Catching the Spirit of Children: A Craft Show Reflection

It is enjoyable to sit back and watch eyes come alive as people glance into our booth.  Sometimes those eyes belong to children~ do you remember my tale of of the boy and his roll of coins?   Did I tell you he came back this year with a twenty dollar bill?  I still gave him a discount.  I can do that.

So anyway yesterday there was this girl, who became entranced with Margaret's mosaics.  She came back five times to glow in front of the crosses and frames that had caught more than her eye.  Her spirit was leaping for joy.  Now this is where I get to experience parenting and I have seen parents react in many a way.  I can imagine the frustration one would experience to have your child in love with something, but not having the income to purchase it or knowing the child was going to fall in love with eight more types of craft before the day is over.  This parent did a nice job, she stood back and gave the girl time to enjoy.  I made no attempt to make a sale.  Why get a parent frustrated with me and then likely transfer that to the child.

Ten minutes after her last visit to our booth, I saw her spirit enjoying another booth.  Yes, let that spirit fall in love with color and design... the craft of human hands, hearts and souls.

Another girl comes into our booth.  Later Margaret will tell me that she had been visiting my sun catchers a few times.  Mom says, "If I buy this for you, you know I won't be getting you anything for a long time."  I sit and watch, for this is not my conversation until the child says yes.  Then I am there holding the glass, figuring out tax and change, and handing a bag to a nine year old, who chose my art as a special something in her life.  Yes, we dig the on-line sales, but really can an e-mail announcing a sale beat something like that.