Pots and Pans: Fair Guide

I have always been skeptical about the concept of doing and selling pottery at shows and at fairs.

You see, the cons of using pottery to rake in a good base and money outweigh that of the pros of indulging in pottery. I rarely would recommend pottery to an entrepreneur. But of course, one would hear the success stories of pottery entrepreneurs. So here are a few personal experiences that I hope would make it easier for you to decide whether pottery is a good thing for you, or a no-no.

For one thing, pottery skills are needed to bring your talent to levels acceptable for consumers to buy your product. Unless you have natural talent and have been honing your skills, you would have to invest in buying yourself a good book, paying a tutor, or going to a pottery skill to invest in yourself.

Second, pottery materials. You need the equipment, you need the materials, and you certainly need the time and the patience. Pottery requires mixing, molding, tempering and baking. If you cannot routinely follow these, then it is best you drop the idea.

The big difference with pottery at shows is the change of venue. There are a lot of things to be done. For one thing, preparation of the prepared pieces of earthenware would require you to transport the heavy stuff from your shop to the site.

The second one is the inclusion of demos in your booth. This is a BIG thing.

Having demos in your booth actually keeps people interested in your work and in your final product. It doesn’t have to come out finished like that. You can just leave it in the mold, or dramatically bake it in the kiln. Just let people know how pots are done.

Sell at shows that target the upper crust of society. The common people, with the stories of recession and laying-off at jobs, won’t easily buy into your wares. Pots are mainly ornamental, less functional. Unless you’re doing something along the lines of tea cups and tea pots that would put most factories to shame, I suggest you start something ornamental, cheap and functional. Like paper weights for example.

Georgia and California Food Fest

Food festivals in my opinion are in my top to-visit list when it comes to visiting them around the country. Food is bountiful, and the people are cheery. There’s a happy atmosphere that it seems nothing could expunge it. And truly it is, because food is one of the basic needs of man, and a great joy for others. Celebrating it in an event dedicated to life’s simple pleasures is something one should not miss.

And America, blessed with the varying seasons, climates and altitudes, has an expanded scope of gastronomic delight. Along with the wonders of modern technology (halleluiah, importation!); food that you rarely would find in one place can now be as common as spaghetti in Italy. We have fruits, veggies, herbs, wine and drink, and even the strange like baby food!

First off is the esteemed Strawberry Festival in Garden Grove, California, held on May 22nd to May 25th. As the name implies, it’s all about the pink-reddish marvel, the strawberry! Tons of these juicy lovelies will come parading down the streets of Garden Grove, each in their prime and pride. There are a lot of carnivals and parades in the nearby streets for you to indulge in to! Celebrities, each new and those returning will also be making an appearance; so better watch out for them as they will be all over the place.

In the state of Georgia, a fruit is celebrated every 12th of June up till the 20th. The peach, which is well loved by those in Byron and Fort Valley Georgia. If you love peaches, now is the time to buy in bulk and stockpile on it, as peaches will be on the spotlight for the whole week. Fresh peach, peach cobblers, preserves, ice cream, pies and much more! There will be shows and events held each day as well, so if you are lucky to be in the area, indulge and you might win a prize!

Traditional Festivals and Modern Festivals

Did you quite get the difference between the two? No? Well, hot dang. The differences between them seem pretty quite obvious even to the naked eye.

Traditional festivals have a sense of solemnity within them. They celebrate something more on the religious and/or cultural side of things. Most of the newer generation would be put off by the seriousness and the solemnity of the traditional festival. These types of festivals usually are lackluster with the glamor but have a backing of over a thousand years worth of tradition. Never mind attendance. Most traditional festivals are compulsory and oftentimes required for attendance.

The modern festival dictates nothing but camaraderie, bacchanal revelry and capriciousness. Modern festivals were made by the times for the sheer enjoyment of life amidst the troubling times, the turmoil and terror, and sometimes, just the plain boredom of things. A modern festival are usually up to date, involve a lot of dancing, music, singing and revelry, and is just plain abandon for almost all inhibitions. Usually, there is no focus in modern festivals. Just plain having fun (or at least trying to).

There is usually the involvement of the community in both festivals, although in the case of a traditional festival; it is dictated by religion, culture or belief. Sometimes, a festival is but a series of rites and ceremonies held by the spiritual leaders in an area. Sometimes…well, you get the idea.

Most towns go for the modern festival now, which is quite a tourist attraction when the season comes. The big draw in a festival is the climactic highlight where it seems that beer knows no stopper, dancing knows no beat, and partying knows not day or night. But it is this kind of freedom that people come over to stop, play and just have fun.

Festivals have a purpose. It’s up to the people to decide on it.

Going In and Out Festivals

There’s a certain sense and pattern when trying to get into the sense of having to run into at least 3 festivals or more in one day, or even for a period of two days. Festivals are pretty much draining, in all aspects of your life. You feel tired physically, you’re drained emotionally, you feel you’ve given so much of your social life talking to people inside the festival grounds, and well, yeah. That sums it up. You could grow sick of festivals in just one sitting.

Setting your mind up to visiting at least more than two festivals a day requires that you have a different mindset of seeing the trip not as an errand or as a chore, but a social trek. When trying to go into a festival, don’t get cynical. And don’t get temperamental either. Being a party pooper at the start of the trip would have you very sour and very uncooperative while everyone else is having fun.

Some people like to go to festivals alone. These would include your typical rebellious teenager and or your love-forlorn daughter. Be understanding of their needs to want to have their own private space. The sensation of going into a festival alone is equal to almost monumental freedom. Give them the space that they deserve and the time that they will need.

Pack a bit of food yourself, but if you find the whole thing to be pretty daunting and hassling, be a bit of an anti-scrooge and go spend your money where you’re supposed to spend it in a festival. In fun, style, leisure and for your enjoyment. Of course, always exercise the usual prudence of not blowing off your entire pay on the fun and games inside the festival.

Feel free to refer with other friends as well. If you’re the type of guy to enjoy visiting a festival with friends, you can save on expenses if you go together.

A Festival for the Cherry Trees

The city of Macon is aptly named as the Cherry Blossom Capital of the World with good reason. The streets are filled with the numerous blossoms, all from the trees in the sidewalk. The place reminds you of a modern Japanese-American themed city, as the usual-Japanese flowers float amongst modern American buildings and asphalt-lined streets.

The streets are bustling and filled with Yoshino cherry trees, and every Spring, they fill the air and the ground with their pale pink petals. It is a very extravagant display of color, which leaves their audience speechless and breathless for the first time.

History relates that the cherry trees came from the late William A. Fickling, Sr. who was a local realtor in the area. He had discovered a Yoshino tree in Macon, and with confirmation after three years, had found out what the species was. Took him a trip to Washington DC just to find out the tree was actually a Yoshino specie!

His generosity and enthusiasm had urged the residents to participate in his vision of filling the whole city with the pretty cherry trees. Years passed and the vision had started to materialize. A lot of its current residents had moved to Macon just to be near the trees. One of them being Carolyn Clayton, the festival founder herself, who had fallen in love with the trees after she had visited.

She had urged Fickling to go with their project, and the dream became true. Through a big community effort, 500 trees were planted along the streets across Macon. The project was encouraged when they had finally proposed the first Cherry Blossom Festival.

Soon it had become one of the Top 20 events of the South, and its fame spread. From three days, it had reached 10 days of festivities. The trees keep growing too, and like their number, the dreams of Mr. Fickling will live on and grow more and more.

Dealing with Festival Burnouts

Sometimes, when you have too much of a good thing, you tend to grow bored of it. Sure, the festivals always come once a year, and you’d have think that “Oh pooh, since it only comes once per year, might as well attend it.”

Well, what you might be experiencing is a festival burnout. You have that time in your life wherein you might have your mid life crisis just a tad too early. You think that festivals are just a waste of your time, and you’re just going to spend one day wasting on it.

Well, good sir, you are truly missing a big chunk of life if you think about festivals like that. Fests are what keeps the community together, fests, are what makes the community stick to one another. Fests are the reason that communities are able to celebrate something in unity. Festivals are the joint effort of each and everyone to reach out to one another, through a medium often ignored or even scorned at as one matures; fun.

There is nothing wrong in indulging yourself in a little fun. Fun is what keeps people young, fun, is what makes the world still revolve. Without fun, there is nothing much to live for, because fun is what sometimes gives us the reason to live in this world. So by definition, why would you get tired of fun? Its because fun stuff, can turn un-funny. The more that you do the same thing over and over again, the concept of fun loses its value. It becomes repetitive, becomes the same roller coaster ride over and over again.

Fests require variety and a bit of spice, something that can keep it “exciting”. Maybe a new event, or a small detour but make your festival experience a new experience every time. There you might consider the idea of fun to be more than just going around in circles.

Fiery Criticisms at Oregon Craft Fairs

Crafting is a truly amazing pastime. Have you ever marveled at small trinkets, baubles and statuettes that you come across at bazaars, kiosks and fairs? Chances are good that you have met these skilled artisans without even knowing it. You see, craftspeople are a sentimental lot; and they’re usually the ones at the booth where you saw the pieces.

But then, you may well be too aware of it already. Perhaps you’ve been into crafts as well, and you just showed your work to those that are closest to you. This is okay; we all started out as closet craftspeople. But if you want to get better, if you want to get recognized, you would have to go out there and show your stuff to the people of Oregon.

Hold that thought, though. You probably feel that you’re not at par with other great artists, and you’re scared of the negative comments that will inevitably come your way. I’m not here to tell you to be scared of these. Instead, I’m here to say that this negative feedback will serve as a trial by fire so you can improve your work further. When you show your work only to people you are close to, they will probably sugarcoat their comments, as they won’t want your feelings hurt.

But the harsh words are what you exactly need. While these comments are mostly venom and envy, it is also true that their dislike reflects on something that needs to be improved upon in your piece. Do not worry; in the end, you will be the one deciding if something that they see as ugly is indeed so. In time, you will crave all the negative criticisms as you realize its value to your work.

Eventually, you will learn to become like the other craftspeople; yearning for criticism, but staying anonymous just the same. You see, the people of Oregon are naturally nice; if they know that the maker of the craft is around, they’ll hold back on the negative criticism. So go ahead and attend one of the many Craft Shows in Oregon!

On the Way to Michigan Fairs and Festivals

Activities are always abundant at fairs and festivals. There are always a variety of themes, from the traditional carnivals with sometimes a nod to the old renaissance niche some people like. But whatever the theme may be, there is always one common factor that makes these events the same in nature: The craft shows are always there.

Everyone enjoys seeing an exquisite piece every now and then, but shopping for it so that you can own a particular craft item is even better. And what better place is there to look for crafts than in the various fairs held in Michigan State? Whether you’re looking for intricately carved woodcraft or an elaborate piece of embroidery to decorate your home, you can find them showcased by the talented craftspeople in these fairs.

On the other hand, you may have talent of your own and would like to show off your stuff. If you have skills at a particular craft and would like to share it, go ahead. Don’t keep your talent to your friends, it’s a good idea to register at craft shows so more people will be able to see and appreciate it. It just takes some looking around and finding the right show for you.

On the topic of choosing the appropriate festival or you, there are a couple of things that are to be considered. One, it is best if it’s held in a place that is convenient to you. If you have to cross the Mackinac Bridge to get there, it may not be worth your effort. Travel expenses are part of working expenses and will be subtracted from whatever income you make there.

Secondly, you have to check if the craft show that you are attending has been successful in previous years. As the shows tend to take place annually, you can ask around for their credentials. You may even ask this question to the event organizers; a craft show that performs well is usually proud enough of their achievements that they don’t mind sharing how they run things.

Show Your Pride in our Country at South Dakota Craft Fairs

At first glance, South Dakota may seem similar to many Great Plains States. It has large areas of land, with agriculture being one of the key sources of its economical growth. It has also, sadly, experienced rural flight; our kids simply want a better life, and are inspired to go seek their fortunes elsewhere.

If you know your history, though, you’ll see that South Dakota is better known for something else. It is something of a tourist attraction, as the first two centuries of our country’s history has been right here in our State. As it happens, South Dakota is where Mount Rushmore is and where four of our presidents are carved.

We are of course proud of the people whose images are engraved onto the mountain. However, the tourist spot has not been without controversy. To the Native Americans, the mountain has always been a sacred place, and there are those that say that it has been defiled.

Though these controversies exist, it cannot be denied that the image has been engraved in our minds as an icon of American history. For this reason, we receive an approximate of two million tourists annually. These people come to see Mount Rushmore, and are eager to bring home souvenirs.

So, craftspeople now have an excellent opportunity for a small business venture here. Patriotism is at very high levels in Mount Rushmore, and crafted items that show these cultural icons are always good. It’s heartwarming that a lot of Americans are interested in the history of our country, and the struggles our ancestors had to attain independence.

Best of all, I am proud of the youth that take an interest in our country and its rich history. Such a patriotic soul often goes unrewarded; for my part, I try to make their visit memorable by making and distributing crafts inspired by Mount Rushmore.

All Town Garage Sale in Louisiana

Do you desire to earn extra income without working? Ever thought about how to get rid of those unwanted things in your closet? Do you desire an organized domain dont have inkling as to what things go into the dump and what stays? Then now is the time to organize your things, keep those things for keeps and open a garage sale in front of your own place.

Garage Sales are second-hand sales or thrift shops wherein an unused item is disposed at a lower price. In this way, a neighbor who is in need of one of your items but does not have enough budget to buy a new one can buy yours at a lower price. Stuffs sold at garage sales are usually second hand items in good to excellent working condition. Now dont be pressured in selling your favorite stuffs on garage sales as you can label them as for keeps. You have the option as to what you can sell and what you want to keep.

Garage sales are a fast way to earn money and the same time tidy up your home. There are actually items that we attained in the past without really thinking about its necessity so it usually ends up in our closets collecting dust. These items can move on and find new owners in garage sales. Sellers are on an advantage too as he/she can enjoy an organized house and a fatter wallet.

Money earned in garage sale is usually used to buy a much coveted piece of furniture that could go well into a more spacious house. Furniture pieces are also being sold in garage sales as well as baby cribs, baby furniture, old toys, etc. which would not be used anymore. Garage sales are also a time to get to know your neighbors well and keep up with whats happening to the people around you.

The All Town Garage Sale will be at Abita Springs, Louisiana this year. Head off at the garage sale and see useful pre-owned (or pre-loved) items on sale at fair prices. Who knows, you just might get what youre looking for!

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