This past Saturday we arrived at my best friend’s house around 10 am or so and set up my table with my magnet display boards in an open spot underneath her canopy tent.

It was a losing battle from the start, but I still had to try. My products, all priced between $5 & $15, were designed to fail amongst her tables & racks filled with clothes, Halloween decorations, and random knickknacks all priced from 25 cents and ranging up to $3 an item, if it was a really good one.

I sat there with her and her mom just gabbing and catching up, pausing whenever people would walk up the driveway to check out the sale. I would say there was maybe 15 or so times that people came and they would all sift through the items, have a quick glance at my table, but nothing more than that really. Krystena was making sales little by little. 25 cents, 75 cents, a couple bucks here & there- and over time that all adds up.

If nothing else, it was a beautiful day and it had been calling for rain all week, but there was not a drop in sight. I was feeling grateful for the lovely weather and the even lovelier company.

At around 3, Mark came in from the backyard and I mentioned that we could probably start packing up to go and try this out again another time. And he told me we could leave whenever I felt ready to. I could tell he didn’t think I should give up and close just yet. Krystena was planning to close up shop at 4, and then would pack up whatever items of hers didn’t sell to go to Value Village, the local thrift store.

So I sat back down and continued to enjoy the day some more. Shortly after 3, this woman came walking up to our checkout table HOLDING A MAGNET IN HER HANDS. I was honestly almost in disbelief, and I had to do a double take. “Oh my gosh! She’s walking up with one of my magnets!” was all I could think. So much so, that I completely forgot to wrap it up nicely for her and offer her some free stickers! Instead, I took her $10 & placed it in my cash box, and then went to my table to tell her more about MagnaKatie and my various pieces. She wished me well on my new business and said she really enjoys my work and hopes I keep creating. She also took my business card on her way out.

The magnet she chose couldn’t have been more perfect to be my first “non friends and family” sale. I made it on a mental health day I took off work when I was feeling depressed and just needed to create something. It has white, pink, and purple stars on it with a message strung together made from various magnetic poetry tiles: “remember that happiness is up to you”

I learned a couple lessons that day. 1) stay the course until the very end, for you never know who could be around the corner. & 2) All it takes is one. One buyer. One show of interest. One kind word from a stranger. One boost of confidence. One sign that negates the notion of this all being “a complete waste of time”

Art is never a waste of time when it’s created from the heart. That’s what that piece was for me. And now it’s a message that will echo on, on that kind woman’s refrigerator for years to come.

So one might say making $10 in a span of 6 hours was unsuccessful. But as someone who is slowly just getting started, I’d beg to differ.

Magnetically yours,

Katie <3