STRUT your stuff

Last weekend was all about the Art Hop.....
As I pretty much predicted, I was right down to the very last minute preparing the pieces for the fashion show Friday night. It was intense, to say the least.
Finally, the time had come..... I arrived around 5pm to set up a table, and the tent was total chaos. It took a while to find all my models and figure out which one was supposed to be wearing what, but it all got worked out. As I went from the backstage area to check on my table, I had a nice surprise waiting for me-- My mom, Dave, and the kids had made it down to see my debut!

At 7pm, the music started, and we were off! STK was first with some warrior-inspired outfits, and Me and Louise followed with re-worked vintage outfits. I didn't get to see any of their stuff--I was preparing models and making last minute fixes to my work. I won't lie. I was a wreck. My hands were shaking the whole time, and I kept praying that things would just hold together through the show. Next thing I knew, my models were walking down the runway and returning with the jewelry still intact, and I was being asked to line up behind them to walk as the designer. Eeek!

60 feet. It doesn't look that long when you're standing as a spectator looking at it. When you're standing as a designer with the prospect of walking out in front of 500+ people, it looks endless! For the models, it's easy..... they're wearing things to be shown off...... they walk down that runway having been styled head to toe, strike a little pose, and walk back. I can see having the designer come out onto the end of the runway at the end, to get acknowledged for the work they did, but to walk to 60 feet down and back?! I wasn't sure if I was supposed to do a little dance, wave, stand there and wait for my ovation........ :-)

There wasn't much of a break between the shows, but for what time there was, I was able to enjoy some of the other designers works myself and talk to people who came by to see what I had to offer. I finally got to show off the tree armcuff to Jamie and Sarah.... I had wanted something to be a surprise for them at the show, and was dying to reveal it. That piece was definitely attention-grabbing. The model, Jill, who was chosen to wear it thanked me a few times for letting her show that piece. Among the other highlights of the show were the spiderweb necklace and the japanese cherry blossoms necklace, both of which are on the website and available for sale ;-)

Other highlights of the show: I sold two pieces right off the runway, the House of LeMay wants to talk to me about designing some pieces for them, my models were all really sweet, the other designers were really nice (and talented), and many of my friends and coworkers were able to be a part of it all...... :-)

The next day, a number of people came through the studio, and I had some interesting conversations, gave out some cards, and made a couple of sales. But the best part was having people come in and say "oh! this is the jewelry I saw at the fashion show last night!"

This weekend, there is no artist market, which is great because I could use a little time to recover. There is still no shortage of work-- inventory to stockpile, new pieces to design and make, and the whole experience of having successfully participated in the Art Hop and Strut III has me feeling energized and up for the challenge!