A Very Early Start at the Bobby Dazzler Autumn Artisan Market
Some craft markets start with a leisurely breakfast and a nice cup of tea. Mine started at 4:30am. Yep. Half four. In the morninggg!
I was up packing the car, getting myself ready and doing my usual last-minute checks. I still tend to leave things until the last minute, so I like to go through everything again that morning to make sure I haven't forgotten anything important!
Eventually, everything was packed, loaded and ready to go, and off I went to the Bobby Dazzler Autumn Artisan Market at the Holiday Inn Rotherham North, on Manvers Way.
When I arrived, there was a little space waiting for me to turn into my ConnieFlower shop for the day. There's something I really love about that part of a market — an empty table slowly becomes a display of handmade pyrography, gifts and little pieces of art, ready for people to discover.
The weather was a little hit and miss, with rain coming and going throughout the day, but thankfully it didn't stop people from coming along and having a lovely time.
Lots of lovely people
One of my favourite things about being a pyrography artist in Nottinghamshire is meeting people who have never seen my work before. There were lots of new faces at this market, and it was lovely to meet Wendy and Lynn from Yorkshire Cat Rescue, as well as Jade and Jake from J Shaw Welding, my fellow stallholders.
It was also brilliant to see The Cookie Smith again, and the lovely Big Shaz. And yes, I can absolutely recommend their bakes. They are DELISH!! Om nom nom!
There were plenty of familiar faces too, including Jack from Clumber Park and Paul, who came along with his lovely Mum, Muriel. Both supported my little business by making purchases, and I really can't thank you enough.
There was lots of chatting throughout the day, including plenty of conversations about pyrography and my pyrography workshops in Worksop and Nottinghamshire.
If you've ever looked at pyrography and thought, “I'd love to have a go at that,” then you absolutely can. You don't need to be artistic or have any previous experience. My workshops are about learning something new, getting creative and making your own piece to take home.
And honestly, watching someone realise they can actually do it themselves is one of my favourite things.
A market full of laughs
This was just one of those days where there seemed to be something funny happening around every corner.
Watching a young lad try award winning Chili Charvas hot sauce was hilarious. He then rode off on his scooter and there was smoke coming off his back wheel! There wasn't really, but the poor kid looked like he could've exploded.
There was also plenty of talking about cats, sharing stories about customers who think you're hard-selling when you're actually just trying to be polite, and, somehow, mint sauce body wash became a topic of conversation. Don't ask. Actually, maybe do ask. It was a good laugh.
And then there was the gentleman who told me my stuff was “a load of old tat.”
Before anyone gets upset on my behalf, he absolutely didn't mean it in the way it sounded haha! It came out wrong, and we've been having a good laugh about it ever since.
I didn't catch his name. I think he was possibly a little embarrassed afterwards. I do remember him mentioning something about selling bath bombs, though. So, matey... if you're reading this, I'll find you next time!
The lovely bit about being a maker
For all the silliness, laughs and very early starts, there is one thing that makes these markets really special: seeing somebody connect with something I've made.
Thank you to everyone who came over to say hello, asked about my workshops, chatted about pyrography, found a piece that spoke to them and decided to give it a new home. There really is something incredibly lovely about that feeling.
I spend hours creating these pieces by hand, so seeing someone choose one to take home with them never gets old. And perhaps the best thing is when someone looks at my work and thinks: “I'd like to try that.” That's exactly what I hope my workshops can give you — the chance to stop admiring pyrography from the other side of the table and have a go yourself.
Thank you to Bobby Dazzler, the Holiday Inn team, my fellow stallholders and everyone who came along and made the day such a wholesome one. Lots of laughs, lots of lovely people, plenty of strange conversations and a whole lot of pyrography.
Even if my day did start at 4:30am. Worth it? Absolutely!
Fancy having a go at pyrography?
If you've ever looked at handmade wood burning art and thought “I wonder if I could do that?”, why not give it a go?
Join me at a ConnieFlower pyrography workshop, learn the basics, get creative and make your own piece to take home.
Or, if you'd rather see my work in person first, come and say hello at one of my upcoming craft markets and events.
You might just discover your new favourite hobby.
