready, not to mention the huge commitment but I'm sure we'll have a blast!! See you there :)

    ReplyDelete

Hellloooooo !!!!