A little late, as April's nearly over, but we were pretty busy, especially at St Alban's Farmers' Market, and have done better that April 2010, which is nice in a recession.
No Harpenden market for us this month as it was Easter Sunday and we had church followed by a family party - a lovely day, plus it forced me to tidy the house! We have had the builders in to refurbish one of our bathrooms, so there were a lot of thing in the wrong place plus Dust! They're nearly finished now and it's looking great, so all the upheaval will be worth it.
I had the great news earlier this month that I've got a place at Highgate's Fair in the Square to be held on June 18th - it's a lovely area and I'm hoping to meet plenty of new customers. Still working on my shawls, which I hope to have ready for then.
In the meantime, I'll be at St Alban's on May 8th and Wheathampstead on May 15th as normal and possibly at Harpenden on May 22nd. I'm on the reserve list for Harpenden, so I won't know until nearer the time if I've got a place.
Monday, 25 April 2011
Thursday, 24 March 2011
Spring
Well, the weather seems to have finally turned nice and sunny and under that influence, I'm feeling vaguely optimistic, although Wheathampstead market last Sunday was very quiet - I sold just one tea cosy, which didn't even cover my petrol money getting there!
Other stallholders were fairly quiet too, so I don't know how long the market will carry on for. There's a new market setting up in Radlett on the same Sunday and several people are transferring to that one, so there will be less stalls, which in turn will mean that the market is smaller and less people will come to it, so those stalls that are left will have fewer customers and so on until it just dwindles to nothing. I have decided to stick with it for the time being - as my business is quite seasonal, there's no point in moving taking on any more markets until September.
On a more cheerful note, I spent Tuesday afternoon at my beautician getting a lovely relaxing body wrap and facial - it's so nice to have some time to myself and it feels great afterwards. If you're in north london give them a try - www.parksidebeautycentre.com - I've been going there for over 20 years!
I'm at Harpenden farmers' market this Sunday - and am hoping it will be quite busy. The weather forecast is perfect for my stall - cold but sunny, so I'm hoping to sell the last of this season's hats and woolly scarves before putting my spring and summer stuff out next month.
Still working on my summer shawls!
Other stallholders were fairly quiet too, so I don't know how long the market will carry on for. There's a new market setting up in Radlett on the same Sunday and several people are transferring to that one, so there will be less stalls, which in turn will mean that the market is smaller and less people will come to it, so those stalls that are left will have fewer customers and so on until it just dwindles to nothing. I have decided to stick with it for the time being - as my business is quite seasonal, there's no point in moving taking on any more markets until September.
On a more cheerful note, I spent Tuesday afternoon at my beautician getting a lovely relaxing body wrap and facial - it's so nice to have some time to myself and it feels great afterwards. If you're in north london give them a try - www.parksidebeautycentre.com - I've been going there for over 20 years!
I'm at Harpenden farmers' market this Sunday - and am hoping it will be quite busy. The weather forecast is perfect for my stall - cold but sunny, so I'm hoping to sell the last of this season's hats and woolly scarves before putting my spring and summer stuff out next month.
Still working on my summer shawls!
Thursday, 17 March 2011
March Markets
Well, I've just read through my last post abpout february markets and March looks as if it will be pretty much the same!
We were on holiday at the begining of the month - a great week skiing in Are, Sweden. It was so nice to be out in the open air and in the mountains. We've been there several times, so we know all the slopes. This year I managed to do several runs that I've wimped out on in previous years so I was feeling quite pleased with myself, but this was balancd by falling off T-bars a couple of times and also getting hit on the head by said T-bars too! This is the first year that I've worn a helmet from day one and I'm so glad I did.
I came back to St Alban's market and, like last month, it was busier than last year, so thanks to all my customers there. I'm at Wheathampstead this Sunday - hopefully the pattern will continue. I'm also doing Harpenden this month - I did hope to have one of my shawls ready, but I don't think I will get it done in time.
I've got an assignment due for my OU course and I'm in a display with my Keep Fit group this Saturday and there just doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day!
We were on holiday at the begining of the month - a great week skiing in Are, Sweden. It was so nice to be out in the open air and in the mountains. We've been there several times, so we know all the slopes. This year I managed to do several runs that I've wimped out on in previous years so I was feeling quite pleased with myself, but this was balancd by falling off T-bars a couple of times and also getting hit on the head by said T-bars too! This is the first year that I've worn a helmet from day one and I'm so glad I did.
I came back to St Alban's market and, like last month, it was busier than last year, so thanks to all my customers there. I'm at Wheathampstead this Sunday - hopefully the pattern will continue. I'm also doing Harpenden this month - I did hope to have one of my shawls ready, but I don't think I will get it done in time.
I've got an assignment due for my OU course and I'm in a display with my Keep Fit group this Saturday and there just doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day!
I have finished a bamboo yarn scarf though and am very pleased with it. The yarn drapes really well and I think my customers will like it for spring and summer.
Thursday, 17 February 2011
February Markets
Just a quick update on work in progress and my markets.
St. Alban's Farmers' market last Sunday went very well, in spite of the weather being a bit overcast and drizzly and Very Cold! I had wondered if I would still need to wear my thermals and I'm so glad I did. However, I had lots of sales - more than February last year and enough to compensate for not going to Hatfield or Royston this month.
I'm off to Wheathampstead this Sunday, which is always a nice place to go to, but can be a bit quiet. I'm trying to be a bit more disciplined in replacing the items I sell each market, plus of course catching up with what I sold before Christmas and making my new spring and summer stock!
I dyed my alpaca and silk laceweight yarn last week and am very pleased with how it has come out. I've done five pastel colours - lavender, rose, turquoise, pistachio and blue, which should please most customers. I thought they were going to be too bright, but the yarn has dried to a nice heathery effect and they should look beautiful once I get them made up. Pictures to follow once they're on the needles!
St. Alban's Farmers' market last Sunday went very well, in spite of the weather being a bit overcast and drizzly and Very Cold! I had wondered if I would still need to wear my thermals and I'm so glad I did. However, I had lots of sales - more than February last year and enough to compensate for not going to Hatfield or Royston this month.
I'm off to Wheathampstead this Sunday, which is always a nice place to go to, but can be a bit quiet. I'm trying to be a bit more disciplined in replacing the items I sell each market, plus of course catching up with what I sold before Christmas and making my new spring and summer stock!
I dyed my alpaca and silk laceweight yarn last week and am very pleased with how it has come out. I've done five pastel colours - lavender, rose, turquoise, pistachio and blue, which should please most customers. I thought they were going to be too bright, but the yarn has dried to a nice heathery effect and they should look beautiful once I get them made up. Pictures to follow once they're on the needles!
Tuesday, 1 February 2011
February already!
Into the second month of the year already - I've started my spring and summer designs already as I know I'll find it hard to keep up one the season is here.
I bought some lovely soft wool and cashmere lace weight yarn on etsy (www.chopped-tomatoes.com) and have started using it to design a stole, which I hope will sell well this summer. It's a lovely moss green colour, which is always popular, and I'm thnking fishtail lace pattern for the two ends, with some thing a little more solid (cat's paw?) for the middle third. I'll just have to see how it looks as I go along. I'll put up a picture one enough is done to get a good idea of the pattern.
I've also got some alpaca and silk lace weight yarn to dye and some bamboo, which I've heard is going to be the new eco fibre, as cotton becomes too hard on water resources to irrigate.
I've also just unpacked my maths course for this year - complex analysis - which looks very interesting, although I think I may find it quite challenging! I want to get well ahead with it as we're off skiing in Sweden for a week at the end of the month and I know I won't do anything if I take the books with me except feel guilty for slacking!
No markets until the middle of the month, when I'll be at St Alban's on the 13th and Wheathampsted on the 20th. No Harpenden as I'll be away.
I bought some lovely soft wool and cashmere lace weight yarn on etsy (www.chopped-tomatoes.com) and have started using it to design a stole, which I hope will sell well this summer. It's a lovely moss green colour, which is always popular, and I'm thnking fishtail lace pattern for the two ends, with some thing a little more solid (cat's paw?) for the middle third. I'll just have to see how it looks as I go along. I'll put up a picture one enough is done to get a good idea of the pattern.
I've also got some alpaca and silk lace weight yarn to dye and some bamboo, which I've heard is going to be the new eco fibre, as cotton becomes too hard on water resources to irrigate.
I've also just unpacked my maths course for this year - complex analysis - which looks very interesting, although I think I may find it quite challenging! I want to get well ahead with it as we're off skiing in Sweden for a week at the end of the month and I know I won't do anything if I take the books with me except feel guilty for slacking!
No markets until the middle of the month, when I'll be at St Alban's on the 13th and Wheathampsted on the 20th. No Harpenden as I'll be away.
Saturday, 22 January 2011
January Markets
Well, Wheathampstead went quite well, it was nice to be back after the holidays. The wet weather held off until we were packed up and ready to go and sales were up on January last year, so all in all, a good start to the year.
I'm off to Harpenden Farmers' Market tomorrow, again the weather forecast isn't too good, but as long as the rain holds off I'll be pleased. It's always a nice market to go to and I did well there last year, so I'm feeling quite optimistic.
I've finished at two of my more unprofitable markets - Hatfield and Royston, so I'll have the first weekend in every month free now, which I'm looking forward to. Plenty more time for knitting and my Open University studies (Mathematics) and of course housework (a very poor third!).
Finally, I've taken some pictures of my throw, still a work in progress, but I am making a concerted effort to finish it! 
Saturday, 15 January 2011
New Year
Happy New Year to everyone.
This is my first post of 2011 and it certainly seems to have taken a while to get back to normal after the holidays. I'm off to my first Farmers' Market of the year tomorrow, at Wheathampstead, and have loads of hats ready - let's hope there's plenty of customers there to buy them. The weather forecast isn't too bad (no rain) and I'm quite looking forward to it.
I've been trying to finish off various projects from the stash, including a squares pattern throw that I've been making for ages. It's in Sirdar Escape, a lovely soft spun pure wool in toning colours of blue and grey, and is nearly finished now - I'm hoping to have it ready for the end of the month - pictures to follow!
This is my first post of 2011 and it certainly seems to have taken a while to get back to normal after the holidays. I'm off to my first Farmers' Market of the year tomorrow, at Wheathampstead, and have loads of hats ready - let's hope there's plenty of customers there to buy them. The weather forecast isn't too bad (no rain) and I'm quite looking forward to it.
I've been trying to finish off various projects from the stash, including a squares pattern throw that I've been making for ages. It's in Sirdar Escape, a lovely soft spun pure wool in toning colours of blue and grey, and is nearly finished now - I'm hoping to have it ready for the end of the month - pictures to follow!
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