So, you can't tell from this photo how the morning began.
I'd learned from the previous week what I needed to do ahead of time. Packing the car was a breeze. I was ready for the morning. The weather was still chilly, but even so it was a gorgeous day. Well, that is until I began to "live" in it!
I drove out of the driveway, after packing the car. I back in every day so I can drive out. No big deal, right? Well that's what I thought too. I drove out and began driving down the road. I heard a few things slide around in the back, but hey, I'm sure it's ok. I drove about a mile, around a couple curves and turned onto a busier road. I looked behind me. MY HATCH WAS OPEN!! EEK
I popped on my flashers and stopped dead. I jumped out of the car, went around back, and assessed the damage. There were definitely things missing. Oh no. I couldn't remember which things I'd loaded where, so I didn't know what was gone. I'd have to drive back.
I turned around in the nearest driveway and began my trek back. I had to go by the County Fair grounds where they hold an auction every Saturday morning. I didn't see anything along the road there...but what if...no. I wasn't going to think about it.
I followed the curves up the road, scouring the shoulders or road for scattered jewelry. I didn't see anything. I was beginning to worry. I just knew there was at least one box missing. I finally got back to my house, and right across the street was my jewelry repair/findings kit. It was upside down, but THANK GOD, unopened. (I don't even want to begin to tell you what a nightmare it would have been if it had been open...many items that are about the size of a grain of sand or sesame seed!!)
I retrieved the box and again began on my way, with all car doors and hatches closed this time. I arrived at the lot by the library. There were a few less vendors so they had me consolidate a little closer to everyone else. I drove over and began to unload. I got the tables up, then began unloading the merchandise. I clamped the boards in place. I set up the necklace boards in front of the table as the breeze was going to make it impossible to keep them up. I'd done this the week before, it wouldn't be a big deal.
Oh boy was I wrong. The wind although wasn't horrible was just steady enough to CONSTANTLY knock over one display after another. Each time the jewelry would end up on the ground. It was like whack-a-mole. Every time I'd get one display reset, another would go. I didn't have time to secure them in between!! The other vendors came over and helped me pick up the goods each time. (The bonus here was that I got to know the other vendors pretty well!!) Then one vendor, a t-shirt vendor, began giving me helpful things; first duct tape, then bungie cords. I taped and taped and taped. All the displays had about a mile of duct tape. Everything was secure...until all the "displays" acted like a giant sail. The wind went...and so did the WHOLE TABLE! EEEK!!!
So, I had to redo the table again. This time I put the necklace boards on the sides of the table and secured them up with the bungie cords. Maybe this will work. The wind came from the other direction so now the resistance was much less. It seemed to work. The displays weren't in the best location, but it no longer moved with a life of it's own. I was very frustrated about picking up and rehanging each and every necklace every other minute! I finally got to rest for a minute!
After that I had a friend come look at my things. I had a commissioned piece for her. Oh sheesh. What did I leave home? I told her that I'd bring it back after the show. She looked at all my other things, and we talked a bit. She gave me some ideas and was very supportive. Then a group of about 6 came up.
It really looks weird when a group of 6 people wearing masks approach a jewelry table (just sayin). They looked at everything and asked a lot of questions. Finally one purchased a couple necklaces. (whew, sale!). As they were leaving I saw a return customer!! SHE WAS MAKING A BEELINE right to my display. She reiterated what nice things I had. (She also said this last week). She had a thick German accent. I helped her try on ring after ring. We found one she couldn't live without. She took a business card. Maybe she'd contact me over winter.
The wind started blowing again. This time my things stayed put. But, the vendor that lent me the supplies wasn't so lucky. It was my turn to help her pick up. We laughed about how it didn't seem windy, but how our displays disagreed. Afterall, it was 2020. It was Halloween. It was a full moon. What else could it be??? Then, the vendor directly next to me spilled an entire coffee. it was on the run like a river, right toward my SECURED displays. She jumped in the stream, smearing it everywhere, trying to keep it from reaching my jewelry. It worked. The coffee river stopped just short of my display.
The day was about over. I'd made a few sales. It was profitable. It was for that reason, a success. And, I'd had a repeat customer!! How cool was that? The person in charge called me over. She gave me a bar of homemade soap made from goat milk. It smells really nice, rustic. We said our goodbyes. She asked me to remember them this spring. I will do so. I have an opportunity to vend at the other, larger site. But I won't forget these guys. I'm not sure yet what I'll do, but I may even do both if I can.
The experience was truly amazing. And now, my tool kit will also include duct tape, bungie cords and tools!!
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