I seem to only be writing about markets lately, but I guess that is the season, so you'll just have to hear about them for at least one more post. I've just finished my final markets for the year and whilst they were immensely enjoyable, I'm also glad to be taking a break from them. They are very physically and mentally demanding. I don't know how people can have market stalls every week and still keep their sanity! (or be active in creating new products either!)
I really put heaps into the preperation for this market. I finally created a sign for my stall, and thought it was the bees knees. Not everyone can afford a $350 professionally printed sign - so I decided to whip up my own. Unfortunately I didn't measure that sign, and didn't realise it would touch the floor! Drats. Initially it was intented to hang at the back of my marquee, or across a wall - but now I've come to realise that you need to be prepared for any occasion. Including street markets!
Here you can see some new stands. A rotating print stand, and two freestanding mesh frames that I just adore. I didn't realise how much room it would free up on my table! yippee!
Oh look there is me. Smiling for once too. Good photo, photo taker!
The festival was so much fun. The only problem was that it rained on my stall for the first time, but we did okay because we were underneath a tree. The stalls next to us were drenched, but lucky us managed to avert any big disasters. Lighting was pretty bad though, and the event ran up until 9pm, but unfortunately it was dark by 8.30pm and most vendors had no lights. I've come across night stalls before, so I had a trick to imrpovise this time. I hooked up torches onto my freestanding screens and had 'spotlights' on my table. They weren't fabulous, but they didn't need power and they certainly helped light things up!
Unfortunately the day didn't go the best. My helper Beth and I sat down and ate lunch at the cafe in between setting up, but sadly ate bad/rich food and were feeling quite ill the remainder of the day. By the time I made it home (about 10pm) I had an awful bellyache, a fever and a migraine. Not a pleasant night!
The weekend however was an absolute blast, and it was such a pleasure to meet so many people. This is the last time my work will be seen in person as it is now, as I'll start to introduce new products and new illustrations in the new year.
Over 10,000 people attended the event, and I was amazed how many people knew about my work & had seen it before. Such a delight! I wish I could have taken some photos of the crowds, but I was flat out, so I only have stall setup images.
The only downfall to the weekend was the dust from the trees. It covered absolutely everything. Every few hours you had to blow the dust off, or dust it - and quite a few people looked at me strangely when I was blowing onto my stock! I could have had a marquee up as a bit of a preventative to the dust saga, but the space was a bit awkward (more thinner and rectangular then square and on my right next to me taking photos was a big tree and the queues for payment, so I didn't want to block any of that off) so I decided to leave it as an open space. It didn't really matter anyway as those who did have the tents & marquees were still riddled with dust at the end of the day as bad as I was. I can't wait for the next Bazaar, this was honestly so much fun.
My stall space was medium in size with two trestle tables. Notice the black tablecloths? All vendors were provided with them - which is unusual because most of the time they are white tablecloths. However by the end of the weekend all vendors would realise why as the dust is so bad it can even be seen on the black - so the white would look awful!
Here Beth is helping me setup, and someone is browsing prior to opening night.
My finished stall. I was glad we had the 'VIP' night on the Friday night because it gave me the chance to work out what was working, and what wasn't. We changed the stall slightly on the Saturday/Sunday by bringing some of the stands lower to interact with the customers more. They always say height is good, and I agree - but I had to have space for at least 2 - 3 people to serve customers at a time. (On saturday - yes we were definitely that busy!!!)
This is the view of the second table at the side - which was next to the entry. This was also the first time I've brought a number of originals along - and they really added to the stall and looked great. I just wish I had a transportable gallery room as well!
Here is an official photograph for the event. This was taken on the Friday afternoon, just prior to opening of the event. Unfortunately this was also the time Beth & I were feeling our worst and we look a little pale!
I'm still amazed at how much I'm growing in everything that I do - my illustrations, my graphic design, my understanding, my business, my website and even my market stalls. I'm achieving more then I could ever have dreamed, and even though I'm exhausted to the core, I'm proud of myself. In regards to a holiday/break I am letting myself have a whole three days break after Christmas - and I'm counting down the days! I just need that little 'pep' break so I can get back into things stronger then ever before.
I still can't believe Christmas is only 13 days away. We haven't put any decorations up, no tree, no christmas cards and we haven't even bought presents yet. eek! That is how busy we've both been!!
Subiaco : Unwrapped 2008
Unwrapped was held on a Thursday night from 6-9pm on Rokeby Road in Subiaco, down the middle of the street. Everyone had one trestle table to showcase their goods, there was a street festival on and Nova was broadcasting live. I had a few second of fame and was interviewed by the radio host - how exciting!I really put heaps into the preperation for this market. I finally created a sign for my stall, and thought it was the bees knees. Not everyone can afford a $350 professionally printed sign - so I decided to whip up my own. Unfortunately I didn't measure that sign, and didn't realise it would touch the floor! Drats. Initially it was intented to hang at the back of my marquee, or across a wall - but now I've come to realise that you need to be prepared for any occasion. Including street markets!
Here you can see some new stands. A rotating print stand, and two freestanding mesh frames that I just adore. I didn't realise how much room it would free up on my table! yippee!
Oh look there is me. Smiling for once too. Good photo, photo taker!
The festival was so much fun. The only problem was that it rained on my stall for the first time, but we did okay because we were underneath a tree. The stalls next to us were drenched, but lucky us managed to avert any big disasters. Lighting was pretty bad though, and the event ran up until 9pm, but unfortunately it was dark by 8.30pm and most vendors had no lights. I've come across night stalls before, so I had a trick to imrpovise this time. I hooked up torches onto my freestanding screens and had 'spotlights' on my table. They weren't fabulous, but they didn't need power and they certainly helped light things up!
Fremantle Bazaar 2008
So the next day I straggled out of bed, repacked the car and headed to Fremantle Arts Centre to set up my stall for Bazaar. We were allowed to get there at 11am, and here I was thinking we'd set up in about 2 hours and then have a snooze until the exclusive VIP opening night. Ha! We were still setting up with minutes to go until opening at 5.30pm. The problem with being given so much time to setup is that you have far more time to think - and an Ali J thinking can be very time consuming!Unfortunately the day didn't go the best. My helper Beth and I sat down and ate lunch at the cafe in between setting up, but sadly ate bad/rich food and were feeling quite ill the remainder of the day. By the time I made it home (about 10pm) I had an awful bellyache, a fever and a migraine. Not a pleasant night!
The weekend however was an absolute blast, and it was such a pleasure to meet so many people. This is the last time my work will be seen in person as it is now, as I'll start to introduce new products and new illustrations in the new year.
Over 10,000 people attended the event, and I was amazed how many people knew about my work & had seen it before. Such a delight! I wish I could have taken some photos of the crowds, but I was flat out, so I only have stall setup images.
The only downfall to the weekend was the dust from the trees. It covered absolutely everything. Every few hours you had to blow the dust off, or dust it - and quite a few people looked at me strangely when I was blowing onto my stock! I could have had a marquee up as a bit of a preventative to the dust saga, but the space was a bit awkward (more thinner and rectangular then square and on my right next to me taking photos was a big tree and the queues for payment, so I didn't want to block any of that off) so I decided to leave it as an open space. It didn't really matter anyway as those who did have the tents & marquees were still riddled with dust at the end of the day as bad as I was. I can't wait for the next Bazaar, this was honestly so much fun.
My stall space was medium in size with two trestle tables. Notice the black tablecloths? All vendors were provided with them - which is unusual because most of the time they are white tablecloths. However by the end of the weekend all vendors would realise why as the dust is so bad it can even be seen on the black - so the white would look awful!
Here Beth is helping me setup, and someone is browsing prior to opening night.
My finished stall. I was glad we had the 'VIP' night on the Friday night because it gave me the chance to work out what was working, and what wasn't. We changed the stall slightly on the Saturday/Sunday by bringing some of the stands lower to interact with the customers more. They always say height is good, and I agree - but I had to have space for at least 2 - 3 people to serve customers at a time. (On saturday - yes we were definitely that busy!!!)
This is the view of the second table at the side - which was next to the entry. This was also the first time I've brought a number of originals along - and they really added to the stall and looked great. I just wish I had a transportable gallery room as well!
Here is an official photograph for the event. This was taken on the Friday afternoon, just prior to opening of the event. Unfortunately this was also the time Beth & I were feeling our worst and we look a little pale!
I'm still amazed at how much I'm growing in everything that I do - my illustrations, my graphic design, my understanding, my business, my website and even my market stalls. I'm achieving more then I could ever have dreamed, and even though I'm exhausted to the core, I'm proud of myself. In regards to a holiday/break I am letting myself have a whole three days break after Christmas - and I'm counting down the days! I just need that little 'pep' break so I can get back into things stronger then ever before.
I still can't believe Christmas is only 13 days away. We haven't put any decorations up, no tree, no christmas cards and we haven't even bought presents yet. eek! That is how busy we've both been!!
