5:15 Alarm goes off. I’m staying with my brother, who lives in the NE suburbs of Indianapolis. Keep in mind that Indianapolis is on Eastern time. I live in Central time. So, 5:15 feels like 4:15 to me. Good times…

6:00 Out the door, get cash, drive to downtown Indy. The car is already packed, for which I’m eternally grateful. The manual labor will come soon enough.

6:50 Arrive too early. Circle around the block a few times.

7:05 Pull into Monument Circle. We have very specific instructions for which street to use, depending on what quadrant we are assigned to.

7:06 Wait…

7:15 Unload car. My car is loaded like a real life game of Tetris. Nothing is too heavy by design because my upper body strength could be compared to that of a baby bird. The tent weights are the only real challenge, but I save them for last.

A quiet morning on Monument Circle

7:30 Find parking garage a block & a half away, and hoof it back to my tent. (p.s. Parking in downtown Indy is not inexpensive, but it is less than Chicago so I’m not complaining!)

7:45 Set up tent. This is mostly a one-person job – except for that moment when I need someone to pull from the other side of my tent to lock it in place. I’ve learned to scope out the nearest friendly-looking person and simply ask them to give my tent a tug. (This sounds slightly naughty… I wouldn’t recommend asking this of someone, unless you are in this exact setting… that’s just my two cents…)

The chaos of set up!

8:30 Ready to go. Everything that needs to be out is out. Everything that needs to be hidden under a table cloth is hidden. Now, I simply tweak until people get here.

9:00 Make video to put on social media. I have tried to do more videos these days, but there are times when an image will simply have to do.

The calm before the storm…

9:30 Early birds arrive. Because this event is taking place on Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis, there are no restrictions on folks walking around. I don’t mind the early birds! In some cases, they are scoping things out so they can come back with friends and coworkers. The more, the merrier, I say!

10:00 Officially open! I always bring my table loom with me, which serves two purposes. First of all, being able to show guests the process of weaving is invaluable. I can share the magic of weaving and explain how my products are created. But secondly (and many times, this is just as important), it gives me something to do. These type of events go quickly when there is a steady stream of customers to interact with. Yet I’ve discovered I’m not great when there are no people and I don’t have anything to keep my hands busy. Thus, being able to sit and quietly create is a life-saver! (By the way, this event included almost a continuous trickle of customers. It was great!)

My saving grace at these events!

Because the day is one million degrees, I planned for a bottle of water an hour. Let’s just say, you know it’s hot when you drink gallons of water and never have to pee. (That’s probably too much information, huh?) I like to bring a couple pieces of fruit and some snacks. But it’s tough to get away to buy lunch and I feel awkward trying to eat a full meal if it’s just me manning the tent. So today was simply snacks.

During the day, I met some amazing customers, contacts, and friends! Here are a few that enriched the day-

Kenda – Kenda contacted me a few weeks back about a custom project. We’re just in the beginning stages, but we’ve chatted on the phone and emailed back & forth a number of times. So it was simply wonderful to put a face with the name!

Vendors across the way were popping popcorn on the spot! Brilliant!

DeeAndria – Dee was a college friend that I haven’t seen in person in more than two decades! And I didn’t know she was coming, so I was shocked to say the least! It was very cool to reconnect.

Alex – A mother/daughter duo came into my tent and we struck up a conversation. Turns out, they are from Florida and are simply visiting the Midwest for a business trip. Alex (the daughter) was so inquisitive and sparkly, we immediately hit it off! I think there are times in life when you meet someone who’s a kindred spirit and even if we never run into each other again, it was a joy to be around her for a little while on a hot day in Indianapolis!

Christina – Christina is with the Hoosier Farmers Market Association. As a matter of fact, she started it just a few years ago and it’s growing like crazy. We had a wonderful chat about how this type of weekly event is quickly picking up steam and how fun it is to see folks appreciating local produce/flowers/art.

Neighbors – My neighbors included a bakery on my right (Marsha’s Specialty Desserts) and a winery on my left (Madison County Winery). How smart am I? Or lucky, in this case! They were all fabulous and we were able to help each other out throughout the day, which is what you hope for in a perfect world.

Check out this crowd!

2:00 Officially closed, begin tearing down. It’s always fascinating to me how long it takes to set-up and how quick it is to tear down. I tend to take my time, since I won’t be able to pull up my car for awhile.

2:30 Go get the car. (What floor was I on? Where’s my ticket to get out?) Between the (7) hours of being friendly and the ridiculous heat, my brain has melted. So remembering simple things is tricky.

Such a beautiful monument!

2:45 Drive back to my brother’s house. The Waze app was not exactly clear, which led to me going the wrong direction on highway 465. This is not a huge problem, except that I am ravishing and may start munching on my arm.

3:30 Pull into Chipotle. I realize that 3:30 is a very weird time to eat, with dinner being only 2-1/2 to 3 hours away. But at this point, I could care less. If you’ve ever met me, you know that I invented the word, “hangry”. So these sweet, friendly people at Chipotle should save it and serve up my food faster. (I believe there was growling involved… My apologies to anyone caught in the crossfire…)

4:15 Arrive at my brother’s house, go immediately to the shower. A shower is the absolute best after a day in the heat. The house is quiet since the rest of the family isn’t home yet. I love them dearly, but it is a really good thing that I have some time without another soul around. It improves the odds of me being a pleasant person by the time they arrive.

4:45 Sit, type out ideas for blog. I find that blogging is better when I strike while the iron’s hot!

5:00 Read my book. Oh, who am I kidding? I totally fell asleep about 2 pages in.

5:45 Some of the family arrive home. My sister-in-law pulls together some dinner for the little ones, who are ages 4 and 6.

7:00 My brother arrives home with sushi in tow. He’s a prince among men!

7:30 Little ones go to bed.

8:00 The adults put some sort of cooking competition show on and I make it through approximately one and a quarter episodes.

9:30 Crash.

While this doesn’t represent every day for me, this does give you an idea of the physical, emotional, and mental requirements when participating in an outdoor event. Thankfully, this day was followed by quiet days simply working on my loom. It all balances out. The life of an artist is definitely anything but boring! Happy weaving, my friends!

The post A Day in the Life appeared first on Acton Creative.

The Sandpiper in Bridgman Michigan

My friend, Lizz (she’s a buddy from the Duneland Weaver’s Guild) met me at the local library and we made the 40 minute drive into southwest Michigan Friday afternoon. I had planned for us to arrive early so we could check out the Sandpiper, which is the retail space connected to Hoof-to-Hanger. The Sandpiper is a sweet space, full of unique, handmade items – and yarn! Let’s not forget the yarn! I picked up a gorgeous olive green yarn that felt just like mohair, but was an acrylic that was really well done. (Let’s take a beat to appreciate how far acrylic yarn has come in my lifetime! I remember Grandma making me a sweater with some Red Heart acrylic yarn in the late 70’s. Wow! Not great. Not great at all!) Lizz found an adorable llama magnet while we were there – so cute!

Rick giving a tour at Hoof-to-Hanger

We met Rick, Anna, and Suzy (all three owners) and Rick was the one to take us through the tour. Now, I should give you a little history here. I used to live in South Carolina in the mid-late 80’s and the fiber mills in the area had just finished shutting down. They were these enormous, brick buildings that sat dormant while so many of the fiber processing plants moved overseas. The vision in my head of a typical mill is of these gigantic fiber mills I grew up around. It never occurred to me that it could be a small, intimate operation, like Rick’s space at the Hoof-to-Hanger.

Hoof-to-Hanger Fiber Mill

One of the side stories that Rick told us was about his connection to the building. He said his family used to own a Ben Franklin in the location where the Sandpiper is today. So cool! Ben Franklin was one of my favorites – I miss them.

Hoof-to-Hanger is in an attached building on the back of the Sandpiper. It’s not a very big room, but they already have plans to expand to keep up with demand. When I first walked in, I got the impression of a bright, airy space that was surprisingly clean, considering they are dealing in floaty fibers all day long.

Huge equipment!

Rick talked about working with various clients and I could tell he spends a lot of time asking questions in order to determine exactly how the mill can best process the fiber to get a good result. Not everyone needs the fiber to end up as dyed yarn. Matter of fact, some don’t even need the fiber to end up as yarn at all. I was really impressed with the level of dedication to producing the right result for each client. But that’s something you can do more easily if you aren’t a gigantic mill, right?

This is my friend, Lizz, who would roll around in the loose fiber, if you let her!

Lizz and I got to see all the various equipment used to magically transform fiber right off a sheep or alpaca or goat or rabbit into something usable. It was amazing to go through the process step-by-step with Rick, giving us a visual storyboard for a fiber’s journey. I have definitely known spinners and dyers that have walked me through their process. But it was wildly impressive to see it in this setting!

We were able to peek into a few boxes of finished yarn on its way out to Chicago. And they had many other projects in the queue. It was simply fascinating! I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the yarn-making process. Hoof-to-Hanger does tours at the end of the day and there is a small fee for the experience. Give them a call to book your tour today! You will love it!

Round and round she goes!

Have you done a tour of some kind of production facility before? What was the most amazing part for you? That’s a warp wrap on this week! Happy weaving, everyone!

The post Hoof-to-Hanger Fiber Mill appeared first on Acton Creative.

We’re at the farm!

Last Sunday, I had the pleasure of spending an afternoon on a farm in Allegan, Michigan. The purpose of the excursion was to visit the Natural Cycles Farm, owned by Lori and Pete. They are members of a group called the Great Lakes Fibershed, which I joined about 6 months ago when I met the fabulous natural dyeing ladies from Color Wheel Michigan. Amanda, Lauren, and Michelle are the women who make up Color Wheel Michigan, and are also the contact people for the Great Lakes Fibershed. (You know, a diagram or chart of some kind may have been the better way to go here. I didn’t mean for the explanation to be so convoluted! Basically, Amanda from Color Wheel invited me to go to a farm and I went! Ta-da!!)

The Great Lakes Fibershed’s mission is to bring together all the folks involved in the fiber process (producers, mills, dyers, artisans, and enthusiasts) in an effort to, “unify local resources and promote environmentally sustainable practices”. The Great Lakes branch covers 250 miles in any direction from Detroit (I barely squeezed in!). So Sunday was a planned outing for the western members, graciously sponsored by Lori & Pete at the farm.

Lori, the owner, is in the denim shirt. I’m sure she was answering sheep-related questions here!

It was a perfect fall day for it! 60 degrees, the colorful leaves, blue sky – an A+ day for a road trip! The farm sits on about 36 acres not too far from Kalamazoo and boy, it is some beautiful land! It has that lush rolling hill backdrop that a lot of Michigan is known for. Lori & Pete haven’t been here long, but have thoughtfully set up the farm with natural materials and processes in place. It was fascinating to hear them talk about how they intentionally move the sheep around with the purpose of keeping both the sheep and the land healthy. Apparently, the farmers who owned the acreage before them didn’t use a lot of chemicals. So they inherited land that was in pretty good shape to start.

What is better than a barn? A barn with cool vines growing all over it, no doubt!

(I’m diverting from the plan here – total non-fiber sidebar! Lori & Pete have gardens on the farm and while I was there, I tried a new berry (new for me) – it’s called a serviceberry! Have you every heard of this? It tastes like a cross between a blueberry and a cranberry. It’s ready in early spring and apparently it’s a humdinger to harvest! There are a lot of critters that enjoy them and they aren’t the easiest to get off the tree. But, I tried them in a pie and they were delicious! Who knew? And now, back to fiber-related stuff!)

Not only did we get to see many animals (many of them wool-producing – yay!), we also had the opportunity to interact with each other. We were a small bunch – about 8 of us. Most folks drove at least an hour to attend. And it was such a fabulously diverse group! For instance, I spent some time getting to know Rick from Hoof-To-Hanger in Bridgman, Michigan. Bridgman is only 45 minutes from my house and Hoof-To-Hanger is a working fiber mill! How awesome is that? He talked about the fiber mill business, the significance of the building they are in (it’s an old Ben Franklin that his family owned!), and what sets them apart from other fiber processing experiences (fabulous customer service is the answer here!). So interesting!

Check out the sheep!!

I also got to chat more with Amanda and Michelle from Color Wheel. I first met the ladies through POST in Detroit last spring and we’ve connected a few times since then. But because Detroit and Chesterton, IN aren’t exactly neighbors, I haven’t had a lot of one-on-one time thus far. So it was very cool to hear them talk about the natural dyeing process, what plants and materials can be used, as well as a lot of very technical talk which I quickly lost track of. It is quite fascinating to listen to (2) dyers talk shop! And I thought weaving sounded like a foreign language! Wow!

Mary was another member who joined us. She was well-versed in a variety of different techniques, including dyeing, spinning and knitting. So she did a much better job of keeping up with the dyeing conversation than I did! (p.s. Mary said she has a box of neckties I can use for my next project, so she’s instantly my new best friend! Thanks, Mary!)

Michelle was loving the sheep!

The entire experience was a fabulous reminder of the fiber basics, combined with thoughtful conversation about how we proceed as amazing fiber people while still being kind to the earth and the animals who provide for us! On any given day, I don’t typically give a lot of thought to how the yarn got to be in my shuttle. But, I can honestly say that after this adventure, I will definitely be more aware of the entire process from Natural Cycles Farm, to Hoof-to-Hanger Mill, to Color Wheel Michigan, to my loom!

The post A Day on the Farm appeared first on Acton Creative.

It all started by picking up Linnea at her farm in the lovely rolling hills not too far from Madison. Now, I have very little knowledge of Wisconsin. Up until about 3 years ago, I had never had a reason to visit. So, Linnea treated me to a brief tour of the campus in Madison, a spin around the state house, and a great lunch at the Weary Traveler.

Eventually, we drove over to Paoli, which is a quaint, blink-and-you-might-miss-it little town. It’s adorable! And Julie’s store, the Paoli Road Mercantile, is doing a great job of setting the tone.

The business is in a fabulous stone building that used to be a cheese shop. To say it’s tiny doesn’t quite portray how cozy it is. Think about the space you’d have in an empty van and that’s pretty close!

Julie’s retail/display intuition gives the space a cool, funky vibe without ever feeling claustrophobic! And that’s tough! She has curated a fabulous collection of interesting gifts and accessories! Linnea and I chatted with Julie in the shop for probably a half hour and I constantly found new things to look at – it was great!

After we left Paoli Road Mercantile, we made one more stop before leaving – the creamery across the street. Yes to get the full impact of the Badger state, you have to experience some cheese! So we sampled some lovely sheep milks cheese and headed back the way we came.

It was such a great day making new connections and strengthening existing ones! Plus, I got cheese and some great stories out the deal – gold star day!

What kind of adventures have you had lately?

Song of the Day – AJR, “Sober Up”

The post Visiting the land of cheese appeared first on Acton Creative.

This actually worked in my favor since I drove south & west to Decatur, Illinois on dry, albeit freezing, roads. I was asked to be a participating artist in a new shop called the ArtFarm Decatur and today was my day to drop off inventory!

Now, let me share a little background information here – I spent my younger years in a town called Rantoul, Illinois, which isn’t all that far from Decatur. So being in this part of the state is a bit nostalgic for me! The flattest land you’ve ever seen, hardly a tree in sight, and a million miles of sky. If it wasn’t winter, corn and soybeans would play a prominent part in the image, too. I have lots of memories tied to this particular landscape!

Even though I grew up in Central IL, I gotta be honest, I knew next to nothing about Decatur! Turns out, it has a delightful downtown and it is going through some serious revitalization! And the ArtFarm Decatur is in a great location, close to all the action! Peggy, the owner (on the left), is totally a kindred spirit! I have no doubt if I lived closer we’d be thick as thieves! Truthfully, it may be safer for the rest of the world having us a distance apart… I can only imagine the trouble we could get into!

Peggy has plans for a soft opening the middle of January and a bigger shindig in March. Seeing the location and hearing her plans for it is so impressive! While I’ve never longed to have my own retail space, I can completely appreciate the vision and drive it takes to make it a success! And Peggy has all that and more! The space is going to be funky and fun, but still really thoughtful when it comes to displays and how people will shop there. I can’t wait! If you are floating around central Illinois, be sure to stop in – 252 N. Park St., Decatur, IL 62523!

After my fabulous meeting with Peggy, I bundled back up and drove home! (I did make a pit stop in Rantoul for a hot beverage, just for kicks!) All in all, not a bad way to spend the day!

How did you cap off your work week?

Song of the Day – Carolina Liar, “I’m Not Over”

The post Road trip! appeared first on Acton Creative.

But as I sit at a different set of railroad tracks multiple blocks away from where I need to be, watching a 1000-car train go by (I’m sure that’s an exaggeration, but it feels pretty accurate!), I began reflecting on how it all kind of fits in my life! (Is it just me, or does some of your quality thinking occur while waiting on a train?) My mission for this year and years to come is to be a better business girl. I feel like my weaving is in a good place now. So, it’s time to personally sort out the more foreign side of being an entrepreneur – marketing and selling. 

At the end of last year, I took a hard look at how things went. And it was clear that I needed to make a few changes. In an effort to be smart about those changes, I have enlisted some wonderful help from the wise, experienced folks at SCORE. (If you are looking for assistance with your small business, I can’t endorse them enough!) They are helping me focus on the end game and keeping me moving in the right direction! (I almost typed they are “keeping me uncomfortable”, which is also true! But, growing pains are worth it, right?) 

As a first step, I’ve been working with Seth and Justin at SERA Solutions who have been walking me through the tricky task of updating my website and adding a shopping cart! They have been brilliant! My goal is to really get into the game when it comes to online sales. I realize it may take awhile to truly get the momentum going. But, I’m excited to take steps in the right direction! (You are welcome to check out our progress on www.actoncreative.net!) 

Next up is to really hone in on where my people are and get in front of them – online, in person, etc. It all sounds simple on paper, but complex in reality. I have faith that between my mentors and myself, it’ll happen! 

So, as I am sitting in my Pontiac counting cars on the train, I’m thinking there are a lot of parallels. Except in this case, even with a number of detours, I’ll get there eventually! (And p.s., I’ve decided to enjoy every twist & turn along the way!) 

How about you? Any interesting detours lately? 

The post You can’t get there from here… appeared first on Acton Creative.

And then to balance the scales, you have days like today. I’m at the Broad Ripple Art Fair in Indianapolis and my guess is that in the last hour, we’ve gotten 2″ of rain. Now what you should know is that yesterday it also rained. Truth be told, we’ve had more rainy days than sunny this spring! (I haven’t done any real fact-checking there, but that is what it feels like!) 

So, the field I’m in was good & muddy before the sky opened up & Armageddon began. Good times! Here’s where a good sense of humor is critical. Because the tough aspects to schlepping my wares around to sell become REALLY tough as I sit here. In the rain. Not selling anything. Staring at the artists across the aisle from me. (Who are delightful people I’m sure! But I’m not venturing over there in the torrential downpour just to say, “hi”.)

In an effort to stay remotely optimistic, I’m going to make a snazzy little list of things you can do while waiting for the rain to clear. Trapped in your tent. At an art fair. 

1. Take a video for Facebook/Instagram to gather sympathy from family and friends. Videos are supposed to be good for social media, right? 

2. Call/text someone who loves you. It’s always important to connect with your people. And gather sympathy, of course. If they can’t give you a, “Man, that sucks!”, who can? 

3. Stretch. It is vital to stay limber. Standing stretches only, obviously. 

4. Write a blog post. Share your experiences with your online followers. It’s good to post on a regular basis to verbalize your unique point of view. And of course, gather sympathy. 

So my friends, that is the current state of affairs. Upbeat and soggy in Indy! Feel free to rejoice in the fact you are indoors! And if you are feeling generous, I’ll be collecting bits of sympathy through today at 6:00. Or until the sun comes out. 

Please tell me about your awesome day creating cool stuff, setting your own hours or developing your unique style? I need to live vicariously for a bit…

The post The soggy truth… appeared first on Acton Creative.

1. Anytime you have an opportunity to stretch yourself (no matter the outcome), it is a good thing! Intimidating artists, stunning displays, a smart & knowledgeable audience – this show had it all! It was scary & I was nervous, no doubt! While I was setting up the day before the show began, I majorly fumbled around with my booth display. My plans for a unique wall of Wallets went out the window almost instantly, and I had to go to plan B & C for my lighting just about as fast! In the end, my solutions worked out fine! Will I do it differently next time? Heck yeah! Was I cranky trying to figure it out? You betcha! Did any of my customers know? Not a chance! 

2. You never know who you will meet! Two holidays ago, I did a show where a lovely woman named Arwen Fine got my information, but we didn’t really connect in person. Through online communication, she then invited me to participate in her online gallery, which has been a great budding partnership. Well, at the ACC show, we finally had the opportunity to chat in the flesh! It was fantastic! 

3. Take notes, be influenced, but stay true to you! It’s so easy to get caught up in all the amazing things other artists are doing. Are they better than you? Maybe. They might have more raw talent, more drive, or more experience. But, no one is you! And someone (hopefully, large groups of someones) will connect with you over everyone else. I had a woman walk into my booth like she was on a mission & buy a bag. She made a point to tell me that she normally has to walk the entire show once before she buys anything. But, I was in the first aisle and she couldn’t go further without owning this handbag! Woohoo! I’ll take 30 more of her, please! 

4. A great show doesn’t guarantee great sales. The ACC Show had so many wonderful elements going for it, yet I didn’t get close to my sales goals. Is it because I’m a first time artist? People are nervous about the state of the world? There was too much fiber at the show? It’s nearly impossible to pinpoint the exact reasons I didn’t sell well. But at the end of the day, it’s up to me to analyze the data and decide what’s next. 

5. Keep learning! This show definitely affirmed that I am moving in the right direction – which sounds odd since you wouldn’t call it a success by looking at my bank account! But, when I analyze the arc of where I’ve been and where I want to be, this totally fit. I took copious notes on improvements I will make the next time I’m in this position. I’m already feeling better prepared! 

So, ten years from now when I look back at this time in my career, I think the ACC Show in Atlanta will definitely be seen as a pivotal moment! How? I’m not quite sure yet. The good news is, I don’t have to know right now. I only need to carry on – taking risks, being brave, and weaving like crazy! I’m excited to see what’s next! 

What valuable insight have you gleaned from a recent experience? 

The post ACC Show appeared first on Acton Creative.

Doing bigger shows such as this are going to require more travel. Thankfully, I’m good with that! It got me thinking about road trips and all the quirky aspects of them. For instance, the older I get, the more often I stop. Stop for tea, stop to pee, stop to stretch, definitely stop for lunch, etc. You get the picture. I’m much more of an enjoy-the-ride kind of girl, rather than a how-fast-can-I-get-there type. And as long as I don’t have an antsy passenger, it works out great!

I get serious Cracker Barrel cravings the moment I set out on a long trip – it’s so weird! I never eat there otherwise. But it has become quite a Pavlovian trigger. Set the GPS for anything longer than 3 hours and I instantly crave fried food and a cornbread muffin! Go figure!

While driving, I get a bit obsessive about gas prices – it’s like a game! (The fuel light isn’t on yet, but I don’t think gas will get cheaper than that station… or will it?) Plus, I always try to have a plethora of music & audiobooks on hand to pass the time. But, I can be a tough critic! If a singer or narrator doesn’t grab me quickly, I’m on to something else. This means tall stacks of entertainment occupy my passenger seat at all times. 

When I prep for an event, I always pack snacks & water/tea. But inevitably, I find something to munch on at the show. What I’ve discovered is if there is a bag of Fritos anywhere remotely close, they end up back at the booth with me. This is particularly ironic because greasy fingers are not ideal when weaving. Doesn’t seem to matter! 

Thankfully, I really enjoy being on the road seeing new places and meeting new people! So imagining a future with more travel is very exciting! I have no doubt more idiosyncrasies will pop up the more I drive. In the meantime, I better start stocking up on Cracker Barrel gift cards now… 

What’s your take on traveling? 

The post Road Trippin' appeared first on Acton Creative.

You see, I’m the oldest child – responsible, organized and not willing to make a move until I’m good & ready. (My family can tell you many a story!) I’m not naturally wired to spontaneously jump off the high dive because someone else was doing it (that would be my younger sister). Nope, I have to take stock of the situation, analyze it from many angles & then once I decide it is a good plan, I’m all in – avoiding as much uncomfortableness as possible! 

But, building a business as an artist doesn’t always allow me that luxury. One of my goals for the year is to become a better businesswoman. I am working with some very talented, successful people to help me get on track. They are brilliant at business, which makes me keenly aware that I’m not. 

And while I know in my gut it is the right path, it’s still very challenging to make it through a meeting unscathed. Typically, I walk out afterwards and just start chanting, “I’m a damn good weaver” over & over again. To willingly place yourself in a situation where you know you’ll be uncomfortable and vulnerable is tough, no doubt about it. But, the benefits can be huge! My goal is to learn to be a brilliant business owner – which I figure I’m smart enough to do and I’m putting my trust in the right people to help me! 

This coming weekend, I am heading down to Atlanta to participate in the American Craft Council Show. It’s not my first indoor show & it won’t be my first time at this location. But, I’ve never done this caliber of show before and it makes my tummy gurgly when I think about it too long! 

I don’t have any crazy plans to do anything drastically different than I normally do. But, there are always unknown variables and that can freak out the best of us. The cost of the show is high, the talent of the other artists is amazing, people will definitely have more experience than I will, etc. Ugh! It’s an ugly downward spiral if you choose to get on that ride. 

But because I have put myself in new and uncomfortable situations in the past, I know how to put together a good display. I know how to interact with a customer and talk about my work. I know how to share my passion with friends – new & old. (And of course, I know that I’m a damn good weaver!) 

So, the plan is to be as organized as possible. Then smile, be friendly, & roll with the punches! Anything I don’t know, I’ll simply ask. The uncomfortableness will pass. And no matter what, it will be a great experience because I have decided it will be. I can do it! We all can do it! It’s just a matter of forging ahead – even if we’re uncomfortable. 

What new things are you trying that make you feel like you’re flying blind? 

The post Flying blind appeared first on Acton Creative.