I was asked to make a pair of goblets the same but different . These will be sent to a pyrographer and a design put on them before going on to the cuastomer. Nice bit of collaboration. Could do with more.
Sunday 29 November 2009
Saturday 28 November 2009
Blog worth looking at
Check out the things on Extra Special Touch's blog. Some lovely things there and she will do commissions as well. All hand made. She's doing a treasury of wedding things that she is researching from other people as well at the moment.
Rustic pendant blanks
I was asked to make 20 pendant blanks with the bark still on them and sort of got carried away. Ended up with 70. Anybody want any they are 20 for £5 plus £1 postage. I can do more or less if needed with financial adjustment up or down as appropriate
Friday 27 November 2009
Additions to the family
Not totally complete, some need a few facial features but here's the first generation. Dad, Mum and some of the kids
Thursday 26 November 2009
Exhibition
Well that's it! I have 30+ pieces deposited at the exhibition. The other things I saw being brought in all looked like quality work and the exhibition has been going for a few years now so hopefully I will see some sales and get my name out there. It's on for a week so there's a reasonable chance. One of the potters couldn't put a large bowl I had down, kept picking it up and oohing and aahing over it. Bit of luck she'll come back and buy it.
Wednesday 25 November 2009
Big day tomorrow
I have to take 30 pieces tomorrow for a 5 day exhibition at Crowan Crafts. I haven't a clue how well I will do sales wise but at least my work will be there being viewed for a week. Hopefully engendering interest. Most of it will be the more expensive things but there will be some lower end work as well. Wish me good fortune
Christmas is just around the corner
Looks like we are having a do it yourself Christmas this year. I have suddenly got a list of things that seems to be growing by the day. Also getting a few orders in so I am at last busy busy busy. Need to get myself organised and remember that this is no longer just a hobby !!!!!
Saturday 21 November 2009
Busy day
Managed to get a fair bit done today. Started making a load of these little fellas for a stall in a week or so. This one is the prototype. and stands about 6" tall.
Some more pencil / pen pots
and a couple of hollow forms
Thursday 19 November 2009
Christmas presents
I have been making some of our Christmas presents this year and am making some wierd things. A Bar skittles set for two of them and a cookery set for another grandson. Don't ask, he's 6 and wants a rolling pin, a pestle and mortar and a honey dipper. He also wants a kitchen knife but I don't think so. Bar skittles should be fun. I've done the 9 little skittles just have the base and spindle to do. Might cheat on the ball and buy a large wooden bead instead.
Monday 16 November 2009
Strange the way things work
I made the card holders for myself and then ended up selling several. I have been making wands for sal for some time and not sold many. I put up a picture of one I had made with a certificate for one of my grand daughters and immediately was contacted by someone who wanted to know if I could do one for them with certificate. Perhaps I need to start thinking of things to make for myself and then they will sell.LOL
Click on the certificate if you want to read it
Sunday 15 November 2009
Pleasing myself
I have an exhibition coming up, a 5 day one end of November, into Decmber. Good shop front if no sales though hopefully there will be some. It is for the higher end, 'rustic' work I do. Things I really love doing as you never have a clue what the end product will be like almost until it is finished. As you cut away the wood you need to be ready to adapt your ideas as flaws and faults appear in the wood. This piece is laburnum and was an offcut from a crotch (where the branches meet) It was a pig to do and flew off the lathe twice before I finally got it to stay. Worth it in the end though IMHO. Lovely grain, bark on the outside and a natural fauklt running through it whuch ended up with a hole. I love the contrast in texture in these pieces and when you get crazy grain and figuring like this it is an added bonus
Saturday 14 November 2009
Bad weather and good advice
Well the RNLI sale was sort of called off. It was in a little village that gets the worst of the winds when we have weather like the last few days and so getting there would have meant travelling a round 50 mile trip with the risk of getting stuck as the ferry was closed due to the winds. Never mind. Even if I had got there I doubt if many people would have braved the weather to attend. Now I just need to get my work soorted out for the exhibition at the end of the month. Whether I will sell anything or it is going to be just a showcase I don't know, we'll see. Very flattering to be asked to exhibit at all anyway.
Been reading an article in the latest woodturning magazine regarding 'Making your name' and some of what the author (a well known turner) was saying made sense and surprisingly coincided with my thoughts to some extent. He pointed out that the best known turners were well known for signature styles. Up until now I have had a go at anything but have been wondering about specialising. I see two main areas where I would like to do this. One is the making of crafting tools and equipment perhaps on a more production basis and the opther is developing my skills with goblets. I love making these and they can be both purely decorative and practical (sometimes both at the same time. ) I need to think about this and sort it out in my head. Expecting to be able to make money straight off has always been a daft notion and I was aware of that. Getting known as a quality turner and perhaps specialising is more likely the way to go and that takes time, not an overnight thing.
Been reading an article in the latest woodturning magazine regarding 'Making your name' and some of what the author (a well known turner) was saying made sense and surprisingly coincided with my thoughts to some extent. He pointed out that the best known turners were well known for signature styles. Up until now I have had a go at anything but have been wondering about specialising. I see two main areas where I would like to do this. One is the making of crafting tools and equipment perhaps on a more production basis and the opther is developing my skills with goblets. I love making these and they can be both purely decorative and practical (sometimes both at the same time. ) I need to think about this and sort it out in my head. Expecting to be able to make money straight off has always been a daft notion and I was aware of that. Getting known as a quality turner and perhaps specialising is more likely the way to go and that takes time, not an overnight thing.
Slide show
Just added this slide show. Nice little freebie application online. This is of a selection of my work over the last 12 month
Friday 13 November 2009
Christmas Rush?
I am sitting waiting for the promised Christmas rush. Is it too early or do people just not like my work :-( I have sold a few pieces lately as said previously but nothing like I either need or want to. I am not too sure what I am doing that isn't working. I have revamped my web site making it simoply a showcase and directing potential buyers to my online shops. Whether that will make a difference we have yet to see, I have a small RNLI sale tomorow which mau reap some rewards but who can tell. Come on all you customers over here !!!!!
Thursday 12 November 2009
Nice little earner
The card holders are becoming popular. Must have hit a little earner with them albeit accidently. Someone suggested adapting to hold other things so watch this space for ideas .
This one was sent off bare of any finish and the owner pyrographed thir name around the bottom. Looks good. Better not show their photo
Wednesday 11 November 2009
Large bowl
At last with this lathe I can do something a bit bigger (if I have the wood) Here is my biggest for a 12 month. It's 12" diameter and turned down to 5mm thick. It's a opiece of mahogany and very glossy with a beeswax polish. Hopefully someone will like it and buy it.
Also done some more tops and some pen holders for a sale coming up in St Mawes on Sat. . Let's hope people are starting to buy gifts and stocking fillers.
Also done some more tops and some pen holders for a sale coming up in St Mawes on Sat. . Let's hope people are starting to buy gifts and stocking fillers.
Thursday 5 November 2009
Wednesday 4 November 2009
Just thought
I made this up for myself for use at craft markets etc to hold my business cards instead of just dumping them onto the table. Hadn't thought of selling them. Duh!!!
Put them up as a possibility on a forum and one sold immediately so Etsy & Misi here they come.
Broken MISI duck
At last, after 3 months I have broken my duck on MISI. OK it won;'t make the bank manager dance with joy but it's a start. Probably my own fault as I have been focussing on Etsy and ignoring MISI up til now. Here's hoping for a Christmas rush
Monday 2 November 2009
Finally succumbed
That's it...I have ordered the bits and pieces to do pens. I have resisted up until now as I really haven't wanted to do them but they seem to be a good seller so econoomics rule over personal choice. If they arrive quickly I might be able to get a few done for the market on Friday.
Sunday 1 November 2009
New things on Etsy
I have managed to get some new work up onto Etsy, a few of bowls and a pen pot.
See http://www.etsy.com/shop/Bodrighy for details
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