There's no place like home

It's surprising how home-like Holiday Market feels to me. The booth is familiar, the neighbors familiar--though we do have one new one. The revised show map changed the booth next door from an eight-by-ten to an eight-by-eight, so Noelle moved down the aisle and Lisa the jeweler moved in. Still, a booth set-up I can stock in my sleep (and have, I suspect), good live music, easy access to the office water cooler when my mug runs dry. And it's indoors. No rain or wind to worry me, except briefly during load in and out. It's the perfect hang-out.

I did my usual security shift Saturday morning from 8 am til 10. Which mostly involves sitting by the side door to make sure the folks coming in are vendors. I also open doors, as more often then not they're coming in with stock in one hand and coffee in the other. The fairgrounds has finally replaced the stiff old doors, so I don't have to put my shoulder into it to open them. Didn't have to turn aside any civilians this year, just hang out with my bear--who wears the security badge--and help folks come in.

Lost my first sale to modern payment technology. Young woman had forgotten her wallet, asked to pay with her phone. I can do this easily--the Square takes Apple Pay, Google wallet, you can even pay with your Apple Watch. She, however, had Venmo. I don't. I've been asked in the past, but some of the privacy issues I've read about online make me reluctant to pursue, and most folks have other options. She didn't, and insisted that I could just scan her QR code and everything would work. So I did. And the code took me to an item on Walmart.com? Very weird. She put the salmon mug back on the shelf and didn't come back.

Because I'd sold the mirror at Clayfolk, I put the oval peacock platter in center position on the back grid panel. And promptly sold it. Replaced with a round platter, one of two remaining, which managed to last the weekend. Only had one mixing crock left, so I filled the empty spot with a tool crock, eventually sold both. Started the weekend with seven pie plates; ended with two. Held back a full box of tall mugs from Clayfolk and went on to sell all but two of them, which were duplicate patterns of one on the shelf. Apparently bunnies are out of fashion?

Having trouble with my favorite kids interaction: I ask, What's your favorite animal? When they answer, I hold up a pot with the animal and say, Oh, like this? Only, more and more, they don't have one. Or say, I like all animals. I guess I should say, Well, you've come to the right place!

Busy all three days. Best day was Saturday, with Friday a close second, though even Sunday was surprisingly good. Sold just over $2600, and I'm really glad for that kilnload I'm firing this week.