Getting Real-Rain Rain, Go Away 

October 11th, 2023

I don’t think a lot of artists, or business owners in general think about things when they start a business.  We all sort of just wing it.  Take a business that relies on doing outdoor events for income.  Many artisans work from home, have a studio space, pay for a studio, etc.  That studio usually isn’t big enough to have a showing of their work.  I’ve been at this for 19 years.  This month it’s been nineteen years.  Wow.  Where does the time go?  It’s been fun, exhilarating, exciting, amazing and at times, beyond difficult just like you would expect.  With anything, there are highs and lows.  I still remember starting this endeavor like it was yesterday.  I was laying in my bed thinking…what should I name this possible business endeavor that I seem to love doing?  “Spitfire” came to mind within a minute and that was it.  Spitfire Designs Jewelry.  Thanks, Dad for calling me a spitfire.  I had cheap business cards made up at Staples and so it began.  

I remember my mom saying to me, “You know your Aunt Sue did this.  She did events outdoors and couldn’t take it anymore.  It’s a lot of work, Holly.”  My Aunt Sue was an amazing artist.  I was just in Vermont and CT and all throughout two cousin’s houses were my Aunt Sue’s paintings, her lampshades that she made…it brought me right back.  She was full of moxie and piss and vinegar.  She would make these gorgeous stenciled and hand carved lampshades and sell them in Sunapee, NH as well as other places but she got tired of it.  Very tired of it.  She was tired of setting up, tired of breaking down and tired of people who didn’t value her work and trying to talk her down in price.  I can still remember sitting with her during two of her events.  Gosh, I miss her.  She was full of moxie and piss and vinegar just like my mom and myself.  I miss you, Sue Tallarico.  She was fearless.       

A lot has taken place in my nineteen years since starting this business.  In the last two years, I have never experienced curve balls like I have now.   I would say the pandemic was a curve ball, but in the best way for my business.  People scrolled online due to being home and bought things due to boredom and wanting to have something to look forward to while they waited it out at home.   Many had more money in their accounts due to not going out or due to additional checks they were receiving.  Yes, the pandemic was beyond awesome for my business.  I had money being thrown at me for jewelry without anyone even trying on said jewelry.  But since the fall of 2022, I feel like I am on tenterhooks.  It hasn’t been easy, but I know that just like with anything, you wait it out and know that there will be sunshine in the future.  

The economy has put many of us in a slump and that’s for all businesses and folks across the board.  The cost of food, gas, you name it.  It’s hurting everyone.  Then there is this thing called the weather.  Whether artisans like it or not, the weather has been a game changer since the fall of 2022.  Last year, three events were cancelled during the fall due to the weather.  Almost every event myself and many other artisans did outdoors rained.   This year it has rained every single weekend I have had an event.  One was rescheduled, another (expensive to be a part of) juried event was not cancelled, so I made the decision to have a last minute jewelry show at my place.  I am glad I did because it poured and I stood indoors grateful that I was not outside under a drenched cold tent with ruined velvet necks and a tent that was probably going to smell of mold in a few days.   

The frustration is there, but what can you do?  You can write about it.  Get it out.  Feel better and know that’s life.  Cue in Frank Sinatra….

 I address it because it’s real and it’s happening and this is a nod to a lot of business owners..you are not alone.  it’s something that is affecting many of our businesses and behind the scenes we are messaging eachother (other artists and myself) about how we are sick of it and don’t know what to do.  We are tired.  Tired of coming up with other ways to do this, tired because we are getting older and outdoor events are demanding and then add rain and wind to it and forget about it.  We’re just tired.  I am tired.  There is also the factor that we go into it knowing, we sometimes pay between $100 to $195 to be a part of an event aware that if it rains, we are to be there rain or shine.  Sometimes when I know it’s going to pour and rain is involved, I say, “Yeah, no.  I can’t do this event.”  Rain destroys my wooden and velvet necks, wind hits the necks even with tent walls and jewelry will fall on hard cement and break.  I watched a man’s entire inventory of pottery come crashing down in Skippack in 2010 and his tent almost flew away, too.  He was heartbroken and we watched and heard it and felt sick on his behalf.    

Being a business owner isn’t for the faint of heart and that goes for any business.  It is what it is and you keep trying and adapting.  You figure out other ways of making it work, but I can tell you…bring on the soon to be indoor events that start in November because I am done with these all encompassing exhausting outdoor events.  I am ready for some fun in the sun or indoor heat and greets.  I know other artisans and business owners who produce their own goods are, too.  Until then, “I got this”…sort of.  But, hey…can I get back to the fact that I’ve been doing this for nineteen years?  Did I ever think that would happen?  No.  No, I didn’t.  I am now traveling outside of PA to states up north to try something new.  New things are happening and I am grateful for still having a business.  I really am.  Thank you to all who’ve supported me, bought from me, helped me with events along the way.  Thank you. I wouldn’t be doing this without YOU.