My first 2 day event coming up...

[dgman]

Yea, easy for you to say! What blades do you typically use? I had gotten some Flying Dutchman Puzzle blades and was using those. Didn't seem to cut as well for me and I think I was pushing so then they were not quite square and didn't want to fit back together from either direction - some pieces only slid back into place from the backside. Then another problem was - the wood I used for one - I have a lot of cedar so I used it for one since I'm just learning and not selling or giving away - problem was a foot broke off when I tried to remove it from the piece I cut it out of. Yes, I glued it back together but I could see the break line on the side. Then, I tried to alter the tail a tad (it was a golden retriever because I have one) as I cut it out and that made it not quite fit "tightly" in place. Which I didn't like - hubby said it looked ok - I didn't. Then, the other one I did ok with except the same pushing or problem I had with the other one. It was a bulldog I was going to give my son since his college mascot is a bulldog. Since I had used a "thin" blade - I decided to "thicken" up the lines that were in its face so it was more easily "seen" - well you know the evil of good don't you. I managed to break one area by its outer eye. All's good. I'm trying to learn that its all okay. Its okay to screw things up - that's how you learn - but that's hard! Any advice or wisdom is appreciated!

Melanie, the FD Puzzle blades are designed for jigsaw puzzles using material 1/4" or less. For stand up puzzles, it is recommended to use a #5 or #7, however I use FD UR 3 blades.

The puzzle blades are a size 3/0.

Edited March 28, 2017 by dgman

[lawson56]

Best of Lock to ya Iggy.Your gonna do Great.    I got rained out last wknd.I am looking forward to this wknd,so far no rain.

[David Lehner]

good luck with the show

Let us know how it goes 

[Iguanadon]

Melanie, the FD Puzzle blades are designed for jigsaw puzzles using material 1/4" or less. For stand up puzzles, it is recommended to use a #5 or #7, however I use FD UR 3 blades.

The puzzle blades are a size 3/0.

 

Oh wow I didn't notice she said she was using puzzle blades... As mentioned, those are only for jigsaw puzzles cut out of thin material.  Start by using a #5 and get used to it, then if you want a slightly tighter fit you can try a #3.

[meflick]

Melanie, the FD Puzzle blades are designed for jigsaw puzzles using material 1/4" or less. For stand up puzzles, it is recommended to use a #5 or #7, however I use FD UR 3 blades.

The puzzle blades are a size 3/0.

 

Oh wow I didn't notice she said she was using puzzle blades... As mentioned, those are only for jigsaw puzzles cut out of thin material.  Start by using a #5 and get used to it, then if you want a slightly tighter fit you can try a #3.

 

Thanks gentlemen for your insight and knowledge. Good to know about the puzzle blades.  I am use to using the #3 and #5 blades as those are what I have used regularly for cutting.  Especially when cutting the Intarsia work  (which is what brought me to this forum almost a year ago, then I have "expanded" my interest thanks to you guys and gals!    )  I wondered if that was part of my issue, good to know that it probably was.  I had assumed that the smaller the blade kerf the better the puzzle stayed together.  I was cutting patterns from the Peterson's Animal Puzzles book.  Thanks to your advice and info., I will try again with a #5 blade and take your other helpful info. into consideration as well.  (Sorry to hijack your thread Iggy with my questions.)

[Iguanadon]

Hijack any time.  Happy to help.

[amazingkevin]

Great, I'm seeing posts and comments about spring shows being rather weak... Just in time for my first big show.  :-)

 

As most of you know, I just started selling my puzzles last June, so this is my first Spring season and I'm signing up for events as I hear about them.  The one this weekend is the 25th annual event and while it's focused on herb/garden, it's got a little bit of everything as there's a farm on the premises.

 

http://www.poplargrove.org/festivals/herb-garden-fair/

 

Going into this I'm focusing on making several of my BUNNY and RABBIT puzzles for those thinking about Easter and I'm also making a bunch of the CHICKEN and ROOSTER puzzles (my newest additions) thinking that the attendees may also be into raising chickens which has become a big thing lately.

 

As I prepare and get ready for this, here are my thoughts:

 

PROS:

1) This is the 25th year of the event and it's very popular.  My wife and I would be attending it if I wasn't planning on working it.

2) There are 100 vendors signed up which tells me it's also popular with vendors and they had no trouble filling up the place. A very broad mix of vendors as well.  And my booth location looks good.

3)  The weather is going to be absolutely perfect, sunny and 74 degrees both days (it's outdoors)

 

CONS:

1) It's spring time and I see a lot of you saying that sales aren't great in the spring time

2) It's a different type of event/venue than I'm used to and not sure what to expect as far as interest in my items

3) It's 2 days long... I hope it's worth going back the 2nd day

 

I'm still in the learning, fumbling, figuring out stage as I'm still in my first year.  So, try an event, if it works out, great, sign up in future years.  But if it's a dud, I make a note and know not to do it again in the future.

 

Wish me luck and I'll let everyone know how it goes.

 

Iggy

Looks and sounds like your kind of place.

[Iguanadon]

Day 1 complete and I'm happy with the results.

 

I sold 42 pieces today which was above my goal of 35.

 

My average price is a bit lower because I reduced the price of the kids dinosaur puzzles from $20 to $15 and decided to experiment and sell them unpainted for $10 and the experiment went well with several sold.  Those puzzles take me no time at all to cut so I'm happy selling them cheaper to stimulate sales.  And I hired my daughter this week to do the painting because that's the one task I absolutely dislike.

 

So, now we'll see how tomorrow goes.  I had set a goal of 65 for the two days and I feel confident I'll hit it, just curious how much above that I'll get.

 

I'll report back tomorrow evening.

 

Iggy

[rjweb]

Glad to see that you are doing well, RJ

[Iguanadon]

I guess I should share pictures as well...

[jbrowning]

Right on Iggy, I had a feeling you would do good.  Hope tomorrow is more successful than today.

 

Jim

[meflick]

Great to hear that day 1 went so well for your Iggy.  Here's hoping that today goes just as well if not better.  Glad you found a "painter" to do the paintwork for you! Sounds like a win/win for you both.  $ to her and you don't have to do it.  I love your pictures of your setup and your work looks top notch as expected.  I can see why you had such good results yesterday.  If your weather was like ours - beautiful spring weather yesterday and today - you should be getting good crowds out enjoying it I hope!  Look forward to hearing how you did today.

[Iguanadon]

Well... the final stats are in...

 

Day 1 - Excellent - 42 pieces sold (9am to 5pm)

Day 2 - Stinkaroo - 14 pieces sold (10am to 4pm)

 

Beautiful weather but less traffic the 2nd day and it showed.  All vendors around me did right around 1/3 today than they did yesterday.  

 

I'm happy with 56 pieces even though it was below my target of 65.  I average 25 per one day event, so for this 2 day event I was slightly above average and I drove home with $1100 in my pocket.  This is a hobby for me, so it's all gravy.

 

I'll sign up for this event again next year.  It's worth it.  I met a lot of great folks and as usual met and spoke with other vendors and got the scoop on which events are worth doing and which ones to avoid.

 

My next event is a potential big one on April 29 and I'll be cutting and stockpiling for the next 3 weeks.

 

Iggy

Edited April 3, 2017 by Iguanadon

[meflick]

Wow Iggy, sounds like with $1100 for  a hobby you had a good overall weekend indeed.  Plus, getting a chance to talk to other vendors and find out other events worth going to or not is great when you are just checking out the circuit. Would be interested in finding out if in general, its usual for the 2nd day to be not as good as the first.  I would think weather would influence that if the first day was not as good.  I would think that in general, Saturdays might be better days then Sundays albeit for bad weather on Saturdays.  Sounds like your going to be busy the next 3 weeks getting your stockpile back up.  Have fun!  (I haven't gotten a chance to get back and try again on my puzzles - maybe in the next day or two.)