Preparing for My First Craft Show

Getting ready for my first craft show has been nothing less than exciting and overwhelming.

Over the past few months, I’ve constantly been thinking about how to make my booth look and feel different. I don’t just want to sell good products - I want to create a shopping experience. I want people to feel the brand, the quality, the creativity, and honestly… me.

At some point during all the planning, I realized that what truly makes my booth different is my perspective, my creativity, my hands, and my brain behind every collection. That’s what I’ve really been focusing on throughout this process.

What to Expect at the Show

Lots of new products… and I mean LOTS.

This season introduces brand new home decor collections, including handmade wreaths and the new Build-A-Gnome collection. The gnomes are designed to be collectible and interchangeable, with new seasonal accessories planned throughout the year so you can continue dressing them up for different holidays and seasons.

I’ll also be bringing an entirely new jewelry collection. Lately, I’ve been experimenting more with beads, metals, layering, and buttons throughout my designs, and it has been really exciting creatively. If you follow along on Facebook or Instagram, you’ve probably already seen a few sneak peeks of the new pieces.

Beyond the products, you can also expect… me.

I’ll be there with my mom, fully planning to enjoy every part of the experience - the busy moments, the slower moments, and everything in between. I’ve worked incredibly hard these past few months to prepare as much as possible so I can actually be present and enjoy the day. Of course, nothing is ever perfect, especially in the handmade world, but I’ve tried to give myself the space to enjoy this milestone.

One thing I’m especially excited for is simply observing.

I want to see what people naturally gravitate toward. What gets picked up first? What conversations happen around certain products? What collections connect with people the most? I want to absorb all of it because I know that’s a huge part of growing as both a maker and a business owner.

What to Expect After the Show

I honestly don’t know if I’m more excited for the actual show or for what comes after it.

Right after the show, the updated website experience will officially go live with all of the new collections and products added online. Over the past few weeks, I’ve been redesigning collection pages to make the shopping experience feel smoother, softer, and more intentional.

A completely refreshed jewelry page will allow customers to browse collections more easily, filter through styles quicker, and explore the brand in a more curated way.

The new Build-A-Gnome page will also officially launch, creating an easier system for building your own gnome, shopping interchangeable accessories, and continuing to grow your collection over time. I’m especially excited to hear what people think about this feature because it has been one of the most fun projects to build behind the scenes.

I’ve been incredibly lucky to have such supportive customers, family, and friends throughout this entire process, and I truly feel like these moments are shared wins. Without the support, encouragement, conversations, shares, purchases, and feedback - none of this would really exist in the way it does today...so THANK YOU!

Learning as I Go

One of the most rewarding parts of building a handmade business is realizing how much growth happens behind the scenes.

This show has already pushed me creatively in ways I didn’t expect - from branding and photography to display styling, website design, and product organization.

There’s still so much I want to improve and continue building, but it feels really special to finally see all of these ideas beginning to come together.

Looking Ahead

Whether you’re stopping by the booth in Cape May or following along online, thank you for being part of this season of growth for Handmade by Erika Liesel.

I’ll be sharing more behind-the-scenes moments, new collections, and updated website features throughout the month - and I’m excited to continue growing this little handmade space one collection at a time.