Biggest. Market. Ever. What were we expecting? There's nothing that can keep punters away from the magic that is Handmade, not even lousy weather and mudpits underfoot.
Saturday started out gloomy with spots of breaking sunshine and even a sliver of far distant blue sky, and - miraculously - the scattered rain that was forecast stayed away COMPLETELY until around 5pm with a teesy rain shower, before gathering up resources and crashing down around 6.30pm, when over 150 stallholders made a mad dash to pack up. What a day of virtually rain-free magic!
But did the threat of rain stop the crowds? Oh no no no. I may have been permanently tied to the handmade living marquee, but the few times I did wander into the grounds, I could not even see for the people covering the grounds and pathways. Stallholders were manic, everyone was smiling, there was laughter, music, product flying off tables, there was even a line for the handmade living marquee on at least 20 occasions. It was absolutely magical.
Louise Hall (Mrs Sew & So's and book contributor) and I headed up the handmade living marquee, and, despite wearing gumboots and standing in a mud puddle for most of the day, had nonstop handmade living buyers all day. I think I quite literally sat down for two minutes in the space of 11 hours.
I also lost count of the amount of compliments and raves about the book - it was such a thrill to hear, and the rest of the gals in the marquee had a ball signing copies of the book for both customers and other designers. So much fun!
Interstate designers - you were well-represented!
Louise Hall and her mud boots
Enjoy this wonderful peek at the launch of handmade living, and be sure to check out photos from the rest of market right here.
hanmade living is launched!
we replenished these books every 30 minutes
queue starts forming for the handmade living marquee
squeezing room only in the handmade living marquee
handmade living marquee designers
Wynona of Ivy Designs and Katie of MissChief Maker
Rachel of Ricochet Art and designer Catalina Voroneanu
Kirsten of Paper by Forget-Me-Not and Kathy of Studio Amara
Sarah of Winter Designs and photographer Hilary Wardaugh
Tanya of Seven Blueberries and designer Caleena Edkins
-:- photos by Tania McCartney -:-
What an amazing looking day. So many beautiful things. Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteCongratulation! What a great success! I just received my copy and LOVE IT! So many tutorials to try over the holidays:) Thank you so much!!!!
ReplyDeleteI am very proud to be a part of Handmade Living! Cannot wait to blog about the book and the tour that I was following religiously all the way:)
Wow, fabulous looking market, I really must come down for it again soon!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, so glad to see the book being well received. And just a thought...has anyone considered a flickr group so that people who make projects from the book can upload their own pictures of handmade living items?
Hey Gret good idea, will get Ros onto that one!
ReplyDeleteCheers
Julie