Another market on my schedule!

After disappointing news that the Farmers Markets in Troy, Colonie and Saratoga weren't taking artisans, I stumbled upon the Capital District Farmers' Market, which serves the Capital District with a daily wholesale market, and a Saturday public market. They've been in business since 1933 and have a steady following. Talked to their general manager, Fred Cole, today and he sounded very excited about having me join the market. And I can do my shopping!

Im hoping also to add the Sunday market in East Durham.

Cohoes Farm to City Festival

The Farm to City Festival in Cohoes yesterday was a great event. Well attended, good sales, live music (and tap dancing!) and critters! Of course I didn't get to see the animals as I was chained to the booth, but I hear there were goats, alpaca, baby chicks -- I did see the Clydesdales pulling the trolley cart around the block all day. Cohoes is a little post-industrial city (they call it Spindle City, after the once booming textile factories powered by the Cohoes Falls) doing an impressive job of revitalizing their downtown. There are still many empty storefronts, but the main drag in town, Remsen Street, is looking well renovated. There's a great sense of a community of people devoted to the resurgence of the town, and the Farmers Market seems a central part of that effort. This is a pic of the Cohoes Falls at a VERY high water mark. This is the point at which the Mohawk River joins the Hudson, and the picture doesn't it do it justice -- it's spectacular. There' s a hydro power plant on the falls now, but back in the day it powered a booming textile industry. (The mills have been recently converted to condos, overlooking the falls.)

I'm getting alot of repeat customers at the Market, and the gals at BeauKnits are sending a steady stream of fiber aficionadas my way, for which I am most grateful! My best customer has been Danielle and her folks, who have visited my booth every week to add new beads to Danielle's choker necklace. I have a great fan base among the kids, who really appreciate the color and tactile nature of glass.

Now if I could just break in to the other local Farmers Markets, I'd be all set! People seem to like the opportunity to see handmade art as they stroll the produce booths -- it adds to the festive atmosphere, and there's a real affinity between people who appreciate locally grown food and locally created art. I shall continue my campaign to find new farmers markets!






This is my latest inspiration -- these tabs have been a big hit, and I love making them. Especially gorgeous as earrings.

It took awhile, but I finally got some button cards to make it easier to show and tell at shows, shops etc. After struggling with paper weights/sizes, I decided a simple business card would do the trick. I spent several hours attaching all my buttons to cards -- and because this is how the world of customer service works, folks will probably say "can I just buy one of those and not the whole card?" Sure you can!

Now I can organize myself to do a mailing and/or sales visits to regional yarn shops. Alas, I have lost the services of sweet Caroline, who's gone to caffeinated pastures at the Barnes and Noble cafe. I understand -- would you want to spend all day every day with your mom? :o) She's still doing the Art on Lark show with me Saturday. Fingers crossed for good weather and good sales.

In case you were wondering Thistle Hill is a real place -- and a frequently imagined place. This is a piece of property I inherited in Petersburg NY, just over the hill from Williamstown MA. For the last 15 years or so, I've been daydreaming about living there, off the grid. That's both the appeal and the downside -- living off the grid. I'm fairly well versed in what off-the-grid living requires -- power source, water source, poop depository. With the property I also inherited the storage battery/transformer whatsit power system, generator and a composting toilet. I know my own limitations, and this is not a project I could manage myself, so I visit, daydream, cull firewood and pay the taxes. Here's a shot of Thistle Hill Road.

To market to market

It's official, we'll be doing the Cohoes Farmers' Market tomorrow from 4-7. It has been some time since I wrestled with the old EZ-up (an ironic misnomer if ever there was one), so I guess it's time to haul it out, hose it down, and hope everything is in working order! It's actually fairly easy to setup if there's more than one person doing it (and some kind soul has usually volunteered to help when I'm solo at a show). One person doing it, however, is like watching slapstick.

So if you're in the neighborhood and you need some honey, rutabagas or buttons, please come by!

(I just had to add, Sweet Caroline, after a day listing dozens of new goodies on etsy, decided to go to Albany to see Styx at the weekly riverfront concert. I lol'd.)