fresh from the bakery: renegade '12 part one- my booth

Friday, August 3, 2012

renegade '12 part one- my booth

After Portland, I had about a week and a half to get ready for Renegade. Whoops.

I already knew what I wanted to make, and I had sold some stuff in the meantime, and I just let time slip by. I remember Wednesday evening Maloree texted me "I'm so excited to see you this Saturday!" and I about died because I was so far behind on getting anything sewn. I had just taken down the air mattress from when Craig stayed with us, and in 2 days I'd have to put it back up. I got absolutely nothing finished that week.

I got all my stuff together- I piled the patterns on the floor, all the fabrics for each pattern, and I cut everything out in one day. I was impressed that it only took one day, but I was not impressed with myself for long! I made 2 monkeys, 4 kitties, 5 tag-a-long dolls and 2 yarn haired dolls, plus a Operation Incognito set. I was planning on making some Wee Mouse Tin House guys and some Travel Wee's, but I ran out of time.

While sweeping up after making the monkeys, I accidentally knocked over my already broken button case. They are still in a pile on the floor waiting to be sorted!

Here are the monkeys and kitties!

Here are the tag-a-long dolls.

Blondie bun doll.

And mermaid hair doll.

I usually name them all- but I just didn't have time!

I always wish I took work in progress photos- but I never remember. And when I do remember, my studio is in shambles and I'm too embarrased to take them. But here is a monkey before sewing him together. ~~Most of~~ all of the work is done before sewing him together and stuffing.

And what he looks like all sandwiched together and pinned like crazy.

The fair was at the Fort Mason center, which is just past Fisherman's Wharf. It sits right along the ocean. It was such a beautiful weekend, the weather was perfect and there was just enough of a cool breeze to keep the place not too hot (with all those people!) but also not too cool.

(Really shitty photo of the really cool map they had hanging at the entrance.)

So, these photos were taken the second day. I didn't take any the first day, I guess I just completely forgot! Yes me, the person that takes photos of every tiny detail forgets to take photos of really important milestones. That's me!

I had this vision of a grey table with a white scalloped border- I also made those like the day before the show! Luckily I made my sign forever ago!

I hate taking photos of my booth. You can't "see" it really, becaus eof all the background stuff that's always going on. But you get the idea.

Danny turned out to be an excellent business manager. Here he is hanging the aprons all nice so that the pockets are all facing outward. His idea. He also set up Square on his iPad for me by going on my website, downloading photos of each thing and putting them into the system. Then when I'd make a sale, all I had to do was hit the photo, and it would ring it up, tax and all. Awesome.

I had these awesome business cards made up just for the show, and I decided to order an extra box for whatever. I'm glad I did, because I went through 100 on the first day!

Nobody really bought the aprons, or the kitty pillows. I wasn't surprised about the aprons, nobody here in California likes them. But I usually sell out of the kitty pillows.

I sold out of most of the dolls and the Sleepover Pals on the first day. I didn't expect that!

I thought the monkeys and kitties would sell better- that's why I put all my focus into making them for the show. Making the dolls is easier (they are much less detailed) If I would of know that, I could of made a ton more dolls. Oh well- knowledge for next time!

I totally thought I'd sell these too- I only had time to make one set, so I was planning on taking special orders. But nobody bought it. A ton of people played and laughed with it, just no takers.

And nobody bought her, I thought she'd be the first doll to go. But instead it was the blondie bun girl.

It was packed, both days.

Afterwards, we packed up the car and went out to eat at Umami Burger. Our friend Jane gave us a gift certificate for there months ago- but we are never in that neighborhood so we never went. But it was pretty close to the event, so we finally cashed it in!