The Odd Duck 2011 - post show wrap-up

It has only taken me 9 longs days to get around to writing this post.  There are so many things that I'd love to go on and on about.  Firstly, sales ROCKED!  Huge thank yous to everyone who went home with new Kitschy Aprons and soft creatures from my booth.  More than likely, I never got a chance to thank you personally because I spent very little time in my booth.  Thankfully my fantastic volunteer-friends (Especially Jenna!) and fellow Mafia Girls are great salespeople.  At one point I stopped in the booth to find Jenna standing in the back holding the curtain shut (we were set up on a stage) and when I asked what she was doing, then out popped this lovely young lady in the one-and-only dress that I had at the show for sale.  It was a perfect fit and she and her mom, or at least I assumed it was her mom, even though she really didn't look old enough to be her mom... oh well... not important, back to my story... where was I?
So anyway, she bought the dress and I was so happy to have gotten to this quick cell phone pic.

Later in the day when I was at the admissions booth I spotted a super sexy Captain America walking past

Again, so happy to have gotten the pic because I didn't get a chance to photograph this apron before the show.  I'd done this apron previously with cotton fabric, but this was a first with the baroque satin.  I just loved that she was wearing it around at the show because the shiny fabric in the sun was super eye-catching and she looked so cute.  I must admit, she is a friend of mine but I totally didn't ask her to do my advertising for me.  She really fell in love with the apron and even wore it to work that night as a bartender!

I love it!  This next picture is of another super hero apron that I didn't get a chance to photograph at home pre-show and it found a new home show-day too.  Also in the pic is the super-fabulous Alexis Colbert (in an apron I made for her for last year's Odd Duck).  She is a very talented artist so you should check out her work here.

There were so many amazing things that went on that day that I couldn't begin to get them all into a blog post but there was one thing that really touched my heart and really highlighted the good in people.  All the organizers and some of the volunteers had radios (this is key when hosting an event spread out in three large rooms) and at one point on the radio I hear "Attention, we have a missing child.  He is 6 years old, brown hair and goes by the name XXXXX.  He is wearing a blue shirt" and all things stopped.  I was working the admissions tent and there was a line of people who had been standing still in the blazing south Florida sun for at least 20 minutes and not one person said one word about us stopping letting people in to divert our attention to finding this child.  It was exactly the opposite, everyone stopped talking, stopped everything and starting looking.  The little boy, thankfully, was found right away.  He was in eye-sight of me and everyone in the line started pointing to a little boy holding on for dear life to a palm tree.  He was visibly scared and a woman walked slowly over to him and asked his name.  We got on the radios and announced that he was found.  Mom came rushing over and there was a huge collective sigh of relief.  And yet still, no one complained about things taking longer.  Everyone was just so happy that he was found and it just gives me chills.  Sometimes crowds bring out the worst in people, but not on Duck Day, it brought out the best.
-Shelley

Odd Duck, Odd Duck, Odd Duck

It seems like that is the only thing I've been doing lately.... prepping for Odd Duck!!!
It is really hard to plan & organize a show as well as vend at that show. I'm so swamped that I don't even have time to go on and on about how THRILLED I am to be mentioned in the City Link newspaper!!!
And the Hollywood Craft Mafia was written up in the New Times too!
I'm over the moon. I doubt I'll get any sleep between now and Odd Duck. Sorry I don't have any pictures to share, guess you'll just need to show up at the Old Davie School on Saturday in order to see the work I've been up too ;)

Odd Duck Summary

It has been over a week since the Odd Duck bazaar and I don't think I've fully recovered. Honestly, I don't think I ever will be the same. In a good way of course! Our show was such a fantastic success. I am so proud to have been a part of it and I'm so excited for next year.

Myself and the other Hollywood Craft Mafia girls have worked our tails off for the last 6 months or so and I believe the work really paid off. Too be honest, the girls carried me a little on some aspects of the show because we started this endeavor when my son was only a few weeks old. With me being busy with a newborn, my fantastic mafia sisters took on more than their share. I owe them big for that and next year will be repaying the favor.

I did manage to squeeze in time to create some Odd Duck aprons for us all. Each one was different yet made from the same fabric. Alexis and I went with the full aprons. She has the corset style belted in the center and I have the swing dress style with the wide waistband. Tina has a more business-y half apron with pleats at the bottom and Rebecca went with a smaller, half apron style with turned down pockets.

I can't take all the apron credit. Tina hand screen printed the 'Odd Duck' on each of them and since the Duck is Alexis's art and the name is the brainchild of Rebecca, these aprons are a true collaborative.

I didn't get a chance to take too many pictures, but if you are needing more Odd Duck, check out the Hollywood Craft Mafia's facebook page. (become a fan while you are there!)
This last pic, is the goodies my daughter came home with from the show. We had 2 DIY craft tables, one to make an 'Odd Duck' and the other to make a Terrarium. She was so proud of her work. I think it is pretty great for a 3.5 year old and I'm proud of it too.

Did you go to our show? Let me know how you think it went.

(photo credit to Rebecca & her hubby for the 1st and 3rd pics.... I 'stole' them)

Looking ahead to the Spring

The Hollywood Craft Mafia (which I'm a member of) is hosting the Odd Duck Bazaar in March. We are working our tails off getting ready and planning but the work is exciting and fun. I've never gotten to see behind the scenes before, and it is thrilling to get to see all the applications. Before our meeting last night I was planning and creating in order to expand my inventory for my customers. Now I have a second motivation to create.... to earn some extra cash so I can buy some stuff from these awesome vendors! I can't talk specifics, but I am positive that our shoppers won't be disappointed with the vendors we have chosen thus far.
We are still taking applicants through the end of the year but I would highly suggest that you go ahead and get your application in now if you are wanting to vend. Go here:
http://www.oddduckbazaar.com/layout-main.php?page=vendor-info
We are also looking for sponsors so if you know anyone who wants to pimp their business to our indie craft lovers, send them here:
http://www.oddduckbazaar.com/layout-main.php?page=sponsor-info

Kitschy Aprons showing at the Odd Duck trunk show

I'm a member of the Hollywood Craft Mafia and we are hosting the Odd Duck handmade craft bazaar in March but to kick things off, and get the word out locally, we are hosting the Odd Duck trunk show this weekend.
Saturday, October 10, 2009 12-4
This show is an intimate little showing in the home of one of our members. We have 11 handpicked vendors with a variety of products to offer. We will also be serving snacks and a little bit of wine.
If you are in the south Florida area and would like to attend our event, please email info@hollywoodcraftmafia.com for more details.