So I've Taken Up Wood Carving....

Discussion in 'Members Hobbies' started by Jungle Jane, Jul 17, 2013.

  1. Phil A

    Phil A Guest

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    Ta Jen, Bath stone.

    Not heard anything more Moyra.
     
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    • Val..

      Val.. Confessed snail lover

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      Hope so very much that you find this therapeutic, I know how very hard it is to pull out of this!!

      Val
       
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      • Jungle Jane

        Jungle Jane Middle Class Twit Of The Year 2005

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        I am finding it very helpful and relaxing more than anything else. Probably because I'm hammering away for hours on end.

        Duck is in the garden now. Mounted some threaded bar as legs and painted them black so he looks like he's floating.

        [​IMG]
         
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        • Sheal

          Sheal Total Gardener

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          He's lovely Jane, just one issue though.......he needs a friend to keep him company! :)
           
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          • Jungle Jane

            Jungle Jane Middle Class Twit Of The Year 2005

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            Am working on it. Perhaps some babies too if he's gonna have a "friend" to keep him company. :heehee:
             
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            • Greecko

              Greecko Gardener

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              These are awesome, really impressive considering "reading from the start of the post" that you have only been at this for a short while! I like the creativity and patience for such a craft :)
               
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              • Jungle Jane

                Jungle Jane Middle Class Twit Of The Year 2005

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                Thanks Greecko I very much appreciate it.

                I've neglected this thread. I did carve another duck and painted him a gloss black, although he looked a bit like he had just fallen out of an oil slick or was wearing a gimp suit.

                I took the other duck and the star fish to my boss who wants to hold a craft fair this Christmas and reckons I should do it. I am bit reluctant to though as I don't really like pricing my work as it probably takes me longer to make than what they are worth to someone. Also I've only really been doing it for 3 months.
                 
              • Greecko

                Greecko Gardener

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                I say go for it Jane, if you can make a few quid to cover costs even. Hobbies are great if they can pay, but definitel shouldnt be the reason to do them!

                Have you anything else planned in the pipework? I know your partner does carpentry or sorts, does he try wood carving too?
                 
              • shiney

                shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                Pricing things for sale is always a problem with hobbies :scratch:. You need to look around some craft fairs and markets to see what the going rate is.

                This may look much too cheap for the effort you have put in but there are advantages to it. One is the fact that you then know that someone really appreciates what you have made. Another is that you need to sell them otherwise your house/garden will eventually get completely cluttered with them.

                Selling them gives the incentive to make more and it's a good feeling to be able to chat to the punters about how you made them. You will almost certainly find that you will be given good advice and ideas by some of them.

                The usual way to enhance the chance of a sale is to actually be working on something whilst at your stall and chat to them about how you do the work. It also makes you feel as though you haven't completely wasted the day if the fair is not too busy, as you would have made use of the time.

                How you display your craft is another important factor to achieving a sale and clear pricing also helps. Having them on different levels tends to attract customers. This is easily done with a few different size boxes draped in a nice looking material.

                As most people that come to your stall are unlikely to want to buy your product, although they could still be interested in what you do, your approach to them is important. A nice friendly smile (very easy in your case :)) and a friendly 'Hello' is usually all you need. This opens the communication if they want to talk or ask you anything. Be careful about saying things like 'Can I help you?'. This will chase away the ones that are only looking. That may seem as though it doesn't matter as they weren't going to buy anyway, but you really do want them to be at your stall. Just the fact of people standing at your stall will attract others.

                I've spent many years working at craft fairs and also teaching people to 'soft sell'. :blue thumb:
                 
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                • Jungle Jane

                  Jungle Jane Middle Class Twit Of The Year 2005

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                  I'm planning to carve a few items for some relatives of mine for Christmas but haven't actually worked out what they will be yet. The other half is more into his woodworking which has more technicality's than carving and so doesn't really want to look into it.

                  This is what he is currently building. It's big enough to fit me in it

                  [​IMG]

                  [​IMG]

                  Some brilliant advice there Shiney. I had no idea you did craft fairs. What craft did you sell?
                   
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                  • Phil A

                    Phil A Guest

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                  • shiney

                    shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                    It's Mrs Shiney that does the crafts but I used to do the selling and she spent the time chatting to customers and doing her crafts.

                    She started off by making pressed flower pictures, cards, bookmarks etc and now does painting, glass making (bowls, plates, pendants, dishes, T-light bridges etc), beading, different forms of jewellery, knitting, crochet etc.

                    She's having a coffee and cake morning in October for people to come along and look (no obligation to buy :)) and, as you're only down the road, I can get her to PM you some info if you're interested. :blue thumb:
                     
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                    • Jungle Jane

                      Jungle Jane Middle Class Twit Of The Year 2005

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                      [​IMG]

                      [​IMG]

                      Christmas present for my Nan carved out of a bit of oak Dave had lying around.
                       
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                      • Phil A

                        Phil A Guest

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                        Aww, he's brilliant Jane :biggrin::biggrin::biggrin::dbgrtmb::dancy:
                         
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                        • shiney

                          shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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