It's been over a year since my husband Bob was laid off his corporate job of 28 years. The same company that moved us here, (Minnesota), from California nine years ago. And the same company that I worked for when we met 21 years ago. We never thought it would happen to us, but here we are in the same boat as millions of other Americans. (Hang on this is not meant to be a sad story).
My shop, Rose Mille is over 12 years old, but love it that I do, it does not generate enough funds for us to live on (yet). As with any shop there are always projects that need to be done by a handy man, my husband Bob happens to be such a guy. As a contractors son, it is in his blood. So whenever I need shelves, walls, painting, electrical work, you name it, Bob's my guy. Quite strategic on my part I must say.
So, what does one do when presented with lemons? We made some business cards and started offering Bob's services as a "handyman" to others, and we formed a building design company "Jorgensen Works". Right away friends and family hired Bob to do some things around their houses, and they are now referring him to their friends. Jorgensen Works is a team company that we both do, where I design and he builds. So far some of our projects have been re-designing and "improving" forgotten furniture, lighting and accessories, that might have ended up in a landfill somewhere, or custom building fixtures for other stores and offices. He has also finished the part of our walk-out basement where my studio is, built custom shelving for my office, and built a booth. (Finally getting to the point.)
One of Bob and my dream ideas is to have a product line together, and go to the wholesale markets such as in New York to sell our wares to other stores. So we started to think about our booth and of course the line. When we got the opportunity to participate at the Handmade Market of The Creative Connection event that was to be held in Minneapolis, we thought it would be a perfect place to debut our booth and some of our line.
After much anticipation for this insanely ambitious, but wonderful crafting event, put on by no other than Jo Packham and Nancy Soriano, it is now sadly over. But how fun it was! And for the first ever event a total success! You guys ROCK! I am thrilled to have been a part of it, both on the "team", and as a vendor at the Hand Made Market.
After my studio was quasi "finished", and before the rest of the basement had sheet rock, we proceeded to built the booth in the future family room.
We had so much fun designing as we went, realizing that it needed to be able to be knocked down and shipped some day, the design challenge was on! Once Bob came up with the mechanics of the booth, we went to town. Together we chose to add old windows and moldings, painted and stained it to look old, and then I added some vintage wallpaper, and Bob made some shelves (my favorite thing). Of course we needed some lighting befit this booth so Bob made a canopy to hang a chandelier on, to top it all off.
After having it all set up and stocked in our basement, it was truth time. Can we dismantle it and build it again in another location? It worked, with a few minor glitches, we pulled it off! It looked fabulous. We even got an order to make one for a company, before the show even opened! Of course we happen to have "home team advantage", we merely had to transport it in the back of a pick-up truck across town.
So I now have a favor to ask, as you can see I only have a few photos of the booth set up at the market. The majority of the shots came out totally black! I am heart broken. But there were a number of bloggers at the event who, with their mongo cameras, took some photos. I have some of your cards, but if you are reading this, please please will you send me some pictures? 
Now the booth is broken down and in our garage, waiting for custom crates to be built so it can go to the next show and shine! As far as Bob and Jorgensen Works? This is one story that has yet to be written.... stay tuned.
xxoo
mi
