Calm before the storm

I have a show on Tuesday/Wednesday of this week, then one on Friday/Saturday/Sunday of the week after, and then a show on the Sunday after that. I am rather calm right now. All my show things are sitting in the living room waiting for Tuesday. I'm printing new business cards which is a really tedious process since I can only put one sheet of business cards into the printer at a time. I checked my wrapping supplies and found I need more small bags so I put an order in to Bags and Bows for a chocolate colored mini-cub.

My cash box is complete so I don't have to run to the bank. I've gone through all the tables displays and checked my table covers to make sure they are still in good condition. All I'm worried about now is the amount of jewelry that I have.

Last year most of what I displayed was the lampwork bead pieces with a few silver pieces thrown in. This year will be a mix of lampwork, silver and bronze. I haven't made any lampwork pieces since before June, but I have about 20 necklaces and 25 bracelets. I have about 20 silver PMC necklaces, 25 bronze necklaces, and 20 pairs of earrings. And about 40 pair of Swarovski crystal earrings. But all I can think about is what I don't have....no silver PMC earrings, no bracelets in either silver or bronze. Of course it is ridiculous to think that I will sell everything that I have in stock right now but I am trying to plan out days to work in silver and bronze between my show this week and the one next week to try to fill in some of the gaps. I get a tad obsessive-compulsive at show time.

I think the economy is going to have a big impact on shows this year. Over the last 5 years I have listened to the veterans in this industry talk about how it isn't like it used to be....that people just don't have disposable income anymore....but I still managed to do well...at least what I thought was "well". I am really skeptical about this year. Everyone I know has lost money in the crisis that we are facing and trying to figure out how to conserve. Jewelry is not a necessity. By Wednesday evening I will know what I'm facing in the next two shows.

Enough depressing talk. Below is a pic of the bronze mixed with lampwork. I have to make chains for them yet.

Another shot of the plethora of necklaces that I have been working on.

Time for dinner. Au Revoir, Bye-Bye