market loot and a craft rant

So I went to a craft market over the weekend.  I always want to take nice photos, but I always feel awkward, like the stall watching me, stealing their ideas. Which to be Frank, I kinda am. Not really though. I just personally have a real problem with buying stuff I know I could make myself. Plus I am a real tight arse.

Practically the only photo I took inside the market - really fab location eh?

I mean, look a this.

I was in Bendigo - I had to take a drop into the mills and the wonderful bargain room. All of this cost me under $25!  That red yarn?  $1.50 per 50g!  Because it's dyed unevenly?  More like charmingly variegated I say!

Anyway, craft markets.  I do find them inspirational.  And I did buy some stuff. See? 

Doily bag and brooch from wink & bid, and 'I tram Melbourne' postcards from, hilariously, I Tram Melbourne.  How does one tram Melbourne?  Does it mean you travel on trams?  Weird.  I didn't buy The Kitten, she just likes to get in on the action.

They make me anxious though.  Craft markets.  I can just feel the stall holders watching me inspect their lovingly (well, maybe, I'll come back to that) crafted items, waiting for me too ooh and aah over their stuff, when secretly I am totally judging them based on their craft skills, plotting and planning projects in my head.  Projects that will be much better executed and that will only cost me a fraction of the price.  I am so totally unimpressed with most things I see at craft markets.  They are generally not new ideas nor is much of the stuff made particularly well.  Even the brooch I did buy seemed quite flimsy (but for $6 I shouldn't really complain). 

Outside the town hall, feeling better about getting the camera out.

For example, I inspected some hand knit hats.  The owner dropped her knitting (she was knitting while running her stall), and jumped up "oh you can try it on!"  I swiftly declined. I didn't say that I could make it myself, and was merely inspecting her work.  She was charging something like $60 per hat and they pretty shoddily made with some god awful yarn to boot!!  Which brings me to the making.   I have a couple of friends who have experience in crafting for cash, and the impression I get is that once you are forced to churn out high enough volumes for the store, you don't enjoy crafting any more.  

Finally, I did not see anything at this craft market that I hadn't seen on pinterest before.  So really, maybe I shouldn't feel bad for taking inspiration, or 'stealing' ideas.  I'm certainly not going to be running my own store - what a bore!  I'm still not convinced that it's ok to take photos though.

So, there you have it.  This post was a bit pointless, other than to show off my loot.

Not really a dog person, but look at her jumper!

What do you think of craft markets?

~Tan