Last year I had just found out that there was such a thing as Teddy Bear Picnic Day. Even though I celebrated it with just my toddler last year, it was still pretty fun. It ended up being fun enough that we'll be doing it again with her little group of friends for our ward's Mother's Group this year! Hope you have a fun Teddy Bear Picnic Day as well!

The boutique did not go well - at all.

I had 1 sale and it was from a friend, and had maybe 3 other people come and actually walk up to my table to look. I'm so glad I brought a book. Otherwise I would've been bored outta my mind!

I do have to say it was a good experience, but nothing I could've learned from a better boutique fair:
1. I should've filled up my square more with other tables so I could spread out the prints better. I did have this idea, but I didn't want to buy a table, let alone more tables just in case. Which of course now I'm glad I didn't do because I made no money...
2. A canopy to shade people from the heat also maybe would've brought people in, but I'm still not so sure if that would've worked. I'm also glad I didn't because of said money I didn't make... My neighbors were nice and lent me a beach umbrella. I'm so grateful they did or else I would've melted! and fried! I put on sunscreen, but I still got sunburned!
3. I should've had a drawing to win a free print. DUH! I totally forgot to do this! I saw only one other person do this which made me remember, but I'm not sure how much of a difference it made for her anyways, at least at this particular venue.

This place was literally in the ghetto.

I'm not kidding.

At first I was kinda worried it might be, but I don't know the Salt Lake area that much, so I thought it might've passed it and would be ok. I mean, who would think having a boutique where people don't make any money is a good idea?? Well, these people did. Definitely a different side of Utah. Anyways, this was their first time throwing an event together, and while I do think they did a good job with advertising, I really believe it was just the location and overall demographic of the area. I know it would've turned out better if it was in Draper, Lehi, or Alpine, where people have money. Anyways, lesson learned that even if it looks like a good opportunity, weigh in the area too.

I'm going to try to look for other opportunities, I mean, I have the inventory for it! I don't want it to go to waste! Plus a million hair-bows too. My husband had the idea that I make some to draw-in a different audience. So, I need to get rid of all of those too.

To the journey that keeps on going.

I've been accepted to my first boutique fair - EVER! I'm so excited. I've always wanted to do this and things haven't really been going too well with getting into other fairs, but this one is a go! It's called Polkadots and Shiny Things Boutique and will be on June 7th in Millcreek, Utah. It's their first time ever holding a fair, so I'm not sure what the outcome will be like, but I'd love to see any of you there! Plus, if you buy from the fair, you won't have to pay shipping from the shop! How's that for incentive? More information about the fair can be found here.

In preparation for this show, I'm getting together all of my print goods and switched up my packaging just for the fair. I also need to make my table look like I know what I'm doing, so that's been my main focus this week:

 I was able to find some awesome finds at my local charity store, but they need a makeover in order to look presentable. My husband suggested I also sell some bows that I like to make in order to catch different audiences' attention. I hope it works... I'm really hoping to get my name out from all this.

And then I'm just trying to figure out a good set up for my table. It's not quite there yet, but I know it'll look so much better when the product is out and I have my cute little chalkboards explaining prices and such.


I also want to make 1 or 2 new Father's Day prints which will first be revealed at the fair! So, come on, you gotta come! My husband liked my ideas for the prints, so you know they're going to be awesome.

Each of my pieces are made from my heart, and it would've been totally weird if I put "Made with Love", so I decided that it would be a funny pun-ish thing to have the tag line be "Given with Love". Those giving the pieces as gifts are giving them with love so the tag might as well say it!

So now every mailed-out purchase has a freebie - an awesome gift tag! (excludes digital downloads) I'm so excited for this addition for my shop and I hope it brings in respect from my future customers.