Knitting Needle Organizer

After looking at the amount of space that I will have at the new Milk Market stand I decided that I needed to expand my range a little bit so my stall doesn't look too empty. Last night when I came home from working in the restaurant I cut out all the panels for 7 new knitting needle rolls, I hope to have at least 10 of them completed for the market. I always think having a range of the same item looks far more eye catching at a stand then just a few bits of everything.

I'll be a busy bee trying to get everything sorted. I want to make sure that the stand looks it's best from the first week. That means I'll have to sort out all of my signs, and make sure I'm fully stocked for all of my buttons and mirrors. A change like this can be a very good thing as it forces me to get organised and breathe a bit of life back into my selection. I'm also thinking of adding a new range of pincushions, but I'm not sure I'll get them done this week.

The Big Move for The Sunday Market

I went down to the Milk Market today to have a look at the fancy new interior and I'm so impressed. I met one of the organisers, Chris, and we had a chat about the stalls, layout and the facilities there. We will all be provided with our own stand, and even tables, which will make my life so much easier since I haul down all my stock on a trolly. He is also encouraging people to have their logos printed on vinyle sheeting, so that wel all look colourful and disttinctive from each other. When it's all totally finished it going to look really amazing and I'm so excited to be moving into it.

When I heard that they were putting a roof on it I was delighted because of the weather cover it will provide, but to be honest a part of me was concerned that it would be dark and gloomy. But I was delighted to see today how light and airy the space feels, and the canopy nearly adds a glowing white light to the space...very serene and stat treky looking.

The dates for the opening are slightly different than what I had thought initially. Tomorrow will be my last Suday at the Bedford Row market, and we will be taking a break for one week, and then we will commence trading on Sunday 20th of June. A small part of me will be a little sad to leave Bedford Row after 3 years of trading there every week, but what we are getting in exchange far out weighs that.

Market Stall Pics

I have returned to the blogosphere! After my little break I had a wee relapse with a nasty cold followed by a very busy weekend, after one week away it feels like I've been gone for a month. The busyness at the weekend was due in part to a craft class that I taught as part of the Spiritstore Cat Dig event. I wrote a full post about it all on the team blog, scoot over here if you wanna take a look at what I was up to.

I've also been back at the market about a month now so I thought I would show you guys some pictures of my stall. I've mostly focused on selling the accesssories and sewing supplies. So I went for a really bright and colourful display, with two large cork boards displaying all my pieces. I also got these really bright containers in the Euro store and they are great for selling the mixed bags of buttons. Next week I really want to bring down my snazzy card stand, but the transport of it is a bit cumbersome (check out this old post to see the crazy contraption we use to get it to the market). Also do you like my new banner? I used to have a long printed laminated one but I thought I would make this sweet sewn one, I think it looks far more crafty.

Getting Organised

I usually bring some sewing with me to the market for two reasons. 1: So people can see that the pieces are made by me, and not by children in a sweatshop! I ended up talking to lots of customers at the market because the tell me stories about their mothers sewing lots, or their grannies button boxes, it's fun! 2: Sometimes it can get really boring if it's quiet and I would prefer to be doing something contructive rather that staring at the stall holder across from me. What I've been doing before was to bung a load of felt, thread and buttons into a box, and work things out when I got there. This mostly led to me making either ugly brooches that didn't match, or lots of half finished pieces. I was over at my favourite blog Lupin and she showed her whip box of tricks. She pre-cuts and bags all her pieces. Genius!!! I tried it on Sunday and I got loads made, with no waste. So yesterday I pre-cut 30 brooches, bagged them up, and they are ready to go. When they are finished all I do is staple a tag onto the bag and they are ready to sell, how handy is that??

Ps: there is a possibility of me maybe getting a pitch at the much sought after Saturday Milk Market in Limerick....if all of you could collectively cross your fingers for me I might be in with a chance!

1950's Pin-ups

Here are some cards I made yesterday. They are collaged together from some lovely paper I got in my local craft shop, odds and ends of ribbon, and a great 1950's pin-up book that I got in HMV about a year ago. I carefully cut around the ladies and then root through my box of papers to find patterns and colours that will match them. I also got a great label maker in Lidl ages ago, so I make sarcastic little comments for some of them. I'm also using my new stamp for the back of the cards instead of including a business card. This is way better as the recipient sees the logo and not just the sender. I really love making cards, I know there is not much money to be made from them compared to the time and materials that go into each one, but I enjoy it too much to stop making them.

I'll be selling them tomorrow at the Sunday Market in Limerick City, on Bedford Row, 12-5pm. They are 4 euro each or 3 for 10 euro, 0r if you wish to buy them online just contact me. This is my first week back at the market since Christmas Eve, I always get a little nervous going back, which is silly I know. It will be really nice to see all the other stall holders again, as there is a lovely sense of community between us. There is a great mix of gourmet foods and handcrafts on sale. I'll try to remember to bring my camera so I can post somepictures for you guys.

New Brooches

In preparation for the Sunday Bedford Row market starting back this week I've gone into brooch making over drive. I'm not sure if I'll make it this week, but definitely from the following Sunday this Christmas I'll be selling there every week from 12-5pm. Part of me excited to go back, and the other part is sad to say goodbye to my Sundays again, it is such a lovely day to have off.

Here is what I made yesterday, I won't be listing them in my Etsy shop, so if you want to pick one up they are 10 euro each at my stall.

Hope to see you there :)

New Markets

I'm gonna be a busy bee over the next few weeks. I just got confirmation today that I'll be doing the markets in UL over the Christmas. So any of you fine folk who are studying hard over December, pop into the courtyard between 11pm and 5pm every Tuesday. I'm also meant to be taking part in a market being held in the Art College in Claire St. That's meant to be 9th Dec, but I havn't heard much about it so I'm waiting to confirm that. I'll also be doing 'show your business' on Friday 11th December in Bank of Ireland on O Connell St, in Limerick. It sounds kinda odd to be honest, basically I stand about the bank all day trying to sell my lovely wares to customers. It could be good, it could be dire, hard to tell with something like that. On top of all that I'll still be doing the Sunday Market every week!! Hopefully this year we will get a permit extension and be able to sell every day on Bedford Row in the week coming up to Christmas, but I'll hear more about that tomorrow.
Somewhere in there I've to squeeze in time to go to 2 weddings, a birthday party, do all my Christmas shopping, oh and make things too!! To be honest I'm really glad things are busy, the way all the talk was going I was starting to think there would be no Christmas rush, and that Santa may have been killed by either swine flu or the recession.

Market Cancelled

Sorry to anyone who went down to the Sunday Market today on Bedford Row. It was cancelled due to the horrendous weather forecast. Unfortunately that street it's on is a bit of a wind tunnel, and I've seen four of those green canopys (all still attached to each other) go flyying down the street. It can be pretty dangerous in weather like this, and it's just not worth the risk of damage, or taking someones eye out. We really hate cancelling this close to Christmas but it has to be done. But we'll all be there with bells on next week 12-5pm, as usual.

On the upside it did mean I got to have a lovely lie in, which was much needed after the market yesterday at Winterfest. What I had thought was going to be a wet day, turned out to be pretty dry. But it was a constant battle against the wind and I'm surprised our gazebo stayed up for the day. We had all of our rails and tables bungee corded together, with loads of sandbags. Aside from the weather it was a nice day, and it's always good to meet new customers (just unfortunate that I told about 50 people I would be down at the market today!).

Thanks to those who came down, and hopefully I'll see you on Bedford Row next week.

(thanks to the Limerickblogger for the image)

More Things I Like

I'm gonna do another things I like Friday, since I enjoyed the last one so much. I may turn it into a regular thing I'm not sure, depends if I like that many things, ha! Kudos again to Magatha-May for the idea that I stole from her Things I like Thursday.

-Fresh sheets: It's such a little thing, but it's so nice. It's a mixture of the smell and the crispness, and I'm convinced it makes the bed a little bit warmer. It's just a shame I HATE changing the bed covers or I would have this joy more often.

-Reading. I've always been a bit reader, my mother joined us all up at the Library at the age of 4. I read a very strange mix of books. I read lots of fantasy like Robert Jordan, Tad Williams, Tolkien etc. But then I'm always drawn to the booker prize type of book. I like to break up the fantasy with something a little more weighty. I think it's because we decided not to get a tv when we moved into the new house that I've been reading so much recently. Here's a few good ones I read recently
A Spot of Bother-Mark Haddon
On Beauty- Zadie Smith
We Need to Talk About Kevin- Lionel Shriver
Cell-Stephen King

-Star Trek: At this stage I'm sure you know I'm a bit of a nerd. I own all of Star Trek Next Generation on Dvd! What this refers to is the new Star Trek Movie, which is fantastic! I saw it in the cinema, but the other day John came home and said 'close your eyes, and put out your hands'. Low and behold he had bought the new movie on dvd, yey!

-Chocolate: I've really tried to cut down the last two weeks, but I miss it to much. I think I'll wait till the rain passes and then take a stroll to the shop and get some. Mmmm some coffee too would be good.

Return to the Sunday Market

It looks like I'll be going back to the Sunday market this week. Not in my usual incarnation as all my clothes are in Kilkenny, but I will be selling my pocket mirrors and handmade felt brooches at my friends stall. I will also have a selection of my buttons and ribbon up until the Christmas season starts and I'll replace them with yummy handmade Christmas decorations. I'm still deciding whether I'll make Christmas cards this year, as last year it took up a huge amount of my time for not much money. I might just make a small selection of xmas themed 1950s pinup collages.
So if any of you are looking for me down at the market head towards the gluten free cake stall. I would also highly recommend her merangue it's to die for!!I won't be at the stall myself as for the next few months I will be surgically attached to my sewing machine, but Orla will be there to answer and questions or queeries.

Bedford Row,Limerick City
Sunday 12-5pm