Note to self: 10 things to remember about doing a market ...

Dear Self,
Next time you have the "inspired" idea to have a market stall, please remember the following:

1. You will work and work and work to get things just right. Day and night. Night and day ( I feel a song coming on ...). You will exhaust yourself so as any "bug" doing the rounds will find you as a lovely and willing host. Gastro the day before is not a good thing. And dragging yourself there and trying to smile through the stomach cramps is damn hard work.
2. No matter what month of the year, it will snow. Yes, in Australia, November is late spring. In fact, November 15 is only 15 days away from Summer. But due to the fact that there was a market on that I was participating in, we had weather from the Antarctic.
3. Weather from the Antarctic means people stay at home.
4. When you participate in a market that is held at a primary school, it doesn't matter how much bunting you use, your table will still look like the classroom science display table. See Exhibit A.
   
5. Even though you have a very presentable sign saying "Button Bracelets", four people will still pick up said bracelets and gush over the "bookmarks".
6. Somebody is always bound to come in and ask to buy the worst made thing that is not for sale - the bunting.
7. People love to pick things up and have a look and say how lovely they are. And then put them down and walk away ...
8. You won't sell half as much as what you thought (daydreamed) that you would. But that is what the Internet is for!
9. Lovely friends (thanks Jenny !!) will come and mind your stall for you so as you can walk around and have a look and pick up some things for Santa to bring. And you will realise that your stall looks pretty darned good.
10. And you will meet wonderful people like Tamara who makes the most beautiful ribbon hair accessories for little girls, who gives you loads of inspiration to keep giving it a go.

Now, when is that next market?