Saturday 15 October 2011

Standing up for themselves

Displaying work is always a tricky topic and lately I've been making small labels or tags for my brooches so that they don't appear to be 'all card'. But the downside is that they must lie flat on a table or in a basket or something. 
Of course I have my lovely tree when I do craft fairs but not everything will fit on there, so I've been playing with cards and come up with these.
They can stand upright, or sideways.

 I've cut little tabs on the backs so they can even be bent into a curve for standing in galleries and then folded over front wards to make a sort of pouch for packaging.
And, there's room for my 'disclaimer' which I'm sorry to say was necessitated by one customers comments.(I didn't add 'don't stick the pin in your eye -its sharp,' but it was all I could do to restrain myself)
The other advantage is that the brooch seem to be enhanced on a plain background.
There is a drawback.
Its yet another time consuming, money consuming part of making and presenting my work. Also the card is too wide to use my hole puncher for the pin so I have to use a scalpel to make an 'X'
Ah well.
No one said it was easy. I suffer for my art!

I made a huge pile of frond brooches last week as readers know, and I've sold more than half of them.
Thats good isn't it? (Don't forget blog reader coupon code for 20% discount: 'squashes' , until the end of October or thereabouts.)

Now I'm just going to whisper this ....on Tuesday we are going to choose a puppy! It will be ready at the end of October.
I can't wait.

43 comments:

Magpie's Mumblings said...

oooooh - whispering back - what kind of puppy?

potatobird said...

Your beautiful creations are so unique and lovely that they already do 'stand up for themselves'!!

ssshhhh...did someone say puppy?

Penny said...

Oh I wondered how long before you managed to get another one. So pleased. I think I am getting a new old dog, (a border collie bitch who has finished having puppies) too soon.
Really love your work, just so poor at the moment.

Anonymous said...

How exciting ! I just talked with a scottie breeder this morning for a puppy in December. I am so glad for you! PS Love your work....

Anonymous said...

There is always ONE of THOSE type of customers!!!
Love your brooches!

Pat said...

They look beautiful (and expensive!) displayed like this - perhaps you could charge a little more to cover the extra time involved?

You can always blame having an extra mouth to feed!!

chocolatefrog said...

Very clever card design, but as you say it all takes more time and money. And you find they're happy without cellophane packets then?

Daisie said...

Very clever little cards, very impressive, looks very professional (not that you ever look anything else of course)! x

Annie said...

Brill design of cards to display your wonderful works of art......what sort of puppy? :-) I'm also whispering :-)Hugs,
A x

Jennifer Tetlow said...

As you know Jackie, I thought the presentation was lovely and actually please don't think of it as a 'labour' or time consuming, it says that you care a lot about your little fronds, or leaves, and I like that. PS I use revolving hole punch pliers and these have a good reach.

jackie said...

Looking good. It sounds fiddly, but don't forget its part of the 'fun'.

Heather said...

Love the whispered news - how exciting! Your cards are superb and make a card and gift all in one - such a clever idea and an even more professional
presentation. It's a pity that it is time consuming and profit eating but hopefully it will pay off. Sad that you need a disclaimer but some people have no commonsense.

menopausalmusing said...

A simple looking display/packaging method which I bet took forever to design and work out the text positioning......... It works though, and sets your pieces off beautifully! Loved that little whisper at the end of your post - it made me SMILE!

ShabbyChicShaz said...

What a clever way to display your brooches, they look great. Puppy? Fantastic!

Anonymous said...

They look fab on the cards and I'm glad to hear the brooches are selling so well, they're lovely :)

How exciting about the puppy :D

WendyCarole said...

love the packaging looking forward to seeing the puppy

Carol Q said...

don't they look stunning on a white background. I'd want to buy all of them! aw, new puppy, how exciting.

Wendy said...

Such a lovely way of displaying them, very clever. I take it the "one" customer was some kind of Health and Safety official?? You can get an eyelet punch which will make a hole anywhere - they're about £7. You can get a metal one which you hit with a hammer, or a spring loaded plastic one. If you want more info, I'm sure I can find one for sale online and send you the link.

Chris Daly said...

Oh Jackie, I'm so thrilled for you two. Congratulations!

Unknown said...

They all look stunning! What talent you have. Excited to see the puppy...we are after a Bernese Mountain Dog, know any breeders?

Twiglet said...

They look even more classy on your little cards - I am sure they will be sold before you know it.x Jo

Jill said...

Your brooches look fabulous on these cards - and yes - it does make you think what some people expect. shh! we're all excited too.

Beacee said...

The cards really do set your gorgeous brooches off - and turn them into mini works of art when they're not being worn. Hope the right puppy finds you.

Su said...

Very clever design to display your lovely brooches. Can't wait to hear which puppy chose you!

artymess said...

very slick packaging ........doesn't the single hole punch reach??......yippee posts about a puppy ...I love puppies .....x

Iz said...

Oooh! Puppy! Exciting! Don't tell the Girl...Also like the packaging "solution" for the brooches but can see that it would be v. time consuming and a fiddle.

Gina said...

They look great packaged like that... and nice presentation can increase sales so probably worth the extra effort. Exciting puppy news!

Els said...

Ha, Jacky, love what you did to show your beautiful brooches!!
And YES that's a lot of work, but I think it wouldn't look good at all (to put it mildly) if you weren't very precise in this matter: it really looks so much better when presented beautiful ...
(whisper back : o joy! though I'm more a cat person myself I adore puppies....)

Miriam Weaver said...

People are stupid aren't they!!!
Don't forget to take your camera, I'm sure you'll fall in love with one or maybe two????

Sheeprustler said...

Do you have a leather punch? They are brilliant for punching small holes on card. (But expensive if that's all you would beusing them for!) And yay puppies!!! (sorry, I whispered that :)

Lynette (NZ) said...

They look superb on the white cards. Your disclaimer made me smile wryly - some people - sheesh. Your work is beautiful.

Rachel said...

A very elegant, simple solution to the challenge of packaging the brooches - well done!

Anonymous said...

My leaf arrived on Saturday on one of these cards...such beautiful presentation for such a gorgeous creation. I love it and it looks fabulous on my new Jacket. Thank you x

Fiona said...

Those little tabs are a great idea.

Melissa said...

What a brilliant idea with the cards for displays! I can't wait to see what you "pick." :)

Maggi said...

This is a superb way to display your brooches Jackie. Have you thought of investing in a Japanese Screw Punch if you are going to be doing this type of display on a regular basis? Quick and easy and can be used for so much more so well worth the initial outlay. I know of an excellent supplier if you are interested.

What kind of puppy???

Karen said...

it's a learning curve.....realising that you have to assume the stupidity of people.

Wendy said...

A Japanese punch would make the job so much easier and not hurt your fingers. The packaging is classy btw.

I hope the right (shhh) picks you, what a wonderful thing to look forward to :)

herhimnbryn said...

Your cards add to the beautiful brooches. Great job.
A PUPPY. A PUPPY? hoorah!

Anonymous said...

I am very pleased to hear you are going to have a puppy.I know you still miss Willow as much as I miss Prudey but you are doing the right thing, Chester our rescue has given us so much pleasure,each one leaves paw prints on your heart.
Judith in Farnborough.

Susan said...

Just letting you know Jackie, that I've finally joined the Etsy club.

I finally have ceramic things in an Etsy shop, I know a long time coming.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/susansharpeceramics

Claire said...

Your brooches look beautiful and very professional displayed late that. I second what another commenter said about getting a Japanese screw punch. They're availabe in most good arts & crafts shops. You could also make a cardboard template which has the holes marked where the pins go. With that and the screw punch you should be able to punch through a few layers of card which would speed things up considerably.

Linda Vincent said...

Your brooches are a constant joy to behold! And I'm very impressed with your cover/stand cards.....very clever design :-)
xx



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