Disaster has struck! My kiln has broken!

This is very frustrating and inconvenient, but thanks to the wonderful Billy at Ulster Ceramics, new elements have been ordered, and it should be mended this coming week. This has put me about 3 weeks behind schedule, and  resulted in a large contribution to my ever expanding seconds pile! I will definitely be having a “seconds sale” as I am running out of shelf space! I have a date penciled in for April, but will keep you posted.

Prior to the above disaster, i have been working hard on

• customer orders; deliveries will commence next week once my kiln is fixed
• making for new stockists; soon to be announced

  

• using social media – i have been tweeting and finally added some pictures on instagram!
• developing dinner plates, side plates, a new shape of bowls.

  

• making stock for my coffee shop that doesn’t exist, yet!

So busy…

My biggest struggle is remembering what day of the week it is. Do all people who work for themselves find it hard to remember what day it is? Regardless of my brain malfunction, I think I am rather organized and I have a few craft fairs lined up, so here are some dates for your diary…

The Fine and Dandy Market – 29th March

The Little Food and Craft Fair – 4th April

Carrickfergus Grammar School  Spring Fair – 18th April

It would be lovely to see you at one of these.

I recently attended a seminar on branding and the use of social media in business. Apparently only 20% of posts should be about your business and 80% should be “social”.  I am aware I mainly use facebook, twitter and my website for tea with jud related topics, but in all honesty, that is the only reason I have them. This is not to say I am not a social person, I am very social!

Another point stressed in this seminar was that my business is me, I am my brand, therefore I AM TEA WITH JUD.  I hope you like my work regardless of my likes and dislikes, but to a certain extent my interests and social life do influence what I make. I hope my personality already comes across through my pottery, knitting patterns, displays, photography and the blurbs that I post. I don’t see the relevance of the extra 8O% plus, i don’t have the time!

For those of you who are interested, and for the purpose of this blog here is proof that i am not a robot, I don’t talk about my business ALL the time; my attempt at being a little more social.

I love snow more than anything. I love skiing. I love wearing cardigans. I love painting my nails red. I like knitting hats, but I don’t like wearing them as they mess up my fringe. I love colour, pattern and have a huge weakness for leopard print. I love music; listening to it, attempting to play it and dancing to it. I love laughing. I love camping and swimming in the sea. I love my family, and I love being an auntie – I have 2 nieces and 2 nephews, they are so cool. I love going on adventures with my friends.  I miss my friends who live far away. I am not embarrassed to admit I LOVE one direction and Harry Styles!

I do not like people who are selfish or people who lie. I deplore laziness. I also despise music by Simply red.

I think that is all the important stuff you need to know.

Cheerio for now.

ps: my next blog will be 1OO% work related…

Hello!

I’ve been up to my ears in clay recently, making lots of pots for shop orders, personal commissions for my loyal customers, and also making a start on my long list of aims for 2Ol5, its going slowly, but surely.

Much to my delight, after some good sales at Christmas, I have been working hard through January to restock The Craft Shop in the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester  just in time for Valentines day. wit woo!

I also acquired these fantastic pieces to help develop the “Tea with Jud” brand. My stamps were made by the amazing Emma Jackson at Paper Picnic,  and my fabulous hand felted brooch by Leah O’Neill at Woolgatherer.  

They are very talented girls. Now I will be easy to spot at all my future craft fairs. Speaking of which… Tea with Jud will be at the Fine and Dandy Market next week.

Happy new year!

I cannot believe it is 9 days in already! After a great break at Christmas and New Year I have been busy researching for new stockists and the perfect location for my Seasonal Coffee Shop in Scotland.

2Ol5 is the year of Self Employment! I am scared and excited but determined to make my business a success, so to keep myself disciplined I thought I’d share a few goals with you that I would like to achieve this year…

• Open my Seasonal Coffee Shop
• Have 5 UK stockists by the end of 2Ol5
• Improve my social media skills – including Pinterest & Instagram
• Find a reliable courier that insures pottery
• Make an easy to use shop on my website
• Develop all pottery ranges

I think that is enough to get me started!

May this be a prosperous year for us all.

Good Morning!

If you were lucky enough to get a Tea with Jud gift in your stocking this year I hope you liked it! Here are a few special Christmas commissions I have been working on over the past few months. It has been exciting keeping it all a secret!

Fair Isle Boys Hat

Yellow

Scotty Dog Butter Dish

Two Tone on Needles

Plum, Oatmeal & Chocolate Brown

Green Polka Dot

Two Tone

Multi Coloured Cups

Two Tone

Fair Isle Boys Hat

Music Note Cups

This week i am finishing off all my Christmas orders, anybody waiting for a delivery, do not fear, all will be ready in time! I am also happy to tell you i will be at 2 more fairs before Christmas, my last 2 fairs of 2O14.

1.This Saturday 13th december at Stranmillis College Christmas Fair, Belfast, 12 noon – 3.30pm

2. Next Saturday 20th december at The Dock Market, Titanic Quarter, Belfast, 11 – 4pm

maybe i will see you there… if not, Merry Christmas! Enjoy the seasons festivities.

In October I was at the “Fine and Dandy” market in the Crescent Arts Centre. I was approached by a lovely lady called Catriona Burns, who was writing a piece for Craftseller Magazine  on artists and crafts people who sell their work at markets in the city.

December’s issue has just been released and I was delighted to see not one, but two pictures of my stall in the article, and i’m wearing my favourite pink cardigan!

If you haven’t been to the Fine and Dandy Market, you really should go, it’s marvellous!

Tea with Jud is delighted to announce her first stockist!

Items are on display and available  to purchase in The Craft Shop at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester. Wohooo!

Aside from nearly losing my whole body weight in sweat at Flow Studios on Culture Night i had a fab time. I’ve never seen Belfast like it. I loved it! Thanks to everyone who came and chatted to me, purchased pots and signed up to my mailing list. Continue reading Thank you Culture Vultures