the local bleat

Sometimes i forget that there is a world out there..today i had to drop off some new silk items to the gal who sells for me at the local farmers market. items do suprisingly well. next week she is doing an arts and crafts festival in waikaloa, then going to waimea, so i had to bring her some goodies. this is a beautiful arrangement. she has fresh stock on consignment and i get paid. i love you Lynda!

today i was chatting with her about the contents of the box, i've discovered if you have items in a box when customers are shopping, they want to see what's in it. even more so if you say it is stock that is supposed to go to an art fair the following week. that hard to get element REALLY interests them. so we smile and say ok go ahead and look but really these items are supposed to go to the fair next week so they haven't been ironed and priced yet.

it creates a mini frenzy. they want what they can't have. they grab on to items and won't let go. the pile grows. you ask them cash or credit. you joke about how you'll have to go home and bust a nut to make more for the fair now, but here's my card and if you want any extras for gift items, feel free to email me. oh gift items? you mean you can make an extra custom one for me this week? i now have a two page list of custom orders.

this is from being there, in that booth space, for 20 minutes. i don't make many appearances simply because i'm usually too busy dyeing things. but i haven't been there in a few weeks and was on a mission to pick up sweet potato bread and chinese pretzels from some of the local farmers/bakers.

making an appearance is also an excellent way to get customer feedback, in a way that is different than etsy or email feedback. i see their eyes light up. i watch them walk to the booth and immediately start touching the silks. i hear a pretty blonde announce to her husband, "I WILL buy this" and he hands her his wallet.

a beautiful brunette was telling me about her recent trip to Vegas..she asked her husband to wait outside while she put on the new silks she had bought from Lynda a few weeks ago. she had the silk crepe de ruana wrap, with sarong, and scarf..oh and matching purse (she said that clenches it..i know NO one in that room would be wearing anything as cool as i would) she dreamily told me about the feel of silk, how it draped, how her husband insisted on taking pictures of her wearing the blues. it was their anniversary. she said she was radiant. i listened to her story and didn't let on that i was the artist until she was finished. again the light in her eyes sparked when i told her i am the artist. within minutes she was bringing her sister and daughter to the booth to meet me. what a way to make someone feel special.

whenever i think my items are not mainstream enough to appeal to a large audience i am reminded that their uniqueness is what gets them touched and sold. all ages of girls and women are drawn to the flutter of colorful silk. all ages and colors, shapes and intentions.

i'm filled with a very happy, light energy. i know my artistic path and enjoy it completely. i thank the many beautiful women who inspire me to keep going.