make It edmonton...no pictures today

So I went to a craft show by myself yesterday. As I was standing in line with all the other ladies (and some gentlemen) chatting with their friends, or their moms, I felt sort of alone and out of place. But once I got inside I knew I had made the right decision.

I didn't have to stop at any booths I didn't like. I didn't feel like I was in the way and stopping traffic to stop and chat. I didn't feel bad about any of my purchases (which can sometimes happen when someone is watching my every move). And I was out of there in an hour!

My triumph of the day: I only bought one thing for myself...I can't resist a leather cuff. I mean, literally, I can't resist one! And this new one is so beautiful! And I had a lovely chat with the lady at the booth about vintage eyeglasses. I also got lots (and lots) of complements about my glasses. Some I even heard in passing and weren't directed right at me, so that always makes my day!

My tragedy of the day, that later became a triumph: I bought some bars of soap. Beautiful, delicious-smelling soap. And they put it in a nice bag for me with some nice tissue paper and the smells emanating from that bag were enough to send me into a tizzy every time I caught a whiff. I visited a couple of booths after I picked up my soap, and then I headed home.

It took me an hour to get home. I stopped to pick up lunch for the boys, and since I am an imbecile, I had to take a detour and the long way and it took forever.

As soon as I went to get out of the car I noticed that I didn't have that special bag with green tissue paper. I looked and looked everywhere in the car, in every bag and in every pocket. It was nowhere to be found.

I broke the bad news to Russel...I was going back to the craft fair. But I convinced the boys to join me for a car ride because I didn't want to spend any more of the day by myself.

I was convinced that I could find this bag amongst the last booths I had visited, but the nagging doubt was living there, deep down in my mind.

When we got back there (around 2pm) the parking lots were packed in and around the venue. The boys dropped me off, and I snuck in (with my re-entry ticket, but I could have just snuck in) and immediately went back to the last booth I visited before leaving earlier. She remembered me, but hadn't seen my bag.

So I quickly made a beeline for the other booth, and it was very very busy and I couldn't see the lady who had been there earlier, BUT I did see my little bag! YIPPEE! I picked it up and the smell hit me immediately, so I knew right away I had found my treasure. I couldn't thank her in person, but I am thanking her in spirit now for setting it aside for me!

Needless to say, I spent one hour at the Craft Fair and a total of TWO HOURS travelling to and fro...I'm a dedicated handmade shopper!

Craft fair shopping tip: Make friends with the vendors! This is only one of many reasons why it pays to go early before the crowds get heavy. I was able to chat it up with each vendor I purchased from. I learned about their art and I got to feel some of their passion for their art, and I got to hear the story behind the items I bought, which just makes it all the more special. But if the vendor is busy, don't take them away from their sale. Dude!

A special shout out to the following vendors, whose rad products really made my day! I bought earrings from both these fine ladies for some other fine ladies in my life!
*Stephanie Menard from Fibre Manipulator. I'm sorry the flourishes on your business card remind me of moustaches. I love that the earrings you were selling were made from vintage fabrics, and I wish I could have splurged and bought a verdigris broach. She has a shop online!

*Jocelyn Henderson, whose business card says she is a goldsmith (awesome!) and whose knowledge of popular jewelry materials from the 40s and 50s made me purr inside! And I wish I could have bought something for myself!

I'm going to scour the internet for images of other things I found that entertained me, but were not on my list for the day, and do up another post. There were some amazing displays and photography and paintings and re-purposed things, and jewelry! There was a harmonica necklace that was screaming at me from afar, but it did not come home with me...I think I grabbed her business card!

And seeing all of that handmade stuff on display (including some media pockets, not unlike my own...I should have checked the price!) inspired me to go home and make some of my very own...stuff that is! I finished two "quilted" bags for two special ladies, and got started on some fun gift tags. I also got really ambitious and started an advent calendar for Lucas, which requires a lot more work (embroidery and sewing and planning) before it's "due" on Wednesday! Yikes!

and last night, when I should have been working on it, I was too cold so I just wrapped up in blankets on the couch with Russel (who was working) and watched another episode of the The Walking Dead. One bit of zombies every week is a good dose for Lisa!

later skater alligator

p.s. Easy Rock has started playing Christmas music...urgh...and my neighbour put up her tree and outdoor lights this weekend...can't I just hibernate through all the barf-Christmas-ness this year? and miss all those terrible Best Buy commercials as well...

p.p.s. If I add any more blogs to my Google Reader I am going to have to spend all day every day reading blogs just to keep up!

p.p.p.s. Would it be ridiculous if I set myself a goal of being in next year's Make It Craft Fair???