Keep it Simple Stupid!

A few days on from the Bath Artisan Market and I am feeling more positive than I did on Sunday.  Boy!  Was it chilly or what - it's the middle of May for Pete's sake!  Trade was slow but I did cover my costs and got some feedback and so hope to do better next month!


Lovely but, perhaps, a touch too busy?  I vow to be more 'organised' in future!

With June in mind (early June mind) I'm hoping the tourists will be out and the weather will be a whole lot more clement!  I will be creating a few more items - Pooh Bear, Dennis the Menace, and perhaps some vintage Peter and Jane pieces too.  Also working on 'point of sale' (POS) since I think my stall may be gorgeous but, perhaps, a touch too busy (like an advert wanting to squash too much in!) so that my dear clientele can actually see exactly what it is I have to offer!  I should be good at this (given my advertising background) but I am so close to it I do find it difficult to step back and take an objective stance!  I have, therefore, decided to have a few practise runs and invest in some POS shelves/staging - I hope it pays off!

What was is Sir Robert the Bruce said?  "If at first you don't succeed, try, try, and try again!".  Will do!

A Rain Day in Bath? Not at Green Park!

Well, today started out just peachy!  Glorious sunshine, barely a breath of wind and just a whisper of cloud on the horizon...it was not to last!

 

We arrived at Green Park, my daughter (Daisy) and I, a touch frazzled, having taken one too many wrong turns through the maze that is Bath!  I ended up mounting the pavement (deliberately) and unloading the car (Betty Flower) at the steps to the entrance of Green Park Station - I was desperate and frantic, "Challenge me for being such a rebel ... IF YOU DARE!" - nobody did!  My daughter was chilled and just going with the flow...she has been my leveller the whole day.

 

So, we get our stuff unpacked.  We stand and look at it.  Daisy gets the chairs set up (priorities)!  I look at it some more.  I realise I did not need to bring along a trestle table after all.  Daisy asks if it's time for a snack yet - it has just turned 9.00am.  We munch on some dried mango (tastes better than it sounds!).  We both look at the stall.  We look at each other.  We grin and blow each other a kiss and say "I love you!".  We finally get down to business and start setting up our stall.

Driftwood and Debris at BAM!

 

A blurry helper at rear of stall

 

The Vintage Hearts yielded loads of interest!

 

Bluebells from the garden added a freshness to the display and some glorious scent too!

The day was chilly and the weather went from fine to grey to grizzle and drizzle.  I gave out a few business cards and flyers and have already had a mention on another blog and 2 new 'likers' on my Facebook page.  I managed to cover my costs (just) and met a bunch of lovely fellow stall holders - ALL way more experienced than me but more than happy to share their knowledge and experience.  For me, it is a lovely way to spend the day (so long as my costs are covered) and any profit is a bonus.  My DH thinks I'm a nutcase but does his best to understand...and he spends his leisure time catching fish and putting them back!

 

That's by-the-by though, I was fired up enough to want to give it another go and feeling mildly confident about June.  The weather can surely only get better, can't it?!

Nostrils full of Paper Dust!

As usual, I have known for ages that I've got an upcoming market event and I have left it until the last minute to get my stock up to date and relevant for the time of year!  Christmas?  No problem - stars coming out of my ears.  Spring/Summer?  Uh Oh!

Not to worry.  Thanks to my, ever-patient, husband I now have a summer range of fridge magnets and bunting.  I have also experimented with matt varnish and I love, love, love it on the bunting and some of my new key-rings and magnets - the finish is great and the durability equally as strong; it also dries so much quicker than the gloss!

So, with just days to go, I have a table full of half-made products awaiting either a final layer of varnish or a jump-ring and key-ring attachment - or even a magnetic attachment.  Why do I put myself (and my poor family) through this stress?  I don't know!  But I do know that I enjoy the buzz of the day and meeting fellow crafters and artists who are trying to make their hobby pay. 

Here's to next Sunday at http://bathartisanmarket.com/our-next-market/ - hope to see you there!