Star Crafty

At close to 10:30 am we finally make our way to Mutation, with a quick stop at Kroger for some yummy Krispy Kremes and change. At Starland, there were already about three or four vendors setting up, and I started to believe that this day might just turn out okay.

Dan helped me with my display and I proceeded to clean the really dirty tables, while more and more vendores rolled in. I thought, "Oh wow, they're really early!"...when I realized, "Oh right... I was the one who came in late. Gotcha." Finally met many of awesome designers whose blogs and websites I visit daily, such a delight! I felt like hugging them for all the crafty awesomeness they kindly display everyday for us to see. But then I thought that would be too weird, seeing as I felt those urges seconds before I even got the chance to tell them my name.

Even before the "doors" officially opened at 1pm, people were already coming in and even buying! Let me tell you, it took me a loooong time to set up my table (close to 1pm). Not because there were a plethora of errands and requests to attend. Oh no. More like me oogling at all the amazing products my little Mutants had created! I cannot begin to explain how amazing the quality and awesome-factor present at this fair. We had great stuff last time, but this was a sight to see! We had pottery, jewelry, screen-printed t-shirts, stationery, felt plushies, folk art, lots of buttons, comic books, zines, candles, dolls, furniture, felted animals, handbags, paintings, plants, etc, etc, etc.

Kickass Gary is workin' the Raffle and Freebie Station (where all the Bust magazines and CERF information were at). Meghan is runnin' around like a crazy little ... wingnut? And I'm trying to snatch one of my Krispy Kreme donuts while a possible customer inquires about that weird looking octopus on my table. Luckily, my ever so great Room*e took in the role of sidekick during the remainder of the event (even made a couple sales while I was away strolling around the other tables!).

By 2pm, the gallery was full! Definitely the small but cool article published by the Savannah Morning News the day before helped in reaching a wider audience. Last May most of the attendants were students, and while they were also present this time, you could also see families with their children and even cute elder people stopped by! I was so excited I wanted to jump around like crazy! But again, I needed to uphold an image of sanity and control (it's strictly an image, for sure).

The audience winded down around a quarter past 5, and some of the out-of-towners began to break their tables down and prepare for the long drive ahead. It was such a nice feeling to hear your vendors tell you how happy they were with the event, and how much fun they had, and congratulating us on pulling this together, and how we should totally do this again. Not to sound selfish or anything, but it feels... great to know you're doing something that others are enjoying and that it just might mean something to them. And quite frankly, it means the world to me. Despite the stress and reduced sleeping hours, Mutation provided me with a immense sense of joy and fullfillment that I seldom find anywhere else. And I looove it.

So, a BIG THANK YOU to Meghan Shannon for igniting the quirky and fun spark that is Mutation; thank you to all the vendors who were so kind, patient and energetic; to the sponsors who supported us indie girls; and to all who attended and walked away with probably the greatest gift they'll ever buy.... I thank you from the bottom of my heart. :)

Now, on to pictures!

1) Beautiful potted plants and pottery by Greenware Designs
2) Funny iPod cozies and plushies from i cum sunshine
3) Mini comic books (and excellent display) from Little House Comics
4) Yummy stationery and tape cassettes earrings from Britta Barrett
5) Adorable plushies from Amanda Finn

Silly me didn't take a wide picture of my whole table, instead I snapped little snippets. I didn't even photograph the small wristlets! sheesh! Anyways... isn't my little Bob diorama adorable! (thank you Room*e for the suggestion!)

And these are all the lovely goodies I bought. I believe I spent about half of my earnings that day, hehe. :D

These are only a fraction of the pictures. For the full shebang please go to the Flickr page!