Crop question

[jenn]

I am puzzled..... There is a place that I crop at, occassionaly, and they charge a fee for space at a table. So I called, paid the fee, and went to the crop. I started making Christmas cards a while ago, so I had the designs planned out, supplies organized, and all the parts made for the most part ( before I knew about the crop). So I went to the crop with adhesive, markers, and card parts, since all I had left to do was assemble the cards. No problem.. or so I thought. However, several of the women at the crop told me that I was "no fun" because I did not spend the time "creating" and could have assembled/ colored the cards at home and left the space for someone else who wanted to create cards, pages etc.

Thoughts?

Jenn

[Basketlady]

Pffftttt Those women were no fun! I think you were smart. I don't think well at crops--I have a tendency to keep it simple, both with my supplies and my projects. I think crops are a fun time to socialize with others and I never get much done anyway. So a simple project is a great idea.

Now the question to ask yourself was which women were doing the complaining? Was it the store workers/owner or just other women at a crop? If it was other women, they may have just been miffed that a friend didn't get to crop because it was full. Sometimes those crops can get clique-ish.

If it was the owners/workers, that's a bit tougher. I'm sure they rely on some revenue during a crop to pay for the space and the workers' wages. But I'm the sort of person who buys all that ahead of time and seldom spends much while I'm at a crop. I'm really hoping that the owners realize that I support them at other times, just not on crop night!

In any case, I hope that you got all your cards done and that you had some nice women to chat with while you were "just" assembling them!

Michelle

[AnnaMatrix]

Jenn, I'm with Michelle on this one. Crops are for you to do whatever you want. I sat next to a woman at a crop once who organized her photos the whole time! We had lots of fun chatting and getting to know each other. I tended to be pretty disorganized when I first started going to crops. Lately I've done better at bringing specific projects to work on, instead of all the supplies I can carry!! I think you did fine. Who knows what burr was in the other croppers' bustles??? Maybe they were jealous that you got so much done!! ;D Gail

[Susan]

OH GOODNESS! I think you were super-uber smart for planning your crop time like you did. You'd get two-thumbs up from me for sure!

I usually do super easy stuff, as I get wayyyyy to chatty at crops {shocker!!??}. I do things like - take stacks of old scrapbook magazines to tear out ideas, and then throw away. Organize photos - one time I took my laptop and for 5 hours I sorted/purged/backed up photos.

I rarely actually scrap at a crop. I might scrap at an open lab sort of afternoon - but rarely at an all night crop!

Good for you for planning time so wisely. If it was just other croppers complaining - I'm with Michelle - PFFFTT on them! If it was an employee or owner - then hmmmm, I'd be willing to stop back this week and chat with them. Were you NOT following rules {doubt it}, were you being rude {nope}, were you breaking a huge store tabooo {that'd be unlikely}. So were the comments unjustified?

I think YES - but it would be interesting to find out what a store owner/employee would think.

[Deleted]

Shame on those women!

The above Divas are right...you went to the crop to have fun and get something accomplished at the same time, so what was the problem with that?

I once went to a crop at my now-out-of-business LSS, only to find that the owner had allowed "her" friends/regulars to pre-reserve their table, and these ladies made it clear that no one else was welcome. Two other very nice (I've known them forever) women came in, the owner made no effort to help them find a place to sit, and they left shortly after that. I also packed up and left after a bit, but talked to the owner later about what I had observed...she didn't see that there had been a problem, so I told myself "never again".

We're supposed to be having fun and visiting/making friends as well as happy memories, aren't we?

Jenn...I'm so sorry this happened to you!

[Karen W]

Jenn - I'm with the ladies here - I went to a crop recently just like that and the ladies around me were jealous because I was so organized.

I just found I could be visiting and still accomplish something, otherwise I was hauling all kind of stuff and I never got anything done!

Don't give it another thought!

Karen

[Basketlady]

I think it's pretty smart to be organized to a crop. One of my pet peeves at a crop is when people bring everything they own and you trip over it all night. And then spill over into my space!

Susan has a great idea. Pop into the store and casually inquire about the crop "rules." I'd bet some money those women were just wound a little tight!

Michelle

[vicki7]

on them. That's ridiculous. It's a time to do whatever you want. Last crop I went to (a couple weeks ago), there were scrappers, card makers, one lady made a gorgeous banner, another made a really nice wreath (an artificial wreath and christmas balls) and another lady was making jewelry. Sorry you ran into this, it was very rude to say that. I put page kits together when I crop (don't want to have to bring tons of stuff), doesn't mean I'm not creative.
Vicki

[Dania]

You paid for your spot and you were wise with the use of your time. Don't sweat it.

[qkmary]

Hi Jenn; Glad to see that you ventured out to a crop in your area. Sorry that it was a bummer, I know why Trinka, Kim and I weren't there!lol

As you know you can't please some people and as one poster said, maybe their friend couldn't come because the crop was full. Well tough nougies to them! The most important was did you have fun and get what you wanted to accomplished. If you did hats off to you

Hope we get to scrap again together real soon! You will be bound to have a great time with our crazy group so keep on getting back into our fabulous hobby.

Give Finley a big hug from his friends Minnie Mouse, Curious and Princess Furball here in the deep freeze of Washington.

[AnnaMatrix]

Jenn, forgot to say, Finley is adorable! What a cutie-patootie.

I've also seen/heard a lot of what the other Divas mentioned in terms of crop behavior. Sometimes it seems to me like we've never left our high school lunchrooms!

Don't let the Queen Bees drag you down! Have fun, work on whatever you want to do, or don't work at all! If I'm attending a crop alone, I tend to look for another "loner" to sit next to. It's a great chance to get to know someone new without getting embroiled in the clique drama.

Gail

[jenn]

Thank you for all the imput. I should have mentioned that the crop was in a private home and the home owner brings in extra income by renting out crop space... so there is no retail space to speek of (just a few emergency sipplies that can be purchased like adhesive and basic cardstock colors).


Hi Mary and Kim!!!!

Thanks for the kind comments aboout Finley as well. He is a very sweet little friend.

Jenn

[Basketlady]

Jenn, then my guess is that you cropped with crazy women!

If you know the owner well enough, you could ask her what's up. But I wouldn't sweat it. And be glad that you got the cards done!

Michelle

[Deleted]

Jenn, this owner just doesn't know how lucky she is that all of the Divas don't live close enough to come in and express our opinions!

(My love to Finley! )

[AnnaMatrix]

Good one, Diane! Gail

[pixie]

I'm weighing in late here, but I agree with everyone else. Shame on those women. What you did was smart. That's the way I used to go to crops. I didn't want to drag my entire craft room with me, so I planned and took only what I needed.

The kitten is adorable. We have four. No longer kittens, but my life is richer for them.

Barbara