Eugene Saturday Market

If you are familiar with the Eugene Saturday Market this entry may be redundant, but then again, maybe not.

When I started my business I thought the Saturday Market was decidedly not going to work for me. I thought it was too 'hippie' and that nobody there went much beyond tie dye and bluegrass. I couldn't possibly fit in. After having spent a decade mired in a land of patchouli scented vans and dusty Grateful Dead bootlegs I assertively rejected many things that reminded me of hippie-ness. That was almost 10 years ago. Slowly I have been re-integrating hippie allowances. Okay, listen to the Grateful Dead in my presence, but just one album and no Uncle John's Band.

Fortunately, as far as the Saturday Market is concerned, I was totally wrong. There are the token hippies selling hemp woven doo dads, sure. But the Eugene Saturday Market is filled with a wide array of styles and I find it very inspiring! My favorite place to sell is along the southwest lawn. Kimberly Miller sells hula hoops there. She throws about a dozen hoops on the lawn for people to play with. All day it's middle aged ladies cheering each other on to swing those hips, frat boys trying it out in the sport of clownish mocking, little kids celebrating every rotation. There are musicians playing, teenagers dramatizing, and old men smiling on it all. Yesterday we had a cellist stationed right in front of us first thing in the morning. A couple of weeks ago there was a mariachi band. But mostly Saturday Market is about art. You can't sell someone else's product at this market. It must be handmade by the vendor. I love meeting other creative people. I learn something every week about how to improve my business or my craft. I'm spurred to work harder and hone my skills by the healthy competition that comes from being surrounded by greatness and being invited to join.

I thought it would be fun to showcase the work of some of my favorites here. Click on the company name for a link to the website.



WugBug Clothing Company
















Noelle Dass













Trumbly Designs

This week was blustery here in Eugene. This weather is always fun from the perch of my attic studio. Branches thump, pine cones crash, rain pitter patters. It's very exciting. I sewed catnip fish and monkeys. I revisited my 'simple monkey' design. I make monkeys in 3 styles, simple, regular, and long. The prices range accordingly. I sell greater quantities of lower priced items and so it follows that I would do best to keep more of the simpler stuff in stock. I resist a little because I like the details of a more elaborate creature. If it were up to me I would be pushing myself further and further toward the ornate. It's a good goal. In time.










So the simple monkey. It is cute with it's big head and small body. It is simpler than the 'regular monkey' in that it has no feet or wire in it's tail. It's ears and legs are not separate pieces, they're just part of the body pattern.










I revised my pattern for the catnip fish. Originally I made them as an after thought when I had a pile of oval shaped scraps. These ovals just aren't big enough, however to make a proper fat fish for kitties to really sink their teeth into. The two new test fish are a big hit around the house with Polly and Roca.

Nice Week

I had a really nice and productive week here in creatureland. I made 12 cuffs, 4 finger puppets, and 5 cat-o-pii (or cat-o-pods as I'm told). It recently occurred to me to make cyclops cat-o-pii of which I am very pleased. One of them already has been featured in an Etsy Treasury! A treasury, on Etsy, is a collection of pieces chosen by one artist, usually based on a theme. This one is an ecofriendly Father's Day theme and it features an eclectic group of gift ideas.

I'm in love with this group of cat-o-pii so I'll show a couple of them off...It is satisfying for me to make a girly cyclops cat-o-pus. Fyi, this is not the Father's Day cyclops.
















I've also been getting into making them with one giant eye and one smaller eye.













A cat-o-pus is a good friend.

Dollface, etc.

I've sold at Saturday Market for 3 weeks now. I'm starting to develop a swing, I think. It's a hippy version of hurry up and wait. I'm glad there are lots of interesting people to talk to. Also there are infinite variations on people watching. Everyone goes to the Saturday Market at one time or another.

I bring tasks to accomplish while I sit for 8 hours. My big one this week was to finish embroidering the face of doll #1.
There are several specifics I will adjust for doll #2, but overall, I think I like it.


My favorite part is the cheek circles with red stitching. Now she needs a stylish little outfit. I couldn't bring her around naked (gasp!) so I threw together this frumpy little ensemble. It simply won't do. The color is all wrong.





You may remember me posting this photo of her a few weeks ago, pre-cheeks.

The market is going well enough to keep my attendance. I find that I get more ideas each week for what I could be doing better. It helps so much to circulate with other bipeds-sometimes I forget this while in the solitude of my reclusive tendencies. I learn from watching and listening to other vendors. I learn from conversations with shoppers. I learn over and over that remaining positive, calm, and cheerful puts people at ease allowing them to linger a few moments longer at my little booth. I have to cinch my tendency to stare at my customers. I do this by always having things to do. This way I can look up and say hello. If they don't engage in further interaction I just return my half attention to the project in my lap. Secretly I always have my other half attention outward like a zen fisherman or 'creaturewoman', if you will.

I am so grateful for the Saturday Market and the fascinating Eugene community that continues to support a local economy more than any other place I've lived.