A couple weeks later life is back to it's normal crazy pace.. I don't think I would have a non-crazy pace as I wouldn't know what to do with myself, but taking a little Creative Connection Detour journey made me realize just how crazy of a pace I keep.
But that's another blog post...
This little blog post as I am sure most of you have seen the amazing photos and stories of the First Creative Connection event by Jo and Nancy and their entourage of amazing gals...
Back up a bit.
A year ago, my friend Jane of Mustard Moon calls....
" We would really love for you to be a vendor at the Creative Connection Event in September"...Love to have you in the Handmade Market..."
Mind you...if you have met Jane, she is a little firecracker and saying no to one of my nicest friends is hard for me... But I do have limits.
Minneapolis? Set up a display? Seriously?
I do fly by the seat of my pants on most adventures, but this one caught me off a bit.
How do I create a display that is not in a 10ft x 30ft space that I am use to at Serena's amazing show that would really show my jewelry line, my style, and then "get it" to Minneapolis, set up for 4 great days, and then break down and come home?
Yep. Pondered Jane's plea, and didn't just fly this time.
Honored? Yep, for sure. Listening to that "Little Voice in my head that is never wrong" saying..."Whoa Nelly.....think about it before signing on the dotted line."
(mind you, it's one voice...not two... )
Two equals a professional assessment and medication)
One is the "little voice that I always need to be listening to when making decisions, that is always connected to my "gut instinct".
It's never wrong.
Little voice.... "Whoa Nelly"... (who's Nelly in my head"?)
Can you really pull this off?
Stronger Little Voice: "Oh Heck Ya." "I wing bigger things than this"
Alrighty Then. "I'm in."
Notice the "I"....
If you have seen me at Serena's show, it's never an "I".
It's a Mr. Souers busting serious hauling techniques out, a darling "redhead", who is no longer a "wee one", selling up a storm, my friend Pam making sure she is in money collecting mode and feeding me.
So an "I" world? Little Voice...."just do it and stop processing what could go wrong, just remember what you are capable of".
I love my Little Voice.
And Mr. Souers, and my Hannah for reminding me the last few months of busting to get the "I" ready for this Creative Journey, to get out of the art studio that I do have a family life too.
So Mr. Souers, the creative genius, Display Maker goes to work.
My Rules, "Display has to sit on an 8ft table, funky, industrial, all vintage, unique and never been created design and one that I can add my two cents in the production of".
His Rules: "Function, durability, cost factor, shipping ability and if I can't bring it back, sell it, pay it forward to someone you really want to have it, or throw it in the trash as I am building a box for it that there is no way you will be able to ship it home factors"
I love my Mr. Souers. He's so.... logical.
Then production of enough product for a 4 day show that I have no idea how many people will be shopping at.
First box...Cylinder, Can't lift alone. Fed ex dude asks what the heck is that? How do I explain? Weighs in at 59 lbs....Center is stuffed full of supplies, needed goods.
Second box...Weighing in at 68lbs...including the functionability of suitcases, vintage fabulous trays and supplies needed for a show.... I have never been so organized in my life.
Two boxes, shipped directly to the Hotel...arriving the day before myself..
Then I get there...and the Whoa Nelly comes back....I am not liking this voice!
I see this.
Oh dear God what have I gotten myself into.... Really? I have a "Ghetto Girl Table" compared to these Midwest Gals....
Unreal the COOLEST displays that are being transformed before my eyes.
I head back to my space, praying for an IV drip of anti anxiety medication.
Instead of get this text from My Hannah.
Deep breath. Little Voice. "Remember who you are and that you beat to your own drum." I remember.
I set up. And love what I have created.
It starts with this....
Fuzzy picture... not into photos right now... just getting my act together...
Mr. Souers, almighty display builder creates this amazing industrial rotating jewelry display that sits on a vintage stool base...
Add some of my vintage suitcases that were completely packed full in box # 2
My favorite little business card holder.
Have to create a "new sign"....... letter modification due to liquid nails exploding in the double zip lock bag to put on the glass letters upon arrival....
Adjusts and stands on a vintage music stand.
Add some vintage metal trays for displaying my trinkets...
And I think I am done... Simple, functional, shippable, and "very me".
In this moment I remember who I am. I compete with myself and am very content with what is ....
And I was unpacking my new industrial spinning Jewelry Display that my oh so amazing Mr. Souers created. From my head to his hands...I knew long ago we were a great team.
And finally all set up. Still searching for that IV drip at random moments wondering how this will all play out... until a lady says to me that night...
"I love the simplicity of your display....it's a breath of fresh air".
She had no idea of her timing.
And for me to load a 24 ft uhaul in at Serena's show... this was quite a feat for me to just be.
So this is part one... See I told you. Behind. But a promise that I would share.
Was it amazing? Little Voice isn't saying Whoa Nelly anymore.
It's saying.... Don't ever doubt what you are capable of doing, because this was an incredible event that I was so blessed to be a part of, honored to have someone think I fit into their amazing world."
Because as I learn daily and from growing up "beating to my own drum", I don't always fit in, I really am a shy soul, I create what I love, I do what makes me happy and surround my self with those around me that accept me for who I am.
And at the end of the day and this event...
"Wow" was the little voice.
Incredible, fullfulling, a learning experience in many ways. A reminder of "what is" and how I have a part in creating that...
I'll share the rest of the adventure next...
It includes a Snarky Hell's Kitchen Bartender that you should never let choose your drink and dreaming of all the amazing treasures that Junk Bonanza had to offer that would not fit in my suitcase on the way home.
(and yes, I was willing to throw away everything in my suitcase for shopping purposes...)
Lisa
