Behind the Booth: A Quiet Look at My First Art Market of 2026

Last Sunday marked my first art market of 2026. I wanted to share a small thank you to everyone who stopped by, supported, and shopped small — and offer a quiet behind-the-scenes glimpse into what the day looked like from my side of the table.

The Greater Goods Market at the Garage at R. House in Baltimore was a full and beautiful day — sunny, busy, and filled with around 80 vendors. It was my first spring market and one I’d happily return to in the future.

It also marked a small personal milestone: I’ve now done three art markets and three pop-ups.

Every event has been different in a good way, and I’m starting to notice patterns, not just what sells or what I bring, but in how I prepare, how I show up, and how I feel in the space. I’ve been learning more than I expected… like how much intention goes into a small table, how quickly the day moves once it starts, and how much each market shifts depending on the crowd, the weather, or even my own energy that day.

Behind the booth, there is truthfully a quiet and unspoken sense of overdrive…from packing the night before, second-guessing what to bring, early morning setup, and those in-between moments where you’re just watching people pass by your table. But with each event, I’m beginning to understand what feels sustainable for me, and what doesn’t and that’s valuable.

For this market, preparation started a few weeks in advance: applying early, then moving into printing and packaging once I was accepted. I brought a full range of work with me this time: cards, art prints, and a few bookmarks, mostly centered around spring, birthdays, and Mother’s Day. I even explored a new table setup and made note of what I’d adjust for next time.

One of my favorite parts of these events is getting a real-time sense of what people are drawn to. The questions, the requests, even the things I didn’t have on hand — they all stay with me. Even the smiles! I take note of what you’re looking for and carry that into how I shape my work and my table for the next market.

That exchange means more than it might seem and I’m truly so thankful for that.

More than anything, these markets are becoming a space for connection, to share my work, connect with other makers, to meet people face-to-face, and to be part of something local and tangible. I’m still very much in the process of growing into all of this, and this is just a small window into what that looks like right now.

If you couldn’t make it to this market but hope to make the next one, you can subscribe to my email list and select “Shop & Event Updates” so you’re alerted of upcoming events. I also post upcoming events on Instagram and do my best to share here on the blog. You can also grab everything at my market in my shop anytime.

And until next time, so excited to market again with my neighbors in beautiful Baltimore. Until next time, I hope you’re having a wonderful spring!