handmade theft?

 This weekend I was at a show of all small handmade designers.  I felt like i was at home and in a little community.  I guess I got too complacent and/or comfortable because I was the victim of theft. What was sort of ironic about the piece that was stolen, was that I had been holding it in the back for someone for almost the entire show.   I finally gave up and put it back out for sale, only to have it stolen within minutes.

Whenever I am at one of these show I somehow figure that the people coming out to see the handmade items appreciate the amount of work that goes into each thing, and if they can't afford it they find something else to purchase.  I figure they know that most if not all of the vendors are sole proprietors and don't have enough merchandise or money to build in theft as part of the cost of doing business.   Turns out, I was wrong.  

I am trying to be positive and look at it as some sort of flattery, i.e. they liked it so much but couldn't afford to buy it so they took it?

I was talking about it to some other vendors, only to find out that I am super naive.  They ALL have had things stolen and some have something stolen every time they do a show.   I was mortified.

here are some things that have been stolen from me at the past few shows:

...and I am sure there are even more things I am not aware of.     

I wonder really how these people feel ok with stealing from a show like that and I think to myself that it has to be kids that have no idea what goes into these things...  at least I hope it's kids.   I also hope that they are at least wearing the items and not selling them, or throwing them away.

This upcoming weekend I have another Renegade craft show in san francisco and have vowed to be more vigilant!  

handmade jewelry every day-  myfriendroze