2025 flew by in a blur of markets, a brief foray into retail, sewing, bookbinding, not much painting and a whole lot of time stuck in an anxious state of freeze.
2025 in review:
I started the year launching my first products made with my original Leaves fabric, including art-journals, pencil cases, aprons, table runners and placemats, tea towels, cushion covers, and pin cushions. Designing my own fabric was a goal when I first started my market stall in mid-2023. I photographed 340 leaves for the design, and chose an ethically-certified digital printing company in Melbourne to print it on a beautiful cotton/linen blend.
In January I joined a new collaborative store in Newcastle. I was approached by the owner at a market, and at the time knew I needed to do something else for additional income, so took a risk. I’m grateful I did even though by May it all went pear-shaped, because I learnt a LOT. I’ll just leave it at that!
My new textile products were popular with customers at markets and the retail space, so I spent the year restocking and neglecting my art practice, I only finished one painting all year. I started a series on canvas in November for an exhibition, but I missed the deadline as caring for my sick pup took priority. They are sitting there half done, I probably won’t finish them either as I really don’t like painting with watercolour on canvas, it just feels ick compared to paper!
Framed prints of my previous work were on display for a month at The Place Community Centre in Charlestown, but I didn’t really have the energy (or new work) to pursue any other exhibition opportunities.
I did 26 markets in 2025, booked into far more, but the weather wasn’t kind. For comparison, I did 39 markets in 2024. Some markets I do OK, some I bomb, but I’ve slowly been able to reinvest in a better setup and display, tools and supplies. 2025-2026 will probably be the first year I turn a small profit since I started my stall mid-2023, so that’s worth celebrating.
Overall markets are a hard slog for little reward, other than connecting with a beautiful community of stallholders and market organisers, who are genuinely supportive and generously share their knowledge and opportunities. I also have some lovely loyal customers too who I appreciate so very much. As for making a full-time living from it, I’m not sure it’s possible unless you are selling food or coffee!
My online store also finally went live in mid-2025, and sales are trickling in. I tried selling on an another online platform also without much success.
Plans for 2026:
My Leaves fabric products sold quite well. However, printing high-quality fabric locally is expensive, sewing and bookbinding are time-consuming and labour-intensive, and I couldn’t sell them at the prices needed to cover my labour and make a profit (at markets at least). I tested at different price points until I hit the sweet spot where stock would sell consistently. The reality is, at those prices they are not worth my time and effort, so I have taken emotion out of the decision and discontinued these products.
I’m taking a break from markets for at least the first few months of 2026, and when I come back, I won’t be doing so many. I will be doing them with the mindset it is a networking exercise more than anything and will be more selective with the events I attend.
My focus this year will be painting. For this I also need to spend some much-needed time out bush, not only to photograph critters for references, but to reconnect with nature.
I have enrolled in a few workshops and courses for the first half of the year too, and plan to make better use of my Society of Artists Newcastle membership.
My goal when I first started my market stall was primarily to make some cash for art supplies, which I did, and then they sat gathering dust as restocking textiles and art journals took over.
I also became a little addicted to the dopamine hit of the rare market I’d do well at. By “do well” I really mean hitting the bare minimum for my stall to be financially viable, so it’s not doing well at all, but my perceptions have become distorted. I might write a whole other post on that for anyone thinking about starting a market stall, the real numbers are sobering.
In 2026 it’s time for me to get back to my watercolours, experiment, and find my voice as an artist. I need to get back to basics, for starters I need to finish organising my studio and then I’ll just swatch my new tube paints I bought back in April!
Grief will be a challenge this year, I know I don’t have much time left with my soul-dog Webber and the anticipatory grief is already crushing me.
As for my anxiety and freeze-state? I’m working on it, trying to be more mindful and kinder to myself. I’ve downloaded the Calm app, started some gentle yoga, and bought myself a mindfulness journal, hopefully it won’t gather dust like my art supplies. 😉
I appreciate you for reading this, thank you for tagging along.
Kathy
This blog post is 100% written by me, a living, breathing (trying really hard to be optimistic about the year ahead) human being. Absolutely no AI was used. These are all my own words and images, imperfect as they may be.