Harstine Island Farmers Market

This is my area with my card rack, table and peg board props.

The last two weeks, or there about, I've been so busy with packaging my Giclee's and Note/Greeting Cards and printing up business cards etc. in anticipation of my first time selling in an open Market. Today, that day finally arrived. It was a beautiful day with sun shine and not a cloud in sight. My husband had an early meeting to attend and wasn't able to help me set-up at the market, but my neighbor (and good friend) offered her help. It was much appreciated to have another woman's eye for detail.

Me, in the thick of conversation with a customer about watercolor.

This little Farmers Market is located on Harstine Island at the local Community Club and only open from 10-12 on Saturdays. Today there must have been approximately 25 vendors selling their wares (wish I would have counted ). I have been working diligently to be prepared for today, and was a bit nervous when I left to set-up before the Market opened this morning. I felt it was a positive adventure, one I'll do again. I received some helpful suggestion's and came home with more money from sales than I had expected. It was great ... no booth fees, close to home and the support of my many friends who dropped by during the morning.

Things I'll do different next time:

• Consider using a canopy. Three of my friends have now offered the use of theirs and I'll probably take them up on the offer as the summer continues .... or at least get to the market early enough to grab one of the few shady spots.
• Take something better to use as a change drawer. I hadn't given this much thought, but ended up using a make-up bag. It worked fine for only two hours but I'll try to come up with something different for next time.
• I should have made more packs of cards. I sold individual cards for $2.25 each, Packs of 6 for $12.00, and the packs sold very well.
• I need to paint more "local" sights.
• Next time I'll arrive at least 1 hour early. TodayI arrived 45 minutes before the market opened.
• Place price tags on each pack cards instead of relying on one sign to tell the price of all cards.
• Also, I will take a photo of all the vendors. (aha... maybe that would make a nice subject to paint.)

More spring sketching

Spring rhododendron's are showing up all around now, giving me yet another flower to watercolor in my sketchbook.

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