Christmas market #1!
my table at the Winter Weekend Festival in Hay-on-Wye
Well, mark this off my bucket list of life goals. Considering Hay has been a market town for over 700 years, I figured I should at least give selling at one a try while I live here! It’s my first market table and I’m quite pleased (or chuffed as the Brits say) with how it turned out. This was a Saturday market during the Hay Festival Winter Weekend. The weather was not particularly great, quite chilly and bouts of heavy rain; but it was still a lovely, festive day with lots of people wandering about.
the Hay-on-Wye Christmas tree and bow
The night before the market was the Christmas lighting for Hay. It is a bustling time with the most crowded center square. Musical groups perform, booths of food, a few artisans, and local school fundraisers surround, and a celebrity guest speaks and turns the lights on for the whole town. Including this small tree and bow. It’s quite Stars Hollow for my fellow Gilmore Girls fans.
The next morning I set up my table at 8:30 and hoped for the best. I was the table at one end of the Buttermarket, so this was my view throughout the day and a wind tunnel from the pavement down to the clock tower at my back.
view down the Pavement and the Clock Tower
I don’t have much to compare it to, but it was a great day of sales for me.
my market table
my Ink the Cat’s Christmas books display with my newest addition: stickers!
Ink kept me company all day and was great at catching the eye of little visitors
a couple Christmas card designs – one of my favorites from Ink’s Christmas and a favorite linocut design from last year
my table from the side entrance
Ink the Cat’s Christmas books
Ink’s Christmas stickers! My newest and possibly favorite product.
Christmas card designs
It was a lovely day, but boy did my feet hurt that evening. Take down was quick and easy and I feel more prepared for another try at a market. It sure is fun to see people I know and watch new people discover my work. 💚