Craft Show Tips

It's time to start signing up for all those Christmas craft shows. I've gotten my check in for the Holly Fair, held in the Methodist Church in Shalimar, Florida. That's a pretty nice show. They are only a one day show, but the last time I was there (a couple of years ago) it was very heavily attended and sold lots and lots!

I still need to get organized and get my application to a couple more I want to do - bearing in mind how draining it can be doing shows on following weekends. I get tired just thinking about it.
After doing a few shows, I've come up with my list of things I need, like to have, and should bring because I "might" need it. Here it is. You may have more to add. If you do, please leave them in the comments for me.

*bags
*bubble wrap
*tape (masking and scotch)
*twine/string/fishing line (great for tying up displays)
*scissors
*paper towels
*sharpie
*ink pen
*business cards
*index cards (make quickie signs with the sharpie)
*alligator clips
*small notebook (for taking names, mailing list, etc)
*table covers
*bed risers or equivalent (these raise up your table which can increase your sales)
*water bottles and snacks/mints
*cash box or fanny pack ( I like to keep my money close)
*receipt book
*extra spending cash (just a couple of $ )
*for jewelry makers- extra findings/tools

I'm sure someone can think of lots more. These are the basics for me, and I like to keep them in a plastic storage container with the kind of lid that flips open and can snap shut. It makes it so much easier to keep all the small odds and ends in one of these that can be shoved under the table. I also swear by the technique of raising the table by 4 - 6 inches. It makes your product look good and gets it right under the buyers nose!

Now that it's July, I'm about to get into high gear for making inventory for what I hope to be big sales this fall and winter. When you have a full time job and have children, being creative can really be a challenge, but it's one I love!

Tis the Season?

I know it's only June, but in a week or two, it'll be time for Mom and me to start making our Christmas items for holiday craft shows. Well, mom's got quite a following with some of the stores in Sedona she wholesales to. She makes these wonderful nativities in her southwestern style and has a line of angels and santas, too.

In fact, the angels were the first things that mom showed me how to make. I think hers still beat mine (she is just so good at them!), but mine are pretty sweet, just the same. All the angels we do are holding something in their arms; a Christmas tree, a candle, a doll, even a cat or dog for the pet lovers. It's the most fun to think up something that the angel could be holding. I think we spend too much time on them for the amount we are charging , and might have to think of an increase. They just require so much time and are easily broken in the fragile greenware state.
I love making them, though.

The Santas we make are also adorable. Mom designed it, too, as well as some angel ornaments. She is one talented lady, that's for sure.

I need to start on my Santas soon. It's not that hard to get into the Christmas spirit in summertime when you are painting a Santa Claus. Once I get started, it's easy to get in the swing of things and pretty soon, I have a couple of dozen sitting around, waiting to be sold.

I just remembered I need to sign up for a couple of shows that have deadlines. Oh boy! I hate when I space off the entry and later kick myself for being so dumb! This time I won't forget to send in my application. Anyone else ever do that? Arrg! It's so aggravating because you know there was plenty of time and you have no excuse! Maybe this year will be different. Maybe this year I'll have a half dozen shows lined up with no problems. Hmmm...maybe this year........

For information on Helga Cruz's nativities or to place a custom order, you can go to our Etsy shop and send a convo ( see: Contact the Seller).

Super Heavy Duty Craft Show Tent Weights

Go to Home Depot or Lowe's or any building supply that sells a big, 5 gallon bucket that looks like this. Buy 4 of these, with lids, if you want, but they aren't strictly necessary for this project.

Now get 4 bags of Quikrete, or any ready-to -use concrete mix. I got the small bags. I'm not sure of the weight, but I think they were 40 pound bags. You'll probably need help loading and unloading these from your car if you're a woman.

Now you need to get 4 eye bolts like in the picture and 4 washers big enough to thread onto the eye bolts. These need to be big, giant, eye bolts, because you want to be able to tie rope through the hole in the eye bolt, or at the very least, slide a heavy duty hook through the hole.



Now, to make your super heavy duty tent weights;

1. Pour the contents of each bag into a bucket. Be careful and wear a mask when you do this, or at least do it a place with lots of good ventilation. Of course, it should be done outdoors!


2. Get your hose out and add water. Use a disposable wooden spoon or stick to mix all the concrete mix and water. I don't know how much water. Just enough to make a thick, gooey, porridge-ey consistency.


3. Mix mix, mix, mix, mix, mix. Until you think your arm is going to fall off. You can do all the buckets at once. The concrete sets up fast, but not that fast.


4. When the concrete gets thick, push your eyebolts into it, in the center of the bucket. Leave about 2 inches sticking out.




That's all there is to it. Your buckets will cure in a day. When you use these, set a bucket at each of the four corners of your tent, you can attach a bungie cord or rope from the corner of the roof of your tent to the eyebolt. The lids of the buckets can be cutout to accomodate the rope, and you can cap off your bucket, or leave it open - the choice is up to you.



These are extremely heavy and you will most likely need help lifting them. I use mine regularly, because I do a lot of shows on the coast or on the beach, where wind can be ferocious. The concept can be modified if you want you use smaller buckets or less concrete. A common style for hanging weights is to use large diameter pvc pipe capped off on both ends and filled with concrete. They are great, but if you need super heavy weights, the bucket idea works great.