The Exchange Place Spring Garden Fair

Hi again. This last weekend found me doing a "historically themed" craft show. Many of these types of shows desire vendors that demonstrate and/or sell heritage or traditional crafts.

Several of the old buildings have been restored and kept in great shape due to these few annual shows they hold a year. Their pamphlet says the site hosts "the hub of an early 19th century plantation...with saddlebag style log house and its dependencies-kitchen, smokehouse, schoolroom, springhouse, blacksmith shop, slave cabin, granary cowbarn and gaines store which stocked supplies for valley farm families."

This is across the street from where I am set up. There are several crafters on boths sides of the old brick street. :) Most crafters have been doing this "show" for years. We are set up at the Roseland visitor center that once was, I think, the Kitchen in the 1850's. It has a long open front porch and a long back closed in porch. This is Charles Williams of Primitive Rug Hooking. He sits outdoors on the porch enjoying the view of the hubbub, while his wife,

Nancy sits inside with Jeri Jones of http://www.etsy.com/shop/jeridiehard and also where you would have found me the last two days. :)

Again, I thank you for your time. :)kathleen

Happy Earth Day!!! (A walk in early spring)

Hi.

Enjoy!!!! I sure did!

kathleen♥

Living History Day-A-Fair

Hi you all!

I set up Saturday at an event that is unusual from my main stream craft shows. It was at a Farm called Still Hollow. They hosted "Living History Day-A-Fair", and it was a really fun and educational show for me.

The 1860's Living History and Dance Society sponsored the event. This group formed in the summer of 2009 by a group that home schools their children. The children have a sewing class where they learned to make their 1860's dresses, pantaloons, and bonnets. The boys make the dress boys wore then, too. They learn the etiquette and dancing of that era, as well, and offer demonstrations or instructions on civil war dancing, etiquette, and dress of that time period.

Still Hollow Farm is located a few miles outside of Greeneville, Tennessee. Their farm is available for weddings, birthdays, and tours, as well as farming 180 acres yearly. The original farm was established in 1857 with 560 acres and grew to well over one thousand acres.

It was a wonderful show. We learned Saturday about how the men, women, and children wore their hair back in the 1860's, and what kind of bonnets, hats, and hairnets were standard in that society. We have some storytelling time. The Civil War Dance demonstration was awesome. The live music that was performed using instruments of that day and songs popular then was just a hoot, because we all know these songs and we allowed to sing along.

Then, there was an 1860's fashion show, baseball demonstration, and Ladies Tea in the afternoon.

I enjoyed all this and some sales, too.

I learned that all the people (men and women) wore gloves to keep from touching each other in public, as well as hygienic motives. I learned that hair was slicked back and not allowed to escape the "hair do" of the day....again, men and women. I learned that bonnets were worn straight on the head, no tilting for fashion's sake; they were worn to keep the sun out of their faces. A tanned face, hands or any part of the body showed someone who was not well off; one who had to work for a living. (Even those who did strove to keep the sun off their skin.)

I had a good time, and I look forward to more of the same. I haven't done a lot of shows in the last couple of years, but this year, I'm doing more. The shows I'm choosing, however, are of a different nature than those I normally do. My next show is in a couple of weeks at a place called "The Exchange Place" in Kingsport, Tennessee. This place was known for a "meeting" place that was the crossroads for going many different places. People would bring their wares to trade, and many would stop there on their way west or south. It is a place where many vendors dress that part, too.

I will write about that one when I do it. For now, enjoy the pictures of the show I did Saturday.

Thanks for your interest, Kathleen

Farmer's Market 2010

Hi Folks:

Yesterday, Kingsport Farmer's market gathered to begin another year...for them, their 33rd year...for me, my 5th year. The organization has been through many changes in their 33 years. In my 5 years, we have been relocated twice, now setting up in the same location for the second year. Apparently, this location is our permanent home, but this organization has heard that before.

And, I'm not going to get political about it at this time. I come to show you a new set up I'm trying out. New products are consistently being made for my business, and I've run out of room to show it all at a show or market set up. The oils, butters, and salves table was beginning to overflow last year, and over the winter, I made several new butters.

So, I set up my booth in more of a display manner. My gift table was overflowing for the reason of Easter being the next day. Still sold little of those. My V tables in the background shows more what I'm talking about.

I still do not bring all my stock. But, I give them my business card with my Etsy shop address on it for a more complete view of my inventory.

My reason is that when a table is overcrowded, it is hard to see what is on it. For me, this is the case. So, I thought about this last year, and I am giving it a go this year. One day cannot tell me very much; but I was much more relaxed with my product and its display.

I'm not completely happy with the gift table, though. Yes, I can eliminate the overcrowding, but it seemed the "aisles" between the tables is a bit tight.

What do you all think? I am open to all relevant suggestions. :)

Thanks, Kathleen