The Fall Shows Are Coming!

Now is the time of year that artists and artisans start to think about the fall shows and work at getting their applications in, if they haven't already.

I am hoping to do a few shows again this year and I am very excited to share with you that I have been accepted to be a vendor at the Falling For Art Show in Coburg this fall!!  This will be a new one for me and I can't wait to see how it goes.

The Falling for Art Show is a juried art & craft show, showcasing some of the best artists' Canada has to offer.   I am so excited to be included as one of them!

The show opens on Saturday, November 1, 2014 from 10 am to 4pm

Admission is just $5 (Kids 12 and under are free) and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Speaking Of Dogs Rescue.

The show is located at the Cobourg Community Centre,Rotary Sports and Performance Hall (Gym), 750 D'Arcy Street, Cobourg, ON

HUGE GIVEAWAY!!!!!

How would you like a

$100 shopping spree? 

We are giving away that and more, almost $500 in prizes!! 

All this as we celebrate the Fall Made by Hand Show returning to the International Centre in Mississauga on October 19, 2013. Thanks to all the giveaway hosts: Made by Hand, Mayahood Blog, Canadian Blog House, Canadian Mom Eh, Maple Mouse Mama, One Heart One Family, Journeys of the Zoo, Socially Engaged, Little Miss Kate, Did you Know Canada and Tales of a Ranting Ginger. a Rafflecopter giveaway Open to ALL CANADIANS ALL Prizes will be picked up in person at the Fall Made by Hand Show, October 19, between 11:00am - 5:00pm, International Centre, Hall 6, Mississauga. For more information on the MADE BY HAND SHOWS please visit http://www.madebyhandshow.ca%3c/a>

It's time for some craft shows!!

Well, it's that time of year again!  Time for some craft shows!

I have been accepted to 3 this year and I'm very excited!!  The first one is in October and is a new one for me.  It is taking place in Mississauga.  I'm a small town girl so when I hear Mississauga I think big time Toronto.  It's a one day show and it's going to be BIG!  2000-3000 visitors are expected!  I'm excited and nervous all at the same time.

I am really hoping to improve on my booth display this year and make it easier for people to shop.  I also have a TON of burning ideas that I hope I can get done in time for the show.

The other two shows are in the Durham region and are ones I have done before.  They are both in December so that gives me a nice break to gather my stock and my wits after the big Toronto one.

If you are in the area I would be tickled if you'd shop by and say hello!

Here are the shows….

#1. Fall Made by Hand Show

October 19, 2013  11am - 5pm

International Centre, Hall 6

6900 Airport Road, Mississauga

Admission: $5 per adult (children free!)

FREE PARKING

From now until Sept. 30 you can get 35% off your ticket when you purchase online and use code "septnews13"

Please mention my name (Maya Wade) when you purchase your etickets.  

Getting your tickets in advance means you miss the long line up to get in.  Trust me, it's a long line up!

Also, if you're one of the first 250 families through the door you will receive a swag bag with goodies from exhibitors at the show!

AND I've heard there is going to be a mega prize pack that will have a bunch of great items from some of the attending vendors.  When I hear more I will update here and on my Facebook page.

#2. Christmas Craft Show

December 1, 2013  10am - 4:30pm

Kingsway College, Oshawa

Admission: $5 per adult (children free)

FREE PARKING

Door prizes all day long!

#3.  Winter Marketplace

Sunday, December 8, 2013  

Ajax Community Centre (HMS Room)

FREE PARKING

I don't have much more information at this time on this event.  I will update when I know more.

I'm Back!!

Wow!  I didn't realize how long I'd been away from the blog!  I am very sorry to have disappeared!  I am going to try very hard to get to the blog a lot more regularly in the future.

One of the reasons I was MIA was because I was preparing for a 3 day craft show that happened at the end of October.  I worked very hard creating new pieces for the two months that led up to the show.  Here is a picture of my booth with my Mom and myself.  This was at the end of the show and we were pretty tired.

I will be adding more pictures to the "My Work" section.  And sharing some of the really fun custom orders I've been working on as well.  I am also hoping to have some regular content to share on here, things that interest me and hopefully you too. And I have a few very special upcoming events to share that you won't want to miss!

In the meantime, feel free to pop on over to my Facebook page where I do most of my updating: www.facebook.com/bkinspired

And join my quarterly newsletter (next one out in January) by sending your email address to: bki[at]hotmail.ca

Glad to be back!

Well, the craft show did not go as well as I had hoped.  In fact one could almost say it didn't go at all.  It was an 8 hour event and there were 100 gift bags ready for the first 100 people to come through the doors.  We were all expecting a busy and prosperous day.

And.....it didn't happen.  Our first clue that something was amiss should have been the near 10 vendors (out of 40) that didn't show up.  The doors opened at 9am to let people in but they remained in the closed position for most of the day.  No one came.  It was deader than a ghost town, except for the vendors who did show up, of course.  A couple of us bought things off each other but otherwise not a sale was to be seen.  It was a big disappointment.

I feel bad for the organizer.  She put a lot of work into the event, appearing on local TV, putting ads in the paper, signs around town and lots of notices on Facebook.  The problem was she didn't do her homework completely when researching what other events were taking place that day.  We all found out later our competition was a Pride parade and celebration, Ribfest and a boat and/or car show.  That's lots going on and a good variety that appeals to lots of people.  They wouldn't give that up to look at a trade show.

Oh well, I tried it.  I have learned that shows in the spring/summer (read: after Christmas) may not be the best idea.  People are ready to be outdoors and most certainly do not have a list of gifts in their pocket that they must get crossed off.

This is how it was set up....and this is how it looked for 8 hours

A different view...still untouched after 8 hours

On a brighter note, I have been invited to participate in a BIG show in October.  I am so honoured that the organizer saw my work (at this show!) and thought I might be able to bring something a little different to her show than previous years.  It's also a well established craft and gift show that's been going for about 20 years.  Last year they had approximately 5500 people walk through the doors over three days.  Very exciting.

But, I can't make a big decision like this on my own.  I must talk to my husband first and of course he's working crazy hours all week this week.  It'll have to wait until the weekend to see if this is something I might be able to pull off.  If I was a nail bitter I wouldn't have many nails left.