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 |
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!
