Wish me luck!!

[dmccarty]

Years ago in the NC mountains I went to a folk art show where a guy was selling wooden bowls, cups, and vases. Really pretty stuff. I bought a wine stop from him since that was all I could afford and needed. He was using Pecan wood from old dying orchards. NC has a state run folk art center up in the mountains that is impressive. I really liked the glass work they did though I really don't see how it was folk art. :laughing::laughing::laughing: You might want to see if PA has such a center since they were display and selling the merchandise.

Have you thought about making bowls, cups, and vases?

I assume you are going to use one of those credit card readers that work on a smart phone.

Later,
Dan

 

[forgeblast]

Jinman thank you I now have a new list of items to do (really every suggestion was right on thank you.)

Dan, Pa doesn't have a major folk school, NJ, NY, does but we do not, which is my reason for working on making one. NC has an amazing one the Campbell school https://www.folkschool.org/, I want to take all their classes but that would require playing and winning the lotto.
The bowls I have but cups and plates are planned. I have a foot powered lathe (spring pole lathe) and I am still learning how to use it and still forging out tools to use with it. I learn best by doing, and not having someone to show/teach while I am using the tools is causing me a bit of frustration. One major issue is that the cherry I use cracks, and so many of the bowls have been thrown out because they spit right up the middle. I will be making some shrink pots (carve green wood, (auger down the center clean it up with a chisel) and then put in a disk of kiln dried wood and carve a top. The green wood shrinks and holds the disk in place.) I also carve more spoons because when my 4 year old is swimming or playing in her sandbox I can carve. Multitasking at its best.
I have the square reader for my smartphone, all I need is a wi-fi and we just got the samsung schlc11 portable wil-fi box from verizon.

 

[tcreeley]

Here is a good guide I came across just now for juried shows re getting in. Good luck- awesome stuff- just remember, everyone has advice to give. Please yourself, and the natural grace and harmony will flow into your work. That's what people will love. :thumbsup:

http://www.harriete-estel-berman.info/profguidelines/TOPTEN.pdf

 

[forgeblast]

Tc thank you that is a great guide. I appreciate the help and the info. I want to thank everyone for their input and comments. I truly appreciate them.
Jinman here are some images I took tonight. I will work on refining them a bit and do some more edits, but thanks again.

 

[smilinjak]

Some beautiful grain and figure in those well executed pieces. I envy your creativity. A question regarding the spoon butter. How does it hold up when the spoons are used in hot foods? I just had a poplar spoon that became very rough after being washed, it was well soaked with oil which is my usual method, I had not whiskered it before oiling. I re-sanded and whiskered it , now soaking in oil. we shall see how it turns out.
Smilinjak

 

[smilinjak]

Some beautiful grain and figure in those well executed pieces. I envy your creativity. A question regarding the spoon butter. How does it hold up when the spoons are used in hot foods? I just had a poplar spoon that became very rough after being washed, it was well soaked with oil which is my usual method, I had not whiskered it before oiling. I re-sanded and whiskered it , now soaking in oil. we shall see how it turns out.
Smilinjak

 

[forgeblast]

Smilinjak--Well, if its the aspen poplar, its in the cotton wood family. So stringy and rough is normally what happens with poplar, from what I have experienced. I am working on a mantle out of it for a buddy of mine (he needed a lighter mantle due to where he wants to install it). If its the hardwood poplar then it should wear down with use, the sandpaper just speeds that up a bit
One trick some of the spoon carvers use is to heat the oil, or the object and then put it in oil (some have an old crock pot, or microwave the object (I have never done this so I cannot say if it works). I find with mineral oil I do not have to do that. To tell you the truth the spoon butter will wash off after the first use, but it protects it when I have them out in the sun, and helps make the grain shine. For washing the spoon I was always told treat it like your skin, don't scrub them, don't scald them, don't soak them, and dry immediately.

 

[dmccarty]

...
Dan, Pa doesn't have a major folk school, NJ, NY, does but we do not, which is my reason for working on making one. NC has an amazing one the Campbell school https://www.folkschool.org/, I want to take all their classes but that would require playing and winning the lotto.

I should have been a bit clearer. There is the Folk School you mentioned and another one in Spruce Pine. The Folk Art center I mentioned is on the Blue Ridge Parkway south of Ashville, Southern Highland Craft Guild - Southern Highland Craft Guild. The center displays and sells the craft work. I noticed that on the bottom of the link page, they have a list of stores in NC, TN, and KY. If there is such a center in PA, or near you in another state, it might be helpful. I don't know if the NC center sells only stuff only made in NC but it could be an outlet.

Later,
Dan

 

[scott_vt]

Good Afternoon Forgeblast,
You have done some beautiful work there my friend... Im thinking you should do well at the craft fairs especially if you are in the right location, meaning a place where people actually have some disposable income.

I have enjoyed the wood crafts for many years, and can easily see your talent, but more importantly your passion for what your trying to accomplish...

Thank you for sharing, and please report back on your success !

 

[randy41]

there are craft vendors at the farmers market we sell at. if there's one near you it could be an additional place to sell. your spoons are great looking.

 

[hunterridgefarm]

Great work.

I do craft items and wood work also. On your display also consider a couple of antique type cabinets or old kitchen items to complement you spoons.

A couple of pictures of you actually making the spoons would also be good. If it is a outside craft show consider the sides of your tent. The lower front corner could be pull up and attached to the top rear corner to allow for more light and for people to see what you have before they get in front of your display.

Use colored bowls or pottery bowls to display some of the spoons like in your pictures above.

We recently started going to a Farmers Market to sell produce. I read a lot of articles on how to present your display to attract customers. I use different colored baskets to complement the color of the produce and banner displaying my Farm Name as well as t shirts with the farm name. We are new comers to the Farmers Market compared to many who have been there for years. This past weekend was our third week and we have doubled our business each week.

You have some very nice work there and it should sell great, good luck!!

 

[forgeblast]

Hunterridgefarm, I just made up a few laminated and backed posters from staples.(Now do not believe their guarantee that it will be done in 4 hours, at four hours they didn't even know my job had to be done and I had to wait another 4 for them to get it done, and then was told the guarantee means it might be done in 4 but will be done in 24 hours....just beware.)
I did some blowups of the spoons in bowls, and with fruit, I also put together a poster that shows the tree being carved from log to spoon in a bowl. I did think of t-shirts, but I need some cash flow coming in first to pay off the tent and the insurance. I do agree the more put together a stand looks, the more it will sell.
I have over 10 years of retail sales experience (was my 2nd-3rd job at times), so I know once I get the people to the boot I can close a sale.
I am starting to run out of room to bring things on this trip. But for close local shows I plan on bringing the potter we have to "stage" the spoons better. Hauling everything will get easier next year, wife's car and day care will be done so I can finally afford a truck. (I plan on taking a good look at the new dodge 1500 diesel). Today is the test fit to see what does not come on the trip lol.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Great art and have a good show.

 

[forgeblast]

Just got back from the fair (did the fair and a week at Cape Cod). It was a beautiful day, we sold 20 spoons of various sizes. No bowls or bark boxes though. A lot of people liked them, but I heard time and time again "Oh I love them, I am not ready to think about Christmas presents yet! Can I take a card?" I am hopeful that I can get some repeat sales through my website. I learned a lot and was interviewed (Ill post the link as soon as the video is posted). The vendors were great. I really learned a lot, especially how to present and sell the item. I have a few more signs and things to make to have my booth stand out, but this was a great shakedown run. I am much more confident for the next few shows I have coming up. Thanks all the comments were spot on, all the suggestions were so helpful. I will try to set up a promo code for tbn'ers for free shipping once it gets closer to the Holidays as my way of saying thank you for your advice and support.

 

[smilinjak]

Congratulations on your successful show. Now you can take a 15 minute break and create some more art. Gettig a new business up and running is more work than creating and crafting the products,eh. I say again you do beautiful work.
Smilinjak

 

[PhysAssist]

Hey FB,

Congratulations, you really earned that success!

Remember that the first one is always the hardest, then it gets better and better, but they will all have their quirks as to what sells and what doesn't.

Keep kicking butt and taking names!

Be well,
Thomas

 

[forgeblast]

Gettig a new business up and running is more work than creating and crafting the products,eh
Yes, Yes Yes!!! I had to go to the bank today to open my business account, I had my binder of paperwork with me.
Now its scrambling for shows, I have one this weekend (a spot opened up) & I might have made a really exclusive show, they only take one vendor from each media. I will find out later this week. I have also tried to fill up my weekends coming up before Christmas with shows. It helps so much that my wife is supportive, and my daughter (4) loves helping me. Thanks again all, I have to get back to making wood shavings