My Etsy Shop opened today

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ClaireFairweather

The above link will take you to ClaireFairweather's Shop on Etsy.com.

Looking forward

Today was the last day in my part-time job, so for the time being I can concentrate fully on my polymer clay work.

 

 

Having reviewed the goals I set at the beginning of the year, I need to focus on completing as many of them as I can. It is now more than half way through the year. I have nearly finished my second piece for the exhibition coming up later this month. Once this is done, I must finish the HANGAs I start a while ago (trialling some different shapes) and get my Etsy shop up and running. Then I can concentrate on preparing the visual/teaching aids for my introductory workshop.

Preparing for Etsy shop

Today I have registered with Etsy.com and plan to launch my Etsy shop some time in August. It will be called Claire Fairweather's shop and initially I will sell my HANGAs and some Art-Brooches. Gradually I will add other pieces of polymer clay artwork.

Last time at Coatesville Market



Last set-up at Coatesville Market



Close-up of my 'thank you' sign

It is sad that this was my last time at Coatesville Market but I know that it is not the right venue for selling the larger pieces of artwork that I am going to be creating next. Everyone has been really friendly here and made me welcome, so I will have to come back now and then as a visitor.

For anyone reading this who still wants to by my HANGAs, I am intending to open an on-line shop on Esty.com to sell these and other smaller items. I will start work on this when I get back from my trip to the UK, in May, and hope it will be up and running some time in June.

Polymer Clay - one year on

It has now been a year since I first started with polymer clay. I have had a great time experimenting and am in total 'awe' of this versatile creative medium. I still feel overwhelmed at the vast array of techniques and ways of using it - I do not think that a whole lifetime would be long enough to try out and master everything.

Last week I started my new part-time job, three days a week, which means I can now review how I spend my two creative days. I have decided to stop doing Coatesville Market after returning from our trip back to the UK, at the beginning of May. Instead, I want to focus on producing some bigger polymer clay mosaic artworks - making mosaic tiles from polymer clay was my original reason for turning to this new medium. I will look more to exhibitions and galleries to promote my work, with a view to establishing my name as a polymer clay artist, and gaining credability so I can go on to teach polymer clay workshops.

I will continue to sell my HANGAs and other small items like the Art-Brooches at a few selected events but concentrate more on selling these online. After our return from the UK in May, I intend to set up an online shop through Etsy and will also look into the New Zealand version, Felt.

The last Browns Bay Craft Show

Sadly, this is the last time the Browns Bay Craft Show will be held, due to the greatly increased cost of hiring the hall. It also rained heavily for most of the day, which added to the 'despondant air' in the hall. It was sad that the show did not have a 'festive buzz', to finish the year on a high.

A rumour did start going around that the RSA hall across the road could be an alternative venue for next years shows - we will have to see if this happens. This aside, I need to continue looking for other sales venues and in the New Year, when I have made some more stock, I plan to set up a store on Etsy.com. I need to do a lot more research and reading over the Christmas break on selling on the internet.