I have to say far from chilling out this week, I've been putting myself through the paces with embroidery this week, but I am certainly enjoying it. Silly thing to say really, of course I am enjoying it. Sure there have been projects that I've worked on where the enjoyment ebbed away the longer it went on, but you know you live and your learn and also you have to remember with any job or even hobby for that matter there are always things you end up not enjoying. So far its been a long time since that's happened for me.
Hopefully not tempted fate.
Before I show you the progress of the Paradise Bird project I thought I would give you an update on how my business plans are going. Branding is under way, as I speak my rather talented Uncle is working on that for me and we may even do some collaboration pieces like I have done with Heidi. I'll keep you posted.
Once the branding is sorted it means I can update all the sites with a more consistent look and I can get the new business cards sorted and labels etc. Which I can't wait to get sorted, at some point I will need to source fabric labels, or perhaps get a stamp made so I can make my own. Decisions, decisions.
The website I would say has finally bedded down, by that I mean I've stopped tweaking it, so any changes from now on will simply to keep it up to date. With the new look its certainly going to be easier and quicker, which is a relief.
The most important step, and one that I know all craftspeople and artists battle with and that's how much are you worth? Perhaps that makes it sound a bit cras but it really is as simple as that. There are countless articles, blog posts and books on the subject of pricing and how you shouldn't under or over value your work. It's a bloody minefield.
I've heard it quite a lot from friends and family that I undersell my wares, and yes I know I have and it comes down to not having the confidence in what I make is worth the price tag. Artists are there worse enemy in this respect. So I've bitten the bullet, if I don't now then frankly I am never going to be able to make this a viable means of living. I worked out my hourly rate, it certainly hurt my brain I'll tell you that much. And now I have done that it gives me a better basis for what to charge for my pieces and gives me the confidence I need to say I am worth it. I have a good friend of mine on hand to slap me if I don't use it. She has a strong right arm so she'll hurt.
Why am I telling you this, well I hope it will help some other like minded soul.
The heavy stuff over with for another week let's have a look at some pretty pictures.
A spot of late night stitching meant that I managed to get all the trailing done on the tail feathers completed, however, it's not the end of the tail feathers, they need sparkle! Sparkle will come in the form of silver passing couched down one side, and crystals at the end of the feathers.
Ain't it pretty?
Actually one thing you can't really see in these images, is that towards the ends of the feathers I have blended in another colour different shades or tones of the colour I started with. Rather like the effect, even if my photography doesn't show it off.
Artsy shot...
Actually that's where the project is at, I've stopped it to work on something else for the rest of the afternoon, once that's complete then I will be working on the wing.
