Getting Ready for Shows & Vacation

I went to the Settlement Home Garage Sale yesterday and picked up a whole bunch of new pieces for my display for very little money! Man, the stuff there is so cheap. The money goes for a good cause, the Settlement Home for abused and neglected kids. I only know this because they keep saying it over the loud speaker. It makes you feel good about spending money. Didn't find much jewelry though - just a few more things to make rings out of. The show is all this weekend - here is the website: http://www.settlementhome.org/GarageSale.asp

I have been so focused on making earrings for the upcoming shows that I realized last night I really need to make some new necklaces. That's cool because they are my favorite thing to make. Unfortunately, they are not what I sell most of. So, it's a good thing that I made so many earrings! However, I really need to diversify the colors - I made so many blue and aqua earrings. It's hard to strike a balance. I just end up making what I think will sell based on past experience. I made an assload of rings too.

After getting rejected for the last two years, I finally got accepted into wheats*ville this year and sadly I think I am going to have to turn them down. Two years ago I would have killed to do this show but at this point I just feel I will be doing a dis-service to the shows I am already in if I take on anymore. I can't afford to run out of product for bg! I have really had some good fortune with show entries this year. I only wish I knew I was going to be accepted into all these shows in the summer, I could have been prepared to do all of them. I wish they would do the applications earlier in the year. But, oh well! I also got asked to do a stitch after party show at a gallery the week after the event and I have to turn that down too because I already have plans on that evening.

*I am misspelling this word on purpose. ;)

Okay, now for the BIG news! We are going to London for a two week vacation, Christmas through my birthday. We are also going to take a side trip to Paris. I am going to turn 35 in Paris!! What better way? I am so thrilled! A friend of James' family has a flat in London where we can stay. We stayed there when we went to London for the 2000 New Year. It is really beautiful, up on top of a building so that you can see all the chimney tops from the balcony. It is going to be so cold there. I will have to take all my NYC clothes. Hope we can stay warm. Anyway, after all the struggling we have done this year, it will be really nice to have an actual vacation. I am really looking forward to it.

Alright, guess I better hit it today. I have my booth set up in the dining room. I am trying to get it all worked out plus it just helps to see what I need to make next. I wish I could work faster!