Ok, ladies...everyone has probably been on pins and needles waiting for my day to end at the craft fair.
All in all, it was a good day.

I'll give you my day's rundown....

I didn't get much sleep because of the anticipation. I was up at 5am, made coffee and pacing around the house making sure I have EVERYTHING!! For those of you who are doing this,,,,make sure you pack tape, scissors (fabric and paper ones), notebook, needle & thread, and anything else you think you might not need. lol
I get hubby up and out of bed and he comes down and packs up the van for me. I have a big suitcase, a medium suitcase, my sewing machine bag and a small tote full. I also have a rack so I can hang my quilts. I'm still thinking to myself that I don't have enough. We get to where we need to go and carry everything in.
I find my table and I just love the woman who assigned the tables. I had one that was pretty much upfront and wasn't lost in the back of the rooms. Love that woman!!! I kept thanking her over and over!! We start unpacking. I have a 6ft table and guess what? Everything IS NOT fitting on the table, but we manage with some finagling to get everything to fit and look nice. I leave Bill at the table and I walk around to check out my competition. Guess What? I really don't have any except for this ANNOYING woman who is 2 tables down from me. She kept telling me her stuff was hand made BY HER. I don't think so. It was hand made alright, mass produced in some 3d world country and then she bought it and brought it in. She had a few of the books that I had, same price, but that was about it and even those were done by what looked to be a 3yr old.
Anyway......I know....get to the point of the story Terri....HOW MUCH DID YOU SELL/MAKE??
Ok, I sold ALL my soft books. I even had a lady come back at the last minute and want more, but I had not more, they were ALL GONE!! I sold ALL BUT 3 of my table runners. I sold, I think 4 pillowcases and only 1 towel set. ALL my mice were gone within 3 hours. Had a lady by 30 of them. Ended up making 60 of them and ALL were gone. They were a pretty big hit! Even the annoying lady there had some, but everyone said mine were much prettier.
NONE of my totes sold. Was a bit confused on that. None of my quilts sold either, which is ok, so I get to keep them for myself,,,yippee!!!
In the end........drumroll please.........I made, taking out the $90 for table and vendor's license.........are you ready? Are you sure? Ok, here goes.....I MADE $415!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can you believe it? I was shocked! I knew I had about $200, but OMG!! I was estatic!!
YES, I am DEFINITELY doing it again next year.
My prices were dead on. Had I gone up any higher, they would not have sold. I will probably maybe go up a $1 or so for next year, but I don't know, just all depends on what I can find on sale for fabric to buy. So, yes, next year will be a definite and will hope to double my cash intake to make it $1000.
I had prices ON things and I also had price lists up. People still asked how much things were. Everyone looked at the books and when they did, I told them they were $12 and they make great gifts for small children for Christmas. Can't believe I sold them all!!!
BTW....the annoying lady? She didn't make hardly anything. The helper she had commented that she still had just as much on her table at the end that she had at the beginning. Oh, and by the way.....MOST of her stuff she had was licensed fabric stuff too.....I saw NOTHING cute on her tables! Every time I had a crowd at my table, she would come over and look to see what was going on and then make a comment that she had the same thing I did on her table. NOT!! I would just look at her and give her a small nudge out of the way. There was even a lady who DID go to annoying lady's table, pick up one of her books, put it down and come back to my table. She said mine were MUCH better. lmao :) :) :)
I will say one thing....WATCH YOUR STUFF CLOSELY!! I had my totes, some of them hung on the rack. I KNOW I had 2 purple grape ones, but turned around and only saw 1. Asked Bill about it and he said he didn't remember. The annoying lady kept "eyeing" and commenting on the totes and I think she swiped one, but I don't know for sure. I tried looking over at her table to see, but she had so much junk packed around her table, a person couldn't find anything.
So, there ya have it!!! I'm happy, I got my nap in when I got home and I'm retiring my sewing machine for a bit. Have to clean my room. Anyone want to help????


FINAL COUNT
I just got the final count in as to how much GNOSC made for Operation Christmas Drop. Drumroll please........We made from entrance fees ($3/person $1/children 5-12) and the bake table (all that money was from donations, nothing was marked) and the money from vendor rental tables......$5672!!!! Awesome, huh? That is more than what they made last year! WOOHOO!!!! I'm hoping that we are the biggest contributor because if we are, they let 3 people from whoever contributes the most, ride in the plane to watch the stuff get dropped. I want to go so badly!!! WOOHOO!!!

Congrats. Job well done. Glad you had a great day.

Congrats Terri!!! Woohooooo....more money for fabric!! I'm shocked that none of your totes sold..I guess you never know for sure what will sell and what won't. I was pretty sure those cute mice would go like hot cakes though, so no surprize there. Well, time to get started on next yrs. stuff...so ...what cha' waitin' for?? :lol:

wahoo for you Terri!! It is so nice when one of the good guys wins! You are tuned in enough to the world around you that you know what sells. Rest up and take it easy for the rest of the weekend. :) :)

I knew the mice would go too! Those usually do! I too was shocked about the totes, but you never know, right?
I am going to run to Ben Franklins and tear apart the shelves with the Christmas stuff on it. I'll find ALL the soft books there are and scoop them up. Will also tell the lady there to hold any that come in.
What am I waiting for? Well, my machine is taking a small vacation and I need to clean that room of mine. I know the carpet in there WAS green when I bought it, but it's multicolor now. lol

Thanks Quilt4u and Cathy.

Glad it was a success, Terri

So good to hear your day was a success. Congrats!

Yea Teri, congrats and I'm glad your day went well

well done Terri! You deserved to do well.....you worked hard for it!

Karen xx

CONGRATULATIONS, Terri! I'm sure it feels terrific to have people really like and want to buy your homemade items. That shows what nice work you do. Don't let your sewing machine cool off too long. :thumbup:

that is so great, Terri! You have inspired me to try our craft show next year. What a $$ haul!!! GOOD JOB!

I am so happy for you! :D

WOW! That is sooooooooooooo cool. Congrats hun on a job well done.

I love stories like that! Up until this fall I've never had time to get ready for a craft sale and now that I do, I am so insecure and say, "No one would want what I make!!"

Good for you Terri!

Wow! You did great Terri! Sounds like a lot of people loved your stuff!

Great job! what are the mice?

You know, I thought the same thing. If it wasn't for our COs wife, I wouldn't really have done it. She was the one that actually pushed me into doing it. It was alot of fun and with it only being 5 hours, that was a great amount of time. Go for it! You never know what will happen. I sure didn't think I'd do as well as I did!

WooHoo for you!!! Great job! Sorry you had to deal with the annoying lady, but I guess there always seems to be one.

Thanks all.....
and for those of you that think your things won't sell? I'm here to tell you, THEY WILL!!
GO FOR IT!!

The mice? Here's the link to them. I've been making them for over 15 years and just found the link for them a little while ago. I sold them for $1 and they went fast!!

http://jas.familyfun.go.com/arts-and...&craftid=10020

Yippy :D

Up with Terri, down with annoying lady :D

Maybe I missed your post, but I don't think I ever saw a pic of the mice. Can you post one?

Congratulations on a successful day! Bet you're glad it's over!

Never mind about the mice picture--guess I should read everything before I post!

WWWHHOOOO you go girl. You WORKED hard for that money.

Thanks for the mouse link they are adorable I have to make some.

Just think the lady was jelous of you and your talent. She prob did take your tote BUT it was just to keep you close to her and have something she could get talent from by osmosis........... :twisted: :roll: :shock:
Ok sorry I was raised by an Engineer and was married to one for over 20 years.....my sense od humor tends to run on the dry side.

Whaaa Hoooooo.....that is so great glad to here of your rewards and comments sometimes that's worth more than the money.....Fantastic!!

What a great day you had :D Love the mice, am going to cut a bunch to take to school for the G kids Christmas party, they will love glueing and putting them together for their craft. You do beautiful work and were rewarded at the sale. Wish all of it sold but now maybe folks will come to you later for stuff. Congrats :D

WOW Teri -- more money for fabric!!! Glad you did so well!!!

And the annoying lady, yeah, she probably took your tote. I bet she has some next year -- if she can find someone to make them for her :lol:

Congratulations!

Congrats on a successful day. I love the annoying lady stories and so glad you out sold her. I'm sorry about the theft you experienced.

Terri!
Congratulations! You did so GOOD, Girl!
I'm so sorry the mean lady was next to you...

I will keep an eye out for Christmas clearance fabric books for you...Hancocks here marks them down to 80% off after Christmas, if we get lucky.

Now, how much fabric do we get to buy???? or is it an upgrade of equipment in the sewing room?? It's as much fun to plan to spend unexpected (as in un-budgeted) money as it is to spend it.

Hugs, :thumbup: :thumbup:

Well done Terri, so glad you did so well, although I was never in any doubt you do such lovely work. Doesn´t it give you a great buzz when you sell something you made.

Whatcha going to buy more fabric I bet. I didn´t see the mice either can you give me a link please.

Elle

I missed the mice too!! Would love to see them. Glad the sale went so well. It will be nice to get to keep your quilts. Sometimes it just takes the right person to come by & the right person was just not at the sale for your quilts & totes....However...maybe you are the right person for your quilts!! :D Your stuff is all beautiful!!

Way to go Terri!!!!! :D

Yeah, Terri!!!! Way to go-I am so happy it went well. You are now "rolling in the dough!"

Kudos Terri, I knew you would do good because your work is great. Love the "mean lady" story. Have a nice rest, you and your machine!

I am so happy for you!! You should be very proud.

I agree, do keep an eye on things, my mom had a few things taken from another vender once.

Congratulations on your sale!! I'm glad you did well. You worked hard. Do you get to buy something special with the money you earned?

I have been at craft fairs, where others had "imported" stuff that they touted as hand made by them. You could tell, unfortunately because they didn't pay much for the stuff themselves they could sell for cheaper. I left a couple of shows after the first try because of the "fake stuff"

Now you will have the whole year to pace yourself and make more stuff for next year. Those totes will make great gifts or even sell next year!!!

Thank you, Thank you everyone.
Your encouragement meant alot to me in the process of doing this.

I posted a link, I think it's on page 2 for the mice.

I'm going to look around for the soft books, but if anyone finds them at a decent price....I paid $5.99/panel for mine....I'll gladly buy them from you.

The money I made will go towards a trip I am wanting to take in the spring. (not saying where at the moment, but stay tuned, I will tell as it gets closer)
Just the r/t ticket out of here is $2000, so I am about 1/4 way there. I don't like having to deplete the savings, but hubby says that if I REALLY want to go, I can take the money from there. I'd rather earn the money to go instead of using savings. One of the reasons why I worked. My pay checks were for "fun" things for the family. It's just that with the way Gov't of Guam and their taxes, I'm not working here.
Heard a rumor that there will be a spring craft show somewhere, not held by GNOSC that did this one. I might consider that, not sure. Just all depends on who is running it.

Thanks again everyone for the support you gave me. It really does mean alot!

I am very glad you had a great day. Have fun cleaning and no I do't want to help!

Kyia

Good for you. I don't want to appear stupid but what are soft books?