Austin Celtic Festival wrap-up

[lillian13]

The Austin Celtic Festival? Was awesome, sales-wise. I made a lot more than I would have at the Sun City Christmas show, with all the faux-rich retirees. Phooey on you, Sun City!

World's Best Niece helped me set up the tent and tables on Friday and then I came in on Saturday morning to set up the actual displays. And my jewelry, of course. The weather was amazing, not too hot, not too cold, and very little wind. I only kept one wall of my tent down to display my sign, and it worked great. Got lots of compliments and sales. The WBN stopped by and got me lunch (and let me run to the bathroom). Sales were decent even after dark, and I do approve of the new shorter hours. Sales die during the last act, and I really wanted to get home, take a shower, upload the credit card machine, and eat. And sleep.

Sunday had more wind, but it was never bad. The direction changed, though, so I was smelling the food vendors allllll day.  Gyros. mmmmm. pentapus came by (yes, I enabled her thesis procrastination) and we had great fun sqeeing about the latest SGA. She was kind enough to do a food run for me--I'm still eating out of the enormous bag of kettle corn--and bought a bracelet. I missed hooking up with vickita (sorry!), but many many people whose names I do not remember came by. They had an unfair advantage as my name is on my sign, and not one of them told me their name. argh. Sales were great for a Sunday. I did get to make a quick round of the other vendors before opening, and got a great book for a friend's son. It's on making catapults. I figure since he lives in Pennsylvania I'm safe...

Teardown was much easier than normal, since the WBN and the Nephew both showed up to help. The WBN had done some shopping the day before and showed the Nephew around while the last act (Seven Nations) was on stage. I then showed the Nephew how to knock pecans out of trees with a broom. The damn things had been falling on my head all weekend, and they are huge. As I said to him, "Give a kid a pecan and he'll eat it. Teach him how to knock them out of a tree, and he'll whack on trees all day." Got home after putting up the tent and it's accessories up in the storeroom, unloaded the car, finished laundry, took a shower, and passed out. That trip to the bank on Monday was nice, though.

Last show of the year is this Saturday, in Burnet. Getting up at 5 am to drive out for a 9 am show opening. 

I'm doing wirewrapping demos all three days of the Austin Gem & Mineral Society show, since once again I didn't get into the Wheatsville Co-op show. Or the Cherrywood show. Hopefully I'll get some orders at the Gem & Mineral show. I can't sell anything there, but I can give away my card and take orders....

Comments

[dremiel.livejournal.com]

Sounds great. We are sorry to have missed you! Between the school carnival, science fair, and the GORGEOUS weather we stayed busier than we planned.

Ya know, PA may not be quite far enough - he's a pretty bright kid and he lives next to an Army base!!!!

Dinner - soon, Next week p'raps?


RE Wheatsville, would you get preference if you were a coop member? I think the an annual membership is soemthing really low like $15. And no more volunteer hours! Yay!

[lillian13.livejournal.com]

Yes, next week would work. I've made some cufflinks you may be interested in...

I think I didn't get in because a) they seem to have the same people every year, no matter that they jury every year, and b) I'm a jewelry maker and we're pretty thick on the ground.

[vickita.livejournal.com]

Sorry we didn't meet up, but hey, it sounds like you had a great festival. Me too! So glad I went -- I *needed* it like nobody's business.

Do you ever make it out to any of the other Celtic festivals? I kind of live at them. *g*

[lillian13.livejournal.com]

I sell t-shirts at the Pegasus Publishing booth at the North Texas Irish Fest every year, but that's about it. We're in the Automotive building, near the stage that isn't infested with Irish dancers. :-)

[vickita.livejournal.com]

Ah. I'll probably see you then. I love NTIF, except for it frequently being a little colder than I like at the big outdoor stage, especially after dark. Love it anyway. :-)

[pentapus.livejournal.com]

That Sunday and Monday I made a pretty hilarious picture. Pajamas that needed to be washed, my that needed to be showered, craaaaazy hair, and then, oddly, a very nice hand-crafted gem bracelet.

Me, sort of wild-eyed on page 42: It makes me feel pretty.
Self: Right, sure.