My Heartbreaking Market Weekend and the Journey Forward

If there is one thing this handmade journey has taught me, it’s that creativity is equal parts joy… and heartbreak. This weekend, I felt the disappointment hit me harder than I expected .

I walked into my most recent market excited, hopeful, and prepared. Just one month ago, in this exact same market, I sold several pieces (actually a lot for being the first time) of jewelry in a single day. I left energized, proud, and feeling like I was finally gaining momentum.

But this weekend told a very different story. Despite steady foot traffic, compliments, and visitors, more than a dozen of people stopping to admire my work, only a handful of pieces sold. For the final two hours, not a single person purchased anything. I tried everything: letting people browse freely, engaging more directly, offering assistance gently, and even lowering my prices (which were already extremely low for handcrafted jewelry). I watched people smile, nod, praise my talent… and walk away empty-handed.

By the end of the day, my heart felt heavier than my inventory. As makers, we don’t just craft products,...we craft hope. When those hopes don’t convert into sales, it shakes you. It makes you question your value, your vision, your talent, and even the path you’ve chosen.

And now? Now I’m sitting with several (= a lot of) pieces of jewelry and the uncomfortable question of “What do I do next?”

The Silent Website, Friends, Etsy, and It’s hard not to feel invisible.

My website has been open since August, yet not a single online sale has come through.

Recently, I even have reached out to friends, letting them know my pieces make beautiful holiday gifts.

Parallel to this, I’ve been building my new Etsy store (Design by Mariel Studio). I know Etsy can take time, and advertising isn’t available until the account is 15 days old. Still, I’ve already received three messages that felt like scams, which is discouraging when you’re trying so hard to get traction. But then there was a small glimmer: when browsing the category for my type of jewelry and filtering for items under $25, my pieces appeared in the third and fourth positions. A tiny spark of hope, reminding me that maybe, just maybe, this chapter isn’t finished.

What I’m Learning Through the Heartache

Selling handmade art isn’t predictable, it isn’t linear, and it certainly isn’t a reflection of your talent or worth. Some markets boom, others flop for reasons we may never understand: changes in the crowd, timing, weather, energy, or simply luck.

But this journey is teaching me resilience. It’s reminding me that:

• Not every "no" is permanent.

• Not every quiet season lasts forever.

• Hard work doesn’t always pay off immediately… but it does pay off (...I have heard).

And most importantly: The value of what I create doesn’t vanish just because someone didn’t buy it today.

The Road Ahead 

I’m not giving up. I’m continuing to refine my Etsy shop. Please visit it, it is not finished but there is alaredy a lot of stuff there. I’m rethinking my website presence. I’m exploring new markets, new audiences, and new strategies.

Because somewhere out there, someone is waiting to fall in love with the piece that’s still sitting on my table. Someone is waiting for my work. I just have to keep showing up until they find it.

It is time to thank my husband that have been on my side supporting all my initiatives, to my family and friends that have always been there to hear me and to every "maker" who has felt this heartbreak: you are not alone, and neither am I.