If you have any questions post here! Whether it's about your shop, technical stuff, techniques on crafting or anything else please feel free to ask away!
Hey Laura, I've not done any stalls yet but I'm slowly building up my inventory so I can hopefully go to one! Sounds like a lot of fun though and I would like to try out a fair next year or something!
With regards to listing your items as ready to wear jewellery - In my opinion I think it would be a good idea since jewellery in general is quite popular so I reckon it would bring in more traffic to your shop! Also you would reach people who aren't necessarily looking for pottery too. Hope this helps!
Really easy and its a nice fresah looking site very similar to Etsy. You have to either pay $9.90 per moneth (unlimited item uploads) or buy credit (min $10) and pay 10cents per listing from your credite. No % taken for sales. Seems really good, although no sales yet for me!
Jill, re pendants made from clay, I make pendants and brooches from earthstone original it fires off white and hardly ever warps, I do dry between wooden boards. I am just trying some porcelain so will give that valenties one a try.
I was wondering if any of you create your clay works full time? If so do you sell elsewhere? Do you manage to earn enough to pay the bills? Also did you start out being self employed straight away or did you previously have a full time job and then quit it?
If you only do this part time how you juggle it with your full time job (if you have one)? Do you want to be able to earn enough to be able to do this full time? Or are you happy selling your works on the sidelines?
I'd really like to hear your experiences, thoughts and opinions.
I'm retired now though I had left work several years before that due to health problems. When I was working I found it hard to make things as I had such low energy, so only really got into making to sell after I left work. I don't manage to sell much but I'm not dependent on it as I have my pension so at the moment my sales income just covers some of my costs!
Averilpam: Thank you for sharing! I hope your health problems aren't too severe and that you're take good care of yourself! Do you prefer selling works now you have more time for it or do you miss your old job?
I have been full time self employed as a graphic designer for yonks. And also self employed as a clay maker for a year. Sadly clay sales will not pay my bills (but is helping) and I'm juggling the two jobs which is almost impossible because of all the effort involved in getting design work or getting a sale, promotion, etc. So the marketing is all twice as much.
I have been doing craft fairs and at the moment am involved in an open studios event. Both are really good because if you can get feedback from people (forget what your own preferences are) it's invaluable. And encouraging! And it keeps you going! I considered myself to be shy but now i can chat away about my work which engages people and then they will offer suggestions.
Because of the recession, people don't want more stuff. Also there are so many gorgeous things out there to buy, competition is fierce. But when I look at what IS selling – I think it's crap! Please, somebody prove me wrong!!
I'm still feeling optimistic though! Being creative is a rewarding thing in itself. It keeps me sane even if I am poor.
Do you manage to get a consistent flow of jobs being a free lancing Graphic Designer and have you noticed a change due to the recession? It's good that you manage to do ceramics on the side too! Do you have much time for yourself between the jobs?
Good morning. I have a technical question? I'd love some help.
I have just bought from one of the etsy stores a set of letter stamps. The stamps are rubber and seem fine. But I can't seem to get a good print from them. If I press hard I get the surrounding square, if I press a little more carefully the clay doesn't reflect the detail, ie between the M strokes. Should I have bought metal ones? Does anyone know a good supplier in the UK?
I think rubber stamps are more for card embossing? I think I read that somewhere during a bout of embossing power and clay curiosity moment.
Metal stamps would probably be your best bet. As for UK supplies, there is always Ebay, or the money vampire that is Cooksongold do metal stamps and they may work, they are recommended for metal clay, I would post you a link but every time I visit their site I spend too much lol
Both my kilns have died on me, one is away getting new elements, we think the other one needs new elements too but the Nabertherm man won't come out to Cumbria, so does anyone in the UK know of a repair man, or how easy it is to fit new elements. I have had a quote but it's ridiculously high Thanks
I got my kiln from Nothern Kilns based near Garstang. They were really helpful and delivered the kiln they had made for me, put it in situ, and wired it in. I am sure they do services on kilns and change elements too. Good luck.
Hello Dozy. What a fab web site - cooksongold. Thank you for directing me to it. Just for your information I have also found that by changing to a more plastic clay for this project worked fine with the rubber stamps. All the best.
