Monday 25 November 2013

Creative Dave absorption time

Just a quick post to let you know that this Rebejoo blog is being absorbed into my broader art and craft page, especially as they've started to overlap in terms of styles and inspiration. This blog will remain as a static resource, and you can still find my jewellery for sale in the Rebejoo facebook shop. Enjoy!

Wednesday 21 August 2013

Rebejoo is popping up all over

I've wanted to try running a pop-up shop for a while now - that is, a temporary shop in otherwise empty premises, or spare space in existing premises - so was dead chuffed when the opportunity arose to use part of the Art House cafe/gallery in Southampton last weekend. The venue has handy window-bays - small spaces, but enough to display my jewellery in a more shop-like setting than a stall at a fair.

Rebejoo pop-up shop - open for business!
I was there Friday evening and Sat/Sun afternoons which gave an interesting insight into the effort involved in running even a small temporary shop, and produced some thoughts about what worked more or less well - especially as this was a trial run for both me and the venue. Overall, it was worth doing, both financially (sales, yay - plus a couple of commissions) and as a developing crafter. It showed that the evenings might not be so good as afternoons and lunchtimes with people becoming more interested in entertainment and less in shopping. It's hard to draw firm conclusions from one attempt but that was the feel this time.

Wares on display
Also, profile-raising is key - having not tried running a shop before, I have no shop window display and hence it was difficult for passers-by to see I was there. This will be amended during future attempts, even if it involves a sandwich board and fliers! Also, the venue attracts many arts-and-crafts people, so not everyone realised I was selling (!) until I went round the cafe with fliers. That I didn't expect, but it's all good experience and once potential customers found their way to my shop, a fair percentage bought something - more yay.

So, will I do it again? Yes, definitely. Will I change how I do it? Again, definitely - fewer but more targeted hours, better advertising/profile-raising, but otherwise much the same approach.

The sombrero of shiny bargains - please feel free to rummage and haggle...

Friday 19 July 2013

All the fun (and work) of the craft fair

I like craft fairs. I enjoy chatting with people about the things I make, and with other stallholders, plus of course I like selling my jewellery. That doesn't mean it's easy (best not try to calculate an hourly rate...), what with the various bits of admin, set-up, clear-up, transport and so on that are all part of it. When it's hot (really hot), it's even harder - as it was at the most recent event organised by Queenie's Craft Emporium and Hog 'n' Hops last weekend.

The Rebejoo stall just about ready to go.
 When the temptation to go to the pub, beach, pool, river etc is strong, fewer people come through the door (thanks to those who did!), and less buying happens - lots of very warm brains liking but not deciding/buying (to be honest, I'd probably be the same) and I was just glad I was indoors rather than having a stall in the field next door (owch, roasting). Still, it was a good test of my still-developing selling skills, and, to be fair, it went OK - definitely worthwhile, and I'll be back for more (even better when there's evening entertainment too - keeps the buzz going!) Plus, people who are interested-but-undecided still take away business cards and there have been a few new 'likers' on the facebook shop with a couple of pieces put to one side - and, selling a few things tends to spur me into making more, which is exactly what has happened this week. So, thanks to Queenie and her helpers - another fine event!

Tuesday 21 May 2013

More gallery goodness

The latest batch of Rebejoo shinies, all recycled/handmade, are back from being displayed at the Hansard gallery in Southampton, but just down the road there's another option to see them as they are now in the splendid Art House just up the road.

Some Rebejoo items for sale in the Art House
I have to say a big thanks to Ruth for (a) agreeing to stock my pieces and (b) making the selection process an enjoyable one, and to Nina for organising the marvellous display. As Rebejoo is still quite a new enterprise, I'm still learning about things such as how to present and package my jewellery, so it was great to meet with someone who does this regularly. This might not seem like work to everyone, but travelling to and from the ArtHouse, sorting through my stock, and doing the admin took half a day. A very pleasant half-day, but significant time and effort nonetheless - the shift from hobbyist to 'pro' has definitely happened even if it is small-scale - something Jani at the ArtHouse has written about most eloquently e.g. here.

Now, with that all done, it's great to see them arranged so well (yup, those are the reels from old VHS cassettes being used as plinths...) - hopefully people will give in to their want-titis and buy them :) So, if you are in the Art House, please do have a look (over some tea, cake, burritos etc); a third of the sale price goes to support their fine not-for-profit venue. If you aren't near Southampton, don't worry, all Rebejoo items are on the facebook page, complete with photos, descriptions, sizes and prices. Soon, back to the shed for more making...

Ruth gets down to the important business of boxing up Rebejoo goodies prior to display.

Thursday 28 March 2013

Crossing the Threshold

I've written before about my first craft fair and the first shop to take some of my jewellery to sell - both important milestones as Rebejoo is still a very new enterprise. So, I was similarly excited to finally get some of my work into a gallery, namely the John Hansard gallery's 'I am the Warrior' exhibition in Southampton.

It's an open-access exhibition - anything you've made yourself and wish to bring (or perform) - but it still meant stepping into gallery space, signing the piece away for a time and so on. Kind of informally formal if you like, and definitely another milestone as I've been looking at getting pieces into galleries and it isn't easy - from my POV, definitely exciting!

So, here's what I put in the exhibition - a 'Rebejoo Selection' which has since been out on the wall I believe - and it's in good company with the likes of the Trashcan Samurai, Blue log-drum fish, matchstick galleon and milk-bottle polar bear!

'Rebejoo Selection' next to the knitted (edible-looking) doughnuts and the purple lion

Astonishingly detailed matchstick ship on a matchstick table. Woah!

Trashcan Samurai!

Drum that blue log fish...

Hello milk-bottle polar bear

Thursday 17 January 2013

Finding my way

A few months ago when I started Rebejoo (yup, it really is that young) I was advised by this splendid person to stick to my own style/designs and not get side-tracked into changing to try to be more 'saleable' but not-what-I-am. At the time I blithely said 'yeahhhhh, no problem' but in reality it's a bit trickier than that. If I didn't want to sell anything, then it wouldn't be an issue, but as I am going pro, at least as a sideline (who knows beyond that) there is a temptation to try to follow what sells. This is to be resisted. I have an ethos and shall follow it, and to be honest there's little point (either creatively or financially) in trying to compete with mass-produced imported tat. Instead, I'm sticking to the use of re-used/recycled materials (apart from parts such as ear-ring hooks that have to be clean and new) and only ever making one-offs...

One of my 'knot' pendants.
...and that's where one of the temptations comes in. If a piece is popular, I could make several and they might well sell, but that's not my ethos. It would also weaken one of my key selling-points i.e. that every item is unique. Instead (and this goes back to that sage advice I mentioned), I stick to what I like making (if I like it, so will others) and let the designs come naturally. If I try to force it, guess what, it doesn't work - I just end up with a bit of heated and hammered metal (not unlike what happens if I try to paint when not in the mood - splodge). So far, this has developed into three main styles - 'knots' like the one above (maybe it's a key to an undiscovered door...), 'twinklies' like the ear-rings below and the 'others' below that which are the more industrial and steampunky items at the more complex end of what I make. Enjoy!

Twinkly crystal ear-rings!
Glorious steampunk pendant-ness.
It's a heart, but not as you know it!