Florida Stationery Fest 2026: When the Dog Finally Caught the Car
I’ve joked for years that building an art business felt like a dog chasing a car. Always making things, figuring out what works, what doesn't. Imagining someday.
Then Florida Stationery Fest happened. The dog finally caught the car.
…Now what?
At first glance, it probably looked like Kanna Art Studios burst onto the stationery scene overnight. It didn’t. This was really the culmination of nearly twenty years of creative work. Years of blogging. Years of learning glass, jewelry, illustration, photography, design, printing, packaging, and storytelling. Every project—even the ones that felt like detours—ended up teaching me something I used at this show.
Florida Stationery Fest was simply the first time all of those pieces came together in one place.
My First Stationery Show
This was my very first stationery show, so almost everything was new.
There were around 50 vendors packed into the venue, and although the booths were cozy, the organizers did a wonderful job keeping traffic flowing. The event sold out, and from the moment the doors opened there was an energy that was hard to describe.
Everyone seemed genuinely excited to be there. People weren’t rushing through the aisles. They were exploring. Talking. Comparing fountain pen inks. Admiring paper. Sharing journals. It felt like spending a weekend with thousands of people who understand why a particular shade of teal ink can make your day.
A Little Experiment That Worked
Because I was Booth #1, I worried people would forget where they had seen my artwork after walking through the entire show.
So I created a free 5×7 postcard featuring my flamingo illustration as a thank-you gift. My hope was simple: when someone looked through the postcard later in the day, they’d remember my booth and come back if something had caught their eye. It worked far better than I expected.
I ordered 1,000 postcards and came home with fewer than 100. Even more exciting, roughly 300 people returned to my booth during the weekend to support my little business.
More important than the sales was getting to meet every customer, hear their stories, and watch them choose pieces that resonated with them. That was my favorite part of the entire show.
The Biggest Surprise
I expected stickers to be my bestseller. Instead washi tape completely stole the show. People immediately understood how versatile it was. They imagined decorating journals, planners, envelopes, gifts, sketchbooks, and letters. Once they started matching different designs together, they began building little collections.
That was incredibly encouraging because one of my long-term goals is creating products that coordinate with each other instead of existing as individual pieces.
The washi tape became the cornerstone that connected everything else.
What I Learned
Like every first show, I came home with pages of notes.
- I brought too much inventory. Next time I’ll still bring the full product line, but fewer quantities of each item so setup is easier and restocking is simpler.
- My displays looked nice, but I need to redesign how they pack so they’re easier to transport without damage.
- I also discovered the importance of having one clear “hero” product that immediately captures attention while naturally leading people to the rest of the collection.
Future Ideas
Other lessons were about the attendees. Many visitors purchased three-day passes and approached the weekend almost like researchers. They spent the first day exploring, made notes, and returned later for thoughtful purchases.
That sparked an idea. I’d love to create a little Florida Stationery Fest passport where attendees could collect stamps from vendors, jot down notes, and remember booths they wanted to revisit.
The Kindness of the Stationery Community
The best part of the weekend was the people. Everyone—from fellow vendors to customers—was incredibly kind, encouraging, and generous with their time.
I made wonderful new connections and left feeling like I’d found a community that delights in the same rabbit trails I do: fountain pens, paper, watercolor, stickers, journals, washi tape, inks, and all the little details that make using them joyful. It felt less like attending a trade show and more like finding my people.
Then Came the Post-Show Apocalypse
After unloading everything back into my studio…
Chaos.
My entire 220-square-foot studio exploded.
Boxes. Displays. Inventory. Packing supplies. Half-finished ideas.
Nothing quite fit anymore because the studio that had helped me build the business wasn’t designed to support the business I have now. So instead of rushing into the next project, July and August are becoming my “business foundations” months. The goal isn’t just to clean. It’s to redesign the space so it supports everything I’ve learned from Florida Stationery Fest.
A better workflow. Better storage. Better packaging. Better photography. A studio built for the next chapter instead of the last one.
Looking Ahead
Another delightfully unexpected outcome happened after the show. People began sharing videos on YouTube, mentioning Kanna Art Studios, and posting about their purchases. Seeing my little booth appear in someone else’s Florida Stationery Fest recap felt wonderfully surreal.
I’m still processing all of it. Florida Stationery Fest wasn’t the finish line. It was the beginning
After twenty years of making art, experimenting, documenting the journey, and slowly building the skills that led here…
I finally caught the car.
Now I get to figure out where we’re driving next.