Long Cold Winter?

Well that can mean a lot of things, like Winter will be long (it always seems to be!), cold (it normally is depending on where you live, but here in Ohio it is usually cold for the duration and sometimes beyond!), and it can also mean that it is long and cold because there are no or few craft shows  due to weather and in general less shopping and therefore less cash flow - cold!  But it is a good time to review existing inventory for re-appearing on the sale tables or reworking or donating to a thrift shop or to the bead pile!  I often rework pieces because the beads themselves are cool but the design, for whatever reason, just didn't work.  If it is a piece that got a lot of attention and positive comments I will leave as is, because I know it will sell eventually.  If it seems to just sit there and get minimal or no attention, it needs to be considered for a different future!

So while I am busy reworking and re-evaluating, I will also be planning and preparing for my upcoming shows:

March 9 - Church of the Cross, 5100 Cleveland Road, Wooster, OH, 9-3

March 16 & 17 - Rolling Acres Spring Craft Show, "Spring is in the Air", Marion County Fairgrounds, 220 E. Fairground St., Marion, Ohio, 10-4

March 23 & 24 - Rocky River Memorial Hall, 21016 Hilliard Blvd., Rocky River, OH, 10-5

See below some pictures of recent creations, some of which will be for sale at the above and other upcoming shows if they are still available by then!

Have a great winter and stay warm and safe!

Winter Slump

Well it stands to reason that as less people are out and about, less of them are shopping and even less are shopping for JEWELRY!  But I did have a successful holiday season at Local Roots, 140 S. Walnut Street,Wooster, Ohio 44691.  Too bad that success normally does not carry over into the slow dragging months of January and February!  There is a reason for that, if we can lift up out of our disappointment over low sales, we can see that slow times are good for creating new product!  When you are in a constant selling state you are trying to keep up with depleting inventory and never get ahead comfortably to take a break and relax.  But if sales are slow and inventory is in balance with sales, you can work and have extra product on hand and enjoy days when you can do something other than your craft work!  Besides, that slow period really is pretty short, I had my first show of the new year last weekend and more are already listed on my calendar!  

Its nice to have some extra items on hand so that when that first show approaches you don't have to panic and worry that you don't have enough to put out for a sale!  Another thing that is beneficial to work on during slower times is reworking and repairing.  What didn't sell last year might be a big hit with just a few minor adjustments!