Circle M Farm

I very much enjoyed participating in the Craftacular yesterday. We had a slippery snow in the morning and it was slow going getting into Madison, so I worried while I crawled along our country roads that the turnout would be low. But the folks in this city are very very supportive of local artists and vendors (the Saturday morning farmers’ market is the largest in America) and customers packed out the Craftacular, as well as four other large craft shows that happened on the same day around town. Thanks, Madison! The show was a success for me – I sold a lot and was able to hand out dozens of my class and wool supply flyers to people who seemed very enthusiastic. What I’m most excited about today, though, is that it’s OVER.

I’ll sleep normal nights again and clean the house up. Apparently I wasn’t the only one livin’ la vida loca while getting ready for the show. I talked to several other vendors who hadn’t slept the night before, and as we were all packing up our racks and boxes and mirrors and tables to leave at 6 pm, I thought most of the vendors looked pretty much the way I felt. We were like a bunch of zombies quietly carrying loads out to our cars through the snow.

The energy in the hall throughout the day was terrific, though. The vendors – for the most part a colorful, fashionably edgy crew – were helpful to each other during set up, supportive and complimentary when checking out each others’ merchandise and generous when it came to purchasing, too. The customers, many with young children, were lively and fun and generous, as well.

I’ll plan to do this show again next year, and I’ll plan to plan better so I don’t have to push so hard the week before. Thanks to all of you who came out and saw me. It meant a lot.

Sleep is good.