I had a show on Saturday and it was fantastic - you are right, people are out and buying! It pays to find well-established large shows - this was a very large one and cost me $90 to participate. It was a juried show and cost the public $2 to attend. The money went for the band. Interestingly enough, I have found that I do best at shows that cost the public to attend. Those are the most serious buyers.

I did want to mention that in my mad dash around the school to check out the other vendors before the show started, I came across a gal selling concrete mushrooms and leaf birdbaths. They were nicely done and her display definitely stood out amongst the USUAL (boring) same olds, and I ended up buying a large mushroom from her for $15. I did compliment her on her prices and for having unique items! My mushroom is still packed away in an empty box I brought home. I wish I could have made it back to the gym while we were packing up to talk to her again and see how well she did.

I also did a show on Saturday and made more than I thought I would. I sold 4 plantstands/birdbaths (made from glass, like we do with the totems), almost sold-out of my mini-stands (pretty dish glued to a glass candlestick), several altered bottles, half of my garden magnets went and lots of other things.

I'm finding that people like things that have a purpose; ie: the birdbaths, plantstands, etc. They don't really get the totems that just look pretty but if it has a purpose, they're all over it.

Everyone really liked the display and the unique items; always asking "how did you come up with that idea?" I'll be posting pictures soon on my blog; have another show this Saturday. Hope everyone else is doing good too!

Here is a link that might be useful: Shabby Garden Creations

Great news! Glad you both did good at your craft shows...tis the time of the yr! That is promising news! 2much...sounds like a good day for you shopping! (lover of bake sales, too!) Jeanne S.

I'm so happy to read the encouraging news!!! My first show is this Thurs. and I have no idea what to expect. I hope the people here are in a buying mood. Garden-potter, if you don't mind sharing, what did you price your plant stands and mini stands at? Wish me luck . . . I've got my fingers crossed.

My plantstands usually sell for $20.00. If I've had it for awhile and it's not selling, I mark it down to $15. My mini-stands sell for $4 or $5, again, depending on how nice the top plate is, etc. Not a whole lot of money on the mini-stands but then again, it's only a dish and a candlestick that, hopefully, I bought cheap at a GS or TS and have no more than $1.50 in it.
Good luck at your show! Odd it's a Thursday? Always talk to people; if people stopped and were looking at the plantstands, I would say "aren't those pretty plantstands? Or you could use it as a birdbath or small table on your porch? And it makes great use of all that old glassware; keeps it out of the landfill. It would be so easy to wrap if you're thinking of it for a Christmas gift; just throw a pretty vintage pillowcase over it with a pretty bow and they'll never guess what it is."

Again, good luck; have confidence in your items and report back to us!

Good luck Mary, your stuff always looks great to me. You have a good eye for whimsical combos so you should attract a crowd. Then it's just a matter of engaging them and selling as others have said.

If it seems everyone loves your stuff but walks away, try having a sale on some items to see if price is the issue.