Yes, the screaming is over.
I screamed when I caught the bunny just getting ready to "taste" a floor mat.
I screamed when, while rushing to finish a last wall hanging, for the first time in my life I sewed through my index finger. Right. Through. The. Nail. My husband said, "Was there thread??" Thank you, sweetie, no. I did not finish that wall hanging. When the universe signals that clearly, I take the hint.
I screamed at my daughter this morning when she told me the reason she didn't have much time to help me pack was a) she had to spend yet another 4-6 hour evening with her boyfriend and b) I wasn't paying her, anyway. I actually screamed, "I gave you LIFE!!!" (We are okay now. I told her in a few more years, we'd be square.)
My booth is all ready to go.
I've packed up the new wall hangings, the new sculptures and the new jewelry. I have a new poster (and took one old poster, just in case.) I have postcards, business cards, catalogs, press kits.
I have noted the missing Abstracta parts, ordered replacements, and found the lost pieces. And packed the replacement parts, "just in case"...
I discovered a configuration error in my booth layout, and pulled the missing panels last night. Whew!
My friend Lorna, who is an old hand at craft shows, stopped in to see if she could help. Her parents were full-time craftspeople, and she is mellow/mellow/mellow when it comes to show prep. "Do you have an emergency sewing kit?" she asks. Hmmmm.....no. A small flurry of activity ensues. "How are you hanging the wall pieces with sticks?" she asks. Whoops! Forgot the hooks. Another small flurry of activity....
I had Lorna rewash all the floor mats my daughter swore she washed last night (she forgot to wash the backs.) How could I tell? They stunk.
The truck is packed. Wonder of wonders, we have room left! Hurray! We CAN take the suitcases!
I can't think of anything I've forgotten. I'm sure whatever it is, is vitally important to my show and cannot be easily replaced. Oh well.
Tomorrow we will try to stay ahead of the blizzard headed our way. Hopefully we'll succeed in driving out of it as we wend our way south to....
The Buyers Market of American Craft in Philadelphia!
As my friend Lorna pulled out of the driveway, she stuck her head out the window and yelled, "As my mom used to say before a show....'MAKE A LOT OF MONEY!!'" Oh, I hope so. My Visa bill is frightening.
Wish me luck! Send all your favorite store- and gallery-owners to my booth this weekend!
