Hi Friends,

Today I wanted to talk about a few things regarding your table at your craft show.  If you are considering doing craft shows, visit a few and make a mental note to look at the vendor’s tables, not what they are selling, but really focus on their displays.  What draws your eye to them or what makes you want to move on quickly to the next table.

First and foremost, bring a tablecloth.  This is usually not provided by the host of the craft show.  Know what size tables the show is providing or what size tables you will be bringing and have cloths to fit.  It is nice to have the tablecloth go to within a couple inches of the floor on the front so you can stash boxes and extra items under the table and they still remain out of sight.

Typically I use black for my table cloths, but I’ve been known to throw a Christmas one on from time to time.  For a spring show a pastel colored table cloth might be in order.  Just be sure it coordinates with what you are selling.  For a country or primitive look, go with a natural burlap.  It’s beautiful.

Next, since I am a one man show, I have to be able to carry all my own items so I can’t go with anything too heavy meaning I can’t handle a big display with walls and heavy shelving.  I do want height to my display so I carry my items in using crates and then use those crates to create height.

For me the next thing I do is I add tulle around the table crates.  I just like the texture of it so I have  three yards that I bunch up and go around the crates and other containers that I place on the table.  If you have electricity at your booth, a string of white Christmas lights under the tulle is very pretty.  My tulle color is plum.  It looks nice on my black tablecloths and lets my embroidery stand out without taking away from it.  White or cream is another pretty choice.

Finally, fill your table and use coordinating items.  I have 8 black wire baskets that I bought on clearance at Walmart years ago that work for me to group and hold items together.  It’s not a hodge podge of display items, everything coordinates and is easy on the eye so my embroidery stands out.  If you have too much empty table space, do put everything in a basket, lay a few things out individually.  It’s ok to have some blank space.  Go for a nice balance.

Practice setting up your table at home and when you get it the way you like, take a digital picture of it.  Then when you get to your show and you are rushed in setting up, just look at your picture to remember what you want and where.

Have a wonderful week preparing your table display and remember…

Be creative daily!

Nancy