The West 5th Weekender No. 09
Emily Deisler
Happy Sunday, friend!
This week came with a little bit of everything: settling into the school routine, helping Adaline prepare for her first Young Entrepreneurs Market, catching up in the garden, and more rain than I knew Indiana was capable of producing.
So this week's Weekender is appropriately filled with muddy boots, a very cute raincoat I don't need, little-business lessons, and some everyday creativity.
Let’s catch up!
WHAT I’M WEARING
For the Garden, Markets & Errand Running
The weather has been wild here in central Indiana. We’ve had rain like I’ve never seen, and the morning drive to school has felt a little like we were capturing content for The Weather Channel.
All that rain also reminded me that I firmly believe every woman needs a good pair of shoes for stomping through mud, rain puddles, and whatever else the forecast throws at us. So naturally, I rounded up a few of my favorites for the garden and beyond.
I spent some time catching up in my own garden this week, which was slowly being overtaken by weeds. My hydrangeas are looking fabulous. Everything else? A little crispy and neglected. You win some, you lose some.
THE ALL-AROUND PAIR
My Merry People Bobbi boots are still going strong after two years and honestly look almost brand new. I grab them for muddy outdoor markets, rainy days and winter slush. They come in lots of fun colors, but I have the classic Rust and it goes with just about everything in my closet. A high price point, but have held up.
THE GARDEN PAIR
I gave my mom this sunflower pair for Mother’s Day, and they are so cute for working around the yard.
Below are a few more pairs that caught my eye, from actually going to weed the garden to mostly just want to look cute while walking through a puddle.
SHOP MY RAIN + GARDEN BOOT PICKS ↓
WHAT I’M loving
SMALL BUSINESS. VERY SMALL OWNERs.
Young Entrepreneurs Day at Lowry’s Little Flock Farm
This summer I started noticing Mini Maker-style markets popping up everywhere. Adaline has always loved helping me at craft markets, so when a friend and fellow business owner shared Young Entrepreneurs Day at Lowry’s Little Flock Farm, I knew Adaline would love to participate.
We worked on it little by little throughout the summer, partly to hold her interest and keep Mom’s eye from twitching. Having some market experience myself, I tried to guide her without taking over. Here are a few things we learned along the way!
Make something they actually enjoy.
Adaline loves to tie dye, so that was an easy place to start. Let them choose something that feels special to them. They’ll be much more excited to make 15 of something if they enjoyed making the first one.
Keep it affordable.
At a kids’ market, shoppers often want to support several little businesses, so we tried to have plenty of items under $5. We also saved receipts and talked about the cost of supplies and how that money comes out of what you earn. At six, the idea that money spent before the market affects the money you make after the market was probably the hardest concept to grasp. Honestly, mom struggles with this one too.
Let them build their own brand.
Obviously, we care about aesthetics around here, but I didn't want to make all the decisions for her. We talked about choosing a color palette and making her products and booth feel like they belonged together. An easy trick: head to the paint aisle and let your child choose 3–5 paint chips for their “brand.” It keeps things cohesive and cuts down on decision fatigue.
Practice the practical stuff.
Make a simple price list and have them learn it before the market. Practice taking pretend orders and giving change. It's practical math disguised as playing store!
And don't forget the people skills.
Saying hello to strangers, smiling, making eye contact and answering questions are all learned skills. A kids’ market is such a great, low-pressure place to practice them.
Making a sale builds confidence, but watching someone walk away without buying anything teaches something too. Putting something you've made out into the world comes with a little disappointment sometimes. Learning to be proud of your work anyway might be one of the best business lessons of all.
A look at her set-up the day of! Adaline’s favorite part was spending the day selling alongside her cousins.
Click and save to download!
WHAT I’M CREATING
Have a little maker at home? I created a free My First Market printable to help them dream up their business, plan their products, practice for market day and see how much they earned. Print one out and let your little entrepreneur take it from there!
Part of a co-op or friend group? You could do the same concept but kids can trade products instead or use play money.
WINDOW SHOPPING
Things I found on the internet that I love, but tragically will not be purchasing.
Boden Colour Block Raincoat
I’m a coat girl. You won’t catch me lusting over designer purses, but put an unnecessarily beautiful coat in front of me and suddenly I’m swooning.
I’m guilty of owning a unnecessary number of coats, and this color-block raincoat from Boden is currently calling my name. After the amount of rain we’ve had this week, I could almost convince myself it’s a practical purchase. Almost.
The colors! The oversized fit! So British.
Do I need a $270 raincoat? Absolutely not. But this is Window Shopping, and she deserves to be admired from afar.
in the shop
A floral tribute to Indiana, the Peony State, in mug form. One side has the state illustration, and the opposite the floral grouping.
This ceramic coffee mug features original illustrated artwork by Emily Deisler of West 5th Creative, inspired by peony blooms, colorful gardens, and Midwest charm. The design combines vibrant florals with an Indiana silhouette for a cheerful artistic mug that feels both cozy and collectible.
Perfect for coffee lovers, flower enthusiasts, Indiana locals, and thoughtful gifting, this oversized 15 oz mug is designed for everyday use while adding a colorful boutique feel to your kitchen or coffee bar.
Professionally printed with vivid long-lasting color, this mug is microwave safe and dishwasher safe.
Details
15 oz ceramic mug
Original illustrated Indiana floral artwork
Microwave safe
Dishwasher safe
Glossy finish
Double-sided printed design
Comfortable oversized handle
Professionally printed for vibrant lasting color
Perfect For
Indiana gifts
Indiana Peony Festival souvenirs
Peony lovers
Midwest-inspired home decor
Coffee lovers
Garden enthusiasts
Mother’s Day gifts
Teacher gifts
Cozy coffee bar styling
Designed and illustrated by Emily Deisler of West 5th Creative.
FREE WALLPAPER
This week’s free phone wallpaper is just cute. Stay sunny!
Until next Sunday,
Emily