...Windsongs Update...: It's June Already??

Another year of the Kerrville show has come and gone. Ok, this posting could make you feel old - beware. Philip and I spent time in the truck on the way to set up for this show last week remembering all of the years we have done this show and all of the changes it (and we) have gone through. We calculated that we have been going to The State Arts and Crafts show for 30 years!! We started when our daughters were so small that we brought a playpen (yes, that's what they were called back then) to the show for Jenny to sleep in and Carla (about 4 years old then) took a nap under the long table we used as the front of the booth.
And the first year we did the show, the folks that ran it had a pioneer theme going on and asked that the exhibitors dress up in pioneer clothing. (I do have a picture somewhere but would have to go on a hunt for it that would delay this posting even more!) Philip wore overalls and the girls and I had long dresses and bonnets. That only lasted one year.
Initally, and for many years to follow, the show was held on the grounds of Shreiner College. It was held for two weekends and it was HUGE. All of the artists were very successful. Customers traveled from all over the state to attend. There was a Board of Directors made up of some pretty influential people and a board of artists that judged the applications and judged the artists for awards.
I guess I could say time has not been kind to this show. Many more arts and crafts shows occur now throughout the year which afford competition. The economy has had it ups and downs, gas is expensive. The directorship has certainly gone through changes and the location has changed to a fairgrounds area of Kerrville. Sadly, for us, many of our great friends no longer exhibit at this show and some of our fun in going has diminished.
Now, on the positive, we have made new artisit friends and still enjoy the visiting that goes on while waiting for the show to open or waiting for customers to show up. The folks that run the show still feed the artists breakfast and one evening meal. And for us, the show is so close to where we live, it just makes sense to keep being there.
This year, there was a new and very young director. Several changes were made, including time changes. This year the show was open to customers on Friday night and not on Monday at all. For us, sales were adequate only. Certainly not like the first year, when we sold so much that we had to go home every night and work in the shop until the we hours of the morning to be ready for the next day. People would stand in a line 10 people deep waiting to buy their "bell".
On a positive note, this was probably the best weather we have ever had at the show - no rain, no heat wave, had a nice breeze. And we had great neighbors.