It’s that time of year, when I spend 11 days as a vendor at the One of a Kind Show here in Toronto.
I’ve got several new designs, old favourites and some brand new things this year!! (Like the Bookbinder’s Toolkits!). Find me at booth E34 this year. Stop by and say Hello, I always like chatting with fellow bibliophiles!
Day 63/365
Top 5 Things I Learned at the One of a Kind Show:
1. Wear comfortable shoes, no one really looks at your feet anyways. Worst case scenario: kinda-comfy shoes with inserts or orthotics.
2. Eat healthy, eat often. Lots of tasty, healthy snacks saved me from becoming Cranky Carolyn!! (and, yes I’ll admit it, the occasional handmade almond toffee, or organic chocolate covered nougat)
3. Stay hydrated. In a place as large as the Direct Energy Centre, it gets dry fast! Luckily they had a huge drinking water station with several bottle-filling taps to rehydrate throughout the day. And with so many awesome body care makers at the show, it was impossible to have dry cracked skin! (yay new organic spearmint-eucalyptus lip balm!)
4. Listen. I learned so much from both customers and other makers by listening to their stories, advice and thoughts. So much has developed from these insights: I’ve already got new projects mulling for the new year, new booth design ideas for next Christmas and I learned some painful yet necessary lessons about when to speak up and when to stay quiet.
5. Enjoy it! I worked so hard to get this far, to design items I felt my customers would appreciate and get excited about, and to hand craft each book carefully to the best of my abilities. So why not share this and let my enthusiasm shine through?! It was so affirming to watch people search my display looking for just the right journal, asking questions and holding the books. Even more so when they found the right book, clutching it and then deciding to give it a new home either as the perfect gift for someone else or for themselves.
Day 54/365
I’m not actually in the studio today. Instead, here’s a picture from not that long ago of the studio in full swing. Maybe it’s because of the state of messiness in here right now, but I’m reminded of a saying I once saw on a co-workers desk.
It read: ‘If a cluttered desk means a cluttered mind, what does an emtpy desk mean?’
I have no idea who wrote or said this, (if you know, please share below!) but it makes me smile whenever I remember it. Yay for messy desks!!
Day 53/365
I’ve been so busy making new journals that I realized I haven’t even properly introduced them!
Without further ado, I’d like to start with the Toronto Journal! There are three different covers to this series: East End, West End and Downtown! Available exclusively at the One of a Kind Show until December 7.
Day 51/365
As you know I’ve been hard at work preparing for the One of a Kind Show. Running for 11 consecutive days, this is the largest show I’ve ever done! And I’m pretty pumped about it all.
If you’re in town you should come visit! I’m in the Rising Stars section, booth D49. For more info about the show itself, go here.
Sprouts Press 