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All that sparkles is at Pumpkin Fair
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Black Lotus Creation by Amanda Inda of Manteca will be among the vendor booths during this weekends Pumpkin Fair. - photo by Photo Contributed

FAST FACTS

• WHAT: 30th annual Manteca Pumpkin Fair

• WHERE: Downtown Manteca

• WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 4, & Sunday, Oct. 5, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• ADMISSION: Free

Amanda Inda started making her one-of-a-kind jewelry as a hobby.

She never imagined that high-end costume jewelry made of genuine stone and glass beads would be a for-profit endeavor.

During this weekend’s annual Pumpkin Fair, her Black Lotus Creation will be among the 200 vendors in downtown Manteca. This will be her second appearance as a vendor, having worked an event held at the Lathrop Senior Center.

“That was an awesome event,” Inda said on Thursday.

The Manteca resident came away learning that, as a vendor, getting there early was important to the success of her small business.

About two years ago, Inda was pregnant with her daughter when she took to making jewelry as a hobby, getting encouragement from her husband along the way.

She never set out to sell her creation. At the now defunct Covey’s Sports Grill in Tracy, Inda was able to set up shop since she knew the owner.

It was there that she found people had an interest in her work.

After awhile, Inda became burned out from spending her weekend’s selling her jewelry at the Tracy sports bar. “I just wanted to be a stay-at-home mom,” she said.

But it was there that Inda received a job offer to work at the GUESS factory outlet store in Manteca. She did that for nearly two years.

“I did sell my jewelry but only on the side,” said Inda, who sold it strictly to her colleagues at work.

She also became interested in expanding the business. Inda held a yard sale to make some extra cash, displaying her jewelry. Along the way, she met Michelle Domier, who was also interested in Inda’s work.

She introduced Inda to the vendor community at the Oakland First Friday event several months ago.

From there, Inda was able to make her own contact for the Lathrop event as well as the Pumpkin Fair. Because her work is one-of-a-kind, there are no duplicates.

“I looking forward to working at the Pumpkin Fair,” she said. “I’m super stoked.”