Wow! It was a long, long weekend. It all started at 12:10 Friday morning. I left the house with the car all packed up and headed the our state fairgrounds in Louisville KY. I was meeting a friend, and we were going to load-in by driving into the building. We met up about 12:20, and got in line with the cars, while looking at the huge and growing line of large trucks and trucks with trailers. They get to load-in first from 12-1 a.m. We were suppose to start driving in at 1. As it turned out, we didn’t get to start driving in until 1:20. We unloaded our vehicles, set up our tables, and headed home. I got home at 3:00 am. I got a couple of hours sleep before I left at midnight and a couple of hours sleep when I got home at 3:00.
This is my booth. You can see my friend’s solar lights to the left.
A wider view
The display pieces I built did a great job holding my signs. I was really pleased with how well they worked.
I purposely wanted this repurposed screen door to tower over the area. It was visible from 4 aisles away. This is the back. While visiting some other booths, I realized I needed to add some signs to the back, so they would standout to shoppers visiting the aisles behind me.
I took several of my chalkboards, but only sold this one on the right.
I have really become a fan of the color of this one. It’s Cinnamon by Martha Stewart.
The systems I planned out for hanging the signs were functional. I used the curly Christmas ornament hooks for those signs that had a hanger. For the signs not having a hanger, I made loops of jute to hang them. (see the top left and top right)
The antique fireman’s bucket I picked up at MRL’s Spring Fling easily held the signs on stakes, and extra stakes.
This is another bucket I picked up at the Spring Fling.
I took this picture after I sold a set of signs in some small silver buckets. The buckets in this picture were purchased at save on crafts.
There was another booth, well, actually it encompassed about 8 booth spaces. A couple of good ole country boys. They said it was an estate sale out of a 100 year old house. This is the booth I bought my red tool box from.
Nothing was priced, which is very frustrating. Once I went by to check on a typewriter for Jamie, and the guy wasn’t there. I waited for a long time, but then saw people at my booth, and had to rush back to help out my friend Mona. She watched my booth whenever I walked away. Thanks Mona! Anyway, when I went back the next day to check on the typewriter, it was gone. 
I shared this picture on facebook. It made me smile to see someone repurposing this old clothes horse to display jewelry. Sorry for the bad (zoomed in) cell phone picture.
Now for the bad news. I am in the red for this 4 day show. Not a lot, but I didn’t make any profit at all. The worst part is that I wasted FOUR days inside while the weather was absolutely perfect for projects. Now it’s going to be in the upper 80’s and 90’s for the next week. How sad is that!
The good news? I’ve got lots of stock built up for my Etsy shop. In recent months, every time I got an order, I made a couple of extra signs. So I get to take a few weeks off except for custom orders.
I sure hope you had a safe and productive weekend.
gail
Gail Wilson is the author and mastermind behind My Repurposed Life. She is obsessed with finding potential in unexpected places and believes that with a little hard work and imagination, any old thing can be made useful again, including herself!
Gail reinvented herself during a midlife crisis and has found purpose again. She hopes you will find new ideas for old things and pick up a few tools along the way.
Laurel Stephens
They say there's no way to tell how a show will go. One show, business will be slow and the next, you'll be swamped. I don't know because I haven't worked my tush off like you have to make your cool wedding signs and get up at midnight and wait in a long line to put up a fabulous booth like this. I've been looking forward to this post ever since you started making your displays, and I'm disappointed for you about your lack of profits. Your display rocked; I loved that screen door! Clearly, your Etsy customer's gain will be Kentucky Flea Market's loss! Enjoy your hard earned break.
Toqua's Crafts
aw... I'm sorry Gail. I was thinking about you and hoping that you sold LOTS! š
I absolutely 'love' that chalkboard saying, "As two families become one... we ask that you choose a seat not -- a side"
Catherine
Well that just sucks---but there's probably some "reward" around the corner looking for you-!
Catherine
Mimi
Every thing looked great Gail! I love the ways you displayed your signs. Sorry you didn't have a better sale, that's always a bummer. Enjoy your little bit of time off š
Korrie@RedHenHome
Sorry the show didn't go better for you! But I'm glad you get to take a couple weeks off!
Paige @ Little Nostalgia
Ugh, I'm sorry it was such a bust. I hate that. But you're right about having a ton of inventory for Etsy now! Silver lining.
Sharon @ Elizabeth & Co.
Well your booth looked amazing! So sad it wasn't a more successful weekend. Maybe it just wasn't the right venue. There are so many variables to a successful sale and many of them are out of our control. But glad you are looking on the bright side!
cassie
what a bummer, but it happens sometimes to all of us. but yes, good news about having a well-stocked etsy shop!
Julie @ follow your heart woodworking
Been there done that. It's so frustrating. Do you know why, was it a different type of buyer, or was it that everyone wasn't selling? For me, it's the TIME packing, driving, setting up and standing there... as you said, time you could be creating, that is so annoying.
Holly
So sorry it wasn't a better weekend for you. But your booth looked great. All your display pieces look and worked great! Glad that your shop is well stocked...wishing you lots of online orders!
Terri
What a bummer! I thought for sure you were going to tell us you sold out...I love all your signs and I can't believe that you didn't sell more! Been there, done that...unfortunately! Sometimes the shows that you think are going to do the best, let you down! But like you said...at least you will have a full ETSY shop!