Melbourne Festival 2015

The annual event that is the Melbourne Festival is a sight to behold! The village of Melbourne, Derbyshire is kidnapped by artists and makers who fill every available space. Home owners are held to ransom and give up their conservatories, and dining rooms as exhibition space. Shop windows and shops are filled with art and gardens are turned into sculpture venues. By magic the sun is made to shine and for forty eight hours visitors come from far and wide to buy beautiful jewellery, ceramics and art.  

What happened?!

Melbourne Festival 2012

I have no idea what happened to September!!  There we were enjoying the summer holidays and suddenly we're knocking on October's door and collecting fallen leaves on the way to school.  It's been a veritable whirlwind of highs and lows. Wirksworth Festival was great; great art, great people, great sales.  I felt in touch with myself and loved talking to people and living my creative life.  Then there was the reality check. The following weekend I had the Melbourne Festival but with a busy week in between, and a poorly child to contend with, I hit the buffers half way through the weekend and ended up in bed ill.  My hero?  David.  He stood in for me with a smile and promoted me really well and made some good sales!

My plan was to use these events as a chance to assess what was working for me and where I want to go.  As part of that plan, I attended a one day 'Creative Business Away Day' at The Refectory Table.  It was really worthwhile.  It has thrown lots up in the air and I am still waiting for the pieces to fall back in to place but ideas that I had had rumbling in the back of my head came to the fore and I was given some valuable methods for assessing and reassessing my business.  The upshot is I don't want to do anymore than I am doing but I want to take time to focus on each area of my business and achieve my potential.  So this week I've been curling up with 'Make Your Creativity Pay' and a big notebook.  I'm also trying to be smart enough to use my smart phone for all my social media but I'm not sure I've got what it takes!

So, the studio build goes on and I'm clearing out my current studio and finding homes for unwanted things.  I feel that I'm bubbling with ideas across all areas of my life.  My youngest started school this month and I'm relishing the extra time but my to-do list is long.  It's three years since I started my business and it feels like the right time to take stock and make a plan of where I am going.  I'll let you know when I've had my epiphany.

I did it!

Wow!  What a weekend! The festival art trail saw nearly two thousand visitors on Saturday and nigh on the same on Sunday. The weather was kind and the people kinder still!  My hosts, the Kerr family, kept Josephine and I topped up with coffee and good wishes. Thank you to them for letting me take over their lovely cottage for the weekend. Thanks too to everyone who booked a place on my course for Saturday 8th October. There is now only one place left, so let me know if you're interested. If you miss out this time I can add you to my mailing list for future workshops.

New work for Melbourne Festival

Yesterday I decamped to Melbourne, Derbyshire for the weekend. I spent the day setting up my exhibition, a luxury in contrast to the normal scramble to getting things ready for a one day event.  This morning I've woken to relentless rain but live in hope of it brightening up for the start of the art trail in three hours time.  It's been a busy week packaging my new card range, getting tiles fired and packed, finishing work, framing, wrapping prints, labelling and pricing.  I'm relieved that it's all done and looking forward to sharing it all with the visitors to Melbourne Festival.  The festival receives no public funding and it's future is under threat so please come along and join in the trail.

Here are my new pieces that are on show at Melbourne for the first time:

Hamlet £160

Red Harvest £160

The moon rose over an open field £275

Journey £275

Three Trees £250

To the Rookery £375

Valley Deep £495  SOLD

I'm also launching my new range of limited edition giclee prints this weekend.  The following pieces are available in editions of fifty.  Valley deep is available in two sizes:

To the Rookery 23cm x 76cm  £105

Valley Deep 39 x 49 cm £105  29 x 39 £70

Daybreak 17cm x 43 cm  £50

Sunshine 23cm x 76 cm £105

Looking forward to seeing you over the weekend.  Please bring some sunshine.  Doors close Sunday evening at 5pm. 

Josephine O'Leary

I found out today that I'll be sharing my venue at the Melbourne Festival this weekend with jeweller Josephine O'Leary.  Looking forward to meeting her and having a good event.

ps....have I mentioned yet that I'll be at the Melbourne Festival?!!!

Busy, busy!

It's a really busy week ahead of the Melbourne Festival at the weekend.  Yesterday I had an inspiring day on the 'Marketing for Makers' course run by gallery owner Rachael Chambers at the Ferrers Gallery.  It's given me a huge dose of confidence in finding new markets for my work.  Hot on the heels of that, I've just spent the morning with Lyndsey from Lyndsey James Photography who came to do a photo shoot in my home and studio.  It was great fun styling different areas for interior shots.  I'll let you know when they're uploaded to my website.

Health and sanity

Health and sanity are returning after the endurance test that was the Summer Holidays!  Routine and a touch of normality has been restored in the Hallows household and we now have peaceful mornings as little chap has started pre-school.  I'm working my way through lists and more lists as I prepare for the Melbourne Festival on 17th/18th September.  And do you know what?  I might just be winning.

Today I sent off a stack of my new cards to the National Centre for Craft and Design, ready for their relaunch on October 1st.  I'll be there on relaunch day demonstrating my work so please come along.

On 1st October 2011, The Hub in Sleaford, Lincolnshire will open its doors as The National Centre for Craft & Design. The Hub was established as a centre for craft, design and making in 2003.  Over the past eight years, The Hub has developed a strong reputation within the national museum and gallery sector as a unique and ambitious gallery that exhibits the most innovative, challenging and accomplished artists practicing within the craft and design arena today.

With three exciting exhibition spaces, including the largest main gallery space in England, a roof top gallery and a vibrant window space it has certainly earned its new title: The National Centre for Craft & Design.

Tailored around each exhibition there’s something for everyone to learn and enjoy through a lively public programme of talks, workshops, conferences, clubs, groups, activities, lectures, seminars, screenings, short-courses, and demonstration days.

The tempting retail space now sells an inspirational collection of contemporary craft and design products to suit all pockets and the delectable café is a popular haven for local families and business people seeking a creative respite.

The National Centre for Craft & Design really is ‘home’ to the very best designer/makers in craft practice today.

Help celebrate as they unveil exciting new developments at The National Centre for Craft & Design this October! Experience the brand new graphic identity, and indulge in the stunning new Retail offer.  Visitors are also invited to step into the new Learning Zone and ExChange Space for the very first time.

Enjoy exhibitions, craft demonstrations, free family fun workshops all taking place from 2 - 4pm, as well as delicious Lincolnshire treats from the riverside café.

I also set up a showcase of my work this week at the Atkins Building in Hinckley.  There too you can enjoy the cafe, gallery space and artists showcases.

Announcements

I'm excited to announce that I've been accepted to exhibit at the new Sock Gallery in Loughborough.  I'll be sharing the large, contemporary exhibition space with Helen Rhodes and Sue Vanderplank.  We've been given the coveted Christmas slot, from November 28th 2011.  I can't wait!

I've also been accepted for the Melbourne Festival Arts Trail on the 17th/18th September. It'll be my first time there. I'm really looking forward to meeting my hosts and seeing my venue in this beautiful town.