Well, Missoula, what an introduction! Our very first showing at the Missoula Makers Market this past Thursday was, shall we say, an experience! It was a day that perfectly captured the spirit of Montana – beautiful, unpredictable, and ultimately, incredibly welcoming.
Heading into our big premiere, my trusty [Nissan Versa - see last weeks blog] was packed to the brim with all our handmade soaps, scrubs, and oils. Getting all our goodies from the car to our spot in the park was a bit of an adventure, especially with a bit of a hurt hip making walking a charming challenge! But, true to the maker spirit, we got our tent set up, products beautifully displayed, and felt ready to shine.
The weather forecast looked fine, so we decided to keep things simple with just one side of the tent up for shade. And then... Montana reminded us who's boss! Out of nowhere, a true squall rolled in. The wind whipped up something fierce, blowing our carefully arranged products over, and the rain, oh the rain, decided to give some of our product labels a good soak.
We scrambled to put up the other tent sides, but learned quickly that doing so would create a "sail effect" – probably not ideal for a tent, or us, in a fierce wind! So, we quickly pivoted, using the sides as makeshift table covers. Even that was a battle against the wind! This wild weather lasted for what felt like an eternity, but was probably only 20 or 30 minutes.
When it cleared, the scene was a bit... disheveled. Several vendors, understandably, packed up and called it a day. But after all that effort to get there from Superior, MT, and with a little bit of stubborn optimism, we decided to hold on. And boy, are we glad we did!
As if on cue, the crowds began to pour in! The park quickly filled with tons of people, delicious food aromas, and lively music. The river itself became a stage, with kayakers gracefully navigating the currents and even a couple of intrepid surfboarders riding the waves – a truly unique Missoula spectacle!
The rest of the evening was pure joy. We had so much fun meeting new faces, connecting with amazing customers, making a few new friends, seeing some wonderfully odd characters (you know who you are! 😉), and even bumping into family.
T
o everyone who stopped by, who braved the initial squall, or who simply brought their fantastic energy to the market – thank you, Missoula! You gave us such a warm, memorable welcome, and we are incredibly grateful for your support. We absolutely loved our first taste of the Missoula Makers Market, and we can't wait for the next one!
Stay tuned for more handmade goodness, and thank you for being a part of our journey!
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