Abergavenny today, and despite it being the last before christmas, another dismal sales day. Better than nothing indeed, but not enough.
At least I had an inside pitch today, so I was just cold instead of freezing! Unfortunately the heating seems to be programmed to work in office hours......needless to say, this market is run by the local council!! This is not to denigrate them completely, This is a small town (10,000 people?) and there is a market of some sort here in the Market Hall most days, plus the livestock market which is still in the town. The point is that if you want to attract people into a market, you don't have it colder and damper inside than out on a winter's day!!
No more craft markets until next March.
How can one raise the profile of markets in general? Whether for goods or food, they are seen as somewhere to get something cheap, not as an alternative to a shop. Not somewhere you can buy direct from the grower or maker and get quality goods.
They are seen as places that the poorest people frequent along with pound shops and the like.
Farmers' Markets are keeping up the good work.
How can you change the attitude of people towards markets? If it can work in other countries, why not here?
Saturday, 11 December 2010
Thursday, 9 December 2010
wasted day?
Today at Hay I sold nothing.
Possibly a wasted day.
However I found a proper metal paraffin can for Mountain Man for£2.
I checked the stock at Beacons Crafts in Brecon.
I showed my face at CRiC in Crickhowell. No sales yet, but it looks good.
All things that needed doing.
Today has been cold, but quite sunny. I saw many good pictures, but no chance to stop and photograph!
Possibly a wasted day.
However I found a proper metal paraffin can for Mountain Man for£2.
I checked the stock at Beacons Crafts in Brecon.
I showed my face at CRiC in Crickhowell. No sales yet, but it looks good.
All things that needed doing.
Today has been cold, but quite sunny. I saw many good pictures, but no chance to stop and photograph!
Wednesday, 8 December 2010
Form Gallery, Blaenafon
They're looking good!-left of centre in the window, candle pots, candle lamps and reindeer!!
www.form-gallery.co.uk in Blaenafon, home of some very good work (not just mine!)
Sunday morning in Blaenafon, home also to the World Heritage Centre (Iron Works) and where they held the Winter Wonderland last weekend, complete with real Reindeer.The crafts and food were in a marquee which had been set up in a car park, next to a mini ice rink. It was fine with the sun on the tent, but once the sun went behind buildings we froze!!
We were all glad to see 4pm and packing up time.
blog free fortnight
I managed to escape from the icy confines of Mid-West Wales!
It was good to stay with Daughter and Family, but visits get awkward on both sides after three days. I love to help but it gets to the point where you don't want to do something the wrong way...and then you get bad vibes for not doing something when not asked, or told how they want it done. Ho hum. That is families!!
They followed me down, as they had a funeral to go to the next day. When I arrived home at lunchtime, the Carpenter was still abed!! (despite being warned of impending Sister!!)
So a mad tidyup ensued, but this was still not good enough for Daughter and Husband. Also it is all my fault for letting them all clutter the house .....they haven't tried stopping them...No just doesn't work, and I hate arguments. Then I had the delight of giving up my own room and sharing another with the Twins. When they slept, I hardly did....then they woke at 4am wanting to play!!
Hay was cold and a bit snowy but enjoyable. We all packed up a little early. I stayed on the biggest roads on the way home and called to check on stock in Beacons Crafts in Brecon. Closed all day!
Daughter and Family went straight home after the funeral....we are in their bad books!! Even though they had places to go on the way home on the Friday.
They had some effect though, as The Carpenter has put the units back in the kitchen and is making progress in the bathroom.
He would be happier if he was being paid for what work he is doing. He is owed above £2.5k. Which he is being paid slowly, as the one he works for is being paid by the next company who contracted out the work... something similar to a house-buying and selling chain....
I've just done two Christmas Fairs....dire. I think it has mainly been cancelled this year
It was good to stay with Daughter and Family, but visits get awkward on both sides after three days. I love to help but it gets to the point where you don't want to do something the wrong way...and then you get bad vibes for not doing something when not asked, or told how they want it done. Ho hum. That is families!!
They followed me down, as they had a funeral to go to the next day. When I arrived home at lunchtime, the Carpenter was still abed!! (despite being warned of impending Sister!!)
So a mad tidyup ensued, but this was still not good enough for Daughter and Husband. Also it is all my fault for letting them all clutter the house .....they haven't tried stopping them...No just doesn't work, and I hate arguments. Then I had the delight of giving up my own room and sharing another with the Twins. When they slept, I hardly did....then they woke at 4am wanting to play!!
Hay was cold and a bit snowy but enjoyable. We all packed up a little early. I stayed on the biggest roads on the way home and called to check on stock in Beacons Crafts in Brecon. Closed all day!
Daughter and Family went straight home after the funeral....we are in their bad books!! Even though they had places to go on the way home on the Friday.
They had some effect though, as The Carpenter has put the units back in the kitchen and is making progress in the bathroom.
He would be happier if he was being paid for what work he is doing. He is owed above £2.5k. Which he is being paid slowly, as the one he works for is being paid by the next company who contracted out the work... something similar to a house-buying and selling chain....
I've just done two Christmas Fairs....dire. I think it has mainly been cancelled this year
Thursday, 2 December 2010
car progress
Wednesday morning I found that the garage's problems had been solved by 5pm ...but they didn't think I'd like to drive for 2 and a half hours in MORE snow!! Bless!
I had an interesting drive home, leaving two hours ahead of Daughter and family...lucky they didn't leave it any longer, or they wouldn't have got through one place which was fine when I came through.
I arrived to a house that was cold, had had NO housework done since I'd left...the fact that both had been working was NO excuse!! They also knew that the sight of the house still in a mess, cluttered and with work still not done in kitchen and bathroom would be met with strong disapproval from Daughter and Spouse....
That disapproval came my way too- as if I hadn't done what I physically could myself, and as if I hadn't asked them to pull their weight too....so much so that after staying one night they went straight home from visiting other people instead of staying a second night.
Consequently they missed seeing the progress made by The Carpenter whilst I was at Market in Hay.
The place is reasonably tidy, clean, and kitchen cabinets are where they should be. Progress has been made in the bathroom. More clutter has been binned.
Their loss, my gain.
The roads themselves were clear this morning, but after more snow showers we all decided to pack up a little early and go the longer, main road way home. From Brecon onwards the snow increased and the worst was from the Heads of the Valleys road down to home.
The new saltglaze bowls looked good on the stall. I didn't sell much, but it helped to get organized for the Farmers' Market on Saturday in Usk and the Christmas Fair on Sunday in Blaenafon
I had an interesting drive home, leaving two hours ahead of Daughter and family...lucky they didn't leave it any longer, or they wouldn't have got through one place which was fine when I came through.
I arrived to a house that was cold, had had NO housework done since I'd left...the fact that both had been working was NO excuse!! They also knew that the sight of the house still in a mess, cluttered and with work still not done in kitchen and bathroom would be met with strong disapproval from Daughter and Spouse....
That disapproval came my way too- as if I hadn't done what I physically could myself, and as if I hadn't asked them to pull their weight too....so much so that after staying one night they went straight home from visiting other people instead of staying a second night.
Consequently they missed seeing the progress made by The Carpenter whilst I was at Market in Hay.
The place is reasonably tidy, clean, and kitchen cabinets are where they should be. Progress has been made in the bathroom. More clutter has been binned.
Their loss, my gain.
The roads themselves were clear this morning, but after more snow showers we all decided to pack up a little early and go the longer, main road way home. From Brecon onwards the snow increased and the worst was from the Heads of the Valleys road down to home.
The new saltglaze bowls looked good on the stall. I didn't sell much, but it helped to get organized for the Farmers' Market on Saturday in Usk and the Christmas Fair on Sunday in Blaenafon
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