This Saturday I will be taking part in my first holiday craft show.  This is my second show in general.  I’m nervous but excited.  I’m never quite sure how my art will be received or if I’ll actually sell any of my pieces…that being said, I’m looking forward to it!

But before I get to the business of selling my creations there’s a lot of prep work to be done.

For me that starts with lists.  One of my favorite things to do, y’all!  I tend to work better if my thoughts are on paper.

I put the final touches on any paintings or any other creations that I want to sell.  Pricing and taking inventory of everything comes next.  If you’re wondering, my inventory is on the small side.  I’m a one-woman operation and, for right now, I don’t spend hours a day in my little studio painting away.  I have two children and a Hubs who is recovering from surgeries to both arms.  The fam always comes first with me.

I like to do a dry run on my display set up.  The last show we did, it was an outdoor event and we were required to have a tent.  We set everything up in the front yard the week before the event just to make sure everything worked together.  Honey, the neighbors thought that a show from HGTV was getting ready to film.  I got the biggest laugh out of that when they asked!  I was so focused on the display that I never realized how a big white canopy tent in the yard would look like!  This show will be indoors so the tent will stay home…Yay!

Packing is also a biggie.  Making sure everything is gathered, packed and loaded is a big deal.  I try to make sure I have everything I need so that I don’t have any emergencies the day of an event.  A little toolbox full of small tools and other items I need for my display comes in very handy.

What you see up there has been one of the fun parts of my prep work the last few weeks ~ my business card.  With Vistaprint I was able to upload some of my own images and, thanks to a tricked out discount offer, get a batch made before this show.  I also had a small banner made in the same design.  They both came out wonderfully!  I love that I was able to include my own elements for a truly customized look.

All in all, I’m looking forward to the new experience of a holiday show.  Now I’m off to get more stuff checked off my list!

Thanks so much for stopping by,