This provincial pickleball tournament, had a totally unique "all pickleball gift ideas" tent, by Pickleball ARTwear and this is what happened to it....

Last month, we attended the Pickleball Depot BC provincials at the Vernon Pickleball Club. I showcased my Pickleball ARTwear gift ideas, hoping that when people see my online videos in the future, they will remember the items and the feel of softness of items like my pickleball art blankets and tank tops.

This little sweety enjoyed playing with the maraca shakers and he dropped them in mama's lap while they looked at "P is for Pickles the first dog of Pickleball" counting paddles and naming art pictures.

Most people at the pickleball tournament were friendly and complimentary, taking time to engage with the clothes, maracas, stickers, songbook, and blankets. I was so grateful for all the warm fuzzies and fun.

Some people read the children's book to their little ones, while others tried on T-shirts and bought them if they could find one to fit. Two women bought the shirts right off my back on two different days, and I sold several items throughout the weekend which I was not planning to sell because they were brought as samples. People wanted them anyhow, which made me feel quite warm and fuzzy, just like the pickleball pattern lap and stroller blankets which found new homes.

My pickleball obsession is making fun things to use and give which secretly (or not so secretly) show off your love of pickleball. All of the items in this tent are from my art. (aside from my first book where I hired an amazing illustrator)

It was overall an outstanding reaction, and as always, incredibly varied, as different levels of awareness and/or understanding, revealed themselves in fun and hilarious ways. Some people stopped and looked at the obvious cartoons and laughed and chuckled with me over the jokes, while others were drawn to the patterns and moved in, to look closer. Of those people, about half of them didn't realize they were looking at pickleball paddles and pickleballs embedded into the artwork, until I asked them again if they saw the paddles. Many did a double take and said they didn't notice previously, and they were all "wow cool" about it! While another handful said: "yeah", yet carried on looking..... (and then sometimes a few short minutes later I might hear something like: "Oh there is a tiny pickleball paddle!" I would know at this point, that they probably only noticed one paddle in the image, so I would invite them to look closer and ask: "only one?")

"WOW that's crazy!" they would often say, as they start looking around again with fresh eyes..... suddenly realizing that the artwork on pretty much everything in the tent was not only all pickleball, but secret pickleball even ( looks like plain old zebra or leopard print) plus it (aside from my first book for which I hired an amazing illustrator) was all done by me: "You really are addicted," they would say, "I mean, it's a lot....." and suddenly I could see all these pennies dropping as people realized that I'm well and truly mad for pickleball. "Yes", I would say, beaming: "and, thank you".

Pickleball Leopard loose tank by Pickleball Artwear

Pickleball Camouflage in Blue by Pickleball Artwear

Overall I loved it, I love setting up product. I made new friends, connected with old friends from past tournaments and generally had a wonderful time. My hubby/roadie and I watched some pickle and enjoyed the area, making sure to check out before we left, Pickleball Depot who was just down the road (and the title sponsor). If you need real kick ass pickleball gear they are the place to go.

Hubby and I drove to Pickleball Depot in Vernon BC to check it out, come see it with us!

As for me, it all wound up pretty nicely, noting that we had to drive all of my product IN to my tent area on the first day by car, yet we were able to walk all of what was left over, out in just our hands with one trip (by the second to last day), so overall it was a great success. My sincere apologies to the lady who was mad at me for not taking Visa. I wasn't there as a "store" exactly, I do have an Etsy shop but I was just showing people where to find it online, I wasn't there with the intention of taking the store on the road. It took some time to explain to people that I'm just an artist and I make stuff that you can custom order from T-shirt/gift companies who handle all the production and shipping. If you wait for the sales at the T-shirt portals you can get them for the same price I can. (I don't make as much $ myself but it's cheaper for YOU this way, and I just love to see my art on people (plus I don't need to take your money, everyone else does enough of that) So I didn't really have "stock", just a few samples which were snapped up. This did make a few people upset they couldn't get their size that day. I am super sorry about that too.

I just have to keep saying it. I just do the artwork. But it's all available to you (for a time) online to order at any time onto any product you can think of. So, it's kinda super good for the pickleballer who has everything.

The lovely Vernon Pickleball Club and my cute little tent!

What is different about me from some other people who've entered the POD market is that I actually make my own art. And I stop allowing some patterns to be produced after a while so some people literally have one of a kind items now. Even the people who have purchased popular designs, have one of less than 100 in most cases.

Me and my banner yeah!!

And the images that I upload are not AI created, nor bought from fiver or from anyone. They are made entirely by me which also means that I can create more art, and I can do custom team wear for you. So do check that all out if you are looking for personalization or custom one of a kind items.

And you know, if it makes it a bit difficult to get my stuff because you have to look for it, then that's ok by me, it just means that when YOU wear a Pickleball ARTwear item you are showing people that you went out and made the effort to support an artist, you curated this piece of unique, original, NON AI art, you didn't just pull it off the rack from a department store like a million other people.

And if you look at it that way, if you consider that it's a limited piece that not everyone else has? Something you can't find those off the rack anywhere all over the continent?

At my price, it's kind of a steal really. Unless you are going to compare me to Wal Mart, I mean if that is where you are then yes, I understand and appreciate that $55 can seem expensive. But one lady who told me my tank tops were expensive was wearing an entire outfit full of a very well known not cheap yoga brand, and even if she got all of that stuff on sale she still likely spent more than I was asking, so......everyone has a different ways to value things. If you look up any high street designer shop to have a peek at what their tank tops are going for? I found at least 7 for over a thousand dollars, several over 2K so, indeed everything is relative. In some worlds, given what they actually are and that some are already limited editions, my tops are kind of a steal. So thanks especially to you humans and champions who supported my art and continue to, the ETSY orders have been made and they will be on the way. I was also dead tickled to come home to see orders from both my TEE Public and Threadless artist portals. You pickleballers absolutely rock my world, (and there is more excitement on the way, you'll have to stay tuned for that......but anyhow), thank you. Rachael