Yay Mardi Gras! I need a trip back to New Orleans like yesterday LOL. Or any vacation, really. My trade show last week was really successful. We headed out just before really crappy and super windy weather came in. I thought that might affect attendance for the show, which it probably did on Monday.

Yuck. There were white out conditions from the wind, too. Nasty stuff.

We were at Turning Stone Resort and Casino, which is on a reservation. Our hotel, which was on property, actually had slot machines you could play while eating breakfast:

View from our breakfast table:

One day there was a little boy there and he really wanted to go in there. Hard explaining to a child why fun colorful video games were off limits.

The gift show ran for 3 days. Three loong days. Wholesale buyers only. You have to get used to a different pace because it isn’t like a regular craft show where you get a bunch of shoppers all at once.

I had cash and carry available and I took orders at the show to ship later. I lucked out with a corner spot, which gave me two lines of sight for passers by

On the last day, a couple that owns something like 8 stores in the region came back to place an order. I spoke to them the very first thing on Monday and they were really interested, but then I didn’t see them again until Wednesday. The woman asked if she could buy all my remaining inventory I had at the show to take with her! I said “of course” very calmly while completely doing cartwheels on the inside. 😀 That was nice to the tune of a $2300 order! I’m hoping it works out well because 8 stores to stock is pretty great. Not to mention they are all local to me in the Lake George and Saratoga region. Funny how that worked out being 2-1/2 hours from home for the show.

John mostly was being on vacation, although he helped out from time to time getting orders ready (thank you!!!) and bringing me snacks!

I was pretty tired each night. Being an introvert, doing all that talking and selling is extra exhausting – and there isn’t a whole lot to do other than gamble at the casino, which I don’t really do much of. So, we just kind of hung out. It is a nice casino with some pretty Chihuly glass art.

That tree is enormous and so detailed.

I wouldn’t want to be the one in charge of dusting it!

We had to do a quick plan for our Mardi Gras party after we got back. We hosted it on Saturday.

Food and games!

If you guys have never played Telestrations, you need to get this game. It’s great for groups and so. much. fun!

Dessert of pralines:

Always a good time. John and I were both so busy after we got back. I had orders to make and now am trying to rebuild all my stock for the next wholesale show in 3 weeks (eek!). John’s Etsy shop must have gotten featured somewhere because he had a whole rush of orders come in over the space of two days. It’s a good thing, but makes it hectic.

I am taking a “me” day this week for an afternoon treat at the salt cave. I promised myself after the show I would do that, so I’ll have to recap that. I haven’t been to the salt cave yet, so it should be interesting.

Anyway – happy Mardi Gras!