True Blue For You

Teal & Pearl

Teal, Meaning From The Color Turquoise.

Turquoise is often regarded as feminine, calming and sophisticated. Suggesting wisdom, serenity, wholeness, creativity and emotional balance. 
Influencing good luck, spiritual grounding, friendship, love, joy, tranquility, patience and intuition.

I just love the combination of Teal with the changing hues of Pearl.

Available on Amazon Marketplace HERE or eBay HERE

Unleashing My Inner Unicorn.

Ruby Red Hearts

Heart shaped leaves in Ruby Red vases from £19.95 

OH DEAR ...

 A Very Art Deco Look In Red By Mackintosh And More

I'm In The Red Again!

 

Via Amazon And eBay

All Three Designs

Will Be Available Shortly

THE FUSCHIA'S BRIGHT...

The Future Is Fuschia...

Fuschia & Pearl - £24.95 - 25cm

Mackintosh Rose & Leaf - £29.95

Flower Vase 30cm - £34.95

 This combination reminds me that Spring has nearly sprung!

Small Hurricane Vase - £19.95

Mackintosh And More

Posy Vase 20cm - £19.95

 

Hurry Up And Take Your Time.

The thoughts of a small trader.

In my opinion, in the little Retail Bubble which  I inhabit, some of the last people to feel the tightening grip of recession are Commercial Landlords. They always seem to get the rent they want because there will always be someone out there with the next big idea. Just don't don't get too carried away when you find the perfect premises.

Do - Ask for the first month rent free.
Do - Try to get it decorated by the landlord for free.
Do - Make sure you have a "break" clause, 12 - 18 months is usual.
Don't sign a lengthy contract, I usually opted for five years.
Don't forget to establish who is responsible for repairs, make sure it is in the contract.
Don't have verbal agreements regarding responsibilities, write it down in the contract.

Don’t get me wrong, more people should consider starting their own business. I love to see small independent shops they make a town interesting and charming. It’s a pleasure to walk around a place with more than just the usual High Street names.
The idea of someone starting their own business rather than working for “The Man” is exactly what I did. Maybe I got lucky but I did a lot of research about what was realistically achievable in my little town.

What about your town?

Is it a dormitory town, do most of its inhabitants sleep there but work and play elsewhere.?
What catchment area surrounds your town, are there many smaller communities who may visit for shopping etc.?
Or my favourite, are you a tourist town, just a nice place to visit with lots to see and do and lots of people visiting?

These are just some of the things to consider before taking your nest-egg or bank loan and, often with little experience but loads of enthusiasm, marching into retail battle with a "Gung-Ho" attitude.
It sometimes seems that with little or no research people plough money, time and effort into their project without looking at footfall or any kind of demographics. There are successes of course, but most seem to disappear within a year which is the normal “break” clause in a commercial contract. Landlords here in the U.K. are not given to reduce rent for a period to help a business get a better foothold they would rather rinse and repeat.

 

It is the poor little proprietor who has to sink or swim. We have all heard so-called "Business Gurus" trotting out the legend;

 

 "No such thing as failure, it's all experience". 

That may be true, but I have experienced losing money in a venture and it felt like a burn to me. Yes you need to pick yourself up and try to learn from it, but I don’t remember nodding sagely and thinking of that 'feel good' motivational blurb!
As I have said, you must do your research and take your time.
It's a shame that in the rush to start a business "Due Diligence" goes out of the window. And another proprietor walks in through the shop door.

So how do you live long and prosper in a little retail world?

Identity Parade!

Stand Still And Face Forward!

 

Mackintosh And More Small Hurricane Lamps

 

Okay, pick out the one you like and buy it, which do you prefer Amazon or eBay?

 

Buy Gold - I Would.

They say that Gold is a a good investment, but you can find it for your self at the following Goldmines Amazon or eBay

 

 The two central images were an early experiment that did not work, sorry!😒

Feeling Blue

Not Really, just vase-ing!

Blue seems to be quite popular at the moment, so here are a few examples coupled with Pearl accents. This really is a striking combination, giving a lovely pop of colour in most room settings. All will be available for sale soon.

I'm Going Through A Purple Patch.

A new colour combination for this style of vase, great for flowers, dried arrangements or just on it's own. 

Available from Amazon or eBay

 This is a brand new design which is a take on a customer's request. I call this a Bouquet vase, and it is shown here in Purple, Lilac, and Pearl. The pearl tends to go from a very pale sunshine yellow to a mid pink hue as you turn the vase or view it from different angles, I love the effect.

This is also available form Amazon or eBay

After breakfast.....

I Made This!

This large bowl is the last one of only five I will be making.

It is a great centrepiece and looks fabulous, but it is VERY heavy to work with.

 

Mackintosh And More Rose And Leaf Bowl

Limited Edition Bowl By Marion Brown - Mackintosh And More

Look at what I found on the dresser!!!

All in a (few) days work for a little old Cottage Industry like Mackintosh And More. My work is inspired by shapes and patterns taken from the Art Deco and Art Nouveau eras. With a hint of Charles Rennie Mackintosh unique style.

This dresser is now doubling as my "Image Factory", you will see it as the background in numerous pictures on this fledgling Blog. Each item needs to be individually photographed to then be loaded onto the Amazon and eBay Marketplaces.

O.K. I know that I have many challenges with my photographic efforts, and I am always trying to improve. They say image is everything and that is certainly the case with internet sales, I do my best but it's a steep learning curve.

I try to take three or four shots of a vase from different angles and rightly or wrongly I have recently included the wine bottle to give some scale. I tend to sit astride a dining chair and rest my forearms on the back to steady the yips! However sometimes I just point and hold my breath.😅

By the by, I'm not using some kind of specialist top of the range mega pixel camera, I wouldn't have a clue how to use it. My current weapon of choice is an everyday "Tablet" computer, maybe it's an unusual choice but I feel comfortable with it at the moment.

Charles Rennie Mackintosh Inspired - Now Available.

Mackintosh Rose and Leaf Design

Hello Everyone,


You may remember that I have posted this design previously, it is now available to purchase.

At 30cm tall only £49.95 with FREE U.K. delivery.

Availabe from Amazon HERE
               
                  OR

Available from eBay HERE