Tuesday, 21 May 2013

More gallery goodness

The latest batch of Rebejoo shinies, all recycled/handmade, are back from being displayed at the Hansard gallery in Southampton, but just down the road there's another option to see them as they are now in the splendid Art House just up the road.

Some Rebejoo items for sale in the Art House
I have to say a big thanks to Ruth for (a) agreeing to stock my pieces and (b) making the selection process an enjoyable one, and to Nina for organising the marvellous display. As Rebejoo is still quite a new enterprise, I'm still learning about things such as how to present and package my jewellery, so it was great to meet with someone who does this regularly. This might not seem like work to everyone, but travelling to and from the ArtHouse, sorting through my stock, and doing the admin took half a day. A very pleasant half-day, but significant time and effort nonetheless - the shift from hobbyist to 'pro' has definitely happened even if it is small-scale - something Jani at the ArtHouse has written about most eloquently e.g. here.

Now, with that all done, it's great to see them arranged so well (yup, those are the reels from old VHS cassettes being used as plinths...) - hopefully people will give in to their want-titis and buy them :) So, if you are in the Art House, please do have a look (over some tea, cake, burritos etc); a third of the sale price goes to support their fine not-for-profit venue. If you aren't near Southampton, don't worry, all Rebejoo items are on the facebook page, complete with photos, descriptions, sizes and prices. Soon, back to the shed for more making...

Ruth gets down to the important business of boxing up Rebejoo goodies prior to display.

Thursday, 28 March 2013

Crossing the Threshold

I've written before about my first craft fair and the first shop to take some of my jewellery to sell - both important milestones as Rebejoo is still a very new enterprise. So, I was similarly excited to finally get some of my work into a gallery, namely the John Hansard gallery's 'I am the Warrior' exhibition in Southampton.

It's an open-access exhibition - anything you've made yourself and wish to bring (or perform) - but it still meant stepping into gallery space, signing the piece away for a time and so on. Kind of informally formal if you like, and definitely another milestone as I've been looking at getting pieces into galleries and it isn't easy - from my POV, definitely exciting!

So, here's what I put in the exhibition - a 'Rebejoo Selection' which has since been out on the wall I believe - and it's in good company with the likes of the Trashcan Samurai, Blue log-drum fish, matchstick galleon and milk-bottle polar bear!

'Rebejoo Selection' next to the knitted (edible-looking) doughnuts and the purple lion

Astonishingly detailed matchstick ship on a matchstick table. Woah!

Trashcan Samurai!

Drum that blue log fish...

Hello milk-bottle polar bear