Chesterfield Market May 2025

My second market. Dave and I went to Chesterfield Makers Market. We got ready at 6am and set off at 7 across the Derbyshire dales- which is always a gorgeous trip. 

I thought a lot today about why I decided doing markets was a good idea- was it to monetise my art, was it to add credibility to what I thought I was doing- was it to add funds so that I could buy better equipment, be more creative. A lot of that goes against why I think I do art and am creative. It's the therapeutic process of making art, of engaging in creativity and also expressing myself about thoughts, issues and things I care about in a way that is meaningful to me. Getting ready for a market and trying to sell that work is sometimes, however, counter to that. 

I was looking at my stool today- the table too big, not enough height, bookmarks going everywhere in the wind and it all felt quite against me! The reason why I do what I do is about what it says about caring for myself and others and yet trying to sell here did not feel particularly caring to myself...I was trying to perform and get validation from other people liking what I was trying sell. Some people did and that was nice- I sold some mushrooms to someone who loved them and I was so overjoyed for a sale that I basically gave them away for free. 

The other traders were lovely and the atmosphere was great but I couldn't help feeling like I wasn't backing myself.

I think the lesson here is to take a pause and not try to hard to get somewhere I think I should go, without really considering the meaning.