Hi Jenny.  Good topic for arts and crafts people.  I used to make and sell my arts &  crafts items and my dolls in Oregon & Washington, USA but quit in 2001.

Things have really changed in my area. I USED sold my crafts in CRAFTER'S MALLS but they've just about all our out of business now. It was hard to compete because the owners rented a "craft booth" to people who DIDN'T MAKE the items. THEY BOUGHT CHEAP IMPORTS and sold those.

We still have fairs etc, there are a few BIG Arts & Craft short term events. One that is still around is still going is called "EVERY HUSBAND'S NIGHTMARE".  People in the Pacific NW can still participate in the event. The link is here http://www.nightmarebazaar.com/  There is also a BIG summer fair in Downtown Vancouver, Washington USA. It is a Farmer's market and they sell homegrown produce and hand crafted items.  They jury the items so that quality is allowed.   Great topic everyone.  Pat

Hello again!

I was away for a little while so my apologies for the delay.

The Crafts Report Magazine link is: http://www.craftsreport.com

I make beaded jewelry and other gift items. Most of my products are on my website. I need more items in order to move to a fair/show. One should have enough products to last at least one day. And enough to display. A sparse booth or table is not appealing. LOL

My craft time is limited since I work full time, help my mom, and plan to return to college to finish my Bachelor's degree. I'm contemplating a career change also--life coach or full counseling (which means graduate school). At 42, it's a lot to consider.

I love beading, especially loomwork. (My loom projects will be available soon.) Recently began to look at air-dry polymer clay for home decor items.

"EVERY HUSBAND'S NIGHTMARE"

What a great show!!! Been there - done that!!

I did allot of crafts fairs when I lived in Western Washington. At that time I  had wooden plant hangers, canvas pots, wooden garden markers, yard decorations & grew all the plants (I sold them to go in the pots) in my greenhouse. Here in Vegas we have no shows worth a crap unless you have big $$$$$$$$$, they are tour shows. I only do the greeting cards now, I still have some picture frames to match the cards but shipping them is a pain. We may do the farmers market here so Cait can sell her CD fish & hemp braiding. selling my cards on line is sometimes hard because until you actually see one most people don't understand the work involved. They also think it is a printed card, even when I tell them the pictures are cut from fabric.

For anyone reading this that is NOT a vendor here is a word of warning!!!

NEVER stand in a booth & say (even under your breath)

"Oh, that would be easy to make"

I was at a show with many vendors that I knew. We were all sick of this particular show (the people were nasty)! On the second day I brought scissors, fabric, full sheet card stock, cutters....all the things needed to make a simple card (they were lucky I didn't bring saws & sanders). A group of ladies walked up & announced that they would not pay $4.00 for a plain card with pictures glued on it that their kids could do. Needless to say, I pulled out all of the supply's & LOUDLY told them to go ahead & make as many cards as they wanted RIGHT NOW! 1 lady did fumble around but, had no clue where to start. They all walked off. None of them bought any of my stuff that day. The next day 2 of them came back & bought all kinds of things. The other vendors took Cait & I out for dinner.

Sorry to ramble,

Sheryl