Exhibition meetings

The operational exhibition meetings have got going - nice to get the practical stuff underway. Has brought up some possible conflicts re. space and so on, which could potentially prove difficult and uncomfortable for us as a group. I've been very flexible so far, I've selected my plinths and display boxes and Maggie's given us loads of advice and info on how to go about things, really useful.

As time goes on though, I do wonder if I should be a bit more demanding and not just be flexible for the sake of ease - although being difficult isn't in my nature, and as long as my work is displayed in the cases as I want, I'm not overly picky about how and where they're positioned in the gallery. I'm happy to go with the flow for the time being, perhaps things will come out through the critical review as learning points.

Pricing & Costing

So hard! Seems to be the one thing that everyone's struggling with. Discussed the various aspects, i.e. value costing, establishing hourly rates, overheads, etc. Profit margin seemed to be the elusive thing andI'm struggling to get my head round the wholesale/retail thing - will ask for more guidance on this. It's just something I've not really experienced yet...

Every group had one common note - that as customers we wouldn't be able to afford what we make! Quite sobering, but it's equally as important not to underprice things, perceptions of value are very odd indeed.

Need to sit and work out:

• annual overheads - utilities, rent, petrol/mileage
• required salary
• materials costs
• how many weeks per year & hours per week I'll be working on jewellery
• % age time making/designing

Then;

annual overheads / hours making per year = hourly overhead rate

annual salary / hours making per year = hourly labout rate

Then;

hourly overhead £ x making hours = £ PLUS

hourly labour rate £ x making hours = £ PLUS

materials costs £ = TOTAL to give the minimum cost price..... phew.

Then add profit...

I've got my work cut out.

Beyond the Gallery #3

Took sketches and initial ideas in to see Hannah and Jess, the two BAFS students I want to work with. Emailed them to let them know I'd 'selected' them from the interested parties and they both seem really excited about the project, and it's infectious.

I must be aware that I'm probably being spoilt, in that I've got enthusiastic, passionate, young designers to work with and not jaded world-weary professionals! If I decide to do more of this in the future, I'm sure it'll be a different story. However, as a learning experience and a way to take my jewellery in a whole new direction, this is fantastic. Seems I was right on track with their initial thoughts about what I could create for them, and the discussions we've had about materials etc. have been really positive. While this will be a challenge, I think I've managed to keeo it to a manageable level, and in keeping with the pieces I wanted to be creating anyway.

Marketing

Attended a marketing workshop as part of the SPEED programme yesterday - incredibly useful. Really, practical, hands-on stuff, from market research to constructing ads and everything in between. "The shining beaches of Derbyshire" came to mind as a smart-alec ad tagline :) good for the Coast pieces.

Came away with a really useful workbook to get a handle on things - now just need to find some time to do it!

To follow up:
Work through book
Devise taglines etc. for collections, USPs

Artist's statement...

...had to submit our artist's statement this week, ready for the CONNECT 08 catalogue etc. Really good exercise actually, had a whole range as illustrations in the session - most appealing were short, simple, engaging...tried to incorporate this into mine. Getting feedback was crucial, tried to sound out as many people as possible, right across the board so as not to get 'yes men' replies - fellow CONNECTors, Jo, Uni colleagues etc. Feedback was really positive, and this is what I came up with:

First, take something beautiful. Then do one of three things:

· Emulate it
· Enhance it
· Entrap it

To me, that beautiful thing might be a discarded piece of stone, a lost language, an odd creature, a fluid moment. These are the things I love, the things I translate and transpose into something palpable, something desirable, something wearable.

Works in many contexts, doesn't refer to particular collections but can neatly be added to for particular purposes.

Beyond the Gallery...again

Have decided on the two BAFS students I want to work with - one is Victorian bridal who wants some striking headpieces - perfect for what I was looking to do. The other is all earthy colours, leather and feathers, want battered, patinated, almost rusting copper clasps for leather neckpieces - and the designs lend themselves perfectly to the Cagliostro characters, maybe with some Greek thrown in.

Hugely excited, next step is to get sketches done, get some materials together and go back in on 21st Feb to discuss further.

Presentation deadline is 1st May for their collections.

Beyond the Gallery

Made contact with Ann Draycott a couple of days ago re. working with the BA Fashion students on their degree show. She asked me to pop in the next morning as they would be having the first session of their Independent Study module that leads to the fashion show. Bit nerve-wracking, no idea what to expect.

Popped along, Ann introduced me, I said a bit about what I was planning to do, then spent the next hour or so milling around to gauge interest. Bit of a revelation.... kept getting grabbed by enthusiastic students wanting to add things to their collections. Ended up with 6 possibles in the end - way more than I'd hoped for. Have to thank Ann for selling the idea to them before I even opened my mouth, but the reaction was great.

All the interested parties' work looks great, and I can't wait to get cracking - will have to select one or two at most though, time being what it is. It's a shame as they're all fab.

To follow up:
Decide on one or two students - depending where the work sits with my own
Contact all interested and Programme Leaders with outcome by 8th Feb.

Inspiration

Looking further into the text side of things - uni library fantastic for books on alphabets etc.... found Cagliostro's magic alphabet, he was a C17th occultist who invented a set of characters for incantations etc...the characters are just beautiful.

Got me thinking about Victoriana, verging on gothic, dark metals, cushioned silks and so on. Their fascination with occult and spiritual matters comflicting with their renowned repression and strait-laced facade could work really well. I now need to find a way of transferring the text onto fabrics and metals.

To follow up:

Research printing and etching onto fabric/metal - methods, cost, using commercial companies?