When I’m feeling a bit down, useless or agitated, there’s nothing I like better than a proper market binge. After a busy month in September, I finally got my hands on the market scene last weekend. And there’s nothing I recommend more!

STOP ONE: BRIXTON FOOD FEST

The first stop came in perfect time for our grumbling tums, as Brixton Station Road Market turned into a multicultural haven for food. The festival had been running all week (Cocktail Wednesday was on earlier in the week, needless to say I was gutted to miss that one), but this very special international event had been opened by the Mayor of Lambeth, Mark Bennett.

Save the Bee, Brixton Station Road Market at Brixton Food Fest

You said it Brixton!

While the BF went straight for the pulled pork burger, I was delighted to find The Bounty of Mimir’s Well, a table of what seemed to be magical preserves and jams. Presented with the choice of trying the light kiwi jam or the dark kiwi jam, I was dared by Feaghall, the creative mind behind it all, to try the dark. Quite frankly the easiest dare I have ever accepted, the flavours and textures in this gorgeous thing are surely enough to swing a jam-hater’s mind. I would take this forfeit in spin the bottle any day!

The Bounty of Mimir's Well, jams and chutneys

The lovely people at The Bounty of Mimir's Well

STOP TWO: CRAFTY FOX

A couple streets down was one of my favourite markets of all time, Crafty Fox at the Dogstar Pub. What I love about this place is that I always discover something I never had before, and the creativity over the three floors really does force you to challenge your own imagination. In a nice, inviting way of course!

The usual foxy character welcomes us outside the Dogstar

Working from the top down, I was delighted to find Blonde Fox Vintage amongst the printing workshops. Very tempted by their Christmas jumpers, they had a sparkling offer of genuine vintage delights, which oozed temptation from every rail (vintage is to ILM as chocolate is to…ILM). Talking of temptation, down one flight of stairs were the fabulous Teas Knees who have been popping up at the market since it began. Resisting the generously sized cream teas, I chose a Sticky Toffee Cupcake for only £2.

The Teas Knees, Sticky Toffee Cupcake and Blue Moon

Yes, I had it with a pint of Blue Moon. I was in a pub after all!

The next thing to almost flaw me was one of my most exciting discoveries of the day; Caleigh-Ill and their Russian Owl Dolls. Mesmerised by their dark, vibrant designs, I had to tear myself away from their stall. All their work is brilliant!

ILM BOUGHT:

Robin Ring by Kirstin Stride

For £10, this is the cutest thing I have ever seen. If Robins aren’t for you, designer Kirstin offers all kinds of little birds – and if you don’t like birds, she does other things too.

Bird Sticker by Birds in Hats

I love finding Birds in Hats at Crafty Fox as – well, there’s just nothing better than a bird in a hat. Designer Alice Tams was literally sitting by her stall designing one of her Christmas birds which was a great little insight into her process. I troubled her to by a £1 BIH sticker, which is now perching proudly on my laptop, under my I Love Markets sticker – TRUE STORY.

Virgo Constellation Card by Sabrina Kaici

I almost jumped up and down in excitement when I got to Sabrina's stall. As a bit of a moon, star and constellation freak myself, Sabrina showed me what her amazing moon print looked like under the tablecloth; the answer was it GLOWS IN THE DARK. Apologies for letting my inner geek out, but I was devastated to have already gone past my budget to purchase this. I instead opted for one of her lovely constellation cards, at a very affordable £2.50. She does all the constellations, so go see her if you have a friend’s birthday coming up (or get your own constellation… for yourself… like I did).

STOP THREE: VINTAGE KILO SALE

A quick sleep at the end of the day, and I was ready to get up on a sunny Sunday morning and make my way down to York Hall in Bethnal Green for October’s Vintage Kilo Sale. ILM readers will already know my emotions towards this worthy event, which charges you vintage by the weight, rather than the item (£15 a kilo). Enjoying the vintage shockers as much as I did the little gems of finds, I finally managed to get my Christmas jumper!

Vintage Christmas Jumper from the Vintage Kilo Sale at Bethnal Green

For £15 a kilo, I must have got this jumper for a couple of pounds!

STOP FOUR: VILLAGE GREEN MARKET

Signature Brew beer and a really long queue at Village Green Market

This pic of Signature Brew's stall does not do the length of their queue justice!

Closing off the weekend was a bus ride to Hackney Downs and joining the newly born Village Green Market, which is ran by our friends the Creative Network Partners. October meant OKTOBERFEST and a celebration of German food and drink. I was absolutely staggered to see the queue for Signature Brew, who were offering beautiful ales for a modest £4.50. Beautiful however must have been an understatement as the queue literally snaked around the market – suggesting to me that this was by far the most popular find of my market weekend. Although we didn’t make the queue, I fulfilled my need for beer by indulging in this delicious Lager and Lime Bunt Cake, which was only £1.50!

Lager and Lime Bunt Cake, Village Green Market

Delicious Lager and Lime Bunt Cake

Making my way through all the individual and pretty crafts and fashions, I found a pop-up shop housing beautiful products from a number of independent designers. The range also included our very own Juan is Dead.

Jorge Playing Poker, Ceramic Tile by Juan is Dead, £12

I rounded off the day with another quick shot of vintage (it’s like caffeine to me), by popping into Smoking Gun Vintage, which was another interior shop space incorporated into the Village Green. This really brought out my inner magpie as I was captivated by all the sparkle from all those decades ago; for a small space, the geniuses behind the shop squeezed a lot of treasures inside. The BF wouldn’t let me buy anymore vintage though… I don’t blame him.

All that marketeering and I didn’t even get a hangover!

Hollye Murphy

Creative Journeys at Crafty Talks by Hollye Murphy, I Love Markets

Crafty Fox is one of my favourite non-daily markets of all time. Usually on once in Spring and once near Christmas (although there are three markets for 2013 – hooray!), I count down the days until I can squeeze into an absolutely packed out Dogstar in Brixton and make my way around the trail of creativity, all three floors of it. The buzz that spans round the market is literally infectious (although maybe enhanced by the pint that’s usually in my hand – it is a pub after all!) and stallholders continuously tell me what great times they’re having. My purse usually gets a bit hurt, but at Crafty Fox I can just buy myself a new one, so who cares!

I therefore could not contain my excitement when I got myself a ticket for the FIRST EVER Crafty Fox Talks on 6^th June 2013. Chaired by Lisa Rodwell of WOOL AND THE GANG, inspirational and honest speeches were given by Lisa Comfort of Sew Over It, Sam Wingate of Mr Wingate, and Lisa Levis of Betty & Walter and Ada Rose. The theme was Creative Journeys and was a treat for any of you budding and creative entrepreneurs out there. From the logistics of wholesale to the tips behind keeping your sanity, Crafty Talks had the answers!

InStitchYou of Greenwich Market sewed portraits next to the DJ decks

The content was both important and intriguing for any people who are trying to step their business up to the next level. For any ILM members who dream of housing their wares in their very own shop one day, Sew Over It’s talk was been well worth a listen. Lisa detailed the process from ideas through to reality, bringing in the practical elements that some of us forget about: what demographic is right for your brand? How will you define your USP? How do you sort out a cashflow forecast? The beauty of Lisa’s talk was that it truly was a success story. Whilst ups and downs are inevitable and continuous, the Sew Over It dream did come true. If that’s not inspiring, what is!

Rachel Loves Bob and Miss Holly's Boutique have both traded at Crafty Fox

Lisa Levis’ talk was equally significant. We all have an emotional, mother-like attachment to our products and brands, so dealing with saying goodbye to them can be heartbreaking. Lisa detailed how this can happen but more importantly how to deal with this if it does. Her lovely brands Ada Rose and Betty & Walter were born out of this, and while caution was a key part of the tale, so was never giving up!

The speech by Mr Wingate however was the one I related most to our ILM community. Mr Wingate started out on our beloved Brick Lane market, followed on by a shop in Columbia Road. After learning to identify what sells and what doesn’t, he was picked up by Selfridges and has been on his adventure ever since.

Do you have a great idea? At Club Workspace in Kennington

We love all our stallholders at ILM because they all have their own individual stories. These were three stories that were sincere, motivational and inspirational. Anyone who can make it down to the next Crafty Talks, SHOULD.

Some of our very own ILM stallholders have traded at Crafty Fox Market. Browse their wares at our online shop or check out some of our faves below…