Working the Shows Wednesday - Sugarloaf Crafts at Wilmington, DE - Sept. 25-27, 2009

More than 200 national artists and craft designers will gather for the Sugarloaf Crafts Festival in Wilmington to present their contemporary crafts in a lively festival marketplace celebrating the American artist through a wide range of crafts, engaging demonstrations, music and family entertainment. The Sugarloaf Crafts Festival is open, Friday, September 25 through Sunday, September 27, 2009 at the Chase Center on the Riverfront.

The Sugarloaf Craft Festival showcases the wide range of contemporary crafts by offering both serious collectors and casual shoppers the opportunity to discover one-of-a-kind, handmade creations. Avid craft enthusiasts know that Sugarloaf Craft Festivals have long been recognized as the leader in offering the crafts that are featured in magazines, exhibited in fine galleries and museum shows, and acquired by prestigious collections; but the Sugarloaf show in Wilmington will also offer affordable and innovative functional and decorative pottery, sculpture, glass, home décor, furniture and home accessories, leather, fiber and wearables, items for the garden, fine art and photography.

Many artists at the Sugarloaf Crafts Festival use such classic skills as raku ceramics, glassblowing, leather working, blacksmithing and woodturning, while others exemplify the latest trends crafts, such as mixing materials, incorporating and repurposing recycled objects, and exploring new techniques and processes.

“We want Sugarloaf visitors to experience the full range of what is happening now in American crafts as well as seeing what they have always loved,” said Deann Verdier, president of the show’s producer, Sugarloaf Mountain Works. “For example, they can meet a well-established potter or a jewelry maker whose works are based on familiar designs, as well as a young painter or glassblower experimenting with more abstract images and new colors.”

The variety of crafts at the Sugarloaf Crafts Festival is complemented by a diversity of entertainment for the whole family. Throughout the show, master craftspeople will demonstrate their expertise in a range of media, including paper-making, metal spinning, and stone carving. The lively Festival marketplace includes specialty gourmet food for sampling and purchase; and eclectic musical performances, including acoustic guitar, live piano, and and vocal performances of French classics. Children can participate in their favorite fairytales with Middle Earth Studio’s dress up theater.


The Sugarloaf Crafts Festival will be held Friday, September 25 and Saturday, September 26 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Sunday, September 27 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Chase Center on the Riverfront. The Chase Center is located at 815 Justison Street, in Wilmington, DE.

Adult admission to the Sugarloaf Crafts Festival is $7 when purchased online, $8 for adults at the door, free for children under 12. Admission is good for all three days, and free parking is available.

Picture Directory (from top to bottom):

Pendant by Rona Fisher

Sculpture by Dan Murphy

Baskets by Victoria Cox

Tray with glasses by Susan Schmidt

Ring by Lisa Walsh

For more information about the Sugarloaf Crafts Festival, directions, or to purchase discount admission tickets visit http://www.sugarloafcrafts.com/ or call (800) 210-9900. Additional show information, artist profiles, and special offers may be found on the shows’ Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sugarloafcrafts.

About the Sugarloaf Craft Festivals:For over 30 years, the nation’s most talented artisans have sold their contemporary crafts and fine art at Sugarloaf Craft Festivals, rated as one of

the top craft experiences in the country. Last year, more than 250,000 visitors purchased over $20 million in fine arts and crafts directly from the artists at Sugarloaf festivals.

Truffles ? - Not for me, thank you!

I must be missing something. There was one of those cooking competition shows on tonight and the judges went on and on about how much polish was given to the dish simply by using a few black truffles for garnish and by making a truffle sauce to drizzle over the meat. That dish was a winner. I just don't get it. What's the great appeal of a truffle? (We're not talking the candy variety here, folks.)

I guess I’m just not sophisticated enough but after my one and only run-in with truffles (Again, I’m not talking chocolates!) - I just don’t understand their mystique.

Some years back, The Big Guy's sister was in town for a visit with the family and we decided to go out for a special dinner at Tio Pepe’s, a popular and classy Spanish-themed restaurant in Baltimore. The Big Guy and both sister-in-laws all ordered familiar dishes but I thought one of the specials sounded good - veal stuffed with black truffles, with a truffle sauce and truffled mashed potatoes. I LOVE veal but I had no idea what a truffle actually was. My B-I-L had also been considering the same dish but also had never had truffles.

I did ask what a truffle was. B-I-L authoritatively told me they were “the things pigs dig up in the French countryside.” I’m never sure when he's is putting me on and I often unconsciously play his straight man. He can be convincing. He did know what he was talking about that night but I don’t think he went far enough. I assumed it was a root vegetable like a potato or beet. Nobody mentioned it is basically a “fungus.” (I’m not a mushroom person either.) He simply asked me, “If Tio’s serves it, how bad could it be?”

When our dinners came - I was very disappointed. I thought the taste was awful and the only word I could come up with was “pungent.” Of course, the entire plate was permeated with truffles! I nibbled here and there and finally managed to down about half of my meal. At that point, B-I-L, also unhappy with the taste, had not eaten ANY of his meal. he called the waiter over and adamantly declared them the “WORST truffles I have ever eaten!!” (Remember, he’d never eaten any truffles before.)

The waiter apologized profusely, immediately took his plate, and brought him another meal of his choosing. I had suffered in silence and was grateful for my sister-in-law having shared her green beans with me! They were delicious. (It's kind of hard to return a meal you've already eaten half of! )

I learned something that night, the squeaky wheel really does get the oil - or at least the best meal cooked in a fantastic oil! ? (My B-I-L had a great meal that night.)

The second thing I learned, was to only order foods you really can identify. Even if you've never had it before, it should be something you at least know something about!

Hope y'all have a chance to have a good meal this week. (Even if you do eat and like truffles!)

I feel like giving something away!

I'm feeling like a give-away!


Want to play?

We'll make it real easy. Just provide a humorous caption for this pic. Post your caption in a comment to this post and I'll put together a little judging team here at the house and we'll pick the best one. Deadline for entries will be September 27, 2009.


I don't recall where I found this picture so I cannot give proper credit to the photographer. Suffice it to say, I didn't take it. It does look just like my childhood dog though! His name was Snoopy and while he was talented, we never taught him to cook! (The only time I ever saw him standing at the stove, he was probably swiping something tasty.)



So, what do you win?

Ah, that is the question. It will be an item of my choosing, handmade by me and with a seasonal theme (not necessarily from my shop and probably not infant oriented). Think of it as a door prize or a party favor. It will come to you gift-wrapped. Basically, just a little thank you for stopping by and having a read.



*** Be sure to leave me an e-mail address or some way to get in touch, should you win!

Heading to the Beach ...

Just a quick note before heading out to the beach for a full week of relaxing, eating, drinking, hot-tubbing and generally partying with our gang! It's been two years since we made the normally "annual" trek with this crowd and we're eager!! I'm sure I'll have some tales to tell on my return!!

There won't be any posts this weekend but I have a full line-up for your reading pleasure all next week, so please be sure to check in. There's a give-away, some thought provokers and a show preview, among others.

See you on the other end of the week!

Enjoy your week, too, whatever you're doing!!

"Light my sire!" {oops, "fire"}

Just a quick blurb as I'm really short on time today! I may be back later tonight with more of a chat but then, maybe not.

We're supposed to be completely packed for our week at the beach by tomorrow afternoon and I've been dawdling and now I'm in a time crunch. So much to do!

Of course, I'd do better if this danged computer didn't call out my name every time I go through the room. It's just so damned alluring. It calls my name in this low, sultry tone, urging me to come closer. It whispers, "Just come here for a sec..."

Okay, willpower is NOT my strong point!

Embarrassment can go a good distance though. I think Twitter needs an edit button for those of us who don't do a lot of proofing before hitting the "send" button.

I sent this one out a few moments ago:

"Somebody light a sire under me, please. I have so much to do today and NO motivation! Help!"

Yep! I just put out a worldwide request for a "sire" to be lit beneath me! Man, would The Big Guy be surprised to read that one!

Obviously, I didn't mean "sire". I meant "fire."

So, I immediately clarified that with:

"Excuse me!! That was supposed to say "Fire" not sire! But then a lit sire could be interesting!"

And, on that note, I'm heading for the laundry room.

Working the Shows Wednesday - Pockets Full of Money !!!

As we finally settle into the swing of the Fall craft show season, it seems fitting to ask just what you’re doing with all that cash at your shows. I mean, do you have it locked up tight like Fort Knox or laying out in the open like those popular “Need a Penny” dishes near so many store registers? Hopefully, you’ve found a comfortable medium there.

The majority of sales at most shows are transacted in cash. We need to carry a supply of cash for the purposes of making change and, on a good day, we need to carry money home by the fistfull. So, how do we contain that cash? It needs to be kept in a somewhat handy manner for the purposes of making change in a busy sales environment but must also be secure to keep it from springing legs of its own.

Robbery is not usually a huge problem at most shows but, most promoters and organizers will admit, it can happen. Most show contracts specifically state the show is not responsible for any damages resulting from theft of merchandise or cash. While many shows do have some security personnel, you are on your own when it comes to holding on to your cash (and merchandise).

Most thefts at craft shows are crimes of opportunity, meaning we make it easy for the crooks. Common sense comes into play at this point. Let’s assume we are all bright enough not to leave a huge amount of cash laying out on our tables for all to share. It is important to keep the change box easily accessible to you as the seller but out of reach for the average customer. In my opinion, it is also wise to keep only the bare minimum of cash in the change box or tray (as the case may be). If your change container is grabbed, the crook will only have a minimal profit and you will still be on solid financial footing for the remainder of the show.

Booths with back drops or walls as a back border are always best as the general public does not have easy access to your backside. This gives the opportunity to have an additional, lower table height behind your display tables to keep your change container and other vital business supplies together and not reachable from the front of the table. If this is not an option try to sit an open, shallow box under the edge of your table with your change tray sitting inside of it where you can simply reach in and easily grab what you need.

Many sellers are now using small electric or battery-run cash registers. The drawers can be locked or coded so that they can not be opened easily by unauthorized fingers. Unfortunately, these registers don’t weigh much and can be easily disconnected from their plugs with a quick hand motion. I have seen instances where these have been grabbed, dropped into a fabric tote bag and easily carried off. Again, only keep basic change amounts in the register.

Keep all bigger bills and the major portion of cash separate from the change tray as this is the most visible of your money. I subscribe to the theory that it’s best to have the majority of that cash on your body. Pants with lots of pockets are great, money aprons or belts, or even the incredibly fashion-lame fanny pack (worn in the front), are also good.

***Do NOT keep checks or charge slips in the change box or cash register. These are generally larger sales and can account for a large portion of your sales. Again, pockets are good. I have also seen sellers who slip these into what appears to be an empty stock box under the table. (Crooks are unlikely to try to steal your empty boxes!)

Doing a show alone? While you might ask a neighbor to keep an eye on your booth while you make a potty run, it is not wise to turn all of your cash over to them. For sales not covered by the minimum in your change tray, they can simply ask the customer to wait for a second. (I’m assuming you will be literally running this personal errand you are on and not strolling around enjoying the free entertainment.) I’m not questioning the level of integrity of your neighboring crafter but I’m simply aware that they have a lot going on at that moment, what with watching both displays and dealing with customers’ questions etc. After all, most of us are just asking them to “keep an eye” on things, not make us rich while we’re gone.

Also, be aware many shows do provide “booth sitters” for those who are working alone. Most of these folks are simply volunteers willing to spend a few minutes in your booth “watching” it. Many are instructed by the show management NOT to conduct a sale. They won’t need cash backup form you.

Most cash thefts at shows occur during loading in and out. I, personally, keep my cash secure in my car until everything is unloaded. My cash is also the first thing to go into my car when packing up. (Glove boxes do lock for a reason.) It is never left unattended in my booth space during these times.

DO NOT be overly obvious when handling your cash stash. DO NOT stand behind your table counting out the wad to see how you’re doing. No one needs to know you are carrying several hundred dollars in your pockets. When carrying your cash in or out of the show, DO NOT pack it in a clear ziplock bag and carry it like a purse! (Yeah, I have seen this!)

One unique approach I have witnessed while doing a Main Street type festival was seeing a crafter make an ATM deposit of excess cash. Apparently a branch of his bank was located right on the corner. He was doing well and had several hundred dollars in cash on him. He simply walked over and deposited a large portion to his account. Now, that’s protecting your cash!

Again, use common sense. Be aware of your surroundings. Use the same precautions you would use using the ATM at your local shopping center on a busy Friday night.

Happy selling, y’all !!!

100 Days and Counting . . .

Yep! That jolly old guy with the white beard and fancy schmancy red suit with fur trim is approaching. If your house is like ours, he needs some help getting the job done and that’s where my time crunch starts.

Every year I swear I am going to be ready with time to spare and things will be “just right.” I just know this is the year that the door decoration will be super eye-catching (and it will be up before December 24th, honest). I know I will have baked plenty of cookies and made all the Christmas candy (this is big in our family) weeks ahead of time. Oh, and all those fantastic, unique and custom-handmade-by-me gifts will be packed and wrapped (creatively, of course) days before the holiday. My cards will also all be mailed by that humorous deadline the Post Office always tells us about. (And who says our government can’t tell jokes?) Oh yeah, I’m also going to be 25 lbs slimmer by Christmas! It will be the perfect holiday this year!!!

Isn’t it fun to fantasize?

Seriously, I have been working on the gift list for this year and trying to decide what each person will be getting from us. (Our life is further complicated by a huge number of Fall and December birthdays.) To make it even more difficult, I have always preferred to make the gifts myself. This does not always translate into a more economical approach but it does come across as more personal. My family has always stressed this and I’m happy to say I see both of the next generations trying to keep the “personal” aspect in it - whether they make the gifts themselves or at least give some real thought to what they give. Since The Big Guy and I always make a cross-country trek in the Fall, I also try to have many of the gifts for that part of the family ready so we can simply transport them in the back of our van as opposed to doing the shipping dance with the Post Office. So, the push is on.

I’m entertaining ideas as to “something special” to make for the older folks on the list - you know, those in their 80s and 90s who really don’t want a lot more knick-knacks, etc. They don’t need a lot of clothes these days and can only use so many lap afghans, etc. Due to the many diet limitations, I have also eased up on the homemade goodie baskets for them, too. What to give, what to give - that is the question !

MEMORY BOOK
My cousin and her gang recently created a great gift for her Mom who turned 90. I’m thinking of adapting this idea for someone on my list, too. They made a Memory Book. Yes, it is just a variation on scrap booking so it shouldn’t be too hard to design and create. What they did, was ask each grandchild (now all adults) and great-grandchildren what their favorite memories of their Grandmom were. The older ones listed their ten favorites and, for the most part, related them to time spent at her home. The little ones were more limited and included such things as “She always wears sparkly jewelry” or “She smells good.”. When possible, the memories are written in the kids’ own handwriting. Of course, they included photos of the kids with Grandmom and, even better, included pics the little ones drew of her! They bound them all together in a manageable sized photo album that she keeps on the coffee table. My aunt is so proud of this gift! She shows it off to everyone!

In the one I’m considering (for a different lady in the family), I’m thinking of including specific questions for each to answer. (We’re dealing with a mostly adult tribe for this one.) Things like favorite meals, favorite comments, phrases or sayings we associate with her, best vacation memory involving her, etc. I’m even considering asking each to come up with three words that best describe her. From past experience, I know it takes a bit of time to put these gifts together, so I hope to firm up my plan this week and get busy on it as soon as we get back from the beach.

So, what are you already working on for the holiday crunch time?