Halfmoon Bay Pumpkin Festival

The Pumpkin Festival this last weekend was as usual lots of fun and lots of hard work. Theeconomy had its effect on most of us. I have been doing this show for about 15 years, and while I did “OK” it was not my best year at this show. It was not my “worst year” either (that distinction went to the year where it rained off and on all weekend).

Steve and I rolled into Halfmoon Bay early afternoon. We had the chance to browse some of the local shops. I bought a cookbook totally devoted to pumpkin recipes. YUMMY!! I can’t wait to try some of them.

We checked into our room at The San Benito House. http://www.sanbenitohouse.comwhich has been in business since 1905. It has an old Victorian feel, if not an almost haunted atmosphere. That atmosphere is just perfect for the weekend. The best part of staying there, is that was just a few blocks from where my booth was located. If there is one thing you really do not want to do for this particular show, it is get into the bumper to bumper SLOW traffic! And even better yet, since we arrived fairly early, I docked my car just across the lot from where my booth was, which made load-in and load-out the easiest it has ever been for this show.

Steve and I had a fantastic Italian dinner on Friday night. It was a small Italian restaurant (that I don’t remember the name of). We both had a seafood dish that was incredibly good. We drank wine, and just had a wonderful time just relaxing over dinner. We rarely can afford to go out to eat, so this was a real treat! The next two nights, we ate at a restaurant that had entrees from different countries. It was incredibly good (that’s why we went there two nights in a row!!)

Set-up started just before 6am. Of course it was still dark out. My booth was on its last leg, so to speak. I really liked that canopy booth too, but the pieces were not holding up too well, and needed to be taped together. I don’t know how the tinker toy of a canopy could have pieces that no longer would work, but that was the case. We got it together for its swan song.

By about 8:30 I was FINALLY done setting up. My friend Ann and her husband arrived at about 8. Ann has been a partner of mine for 15 years. Just where does the time go?

Things I hate about shows:

• How LONG it takes me to set up!
• THEFT!!! Luckily it doesn’t happen too often, but I did have a $40 pair of earrings get stolen. The empty card remained on the rack. I hope her earlobes get nastily infected and that her karma is bad for 6 months!
• People who are insulting, and think that beadwork should go for pennies.
• People who bring their dogs to shows. As crowded as this show gets, it is NOT a place for dogs.
• Double wide strollers….or for that matter strollers period. These people come into any of our booths, and NO ONE else can come in.
• Kids with parents who allow them to do what they want. Sticky hands with ice cream and artwork of any sort do not mix well.
• People who say “I would like to try on a necklace, but I don’t want to buy it” and that necklace is in the worst place to get to (to keep it out of Everyone’s reach for protective reasons).
• People who “try on earrings” without asking (Health Dept Regulations could get me in trouble) and wear them for 10 min in the booth and then don’t buy them.

Things I LOVE about Shows

• Meeting many of my online customers!
• Having someone say “Hey, you are doing a lot of Sig Wynne-Evans’ patterns!”. Then see their expression as I hand them my driver’s license to show them who I am.
• Seeing people’s eyes light up when they find something they love
• The many kind words of appreciation I receive
• Meeting other incredible artists
• Seeing people all dressed up for the occasion and having fun!
• A chance to get away for the weekend even if it is a “working weekend!”
• Being in the Bay Area
• Selling some of my older pieces!!
• Selling anything, so that I have an excuse to make more!

All in all, it was a fantastic weekend. Steve and I had a great time. We needed to get away from our day in-day out routines