Today marked the occasion of my first market stall, and I have to say that it was such a worthwhile experience. I still feel as though it is early days for me yet in determining my precise target market and so on, but having a market stall certainly helped clarify some things for me.
If anyone reading this was at the Up & Comers Fashion Market today, a big thanks to you if you were one of many people who stopped to have a look and pay my work such lovely compliments... not just those who bought something!
For those of you out there who are interested in perhaps purchasing an item you saw at the market or on the blog, and wish to do so before my next market date, please do not hesitate to email me at allison.bell.jewellery@gmail.com with any enquiries. Payment for items and postage can easily be organised though paypal! I'm very open to queries about commissioned pieces, too... I had a few requests today!
Well, that be all folks. Hope to see you at the next market!
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
I'm going to end up naming each post "stuff", aren't I?
Few things on my mind right now, despite being ridiculously tired. But I shall aim to 'blog' about them, nonetheless...
1) First up, every man and his dog seems to have a blog. Not that this is hugely relevant to anything, really, but thought it was worth mentioning. I guess it has just hit me in the last couple of days that there is this MASSIVE online community of designers, artists and makers from just about everywhere blogging about what it is they do. Which it quite awesome, really. Why am I always late to the party?
The reason it's really interesting me at the moment relates to the last thing I posted about... independent designers having their designs copied, and the only way they can sometimes hit back is through blogs such as 'you thought we wouldn't notice' and spreading the word through Twitter and so on. Interesting that the very medium assisting designers to get their work noticed also makes them more vulnerable to the 'copiers' - images and photographs for free on the internet!
2) Oh yay, people commenting on my creations! Verbally and to my face, that is. You know, the old-fashioned way. None of this 'comment on a post' stuff. Speaking of, I'm sure that no-one reads this blog but me. But hey, it's a way of keeping me motivated to make and document and... I digress. Sorry. Where was I?
Oh yeah, comments on my stuff. Have been wearing some creations out as of late (test drive - want to make sure they stand up to wear and tear) and have been getting some really positive responses. Nice to know it stands out in the crowd! (I refer to pieces in the Things of Metal and Stone category, if anyone is wants to know).
Interestingly, a lot of people are asking me if I have training in gold or silversmithing. I wish that I had the time to do that sort of training! So, no I don't, but it's really nice to know that my work comes across as being that well constructed. And I'm not going to go into exactly how I DO make these things, as all this stuff about copyright and theft of intellectual property has got me very paranoid. And I would be here forever explaining it, too.
3) Finally, a uni related visit to Craft Victoria today was a well timed reminder to get on to applying for markets to sell my wares! My interest was also very much piqued by the idea of applying for exhibitions there as well. Am aching to research into lace and explore using chain stitch (the beading stitch) to create fitted garments... there is potential to create pieces with no seams with a continuous pattern all over it. It's the kind of thing that would take months and months, though, and I really don't know how much time I can spare at the moment. Eeek!
The reason it's really interesting me at the moment relates to the last thing I posted about... independent designers having their designs copied, and the only way they can sometimes hit back is through blogs such as 'you thought we wouldn't notice' and spreading the word through Twitter and so on. Interesting that the very medium assisting designers to get their work noticed also makes them more vulnerable to the 'copiers' - images and photographs for free on the internet!
2) Oh yay, people commenting on my creations! Verbally and to my face, that is. You know, the old-fashioned way. None of this 'comment on a post' stuff. Speaking of, I'm sure that no-one reads this blog but me. But hey, it's a way of keeping me motivated to make and document and... I digress. Sorry. Where was I?
Oh yeah, comments on my stuff. Have been wearing some creations out as of late (test drive - want to make sure they stand up to wear and tear) and have been getting some really positive responses. Nice to know it stands out in the crowd! (I refer to pieces in the Things of Metal and Stone category, if anyone is wants to know).
Interestingly, a lot of people are asking me if I have training in gold or silversmithing. I wish that I had the time to do that sort of training! So, no I don't, but it's really nice to know that my work comes across as being that well constructed. And I'm not going to go into exactly how I DO make these things, as all this stuff about copyright and theft of intellectual property has got me very paranoid. And I would be here forever explaining it, too.
3) Finally, a uni related visit to Craft Victoria today was a well timed reminder to get on to applying for markets to sell my wares! My interest was also very much piqued by the idea of applying for exhibitions there as well. Am aching to research into lace and explore using chain stitch (the beading stitch) to create fitted garments... there is potential to create pieces with no seams with a continuous pattern all over it. It's the kind of thing that would take months and months, though, and I really don't know how much time I can spare at the moment. Eeek!
Monday, March 1, 2010
Post The Second
This article caught my eye on Sunday... and not without reason, I think...
http://www.theage.com.au/national/faking-it-turns-out-to-be-a-hard-subject-to-brooch-20100227-pa8y.html
Perhaps the only way to stop people copying your designs is to create something that is very difficult to replicate? Easier said than done, though!
http://www.theage.com.au/national/faking-it-turns-out-to-be-a-hard-subject-to-brooch-20100227-pa8y.html
Perhaps the only way to stop people copying your designs is to create something that is very difficult to replicate? Easier said than done, though!
Friday, February 19, 2010
First Post (sort of)
I've been playing around with this blog and the various pages on it for a number of days now.
It started off as a typical blog, then became more of a promotional webpage... I hope that now I've found something of a middle ground!
The decision is to have pages organised thusly:
That's all for now!
It started off as a typical blog, then became more of a promotional webpage... I hope that now I've found something of a middle ground!
The decision is to have pages organised thusly:
- one dedicated to every different style of jewellery I create, with pictures and a brief explanation. Photos will be added as I create more pieces using the same technique, so simply scroll down as far as she'll go to see all my latest creations.
- a page about me (slightly narcissistic, I know), outlining a vague design philosophy. It's a work in progress, OK?
- and finally, the home page, where I'll be writing about day to day creative stuff for those who are interested in such things. Y'know, typical bloggy things.
That's all for now!
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