Jun 22 2010
Uh-oh, someone forgot to update her website with all of this months events :( The Facebook page has been really busy though so make sure you’re a fan to get all the important updates in future!
Anyway…So, I blogged before about preparations for the Aberdeen College Fashion show and now it’s all over! The clothes were fab, the wine was plentiful and SpoiltPig Jewellery got a great showing off on the runway.
See more shots from the night on Flickr and in the Facebook Album.
Mar 28 2010
SpoiltPig jewellery is all going to be re-priced by the end of April.
I wish I could say its now all FREE but erm…nah, that’s not how it works :(
I’m not sure how much anyone’s interested in the ‘details’ but I figure I should be as transparent here as possible.
Currently, I don’t pay myself for my design work or the time it takes to put that idea to paper(many long hours cursing and swearing at photoshop and tearing up sketchbooks) or the time it takes me to promote, list and write item descriptions, the cost and time for promotional materials like flyers and business cards, travelling to and working all day at markets in the freezing cold, the cost of market stalls in the first place…this list goes on forever.
From the very beginning, I’ve been paying myself minimum wage for the time it takes to ‘make’ each item and then y’know, adding materials costs and rounding it up or down to the nearest quid. It’s not even the current legal minimum wage…I’m lazy at maths so when I say minimum wage I mean a FIVER p/h.
I’ve managed to keep it going this far with LOTS of help from lovely, awesome friends who’ve donated time and tools to help me. I don’t have to pay for professional jewellery shots or expensive programs, I didn’t have to pay a web developer and I currently don’t have to pay for web hosting, all down to their generosity. These people deserve to be paid though, right? and I’d like to start doing that at some point this year…and maybe start earning a proper wage for myself too.
Folksy, the UK based site that I use to sell my work through are coming out of beta mode on the 1st May 2010 and as such, will be introducing a teeny 5% commission on my and everyone else’s sales, so I figured that’s as good a time as any to re-launch SpoiltPig with some more realistic prices.
I hope this doesn’t piss anyone off, I hope that all my lovely customers will stick with me and I’m more than willing to answer any questions anyone might have and explain commission and fees in more detail if needed/wanted.
Mar 3 2010
A celebration of our Cat pals all across the globe. Initially, I was going to host an itty bitty cat swap but have decided to open it up to the entire family, anything from tigers & lions to cheetahs, caracals and domestic cats!
This swap is open internationally(so also be prepared to post globally) and should include a minimum of one handmade themed item(for your swap partner or their cat!) and also something your swap partner can use in a crafty way(this does not have to be cat related).
All crafts and arts are welcome. Jewellery, photography, paper crafts, illustration, upcycled, knitting, sewing, felting, woodwork, printing… everything goes! and I’ll be attempting to pair people with different specialities so we can all see something new!
Here’s a little inspiration for your swap:
To take part, please email the following information to catswap@ilovespoiltpig.com
Your Name:
Postal Address:
Email:
Blog/website: (so your partner can learn more about you!)
Any favourites in the cat family and do you have a cat?:
A little about you: (favourite colours, some interests, style, craft, allergies that your swap partner may need to know about)
Sign up before the 15th March and I’ll get everyone emailed with their swap partners details within the week. Last date for posting to your partner will be the 19th of April, plenty of time to get creating!
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*There’s no minimum or maximum spend on this swap but make sure to send something you would be happy to receive yourself and communicate with your partner throughout.
Jan 5 2010
I thought it about time to share some more resin jewellery, works in progress :) I’m pretty excited about everything that I’m doing at the moment with college and stuff (first day back today was extremely productive, reassuring and FUN) but I’m really happy with the new jewellery I’m working on. I say ‘new’ but really it’s my old, original style. I think I got too sidetracked before Christmas, making things I thought were ‘cute’ and that other people would like, but with pretty much none of my own personality or signature.
Any constructive criticism is welcome, I’d really love to hear what you think of them!
(also please excuse the dust, scratches and fingerprints obscuring some of the design and text, sanding and polishing is the next stage!)
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Fashion
These three pieces are reserved for Sterling Silver fittings and necklaces once I’ve gotten round to making them all smooth and shiny. There’s something a little fun about taking messy, lavish collages and pairing with something as delicate and simple as silver :)
Ballet
Just some vintage images of ballet dancers that I came across. The first has been collaged and finished with a red bow embedded into the resin. I’ve used the other in a more abstract way and keeping with the monochromatic scheme have added a faux pearl and a little silver flower from some broken, vintage jewels donated by a friend.
…and finally! A new collaboration with graphic designer and maker I Love Lexy. Alex had some of her I Love Lexy signature graphics printed onto fabric just before Christmas and I’ve taken abstracts from them and embedded them in various resin shapes. As soon as I finish attaching bails they’ll be on sale in her own online shop :)
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edit: just read my own post back to myself, possibly the longest one I’ve written EVER. If I’m so busy with all this work then why am I spending hours on the internet playing with photos and writing about it?!~
Jan 2 2010
SpoiltPig has just seen her first Christmas as a jewellery maker, seller type person/thing. I actually spent Christmassy time getting drunk in Glasgow and then fat in Bath but I think I’ve really learnt a lot about what to expect next year (vomitting).
Did a couple of Christmas markets in 2009 which was maybe a bit adventurous given my lack of enthusiasm for selling and my inexperience in jewellery retail land but anyway, put all of my energies into those (two were ace and two were a bust sales wise) and sort of completely forgot about the online shop :( I hopefully will remember not to make the same mistake again next year. Sales jumped the last week of November but then I didn’t add any new stock to Folksy and they sort of became non-existent after that, rubbishums.
Anyway! Winterval was great, family & friends wise. We ate, drank, talked a lot and were mostly merry. Half my friends aren’t half as happy as I’d like them to be but maybe things will look up soon, it’s a new year after all.
Thank you to all my lovely customers of 2009, my first year as a jewellery maker seller type person/thingum was fine and dandy and I shall keep on making things :)
and…to commemorate my epic christmas online/folksy fail I’m having a January sale!
Lots of little trinket necklaces from £5 and brand new stock that I forgot to add before the holidays, THREE whole pages! I’ll be breathing new life into my Folksy shop over the next month with whole ranges of new jewellery and accessories so keep your eyes peeled!
