Showing posts with label Alison Branagan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alison Branagan. Show all posts

Tuesday 30 April 2013

Hottest Event of the Year!

Hi all!

Following on from my last blog which was an opportunity to get involved in naming one of my aluminium pattern designs, the winner is Sara and she suggested Club Tropicana which really appealed to me.  She said the design reminded her of grapefruits, lemons, limes and oranges and I thought that really fitted it so well so Club Tropicana it is! Sara wins a pendant in that design. These are a couple of images of pieces I made out of the design.

 


















Hope you like the name and thank you for taking part if you did - I had some lovely suggestions.



So, onto this week's hot activity!

Some time ago I applied for a place on the Crafts Council Hothouse Taster Day which was held yesterday at Plymouth College of Art. 

Now, I'm not sure what I was expecting but it was something along the lines of wrinkly old me and a lot of talented fresh faced students - not so! Of course, there were a lot of students from Plymouth and from Falmouth and they were all lovely and fresh faced, but what was also refreshing was that there were also many others in various stages of business, from set-up stage to early trading.  I'd imagined it would be interesting but largely not aimed at me.  What I can absolutely say is that if you get an opportunity to attend one of these sessions, you really should go! 

The day started with a goodie bag (always a good start!), coffee and then down to business with my favourite business author Alison Branagan who'd grabbed me in a big hug when I blurted out during coffee that I'd got all her books (I hadn't realised who I was chatting to!!).  She gave us common sense, intensely practical advice.

After that session, the speakers came thick and fast and every one was absorbing, some talking about their experiences as Hothouse cohorts and others about their early professional practice and a lightening introduction from Lucy Foakes on social media networking. We also had speakers from the The Devon Guild of Craftsmen, The Contemporary Craft Fair, ArtsThread and of course the Crafts Council as well as many individual artists. 

I went to bed last night buzzing with information and exhausted in a really good way.  This morning I was up at 7am trying to get the information down onto different lists, to do and to remember. There was so much of value.  As you can see, I cannot speak highly enough of this opportunity. I've already made contact with some people I met there.

So, now I really should go into my studio and do some of my other work, there's some work to be sorted to deliver to a new stockist tomorrow and a restock to get into the post today, no peace for the wicked!

Onwards to next week!



Thursday 26 January 2012

Good Lunches, Good Business Books and News

Well, another week's over! It's been a bit of a grim one as I've had tonsillitis so have had a bit of time off from making.

So, have you all been and treated yourselves to some fabulous Debbie Orr, Skein Queen, products? I hope you enjoyed looking around her website and I would just like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to her for taking part. I have met some lovely people through my collaborative blogs so long may it continue - and I do have at least one more in the pipeline for you and I'm always open to suggestions of artists so do let me know if you come across someone we should all know about.

Last Friday, before the sore throat, I attended a really gorgeous lunch at the River Cottage Canteen and Deli at Royal William Yard, Plymouth.  The lunch gathering was held by Ladies Wot Tweat and consisted of a group of ladies who had met each other through Twitter, other social networks, business and word of mouth.  It was slightly daunting to walk in, not knowing a soul, however, I did find I knew one member when I got there and I definitely knew several more by the end of a fantastic meal.  I believe they meet regularly so I shall look out for the next date!

So whilst I've been feeling under the weather, I've been reading.  My husband bought me a great little book for Christmas which is a short punchy business guide, literally only a page or two on each aspect of business for artists and designers.  It's by Alison Branagan and as soon as I started to read it I felt that I also wanted to read her more in-depth essential guide on the same subject.  They're really well written and assume no previous knowledge which is just brilliant for me as I'm just taking the next steps with growing my business into full time hopefully.  I bought both books from Amazon and they're my recommendations for the week!

A Pocket Business Guide for Artists & Designers by Alison Branagan
ISBN 978-1-4081-2992-0








The Essential Guide to Business for Artists & Designers by
Alison Branagan
ISBN 978-1-4081-1903-7






If you fancy a read, these are interesting and not heavy going at all.  I've learned a lot.

So I'm hoping to work on a few designs in the next few days and I'll let you know how I get on and there might even be a Valentine's competition next week!!!

Are you all going to read this next week then? Be in with a chance of winning a very pretty piece? See you all then!!