Be My Valentine

Happy Valentines Day Folks,

Did you receive any fabulous Handmade gifts?

I love all Typography related things, so when I saw these Laser Cut letters, I could of squealed! If only I was so clever......

These pieces (and more) are available to buy from Artcuts on Folksy.

 

Love Letters: Featured seller from Folksy, laser cut letters by Rebecca Cox  

To spread the Love, I am offering 20% off all products listed in my Etsy shop until Sunday (17th of February). Just enter " IHEARTMYDOG " when entering Checkout.

Hope you have a fantastic day regardless, Until next time...

The Mucky Pup
#Woof

Folksy Feature

Woo! I've been featured on the Folksy Homepage today, curated by ARCjewellery. Which made my day....

The items featured all had one thing in common, a Daisy theme.

So, if you've had enough of all the snow, take a look at this bright and colourful collection... Spring here we come!

Original Art by Gemma Goodall aka The Mucky Pup
Visit Folksy to view all the wonderful Daisy themed items, including my pop art styled Canvas (above). Please note: The homepage changes daily.

Until next time,
Gemma.

A Handmade Christmas

Today is the 1st of December, which of course means that Christmas day is nearly upon us!

As an Artist I am always looking for ways to promote fellow Creative souls. So, why buy Handmade this Christmas?

Well, take a look at the "Buy Handmade Campaign". As they say, now is the time to buy handmade, and support your local small or family run businesses. All those indie Galleries, Craft shows and independent makers need our support, more than ever.

There are handmade items to suit everyone's budget, with sites like Folksy & Etsy where you can buy directly from the Artist...

From Christmas Decorations...

Decorations made by: Margaret Anne , Buttercup Boutique , Devonly Crafts , The Mucky Pup

To Gifts...

Handmade Gifts by The Cotton Potter , Stripes & Stars , The Mucky Pup Gallery, Sascalia

Why it's great to buy Original Artwork for a Christmas Present.

• It's Original - Unique 
• Made with Love
• More thought and effort has gone into choosing that perfect gift
• Supporting Independent Makers or shops
• Great for the Economy
• Price vs Value?  
• You spread the creative love!
 

Until next time...

The Mucky Pup
#Woof

Feeling a Little "Bla"?

Hello Folks,

Have you seen the new Jewellery range? Lots of colourful pieces are now available in The Mucky Pup's Folksy shop..

Like this necklace...

So if you're feeling a little "bla" today, head over to our Folksy shop to cheer up. 

The Mucky Pup
#Woof

Craft Fair vs Gallery

As an Artist and general crafter I am lucky enough to have work in Galleries around Yorkshire. I also manage to find time to promote and sell my work via Fairs... This got me thinking. Which is better?

Whether selling via a Gallery or a Craft Fair you need to have a fair idea of the profit margin for each of your creations. You will need to think about how much you would have to make (sell) in order to break even…..and then, hopefully make a profit.

Merino Wool Felt Sheep Painting.

For Craft Fairs, you also need to consider the costs of transport and any packaging you may use when selling.

Extra costs could be added if you wish to use electrical items, or other displays... each fair is different, and this is something that needs to be looked into.

.....and what about Child care? Many Craft Fairs are held on a weekend.

Due to all the extra costs to consider when exhibiting at a Craft Fair it may mean that you have to re-think your prices! But will they sell??
 
Craft Fairs can ultimately be an excellent way to promote your work, and business. Perhaps you have your own website, or Etsy/Folksy shop? These can be mentioned with each sale that you make. Plus, these events are a great way to network with Galleries and other Artists.

So what about showing and (hopefully) selling your work through a shop?

When showing your Artwork and Craft through Galleries remember the Gallery is doing a lot of the hard work for you! There are no hidden costs, no childcare to arrange.. a simple exchange of work, and should it sell… you can reap the rewards.

Galleries generally charge a Commission on every piece you sell, which can range from 30 to 50%, so this needs to be considered when pricing your work.

Whether showing your work via a Craft Fair or within a Gallery consider all costs before you sign on the dotted line. You need to be sure and fully happy with the contract. I've heard many stories of hidden costs, and been caught out myself!
Personally, I like having the opportunity to do both, but I do like having the interaction between people who view and compliment my work. Each "Aww" and "Ooh" makes me smile....
 
What are your thoughts? Have you had a good experience at a Craft Fair? What advice would you give?

Until next time,

The Mucky Pup
#Woof

Felt (Fibre) Painting with Merino Wool

Hello Folks...

Just thought I'd show you one of my recent Felt "Paintings".

This small wall hanging is available through my Shop, Folksy & Etsy.
 

This Original piece is made by hand using Merino Wool, Felt & a Needle punching tool.
 

I'll be taking my creations to the next Sunday People's Market in September, but if you're not local, look out for new works in my shop soon.

Gemma - The Mucky Pup
#Woof

Where To Find The Mucky Pup?

Well, it has already been a busy morning here at Gallery HQ. Having just managed to update our Website, it's time for a quick Blog.

If you haven't already been over to our site, take a look..... There is a lot to see, and you can even find out who the Mucky Pup is... #Woof

New to the website is the addition of a Links page:

On this page you will be able to find out where else you can find us, browse our products... and most importantly where to chat!

With Links to Facebook & Twitter, you'll be able to join in the fun! Post comments, ask questions or just plain "like" an image.

You can also see where else our products are for sale! With Links to our Folksy & Etsy shops. Don't forget you can also buy weekly specials from our website shop too.

Phew!

We best get back to crafting...

If you have any questions or comments feel free to post them below. Do you have your own Links page? Perhaps you link to some other interesting sites... let us know!

Until next time..

The Mucky Pup.
#Woof

Pinterest?

Lets dive right in…

Last night, after seeing the 20th update of people mentioning Pinterest, I decided to bite the bullet and see what all the fuss was about.

We’ve probably all heard the negative stories surrounding Pinterest, and whether it infringes on Copyright, which in part is quite likely true. However, sharing fellow Artists work doesn’t have to be a bad thing... Why can’t it be a fantastic thing?

After asking for some opinions via Facebook and Twitter, I saw the response was pretty positive. To set up a Pinterest account you have to be invited. So by the power of social media I was able to gain an invite pretty quickly, & so my adventure began.

I soon saw Pinterest was a place where anything could be Pinned, for whatever reason. When people Pin items, they are all linked back to the original source. So in theory, if someone Pins an item from Folksy, Etsy or alike, then the Artist will always get credit. If lucky, this will result in a sale. Promotion. Another positive point to the Pinterest argument.

Pinterest however is also a personal place where you can Pin your likes, hopes and dreams… As dramatic as that sounds it‘s kind of true. From people Pinning Cupcake ideas, to anything Wedding related. People are clearly using Pinterest as a social media Mood Board for ideas. 

 

I myself have taken to using Pinterest as a place for inspiration. With most of my boards featuring colour themes. These boards include objects, clothes, picturesque scenes & more… all in one colour. Like an Online colour wheel. 

 
Having only just started using Pinterest I know there is still a lot to learn. If you want to check out my Pins, you can find me by searching MuckyPupGallery. 

 
So what do you think about Pinterest? What type of images do you collect?

Is Pinterest a good or a bad idea?

Post your thoughts below. Or feel free to leave a comment via Facebook & join the debate.

Until next time..
#Woof

The Mucky Pup.