Right so I skipped June and it's now mid July, is it just me or are the weeks flying!
I'm going to keep this blog post short (Hmmm... I wonder!) even though a lot has happened since May.
So what is new?
I suppose I'll start with my own work, I've been steadily working away. I have new stock in both 'Market House Design' and 'The Woodturning Studio' in town, so if your visiting Gorey at all this summer make sure you pop in and visit both of these lovely places.
I am delighted to announce that I have a new stockist called 'The Forge Craft Shop' in Baldwinstown, Co. Wexford (close to Kilmore Quay)You will find a small collection of lampshades and framed pieces of mine stocked here.
I will be switching the theme of my work come August to plants, flowers and butterflies.
So, I work part time in Springmount Garden Centre in Ballycanew (Lots of Inspiration around me) and I'll be creating a body of work based on the colour's and textures of some of the flowers there. I've half started this theme already by moving it into my weaving.
It's very hard as an artist not to get distracted by such a variety of colour, pattern, detail, shape and texture of plants. And I love butterflies so I've been creating stitched butterflies and stiffening them after building up layers of texture and adding beads. The butterflies and floral theme will creep into one piece for the upcoming exhibition 'Kaleidoscope' at Market House Design starting very soon ...next week in fact,this exhibition will continue through for the 'Gorey Market House Festival' end of July/August Bank Holiday that's coming up soon!
Then I'm looking at creating three more panels. The panels will be for an exhibition that is in the pipeline for September that I'm doing alongside three other locals.
The same theme will follow through for the winter, for lampshades and cushions and something new that you can wear that will also tie in the same theme.
My work is mostly Sea Inspired and I#ll come back around to this too, but it's good to try new themes/ideas too and although I love Blue, I'll make sure it makes an appearance! ;)
My weaving is going well, I've a monster of a warp on the loom but it's been behaving itself so far, so good anyhow!
Photos to come soon!
This time of the year I find framed work sells well, to start with it's Wedding season so there is always someone looking for a present that is a bit unique to that of handing over money or buying the happy couple that third toaster or cutlery set like everybody else.
The Seashore studies of mine fit well into this category. I've been told my pricing is very reasonable and I suppose these people are right, but there is no point in charging to high because I know they might be harder to sell. And worse case scenario is under selling your work so I think somewhere in the middle and at a price that your happy with works best as log as you cover your costs!
I research all the time, (loved research I was practically a library worm in college, always had my nose in a book )
One of the things I learnt while doing my business plan is who are your other competitors. There are many weavers I know that bit, but I know there are other people out there making things for example take Lampshades, I know of four other lampshade makers there is one in Donegal and she paints onto silk, two in Dublin one of these are a shop in the city center specializing in lampshade restoration and making, the other is a lady who did Interior Design and started a lampshade making company and sells through fairs in south Dublin and Wicklow and the fourth is from Kildare and she sources fabric and creates funky, bright shades in all patterns, to animal print fur and comic ones for kids/teens where as I'm very different again but I am aware of who else is out there, which in a way you have to be!
As for my framed work, I came across an artist who just uses felt and from a personal point of view, you can make out due to the colour's of the piece if its a sunset or a landscape but again it's just made using felt, nothing else and boxed in a frame, her work is abstract so you need to really look and understand exactly what it is,to me I can see where she's coming from but it's just bands of colour in the end and costing around the ninety euro mark. I use felt and other fibres too and beads, shells and other media and it makes me think shit, should I be charging more when I compare mine to her's as there is more going on in mine.
I do know that once upon a time ago I could, but that day is gone, in order to sell and make profit one has to come down off their price, I did so and I know I once charged crazy prices for my work but in order to sell you need to re-think of ways in order to do so.
I used to make larger, bigger pieces that once sold well, now I'm finding the smaller pieces are doing better. Unless someone is willing to shell out the money for a bigger piece, there's not many people around here that will. Unless you travel to where you think they are that might work!? Everybody is different, even talking to fellow friends who are both in the art and craft world some are doing rather well and others are struggling. It ain't easy!
I can however sympathtise there with those who are feeling the pressure and admit that I had been in a bit of a rut towards the end of 2013/early 2014 ... so quite recent!
I took a short break from my business (I did have other things going on) and re-thought things through and made changes to my business plan, pulled myself together and threw myself back into my work and to be honest I'm glad that it happened and I know that it sounds strange but in fact it made me stronger. And I know I'm not the first to experience this as I later discovered. But I'm, glad it happened early and not somewhere down the road because the road I'm on now is grand. I'm not a throw yourself into everything type of person, I'm more take things slowly but surely and eventually I'll get there!
Knowing me I've gone way off course here and wanting to keep this post short is an understatement!!!
Wait there is more .....
Onto Exhibitions for this Summer, I've already mentioned 'Market House Design' and 'The Gorey Market House Festival' that's on the end of July/August Bank Holiday weekend. Plenty to do and see as Gorey is the place to be on the August Bank Holiday! I have work/new work on display and available to purchase there. So as far as that is concerned I have no confirmed dates for the exhibition in September or anything there after as yet, but do keep a eye on my website for details. Or on Facebook at Grainne Kenny Design.
Oh and I'm glad to say that I gave myself that nudge I needed and launched my brand new website last month ....finally!!!!
It did take a while and there are still some adjustments and there will be further adjustments as I go.
Do take a look http://www.grainnekennydesign.com
In other news, I will be holding an open day here in the studio sometime over the next couple of weeks for an afternoon. Date/Time to be confirmed. Some sale stock will be available. It will be posted as an event to Facebook and appear on the website under news/events. Gift vouchers will be available on the day if there is someone in mind you would like to buy a voucher for or even treat yourself! I've only ever held one open day and that was the day I opened the studio almost 2 years ago next month. So that's on the agenda. Towards end of August/Early Sept.
Below is a selection of lampshades available from 'The Woodturning Studio' in Gorey and from Market House Design.
Do pop into both as mentioned before and Robert who owns the Woodturning Studio is also holding an exhibition of his own work at his studio during this time, so I recommend you visit him as his work is stunning!
I also have some framed studies in Market House Design and a few new ones plus a very Colourful piece being delivered in from Saturday. It also acts as the Tourist Office so everything you need to know about Gorey, you'll find out from there.
Here you will find a selection of work by Wexford and South East Craftspeople including work by four of my fellow Wexford Craft Trail members they are Annette Whealan - Glass, Paul Maloney - Pottery, Robert O'Connor - Wood turning and Patsy Flood O'Connor - Millinery. The perfect place for pressie shopping and buying Quality Irish Design/Craft.
Applique Medium Lampshade €55 Euro - Available from Market House Design, Main Street, Gorey.
'Little Yachts' - Cube Lampshade(Small) - €40 euro - Available from Market House Design, Main Street, Gorey
'Seashells' Medium Lampshade €65 Euro -Available from Market House Design, Main Street, Gorey
'Cherry Blossom' - Digital Print Lampshade - Available from The Woodturning Studio, Arklow Road, Gorey
More Lampshades available from 'The Woodturning Studio', Arklow Road, Gorey.
'Pink Butterfly','Spring Flowers' and 'Birds on a Branch'.
Digital Print Medium Lampshade - design taken from own Photograpgh €65 - Available from 'The Woodturning Studio'
Bye Until August,
Gráinne :)
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