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).

My last post of the year

One of my New Year Resolutions for 2011 was to "enjoy and prosper from my creativity". I have certainly “enjoyed” everything I have done with polymer clay – and have learned so much more in this last year. The “prosper” part has been a little more difficult in the current economic climate. Here I will take the opportunity to review my goals for 2011:

To expand my range of HANGAs in both surface decoration and shape, and to find more sales outlets – I have experimented with many different types of surface decoration and did try out some heart and square shaped HANGAs as well as the original circular shape. I have continued to sell my HANGAs through Craftworld (Westgate) but apart from trying Etsy.com on-line, have still only sold them through craft markets. I have not pursued other outlets, as I intend to wind down production next year, to concentrate on teaching workshops/classes.

Open an Etsy shop to sell my HANGAs, and other pieces of polymer clay art/craft work, to a wider audience – My Esty shop was launched on 1 August, however, I feel a lot more study is required to make this method work for selling, when so many others are selling through the same site. Next year, I may try www.trademe.co.nz (New Zealand website similar to Ebay) but I much prefer the physical interaction with customers at the markets/fairs, than waiting for an on-line sale.

To create some polymer clay mosaic artwork. (This was my original reason for trying this medium, which has somehow got lost as the Art-Brooches and HANGAs developed, when I had less time for creative work) – I have created several polymer clay mosaic pieces that I am proud of and have ideas for many more, which will gradually become realised as time permits.

To get some polymer clay art/craft work in a few selected galleries, to establish some credibility here in New Zealand – I have exhibited polymer clay work twice in the gallery at the Mairangi Arts Centre. Next year I will need to look at other galleries, particularly as the New Zealand Art Guild, with its exhibiting opportunities, sadly closed down last week.

Try teaching some polymer clay workshops, initially through the Mairangi Arts Centre, to introduce others to the joy of working with this fantastic medium – I am currently preparing material for two different workshops (Introduction to Polymer Clay and Polymer Clay Mosaics). I accepted a number of dates for Spring 2012, to do Saturday workshops at the Mairangi Arts Centre but for some reason (which they have failed to explain to me) these were not published in their brochure, so I am now working on running these myself and creating my own publicity.

HOPING 2012 IS A PROSPEROUS YEAR FOR EVERYONE, ESPECIALLY THE POLYMER CLAYER ARTISTS AROUND THE WORLD

Coatesville before Christmas

This was my last Coatesville Market before Christmas. I now have a permanent indoor place in the hall, which is great, and using their table gives me plenty of room for display, as it is quite a bit longer than my own one.

As I took all my best HANGA designs to Craftworld, I felt the display I had here was a bit dull. I wonder if I would have sold more if I had had less of the plain coloured ones? I need to make some replacement stock for my last event before Christmas and must concentrate on making more with interesting surface designs.

The HANGA at Craftworld

This photo shows the mini display I have made for Craftworld. I took it there today and it looks good in the display cabinet. I will be interested to see how things go in the next few weeks before Christmas.

Browns Bay (November) Craft Show

This craftshow has been my best yet. The HANGAs are selling well and I will be extra busy next week making more to replenish my stock, as well as those that I am proposing to take to Craftworld

Investigating Craftworld

Today I went to Craftworld (www.craftworld.co.nz) at Westgate Shopping Centre, where I met with the Managing Director, Carl Dysthe. Carl approached me, after seeing my stall at Coatesville Market, with a proposition for getting some of my work in the store. He showed me the display cabinet he had mentioned, where I could set up a small display, as a trial, before committing to a rental booth.

I am keen to try this as a different selling venue for my HANGAs and feel the best time to do it is now, to catch the run up to Christmas. I made a commitment to go ahead with this and put a display in place before the end of the month - this means I am going to be very busy for the next couple of weeks!