Renegade!

 All of a sudden, it's almost time for my Renegade adventure. Next weekend I'm selling in SF, then I'll drive down to LA for their fair the weekend after that. Eek! I'm having a pretty good time making tons of new stuff; I hope folks like it. Around this time before a show, things start to get pretty messy and it looks even more like a rainbow barfed in this tiny house.

This is what the dining table looks like today. I'm pretty happy about it.

Hello friends! I'll be spending the weekend at Fort Mason, chilling with my beloved friend Sue and vending my wares. Please come say hi if you are around; I demand it!

Renegade Craft Fair!

Reunited and it felt so good! It seems like eons ago since Sue and I worked together at our beloved Finnegan's Toys and Gifts. But we immediately got back into our tag-team shopgirl groove a few weekends ago when we shared a booth at Renegade Craft Fair in San Francisco.

We both sold like crazy and had the best time doing it.

It didn't hurt that this was Sue's first West Coast show, and the California crafterati was clamoring for her beauteous creations.

We used to stand like this behind a counter for eight hours a day drinking coffee and shooting the breeze! Man, it was great.

Our cozy corner of Fort Mason.

These two days were truly the highlight of my year; it's hard when your dearest friends are scattered around the globe, but it makes it that much more magical when you get to see them again.

July!

Well, hell's bells, it's been a long time. I'm gonna have to rewind a few weeks, to my 30th birthday celebration in San Luis Obispo. I was lucky enough to spend the day with my family, doing all the things I like to do, which are mostly variations of eating and drinking. Sometimes my hometown likes to torture me with wonderful places and events that tempt me to stay forever; the charming new restaurant Granada Bistro is an example. Housed in an old building marked for demolition next year, Granada's owners created a tiny, ethereal hangout that will disappear before people realize how great it is. They serve international wines and beers at a reasonable price, and the decor is lush and homey. I'm not going to go into flowery detail, because I just read a food review last night that, and I kid you not, used the phrase "snarky watercress" in reference to some sandwich. Really?


That said, I also very much enjoy the food and atmosphere at Buona Tavola in SLO. They serve an olive tapenade with mustard seeds along with an array of fresh breads that is truly the greatest condiment ever. You can buy it in jars now, but it's never quite the same when you're not sitting in a sunny garden patio with twinkle-lighted trees.




Then, Renegade Craft Fair! What a weekend. I met tons of new people and sold my heart out. I also got to catch up with old friends and acquaintances, who just kept appearing at my booth! That was a nice surprise.

A few sweet trades with fellow vendors, including this adorable birdie ring from Beebalalou sitting on top of an apron from Hambone & Jennicakes, filled my shopping urges, so I, too, left Fort Mason a satisfied customer. Exhausted, but satisfied.


Next up: what I did last weekend, in sepia tone!

Less than 48 hours until the big days. SO NERVOUS/EXCITED. However, I'm not feeling frantic. I spent last weekend being so edgy and crazy that I think I'm plumb out of panic, and have moved into a resigned (though I prefer to call it relaxed) state of mind. So that's good, right?

Last night we watched some episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation while I cut chain, glued feathers and charms onto vintage plastic hair combs, and ate a chocolate bunny left over from Easter. Multitasking?

Hey! I disappeared there for a while, having a strange, wonderful, painful, eventful birthday weekend. I swam in the ocean, saw Carrie Fisher put on a Princess Leia wig, ate fig & prosciutto stuffed quails, laughed a lot, cried a lot, received many greetings from friends I desperately miss, got my hair did and my teefs cleaned, and now I'm back to face the music, whatever that may be. Mostly, crafty catch-up!

I'm going down to Los Altos tonight to pick up this sweet old school desk for my display at Renegade. I don't like being behind a table; I feel hidden and also like I'm reaching and fumbling awkwardly all the time. So I thought it would be nice to be a little more accessible to customers, while still having flat space for credit cards, wrapping, etc. I've been scouring Craigslist for a good, affordable desk, and amazingly, this gem was still available. Isn't it cute?!

As usual, I'm scrambly and panicky trying to get Pollyannacowgirl stuff made in time, but that's the way I've always rolled, so why would it be any different now that I'm the big 3-0?

A few summery updates in the life of Pollyanna!

Firstly, I was accepted as a vendor at this summer's Renegade Craft Fair in San Francisco! I attended last year (on my birthday) and it was by far the biggest and awesomest show I've seen. I got to pick out my birthday present from Peter there, and I found the perfect thing: this copper bunny ring from Ach Ach Liebling.

I'll have a 10 x 10 space, which seems huge to me! This will involve building walls, racks, and all kinds of display doohickeys. I've never had such a large space to use; if anyone has advice on how to make good use of it, I'd love to hear it. Can you get retail wire racks on the cheap? How the heck do you make those walls to hang stuff on? I'm defintely looking to spread out and unclutter, as I think my past tables have been packed way too tightly with products.

Doing these larger fairs is really taking it to the next level for me, and it's exciting/scary. I don't have nearly enough inventory right now, so I have to get crafting so I can sell, sell, sell!

Secondly, I was asked back to participate in the Mentor Artists Playwright Project this year! This was by far the highlight of last year for me, and I'm so excited to do it again.

I declare this summer to be awesome!