Freedom Day weekend

Busy weekend over here. On Saturday Rob and I traded at the Trenchtown market in Obs, which is a fantastic venue with a super cool vibe, but I have to say the Jam Tarts stuff didn’t make a great impression on the majority of the patrons. To be expected, I think. Crocheted newsboys and floral infinity scarves probably aren’t the items of choice for a younger, more – shall we say? – tattooed crowd. We were the only two people there who hadn’t gone for the inked and/or studded look, and we felt rather naked in comparison. And, not to say, quite old and fuddy duddy, too!

[[Market Trading 101 – make sure your products appeal to the sector that patronises the market.  By all means give a new market a try but, if you’re a huge flop,  don’t try and flog a dead horse.]]

Sunday was Kirstenbosch, being the last Sunday of the month. It was, as ever, GREAT. Here are some pics of people who make it feel like family:

Janet, my nextdoor neighbour, with stunning vintage clothes bargains to be had

The lovely jewellery lady, Sarah, on the other side of us, with a darling puppy from the Animal Rescue guys.

Steven Belknap of Whimsical Woodworks, who made my hat stands for me.

Renee Dorrington, the lady with the magic hands, offering reflexology and massage

Debbie and Rob, probably our two oldest market friends, from way back at the Porter Estate market in Tokai. They always have broad smiles and lekker food.

Yesterday, Monday 27th,  was a day off for us ! Yay! (No sewing, no admin, no markets). We visited the Decorex exhibition  (Decorex Cape Town) at the Cape Town International Conference Centre, courtesy of free tickets from Inspired Living SA (thanks so much, Fiona, we loved it!)  — I think this was the best ever exhibition since it started.

I was particularly pleased to see that the Cape Craft and Design Institute had selected products by Baillie and Kovar Design.  Malcolm and Michelle are  a crafty couple who manage to incorporate a very ‘now’ look with functional value, from recycled materials. This is their kind of style, which speaks volumes about South African design and talent.

  

    

And then it was lunchtime…. my friend Shona, whom I’ve known for nearly 30 years, hosted a lunch at the Forresters Arms in Newlands.  Gotta love a pub lunch, and I’m happy to say the Irish coffees are just as good as they ever were….

  

Back soon x

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a damn fine day

Apart from finding my bathmat soggy with cat wee at 5.30am, my day has been close to ideal so far.

We traded at the Kirstenbosch Market, and had good sales and (even better) great orders.

Rob helped us set up and we allowed him a short rest afterwards. A cheese croissant and a shot of Thai iced coffee also helped revive him.

The weather was perfect (unusual for windy Cape Town!), and I made new friends. I’d wanted to take a pic of a sign that some new vendors had and, when I asked if they minded (I find it’s always best to ask first!), the guy said, “No, don’t take a picture – take the sign.” So I said, “Well, how much is it?” He said, “It’s nothing, if you like it I’d like you to have it.” So I said, “Just like that? But then I’d like to give you something in return.” And then he said, “No, just give something to someone else then…” I liked that. I like people who aren’t greedy and who do nice things on impulse and who think about spreading good vibes.

Here’s Victor’s sign. I love it.

Another reason for gratitude today is that my daughter has been unwell for the past while but really seems to have perked up today and is much more like her usual happy, balanced self.

But the best part of the whole day, from a purely selfish point of view, is that my body wasn’t growling in pain at the end of the ‘shift’. This included getting up very early, lots of carrying of lots of things, driving, setting up the stall, being at the stall for six hours, chatting to people, networking (don’t laugh, it makes a difference, trust me!), walking around, eating, drinking, crocheting, packing down the stall and packing the car, unpacking the car at home, etc … I’m usually crawling to my bed in aching exhaustion by 4.00pm on a market day, but today – I’M NOT. I made coffee, made some phone calls, tidied the lounge, cleaned the car (albeit very cursorily), and here I am writing a post and thinking I’ll nip out to Woollies for a few groceries. Wow. Acupuncture’s latest convert = me.

Tomorrow is a public holiday in South Africa, and Rob and I will be trading at the Somerset West Country Craft Market from 9.00am to 2.00pm. Just so you don’t think I’m planning to slack off.

Back soon x