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

Open Studios North Fife, 3rd, 4th and 5th May 2014

My biggest event of the year is finally upon us! Although I have been working towards this since the beginning of January, I feel like I have put it all together in the last couple of weeks. I will have my full range on display including Felt Pictures, Textile Trinket Boxes, Felt Jewellery, Textile and Resin Jewellery and Printed items.

I have made five larger felt pictures especially for the event along with a selection of smaller pieces.

Crofter's Cottage above is pictured next to one of my 12 x 12 cm pieces in a standard 25 cm box frame. It gives you an idea of the scale I've been working on and the quality of the larger frames.

Below is 'Iona Waters' which is slightly bigger.

I've been adding to my range of Textile Trinket Boxes as well and hope to sneak a few more makes in before the end of the week.

New jewellery pieces include these Felt Heart Pendants with large metal focal hearts.

More rings too!

Some new Textile Cuff Bracelets have also made it off the work table. I really enjoyed making these as I haven't had time to make any for about a year!

These ones are a mix of sari silk, velvet scraps and merino fibre.

 I have a good stock of printed items as well including the new Mouse Mats, Mugs, Notebooks and Cards.

 I took my mugs up the Quiraing on Skye for a photo shoot. It was very windy and bit showery but I got these quick shots.

I did a quick count when I was packing my brooches into a box and I have made over 100 this year! New to the range are these Donegal Tweed Leaf's in lovely soft colours.

I have also made quite a lot of my Textile and Resin jewellery in different designs. Mostly in my favourite purples and turquoises but there are a few other colours in the mix also.

These are just a few snapshots of what I have been up to. My favourite thing about Open Studios is having two whole rooms to display my work in instead of a six foot table at shows. I also really enjoy welcoming everyone along and giving you all an insight into some of the processes involved in making my work.

And I am delighted to say that I now accept card payments at all my events! This is a fantastic little device which I have used lots already this month. It's quick and secure and very convenient.

So come along and see me at 

Venue 31,

64 Commercial Road, 

Ladybank

KY15 7JS

Fife

UK

I'm having a preview night on Friday 2nd May 7 - 9 pm and will be open Saturday, Sunday and Monday 10 - 6 pm.

Free refreshments are available and we have a comfy couch and rest room facilities for weary travelers (and a daily newspaper and lots of cake for less interested husbands!)

You can find directions and details about all the other participants taking part on our website here

An April Afternoon on Raasay

Following on from my last post about our quick trip to Skye, we made an even quicker trip to the Isle of Raasay on the day we were heading home.

We went as foot passengers so didn't see very much of the island but the views back to Skye from the ferry were just stunning.

I had a handy supply of Isle of Skye Bakery lemon and poppy seed shortbread with me. SO delicious!

I think the Skye looks even more amazing from a boat. So many parts of the island are inaccessible by car so you are seeing a different perspective altogether. 

One of the reasons I wanted to nip across to Raasay was to visit this tiny little shop.

The Silver Grasshopper is run by Fiona Gillies, a jewellery designer living and working on the island.

Fiona's shop is run from the old telephone exchange and is just the cutest little building!

Alongside her own silver jewellery, Fiona stocks Isle of Skye Candles, Caurnie Handmade Soap and Isle of Raasay Chalk Boards other Raasay gifts.

 Fiona with her faithful companion Saba.

I bought some lovely Washi Tape.

And oh look! What's that in a basket on the window ledge? A selection of 

Aileen Clarke Crafts cards! heh heh. It was actually because I had sent a batch of my cards here last month that I knew this little gem of a shop existed. Fiona had found my work on Folksy.com and placed a wholesale order.

It is Fiona's mission to stay on the island as so many young people have to move away for work. She tells me she'd like to expand and create jobs for other young people as time goes on and I wish her all the best with it.

So we didn't see much more of the island, just took a wander along to Inverarish and back. I really would have loved to traverse the length of the island to Arnish and seen Calum's Road having heard the story and listened to a radio drama all about it. If you don't know the story, there's a book available and you can read the blurb here.

We followed rainbows home back through all the beautiful scenery that was mostly shrouded in low cloud on the way up.

This is the Nevis Range from Spean Bridge.

I have lots to share in my next post about new makes for Open Studios North Fife which starts next weekend.

I'm having a preview night on Friday 2nd May from 7-9pm

Here's a sneaky peek at some new prints cards, the originals of which will be on display.

Cards £2.50 each

Find me at 64 Commercial Road, Ladybank, KY15 7TY

On the corner of the main street through Ladybank and Church Street.

It's Full Steam Ahead for Open Studios 2014!

We are very excited to finally have this year's Open Studios brochures ready for distribution! 

As of next week they will be available to pick up free of charge from galleries, museums, libraries, shops and cafes and many other venues as well.

Places that have agreed to keep a supply in stock are;

WATERSTONES

Dunfermline, Kingsgate Centre 

Dundee, 35 Commercial Street,

Perth, St John's Centre 

St Andrews 101-103 Market Street

Kirkcaldy, 175 High Street

Edinburgh, 83 George St and 128 Princes Street

Glasgow, 153-157 Sauchiehall St and 174-176 Argyle St.

CUPAR- Maisie & Mac, Art & Contemporary Craft

GLENROTHES- Cafe Alfresco, 58 Unicorn Way, Kingdom Centre and you can also pick them up at

Loch Leven's Larder, Milnathort.

All the information in the brochure is also available on our website here www.openstudiosfife.co.uk

I will be at my usual venue in the village of Ladybank.

I have been making lots of new pictures, jewellery pieces and trinket boxes for this year's event and I also have a Makers Market on Saturday 5th April to make for as well so I have been extremely busy.

You can find me at 

The Morningside Makers Market, 

Columcille Centre, 2 Newbattle Terrace, EH10 4RT 

Saturday 5th April

11-4pm

I will have a stack of Open Studio Brochures with me so you can collect your free copy there.

Some new makes include this picture in lovely soft subtle shades.

These brooches are made using Donegal Tweed which a absolutely love.

I have used buttons to accent them rather than my usual iridescent beads as I think the buttons suit the soft colors better.

 Donegal Tweed Brooches £12

Also available in my Etsy shop

Also new are there large Textile Heart Pendants.

I have printed the design onto cotton or felt fabrics and used large metal hearts with coordinating hand coloured centres to make a focal point.

I also have yet another mug design arriving on Monday along with some more cards and notebooks.

So you should find me well stocked if you make it along to the Makers Market on the 5th and I hope to have even more to delight you if you visit me during Open Studios.

I'll show you the new mugs on Monday :)

Some More New Makes

I've been playing around with some new ideas to include metal charms into my felt jewellery pieces. I have coloured the charms myself and sealed them so that the colour doesn't wear off. None of these are for sale yet but I hope to have a range available in time for The Morningside Makers Market on Saturday 5th April in Edinburgh.

I was also inspired to try an oil on water effect after taking this photo of a puddle along the road one morning. As much as I hate to see this kind f pollution, the colours and patterns produced are quite fascinating.

These new 'Love Bird' pendants are available at

£20 each in my Etsy shop here 

I have reframed these two felt pictures in simple white box frames making them £65 each. The chunky wooden frames are beautiful but do put the price up a little. Also available unframed which saves on postage as well.

This little Sheep Pendant features lovely hand spun yarn from Perthshire.

I have also been including beads into some of my earring designs.

All £18 per pair

Ear wires are all 925 Sterling Silver

I'll be adding to my range of Textile and Resin pendants over the coming weeks as well.

As well as the Makers Market in Edinburgh in April, my next big event is Open Studios North Fife in May.

You can keep up to date with all this year's participants on our Facebook page here