The weekend that was.

Yesterday, Saturday, was such a glorious day that one might almost forget that it was Winter.
I hung out my fifteen thousand loads of washing (and even got some dry!), and we dropped the biggest boy off at a birthday party - seemed the perfect time to head to the beach.

There was plenty of shell sorting, treasure finding, and general beach-fun to be had.
We invited my parents along, and Dad and I snip-snapped photos of every movement with our new flash cameras. Haha. But really, it was the perfect opportunity to give my new camera a really good spin. It's going to take me awhile to really figure it out.

Abraham collected wood to make slingshots with the boys (and looked very spunky in his new sweatshirt he had printed!) and Otto hitched a ride with my Mum. We topped off the visit with a hot chocolate and ice creams, like all of the best beach visits.

We spent the evening sharing a glorious meal with my sister in law and her husband and baby girl. Delightful.

Today, Winter was back.
The rain and cold have set in again, making it the perfect day to sit on the couch and list big piles of things on Felt. 16 pairs of pants, 20 skirts and a few brooches and bits and pieces, to be precise! Phew! The shop is looking full once again, and it feels so nice.
Perhaps you'd care to check it out? It's over HERE.

I wonder what next week will bring.... a bit more sunshine would be lovely!

To market, to market: Part three.

I have high hopes of having a few stalls at one of our local markets this Summer.

I have done a few markets in the past, both big and small. I have done a few Craft2.0 fairs, the Mapua fair in Nelson and, many moons ago, Craftwerk in Wellington. But I've always felt like I haven't quite mastered the art of market-ing. (Not to mention it has been some time..!)
I have asked a few of my crafty friends, who I consider to be very successful at market selling, to answer a wee questionnaire and offer me some advice. I though that you lovelies might also like to benefit from their knowledge.
Todays interviewee is the lovely Jannelle from Heartfelt:

1. Tell us a little about who you are, and what it is you make and sell.
I'm Jannelle and I live in a very small rural town in the
Wairarapa.  In the morning I work as a librarian at our local library
and my husband Ian is a chef at one of the local pubs.  We have three
children, Charlie (6) Sadie (nearly 5) and Oscar (2).
Heart Felt is mostly about recycling wool clothing for children
whether it be revamping hand knits or restyling adults wool jerseys
into children tunics and pixie hats.  I also make play crowns and
headbands from felt.

2. How long have you been doing markets, and how often do you do them?I have only been doing markets for just over a year.   I have done
3 Martinborough Fairs and a few Craft 2.0 markets.  We also have a
regular local market called the New Rags Market which run every two
months.   I try to attend all of the New Rags Markets to support the
local handmade movement in our area.



3. I know that you also sell online, which is your preferred way of selling? Why?
I don't think I 'prefer' one from the other because they are so
different.  Selling online is good because you can list things in your
own time and it the online shop pretty much looks after it self.
Markets you have a
deadline...the build up can be quite stressful but the end result is
that you meet your customers and other stall holders.

4. What are your top tips for the layout of the stall? How important is the look of your table?
.I like my stall to reflect my product.  A covered table is a must.
I use a large vintage sheet and then over top I use my mothers vintage
crochet bed spread ~ always looks super pretty.  Height is important
and I always like to display photographs of my children wearing Heart
Felt.   The little things are important too ~ a mirror is always
useful and I like to have a vase of flowers to make my stall extra
pretty.  I have everything priced and where possible use recycled
packaging and labels.  Always have business cards accessible, there is
always one or two people who like to contact you later on.



5. Is it good to have as much stock as possible, or is less more? If you have a lot of stock, do you display it all?
I always take lots of stock, but don't display it all.  I will
restock the table each time a sale is made.
6. How about pricing - do you have different prices for markets? Do you have an specific way of pricing that seems to work I.e even numbers, odd numbers, all under a certain price etc
.I do have 'market specials' and always advertise that they are on
special for that day.  I'm always willing to give a discount on a
multiple purchase too.  I'm terrible at maths and have everything in
5's.  $15, $25, $30, $35....that way I know I'm not going to get
flustered and it's easy to know what kind of change I will need in my
cash box.



7. Are you very chatty with people browsing your stall? Or do you prefer to step back and let them look?
I have tried both approaches....the chatty approach and the stand
back and let them look approach.  Being friendly and chatty always
wins hands down!
8. Any other advice you'd like to share?Advertise your product.  I always wear one of my headbands at my
stall, I always sell more when people see them worn.  One time my
husband bought Oscar in to visit me wearing a pixie hat (smart
husband)  I sold three within the 20 minutes Oscar was there.  Be
positive, be yourself and believe in your product.  If you are
passionate about what you do ~ show it.



Thanks heaps, Jannelle!

You can find Jannelle and Heartfelt on Facebook HERE, Felt HERE and on her blog HERE.

To market, to market: Part 2

I have high hopes of having a few stalls at one of our local markets this Summer.

I have done a few markets in the past, both big and small. I have done a few Craft2.0 fairs, the Mapua fair in Nelson and, many moons ago, Craftwerk in Wellington. But I've always felt like I haven't quite mastered the art of market-ing. (Not to mention it has been some time..!)I have asked a few of my crafty friends, who I consider to be very successful at market selling, to answer a wee questionnaire and offer me some advice. I though that you lovelies might also like to benefit from their knowledge.

Nearly all of the markets I have sold at, this lovely lady has also sold at. She is a delightful person to have around, and well, she's done so many markets I'm pretty sure we could call her a seasoned market expert.
Without further ado, I present you with Melissa of Tiny Happy fame:

Craft 2.0  (many moons ago)

1. Tell us a little about who you are, and what it is you make and sell.

I'm Melissa, and my 'label' is tiny happy. I make all sorts of things- clothes and toys for kids, small embroidered items, bags, purses and cushion covers. In the past, I've also sold prints of my artwork, cards, and illustrated ceramics.

2. How long have you been doing markets, and how often do you do them?

I've been doing them for years now- I first started selling my work at the Saturday market in Nelson, back in 2006. Since then I've had stalls at Craftwerk, the Mapua Easter Fair, Craft 2.0, Handmade, and the Auckland Art and Craft Fair.

3. I know that you also sell online, which is your preferred way of selling? Why?
I prefer online, I have a shop on etsy and I find this is a bit easier as I can be a bit shy and awkward in 'real life'. But having said that, I do enjoy meeting people face to face at markets.

4. What are your top tips for the layout of the stall? How important is the look of your table?

I think it's important not to have too many things crowding up your table. So keep extra stock in a suitcase or something behind the table. Try and make your display look coherent, and easy for people to look through.

5. Is it good to have as much stock as possible, or is less more? If you have a lot of stock, do you display it all?

Yes, I do try and have extra stuff behind the table to replenish the stock. But then again, there's nothing wrong with having just a limited amount of special things- it gives your work more value, I think, and people are more likely to buy something if you only have a few of them.

6. How about pricing - do you have different prices for markets? Do you have an specific way of pricing that seems to work I.e even numbers, odd numbers, all under a certain price etc

Yes, I do try and keep my market prices down a little but I try not to make things too cheap (though I aim for 'affordable' prices in general.) At markets, I try and make all my prices divisible by 5, because it's easier to arrange change in 5s.

Nelson Markets (also many moons ago!)

7. Are you very chatty with people browsing your stall? Or do you prefer to step back and let them look?

I am chatty, but I do try and step back and let them look at stuff- noone likes a pushy salesperson! I like it when customers want to have a chat, it's the best part about doing markets.

8. Any other advice you'd like to share?

It's a good idea to keep a little stack of business cards for people to take.

Bring plenty of change.

Don't forget a bottle of water and some snacks.

Thanks heaps, M!

You can find Melissa on Facebook HERE, on Typepad HERE and on Etsy HERE

Wardrobe Wednesday.

Thought I would make the most of the finest weather we've had in awhile, and do a WW post! Huzzah!
I had a million errands to run in town this morning, so I thought it fitting that I might pull out all the stops, and wear a dress for a change. Slowly getting braver!
This is a dress I bought not long after Mollie was born. I bought it, and about a dozen others, on one of those magical thrifting days where the whole rail seems to be filled with things your size (probably more common if you are a smaller size!) and your era of choice. I didn't really fit any of them that day, with my 2 week old darling asleep in her carseat, but I'm discovering now which will be kept and which will be sold/gifted on. I tried to choose ones with buttons predominately, for obvous reasons - so hard to find fab dresses with boob access!

Dress- Salvation Army $4.50
Leggings - Glassons $12.50
Cardi - Glassons $30
Flats - The Warehouse $9

And my sunnies? Oh, how I love these fine glasses. Smudgy fingerprints and all..

They are from ASOS and were a steal, at $26 (delivered!). Wooo!

 

Miss Mollie donned a frock also, as she seems to more and more often. Hers was slightly more dashing than mine, she doesn't need to work hr way up to being brave! Ha ha.

Dress - hand me down, originally from Pumpkin Patch
Thermal tights - also handed down.
Cardi - Salvation Army $1.50
Socks - Farmers $2


We're linking up with other stunning ladies, over here:

To market, to market: Part One.

I have high hopes of having a few stalls at one of our local markets this Summer.

I have done a few markets in the past, both big and small. I have done a few Craft2.0 fairs, the Mapua fair in Nelson and, many moons ago, Craftwerk in Wellington. But I've always felt like I haven't quite mastered the art of market-ing. (Not to mention it has been some time..!)

I have asked a few of my crafty friends, who I consider to be very successful at market selling, to answer a wee questionnaire and offer me some advice. I though that you lovelies might also like to benefit from their knowledge.

First up is the very talented Emma of Emma Makes fame:

1. Tell us a little about who you are, and what it is you make and sell.

My name is Emma Makes. I design and sew my own range of bags, zipper purses and soft toys using small runs of vintage and new textiles. I also make a line of notebooks and design witty pencils.

2. How long have you been doing markets, and how often do you do them?

I started selling at markets at the same time I started selling - about five years ago. I don't do heaps of markets - probably anywhere from between two to five a year. 

3. I know that you also sell online, which is your preferred way of selling? Why?

I prefer a combination of selling online and selling through stockists to selling at markets. By selling online and having a presence on Facebook and my blog I feel I can really tell the story of Emma Makes and what I'm about a whole lot better than going to a range of markets. If you know my website/blog/Facebook then you know what I'm about, you appreciate craft and handmade and you like New Zealand made. Same with stockists - I like developing long-term relationships with people who can represent me and my work. I find markets really hit and miss.

A fair in Palmerston North

4. What are your top tips for the layout of the stall? How important is the look of your table?

My layout is really important and it's different each time. Here's my top tips:

• Take a tablecloth that goes to the ground. It looks neater and will also allow you to hide extra stock underneath.
• Take some props that give you height - it makes it easier for people to see what you're selling and is more visually interesting if things are at different heights.
• Create clear, large signage - sometimes people don't want to ask how much things are.
• ALWAYS take a business card or some way for people to contact you after the fair - if the punters are the kind of people to buy craft and design then give them out liberally. I have Emma Makes postcards and have made many sales after fairs from people who've taken my card. I once did a fair with the sole purpose of giving everyone that visited my table an Emma Makes branded pencil - I recently met a bunch of woman that remembered that probably three years later - branding and marketing is really important to me.
• You don't need to stand but if you sit then do something - hand sewing is a good thing to do because then customers can talk to you about what you're making. It also means you don't get into the habit of staring, which can be intimidating to shoppers.

5. Is it good to have as much stock as possible, or is less more? If you have a lot of stock, do you display it all?

I always take lots of stock but don't put it all out. I keep multiples in reserve and refresh stock throughout the day. I also don't take everything I make - for example, I make some really niche items like ukulele covers and iPad covers and these always sell better online. 

Alt. Shift. Craft fair

6. How about pricing - do you have different prices for markets? Do you have an specific way of pricing that seems to work I.e even numbers, odd numbers, all under a certain price etc

I have the same price at markets as I do online. I price based on a pretty standard model, which is worked out on how much something cost me + how much tax I'll have to pay on it + how much profit I want to make. I like to keep my products affordable too but not cheap. I don't think people who price their work really cheaply are doing anybody any favours. 

7. Are you very chatty with people browsing your stall? Or do you prefer to step back and let them look?

I judge my level of chattiness with each customer - I have a really low tolerance for inane retail conversation so don't want to bore the pants of people by wittering on about the weather. I say hello to almost everyone that comes to my stall and then take it from there - some people don't want to chat, others introduce themselves as Facebook fans/blog readers (which I love).

A market at a winery

8. Any other advice you'd like to share?

• Be choosy about the markets you attend - often time I think people get caught up by the hype of a "market" and the outcome (cold hard cash) can be disappointing if the right people don't come or it hasn't been marketed well. Also be really honest with yourself about what the fair is going to cost you and what kind of money you want to make. There's a couple of no-brainers - in Auckland the Auckland Craft Fair is a really professional well-run event and in Wellington Craft 2.0 is generally good (October is the best fair to sell at) although both are quite pricey in terms of stall fees. The fairs run in Palmerston North by Alt. Shift. Craft are fantastic with a craft-loving audience and heaps of brilliant promotion. I run a fair in Greytown in December called Craft Country, which is always good - and I've also found that sometimes community events can be worthwhile. I tend to avoid anything marketed to families as a fun day out because people go to those looking for a bargain and entertainment.
• Don't leave the promotion of the fair you're selling at up to the organisers. I always write a blog post about the fairs I'm going to, let my Facebook fans know ahead of time and take a photo of my stall from the fair and post it on Facebook - just this weekend a customer told me she hadn't heard about the fair but saw it on my Facebook page and came down.
• If you go to a fair as a seller be nice to others - you'd be surprised how many fairs I've turned up to where other sellers have been in a bad mood or people have tried to take over the space I've paid to put my rack in and it really makes for a stink start to the day.
• Find some honest friends who also do markets and will tell you how much money they made - after a fair there's often a lot of "that was the best fair EVER" conversation on social media sites and being able to compare your day with others who have a grip on reality is invaluable.
• When you're applying for a fair always send good photos. Always.

 Craft 2.0Thanks so much for sharing with us, Emma!

You can find Emma on Facebook HERE, on Felt HERE and on Wordpress HERE.

Wonder where they get it from..

I've been poking through my computer, trying to find photos for a post I'm working on (tomorrow!), and found these:

I think it is safe to say, our kids look a little like baby-me.
Wonder if I can get some photos of Abraham at the same age, to compare?
(Nana Kaye? Can you help with that?)

Do your kids look more like you, or like their Dad?

Gender neutral? (photo heavy!)

When I had Aesop, I dressed him in whatever clothes we were given. I was young, we didn't have much money, and I was only really getting into my sewing groove. He wore a lot of overalls and t-shirts with slogans like 'I can dig it' (with a digger underneath, of course).

Otto was a bit different. Four and a half years later, and I decided I was going to dress him however I wanted and that was that. He wore a lot of bright colours, a lot of woollens.. the majority of his clothing was what I would consider to be 'gender neutral'.

Then along came Mollie.
|Since we didn't find out what we were expecting, I sorted the clothes into three piles: girl, boy and gender neutral. I was surprised to find I put nearly everything into the last pile. Everyone said I would change my mind if I had a girl, and give in to the pink.
I must say, Mollie does wear a little bit of pink. I think it's a combination of that being the colour of a lot of the hand me downs, and of me wanting to girl-ify her less 'girly' outfits. (Which is something I didn;'t expect myself to want to do - I was surprised I felt the need!)
But, honestly, she mostly wears blue. It suits her. It is the colour of her eyes, afterall.
 

Where am I going with this?
I guess, I'm wondering why on earth we consider colours to belong to one gender or the other. Why society expects little girls to wear pink, and boys to don blue. (Actually, I've read enough to know how it came about, I just wonder why it still applies in this day and age..)
I've had so many people comment on how Mollie doesn't wear enough pink. 'Ohh she's looking a bit boyish today!', 'You know, you will have to invest in some pink clothes for her!' (from my plunket nurse?!) and 'Mollie, you just come and see me if your Mum doesn't buy you enough pink, okay?'.
What confuses me even more, is that none of these women are wearing pink themselves. They are wearing jeans and t-shirts, or shades of black, brown, blue and red. They are dressing in more 'manly' colours than they are telling me not to put Mollie in! Pah!

I started this post with a purpose, and I seem to have lost it a little. I seem to have ended up just having a little bit of a rant. But that's okay, right? I think my main point is this: assigning colours to gender is ridiculous. So, while we probably can't escape the idea completely, I will be dressing my girl in blue, tractor covered onesies one day, and a frilly pink dress the next (and putting Otto in unicorn t-shirts) for as long as I possibly can.. and no comments from 'well-meaning' others is going to change it.