Two weeks ago we set up Honeybean at the 2nd Summer Porter Flea market, smack dab in the middle of our crazy insane work and travel schedule. I had been dreading those few weeks for months... not because of Porter Flea, but because of everything else we had to do around it. During a 36 hour span of Friday + Saturday, I had worked 33 of those hours (39 of 42 if you want to get really technical). 3 hours of sleep Friday night left me feeling a little bit lethargic and stressed when it came time to set up Honeybean. I won't even go into the whining and complaining about running the bar by myself that week (I'll save that for my "I quit my job!" post... you know, if that ever happens).
This photo shows a decent variety of the indie designers we have in the shoppe!
We pulled Honeybean into Marathon Music Works a day early, on Friday the 15th, so we could get her partially set up. She's a bit of a beast in comparison to most people's table booths so I was glad we were able to take care of that. We spent several hours setting up before having to rush down to work, so this allowed us to show up about an hour and a half after most people the day of the event. The doors opened at 11am and I was amazed at how many people flooded in. This was my first time attending Porter Flea, let alone vending, so it was fun to see how it all worked. Within seconds Honeybean (who was directly across from the entrance hallway) was overrun with people who appreciate handmade and independent designers. I remember looking over at Mike and saying "This is what it's all about. These people just 'get it!'" I've loved setting up Honeybean each and every place we have. Even when the rain threatens to strip me of my sanity, I've loved meeting people who totally get our vision. But Porter Flea was just perfect. The demographic was exactly what we were shooting for, and we were over the moon.
@ngelpoon
The event was from 11am til 6pm, but I had to leave Mike at 3 so I could rush back down to the bar and open up. In the 4 hours that I was there, I met so many people! Blog readers, internet friends, Nashvillians who loved Honeybean and had seen her around town, and even potential designers to stock the shelves. When I eagerly exclaimed to Mike that "this was it", I also told him that my heart had never felt so full. Running your own business, especially a retail shop, can be truly testing of your patience with people (and yourself). We've had snide comments in the past like "That is too expensive" and "I could make that" (what handmade business doesn't get that?), but at PF we finally felt like we had found the demographic that our business spoke to, even if it wasn't everyone's cup of tea. Each and every time we make a sale, I'm reminded at just how much I love Honeybean, yet how badly I want to expand and grow with her. Owning my own brick and mortar storefront only became a "dream" of mine in high school, but it is as strong as it's ever been today. It's an exciting position to be in to be able to pick out beautifully made pieces in hopes of sending them home with a potential customer. Am I waxing too poetic for you? Sorry, I'm getting mushy!
@crashwagon
@chelsgriffith
I also told Mike that I would run on 3 hours of sleep every single night if that meant I was able to live out the Honeybean dream on the daily. While it's always been our plan to really try and put plans into motion after the wedding, I was in full force "Let's get this ish done!" mode and it was on. Since the flea I've charted out pages and pages of decor, shop interiors/displays, potential wholesale designers, and even gone as far as to buy the first major piece of furniture for display. Whether it's 2 months from now or 2 years when we sign a contract to open Honeybean's (permanent) doors, it's something that I will not slow down in thinking about.
I try not to let the little annoyances like local caravans painted the exact same, claims of being the first "fashion truck" in town or weather (insane heat/rain) get the best of me. At the end of the day I'm doing something I love to do, with someone I love to do it with. Mike has without a doubt been the very best partner I could ask for. It goes without saying that absolutely zero of my small biz ventures would pan out the way they do without him. He's invaluable. I know it's a bit crazy to live with someone, work with someone, and basically be 110% invested in something like we are, but it works for us. And I hope that's always the case. We just make sure to have separate lives/friends/activities to enjoy in order to keep us sane haha Everything else is just noise in the picture.
The lovely Elizabeth from Stockroom Vintage! She and her hubby helped string up the pretty lights you see attached to Honeybean. She also styled the event! (Thank you, E!)
My very own Matron of Honor, Elle, set up for her stationery biz Jam + Toast!
Acorn + Archer
Cordial Kitten 
NashPop
To the fab people at Porter Flea (Katie, Jessica, Brent + Friendly Arctic Printing and Design), thanks for letting Honeybean be part of the event last month. It was so much fun and I'd do it again in a heartbeat. In fact, I'd do it every single month. We didn't get a chance to fill out the vendor survey afterward (I forgot to tell Mike about it!) but we'd do Porter Flea if it were a seven day event ;) We definitely hope to vend come the Holiday Flea, too! To everyone who came out to see the 'bean, stop by the booth, and/or say hello, thank you! Thank you for making it so incredibly obvious to me (even in times of doubt) that this is exactly what I want to do. A few shoutouts to some people who came by to see the 'bean for the first time (that I can recall!): Corinne, Lauren, Jenna, Allis, Zoe, and I'm sure there are more! If you were there, let me know in the comments. Introduce yourselves!
When it's all said and done, I just need to prioritize my life and make Honeybean/our businesses my main goal. I think I've let crappy dead-end, yet well paying, jobs (I'm looking at you, bar!) keep me in some kind of comfort zone. That job doesn't force me out of my element, to risk anything. But at the same time it doesn't spark any of my passion or creativity... Here's to finding the power within myself to say goodbye before too long! We don't set up every day, or even every weekend, but hopefully once I figure out my work situation and where I hope to take this little trailer, we'll have a steady set up. Until then, I'm just happy doing some fun events around town.
When it's all said and done, I just need to prioritize my life and make Honeybean/our businesses my main goal. I think I've let crappy dead-end, yet well paying, jobs (I'm looking at you, bar!) keep me in some kind of comfort zone. That job doesn't force me out of my element, to risk anything. But at the same time it doesn't spark any of my passion or creativity... Here's to finding the power within myself to say goodbye before too long! We don't set up every day, or even every weekend, but hopefully once I figure out my work situation and where I hope to take this little trailer, we'll have a steady set up. Until then, I'm just happy doing some fun events around town.
PS; Sorry I don't have more pictures! Or any of the event/other vendors. Our booth was so packed the entire day that I only got to walk around for about 10 minutes, and even then it was just too much to try and snap photos! The Instagram photos are courtesy of the fine folks sourced underneath, and the rad digital photos are courtesy of PF photographer, Emily Spence! Peep the Facebook for more photos!
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Honest To Blog is a weekly free-writing feature where I share whatever is on my mind. No edits, no filters. Just unapologetic, sometimes offensive, always truthful thought. Click HERE to read all of the past posts in this feature.
