Anyway we have a few under our belt but still new at this market game and the highs and lows that come with it. What I have loved is that I do these markets with my sister Emma from Sparrow Design & Illustration and it is just so much fun getting to do these with her. We have discovered that we work rather well together, when I am having a 'blank freak out my brain has stopped working and I don't know how the table should look' moment she is right there sorting it for me and when she is having a 'did you bring a pen, how about scissors, have you got cellotape' moment I am that girl that has the little snaplock bag full of all your stall needs!
First stall we took over one and a half hours to get it set up and ready and there were some moments of panic as people started arriving for the market and we weren't ready!! And the problem with stalls is that everyone can see you are not ready so there is no hiding behind a roller door and a closed sign leaving all your disorganised panic on display for all the eager early bird market goers. I am going to be honest and there were a few terse words spoken to children who had in the excitement come along for the first market experience but couldn't help but stand in the exact spot they were not meant to be in!
By the 5th stall we were cooking with gas. Because of the position of our stall at this particular market, we were the last allowed to set up, and with a tiny 45 minute window to set up before the market opened I will openly admit I was a doubter. There was actually no reason to doubt as we were up and ready with minutes to spare! Look at the progress, five stalls in and we are easily halving our set up time...some record breaking to be sure!
So once all is set up what are two sisters to do but settle in for some good old convo...you can't seriously expect to have two sisters with no children in tow (after stall two I learnt that lesson!) and no where else to be, together for four or five hours and expect there to be no talking can you?! Oh we talk that is for sure!! We sometimes forget that we are not the only ones at the market and we tend to be a little loud in our animated and often inappropriate conversations and when we do realise the volumes we have reached and the things that we have said we really hope no one was standing observing and listening to the details. And the laughter...you know how they say that laughter is the best medicine and as adults we sometimes don't laugh enough as we get too serious doing the hard grind...well markets are our tonic and rest assured there is loads of laughter and near pant wetting situations!
Here are some photos from our stall ventures and while we don't take the kitchen sink it is true that we do however take the dining room table, who we fondly refer to as 'tepu' (which is the Maori word for table), along for the ride.
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| First stall - shop assistants ready and waiting |
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| Second stall - the fun may have worn off a little for the smallest member of the house! |
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| Since realised that I need a sign that says 95% natural as I use flavour oils which aren't always natural!! Whoops! But it's only a few drops per lip balm so really maybe they are 98% natural?! |
We have another stall in a week and a half at the Morrinsville A&P Show so looking forward to trying something new and checking out some cute farmy animals while we are there. And then we are hoping to get into some regular markets again as well as trying out the Matangi School Gala. But the biggy will be trying our hand at getting into the much sought after Auckland Fair in June...it's a bit of a long shot but you've gotta try these things right?!
Far and away the best thing that has come from this market going journey has been the lovely people I have met along the way, friendships I have made and the love tank filling time I get to spend with my sis...some for a season, some for a reason and some for life!
Take care and till then
