Thanks to everyone who submitted photos of their work for the Spring Showcase To view the showcase please use the navigation bar below it or you can drag the pages open with your mouse.

You can also view the PDF of the sides for the video here

Unfortunately we’re not going to be able to run the Homegrown pop up shop project at this time. We’ve had a great response with 30 applications sent out but haven’t been able to fill all 18 places.

We’re confident there’s enough interest in the project, but that the project itself is not right for enough makers at this time to be able to run it.

With this in mind we’re going to re-look at how the project would run and hope to bring more news later in the year. We’re looking forward to putting the information we’ve gained so far into the future project.

We’re pleased to share that with support from the IW Council we’ll soon be piloting a three month creative Pop Up Shop in Newport.

Called ‘Homegrown’, the shop will be documented and culminate in a how-we-did-it guide with the hope to encourage more pop-up’s to happen Island wide.

Applications are open to makers living and making on the Island by emailing :  homegrown@isleofwightmakers.co.uk

Closing date for sending back your completed application form is Monday 8th April

Thank you to everyone who got involved with the Pop Up Shop Survey – please watch this space for latest developments!

For Pop Up Shops on the Isle of Wight, pop over to www.iowpopupshops.co.uk, on Facebookand Twitter @iowpopupshops

Are you interested in running, taking part, or just want more information on pop-up shops?

We are incredibly excited to announce that on July 7th 2012 at 7pm Dan Thompson is coming to the Isle of Wight to give a talk with questions and answers, at the Quay Arts Theatre, about the Creative Use of Empty Shops. Brought to you by The Empty Shops Network, Quay Arts, Red Funnel, Rapanui and organised by the Isle of Wight Makers Network.

For anyone interested in the Pop-up concept and regeneration this is a must see event.

Dan Thompson is the founder of the Empty Shops Network and an expert in the creative use of empty shops. He has pioneered the use of shops as high street community hubs. The ways he has used Twitter, Facebook and Flickr to create and manage projects has seen him recognised as a social media innovator.

Dan has spoken at many meetings, conferences and seminars to share ideas about the Empty Shops Network. These include the Leeds Platespinners (2011), Harrow Museum (2011), University of the Arts Alumni at the ICA, London (2010); at RIBA’s Guerilla Tactics (2009); at Chain Reaction at Canary Wharf (2009); Gloo in Portsmouth (2010); at AIRTime events in London, Brighton and Belfast (2009-11); at the E17 Art Trail (2009); at Central St Martins Graduate Week (2009) and at the launch of Spacemakers and their Brixton Village project (2009). In June 2010, he flew to Belfast to speak alongside Northern Ireland Assembly minister Sammy Wilson MP at the launch of the city centre’s first empty shops project, organised by architecture centre PLACE and Arts & Business. He has written the Empty Shops Toolkit in 2010 (For the MLA, as part of Living Places), a follow on from the Empty Shops Workbook in 2009 (For the Development Trusts Association, commissioned by the Department of Communities & Local Government). He has also written a Void Space Strategy for Coventry City Council and an Empty Shops Strategy for Worthing Arts Council.

He has penned articles for magazines and journals including New Start, Mailout and a-n the Artist’s Newsletter. He has been a passionate advocate in the media, being interviewed by Hugh Pym for BBC News, appearing with Tracey Emin in Margate for Meridian, taking about the future of popupshops in a G2 special, taking part in a viral ad campaign for Yell and being featured in LucySiegle’s The Innovator column in The Observer Magazine. In 2009, he hosted the first national Empty Shops Conference; and in 2010 organised the first national Empty Shops Tour which took projects, workshops and networking events toLondon, Shoreham by Sea, Carlisle and Coventry with the support of the Development Trusts Association.

In July 2010, he ran a project in Seven Dials for the Culture Quarter Programme, creating a temporary exhibition with thirty participants from Create KX,TheDesign Council, ENO, Exhibition Road Group, Hospital Club, National Portrait Gallery, Somerset House, the Royal Opera House and the V&A. From December 2010-March 2011 he ran two parallel projects, exploring the idea of creating high street community hubs under the ‘Workshop’ name – Workshop 1A in Shoreham by Sea supported by the trustees of St Mary De Haura church, and Workshop24 in South Kilburn supported by South Kilburn Neighbourhood Trust. In August 2011, Dan’s work with empty shops, high streets and independent shops inspired him to launch the #riotcleanup, a practical response to the London riots.

Most recently Dan has written for the Independent and he is also currently writing a book called ‘Pop Up Shops For Dummies’ – part of the www.dummies.com series.

For more information about the event please contact us.

Shops become empty, it’s a natural cycle of the high street, but in the current climate we’re seeing more and more vacant shops on the high street. These are being used by people up and down the country for ‘meanwhile’ community projects, using the space for a while, before the next long term tenant is found.

Empty Shops are being used for a whole variety of ideas, from galleries to coffee shops. They are being used by the community who are breathing new life and reconnecting with their high street space. Filling a space with an idea from the community for their use, feels like ownership, for a while at least they have the say in their own towns evolution.

The community benefits and so does the landlord, who get their space shown working each day, filled and busy, a great advert to potential long term contracts.

Currently the Isle of Wight Makers is working on an empty shops project. To register your interest please use the contact us page.

Spring is sprung, the grass is ris, I wonder where the talent is?

It’s all at the Quay Arts Centre for the third fabulous Pedlars at the Quay artisan craft market! Imagine a lazy Sunday, meeting friends for brunch, listening to music and supporting brilliant local artists. That’s Pedlars.

Pedlars at the Quay is a boutique shopping destination that promotes contemporary handmade arts, local artisans and artists, sustainable craftiness, fresh food, great entertainment and a ‘small-box’ sweat-shop-free atmosphere!

At Pedlars we aim to curate an exciting, fun and ever evolving high quality market, showcasing the brightest and most inspiring artist talent from the island. We lovingly handpick all our Makers each season to offer up an eclectic and fresh array of work to the various Pedlars customers who step through our door.

Pedlars Spring market is very special as for the first time we will also be supporting two fabulous local charities. Firstly our resident Pedlars Community Co-operative will be in full spring fling – bursting with budding plants, seedlings and yummy homemade jam! We are hoping to galvanize the Isle of Wight into proudly donating homemade and home grown produce like seeds, plants, jam, chutney, eggs to help raise money for a fabulous cause! All money raised goes straight to the amazing Pop N Grow who do incredible work producing free special medical clothing for sick children in NICU. Our second charity is the wonderful Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust who will be running our popular children’s area. Anyone who has ever visited The Wildlife Trust’s brilliant weekly Nature Tots will know that they are sure to host an inspiring and creative day – we are delighted to have them so kids big and small should join in the fun in our handmade tepee!

Pedlars will be busting with creativity and fun! The Quay cafe as always will offer delicious locally sourced food and drink to quench appetites after a great bit of shopping! Pedlars at the Quay is a marvellous place for people to buy some treasures to love and meet the people who make them!

Entry is FREE : : Pedlars Spring Market is on Sunday 24th March 11 until 4pm in the Quay Arts Centre Cafe. Come and celebrate community, creativity and original talent! For more information and a showcase of all our talented makers check out: www.facebook.com/pedlarsatthequay

About Pedlars at the Quay

Pedlars at the Quay was started by Pia Uren and Anna Moreton in September 2012 as a contemporary platform for local designers, artists and producers on the Isle of Wight. Impressed by the range and level of talent on the Island, Pia and Anna approached the local art centre, Quay Arts and persuaded them to specially open on a Sunday to host a series of artisan craft markets to showcase this creativity.

Pedlars at the Quay is about imagination, supporting community, nature and being more aware about our resources. We encourage a really family friendly atmosphere with a special children’s area full of naturally creative workshops. Each Pedlars market is seasonal and specially themed with handmade decoration. We love all things handcrafted and independently designed and so feel it is really important to not only create amazing products but a visually enticing space to view them in.

You can see in all of Sarah’s work, her absolute enjoyment of fabric, love of pattern and use of traditional craft skills. Sarah’s World is vintage inspired, rustic, eco-friendly and also incredibly charming.

Could you tell us what it was like growing up in a creative family?… I grew up in a family where sewing, knitting, quilting and woodwork was the norm, so I guess not turning out to be a creative person was never an option! When I was little my mum made dolls for my sister and me, and sewed us girlie dresses, and I slept in a bed made by my dad, under a quilt sewn by my grandma. Anything that could be made by hand was, and everyone was always working on something!

What’s your favourite design to make at the moment…My tree cushions have been my most popular design so far, and I really love making them! I love sewing all the different coloured fabric leaves on and watching it all come together.

What influences your style most… I think my style is mostly influenced by my love of up-cycling and re-using fabric, and my love of traditional crafts like quilting and making braided rag rugs. I love the variety and unpredictability of working with fabric that has come from various sources, and I particularly enjoy saving old clothes that have seen better days as clothes, and turning them into something new and beautiful. I guess my style could be described as vintage inspired, rustic and eco-friendly.

What’s your typical day like and how do you juggle work /making etc… I think the most important thing for me is to not lose momentum. I’m currently juggling a full time job, renovating a house, and getting ready for a couple of craft fairs, as well as figuring out my brand and how I want my business to be. My typical day usually invloves going to work, a bit of renovation, and squeezing creativeness into every spare minute I can find. I sew in my lunch break, I do a bit of sewing in the morning before I go to work, and on the rare occasions I settle in for an evening of watching telly, I am still sewing something. If I stopped to rest, I would probably crash, so I’m trying to power thorough until things are a little less hectic!

What’s your favourite piece of advice you’ve been given/found (for your making)… I read on Etsy once about someone who advised keeping a notebook to write down all your creative ideas. This has been one of the most useful bits of advice I have been given, and I carry mine around with me everywhere. I write down design/technique ideas whenever they pop into my head, and I can come back to them whenever I get the chance to try making something new. I also try to keep track of how long it takes me to make my designs, so I can price them accurately based on an hourly rate plus the cost of materials.

What’s your favourite magazine or blog... I really like the ‘Quit Your Day Job’ feature on Etsy. It’s very inspiring to read about people who have made the transition from a regular salary and set working hours to making a living out of their creativeness. One day I hope that can be me!

What is your favourite material you own and how big is your stash… Haha! I have A LOT of fabric! My favourites are usually the interesting colours and patterns I find in vintage bedding and clothes. I love having bundles of different colours and textures all around me, as the fabric is what inspires my designs.

What do you love best about living on the Island... I love being close to the beach! And I love the network of creative people I am starting to get to know.

What’s been your favourite craft fair/market of 2012… I took part in my first ever craft market in December 2012, Pedlars at the Quay, at Quay Arts Centre in Newport. I loved it, and can’t wait for the next one!

What’s your working space like… One of the spare rooms in our house has been fully renovated (finally!) and after many late nights of stripping wallpaper and painting I actually have a whole room dedicated to housing fabric and making a creative mess! I feel incredibly lucky to have a whole room all to myself! Despite this I still seem to manage to take over the kitchen table most of the time though…

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My name is Oliver Bennett and I’d like to take this opportunity to share my story of how I came to be a carpenter.

Ten years ago I was a painter and decorator, I worked with my father Rychard Bennett. We had a great relationship and I enjoyed working with him very much. I’m proud to say we were the best of friends.

At this time I had a hobby, I really enjoyed making things from driftwood collected from the Islands shores. I made some lovely pieces but I didn’t have any real carpentry skills and so much of what I made would fall apart before too long.

Early in 2003 our lives were turned upside down with the news that my father had cancer of the oesophagus. It didn’t look good but he fought the disease for nearly a year. The family rallied around him and we spent the last few months of his life with him at the Earl Mountbatten hospice in Newport on the Island.

One day my dad turned to me and asked if I could do something for him, “Of course, I said anything”.

That’s when he asked me to make his coffin! I was shocked by the thought of this request but I wasn’t going to deny my fathers last wish.

That night as I slept in the chair next to his bed I had a nightmare, I was helping to carry my fathers coffin through the funeral service, everyone was looking at us with tear filled eyes and then it happened!, the bottom of the casket fails and dear Rych falls out onto the floor! There are screams of shock and terror as he rolls across the aisle. Pretty horrendous I’m sure you will agree!

The next day I am still troubled by the thought of making this coffin. Could I do it? Would it fall apart? Where would I make it? How do you make a coffin? My head was spinning. I needed to go for a walk. Whilst walking around Newport I bumped into a dear friend of mine, Norman Young, a real master cabinet maker and boat builder, in fact an all round wood guru.

I tell him my situation and without any hesitation he offers his help and workshop facilities, what a star!  Suddenly I have hope that I have a chance to fulfill my dads last wish and to do a decent job of it.

Norman, true to his word, took me under his wing, we found some beautiful wych elm that had the most stunning and wild grain with yellow and green streaks running through it. For two weeks we worked on his casket. I learnt so much from Norman during this time, for the first time I could see the method of woodwork and that if you learnt this method you could be a good carpenter.

We had many incidents of people coming into the workshop and they would ask “what are you making,” their faces were a picture when I would reply “making my fathers coffin.”

I also found that by doing something meaningful and relevant to the situation I was in was a great help to me mentally. Together we made the most stunning coffin you can imagine, it was beautiful and strong, just like my relationship with my dad. It still fills me with pride when I talk about this episode in my life and I will always know that I managed to fulfill his dying wish with grace and dignity.

I have come to think that Rych knew that I would get a lot out of his last request and I see it as him steering me in a new direction. A project that would help me in a difficult time and a new career for the future.

After the dust had settled I carried on working with Norm and learning the way of the woodworker until I was ready to set up my own workshop. He still is my wood guru and good friend. Thank you.

I hope this story doesn’t come across as morbid or weird (I have had many different reactions from people when I tell them the story) but I can say hand on heart it was a healthy thing to do and has changed my life forever.

The morale of this is always listen to your parents, you might not know it at the time but they know what’s best for you.

I now have a workshop in Newtown where I make and restore furniture. Recently I have come up with a great design for wall mounted guitar racks and have been making them with locally grown or recycled wood.

I love my work and I respect my father even more for having the foresight to ask me to make his coffin and steering me towards a new career.

You can contact Ollie on : : 07855 749081
And find him here : : Unit 4c, Porchfield  Business Park, Newtown, Isle of Wight  PO30 4QB

Step inside the fantastic, wonderful, creative world of MooksGoo. Michelle takes us for a tour…

Tell us about how you got into being a creative….Graduating from The Arts University College, Bournemouth in 2008 with a graphic design degree, my first industry job was in sign-making and graphic design on the Isle of Wight.

In 2011 my other half and I brought our first (very run down) house with a real life mortgage, and we had a baby, Summer, who is just fantastic in every way. When maternity leave finished I wanted to pursue graphics, but childcare is crazy expensive! Working from home to be with Summer seemed a brilliant idea so the Mr built me ‘The Wonder Room’ where I can work away in my own little bubble. And it’s very sexy. It’s a non-stop adventure but I love every roller coaster-y second.

What do you think of the creative scene on the Island…There are some fantastic creative folk on the Isle, and the Internet gives us great insight to that. I have recently joined The Chamber of Commerce – I went to my first breakfast meeting (fry up and coffee, what’s not to like!?) and there were all kinds of professions. It’s a great way to get your name out there and meet new people. I had some lovely comments on my business cards and logo so hopefully I made a good impression.

Places like Made on the Isle of Wight, Arts 2 Arts, the Quay Arts Centre and the Island Makers Network allow creatives to showcase their fabulousness. I would like to see more free networking opportunities…maybe that’s something to include in my business plan!

What/who is the biggest influence on your work currently…I subscribe to a few design magazines and always look on blogs. I think the company Fab are brilliant – always showcasing quirky designs. I like to be different and steer away from the current trends. I don’t always look at specific designers for inspiration, it changes daily! But people like Harriet Gray and Luke Waller (Island illustrators) are a great inspiration – their work is beautiful. Most of the time I design things for my home and if it receives good feedback I produce more.

What’s your favorite art shop on the Island…I love the quirky shops in Ryde, like Dotty’s at the back of Crocus. Its full of amazing hand crafted beauties.

What’s your typical day like?…My other half works shift so if he is on earlies – Wake up with my daughter around 7:30. If I have had an early night I try and fit in a couple of hours of work before she rises. Coffee, breakfast, play time, fun, washing, cleaning, hovering etc., then she sleeps from 11-1. I work until her tummy rumbles and awakens her. Lunch, clean, playtime, squeeze in some adult time – although generally talk about our children, then the other half gets home. I make him a cuppa and lunch then head back into the Wonder Room to carry on with work. He goes to the gym about 4, where I play some more, cook dinner, have a lovely family meal, clean together then 5 minutes to let my dinner goes down before putting Summer to bed. Have another coffee, chat with the Mr then back to work until the night becomes morning.

I teach media once a week at St Catherine’s School which I love! So rewarding. I am very lucky to have fab friends and family who take Summer for a few hours so I can get out of the house!

What or who have you found most helpful on the Island…To me, the most help comes from my other half, Matt. He works so hard – in full time employment, renovating a house and being a fantastic Dad, but has supported my dream of owning my very own company. A couple of close friends and family members have also been there from the beginning. It’s little things people do that are most precious to me.

What’s your working space like…Fantastic, I love it! Every little inch. I have my own Wonder Room – plain white furniture surrounded by inspirational artwork, funky collectables and crazy colours. I was very lucky to be given my beefy desk and my Ikea shelves were for my birthday. It has taken a while but I am so proud of it.

Where’s your favourite place to look for creative inspiration….Fab, Computer Arts Magazine, quirky shops, my peers, my family, books, Twitter, Tumblr, Internet searches…OK the list is ongoing…

What’s your favorite piece of advice you’ve been given…It is what Matt has said to me before when things seemed to be squiggly – ‘It doesn’t matter how hard you get knocked down, it’s about how quickly you get back up and try harder.’ He is a massive Rocky fan…

Where’s your favorite place to listen to live music on the Island…
At a Festival/Bestival with a Pimms in my hand!

MooksGoo website : :  www.mooksgoo.co.uk

Where to sell..?

If, like me, your business came about from your love of making which spiralled into a case of ‘Oh, I think I’ve made so much stuff I need to sell it’, or that people you know loved your creations and wanted to buy from you, you possibly won’t have a clue where or how to sell.

It can be a bit nerve-racking when you first set out to do a stall and display your art or craft to the general public. After the dilemma of pricing and how to display your creations, your next question will probably be ‘Where do I sell?’

There are many different kinds of events where you can book a stall these include school fetes, art & craft fairs, larger events i.e. The Garlic Festival, Yarmouth Old Gaffers Festival, Christmas gift fairs, charity fundraising events and a myriad of other venues.

The fee for a stall can vary a lot too. Anything from £5, to in excess of £40, and some may ask for a contribution towards a raffle, usually to raise money for charity events. I have sometimes found that the slightly more expensive events are better advertised and attended but this is not a hard and fast rule. I have done just as well at events that cost me just £10 when I take into account how much you needed to sell to cover outgoings and the stall fee.

When you book a stall you can very often have no idea of the suitability or how good a venue it might be. You may wonder, have they advertised it properly? Will I sit there for hours doing nothing wishing I was at home doing the ironing or a hundred and one other things that need to be done? You really do have to take the rough with the smooth, dust yourself down and have another go.

Always get confirmation that you are booked in. There would be nothing worse than all that preparation – packing the car (a feat in itself), finding your location, to be told as you stand there with boxes and bags in hand, that there has been a mix up and you haven’t got a space! Grrrrr! I always worry when they say ‘Oh, we’ll squeeze you in’ Really? Where?

I have been to events that are so well organised, you know where you are positioned before you even get there, the artisans are spaced out nicely so you don’t end up right next to someone doing the same kind of thing as you, even been provided with a nice cup of tea, lovely!

Networking can be a good way to determine the best venues. Chat to other stallholders (usually a very friendly bunch) and using the Isle of Wight Makers Network are just some of the ways to find out more. Unfortunately trial and error is very often the stallholders only option. ‘How long is a piece of string’ could be the saying that would best describe how well you could do at any event even if you have previously done well at that same venue. Of course there are other factors that can conspire against your success, more of that next time…

About Adorn Jewellery

‘I have been making jewellery for over six years now. I started with beaded designs using Swarovski crystal, freshwater pearls, naturals stones and sterling silver, then I went onto to use sheet silver and silver clay. I have attended various courses at the Quay Arts and have taught myself from home via books and online.

Island born, with a young family and work commitments my time has often been very limited but my passion for jewellery making has been such a personal and rewarding journey.  I pride myself on constantly striving for perfection and to never stop learning, believing and growing as an artist.

I like to capture something special in my designs, either in the colour, texture or shape, which will draw someone to want to reach out and touch and wear my creations. It is an honour when people choose my handmade designs and it drives me on to create more of the beautiful and wearable.’  Contact Adorn Jewellery : 01983 754245

Calling Makers living and making on the Isle of Wight!

This is a call to get involved with the second Seasonal Showcase for Spring.

The Seasonal Showcases are online brochures which promote the work of makers who live and make on the Isle of Wight.

The first showcase we made was for Christmas which you can see here http://isleofwightmakers.co.uk/iwm-gallery

We’d love you to get involved in the Spring showcase here are the details :

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Cost

The showcase is FREE to enter for IW Makers registered on the website. There is a small charge of £3 for non-members (but you can join the website and then your entry is free).

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To get involved send an email and title it ‘SPRING’ sending the following :

- Up to 3 photo’s of your work (Please make your photos the very best you possibly can to give your work extra zing x)

- Details of how you can be contacted web/phone/email etc.

As this is a Spring Showcase, if you have any Spring/Easter/Valentines themed work – please make sure you include this too.

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Sponsors

Sponsors adverts are invited for the IWMN Spring Showcase, please email hello@isleofwightmakers.co.uk for rates and info.

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Note to photographers

If you’ve got any Isle of Wight related Spring photos that you would be willing to have used in the brochure to illustrate our surroundings – please send them in – they will be credited clearly. Thank you.

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The Deadline for entry is February 1st 2013

If you’ve got any questions please do not hesitate to email hello@isleofwightmakers.co.uk

Ivy’s Table features on the inside cover of this seasons
IWMN Spring Showcase - her most recent work features
beautiful textile characters and she tells us how she brings
Mrs Elizabeth Night Night and Captain Bookend to life…

Could you sum up last year and what’s been your ‘stand out’ moment… I threw myself into 2012, did a lot of work and met a lot of great people . My highlights were joining the Undecided Arts Collective, being chosen to participate in Pedlars, going to visit Renegade in London and getting my act together with my blog, IWMN page and Etsy shop. The ‘stand out’ moment weirdly was my bad day at Brickfields and swearing on my blog. I didn’t feel great about it, but ironically my stats went through the roof, I guess people could relate to having a bad day. It did made me analyse what I do and make myself a promise for the future. Since then I feel much better.

Could you tell me if Ivy is a person…Yes, Ivy was my Nan, she passed away several years ago and she was beautiful. She didn’t say a great deal but whatever she did say were always very well chosen words. She gained a diploma in English when she was in her 60s and wrote and produced poetry books. My business is called Ivy’s Table because I work at the old dining table we used to sit around when I was growing up, I have a lot of fond memories of those times.

What do you think to the creative scene on the Island and what would make it better (if anything)… The Island stores a wealth of talent, there are some truly awesome craftspeople and artists here. Things are very different now to the craft scene I grew up with on the Island in the 80′s. It’s so much easier now for people to take up a new craft without it costing huge amounts of money, a vast array of supplies can be bought from anywhere in the world thanks to the Internet, which really helps Islanders. I think this gives us more of a creative scope, so much more inspiration can also be gained. I would say the great thing about the creative scene on the Island is events like Pedlars, where you know you are going to see and buy some of the best beautifully innovative crafts, and of shops selling locally produced goods. Galleries such as Quay Arts and UAC events also support local artists and craftisans. Isle of Wight Makers Network has also acted as a great link to lots of events, talks and information that I have found really useful. The craft scene is definitely moving in the right direction on the Island. Something I do want to perfect myself is packaging and creating a brand. It’s a lot harder than it sounds but the more well recognised crafters seem to have this aspect well and truly nailed. I’m still on it.

Hand or machine sewing… BOTH! And add more skills to the pot, weave, knit, make buttons, research the internet , read books, go to galleries.

What’s your typical day and how do you juggle work / family / making…  On a work day I come home, have dinner, put the kids to bed and then start working at about 9pm, which either leaves me working until the early hours and burning the candle at both ends (when that 2nd wind kicks in at 11pm it can be hard to walk away from something you are genuinely enjoying making) OR leaves you on Facebook for the evening cursing why I’m wasting my time looking at what someone’s had for dinner, whereas what I should do is forget Facebook and catch up with some sleep. On a non-work day we get the kids off to school and then work on a project. Non work days are my most creatively productive times because I get quality quiet time. Weekends are taken up with the boys, but I always have a hand sewing tin that I can carry about with me so that I can continue working if I get the chance. Perfect times are all of us sitting around the table, making / drawing or playing a game, or going for a brisk walk along the beach. The Island is great for being outdoors.

What’s your favourite piece of advice you’ve been given / found (for your making)…Take your time in learning a new skill, nothing happens overnight and don’t punish yourself if it doesn’t look right the first time. Learn from it and be kind to yourself for trying to create it in the first place.

What’s your favourite magazine or blog…  Craftzine is great, and I really like the Etsy blog ‘quit your day job’ , and Burda Style (I study patterns). I buy a lot of books and study and make patterns. I also adore japanese craft books and there are many makers and artists who inspire me. I’ve a huge list of books I want to buy.

What is your favourite material you own and how big is your stash… I own a piece of beautiful vintage Jonelle fabric by John Lewis called Daisy Walk. I used some of it on a handbag and I get a lot of remarks about it, it’s of 70s houses in primary colours, sounds garish but it’s perfect! I have cut back on printed fabric spending recently though, mainly because my recent projects are lending themselves to a more textured and hand embroidered look. I really do want to get back into screen printing my own fabric again! The stash is substantial but I’m more realistic these days about what I will use so some of it goes to friends and some of it to the local school for their sewing classes.

What do you love best about living on the Island… I’d have to say I love being by the sea, and I do really feel part of living in Ventnor now, I have lots of friends here.

What did you want to be when you grew up? (I always thought I’d bean air hostess when I grew up)…  I really wanted to make clothes but I felt I had failed when I tried to make a dress for my barbie doll and I gave up. Then I wanted to be in the Red Arrows, but my Mum said that to be a pilot you have to be able to hear in both ears (I am deaf in my right ear) so I felt quite thwarted by that because I really wanted to learn to fly. My Dad wanted me to work in a building society (instantly rebuked) and my Mum sadly told me that I could never make any money from making anything , so actually I never felt I was clued up to make any career choices. I did use to love my usherette job though, at the Screen De Luxe cinema at Lake, and I was the one whose idea it was to do the puppet shows when the ice cream adverts were on. I don’t think I was ever given any solid careers guidance so I just went for jobs for the sake of having a job and to pay the rent , just as most people do. It took years of bravery for me to get back into sewing, and now I’ve been doing it for almost seven years I feel I should have been doing this all my life. I’ve learnt a lot though, and I am very conscious to explain different types of jobs to my children and recognise their skills so that when the time comes for them to make exam decisions I can hopefully help them as much as I can.

What direction are you heading in now…  Right now I’m bringing characters to life that have been created by my fiancé Chris Jones (Chemical Gdns) and my sons, it’s really exciting to throw lots of different skills together into one project and that each project is different to the next. Chris creates amazingly curious characters, I’ve always really admired his drawing and imagination and it’s great to be working with him again. I’d really like to continue working within the UAC this year, I have a few projects I would like to do in conjunction with Ventnor Fringe and the Lantern Parade. I am also going to do some teaching this year. Definitely.

www.ivys-table.co.uk

Photographer Zoe Barker talks about

how the renowned ‘Englishness’ of the Isle of Wight, 

is such an inspiration for her work…

Could you tell us about your creative background…  I spent many years in London working in television, I got made redundant and took the opportunity to study photography at Reading College of Art Design. That gave me all the tools to turn my hobby into a serious passion! I haven’t looked back since.

How many cameras do you own and what’s your favourite…  I do have a digital camera but when it matters I shoot on film (which is most of the time). I have two large format cameras (the big old-fashioned heavy types with bellows that take 10×8” or 5×4” negatives), two ‘normal’ medium format cameras and a Holga medium format. The Holga is the cheapest camera I own – mass-produced in China, it’s just a plastic box with a lens. There’s no speed or aperture control. You have to estimate the focal distance. The back falls off all the time. But it takes fantastic pictures with a quality you just don’t find with anything else! So it’s my favourite camera.

What’s your favourite time of year to photograph…  Has to be winter when the tourists have gone home. I love the grey, flat light. There’s something especially beautiful about the English seaside during ‘closed season.’

Seascape or Landscape…  Definitely neither! I love domestic interiors – the older or more run down the better. I love the small details of everyday life that we don’t see because we take them for granted. It might be an old scrap of wallpaper or a socket on the wall. It’s all about finding the beauty in the mundane. I also love ‘Englishness’ – beach huts, village halls, caravans – which makes the Isle of Wight a very inspiring place to live.

What’s your top tip for approaching shops/galleries to sell your work… Make sure you’ve thought about what you want to say before you go in, always have a business card and be prepared for rejection!

What’s been the highlight of your career as a photographer so far…  Probably my first solo exhibition in a Devon gallery which then went on to be hung in London. But otherwise my first Open Studios in 2012 – a group of us exhibited together at Ryde School and I loved it. We had so many people through the door, got so much feedback and I met so many interesting people. Looking forward to doing more of that in 2013!

What’s your typical day like…  There’s no such thing as a typical day! I freelance in television, so I’m sometimes working in London but at the moment mostly working from home which is great. I sell my cards and prints in lots of places on the island so there’s a fair bit of time spent managing that. And the rest of the time I’m out and about with my camera or sorting through images making plans.

What’s your favourite magazine or blog…  I confess I don’t really have one. I was in love with AG (The International Journal of Photographic Art & Practice) but sadly the editor died recently and the magazine has closed. I’ve yet to find anything that even comes close to it.

www.zoebarker.com
Find more of Zoe’s work on page 44-45 of the Isle of Wight Makers Spring Showcase

Claire (left) Tracey (right)

How they started…
Tracey and I have both dreamed of starting our own business and had often thought of opening a tea room. We were looking for opportunities to use our skills that we had gained so by the end of 2011 Wight Vintage was born to make the most of our event planning, catering and retail experience.

It was originally going to be just event and wedding planning but our love of china and cakes soon took over and our bespoke cake stands led the way. Our traditional catering services have now become very popular. We cook as much as possible from scratch and use local produce where possible.

Highlights so far…
Every wedding or party we are involved in is a highlight and we love to make the event run as smooth as possible. It’s always great to get good feedback and it makes all the hard work worthwhile when you know you have helped make that celebration a success.

The vintage scene on the Island…
The Island has a great vintage theme without even trying as it has so many fantastic traditional businesses and an image of a land that time forgot. As with most fashions the Island takes its time to catch up with the mainland but vintage style is very popular and some great new businesses have started up to give everyone the chance to embrace the style or relive an era they enjoyed the first time around.

Photography Abigail Steed

How they create their unique
vintage stands…
We up-cycle unloved china and glass to create beautiful bespoke cake stands that will complement any room in your home.

We don’t just put any old plates together; it can take months of searching for the right shape, colour and style to go with other plates to create the right look. Then we have to pray it doesn’t break whilst drilling!

It has taken a lot of practice and trying out of different drills but I can put a hole in pretty much anything now! There are types of china that are much harder to drill than others and some that can be too soft. Some types of glass shatter too easily so we have to be careful and choose the right types.

The stands can be used for many things like keeping jewellery on, paper clips etc. on your desk, soaps and bath accessories, savoury items such as cheese, biscuits and sandwiches look great on them as well as all kinds of chocolates, biscuits and cakes.

We create them in all colours, styles and shapes so there is bound to be one that will be perfect for your home or event. You can also bring your own plates to us to create your own stand with special family china or plates that will match your décor. Tea cup candles and afternoon tea gift boxes are also available.

Photo : : P Squared Photograph

A typical day…

Each day is different and I run other events as well as the functions and parties that I do with Wight Vintage but a typical Wight Vintage day involves replying to queries, catching up on paperwork. Updating face book and our website with new details and pictures. Sorting out returned equipment.

Going through our china stocks and putting new pieces together to create bespoke tea sets and new cake stand designs for our retail outlets.
Making cakes or tea party orders and deliveries of orders or stock. We usually have a consultation with couple looking to get married or go and view china for sale, so always on the go!

Photography Abigail Steed

Seaside or country?
I’m not really a fan of the water so definitely a country girl. Much prefer getting muddy to getting wet.

A favourite magazine or blog…
Vintage Life – any bridal or home styling magazine.

Advice for those starting out…
Persevere it takes a while to get recognised and a lot of hard work and late nights.

Biggest help…
Getting to know other small businesses that complement what you do and working together to promote your products.

Hot tips for visiting the Island…
Make sure you get out and see some of the Island by foot or by bike. Don’t just drive everywhere as you will miss some amazing things. And if you have used up some energy you will deserve tea and cake in the afternoon from one of the many lovely tea rooms. We organise some fantastic tea party walks as part of the Isle of Wight Walking Festivals in May and October so join us for a walk in the gorgeous back of the Wight countryside and then enjoy a lovely afternoon tea at our farm afterwards.

www.wightvintage.co.uk

Email : hello@ wightvintage.co.uk
www.facebook.com/wightvintage
Twitter: China Chick Claire @WightVintage
Tracey: 07590 612785 or Claire: 07855 022429

Many thanks to The Decorated Jeneral for this inspiring interview…

How did you start your business?
I’ve always had a thing for costume jewellery, particularly earrings, necklaces and brooches. I lost my best friend in 2010 and found that like many people coping with grief, I kept myself as busy as possible. I got busy making and soon had a collection of pieces I had made using vintage and modern buttons. My husband encouraged me to take them along to a craft show and it all took off from there.

What’s your favourite independent craft shop on the Island?
I love Isle of Wight Traders shop in Newport, it’s great to see people showcasing their work with pride and everyone should pay a visit to see the lovely and diverse range of quality, unique and affordable things they have on offer.

What’s your favourite on-line shop to sell your work and why?
I started off on Folksy, which alongside Etsy, is a great site. I now have my own website – www.thedecoratedjeneral.co.uk

What is the best thing that has happened so far with your business?
"I actually work full time as a Teacher and have two children under six so I’m very busy! I find time in the evenings to get making and I always find it relaxing" It is lovely when I see someone wearing something I’ve made and people remembering me and coming back for more is always a great compliment! Being contacted to be part of fairs and festivals is great and featuring on websites, blogs and being asked to put my items in shops is definitely a highlight!

What’s your typical day like?
I actually work full time as a Teacher and have two children under six so I’m very busy! I find time in the evenings to get making and I always find it relaxing.

What or who have you found most helpful on the Island?
The Isle of Wight Makers Network, of course! It’s been great to be part of this and it can only get better. All the lovely people that organise fairs are really great for supporting you, giving you advice and helping you network.

What’s your working space like?
Messy! It’s usually the dining table or the carpet!

Visit The Decorated Jenerals website for more gorgeous jewellery : www.thedecoratedjeneral.co.uk

Looking back at 2012 there was most certainly a feeling of change in the air, about the Island as a creative place.

New, exciting and beautifully curated fairs, shows and Christmas markets were begun. Wonderful historic buildings were brought alive with new work spaces and inspiring exhibitions. New networks and collectives were formed to unite the young and old in creative collaboration. The Islands arts groups and organisations were coming together to look at new ways to celebrate the extensive creative work that already happens here. Creative pop up shops sprung up in Island High Streets and newly created festivals were drawing in visitors and international performers alike.

Not to forget the great number of established and cherished creative events/happenings that everyone put extra effort into during 2012. We all know there is a large number of creative people who live on the Island – last year our wonderful creative melting pot was bubbling away nicely!

Even if 2013 is beginning to look rather like 2012 with the country’s overall economic outlook – we can build on what we did last year and keep the momentum going with fairs, shows, exhibitions, festivals, networking, collaborating, creative pop up shops, making and more!

Each makers creative life on the Isle of Wight is unique, it’s what makes our work, and Island, special.

Roll on 2013….we’re looking good!

Sara x

Photos from December 2012 at various events on the Island.

Left to right / top to bottom : : Jenga Photography, Mulberry Tree Wood Turnery, Love on the Rocks, Jogi’s Garden, Wight Vintage, SJB Hand Knits

Above center: 24 x 44 inch traditional wall hanging, Machine satin, ‘raw edge’ and blanket stitch applique & hand applique by Brenda Smith

The Vectis Quilters Summer Exhibition www.vectisquilters.co.uk 2012 was packed with wonderful quilts. Hanging from the ceiling they filled the room at Ventnor Botanic Garden with millions of colours and I’m guessing several hundred million individual stitches that went into making each one.

With so many wonderful pieces here is just a small taste of what was on display.

Sue Orchin ‘The Challenge!’  - 76 x 76 inch contemporary wall hanging machine pieced including sewn curved corners, Trapunto, hand embroidery & free motion quilting. Machine pieced to Ricky Rims ‘feathers to Urns’ pattern. The central applique is a traditional Chinese pattern with the other applique my own design. Outside border quilting design by Ricky Tims. Many of the techniques were new to me and were challenging.

Pauline Lloyds ‘Orchid’ art quilt 16 x 28 inches

Sue Impey – Collars/Cuffs/Shirts made from recycled materials

By Angela Giles – traditional picture Dahlia Design using accurate cutting and piecing. Free motion quilting. 34 inches dia.

I’ve lived on the Isle of Wight in St. Lawrence for nearly 13 years and love it. I’m “mum” to two beautiful Burmese cats and live with my partner of 15 years, Alan. I’ve always been fairly creative and love handmade items, but went through a period of several years where I lost my way a bit, but am now unleashing my creative side again.

Starting up a small business to sell your crafty makes is no easy feat. Sure, you can have your own website, but unless you sell something that’s quite individual and unique, your site can get lost amongst the thousands, sometimes millions, of other sites out there. This is where online handmade websites such as Etsy, Folksy etc. come in very useful.

Unlike ebay, there are no auctions, just a fixed price for anything you want to buy/sell. And, unlike ebay, the fees are pretty reasonable – in fact, some sites are completely free!

So first I introduce you to…..

ETSY www.etsy.com

When I first started my business, my niece (a young, trendy thing with a degree in Art History) suggested I try my hand at selling on Etsy. Me being not quite as young, not quite as trendy with no degrees at all, had never heard of Etsy. So I googled it. What I found was a feast of handmade delights ranging from works of Art to Knitting and Needlecraft and to Woodworking. The quality of the products looked to be a very high standard too.

Mostly an American site, Etsy started in 2005 and has grown very popular since that time. It currently has 39 million monthly unique visitors!! To get started selling on Etsy you must have a credit card which links to your PayPal account as this will be used for Etsy fees and when people buy your items. Listing fees per item are $0.20 (USD), which is roughly 13p, for a quantity of one which lasts four months. So if you were to list, say, a card and you put the quantity as two then you would be charged $0.40. If you sell an item you get charged 3.5% of the total sales (excl. shipping). I would much prefer it if they charged a one off fee for the listings, so if you were listing four items of the same product (so in the same listing) you would just get charged a set amount, because you don’t know how many you’re likely to sell. I always just list one item per product and then if I sell something, just list another one.

You have a shop front where you can add a banner and profile and if you sell various products then you can create sections within your shop.

Listing items is fairly straightforward, you just click on Add an Item in the top toolbar and it takes you through an easy step by step form where you can add categories to list your item, add photos and description and things like shipping details. At the end you just click on Preview Listing so you can check it all looks okay, then click Publish and your item is then listed. There’s a really neat feature that you can use if you have similar items to list – you can just copy a listing and then alter it accordingly which I’ve found very useful.

Etsy is also quite big on creating a Community. It has a feature called Circles which allows you to connect with other members of the Etsy community. This could be friends, family or someone whose work you admire. You just have to click Add to Circle on their profile page and then you’ll be able to see all their activity and stories within your own Activity Feed, so a little bit like a Twitter or Facebook timeline. You can also add listings or shops to your Favourites list and there is a forum where you can share your ideas and stories to other Etsy members.

In summary, Etsy is a really good way of buying and selling individual handcrafted items and connecting with other like minded crafters if you so wish. It is easy to use, looks good and is very popular. However, I don’t like the fact that they charge for every quantity of product you list and it’s mostly American based, so I would rate it;

3.5 / 5

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FOLKSY  www.folksy.com

Once I’d got used to Etsy, I then heard about Folksy. What really attracted me to it was the fact it is UK based. It started a few years after Etsy, and has a very similar look and feel to it, which was quite handy as I more or less knew what I was doing! Fees for listing are 20p (excl. VAT) but you can have up to a quantity of five per product for that, which is a much better system that Etsy. The listing lasts for approximately six months or until the item has sold out. Commission is slightly higher than Etsy, but still not too bad at 5% (excl. VAT) on all sales which is just on the listing price, and not on postage.

The listing process is very similar to Etsy, you have a form where you put item description, photos and what category to list in etc. Also you can view your listing before it goes live. Editing is easy – all listings show up in your dashboard where against each product are edit, delete and list similar buttons. The list similar button is pretty much like Etsy’s copy button – very handy.

There are also features such as Favourite Items and Favourite Shops that you can use if you see someone else’s work you like and wish to view again and like Etsy, you can have a shop front with a banner and profile. There are also various forums, such as Craft Talk, Shop Talk and Announcements which you can join in if you wish.

I actually really like Folksy and do prefer it to Etsy. It looks quite funky with lots of bright colours on its homepage and is set out nicely. It’s easy to use and navigate around and I like the fact that you can list up to five quantities of any one product for a set fee and it’s also UK based. I rate Folksy

4.5 / 5

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TOSOUK  www.tosouk.com

ToSouk (which means to take your goods to market – Souk being a marketplace in Arab or Muslim city), is the new kid on the block. Started just last year by Jennifer and David Dickinson in Cheshire, ToSouk is completely free to list and sell – so no fees whatsoever. I think this really shows how passionate they both are about what they are providing. Not in it for the money, they realised the difficulties and expense that unrecognised artists and crafts people experienced in selling their products and felt that there must be a better way – and so the idea of ToSouk was born.

At first glance, it looks quite similar to Folksy and Etsy – a nicely themed selection of goodies is displayed on the homepage with categories on the left hand side. Because it’s quite new, there are still a few teething problems and things that I found slightly annoying, although once you use it a few times you just get used to it. One of the main things is that your photos have to be square, which meant that I had to resize all my photos in Photoshop but because a lot of them don’t suit being square, there was a big space left underneath them which I had to fill with my logo to stop them looking odd. I did email them about this, and they said that currently they have to be that size, but hopefully in the future that will get sorted out.

There’s a forum although at the moment there’s not many posts, but it is all fairly new so will probably take time to get established.

I really like ToSouk and think it’s a great site. Listing items is easy, the site looks good and the big bonus is it’s all free. I really hope this site continues to grow in popularity as it’s a great idea. I rate Tosouk

4.5 / 5

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Tina Harknett

more about Tina’s company Wight Creations

We got to the Quay with updates of flooding around the Island roads and hoped that people would make it to the Talk. Thankfully people did make it and we were really very pleased that a mix of artists, media, business, councillors, arts organisations and the Islands MP Andrew Turner were amongst those that had supported the event.

Dan started by introducing his company Revolutionary Arts he then went on to talk about pop up shops and how they have used the concept. Dan has written a report to communicate the pop-up concept called the Pop Up Report which gives detailed information on pop up activity and www.howtopopup.co.uk also gives practical advice.

Dan told us that 15% of the uk shops are empty and that figure is rising. On the Island we have a vacancy rate of 13%. Most interestingly, Dan told us the reason for empty shops is not because of the recession. ‘…it’s become more obvious since the recession, and it’s become a catalyst for things happening, but it’s not the main reason’. Dan gave main reasons for vacant shops due to out of town business (like supermarkets and shopping centres) and online selling (which accounts for 10% of purchases and is rising)." (pop up’s) are time limited, with a start and end date. (they) don’t aim to be permanent in the first instance, although that could happen down the line."

He went on to talk about the Pop Up Shop concept and that to be a pop up they must be ‘time limited, with a start and end date’. That they don’t aim to be permanent in the first instance, although that could happen down the line. That they are easily transportable so they can switch space easily and they are distinct and different, offering something unique. They also offer a chance to test the market with ideas and products. The concept being perfect for makers and artists it can also house endless creative ideas.

He told us that Pop ups have become really mainstream and are used by big everyday brands now as a way of communicating their products. And that The South Bank in London is covered with pop up activity including restaurants, workshops spaces and bars.

From all his experience in the pop up world, Dan has identified common aspects to the people and projects that have made them successful, these include:

* Entrepreneurial skills

* The ability to make money from a project, through income from the shop or through funding.

* To use local businesses and suppliers to make the project happen so the money stays in the local  economy

* A broad range of skills which is created from a network or team that has come together. This nearly always includes people from a professional background in an arts discipline that are shifting their focus to a community driven project.

* Being able to communicate ideas through word of mouth as well as through social media with twitter being vital.

* Marketing skills and design skills to promote and set out the shop successfully

* Being adaptable and flexible with plans

* Always forward looking with the future in mind

The question and answer section included lots of questions from the audience about how to implement pop ups on the Island. It was a great lively session with lots of people putting their views and thoughts across.

Sunday was sunny, so we re visited Ryde and Dan got some great shots which he’s posted on flickr. I hope that the next time Dan comes to the Island the sun will shine. I hope that he’ll see we’ve acted on the quote he used in his talk, from the punk band the Pink Fairies, and are indeed ‘doing it!’ with bells on.

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With huge thanks to Dan for coming to the Island to give such an inspiring talk, to everyone who came and to Empty Shops Network, Quay Arts, Red Funnel and Rapanui for their support.

For more information go to Isle of Wight Pop Up Shops www.iowpopupshops.co.uk

The revival in traditional crafts has been strong for some years now, but Lace Making is one of those crafts that still remains relatively under represented. The Island is one of the areas of the county that has dedicated and accomplished makers of which Petranella is a wonderful example. She tells us more about her amazing lace on the Isle of Wight.

When did you start making Lace?
I started when we moved here, I read about a lady in the County Press who was very accomplished at many crafts – bobbin lace being one of them. Before leaving Northamptonshire I had brought an old bolster pillow and Bedfordshire horse (stand) with 22 pairs of bobbins attached to a piece of lace in the process of being made – and I wanted to know more. I contacted Mary Hall and I began the long road to learn the craft of bobbin (pillow) lace. This happened in 1976.

What’s your favourite kind of Lace to make?
I enjoy all types of lace – I guess I mainly make Torchon as it develops faster – but I very much like Befordshire, Honiton and Bucks Point, closely followed by Binche Flanders and Bruges Flower Lace (continental laces).

" Asking how many bobbins I own is like asking a lady her age!! All I can say is – I never have enough – but I guess over 1000…"
What’s the largest piece you’ve made?
The largest piece I have made has to be in terms of time. I started a Victorian Ladies head dress about 15 years ago and have only just finished it. Many other pieces have been made at the same time as I currently have 6 pillows with different patterns on the go. My latest is a christening gown which has 5 tiers of lace on the skirt – from about 75cm to 150cm long and sewn together to form the skirt. The tiers are 15cm wide.

I edged a wedding veil with honiton lace and added several flowers, squirrel and butterfly motifs. It took about 2000 hours to make.

How many bobbins do you own?
Asking how many bobbins I own is like asking a lady her age!! All I can say is – I never have enough – but I guess over 1000 as I have English, Honiton and continental bobbins as well as a collection of different style bobbins from Finland, Germany, Denmark, France, Russia.

How do you make Lace?
To make lace – count to 4 and you can do it!  You use 2 pairs of bobbins – there are 2 stitches only! One stitch is ‘cross’. Name positions 1, 2, 3 and 4 – move bobbin 2 over 3.
The other stitch is ‘twist’, again name positions 1, 2, 3 and 4. Move bobbin  2 over 1 and bobbin 4 over 3. Then the stitches get put together to form cloth stitch that’s cross, twist, cross. Half stitch is cross, twist. Double stitch is cross, twist, cross, twist. Then you follow a pattern pricked out on a card – Easy!!!

Do you teach lace?
I have 2 classes of budding lacemakers. One group more experienced than the other – they keep me on my toes! We have lots of laughs and drink lots of tea and coffee!

Have you made different coloured lace?
Lace can be made in any colour you like. Traditionally lace was white, but Queen Victoria enjoyed wearing black lace. Colour was always around but today we are experimenting more and producing amazing results.

What items do you make?
I make bookmarks, table centres, doilies, collars, motifs for blouse pockets, handkerchiefs, garters, wedding veils and edges to be attached to anything! Also paperweights, napkin rings, boxes all made out of lace. I have even made coasters and place mats – you name it I’ll have a go!

What’s the lacemaking scene on the Island?
Many people make lace on the Island. There is a group – The Lacemakers of the Wight who meet on the 1st Saturday of every month at Church Road Community Centre in Wootton (10am – 4pm). We have a membership of over 30 makers but I also know there are many more lacemakers on the Island who don’t belong to the group. There are some very accomplished makers on the Island.

What’s the history behind lace?
To find the history of lace you have to look at old paintings. Early Elizabethans wore lace collars and particularly cuffs – that’s the men, not the ladies – so the men demanded and the women obeyed! Kathryn of Aragon was said to have shown the lacemakers of Amptill how to make continental stitch which she brought to this country – called Kat stitch now and used in English lace. There are many more stories – the term ‘pin money’ comes from lacemaking – it was lacemakers who made lace for agents who then sold the lace at market. They worked for money to buy pins to enable them to make more lace. Before pins, thorns from the hedgerows were used and also chicken bones were used as pins.

Do you exhibit on the Island?
Exhibiting and  demonstrating is something I enjoy. I try to attend the main shows, Robin Hill Garden Show, Chale Show, Havenstreet Steam Weekend, Wolverton Shows mainly but anytime I get a chance – I’m there! I have recently started demonstrating at Made on the Isle of Wight in Bullen Road, Ryde. They are selling my bookmarks and I also take commissions, I have just finished a wedding garter and about to start another.

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Petranella’s work is available from Made on the Isle of Wight. She is also available for commissions and demonstrations through the contact form.

You’ve spent hours crafting away making your finest piece to date and you’re really, really proud of it. It looks AMAZING in the flesh so you want to show it off to the world on your website, and maybe even get a sale. So off to the spare room you go to grab your camera to get some shots. You painstakingly prop your product up and start to snap away but for some reason the photo just doesn’t quite jump out the page at you.

If you’re still reading this article and nodding your head then I would guess that this is an all too familiar situation but don’t sweat it, with a few small pointers you’ll be photographing your products like a pro!

Equipment
I’ll assume that you’ve already got a camera of some kind so next on your shopping list should be a tripod. Tripods can range in price but even just an inexpensive tripod will give you stability and prevent any accidental blurring that might happen when you shoot your products up close. Most cameras usually have a built-in timer and so my tip would be to set up your shot using your sturdy tripod and then use the cameras built-in timer to minimise camera shake and get your image as sharp as possible.

Composition
Simple is best. Simple compositions tend to work better with products as at the end of the day your customer wants to see your item for what it is and not be distracted by other elements in the picture. So avoid shooting from strange angles and shoot front-on to the item so that there is no distortion due to perspective.

Close-ups
Most cameras tend to have a macro mode so make sure you set your camera to that. This mode enables you to get very close to the subject which is essential for taking photos of small items like jewellery. If you’re using a DSLR with changeable lenses it might even be worth considering investing in a macro lens specifically for product photography to give you even more control.

Focus
Now you’re able to photograph up close, learn to focus! Practice, practice, practice is the key here. Most cameras are designed to focus on an entire area (like a landscape) and it can be difficult to focus on small objects so as boring as it is you’re going to have to have a look at your instruction manual to see what you can adjust. If you have the option to choose spot focus then this will really help as it will give you more control over what you are focussing on. Some particularly tricky items may even need you to manually focus your camera so spend some time experimenting, as focussing your camera will make or break the image.

Background
Clearly you want to focus to be on your fabulous product so we need to choose a background that enhances it. A busy or detailed background draws the viewer’s eye and attention away from the item and its features so use a single colour background. You’ve probably noticed that the majority of products are shot against white backgrounds and this is for the simple reason that there are no other colourful distractions so the only thing to look at is the product! Your backdrop doesn’t have to be anything fancy- it can be as simple as a white sheet or some pieces of white cardboard. Just try and conceal any creases and joins as these may distract the viewer’s eye.

Lighting
Light is really important when shooting products. The goal is to get the product fairly evenly lit avoiding harsh shadows. The best way to do this is to set up in a room with bright lights, or use a room that has big windows so that a lot of light fills the room. Your cameras built in flash can create unnatural shadows so have another flick through your cameras manual and switch it off. Poor lighting will make the image (and in turn the product itself) look inferior, so spend some time experimenting and get it right.

Post processing
Processing your photos afterwards in some kind of photo editing software is like adding icing to the top of the cake. Just a small bit of post processing such as cropping the image so it fills more of the frame and boosting the colours so they are more vivid and true to life can really make a photo. You don’t have to do a lot but even just small changes like I’ve mentioned will make your images a lot more professional.

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this and you picked up a few tips. Now go have some fun experimenting! The biggest different between an amateurs photograph of a product and a professionals is sharpness and lighting. So if you follow the steps above you’ll know how to get your images well lit and as sharp as possible allowing your product to take centre stage and wow your customers!

Chris Cowley
www.chris-cowley.co.uk

Get more on Chris here

Sue Paraskeva kindly agreed to talk about Collect 2012, her sublime porcelain and enjoyable makers existence here on the Isle of Wight.

I am a potter who has been making in porcelain since my degree – graduation in 1995, establishing group studios in London until moving to the Isle of Wight for a three year residency in 2000, at  Quay Arts Centre, I was based at Jubilee Stores. These three years were essential development time and this began my constant development of my work alongside the introduction of my successful porcelain tableware range.

Philip Bell knows his craft. You know he knows because he makes every single word count. The proof of this is in his award winning, beautifully crafted books for children which he writes and independently publishes. The proof also happens to be in the 140 characters twitter gives him, which he fills several times a day, where I follow his ups and downs, tantrums and triumphs…where his own wonderful adventure unfolds.

Where was your favourite place to explore when you were a child?
The wood at the back of my garden. I dared myself to explore the wood, further each time. It was private and I knew two big Alsatians lived there. I used to run like mad when I heard their distant barking.

What keeps you focused?
The ticking clock. I do have an overwhelming sense of wanting to do as much as I can before I grow up – I still don’t consider myself to be an adult. Now I’ve got children I appreciate the precious “free” time I have and try to be as productive as possible. But I often fail to follow my own advice and you’ll often find me chatting on Twitter.

I was given Pride and prejudice for Waterstones World Book Night recently. Which book/s would be your favourite/s to give?
Difficult, very difficult. I do have a problem with World Book Night because I think it’s preaching to the converted. Also books are so personal and it’s annoying to just have a narrow selection given for free. It doesn’t help writers in general or bookshops. I’d rather people have to buy a book from an indie bookshop or swap a book or give a book they’ve cherished for years.

Have you always written?
No, as a child I was into drawing. My mum instilled a love of books, read to me loads, I also read, but I never wrote anything or felt inspired too. I came away from school thinking I wasn’t good at writing. I don’t remember one inspiring lesson in English, the teachers left me disenchanted. It all started when I used to commute by train. I read loads, then got a cheap laptop and began to write. I haven’t stopped.

What or who have you found most helpful on the Island?
The wonderful sense of community, in the real world and on-line. Incredible people, funny, intelligent, supportive and inspiring.

Has it made a difference to your business being based on the Island?
Yes, due mostly to the great networking you can do and the sense of the Island community. Islanders and tourists like things made on the Island and are very supportive. It’s also creatively inspiring because of the wonderful woods, landscape and beaches.

What’s your typical day like?
Follow me on Twitter and you’ll get a good idea. But for the rest I do various work (web/writing/etc) for a big organisation that helps to pay the mortgage then Beachy Books stuff can include marketing, writing, designing, sales. I do various school visits and publishing projects in the community. I also do the school runs and look after the kids after school, which tends to keep me very busy, including cooking, cleaning and generally being a brilliant dad and husband. Ha!

Which writer inspires you?
I like books by dead writers (or close to it), which is frustrating, as they don’t tend to write any new books. Some of the writers that have inspired me are J G Ballard, Hunter S Thompson and Raymond Carver. Sarah Salway (very much alive and well!), a published writer who taught me on my writing course years ago, has also been a fantastic inspiration.

What’s your favourite family day out on the Island?
There are so many great days out on the Island that it’s hard to choose. Currently we love exploring Borthwood Copse, which is a beautiful ancient woodland managed by the National Trust.

What’s your favourite piece of advice you have been given?
Find your own way.

There’s something wonderfully special about buttons, and Lesa’s wedding bouquets are a true button celebration! She skilfully combines a myriad of shapes, textures and tones to create something so yummy…they make you smile from head to toe!

Of course then, I go and ask her some Pertinent questions…

It’s a great concept, where did the inspiration come from?
I saw a button bouquet on the Internet, thought it looked beautiful and knew I just had to make one. Not coming from a creative nor crafty background it was an urge that was most unusual for me.

What’s the oldest button you’ve used?
I’m not a button expert but I guess that some of my buttons date as far back as 1920/30′s. I have some beautiful Victorian gold filigree buttons, which I do find hard to use in bouquets.

What’s the most expensive button you’ve come across?
I am very thrifty when it comes to buttons so find myself some good buys, but some antique hand painted buttons in their boxes can fetch a lot of money.

What’s the most asked for colour combo?
Purple is a very popular colour for this year. I am always on the lookout for this colour mainly. Closely followed by pink.

What was your wedding bouquet like?
Ten years ago when I was married, I am ashamed to say, my wedding was not as colour co-rdinated as they are now and I left it to the discretion of the hotel wedding planner to choose – they were a lovely yellow and white bouquet – I had it pressed but I am sad to say it has been in my loft for the last nine years as it does look dated now. (Wish I had known of button bouquets back then!)

I can remember my Grandma hand making Dorset buttons when I was a child. Can you tell us about your new stock?
Yes! These are such gorgeous buttons I have only recently found out about. The buttons I will be stocking are handmade and will come in a gorgeous array of colours.

What’s your favourite wedding dress designer?
Ian Stuart  – adore his dresses!

To contact Lesa from I Heart Buttons see her bio here

Visit her website : : www.iheartbuttons.co.uk

Photos – Purple Bouquet, Top Bouquet, Cover Story Photo
Chris Cowley

My family have loved Raggy-Tag ever since my son was bought one as a gift from Live Like This in Cowes, nearly 6 years ago. I was thrilled when I found out they were made on the Isle of Wight, and so when they joined the Isle of Wight Makers Network I was even more thrilled!

I asked Tori Trimming the Company Director a few pertinent questions…

How did you start your business?
My daughter and nephew started playing with the labels on their soft toys, I couldn’t find a product covered in labels, so asked a friend to make one up. I presented it to our local toyshop who loved the concept; they had received requests from customers for a product with tags, so I felt confident about pursuing my ideas. Two years later, after trials with different fabrics, lots of ribbon combinations, three manufacturers, road tests and interviews with mothers and babies, Raggy-Tag was launched nationally in the well renowned Daisy & Tom children’s stores. I was also working for a city firm up until this point, but the time had come to make a choice.

What’s your typical day like?
No day is ever the same for anyone in the company. My day can range from travelling to Liberty to view seasonal or archived fabrics, attending fabric trade shows, visiting clients, visiting our factory in the Midlands, looking at the latest sewing machines, attending trade shows and PR events. Some days are office based and require a few hours of admin, calls to clients and discussions with the rest of the office and sewing teams.

Tell us about your new clothing and accessories line?
Our new products are predominantly baby gifts or sleep related accessories, but we have been rather tempted to make something special for the mummies of our Raggy-Tag babies.

The clothes range will be sleepwear, following the same comforting and cosy theme as our Raggy-Tags.

What’s it like exhibiting at the trade shows?
Each and every show has everyone pulling out their clipboards with a checklist of things that we cannot forget. A lot of effort is put into making our trade stands reflect our brand; this is our opportunity to show off our products at their best. Our trade show sales staff are based in London and are regularly updated with all of our products. They have a wonderfully relaxed and professional approach to prospective clients and have built relationships with our regular clients who are greeted at the stand by familiar Raggy-Tag faces. The majority of our business is generated at these events so it is a real team challenge to better each and every show.

What’s been the highlight for Raggy-Tag so far?
Raggy-Tags highlights are receiving a call, email or pictures from elated mothers or relatives. Some of our favourite pictures include babies who have fallen asleep with their tiny hands clutching the satin tags. Our sweetest request was from the mother who wanted their child’s quilted blanket in an adult bed size and more recently, the toddler that really hugs his Raggy-Tag teddy bear.

What keeps you on track through the inevitable highs and lows of having a business?
The highs are very high and the lures of having your own business are obvious, freedom and fulfilment. But the lows leave you feeling emotionally and physically exhausted, unless you are the sort of person that thrives on the responsibility of uncertainty and can deal with the stress. Somewhere in the middle is where I try to aim, balancing the light with the heavy because every day is different and you never know what’s around the corner, good or bad, easy or hard? No one can start a new beginning to a difficult day, but anyone can attempt a different ending.

Are there differences between having a business on the Island and mainland? What makes the Isle of Wight special?
One obvious difference is the fact that we are quite a distance from our main factory and this needs addressing. In many ways we have benefited from the quality of employees that we now have working in the Ryde office. Each and every person, full time, part time and outworkers have significantly contributed to the growth of Raggy-Tag in the last year. Throughout the day, everyone here is encouraged to contribute to the list of activities and issues. Every person I work with knows something better than me. My job is to listen long enough to find it and use it. As a result, work processes are more efficient, distribution is easier due to the personal relationship we have developed with the island couriers. The quality of work produced by our seamstresses is perfect and their contribution to product development is invaluable.

Whilst it has been a challenge to locate specific apparatus and skilled individuals for certain aspects of our manufacturing process on the island, I remain determined to source the workforce that we need to enable our mainland manufacturing to reside on the Isle of Wight.

What or who have you found most helpful?
Word of mouth has proved the most helpful at these initial stages. Raggy-Tag is about to join the Chamber of Commerce where we hope to learn more about the islands diverse industry members.

What’s the best piece of advice you can pass on?
Never forget, the only time you fail is when you stop trying.

What’s your favourite saying?
Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success.

Interview by Sara the IWMN Administrator.
Find the Raggy-Tag website here.

It’s hard to put one description to Luke George Burton’s making activities. But Star Wars, LucasFilm, Premiers, Film Credits and Private Collections are just some of the words you’d use…along with a super-cool talent.

Sara the IWM Administrator finds out more…

How long have you been Making?
Don’t recall ever not making stuff. Even as a kid I was detailing Action Force figures and the like.

What kick started your Making?
Mania. A desire to recreate a world in scale or recreate fabled objects and character from myth and movie.

What materials do you use?
Everything. False teeth, taxidermy eyes, aluminium, ABS, resins. You name it, I used it.

What’s this rumour we’ve heard about Star Wars costumes and the Island?
Lot’s of Star Wars links to the Island but the exciting one is the legend of a set of Storm Trooper armour from the 1977 that resides in a private collection here.

Does it take long to make a piece?
At the moment we are entering the second year of the build of three astromechs, so build can take a long time. My ethic is to strike a balance between “taking your time” vs “get it done asap”. Too much procrastination and it never gets done , too quick and you notice all the mistakes at leisure.

How do you get round storage issues?
You don’t. Guillermo del Toro bought a second home to fill with his comic book collection. I try and do stuff for others so it’s their problem.

Tell us about The Vectis Remnant?
The Vectis Remnant is a group of Islanders who love Star Wars and making props and costumes from that universe. It is a bonus that our activity raises funds for local charities. The Vectis Remnant is a squad of the 501st legion, a worldwide organisation that is favoured and used by Lucasfilm.

What’s the best thing to come out of your work?
I made a Mayan Death Skull for the office of Charles Tower in the movie ‘The Whisperer in Darkness’. It’s my first film credit but more importantly I was involved with people who’s work I have loved for years.

What’s the most frustrating part about doing what you do?
Not being able to get the idea from my skull into the real world quick enough. And working space. The more ambitious, the more room required and it is frustrating to spend more time preparing a work space longer than you will use it.

What’s your favourite gig you’ve attended with the squad?
Clone Wars premier. Anthony Daniels (C3po) was blown away by the quality of our Clones and could not believe how well they were made. He almost felt Lucasfilm themselves had provided them.

What’s your favourite saying?
“A man who never made a mistake never made anything”

The Vectis Remnant is currently raising money for the Isle of Wight National Autistic Society, who celebrated their 50th anniversary last year.

To mark World Autism Awareness Day, the Isle of Wight branch organised a very special fundraising event to build a 50ft (15 metres) ladder made of Lego.

On Ist April last year they used almost 40,000 bricks in 12 different colours to reach up the Drill Tower at Ryde Fire Station on the Isle of Wight. The ladder was built by the Island community, with Lego build workshops for families and small groups working together to build the 100 Lego steps of the ladder.

Head on over to the website for all the information about how it went : www.reachinghighforautism.co.uk

After reading some of the groups posts it struck me that possibly some of you good folk might perhaps be a little confused by the word ‘Maker’.

After all, it’s very straightforward word. But it nevertheless has a very distinguished pedigree. You’ve only to glance at your bible to realise that this was the very word that the old biblical patriarchs used to describe God himself. They gave it a capital letter, and you can’t go higher than that, can you?

The dictionary also tells us that it was an ancient word for ‘poet’. A little more research reveals that the Scottish poet William Dunbar (1465 – 1520) wrote an extremely mournful poem called ‘Lament for the Makers’, in twenty-five stanzas, all ending with the refrain ‘Timor mortis conturbat me’ (the fear of death disturbs me). He lists twenty six or so dead poets, but introduces this with a generally comprehensive list of others ‘Both rich and poor of all degree’.

At the risk of becoming morbid, I urge you to dismiss such thoughts and turn to sunnier topics. While the menfolk are pursuing such macho activities as playing golf or designing intricate layouts for their toy trains, let us turn our minds to fragrant matrons gathered for patchwork, lace-making, cross-stitch and other arcane crafts too numerous to number. The air is touched with the grateful odours of tea, delicious pastries and expensive biscuits.

Thank you very much for this David. I have been very liberally using the capital M for maker, and I think reading your post I’d better tone it down a little! – Sara IWM Administrator