Crafts in Chelsea 5/8/10

Rain Rain Go Away.........Don’t Blow all my Stuff Away.....


That’s basically how the whole day went. After schlepping my Neatly Packed wheelie Bag of jewelry, display supplies and a chair. I also had an extra bag with the cool frame I made ( from a previous entry) since it does not fit into the Wheelie Bag. The Trek from Astoria to Chelsea by train is a gruesome one; I had to switch at 42nd street and IT IS A HUGE STATION with LOTS OF STAIRS. So I have to pick up the wheelie and carry it around. Needless to say I’m out of shape so it was hard.
I get to Chelsea amidst everyone setting up, find my little place with my rented table and start unpacking. Now, it’s at this time that I notice how crappy it is out and how Everyone Else has a tent but me. SO I think to myself, I can probably get a Tent at Gristedes or maybe Duane Reade? WRONG. FAIL. I ran around Looking for one, leaving my stuff in the care of the ladies across the way only to come back as it starts Pouring......POURING.

I bet you’re waiting for the part where I get stuck in the rain and all my stuff is ruined.... but AHA! The wonderful ladies across the way hauled my table and stuff under their tent!!! HOW NICE! I was floored. That was so nice. THEN to top it off they offered to Share their tents with me....FREE! I definitely offered to pay them but they refused. To keep this short, I wanted to pack up and go as all my stuff, including jewelry, purse, chair and ME were getting soaked. However, they convinced me to stay as the weather had to get better and I would definitely have fun with them. So I stayed. And though the weather got better (it stopped raining and it was sunny for a bit) and I had a great time with the girls and learned a lot as well as shopped at the other awesome vendors who were there, The wind was so incredible that we all had to leave early as all our stuff was blowing away and it was starting to get dangerous. I made a few sales ( mostly from one of the girls I shared the tent with) but nothing great. Our booth was awesome and people were definitely checking it out, but the foot traffic just wasn’t there I guess. All in all it was a really cute market, lots of different vendors, Lots of cool artistic and creative stuff. It’s too much of a haul for me and since I don’t plan on owning a tent anytime soon I may not do it again :( but we shall see. When they start allowing Shares I will be able to sell with my Jewelry Partner in Crime, Julie.
PROS:

• Well Organized

• Very Large Market, all down one street

• Nice area

• Different mix of vendors - all different stuff
• bathroom in the school on the same street
• lots of Family, Definitely more family oriented market

CONS:

• You need a Tent and a Table, although Renting is Sometimes an option

• hike to get to by subway ( for Astorians at least)

• lots of vendors = Competition, you need to step up your game!

SHOUT OUTS!

The following are the ladies who adopted me and treated me so kindly. THEY ROCK and ell should check out their stuff. They have some beautiful and funky Stuff! I hope they forgive me for misspelling their names.

Keri: The Funkstress Mastermind of “ ZZsROCKnRECYCLABLES” a funky and monsteriffic collection of up cycled children’s wear that is hand painted with monsters and fuzzy things. She also makes recycled tutus that are great for kids and adults alike. Her Stuff is fun, unique and environmentally conscious. Not to mention FUN and RAD like she is! Keri was the Funky Fun one who also had a lot of positive energy and very nice things to say about the rain as I was cursing it under my breath. OH and her Business Cards are Friggin cute and Unique! She heat Pressed her Etsy Store Name as a business card onto Jeans and cut them out in squares. I hate to give away that secret but its Suuuuuch a good one! Check out Her Etsy Store: http://www.zzsrocknrecyclables.etsy.com/

Leslie: Proprietor of "Elle F Bijoux" a beautiful assortment of empty Pocket Watch Necklaces filled with assortments of Gems stones and sparkly stuff. They really are beautiful pieces and really creative, they aren’t something I have ever seen and will ever see. They’re truly unique and Original. Leslie was the Positive Energy and Positive thoughts of the group. She was all about it! Check out her Etsy Store: http://www.elefbijoux.etsy.com/

Mellissa: Doesn’t sell, but was a good friend of Keri's and she was an awesome help. She provided the car for the other girls and the manual labor as well as helped with Tent Hold Down as it was almost blowing away and helped grab everyone’s stuff that flew away. She was also really cool and funny. I have to say, I really felt the "superwoman" vibe from her.

I also have to give a shout out to some vendors that I thought were especially awesome:

Miniature Rhino - www.Miniaturerhino.com

*Jessica Marquez, the designer set up the cutest little wooden booth. The sign Read “letter writing service” and is homemade and so vintage looking with a working blue typewriter that you can write your letter on! You are then able to put it into a lilt glass bottle, cork it with a real cork, add a little charm of your choice to it and she can seal it with wax…….to be sent to the one you love….or it can be a really nice hate note. I am going to send one to my Love One Day….she even mails them for you! And did I mention her prices are great?

2nd Coming - www.2ndcomming.net

I bought a card that reads” Fuck it, Were going Dancing” and that requires no explanation. they have a lot of really nice Sassy Art prints.

Yania Creations - http://www.yaniamor.etsy.com/

Beautiful and fine quality gemstone jewelry. Her stuff is so dainty and classy I just love it!

And I love Supporting my Fellow Artists on Etsy…..<3

Brooklyn Indie Market is a WIN

LadyThree was at the Brooklyn Indie Market this past Saturday and LOVED IT! It was a beautiful day and life under the tent was cool and crisp. This was my second Fair ever and the first of the summer season, and I learned A lot. First off, this is a really good fair to start with if your a Newbie. The Organizer, Kathy Malone, was such a great Hostess. From the very beginning in applying until close down for the day, she was prompt with emails, organized, courteous and and overall really really Super nice lady. She cleaned up the tent as we were setting up, when it got windy she got up on a ladder ( in a skirt BAD ASS!) and put up some tent walls so our stuff wouldn't fly around. towards the end of the night she came around to each booth and offered us a glass of red wine for our second wind. NICE!

I also met some really nice crafters. Honestly all crafters pretty Rockin' but this group in particular was great. it was the opening of the Brooklyn Lyceum so about half the vendors that could be there were there and there weren't tons of buyers, but that made it less nerve racking for me. Honestly, My sales were good, I made back my table money and then some. I liked that it is a smaller Market and That i was able to get to know my fellow Artisans. I was able to have conversations with them, get to know them, share some tips and learn a lot. There were 4 jewelry booths including myself, but we were all different. Kathy did a good job in spreading us out and not having similar vendors.

As a smaller Market I felt it was great. That can be both a Pro and Con, however I personally find More good in it than bad. Smaller Market = less vendors for less competition. You can get more personal with the vendors and Customers and really stand out. You are able to think more about how your product is being viewed and you can fine tune your displays. I had a lot of time to think and talk and really think more about my presentation and what direction i wanted to go with Lady Three.

So to make it easy on the Eyes here are the Pros and Cons of the BIM:

PROS:

• Kathy Malone, the Organizer, Was GREAT attentive to the sellers and customers alike
• Really nice Vendors with some great products
• Wide Range of Products for all tastes ( Cards & Paperie, Vintage Jewelry, Handmade Jewelry, Natural stone Jewelry, Fine Jewelry, Purses and Bags, Clothes and best of all CUPCAKES!!!!)
• Foot Traffic was AWESOME - Great Location on Smith and Union
• Good marketing of the market
• Smaller Market, but with quality goods, NO JUNK!

CONS:

• Brooklyn Lyceum was close by which can hurt the Brooklyn Indie Market BUT If BIM is marketed at the Lyceum it could bring some Crowds over to the BIM....so this isn't really a con.....

Things I Learned at BIM:

• If you are sitting or standing in back of your table, your display should not block your View of your Buyers and Merchandise
• Try not to make your table so Busy and keep everything  Organized
• SALE DISH: key to having people stop by your table, keep it stocked with stuff
• Always encourage Touching and trying on, the friendlier you are the better but  Try not to be too overbearing
• A good table cloth and sign will really pull your booth together
• Get creative with your display, you don't want to Blend in!

Overall This was a Fabulous and Awesome Experience. I was with Chris all day so that was great (Hes the love of my life) the location was awesome and there was a really good diner across the street for snacks. I made some sales and people liked my stuff so that was a much needed ego boost. I will be back on June 5th and am going to see about some other dates in August.

YAY FOR THE BROOKLYN INDIE MARKET!!!!!!