You can make it - taster Saturday
Are you running, or considering launching, a creative business? Are you thinking about teaching craft classes? Struggling to successfully photograph your work? Wanting to use Instagram to promote your work?
Then the Saturday taster day of this year’s biggest metal clay event, ‘You Can Make It’, Wareham, Dorset is for you. It’s a day filled with talks by amazing tutors, authors, and artists, unmissable for anyone with a small creative crafting business.
You’ll get invaluable tips on marketing, using Instagram to sell your work, teaching, promotional photography, and how to price your work - and much more! You’ll also be able to network with other makers, and some amazing tutors and presenters. Between 9.15 - 17.00 we are running two tracks of talks and demos held by world-renowned tutors, TV presenters, and authors. You’re free to jump between the two tracks.
A Taster Ticket includes: 6 talks and demos, two coffee breaks, lunch, and dinner. A very exciting goodie bag. Access to the Make It Market, a shopping haven for any jewellery maker, and the evening events, which include a fantastic raffle! You won’t get hands-on making, but you’ll leave filled with inspiration, ready to hit the studio!
The track called “PROMOTING AND RUNNING YOUR CREATIVE BUSINESS” is invaluable for anyone promoting and running a creative business - whatever industry you’re in. The other track, “ADDING NEW TECHNIQUES TO YOUR METAL CLAY WORK”, will inspire you to extend your metal clay skills!
TRACK 1
Promoting and running a creative business
The presenters in this track is sharing some invaluable information for anyone wanting to promote and run a creative business - whatever industry you’re in.
Emma Mitchell
Guardian and Countryfile Magazine columnist, author, featured on BBC Countryfile Winter Special
Emma is holding two talks about using Instagram and Twitter to sell your work. Emma *really* knows what she is talking about, with a staggering 106,000 followers on Instagram and close to 16,000 followers on Twitter. This is an invaluable chance to hear Emma’s insight on how to promote yourself on social media.
Melanie Blaikie
Experienced tutor, designer/maker, adviser, and author
Melanie shares valuable tips on teaching, lesson planning, and delivery. Melanie will also discuss how to best promote your classes.
Sian Hamilton
Editor of Making jewellery, metal clay tutor and author
Sian is talking about photography and pricing - both vital to any creative business! She’ll discuss styling and lighting and editing photos. And in the pricing talk, show you how to work out costs and expenses - Sian will share a great pricing spreadsheet!
TRACK 2
Adding techniques to your metal clay work
The presenters in this track will inspire you, boost your mojo, and quite likely encourage you to try something new and extend your metal clay skills!
Joy Funnell
Award winning metal clay and enamelling tutor, Craftsman of the Guild of Enamellers
Joy is holding two demos, one sharing some amazing techniques for setting stones in metal clay, and one exploring the Silhouette Curio. Many artists are using these to engrave and cut out designs in metal clay! Joy will introduce you to the basics on how the machine works, so you can feel more confident and inspired to go home and explore it further.
Julia Rai
Founder of Metal Clay Academy, Craftcast tutor, and author
Julia will show how to make threaded closures from metal clay. Create your own bottles or pots with screw-on lids!
Leigh Armstrong
Magic Minx Productions, artist, tutor, and Hochanda TV presenter.
You might have seen Leigh on Hochanda TV. In her demo Leigh spills all her secrets on how to make your own moulds to use with metal clay. Replicate anything in silver!
Lis-el Crowley
Founder of Metalclay Artisan Guild, CT, USA, artist, tutor, and creator of Metal Clay Mojo Conference
Lis-el is sharing her successful techniques on making coils in metal clay - mastering this is a must for any metal clay user!
Petra Cameron
Founder and main organiser of the 'You can make it’ event, tutor, and owner of Metal Clay Ltd.
Petra is demonstrating Keum-Boo; a great way to apply controlled gold designs, adding some warmth to your silver.