Welcome to Story Time!

This is the page where you can see my progression and relive my experiences.

Let the positive times flow and watch the inspiration grow

The WCQ Market

My time on the (WCQ) Waterford Cultural Quarter Market

Here's my story and journey as an artist along with working the WCQ markets here in Irelands oldest city, Waterford.

Upcoming market days and where you can find me in person will be updated as they are confirmed.

Upcoming Market Dates

Every Saturday in June!!

7th, 14th, 21st and 28th

Upcoming Projects

Sun Catcher Obsession in progress

THE BEGINING

As art has always been apart of me, I spend hours doodling away! When I found the WCQ market, I found myself with a platform to allow my creations to be seen and thus growing in every way. I started with a small A4 folder with about 20 pieces of art and a box of art supplies. Noticing I had not thought about display (and other things) hit me as I landed for my first day. I ran to get a sheet for my table and got to work setting up. Feeling underprepared, making myself vulnerable, with a front row seat for everyone as I tried to figure things out. I stuck with it and learnt quickly what I needed to do to make it work. How easy it was for me to find my groove thanks to Trevor and the other stall holders. I found myself adapting and changing with each market day and fell in love with every aspect of the market (except the RAIN!!!)

"A thick skin and thin armour"

My products quickly grew, starting with hand drawn cards. a lot of my small art pieces worked perfectly! Then came my mini candles and my books. Expanding my products was so exciting and the limits were endless. I definitely spiralled with creativity! Every day I finished on the market, I would be on the job of improvements and change. The next market day was another opportunity to test out endless possibilities.

With my first summer season finished up, I was setting my sights on the Winter market season. Winterval is Waterford's own Winter festival that takes over the city for 6 weeks with many markets, events and much much more. For the weekends on the run up to Christmas, I was kept on my toes! The winter market was very different to the summer, shivers instead of sweats!! So much was learned during those 6 weeks! Thermals and hot drinks were a must. The excitement and buzz around the city was electric and I got to meet so many people from all corners of the globe. I created Christmas themed items, kiddo friendly bits and a box filled with hand written positive messages along with sweeties for people to have. Spreading the positive vibes became a goal every time I was on the market.

"I spend hours doodling away"

The 5 month break in the WCQ market season gave me too much time and yet not enough to prepare. Year 2 on the WCQ market started with just a few additions! Hand drawn astrology and element keyrings, Aroma room sprays, crystal jars and positive vibe boxes along with helping a friend that created beautiful crocheted items, Bernie's Bits were available at my stall. Her bits added another dimension to my table.

I created an Animal colouring book along with a Wordsearch book to add to the collection of growing self published books. I enjoy playing with materials that pop on black paper and my keyrings were born. With wanting to spread positivity I created my positive vibe boxes, filled with sweet and sour items to help cleanse and set energy in your home. I quickly found people wanted just one or two items instead of the full box so I quickly got to work and created bunches of each item separately, with the availability for people to create a bespoke positive vibe box for themselves in the moment. Aroma room sprays became a major hit and Fly Bye became a stapple in my own home.... and everyone else's!!! My love of crystals runs deep and creating my crystal jars became an obsession, to cleanse and set the jars with positive vibes is a passion.

Working a market stall is a fantastic place to conduct market research, bring any items to the people and the will tell you if its nice, what they would prefer and what they defiantly don't like. A thick skin and thin armour is what's required.

"thermal flasks were back with a bang!!"

As the summer of 2024 progressed, my confidence grew and bonds were formed. Tanny and I became neighbours any time we were there together and then it became a given, 2 tents, 2 businesses and 2 mad yolks laughing and working together. Our summer season of Saturday's ended with a full weekend for Harvest fest, in Waterford city. It wasn't long before Winterval 2024 was upon us, 3 months flew by in a blink of the eye and the winter clothes, lights and thermal flasks were back with a bang!!

With the start of Winterval came the rough weather and the electric buzz. Tanny and I were a dynamic duo, creating a solid foundation for an epic market season together. Our crafts fitted together like a Ying Yang symbol, the 2 sides of the same coin. It became unthinkable to do the market without Tanny and to create our magical space together. I found my groove with my products, bringing back the crimbo items, my positive vibe messages and some free sweeties for everyone. The vibes were so positive around the city, so many people, from all corners of the earth. The universe blessed me with the 'gift of the gab' and the connections made were pure magic. Winterval 2024 will always be remembered!