Wishing you a very cool Yule!

Sorry if it has been a all quiet on the blog front but as you already know it is nearly Christmas and I might have had one twenty thousand jobs to do.

I am open today and I  have had fair few visitors which has been nice. No last minute Christmas present buyers though. Shame as I've told you before there's some great stuff here.

Well, I will be closed now as I go to Egypt on Boxing Day. I cannot wait to go swimming with the turtles.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for reading my blog whether you are new comers or old timers. I hope that it has made you smile once or twice throughout the year and has kept you suitably informed about all the ups and downs at the gallery!

There is so much great stuff planned for the gallery next year, you owe it to yourself to check in with the blog from time to time to make sure that you know what events you can get involved with. 

I guarantee there will plenty.

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and very prosperous New Year and I hope that you will come and see me at the gallery in 2013 if you can.

Keep safe and dry I would say warm but the truth is that it hasn't actually been that cold. Maybe I should add down south.

Are Your Eyes Open?

I have to tell you that I had a miserable day on Tuesday, the good news is that 'that was so two days ago!'.
Sometimes I think the best defence that I have is positivity. You should try it, it really does work. Don't get me wrong I have a really good wallow for a while. Then in the words of that famous song 'Pick yourself up and dust yourself off etc'.

I do not know how I can persuade you that you should see this show before it ends. But still I am going to try. There are fourteen local artists/crafts who have put a great deal of thought and effort into their work and you should come and see the outcomes.
They are really something else, but as usual don't just take my word for it.

As you know I am closed in January as I have some refurb work to do at the gallery. If I needed something to get me excited about February then Josh Hollingshead gave it to me yesterday. I am showing the work that I originally chose. I'll explain, Josh entered several of his paintings into Open Exhibitions and kudos to him many were accepted and he won at least one prize. This meant that whilst we had a great exhibition in September there were paintings that I wanted to show that were not there. Or should I say here.
We are remedying that fact by having a second exhibition, so Josh sent me some pictures of his newly completed painting. It is phenomenal I have said it before and I will say it again he is someone to watch.
Here's a teaser!

Purbeck Collective Exhibition

Is it bad that I can't remember if I wrote a blog on Saturday or not! If I didn't, then how lucky are you?
When there is a catalogue of things that go wrong and you want to just pull the duvet up over your head and stay in bed. Nothing cures that like going to work, unless that is followed by more things going wrong.
Oh well, I'll just carry on with the day! A few more visitors to the Purbeck Collective Winter Exhibition over the last few days. Thanks to all that have braved the weather and road works, your attendance is greatly appreciated.

I am starting to develop some ideas about how I am going to approach the refurbishments at the gallery.
I'm going to work from back to front. The office needs a tart up and then the studio needs a few jobs done.
If anyone fancies doing a bit of painting then just let me know.
I will be open right up to Christmas so it is never too late to pop in and find a late present. I have jewellery, ceramics, wood carving, stone carving, paintings and prints so there really is a great variety to choose from.
I am off to do some of my own work now.
That's not true, actually I had to send an email that was asking a very big favour so I stopped blogcrastinating did that and came back to this.
Featuring two pictures from Shirley Walker. Come and see the show for yourself.

Buy Local, By Locals!!

Jonathan Sells well Apparently!

As I have been adding so many things to the gallery Facebook page I often feel bereft of things to write about in my blog.
I'll carry on regardless though. The gallery has been quieter today if I had to guess, I would say it is because anyone with half a brain wouldn't head out in the torrential rain that has been managing to fall.
My kids came today and they finished making their Christmas cards after a few false starts it has to be said. I think it must be my brain. Since when were you able to mount A5 paper onto A5 card? The answer is never as they are essentially the same size.
I bought scissors that did not cut, card that was too small, and the wrong sized envelopes. All in all not a bad days work.
On the upside I forgot that at Christmas when you are a teacher if your students like you they give you stuff. Mmm...some lovely Chococo chocolates in this instance, thanks very much.
It has just been one of those weeks and that's really all I need to say.
If you are heading to Swanage then you know where I will be and I will be very happy to see you. Especially if you are looking for the unique gift, I may well be the answer t you prayers, if you are that way inclined.
Come and see the Purbeck Collective exhibition you know that you want to.
Whatever you have planned this weekend I hope that it is enjoyable and isn't filled with the horror of last minute Christmas shopping, like the droves of people that will most certainly be filling shopping centres this weekend.
Avoid them at all costs, look for quieter alternatives such as craft markets and artist open studio events. I'm betting that if you go to the right places you could get free drinks and nibbles designed to loosed your grip on your purse/wallet.

I Am THE Boss!

Ok if you insist!

To say that today was an interesting day would be an understatement. But on the upside I am now officially the boss of 71 High Street, Swanage also known as L'Artishe Gallery and Studio.

Seriously odd day though, I've dealt with police, bank managers, solicitors, and other unbelievable people today. 

Don't let anyone tell you that being a business owner is dull. Well, it can be, but more often than not it isn't.

I have managed to do very few of my chores today which is just nuts as I've had all day but with the constant interruptions it was impossible.

Tomorrow is not looking good either. Roll on Saturday when I might finally complete some of my many gallery chores.

Visitors are coming back, I am hoping that it will be busy on Saturday as I am contemplating doing mulled wine and mince pies as there were so many left over from the Private View. What do you think?

I'm Going To Be In S.A.N.E Are You?

How do you fancy being in S.A.N.E?

The final exhibition of the year is here and I am pleased to say it looks great and that the Private View was a great success.
You need to come and see it as there are potentially some great Christmas presents here.
Important news about the gallery in 2013 there are going to be some fairly big changes so here goes.
I will now be closing on a Monday as opposed to Wednesday. This will allow me to have a more realistic workshop timetable and also a two day break.
The other big news is that I will be separating the studio from the gallery. It will have it's own identity and website. With a chance to book and pay for workshops online.
I will also be inviting other practitioners to deliver bespoke one off workshops to add a little variety other than just me.
Onwards and upwards for 2013.
If you want to get involved in anyway or have any ideas that you would like to share with me please get in touch.
I might be launching S.A.N.E too so if you have a look and might be interested then you know what to do.
I think that's enough for you to get your heads around for the moment.

Purbeck Collective Exhibition is Up!

Just a quickie as I didn't get a chance to write my blog yesterday as I was hanging the exhibition I didn't intend to do that until today but the truth is that the work was all there and so was I so it is now up!
Looking sophisticated and stylish. There are some beautiful pieces in this exhibition so do pop in and have a look.
I've got a few jobs to do today which means that I am finally having a day out of Swanage.
The PV is tomorrow night and starts at 6.00 come along and have a glass of mulled wine with a mince pie!
Hope to see you there!

Please Support Local Arts and Crafts This Weekend!

It was never going to be easy, but it was never meant to be this hard! I stole that from a song. I am waiting for the delivery of work for the next exhibition and this is always the nerve wracking part.
You need to have sufficient to put on a good show but just enough not too much.

Having shown really large work in the last few months I guess I am just use to the space being filled up.
I have to say on the plus side the work that I have got already is fantastic and it certainly is diverse. I have a personal favourite but I am not going to divulge who it is until the show has been seen by the masses.
Every exhibition there is one piece that I just love, with Mark Lloyd's show Dystopia it was the piece called 'History Repeats Itself in the Realms of the Digital Revolution'. So now you know!

Size really does matter! Or does it, I think small can be beautiful I must do otherwise I'd work much bigger.
It makes me nervous about my own show in it's tiny frames and boxes. Good job I've got some large scale pics to fill the space. Well I will have when I have finished drawing them.
On that note I am going to get on and do some actual work. I hope that you can make it to the Private View of the Purbeck Collective on Saturday it would be good to see you there.
If you are however Bournemouth bound you should definitely check out some friends of mine who have got Open Studios this weekend. They will have plenty of variety with unique gift opportunities there and they would really appreciate the support.

Locally The Boilerhouse in Corfe are holding an event on Sunday so get along to that if you want to see some unique.

I am fully supporting the whole ethos of buying bespoke and unique handmade gifts this Christmas so if you want me to plug them on my Facebook page or on here then just get in touch I will do that free of charge and it will be my pleasure.
I think that has everyone I know about covered! Please support local Arts and Crafts!

Purbeck Collective Winter Exhibition 2012

Julie Winsor

I am waging a war....admittedly it is against my own immune system. I am sure that I join the legions of others battling with seasonal illnesses. Get well soon people, after all 'tis the season to be jolly' not snotty!
Another show comes down in preparation for the next one. The last show at the gallery for 2012 and it promises to be packed with a diverse range of works to suit all tastes and pockets.
So feel free to join us on Saturday for mulled wine and mince pies from 6.00 onwards. Bring plenty of cash as you might find that unique gift that you have been searching for in past weeks.
So my second year at the gallery is almost at an end and I have to say I cannot actually believe how quickly it has gone. I have not made you smile with any gallery related observations for a while so here are some of my best for 2012.

1. If you are not going to buy anything it does not make me feel any better if you make out that you might.
2. Work ready to be hung? Guess what it actually means ready to be hung, strung, clipped however you want to do it but ready please. The work, not the producer of the work!
3. The saying 'if you pay peanuts you get monkeys'. I am no-ones monkey!
4. Contrary to popular belief I can't afford to work for nothing. My bank manager takes a very dim view of my trying to deposit 'kind words and thank you emails'. Cold hard cash please!
5. It's ok to say 'hello' back it won't mean you have to buy something. I promise.
6. Do you really want my honest opinion? Or do you want me to say nice things? You need to decide this before you ask.
7. Does it matter where I was educated? If yes, why?
8. When does 'you missed a bit or you can come round and do mine' grow old? No seriously, I really need to know.
9. How many times a day do you think it is necessary to say 'Mrs James, you mean my dead grandmother are you a medium?' Before the cold calling stops....dead!
10. Is it wrong to kill off my 'business partner' and bury them under a pile of out of date Evolver magazines?

Just the 10 for you as that seems a good point at which to stop. The stunning image featured in todays blog belongs to the very talented Julie Winsor. I think they look amazing and if you want to see them in the flesh you know what to do.

Give Someone The Gift of Creativity This Christmas!

If you have missed me then you need to try and hit me harder! I have been off sick and now I am returned. The gallery was in very capable hands, thanks Shirley.
Mark's exhibition has now ended....it was fantastic and I hope that you managed to see it. I am gearing up for the next exhibition and that will be starting on Saturday.
My tree is now up and when I got it out of the box I have to tell you that I let out a fairly huge sigh as I realised how much assembly it actually required.
If I buy a tree in a box I expect on opening said box to join three fake bits of tree together and 'hey presto' a christmas tree stands before me.
I do not expect to have to spend an hour attaching individual branches that are colour coded in order of attachment. I am not joking, I wish I was. Each layer had 6 branches with five colour codes, that need to be bent into shape. BAH HUMBUG!
Just wading through the admin that piles up in my absence.
I need to remind everybody that the gallery will be closing on a Monday in 2013. I need to free up the week for teaching. Please remember this if you are planning to come and see some of the fantastic exhibitions I have got lined up for 2013.
I am selling Gift Vouchers for workshops in 2013 they are a great gift as they may be the start of a new hobby that gets people involved in the arts locally.
WE NEED YOU......aspiring artists and people that just want to have a go. Discounts available for multiple purchases.
I hope you like my cheesy title! I have been watching the adverts I'm learning a thing or two.