March MAAD 2010 Post-mortem

So I survived another MAAD weekend of selling bags. Oh man, it was so physically draining. I think I made it worse by sleeping very late on Friday night due to my sudden urge to sew ONE LAST BAG. I'll show you the bag later.

MAAD hours are from 11am to 7pm. On Saturday I have to wake up early at 7am in order to reach red dot by 9am to secure a good table. It's first come first served. I have this constant fear that I'll wake up late and end up with the "dead zone" spots.

Next comes the difficult part. The set-up. I'm not good at displaying my bags so I just do whatever works for me. I know I can do better. Despite the long hours and so-called hardship, I enjoyed myself tremendously. It's probably due to the good company I have at MAAD.  There's Sally who's been my "neighbour" on my right twice in a row. Then there's Vivien who's on my left twice in a row. Of course there's Mandy but she's INSIDE the museum while I'm on the red floor area which is not air-conditioned.

I remembered February MAAD was quite bad in terms of traffic so I was seriously annoyed when I saw that the concert area was not booked on Sunday. When you sell your stuff at a location, you depend so much on human traffic and red dot design museum is located at a business district area where it's dead on weekends due to 5-day work week. So having events is so crucial to bringing in the crowd.

Nope, no crowd once again. Quite a number of people who showed up told me they had no idea MAAD was on. I'm losing my confidence!

So how many bags did I sell? I was aiming for 10 but I only sold 8. It's a small improvement from last month. Still...

Weng and Jon, whom Mandy nicknamed my "two hunks" came by to visit me. I think... I forgot to do a photoshoot of three of us.

Anyway, Jon took some photos of my bags with my camera. I think he has a really good eye.

 I have to start using my dumb bells more often! Look at my arms. This was the bag I was sewing on Friday night. I sold it!

This is a handphone pouch I made using raw cambodian silk with my favourite running stitches. It went to Jon. Thanks, buddy. I wished I had taken measurements of his iphone before I made it tho'. It's a little too small for iphone.

 This is Tiba. She'd bought a batik bag from me before and came back for more! Ooh, I wish I have more customers like Tiba. This is a checked zip tote I specially made for her. You know what? Yesterday, she also bought a bag which I made a while ago but somehow couldn't find a owner.

Remember my gibbon tote? It went to Tiba! One of the craft sellers had noticed my "monkey bag" on the "Never Sold" shelf month after month. Later when I went to tell her the bag was sold, she said, "You finally got the monkey off your back!" Anyway, I'm really glad my Gibbon tote went to Tiba because she said she liked the "movement" of the gibbon. No one ever commented on the "movement" before. No one ever noticed, I'll bet. Yes, dear Internet readers, this applique was all about the "movement".  Tiba, you kill me with your gibbon movement noticing eyes, you. You made my day!

 This nautical striped bag did not sell. I think the pocket killed the bag!

These two linen slouchy bags didn't sell either. People tell me they're too long. I should stop using my freakishly long torso as a guide!!

Lastly, I'd like to tell you guys that next April would be 1 year since I started selling my bags. Remember my debut in April last year at MAAD?  To mark my 1 year anniversary I'm planning on making lots more stuff for April MAAD (3rd to 4th April). Yes, pulling out my big guns, cannons, once again. I aim to produce at least 15 new items by  1st April. (No more last minute sewing for me.)

Till we meet again.
Jane out.