DoubleC

I live in Rutland VT so depending on where you are I'm in your ;area.' You looking for someone to make these for you, design them, sell them? What kind of help do you need? Cheryl.

Hi Texas Lady. If people want I can look into how to 'rent' a conference room online, start a business Paypal account for people to sign up for different classes, and see if the video's can be done by me as a participant while the teacher teaches. Then I could pass out the video to people who couldn't attend the class. I'm happy to look into it if people want me to. Cheryl

Bumping this instead of moving all these images for the people interested in becoming vendors. A real job putting all this info in this. Going to add to it next week. I will link people to it then let it die folks. Cheryl

I think they're adorable. I wish I could figure out some other animals on my own so I could make them for the farmers market, but I could hardly figure this one out with a pattern, Cheryl

A while back a man posted some of these and I was dying to know how to do it. These are made with single pieces of leather. He sent me the pattern and it only took me 3 days to figure it out, LOL. WITH help from everyone in Chat. But I think they're just adorable.

Next is Peter and behind him you can see The Fat Chef's display which although I got him, I didn't the display. Peter cooks. He makes things like jalapeno cornbread and wonderful things like that. He also makes things like humus that I've only seen Gordon Ramsey use and I won't try, LOL. But he makes food you can TASTE. I couldn't eat it yesterday, I had stayed up and worked on a horse key fob all night for the market and to make sure I didn't oversleep. By noon my stomach was queasy from the heat and too much soda. I was starved. I went to check Peter out nd he said, 'none of this will settle your stomach. Ask the Asian Arts people for something soothing.' I did and got rice. It was yellow. They said it had turmeric in it, which I think is a spice and not a poison but sure doesn't have much flavor. Or STRONG flavor like Peter's wonderful food. I gave most of it to the dog whose favorite food is what I happen to be eating. Peter's display is pans. Well used pans. Pans that smell good. Finally we're back around to The Fat Chef. That's the name of his booth and I can't remember his name right this second. He has a three by three canopy, I swear. Maybe smaller. He sells confections. He has a tall kinda two shelf thing with his confections on it. I like that word confections. Next weak I'll try to do better at displays and less at people. This is not ALL the vendors by any means. I'll try and remember a few wide-angle shots too. I hear people complain all the time that people don't care about hand made things anymore. Well what about you? The next time you go shopping take an extra 10 minutes and get it at the Farmers Market. Need a gift for someone's birthday etc.? Go to a craft fair. Christmas comes every year folks so why not buy some gifts at a Christmas fair? Let's start our own hand made movement.

Next is Diane Heleba who helps Judy and well all of us. I don't have a Square so Diane takes care of customers with CCs that need tokens. For all of us. They also raise potatoes. Not just any spud; when we had a seller in Vermont who made purple potato chips the Heleba's grew the potatoes for them. Again one of the nicest people you'd ever wanna meet, and genuinely sweet, nothing aggressive about her. When she's upset she sounds like me on my best day. Then there's Patty who sells meats from their farm. Oh boy good meat too. I wish I'd gotten her display because it's very neat, no nonsense, but still creative. She makes the most of every inch. Me when I do my display it's kinda like 'how fast can I throw it out and see who all is here.' I'll admit 1/2 of my items are not marked. At St. Joe's Christmas craft fair last year Mary made up signs and slid them under items that were only 1/2 marked. I'm still using those signs on items that are only 1/2 marked But you always know what Patty has for sale and when she's out of something. Plus she makes friend chicken feet for dog treats. Skadi loves them but I can hardly pick one up to give her. Of course Skadi would love friend chicken lips. Across the aisle from her is Mort, my friend who is always feeding me brownies. Thanks Mort, I really need those. He is a teacher of about 200 years turned farmer AND woodworker. The make jellies and jams and baked goods and sell berries and squash and have beautiful flowers and Mort makes these incredible hand made clocks. He sells those in their store that Mary runs on Saturdays after helping him set up at the market. I'll try and get there early to get a better shot of their set up AND Mary. They use wood on saw horses, and blocks of wood, etc. Mort let me borrow his stool once when I forgot my chair. It has no stuffing left. Would like to recover it for him but prolly should do the tool roll first he asked me to do first I always refuse money from him and he never allows it. He pays me more than what I'd ask so I always give him some back. Sometimes he takes it, sometimes not.

There's been a lot of questions on how to sell at craft shows, Farmers Markets and shows. Yesterday at my Farmer's market I went around and MEANT to take pics of different ways of setting up, but got caught up in taking pics of my friends instead. sometimes their set ups weren't in the picture. I'll do better next week. BTW doesn't my new cameras take good pics? The first one is me with my unpaid help Skadi. My booth looks a little bare (2nd week) and I realized I have a whole bag of leather items that aren't with me. I hang my 'swingy' things on the canopy support, guitar straps, cross body purses. I hope the things waving in the wind might attract someone's eye. And I have a berry stand that I switch out with different things. Yesterday it was a checkbook cover, portfolio and art. Next we have Josh who sells nothing but hydroponic tomatoes and is partners with Peter who cooks that I'll show later. With Josh it's just maybe 4 tables to start with tomatoes on it, and down to one table by the time he leaves. He is next to me and a funny guy and nice too. I'm making him a dog collar now that started out one like the brown print in the photo for 25 bucks that I manage to turn into a red one, with red marbled goat on veg tanned, laced in red roo for, well you got it, 25 bucks. He decided he'd like red and I ran with it. It's for his German Shorthair Pointer pup. Across from me with an elaborate display is Pat. She makes incredible jewelry out of anything that catches HER eye and also probably has one of the nicest displays at the market. I'm not sure your display will sell you more but a nice one does get more lookers which increases your chances. Then we have Roger who sells things like tomato plants. His first year he brought one table and was gone in 3 weeks, no more product. He hasn't made that mistake since. Nice guy that would help you do anything. After that we have Rachel that I've known since she was maybe 10 years old. She used to take riding lessons where I had my horse boarded. Actually 'Miss Cheri; kept her busy during the hours that the Farmers Market was open because both her parents worked at it. I can still hear her trailing behind, 'Miss Cheri, Miss Cheri, Miss Cheri like an able student wanting called on in class. She used to ride this Shetland pony named Crackers that would have been more aptly named Crackerjack. I did a picture of Crackers on a piece of leather for her years ago I still haven't painted Now she's all grown up, plays the guitar and mandolin and works at the Farmers market. That is her with our Queen that we all have the opportunity throughout the year of entertaining at our booth. Wait, I think she's England's Queen too. Next is Judy who was kind enough to come after me for the market since I didn't have a ride. She is Market Runner and Market runner, person extraordinaire who gets there at & AM in the morning to make sure everyone who needs help has it. She sells her plants on the most rickety card tables, etc. that I fear one day her plants will take a tumble. Her look? 'I'm too old for this crap, don't you dare take my picture and why aren't you at your booth?' True Vermonter, she has pipes running horizontally across the back of her seats to hold boards that are held with bailing twine and duct tape. I imagine the bag balm was in the glove box. Hysterically funny, kind, abrupt at times when she's in a hurry and one of the genuinely nicest human beings alive. Andre and continuation on the next post. Then we have Andre, Rachel's father selling he and Clair's exotic baked goods. well they are exotic to me. Tarts and biscuits and nothing but a booth filled with OMG I want it all. He is from France, Claire from Scotland which is how I think we got our Queen. Ordered from one of her magazines. We are the only Farmers Market in the United States to have a Queen I believe and we all love the old darling and fight over getting her for the day. As you can see off to the side Andre and Claire have curlicue shelf thingys and other quite nice things. Doesn't matter, people know they're there and flocked to their booth.

A group I used to belong to on FB had classes on about anything people brought up and video taped them. The teacher met the students in an online conference room and charged 20.00 per person. I'd love to see LW.net get started doing something like this. After it was video taped, anyone who missed the class but still wanted the info could pay the fee and get the link to the video. Cheryl

Wolf I think thrown together aptly describes this. You didn't cut the square vaguely square, your wolf lost an eye and WHAT is that stuff around the motorcycle that was cut wet and not beveled? I like the color and some of your stitching is nice. Cheryl

Beautiful Job Robin. Cheryl

What ever you decide to do, I would cut the leather ahead of time so that doesn't take up time in the workshop. And remember water and sponges to case whatever they make can be stamped. I'd bring an alphabet stamp set with me and a mallet for them to do the stamping. Also you would be teaching them about casing the leather. I am suggesting cutting the things ahead of time simply because that's the hardest thing for me. Might be easy for your workshop people. Also I'd take the basic 6 tools (no swivel knife) so they can stamp decorative designs with those too. Or if you are going to do several of these, you could build on the skills. I would start with casing, then maybe next time give them a pattern to transfer to the leather and let them use a swivel knife, next a beveler, etc. Later in the series you can get into sewing. But I don't know if this is how you have them set up. Just brainstorming Cheryl

I hope you're going to use the horrid things on a human collar and not a dog collar. Cheryl

Ooooh I want some mermaid tanned with pixie dust. I need to make some pretty interiors. Did mr. Flintstone say when it would be ready? Does it come in colors? CHERYL

I got to thinking about it and I want some. Loved the way it looked on the collars. How much you charging a sq. ft? CHERYL

I love the pink flower one although the pink lace is a little 'pink' for me The rest are very nice too. Cheryl

Nice collar or belt or whatever but ain't dinosaur leather you dips. No one would sell you that, even if it existed. CHERYL

Cubby this is great. All your pictures and explanations, and especially the last question. I'm with you there. Cheryl

Cubby what a wonderful array of pictures you chose. I would have been lost trying to make this decision. And I know you've still got to be exhausted. Thanks so much for sharing this. Cheryl

Nice! Cheryl

I found this picture of an ancient image in a cave and made the nose band from it. I entered it in a contest and never had any problems. Cheryl

I took making interiors with Chan Geer and beginning tooling with Ed (Bearman) Labarre. I didn't realize how fast you lose that ability when you aren't using it. First time I held a swivel knife in over a year. And the results WEREN'T pretty. But taking a swivel knife with me tomorrow to the farmer's market and some scrap and just gonna practice while I'm there in between people. Chan's class was easier in concept but harder than even tooling for me because of my shaky hands. But I'm looking forward to putting the knowledge to use, good use I hope. Thanks for asking. Cheryl

Wow, beautiful. Cheryl

Thanks Randi. Actually I had fun writing it, not so much living it at times, LOL. I had forgotten how much I enjoy writing. And of course sharing this journey along with my friends was a good feeling. We'll know what to do next year Cheryl

Post it notes from the edge 5/20/15 Say what? you got home on the 19th didn't you? Well not exactly. Well not even close, as you read I missed my plane Tuesday. So after making all the arrangements to change the flight to today and paying my 'bad girl' fees, I stayed up all night Tuesday. I had the desk clerk at the hotel come and help me over with my luggage. That was about 4:30 AM. I just hung out in the lobby and played on my computer until about 5:30, then asked the clerk to call me a cab. In the meantime a man had opened the door for me when I went in to the main hotel. We smiled, and did all the greeting stuff and then I went on. 2 secs later so did he. I had just tied the dog to a chair leg when I hear this, 'can I get you a cup of coffee?' I look up and think damn, I'm going to have to try to be polite on no sleep. I said, 'no, I have pop here.' So Tex (seriously don't know his name, and was wearing a Texas shirt and cowboy hat) plopped down into the lobby area with me and asked me some questions, you know stuff strangers ask each other. Finally to shut him up, I asked him if he liked to fish. 'Oh yes ma'am' Well good, let me show you this cool fishing game i have on the computer. do you know how to use a computer? He does and as I lean a little closer to show him how to play the game, he says, ' we oughtta keep in touch.' Sure Mr. Married Tex whose wife is in Las Vegas with their two dogs. 'If I give you my info can you get a hold of me on here?' He asks. Nope, uh no I can't. My computer doesn't have that function. Whatever function he's talking about, email, chat, skype, all of mine are broke. He went to put his clothes in the dryer and my cab came and oh my I didn't get to say bye bye to Tex. One more Denver weirdo. Hey I know weirdos. Most of my friends are weird. Just not creepy weird. The trip was ONLY 58.00 this time. Gas prices must have dropped. I have been screwed so many times without a kiss on this trip I'm kinda in a rage about it. At every turn a tax, rate increase, non refundable, added charges, hidden fees, the list goes on and on. Of course I'm not talking about the trade show, don't think there could be a much more honest bunch as a whole. I mean all the 'hospitality (that aren't very) industry. For example I got to Newark a while ago. I asked them to have a chair waiting on me (forgot I was back in normal country that has o2 in the air, LOL and I could probably walk. But Newark is huge so I just let the man do his thing. Said I needed to go to the bathroom and then needed to take Skadi out. He went 14 kinds of ways around the airport, and of course English was not his first language so I had no idea what he was saying. Until we got Skadi out to the pet park and I turned her loose to go. He explains to me several times that he has done a good job and things that weren't his job so what was I going to give him. 'A fat lip ran through my mind.' I handed him my credit card and he said, 'no credit. Need cash. What you give me?' I explain to him I have no cash and can't get any. No PIN. PIN he seems to not understand because he says 3 times, 'I will take you to ATM.' Amazing how his speech improved after we got to money. Anyway he reluctantly took me to the TSA check point and after I got through he was gone. Language I definitely understood by this point. United wanted his name. It was something like Zgwlsheirkufoml. Right like I knew his name. I get on the plane to Newark and I'm in the last row by myself. Ahhh, sweet silence plus room for Skadi. I don't believe it but in a few minutes I'm asleep. In a few more minutes the attendants wake me to see if I want anything to drink. No more napping on that flight. But I did relax and was glad Skadi was comfortable. I got off at Newark and told you the story above so beyond that, no big deal. Since United had told me they gave me an upgrade on the the phone when I switched flights (for the 75.00) I was expecting a similar ride into Burlington. Of course I forgot it was a puddle jumper. No it was full so I couldn't have the bulkhead area. No couldn't sit in the middle area with more space. NO NO NO. Got Skadi squeezed under my feet and seat in front of me and after the flight took off I couldn't believe it but I dozed off again. And Skadi tolerated her situation maybe 10 minutes and tried to crawl out. So awake again, I try to drag, push, lift, and pull her back into the torture chamber they gave us. She wasn't having it. The woman across the aisle from me asked if I wanted to try her there. She put her feet on her husband, leaving a little more room and petted Skadi the rest of the trip. Skadi modified the sweet woman's behavior very fast. When the woman would quit petting her, Skadi would move just her head like she was going to get up, which caused the woman to start petting her again. Demon dog. We get to Burlington, Vermont and my friend, Patti Jo is waiting for me and I hug her so tight I mighta killed her. I was so glad to be back in Vermont with someone who wasn't going to make me and the dog ride in the trunk, LOL. Which is about how much room we'd had on the plane, or maybe less. Patti takes Skadi outside to bathroom and I wait on my checked luggage. OK again I have to tell you you will think I'm lying but this really happened LOL. Neither of us made plans to meet up. My luggage comes out, Patti isn't back so I go outside and sit on a bench where cars are driving up to load passengers. I sit. I sit some more. After a good 1/2 hour goes by Patti comes around the corner and says, 'Where have you been?' I said, 'Where the hell you been? I've been sitting right here watching people get picked up.' She says, 'I was in the parking garage, where else would I be?' Chin is so sore by now from hitting the ground, I try to grab it but miss. She takes the dog to pee, I get my luggage and some how know she goes on to the parking garage AND which the level and spot. So I have to carry my luggage about 1/4th of a mile to the garage while she walks Skadi. I am too tired to be mad. Tell her I wanna stop for a beer and to buy us both something to eat. She ate on the way up. She has worked 8 hours before coming after me and I know she is tired but you would think she pulled the car to Burlington. I told her I'll settle for stopping for some beer to take home because everything is hurting. She says she doesn't care if I drink one as long as I'm careful and look before raising it. So off we go. A block and a convenience store. Not yet she says, need to get out of traffic. So we follow her GPS and she doesn't have a clue where we are. In places no cell service. Phone battery is low and it's dying. All of the trip except last 5 minutes is out in the country. I get to buy my beer the last 5 minutes, LOL but don't care, almost home now. She takes the dog up and the pop I bought at the same store, and I try and carry a 12 pack, and three pieces of luggage, LOL. Way too tired for that so take the beer and the heaviest piece. Walk back down gasping for the other two pieces. Drag myself upstairs and Patti says, 'that's disgusting.' I look where she points and I forgot to empty my coffee pot. I look at the rest of the house and think, that one's a quick fix, LOL. just vinegar. Silence. Patty Jo is gone after a big hug and thank you from me. I know being tired has made us both grouchy and I am not upset, just so very happy to be home. I do 'home things.' Find my meds. Feed and water the dog. Change clothes. Lights on, windows open to get some of the 'stale' out. Kick a path through to the living room and set up the computer and head to see if anyone is on Skype or in LW chat. Chat for a while and drink two beers, take my meds and hit the sack. Sleep for 20 hours and here I am. I need to clear up some misconceptions I had while writing this. The most important one is there was no info available at Leathercrafters site for people like me. It just wasn't available before I left. When Cubby comes she has a huge printout of info she has folded like a book and brought with her. And when we go to class the next day there are the exact same things on the conference table except the outsides are made of card stock or something stronger than printer paper. They had been professionally done. I guess if I was to offer some suggestions for them the first would be to put on the workshop site to stop by the Holiday Inn first thing and pick up pertinent materials and get your questions answered. That way they wouldn't have to have everything done way ahead of time, because there is tons to be done. But newcomers that are totally lost on the process would know where to get the information they need. I asked the Mill Inn if they had any info and they said, 'no, they never give us anything like that.' I would suggest to Leathercrafters that they get a bare bones info sheet out to the close by motels and hotels. Maybe part of the info available to these places to stay could be a map and a brief description of how things will work. Or not work. OK one cab in town, and classes at the Bethesda Church which is two miles out. A shuttle that stopped a couple places to ride out on would be nice. The cab driver told me it was going to be I think 15.00 to go that two miles. I have nothing against anyone making a living but convention people being taken advantage of is another thing. It's no different than paying 10.00 for a Big Mac in airports simply because they can charge that. Well I can't change all the airports or Amtrak stations (food the same way) or even bus stations (3.00 can of pop) but we can change this trade show. I had a wonderful time at the actual trade show and learned so much but still came away with a bit of a nasty taste in my mouth. And this is the most important thing to me of everything else. Change the class times or the vendor times. When classes run from 8-5 and the vendors are available 8-5 how is that supposed to work? I missed one class on Thursday because of the plane connection but didn't go to my next one because I was trying to work out that surprise before Andrea arrived plus I wanted more than an hour lunch to shop. I guess this has been an ongoing problem for both attendees and vendors. I work at our local Farmers Market and it's a much smaller scale but I would be furious if every Saturday I worked the Farmers Market also had another event they were putting on some where else at the exact same time. I would find another venue. But there is no other venue quite like the Rocky Mountain Trade Show. Even if there was one afternoon where no classes were offered it would be better. And schedule all the 8-5 classes on the other 3 days. I'm sure it can be worked out. I am going to offer this to the Leathercrafters and Saddlers Journal. I don't want you to think in any way I was asked to critique the event. I did it to help other newbies. They can consider the suggestions I made or not. I'm keeping a copy of this and will post it again next year before the event. I'm still hoping Andrea will find some time in her inhuman schedule to write some more from her perspective and add some pictures. Mostly I hope you enjoyed at least parts of this. I'm not leaving the edge just signing off from Post It Notes From the Edge........of Sheridan. Cheryl