My Blog
Sustainability - A Work In progress!
30th January 2024
In February 2024 I was invited down to the House of Lords for a reception to mark completion of the Green Skills for Small Businesses course run by Small Business Britain. I found this course very interesting and useful for my business as I have long held an interest in trying to be 'green'. I have managed to already make several small steps I to improve my businesses sustainability include
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signing up to The Naked Card campaign - cutting out the use of single use plastics, using biodegradable eco bags only where necessary
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Recycling packaging - I collect and re-use cardboard packaging and protective packaging from neighbours and friends and use biodegradable bubble wrap where necessary
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I use local to me suppliers wherever possible - other suppliers have sustainable goals such as planting a tree for every order received
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I use paper/biodegradable packaging tape including fragile tape
Steps I am planning to make in the near future
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Install solar panels and/or wind turbine to power my shedquarters
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Install a sedum roof to my shedquarters, improving insulation and providing oxygen
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Look into ways to reduce my transport options
January 2024 - an unexpectedly busy month
30th January 2024
January is usually been for me a month of catching my breath after the busy Christmas season. A time to complete my tax return, update my website and make some plans for the coming year. This January however, has been super busy. I've had to apply for several events coming up later in the year, had a couple of new regular markets and several quite large sales that I wasn't expecting but that have left me with little time to actually paint. Not that I'm complaining of course in fact I'm very grateful. Keep a watch on my events page as I've applied for some exciting events coming up later this year and I will add them if I am accepted.
April 2023 - Our four legged friends (or foes)!
13th March 2023
One of the things I enjoy and am wary of at the same time during events, especially those outside is our four legged friends. I love to see the huge variety of canines that attend these events and I really enjoy meeting and greeting them all. However, not all of them are as well behaved as they could be. At my last event a beautiful and much loved cockapoo did in fact cock a poo right in the middle of the room to the absolute mortification of her owners! Most doggies are super but I have had occasions where owners haven't always been paying the level of attention to their fur babies as perhaps they should have been and legs have been cocked over stall holders items set out with such care earlier in the day. Of course once one has been the rest have to follow, marking their territory and it quickly becomes a bit of a nightmare situation for said stallholder.
March 2023 - Events
13th March 2023
There is a great deal of work that goes on behind the scenes to make events happen both for the event organisers and for the stall holders and exhibitors which is why it is particularly upsetting when events have to be cancelled like the one this past weekend. For me this preparation involves spending a lot of money and time getting prints of my paintings ready, mounted, framed and the frames polished, labelled and strung ready to hand and then packed into bubble wrap. Getting all the other bits and pieces together mugs priced and labelled, cards with envelopes an cello bags and priced up, cushions stuffed and labelled etc. I have to get all my display out of storage and ready - tables wiped, crates cobweb free, stands polished, easels and picture racks dusted and checked for loose screws, table cloths ironed. Then everything has to be packed up ready to load into vehicles to take to the event. On the bright side I now have everything ready for my next event ahead of time !
February 2023
11th February 2023
January and February are generally quiet months as far as my little creative business go. Once I've sorted and submitted my taxes its all systems go applying for events that are coming up throughout the year - even as far as Christmas! I've been able to list the ones that I have been accepted for on my Events page and will update this as and when I find out about the rest that I have applied for. There seems to have been a lot this year that want applications in early. I've also ben able to spend more time in actually painting which has been lovely and I hope to share some of these completed painting soon.
Happy New Year!
31st December 2022
2022 has been a funny old year. Personally our family has faced some terrible losses that have made us re-assess our priorities in life - things will look a little different in 2023. I have left my day job and although we will have to tighten our belts a bit, I'm hoping to spend more time with my family, painting, walking, reading and generally being less stressed, happier and healthier. Business wise I lost all of my stockists by the end of 2020 and with no income at all I was considering giving up altogether. The last two years I've had such positive feedback and lovely comments from customers that have literally kept me going. I'm hoping to source new stockists in this coming year - if you know of any please do let me know. I've got some great events lined up already in some fantastic locations - everything is looking up and I'm excited about the New Year!