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Any input you have Franco would be great. I understand where your coming from, thats why I wanted some help. I do want it to be enjoyable to read. Brian has sent me something I’m very happy with put I would still like to see what you can do as well if thats okay.
Cheers
JoeAll of the materials apart from the the rush work are from Herefordshire, which is the county I lived in while making the chair at university. I brought the kiln dried oak from whitney saw mill and they also kindly kiln dried the Beach branch-wood for me. I didn’t do the rush work myself the Former Glory Seat Weaving Company to do this for me. They are based in Dorset so this is the only part made outside of Herefordshire but still in the UK. The black bamboo is from a friends back garden who had some growing. While making the rocking chair I realised that one off them had a slight defect, a airgun pellet was embedded right in the middle of one. I decided to keep it in there because i thought it was interesting and gave a little story to where the materials had come from. Obvously someone must have been shooting into a bamboo bush for whatever reason. I used some exoxy to stenghen it. I finished the whole chair with oil but I can’t remember what kind, I reckon probably Danish oil. The Bamboo was finished with Shellac.
http://www.whitneysawmills.co.uk/environmentalpolicy.html
Cheers Brian, your help is appreciated. I would like to get it up on the website within the next week really. But I’m not leaving untill the end of July so theres no rush. It’s just the sooner it’s up there the more time there is for it to hopefully sell.
I wrote this earlyer “This beautiful rocking chair is made from materials sourced from the country. The legs are English kiln dried oak to ensure that the chair is stable a sturdy. The side rails are made from salvaged pine from pallet wood, as well as beach branch-wood that I have collected on walks and has been kiln dried. The back of the chair is made from Black bamboo and there is a rush work seat.”
I’m just really not very creative when it come’s to writing. I Don’t know how to start a sentance without “the”. I’ve attached a photo as well so you can see what it is.
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You must be logged in to view attached files.Hi Frank, sorry I know this is a late reply. I don’t often check this section of the forum.
I’ve been slowly setting up my busyness over the last maybe 9 months. So first of I’ll say I’m not making any money and I’m no expert. Everything I tell you is what I’ve been taught and have not put into real practice myself yet. At the moment my focus has been stashing cash for proper machinery and a kickstart when I’m ready to give it 100% which will be this time next year.
At uni I studied Contemprary Applied Arts, which is basicaly a practical arts and crafts course aimed at getting people out selling and making work. It had a great emphesies on profeshional practice so I think I’ve got usefull knowledge on that kind of thing.
There are some things that I think are pretty important to start with. You need some very good photos of your work, and I mean very good. Galleries won’t consider your work if you have bad photos. Pay someone to take them if you must, it would be well worth the money. Get together a proper portfolio before you do anything, a hard copy and a website. Theres are tones of free websites, I use moonfruit and a decent portfolio book is about £20 to £30, I got mine of ebay and I would say it needs to be A3. 6×4 inch post cards with a strong image of your work is fairly standard in the craft world, but having standard business cards is usefull as well. You also need a well thought through artist statement. Perhaps 300 words explaning what inspires your work, this is where if your capable of writing like it you have to get romantic and poetic about it. But it needs to be clear and focused.
Having all this helps you get into galleries, crafts fairs and craft societys/organizatins which Is going to be key to getting customer base. In the Uk at least there are a lot of craft organizations that help you find galleries, give you networking opurtunities, and business help. The crafts council have a tone of info on there website. I’ve just started rewriting my business plan now because i haven’t looked at it in a while.
I had a wooden floor but i still gets very cold because it’s just 1 thick plyboard with nothing underneath. It gets so cold sometimes my toes go numb. I haven’t managed to damp proof the shed yet so carpet aint an option. So I go for the wooly socks. It has the best advantage because they can be put on the radiater before I go out.
It’s hard to really know what your doing wrong without being able to see what your doing. I assume you’ve seen Paul Sellers planing tips video. This is another video by Christopher Tripe that I found usefull.
I think pracice can make perfect evan if your not doing i correctly. So long as you know that your no doing it correctly.
What kind of plane do your have? I shouldn’t come loose?
This link might help. http://paulsellers.com/2012/09/buying-good-tools-cheap-introducing-the-hand-saws/
I have a few second hand spear and jacksons I got from Ebay and junk shops.
Cheers Kevin, but i’ve sorted it now. I would like to see a photo though. Just because I like to look at workshops. I just secured a large panel of pine to the wall and floor for the wood to lean against. If I had space I would store it flat but I don’t. Put up some shelves as well. Regained tones of space.
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