Seriously. Thank you. I was worried about wearing my heart on my sleeve, of not being strong and confident, like I try to be. Thank you for the kind comments, thank you for the advice, thank you for believing. But it's also provided a great opening for me, and will prompt me to write more about the process of all this, and I know there are people out there that want to take this route, but don't know how or what to do.
So, here's what happened yesterday [in between crying jags]:
I took the bigger booth.
Actually, I called them first to ask about the two larger options I was given and the locations of both. One backed to Resort and the other was farther down and over a little. When I called, I was given another booth option, which was closer to the front and along the main aisle, and next to [and across from] a larger company that had three booths [good karma, I'm hoping - but also hoping for the better traffic their well known brand will bring]. So I took that one. I'm waiting for the contract.
I am not exhibiting my entire line, but only a portion. That decision was made based on logistics and what I could personally do. I've made some changes in the last couple of months to help me, and the biggest one is that I no longer make the aprons. Estella does some of the short runs (smaller bolts of fabulous fabric that I have to have), but last fall I experimented with a small scale sewing house not too far away, and I have to say, it was way easier [and they did a fantastic job].
I can't remember how I found them, but last spring, Scott & I went down there and met with them. They are family owned and operated, and literally only have a small department of sewing staff. The sewing is done start to finish by the same person, which I liked (and if you want to get technical, still counts as handmade). They did a little production run for me in the fall, and boy, did it help.
That's what all the drama was about two weeks ago with the textile show and the discontinued fabrics, and me, pulling my hair out. I finally received my sample yardage this week and we are going down there this morning to have samples made for market [the gift show]. I'll explain what that entails in a coming post - but believe me, this has been a huge education for someone who did not study fashion design and manufacturing.
I have no idea what I'm doing or what I'm talking about. They know this, and they still help me.
So, I hope you'll come along for the ensuing ride. It will either make me, or break me - emotionally, physically, mentally and financially - but as I said in replies to a few of you, I don't want to wake up in 10 years and think, "What if...?"
Oh - and I always feel weird sharing this, but if I don't, Scott will say, "Why didn't you post that picture?" and I'd be all, "Because it's so self serving" and he'd be, "What about 'putting it out there into the Universe'" using those little finger quotes. And then I'd be, "Dude. Don't push me."
So, here...this was in my PO Box yesterday, [it was pretty good timing] Malibu Times Magazine!