Summer at the Farmers' Market

 The Farmers' Market is in full swing now that the rainy days of June are over.  July was a good month, mostly sunny, no high winds and August has been golden!  Beautiful sunny days with light breezes, happy vendors, happy customers.  The produce is abundant and peoples' bags are brimming - some with pots too.   Yesterday was busy - full of enthusiastic people saying positive things about the pots - and then buying them!  I'd probably make pots even if nobody ever bought them but the support and encouragement goes a long way to getting me out there into the studio on a daily basis.

I've developed a fairly thick hide after many markets and craft fairs and no longer feel crushed when people give me the "you've got to be kidding" look when they pick up the pots and check the price tag.  I try to educate people about the process of wood firing and the financial and physical costs involved.  There's a photo album on the table that explains what I do that most people find really interesting.  There was a great article published in the local paper a few weeks ago about what I do in the "Meet Your Maker" column and afterwards dozens of people stopped by my table at the market to say they'd never realized how much work was involved in making these pots.  What a boost.  Thanks to Lorne Eckersley, who's writing about all the people who make things in this valley.

Here's the new look for my stall - elegant, I think - with a new banner and linen-look cloth on the table.  Six more Saturdays for the outdoor market.