Check back again for 2008 events

I meet a lot of people at these events who are interested in starting their own little business peddling cards or other handmade goods. They ask me what what my experience has been. Each person's experience is totally different. One show could be terrible and the next amazing. Attendance at a show could be dismal but some how the person next to you selling burp cloths is doing fantastic. It's part fun and part nightmarish anxiety. You meet great people, you meet crazy people. The point is, the only way you're going to find out what it's really like and how your product does is to try it out. If you're still interested what my experience has been...read on!

Happy crafting!
—Grace

GIFTED: Holiday Craft Fair
www.mavenfair.com
This East Bay craft fair was one of my most favorite events. Adjowah Brodie, organizer and jewelry designer extraodinaire, created a relaxed but exciting environment and really listened to people's thoughts and ideas as the fair evolved over 3 days.

Feria Urbana
www.feriaurbana.com
Many people were sad when the Canvas Gallery in San Francisco closed because it was the host to Darcy Russell's Feria Urbana. Too bad for San Francisco because it continues to thrive in Oakland. The Oakland Museum of California's First Friday events regularly features Feria Urbana along with movies, free (yes, free!) cocktails, live music and much more. Because of all these events going on at the same time, shopping was kind of sporatic but even so, the atmosphere was all positive. The museum staff even came around to say "hi" and offer free admission to the museum.

The downside of the Oakland Museum is that the fair at the back entrance. If visitors arrive by BART, they see the fair right away. However, if visitors arrive using the main entrance, they won't even see the fair. Or someone who came just for shopping may be told they have to pay museum entrance even tho if they go around the back, entrance to the fair is free.

Alternative Press Expo
www.comic-con.org/ape
In 2008 this one is in November#&151;a great time to shop for holiday gifts. You'll find all kinds of felt items, toys and unusual stuff along with printed things like cards, art, zines, recipes, stickers, etc. Table sharing is okay so a great place to test things out.

Appel & Frank
www.appelandfrank.com
I did this one twice and it's a tough event to figure out. Both times attendance was pretty disappointing. I did the general event and a guy selling cute baby t-shirts did really well. Then I did the baby themed event and there were too many cute baby t-shirts. This is the event where a gal with very stylish burb cloths did really well while everyone else seemed to be just waiting for the event to end. The organizers are dropping the attendance price down to $5 which hopefully helps.

Homegrown Handmade for the Holidays

This was the first year of this event. Attendance was poor but not because of lack of effort by the organizers. There were vendor care packages, free gift wrapping, free gifts, on site food, music from a local radio stations, prizes, etc. Admission was only $2 but my experience so far leads me to conclude new events should be free until they are really established. This is an outdoor event which can make your products dirty. You definitely want to have a tent cover when outdoors.

National Stationery Show
Stressful x 100!!

San Francisco International Gift Show

Stressful but at least its in San Francisco :-)