Oh Tribal Fest.........

I think Princess Farhana said that going to Tribal Fest is like stepping into Brigadoon every year. And it is. It is always different yet always the same!

This year, the design collective that I am a part of (Salome's Suitcase) vended at the Beats Antique show, vended at the Tribal Fest Afterparty 2 nights, and put on  a very glamorous fashion show on Friday night. Every model looked stunning. There were no exceptions. I am so proud of all of us. We all have horribly busy schedules, sometimes we can be a little scattered with all the daily juggling, we all have our own special style and vibe - and we pulled it all together. We had a lovely fashion show that went off without a hitch - AND set up to vend - AND manned the booth - AND wheedled, negotiated, cajoled, and manipulated to get what we needed in a very pleasant manner - All at the same time. Without fighting. Without trauma. Without turmoil.  In cramped quarters. In the freezing cold. We rock! We are all professionals! I am woman, hear me roar!

I'll post more photos later ............

And while vending late into the night was a little hard for me - this just is not my schedule any more - it was great, because we got to wander around Sebastopol and Bodega Bay during the day, hang out and schmooze at Tribal Fest, check out the competition and  even get work done or for some, go to school or work the next day. I think I like this better.

So now its back in the saddle again...........Ive got two more weddings to finish up, orders to finish and send out, and see about restructuring how I do things. I may just have to up my custom prices to what they should be and take on a lot less work so that I can pursue my other interests. I may have to source out the basics (locally) and really do small manufacturing correctly. Why haven't I been doing that all along? Why because Ive been trying to give everyone something special. This started out as a labor of love. I love my dance community, but the love just got too big!  And "special" takes too long to make and some just don't get that. It stresses me out when someone doesn't get it despite all the education I try to do on the subject and the stress isnt worth it. I would rather get paid well or not make it at all. Life's just way to short for that.

So changes are a comin. Some will benefit and many will not. But that's progress. Right?