Well - I did my first ever venture into craft fairs last night. Just 2 hours at little one's school crimbo fair.  Not good.....I sold 4 or 5 soaps, and 2 other products......felt like crying!!!  But I knew I shouldna gone, I had been ill all week with the lurgy, so didn't get much labelled and wrapped, but I had missed out on 2 other fairs I had promised myself I would do, so I thought, if I don't do this I will just end up using my hundreds of soap at home!!  So I took 4 baskets of different soaps and some bath things, and a bit of blurb.
Plus my step dad died yesterday morning.......I think I sat at the fair in total shock, having spent the day with my Mum; in hindsight I could have been forgiven for cancelling.......
The woman next to me was doing brilliantly selling fused glass.....I could have wept (but delighted for her and she was so lovely)....but cheered myself up by buying my meagre profit on a glass xmas decoration!!  It is horrible if you take it all personally, and I did for a bit .......A bit of "1st- time-out-there-noone- liked-'em" blues......hold on....off to get my violin...

Not a good day all round for you Deborah with the lurgy and bereavement on top of everything!

Don't be disheartened by your first outing though as fairs are so unpredictable.

oh yes, and we are moving house...........all the paperwork to tie up, expecting it to be quick (1st week of Jan) as we are in a one house chain....and nothing to sell, and have to HALVE (eek)  the household contents to fit in our new place..........not too much to do then!!!! Now him indoors has the lurgy too..........need I say more......a little overloaded perhaps??

Just a little overloaded I think Deborah!!

Good luck with the house move and once you've found everything will be the time to look for Easter fairs!

Yes I think so Elaine, I think to myself "I'll leave it till the Spring", but then worry that all these soaps will lose their aroma/ appeal! And my oils might go rancid (again)............erggggh!

Methinks timing was just off.  I have been ill as well and armed with some of Sha's chestrub salve (which is AWESOME, I just have to say) I went to two fairs yesterday.  The first was abysmal, sold precious little, the second one much better (with even more contacts for more schools).  It didn't make quite as much as I wanted, but I handed out a bunch of cards and even if I don't get the Crimbo markets sorted out (no childcare cover) at least I've contacts for pamper nights and other fetes now.

Give yourself some breathing space.  Even if I had offers for more fairs right now, and I could certainly use the money, I don't think I'd attend, I'm done in.

Ohh Deborah I'm so sorry to hear about your stepdad... and the fair not working out too well (though you did make a profit, however meagre so keep that in mind) was the icing on the not so nice cake.  Take it easy over the next couple of days if you can, rest up and mind yourself.  Moving house and deaths are one of the most stressful times in your life so make sure to leave some YOU time in the mix when you can.   

so sorry to hear about your stepdad Deborah, i'm surprised you were able to go at all. Don't worry too much about your sales. At my first one I sold 2 items for the grand total of £1.25!!! I think I must hold the record for the least anyone has taken at a fair. It's nothing personal against you just what happens on the day
take care of yourself

Yes, yes, Death and moving and Xmas all together, and viruses and first craft fairs..........just a bit too much........I should not be so hard on myself...I realised this morning I didn't allow it all to sink in, my focus was on my poor Mum, it was such a shock, 3 weeks in hospital but healthy enough before that.....she was a nurse so not totally unaware of how things were, but it's so horrid seeing her suffer so.....

Thank you so much for the kind thoughts and encouragement.......back to packing boxes instead of soaps!!!

Thank you Wolfhound,
I only sold one soap in the first hour, so I am close to your record, and then in the last half hour I was beseiged by 3 others....lol.

I had this fantasy that it would sell like hotcakes, and people would be making lovely comments, like the family did when I set them up on the table at home.  But the reality was it was a small village school, with a raffle, and actually me getting myself out the door was achievement enough, considering I have been putting it off for 2 months......scaredy cat me!!!

Two people did ask for my card and website details (neither of which are ready), so it just showed me I would have been kinder to myself if I had let myself off the hook for being unwell.....and being in grief.....

you did well indeed Deb. give youself major credit for it. My stepfather died this time last year very suddenly, I couldn't think  coherently for days and my mum was devastated. big hugs to you for the hurt and upheaval.
but - you have broken your duck with the craft fairs, they'll never seem quite as frightening again. it's very hard to promote yourself to a stangers face - it seems like showing off to me, but it does get easier. You learn fom every show - my stall is a lot different now from my first one, even though thats only 3 months ago. I think it is a steep and hard learning curve for us all. I hope you can find time for yourself in all of this - take care

Oh Deborah, you've so much on your plate, well done for even getting to the fair. don't take it personal, they are a mixed bad, your next one will be great.    :buttrf:

Oh Deborah, what an terrible run of events you are experiencing right now.  I am so sorry to hear about your stepdad.  I hope you mum is ok.  You must be feeling the weight of the world what with that, feeling unwell, hubby now also unwell and then the move looming.  Don't worry about this first fair.  At least you will have plenty of stock for your next ones so will lessen the pressure a little. 

Take good care of yourself 

Oh dear, now I am feeling  , with all the sympathy votes. Geez guys, thanks for the outstretched hands and hugs.  I did feel really down about the fair, broken dreams etc etc, but you have all made me feel a whole lot better. I have an ology in giving myself a hard time, but when things have settled down here a bit, I am going to get back on out there again......I think.......... :mwaha:
 

'course you will Deborah    The only way is up  :buttrf: