by mgilvey | May 1, 2011 | Craft Shows, Free Offers, Jewelry Sale
Marie Gilvey makes another necklace during the Port Potomac Vendor Fair
Saturday, April 30, 2011 we had the pleasure of participating in the 2011 Port Potomac Vendor Fair. Vendors from all over the area joined in on this beautiful and sunny day to show off their products and services ranging from home repair and sales to personal products and even biscottes made especially for mans best friend that looked good enough to dip into my coffee.
“I really enjoyed the day and the location and I would like to return again next year. Thank you Ashley Spencer of Selling Virginia for letting us participate at the last minute.” said Marie Gilvey. Marie ran her special bead jewelry offer of a free item with any purchase which drew a lot of interest.
This was a great location for the event and a great weekend to hold it and we look forward to it being even bigger and with even more shoppers next year.
CorseCrafts next event will be at the Occoquan Elementary School on Saturday, May 7. See you there.
by mgilvey | Apr 12, 2011 | Craft Shows
Marie Gilvey prepares a new bead necklace while customers enter the craft show.
It was an overcast but mild morning on Saturday, April 9, 2011 as the vendors entered the commons area of Riverbend High School (Fredericksburg, VA) for their annual Program for Teen Parents Craft Show that was sponsored by YoungLives. We arrived a little before the doors opened and were promptly greeted by a smiling face. “Everything was so well prepared. There was a great breakfast for all the vendors and there were manned carts to help move my boxes and bins into the commons area” said Marie Antoinette Gilvey.
There was a wide assortment of crafters from all over the area offering just about everything you could think of and some you would have never guessed like dust pans made from old license plates could you believe. I had just as much fun looking at all the creative products as I did meeting the vendors.
Marie Antoinette works on another beautiful bead necklace.
Like many craft shows, the traffic filtered in and gradually increased by lunch time. The customers were diverse, curious and very friendly.
“We had 57 vendors and about 500 shoppers this year. Our silent auction and food sales help send teen-mothers and their babies to Young Lives summer camp.” said event coordinator Karey Spears. She continued stating that she hopes to reach the 800 shoppers they get during the Fall show.
Marie Antoinette and I enjoyed being part of this event—we even offered up one a necklace for the raffle. Vendor spaces that were sold and raffle money went to the Rappahannock Area Community Service Board (RACSB). We look forward to returning in the future.
by mgilvey | Mar 30, 2011 | Craft Shows, Free Offers, Jewelry Sale, New Jewelry
Everyone thought the cold weather was finally gone with the few scattered days of warmth that lead up to the craft show on Saturday, March 26, 2011. As it turned out, the morning was quite chilly as vendors lined up to enter into Gar-Field Senior High School to setup for the annual Spring Craft Show sponsored by the PTSO (Parent Teacher Student Organization). Vendors set up for a day of fun and artistic showmanship around what I affectionately call “The Loop” that is the lower level of the school.
Photo of a Nathaniel Williamson holding a bracelet made from a fork – click to zoom on bracelet.
There was a light but steady stream of shoppers throughout the day with a peak period around lunch time. There was no shortage of artisans displaying all sorts of beautiful creations. Some of their work was strictly for the viewers’ appreciation and others added a spice of art to regular everyday objects to make daily activities like eating, from a hand turned pottery plate, or drinking, from a hand painted wine glass, more of an art than just a daily routine.
I caught up with Veronika Kolomichuk (the organizer of the Spring Craft Show) a few days after the show and asked her a few questions:
CC: How was the turnout this year in your eyes?
“The turn out was fair, we look to improve each year and I think we did that this year. We counted entrances at the doors and had over 600 in attendance, probably closer to seven-hundred since we didn’t start counting until 10am. The winter show gets 900-1000 shoppers and our goal is to get closer and closer to that mark each year.”
CC: How many vendors did you have?
“We had 90 vendors this year (as compared to 75 in 2010).”
CC: Can you tell me about the prize drawings you did? What did you give away to the lucky vendor and customer?
“We had two drawings. One for the vendors, for a $50 Michaels gift card provided by the PTSO. It was won by the Wood and Can Man, Jim Harrison. The other drawings were for customers or anyone who purchased raffle tickets. The vendors donated items for these drawings and the proceeds went toward Student Scholarships that the PTSO distributes each year. Some of the items were LaVieve Skin Care, Isle of Candles Soy Lotion Bar, A Wood Pen, Homemade Dog Biscuits, A $75 value Purse from Miche Bags just to name a few.”
Marie Gilvey finishes up with an early moring customer.
It was a great show and CorseCrafts will surely be there again in Spring 2012 offering our latest bead jewelry designs. But wait! You don’t have to wait until next Spring to go to another craft show at Gar-Field High School; did you know that Gar-Field has two craft shows a year? The next one, the Holiday Craft Show will be in the fall, 2011. We’ll see you there.
by mgilvey | Dec 13, 2010 | Craft Shows, Free Offers, Jewelry Sale, New Jewelry
Photo of Marie Gilvey greeting customers at booth.
The 2010 Gar-Field Orchestra Boosters Craft Show was a great show to participate in and attend on Saturday, December 11, 2010. More than 120 artisans from around the region eagerly waited outside in frosty-cold temperatures as the doors were opened at 6:00 AM for them to set up their display booths around “the loop” that is the lower level of Gar-Field Senior High School.
Photo of Marie Gilvey making modifications to a necklace.
I always observe in amazement as people arrive in all kinds of vehicles from the largest super-duty pickup trucks pulling storage trailers to English sports cars; even rickety old Jeep sport utility vehicles with 300-thousand miles on them (like mine), overflowing with gear and art. People from all walks of life bring their creations for the chance to please a potential customer who all of a sudden catches a glance out of the corner of their eye and suddenly realizes “That would be perfect in my living room”—the dedication these artisans display to their art is just incredible or as my Corsican wife, in French language, pronounces it “ahn-croy-ahbluh”. Nowhere else, not even a shopping mall, does this type of encounter occur as frequently. Sure, the mall is a place to start but most people already know what they want when they go there—they have an idea of what to expect. Discovering art that is perfect for a specific space or application, particularly handmade one of a kind art is like that moment when a street magician amazes you—you can’t believe it and you feel so lucky to have discovered it.
Photo of Marie Gilvey standing behind her display as shoppers take advantage of her special holiday free jewelry offer running through December 2010..
The doors opened promptly to excited holiday shoppers at 9:00 AM and the customer traffic did not slow down until the very end of the show at 3:00 PM. “It was almost like Potomac Mills on a weekend” said Marie Gilvey. There was a minor slow period during the lunch hour but before and after that, there were many, many visitors purchasing gifts for Christmas and upcoming birthdays.
I can now say that I have officially heard it all. The Gar-Field cheerleader squad came up with the most creative cheer I think I have ever heard. In an effort to let shoppers know that there was food available for purchase during the show instead of leaving and coming back (or not), they came up with a “F-O-O-D” cheer. I thought it was very clever and funny but hey, it got my attention and it worked so B-r-a-v-o, Bravo!
The selection of gifts to purchase was greater than some shopping malls. When you stop and think how many different artisans there were to choose from in an area that would only fill the food court of most shopping malls, it just makes sense to shop at a craft show before going to the mall—if for any other reason, just for the convenience factor. I have to tip my hat to show coordinator Kathy Kann for arranging the opportunity for artisans and holiday shoppers to engage.
The next craft show at Gar-Field Senior High School will be the Annual Spring Craft Show on Saturday, March 26, 2011. It will be presented by the Gar-Field Sr. High PTSO. CorseCrafts will be there—please join us.
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