Auntie B's Wax

I’ve been doing craft shows, art fairs and wine festivals for over twenty years.  It’s not, nor has it ever been my sole livelihood, but I make a nice little bit of pocket money for my efforts.  Plus, I like creating what I sell, and throughout these last two decades I’ve found that other people like what I create too.

There’s a lady I know, and have known for most of my life.  I was at a craft show in a town nearby to her home, and at her previous request to let her know where I was doing shows this year I let her know about this particular event.  This lady has seen my works at other events, has received my works as Christmas gifts, and has even commissioned me to create things for her to give as gifts to her friends/employees.

Lady came to my booth about an hour before the event was to close.  She wondered if the canopy, table, and table coverings were provided by the people sponsoring the show.  “No,” I said kindly.  This is all mine.  Charlotte was helping me that day and told Lady that the only things provided by the show organizers were four spray-painted marks on the grass indicating where we would set up.

Lady was pretty impressed by that.  Then, for some reason that completely blindsided me, she said, “do you make all of this yourself?”  I looked at her with an expression that said do you even know me?  “Well, yeah,” I replied.  Lady responded with, “you should put up a big sign that says this is all handmade!”

Of course I assumed, considering the items I make, that people understand I make it all myself.  As I continued to look at this woman incredulously, she went on to say, “I thought you just bought all of this from a cheap store and sold it at much higher prices.”

That comment wouldn’t shock me coming from a complete stranger.  That comment wouldn’t offend me coming from someone who doesn’t understand the artisan fair thing.  I stared at Lady, whom I’ve known for decades, in awe, wondering why she thought I would build a business (LLC) and even get a federal trademark for my business (®) if I just spent my afternoons at the Dollar Store buying items and repricing them.

Here’s Charlotte, helping me to sell my HANDMADE items at a craft fair.

Well, I guess it just goes to show you, it’s always something.*  Either you spend your days creating things that may bring joy into the world, or your customers think you’re trying to rip them off with cheap shit made in China.

I guess Lady hasn’t been paying much attention to me these last forty-five years.  Only cheap China-made gifts for her this Christmas, I guess.

*Thank you, Roseanne Rosannadanna, for pointing out “it’s always something.”