The busy end of 2023
It’s coming up to the busy end of 2023; so, looking back - What went well, what went not so well and what can I do better 🤔
What went well: The most recent autumn apple festival attendance was a huge hit, obvs I made apples and used apple wood ( upcycled from an apple tree felled at Jesus green Cambridge, as part of the renovation of the lock keepers cottage) for lots of makes so I did actually pitch myself well! The same for the new hall vineyard stall earlier in the summer. I used the wood from their grubbed out vines (which had finished their useful grape making lifespan) to make bottle stoppers, jewellery and everything in between. I am so grateful for the vineyards positive participation in our collaboration and the inspiration to make ‘everything/anything’ from vine wood!
In terms of successful makes. Yarn bowls have been a steady favourite again this year and I’ve enjoyed a further foray into colour. Acquiring some secondhand wood, paints, stains and tools have opened up many new avenues of technique exploration; from simple coloured bottle stoppers ( ash bobble bottle stoppers) to multicolour bowls ( colourful oak dish) and more lately, the Christmas robin.
Whats not gone so well: Stocking my makes at outlets. I’m finished with ‘having a shelf’ as they just don't seem to work for me. The recent cake shop shelf was alongside some fabulous cakes so maybe just as well I’m no longer stocking my makes there as it was not good for the waistline to be visiting too often! My first foray into stocking my makes at ‘a gallery’ was off to a steady start but issues with the premises outside everyone’s control made that a short lived adventure.
So, what can I do better. I guess continually striving to improve techniques and productivity whilst still enjoying the art of wood turning and matching my makes with their forever person - and maybe the moon on a stick!
This Christmas I’m doing less shows but hopefully I’ve chosen discerning locations - time will tell. I’m very excited to be in a beautiful gallery at parndon mill, Harlow. I feel very honoured just to be there tbh, in the company of many fabulous makers. Hopefully my makes will also sell well 🤞 . The second week of December I can start concentrating on making for my own present giving, this will be after my yearly attendance at the New House Farm event near my daughter’s. There is a lovely community of makers and it’s a wonderful charity event to be part of.
