Challenging Week So Far

I did a one-day local show this past Sunday and it did not go well. I had that sinking feeling when I walked into the venue and saw a large direct sales vendor display - my first clue that this would not be a profitable day for me. When I arrived at my assigned space, it looked small to me but I determined to make the best of it. After lugging my set up and inventory inside (and leaving a display and some inventory in the car as I realized I had over-estimated the space available) I started to set up. My runner display rack was set perpenducular to the aisle so people could see both sides and I left room on the outside of my booth for people to stand to look at them. BIG mistake, as the vendor next to me spent most of the day standing in that space while he made sales and kibbitzed, effectively blocking my display. I did not make a single sale, the first time that has happened to me. It was just not my audience. Lots of vendors of what those of us in the larger artisan craft world call "kitchen" crafts - think crocheted animals, strung beads, etc. (There was even someone I had been warned about who simply buys junk jewelry at yard sales and piles it on a table for people to paw through. NOT a craft!) My friend said she was way down and a few others said the same. I did make contact with a couple of potential UMC members. A second silver lining is that I don't need to rush to finish the 3 sets of placemats that are in production. So, I vowed to never do a show without checking it out the year before. I did that last year with the SSMC show in Topsham and knew within 5 minutes that I wanted to join them to do that show, which I will do in 2 weeks. I spent all day yesterday speed sewing sachets, as I forgot that I was way down on them. The lavender ones are finished, balsam are in process and 6 bayberry trivets as well. I should be able to finish them all by Friday, when I will help mark out the Augusta show and set up my booth - I'm certain I'll have plenty of space at that show! And a more receptive audience. The other challenge we are dealing with is some sort of hiccup in our septic system. A backup into the downstairs sink is never good and we thought we had it cleared yesterday but it seems to be some sort of blockage going into the tank. Someone is coming at noon to scope it out and diagnose. Hope its not expensive! And I hope it gets fixed as I have a friend and fellow UMC member spending the night with us Saturday. ****UPDATE**** The problem is in the only section of the system we have not replaced in our 24 years here. The septic guys snaked it and found section where the roots of a nearby tree are intruding - that was the source of the blockage. The entire pipe needs to be replaced as the pitch has shifted in a couple of places throught he years. They can do it in a day and will schedule as available. Better now than later when it comes to this sort of thing. I'm saddened by the rush of people feeling the need to arm themselves, whether it's the citizens of Maine after our recent tragedy or citizens all over the country who are being persecuted and assaulted just for their ethnicity or religion. I am of the belief that the more guns are out there, the more gun deaths we will experience, whether by accident or by design. It just provides more opportunity for chaos and this country does not need more chaos. It's already having me thinking and wondering who I might be shopping with who is packing. Maine has one of the most lenient gun laws in the country and I hope that changes because we are no longer immune. Both of our shooting incidents this year involved people who should not have had access to guns but did - stealing, borrowing etc. People...Lock up your guns and do not share the code/keys with anyone. The life you save might be your own...or mine.