scouted a craft show today

So this is my ummm I forgot to take the camera with me picture!
I did get to wear my Scotch Lobster hat to the craft show. I am not a big hat wearing kind of girl but I burn pretty easy so I needed to keep the sun off me.

Went to scout a craft show I almost did but decided against it. Decided to see how it was before I do it. Old Colorado City historical days in Colorado Springs, CO.

This one has a way higher booth fee, you also need to have higher liability insurance which would cost me more. Adding to that venders were suppose to wear old west themed outfits which I own none. So all those things = high enough additional costs to make me have to think about if I would do it or not. Putting out all the extra money can be risky because Colorado weather in May is a crap shoot. Some weekends it is nice, some it is raining and others it can be snowing.

I was going to have all these cool pictures of the show but ya the camera was still sitting here next to the door. It was kinda nice to just go to a craft show and not be working for once. Getting parking wasn't too bad and there were lots of people around. The crowd levels were almost the same as the Chili Festival I did in September. Didn't see a ton of people spending money, well other then for the funnel cakes that is. Funny how even if people have no money there is always money for a funnel cake! People might not have been spending because we got there right around lunch time.

The large crowds can be good or bad as I have learned because it can make it hard for people to stop and shop as the crowd just pushes forward.

So turns out very few of the vendors followed the wear a western outfit rule. Funny how at some shows rules either are enforced or they aren't. Verdict is I guess I will give it a try next year as it is in a nearby market I haven't tried yet and there was only one other soap maker there.

Dragon's Blood

Before

After

Well the newest batches weren't as cool at the ones before. I was being stingy on the red since I am starting to get low and I paid the price. I now have more of a pink/purple soap then the nice deep redish color I had before. 3 batches to sell before I get to fix the color again.

View at my craft show on Saturday

So every show you do has a different theme usually such as my next one will be at a chili cook off. The one I had on Saturday was a car show. Sales weren't that good but they really weren't that great last year either. I did this one because it had a low booth fee, is really close to my home and my dad loves street rods so at least he could go look at cars.

I am thinking that is about the last time of doing that show though!

revisting Terrariums

Before

Well if you have been following my blog for a long time you know way back when I got on this kick with my then boyfriend to make Terrariums after we saw them on Etsy. Well neither of us had green thumbs and all the moss died so they didn't really work. http://burntmill.blogspot.com/2009/04/terrariums.html

I still have the container so I came up with something new to do with it. Some of the sea shells I had gotten from my grandma were just too nice to put out in the sea shell garden. So I tried to do themes on each level. Right now it is sitting on the mantel above my fireplace, but I might put it as a center piece on my dinner table.

7-Up type soap cut

Yep a little more on the black side then I was after but still looks good. Mental note next time back off the black color more!

7up type soap in the mold

Made two new batches of 7-up type soap last night. The top looks great. Though I think I might have went a little heavy handed with the black on the inside. I will have to see what it looks like when I cut it tonight. I always have to keep telling myself a little black goes a long way!

Craft show report

Well I am back from the first craft show of the year. It went really good. Sales are up from last year and I am getting more and more repeat customers. Since moving from LA I have had to rebuild new local customers so it is nice to see it is starting to work. I am hoping that sales being up is a sign on how the summer shows will go.

So I have talked about this before but the Bee's are always poking around my booth because everything smells like flowers and is colorful. Well I paid the price this weekend when I got stung on my leg while helping a customer. I love bees but darn that hurt!

I was also so tired after this weekend and my dad reported sore muscles this morning. Seems we are out of craft show shape! lol

Got some good feedback on the new scents for the year. Hot sellers from the new ones were Floral Bouquet, Lick me all over, Blue Hawaiian and yes even the Beer was popular. Seems I will have to make more of the stinky beer soap!

Fire Starters, new Summer Medley soap

Campfire season is almost here and these fire starters are heading out for a mothers gift order to a mom who loves to camp. Making fire starters is a messy job! The wax bounces off the pine cones and goes all over, can't you tell?!?!? I also always end up with wax on me some how. :)

Posting pictures of the newest batch Summer Medley soap.