What a wonderful whirlwind weekend! I was selling my artwork at the Annual Shire City Sanctuary Holiday Shindy (formerly the Crispina & Friends Holiday Sale) in Pittsfield, MA — and it was a blast! A little slow to begin, but with all the visits from wonderful customers I’ve known for years, old friends and new, and lots of new customers, I was reminded why I do what I do!
I had one customer tell me, (while looking at my bin of sale prints), “It’s like you reached into our hearts and pulled out how we feel!” ::::blushing:::: aw, shucks!!!
That really struck me. See, I’ve been toiling away these last few years largly unavailable to any feedback from customers; I have done ONE craft show since Natalie was born. I suppose I’m coming out of crafty hiberation? I get the odd note here and there online and in person when I sell to friends, but I had forgotten what it felt like to have such wonderful praise in-person, from a complete stranger. Of course all the feedback isn’t like this, but this really outshines the criticisms! (“I wish your calendar had more space to write in!” — really? Then buy a frikkin calendar at Staples!)
I didn’t take any photos this weekend. Sorry. But here’s one of the amazing space from Crispina’s blog:
I also had the distinct pleasure of making some new friends, including the wonderful Desiree from Holiday Brook Farm with her delish maple syrup and gorgeous natural yarns, Jill Draper and her yummy rainbow of yarn, and the lovely Cal Patch (who I got to host in my house! score! Natalie has a new BFF!). I also got to see some old craft fair friends, including Lou from Lou’s Upcycles, Ellen Grenadier and her amazing pottery, Molly and her Moho Designs (and OMG her babe Emory! He is THE CUTEST craft fair assistant ever!) and Dan and his snarky pottery (ok the beautiful porcelain pottery isn’t snarky, but the maker might be?). So many more wonderful peeps were showcasing their handmade goods.You can see the full list on Crispina’s blog.
It was kind of like paradise.
It can only really compare to something like the Alchemy Initiative Handmade Holiday Festival LAST weekend, where I got to hang next to Desiree for the first time (total conincidence that we were neighbors again this weekend! And guess what, we used the same midwives for our homebirths! What? Small world.). We had so much fun chatting away, visiting with Ella and her petals, Crystal and her butterfly wings, Jess and her tasty treats and hot beverages and getting mind-altering tastes of HR Zeppelin‘s chocolates. Another blissful weekend, indeed.
I really do feel so lucky to do the work I do. I had honestly been having a bit of an identity crisis of late — wanting to focus more on coaching and let the artwork fall to the wayside. I am still going to be putting a lot of focus on the coaching (I want to help YOU to feel this happy in your work!!!), but I think having the freedom and awareness to know that I can be this happy and fulfilled in my work, helps me to know that I’ll keep on doing this for years to come. It will all keep changing forms and I’ve definitely got a HUGE sale on the horizon (as in, TOMORROW! watch this space! Or sign up for the newsletter!) — but I can’t stop selling art! No way.
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it really was such a fun weekend! i am so glad to have met you and had the lucky pleasure of staying with you! always good to have more craft fair buddies. if you ever need a place to stay in the Hudson Valley, i would love to have you ;n)
and give a squeeze to my little BFF!!! i miss her!!!