Open Studios - Over For Another Year.

Phew, I can see why busy businesses have 'people' to do their online 'stuff' for them! I have not had a spare minute in the last week to update my blog to tell you all how it went at Open Studios North Fife 2014!

First of all I'd like to say a big thank you to everyone who came along! My venue in Ladybank was packed out the door again this year! I had a few minutes at the start of the day on Saturday to take a few photos and then it was pretty steady with visitors. We counted just over 400 over the 3 days this year!

I really enjoy this event as I have much more space to display my work as well as space to show ongoing projects and some of the materials I use in my work.

I have expanded my range since last year though and still struggled to make shelf room for everything. I resorted to hanging some of my new Heart Pendants on the wall. A handy piece of fishing net came in useful for that!

These new designs were very popular but I made lots so these are now available in my Etsy shop.

My work corner was brightened up by 'Tabitha' my tailors dummy showing how the brooches can be worn to keep cardigans and shrugs closed at the front. She was also a great model for my new larger pendants and I sold all my flower shaped ones.

My little Textile Trinket Boxes stole the show again this year with the big one with the row of harbour cottages selling first thing on Saturday morning. My lovely customer let me keep it for display over the weekend though. This was all that was left by Monday and now there are only four available.

The largest boxes measure 12 x 12 x 7 cm and are £46. This one below measures 10 x 10 x 6 cm at £38.

The next size down are 7 x 7 x 7 cm at £32

And the smallest measure 5 x 5 x 5 cm at £26

These four are all still available here

I had some Bits Bags for sale over the weekend which went down very well. I bagged up all the hand dyed fibre in the colours that I tend not to use and sold it so that I can buy more in the colours that I do use.

I also had some Felt Soap Rock Kits for sale which were popular. The kit comes with a lump of soap, loose merino fibres and full instructions. Basically you wrap the merino fibres around the soap, wet it, rub it and roll it and you end up with it looking like a pebble made of felt. The soap is still inside it and you can use it for washing with the felt layer acting like a scrubby. Great little project for children. 

My larger felt pictures made a great display in the back room of the studio. I sold a few but still have some left.

'Crofter's Cottage'

£245 Framed

£195 Mounted with no frame.

'Fisherman's Bothy'

£245 Framed

£195 Mounted with no frame.

'Low Tide at Willowherb Bay'

£245 Framed

£195 Mounted with no frame.

'At Peace By The Sea II'

£145 Framed

£95 Mounted with no frame.

'Daisy Cottage'

£95 Framed

'Heathery Knowe Cottage'

£95 Framed

'Purple Haze Cottage'

£75 Framed

The larger frames cannot be posted and are only suitable for local collection or delivery which is why I have given the prices for unframed as well. I can post  the pictures anywhere unframed.

The smaller pieces are fine for posting. Full details are in each listing in my Etsy shop.

I now have a pile of commission pieces to work through and orders from gift shops to fulfill so I'm actually still just as busy as I was before Open Studios! It's great to be busy though. 

If you have any questions about anything you have seen here on my blog, please feel free to get in touch with me at aileenclarkecrafts@yahoo.com

New Cards Now In Stock

I love to see my felt art pictures in print so imagine my delight when all these new cards arrived today!

'On Heathery Hill'

'Little Lochty Cottage'

'Creagan Cottage'

'Lavender Hill Bothy'

'Apple Tree Cottage'

'Over the Brig'

Over the Brig was among the first batch of designs that I had made into cards back in 2011 and has remained one of my best sellers.

 New to the collection today is 'Midnight Sailing'.

This was a textile picture I made quite a while ago and I really like how the sparkle of the stars has been retained in the print.

'Dolphin'

The texture and stitch of the dolphin picture has been retained in the print as well.

'Bright Horizon'

Bright Horizon is also new to the cards collection.

All these cards measure 10 x 15 cm and come with a good quality plain white envelope and cellophane sleeve for protection.

 'Harvey the Highland Cow'

Harvey is a constant favourite and often sells out.

And here is Rainbow's End Cottage. This was the first design I ever had printed. It was the cover of the program for the 2011 Glenfarg Folk Festival hence the wee music notes coming out of the chimney.

'Rainbow's End Cottage'

All these cards are £2.50 each and Sets of Six are also available at £12

Set of Six Cards £12

You can see the full selection in the Cards Section of my Shop here