Congratulations!

You all deserve to be pleased with the success of our annual Christmas Market Sale - some good fun, a great team effort, and a new record - with a smaller class than in previous years! The tally is an impressive 819.50 euro. I'm sure Susan has earned your respect for her tireless organizational skills, and I know it's a good feeling to have a few extra quid coming up to Christmas.

I have received your tally list from Susan, but I do need your inventory lists - I'll be in college tomorrow, so please have one person collect them and hand them to me. If I can't be found, ask a porter to kindly put them in my mailbox in the staff room.

Many of my colleagues have been very complimentary of the quality of your work. The standard has been raised yet again. Innovative presentation and packaging really enhanced the visual appeal of your products, and I'm sure helped to make sales. One of the emails I received was particularly touching, and I asked her permission to publish it here:

No problem, I really love my piece, I had been looking for something for a while to me from my dad.  Something that I could remember him by & when I (saw) that piece I knew that was it.  So it is very special to me.  

Please let me know of any future events, as I like to support the students & love to see their beautiful work - a credit to your team in the arts block!  

Thanks again & Happy Christmas. 

You couldn't wish for a higher compliment. I do require one last thing from you before we break for Christmas. In the comment box below, write a brief statement on your thoughts from your experience. What did you learn that may have surprised you; what are your thoughts about the chosen venue; what would you do differently if you had to do it all over again; what advice would you give to future students; what did you gain from the experience? When you're finished, simply click the 'Publish' button.

Again, well done to all, and have a Happy Christmas - I'll see you in the New Year!

Market Sale!

Hi all,

You've all done fabulous work in preparation for the market sale, and as the day approaches, I'm feeling confident that the experience will be positive and exciting. As promised, I'm including a check list and schedule for both of our markets. First, the checklist:

• Cash box and float
• Table cloth
• Your products
• Inventory and price list
• Camera
• Display items 
• Scissors, tape, ribbon, gift bags; your packaging and/or wrapping ideas

Individuals have volunteered to provide the cash box and float for the different dates. Please make sure that if you have done so, you remember to bring these essentials on the respective dates. Now, the schedule:

Ferocious Mingle Marcade, 60 Camden St.,  Saturday 14th December  11:00 - 18:00

Set up              10:30 - 13:30:  Susan and Ken

                          1:30 - 16:00:  Ina and Nataliya

Take down      16:00 - 18:30:  Laura and Martina

Ballyfermot College, Art Building,  Tuesday, 17th December

Set up              10:00 - 12:00:  Adele and Alice

Take down      12:00 - 14:00:  Kate, Aoife, and Natascha

I will be supervising both dates, helping with set up and take down, and I'll bring some Roses to help encourage sales. If you have any questions, please send me a message via the comment box below.

And remember that your First Term submission is due on the 16th (refer to brief). We will use that day to tally up, document our results, and put the finishing touches on your submissions. I know I've said it many times already, but be sure to document everything, and include in your submission. See you all soon!

Promotion

We’ve set the date for our Christmas Market fundraiser, and have been busy with the design process. The next step is to get the word out. Promotion of an event like our Christmas Market is essential in order to generate interest, and therefore sales. The Target Market is something which must be taken into consideration when promoting an event; through your Competitor Analysis, you should have identified your Target Market. Considering the scale of our event, we will be taking a simple approach to promotion which includes:

• poster distribution
• creating an Event Page on Facebook
• word of mouth
• directional signage (for the venue)
• email promotion

Each of you will individually put together an email contact list, and draft a short message to friends and family who you think are most likely to be interested in coming to our market sale, and/or supporting you. It can be nice just to see some familiar faces on the day. Remember to print a copy of this email for your Class File

Ken has kindly volunteered to set up an Event Page on Facebook. Those of you with a Facebook profile can share the event:

To share an upcoming event:

1. Go to the event
2. Click  in the top right
3. Select Share Event to post the event on your timeline

You can also copy the event's web address and paste it into a status update. Invite-only events can't be shared in status updates.

Remember to select the audience for your post before sharing.

Click on this link to the Dublin City Recreation and Culture Page, then navigate the sidebar to find information on guidelines and promotion for cultural events.

Dublin City Recreation and Culture

Remember to print all of the evidence you generate from your research! All of this should be included in your Class File.

Ferocious Mingle Verified!

Hi all,

I have some great news! We are provisionally booked with Ferocious Mingle for the 14th of December. Rainey and Eamon, the gracious owner/operators, have said they'd love to have us back this year, a real testament to students past. The Ferocious Mingle Marcade is now in the process of setting up shop, with a grand opening party scheduled for the 23rd of November. The new store front at 60 Camden Street (next to Daintree) is lovely:

Added bonuses for us: it's indoors, and they serve really good coffee and sweets at reasonable rates.

To secure our place, we will need to pay up front, which we should do asap. The rate for a day is e35, so if everyone is willing to pitch in e5, I can pay for and secure our place at the market. I suggest that the class rep collect money from everyone, and either give it to me, or leave it in Marita's office for me to collect.

If you haven't yet been to the market, pop in to help you prepare. Make a few notes about the space, and what you think you will need on the day. We'll go over everything in class. Look at what the other vendors are selling, what their pricing is like, and how they're set up. Take a few photos (with permission).

I hope you are all as excited as I am about this opportunity for your class - both to raise funds, and as practical experience in selling your designs. With proper planning, the day should be very enjoyable. I will, of course, be there to help and guide you all (and maybe help hawk your wares).....

I trust you are all enjoying the design process, and I'm really looking forward to seeing your progress when we return on the 4th. Remember to bring your Design Boards and Prototype to class on Monday. Enjoy the rest of the Mid Term, and I'll see you all soon.

For a bit of history and to get the flavour of the Marcade:

Welcome!

You are all very welcome to your second year on the Fiber Arts Higher National Diploma course.  Take a few minutes to orient yourself to the blog: you will notice that posts from last years' class can be viewed below, and a list of links can be seen to the right of the posts, along with a 'Follow Me' gadget.  Click on this gadget and this blog will be added to your blogger dashboard for you.  Tip: find your dashboard by selecting 'Blogger' in the drop down menu 'More' on your Gmail inbox. If you bookmark your gmail accout, it will be easier for you to find.  Please feel free to leave comments in the comment box below.  Once you do, I will receive an e mail notice, and will respond within a day or so.

On the links sidebar to your right, you will see a number of sites dedicated to furthering your professional or educational goals.  Select at least five sites from the list below, which apply to your specific goals.  Make notes in your course notebook for your own reference, print information which is useful to your personal aims; all research you do in relation to your progression aims will count towards your mark for this class.

• Keirsey.com (personality assessments)
• Scholarships.com
• Qualifax (course database)
• Enterprise Ireland (small business support)
• Craft Council of Ireland/England
• Creative Ireland 
• Creative Careers Ireland
• Visual Artists Ireland (support for visual artists - a must-see)
• Crafts Council of Ireland
• Career Path Online

Enjoy your visit to the Botanical Gardens this week!  Be sure to collect brochures, literature, and make notes on specific artists (with contact details if available) whose work you admire.  You may include any relevant information you collect in your submission for class. The more you gather on artists working in a direction you can see yourself going, the more clarity you will gain for your own career path.

Last week, I asked you to brainstorm ideas in your course notebook for the Christmas Fund Raiser, by drawing thumbnail sketches. Next week we will discuss your ideas in greater depth. Make sure you sketch a minimum of 20 ideas. This is the beginning of the creative process for design!

Take care, and see you next week!

Monday, 8th April

Hi all,

Tomorrow (Monday), we will be meeting in the computer room in the main building at the normal class time. Make sure to bring your gmail account name and password, and your user name and password for the college computers. I will be giving tutorials on how to set up your own blog, how to use the design templates and layouts, how to set the privacy settings while you get used to the format, and more!

Don't forget to post your response about the Stolen Banksy on the Fibrettes Blog - your response is required!

See you tomorrow!

Bloom!

Hi all,

Hope you're enjoying your Easter Break! Mags sent me information about an opportunity through the Crafts Council of Ireland for Bloom, the annual gardening show in Dublin, normally in June. You could draw upon your work for Sculpture in Context! From the website, with link:

• Have an existing piece or body of work that you feel may be suitable, or


• Would like to work collaboratively with a garden designer to develop new work

Crafts Council of Ireland - opportunities

Closing date is the 12th of April. Good luck, and stay tuned! Class instruction to follow! See you all next week....

New Class Blog

Hi all,

Be sure to check your personal email. On 13/2 I sent you an invitation to join our private class blog. I have posted a short video clip and a discussion topic there. As always, if you have any questions, please write them in the comment box below.

Ros Tapestry at Farmleigh

Hi all,

I thought you might want to see this while it's at Farmleigh. Normally it resides in Wexford, so it's a great opportunity to see this incredible embroidered masterpiece in Dublin. Click on the link below to learn more from the Ros Tapestry website.

Ros Tapestry at Farmleigh

Moodle

Hi all,

Just a reminder to have a look at Moodle. As we will be using this to communicate over the next 2 months, it's very important that you are checking in at least once per week, as I will be assigning homework and adding resources. This is part of the 'Flipped Classroom' project in cooperation with BCFE Tech Staff. In case you need a reminder about how to access the page, I've included instructions here:

Moodle is accessed from the BCFE website. Once there:

• On the right hand sidebar, select Moodle. 
• Login at the top right of the page. 
• Enter your Username and Password…Your Username and Password are the same as those assigned to you at the beginning of the year.
• If this username does not work try the Password: changeme
• You will then be prompted to change the Password to something that suits you.  
• Follow the links from Art, Design and Graphics > AFH2 > Professional Practice) 
• You may see 'not activated' in big red letters. Ignore this. It is active. 
• If you have trouble, don't be shy; let me know! 

Also, you all have college email addresses. Please activate them, if you have not yet done so, by googling 'outlook'. Once on the site you will be prompted to sign in. 

• Your user name is: first initial followed by your last name@bcfe.ie  
• Password: your student password. If this doesn't work, or you have forgotten it, try typing 'changeme', and you will be prompted to change your password. Again, let me know if you have problems.

Mock Interviews

Hi all,

I hope you're enjoying your mid term break! Remember to answer 25 of the Interview Questions, save as .doc, and email to me. I've been adding files and links to Moodle, so be sure to make a point of visiting regularly.

I'll also be posting this schedule on Moodle, but just in case, I'll also post it here:

18th Feb:
2:00  Bianca K
2:30  Fiona G
3:00  Rebecca D
3:30  Fiona M

25th Feb:
2:00  Debbie M
2:30  Fionnuala B
3:00  Doireann
3:30  Inam
4:00  Jade

4th March:
2:00  Mary W
2:30  Adrienne
3:00  Deirdre
3:30  Ria

11th March:
2:00  Lorna
2:30  Lisa Marie
3:00  Michelle C
3:30  Michelle S


For your appointment, remember:

• You MUST be on time. If you are late, you will loose time, not the person after you, and you will loose points toward your overall grade.
• Include your EDITED portfolio with sketchbook(s)
• Bring a copy of your CV and Artist Statement

As per usual, any questions can be posted below.

Linda Scales Lecture

Hi all,

Just a reminder concerning the details for Monday's class schedule and guest lecturer, Linda Scales.

1. We will be meeting at 10am in the lecture room in the prefab - where we normally meet for class, just in the morning. 
2. Come prepared to take notes and ask some questions - have a look at her website. See links sidebar.
3. We will meet in room 24 in the main building at the normal time - 2:00 - 4:00. I've arranged for a Moodle - the college intranet - tutorial with Tricia from the college tech staff. She will walk us through the process of setting up and navigating the site. It's very important that you attend, as we will be using this to communicate during the Mock Interview and holiday break phase of term 2. 

As usual, if you have any questions, please use the comment box below. See you Monday!