(Not so) Trivial Pursuits ... Photography with Andrea Pittam

I'm always on the look out for a new interest, especially if it can help me with my business.

I used to love taking photographs and have never got over exchanging my K1000 for a digital camera.  I haven't really mastered using my fantastic new whizz bangy camera to its full potential.

So perhaps this might be the course for me and could be of interest to you too.  If you don't live in the Bournemouth area, Google 'photography courses for crafters' - I'm sure you'll find something locally.

      

Here's more about Andrea Pittam of Kiss the Frog x ...

As a photographer, artist and crafter it seemed a good idea to run a course for other artists and crafters who are looking for some direction and help with their product photography.

For small kitchen table businesses and independent artists and crafters, big budget product photography is simply not an option and this course will show you how you can get the best out of the camera you have to showcase your products.

all images (c) Kiss the Frog x

You will receive advice on how to plan and prepare for a photo shoot, using natural light to create beautiful images of your products. There will also be a practical section to the course so you will need to bring your camera and some of your products too.

You can find out more about Andrea's course here ...

Meet the Maker - Jo Lucksted, Ceramic Artist

Jo Lucksted confesses to having a bit of a magpie personality. She covets things of beauty, whether it’s because of it's form, texture or material but mainly because of the skill that has gone into creating handmade.  She hopes that her work reflects some of these qualities. 

Jo's work is influenced by the stonework of churches she knew as a child, in particular Wells cathedral and it's not difficult to see where her inspiration has come from for her Angels and Mythological sculptures.

 

But she believes that ceramics are accessible to everyone and runs workshops in and around Somerset.  She has her own shop in Shepton Mallet from where she runs workshops, but there are also courses in Wells, Yeovil and Frome.  They are half day courses and are an inexpensive way of getting some excellent tutoring and making something for yourself.

Her interests are summed up simply.  Her, family, music, creating, spending time on her allotment, and avoiding exercise or housework

 

Meet the Maker - Elaine Hardy, Love and Buttons

Difficult to imagine that a pile of buttons could be used to create something so beautiful and delicate.  But Elaine manages it with ease,  making the most beautiful embroidered pieces which incorporate these vintage and ceramic buttons.  

She also makes the most adorable hand stitched mice and bunnies.

Elaine is mum to 2 children,a little black dog & a very large guinea pig. As well as taking commissions, she has a shop on Folksy and you can find her on Facebook too.

Meet the Maker - Sheena Spacey Ceramics

From a tiny studio space in her Somerset home, Sheena Spacey creates hand built decorative ceramic bowls, decorations and individual pieces of ceramic and mixed media artwork.

Her work is probably best described as somewhere between a walk in the woods and reading a fairy tale, taking elements from nature and folklore and imprinting those inspirations onto clay, bringing a little bit of nature and wonderland home.

She has a kiln where she fires her ceramics, which include buttons, badges, brooches and tableware.

And her stoneware is smoke fired.

We love her HareMoon bowls.

We discovered her as she supplies one of our other secrets, the Linden Tree in Huntly, but if you don't live in Scotland you won't miss out.  You can see and buy her work on Etsy and Folksy.