Re: Crafty trevails and successes

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Posted by jolynn on November 5, 2001 at 06:11:29:

In reply to: Crafty trevails and successes posted by Alissa on November 4, 2001 at 18:56:19:

Ok, so, isn't hennaing at a graft fair a kick!? My sister and I do
crafts and last year added gel pen tattoos and facepainting. This
summer I added some henna. The other crafters or their kids are my
best customers! I haven't done a lot of henna but all of my supplies
are paid for and it covers our booth costs.

I know that clogging thing too well. Have you tried taking the tip and
the top off and cleaning outthe whole works? I have found this helps
if it is clogging too frequently-untill the next chunk...

It sounds like you were very popular. Hope you get lots of new clients
from it! getting pais to advertise...humm I think you have a good
thing going there.

good luck and thanks for sharing,
jolynn
: Yesterday I spent 7 hours at a craft show for a local high school.
: Set up was at 8:30 and the doors opened at 9. Realizing I had
: forgotten my table sign and in a panic, I was still improvising a
: makeshift sign and taping pages from my design book to the table
when
: a gaggle of teenage girls walked by and descended upon my books. A
: chorus of "Oh that's so *cool*," and, "Oh man that one is phat!"
: and, "Oh that design is totally sick!" rang out and before 9:00 I
was
: already hennaeing my first hand.
:
: The paste was making me miserable from the get-go. It was clogging
my
: applicator *literally* every 10 seconds. I would lay a line, stop
and
: poke, lay a line, grit my teeth, squeeeze like mad on my napkin,
stop
: and poke. I could barely work and the group around my table was
still
: growing.
:
: Kanji Kanji Kanji - and my Forum friends I heartily apologize for
: what I did to that beautiful language yesterday, it was no where
near
: my personal standards, even if the kids still loved it. Flowery
: bracelets, a skull design, a bat (yup, the girl said she was mad
: about bats) and more Kanji. Then astrology symbols and Gothic
: lettering. Hands, wrists, the web between the thumb and hand, arms,
: necks and lower clavicles were all decorated as the steady stream of
: questions hit me - how does it work, how long does it last, and the
: never-ending "How much does this one cost?"
:
: Nothing would help the applicator situation - I changed tips, I
: loaded a fresh j-bottle, NOTHING and my hand was shaking from the
: pent up frustration and the stress of keeping the smile on my face
: despite the situation I knew was happening. Finally, I started
: praying for Divine intervention. The internal dialogue went
something
: like this : "Please Lakshmi help me through this. Please help to
: finish this design. Please help me to adorn this person and give
them
: a positive experience. Help me find the calm, help me do a good job
: despite this situation." I used Catherine's breathing tricks to help
: my hand stay still, my mind calm. Then Ganesha (Remover of
Obstacles)
: prayers ensued. Nothing changed the applicator from not clogging,
but
: I found the mental strength to keep going despite the frustration at
: hand. That, and switching to the .9 tip which reduced clogging from
: 10 to 15 seconds apart. (I wish I were exaggerating).
:
: Teenagers, then adults with young children (I even hennaed a 5 year
: old who had Dad there to help hold him on his lap, and the boy did
: very good!) The steady stream of people kept pouring at me and after
: 4 hours, feeling a bit exhausted and by then *praying* for a rest
: from the stress, the last client walked away admiring her design and
: smiling.
:
: My mother-in-law, whose booth was next to mine, watched her walk
away
: and said in a stern voice, "Alissa! EAt something! Drink some
water!"
: I had gone nonstop, except for a few sips of water between
customers,
: for 4 hours straight. It was now 1:00 and I staggered off to the
: bathroom.
:
: Then, the lonnnng slow stretch set in. The crowd thinned out and for
: the first time I could stop and look around me at the other craft
: booths. The older gentleman on my other side grumbled to the show
: organizier that no one was buying anything, that all the shows were
: like this so far this year. I *almost* felt guilty for doing so well
: while others watched the parade of people go by, admiring but not
: purchasing. They agreed it was a sign of the economic times. I
: stretched my back after being bent over for so long and squirmed in
: the metal folding chair, ate a Powerbar and drank some water.
:
: At 2:45 I was ready to call it a day. Nothing had happened in over
an
: hour and a half, and my body was !dying! to nurse our baby -
: unforseen pain in the chest region there, folks. I'd never gone that
: long before and my overalls were getting more and more puffed up, if
: you know what I mean.
:
: Then, it started all over again. The same group of girls came back,
: this time with a few new friends and the Kanji, lettering, and
: astrology started all over. Most designs were paltry in price, a few
: dollars at best, but even with the clogging I could get them out
: fairly fast. I gave in to the dharma and realized that I could use
: the old performer's trick in this situation as well - the audience
: doesn't know it's a mistake unless you "telegraph" that it's a
: mistake to them. Let them think this is how it's done, with me
poking
: my applicator every 15 seconds. Everybody plays, everybody wins.
:
: One girl came back to the table to see her friend who was being done
: and was bummed b/c her mom had just chewed her out for loaning her
: friend $2 to get a design. I promptly reached in my money pocket and
: gave it back to her, saying it wasnt worth $2 to me to know she got
: in trouble. She was so shocked she didnt know what to say, and her
: friend was all, "Oh my god that is so amazingly cool! I think I'm
: gonna cry!" And she really did have tears in her eyes. Imagine that,
: tears over $2. The other teenage girls at the table were awestruck.
: One, who had been exclaiming how incredibly cool I was all
afternoon,
: exuberantly cried out, as only a teenage girl can, "Oh my GOD You
: totally ROCK!!!" She ran to my mother in law and told her how she
: rocked too, just for being related to me, which made Karen laugh for
: the entire ride home.
:
: At 4:10 I turned away the last client - the show ended at 4, the
: other vendors were either packing up or already gone, & I was spent.
: I consolled myself (thinking I hadn't made very much doing tiny
cheap
: designs all day) by reflecting on the spreading word of my services,
: & how the teenage girls swore they would have me over every month
: until the end of the school year for their monthly drill team
slumber
: parties. (Well, in their henna-high they swore I'd be there every
: month, but if even 1 or 2 come along, I'd be glad). Then I counted
my
: money & WoW!!! I had made almost quadruple my booth fee, even if
most
: of it was in 1's & 5's. I felt blessed, especially given the paste
: situation & thanked Lakshmi and Friends for Her (& Their) bounty &
: assistance.
:
: Last night I strained the day's unused leftover henna & was
horrified
: at the chunks that had somehow gotten through the 1st straining. I
: gave thanks yet again, seeing that the paste should've caused me to
: pack it up & give up, & instead I had a trying, but successful, day.
:
: The person I most wanted to jump over my table & smack : Dumpy woman
: walking by who wrinkles her nose at my sign & says to her
: friend, "Why would I want hot ink poured on me?" Just when you think
: you've heard ever henna misconception, right? I gave her the I-dont-
: like-you smile and held up my applicator saying, "It's not ink, it's
: henna & it's not hot or else I couldn't hold it like this, could I?"
:
: The person I most wanted to hug : The teernage girl, in full
ackward-
: posturing-bravado that I remember feeling myself so well, exclaiming
: entirely too loud "Oh My GAWD You totally ROCK!!!" & running off to
: tell Karen she rocked too & then her friends that the henna chick
was
: so totally cool.
:
: It's fun to be cool, and to be considered cool, ain't it?

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: Ok, so, isn't hennaing at a graft fair a kick!? My sister and I do : crafts and last year added gel pen tattoos and facepainting. This : summer I added some henna. The other crafters or their kids are my : best customers! I haven't done a lot of henna but all of my supplies : are paid for and it covers our booth costs. : : I know that clogging thing too well. Have you tried taking the tip and : the top off and cleaning outthe whole works? I have found this helps : if it is clogging too frequently-untill the next chunk... : : It sounds like you were very popular. Hope you get lots of new clients : from it! getting pais to advertise...humm I think you have a good : thing going there. : : good luck and thanks for sharing, : jolynn : : Yesterday I spent 7 hours at a craft show for a local high school. : : Set up was at 8:30 and the doors opened at 9. Realizing I had : : forgotten my table sign and in a panic, I was still improvising a : : makeshift sign and taping pages from my design book to the table : when : : a gaggle of teenage girls walked by and descended upon my books. A : : chorus of "Oh that's so cool," and, "Oh man that one is phat!" : : and, "Oh that design is totally sick!" rang out and before 9:00 I : was : : already hennaeing my first hand. : : : : The paste was making me miserable from the get-go. It was clogging : my : : applicator literally every 10 seconds. I would lay a line, stop : and : : poke, lay a line, grit my teeth, squeeeze like mad on my napkin, : stop : : and poke. I could barely work and the group around my table was : still : : growing. : : : : Kanji Kanji Kanji - and my Forum friends I heartily apologize for : : what I did to that beautiful language yesterday, it was no where : near : : my personal standards, even if the kids still loved it. Flowery : : bracelets, a skull design, a bat (yup, the girl said she was mad : : about bats) and more Kanji. Then astrology symbols and Gothic : : lettering. Hands, wrists, the web between the thumb and hand, arms, : : necks and lower clavicles were all decorated as the steady stream of : : questions hit me - how does it work, how long does it last, and the : : never-ending "How much does this one cost?" : : : : Nothing would help the applicator situation - I changed tips, I : : loaded a fresh j-bottle, NOTHING and my hand was shaking from the : : pent up frustration and the stress of keeping the smile on my face : : despite the situation I knew was happening. Finally, I started : : praying for Divine intervention. The internal dialogue went : something : : like this : "Please Lakshmi help me through this. Please help to : : finish this design. Please help me to adorn this person and give : them : : a positive experience. Help me find the calm, help me do a good job : : despite this situation." I used Catherine's breathing tricks to help : : my hand stay still, my mind calm. Then Ganesha (Remover of : Obstacles) : : prayers ensued. Nothing changed the applicator from not clogging, : but : : I found the mental strength to keep going despite the frustration at : : hand. That, and switching to the .9 tip which reduced clogging from : : 10 to 15 seconds apart. (I wish I were exaggerating). : : : : Teenagers, then adults with young children (I even hennaed a 5 year : : old who had Dad there to help hold him on his lap, and the boy did : : very good!) The steady stream of people kept pouring at me and after : : 4 hours, feeling a bit exhausted and by then praying for a rest : : from the stress, the last client walked away admiring her design and : : smiling. : : : : My mother-in-law, whose booth was next to mine, watched her walk : away : : and said in a stern voice, "Alissa! EAt something! Drink some : water!" : : I had gone nonstop, except for a few sips of water between : customers, : : for 4 hours straight. It was now 1:00 and I staggered off to the : : bathroom. : : : : Then, the lonnnng slow stretch set in. The crowd thinned out and for : : the first time I could stop and look around me at the other craft : : booths. The older gentleman on my other side grumbled to the show : : organizier that no one was buying anything, that all the shows were : : like this so far this year. I almost felt guilty for doing so well : : while others watched the parade of people go by, admiring but not : : purchasing. They agreed it was a sign of the economic times. I : : stretched my back after being bent over for so long and squirmed in : : the metal folding chair, ate a Powerbar and drank some water. : : : : At 2:45 I was ready to call it a day. Nothing had happened in over : an : : hour and a half, and my body was !dying! to nurse our baby - : : unforseen pain in the chest region there, folks. I'd never gone that : : long before and my overalls were getting more and more puffed up, if : : you know what I mean. : : : : Then, it started all over again. The same group of girls came back, : : this time with a few new friends and the Kanji, lettering, and : : astrology started all over. Most designs were paltry in price, a few : : dollars at best, but even with the clogging I could get them out : : fairly fast. I gave in to the dharma and realized that I could use : : the old performer's trick in this situation as well - the audience : : doesn't know it's a mistake unless you "telegraph" that it's a : : mistake to them. Let them think this is how it's done, with me : poking : : my applicator every 15 seconds. Everybody plays, everybody wins. : : : : One girl came back to the table to see her friend who was being done : : and was bummed b/c her mom had just chewed her out for loaning her : : friend $2 to get a design. I promptly reached in my money pocket and : : gave it back to her, saying it wasnt worth $2 to me to know she got : : in trouble. She was so shocked she didnt know what to say, and her : : friend was all, "Oh my god that is so amazingly cool! I think I'm : : gonna cry!" And she really did have tears in her eyes. Imagine that, : : tears over $2. The other teenage girls at the table were awestruck. : : One, who had been exclaiming how incredibly cool I was all : afternoon, : : exuberantly cried out, as only a teenage girl can, "Oh my GOD You : : totally ROCK!!!" She ran to my mother in law and told her how she : : rocked too, just for being related to me, which made Karen laugh for : : the entire ride home. : : : : At 4:10 I turned away the last client - the show ended at 4, the : : other vendors were either packing up or already gone, & I was spent. : : I consolled myself (thinking I hadn't made very much doing tiny : cheap : : designs all day) by reflecting on the spreading word of my services, : : & how the teenage girls swore they would have me over every month : : until the end of the school year for their monthly drill team : slumber : : parties. (Well, in their henna-high they swore I'd be there every : : month, but if even 1 or 2 come along, I'd be glad). Then I counted : my : : money & WoW!!! I had made almost quadruple my booth fee, even if : most : : of it was in 1's & 5's. I felt blessed, especially given the paste : : situation & thanked Lakshmi and Friends for Her (& Their) bounty & : : assistance. : : : : Last night I strained the day's unused leftover henna & was : horrified : : at the chunks that had somehow gotten through the 1st straining. I : : gave thanks yet again, seeing that the paste should've caused me to : : pack it up & give up, & instead I had a trying, but successful, day. : : : : The person I most wanted to jump over my table & smack : Dumpy woman : : walking by who wrinkles her nose at my sign & says to her : : friend, "Why would I want hot ink poured on me?" Just when you think : : you've heard ever henna misconception, right? I gave her the I-dont- : : like-you smile and held up my applicator saying, "It's not ink, it's : : henna & it's not hot or else I couldn't hold it like this, could I?" : : : : The person I most wanted to hug : The teernage girl, in full : ackward- : : posturing-bravado that I remember feeling myself so well, exclaiming : : entirely too loud "Oh My GAWD You totally ROCK!!!" & running off to : : tell Karen she rocked too & then her friends that the henna chick : was : : so totally cool. : : : : It's fun to be cool, and to be considered cool, ain't it?
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