Where Have All The Craft Fairs Gone?

Yesterday, I set up and sold my jewelry, some jewelry boxes and flower halos at the Lindenhurst Spring Festival. Needless to say, I was underwhelmed and disappointed. Not even in my sales, although that wasn't quite what I was hoping, but rather in the whole experience and with the vendors at the event. More about that in a bit.

First of all the weather left something to be desired. It was overcast and super windy. I had the cutest idea for my table display but every time I got things set up a huge gust of wind would come and blow it all down. A few times even my wooden jewelry boxes got blown clear off the table. This was a major downer to me because I had all these plans of having the best display ever and taking wonderful Pinterest perfect photos. Yep...Well obviously that didn't happen. I am about to set up the table in my backyard later to get the photos I wanted but then I think I'll seem kind of crazy.

I know this was a street festival, not a craft fair, but I expected to see more handmade items. Every other booth was a bank or insurance company looking to make sales. The rest of the booths were either direct sales salespeople such as Scentsy, or stuff made in China. I honestly think I was the only booth that had handcrafted items. This says it all, a women came over to my table and looked at my stuff and asked if I made it all. I told her yes and she responded: "Oh my God. That's amazing. I've never seen anything like this." I was flattered but it was actually kind of sad. I have found that most of the so called craft fairs fairs I have done on Long Island aren't really crafts at all and that truly disappoints me. I know of a couple true arts and crafts fairs but it costs like $500 to be a vendor and with my price point it isn't worth it. Me having a great day would only cover the table.

I wish I was down south or in the midwest. It seems like you guys have some amazing arts and crafts shows. I think I would do so well elsewhere. I would love to find a farmers market with crafts and things to do every weekend but they don't really exist here. There are farmers markets but they are really just food. UGH..I wish I had a huge barn with tons of property to host my own. One can dream, right?!

Any fellow Long Islanders know of any true arts and crafts shows? And to my friends all over the country does your town or area have some amazing fairs? I would love to hear about them!! xoxo

My helpers for the day!