Hello!
So I have not posted a blog post in a while now. I've just been very busy and life gets in the way and I've been meaning to post one for a while now but like many things it just gets put to one side.
So what have I been up to?
Well ... I re-introduced a product that I was experimenting with there before Christmas and brought to Christmas fairs last year in 2016.
I have developed a range of jewellery, mostly pendants that are inspired by my textile Sea studies. I'm focusing on the Colour's and Texture's that are seen in each of my studies and have developed, while doing a lot of experimenting to get the effect that I want.
I've been asked are they glass or ceramics or what are they exactly and how do I make them.
Some of the pendants have pearls or shells and beads embedded in them. I was up until last week using four Colours and now I have twelve in total. Some I like to blend together to create interesting color combinations and effects. They look and feel like glass but are not glass more on the same line as enamel.
Why Jewellery you might ask?
And don't I just specialise in Interiors?
Yes I design for Interiors and Interior accessories such as Lampshades, Wall Art and Cushions. Each year I like to bring out a new product around Christmas and a few years ago I made Christmas Baubles and have been doing so each year since. And I know what I charge for them is not cheap, because they are a handmade item and I use quality ribbons and beaded crystals and I box them in nice packaging and they look very presentable. Some people probably wont buy them as they can go to a high street or Irish chain store and buy the plastic variety bauble for far cheaper then mine. And that is normal and fine. But then there are other people who love them and do use them to decorate their Christmas trees and hand them as gifts to others for Christmas. And that is how word has spread about them and I enjoy making these for Christmas. I don't sell huge volumes of them but I am happy with what I get. They are a sellable product. They are bespoke baubles and I was €30/€35 i must check again for a box of four last year, but I'll be bringing that price back down a bit for 2017. I also make little elves from pine cones and use essential oils on them. Just little things that are affordable for Christmas. So I suppose I wanted to make something that was small and by researching ideas and so fourth I sent for some materials and started experimenting and then the pendants came about. So I brought them along to fairs at both Springmount Garden Centre and to Marlfield House/ The Duck. And received positive feedback and sales!
Then Showcase Ireland came and went and orders came in and the summer crept up and last month in July I re-introduced them again and oh I also set up an online shop!!!! (Three years later...that was a long plan!! ) So I have some in stock now in Market House Design in Gorey, Co. Wexford and online. And hope to expand to other stockists over time.
So yes I said Online Shop ... you can find me on Etsy at GrainneKennyDesign.Etsy.com the description page process has to filled out for every item so it takes time to add listings, but I've had two sales so far in the space of one sale within two days after opening my shop and four days later, I have a lampshade to make and post to an island off Greece. It's going to a holiday home out there and I was literally jumping up and down when I got the order. I do have a piece that sold to a couple in California from Market House Design and now I will have a lampshade going in the opposite direction. My work is well traveled then I am!
Ah no, I do take my holidays too but I have to be near water. So somewhere with the sea is a big deal for me.
I've been planing a online shop since hmmm ... 2014 ... but anyway I got there eventually!!!!
It will take a while, I have been told this by friends with online shops on Etsy so time will only tell that. Just a little under three weeks online now and I'm happy and that's the main thing.
So what am I at now?
I have to say it and that's the C WORD that is Christmas. I shall be starting my Christmas stock from Monday 21st August.
I have a few things to finish up first and then will have to leave some time out to do paperwork.
Then I suppose, but I don't know as yet if to prepare for Showcase 2018. I'm guessing I'll know this month sometime, I did last year. I applied to the Enterprise Board again so I'll wait and see. I would like to do it again and I've already got my space planned in my head if I do go. I'm 5/6 months ahead in plans at the moment but you have to be. Some designers have already started on their Christmas stock in July!! Most business's work towards the RDS Christmas fair and are in planning and working at it and work towards it all year with that show being their end goal where they hope to make enough sales and gain stockists out of it too. One I'd like to try at some stage. I keep saying that though but I'll get there too!! Just timing and costs have to be right as none of these shows come cheap. Stands are very expensive and that's before your costings for your work, stand display, travel costs, accommodation costs if staying in a city hotel, food and all the little hidden extras etc...
But people do it year after year because they have to and they must keep themselves in the public eye because like myself, we all want to get on. And you have to work really hard! But hard work pays off or at least should do! So that has me wondering at the moment but I'm keeping myself busy which is good.
I'm not that busy in regards to the craft trail, I changed my information this year in the booklet and did not put in opening times.
My studio is open to those who are wishing to purchase work from me or view what I have. I am only open by arranged appointment. I am a working studio, I am creating work all the time. I don't have a shop unlike other studios, but I do have some stock in my studio and now I have an online shop and I have my work in stockists such as Market House Design and lampshades in The Woodturning Studio in the town. So I often direct people into there.
I had been working part time over the past three years and I would often not be in the studio when someone was looking to come and visit me so it just did not work out nor was it fair, so this year I did not put opening hours in for that reason. I don't allow small children to the studio full stop, so that stops families going around to me too. Health and safety reasons and all that, I have a steep open stairs that leads to my studio and I have pointy edges and chemicals within reach so it's not ideal. But I've had a few looking. My role on the trail is part sharing the role of social media and uploading imagery to the likes of facebook, twitter and Instagram for the group and I was secretary last year but I stepped down from that role in April of this year. So to be fair I have enough on my plate. There will be signage going up around the county soon, like the Norman trail signage. For various reasons of my own, I said no to a sign as have five others so I'm not alone. It's by choice. But I'm still a trail member but I've said no to signage because as I see it... a tourist with or without a brochure, a sign shall still attract and I'm only open by appointment too so it just does not suit. And especially if I'm working or away it's still stays up and you can't remove it by hanging it up and down. It's a county council sign after all. So no. I was on the fence about it for a while but I know myself that it's the best decision for me. So that's the answer to that if your wondering once they go up and don't see mine about.
If you go over to Facebook you can see some of the new pendants and some other work by me made recently.
I have a giveaway going on there too so have a look at that.
And the link to the online shop again is GrainneKennyDesign.Etsy.com
Until September .... enjoy the rest of the summer! (Autumn it is now)
Gráinne
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