Now that I’ve taken the decision to wrap up my business, weekends have become luxuriously and decadently free. Well, that’s aside from the energetic dog who always wants walking at 7am, the continuous home renovation, general chores and blogging. Aside from all that, we do actually have time at the weekends to get out and about and enjoy ourselves which for 5 long years of market trading 3 weekends out of 4 (as well as both of us working full-time Monday to Friday), well those “fun” times were in short supply.
It also meant that I always missed out on actually visiting markets as a customer and just to soak up the atmosphere – trading was always fun but you rarely get the chance to have a look around and just be able to appreciate it. I also come from a unique position of having done it myself so being even more aware of just how hard it is to run an independent business and how much support traders need. When I visit markets now it’s always with the express purpose of actually spending money rather than just picking everything up and putting it back down, plus also chatting to the business owners who have invested so much of their time and effort into following their dreams.
One market that had always been on my radar to visit was the Crafty Fox Market which invariably always clashed with an event I was at. Finally, just before Christmas we shopped at one of their festive night markets after work and made a vow to return to one of their Sunday markets. And so it was that we drove over to Peckham a few weeks back and did more than a little bit of shopping. I love finding such creative talents and sourcing unique gifts and things for myself as well as pretty pieces for our home.
The little enamel easel brooch is a gift for my aunt, a super-talented artist. It’s her birthday in August and I think she’ll really love it. The ring is for me and is made from pieces of reclaimed leather, it’s so soft and comfy to wear. We haven’t yet decided what to do with the London Brick from Stolen Form, whether to use it as a vase or to keep stationery in but either way it’s a stylish addition to our home.
I’m also ever so slightly obsessed with these beautiful soy candles from Clement & Claude, a beautifully named company with a 100% stylish product. I picked up the White Wood fragrance and it’s been scenting our home ever since, plus it burns very cleanly without leaving residue in the jar.
Although they are mainly London-based, Crafty Fox Market also venture up to Leeds so if you get the chance to see them I’d really recommend it and if you do love a good market, then please remember to support the traders, they can’t make a living and continue following their dreams without customers willing to spend money. I’m hoping to do as much gift shopping this year as possible from independents and try to source gifts that little bit extra special.
Follow me on Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter
Click here to visit our webshop, DaisychainBaby.co.uk
it must be so nice to be on the other side of the stall for a change, i love the earrings. We have lots of craft markets in Dubai and I love exploring them.
It really is and I think having spent so long selling, I feel an extra appreciation for just how much work goes into it all. I’d love to go to Dubai, I’ll get there one day! X
Whoo it looks lovely here, beautiful pictures 🙂
It’s funny because it’s the most unassuming building ever but once inside it’s a really great market venue 🙂 X