Saturday 27 October 2012

The Scaredy Cat gets Braver....

Hi folks!

It's blog time again so what to talk about.......

Like a lot of people who work creatively, I'm a great big scaredy cat when it comes to selling myself and my wares.  I love the whole making process and I have a sneaking feeling that I would be happy to do just that, however, I have visions of our house filling up with jewellery like the never ending porridge pot in the fairy story, so I must try to sell my work. 

Just over a year ago I needed surgery on my right shoulder which meant no making for a few months, so in preparation, I made as much as I could in advance.  I challenged myself to learn about using social media to increase my visibility during this time.  I was already using Twitter socially so I started to focus more on that, set up a Facebook page, started blogging and joined LinkedIn.  I've learned as I've gone along, sometimes by making mistakes, and I've also realised that how something sounds in my head when I write it may not be the way it's read!! I've attracted many a spambot by not thinking through a tweet before pressing 'send'! My Twitter use is a combination now of social and business chat with virtual colleagues and increasing my brand through pictures of my work and links (trying to remember to use my hashtags - Ash!). I've read a couple of articles recently that I'd like to share with you because they're really well written and very useful.  The first article was a blog by Plymouth's local social networking guru Ash Mashhadi and I'd definitely recommend it. http://inspiration.co.uk/the-7-deadly-sins-of-social-media/  The second was a really useful article by Pete Mosley on Twitter for creative workers.  It was in the September/October issue of Craft and Design magazine http://www.craftanddesign.net/magazine/223/.

I think it's safe to say that I am embracing the need to put myself out there virtually and more recently I've started to do it physically too by attending local artists's markets and other events.  I also exhibit regularly with Flameworks.  This week, however, I've really challenged myself.  I attended Plymouth Business Networking at the Devonport Guildhall.  I took along my jewellery, not quite knowing what to expect, but guess what? I really enjoyed myself!  I wasn't as hard as I thought to chat to other business people, exchange cards, ideas and plans and I've already booked myself in for the next one! Who would have thought?

My stand at Plymouth Business Networking Event


I've had a very busy week in the studio too, cutting up the aluminium sheets I made the week before. I'm actually really pleased with how these have turned out, by which I mean that it's difficult sometimes to know whether a design is pleasing or not until it's cut. This time when dyeing the sheets I experimented with dipping skeleton leaves into sticky aluminium ink and pressing them onto the metal before applying powdered pigments and dyes. I'm happy with the results. What do you think?

Falling Leaves collection


I also wanted to create some warm and richly coloured pieces for the winter and so I made the Harlequin collection. 

Harlequin collection
These collections and much more besides will soon be available on my website so keep checking so you don't miss out http://www.slicksilverjewellery.co.uk.

If you'd like to see more of my jewellery in the flesh, I've got two more stockists to tell you about this week. Yay!! If you're in Derbyshire you can see my work at Studio 61 Gallery http://www.karinagoodman.com/ and if you're in Somerset then why not visit The Cottage Gallery http://wwwthecottagegallery.co.uk .  If you are near to Tavistock, then why not come and see me personally on the 4th November and 2nd December at the Artists's Market in the Pannier Market, Tavistock.  Look forward to seeing you!

Sunday 7 October 2012

Blog Collaboration Time Again!

Hello, it's me again and, fantastic news, it's another blog collaboration - this time featuring the fabulous work of ceramicist Alison Graham.  We met Alison in the One Year On marquee at the Contemporary Craft Fair in June in Bovey Tracey, Devon and we both loved her work which features lines scratched into the surface of her ceramics to create landscape effects and beautiful serene colours. I recently asked Alison a few questions about her work and this is what she shared with me, so I will let you enjoy it the way we did!

Trees


 1. Where do you get the inspiration for your designs?Inspiration for my designs comes from observations and sensations I have experienced in rural environments, from surfing in the Gower Peninsula along the coast of south Wales to memories of walking in the Lake District in Cumbria, where I grew up and studied before moving to Cardiff. I am inspired by painters such as J. M. W. Turner, Bridget Riley, Mark Rothko and Paul Cezanne whose works explore the ways colour and light interact both on and through a surface to create illusions of depth and movement. I also like to play with child-like fascination when I am working with clay, allowing new ideas to present themselves and then work with them. I believe in fate and serendipity and work spontaneously whilst listening to classical, 80s rock or easy listening music.

Landscape1

2. Is there a craft medium you’ve always had a hankering to try your hand at?
I have always fancied having a go at making my own paper and doing some mono-printing with an old printing press. I must look into that...
Beyond The Surface

3. If you could see one famous person owning one of your pieces, who would it be?
Prince William & Kate Middleton (they count as one choice now right?)
Lanterns
 
4. Where can fans buy your work?
From the following craft fairs: Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair in Manchester (October 4-7th), MADE London in Marylebone (October 26-28th) and MADE Brighton (November 23-25th). At the following exhibitions: 'Wells Art Contemporary' Wells and Mendip Museum (October 12-26th), 'Inspire' Walford Mill Crafts, Wimbourne, Dorset (November 3rd-Dec 31st). My work is always stocked at the Oriel Makers Gallery, Cardiff and will be stocked at Just Make in Wells from December 2012. Work can also be purchased privately from me in my studio in Cardiff. Please check my website for details and updates on forthcoming events. www.aligrahamceramics.moonfruit.com

I'm sure you'll agree that Alison Graham's work is stunning so I hope you'll take a closer look and treat yourself to something beautiful!  Thank you Alison for taking part.

So what have I been up to this week?  Well, yesterday I was at the Bank Square Artist's Market in Tavistock, Devon and I still haven't got warm!! The sun was out but never made it inside my stall and so I gave up and wore everything I'd taken! I met some lovely visitors to my stand, gave out plenty of cards and now I'm looking forward to the next event which is on Sunday 4th November - thankfully indoors in the Pannier Market!!  Come and see me and start (or finish!) your Christmas shopping, but don't forget to drop heavy hints to your other halves about what you'd like for Xmas and then send them back to me afterwards!!

In other news, I have another stockist! Welcome to Mangojuice Gallery in Worcester http://www.mangojuicegallery.com

Today is going to be spent dyeing some more sheets of aluminium and I plan to try out some mono-printing myself but kind of in reverse.  Normally when printing in this way inks are applied to aluminium and then prints are taken from that with paper or acetate, but I'm going to apply my inks to acetate as I want the aluminium sheet to be the end result. We'll see how it goes. I noticed yesterday when laying out my display that most of my work is in the colour colour spectrum so I am in intent on warming things up! Will start by putting on some socks...........

I also made this Daybreak Collection this week and this is just a quick photo to show you the colours before it's photographed properly by my husband who does know what he's doing, unlike me.........I panic if I can't just point and shoot!!




Why not start your Christmas shopping from the comfort of your own home? Visit my online stores at http://www.slicksilverjewellery.co.uk and take your time to choose.

If you're interested in hosting a jewellery party and you live within a 25 mile radius of Plymouth please email me for further information info@slicksilverjewellery.co.uk.

See you next week!