I wanted to get my post up last night, but my Internet was down for a few hours. It was probably a good thing, though. It forced me to go to bed early instead of cruising other blogs, Craig’s List and my inbox. Now that I’m refreshed a bit, I’m ready to write about the people I met at Lucketts.
My mom, dad and I arrived to Lucketts in the wee hours of the morning to get my space set up on Saturday. It had all been tightly packed under the tents and tarps, so we had a lot of work to do. I set my dad to the odd jobs…unwrapping furniture, hanging a chandelier and an oil painting and folding up the tarps. My mom unwrapped all of my small pieces and accessories, so I could arrange them and set up vignettes. We finished with about 30 minutes to spare before the gates opened. We were donned in our matching custom t-shirts and aprons loaded with change and sales books.
Shortly before 10:00 am, I snapped a picture of the line that had formed at the gate. These people were some serious shoppers.
The next few hours were a total whirlwind. My space was filled with people and I was trying to keep up with sales and chatting with blog readers who wanted to meet me. I wrote up a lot of sales tickets…
…and said a lot of “excuse me’s” and “just a minute’s” and “I’m sorry for the wait’s.” It was so crazy in the beginning that my mom and I sold the same thing to two different people. I felt so terrible, because there was only one settee and it had to go to the person who was there first. Anyway, we learned a lot from this experience and will have a better system in place for next year.
I also gave out all of my frog tape and cupcakes within a couple of hours.
Through all of the craziness, I did get to meet some really cool ladies (and their husbands and friends in some cases.)
(Hillary from Chick Picks in the orange)
The ladies who flew in all the way from Chicago to shop the fair. They were all so sweet.
Barb Blair from Knack, who drove up with her friend, so we could finally meet in person.
Kelly from Chester County Cottage Girl.
Kelli from Restore Interiors.
Eddie, a photographer from DC.
Sharon from Elizabeth and Company.
Jami from Freckled Laundry.
…and Lisa (on the right) and her friend drove all the way from Ohio to pick up her grain sack chair (which was on the cover of a local newspaper recently.) These ladies were a riot. Lisa might be my biggest fan. She was my very last sale on Sunday (a grain sack pillow to match her chair) and she asked if she could have my vendor badge for her scrapbook. So funny! And, yes, I did give it to her.
Nutbird asked what the first piece I sold was. It was the pair of oval aqua end tables shown in the picture below. Someone walked by just before the gates opened and bought them.
It was such a wonderful time! I wish I had more time to sit down and chat with all of the awesome people who came to my space. Next year we’ll have a checkout counter and more people to help, so I’ll be freed up to chat.
I know a lot of people took pictures with me and I would love copies. Please send them along to my e-mail address (marian@missmustardseed.com) along with a little information about yourself.
If you missed Lucketts this time, the fair is every year in May (generally the third weekend) and I will definitely be vending again next year. Start saving your pennies for the trip!
33 Responses
Maybe someday….. So glad it all went so well for all who were able to make it.:)
Would just LOOOOVE to come to the market next year! You guys were blessed with great weather & such wonderful customers. Every show is a learning experience & it should be an ever better experience for you AND your customers next year!
Haha, that's me holding the frog tape. Please tell the frog tape company thank you for their generosity!
Shaunie
loved seeing the pictures and glad you had the great weather
I am setting up this Saturday and all we have had is rain and tornados in Missouri
Thank you for sharing….that looked like tons of fun…Too bad Wyoming was just a little to far for me to make the trip:(
I must have walked by your booth 10 times during the fair, hoping to meet you, but you were a whirlwind of fans and sales and smiles! Maybe next year – I really enjoyed seeing all of your fabulous pieces!
how wonderful! i've enjoyed seeing it through your photos! susan
I'd have to come down from Canada, but looks entirely like a great vaca…so hmmm, maybe next time! How soon do you post the dates? And how often do you go?
Loved seeing you with all the bloggers!
How special to be able to share all that fun with your visiting readers! And that grain sack chair is a stunner! A knock-out.
Rose
Looks like you had such a good time, even if it was busy and tiring. So glad you had such success. I'd love to plan a trip with my mom to go there next year!
That looks like so much fun! I mapped it and you're 9.5 hrs away from me. I think I could do that next year! Are there good places to stay overnight in that area? I feel a girl trip coming on!
Ruth
How would you suggest I go about purchasing a couple of your feed bag pillows? I live too far away to travel to Lucketts.
Thank you,
Cookie
Loved the pictures! I had to laugh seeing the guy with the huge antique saw over his shoulder !
I may have to make a trip up there next May!
oh and have to say you are just adorable and cute as can be! love your hair !
Looks like you had a great time, and a very successful weekend. Great pics!
It was great to finally meet you. Looks like you and your mom had an absolute {busy} blast!
Jami
I'm kicking myself for not snapping a picture with you! If you need help at your booth next year, I volunteer (I don't live that far away)!
Hello Marian,
It looks like such a fun time…meeting so many lovely ladies!
If you need booth help for next year, I would love to help you. I'm just down the road in Warrenton and have lot's of booth experience.
I'm serious ;->
Janet xox
http://theemptynest-janet.blogspot.com/
PS…I like getting paid in Iced coffee's and cookies ;->
That looks like so much fun! Congratulations on good sales! I just found you from a friend of mine. You're from Gettysburg?! We're neighbors. I am from York County, Pa. I am your newest follower. Hope you can visit me sometime soon.
I can't believe I missed so much fun! I'm so mad that I let Mr. Magoo convince me that y'all were going to be under water. I'm guessing he was anticipating financial ruin if he let me loose up there! I will definitely be there next year, but am hoping to come up in the fall. We have no fall here…we just put the pumpkins out and pretend. : )
So happy for your success!
Tina
So nice to see you again Marian! And now I've met both of your lovely parents. They are clearly so proud of you! Congratulations again on an amazing year. I'll keep an eye out for you at the Westminster Goodwill. And by the way, the t-shirts were super cute! Now get some rest!
It was so cool watching you gear up for this and then have a fabulous day, good for you!!!!
I think a girls road trip next May may be in order! Looks like so much fun!
I forgot to ask….Did you make your aprons? I love them!
Wow! You were one busy lady! I didn't get a chance to come down to meet you {we were busy at our shop!} We'll bump heads one day, you're a neighbor to my dear friend Jan in the pavilion across from yours. You are so lucky to have your Mom with you {blessed!} Keep up the good work!
Nancy
Hi Marian, The gals from Chicago had a wonderful time! Still making my way back to Chicago….beautiful, scenic drive home from Leesburg! Worth every mile! You and your folks were delightful, thanks for all you did to prepare for the Market….so much fun! Love your blog too 🙂 We all want to start painting furniture!
So great to meet you friend….and so proud of you!
Loved my trip to Lucketts!
xo
Thanks for letting us know about next year. My girls always ask what I want for my birthday(May26) and next year I will tell them I want to go there to meet you and buy one of your treasures. What a grand time you seemed to have and no wonder you needed a few days to bounce back. You all did some heavy work there. Congratulations and hope to see you next year.
You've been a busy worker bee!! I wish I could have attending maybe next year…I my youngest has graduated from high school thus I'm free to travel about.
Oh I will try! I will definitely try to come next year! Looks so fun! Great pics!
Hugs
SueAnn
I've made an official decision: I'm going next year! Better start saving for the plane ticket from AZ!
Definitely looked like loads of fun. I know my wife would enjoy this a ton. Nice touch that you guys had custom t-shirts made. Hopefully, we will be able to attend next year.