Riley's Turn To Get Craft Like with Mom

Rye at the Milwaukie Elementary Expo!

A few weeks ago I was getting ready to go into Crafty Wonderland to sell my wares and I asked the kiddos if anyone wanted to go with me to keep me company and perhaps even lighten Mik's load a tad. I expected maybe one kid at most, if at all, to respond. All three excitedly answered me and all at the same time. It was hard to hear with all the shouting of 'I will!' 'Ooh can I go?' and 'Me too's'?' who had replied first.

I almost just said never mind to avoid any 'no fair' remarks or arguments that would surely follow but instead I came up with a plan. I told them that I would let one of them go with me to each of my next three shows.

This Saturday was my second show and they did not forget! I swear sometimes I think kids have the memory of an elephant. Riley was excited about her turn. She woke up at 6:30 like it was no big thing and quickly got ready. I put her hair up in a pony and pinned back the strays with a bobby pin. A bobby pin she wanted to make sure that I'd made which totally made me giggle.

Today's adventure you ask? Milwaukie Elementary's 2nd Annual Expo and Holiday Bazaar! Within the first 10-15 minutes of being set up Rye looked at me and stated the dreaded phrase all parents fear to hear, "I'm bored."

Thankfully there were tons of activities if you were a girl named Riley! There was a fire truck, a karate demonstration, pumpkin painting, a coloring table, a playground, a little Christmas town like shop, face painting and prob. Rye's favorite of the day the cafeteria. Where she had a slice of Pizza Shmizza, a doughnut, a water (she hates soda), Cheetos and a Starburst.

Riley also remembered that her big brother got to use Mom's camera so of course that meant that she should be able to as well. I let her take the camera and snap some shots of the fellow vendors. She took more movies than pictures and her shortest film was 14 minutes long. Who knew a camera could keep a child so very, very entertained?

While Riley was off having all kinds of kid type fun I was left at the table. I looked at the time and the room filled with only vendors and knew I was in for a looooooooooooong day. Thankfully my crafty neighbors were there to save the day!

I was put between Refashioned By Lisa, someone I've done many craft shows with (she always puts a smile on my face) and someone I'd never met before Geralyn of Big Woo Wear. Geralyn crochets awesome hats!! Some with the most intricate flowers and leaves I've ever seen and the color choices, amazing. She also makes the softest, coziest, comfiest scarfs ever! I should know, I am now a proud owner.

She also confessed that she follows my blog. I was pleasantly surprised. I didn't know people other than my friends, family and fellow Etsy team members actually read it!! It's somewhat of a foreign concept to me. I also just had a customer on Friday (from the EtsyKids sale) tell me the same thing. She lives here in Oregon too. I was able to meet her as well the day of the show. She offered to come pick up her package so I didn't have to put it in the post, score!

All in all even when shows are long or missing customers the networking opportunities, the friendships both new and old (hello Autumn Comfort Candles and AllegraB) can make it all so very worth it.

I was however, happy to go home.