A Bearow escape

I almost lost a bear today.

For those who haven't perused the Occasionally Asked Questions at offcenter.biz, the section on bears:

What's with the bears?
Well, the sitter cancelled at the last moment... Actually, we started bringing teddy bears to our first Holiday Market. Sales were very slow, and it was nice to have someone to clutch besides each other, especially someone who didn't bruise easily. Since then we've discovered that bears distract crying children, attract child-like grown-ups, and generally make the process of meeting customers and selling art a lot more fun. We're actually both very shy, so the bears make introductions. In fact, we'd call them the unsung heroes of Off Center Ceramics, except that they now have their own song.

So we were visited by a mom and very young daughter--certainly less than two years old--and daughter was fascinated by the banks. So I brought them down to stroller-level so she could see and touch, showed her a pig, and and elephant, kitty and T. Rex. In an attempt to distract her so mom could move on, I offered her a picture, a leftover postcard from our summer shows. Unfortunately, I had my teddy bear under my arm at the time.

Of course, she pointed at the bear; the bear tickled her, she giggled; the bear danced, she chortled. Reached out her arms. If I let her hug it, will she give it back? I asked Mom. Oh, I'm sure she will.

Reader, she did not. Hugged poor Yevgeny tighter while mom cajoled and I made sad eyes. She was not gonna part with that bear, even when offered her new felt duck toy. Finally, mom removed the bear by force, and her wails could be heard down to the corner, and halfway down the block. Poor 'Geny was traumatized.

For whom the bell tolls

I sold four butter bells today at Market, after selling precisely one--a special order--all year. A butter bell, or French butter dish, is a device that keeps butter fresh, soft and spreadable at room temperatures. The butter packs into the lid, there's water in the base, which makes an airtight seal, preventing oxidation. Slow evaporation keeps the system cool. It's like a swamp cooler for dairy products.

So at 9:30 this morning, I'm just back from Farmer's Market and a woman come into the booth. Her dad has broken his heron bowl, and his birthday is next week, so she's here to get a replacement. A quick in-and-out purchase before she dashes back to Farmer's Market, where she works selling cheese.

Then she sees the butter dishes. Are those butter bells? she asks. I confirm, take one apart to show her the structure, and she decides she needs one. She makes her own butter, you see, so stick butter dishes don't work so well. She picks out dragonfly dish, but while I'm wrapping it, decides she'll take the fox too.

Ten minutes after she leaves, another woman comes in, a co-worker from the cheese booth. She doesn't like the octopus and raccoon dishes I've restocked, but is quite happy to buy the butterfly model from under the counter, though she has to wait until I finish selling a pair of soup bowls to another couple. All in all, it's a busy morning: four sales before official opening at 10 am.

And an hour later, a different couple decide to take the raccoon butter dish home. It's a good thing I'm overstocked at the moment.

Labor Day weekend is unpredictable; you never know whether more people are leaving town than visiting. This time, crowds are pretty consistent, sales not huge, but good. I also give away a lot of cards to people from out-of-town who want to order online to ship home. Never know how many will follow through, but a business card does no good sitting on my counter.

A large African Muslim family comes by, three generations, grandmother, mother, several teen/tweenage daughters, younger sons, women all in very stylish gown and hijab sets. Mom and Grandmom and eventually, eldest daughter, stop in the booth, and grand is talking at length, pointing out pie dishes and casseroles and maybe mixing bowls? (I don't know the language, so can only follow enthusiastic gestures.) Finally, Mom says Very nice, and Grandmom gives me an enthusiastic thumbs up. I smile and bow and say thank you. Later, Grandmom comes back with another man--dad, perhaps, think I saw grandfather earlier--and gives him the tour as well, pointing and explaining. It's really gratifying to watch, even if I don't sell them anything. Appreciation is always welcome.

Most confusing t-shirt of the day: I appreciate the Muppets on a much deeper level than you.

Oooo-kay...