The newest addition to the Original Abbie product line…..I’ve been encouraged to expand my product line and I’ve finally done it! So, here it is – ornaments! So far I have three designs, but I will be continually adding more and more designs.

Right now they are only available through galleries that carry my work – so – either find a gallery near you, or, if there is a gallery near you that doesn’t carry my designs, let them know about me! I am happy to send them my information if you want to pass along their info to me.

Anyway, my only dilemma – is naming these suckers! I am going with the boring old “Ornament” for now – informational, explanatory – yes – fun & interesting? No! I tossed around the idea of “adornements” and “Adornaments” but…..I’m just not feeling it. So, if anybody out there has a name in mind – let me know! If I choose the name that you suggest, I will give you a free ornament of your choice!

So – either leave a comment here with your suggestion (be sure to leave your email so I can contact you if I choose your name!) or go to my facebook fan page, and leave a comment on the post there!

Wow, what an experience! I knew it would be a completely different animal than retail shows are – and I knew I’d have to be ready to think on my feet but I had no idea exactly *how* different it would be!

At this point, I have years of doing retail shows under my belt, I am knowledgable at doing them – I have my “schtick” all set to go when I do shows, I can sell my creations no problem. I can look into a sea of shoppers and know pretty confidently which ones will be buying from me – I can spot my demographic from across a room, its’ just something I know how to do now. Sure, I get surprised sometimes (especially by gift buyers, they always throw me off) but for people buying for themselves, I can spot who will be my customer from a mile away.I could do a retail show with my eyes closed.

In the wholesale world though? Wow, can you say small fish big pond? It was different for me, because I wasn’t selling direct to my demographic, I was selling to the demographic representatives (galleries, boutiques, etc) and that is a whole different ballgame! The questions they asked, the things that they commented on – I was not prepared for that at all.  However,  despite feeling like I was doing everything I could to merely tread water among the sea of other entirely talented artists – I did manage to come home with a few new wholesale accounts, and some prospects for catalog work that could really be beneficial for me.

Now, granted, there IS a very simple solution to the whirlwind that I subjected myself to – it’s called the “Visiting Artists Program” and the Buyers Market has one with each show that they run. They have workshops and classes, you get to come out on the floor and see how things are going – and it is pretty inexpensive. However, I am, and always have been a “school of life” person rather than a “school of sit here, listen, and take notes” person. Not to say I don’t learn from sitting and listening, but, I just prefer to learn in a more hands on manner. Sink or swim, fight or flight – it suits me better. And ya know, next time I do a wholesale show? I know exactly what I’ll be doing differently.

On Tuesday night all the exhibitors and buyers were invited to a party at the American Visionary Art Museum. It really was an amazing museum, I can’t wait to go back and spend more time there. All self taught artists – it spoke to me! And coincidentally I got to sit next to Wendy Rosen on the ride over, who, is the creator of the Buyers Market! And of course I had to take my picture with her

And, though my facebook is usually locked down like Alcatraz – I have made my Buyer’s Market photo album viewable for everyone, so, if you’re interested, have a look!

Day one, It took a lot of back and forth, setting up and rearranging, moving things up and down, turning them around, but – my booth is finally set up! It is so different to set up a trade show booth vs a retail booth, wow, a real challenge! Basically you want to display one of everything and that’s is, pretty much the exact opposite of my retail show booth! But, it’s done and i am very happy with it. The drapes and table linens we picked out are great, i love them.

My booth partner, Pinelands Basketry ( Mary and Pola ) really have a nice setup too, our stuff works well together because it matches and compliments each other very nicely.

I’m not really sure what, or how much to expect today, I feel like a really small fish in a big pond but Im gonna masquerade as a big, confident fish for the next few days and sell my little behind off!

Currently my work is in 9 galleries, I hope that number grows a lot during this show! Wish me luck! Here’s a small crappy phone pic of my booth, i have better on my camera but gotta download them still.

Ready or not, here we go!!!!!

Buyers Market or Bust! We are finally on our way to Baltimore, packed, and ready to go! Mary Carty is driving in the big white van – we fit very thing we needed and then some, so we are double and triple prepared.

Of course, doing a wholesale show is completely different than doing a regular retail show. I’m nervous and excited at the same time. Similar to a retail show, I was up cramming at the last minute making things and perfecting a display. My retail display doesn’t work for this show because contrary to the retail show, I only need one of everything – just, displayed much cleaner. It took a lot of planning and stressing to figure out the display, and honestly, until I’m there and setting up I don’t know exactly how it’s going to come out!

Talk about waiting till the last minute, or rather, not having time until the last minute – i was actually in marys van on the way down and stamping the edges of my blocks! Mobile art studio at it’s best!

So, wish us luck – me, pola, and Mary will all be there – more pics to follow!

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