Craft Lake City
Every summer I look forward to Craft Lake City. It's the cool kid of craft fairs, with hip and unusual makers all over the Gallivan Center displaying their wares and treats. Utah in August is pretty punishing, but it's worth it to walk the rows and rows of edgy greeting cards, creative and surprising snacks, vintage finds and beautiful hand-crafted items. It's been a dream of mine for so many years to have my own table and be part of the festival.
This past February I decided to take my compulsive hat knitting to the next level and open up an Etsy shop. I've been building websites for the past 15 years, helping people create businesses and organizations and fun side projects. Such a thrill to finally build one for me! It's been a great ride, getting business cards and labels and getting the HexeKnits name out into the world.
I'm sure I don't need to tell you that people aren't really thinking much about warm knitwear in the hot summer. So it's been a slow ride. But I've been moving forward all the same and decided it was finally time for me to try being more than just a visitor to Craft Lake City. I submitted my application nervously and was so thrilled to see my name on the list of vendors!
I've been so excited ever since — my very first event as a vendor and at my very favorite craft fair! I've made a million lists — what to bring, how to track sales, how to survive the heat, and how to show off my growing collection of hats. I've read blogs and joined seller groups and taken so many notes. It's a scary thing on the first go-around, but fortunately, crafters are friendly people and have lots of great advice and ideas. Months of preparation and anticipation have really flown by, and just like that the big weekend was finally here.
All the years I'd been attending the festival I had no idea what a rush it is to be there the morning of the event, while everyone's setting up their booths. People are everywhere — carrying things, pulling carts piled high with bins and bags. Umbrellas are going up, people are laughing and hugging, and the volunteers are amazing. They helped us get us unloaded and sorted out before I'd even parked my car!
When the gates opened I about burst. Nervous, excited, wondering if this was maybe a really bad idea — but then people started to file in and the rest of the day was a breeze. Everyone's so friendly. And I can't tell you the thrill of my first in-person sale. So exciting to see someone try on a hat I made and want to keep it. So fun to talk to other people about their own knitting and craft projects, too. I had no idea there were so many knitters around, and of all ages and genders and styles.
So I'm happy to report that my first event as a vendor, the maiden voyage of HexeKnits, was a success. I should have done this years ago. So proud to be a part of this community of knitters and makers and collectors. Craft Lake City is really just so much more than a craft fair — it's a gathering of creative people of all walks of life, and it's a hell of a way to spend a weekend!