Blenheim 3

I'm not sure if this is conscious shape echoing.

Today is the annual Mistletoe Market, so we joined in , had a walk around the town centre. Every street is packed with stalls and it is good to see that not only the market but the shops are busy as well and all the cafés, despite the plethora of food stalls. In an hour's time it will all be cleared and the Christmas parade with Santa will be sending its way around town.

The knitting shop is called, what else but "Woolmart"...it was so full in town I couldn't get a clear shot of that.
I also, for the first time in four visits, found the sewing shop open....there may be patchwork in the offing.....

marketing

I did a farmers' market yesterday and sometimes I wonder why I bother. At least I covered stall rent and fuel cost.
It is a job to teach people here that a farmers market means quality food and goods, not cheap rubbish. I think the organiser needs to be far more active in publicising what is going on and he said so himself. So perhaps next year we'll see an improvement!

With luck and a bit of work we may get more visits to the gallery from those who saw my stall at the market. Even if they don't end up buying my work, any sales keep the gallery going!

a rainy Hay day

It was wet and windy all last night, and with luck eased off for the journey today.

We only had a few fine showers, but the air was thoroughly damp. Market sales were down all round, but we all want to keep this market going-it has lasted at least seven hundred years so far!!

I sold a bag of books that I had weeded out from my shelves at home, to a secondhand bookshop (there are plenty in Hay!!). That netted nearly twice as much as I expected....that is incentive to do a bit more weeding!!

On the way home I detoured to deliver a box of work to The Court Cupboard near Abergavenny.
Selection for the Black Mountain Circle is on Monday....looks hopeful. I think I'd fit in here, and could sell well too. I'll have to do one day per month in the shop/cafe, but it is a nice place to be, so no complaints!

Heavier rain again on the way home. Weather warnings for more rain and flood warnings on some rivers all over Wales.

Busy Busy again!

The past two weeks have been hectic!

The Twins have arrived...the first was 7 pounds and 3 ounces, the second 5 pounds and 6 ounces....that was last Monday! I made the nearly three hour drive up starting at 4.30am!!
Then back down Wednesday afternoon when I was almost recovered enough for another long drive!
Followed by an evening of helping to move The Geek back to my house, until he knows if he has a job elsewhere or to find another place to live locally....no-one will do a short let.
The latest batch of Strawberry and Redcurrant cordial had been put hastily in the fridge on Monday morning, to wait, and the Strawberry conserve in the freezer! These then had their next step done.
Then market again in Hay- twice as many sales, and I am getting a regular pitch already! I think they want to keep a potter on the market!!
Today I have been officialling at the National Masters' Track Cycling Championships at the Velodrome in Newport.
Good to see friends and watch some well contested sprinting-two more days to go!
I'll have a table full of pots to sell there tomorrow as well. No point missing a selling opportunity!

Abergavenny Market

The stock market, with the Sugarloaf Mountain (it IS steep, if not that big!) peeking up at the back
A slate pillar in the Brewery Yard
The Brewery Yard carpark at the back of the Market Hall (with tower!) and the Blorenge behind- that is definitely a mountain- just try riding up it!

The last stage of the Junior Tour of Wales (a 3 day cycle race for 16-18 year olds) finishes at the top....

Brecon Market Hall

This is the main entrance from the street , although Market Street is at the other end of the building, one level down!
going in....
to the Arcade where there are permanent shops- The Butcher, The Fishmonger, The Greengrocer (fruit and veg), Gents' Outfitters, Haberdashers (and sundries) and Tools.
Entrance to the main market hall , with clock.

The first monthly craft market of 2010
Back wall above the stage
List of tolls that were levied in the market when it first opened.

kiln firing!!

At long last!!!!
I packed the kiln with shelves and bits of HTI brick as it hasn't been fired for about six years.

This was justified as it steamed and dripped a bit to start with!!

I was grateful to be nannied through the process by Mel Brown , so very many thanks go to her for nudging me forwards.
We logged everything, and got it up to 1000 Centigrade in under two and a half hours!! This is some kiln!!
Obviously I wont be firing a bisque or a once-fire so fast.

Looking forward to unpacking it and mapping all the cones we put in to check for hot/cold spots.
This will have to wait until after tomorrow's Farmers' Mart.

Even more good news, I have been accepted for a stall at Abergavenny's monthly Craft Market on the second Saturday of every month....starting this month!!