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Corvallis day 1: Directionally challenged
Sep. 26th, 2015 08:48 pmWent to bed way early last night, nine-ish, so of course I was awake before the alarm at 5 am. Breakfast, cats, getting food and papers and bear in the van, and I was still ready to leave half an hour before I'd planned, and I hate hanging around killing time, so at 6:35 I was out the door and headed for the show.
Two minutes into the trip, I realize I've just merged into the left turn lane onto Beltline, pointing to downtown Eugene. Heading for Saturday Market.
What did I say yesterday about muscle memory? Sometimes not a good thing.
Fortunately, traffic was nearly nonexistent, so I got out of the left turn lane, made a u-turn at the next stoplight and headed north and west, bound for Corvallis. Got there around 7:30, and went in circles for a while looking for vendor parking, before I realized I'd read the map wrong and should be on the other side of 6th Street. Again fortunately, the lot was empty enough that even though I came in the wrong driveway, I was able to wrangle the car around into the angle parking the right way.
Getting the rest of the pots out and boxes stashed went smoothly, though I need to remember dry socks tomorrow. Corvallis waters their park in the summer, so the grass was lush and green and very wet from overnight showers. Between that and the shade of an enormous oak tree, my toes were wet until well past 4 pm.
Sales were strong and steady, starting 15 minutes before opening, and running right up until close. Lots of small things, mugs and bowls and dessert plates, but bakers and casseroles and a covered pitcher as well. And I sold the second octopus oval platter I've been carrying around since Edmonds, to a man who came in, examined everything in the booth, lifted it down and bought it while speaking a total of perhaps five words.
Half an hour later, a young couple comes in. I interrupt another conversation to ask if I can help with anything, and she asks about the octopus platter that was up earlier. When I say I just sold it, she very nearly kicks her partner in the shin. Apparently she decided she wanted it earlier, but he convinced her to wait and… think about it? Pick it up on the way to the car? I really can't tell, I just know that she wanted a platter, wanted octopus pattern, and the plate I offered her instead was not good enough. I gave him a card, said while I couldn't promise one before my next firing in October, I could certainly have one done by Christmas and he said that would be fine. Hope he follows up.
Rooster mug guy had better luck. He bonded with a running rooster tall mug early in the afternoon, but wanted to look around some more. Since I had two, I agreed to hold one back until the end of the day or I heard from him. I was just closing up around 6 pm when he hustled back in, said he hadn't found anything better anywhere in the show, and took home his new mug.
I also took a special order for a hippopotamus pitcher, size large and discussed a making set of four hummingbird plates, to be shipped to Pennsylvania. Ran into two former students from my UO and Craft Center days. And helped Umberto take a selfie with a friendly next door neighbor.
Two minutes into the trip, I realize I've just merged into the left turn lane onto Beltline, pointing to downtown Eugene. Heading for Saturday Market.
What did I say yesterday about muscle memory? Sometimes not a good thing.
Fortunately, traffic was nearly nonexistent, so I got out of the left turn lane, made a u-turn at the next stoplight and headed north and west, bound for Corvallis. Got there around 7:30, and went in circles for a while looking for vendor parking, before I realized I'd read the map wrong and should be on the other side of 6th Street. Again fortunately, the lot was empty enough that even though I came in the wrong driveway, I was able to wrangle the car around into the angle parking the right way.
Getting the rest of the pots out and boxes stashed went smoothly, though I need to remember dry socks tomorrow. Corvallis waters their park in the summer, so the grass was lush and green and very wet from overnight showers. Between that and the shade of an enormous oak tree, my toes were wet until well past 4 pm.
Sales were strong and steady, starting 15 minutes before opening, and running right up until close. Lots of small things, mugs and bowls and dessert plates, but bakers and casseroles and a covered pitcher as well. And I sold the second octopus oval platter I've been carrying around since Edmonds, to a man who came in, examined everything in the booth, lifted it down and bought it while speaking a total of perhaps five words.
Half an hour later, a young couple comes in. I interrupt another conversation to ask if I can help with anything, and she asks about the octopus platter that was up earlier. When I say I just sold it, she very nearly kicks her partner in the shin. Apparently she decided she wanted it earlier, but he convinced her to wait and… think about it? Pick it up on the way to the car? I really can't tell, I just know that she wanted a platter, wanted octopus pattern, and the plate I offered her instead was not good enough. I gave him a card, said while I couldn't promise one before my next firing in October, I could certainly have one done by Christmas and he said that would be fine. Hope he follows up.
Rooster mug guy had better luck. He bonded with a running rooster tall mug early in the afternoon, but wanted to look around some more. Since I had two, I agreed to hold one back until the end of the day or I heard from him. I was just closing up around 6 pm when he hustled back in, said he hadn't found anything better anywhere in the show, and took home his new mug.
I also took a special order for a hippopotamus pitcher, size large and discussed a making set of four hummingbird plates, to be shipped to Pennsylvania. Ran into two former students from my UO and Craft Center days. And helped Umberto take a selfie with a friendly next door neighbor.