Showing posts with label Co Mayo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Co Mayo. Show all posts

Sunday, 3 July 2011

Shligigh-ish Crafties Ahoy!


Calling all Northwest of Ireland Etsy Seller People!
(Sound like Captain Janeway from the Starship ‘Enterprise’, don’t I!)

Since this is the year of Craft, I’ve been reading about all sorts of Craft events and ‘do’s’ happening elsewhere in the country; but the nearest to Sligo is either Donegal or Ballinasloe, as far as I’ve discovered. For anyone with children, transport restrictions (i.e. Cost of petrol- not funny), work commitments, etc, travelling far isn’t really possible. It certainly is impossible for me.

Enter the Great Notion! We make our own Shligigh group!

I wonder if any of you who are within easy reach of Sligo, would be interested in getting together on a regular (monthly?) informal basis to meet and greet, show and tell, talk and listen, support, cheer on, brainstorm, and all that sorta jazz … each other? I’m specifying ‘Sellers’ here because I know there are already various craft groups, and I think it is ‘sellers’ who need to support each other, having a somewhat different outlook, set of interests/ needs to ‘hobby’ crafts’ people.

At present my idea is just to meet each other, like minded Crafties, you know? But some of you may have ideas for doing more, and I certainly would be interested in any ideas you have, especially any which raise the profile of us Crafties trying to earn a living in the Barbaric West!!
(joke- I’m Irish and proud of it!)

As a start, perhaps if you are interested in meeting, you could convo me with a ‘yea’, or a ‘nay’. If you don’t wish to be included in further updates, (and I do appreciate that many people have enough to do without something like this) I’d appreciate knowing, and if it’s a ‘yea’ perhaps emails would be an easier way to group message?

Secondly, it seems to me that an early evening meeting (like 7 or 7.30) on a weeknight would probably suit most people, over a coffee/ tea (can’t afford a meal out), so perhaps you’d like to indicate which night would suit, otherwise I’d just make an arbitrary choice.

Thirdly, a cafe in Sligo town would seem an obvious venue, and if people are keen I’ll investigate where is open and/or suitable. Of course, if we grow into something amazing, we could be hiring the Sligo Park next!!!!!!!
Anyhow, please let me know what you think and we’ll take it from there!

Regards,
Heather (from HecketyBeckety on Etsy)

heckety@hotmail.com

If you want a phone number, please email or convo me? And btw (or is it fyi?) texting or email is my preferred method of communication!!

Thursday, 2 September 2010

Retail opportunities for Irish crafters

Hello all! Lovely to be back on familiar ground here, hope you've all had a good summer.

I've had some retail opportunities pop up which may interest everyone - grab your chance to get your stuff into a Real! Live! Shop!


Fleur from BluebellEco Candles has let me know about a new shop in Kenmare, Co Kerry called 'One of a Kind' . Charles, the owner, intends to fill it will ONLY Irish handmade crafts. Should anyone be interested in supplying on a sale or return basis, with commission to shop of approx 30% of sale to the shop (each person can work on their own deal) you can get in touch with Charles on 087 9953864 or email gerretsen@hotmail.com

Kenmare has a very busy tourist trade so business is fairly strong all year round. The shop has a nice appeal with a old style pretty blue front window.

Fleur will be supplying the shop with her candles and can give better feedback in a few weeks.

Ella from Ellarta is opening up a shop & gallery 'The Mood Gallery' in October in the Main Street, Mill Lane, Castlebar, Co Mayo and is also looking for Irish crafters to rent some shelf space in her shop / gallery space! So you can try out the retail environment at a very low initial price.

Ella says the gallery will offers a unique and totally different concept from existing galleries or art & craft shops and will specialize in selling only hand made items such as jewellery, pottery, glass craft, wood craft, leather craft, paper craft, clothes, bags and toys and many others.

The Mood Gallery will rent many individual retail shelf spaces in our retail shop (from 15 euro / month plus 10% commision sale), for hand made art and craft creators wishing to set up a retail presence for their art and crafts.

Thus means you don’t need to outlay large amounts of money and take the risk of setting up your own retail shop premises. You can email Ella on info.themoodgallery@gmail.com for more info or check out the blog.

So get cracking for the run up to Christmas. It's not that far away! And fulfil those dreams that you've always had in the back of your head of Retail Glory!

And of course you can convo Fleur or Ella for more info about these.