Friday, March 26, 2010

A New Chapter

sewing machine

picture from bubbo-tubbo.

I've been doing lots of thinking lately, and the truth is that doing the markets every week is driving me slightly mad. I'm caught in a never ending cycle where all I really do is make blinkies, which I like to do, but frankly, I like to do other things as well. I have numerous half-finished projects, which I begin each Monday, and have to put aside each Wednesday because the Friday night deadline is always looming. My Fridays are dedicated to odds and ends related to the markets, my Saturdays are the markets, my Sundays are simply spent recovering from the markets, and balancing the books, which don't always balance.


The markets and associated costs such as petrol and all that unavoidable snacking-- which I promise myself each week that I won't be doing-- is my biggest cost. It's about 30% of my expenditure, and I'd rather be giving that 30% to shops who can sell for me despite the weather conditions, who have a larger window of opportunity than just 10am-4pm on a Saturday, and where I don't have to be the one doing the selling.


So, things are changing around here! I'm not going to be a regular at Glebe anymore. In fact after tomorrow, I'll be going pre-paid, which means that I'll just book ahead for when I want to show up, and pick a stall number on the day, maybe once a month. And I'll be doing some big markets here and there along the way, but regular markets where I'm competing with loads of imported items are just not so viable, and neither are craft markets where I'm competing with drastically underpriced copies of toys from the Softies books.


On the up side, the markets were GREAT for me. I made friends and contacts, I got to learn lots from those people, and from my customers, I got to see what people responded to, and what they didn't, and I got to practice my skills, and I must say, that I'm a pretty confident doll making lady these days. A year ago, I would have been too modest to say that, and when people complimented me on my skills, I used to think to myself 'wow, she must be a bad sewer if she thinks I'm any good', but I've come to see that growing up around people who sew things with as much ease as the rest of drink water, might have confused my idea of what good sewing was!


Anyway, I feel like an infinite number of good things came from the markets, it's just time for me to move on!

Hope you have a great weekend!

B.







7 comments:

Kirsty said...

Can't wait to see what you come up with next!

CurlyPops said...

I've been having the same thoughts lately (and I don't do markets weekly). I have two left to go and then I'm having a winter break to rest and rejig and restock my ideas.

Carmen said...

oooh, does that mean there might be more in your shop for us interstaters?! Looking forward to seeing what your creative mind creates.

B @ Sweet Limes said...

You know, what you said here is the exact reason I haven't hoped on board with doing markets myself. I am scared I'll never get "fun" sewing done and I don't want to get stuck in the rut of pushing out things just because I have to have a full table. I've had a few friends tell me I should sell some of my stuff at the markets here, but truth be told I can't see it working for me. Nice to hear my thoughts so well said from someone else.

gretchen/juneatnoon said...

It's good to be able to evaluate and "reset" sometimes. Sounds like you're doing what's best for you, and I have no doubt you'll be success whatever route you go!

kellie said...

Well, I love your new earings. You have lots of ideas and will have great sucess.
Now that you have time...ha ha
I went ahead and made a package exchange at blog, so join in. =)

Michelle said...

Markets are a lot of fun, but very time consuming too. I only do two a quarter and wouldn't be able to keep up with anymore. I hope your new arrangements give you the extra time you need.