In which I explain absolutely nothing

What do you mean it has been a month since the last post? I have no idea what you are talking about. I'm sure no one (not blood related) even noticed, but out of obligation I must explain.

I have been away.




And BUSY.





Because I went to Hogwarts. Drank at the Hog's Head. Stole the sorting hat and hid in the castle crying with the other 8-year-olds until their parents made us leave.

But out of duty, I returned  (they told me I didn't have enough experience to work the Butterbeer concession...) Of course, that was worth it after working two fabulous SF shows, where I met some even more fabulous people. 

Urban Air Market held their debut show in the Pier 70 warehouse near Dogpatch. I was a little worried at first, not knowing what to expect in space and turnout. But to be honest, it is now one of my favorite venues. I mean seriously, it was a giant, gritty abandoned warehouse! It was so large I couldn't even hear the bands playing from the wee end of the building. And did I mention the people were fabulous? I must say, there are some 16 year olds floating around that have no right to be as cool and collected as they are. Where is the bumbling awkwardness I amstillgrowingoutof remember? These kids are rocking the geeky-chic in ways we old farts could only live in fantasy (while we sat alone on Friday nights watching X-Men re-runs...)

But I digress.
This was also Indie Mart's last show, and I will miss that team terribly. Almost a year ago, Indie Mart's Christmas Speakeasy venue was my first real show (after APE). They took a chance on a scattered, wants-to-do-it-all, craft show newb, and I learned what a great show could really be. I am super sad to see them go, but I am glad I made it in time to see the glory days. I am still a craft show newb, but we are starting to get there.

Hopefully, now you are thoroughly dazzled with pictures not to notice the lack of anything relatively interesting in this post. As always, I promise better things to come.

A very big thank you!

I cannot even begin to thank everyone who came out to the Patchwork and Urban Air Market shows! For someone this awkward, meeting people is actually the best part of my job. I've always heard it was good to go outside (one and a while), but people are so much nicer in person than the internet. To be real, the Bay area is filled with some pretty awesome people (and that includes vendors).

To start with Urban Air- I might have challenged nature a little with my perpetually cynical expectations, so I will ignore the fact that it did rain, my tent did fall over and San Francisco was donned with our bi-annual clap of thunder on that particular day. Still, it brought us all closer together, and though my ghettocrafty sign bled pathetic, blackemokid tears from the water, it all worked out because I made another sign. A better sign, so eat it nature.* And, you know what? The sun came out and people still wandered the streets

of Hayes Valley - even in the rain.

Action shot of me being unsure
of what to do with my hands...

Patchwork was invariably less dramatic (being on the summer end of the Bay) and the show was, you know, indoors, so it was naturally lovely and balmy out (a sensation you try and forget about, living in a wall of SF fog). Only once did I knock all my cards from the stand with my yeti hands. The one smidgen of alarm was a 4 year old's plot to kidnap Madame Pancake, but poor Pancake weighed more than both the child and her conspirator. 

All in all, the past two Sundays were a total blast. Again, it is thanks to all of the people who made it possible, and the ones who came out to give company to us lonely, trapped vendors.

Now I will get back to doing whatever it is I do. Here are the last few pictures because I have no idea where else to put them.

Yeep...totally awk

awkawkawk

 

*Don't eat it, nature. I'm not challenging you again.

Awkward as my namesake

Doing a show you haven't vended before sort of feels like the first day of high school. You wander into a swarm of other (cooler) people who somehow seem to know what to do and never need directions. You don't know the other big kids or where to find your locker. You worry about the snickering over your clearly budgeted booth display and signage. Granted, I am nervous about any situation where other humans might pay attention to me, but if you are somehow unfamiliar with the idea of anxiety, it is living through life with this consistently looping in your mind.

However, unlike high school, once the show begins that anxiety tends to dissipate (as long as my tent doesn't blow away and barrel through all the other vendors.) But until then, I will continue to expect the worst, as any respectable person from New York does.

So, on that note, come visit me over the next two Sundays and make sure to throw stuff at me and slap the books from my arms. It will actually be a helluva good time (as long as the weather holds and the "big one" doesn't happen and swallow us all into the earth...).

Party whale demands fun!

5/5 Urban Air: http://www.urbanairmarket.com/
5/12 Patchwork: http://patchworkshow.com/craft-fair-locations/oakland-events/