Saturday, December 3, 2011

My first open house!

Wow! What a wonderful day! So much fun! As I’m sure most of you know Angie, from Just a lil’ Raggedy, held her Open House this weekend and I was invited to set up a booth of primitives, handmade's and over all wonderful goodness.

For those who have visited my home… you know that I have a “hoard” room full of overflow décor. I change my décor a lot. I get bored… so I stash everything in my “Prim Room”. It’s all very clean and organized with cabinets and shelves and such. I’ll share it someday. Promise!

Anyway… back to the matter at hand… Angie invited me to share my “hoard” at her open house. How could I say no? Couldn’t!

At first I told Angie there was no way I could even fill a small table. I won’t lie… I was super stressed and I was so afraid I was going to let her down. Angie’s prims are wonderful… and I didn’t know how I would ever live up to that. Not to mention then I found out who else was coming and I thought I better get to work!

So I started on some handmades. I haven’t crafted in a long time. I have always been crafty (except for sewing) and have always made things for myself. I even spent 2 years as a scrapbooking teacher at Cord Camera. I guess I just burnt out. But I had to get to it.

What to make?

Shooflys,

Homespun Candy Canes,

Pantry cakes,

Wax bowl fillers,

Large candy canes,

and Snowballs!

Do you think I set my goals high enough? Um… yes! And guess what, I busted my behind and got it all done. Just in time! Which is why you haven’t heard much from me as much in the last few weeks!

Any way… I have never done a show so this was all new to me. And in the end… I ended up having a 8 foot by 7 foot table area filled to the brim. :)

And I’m so glad I did…because Angie did a wonderful job and we had a steady stream of traffic all day. No one went home with empty pockets and it was a great success as far as I’m concerned!

Thanks Angie for hosting such a wonderful open house! You did a great job! As did all the vendors! 
So… here it is… my first ever booth.

Lets take a look…

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Big seller! Candy canes!

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Snowballs!

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Soooooo cute!  (and so much work!)

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Pantry cakes.

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Big and small pantry cakes.

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So there you have it. It was much fun… but I’m exhausted. Happy exhausted… but exhausted none the less. I’m ready to crash.

Thank you Angie for a great Open House! You did a good job!

Until next time…

Carmen and the Primcats

35 comments:

frontporchprims said...

Oh Carmen!!!! Everything looks so wonderful. I am so proud of you for being a part of an open house. You wouldn't be able to tell it was your first one. Everything looks so perfect!!!! I love the shooflys and I see your springs there too. I love the homespun candy canes a lot. The pantry cakes look real. Maybe you can do a tutorial on those someday. I have really wanted to know how to do that. Good job. -Steph-

Unknown said...

WOW Carmen your booth looked Awesome!
Cant tell at all that this was your first.
Prim Perfection!

Im so glad it was a success.

I have never done a sale like this either.
Always wanted too, just never have.

Years and years ago Mom and I had an antique booth. But the shop closed down not too long later.
*And no it wasnt because of us!! LOL!!

It was a lot of fun!
Seeing the posts about Angies Open House makes me want to go open another one!! :)

TFS!
Have a wonderful weekend.
Hugs,
Tam

A Primitive Homestead said...

Glad to hear you all did well. Your booth is wonderful. Love those snowballs. Oh yes the sho flys to. The one I got from you is on my stove board. Looks so pretty with the candle under it lit at night. Blessings!
Lara

Pamela@ The Sampler Makers Farmhouse said...

Oh wow, you must be so proud. I am so happy for you, everything looks so sweetly done. I love how you displayed it all! Congrats to you!

Cathy G. said...

I love how your booth looked! So inviting and I'll bet those candy canes flew out the door! Love those big ones! Congrats on the successful show! They ARE a lot of work I know having just finished my first one ever too! Put those feet up and rest now...... you deserve it!
Hugs!
Cathy G

Robin at The Primitive Hutch said...

Holy Cats ~ it sure does look like you busted your butt!!
Such wonderful goodies ~ glad to hear it was a great success and you had fun doing it!!!
Prim Blessings
Robin

Linda ★ Parker's General said...

It looks beautiful. I am so happy for everyone that was there. Angie worked hard to get this together and I think she has it in her to do this kind of thing often!
Feels great to be a success, doesn't it?

Susan At Glen Oaks Primitives said...

Hi, Carmen. So, that's what you've been up to, what a bountiful display you had. Love the pantry cakes and snowballs. Your candy canes were very unique, I haven't seen ones like that before. I like them. Angie is a sweetheart and I'm happy to know you are close enough to each other to share something like an Open House.
Your trees look beautiful.
Warm Wishes To Everyone!

Anonymous said...

What wonderful things you had for sale and your booth is displayed just right. I love the candy canes and I see you have larger ones too. Your booth looks so professional and put together. Very easy on the eye for shopping. Glad you done the show and shared with us. Got anything left for sale? I am in need of some gifts.
Tamera
Country at heart

Shirlee said...

So many wonderful things! You really worked hard! Thanks for posting this. You brought back dear memories of when I lived in North Dakota & for years my friend would have an open house in her home ... 3 times starting with the weekend before Thanksgiving & ending the weekend before Christmas. She & I would craft our hearts out & it was so much fun! A couple of her sisters brought things to sell as did a couple of our friends. I really miss that! I enjoyed reading this post & remembering : ) Blessings, Shirlee

Lee Hill Primitives said...

Everything looks amazing. Awesome booth.

CRAFTY STITCHERS said...

For being the first time you ever set up a booth, you couldn't tell it, it was a fantastic, hope you sold out. Sounds like a lot of fun.

Stacy Kay Brais said...

You tables look great!!! I wish I could have been there. What a wonderful time you all must have had. Your homemades are awesome!!!
Hugs~Stacy

Raymond Homestead said...

I see lots of goodies!!

Earlene said...

Carmen you did a great job and I can tell you worked very hard! Your booth is put together great and so nice and neat, and love those snowballs too. I love everything!
Now rest up and enjoy your day!
Hugs
Earlene

bettyj said...

Carmen, I am glad your show was a success. those snowballs are perfect. As well as the candy canes. Those 2 items took my eye. Have a great day.

Deppen homestead 1862 said...

Carmen~
Love your booth~ the snowballs are so cute!! Happy Happy~ glad for the success~ way to go~
smiles
Teresa

myomyohi said...

I adored your basket of snowballs with the greenery. It will look awesome on your porch. Everything you had looked awesome. It was a good day, and I was exhausted when I got home also.
Myra

lindeelou said...

Your goodies looked so festive.....love how you had such a great way to display them all....blessings

Firecracker Kid said...

Hi Carmen, Firecracker Kid Primitives was there. The Kid wasn't there, but Mr. Firecracker Kid was. I have to agree with you that it was a success! Hubby came home with his pockets filled and a couple bags full of goodies for me from the wonderful hostess, Angie, and yourself. Thank you! Hubby says he loved the pull pork sandwiches Angie's mom fixed him for the trip home! LOL.
xoxo~Carol

Lil Raggedy Angie said...

AWWW :0) Thanks for coming "Primcat" we loved you being here and thanks for all your help in making it an awesome day ! Big Hugs lilraggedyangie

PS Im thinking we are going to have to do this again sometime :0)

TheCrankyCrow said...

I was bumming all day yesterday because I couldn't be there....and now I'm crushed. Your area was just packed to the brim with wonderful, wonderful, goodies Carmen....I agree - sure doesn't look like a novice to me!! I absolutely adore your snowballs!!! I think I might need some of those for my crow bowl! ;o) So glad it was a success....I can hear happy in your words - and that's a wonderful thing. Hope you get to relax today....Wishing you a wonderful Sunday....Smiles & Hugs ~ Robin

Lois Christensen said...

That seems like so much fun! Your booth was really nice! I'm glad you had fun and were able to sell some of your beautiful crafts! Enjoy your Sunday!

cynthia lee designs said...

Carmen,
It was so great to see you again...and to finally meet Angie.

How fun that I came with things for us to swap and then we did another swap on top of that. I love my wood plate of snowballs with the shoo-fly cover.

Your booth looked awesome!! Actually, everyone's looked awesome...Angie did a great job hosting her first open house!!

Kick back and enjoy your Sunday.
hugs,
Cindy

The Moonlit Stitch said...

Wow Carmen, that's A LOT of work! You are very talented and perfectly prim! I made some of the wrapped candy canes for a show in November-they are fun! Your booth looked wonderful-GREAT JOB! ~*~Lisa

Sandi @ The Primitive Skate said...

WoW! You did an amazing job. Love your booth and all your goodies. You certainly were busy!

Rugs and Pugs said...

Carmen ~
I'm so glad all your hard work paid off! Your booth looked wonderful!
Hugs :)
Lauren

tattered 'n torn prims said...

congrats on a great show....your wares look wonderful!! :O)

Stace

Pam B said...

Carmen, your booth and your goodies looked so fantastic! I'm so proud of you for taking the plunge for the first time...I've been wanting to try that but I'm not organized enough yet after our move. Plus coming up with some sort of displays, you did really well with that!

Hugs,
Pam

Kitty said...

Sounds like you had alot of fun and girl your booth looks awesome! Wow, so wish I could have been there! LOL! Your items are great, gorgeously prim!

Kendra said...

Oh, I wish I had been there, everything looks wonderful. Great job! Kendra

Michelle~Sugar House Creations said...

Yay! Congrats on getting crafty again! :) Glad it was a success. I loved looking at your photos. I wish I had a room like that. Oh wait...I do. I have a craft room filled with crap...I mean craft stuff. It's just not a very nice room to go into right now. Open door --- throw stuff in --- close door. lol.

Allison said...

Everything looks great! I'm glad you had a good turnout and didn't go home with empty pockets.

Karen ~ Life In A Primitive English Cottage said...

I have no idea how you managed to get all those wonderful prims made! You must have worked 24 hours a day! Everything looked wonderful and I hope it was a huge sucess for you all!
Hugs
Karen

jennifer768 said...

I see lots of wonderful goodies.Your booth looked awesome.Great work my friend!Hugs,Jen