Saturday, February 16, 2008

Sometimes things work out!


I had this show scheduled months ago. I was looking forward to it as it’s in my husband’s office building. Someone to bring me coffee in the mid-morning. Someone to help me break down in the afternoon!

But the day before, I get a call in the morning from the hubby:

“Hil, there’s another jewelry show here, right now.”

“Really? Anything like my stuff?”

“Yup.”

“How much are they asking?”

“$15 a set.”

“That’s not like mine. That sounds like the cheap stuff I saw in your building last year.”

“Yeah, it’s the cheap stuff they bring in from {name of country withheld for PC purposes}. And they’re selling purses too.”

“Well, I don’t make purses. Are they real or knock-offs?”

“They say they’re real, they say it’s illegal to sell knock-offs, but they’re only charging between $15 to $20.”

“Those are knock-offs.”

“I know. I’m upset this guy is here the day before you’re scheduled to show.”

“Doesn’t make me happy either. Are they getting a lot of interest?”

“Yeah, there are women all over their tables.”

“Oh well. That sucks. I really need to have a good show. Oh well …”

“If I were you, I wouldn’t even come tomorrow.”

“No, I said I’d be there. It’s been printed in the newsletter. If nothing else, I’ll be able to meet and talk with the women. They’ll know the difference between what’s there now and my stuff.”

“Well, I didn’t want to ruin your day, but I thought you needed to know.”

I love me husband! He was so indignant in my behalf. And I knew there was another jewelry designer just a week before me in the same building. But I felt compelled to honor my slot, so the next day I was up early and prepared for the show. I expected nothing to happen for me that day, other than hand out a ton of business cards for “future reference.”

I got there early to set up. First woman who stopped by actually bought something!! More women came and looked. I heard from quite a few that there was a jewelry seller the day before … but nothing like this(!). Women came, looked, some purchased, some promised, and while I still handed out a ton of business cards, I also had the best day at an office lobby ever!

So to all the wonderful, beautiful ladies that work in the same building as my husband, you made my day!! I’m looking forward to visiting you in a couple of months and I’ll be bringing along some wonderfully new, fresh and pretty things.

I received a compliment regarding my display. I know most itinerant sellers use simple draped table set-up; many just pile their wares in baskets or lay them out on the table. But I want to bring to boutique to the office lobby. It’s my way of honoring the hard-working woman who has just a few precious moments carved out of their workday for pampering in whatever form it takes. It’s more work on my part, a lot of work, but I think every single one of my customers is worth it!





Now, if only I could find table cloths that won’t show their creases!

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

You know it's Spring ...

...when colors of soft pinks and greens fall together on your work bench! Photo is a work in progress of a necklace of pink (mauve) and green mother-of-pearl coins beads interspersed with little baubles of gold-filled chain maille.

You also know spring is coming when one is awakened at 2:00 in the morning with the loud, explosive claps of thunder, followed with additional flashes of light and more thunderous claps. The sound of rain outside the bedroom window is always a welcome night sound.

But when one arises in the morning, brews freshly ground Kenyan coffee beans in the ever trusty French press and turns on the local news and weather, one is reminded of the fury of the season as a late-breaking story of someone's home being consumed in a lightning-caused fire plays out on the television. Just a couple of suburbs west of me. The same storm that just went by me moments early caused a life-altering tragedy to someone not known to me, but I put them in my prayers.

I contemplated this morning why my favorite season, the one that brings birth to beauty, comes at us with the fury of angry herd of buffalo. The clash of warm, moist air with that which is cold and dry brings on the awesome force of nature unleashed. And sometimes people are hurt. What brings us beautiful Texas wildflowers next month takes away someone's home this morning.

It didn't help that the home was a couple miles away from the nearest fire hydrant! Very near the shore of one of our ubiquitous man-made lakes, yet the 5 different fire departments that responded had to go the two miles to fill their trucks with the needed water to fight the fire. The fire won the battle. Why couldn't they pump water from the lake??

Monday, February 11, 2008

Reshooting, Restyling ....


I've relisted this necklace this morning with the new photos. I hope these are making my shop more inviting!!

This necklace is available here for $60 with free shipping.

I got the ceramic bird bath and new florals at Michael's over the weekend. Spent about 5 hours restyling some of my pieces already listed on Etsy.