Heritage Celebration 2013

Saturday was a rainy, overcast day here on the VA Eastern Shore — perfect weather for an indoor arts and crafts festival.

Following our custom of the past several years, we participated in the Heritage Celebration held at the local community college. This annual events features the talents of local artists, crafts people, and musicians. It also includes speakers and performances and exhibits from various community groups. It’s a “freebie” for participating artists and the attending public — except, of course, when they buy from the artists, which we all hope they will.

Luckily, we were set up side-by-side in the same room. Grenville’s talents (one of many and I speak unbiased, of course) is wood turning; his former business was Wood N Thingz. My passion is photography (no surprise); my former photo card business was  OnleyImages (pronounced “only”).

Since we are planning to relocate (once the Frog & PenguINN is sold) OUR goal was to slash costs on remaining inventory. We did NOT want to pack it. Making some sales would also be a very good thing.Happily, we accomplished BOTH goals! Grenville had a very successful day selling his wood turnings inventory. He really does beautiful work — another unbiased opinion.  But, lots of others who purchased his turnings agreed; here’s a few examples:

The two items on the right can be used to drill a planting hole; the markings are in half-inch increments. The center photo are wine stoppers, if one doesn’t finish the entire bottle (do folks not do that?). The last item is a whimsical thingamajig, possibly a tree-topper for a (very) small tree. Bowls from large to small, and candle holders were also popular items.

Grenville set a one-price, your choice policy and it worked great. These pieces sold quickly.

I reduced prices on my photo card inventory and nearly sold out. Our mutual decision to cut prices was the best way to sell more as everyone likes a bargain. When anyone told me that my prices were SO low, I offered to take more $,but never got more . . . go figure.

This event is always a good time to catch up with lots of other talented folks. Out artist friend, Marty and hubby Robert were in the same room. Here’s some of her work:

Also sharing the rooms was a carver friend, Ed, whose colorful fish and beautiful swans are always popular.

Last year, there was a display of circuit board art, and it was there again. The baby is still in uterus, but this year “mom” had a new pony tail hairdo.Despite the weather, this was a wonderful and well-attended local event and a good way to spend a rainy Saturday; today it’s sunny.