My basketry inventory, all in one place.

 We are now ready for our last ever craft show this weekend. My complete inventory is now packed in the car, and in the totes held to the roof rack by bungee cords. All the shelving units are packed in the car too as are two folding chairs, the table, the pop-up sun shelter and materials to use in demonstrating basket-making. Signs are ready announcing 50% off all baskets as well as a selling price for the shelving units. If sales go well, I will return with a much reduced inventory and, perhaps, without the shelving units. We will then be able to try to sell off the remaining supplies and tools, and we will donate my basketry books to the Guild.

We have enjoyed the many sales and exhibitions we have had over the years. But it is tiring spending perhaps an hour in loading the car each time, setting up at the sites for 30 to 60 minutes each time, selling for hours each day, and then packing up once more just to have to unload everything once we get home. We will miss all the people we meet, and the joy of making beautiful and useful baskets. But the chores of preparation, setting up and tearing down have become too much.

At the Merrickville Antique and Artisan Show.

 My sign looks good.

 Under this one tent are four artisans, two jewellers, a wood turner, and me.

 The antique dealers are the amjority of the sellers.

 The artisans are given lots of room in a very spacious site.

 At 9 45 am the line-up for the show and sale had already started.

Moderate sales, but lots of interest.

Getting ready for the Merrickvikke Antique qnd Artisans Show.

 Later today we travel about an hour south of Ottawa to the beautiful town of Merrickville on the world heritage Rideau Canal. There I will be one of about seventy five participants in the Merrickville Antique and Artisans Show and Sale. The car is fully loaded with the shelving units, multiple baskets and other supplies.

Merrickville Antique & Artisan’s Show & Sale   

We have organized the annual Merrickville Antique & Artisan’s Show and Sale, Eastern Ontario’s most popular show of this type. It will be held on the Merrickville Fairgrounds in beautiful Merrickville Ontario, rain or shine, on Saturday from 10am to 5pm and Sunday, from 10am to 4pm. Adult admission is $6, children 12 and under are free, parking is free.

Seventy-five vendors from Ontario and Quebec and every place in between will show wonderful antiques and artisan pieces that they have created.  

The Merrickville Recreation Association will serve homemade food to the crowds and proceeds from this will benefit the children of Merrickville.

Also Tom “Shorty” Stephenson from the Ottawa Valley’s famous Kettle Boys will attend to demonstrate old fashioned traditional rope making.

This event never fails to attract thousands of visitors and promises to be your main stop on the hunt for fine antiques and quality artisan products. Info at www.antique-shows.ca

The Show attracts several thousand visitors.

I will be located with other artisans in a large white tent. I have high hopes, as usual, for lots of sales.