spring market season

My first market of 2016 is Clover Market this Sunday in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. 

I really love selling at markets. During non-market months, I feel a bit sad without that date to look forward to. A large part of my market joy comes from meeting customers and other makers. Four years ago, when I signed on to do my first holiday Waldorf fair, I would have never guessed that my introverted, loner personality would enjoy the long days of putting myself and my creations on display and interacting with so many people. But I do enjoy the interaction, and at the end of a show I'm absolutely exhausted in the best way possible. 

There's something very gratifying in every step of the market process. The set-up, which is physical and can be quite demanding, makes me appreciate my health and my body for all that I'm able to accomplish. Arranging and displaying my work is an extension of the creative process. Creating a booth is like creating a traveling shop. The opportunity to build a stage for your products on which they feel at home, is a learning experience that I can draw on later when I'm photographing products for online sales. Selling at markets also allows me to offer things that I might not sell online. I can make a small batch of seasonal goods – knitted wool cuffs in winter, or naturally dyed jersey cuffs in spring. Selling online requires a lot of steps in order to get your product in front of people – making, packaging, photographing, writing descriptions and titles, calculating shipping weights, and then actually listing the item. The comparative quickness of making something and immediately offering it to customers, can be sheer creative freedom. 

So now that market season has begun, my heart is happy. Hope you'll visit me at an upcoming show. 

This Sunday, April 24th – Clover Market from 10-5 pm in Bryn Mawr, PA

May 11 - 14th - Brimfield

June 5th – Clover Market in Bryn Mawr, PA