My work in the opening exhibition last night

[CJ57]

Thanks everyone
They pay for the advertising Indi. Although back when I started there were a couple of galleries that made us split the cost I haven't had that for a long time. Probably covered by the sometimes exorbitant commission rate, a gallery near Penrith marked up by 100%
I've stayed away from galleries for a long while having had a few bad experiences in the past . I take issue with cheap imported jewellery bought at the trade show in Harrogate being put in with my work and then they wonder why it doesn't sell. This one contacted me and it gave a lift to my very flagging spirits. I don't make that often so even if they just sold a couple of pieces it would move older stock out to a wider audience and I hope to be able to still do the Open Studio in May which has been good for me. I talked them into taking 30% on craft to begin with so I can live with that and she bought a piece from me to wear on the night so at least one has gone although it was from the OS stock and not hers!

They do seem to know people and looking at his brothers collections list on his website was interesting, way out of my league but I'm not sure they will be the people that spend the money. They intend to keep it high end and not fall into the trap that all the other shops in the village do of stocking horrible Scottish tourist tat. Not sure how much tourists spend on good stuff, I know from my OH that there is a certain nationality that prefers to pocket treasures rather than buy them :/
There were women at the opening though that said this is what we need in the area so we'll see if they put their money where their mouth is I suppose.
Will just have to wait and see but it's their responsibility now to sell the bloomin stuff and there were some positive comments from other artists about my work so that was nice. Sometimes you need a bit of encouragement from your peers to know that it's not a worthless exercise

[Tabby66]

Good luck Caroline, your work looks fabulous!! I hope this will be a great success for you, I know you've worked so hard to get to this point......and now for OS!! Great going Caroline xx

[CJ57]

Good luck Caroline, your work looks fabulous!! I hope this will be a great success for you, I know you've worked so hard to get to this point......and now for OS!! Great going Caroline xx

Thanks Jill xx the OS website has been updated and this is my page, may as well do it all at once the pictures are better too!

http://www.openstudiosfife.co.uk/ind...e-john-11.html

[Tabby66]

Thanks Jill xx the OS website has been updated and this is my page, may as well do it all at once the pictures are better too!

http://www.openstudiosfife.co.uk/ind...e-john-11.html

I saw this at the weekend (maybe through a Facebook link??.....anyway...), I took a look and thought it looked fab, I like your choice of pictures, I thought they demonstrated some intrigue and diversity.......good luck!!

[CJ57]

I saw this at the weekend (maybe through a Facebook link??.....anyway...), I took a look and thought it looked fab, I like your choice of pictures, I thought they demonstrated some intrigue and diversity.......good luck!!

I sold half of them last year, I haven't made the new stuff and we have to provide the pics in Dec :/

[Patstone]

I live close to the University of Exeter which has quite a strong contingent of Chinese students. We befriended one girl who made a fuss of our dogs, (we were thinking, I wonder which one she wants to eat) anyway, she is on a gap year in Sweden and flew to wherever is Santa's Grotto, Greenland I suppose, for Xmas and sent us a card from there. When it comes to travelling it seems money is no object, but they do have a strange way of looking at life. Chinese girl's father has a serious liver complaint which she said is through too much drinking as he entertains a lot with his job, he was taken into hospital in a bit of a rush, and me thinking that she would want to go home, told her she could store her computer etc here as it may not be safe in her room for a month or so. She said if he dies, there is nothing she can do about it, so why go. She is the only child, and her mother is an accountant, not sure what her father does for a living but he works for the same company so presumably he is in accounts too.

They are Chinese Dennis my husband worked at Hollyrood Palace until recently and now works in a student residence, the Chinese students seem to think nothing of paying £2000 for the flight home for Xmas and a can't understand why we haven't been. Another has just flown out to Dubai to meet up with his parents. We maybe all need to learn Chinese and tap the market
Not many Gaelic speakers in Fife I wouldn't think maybe come independence! Although my OH has just told me there are a couple of the Chinese students that know how to say kiss my a.. in Gaelic which is more than I do