They Draw Horses, Don't They?

Waaaay back last summer, a gauntlet was thrown down in The Annexe Studios by fellow member Steve Woodgate (the man who supervises my printing needs).

Based on the theory that horses are the hardest thing to draw, he challenged all of us (and other local artists including Tracy Beaker illustrator Nick Sharratt) to produce postcard-sized images of horses in what ever style or media we cared to use.  You can see them on Pinterest here if you care to. There was a little vote-based competition (your correspondent came second), and then the whole idea went on to become a shop - with a launch event.  Hurrah!

Steve Woodgate introduces Harry Venning

Held at The Latest Bar in Brighton, delights on offer included all work to purchase on prints, mugs and teatowels, 'live' screenprinting on paper recycled from - wait for it - manure and cartoonist Harry Venning's legendary presentation on how to draw cartoons.  Harry is the artist and writer behind Clare In The Community - a Guardian comic strip and award-winning Radio 4 comedy.  It was hilarious - almost brought the horse down.

Harry in full flow

Horsey screenprints - done on the spot.

Illustrator Paul Collicutt's horse - available for further artistic interpretation.

If you want to purchase any of the horsey goodness, visit the They Draw Horses, Don't They? shop HERE.  Mine's not there just yet - must remember to sign that release form . . .

Remembering The Handmade Fair 2014

So, two weeks ago I was running around like the proverbial fly with a blue bum in preparation for the first ever Handmade Fair presented by Kirstie Allsopp.  (For those of you not living in the UK, Kirstie presents a series of TV programmes with an emphasis on traditional crafts and upcycling.)

And now its all over and I'm just back from hols and feeling very odd!

I haven't had a chance until now to blog about the fair - or blog about anything at all lately to be honest - so here goes.

The Fair was held in the grounds of Hampton Court Palace - a magnificent pile once owned by King Henry VIII - and it is quite stunningly beautiful.  As I grew up nearby I used to go there as a child, but through adult eyes it seemed so different - more spectacular if anything.

Strung with heaps of colourful bunting, all the marquees looked lovely as we set up on 18th September - a day so hot and sunny it could have been July.  A few teething issues with unloading times made the whole thing slightly fraught - sitting in a hot field for over two hours was not the finest start when you want to feel all Zen to set up your lovely bijou little stall - but eventually (if rather sweatily) everything got done.

So - the Fair began on the Friday and ran for three days. Visitor numbers were good, with Saturday being the busiest.  I was so grateful that I'd invested in a dinky little Paypal card reader, as sales have been lost in the past when people ran out of cash.  I was also delighted to sell a necklace from the brand new Fables range!

Getting to grips with the card reader.  Photo by Skye Pennant

'The Watcher In The Woods' one-off resin and semi-precious bead necklace - SOLD to the lady with the excellent taste

Rushed off my feet - and loving it. Photo by Skye Pennant

I felt that there was a strong sense of mutual support amongst the exhibitors and I was lucky to have some familiar faces there - Tina Francis Tapestry and Victorious Bee - as well as making new friends Joanna Clark Design, Lorna Bateman Embroidery and Honey Bee Beautiful.  I was also incredibly touched that Mary Ann Nelson from Zarafa Designs, one of the Fair's Experts and the lady who taught me how to use resin, came and found me and said how proud she was that I had gone on to make resin jewellery and that she always encourages her students to look at my website.  This was such a lovely boost and very flattering.  I picked up lots of info and tips as well as having a good laugh with my fellow stallholders.  I also bought some gorgeous make-up bags from the very talented Punto Belle - who designs her own fabric before making them into a range of bags.  These are ostensibly PRESENTS, but I don't know. I'm not convinced they'll be received, if you get my drift.

Medium Make-Up Bags by Punto Belle.  Photos by Punto Belle.

IDIOT MOMENT - missing an opportunity to say hi to special guests and my ex-employers Kaffe Fassett and Brandon Mably when they popped into the West Tent on Saturday.  I umm-ed and aah-ed, thought they might walk past me later, but didn't, so I blew it.  I used to work on mosaic projects with Kaffe back in the late 1990s, culminating in Gold Medal winning garden at the 1999 Chelsea Flower Show, which is where these pictures were taken.

Late on that day, there was a bit of a party for the exhibitors to make up for some of the problems people had been experiencing.  I have to be honest here and say some people were very disgruntled, and later several people from the event's organisers went round asking for feedback on how things could be improved for everyone in the future.  Kirstie made an appearance and was mobbed, there was food and wine on offer and it was just nice to spend a bit more social time with my fellow exhibitors, as there was little time for that during the busy days.

I was most intrigued with Kirstie's amazing pompom embellished shoes.  This was a nod to 'World Pomination' - the fair's attempt to make the world's longest string of pompoms.  Members of the public were asked to submit three pompoms each, which would then be added to the string.  I think they did make it in the end!

Kirstie Allsopp's (very blurry) pompom shoes

The pompoms looked so pretty laid out on the grass in the sunshine and wound round the trees.

So all in all, it was an experience, sometimes fun, sometimes frustrating but I came away feeling that I learned a lot and that what I'm doing is worthwhile.  Will I do it all again?  I'm still deciding.

The new look Shark Alley stall. Photo by Skye Pennant

I guess that means it's over.

All Change!

After what feels like aeons of hard work, the Shark Alley rebrand and excitingly smart-looking new online store are almost complete.

Things will look different on this blog too (when I have a chance to redesign it).

Here's a little taster of how it's all going to look - and I'll do a proper post on it later on this month.

ANYWAY - what with all this change, some other things are changing too and this includes prices.

As a designer-maker, it's so important to price correctly for all the hours spent designing and making,  learning and refining the skills and techniques, plus all the materials and overheads.  This means that the customer knows that they are getting a quality product, made with care and attention to detail, and will own a unique design that just isn't available anywhere else or made by anyone else.  All my pieces are individually hand made by me in my studio in Hove, and if I'm not 100% in love with each finished piece, then it doesn't go on sale.

Before prices go up in a week or so, this is a chance to buy some pieces at the current prices in the existing Shark Alley shop.  (HINT: mixed media pieces and otters) and for anyone spending £20 or over (excluding shipping) I'll throw in a FREE TICKET* to Kirstie Allsopp's Handmade Fair worth £13.44.  If you spend over £35 (exc. shipping) I'll throw in another one (total value £26.87) so you can take a mate. How about that for another great incentive?! Better move quick though as ticket allocation is going fast and only Friday 19th and Sunday 21st tickets are currently available.

As usual, I have more pieces available than are on display in the shop, so email me if you need to see more or want a particular colour.

If you need further info, check The Handmade Fair website or email me.

* Entry only.  You will be offered a chance to upgrade to a full-price ticket on application.  For further details click here.

Take A Break

Ok, so it's August 2nd and The Handmade Fair is getting closer and closer and I have so much to get done by then and I'm actually starting to panic and . . .

. . . breathe!

So I have decided to take a break from doing this blog for a while, as it can eat up quite a chunk of the day, especially if I'm getting carried away with lots of photos. As I so often do.

I'll post more information about The Handmade Fair nearer the time along with any other updates (if  actually manage to achieve them) and there will be more regular news on the Shark Alley Facebook page.

Wish me luck, have a great summer and I'll see you in September!

No chance of this happening anytime soon . . . but looking forward to some R&R at the end of September

A List As Long As My Arm

You know that feeling when you have so many things to do - so many different things - that you swing between running around like the proverbial headless chicken, trying to do seven things at once or being so overwhelmed you just want to curl up on the sofa and do nothing at all.

Well, THAT!

I'm rebranding which involves new logo design, new look, new photos, new layout and new website and having to do that all on my own, two days a week plus evenings and weekends, as well as working on a new range of beaded and resin necklaces, plus having to make a lot of things again from scratch so I can properly time them for repricing (for example, I now know that an otter takes three hours and 24 minutes to sew by hand) and adding a few new ideas to existing ranges.

And all this before The Handmade Fair in September!  Needless to say, I have a to-do list as long as my arm.

This was why there was no blog-post last week.  And the reason why this one will be a challenge.

It's hard to know what to say here - I'm so desperate to share all the exciting new things, but also feel I should try and exhibit a little restraint until it's all done and ready to go.

So I'm just going to share some pictures of work in progress, jobs still to do and a few new things that I've actually finished.  Then get back on with it!

DONE - Owl Stamp Pendant

DONE - Brainstorming rebranding ideas (but STILL TO DO - design logo, take product photos, design and plan website layout, choose website format)

STILL TO DO - Cover mannequin in brown paper collage and photograph necklaces

DONE - Started new necklaces (but STILL TO DO - more necklaces.  Maybe some earrings)

DONE - Timed and correctly priced resin animal brooches

DONE - Brand new bird stamp resin ring

DONE - Brand new animal-themed resin stamp pendants

Wish me luck.  I'm really looking forward to sharing the fruits of all these labours with you very soon.

In Praise Of Brooches

"BUT . . . I DON'T REALLY WEAR BROOCHES!"

Clockwise: unknown; Shark Alley Toucan brooch, Leaf brooches by Odile Gova /Woolly Fabulous on Flickr; Art Nouveau brooch; Joan Holloway from Mad Men; Shark Alley Brighton Cat brooch; Chickadee brooch by StudioLiscious on Etsy; Fox brooch by Beauty Spot on Etsy; Vivianna Torun Bulow-Hube, Swedish silversmith

Clockwise: Fox brooch by Little Nemo on Flickr; Shark Alley Puffin brooches; VOGUE cover; unknown from Instagram via Pinterest; Elizabeth Taylor; Shark Alley Bird brooches; 1920's style; jewelled mouse brooch; Egyptian scarab brooch

This is something I hear a lot when people browse the Shark Alley stall (which is full of brooches).  "But brooches are so versatile!" I say.  Take a step outside the box and consider the different ways you can display your beautiful brooch art in your wardrobe gallery.


A BIT ON THE SIDE

L-R: Lea Stein via Susan Caplan on asos; Shark Alley Indigo Batik Bird Brooch; the Duchess of Cambridge

I think of this as the 'traditional' way of wearing a brooch.  I tend to favour the right hand side.  How about you?


ON YER 'EAD

Clockwise: Shark Alley Toucan brooch;  Iris Apfel collection ethnic brooch from 'Rare Bird Of Fashion' by Eric Boman; 1920's style; Shark Alley resin Fox brooch

I love a brooch on a hat!  It's out of the way, won't catch on anything and, like a good pair of earrings, sets off your face too.


SCARF ACE

Clockwise: Shark Alley Puffin brooch; Shark Alley Owl brooch; Lea Stein Cat brooch; Sarah Jessica Parker

Another favourite.  Love the SJP take on it -  a brooch fastening a slender tie-like scarf.


IT'S NECK AND NECK

Clockwise: Shark Alley squirrel brooch; Blake Lively; Shark alley resin Hare brooch; turquoise brooch from the Iris Apfel collection (see credit above)

Give the brooch the same focus as a necklace and wear it centrally at the neckline.  You could also pin one to a length of velvet ribbon and wear it as a choker.


ON THE DOWN-LOW

L-R: from shabbychicks.blogspot.com ; from the Iris Apfel collection (see credit above); unknown via Pinterest

I must confess, I'd never thought of this one! Love it.

ALL TOGETHER NOW

L-R: unknown via Pinterest; Shark Alley brooches; from Marie Claire via Pinterest

As a big fan of more is more, I can really get behind this look.  The group of brooches around the collar is a really lovely idea.


FREESTYLING

L-R: Unknown via Pinterest; brooch on turn-ups from modernkiddo.com

And why not?


I hope this inspires you to experiment!  I feel like going to my brooch drawer and having a good old root around, as well as maybe raiding the Shark Alley brooch stash.  I love designing brooches because they can be just about the shape without having to worry about attaching hooks or chains to them and where to do it.  They make great gifts too. Choosing jewellery for someone else is often tricky as it is such a personal thing, but brooches are are slightly more detached from the wearer than, say, earrings or necklaces, which I think makes them a really safe bet.

 
There's also a great blog post on similar theme for more ideas here.

Browse the Shark Alley collection of brooches here and here.

No Post Today!

A combination of a weekend camping trip, the Wimbledon Men's Singles Final and my birthday have conspired to overwhelm!  No post this weekend, but here's a few pics of the countryside where we camped.