the joys and pitfalls of Christmas markets

Oh, it's a difficult old business, selecting which craft fairs and markets to attend with one's handmade wares. I tend to pick a few I hear about through other makers and give them a go. This can go one of two ways:

1. Successful: sell some pieces, give out some business cards to people who like the jewellery, cover my costs and a bit more

or

2. Stand for 5 hours in a virtually deserted hall emitting increasing waves of desperation as three old ladies and a toddler wander around, until I want to leave and weep into a plate of chips at the nearest pub.

There is no way of knowing which of the above experiences will play out, one can only turn up with one's best intentions, enthusiasm and a smile and hope for the best. During a particularly dire Saturday event recently my mum and I brainstormed a few possible techniques for attracting customers even in tumbleweed-quiet circumstances:

- drawing attention to one's stall by performing a spontaneous and vigorous dance
- using a lasso to 'encourage' visitors to view the stall
- intimidation and swearing.

Not having personally tested them, I wouldn't recommend any of the above techniques, but it's something to think about.

my mum gets things organised

Because neatness and methodical-ness are not my strong points, my lovely mum helps me out a lot with the things that need doing for my wee jewellery business that are not the actual making of jewellery. I do the making bit, and she gives me a bi-monthly clip around the ear to remind me to refresh supplies at stockists or reply to emails or whatever.

So today I showed up at their house with 5 boxes of jewellery, display stands, paperwork, tablecloths, lamps and assorted items, organised Nancy-style (ie. crammed in haphazardly), and my marvellous mum and I worked through it all, dividing things into needed and not-needed, potentially useful and old rubbish. We also found:

1. a small, green, plastic pirate's sword
2. 5p
3. a dead fly.

So now we have 3 boxes all packed up and ready for the Christmas craft markets. *phew*

getting ready for my first craft fair of the season

Having had an on-off lurgy for the past few weeks and being busy at weekends, I am rather behind schedule for preparing for the Christmas fairs and craft markets I've booked for the next few weeks. My next one is this Sunday, the newly-established Craftmakersmarket at Avoncroft Arts Centre in Bromsgrove, this Sunday, the 6 November.

I've been gathering some lovely display things, including a somewhat worn antique jewellery box, some vintage cocktail glasses and plates, on which to show my wares. So I'm excited to see what it looks like when it all comes together (courtesy of my mum, who is far more talented at display layouts than I).