How I shocked the locals!!!

This is when we 'shocked the locals'!!!
Those cakes caused a stir and a fair bit of controversy.

This was the general gist of conversations as potential customers flowed in to buy what they thought were real cupcakes...
Lady: They look so yummy.
Me: they are faux cakes
Lady: What foam cakes?
Me: No, faux cakes, pretend, fake.
Lady: Can you eat them?
Me: No, they are not real.
Lady: so what do you do with them?
Me: they are for decoration. Perhaps in your kitchen or dining room.
Lady: Why, if you can't eat them?

Now repeat that conversation over and over again and you pretty much get the feel for our first hour or so at the market. If nothing else it kept my fellow neighbouring stall holders amused. Then Laura from the stall next to us suggested that we needed a big sign about our fake cakes. 'Fake Cakes'... yeah, that pretty much summed it up. Certainly not as classy as faux cakes but it stated the obvious. So we sent hubs back home to get a large blank canvas and black marker and whipped up this sign...


At least with the sign I didn't have to keep repeating the same conversation, but still everyone had questions. We were very good humoured about it and some of the reactions actually had us chuckling.


Then every so often from out of the crowd there would be a shriek of delight as someone recognised that I had faux cupcakes - yay. We did make a few sales but not what we are used to. Our previous market experience for 5 years at Yarra Glen Craft Market in Victoria had us swamped by customers trying to buy as we were unpacking the boxes. AAhhh... this city girl is still adjusting to country life!! At least we can laugh about this episode and prepare something more conventional for our next market date in December.

I have to admit, my new recipe for faux cuppies is very life like, so little wonder people were fooled.

So my first market at The Artist Market wasn't exactly lucrative but I did have a fantastic day.

I've spent the past 8 weeks here unpacking, renovating, getting everyone settled into new schools, activities etc. and I've had little chance to meet new people. Of those I have met, while they were nice and friendly, none were quite like me. They didn't get me like my art/craft/blogging friends do.
Then....
I met the market stall holder community. In amongst the vibrant, energised, almost hippyish atmosphere of a beach side village market, with the constant melodic beat of local musicians and the tantalising aromas from the vegetarian BBQ, I found new FRIENDS. Just being amongst these incredibly creative and talented artisans filled me with joy.

I met the lovely Melissa from Moochi Moo who actually knew what faux cakes were and even purchased a few. Melissa sent Kylie from Earlybird Creations down to check out my cakes too. Kylie makes the most divine resin jewellery and she is a blogger too. Oh... and I have it on good authority that Santa is buying my Christmas present from her stall. If you want to see a bit of what I am getting, be sure to visit her etsy store.

BUT... the best part about doing the market was meeting Justine from Jayswear. Talk about a kindred spirit. The cosmos had really looked after me putting our stalls side by side. Right from the moment we started talking (about THOSE cakes of course) we hit it off. We had so many shared life experiences, children the same age and at the same school, city girls forging a new life in paradise. We spent the whole 7 hours talking, laughing, talking, planning etc. Justine has just started preparation for a website and needs some help. I've offered to share what I know and lets face it.... it's really just another opportunity to talk and laugh some more. [giggle]