After nearly two years away from in person markets I somehow found myself doing three in one week. Maybe it was muscle memory, maybe it was chaos, maybe it was fate. Whatever it was, the moment I was asked to jump into a trio of winter markets I said yes before my brain had a chance to remind me why I stopped doing them in the first place.
Back then I stepped away mostly because my schedule was packed. Now I am working freelance full time and trying my best to get The Mook Press off the ground so saying yes felt right. Still, coming back after that long break is a bit like stepping into cold river water. Refreshing but also a little shocking. I had no clue how much inventory to bring, what people would want, or if anyone even remembered who we were.
I packed my tables with a bit of everything including my usual selection of prints, sticker packs, and zines. I also brought brand new greeting cards and postcards along with a fresh colorway of our Ozarks pennant. But the thing I was secretly the most excited about was a brand new bear print. I had just illustrated it, had no clue if it would land, and felt like I was revealing a tiny piece of my heart to a bunch of strangers. It did not move much early in the week but by the time we hit the last market it absolutely crushed. There is nothing quite like watching new work find its people.
What surprised me most about being back was how kind, intentional, and eager to talk everyone was. None of the markets were packed wall to wall but each conversation felt meaningful. Quiet or crowded, these pop ups reminded me that people still want to talk about art, about place, and about how the things we make carry memories around with them.
Each market also had its own personality. Crisis Brewing sold more Ozarks pennants than I have ever seen move at once. Ozark Brewing turned into a greeting card and postcard party. Word Coffee was the print haven of my dreams with a healthy mix of stickers sprinkled in. I forgot how fun it is to see what resonates in the moment and how wildly different that answer can be from space to space.
The interactions were easily the best part of the week. Not everyone likes my work and that is completely fine but the vast majority of folks were warm and excited to talk about creativity. My favorite moments were when returning customers recognized me. Hearing that they have one of my prints hanging in their home always catches me off guard. They probably have no idea how much time or energy goes into each little thing I make but knowing that something I created found a home in someone else’s space means the world.
These three markets also made something pretty clear. Very few people actually know who we are yet which is honestly great news because it means we can only grow from here. And grow is exactly what I want to do. We will definitely keep doing markets and I already have big plans for our booth setup and for the new art I want to release.
I am still figuring out exactly what people want most and the challenge of what inventory to bring remains real. Stickers always move but with their low price they don’t make much of a dent. Prints and cards had their own surprising rhythms. I have a few new ideas brewing though including a farm or cow themed series. We will see where that goes.
Three markets in one week felt like a lot but it also felt like a homecoming. A reminder of why I love doing this and why connecting with people in person matters so much. The Mook Press is still small. Still new. Still finding its crowd. But after this wild week, I could not be more excited to keep showing up, to keep making, and to keep sharing what I love with the folks who stop by our little table.