Planning ahead for Mt. Dora, what?

While gearing up for Mt. Dora's Arts and Crafts Fair this weekend, I decided to prepare by setting up shop in my yard. My neighbors must be rolling their sweet eyes at me. There is always so much to do before a weekend sale away, but this year's Mt. Dora's show will be particularly challenging! Since my work tends to sell better at art rather than craft shows, I made the decision last year to purchase only 1/3 of a booth, leaving the rest of the space to my RagTag Ruby buddy. Sounded like a good idea at the time, but now I'm befuddled trying to whittle down my display into just one wall.

This called for some creative work arounds. I realized that I desperately needed some more space to hang framed artwork. Setting up multiple easels just wasn't an option with my limited room. I decided to cut down an old piece of fence that was taking up space in my garage and bungie corded it on its side against my table. I also rigged up a wall using some hardware store purchases. Turns out they have inexpensive clips made for tarps and fabric that work out swimmingly! I just clipped them to my 6'X9' canvas drop cloth and zip tied them on to the tent posts. Zip ties (a.k.a. Nylon Cable Ties) are the single most under-rated piece of equipment for an art or craft show booth.

Next I unpacked all of my boxes and spread everything out. There is nothing like being under the time crunch to get your booth ready at an art show to make you wish you had planned things out better the week before. I'm learning.

I use floral wire to create little loops on the back of my paintings so they are easier to hang. It took some experimentation but I finally arrived at an arrangement I liked for the front of the table. It was time to move on to the canvas wall.

I held my breath hoping those magical clips would work as well as they claimed to. They proved to be a great little purchase. It was tight, but I decided to bring my giant cow canvas painting that I painted for Metro Church's, The Story, sermon series. It just makes me happy to look at that fat guy. So as not to double up, I swapped out the small framed cow print for the toolbox painting. I may even make a little side end cap for my table to hang another piece on. 

Here is a close up shot. I do plan to put a burlap cloth over the table but didn't want to mess with it for this practice run.

I'm feeling so relieved to have it all worked out. Some dear friends of mine have taught me to practice and plan ahead better than my natural inclinations would lean me toward. I'm never sorry when I do.

Hope to see you out at Mt. Dora for a good walk, some fresh air and greasy, yummy fair food!