10/11/2025
Oh Joburg 🫶🏽
I’m finding it a little hard to describe exactly how I’m feeling right now. I’ve woken up back in Cape Town, in my flat, in my bed, and for a brief second (I think it’s from sheer exhaustion) I thought to myself, “Has it already happened? Was it all a dream?”
To describe it all properly, I’d need to go back in time… to the “prep, puff & pack” of it all. Getting 120 pieces ready & in the go position for 1 event is no small task (I am a 1-woman show). The prep & planning need to be incredibly precise because there are so many moving parts when I do these annual pop-ups upcountry.
The puff (my word for get up & perform & go shine & execute the prep) requires a huge amount of dedication, determination & grit.
The pack — oh, the pack!!!! It’s my least favourite step of this process. It’s when my personality is tested the most. It’s when every insecurity, worry & my deep-seated control issues come out… Why, you may ask?
Because that’s when I know I have to hand over & trust the process & other people.
Packing 120 pieces takes time & planning. I started 2 weeks ago — the logistics are vital to ensure a smooth, on-time, safe delivery. You saw all those fragile stickers on my boxes, didn’t you? Well, I can very gratefully report back that each & every piece made it from Cape Town to Jozi via courier in one piece.
I flew up & was reunited with my boxes, which truly felt like seeing my dearly loved children — which my pieces are to me. They are my babies.
On Thursday afternoon, the sky went dark, thunder roared, & a hailstorm of epic proportions broke out. I sat calmly unboxing, thinking, “Imagine after all this prep & puff, the weather is what’s going to $&@¥ with my mojo.”
Friday was such an amazing day — so many familiar, loving, supportive, kind faces arrived at our pop-up, and 65% of my pieces were purchased, with several “Oh, this one’s definitely mine!” declarations.
On Saturday, I rearranged my tables as they weren’t looking as full, but still enough pieces remained to tell a story & express my artistic voice. Well, by Saturday afternoon and the end of our pop-up, I was 90% sold out — with the fullest heart.
It was also time to celebrate, so I left the aftermath to be dealt with on Sunday morning when I was fresh & focused.
By Sunday morning, like any good entrepreneur would do after several bottles of bubbly the night before, a good night’s rest, and a plan of action… I sold the remaining 10% of my pieces — boom 🙌🏽!
Over and out… till next year 🫶🏽
