2008


Ok, time for recollections and predictions.

I’ve done a number of things this year. Firstly, I left my job in the summer. The best decision I ever made (’I hope’).
I’ve now decided at the tender age of 42 to try and start my own business… a bit scary I know and it really is an uphill battle as anybody who has tried it will testify to. But despite the relentless challenge of it, it has to be better then working a job you’re not comfortable in.

I tend to get lots of business ideas, which is good in one sense but it can lead to indecision.
So I resolved in the end to follow the project I felt most passionate about…. Getting artists on the web. In a previous blog of mine I wrote about the rationale behind my belief that artisan work is ideal for selling on the web. Through blogging about artisan products and my contact with other artisan bloggers, I quickly came to the realisation that blogging is the ideal platform for artisans. If you are an artist and you are still not convinced about the power of blogging, have a look at the comments i received on that post from long time bloggers.

Originally, I started Siopa Eile to highlight mostly Irish artisan products, but I eventually ran out of artisans to write about, because so few here have a credible web presence. Having seen countless bloggers from abroad, successfully selling their art through blogs and reveling in the process, I decided to try and kick start an artisan blogging revolution in Ireland.
First off, was to offer a free group blog to 10 select artisan bloggers. In the end I received an amazing 30 applications. All of this came through my blog and the contacts I made through the blog. I even had a very nice intern over from the U.S. to help me with the project, all thanks to the blog.
An added bonus was the contact I made with Karen Harper. Karen has helped me find artists for my group blog and many other things. I have also helped her set up 2 very important blogs. First off, Irish Craft Update, which is a fantastic source of information for craftspeople and has already notched up 100+ subscribers.
Karen will be launching the Irish Crafts Association shortly and is really doing a great job of making things happen on the crafts scene.
So what of the new year?
I’ve got lots of things planned. First off, I intend to launch the Irish Arts Blog in the coming weeks. I want to see if I can promote it online and if successful we might look at organising an exhibition to officially launch offline in the springtime.
I will also be doing something similar with Cliodhna Quinlans new blog called Cliodhnas Wave. Cliodhna hopes to cover a lot of topics on her blog, her art, her stories, lessons in creativity and self expression as well as practical information on embroidery and fabric dying. So make sure you subscribe to it.
I have 2 other major projects in the pipeline, which will both revolve around getting artists to blog. But for the moment that’s a bit hush-hush.
That’s it for now. Just a reminder to everyone that the Irish Blog Awards are accepting nominations at the moment. I’m not sure if my mother is voting for me this year, so you might need to;-) And you only need to vote in the categories that you are familiar with. I guess I would come under craft blog category, although sometimes I wonder.

I haven’t paid much attention to Irish bloggers this year, I’m sad to say….(Strike me down Oh Satan!)

Damien Mulley, I read on a daily basis, but I don’t think I can vote for him as he’s organising the awards.

Bloggers I’ve recently discovered are Sabrina Dent (she’s a fabulous web designer, but also writes very well) and Ellen McDermott (member of the Irish Arts Blog and a really funny and talented blogger).

Irish Sally Garden run by Rebecca and Dan Hillman is another extraordinary blog I think.

Of course as mentioned above Irish Craft Update has created a bit of a stir in the craft world too.

So come on 2008

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