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In lieu of being at a market this Sunday 2 December (which is also my daughter’s 19th birthday but she’s planned a picnic in Bainskloof with friends and sans parents so I’m not required), I’ve decided to have an Open Day at my home. I did this once before, two years ago, and it was a great success – I invited everyone I knew, including all my neighbours from the complex in which I live, and made one of those huge beer-box chocolate cakes and provided coffee and tea. ‘Cake and Mosaic’ had a great vibe because most of my neighbours are really really nice, plus I sold loads of mosaic mirrors and frames that, frankly, don’t always sell well at markets. Win win.

Now that pretty much all I do is craft, there’ll be other things for sale as well – lamps and lampshades, owls, rag-tag fairy lights, bags, crocheted jewellery, button bangles, bunting, etc. Shew – I’m like a little shop all by myself. (The little shop of horrors…!?)

What this really means, however, is that I AM NOW FORCED TO TIDY THE LOUNGE. I am ambivalent about this – it would indeed be bloody marvellous to have a space clear of crafting stuff and empty bottles and half-baked experiments, but it’s where to begin that’s the daunting prospect.

I’ll leave you with this rabbit which pitched up on my screen earlier. I like.

(image by artist and illustrator lisa congdon)

To be continued…

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a wonderful saturday after all

Our Constantia Open Day was — exhausting, wonderful, and best of all worthwhile! Even the sun came out for us. Megan’s original illustrations were the biggest hit of the day, and she sold thousands of cards and notebooks. Jane and Mary provided home-baked choc chip cookies and red velvet cupcakes, which were so good they have been commissioned to provide the treats for a Womens’ Day lunch late this week. An interesting offshoot!

Some pics in slideshot format for speed:

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I would highly recommend holding regular Open Days for small, growing businesses like ours because they are an excellent medium for showcasing concepts and getting feedback (with minimal cash outlay). What might seem like a genius item when you first produce it at home late one night might not actually appeal to Real People at all – and things that you don’t think will sell can surprise you. It’s damn hard to know what people want!

Jam Tarts is grateful to Jane and Craig Butters for the use of their house and garden. Thanks, guys. (Same time next month?) (and Craig, thanks for ordering a knitted warmer for a certain part of your body, I’ll get onto it right away and will be sure to make it XXL).

To be continued…

Every person’s worst enemy

I know I am not the only person who ever experiences self-doubt. Apart from the obvious, Why would he be interested in me with my stretch marks and crooked teeth?, or I’m sure they’ll never hire me over that sexy 25-year old MBA graduate, there is also the one where you give up before you’ve even started: There’s really no point in trying to write a novel/ learn to quilt/ design your own clay bowl because you’re useless and everyone else has already done it better. Don’t even waste your time, budget brains.

So, as I plan my day of last-minute preparations for our Open Day tomorrow, I find I am having to contend with that sarcastic, self-deprecating voice in my head that says, No-one will want to buy anything you’ve made, fool, it’s too average. In an effort to squash it, to kick it in the guts with all my strength, I took a little wander around my flat and took pictures of just a few of the things I own which other people have made, and which I love .

In random order: a ceramic jug, a lino cut, a knitted teddy bear (made by Anne), a porcelain doll with crocheted clothes that used to belong to my dad when he was small, a painted plate, a woodcarving from Bali, a decoupaged hook holder, a felt rabbit, a mosaic heart (by Francois Kolver), and a clay pot.

Perhaps the people who made these also sometimes wondered what the hell they thought they were doing. Yet here these things are, validated by my choice and ownership of them, and representing so much more than just their material selves.

Right, shoulders back, chin up. Let me go and give a final rub to those mosaic mirrors.

To be continued…

home work

Only 6 more sleeps until our Open Day [for those of you in Cape Town, it’s at 3 Leith Road, Constantia, from 10h00 to 15h00 this coming Saturday 4 August.]

We have lots of gorgeous new crochet-y things to put on show, and Megan has been busy with her unique illustrations and cards.

We are working with another local business Gift Gardens on this one, so even if you aren’t into mosaics and blankets and footstools, you can pick up beautiful and useful things for your garden – plants, herbs, flowers, pots, fairy lights, solar lamps, sky rockets, gardening gloves…

Today the mini mosaic mirrors I’ve been busy with are getting their final touches. In my kitchen. No room anywhere else. No space to cook supper. Oh, what a shame. (McDonald’s, anyone?)

To be continued…

Open Day #2

Attention please! Aandag asseblief!

Jam Tarts is partnering with Gift Gardens to bring you an Open Day you will never forget!

I wrote about GiftGardens recently, the “growing” business that Mary Berry and Jane Butters started. They have a stunning range of plants, bonsai and garden goodies that will blow your mind. Check out their “blooming” website.

   

I also wrote about Jane’s house recently. This is the venue for the Open Day. We have made a list of all the things that Jane’s husband Craig needs to attend to, to ensure that everything is perfect for us (front garden – weed; front door – fix the scratch marks that the dog made; entrance hall – polish the tiles; etc.) Maybe we can also get him to bake us some treats…?!

Diarise the date now – Saturday 4 August 2012 – and I’ll continue with reminders and more information between now and then.

To be continued…