We didn’t get that many pictures of our most recent fun, bluegrass festival, but I thought I’d share the few we have. The three oldest kids sold their projects–washer necklaces (which sold the best, by the way!), framed artwork and photography note cards.
Every time we get ready for a show like this we vow to never, ever do it again. It’s really way more work than it’s usually worth, but in the end, I try to remember (or convince myself) that the lessons being learned are worth it.
Ashton with his “Instruments at Rest”...and rest they did, mostly.
And the fun with friends is most definitely always worth it. Here, Avi and Ellia “help” Jamie , one of our favorite friends, with their homemade cookie booth. (Nancy, at least you don’t have to cook for another couple of weeks…”Cookies….it’s what’s for dinner.”)
And some of us (ahem…no names please) were just pooped by it all. Nice shot, Jessica!
But we learned words like “net profit” and how sometimes there is none and terms like “in the red” and “overhead”.
But, I’m sure by the time the next opportunity rolls around we’ll have forgotten the toil and strain, and will haul our wares again!
16 comments
I love your blog, I’m going to follow you! It seems like everytime I do an event it’s so much work and at the end of the day I say what I made money wise just isn’t worth it! But then next month comes and I’m too excited not to do it again!
Cheri,
That means it’s in your blood, sista 😉
We planted thousands of daffodil bulbs for a u-pick spring event. It was a ton of work and out of thousands, we sold a couple hundred. But I am sure we will do it again next spring. The experience was far more profitable than the money we made. We’re suckers for hard work I guess, because we just planted hundreds and hundreds of strawberries and raspberries – hoping for a summer u-pick that is more profitable. 😉 We’ll see. I love your booth!
I feel that way about garage sales. We had a huge one as a fundraiser for our adoption, and the kids had so much fun selling lemonade and cookies. I, on the other hand, have since said no, no, and no when they ask if we can do it again. lol
Go, Kelly, go!
It is the “why” your doing it and not how much money you make. My friend, I guarantee you that the profit will come much later….just like the quote you sent me,remember? I have it taped to my bedroom mirror.
“The harvest of our labor may take many years…it’s what makes homeschooling (and nourishing the entrepreneurial spirit) so hard.
The world gets instant praise and for us, it may be a very long time before our labor is revealed.”
I have a friend who has never married she is now in her late 40’s and she totally supports her self selling her art work and crafts at craft fairs.She has a beautiful old farm house on a few acres.She also drives a very nice sports car along with a big van to hall her art.I have always been a little envious not of the car but of her talent.
thats haul not hall
How fun! Love the pictures….
I’ve been there too! A couple years ago I wanted to learn to sew, so I made baby blankets, bibs, grocery bags, purses, etc. I had the discipline to get up at 5:30 every morning to sew and sew for a craft show. The day of the show came and I was sooo excited! I ended up selling 2 things that day, and I didn’t even make enough money to pay for my booth rental, but I learned so much from the experience. For one thing, I know how to sew! When I started making everything, sewing was a laborious task for me. But now I can sew a hem or fix a tear or make a baby blanket fairly quickly. Those are skills that now save money since I can fix tears in clothing and make inexpensive baby gifts and hem garments. I am inspired by the ideas your family comes up with. I always think of 1 Thessalonians 4:11&12 when I see what your family can do!
It is Sunday afternoon as I am reading your post and I am still bleary eyed after a week of three educational toy displays and a mommies workshop I hosted at my home. I started all of this after studying your Make money Blogging-information (needless to say, it didn’t just stay with blogging. I now sell educational toys from home and use the blog as a means to market my products and inspire moms with ideas to stimulate and teach their children). But I do have a little money in my pocket now with which I can buy fabric for sewing winter clothes (we live in Cape Town, South Africa!) and buying new books for my little ones’ bookshelf. My babies are still too young to help at 10 months and two years old, but in the meantime I am learning how to run a home based business so that I can impart this knowledge to them when the time comes. Your family is beautiful and it looks like they’ve had a lot of fun. God bless and thanks for the inspirational blog!
That looks like a blast (to attend, at least). Reminds me I’ll have to get one of those beautiful necklaces.
The kiddos learned a lot, I’m sure! So don’t think of it as a wash…think of it as a learning experience for the kiddos! Or at least that’s what I tell myself when I have some wonderful idea to make some extra money that doesn’t turn out! ; )
Hugs,
Carmen : )
Leslie,
Maybe I need to print my own quote and put it on my fridge 😉
Ashton is an incredibly talented artist! He has a keen eye for depth perspective and the use of shadow. I’m bowled over by his talent! 🙂
Luci,
You are so sweet. Yes, I am too. God has really gifted him. He did a sketch of our youngest and it is incredible.
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