I'm Not Sure.

Well, as I had zero feedback I don't know what you think. I am undecided as the new format does not allow me to share my blog via Facebook properly. That is quite important to me as that is how I get most of my friends to read my blog.
I'm not sure that I'll keep it as it also does not open in a mobile phone friendly way. Which is also a downside.
Ultimately, I need to be able to be read on as many different formats as possible and you can't open it on an iPad either. I think I may well have answered my own question.
There is no point in choosing style over accessibility so as of Monday I think I will revert back to my old blog but make the tweaks that I want within that.
I am going to close the gallery early and head out into the sunshine as that's where I think that all my potential visitors have been all day.
A bit busier than yesterday but still quite quiet.
I hope that you have something fantastic planned for this weekend so that you can be outside an enjoy the sun. I am sure that you have got that all under control.
Have a great weekend and I'll be back soon.

If You Can't Beat 'em, Join 'em!

Inside The Gallery

My Chillout Area

My Display Stand

I'm trying this new look out, let me know what you think. You just click on the blog you want to read and it and it opens up. It's grouped by month so it's really easy to go back and look at past blogs. As I have been revamping everything it seemed rude not to do the same for my blog as it has been around for the longest.
I think it's a bit brighter and fresher than the black. But you should know that I chose that look because it matched the website.
If you think I should revert back please don't hesitate to let me know. But I do hope that you like it as I have ten variations on  this theme that I can play around with.
I will definitely bare in mind the fact that new does not necessarily mean better. I know that Willie might prefer it to the black. But truth be told he'd probably prefer it pink.
I am breaking some kind of record today as not one person has actually come through the door. Well that's not technically true but actual visitors to the gallery are a big fat 0.
It could all change in the next 90 minutes but I am not holding my breath. I wouldn't mind but I could have spent the day in the sun along with everyone else.
I know you all want to know about how my wound is healing. It is doing very well. I am becoming an expert on washing up whilst keeping one finger dry without the help of gloves. My typing might actually be improved as result of it. That really is saying something.
I have been working on a website design for my in house photographer. You have to do these things in small doses. Especially when you are open to the public. My endless mutterings, intermittent cursing and involuntary groans are probably what has been keeping people away.
Or let's be realistic, it probably has more to with the fact that it is 22 degrees and is hotter outside today than most days during the actual summer.
I gave myself a lunch break today as I really thought if you can't beat 'em join 'em! So I trotted off down to the beach and spent a pleasant hour in the sun reading my book. If you have the chance to come to Swanage over the next few days I would strongly recommend it, as the sea is crystal clear and the beaches are not too crowded. However, if you don't pop in and see me I will be very disappointed.
I will be giving the show a tweak tomorrow so there will be some different work on display so if you would like to get a new perspective on it would be good to see you again.
I thought that for those of you who haven't managed to get to the gallery yet and those who probably never will that I would include some shots of it for you to look at.
I am listening to some very good reggae today, it is going perfectly with the sunny weather. I hope that you have been able to get out and enjoy it. If not, why not? Try harder tomorrow.

Blood On The Gallery Floor!

There is going to be a bit of a change around at the gallery so the last two weeks of the show will be a bit different from the rest. I'm going to put some of my work in as there will be space as some is being collected to go into another exhibition.
This morning I have been framing my prints and whilst doing so I managed to chop a fairly sizable chunk out of my left index finger. It was like a bloodbath in the studio. I have always been a bit of a gusher but this was ridiculous. Big fat blobs of blood everywhere. I have told you many times that I am huge fan of thrillers. I totally love CSI with all that forensic science. I had to laugh to myself that they would have a field day in the office and studio as no surface was left unbloodied. (apparently that's not a real word but you know how I roll) The could also have helped me to find the bit of finger I chopped off. Nice!
When the gushing subsided I dressed the wound with padding and bandage only for it to soak through in approximately 4 minutes. I was contemplating whether or not it warranted a visit to the hospital to get it dressed properly. Got some heavy duty plasters instead and so far so good.
Can you answer me this? What is up with people not replying to emails? I have sent about 50 in the last few days and I have received 2 replies.
I am what's known in the trade as a prompt responder ( I just made that up). I get an email and if needs a reply not more than 24 hours will pass before I send one.
That's just me I guess.
Well lot's of people liked the new Facebook site so I got some more followers yesterday. All I need is to get an advert on the television. I'm obviously joking.
I know many of my readers shun Facebook and in many ways I understand why. I am the victim of people trying to be my friend who I neither know or ultimately like. It is a weird phenomena that people find you through a friend and then ask you to be a friend. They say the average person has 250 friends on Facebook. Oh please, really? That's just ridiculous I'm not sure I even know that many people. Let alone enough to call them friends.
I do love being able to leave facetious comments on peoples statuses and the odd poke but in all the time I've been a member (years) I have only asked maybe 3 people to be my friend.
Sorry don't know where that rant came from.
Other gallery news, I have put together the editorial for next months Purbeck Gazette so keep your eyes open for that.

Laughed So Much I Cried!

It Made Me Laugh

It's official I have got the gallery name on to every social networking thing I can find. I have spent about three hours creating a Facebook page that does a bit more than just show wall posts so check it out.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/LArtishe-Gallery-and-Studio/139294739466476

Try it and see what you think. It is supposed to be a bit similar to my website but not the same. No doubt I will continue to tweak it over the next few days. I welcome any feedback that you can offer.
I can't quite believe how many opportunities there are to get yourself noticed on the internet. I am exploring every single one of them.
This does mean that I am spending rather a lot of time on the computer. I am dying to get going with some of my work but a good friend who owns his own business said to me 'spend at least one hour a day trying to grow your business'. Hours have turned into weeks but let's face it if it means that I can stay open for years to come then it will all be a good investment.
I am pleased that I have worked my way through my list of things to and there is only one thing left which I can safely leave until tomorrow.
I am going to try and repaint the front of the gallery this week as the weather promises to be good. The good news is that means me up a ladder with a paintbrush in my hand. I bet you can guess just how excited I am about the prospect of that.
I had one of the funniest weekends, I went to a comedy show that was part of the Comedy Festival. There were three comedians, an english man, an irish man and a scottish man. Seriously funny people, I laughed so much I spent most of the time wiping tears from my eyes.
If you are local to Swanage and haven't attended the brilliant Comedy Festival you are really missing a treat. It's definitely money and time well spent.
Then last night I went to see Alan Carr at the BIC in Bournemouth, he was hilarious. If he's coming to a venue near you you should check his new show out.
Gallery news has been pretty much been covered as I have told and shown you what I have been up to.
So if you are planning on visiting Swanage this week in the predicted last blast of summer you'll see me up a ladder on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

Growing My Business

Well it is 2.30 on a sunny Saturday afternoon and I have been sat staring a the computer since 11.00. Poor me! In a constant attempt to the 'grow the business' (apparently that's what it's called) I am researching exactly where I can get my grubby hands on in terms of Tourist Information Centres etc. I have a little confession to make. When I was at the PAWF meeting the other week they kept saying T.I.C and I had no clue what on earth it meant. As it was being so freely used I could only think that absolutely everyone else in the room knew what it meant. I found out at a much later date and had to laugh as I thought it was something way more exciting than Tourist Information Centre. I was only slightly disappointed.
My sister has introduced me to the joy of Napster. If you are into music you will need to make it your mission to find out how to get Napster if you don't already have it. It is absolute genius.
The gallery has been fairly busy today but no sales as yet. I am a bit surprised as there is so much good stuff on show. Lots of positive feedback, so I am very happy about that.
You should check out the new stuff on the website I've uploaded some new pictures and testimonials. It only took me several hours. It's amazing your capacity to forget things you learn. Bare in mind it isn't that long ago since I made the website. but I suppose I have had a few sleeps and a few sherberts since then.
I am having an ongoing discussion with several creative people from artists to musicians. The question that is up for debate is; Are artistic/creative people  disorganized and generally a bit slack because it's what expected of them?, or is it because it because creative types are inherently disorganized because of their focus on all things arty?
I am very organized and I have an ever increasing intolerance for disorganization. I worry that this doesn't bode well for my future dealings with artists. I have mentioned on numerous occasions about how I like my lists. I cannot really understand how anyone who has more than one thing to do in a day gets by without them. I still manage to forget things even though I write lists.
I have written to the local council today with the hope of getting the gallery mentioned on their 'Visit Dorset' website. I hope that they go for it. I need all the publicity I can get.
I am going to call it a day. Just to say for those of you that read regularly, I am still waiting for the go ahead on the other blog. More hours in front of the computer to look forward to.
I hope that you are all enjoying the late summer/autumn sun and I'll see you back here on Monday. Have a good weekend.

Learning Rainbow

Awesome Picture

I bet that you think that I'm getting slack but the truth is that I run out of time to write my blog. I had a surprise visit from my sister yesterday and we had months of catching up to do. Then I had a visit from the newest Suttle and her mum. So I then had to have a big cuddle with Poppy. Then it was pretty much time to go home.
I had spent the first part of my morning updating the website. If you had asked me a year ago if I could do half of the things that I can do now I would have said a definitive no.
I just thought I'd like to call it my 'learning rainbow'. Some how that really works for me.
If there are any of you contemplating doing something big that you don't necessarily have all the skills for, you just need to try, and then add some patience and get as much advice as possible. You should be just fine.
Take the leap. It might just change your life forever.
Peaks and troughs is how I would describe the attendance to the gallery this week. The calm before the storm? Or the calm before the plenty more calm? I think it might just be the latter.
My flyers arrived yesterday and I think that they look pretty good. There are a few things that are a little niggling about them but on the whole I'm really pleased with them.
I am sure the workers among my readers are all glad that it is Friday. I remember when I used to be too. Now it means a lot less. but hey I own my own business so no complaints permitted.
There is still plenty of time to come and see this exhibition. I hope that you will as it would always be nice to see you.

If you are a fan of ceramics then you should make sure that you come to the gallery on Saturday 15th October as a new show will be starting. It's called 'All Fired Up' and there will be such a wide variety of work there that is great and reasonably priced. Perfect for those of you who are incredibly efficient and are already buying Christmas presents. Buy a unique gift for someone with great taste especially if that's you!

Repeat Attenders

The Bain Of My Life

I meant to write my blog yesterday but I didn't get around to it. I did update my website but then I had some internet issues. I am growing slightly concerned how often I lose signal at the gallery. I do not think that I could cope with the thought of phoning India once a week to talk to a man who really isn't called David or Jimmy. I do not doubt for one minute that there are people with those names who are from India but I would hope that they would prefer to use their cultural history and their names that actually mean something rather than the rather unimaginative Dave.
Sorry about the rant.
I have another good story to tell you about my day off that has turned into a day that I may as well have worked as I have been to the gallery twice.
Firstly I had to be at 7.30 to let the Sky Technician man in at 8.00. I am now the proud owner of Sky+ which seems to be cool.
As I was up so early I thought I'd treat myself to going back to bed after he left. Then the phone rang which I dutifully ignored. Then my mobile went and to my horror the number was the gallery so I answered it and then listened to the sound of my alarm going off. Oh joy!
Get dressed and then drive down there and turn turned it off. I have absolutely no idea what set it off as  everything was fine.  I reset it and came home as soon as I walked through the door the landline rang and surprise surprise it was the alarm at the gallery.
I don't need to tell you what happened next. So much for a relaxing day off.
Now to explain the title of this blog. I am very excited to report that firstly people are making special efforts to visit the gallery every time that they are in Swanage. That is excellent news for as it has also meant that I have had repeat purchasers as well.
Secondly, people are starting to say that they have looked me up as they saw an advert in Evolver. Which means that the cost of the advert was money well spent.
It is my day off so I am going to sign off now and try to enjoy the rest of my day off.