Arizona Events - Yuma and Tyson Wells

INFO ON ARIZONA EVENTS - Yuma and Tyson Wells.

Nice weather here in Hayward with temps around 70. In Quartzsite, sunny with temps 70/40 for the next 10 days (hopefully). A bit breezy today. In Yuma, nice and sunny with temps approaching 75 degrees throughout the week. Reports from the Old Town Jubilee there show that some vendors are down by as much as 75 percent. Very rough, especially for those that travel and have to stay in motels. I might add that all the new construction in that area has been detrimental to vendors at shows there. Improved shopping areas for visitors and the area provides more things for people to do. Sure an improved downtown area would attract more visitors, but I think that the events are of little concern to them.

Would like to let people know that we (DandL CREATIONS) will not be in Kernville (Whiskey Flats Days) this time nor will we be in Lake Havasu for the Winterfest since we have an 'extended stay' in Tyson Wells this time. Whiskey Flats is a nice show for the month of February as the weather is decent. despite at least a day of rain or snow for the past 4-5 years at this event. Nice parade, shootouts and is enjoyable. It's a hell of a ride getting there, driving along the Kern River Valley since it has many winding, harrowing turns, making it difficult for motor homes or vehicles towing cargo trailers, etc. Not recommended to drive at night. It's quite scenic, nonetheless.

We will be at the Tyson Wells Sell-a-Rama beginning on Tuesday, located in Space X-19 until Jan 26. We will them be over in space PQ-3 on Jan 29 for the A&C show. The event runs until the 8th of February, but we will be there until Feb 15. Hope to see you there. If you mention this blog, I'll take 10 percent off your purchase.

For more info on shows, festivals, etc. check Events and Festivals. I have a website called Starving Vendors that has many reviews of shows we have done in past years and you will most likely find them very informative. Lots of information, etc.

Events and Festivals

We have just added listings in Events and Festivals. Check for details on: San Francisco Crystal Fair Feb 28-Mar 1, Holtville Carrot Festival Feb 7-8, the Original Creative Festival in San Mateo on Jan 23-25, the 11th Annual San Diego Multicultural Festival January 17, International Family Film Festival in Los Angeles Feb 26-March 1 and the Southern California Cherry Blossom Festival in Los Angeles Apr 4-5.

I have listed these festivals in Upcoming Events at the Starving Vendors website and there are many other shows listed there also. Check it out. We also have many reviews of events we did this past year and they are very entertaining and I think that you will like reading them. (Guide to Shows>Events>dates)

Go down and get yourself a delicious Philly Cheesesteak, grab a nice cold 2-liter bottle of Briar's Birch Beer or a real bear and enjoy yourself. Later on, take a trip over to DandL CREATIONS, our website where you can buy puka shell necklaces in any size you want or a cowrie shell choker to give to your sweetheart.

Chabot College Flea Market

We are 'officially' into winter as of today....even though winter did arrive a couple weeks ago with the cooler 35 degree tempertures, colder rain and snow on the hilltops around the Bay Area.

Fortunately, we had a nice break in the weather yesterday, allowing us to sell at the Chabot College Flea Market in Hayward. We arrived there a bit on the early side and it is now a good idea to do so as the parking spots are not as wide as they used to be. I have a small Windstar van and it fits within the two spaces with about 1 1/2 feet to spare. Pity me if the people on the left and right of me both arrived before I did.....then I would have problems squeezing my van in there AND pulling out the 5-foot high/long grids from the pack would be impossible,

In case nobody noticed, the spaces now run north-south instead of east-west. Maybe the weather gods will find this to be more favorable to them. Or maybe the money gods figured they could 'squeeze' in more spaces and improve their cash flow.

It appeared like they only used about half the parking lot for the booths as not that many vendors would brave the December weather and were fearful of rain. Sales started off very slowly as it was a late crowd that arrived. My hands were long-frozen, quite cold from the 35 degree temperatures we had during the early morning. Most of the vendors probably arrived later than usual preferring to stay under their warm blankets at home. I guess there was a decent crowd that stopped by the Flea Market and bought a lot of lower-priced items....$1, $2, etc. Since our items are new and many of them were created by us, we did not do so good. The vendors with the 'closeout bought' groceries appeared to do the best. At 2:45, we began packing and were gone by 3:30 as were a good number of other vendors. Fortunately, we did not do one of our 3-hour setups for this shortened selling day.

We'll probably be back in February or March. If you want to order one of our shell necklacesm, or cowrie chokers, etc., please visit our website www.DandLCREATIONS.com where we have secure, on-line ordering, If you wish to find out more information about Bay Area Flea Markets, click here. I have a listing on my other website. Check Events and Festivals for info on upcoming shows. Click here to see OUR 2009 event schedule.

Tips for sellers

I have just completed several pages on Starving Vendors. Maybe you can pick up some ideas for your next craft fair, festival, flea market or even a yard sale.

Crafts Fair Basics Crafts Fair Basics; choosing the right one for you

Garage Sales Make $$$ at your garage sales. Tips, etc.

Flea Market Sales Tips for Selling at Flea Markets

and of course, we have our link to Bay Area Flea Markets and Upcoming events, Events and Festivals

Festivals in the Philippines

We have just completed a page on our website called Philippine Festivals which list by month, events and festivals in the Philippines. I think you will just love it. Check here before traveling back 'home'. Will be including all months of the year shortly.

2009 Quartz Hill Almond Blossom Festival

Quartz Hill Almond Blossom Festival. It's that time of year when we start getting our applications for next year's festivals and I am pretty certain that all of us (previous participants) have receive their applications for the Quartz Hill Almond Blossom Festival in March 2009.

My wife and I had a very rough time this past March there and we pulled out of the event because we were so disgusted by the way Lee Barron treated us. He has no class and doesn't care about the way he treats vendors. We drove over 300 miles to get there and we refused to stay.

If you want to find out why and hear more about Lee Barron and the Quartz Hill Almond Blossom Festival please read what I had to say about it. My wife was in tears from what he had to say to her. Very humiliating. I spoke to other vendors that did that event and they did terribly. Some left after Saturday because their sales were so disgusting. I am glad we left without setting up. A very very bad show. Has carnival rides and that takes a lot of the money away from the vendors. If you want to listen to my two-cents worth (which is more than I made at this $($(% event) DO NOT DO THIS SHOW. You will not be satisfied. There are other events to do, so stay the heck away. If you are a returning vendor, you pretty know much what I am saying is true. If you are a new vendor who wishes to do this show....my word of advice (and my other vendor friends) is not to even think about it. Stay away. We have been doing events for over 15 years now and never have we been treated so disgustingly.

Events and Festivals

Read my newest blog about Events and Festivals. I have listed a number of events that you may be interested...as a visitor or a vendor. More listings coming up soon.