Surprise, Surprise

I consign some of my work in a local craft store run by members of a craft guild that I belong to. My sales last year were rather lackluster until December when they really took off which helped me to make the decision to stay in for another year.

Two weeks ago, a customer requested a necklace and earrings to match a bracelet that had been on display for quite a while and yesterday, I received a call telling me that one of my large 11 x 14 framed pieces had sold. Surprise, surprise..........that particular piece had hung in the store since last February!

When I'm not "out there" doing shows and engaging with the public, I start to question what I'm doing and why I'm doing it. Getting sales through shops, Etsy and Artfire is great but it's not quite the same as being at a show, talking to people, explaining and demonstrating the durability of my bread dough and cold porcelain. I usually bang a rose on my tabletop to show how durable they are which always surprises the customer standing in front of me. It's the only way that I can show that they aren't as fragile as they look. Years ago, I was in a craft co-op and my friends who worked in the store had to stop demonstrating their durability because the roses were creating dents in the top of the counter!

I guess I'm raising this issue because it seems whenever I start to question the reason why I'm still creating, something wonderful happens to help me to realize how much I really do love the entire process of creating and selling my work and I know that I'd feel lost without it. My show activity is not what it was and I'm not traveling around the Northeast like a gypsy any longer but I can still have a local presence and stay active...............how lucky is that at 70????