A Review of 2013

When I look back at the plans I had for 2013, some have been more successful than others.

1.    Re-establish a monthly market spot – maybe the Devonport Craft Market or back to Coatesville Market. I started with the Devonport Craft Market for a couple of months, as this was specifically a 'craft' market and only a ferry ride from the city centre for tourists. I hoped it would be better for me than the farmers markets that mainly focus on food, but it did not attract large numbers of visitors. Then I discovered that a new monthly craft market had started in Browns Bay, so I tried that, hoping it would work out for me. It was so handy right on my doorstep and nice to be able to support a local market but after a couple of tries this actually turned out to be the worst market for me in terms of sales. At this point I decided that making lots of small, low cost items to sell at markets was not what I really wanted to do but that I would do the twice yearly Mission Bay markets to sell off old stock. However, the Labour Day Art & Craft Market at Mission Bay was poor  for sales this year and I reluctantly said to my husband that I would not even do that any more, as it was not returning enough to warrant his time as well as my own for the whole day. Although I will miss the customer interaction that I enjoy at markets (hopefully the teaching workshops and the Auckland Polymer Clay Guild will compensate for this), I feel it is now time to aim higher and focus on selling my work through galleries, gallery stores and selected shops.

2.    Exhibit at the Dunkleys Craft Show (North Shore) in October 2013. I had been looking forward to doing this all year but was very disappointed at the number of visitors to the show for all the time, cost and effort. Also the small number of people taking part in the daily workshops and the sign-ups that followed was disappointing. So sadly, I would not do this show again.

3.    Promote polymer clay through slide shows and demonstrations to encourage people to sign up for my workshops. I have not had the chance to pro-actively do as much of this as I would like, mainly due to my time being taken up preparing for teaching workshops and the Dunkleys show - hopefully I can do more of this next year. However, I did set up the Auckland Polymer Clay Guild in August this year (not in my plans!) and I am currently the President of this group.

4.    Expand my range of workshops to include some half day technique focussed sessions e.g. extruding with polymer clay and making canes. I have prepared a number of other workshops and now have five: Introduction to Polymer Clay, Retro Canes, Simple Canes, Polymer Clay Mosaics and Painting with Polymer Clay and am now looking to offer these at other venues, in addition to the Lake House Arts Centre, rather than running them from home. This means I do not have to spend so much time promoting and sorting the administration, which is quite time consuming when I have a limited amount of time.

5.    Complete my “50 clips for 50 years” project to promote CLIPT. This project has not happened as I had intended, in fact it has not happened at all. My original plan was to make one clip a week, illustrating a different technique. Unfortunately work, life, and exhibition, show and teaching deadlines have all taken priority. I would like to think that I will have photographs of the clips that will be featured in this book before my next birthday - but that may be a struggle with everything else that I need to do in the first few months of the new year.

A new prop for CLIPT in 2013

This has been a little project I started at the end of last year, which will form part of my new display for CLIPT in 2013. It started life as a white polystyrene wig stand. I covered it with several layers of papier mache, then used acrylic modelling paste to create the textured surface and painted it with black acrylic paint. It will be used as a prop for hats and scarves, to display the fashion clips in use.

 

I have also purchased a digital photo frame, so I can show the 'How to Wear' CLIPT slideshow at venues where there will be an electricity supply. I am particularly thinking for the Dunkleys Craft Show I plan to do this year, when it comes to the North Shore in October.

Special project for 2013

As 2013 is a signifcant year for me (I will be 50 in April), I wanted to have a special project to mark this milestone.

 

My original idea for this project was to do it with brooches but now that I am currently creating fashion clips, it will be 50 Clips for 50 Years. The idea is to create 50 clips (that is roughly one a week throughout the year) showing examples of different techniques for the surface decoration of polymer clay.

 

After photographing the clips and writing a short explanatory decription for each one, I hope to publish the project as a small book. In addition to using it as a teaching aid for my polymer clay workshops, the book can also be used for the promotion of CLIPT.

 

The hardest thing will be limiting myself to 50 clips, to try and show the whole range of techniques that can be used with polymer clay.

Review of 2012 and plans for 2013

When I looked back at my first post of the year, I realised that I had not set any measurable goals for this year.

 

In review, I have spent most of the year preparing material for workshops, including samples, and promotion (slide shows). I have run some workshops but the way things have turned out, it has more been for staff training (for Gordon Harris Art Stores) than for artist/crafters. Due to my limited time for promotion, I have decided next year to offer more workshops through established art centres, starting with the Lake House, Takapuna.

 

I have exhibited and sold work at a couple of exhibitions and won the ‘Peoples Choice’ award at the Lake House for ‘Spring Trio’, my first major sculptural work in polymer clay. However, I have really missed the lack of interface with the public, from not doing any regular markets/events. Unfortunately there was no Labour Day Art and Craft Market at Mission Bay this year (due to an international triathlon), so I only had a couple of low key markets booked at the last minute for Christmas. Due to unforeseen/uncontrollable circumstances (including a tornado), they did not generate the volume of visitors I was hoping for, to gauge reaction to the fashion clips I have started to make and market under the name CLIPT. I will have to be patient and wait for the Anniversary Art and Craft Market at Mission Bay in January.

 

My main plans for 2013 are to:

1.    Re-establish a monthly market spot – maybe the Devonport Craft Market or back to Coatesville Market.

2.    Exhibit at the Dunkleys Craft Show (North Shore) in October 2013.

3.    Promote polymer clay through slide shows and demonstrations to encourage people to sign up for my workshops.

4.    Expand my range of workshops to include some half day technique focussed sessions e.g. extruding with polymer clay and making canes.

5.    Complete my “50 clips for 50 years” project to promote CLIPT.

 

First showing of CLIPT Fashion Clips

This was my first time at the Hobsonville Point Vintage and Craft Market (a last minute alternative, as Coatesville Market was fully booked). In addition to the last of my HANGA stock and other end of line/trial items, it was my first chance to test the market with my new fashion clips.

Full table display

CLIPT display

 

CLIPT Fashion Clips

'Get CLIPT – and make a fashion statement. Whether funky and eye-catching or elegant and understated, you can transform your clothes, accessories and home décor with this multi-purpose clip. Designed and made by polymer clay artist, Claire Fairweather, each clip is unique. Clips can be custom made to match or co-ordinate with your fabrics and colour schemes or as a memento of a special occasion. With over 30 ways to wear or use the fashion clip, it makes an ideal gift or start your own collection'.

Today is the launch of CLIPT, showcasing my lastest fashion accessory, the multi-purpose fashion clip. I will be at Hobsonville Point Vintage and Craft Market on Sunday 11 November, with a selection of first edition fashion clips,  where I will be keen to gauge public reaction to the design concept, which may help with any further refinements.

My clips are now also available in store at Craftworld (www.craftworld.co.nz) at Westgate Shopping Centre.

 

Please visit the CLIPT website www.clipt.co.nz for the lastest up-dates.

CLIPT at Craftworld

Here is my first batch of fashion clips, all labelled up and ready to go to Craftworld at Westgate, and the display in store (below).

A preview of CLIPT Fashion Clips

I will be selling off my end of line stock at this craft sale, so a great opportunity to get some Christmas shopping bargains, at the Lake House Arts Centre, Takapuna on Sunday 14 October from 10am - 3pm.

 

You can also see a preview of CLIPT Fashion Clips.

CLIPT will be officially launched on the 1 November. Initially the fashion clips will be going to the Craftworld store at Westgate Shopping Centre, followed by Coatesville Market on the first Sunday of the month, on a regular basis.

Addendum: Coatesville Market is now fully booked for the rest of the year, so I have booked to do the Hobsonville Point Vintage and Craft Market, on the second Sunday of the month, instead.

CLIPT - Fashion Clips

Today I have purchased the domain name www.clipt.co.nz for my next unique fashion accessory. It is still at the design and trial stage at the moment and it will take a while to get this website up and running.

If you want to be notified when the CLIPT multi-purpose fashion clip is launched (hopefully towards the end of this year), leave a comment and you will be the first to know.