The Woodbury FAF…… and Why I Can Never Quit My Day Job!

The Woodbury Fine Arts Festival (FAF) is held right in my hometown.  So as I strive to promote my small and homespun craft business, RoofTop Creations, you’d expect that I might want to participate as a vendor….right?  Last year, the event’s first year, I decided not to apply as a vendor so I could check the event out as a visitor to get a feel for how the whole thing was run.  And the FAF did not disappoint……there were LOTS of unique artists and craft vendors, plus wine and beer and great food……and even live art being created right there on the street. Awesome!  The event was really well attended and seemed well organized…..and I had a great sense of hometown pride.

So this year, you’d figure that I’d definitely want to get a booth and sell….right?  RoofTop Creations usually does well at craft shows and my simple wood coasters always sell better than I expect.

Plus, I really do enjoy doing arts and crafts shows.  And while doing a show is a ton of hard work….they are also a whole lotta fun.  I love meeting people…..and I love talking. Combine that with people praising my work and maybe even BUYING my work and woo hooo…..craft show equals a great day!

So with the FAF right in my backyard!…….why not?  It was a no-brainer.  Right?

Well here’s a few why nots……

taste testing various chilis…… getting to see giant sandcastles being built……hearing good and diverse local music…..and sampling quality craft beers or local wines.   Plus talking with local filmmakers…..and watching artists and woodworkers create amazing works right before my eyes.  Plus maybe decorating a cupcake or even raising the roof to local rap.  And ballerinas and troubadours and kids painted up like wood nymphs and impromptu song and dance…..and above all else…. shopping for cool and unusual handmade stuff.

Now of course, I want to sell my crafts…..but I want these other things MORE!

Okay.  I will admit it.  I am a crappy, crappy, CRAPPY business woman.  So I won’t quit my day job any time soon!

But the FAF….. it was great!

Naturally, because I was off the clock and being a slacker and non-business person,  I forgot my camera…..so these pics are from my not-so-smart cell phone.  If I had worked the event, I might have made some money to buy a better phone…..oh the heavy price of leisure!    

other shoppers were shopping

and the artists were making art

My friend Jaime was actually working while I was pissing around…..check her gorgeous jewelry at https://www.etsy.com/shop/JewelrybyJaime

cool giant sand castle…..notice the historic G.G. Green patent medicine factory in the background?

My friend Michele was also working and proving herself to be far more driven than I!  She is a cool paper artist. Check out her shop Scrapsecrets at https://www.etsy.com/shop/Scrapsecrets

Here is Joe with Rich, the tireless leader of Boy Scout Troop 9. He and his group of scouts worked hard as selfless volunteers …..while I kicked back and enjoyed!

Retta and Jonathon shopping and enjoying our hometown event

These young people were wandering works of art from the talents of Michele Periano and Funky Fun Facepainting https://www.facebook.com/pages/Funky-Fun-Facepainting/369737306371305

 

Music at the FAF was great. The Naked Sun, with WDHS’s outstanding English teacher Tim Campbell on guitar rocked the craft beer garden! http://wearethenakedsun.com/about/

Joe enjoyed a local beer while listening to good music with our neighbors!  Ahhhh……LIFE IN WOODBURY IS GOOD!

So it turns out that I might have missed out on a pretty decent vendor day……so maybe I am a lousy business woman…..but it also turns out that I am great at a few other things!  It seems that I am REALLY GOOD  at being a unique-find shopper/local music fan/face-paint smiler/poetry slam listener/local history lover/happy beer taster/art lover/neighborhood socializer/show-tune enjoyer/sand sculpture admirer/Green Building supporter/and overall FAF fun-haver!

Thank you to the wonderful artists, crafters, musicians, and volunteers who DID work hard at the FAF and created a fun event so I got to goof off and enjoy myself.

So maybe next year I will step up and apply to be a vendor……..well……..we’ll see……maybe I can ask my husband to man my booth while I shop.  I am sure he won’t mind…..cause you know how much he HATES good music and craft beers!   Hmmmm……maybe he can be bribed!

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To learn more about the Woodbury Fine Arts Festival, check out their website at http://thefaf.net/

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