It was all about ME! Thursday, June 18th 2009

I had this email from a chap from the local paper, at first I wasn’t quite sure if it was real and once I found out it was I didn’t know how much it was going to cost me.  He wanted to do a feature on ME in relation to the up and coming Suffolk Open Studios, I of course said yes but thought that I wouldn’t be the only person he was to write about. 

Anyway we arranged a date and it just happend to be the day that George and I were going away for a few days so like typical holiday stress I had Steve to add to my “To-Do” list!  I ensured I booked him for mid morning not only will this ensure I get the dog to the kennels on time but also clean up and do a spot of hoovering!

I opened the door in baggy trousers, my pulled up in a pony tail with no make up on to Steve who thankfully turned up a little late so that gave me an extra 5 mins to whip a duster around!  After making a cup of tea I popped him in the conservatory (less chance of him getting dog hairs on his suit!), and once the dictaphone was turned on the interview began and without noticing it went on for just over an hour and it was so easy to talk to him, although wary in what I said (I’m a born worrier!) I was pleased in how it went and of course before he left I had to ask who else he was interviewing for the feature “No one”, it was all about me, I couldn’t believe my luck I was so chuffed.

Photographer booked, turned up and a different me answered the door, hair done, nice clothes on, armed with a dog chew for Bella we wondered down to the studio and he started taking photos, of course I sucked in my chins and asked for Photoshop to be my next best friend, I said “I’ve not been airbrushed before and unlikely in the future so please do your best!”  I don’t actually like being in front of the camera too conscious.

The feature was in last Saturday’s EADT magazine and I was so pleased in how it went – 3 pages all about me.  I was worried about what others thought and but my mum said it was funny, she saw my words on the page and just how I would say them so I thank Steve for doing a grand job.

I’m excited to start creating again Sunday, May 31st 2009

After losing my confidence on the preview evening at Blackthorpe Barns it returned the very next day, I had a good talking to myself and decided that there was no need to worry if I had no sales as I appreciated that people were only there really to buy artwork as SOS members are predominately artists producing pieces in various medias.  But by selling five was a fantastic boost and what sold where the normal best sellers cufflinks and rings so I have drawn some new ideas and will shortly bring them to life ready for when I open my studio in a couple of weeks.

Not just one but five sales!! Friday, May 29th 2009

Well the exhibition and sale at Blackthorpe Barns has finished and I did really well I managed to sell five pieces, one pair of earrings, three pairs of cufflinks (always sells well) and a Jingle Jangle ring.

I am so pleased with myself.

I did sell a piece! Tuesday, May 19th 2009

I have been worrying that with no confidence no one would buy from the exhibition but how wrong was I, I sold one of my best sellers – Swarovski crystals attached to a sterling silver adjustable ring.  I didn’t know I had sold a piece as there were no red dots next to the information so I soon remedied that, psycologically it all helps!

Preview evening done and dusted! Sunday, May 17th 2009

I attended my first preview evening which included my pieces, on the trip to the venue I was nervous, anxious and didn’t want to go because I didn’t know what to do or expect.  I handed out invitations but only George and I could go, although he was with me and being very supportive, I still felt out on a limb, he doesn’t have the experience of the art and craft world, now if he was at a sports event he’d be in his element and know everything there was with every sport.  Anyway we arrived to the entrance and the car park was full, made me feel even worse, walked through the door and it was busy, lots of noise by all the talking, and rich people (you can tell by the way they hold themselves, talk without a Suffolk accent like me and wear lovely fabrics and oozed style, unlike me wearing a complete Next outfit!), every which way I turn, I felt so uncomfortable because it wasn’t normal to me.

I went straight to my cabinet and added another pair of cufflinks for the men after fumbling with the rubbish lock and picking the key up off the floor for the 3rd time I was happy to start walking around, but the time the second panel of artwork the free glass of wine was gone!  A photographer wanted a photo of me by my work, I took him to my cabinet and he looked disappointed when I took him to my jewellery, he said the glass will reflect but went ahead anyway and he was pleasantly surprised when he only took the one photo, so fingers crossed that he’ll use me for the mag, it will show a different angle than art work.  

People looked at my cabinet but no red dots, I went to see the other jewellery lady and her cabinet was great, a proper lock not one from ebay like mine, and she had a red dot well that finished me off and I just wanted to go home.  I then walked around with my hand on my shoulder pretending to keep my handbag up but really I was hiding my name tag.

In the walk to the car I had lost my confidence, I felt rubbish, I just wanted to get home and drown my sorrows.  Why did this happen on a Friday I didn’t want this to ruin my weekend?

I had snapped out of the lack of confidence by bed time and have decided to improve it, I’m doing my stint on Monday afternoon and have already changed the labels by typing them (like the other jewellery lady) to make them look a lot more neater. 

Getting ready for my first real exhibition Sunday, May 17th 2009

My first real exhibtion!  Let me just explain what I mean by real, to me this exhbition is full of talented, experienced serious craftsmen and I am very nervous.

Anyway I was going to start building my stock up from January, well that didn’t happen being busy with many bespoke orders it put me behind but I find I work better under pressure so I didn’t start until April!  I went away for a few days to Cornwall and I brought along two rings to be made, and the 3 pieces that required hallmarking and filed them before posting while away.

I popped in some popular sellers – Jingle Jangle ring, cufflinks and the earrings, in total I have 23 in the exhibition.

Come Thursday (15th May) morning I was still putting pieces together and we had to leave at 1pm but by the time we left for Blackthorpe Barn I was pleased with the pieces I had ready to show.

I didn’t mean to neglect my blog! Sunday, May 17th 2009

It’s been so long since my last post and I am so very sorry, but I didn’t have anything to say, my life just plodded along until I received my first pieces back from the Assay Office and having everything ready for my first exhibition.  So I am now back with you and will post regularly whether it be how I do certain techniques, business bits, thoughts, feelings and accomplishments.

I was on the radio!!! Wednesday, December 3rd 2008

Now I think I am right in saying this but we hate hearing our own voices played back, I sound horrible on my answerphone! Anyway when I was invited for interview at the BBC Radio Suffolk I started to panic, I have this  typical Suffolk accent which I have also been mistaken for an Australian many a time, my grammar isn’t the best and I didn’t wish to mess up as I do babble when nervous so I was so pleased when the presenter said “come in and do a pre-recorded interview” my first thoughts were thank godness.  I went in late Friday night, it took 8 mins to record and that was it, Stephanie was so good at putting me at ease.

The next thing to worry about was what did I say?  did I say anything I shouldn’t?  I then worried all weekend trying to remember, but I only had to wait until Monday morning, thank goodness also for BBC iplayer!  I was on at 05:40 and I am never that egar to get up at that hour but I listened again and I was really pleased with myself, I didn’t sound that bad and I was happy with all so what was I worried about?  I was born a worrier so my other half tells me!!

You can listen if you wish by clicking here, move your cursor on until approx 37mins and I am after Take That!

Fighting a losing battle Wednesday, December 3rd 2008

I did the normal Christmas craft and gift shows recently and I am getting so cheesed off with doing them because the events company that organises them are too interested to get the money rolling in rather than looking after their exhibitors.  I was one of many jewellery people at the show and I was one of a very few who actually handcrafted the jewellery and the majority was bought in stuff from China, horrible quality but cheap so as people are trained to find a bargain they home in on this type of jewellery.  When I was speaking to a couple of women who handcraft glass products they were also finding the same problem.

We are getting pushed out of the market, handcrafted pieces are not important to people anymore and if we are not careful craft shows will disappear along with the people who handcraft, if people wish to by cheap pieces from china that has a shelf life of a few months then so be it but people need to know that we are slowly disappearing.  I feel better now I have had that moaning session!

I’ve been titivating! Sunday, October 12th 2008

All day it’s taken me to update and change my website but I am now happy with it so if you have a spare few minutes go and have a peek and see what you think, I would love to hear your comments.