We have this wonderful hidden art community called Railroad Square here in town, and I sign up for the monthly newsletters to see what they have planned. They MUST have heard my thoughts because I opened my email in January and was taken aback that they were hosting what they called a "Funky Flea Market" open to everyone! For $10 and a name, I could bring all my stuffed animals to sell in person in the best environment possible! I just HAD to do it. Quickly realizing that I didn't have enough inventory to fill a table (I only had 7 critters to sell! Eeep!), let alone a table at all, I asked around my crafting friends to see if anyone wanted to share a table with me. My friend Amanda was ALL about it, AND she had a table! I couldn't wait!
When it came time for the big day, something came up at Amanda's work, and she was not able to accompany me to the flea market. I had to go it alone. Thankfully, it turned out to be super easy!
Amanda is so multi-talented, and very very creative, and had HUNDREDS of hand braided macrame jewelry pieces to offer, as well as some sewn belts, some RAM keychains, and small glass infused jewelry bowls for sale. She set me up proper with a big bag of her goodies, and I donated my chair to display my creatures in, and it was ON!
People were there selling their household goods, like a true flea market, but the really interesting tables belonged to those displaying beautiful handmade lovlies that hours must have been spent on designing,creating, and perfecting. I liked seeing other artists out there actually working on new pieces in between customers. I picked a sunny spot as this January day was terribly cold, but I kept moving, and quickly heated up.
I knew that I was making these for kids, but their enthusiasm for my creatures was more than I could have ever imagined. The first one I sold was to a little girl named Lily, no older than three, and walked straight up to the chair of critters, and swooped Allen the Alien up in her arms, just about as big as she was, then toddled off declaring, "Boo tee full!" I couldn't let her NOT leave with one. I asked her father to pay much less than I intended just so she could have it, and thankfully, he argued to pay extra. It was the first time I've had to sell my critters in person, and was exhilarating!
Shortly after Lily and Allen left, another little girl visited my table, and fell in love with Handy Henry. It couldn't have been a better match!
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| The Goods on display! |
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| The sign says it all. <3 |
I knew that I was making these for kids, but their enthusiasm for my creatures was more than I could have ever imagined. The first one I sold was to a little girl named Lily, no older than three, and walked straight up to the chair of critters, and swooped Allen the Alien up in her arms, just about as big as she was, then toddled off declaring, "Boo tee full!" I couldn't let her NOT leave with one. I asked her father to pay much less than I intended just so she could have it, and thankfully, he argued to pay extra. It was the first time I've had to sell my critters in person, and was exhilarating!
Shortly after Lily and Allen left, another little girl visited my table, and fell in love with Handy Henry. It couldn't have been a better match!
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| <3 ! |
As the day progressed, however, so did the weather. The wind began to howl like crazy, and for those in the shade, froze. Everyone had things knocked off their tables, and unfortunately for a neighboring vendor, had a LOT of things broken. We were supposed to be there from noon until 5pm, but by 3pm, all the vendors had packed up their things to escape the crazy winds for shelter.
Overall, it was a good experience, and we had a LOT of people turn out, and I ended up selling four of the seven animals I brought!!! It's great, because I could really see what styles were selling best, (the remaining three are the same style! Whoa! What an eye opener!) and now I have a goal to have more at the ready!
I plan on going again to the Funky Flea Market to sell, but I am really excited about a local place I recently discovered that offers shelf space in their store here in town for the handmade beauties and musings of neighboring artists. Guess I need to start sewing quicker!!! What will I make next?
Overall, it was a good experience, and we had a LOT of people turn out, and I ended up selling four of the seven animals I brought!!! It's great, because I could really see what styles were selling best, (the remaining three are the same style! Whoa! What an eye opener!) and now I have a goal to have more at the ready!
I plan on going again to the Funky Flea Market to sell, but I am really excited about a local place I recently discovered that offers shelf space in their store here in town for the handmade beauties and musings of neighboring artists. Guess I need to start sewing quicker!!! What will I make next?
