Shelbyville Times-Gazette

Bell Buckle Arts & Crafts Fair

Posted Saturday, October 20, 2007, at 9:52 PM
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Ok, I posted yesterday about this HUGE crafts fair that I was anxiously awaiting. Today I parked cars in my yard and sat in the back of our "new" car and sold water and sodas. Didn't really make much money, but I did get to meet lots of folks. I had a blast just sitting there watching all of the people go by and talking to the ones that stopped. There were plenty of places to go and get carny food too. We walked around a bit at the beginning of the day and saw some of the crafts and some of the "flea market" items. All in all I would say today was a success for the town since there were people everywhere. And tomorrow I will be sitting out there again, mainly to see people and get to know some more of my neighbors. Come on down, to some people it does look alot like a city-wide flea market but, even if that's the case, there are alot worse ways to spend your day than walking around a normally relaxing little town.

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We will look for you today Thom.

This type of business is the the way I like to see small towns survive. We welcome the visitors, share the commerce and then the town returns to the quiet, small-town atmosphere we came here for.

If we want the hustle & bustle of a big town or city, we can travel to it, just as folks travel to see us.

-- Posted by stevemills on Sun, Oct 21, 2007, at 7:35 AM

Didn't see you today Steve. I'm pretty sure I'm the only one in town with a '65 Studebaker in the yard, even though it's still rough since we just got it Friday. Anyway, yes, that's exactly the way we like it too. I was rather disappointed with the amount of flea market stuff out there. Granted I did not make it over to Webb, but I was told my several people that even it was lacking the talent of previous years. Well, overall I had a good time talking to people as they walked around. I had so many people walk past my Wagonaire and ask me what it was and talk about it since they most likely had never seen anything like it.

-- Posted by Thom on Sun, Oct 21, 2007, at 5:29 PM

We were close Thom, but spent so long talking to artisans that we ran out of time and had to get back to our lot. By the end of the day, we came home to collapse.

The general opinion of the artisans both on and off the Webb area is that it is going downhill. I donУЂ*ПН*ПНt want to wash laundry in public, but that matched returning shoppers feelings as well.

Many never got to the Webb area, so they never saw the higher quality. Some of the Webb exhibitors felt that the flea market had taken over the show itself and do not plan to return.

Others only exhibit to get one of their three УЂ*ПН*ПНjuriedУЂ*ПН*ПН shows to qualify for the Centennial Park show in Nashville. They do not expect to make money since most of the shoppers have a flea market frame of mind.

-- Posted by stevemills on Sun, Oct 21, 2007, at 8:11 PM

We turned around and came home after we sat in traffic for 30 mintues.

-- Posted by Jacks4me on Mon, Oct 22, 2007, at 2:43 PM

Parking and traffic is something that needs to be addressed, but no one has come up with a good soultion yet.

If you stop the cars outside of town, then people who make money parking will suffer.

If you divert traffic into different flow paths, you do less harm but????

-- Posted by stevemills on Mon, Oct 22, 2007, at 4:28 PM