I worked two days straight getting ready for the Mother’s Day market, late nights, early mornings, hands covered in wax, ticking off to-do lists, perfecting every handmade detail. Then came packing the car and setting up the stall.
It’s true − starting a business seeps into every aspect of your life and relationships. But that’s a story for another day.
Market Day vibes
It was a cool autumn day. Cloudy, with a light sprinkle now and then. Perfect candle weather and so Melbourne.
All my handmade candles, greeting cards, toppers, room mists, and posies were laid out in neat little rows − like orphans, hoping to be picked.
We stood at our makeshift altar for six hours.
People came. They looked, sniffed and lingered. We chatted.
They read the candle captions − “I love you more than Netflix and Pinot,” and “This is not cake, but it sure smells like one.”
They laughed and complimented the creativity.
“That’s so pretty."
“Smells amazing.”“
This is lovely.”
Then they strolled on to the next, as you do.
Through the whole day, I made one sale. Twenty-six dollars. And that one sale? Pure gold.
She was a stall-holder’s child, with caramel-hazel eyes, bouncy curls and an infectious curiosity. She inspected almost every candle like a tiny CEO. Finally, Sweetie-Pie and Sanctuary made her shortlist. I was enchanted.
The market circuit
We were a scrappy collective, I was among candle makers, ceramicists, jewellers, bakers, florists, and sustainable homeware folk, all riding the same unpredictable, heart-on-your-sleeve rollercoaster.
Some were seasoned. Others, like me, were new to the hustle. We swapped notes and quiet truths.
“Markets are tough, you never know what you’re going to get.”
“Christmas markets are better.”
“No way can you just rely on markets. You’ve got to spread out, online, wholesale, in-person.”
“It’s all about finding your crowd.”
"Consistency counts."
Was it the cost of living? Trump? The upcoming election? The wrong crowd? The weather? Just plain bad luck?
No easy answers. Only questions.
Is that draining? Yes.
Is it unfair on my family? Also yes.
Am I dreaming? Definitely.
Will I ever sell enough to replace my day job? Not without investment.
What’s a girl to do on a slow market day?
Acknowledge that inner voice that says, “Okay, that sucked. Now what?”
Buy a massive bunch of dahlias from the flower stand and a box of ‘Ted Lasso’ shortbread from ‘To be Frank’ with a quote that reads:
"If you care about someone, and you got a little love in your heart, there ain’t nothing you can’t get through together.”
What’s Next
A maker asked me, “How does it feel to make candles?” I said, “It makes my heart happy.” That’s the feeling I want to share.
This post is part debrief, part love letter, to the makers I met, the strangers who lingered, and my family who are in this with me.
The experience? You can't explain it unless you’ve been there, showing up, backing yourself, heart wide open. Would I do it again? Absolutely.
When’s the last time you felt that kind of alive?
