Giving up the day job

I have recently had cause to think about what my work means to me, and when I found myself saying "It's not about the money", I had to really consider what I meant.

Actually, it is about the money, as this is my livelihood and the only way I can earn the money I need to pay my way. When I moved to Cornwall five years ago an unexpected change of circumstance meant that I found myself in a position of having to re-establish my financial independence. Within the space of a year I went from working at a well paid job teaching adult literacy, to planned non-employment with a partner, to being on my own again, but this time as carer to my dear mum.

I've always been a creative/maker and so thought I would try to start earning some money by selling my work at local craft fairs. After a few disastrous episodes including my display taking flight at an outdoor fair, fairs with no advertising and no visitors, and my table collapsing, I started to find my feet with fairs that combined Vintage and Craft.

Gaining confidence, I took my work into a couple of shops in town, and was delighted to be accepted by 'Two Little Birds' and 'Tyto' boutique. Although these two shops have now closed, I am indebted to them for believing in my work. I was also delighted to be invited to sell at Avellana Crafts in Mevagissey. I opened my shop on Etsy and really began to sell.I now also have shops with 'Two Red Trees', 'The Honesty Shop' and 'Not On The High Street'.

In August 2011 I joined Studio 47 in Redruth, which later moved to Heartlands Cornwall and became the Fourseven Collective. 

Now I recognise what my work really means to me, and it is about more than the money I make when my work sells. It's about the story behind every purchase: the set of three earrings I sent to Canada as opening night gifts for a musical production of 'The Secret Garden'; the 'Joy' pendant sent to the States for the baby shower of a Christian singer; the 'Bright Dream' locket that was a present for a music teacher.

It's also about being able to create my own business and support myself through my creativity, and to know "I did that". That's satisfying. I'm also having to learn a heck of a lot about selling, both in actual shops and on-line, and about being a professional. 

But most of all it's about being part of a community, especially with Fourseven Collective. To be part of a group of artists/makers here in Cornwall, and to run the shop at Heartlands with them is probably the best thing I've done since I moved here, as far as my work is concerned. We have been open just over a year now, and I'm looking forward to a fabulous summer. Rather than 'giving up the day job', I have created my own job, except it keeps me busy morning, noon and night, rather than just the day!

All Aboard The Honesty Shop

'Trusty'

The Honesty Shop is an on-line gift shop with a difference - combining a choice of gift with a choice of charity.

That's not the only difference: the London Honesty Shop is housed in a classic 50 year old double-decker bus operating from tourist locations in central London. 'Trusty' is the world's first unattended city shop, where payments are made in honesty envelopes into a custom-made letter box.

Honesty shops are typically seen at the farm or garden gate, where products are left for sale with an 'honesty' jar for customers to put their money in, usually for plants, flowers and vegetables. Trusty takes this to a new and intriguing level.

The bus helps showcase smaller items in the range but at the same time introduce more gifts that are available on-line at www.thehonestyshop.com.

The rural honesty shop was a common sight in Norfolk where I used to live, and often seen here in Cornwall, which may be why I was delighted to be asked if I would like to have a selling space with The Honesty Shop.

 

Music Note Earrings in Bronze

The poetry of the earth

'The poetry of earth is never dead ...' 

The words of John Keats' poem 'The grasshopper and the cricket' speak of summer and winter as parts of the same, wonderful cycle of the seasons, each with its own beauty and melody.

Hot summer's day or bitterly cold winter, nature's vitality is always present.

Spectacular skies above the sea ...

... tiny bird on the hedge ...

... small orange shell on a rock ...

... or the fragile beauty of the wood anemone.

Every month and season ... pure poetry.

Celebrate Imbolc: festival of spring, dreams and the waking of the earth

This is the festival that celebrates the beginning of spring, the first signs of life now beginning to emerge. After the weeks of rain and cold, it's a welcome reminder that the first snowdrops are flowering, the first lambs are being born, and the energy of the earth can truly be felt stirring.

bright dream locket

"The question isn't who is going to let me: it's who is going to stop me" Ayn Rand 

In other words, when you have a dream, let it be bright enough that nothing and no-one can stop you!

Earth Star Chakra pendant

This pendant contains a print of original artwork by Reiki teacher Theresa Field. 

The Earth Star code contains the energy and essence of the Earth Star chakra and can be used to connect you with earth energy.

Let's celebrate the spring, our dreams, and the awakening of the earth!

Living from the Heart

true heart pendant necklace

Living from the heart ~ think positive, be joyful, be open to possibilities, expect delights.

My intention this time last year was to find the joy in the everyday, and a never-ending source of joy for me is nature. 

A bird sang ~ Secret Garden pendant

My all-time favourite book, 'The Secret Garden' inspires many of my pieces.

Love Cornwall vintage map bunting

Living as I do by the coast in South West Cornwall, I give heartfelt thanks that I have the joy of walking by the sea every day, as well as working on my dream creative job.

Molly loves it here too!

heart chakra silver pendant

Another way in which I connect with nature and learn to live from the heart is through meditation. The teacher of my meditation group is also a talented artist, and she has created some unique artwork to express the chakras or energy centres of the body.

I'm inspired to live from the heart by everyone and everything around me.

2012 and all that

love life necklace at Fourseven Collective

Looking back at 2012 I have such a lot to be grateful for, the most memorable being the formation of the Fourseven Collective and the opening of our gallery and shop at Heartlands, Cornwall in April. Being part of this group means not just having a great space to sell our work, but also support and encouragement from all the other artists.

bright dream locket at Two Red Trees

Support and encouragement are high on the agenda for Anna whose online website Two Red Trees offers original creations from British designers. I was delighted to be invited to join the site early this year, and Anna's vision and hard work on our behalf has resulted in her dream being realised and successful.

'be' silver pendant on Etsy

My sales on Etsy have continued to improve this year; I am thrilled to have reached 129 sales. Best of all is when I receive feedback from happy customers:

"The earrings are gorgeous, definitely one of a kind and they arrived extremely quickly, and beautifully packaged."

"Gorgeous item....so different and funky. I'm wearing it every day! Thanks so much."

"Absolutely wonderful! The delivery was really fast and the seller was very helpful.Thank you very much for everything!! Keep making this wonderful stuff!!"

Elsewhere, I am lucky enough to have my work in the fabulous Tyto boutique in Falmouth, and Avellana Crafts in Mevagissey. 

Home Sweet Eco Home

Various lampshades made from reclaimed sheet music and vintage maps have been sold to places all over the world, including France, Germany, Greece, Canada, United States, Australia and New Delhi, India.

The lampshades have been featured in several publications this year, notably The Sunday Telegraph's eco-friendly features, Pretty Nostalgic magazine, My Cornwall magazine and Cornwall Today.

Most exciting was the request to supply a number of lampshades for Channel 4's series 'Kirstie's Vintage Home', where they were used to decorate Vintage HQ.

'my heart must dream' bracelet 

I have been privileged to be asked to create some very special custom-made jewellery this year, and I have been touched by the emotional connection that results.

One of proudest creations is the 'dream' bracelet that I designed and made to raise money for my sister's work with young mothers and babies in Vancouver, Canada.

'Spectrum Mothers Support Society' helps these vulnerable but courageous women and I am so happy to have sold 22 bracelets since October.

Throat Chakra pendant

Another new exciting venture has been the development of a series of pendants featuring original paintings by Theresa of Unity of Heart. The artwork is created through meditation and represents the energy centres or Chakras.

Finally, I am delighted to have been invited to join Not On The High Street amazing online site as a new seller: watch this space!

So much has happened this year, too much to include here, but I just want to say thank you to everyone who has been part of my journey so far. Happy New Year!

Fourseven Collective ... introducing our new members

Fourseven Collective at Heartlands, Cornwall

Fourseven Collective is very pleased to welcome three new members: 

Holly Jackson Morris of Kelynn Pottery, Heather Frary of DogLBark workshops and gallery , and artist Graham James.

Dip'n Nibble & Olive Bowl by Kelynn Pottery

Gorgeous fused glass bowl by DogLBark 

Abstract by Graham James

Watch this space for more about all our creatives, and don't forget when you come to the shop you will be meeting one of us in person as we share looking after the shop. 

We love to talk about all the work in the shop so please come and chat.