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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.