My YarT summary - a LONG post!!

Stella Sleeping thru it all

I state here and now that this is MY yart summary only as I'm sure there will be many. And many varying views - yay for bloggers!!


I also state here and now that KJ and JB are overwhelmingly generous hosts who fed and watered us continually from sunup to sundown. With awesome food. And two particular helpers in the kitchen who went above and beyond without whom it all would not have come together.

I am also stating that I didn't take as many pictures as I should have and we don't have one of all of the bloggers together. Nope. Didn't get that shot. Too busy, too much going on.

I got to their house (I should say their wonderful house - warm and inviting, comfortable and cozy, interesting art to look at, books to read etc) on Friday night at around 9:30 and stayed until 11 talking to Lo, CS, Robin and other of their friends who were over.

Wonderful evening despite the pouring rain and I finally got to the hotel at around 11:30. Slept like a log!! Woke up to a perfect day - sunny and cool and fall like. And when I say cool, I mean like 40 degrees. I actually stopped at WalMart on the way to their house and bought a sweatshirt cause I hadn't brought one with me. I'm still in mental summer mode.

KJ and JB provided 6 foot tables and chairs - they had a pile of them - all rented and all set up around their wonderful side yard.

Early morning shot - looking peaceful

I have never done an art show/sale before and didn't know what to expect. I also didn't know how to set it all up, what to bring in terms of art and what would sell and what would not. So I brought alot of stuff and I mean ALOT!! My table runneth over. I had quilts and art work, and the table and chairs and dog bed and bowls and on and on.

Since I've never sold before I didn't know what to expect. Do you say "hi" to people? Ask them if they'd like some help? Ask what they are looking for? I simply played it by ear and smiled and spoke if it seemed like a good idea. At first people just wandered by and poked around and picked stuff up and put it down again. Because I had so much different stuff on one table, it was like a table rummage sale.

My table early in the day

Lo had the table next to me on my right and on my left was the wonderful painter Gordon Heins - he and his family are friends with KJ and JB and were staying with them. Lovely family by the way, and Gordon is a wonderful artist. His wife Heather makes lovely jewelry and did a brisk business selling her beautiful work. ( I can't find a link to Gordon's artwork but when I do, I'll post it)

KJ and Gordon

Lo's table

Chewy was there with a table of her wonderful artwork which I barely got to see as it was so busy. Suki came for a visit and to help - she manned the booths while we went to the bathroom or got lunch. And really, the pleasure of meeting these two woman was overwhelming. I recognized Suki from afar, she is so .... I don't know what words to use... beautiful, unique, calming - yes all of that. And she wore the red heart and brought us package of presents which was truly wonderful. Darlene and I had some time to chat before dinner - it was really a pleasure to meet her.


To sum up my actual selling experience...I did very well. I sold the table and chairs YEA!! (to friends of Chewy's actually which makes it even better) I sold 3 quilts. I sold felted bowls and paper mache bowls and postcards and framed and matted artwork. I simply couldn't believe it! At the last minute on Friday I had grabbed the "Strange Fish" book and the original watercolors from it. I put the book out on the table with a way too high price (on purpose) and a sign that said "original watercolors for sale". One lady came over and started reading the book and was laughing hysterically with joy - she LOVED the book. She bought two watercolors from the book that I actually have to finish and mat and send to her.



So to me, from a commercial standpoint, it was a great success. Not sure how everyone else did but this was good for me and a terrific mental ice breaker. I feel now that I can approach other stores and sell some of my more arty quilts and other more "arty" items. I found that at a venue like a yard/art sale people tend toward either small items or practical items. Alot of people picked up and admired my tissue paper bowls but no one wanted to buy them, they aren't practical. I realize now that I should have put one of those battery run tea lights in them and showcased them as atmosphere bowls. Ah well...next time.

I drove home after dinner tired and happy. Dinner of a tricolor pasta with chicken that Gordon made which was amazing. and garlic bread. and salad and dessert. I staggered into the house - gave the lowdown to DH - staggered to bed. The car is still stuffed with the remainders. It'll have to wait. We're going kayaking today!

Dinner line

Long Table of hungry people

Thank you Karen and Janet....