CD Spinning

I've been spinning on my CD spindle while I was away in Sydney.

Tomorrow is the 9"x5" Quality Makers Market, about to be renamed to the Ivanhoe Makers Market, and I'll be there spinning the rest of this top from First editions that I bought on my way to Harrietville this year.

Last month was my Autumn sale and proved to be reasonably successful. We're currently trying ways to improve the market and get more stallholders and attract more visitors.

Come and see us!

PS Don't you just love a photograph on a glass table?

Autumn Sale

Saturday (March 21st, 10am-3pm) is the next 9"x5" QMM market and I'm going to have a GIANT sale. 20% off everything.





There are several reasons for this and I'm actually quite excited. This is all part of the ongoing research into the how to run my business successfully.



Here are the reasons I have for having a sale.



1. To move enough items that replacing them will freshen up my range of products. There are some things that are seen and admired at most markets, someone will want them!

2. To see if the price difference makes an impact on sales. I don't want to reduce prices as they represent a fair price, but a sale can test the waters.

3. To see if just having a sale makes any difference to sales. I'm not sure how I'll tell the difference between 2 and 3, but we'll see.

So, if you're around Ivanhoe on Saturday, come and visit us. Maybe you'll pick up a bargain.

Starting the market on Saturdays

Well, here's my box full of yarns, labelled and ready to go. I've finally done it properly and all my fingerless mittens, wristwarmers and cuffs have also been properly recorded and labelled.

The 9x5 market has changed it's day to the 3rd Saturday of the month and tomorrow (21st) is the first market for 2009 on a Saturday.

I've revamped the look of my stall and hope that helps people look at my work in a new way. (I'll try and remember to take pictures)

I am however, not feeling particularly optimistic. My last few markets have not been particularly successful and trying to sell wool in Summer seems to be a sort of hopeless task. Five months on Etsy with only two sales seems to only add to the negative outlook.

This blog is supposed to be about inspiration, not about frustration and doubt, but that is part of the process. I'm just not sure which process I'm in.

I hope lots of people come.

9"x5" Quality Makers Market - 1st birthday

Tomorrow is market day and we're celebrating our first birthday. It should be a fun day with balloons, cake and champagne. There'll be a raffle and hopefully lots of people will come and enjoy our market.

In honour, I've made a bunch of wrist warmers with new special packaging and a special price for the day. Hopefully they'll work out.

If you come to the market, come and have a chat, I'll have my spinning wheel going and I've been threatened with some cat hair to spin!

Happy Mothers' Day

Mothers' Day was a bit strange as the 9"x5" QMM market was on so I spent most of my day sitting on the stall. However, I did get a lovely bunch of flowers when I finally made it home and my oldest son made my lunch for me. Lovely roll with proscuitto, brie, olives, sundried tomatoes and some chocolates included. Excellent.

The market did go reasonably well. I sold a few smaller items, still not alot of scarves. Yarns for the first time and I probably could have sold all the fingerless mittens I could make.....guess what I'll be making for the next month?

While not wildly financially successful, am feeling a whole lot better about the venture.

You can't have enough earings

The last couple of days has seen alot of administration and not alot of work. I did manage to console myself at In.cube8tr with these gorgeous and inexpensive pair of earings.

I haven't sold anything, as yet. I did have a chat with the lovely Kylie. Lots of encouragement and feedback. I have now met Kylie and the equally lovely Lisa. I did manage a good look around. My favourites were the knitwear and the found object jeweller. It will be interesting to see how this shop evolves.

Yesterday was market allocation day and we spent the morning putting people in their places. We've managed to just have enough to open both the upper and lower halls. There are some interesting new people. So if you're around Ivanhoe on Sunday come and have a look.

Successful market day

At last a really good day at the market. But would you believe, I sold lots of scarves. I've come to the conclusion that to sell the art work, people need to get to know me. I've sold two pieces, one at the market and another to the owner of Woolybutt, both people I know well. So I've just got to perservere. And I sold some yarn!

So for the next month I'll be knitting scarves!