Tormented Mind Sanctuary at the Oakdale Mall

Last Saturday, my daughter, Kirstin, and I were among the many craft and yard sale vendors set up in front of the shops at the Oakdale Mall in Johnson City, NY. This was our first time selling at the Garage & Craft sale. Most of the craft vendors were spread out from the middle to the end by Payless. Meanwhile, the garage sale vendors filled up the other side of the mall. 

Set up near GNC and Verizon, our tables were a mixture of Kirstin and her husband, Josh, handmade items and my own.

Kirstin and Josh from Tormented Mind Sanctuary just finished setting up as people were starting to come in the mall. 

Kirstin's main and the best seller at our tables were her handmade miniature notebooks. The covers, made from commonly found trading cards, caught the eye of both children and adults alike. She also had earrings and necklaces she made from comic books. Plus magnets made with all of ours and my other daughter's, Megan, art.

One of Kirstin's notebooks using a trading card. (Don't worry. None of the hard to find, or expensive ones were used.)

For this craft sale, I brought some of my leather pouches, earrings, witch hats, bookmarks, and leather phone cord wraps. It's always a guess of what might sell well depending on the craft show, or Con. While people fingered through the cord wraps, no one bought any this time. Same with the witch hats. But the jewerly, leather pouches, and bookmarks did well. Some of the leather earrings I made the night before sold quickly. 

We try to bring extra when we sell. Hands on people are expected. There's always that individual who will pick up a notebook and bend the cover out of shape before deciding not to buy it. Or try to stretch out a pouch and sniff it to make sure it's actual leather. We did get some of the usual, “I can make that,” comments. Face it, all crafters and artists hear that. One person took a bunch of pictures and notes. I don't know for what though. While another woman stopped to go through her purse as she set it on top of my witch hats as if it didn't matter. 

Still, most of the people, sellers and buyers, were nice and friendly. Such a mixture of vendors. I didn't see anyone selling the same type items other than jewelry. Even that had a big variety. I would have liked to look around at other tables more, but the mall grew crowded. More so towards the end of the event. We had a lot people come to our table. 

I'm sure we'll do this again next year. It's local, which makes it far easier to go. I know what I'd take to sell that would do better. The only artwork I brought were on the magnets and bookmarks. A few people wanted to see my actual paintings and prints. I think my leather purses would have done well here too.

There's always next time.

-Trace

P.S. Bare with me. I know it's been a while since I've posted. There is more to come.