Losing my Vendor's Virginity

Those of you who have known me for a while know that I am no stranger to quilt shows...I attend most of the big ones held in my area, and I've even been to the big show, the AQS show in Paducah.  However, this weekend I'm taking a huge leap for me and vending in my own name at my local guild show - Squanicook Colonial Quilt Guild, Townsend MA 09/14 and 09/15 from 10-4.  I don't usually carry a lot of 'product' per se - usually I'm more about services and events....but not this weekend.  I have several product lines (and events) which I will be talking about - and not a few tricks up my sleeve.

However, since this is my first time, I'm working on putting together a booth - which I can be proud of - on a shoestring's shoestring. Hence this morning's adventure which I want to share with you.  I lost the camera and have spent the last hour looking for it, so here goes. Display items...

One of the products which I use quite often, and which will be featured in the booth - are the Sue Pelland Designs' Leaves Galore Templates.  However, they do present a challenge to display - long, skinny - and technically, tippy.  I've spent the better part of a week worryinig about this - at 2AM a lot of the time, and finally found a frugal option.  On my facebook page last week, I posted a picture of half the studio looking a mess - with 2 red wine boxes that I got from the local liquor store.  No, I'm not reposting those pics here.

But this morning, I headed to the screen porch...

I like to work in ventilated areas when I'm working with spray baste.  Please note that I grabbed the craft scissors instead of the fabric scissors, so this was bound to be an adventure!

The quilt show has an autumn theme, so I grabbed this fabric from the stash...ok, so it fell out of the stash into my hands when I opened the door...it worked with my theme, and I decided to go with it.

I should mention here that I was told by a friend yesterday that this would be as easy as wrapping a package.  I have never worked as a wrapper at the holidays, and there's a reason for this...but so far, not too bad.

I just kept spraying and muttering under my breath...eventually, I got to the point where the spray baste had done as much as it was going to...so I was weak.  I went for reinforcements...

I'm sure we all recognize that silver roll there...duct tape.  I used it to smooth the inner portion of the fabric.  If I didn't tell you, you would never have known.

The completed display box!  Total cost - materials on hand and free liquor store box. 

I had scouted around, and found something that would have worked at Christmas Tree Shop - I tried 2 different dollar stores, and nothing there was going to work.  So I returned that item to the Christmas Tree store this morning, and we're moving on. 

I have never appreciated the work that vendors go through to set up for  a show before.