Fall shows, festivals, and craft shows are a way of life for many jewelry artisans like me.  It is a good way to meet and greet people, show your work, and get your name out in local communities.   The shows I participate in are usually fun weekend events where I meet new people and greet lots of old friends too. 

This past weekend was one of my fun shows, a local Oktoberfest Festival complete with lots of brats, beer gardens, German food, a polka band, a carnival, and lots and lots of local dance studios performing on one of the stages.  There were 2 streets of tent booths for arts and crafts and children’s activities sponsored by church and civic organizations.  Yes, there was something for everyone in the family there.

Friday afternoon was simply beautiful weather wise with sunshine, temperature in low 80′s and cooler once the sun went down.  Traffic through my booth was brisk since my location was very close to one of the brats tents and on the way to the dance studios stage.

Saturday was another lovely day with sunshine and great temperatures . . . except for the wind gusts . . . which gusted up to 40mph during the morning and early afternoon!  As many of you know, most tents used for booths by crafters, etc. are the 10×10 easy-up type that have 4 extendable length legs, a pointed square fabric top, and 4 side walls attached with velcro straps and zippers.  We (and other vendors) usually use concrete blocks to weight down the legs of the tent or other creative means.  My husband (you gotta love a man who takes off work to help you pack a suv with tables, chairs, tent, and numerous creative displays) had the tent weighted to avoid trip hazards and all was well Friday night.  Saturday afternoon during one of those 40mph gusts my tent decided it was a large sail and the front legs flew up and over.   If the looks on my sister’s, husband’s and my face matched those of the people who watched this event unfold there was sheer surprise then mayhem as we all reacted to grab flying lamps, tent legs, and displays.  All up and down the row of tents people was grabbing hold of tent ropes to stabilize and hold things in place.  Luckily, my husband had set up a latice screen at the back of the tent and the tent top was tied to it and somehow that stopped my tent from turning completely over.  The front legs came back down in the same place (with no one in the way thankfully) and we went to work putting things back together again.  I have found that most crafters/vendors/artists with neighboring tents are a friendly cooperative group.  We usually watch each other’s booth for drink, food, and necessary trips.  This windy near disaster was the same.  My booth neighbors helped us put things back in place, offered to let us tie our tents together for more support and people all up and down the rows of tent booths began to check ropes and tie off legs for wind gusts.  It was kinda funny to see everyone jump out of their chairs to grab tent legs and ropes when the wind gusted throughout the afternoon.  We were a group with a common goal . . . no more flying tents!

I’m really glad this was the only outdoor show I scheduled this year.  Weather is always a concern with outdoor shows.  I have had wind, rain, drizzle, severe weather warnings, 100 degree +, and cool 50′s temperatures in the years I have been doing outdoor shows, but this was my first “high wind gusts” situation.  Golly, this is Missouri though.  If you don’t like the weather today just wait until tomorrow, it will change.

The pictures here are of my tent booth at the festival.  I used an open “U” shape so people could come into my booth to shop (especially if it had been rainy) and tried to give it a little open feeling and not too cluttered. 

 
You are invited to browse and shop in my store: KC Bead Designs anytime – 24/7. I hope you subscribe to “Reflections . . .” and enjoy sharing my passion for artisan jewelry.

’till next time!

Cheryl Skeens,
Jewelry Artist/Designer

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