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I've had a busy autumn (fall) with five shows in five weeks in March/April - I was a bit frazzled at the end, considering I'm meant to be a "regular" mum in between the particular days the shows are on.  

Here's a quick rundown with a few quick pics (when I remembered to take the camera!)

I started with a trunk show hosted by a friend in the central coast area of NSW, about 3 1/3 hours drive from home.   We were staying the weekend with the kids and she was kind enough to offer to host the show as so many of her colleagues commented on her jewellery (that I made).   We sent the hubsands and kids to the beach and for a 2 hour period it was flat out - women almost fighting over the same item and afterwards,  the table looked as though someone had grabbed everything and tipped it upside down!  But sales were decent and everyone had fun.

Next was a brand new handmade & homegrown quartlery market in a town called Scone, about 1 3/4hours drive away.  Just a hlaf day and I was invited along.  The night before was wet and wild and I drove there in the early morning dark very worried since it was supposed to be a rather stylish outdoor event.   The organiser valiantly arranged for us to occupy the lovely cafe on the site (with reduced space naturally) if we wanted to stay and I managed to get allocated to a good spot with substantially more room than some (helps when you've drived a fair distance obviously).   My stet up wasn't ideal as I hadn't brought lights which  I always do for indoor shows but I made do, and the customers didn't seem to mind, as they came out in the weather in droves.  I made my first sale (albeit a small one) at 8.30am which for me is unheard of - I don't usually sell any jewellery till after 10am, perhaps people need to be awake to consider a purchase of this type!?   I had a decent day out well worth the trip and gained a few new clients.

The entrance to the cafe

Part of my set up in the cafe.

The following weekend was an ag show at Dunedoo, about 40 min from home.  I've beed doing it for about 5 years now and each year my sales have slowly increased.   Located in the ladies pavillion along with the cakes, handicrafts and art, I have become a regular sight there and people look forward to seeing what I have.   There were 30 odd booths outside as well and 4 others inside the pavillion with me that had been invited by the head steward as being of interest to the "ladies".   This year was mind-blowing in the sales dept, perhaps the good seasons lately have helped and confidence for my rural clientele was up.  Whatever the reason, they bought and kept me busy for the 12 hours  I was open.

I stopped for a couple of minutes on the drive to Dunedoo to take a photo of the paddocks in the early morning

I went a town 40km further along from Dunedoo to another ag show the next weekend, to Mendooran.   A much smaller event I'm the only booth located in the ladies pavillion and have no trading whilst the judging is going on - and this year it went on, and on  and on!   My selling time was reduced to just a few hours because of this and this did impact on sales.   But I still had a good day... until I got a speeding ticket on the way home!  One of those annoying areas that they've kept the speed limit low even though everything has closed down at the edge of town and all houses are on access streets.  Pure revenue raising... but I digress!

The old cafe in Mendooran is covered in murals - a bit of a tourist attraction for this tiny town.

To finish off, I had the Art Vine Makers Market in Mudgee.  This is a yearly event in a town about 100km from home with a large tourism interest (wineries) with lot of people from Sydney visiting on weekends.  Another half day event, it was an early start and I had chosen to go indoors in case of poor weather.   However the weather was spectacular, the people turned out in droves at about 9.30am and I was busy, busy, busy till it suddenly stopped at 1pm.  This was my second year there and I had people seeking me out that had bought from me last year.     Sales were up on last year and the only downside was one pair of earrings that appear to have been stolen as I was the last to pack up indoors and there was definitely nothing on the floor and I've been through all my things looking for them.  A bit disappointing as theft at shows is quite rare here.

The crowd at the Art Vine Market , Mudgee

After all this, I had to go for a holiday to the beach with the kids to recover :)   

Back home now and 2 one day shows to do next weekend, a private school's autumn fair that I have attended for the last 5 years or so, 2 hours drive one way then home and the next day a new Art Festival, 2 1/2 hours drive in a completely different direction.    Perhaps I'll need another holiday after that LOL.  Or maybe I'll just hide for winter!

My local art group Mudgee Arts, had its annual Xmas market yesterday. 

The town has a population of about 8000 and is in a winery area so popular with tourists on weekends and holidays.  They have 4 regular monthly markets - a farmer's market in the church grounds in the main street, two anything-you-want-to-sell markets - one in the town park and one in another church near the main street, and a craft group market in the old railway station.    At Easter, in our autumn, Mudgee Arts members join with the Farmer's Market in the church grounds with centre of the street location.  I participated in it this year and along with fabulous weather there were huge tourist crowds and locals out and about.  

For the Xmas market, however, since we often get summer rain/winds and quick storms, they prefer to have it indoors and the only venue currently available is 2 blocks from the centre of town, in a community centre called "the stables" (perhaps it was stables once - its layout is pretty much like it!).  There is a small carpark in front of the building  and if there is fine weather it is blocked off and the members can erect tents there. 

Advertising was for a couple of weeks prior - radio mentions, newspaper advert every paper a week before and the odd sign.   The weather was perfect - for some reason we're in a winter weather pattern at the moment - so it was cool, clear and no more than a light breeze (although it was very windy the day prior).     I had hurt my back the day before so decided a tent would NOT help my back, so stayed with my inside location. 

(NB  All snaps were taken during set up...apologies for the poor images!)

6-7 tents set up out in the carpark although it would have looked a lot better with more - although they were probably limiting numbers people to who could cram inside in inclement weather.   The building had 2 long rooms one in front of the other, with the doors in the centre of the building at the front and between the two rooms.  The first room is quite light and airy with white walls and light flooring, and the second room is brick, carpeted and a little dark but with lots of overhead lighting and a couple of windows.

The mix was crafts and art and I would think at least half of them do this as a sideline/hobby.   Set up time was an hour and a half and the event itself was only 4 hours duration.  Outside we had a fibre artist (majority of felting), a local winery, mosaic, a woman with fabric items - children's dresses, handbags etc, and a candle maker.

First room had a silversmith, lino prints/cards, ceramics, alpaca wool knits, soapmaker, artist (oils), fabric bags and accessories, children's clothing, hair accessories.

Second room had me (jewellery), wine fudge (yep, right next to me - not good for the already burgeoning waistline!), a quilter who also dabbled in pastel drawings, an artist with small acrylic paintings and ink drawings, a crafter with the cutest tea cosies, a photographer with local photographs, mostly on cards/postcards, a knitter with scarves, and another ceramics artist.

Unfortunately it never really got busy, probably not helped by one of the other markets in the church grounds (a anything you like market) being on the same day and closer to town.  Advertising if only briefly seen would have registered 'market' and the date and seeing that one many people would have only gone there.  

Nevertheless, there was a steady trickle of people and for an outing of only 4 open hours and a cost of only $20 (not a money making venture by the group, just to cover the cost of the venue hire) I had 10 sales from $25 to $160.   Unlike recent events, every sale was just a single item and apart from two customers searching for a particular item, every other sale was an impulse buy.  People were just out and about having a look and some weakening and buying!

A couple of the members did OK, one I heard was very happy with their sales, and overall so was I, I guess, even though it was quieter than recent shows - it was only an hour from home and didn't cost much in time or effort to do.

I was pleased to see some art finally - I need to get these people out more LOL.