Well, I have no idea where to begin with how to report on Mathilda's Market in Lane Cove this weekend... so I'll just begin by saying it was a huge disappointment in so many ways. I have no idea whether I'm supposed to remain diplomatic about the whole thing, but I really couldn't care less at this stage.
Firstly, I shouldn't have been allowed to retail there, because I did not 'fit in', and yesterday was all about fitting in... about pink for girls, blue for boys, about piggy tails on dolls and not giving boys anything that resembles a doll.
The one recurring comment I heard all day was 'they're weird'. I heard a lot of 'but what is a blinky?' in a somewhat disgusted tone, and watched as one potential customer was talked out of a sale by her friend, because a blinky would un-categorically scare the baby (it was little Matthew... he's the blue and white checked one in the basket with the big polka dot ears). Oh, and did I mention the word 'freaky', I heard that quite a bit too... Lucky I have thick skin...
There were of course some really cool people there, and I met blog readers who were super enthusiastic and supportive, crafty types definitely understood what I was doing and I had some really nice conversations with other textile addicted peeps, but on the whole, it was a flop... a massive flop! The atmosphere was generally unfriendly and stuffy, figuratively and literally-- made worse by the lack of air conditioning, lack of air flow, the fact that you were not allowed to eat or drink anything inside the market-- customers were held back if they had food, and made to finish it outside-- there were lots of very pregnant stall holders looking utterly exhausted in the heat, and I have no idea how I lasted that long, let alone how they did.
I did meet some really wonderful stall holders with some really wonderful products/creations-- and Sophie (who is lovely!) was very happy to pick out her free blinky-- she picked one of the ones with the hand holder fabric. For now, I am so worn out, and have so so so so so much housework to catch up on.
Hope Monday is good to you all!
B.
It sounds awful. Those people don't deserve your blinky's anyway. Pfft to them
Stay strong - we love your stuff :)
Posted by: Renee | Nov 02, 2009 at 08:19 AM
so sorry it was a downer for you! remember we still love your work and my little boy isn't scared of his bug.
Posted by: kim | Nov 02, 2009 at 08:47 AM
I can't believe people would say that - your blinkies are the cutest things ever! From the photos your stall looked amazing, I don't know how anyone could walk past and not buy the whole lot of them! Onwards and upwards eh?!
Posted by: craftyllama | Nov 02, 2009 at 09:15 AM
Sorry it was such a flop! I can't believe some of things people would actually say, not cool!
Posted by: Casey | Nov 02, 2009 at 09:23 AM
I was the one that bought Emma for my daughter and can I just say that she is totally in love with her, he has not let it leave her sight since she got it. Your stall looked beautiful and you have wonderful products (not scary at all). Congrats to you. I did have words to one woman though that picked on my daughters blinki saying that it was weird and not something she would buy. Well if we were all like her, life would be boring. Go Blinki!
Posted by: LittleBirdDecor | Nov 02, 2009 at 09:34 AM
That's really disappointing - all 'round. It's always disappointing when you come home making very little sales (I know we all do it for the love of creating but c'mon, some spending money (or food money!) is nice.) but what really hurts is people not getting your stuff. I know. It was like that in spits and spurts at Stitches & Craft.
"Oh, this is very.. uh.. modern....."
"She's really charging for these?"
It's very hard to deal with these comments when you're putting forward things that you've made yourself that have a little bit of you in each and every toy and doll. I for one LOVE your binkies and your bugs and your birds and your entire stall! I just wish I lived up your way so I could come give you some support and give the stank eye to anyone who looked like they were gonna open their fat mouth and say something ignorant and stupid.
Forget them (I know it's hard but try). They're small minded and you're wonderful, so don't let them win!
Holly xx
Posted by: Holly | Nov 02, 2009 at 09:46 AM
Oh that's so horrible. I've been lucky enough to never have anyone dis my stuff within my earshot at a market. I love your work!
Posted by: CurlyPops | Nov 02, 2009 at 10:21 AM
oh man, I am so sorry! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVED your toys, I am so excited to give Lucia her blinky AND I want to get one for my little Evie too because she would feel so left out.
I am glad that you have thick skin, I hope that you are crafting for many years to come.
Posted by: sophie | Nov 02, 2009 at 10:25 AM
I'm so sorry it was such a terrible experience. For what its worth I came by your stall, and loved your stuff, I was looking longingly at one of your dolls with the red hand printed fabric, but was stifled by my husband and kids. Your toys are lovely and you should be proud that they are a little different. And I can't imagine how they would possibly scare children. Some people are so tactless, I'm not sure how I will cope with this if I ever do markets..
Posted by: Rachel | Nov 02, 2009 at 10:34 AM
Forgot to add your stall looked so lovely and all your things were so well presented!
Posted by: Rachel | Nov 02, 2009 at 10:35 AM
Ummm... That was obviously not the right crowd for you, because I can't understand at all why someone would think the blinkies are weird. I mean, if you consider them weird, then what about the Ugly Dolls and other commercial things out there? At least yours are original, have great fabrics, cute faces.... Very silly, those people. Good thing there are many more of us who disagree!
Posted by: gretchen/juneatnoon | Nov 02, 2009 at 11:09 AM
I ignore those people, they don't know what they are talking about. If things don't fit into their little cookie cutter world then they are the ones missing out. I hear them all the time saying "I could do that" or best of all yesterday was 'they demonstrated how to make these exact bags on 'better homes & gardens' on friday night...." implying that I had managed to source and whip up 25 of my coffee sack bags (that I have been selling for how many months?) in one day.
**Sigh** better to move on I think!
jess
xx
Posted by: Jess - A Life So Peachy | Nov 02, 2009 at 11:25 AM
Hi Rebecca, i am so sorry you had a shit day. I dropped by your stall and it did look fabulous, everything was beautifully presented. I have noo naah in my daughter's room and she loves it.
stuff 'em I say
Posted by: ivka | Nov 02, 2009 at 11:45 AM
I didn't want to say anything, I was hoping out of Brisbane was better. I went there last year, it was very small and very pink for girls....one stall for boys!
Posted by: Louise | Nov 02, 2009 at 03:51 PM
Don't mind them at all! Your blinkies are adorable and I love love them! I guess every "market" has its own peculiarities and don't let that get you down. keep doing the great thing that you do! :)
Posted by: Account Deleted | Nov 02, 2009 at 05:08 PM
Oh! That breaks my heart to hear your story. Usually people who behave like that are negative about everything and everyone, and we would never convince them otherwise.
Bec, it is totally their loss that they are missing the point of your beautiful work, and rest assured there are many, MANY more people who love what you do. You poor thing. But I know it's so hard to ignore those kinds of comments. We put so much love and care into what we do that our creations really are part of us and it's therefore hard not to hear it personally.
Never mind. Don't change what you do, because it's lovely. I bet you have more creativity in your little finger than many of those who turned their noses up for no reason. :o)
Posted by: Gret | Nov 02, 2009 at 07:33 PM
Oh, how utterly disappointing! As mum to an eighteen month old I think your Blinkies are ACE, and I love their funky attitude AND the fact they're not gender-coded by colour!
Posted by: Aphie | Nov 02, 2009 at 08:19 PM
But that is what so wonderful about your creations, that they are weired and freaky, and not at all like anything else! I'm sorry that some people don't get that, and that the market was a flop.
Posted by: Isa | Nov 02, 2009 at 10:39 PM
You know Bec, I went to the M Markets here in Brisbane a few months back as a kind of customer/'research' trip, and I was also strangely disappointed, but I couldn't really define why. You have just made the penny drop for me with your post. All strictly gender defined and cutesy, and the customers were generally mainstream and "unique products" for them obviously has some kind of threshold. That said I also can't say that I observed a lot of activity around the "softie" stalls, people were more after clothing, accessories and room decor type things.
I would just like to give you some support and tell you to brush it off and move on, use it as a discovery experience. You are super talented and I think your work is really great.
Posted by: Caroline | Nov 02, 2009 at 10:58 PM
What the heck?! I thought your stall was one of the best there. I loved every single one of your softies - I have a real soft spot for the Spring Lambs. You're clever and crafty and cute, and smart and talented, and who gives a rats about those people. Shake it off! You're smarter than that (and heeeelllloooo - they just don't get it and they're missing out).
Posted by: lexi | Nov 03, 2009 at 01:18 PM
Don't you listen to them! How rude, I can't believe people would say things like that!
Your toys are not freaky, nor would they scare a baby. I just don't think non arty crafty people get it honestly.
If they want dolls and clothes made in pink and nothing but pink they can shop at Big W!
They don't deserve your softies! Sell them to people who appreciate them... people like us!
Posted by: Sarah | Nov 03, 2009 at 10:49 PM
I went to the market and your stuff was the best there! So much of it was extremely derivative - and it was all the same! And I agree that it was all very gendered and a bit boring, actually. So don't take it to heart - it's not you, it's them!
Posted by: Michelle Arrow | Nov 06, 2009 at 08:38 AM
you poor thing! all those silly people just don't get it, they must all like being sheep that follow the flock. Only special people 'get' handmade stuff and we are slowly taking over the world one softie at a time!
Posted by: Joely | Nov 07, 2009 at 11:13 PM