Survival and sales

Well I survived the weekend's market.  It ended up being a rather exhausting day.  I had (rather optimistically and stupidly) opted to attend a Twenty20 game of cricket being played between NZ and South Africa on Friday night.  Whilst I did make us leave the game a little early, it wasn't before the consumption of one or two mini bottles of Sav Blanc.  The ironing and packing that had been the jobs for Friday night then became the jobs for Saturday morning.

We loaded up to the car and unloaded on Jackson Street and set up my table.  In a rather bizarre spot allocation, I was backing onto a food van and next to the fair rides. Compared to all the established vendors, my wee table of wee wares seemed terribly small.  And as the sun shone down and the food van generator droned on, it has to be said that the spot was not my favourite and I felt cooked (and somewhat hung over) by the end of the day.

However I was delighted to have people to keep me company (thanks guys - pictured is my friend and her adorable son) and to receive so many nice comments and compliments from people - its always nerve racking having people inspect your handiwork and was nice to get some very flattering comments.

Off to Sydney this weekend for a friends wedding and then the Newtown Fair the weekend following.  Just keeping on trucking.

Getting ready for market day

Well it has certainly been a hectic few weeks.  Leading up to Petone Rotary Fair on Jackson Street this weekend, I have been desperately trying to get my myself organised.  I finally set up the trestle table last night to do a trial run of what my stall will look like.  I am pretty chuffed with the result - but that might be the tiredness talking.  There are a few sale items of stock that didn't sell last time (and I have never got around to putting on my felt shop) as well as quite a few new creations.
 

I have almost finished (final stitches tonight) a variety of clutch purses - a retro themed batch of small purses from fabrics chosen by my very dear (and retro inspired) friend Vanessa; a bunch of medium sized purses which are typical fabric choices for me (florals and brocade type designs); and some oversized clutches made from a gorgeous thick-weaved pattern that I absolutely love.  I really do like this fabric so am secretly hoping they won't sell so I can keep one all to myself.

I was also so pleased with how my screen printed cushion turned out that I made a couple more in a variety of black on white, or white on black etc.  They look lovely.  I did a few with the tree design (see burnt-to-crisp example in previous post) and with the feathers.  (I can safely say that my screen printing prowess has improved markedly with practice.)

My last venture was to screen print a few muslin baby wraps.  If there one universal truth (along with all the other universal truths) it is that mothers can't have enough wraps.  They provide warmth when required, shade when required, swaddling and privacy, as well as always being available for clean up duties (spit, vom, dribble to name but a few varieties).  The great thing about this muslin is it breathes, has a little bit of 'give' in it so not to constrictive, and it dries in no time flat. 

I tried to tone down the yellow by mixing white, which I thought might be a nice colour for some floating feathers.  It is still super bright and perhaps not my favourite result.  The tree design sitting in the middle of the baby's back when wrapped is kinda nice though.

Anyway, other than finishing off a few items, I am pulling together all those extra things one needs for market day (all the little things like price tags and signs, business cards, change, bags for purchases, cellotape & scissors, pen, chairs, weather protection for whatever happens .... and the list goes on).  It will be a relief when Saturday finally rolls around.