Will you be continuing as you are? Will you be trying out new creative processes?
Are you expanding, getting a new studio/ workplace, doing more/ less fairs?
Tell me all about it!
I am hoping to get some much larger stoneware pieces made and try out lots more glaze recipes. I would like to continue with the linocut work and maybe try a bit more slipcasting.
I need to make more Christmas stock each week throughout the year, so I may set aside 2-3 days per week for that.
I would like to have enough stock - to say yes to more outlets without feeling under so much pressure to fulfill big orders.
I am hoping to get a new wheel - so I can see more throwing on the horizon.
I would also like to master promotion on at least one more social media platform.
I am hoping that I adjust quickly to having a baby around from April onwards! Making will no doubt move at a different pace but I already have some ideas for next year’s Christmas haha! Hubby works from home too so luckily it won’t all be down to me and he is supportive of what I do.
I hope to keep expanding my pattern skills, there are a couple of techniques for patterns that I haven’t quite got the hang of yet and my pieces are still a bit hit and miss!
I won’t be booking any fairs until later in the year (if I am able) but I’d like to keep that up as it is good to keep your face out there.
I have one gallery that took on some stuff this year so if that relationship expands and future ones come on board then I won’t be complaining!
Next year is a total unknown for me (first sprog and all) so I will take it as it comes!
I’m hoping to make much more of my micro wholesale business. I’m happy making a small margin on cards as long as I am getting larger volumes made. Also, I want to expand my personal expertise on art techniques and concentrate on fewer pictures but make them much more technically complex.
I’d like to develop a larger audience for my stories about Mulberry Green - the home to all of my little creations. Lots of people already follow the adventures of my rag dolls and little mice and I’d like to develop this further next year. I’m also aiming at selling 1000 items by the end of the year. I started making rag dolls as a hobby and just sold a few. Since I started doing it full time, my sales have really improved. I sold 500 in the first 7 years and I’m hoping to double that this year. I’m not sure if I’ll get there - I’m only up to 935 so far with only 4 weeks to go but I’m going to do my best.
Not too sure what 2018 will hold for me in general - looks like I might be moving again but no idea where to and I suspect I will have to try and find some paid employment to fund the move so looks like my felting may have to take a back seat again.
If I do have the time and freedom to develop things I would like to find new products to make, I have a few ideas but not sure which ones I would go for. I would also like to start classes but not !00% sure I have the confidence for that at the moment.
Not sure that I will continue with the craft fairs. I do enjoy doing them but I think I have a very niche market and unless the fair is just right I spend a lot of time twiddling my thumbs waiting for the right customer to come along. I may try and find a few more craft outlets to sell my work in - I seem to do better there.
Meanwhile I hope to continue on Folksy - I love it too much here to leave just yet!
I’m aiming to get into some of the bigger, more prestigious christmas markets round here next year (you know the ones where you have to apply by March so that they can check you out properly), I keep applying and they keep saying no but one year it will be my year. Other than that I have fresh fordite to play with arriving at christmas and I’m going to have to retire a couple of popular lines as I can’t get the beads any more so I’ll need to think up a replacement range.
I’m currently working part time as well as running all aspects of my little business and it’s really hard work juggling the two.
2017 has been the best year for me so far sales wise and it’s giving me the confidence to look to the future with hopes of maybe expanding everything abit.
I would love to get to grips with some better packaging ideas and also have a more structured routine to give me better focus when creating my jewellery.
I’m always a little nervous to spend money on new bits & bobs for the business. I need to go abit more easy on myself and allow a little splurge without guilt every now and then. I think it must be a psychological thing.
To have a nice, steady flow of sales each month would be fantastic.
Wishing you all the best for 2018 (it’s not far away now )
I love Folksy and am here for the duration, but I do find I sell considerable more at a market where people can see my items in the flesh.
So I have applied to have a table in our local Artisan Craft market held every Friday.
Think I need to look at my photos.
Think I need to look at my social media.
Know I need to design something new.
Would like to learn how to crochet better.
But in the meantime, I will knit, knit, and knit some more.
Suzzie x
Your things are lovely Suzzie. If you want a perfect white background to your photos, I would recommend an app called Snapseed - I’m so glad I found it - it’s amazing!
I would like to wish you luck .
I would hope next year to run more craft fairs in which I did three early on and enjoyed them so much , the thing is I have to book the hall because it is always
So busy, also I have a few more stall holders want to come on board .
I also love all the people that have a table , we have become a friendly lot and they help me with the cakes and teas .
I would love to get a bigger workshop to be able to produce more. That would help to be able to bring my work to more outlets and I always wanted to do a big Christmas market, like the Manchester or Glasgow one. So far, space never allowed me to grow and expand and it is a bit of a catch22 for me in that way. I have been researching options but all the commercial spaces are way beyond what I can afford. So, i still keep hoping and will surely get there in the end but it is a bumpy road.
Thank you for the inspiration to let me write this. I guess I am not alone…
Hi Martine, have you thought of expanding on the stories and getting some storybooks printed? I love your little mice and stories, little books would be lovely.
I have got some of my stories printed Jan and I sell them in my shop but, for some reason, they don’t sell very well and it costs quite a lot to get them printed so I decided to share them on Facebook and Instagram instead. People seem to love reading them online but they’re not interested in buying a printed copy, even though they are only £2.50. I still have a few left in my shop, but when they are gone, I’m just going to share them online. I’m glad you like them and thank you for your interest. xx
Every year we say we’ll make more Christmas stuff early on. This year we started doing that but we didn’t follow it through. Next year we will make sure we do just that and stick to it.
We’re hoping to build upon our online selling which has started off quite well but we would like to do better.
We want to find the time to make new glazes and experiment with reactive underslips .
And finally… we’ve rediscovered the enjoyment of both of us going to a craft event and trading together ( rather than one at home working whilst the other does the fair ) We both want to do more of that in the coming year
Dave and Dos
Sounds like everyone has got some really achievable goals for 2018.
Think I’m actually going to make a list and pin it up in the studio as I know how I get bogged down with other things and then bypass what I really wanted to do!
I really need a bigger working space! My little spare bedroom is not really big enough for all the stuff I have to fit in there. I seem to waste a lot of time moving things to get to other things, even when I’m tidy. Maybe Santa will bring me a lovely big summerhouse . . .
I’m trying to decide which way to take my Folksy shop. I sometimes wonder if there is too much variety of makes and that it looks a bit muddled. I would like to concentrate more on bags and also introduce small quilts, which I love making and always intended to put in to Folksy, but haven’t found the time (I also work part time). I have tons of knitting yarn and want to make more use of my knitting machines too and I am wondering whether to set up a separate shop for some of these lines…decisions, decisions…
I will be looking to convert the largest shed in the garden to a dedicated workshop so i finally have the space to make my items and not clog up the kitchen in the house : ) and have my artwork hanging up all over th house 7ntil it sells lol
Will be a full conversion and include a dedicated space for my wife to create her items with her sewing machine as she makes some great items and can start looking to sell them.
Will look to make more items on a weekly basis and then start attending the local craft markets and events again. I used to do them a few years back and we would occassionally take our children to the events where we would stay overnight camping…they were great times and meeting like minded crafters was great, so looking forward to it again as soon as I get a van sorted.
Important to find a happy medium between juggling family life and what I would like to achieve with my shop because it can become overwhelming at times.
Ooh, I’ve just thought of something else that I would like to do - I would like to be more organized with my paperwork and keep the books up to date weekly.
I’m hoping that I get the hang of Folksy in 2018… I signed up in October and it’s early doors but I just can’t make any sales here. The dark side has been the busiest christmas so far. Ive not stopped since September…And I know this hasn’t given me much time to grow here. I love this Uk craft site and am so pleased to have found it and been part of it but i’d be lying if I didnt say I wasnt disappointed by a lack of interest/sales…I think I just need to give it more time and energy to find out that my stuff is good enough to hold its own here…
