Thursday, July 29, 2010

Well loved and lost ~ A Teddy's tale

This little very very loved teddy was left behind in owner of the Meare Shop and Tearoom in the seaside town of Thorpeness, Suffolk
Someone somewhere must be missing him very much.
He's being very well looked after by Liz Everett and she's been taking him on outings for icecream, beach fun and boat trips.
The little teddy even has his own face book page which has been set up in a desperate bid to find the owner.


Day 193 ~ One A day Challenge ~ The Fossils

The completed art work.
Marie Claire Magazine pages torn and pasted to produce this.
It measure 127cm x 102cms and is on a canvas frame.
I'm so chuffed with the finished result.
If I didn't have so much to do I'd be making another as it was such fun.

Thought for the day ~ Friendship


"Friendship is Love without his wings!"
(Byron)

29/7/10 ~ Sky

whispy clouds!

Day 192 ~ One A day Challenge ~ part one of an artwork

Spent the whole day yesterday up to my eyes in paste and paper creating componants for a huge piece of art.  In a previous life, these fossil images were photoshoots from a Marie Claire magazine.  A lot of ripping and sticking later, they have become fossils.
The blues and purples are my own favourite colours and the quality of the photos and paper made beautiful results.
It was a task that I could get other family members involved in (under direction of course!)

We enjoyed the project, but as the day grew old, we gave up and will have to complete the task the following morning.

Sky ~ 28/7/10

grey and drizzly!

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Craft Juice Tuesday ~ 27/7/10 ~ I like it.

I love these cute little tea light coasters in blue and pink glass created by Diomo Glass.

This ring features a beautiful blue glass lozenge of dichroic glass.  It's been created by Full Time Texas Lady.

Who wouldn't love to have their pencil crayons organised in this beautiful black and white fabric roll.
It's made by Top Cats Corner

Day 191 ~ One A day Challenge ~ Christmas Design

Christmas design

Sky ~ 27/7/10

Grey day

You Raise Me Up ~ Celtic Women


Celtic Women's version of You Raise Me Up, is one of the most hauntingly beautiful versions of the song.  The words have a spiritual depth:

When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary;


When troubles come and my heart burdened be;

Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,

Until you come and sit awhile with me.



You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;

You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;

I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;

You raise me up: To more than I can be.



You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;

You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;

I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;

You raise me up: To more than I can be.



There is no life - no life without its hunger;

Each restless heart beats so imperfectly;

But when you come and I am filled with wonder,

Sometimes, I think I glimpse eternity.



You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;

You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;

I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;

You raise me up: To more than I can be.



You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;

You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;

I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;

You raise me up: To more than I can be.



You raise me up: To more than I can be.

Thought for the day ~ Confidence

I was always looking outside myself for strength and confidence, but it comes from within. It is there all the time.
(Anna Freud)

Day 190 ~ One A Day Challenge ~ Tiara Band

Swarovski Ruby and Crystal AB encrusted tiara band

Sky ~ 26/7/10

Mr Blue Sky.

Monday, July 26, 2010

Running A Craft Business ~ Marketing ~ Part 2

Marketing is an ongoing thing. Remember, that everyone is a potential client. That doesn’t mean that you do the hard sell on everyone, but that the more people that know about what you do, the better.

• Word of mouth is an incredibly powerful thing. If a friend recommends you to a friend of theirs, then it’s a real boost and they automatically have confidence in you.

• Be confident. This is often easier said than done. Always speak positively about your work. Do not point out your flaws etc. Try the approach of ~ I will only say positive things!

• Carry around samples, business cards or leaflets. Leaflets are incredibly good. They are easy to make and cheap to pint on your own computer. Use your corporate imaging, include photos and explanations of all the things you do. Contact details again must be there.



I personally no longer use business cards. I find that people are less likely to go away and look up your web site with a business card. They will however peruse the information supplied on the leaflet. They will see examples of your work and read details of all the things you do.

They are also great to send out with orders as they give the overall about you.

They can be updated and printed often in short runs allowing you to have the latest info each time.

• Local interest groups: like the WI and ladies circles etc are always on the look out for local speakers. They are great events to do. You basically have 45mins to an hour of self promotion, demonstration and get to hand out leaflets to a captive audience. They do tend to book a whole years events in advance, so bookings can be a long time off. I already have bookings well into 2011. (and what’s more you get paid!)

• Craft fairs: Craft fairs in the UK are on the whole a poor event. You can not just go to one and expect people to buy. Like all things, there are good and bad. Good organizers monitor the type of stalls allowed. They promote (but as a stall holder, you should also spread the word!) they make sure that there is a good footfall (that the event is not somewhere with no passing people) but they cannot make people take money from their wallets. You should always ask the following:

1. Will there be bought in products as well ? ~ Avon, Virgin Vie, Tupperware, Phoenix cards really do not belong at a craft fair. They sell mass produced good and undermine the nature of the handcrafter and handmade product.

2. How many of each craft will there be? I once attended a craft fait with 30 stall, 16 of which were jewellery and 6 were cards. That is bad organizing and means that the consumer is overwhelmed by the same items

Sometimes it can be very hard to be accepted into craft fairs because of the nature of your product. It can be tempting to go for any you can get into, but it can be extremely demoralizing to attend a poor fair. There are plenty of crafters that sit in fairs all day and don’t even make their stall money back.

You should always check out the organizers by Googling their name, or going on to http://www.craftsforum.co.uk/ and asking or searching the site for details.

• Local producers markets: these are regular markets and if you can get into one then over time, you will build up a regular cliental. There are often stringent requirements and these should always be adhered to.

I attend a local farmers market and it’s not merely the sales that matter, but the potential for attracting business. It’s important to engage the people at the stall, you have to learn when to speak and when to stand back, but this comes with experience!

• I also write projects for craft magazines and it’s wonderful to see your self in print. It’s also a talking point and a selling point and gives you credibility as a crafter.

You can read the other posts in this series Here

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Craftjuice Tuesday ~ Distinctly Rural! ~ 20/7/10

Inspired by my Scarecrow (see the post below), I have decided to have a rural theme for my craft juice Tuesday this week.
This Lino print is by Adeegan and shows a rural scene of corn fields and wooded bank.  Infact it looks very like the fields at the back of the village I live in!
This pretty blue glass butterfly has been made by Diomo Glass
It would look lovely as sun catcher

These cute countrey style cushions would be perfectly at home in a farm cottage.  They are created by Shabby Neesy.


Owl and Cat has created this stunning photo fame from pewter.  The honeysuckle and butterfly design is beautiful.

Day 184 ~ One A Day Challenge ~ Scare the crows!

This scarecrow is now standing in the kitchen waiting to scare me everytime I walk past her!
(perhaps it's the crows feet!!!)
She will be part of the Brough Scarecrow festival this weekend.
Just got to make her brother now!

Sky ~ 20/7/10

It's going to rain .... but it will wait until my washing is blowing in the breeze!!
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...