An Invitation to be a part of the Arts & Crafts Renaissance

Arts & Crafts Circles are making a big comeback!

6 years ago I started my Arts & Crafts Group as a response to having a busy a life with only a little time to pursue my passion for Arts & Crafts.

So, I started a Wednesday afternoon Arts & Crafts Group in my village hall, to ensure that for 2 hours a week I had a window of opportunity to indulge my passion.

Initally we were a handful of ladies who brought along whatever they were making, we had a cup of tea, shared with each other our progress and had a 'good ol'chin wag'.

6 years on, the Arts & Crafts Group has become a dynamic group of people who have regularly held Workshops, Christmas Markets, an Exhibition and has become a large group of friends.

The afternoon session now has 15 regular members and I have recently started an evening group too. Anyone wanting to come along to either session will be more than welcome!

Mission Statement:

This Arts & Crafts Group provides a 'Window of Opportunity' for individuals to come along with what they are making or to join in an Arts & Crafts workshop and to meet like minded people!

If at first you don't succeed Try, TRy, TRY AGAIN!

Welcome to Acaster Malbis Arts and Crafts Social Club!

I started this club 5 years ago as a place for like minded people to meet up and bring along whatever they were making/creating and to enjoy each others company.

We have about 15 regular members aging from 40 to 80, the group runs on a Wednesday from 1pm - 3pm and now we have workshops usually run by the members, teaching each other our skills.
In the last couple of months I've run 2 different workshops:

1. How to make a Freshwater Pearl Flower Brooch
 
Using a combination of different coloured organzas, a small piece of handmade needled felt, a brooch pin, a fresh water pearl (from a variety of colours) and seed beads likewise.

Everyone had loads of fun making these and the workshop ran over for 2 more weeks, so more could be made to accessorize different coats, hats and handbags etc...


2. How to make a Jug Vase for Flowers

We are still in the middle of this workshop - You know when no matter what you do things just seem to go wrong, Yes thats right, thats exactly what has happened with this workshop!

To cut a long story very short, after a failed demonstration, the clay slabs I'd pre-rolled freezing and needing rewedging and rerolling, having to cancel the session, my sons orthodontist appt being delayed by 2 hrs making me late for next session, jugs collapsing due to over enthusiastic makers, jugs cracking due to being dried to quickly, need I say more!!!

But we are soldiering on and I hope to have some lovely images to post up here next time : )

Our 1st Glaze Firing SUCCESS!!!

And then there was Clay......

Meet Pete! He is my latest Personification of Nature.

Oakmen have proved popular Personifications of Nature. Pete is a gift for my friends 40th Birthday, he is modelled on her Father Pete who's a real character!
As you see him now, he's in his raw state - only just finished handbuilding him yesterday.
Now starts the scary part of slowly drying him out, if he drys too quickly he'll crack. So he's presently lying in a cool frost free place draped loosely in light plastic, I'll check him frequently, but I expect it to take a full week before I'm happy to do the 'First Firing'.

I've lost 2 Personifications previously in the Firing process - the clay thickness dictates how it shrinks and cools, causing stress to where the clay thickness varies and of course as you can see even though I try to keep the clay thickness uniformed the nature of the piece means this is hard to control.

So, fingers crossed for the next stage!
Here are a few of my previous Personifications of Nature:

Oakman 2000

  This is my first Oakman, there have been four including Pete.

  (not to mention the two that cracked during firing)

Jack Frost 2003

Jack Frost and Applejack live in my garden.



Apple Jack 2003

 



In the Beginning.....

There was a lot to do!

1. Set up a business account that doesn't charge. Tick

2. Become a member of the FSB (The Federation of Small Businesses - members get free banking with the Co-operative, plus loads of opportunities to network at monthly non compulsary meetings, not to mention free business and legal advice etc... for starting fee of £125 , £100 a per year then after )Tick

3. Build a Website. Yet to do

4. Create a Facebook 'Artist' page showing all previous work. Tick

5. Set up Paypal to take card payments. Tick

6. Try and get my head round using Paypal via my mobile. In the process of

7. Take account of all present stock and equipment. In the process of

8. Become a member of LinkedIn join relevant groups and research other Arts and Crafts People, find out what works for them, ask advice. In the process of

9. Start a Blog ( taking some advice - customers like to see who they are buying their Handmade/Original pieces from, so a blog is a good way to introduce yourself, plus it can be linked into your website, when it's built, allowing them to follow you.) In the process of

10. Create Twitter account and link to FB page - the same reasons as above. Tick

11. Start an account of all incoming and out going finances. Yet to do

12. Investigate Amazon, Ebay and Etsy. Tick

13. Open an account with Etsy (Seems best place to start). Yet to do

14. Open an Account with Amazon (Already had one from selling back DVD's - need to be up and running before I commit to a merchant account monthly payments though). Tick

15. Set up workshop/space - somewhere to concentrate on the piece in hand. In the process of