The Artist is IN

Today I was the feature at a Meet the Artist event held at the bakery/gift shop that carries the exclusive Lake Bracelet that I make for them, and some of my jewelry and notecards. Remember the booth run by Lucy van Pelt in the PEANUTS comic strip that bears a sign saying, "The Doctor is IN"? Well, I feel like Lucy, the impostor, each time I'm billed as an artist. Designing and making jewelry is my hobby, a task I thoroughly enjoy. I collect beads that have potential or that are simply beautiful, and I combine them the way they look good to me. I'm no expert, but these people continue to treat me as if I am. Fine. If it makes them happy, that's fine...as long as they don't mind me chuckling now and then.

I had a choice of being set up under a canopy tent in the front yard beneath a huge old maple tree or indoors, in the entry way to the bakery itself. Bakery... ovens... poor lighting... vs. a forecast of scattered thunder storms in the afternoon? I opted for outdoors so I could enjoy the breezes off the lake, and that turned out to be a good decision. Even in the muggy heat I was fairly comfortable, and during the passing rains I was sheltered enough to keep working. One of the visitors was the editor of the local weekly paper who conducted an interview with me that may appear in next week's edition. ( Those "How did you get started?" questions are becoming easier to answer.) Some people stopped by because they'd heard or seen an article in the local paper about the event, some were there because the bakery is part of their routine, and a few just happened to see the bakery sign and tent and they were curious. I enjoyed the variety of people. I also enjoyed roast beef and fixin's on a toasted bulkie roll courtesy of the bakery. Mmm! By mid afternoon I'd replenished the bakery gal's stock of Lake earrings and bracelets, and I'd sold a few of my own items. Not exactly the sizable income of some of the craft fairs, but making myself known and distributing business cards are also valuable to my business, so I was happy with this event.

The good day was topped off by my husband taking his "famous" wife out to dinner where we sat on a deck admiring the landscaping of the yard and the relative quiet. I had ribs and he had steak tips. We were glad to be uncrowded at 7 p.m. on a Saturday evening, but I suspect the restaurant owners are unhappy with the lack of business. Dining out seems to be the nicety that some of the summer folks are forgoing as they're more careful about spending their money in this shaky economy. I wonder how permanent these changes are and what our local business community will look like 6 months from now.