12/31/2025
The first event of the year and the last event of the year with some of our favorite vending pictures in between š
This year was wild to say the least. I quit my office job in March and then the economy really tanked. At the time, it felt like I might have made a mistake. But you folks really showed up for us this year. Thank you for supporting us and fitting us into your budget when things are uncertain for so many!
Some wins?
I was able to become a full time artist for the first time since I opened my shop online in 2020. This December marked two years of vending. We vended at 48 markets over the span of 58 days 𤯠we vended at some of our goal markets like The Spooky Big Gay Market, the Madison Night Market, and a horror con!
We had over 900 Etsy orders and approximately 3000 in-person transactions! We hit and surpassed 1k followers on Instagram. I made more art this year than I ever have. We successfully introduced new products such as cleaning cloths, felt ornaments, buttons, and wrapped lighters. I finally updated our logo and branding to something I really like.
Some flops?
The handmade pins I spent hours upon hours making were discontinued and taken out of my shop because they just didnāt sell enough to justify making them any longer. Some designs I loved didnāt do well. There were many days of just pure burnout from pushing myself too far. I actually sold less online than the previous year. Which leads me into my next flop, I only updated my online shop twice this year š I still havenāt created a website to showcase my work. I spent more on supplies than I ever have before.
Goals for 2026?
Continue working on work life balance. Be more choosy about what markets I vend at. Successfully introduce higher priced items since everything I make is under $25 and most things are actually under $10. Possibly (maybe) vend at the Dane County Farmerās Market. Iām still deciding that one. Improve my booth setup to make it more colorful and eye-catching. Continue the current trajectory and grow in a sustainable way š