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I was completely delighted (and slightly start-struck) to be interviewed recently by Mollie Makes magazine on the subject of teaching creative classes. I’m passionate about the benefits of sharing creative skills so it was fabulous to be asked for my thoughts by one of my all time favourite magazines. It’s true that nowadays we all want to spend on experiences to savour rather than just buying more ‘stuff’. We’d much rather tell friends where we’ve been and what we made rather than what we bought. Social media has been a huge driver behind this and the ‘experience economy’ is now the fastest growing retail sector. If you’re a maker and finding it tough selling on Etsy or in galleries, it’s worth considering how hosting a pop-up class might introduce you to an exciting new audience. If you’re already interested in teaching why not spend a day with me learning how to plan, price and promote your classes. Email me for more information. Read more about how I prepare for my classes and why teaching can be a great boost to any creative business, Mollie Makes summer issue out now of grab a copy of my book ‘Teach What You Do’.

If you’re quick, there’s still time to join me for this summer special class on Sunday 11th August – learning new techniques with silver clay . On the day you’ll learn

• How to create a delicate filigree rose using silver in a syringe.
• How to make a ring from silver clay – that fits!
• Forming a super cute little bee to adorn your ring

There’ll also be strawberry’s and cream for tea and a glass of fizz (alcohol free of course) to toast our success….!

Book your place now – click here 

It’s another first for me ! Join me for an inspiring day-retreat in the beautiful, peaceful surroundings of the Oxfordshire countryside. Relax and enjoy our expert-led sessions on looking good and eating well for summer. We’ve included a delicious, healthy lunch and masses of easy tricks and tips to inspire you. There’s even a take-home goody bag to keep those new intentions going. I can’t wait to welcome you … !

Our morning session will be led by Ashley Keen. Ashley is a trained chef who has cooked all over the world keeping the uber rich well fed on their super yachts. She is also a qualified personal tariner with a special interest in free-from, fermentation and plant based cooking.When not giving talks on fermentation at Soho Farmhouse or inspiring the Adidas team, you may have spotted Ashley live on stage at Country File Live, last year. Or caught her on the BBC Sounds podcast talking about the Art of Fermentation.

After a delicious two course lunch, we’ll meet Laura Mortimer. Professionally trained in mime and theatre Laura has also worked as an actress and voice artist. More recently, a passion for helping women to look and feel their best, inspired Laura to train as a make up artist. Laura will demonstrate for us a natural summer look for day time. Her easy style and expert advice will give you confidence and skills with makeup to enhance your everyday look. We’ll look at basic colour theory, the psycology of makeup and a range of products and colours. Bring your makeup bag, mirror and be ready to try something new … !

OUR EXPERTS

Ashley Keen ans Laura Mortiner are professionally trained experts in their very different fields. Both are passionate about bringing you new ideas and easy techniques to transform your table and your summer looks.

Read more about Ashley www.ashleykeen.co.uk                                               Follow Laura on Instagram  @lauramortimermua

OUR VENUE

Just a few miles south of Oxford city centre, our beautiful venue is part of a boutique-style country house with accommodation. Set in 6 acres of woodland and with views of the glorious Oxford countryside and adjacent to Frilford Golf course. Flooded with natural light and with plenty of parking, it’s the perfect, peaceful setting for an inspiring day out. Why not stay the night either before or after the day and enjoy all that Oxfordshire has to offer.

BOOK NOW & READ MORE  HERE.

 

 

I’m very excited to be sharing news of my special summer event on the beautiful Isle of Wight, famous for its music festival and beloved by Queen Victoria. I’ll be hosting a special two day summer event in June with a focus on creativity and eating – my two favourite things!

We have a super-secret, special venue – pictured here – where we know Queen Victoria was a visitor on more than one occasion. You’ll arrive in time for coffee, homemade cookies and introductions.

After a short demo, you will design and make your own, unique, real silver jewellery. Working through the steps, with guidance, you’ll be amazed as you turn clay into silver. Ideal for beginners, this is a perfect introduction to the wonderful world of silver clay. All designs will be super shiny and ready to wear by the end of the class – or send for hallmarking.

The highlight of each day will be a magnificent three-course alfresco lunch ( weather permitting) of locally sourced ingredients and home cooked dishes, with a glass of fizz….!!

Come for both days or just one, find local accommodation and make it a mini break. You’ll leave relaxed, rested with new creative skills and your summer silver accessories sorted…!!

WHEN – Saturday 8 June & Sunday 9 June 2019

SAVE – Earlybird discount available NOW  (Book before end of March)

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Melanie x

Recently, I had the enormous pleasure of meeting one of my all time business heroes, the totally inspirational Joy Foster. Joy is the founder of Techpixies, the Oxford & London based social enterprise dedicated to training women in digital skills.

I’ve struggled for years in getting to grips with social media, web content management and  email marketing but I know  how essential it is  in today’s world . So, I completely understand how being out of the workplace for even a relatively short time can leave women, especially, lacking in confidence and feeling out of place with technology.

Techpixies brilliant courses – online and face to face – address all of these issues. Joy is the powerhouse behind Techpixies and truly is one of the most dynamic people I’ve ever met. We talked about the importance of learning new skills and how this creates confidence which opens new career and earning opportunities. We also talked about my new book ‘Teach What You Do‘ and why I decided to self-publish.

We recorded our conversation and you can see the first part here. In this section we’re talking about confidence and overcoming uncertainty. And  Joy has some great tips for dealing with those inevitable setbacks…..!

Watch my conversation with Joy here. 

If you’re inspired to teach what you do grab your copy of my book here 

 

Goodbye January. Hello February….!! Without doubt, January is the darkest month. And it’s not only the absence of light but lack of cash, cold weather and general mean-spritedness of the first month that really gets us down. I often wonder why do we make life even less enjoyable with dry-january, veganuary or even  janu-hairy …???

Even so, there’s  a spirit of optimism about January that I love. Do you remember those heady days after new year when anything seemed possible?  Change was in the air and we all felt inspired to to do better, to be better and challenge ourselves in new ways in 2019.

New year resolutions come but once a year. However, starting out on a new challenge or trying something new  can happen at any time.  Last year, I had the opportunity to try something new right at the end of 2018. By chance, I was asked to promote my book ‘Silver Clay Workshop’ on Jewellery Maker TV. 

Now, I’m very confident at teaching classes, I feel comfortable with my subject and love making jewellery. But live TV was something completely new to me. I’ve learned the only way to get started is to say yes, and take the first step… I wasn’t quite sure what I was doing but on the big day it went well and guess what? They’ve asked me back…!

So, as I write I’m excitedly planning out two more projects I’ll be presenting on live TV on Monday 18th February. If your interested, either tune in live to Jewellery Maker TV via one of your freeview channels or pop over to You Tube where all the shows are recorded.

If you’ve decided to try something new this February why not have a look and learn about silver clay…!!

I’ll be appearing on live Jewellery Maker TV at 9.00am and 12.oopm Monday 18th February 2019.

If you’re new here or we haven’t yet met in person, you might be wondering who I am and why I’m here writing about silver clay and my classes. Please allow me to introduce myself…

I’m Melanie Blaikie. When I was 18 I answered an anonymous advert in a national newspaper and quickly found myself recruited as a trainee diamond dealer with De Beers. My love affair with beautiful jewels began that day and I’ve not looked back. I designed for most of the big names and enjoyed an amazing career in a truly unique industry. More recently, I moved to Suffolk and discovered silversmithing. Not traditional metal work but using an incredibly ingenious new form of recycled silver made into a soft ‘clay’. By necessity, I’m pretty much self-taught as I couldn’t find a class or much helpful info at the start.

So, I quickly decided to teach classes and write a book (to be honest I now look back wonder what I was thinking…!!) I’m definitely  creative, I love an adventure and have endless curiosity for the world around me. I love learning new stuff, I believe being nice is underrated and real happiness isn’t getting what you want, it’s wanting what you’ve got.

Something you don’t know about me? I passed my driving test in a Citroen 2CV (a minor miracle…!) and I’ve never seen a Star Wars film.

Why not send me a few words about yourself – would be great to say ‘Hi’!

Big thanks to @anthonycullenphotography for this photo which I love…!!

It’s all go here as I’m preparing for the first silver clay workshop of the year, at Denman College in Oxfordshire. I’m easing myself in gently as it’s just a day class but fully booked, which is brilliant for January. The boxes are packed, the car is crammed with silver goodies and I’m ready to go. Looking forward to meeting another wonderful group of students and starting them on their own silver clay journey.

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