How was your beautiful spring weekend? Ours was a busy but fun blur of activity! We were so thankful for the delightful weather that made our excursions enjoyable.
Early Saturday morning Jonathan and Sarah left for the downtown farmers' market with two loaded vehicles full of baked goods and soaps. Jonathan was in charge this weekend of setup and selling soap for Hannah since she would be elsewhere selling. Meanwhile, Tom, Granny, Hannah, and I made our way to Dayton's Redbud Festival with two loaded vehicles full of baskets, soaps, a big tent, tables, chairs, signs...and all the "stuff" that goes along with setting up a booth for a craft show!
Here's Granny awaiting her first customers. Isn't she beautiful at almost 86 years old? One of my favorites of her baskets was the yellow-handled potato masher basket on the second shelf of the baker's rack.
The potato masher baskets were quite popular, and six of the eight she brought sold!I don't know what we'd do without Tom helping with the heavy tents and all the unloading and organizing. In fact, we couldn't do the show without him and his toolbox! Here he is hanging some of the baskets for display:
Here's what early morning on College Street in Dayton before the festival begins looks like...lots of white vendor tents. 100 vendors were scheduled to be at this event--much smaller than the fall festival:
Here's Hannah getting her side of the tent ready with her soap. She was very pleased with some contacts she made--customers who came by asking if she could customize bridal shower favors using the small bars she sells--Yes!:
Here's another view of the main setup before the festival started. Vendors often stop by each other's booth before the customers arrive because it's hard to get away once the day gets going:
This lady thought Granny was a real salesman! It worked! She bought a basket!
I'm not much of a salesman at all! I'm mostly there to take their money and bag up their purchases:
Hannah and Granny--two entrepreneurs extraordinaire:
The breeze was blowing just enough to direct the wonderful scent of Hannah's soaps toward the customers. These friends below stopped by to sniff her wares:
And the folks were there as you can see below...although we've found that the Fall Market does much better with sales since customers are thinking ahead for Christmas gifts:
Would you like a chance to win one of Granny's potato masher baskets, two bars of soap, and notecards and photo cards made by Hannah?
Steve over at Taste of Southern is having an Easter giveaway and delighted us by asking us to furnish his giveaway items.
If Taste of Southern is a new-to-you blog, head over and check out some of Steve's great southern recipes and enter his giveaway at the same time.
The giveaway is open until Sunday at midnight on April 20.
Comments for the giveaway should be left at Taste of Southern. Tell Steve that Mountain Musings sent you over!
~Deb
Welcome back Granny! It looks like the market was a busy bustling day.
Posted by: Rose | Monday, April 14, 2014 at 07:02 PM
Hi Deb! You all sure had a busy day with the festival and farmer's market, too. The booth looks great. I'd love to smell those soaps. Granny's baskets are really beautiful, and yes, Granny is certainly a beautiful lady. Thanks for the tip on the giveaway. Have a great week!
Posted by: Toni | Monday, April 14, 2014 at 08:02 PM
Now I finally know why it's called a Potato Masher basket! I've never seen an up close picture of the basket. How cute! I went over the Taste of Southern and registered. Blessings to all of you for Easter!
Bobbi
Posted by: Bobbi | Monday, April 14, 2014 at 08:04 PM
Hello Deb,
It does look like a lovely day. I imagine that your home does smell rather wonderful with all that baking and soap making going on.
Have a lovely day.
Bev.
Posted by: Bev C | Tuesday, April 15, 2014 at 09:02 PM
Looks like a lovely spring day for the festival. I bet a couple of weeks ago you were wondering if it'd be a late winter festival instead ;)
Posted by: Nic | Saturday, April 19, 2014 at 01:18 AM
Your Granny's baskets are beautiful!
Posted by: Lillace Christianson | Friday, May 02, 2014 at 09:09 AM