November 2014
Obituary - Ovaltambour.com
Posted November 12, 2014
Six years ago I put up the ovaltambour.com website to represent my encore career in fine craft furniture making. It detailed my previous career in this field as well as displaying current works and schedules. I wrote the code myself using HTML, PHP, and MySQL. It was custom fit to my needs and was a bear to maintain. I have allowed that website and it's domain name to expire earlier this week. It ran from March, 2008 , for six years of my new life. I have changed to a much simpler site now.
The 14th Day
Posted November 10, 2014
Today was the fourteenth day of my trip. I spent it driving the width of Pennsylvania and a bit of Ohio toward home. I managed to go through four tunnels as well. As I am putting this blog bit together I am real tired so this will be short. Here are some tunnel pictures. I missed the first tunnel.
The 14th Day
Posted November 10, 2014
Today was the fourteenth day of my trip. I spent it driving the width of Pennsylvania and a bit of Ohio toward home. I managed to go through four tunnels as well. As I am putting this blog bit together I am real tired so this will be short. Here are some tunnel pictures. I missed the first tunnel.
Day Six - Last Show Day and Load-out
Posted November 9, 2014
Today was busier than I had expected it would be. Sundays are usually slow. Lots more compliments. The Oval Tambour Desk continued to stop people in their tracks and bring them into the booth.
Day Five - Another Long Day
Posted November 8, 2014
Friday was another long day full of compliments and adoration of the work I brought to the show. And occasionally I was able to get out to see other work a bit closer. The exhibitor’s lounge again provided coffee and other food items to keep me all fluffy and chatty.
Day Four - A Very Long Day
Posted November 7, 2014
A woman walked into my booth and asked if I had ever done this show before. I told her that I did, indeed, exhibit once before, many, many years ago. Long before the convention center days. She lifted her spread arms in a gesture of "and here it all is, again". She told me how she has loved her Oval Tambour Box all these years.
Day Three - Preview Party
Posted November 6, 2014
Today is the first day of the show with the preview party in the evening. I eventually went in to finish setting up my booth. Then off to the Reading Terminal Market to see for myself what my friends told me about the place. It was most amazing. I causally strolled down the aisles taking in the pastry, vegetables, fish, and people. Arriving at the Down Under Diner found me quickly in a booth ordering this.
Day Two - Setup
Posted November 4, 2014
I was to arrive at 11:30AM to get in line before entering the convention center. I was on time and the line inched forward. Maybe 20 minutes and I was headed to my space on the floor. I unloaded in short order and parked my car back at the hotel parking lot. I set up my display all the way to 6:00PM. Everything is done except pricing.
Day One
Posted November 4, 2014
Today I drove from Washington DC to my hotel in Philadelphia. The 2.5 hour drive took much longer because I made several stops along the way. Arriving at the hotel went smoothly. I checked in and a staff person found me a cart which he took up to my room while I parked Ody at a nearby surface lot. I wish I knew "tipping etiquette" but I went with a $2 tip for his prompt and courteous assistance. I then unpacked my stuff and moved in. After a short nap I went out to procure supplies.
Day Five And Six
Posted November 4, 2014
I am grouping these two days as they are not worth the ink used to discuss them. Again very poor attandance and sales. Sunday was load-out day and, for me, that went smoothly. I take so long to get packed up that the dock had a loading space very close to the ramp into the hall when I was ready to load.
I was glad to have done this show and sad to learn that all the "talk" was true. This show took me years of rejections before I got in. My work was praised by the few attandees that came to the show.