Location

Sterling Heights, MI

Your Medium

fabric/embroideries

Years in the Art Fair Business

2

First show ever

Artesan Village, Detroit Eastern Market

What is your website?

https://creativestitchesbyyvonne.com

What are the best things about art fairs

Getting to know your market neighbors, and the people who come through. Having great conversations with the people who come by to look, to comment on your handiwork, and ultimately, who actually purchase from you. I love it when they come back to let me know that they've purchased some of my pieces, or when they share their experience with friends, or when they place a special order with me and come back to pick it up or receive it by delivery and absolutely LOVE it. These are some of the things that keep me interested in good art fairs.

Best show ever and why

As I've mentioned, I'm a newbie to the shows, but I am a regular at the Artesan Village. But last year during flower-day weekend on the first day, I was placed next to a business that had been part of the Eastern Market for over 100 years, it was a hardware store (amongst hand crafters), and they completely overshadowed me, and I got maybe 1 sale, I mentioned that to the manager and for the second day he moved me to the side street, this was a better location, but people were pushing their carts and strollers through my tent, and this was a great irritant to me, but I decided to make the situtation work to my advantage, I started talking to the people and encouraging them to stop and take a look at what I was displaying, it was working for me, then the market had entertainment, and some of it consisted of Opera singers who were walking around, browsing, sitting at tables and eating like regular people, when all of a sudden they stood up and started singing, very clear and crisp, they did this for about 10-mins, and this stirred up the crowd, more people were coming my way, and I was inviting them to stop and take a look. This turned out to be a wonderful day, and an experience of a life time, I sold completely out, with the exception of one embroidered towel. I was tired, and pleased.What can I say? I was hooked!

Worst show ever and why

Flower=Day-Weekend this year. The first day wasn't too bad, it was chilly, with an overcast, but I was happy to be back among familiar friends and looking forward to another successful season, But the second day of the weekend, it was dark, and ready to rain. We all came erected our tents and began to set up our tables, when it started to rain, it was a torrential down-pour! The right side of the top of my tent began to collect water and sag, then different areas of my tent gave away to leaks, and my embroideries were getting wet. I walked down to the hardware store, (that was again participating, but not allowed to have as much space so they left) to purchase a tarp or plastic to put around my tent, and they refused to wait on me because they said they weren't open, so I had to start packing up. One vendor who had invested quite a bit of money in a water-proof tent waved to me as i was loading up my van, but as I walked backed soaked to get the last of my things, her tent collasped, I think I dodged a bullet by packing up when I did. This was the worst show I've ever done, but I didn't feel bad about it, I just looked forward to the next weekend.

Who referred you to ArtFairInsiders.com? Please be specific.

I did a search online for art shows in Michigan, and it showed up. I decided I wanted to be brave and step outside my comfort zone--you know, step outside the box.