I might be losing my Marbles!

Over the past few weeks I have been busy up in my little crafty attic beavering away quite contentedly making sure I had plenty of handmade stock ready for our very first Rothbury Makers Market.
Those of you who are crafters probably know that you tend to drift into your own little world of pleasure while busy crafting, so you do get a bit oblivious to time.
Anyway, the other day I must have put in about six hours work making some of my marble necklaces, only to have completed the grand total of four!

Time for a time and motion study me thinks! How can they take so long as I had already previously wire wrapped the marbles, and each necklace has no more than 21 beads on it! There was definitely no napping up the attic!

Time and Motion Report

I have quite a few jars and tins of random beads, they are full of all sizes, colours shapes etc so I have to randomly select a random jar. I then co-ordinate the colours to compliment the wrapped marble, seems easy enough still no clue as to the disappearing minutes/hours.

 This next bit may just have something to do with it though, each bead has to audition for their role, they have to be the perfect size and colour if they don't fit the bill at this stage they are rejected back to the jar.

 the auditioning goes on until there is a plentiful selection of  beads to make the short list and the next vital task they have to perform. The wax cotton cord test!

 I like to string the beads on coloured wax cotton so they can be tied for wearing at desired length, this really sorts the beads into winners and losers as many lovely beads just can't take the cord.
 So eventually I end up with a finished article with a team of beads that work in harmony with the wrapped marble.

So bead rejection is the biggest consumption of my time but I wouldn't want to churn out  things that didn't look right just for the sake of an hour or two!
Now, if I were to pay myself an hourly rate of minimum wage plus the cost of materials used I would maybe have to put on a price ticket of somewhere in the region of £18, being a sensible lass though and realising that craft work, however lovely, has a price in which it will sell, so if you know anyone who needs to keep hold of a marble I am selling these for the sensible price of  £6.50. I will hopefully list them on my Facebook page over the next couple of days.

Books have been read, so what I am I waiting for!!!!!

So, I am enjoying working in my new attic workshop, especially when there is a bright sunny day as the light through the velux windows makes for good working light, especially for my less than perfect eyesight.

Part of the plan after giving up my shop was to develop my on-line presence so that I can earn a crust from doing what I enjoy. I have read a few good books that take you through the process of selling arts and crafts on-line,

• how to best name your shop, 
• all about search engine optimisation, 
• how to write descriptions that will help sell,
• lots about the importance of excellent photography.

Okay, books have been read, well some chapters skimmed over if I am being honest. I now have a folksy shop for my sea glass jewellery. SeaglassJewelleryShop I have only managed to get a few things listed on it as the whole process of following the books advice actually takes forever, especially the photographing part. seemingly good photography is key!!!! I completely understand that.

 So you need to set the scene to make your product appealing, take close ups, zoom in, use a light box, possibly a tripod, take back or side angles, make sure it is well lit and in focus. After all your products have been the focus of your camera, then comes the download to the photo editing suite..... crop, rotate, re size enhance....... you get the picture!!!! this all takes an enormous amount of time, sometimes more than the actual creating part.

Next stage is writing tempting an honest descriptions, ie, materials used in manufacture, dimensions not forgetting to use those key words that will help in the Search Engine optimisation!
Determining the price of said item is also a very important task as is all the post and packaging information.

I am sure by now you are getting the drift of the enormity of time required to list even a few products. I have also been preparing a shop front for my facebook page, which seemed a wee bit quicker to do, There are a few things listed on it, all I have to do is press the "publish" button........ so

What am I waiting for??? Is it a lack of confidence, do I some how feel like I am being disloyal, I am not sure but probably both of these. Having had the bricks and mortar shop, there is something wonderful about a customer coming in, being visually attracted to something you have created, picking it up, feeling it, examining it, checking the price and then choosing to buy it, the item has appealed to more than one sense.
You also get the personal contact, the chance to make the whole buying experience an enjoyable one, hopefully a memorable one too that will ensure repeat custom.

 I am not sure that any photograph on a website and a click of the button to buy gives the same sort of "retail therapy". I know that lots of people have websites and they enjoy running an online business and I do use the internet as a shopping source too. But, I somehow have this little niggling guilt thing in my head though, it is maybe what is stopping  me hit that "publish my shop" button, guilt that online shopping is contributing to the demise of the High Street. After all it is the unusual, quirky, different independent little shops that give character to pretty little villages like  Rothbury and indeed larger towns like Morpeth.

While I ponder and try and pluck up the courage to press that "Publish" button I am concentrating my efforts in coming up with a variety of new designs  for " ROTHBURY MAKERS MARKET"  . 

This new venture organised by my good friend Juline with a wee bit help from me will be running on the second Saturday of each month from April to December at the Parish Hall In Rothbury. We have a wonderful array of handmade art, craft and design from some of Northumberland's talented makers

Rothbury Makers Market

Hot off production line!

I have been a busy little bee up in my new attic workshop. With a head full of new ideas and designs, there is no stopping me!!!
 It is funny how sometimes the picture in your head of a design,  doesn't quite translate into the finished product........ so some new stuff work and some need a bit of tweeking yet!

I am still fiddling around with beads and wire, I am quite pleased with how this pendant turned out, may favourite colour of course!

I have found a new use for my fingers in the evening, it is definitely a good exercise to practise to minimise the wine glass to mouth motion, it is finger knitting. With yarn or ribbon wrapped around your fingers it is not easy to lift a glass! The result of this finger knitting palaver  is a range of skinny scarves or long wrap around necklaces, i see them as being a colourful spring/summer accessory.

A guided tour of my new workshop

It May be bijoux but the overheads for my new project are not to be sneezed at!

As previously promised, here is an insight into my new working environment. It is split in to two areas one for wire work, beading and seaglass work or any thing that involves glue or paint. The other room is my sewing area, my design place and anything else that has to be neat and pristine, like greeting cards.

Tools all ready to be put to work

100s of boxes of beads etc

Bright light sewing room

Cover has not come off sewing machine yet!

Recognise Shelves?

Plenty of books for inspiration

Comfort zone!

When I just want to ponder awhile or relax or need to find some inspiration, there is not a better chair than this one!

Beginning and Ending!

February 2008 Was the beginning of my adventure of Coccuveda. It all started very quickly, almost on impulse, I saw the vacant shop and grabbed the opportunity with excitement and enough enthusiasm to sail through anything.

Coccuveda at the Beginning

This small but perfectly formed little shop provided me with 6 fabulous years of training, education, social working and great pleasure. I have, over the years got to know some wonderful people, many became regular customers and many were the very talented local crafts people whose work I had the honour of selling.

December 2013, after a few months of pondering, seemed like it was time to let my baby go. The timing was right, as I was still very much enjoying my "Coccuveda World" but I never ever wanted it to ever become a burden to us, and, or less the economy had a miraculous change, the landslipped B6344 was fixed and re-opened, I couldn't visualise not having a struggle on my hands.

 So leaving before positive changed to negative seemed like the best thing to do.

So my beautiful shop was pulled apart and emptied, the keys handed back to the landlord. Best wishes go to whoever wants to take this little shop on and hope they are as happy with it as I was.

Coccuveda empty at the end!

Now, I am not one to wallow about what has been and gone or let the grass grow under my feet, so, coming soon I will post about my new studio/workshop which will be the start of my new adventure.

Second Fiddle!

Now the advent calendars are being opened and festivities are becoming ever so much closer,time is running away faster than ever.
I may have been quiet on social media recently, but honestly, I have been working my socks off! I have a head full of new designs for after new year that I have been working on, I have had Christmas pressies to make, and lots of lovely bits and pieces to make to sell in Coccuveda. There is only so many hours in the day, so to keep on top of things and hold on to my marbles this girl has been prioritising!!!!
 So Twitter/Facebook and Blogger you maybe feeling a wee bit neglected as of late, a bit like you are second fiddle, well the truth is you are! Technology has slipped way down my priority list for the time being, I daresay I will dip in and out of T F and B as and when I feel the need,  I daresay after all the festivities are over and January is upon us normal tweeting facebooking and blogging will be resumed!

"May your Days Be Merry and Bright!"

"May your days be merry and bright!" just like Coccuveda's Christmas window.

Today the lights went up as I brought some festive excitement to the shop front, Christmas trees are the theme this year.
 Now some folks might look and think the window is maybe a bit busy, possibly a bit OTT, but surely it is acceptable to go over the top at Christmas! I am definitely not the understated sophisticated type, I like cheery bright and exciting so hopefully this is reflected in Coccuveda.
I reckon Coccuveda Rothbury is the place for thoughtful unique locally made Christmas gifts, with a warm welcome and a lovely relaxed atmosphere.