Artsmix at Castle Howard

Well we got the weather I was hoping for. Yesterday was quite cold but dry and today was lovely and sunny. Castle Howard is an amazing place so I felt sure that if the weather was right, the sales would be great. I'm afraid that was not the case, don't get me wrong I did alright, made a decent profit but I was hoping for more, hoping to be one step closer to giving up work.

In actual fact I am a giant leap, several thousand steps and a 27 hour bus ride from giving up work.

I think that one big problem I face is the sheer volume of jewellers out there. There were probably 7 jewellers there today and a further 5 people selling jewellery in an amongst their other products. That's out of 20 odd stalls. The other problem is that everyone sold lovely jewellery. If it had been crap then I wouldn't mind but it was all great stuff! ;)

The only thing that I can do is work my bum off and continue to gain new skills and hone the ones I have.

I'm also toying with the idea of giving up plated metal. I'm thinking of working exclusively with silver, gold, gemstones, pearls, crystals and lamp work. It's a tough decision to make as this weekend it was my plated work that sold. People generally prefer the silver but can't resist the £5 price tag on my plated bracelets or £2 earrings. Problem is, from an artsy farty point I don't like making the cheap stuff, I don't feel that it represents my skills and I know that unlike silver when plated metal tarnishes, that's it, you can't polish it up so it has a much more limited lifespan. When I sell a piece of jewellery I want the wearer to keep it forever, I want them to know that it's one of a kind and that it was carefully designed and produced.I want them to look at it and feel a little happier, the way I did when I completed it.

As I have said before not everyone appreciates the artistry at craft fairs, many people just want a bargain. Yesterday a lady picked up a pair of £2 earrings made with lamp work beads and Swarovski crystals and said "are these sterling" I replied that they weren't and informed her of the quality of bead and she slammed them straight back down and said if it's not silver she didn't want it. I pointed out my silver earrings and told her that they are £10. Open mouthed and wide eyed she stared at me and said "£10 for earrings?" and walked off. So folks if you're looking for a bargain look else where.

I'd love your thoughts on this. Plated metal, should it stay of should it go?

Pictures from top

1. Rose quartz, quartz and amazonite
2. Quartz and amazonite
3. Quartz and amazonite
4. Rainbow flourite and amethyst
5. Amethyst and Quartz

All pieces on sterling silver.

Tomorrow

I'm back at Castle Howard tomorrow for the Artsmix market and I'm really looking forward to it. Last month the market there was good but the rain meant that it wasn't great. Hopefully we'll get good weather. It is hard to run a business that is so dependant on the weather!

Green fingers pt. 2

Phew, who'd thought digging up turf was such hard work? Actually that phew is James'. He did it all, well i dug up a bit but it was too hard so I had a cup of tea instead. Definitely more me! I did however bag most of it up this morning as I wanted to contribute. Then about 10am I got a call from work, we'd had system problems this week and we have a backlog to clear. So I went in for an hour or so to help out and when I got home it was done.

Now you have to imagine that the gravel was knee high grass and around it was a border with overgrow unloved rosemary and lavender. I hadn't really ever cut them back properly and they were leggy and beyond saving.

My folks very kindly gave us the table and chairs and James' folks bought us the gravel and death to weeds membrane beneath it for a very early Christmas present so the whole thing cost us some bin bags and sweat. Not bad! I realise that at the moment it looks a little bare but we are going to get some nice pots and plants and soften it up a bit and I'm going to scub the flags and get them brighter. The ones to the left are York stone so they'll look great. the pots will have to wait until we have a little more money though. We live in a backwards terrace so essentially the kitchen over looks the road and the living room over looks the garden and allotments which I love. The only downside is that there is a path through the gardens for access so my garden is cut in two, so patio one side large border the other.

I think it's a rather pretty view to have from your bedroom window. It's even better now that I'm not ashamed of my garden. I'm not the street scruff now! Well, I won't be once I've got the weeds out of my gutter!

Green fingers pt. 1

My garden is currently a total embarrasment. James and I would like to pave it and although it's a small garden it's still an expensive job. This week we will endeavor to dig up the straggly weed infested lawn and cover it with Gravel. Preferably slate chippings as they are much more attractive. I'm not known for physical labour so watch this space!

Not many people who visit my stalls ask me what my favourite colour is for two reasons

1. It would be an unusual question to ask some random girl at a stall


2. At least of half of everything on my stall is turquoise.
   

Black Agate, Turquoise and Sterling Silver.

Okay so half is a big ole exaggeration but I am really drawn to the colour and it always takes centre stage on the stalls. Thanks to my dad, centre stage is much more impressive than it used to be as he very kindly made me some shiny black shelves to raise my display busts at the back. I'm putting my recent success down to my improved displays. Even in the good old British summer rain at Castle Howard a few weeks ago I still managed a healthy profit.

Black Agate, Turquoise and Sterling silver, again!

I'm still no David Bailey but I do believe my photography (ahem) skills are improving. I'm using slightly more rustic backgrounds rather than aiming for the nigh on impossible perfect white.

Chrysocola, Swarovski Crystal and Sterling Silver.

I'm still really crap at keeping up to my blog, (obviously) twitter and facebook etc but .......

Chrysocola, Black Agate and Sterling silver.

James and I have just had almost two weeks off work and it's been great. I'm dreading going back on Monday like you wouldn't believe which in the short term is a bad thing but it's spurring me on. I guess that's why I'm here tonight, finally motivated. I must come on here more, I actually love blogging it's just that I feel so guilty spending all this time upstairs and totally abandoning James. It's fine on a Saturday but on a week night you get home, cook dinner, eat dinner, load the dishwasher, spend a couple of hours online doing all the things that you "should" be doing and before you know it it's bed time and that's your evening done! Once I get my laptop I can do all those things downstairs in the living room not up here in the spare (junk) room

That being said I'm going to try to make sure I get on every other day to blog and tweet. I have to go online everyday anyway to check my emails and etsy so I should just spend ten minutes saying hi.

Smokey Quartz, Swarovski Crystal and Sterling Silver

We have had a great couple of weeks actually, we spent four days at the seaside on the Yorkshire coast. I always say I'd love to live in the US, Canada or Australia but you know, the UK is a really beautiful place especially Flamborough.

August in England!


Oh and more beach huts!

I've just watched day four of Torchwood and I have to say (insert welsh accent) bloody brilliant innit! Can't wait for day five!

Well I'm at the Waterfront festival this weekend but I'm a little nervous about the weather. It's forecast heavy rain. If the forecast is accurate I can see me making a big ass loss this week. We are a little skint this month so I really need to make a bit at least. Here's hoping! Still last time it was great so I'm worried yet optimistic.

I must must must remember my camera this time. I keep forgetting it.

Sleepy me

Well the market didn't go as planned, it was a little quiet so I made a loss. The girl who organised it, Natasha has put so much work in and made a real effort so if I'm available for the next one I'll do it. The market was great it's just not well known enough yet but if stall holders persist then one day it will and they'll reap the rewards of their patience.

Anyhoo it's late and I'm sleepy so it's off to bed. Night night

Feelin' hot hot hot

and I don't like it. It's 25degrees at the moment and I'm so not built for the heat. I don't get a tan, I turn into a freckle. I'm sure many of you, especially you guys and gals down under will wonder what the fuss is about. 25 degrees is hardly tropical but me no likey. I'm a big puny wuss! A few more days like this and I'll be praying for an early winter.

I've had a crap few days but I won't go into detail. Lets just say that small minded people really p**s me off. Why pass judgement on everyone else when you yourself are so obviously flawed? Self righteousness is not the way forward, live a little and stop taking yourself so bloody seriously!

Ahhhhhh, that's better. I just hate that one person can have such a massive effect on my mood. It's not a member of my family or a friend I shouldn't care really, but for some weird reason I do.

Never mind, market on Saturday and our nephew and his girlfriends 21st birthday party in the evening. Should be fun, I get to break out my new killer heels, I should take pictures.

Feeling great!

I am just loving the fact that things are going so well for me at the moment. I had a successful weekend at the markets, I've got a market booked for this Saturday, a full weekend of them booked for the week after and so on. I've listed new items on Etsy and opened a shop at Coriandr (Which is wonderfully easy to use) and I've ordered some new display equipment. I've also been tweeting to try advertise my wares.

I know that I have neglected my blog and other sites over the past few months and I need to change that. The only difficulty is that I tend to get hooked on forums and things and I run the risk of my husband forgetting who I am. Work, business and home, it's tough to balance it but if I put the effort into this now one day I can eliminate work and only have two things to balance.

All of the markets are made so much easier by James for just being there. He's only missed one market and that was for our great nephews christening. He doesn't have to stay with me while I'm there but he does anyway and I am so grateful. Maybe it's cause he knows that if all goes to plan he'll have a housewife, cooking and cleaning all day, dinner on the (coffee) table when he gets home, gingham apron and everything!

Branching out

I have to admit Artsmix has provided me with some great selling opportunities however I feel that I also need to be looking elsewhere. I'll continue with Artsmix but in between I'll be trying other markets and fairs. One such even is "The Stalls" Arts and Crafts Fair which I've been introduced to recently. The stalls are reasonably priced and the venue is Leeds Town Hall which is obviously inside and a well known location.

If you are in the area I'd recommend you go over to Natasha's blog and take a look. As you'll see from the pictures there are some really wonderful products on sale. I'm excited, it's going to be a great day!

New items on Etsy

I've put a few items on Etsy today like these bracelets both made with sterling silver findings.

Carnelian

Butter Jade
I really need to promote my Etsy shop more. I realised earlier today that I don't even have a link to it on my blog! How ridiculous is that? Well now I do. I think my blog needs a revamp hmmm, where to start!

Shooby dooby dah, can't think of a title!

Whew! This weekend has been a busy one. Craft markets all weekend at the Dragon Boat Race & Planet Leeds Festival. It was good but not as busy as I'd hoped but I covered my costs and made enough on top to book a couple more stalls. I'm still a million miles away from actually taking a wage. At the moment it's all going back in especially as I'm making mostly semi precious pieces. It's difficult at the moment because I've got enough stock, I don't really need to make more until I sell more, but that's the bit I love. I really need to put my money into new markets and display items.

Once again I met some really lovely people, I met Bianca at Twinklebug and Amy at Button Bazaar . Both ladies produce wonderfully unique and beautiful pieces and they're also both really lovely. You should definitely check them out.

Other than that there isn't much to tell you about, other than I almost bought a laptop on credit the other day till James stopped me. He was right to do so, paying £500 for a £280 computer is a bit daft. He did say that I shouldn't buy one as maaayyybeee someone might like to buy me one for Christmas! Only 179days, 2hours and 44 minutes to go!

Another order

So I needed to buy some sterling silver ear wires for this weekends markets so I had a look at my suppliers retail site. It was going to cost about £30 for a few ear wires some head pins and some plated metal wires so I decided it made more sense to spend £70 wholesale and get shed loads more stuff for my money, so that's what I did. The order will be processed tomorrow and I'll get it the day after giving me Thursday and Friday nights to make the jewellery. So I bought SS wire, ear wires (the wire my supplier sells is just not strong enough to make my own) heart shaped SS chain (makes gorgeous extenders) and a few more gemstones. Yay, I can't wait!

I did however under estimate the amount of wire that you need to make a necklace. I've always used plated metal wire in the past which you don't worry too much about using up but I'm very precious with the silver. My wire wrapping has come along in the last couple of days, mainly because this weekend I finally bought some round nose pliers! Last night while watching The Biggest Loser Australia I made a lovely necklace made with Rose Quartz, blue topaz and blue lace agate. It's very pretty and as soon as I get chance I'll take some piccys of it.

Well, my salmon is cooked so it's off to have tea and then make another pretty in front of the biggest loser!

Ta ta!

Market Mayhem

Well things are on the up! I've now done five Artsmix markets and each time I've had more sales than the last. Sales have been mixed, I've sold lots or pairs of £2.00 earrings but I've also sold some of the more expensive pieces. Sundays Pudsey market was so successful that I have been able to do a big order of Sterling silver wire, gemstones and Swarovski crystals which should be delivered tomorrow. I'm so looking forward to getting it! I decided the other day that my wire wrapping was getting good enough to start with silver. It's so expensive that I didn't want to mess it up.

It feels so good to see things start to go really well, there's still a long way to self employment but persistence is the key. All I need to do now is get online more and keep up to Etsy. I need to tweet, blog and re list and post on Etsy! I think I need a laptop otherwise James may forget who I am LOL!!

Lovely lovelies

I love meeting new people, especially crafty creative people. I find it hugely inspiring to speak with other jewellery designers so yesterday for that reason was a great day. I attended the Artsmix Jewellery Showcase at the Loft in Leeds. It's a great venue, lovely new york apartment style interior with over sized arched windows and exposed brick work. The downside however was the lack of customers. It's a little off the beaten track, just outside Leeds City Centre, you wouldn't wander there accidental which is unfortunate as accidental customer are an important part of retail, especially in today's financial climate.

Once James and I had set up the table I had a wander around. Being a showcase everyone was selling jewellery which could have been a disaster but everyone had vastly different styles. Some of the pieces on sale were really wonderful. From the whimsical http://kitschensinkuk.blogspot.com/ to the super cute http://rubyrougejewellery.blogspot.com/ to the downright gorgeous http://rachelluciejewellerydesigns.blogspot.com/ . I chatted with all of the lovely ladies above and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Sadly I still can't retire on the profits but I'm getting there, just very very very very very very slowly!

This coming Sunday I will once again be attending the Pudsey Craft market for which I am hoping for good weather as it is outside. I am a big ole wuss, last time the market was on Easter Sunday and it was really sunny but cold and as the night before was James 30th birthday I was reeeaaaaalllly hung over. I even had to throw up in a bin! Yes I reached new heights or elegance and sophistication that day.

So wish me luck, I may need it and take a look at the ladies above, you won't regret it.

XX

New designs

Please excuse the picture quality and the burn marks on my ironing board but here are a few of the pieces I made today. They consist of glass, Austrian crystal, haematite and silver plated wire.

What a weekend

A great weekend that is. So I did a craft fair yesterday which went really well and my gorgeous Marina earrings sold! I was so happy yet kinda sad too, I love those beauties and it was hard to let them go but the lady who bought them seemed nice. I'm sure she'll give them the great home they deserve.

I lost 3lbs this week! Woo!! I've worked extra hard as the weight really wasn't coming off and I was diagnosed with an under active Thyroid.

I've also learned a new technique involving wire which I'll show you later and this evening I produced some beautiful pieces.

Over all, and you won't hear me say this kind of thing often, I'm really proud of myself.

Hey there

Oh hello, have we met? Oh yes, I'm the girl who used to blog incessantly who now can't bear to put the computer on on an evening. Remember me?

I'm crap, no other way to say it, totally crap! Well I missed this place so I thought I'd stop by even though I'm not sure what to say.

My new job is insane, I'm so busy and stressed and irritated by it but at the same time I really like it. Strange I know, maybe I'm the one who's insane.

This months market at the Loft in Leeds was cancelled so I haven't done a market for a few weeks which is a shame but the ones I did were good, I won't be retiring anytime soon but after three markets who does right! My next one is on the first Sunday in June and I have a jewellery party booked at a friends house in a couple of weeks. I'm really looking forward to that one because James and I have the Friday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday off work and the Monday is our first wedding anniversary. One year already, it's hard to believe and wow what a year it's been.

So now I have to be prepared for jewellery parties so I'm off to sort my stock our.

Byyeee!!!

More beach hut loveliness

These photos were taken by my wonderfully clever hubby James. I think that they are lovely.

Scarborough 07.04.09

It was a lovely day in Scarborough last Tuesday, a little breezy but very pretty. I love the sea, it's very calming.

Scraborough is great because it's a perfect example of the great british seaside. Beach huts..

and an Americal Diner?

It's called the Harbour Bar and it does a mean BLT, the Ice Cream ain't bad either!

We had a stroll through Peasholm Park

and walked from the South Bay to the North and back again

Yorkshire Sculpture Park 06.04.09

Last Monday we took a trip to the YSP at Bretton Park in Wakefield. I've been loads but it's a really great place to go if you just want to have a wander. There's some great art there

and of course the great British countryside

a tree, or two

this little fella,

and loads and loads of these