Ireland #2

More Irishness. I've been back for less than two weeks and I already want to go back.

Happy Long Weekend everyone,

Vick.
www.vclinde.co.uk

Etsy Brief

A slight update to my earlier blog - I've now changed over to completely art on the Etsy site.

I am hoping to put some of my larger art pieces up but am working on ways of bringing shipping costs down at the moment. When in the UK it can get pretty expensive posting around the world so I'm trying to figure that out before I put everything up.

With my 5x7 inch collages I have changed my listings so that they are now all sold without frames and the frames can be added as an extra. This means that people who would want the collage but not the frame can get it for less money and with much lower shipping costs.

Over the past week I've been working on some new ideas, mainly based around architecture and some mathematical ideas that intrigue me. I've also made lots of new greetings cards and am looking for new places to market them.

So lots going on, one of the nicest things about being self-employed is that you can ignore bank holidays if you like and pretend that things are all normal! This is the new-look shop and any feedback would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.

Vick.
www.vclinde.co.uk

Ireland #1

I took rather a lot of pictures while I was away, this is nothing unusual. Very sadly my little camera has developed a rather serious problem while we were away. I've had him since I was sixteen and I'm not giving up on him but he definitely needs checking out. We were staying in County Galway but very close to the Co. Mayo border and did travel to Co. Clare and Co. Kildare as well do there's a bit of a mix.

Vick.
www.vclinde.co.uk

Today

There's been a hiatus on here while I trotted merrily around the West coast of Ireland, specifically Counties Galway and Mayo. I had a wonderful time and soon there will be pictures.



Whilst away I put my Etsy store in Vacation Mode so that I wasn't inundated with buyers whilst away where I couldn't do anything about it (a girl can dream, right?). I also put the art in 'vacation mode' in my head, I did very little of anything to do with collages; I didn't troll for materials, or come up with new designs or colour combinations, I did take note when I saw some great displays so I've got new ideas on how to present my work but that's about it.

A while a go now I did a whole series of branding posts here and since that point it has become very obvious to me that I want to keep making art and put my jewellery on the back-burner. I am not giving up I am starting over.

 

I may take another silver-smithing course in September but for the next few months I am going to focus on the art side of things. I'm looking for some craft fairs to go to and I might take the jewellery there because I think it would sell better but that's only a 'might' because I would like to give my art a go on markets as well.



My point, eventually, is that even several months later the branding process is still helping me. It has changed how I've been thinking about the business for the better. I tried a whole new approach to my collages yesterday. It was truly horrendous, I did better in primary school (still the smell of poster paint reminds me of the art cupboard at my primary school and occasionally being allowed in to help teachers carry sugar paper back for the display boards) and I was terrible at art in primary school, sadly my parents still have the efforts should I ever need to prove this to you.



The reason that this became so obvious is that my shop is now all art, no jewellery. My final jewellery pieces have gone from Etsy and so I'm focusing the re-branding on my shop announcement.

Apologies for the very heavy-handed business blog today. Normal business will resume soon with pictures, probably more cakes and mountains.

Vick.
www.vclinde.co.uk
http://www.etsy.com/shop/vclinde

Cake Hyperbole

For the last two weeks I've been in Ireland staying in County Galway. It wasn't until almost the end of the holiday that I went into Galway itself - the point was to get away into the countryside rather than being in a city. The main thing that I wanted to do, other than see Galway was to go to Charlie Byrne's bookshop. I found three J.M. Barrie plays almost the minute that I arrived in their bargain section and then spent another hour wandering around the shop. I also found a lovely copy of Flesh and Blood by Michael Cunningham (one of my favourites) with no price in, upon checking it was way out of my price range very sadly. Still looking for a nice copy of it. It was gone midday when I finally left and I asked the staff working whether they could recommend anywhere nearby to eat. I got directed to Sweetie Pies. I still wish I had managed to find Flesh and Blood but the recommendation made up for the loss.



On walking into Sweetie Pies you are greeted with a massive array of cakes, cupcakes, muffins, bites, pies and pure joy. It's beautifully decorated and the staff - oh my, the staff are just so wonderful.



They do a great all day breakfast selection along with a very wide range of lunch and dinner options. Needless to say I followed by bacon, chicken and avocado ciabatta sandwich up with a cake.



Red velvet cake, which is one of my all time favourites. And it had edible glitter on the top. Heaven. And Doris Day was playing...this may have had more of an appeal to me than most but it just made my day even more complete.


I took a toffee muffin and a coffee & walnut cupcake home with me as well as the remnants of my red velvet cake (it was huge). I still can't decide which was my favourite but I think the muffin might just win.



If you are ever in Galway I would really recommend going there. Heck if you're in Ireland you should try it. No, wait, just book a plane ticket and make a holiday of it. Right now.



I've found my perfect cake shop. What to do with the rest of my life now?






Vick.
www.vclinde.co.uk 


Sweetie Pies is on Middle Street, Galway (was too excited to note the number) you can call them on 0872566887 or email at galwaysweetiepies@gmail.com. 

France-ness

One of my friends has a house in France which she is renovating and transforming. It's pretty amazing as it is but the plans that she has for it are truly awesome.
I spent a few days there last week messing about with sweeping brushes and great food.
Here be pictures.

Isn't it lovely? Heading home was difficult, partly because I didn't want to leave. Also partly because we left at 4am on the day the clocks changed, between that and the time difference across the channel I had zero idea what time it was for the entire day!

Vick.
www.vclinde.co.uk