First Weekend of NEOS

Saturday 15th Sept - The morning was a little slow, but it wasn't surprising as the weather was foul! But by 11am things really started to hot up. By 3pm Platform 22 was full to the brim with people having teas/coffees and chatting about the various artists and the work on show. And of course buying lots of work too! At the end of our first day I would say we have had about 40 people through our doors.

The highlight to Platform 22's NEOS first weekend was Alan Steele, who took shelter in his gazebo outside and worked at his lathe all Saturday and Sunday, turning the most beautiful fairy goblets which we have on sale along side his stunning wooden hollow forms and boxes exhibited at Platform 22.

Sunday 16th Sept - Again another busy day, but much more steady than Saturday. Funnily enough I had a friend to come help me with the teas from 2:30pm until 5pm, but the minute she arrived the cafe took a slow down ... which was probably a good thing as we were about to run out of cups, cafetieres and plates ... so she got stuck at the sink instead!!
Again, Alan Steele worked away at his lathe in the cold, but he always had a captivated his audience even in the windy cold weather. I have still to grab a moment to pop out the door and watch him at work!

Had some very interesting people in on Sunday, chatting about the other artists/exhibits and how wonderful everything was. As well as how many talented people are out there, that, nobody really knows about, let alone what they do. I love the fact that they are so keen to meet and talk, it is how it should be all the time ... but then I'd never get any work done (Tee Hee!). I think on Sunday there must have been at least 45 customers visiting Platform 22.

If you read my blog that I posted on Sunday evening I could hardly string two words together - I was so tired. I am just about caught up with my energy levels today. Don't get me wrong I am not complaining in any form, I love NEOS to bits, it is such a fantastic idea for everybody.

If you are in Aberdeenshire, Scotland why not look up NEOS on the web at www.northeastopenstudios.co.uk and visit Platform 22, as well as many more fantastic locations! It will be worth it and we'd love to meet you!

North East Open Studios is here!

Well all I can say is WOW to the beginning of NEOS! WE certainly started with a big "BANG"! I am rather taken aback by how busy Platform 22 has been. Not only getting ready for the big preview launch, which meant working until about 3am for the week before, but the Preview evening and the weekend since. This, so far, since joining North East Open Studios has been the best year yet.


Friday 14th Sept - I don't really remember much about the day apart from playing permanent catch up! I had to collect the jewelery, make all the labels for pricing the work (which the computer took an instant dislike too), wash the floor as well as do all my mothering duties too. I was a whirl wind that day.


I heard at about 5:50pm that STV News (Scottish Television) were showing the interview that a group of NEOS artists had done earlier in the week (including a snippet of me... nerves got the better of me I'm afraid and I don't know where the words went!!! - So I'm nervously curious) so I spent the next half hour desperately looking for a video tape to record it whilst trying to have a bath and wash my hair... put it this way the corridor between the bath & the telly was rather wet! AND THEN after all of that STV never showed it - I was disappointed for NEOS but relieved for myself!


We hadn't even reached 6:30pm (opening at 7pm) when people started to arrive, and it never stopped from there! We were packed into Platform 22 ... I would say that we had 50 - 60 people here. I never left the till and if I did it was only to place a red dot on an item! We kept going until about 10pm. What an amazing atmosphere and spectacular evening.

And ... Ready! Set! GO!!

It is now Sunday evening, the first chance to sit and not collapse in a deep sleep since Friday evening.

I am trying to put words into action, but too pooped! Everything was and still is a huge success, but I'm sorry you will have to wait until tomorrow before I can get my head around writing my next post! Yes, I know, it is the end of only day two of North East Open Studios, but I'm done in for today. I promise to tell all tomorrow!

Forgot to tell you!

I can't remember if I have mentioned, but, on Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th Alan Steele is joining me here at Platform 22 in Torphins with his lathe and wood turning skills. He will be turning the most AMAZING tiny fairy goblets. They are beautiful and I'm really excited. So if you are in the area, don't forget to come see us. I'll try to post a picture of the fairy goblets in the morning. The detail and precision is just wonderful, I've never seen anything like it.
Hopefully Alan will come back again the following weekend to make some more! An ideal present for any little girl or boy. Something to get their imagination going! I've already started thinking of who I can give them to!
Anyway, it is now 1:15am and I must go to bed! Goodnight!

One more day to go!

Today has gone really rather well, this is somehow strange ... I can't help thinking "what have I forgotten?"

I hung all the work today. I even ran out of picture hooks at one point... so some pieces are hung with humongous nails ... I started at 9am(ish) and kept going until 3:31pm! At which point I realised I hadn't gone to collect my daughter plus her 2 friends from school nursery, and so, ran down the hill, jumped (almost flew) the wall into the school playgroup (this activity is not allowed, it is a bad example to set the children ~ I once got caught .. BIG OOPS!), but, nobody was watching today! All OK and in the end because of my flying short cut I arrived before most of the other Mums! Anyhow, once I got back I spent the rest of the afternoon arranging the ceramics and wood work. I have to say I'm really pleased, the gallery looks AMAZING and it is a fabulous show this year!!! OH it just GREAT!!! I have sadly got a lot of tidying to do tomorrow!

So, tomorrow morning I hope the two jewelery people are dropping work off, I will arrange what they give me. Try to quickly finish off all the pricing and labling (ugh) I hate this part. Then I'll finish tiding up, do the last minute fiddles and wash the shop floor... then hopefully hop into the bath myself, relax (?), by which point it will then be time to pick up the girls... we will have (I hope) a lovely afternoon together and not step foot into the studio, quick and early supper, get changed and put on the old face ... take down the window screens ... and then ... its the BIG opening.... Wish me Luck!

So no pictures today ... I would like to show you my progress, but then it will spoil my first nights opening ... you'll see them on Saturday.

Funny to think the preview will be over this time tomorrow. I hope lots of people turn up!

Please come and see us if you are in the area, there is something here for everybody, and all budgets too! Or, come have a cuppa & sit back & enjoy!