April News - March Hares, Social Media Madness and more to come ....
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The sun is shining, the daffodils are blooming with incandescence and AT LAST it feels like Spring does exist after all. It will no doubt be an explosion of green that happens in just a couple of weeks but corr blimey doesn't it feel amazing to not be in the throws of icy winds and bitter skies?
The Llansteffan project is coming along at a pace now where the building is looking more and more like a proper home instead of a very dusty, chaotic building site which has been the norm for many years. Underfloor heating, cement lakes forming newly laid floors and even a chandelier or two - all looking very exciting. This light is in the top of the tower and you can just see the hand painted panel featuring roses - all carefully hand painted by Patricia.
More pictures of the conservatory - with the lake of cement being poured and spread - which is now a floor waiting for something interesting to be laid upon it.
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Developing Fixations about Clumps of Browned Grass........
The magic of the views of the sea with the ever changing light and colours of the air and waters makes tea breaks and early morning cogitations full of peace and tranquility. This is until of course, someone notices that a clump of grass far off into the distance has developed a slight twitch that is consistently going against the flow of gently windswept tussocks. The soft muted tones of the browned strands of last years crop can suddenly develop ears and start moving across the field. It's a hare. No sooner do we spot it than we develop a fixation for staring at other clumps of grass in case they should leap up and sprint across the field.
Hare leaping across the field before it decided to hide in the grass again.
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Coming soon ...... limited time treat a few pleated jackets at special prices.
Pleated jackets are always popular .... very popular ... but of course they are the most expensive items that we have. As a special treat we will be offering some of them at a discount over the next few days. We have some more special items to go onto the shop but they are unique art pieces that will not be reduced as they are much too special and individual. We don't like the shop being too cluttered as that is just confusing so instead we are going to offer a few of them to you first. There are not many - so if you do have a favourite then it would be a good idea to let us know sooner rather than later so that we can put it to one side for you.
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| And then after that ...... we will be featuring some of the luxury interior textiles.
The girls are muttering in work. Patricia has been doing her Rumpelstiltskin act again. If you have not experienced this then you will not be aware of the overwhelming affects of her creating such a vast collection of pieces that there is a sense of magic being at play - no one person should be able to produce the amount that she does. Once it has been decided that we need to have more pieces then Patricia gets on and makes them although there is a tendency to feel that there is a bit of Nanny McPhee mystery about how she does it. Wanting to retire huh? No chance! The girls now feel like they are drowning in cushion covers. There are loads of new ones being finished as we speak so even though they are not "Wearable Art" they will be featured on the shop shortly.
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And they're off......
Lack of reliable broadband in Llansteffan has meant that the "Cyber-Granny" has been unable to get online to further her advancement in the world of online networking. Frustration abounds as she is seen champing at the bit unable to gallop down the straight path of beating "Twittering Geek" in the race of getting the most interesting collection of contacts in their networks. Fear not - the race will be back on as soon as the computer is fired up and the conversations are begun again.
What am I on about? Social media networking of course! My mother and I are working hard to connect with as many interesting people on the internet as we can. It's all about Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and the many other smaller specialist online communities which are proving immense worth for us. As these sites are featured more frequently in conversations and in the news, so more and more people are jumping on board, joining in and connecting with like-minded souls from around the world. With Harrods being the last retail outlet in the UK to move away from us, we have focussed our communications online. It is working very well and we are very excited about it knowing full well that we have only just started and there is massive potential of finding a huge group of lovely people who will enrich our lives further.
I have included links below to our various profiles - please feel free to send a connection request and join us in our networks. We have an open door policy and welcome all.
Do you want to know more about Social Media? If so, then perhaps you will be interested in joining me for a Social Media Marketing workshop that I have been invited to run with a fellow networker Judith Germain who is well known for her Leadership Expertise. This day is not for total beginners but for people who have begun to dabble with creating a few profiles and are looking to expand their business activities using social media to promote what they do. If you are interested in something a little more basic - an introduction to what it is all about then please get in touch with me direct.
Georgina's profiles: - Ecademy, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter
Patricia's profiles:- LinkedIn, Facebook
Facebook fan page
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| Social Media is getting us noticed....
Since our last email, it has been proved just how valuable the internet is proving to be as a necessary tool to getting our story out to new and interesting people. This last few weeks has generated a couple of good front page articles on websites including CelebrityDialogue.comand Visit Wales USA. We have made some incredible connections with fascinating and inspiring individuals who if we had tried to meet off line first, would probably take years of travelling, writing, and meetings just to get on nodding terms in the lift.
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| It's not just about US all this website and online networking stuff, it is about YOU and what is important to you!
Those who know us well will appreciate that we love people and invariably many customers become long term friends. Customers who love our things invariably love the many things that interest us too and it is not unusual for us to love what our customers do as well. Amongst our clan we have many talented artists, performers, singers, directors, dancers, writers, and so on who are an inspiration in themselves. Our thinking is that if you are an artist and you like our stuff then not only will we be likely to like your things but so will our other customers. So we want to know about YOU and what you are doing. There are plans to set up an online community of people enjoy beauty and appreciate creativity in all its forms. I am sure that you know of many other talented artists and designers who would be interested in being a part of a small, exclusive group of people. Please tell us about them.
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Visiting the Studios
Spending some time with us at the studios is always the best way of getting to experience the whole collection and the ability to try things on is invariably much more fun and interesting.
Opening times:- Monday to Friday 10.30am to 4.30pm
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Remember our 100% money back guarantee!
Buying on the internet is becoming a part of our every day lives but we know that there is nothing like coming to the studios to play for a few hours trying on the vast variety of styles and shapes available as well as experimenting with the huge array of colour combinations possible.
If you buy an item and it does not suit you, was not what you expected or does not fit properly, then we offer you a 100% money back guarantee provided that it is sent back to us in its original condition within a few days. All that we ask is that you pay for the postage/courier.
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February Sale - Part 3
Any ideas for Mother's Day?
Patricia's Serious Spring Cleaning Sale will continue through to 20th March
www.gallery-of-wearable-art.com
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I hope that you have been able to enjoy the amazing sunshine and blue skies we have been having - it might still be cold but the bright light has been very welcome indeed.
Today we thought it about time to let you know about what is happening with Harrods (see Patricia's comments below) and to offer you more time to enjoy the sale - it has been a very busy couple of weeks.
But first things first .....So much for you gardeners out there! None of you noticed that it wasn't a Welsh Poppy that I had included in the last newsletter. It was actually a Californian poppy - beautiful but not exactly Welsh. So instead I thought I'd give you a picture of the Welsh seaside - the view from my parents' place down in West Wales - only jealous of course that I am not there enjoying the breathtaking scenery.
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Harrods are closing their plus department - a few words from Patricia
We were greatly shocked when we were told that this would be happening and hope that we can encourage people to come directly to us to buy their special clothes. Harrods have already started restricting the number of our pieces in the store and we expect them to gradually continue to reduce the number of pieces making it more difficult for people of different shapes and style preferences to be able to select something that is perfect for them.
It is disheartening to hear of another store, along with Selfridges, who do not value this neglected group of people. We feel that this is a very short sighted decision especially in this day and age when the average size is between 14 and 16 (16 and 18 US). When we first heard this we wondered whether indeed it was worth continuing as Harrods represented the only bricks and mortar outlet for us - then our passion and enthusiasm for what we do took over and we thought that it would drive people to the internet where they can find all sorts of exciting things made by individual people like ourselves who no longer have to be dependent on the whims of the stores. It is a new and exciting age.
So the alternative is to take a holiday and visit us in our studios in Wales, or check our on-line shop regularly to see what there is that is new, reduced, rare - or write to us in the old fashioned way, call us and tell us what you need and we can guide you through the possibilities.
Patricia
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February Sale - Part 3 - Do you need ideas for Mother's Day?
 We have actually been so busy that we have not been able to deal with every single query yet so we have decided to extend the sale period for a few more days. You will now be able to choose from the sale items up until the end of the day on the 20th March 2010. After that, this is it really it - we have so many other things that we need and want to do there will not be another extension.
For Mothering Sunday there are some luxury scarves available as well as a few silk ones that make ideal gifts.
The herb bags and Dorothy bags are ideal too. Skirts always make great presents - there are a few in the Skirts category but most of the sale ones are in the Apprentice and Sale rail section.
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| Join our Facebook Fan Page
 As a part of us spreading the word about our work to the outside world, we have set up a Facebook Fan Page - please join us and join in the discussions. You can add your own photos and links too. Part of my plans includes promoting the work of the many customers and friends we have who do interesting things themselves. Amongst us we have artists, writers, performers, singers, etc. who all have amazing talents which we would like to celebrate with you.
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If you have any queries then you know where to find me.
Wishing you all the best
Georgina
+44 (0) 1873 853559 |
Please Note - this is a PUBLIC SALE. All sale items will be
available to ALL visitors to the
website
Even if you are only slightly tempted by something then you need to act quickly and let us know. If you are looking for something in particular then it is worth you getting in touch - there may be something else that we can show you. However, be warned that this may take a bit of time as we have had quite a few people wanting special things recently. We will do our best to find what we can for you.
A picture of a poppy that is
not a Welsh Poppy!
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Visiting the Studios
Spending some time with us at the studios is always the best way of getting to experience the whole collection and the ability to try things on is invariably much more fun and interesting.
Opening times:- Monday to Friday 10.30am to 4.30pm
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|
Remember our 100% money back guarantee!
Buying on the internet is becoming a part of our every day lives but we know that there is nothing like coming to the studios to play for a few hours trying on the vast variety of styles and shapes available as well as experimenting with the huge array of colour combinations possible.
If you buy an item and it does not suit you, was not what you expected or does not fit properly, then we offer you a 100% money back guarantee provided that it is sent back to us in its original condition within a few days. All that we ask is that you pay for the postage/courier.
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February Sale starts February 14th(at midnight)This is one of Patricia's Serious Spring Cleaning Sales - some astonishing bargains on offer.www.gallery-of-wearable-art.com
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If you are a traditionalist then the surfeit of Christmas extravagances is swiftly followed by the bagging of the bargains in the January sales. Well for us, things are never that straight forward and not being a traditionalist means that we never do things as people expect. The snows came, the winter bugs did their thing, then the snow came again so it has taken this long to get our selves gathered together to sort out which items are going to be the mega bargains. So here we are now enjoying the glorious sunshine full of promise. Something which is such a delight and a relief from the cold weather we have experiencing.
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Patricia is at it again - emptying hangers and offering some astonishing bargains.
If you go to the Apprentice Rail & Sale Items then you will see some of the first the pieces which are going to be reduced. More being added during the week.
I haven't dared look to see what Patricia has reduced as I am bound to argue with her. However as I am keen to get the new things on the site, I am letting her get away with her spring clearout. I have heard mutterings of reducing some tops to as little as £35 which is incredibly low as they are normally in the hundreds. There are some silk skirts too although I am not sure how much they are yet. So it might be an idea to stock up on a few summer silks (before I have a fit at the prices and make her change her mind!)
The weather is still cold so Patricia has included some slim bias skirts which are £300 instead of the usual £772. A few full bias skirts at £350 instead of £972. If you want an easy option of choosing a complete outfit then there are some great prices on these as well - around £650 instead of £1717. (She might by lying to me of course, you may find some other greater reductions that she has not confessed to yet.)
I could not help noticing the Joseph Coat has been added to the sale list and that is an amazing price of £800 instead of the original £2785. This is a real one-off piece that will never be repeated - hand painted using a very different technique to the ones we usually use, so it is a very unique item that is really a collectible piece. If that does not go quickly then I will definitely be arguing with her on that one - it really is a special coat unlike anything else in stock.
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More sale items will be added over the next week or so
If you cannot find your ideal choices, then please get in touch. We will be adding more items to the sale as we go along. There are never enough hours in the day to add everything straight away so if you have particular preferences then we can look for those items first.
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If you have any queries then you know where to find me.
Wishing you all the best
Georgina
+44 (0) 1873 853559 |
Visiting the Studios
Spending some time with us at the studios is always the best way of getting to experience the whole collection and the ability to try things on is invariably much more fun and interesting.
Opening times:- Monday to Friday 10.30am to 4.30pm
|
|
Remember our 100% money back guarantee!
Buying on the internet is becoming a part of our every day lives but we know that there is nothing like coming to the studios to play for a few hours trying on the vast variety of styles and shapes available as well as experimenting with the huge array of colour combinations possible.
If you buy an item and it does not suit you, was not what you expected or does not fit properly, then we offer you a 100% money back guarantee provided that it is sent back to us in its original condition within a few days. All that we ask is that you pay for the postage/courier.
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