Choosing the Right Rooms: November in the Studio
November was a month that tested both my energy and my instincts — and ultimately reminded me how much the rightevents matter.
This year marked my first time participating in the Seed Cupboard Christmas Market, a six-day event held in Royal City. If you’ve never been there, it’s not somewhere you pass through by accident. The Seed Cupboard sits out in the country, surrounded by farmland, not on a main road and not on the way to anywhere else. If you’re driving out there, it’s because you’re going to the Seed Cupboard — period.
Because it was my first year, I didn’t know what to expect. But people showed up. The market was never packed, but there was a steady, consistent flow of customers throughout the week. Interestingly, Thursday and Friday ended up being the busiest days. Saturday, which I assumed would be the peak, was actually the slowest due to a funeral for a very prominent member of the community. Sunday through Tuesday were quieter, but still steady.
By the end of the six days, I was tired — really tired. A two-day market is hard enough, and six days is a different kind of endurance test. While it helped that I only had to set up and take down once, being present for that many days in a row is still exhausting. In the slower moments, I stitched scrunchies at my booth to stay productive, but there wasn’t much recovery time once the market wrapped up. It ended on Tuesday, and by Saturday I was back at the Moses Lake Farmers Market’s Harvest to Holidays event.
Harvest to Holidays felt very different. Even though it came after a long stretch, it felt more like the true kickoff to the holiday season. The energy was higher, the pace faster, and it felt like things were just getting started rather than winding down. I was really happy with how my booth looked overall, though I did notice that my checkout and table placement made me feel a bit hidden — something to adjust for the December markets.
November reinforced something important for me: the right events make a huge difference. In the past, I’ve participated in holiday shows that weren’t the best fit for my business. This year, Seed Cupboard turned out to be a much better alignment — both in terms of customers and overall experience — and it’s the kind of event I’ll gladly return to.
By the end of November, I was ready for market season to be done. I was eager to close out the year and start looking ahead to 2026 — even though I still had December markets on the calendar. November felt like standing at the threshold: tired but clear, ready to finish strong, and more confident than ever about choosing where I invest my time and energy.
November also marked the arrival of Harley's 2nd birthday and since he's the official Katie Laine mascot I had to make sure I didn't forget to mention this. He was very happy with all the toys and extra belly rubs he received.