Our pot of the month is on display at Mareeba, Port Douglas and Yungaburra markets. November's pot is Veni, Vidi, Vici, a bright orange raku pot with lid made using a mixture of stoneware and raku clay.
Veni, Vidi Vici is inscribed on the pot in Mason’s code which is created by placing the alphabet in a grid system.
 Many favourable comments so far; perhaps someone will receive a unique  Christmas gift.  

Think you have something to sell at the local market?
There are sixty plus markets each month in Cairns and surrounds, giving a wide choice to suit you and your product. For example, short-term tourists are unlikely to buy plants and produce; items favoured at local markets such as Rustys and Mareeba.

There are some amusing attitudes to market traders. I’ve heard, ‘I’m glad I don't have to do that,’ and ‘Do you have a real job?’ Stallholders are from various backgrounds; a microcosm of humanity often ignored in support of one-off events. For example, closing roads for races and locking customers in or out and delaying access. Customers stay away, and stallholders lose a week’s wages because of these events.
 
Many stallholders are self-sufficient and make, pack, sell and run their micro-business. Some have an on-line presence with national and international customers. Others supply to local business and keep the economy turning. It is hard work with few perks and more players than stayers. But being a stall-holder offers freedom and independence not found elsewhere, and the weekend market family is always fun.
 
They do for themselves and earn a dollar instead of picking up a pay envelope.
​Interested? Perhaps you can give up your real job.
 
LEUKAEMIA MARKET
This Sunday, 10th we will be at the Leukaemia market in the Fred Moule Pavilion at the show-ground. See you there. Opens at 9 am.

It was an excellent day at Yungaburra market on Saturday.  Perfect weather, picturesque market and happy people.  Welcome to Colin & Oliver on holiday from the UK – specifically here to purchase more Opal mugs – they said.   Yes - we remembered the 300 chickens.  Not as amusing was a couple operating a conservation stall who let their diesel Landcruiser run for an hour while they packed up.  We inhaled the fumes for half an hour after they left.   
Port Douglas was also lively this week and we appreciate the water truck doing its morning run.  National and international customers still scared witless of unloading their 'dirty laundry' at our airports to accommodate baggage weight restrictions. Tourism is not just about bums on seats and in beds. Scared to buy because they fly.     
It's been a busy September with 16 fires in the pottery - see our market calendar. This brings our firings to date to 1030.  Today we show you how to build a rubbish bin Raku Kiln & next week a post on loading your kiln.