Joanne Hawker's Instagram challenge #MarchMeetTheMaker® is back in 2022 for another month long challenge and strives to be bigger and better than before! Prepare yourself for a month of creative posting on Instagram, making new friends and discovering an incredible amount of new talent to follow. But most of all, prepare yourself for a month of fun and telling the world about YOU and what you make.
I wanted to take part in the March Meet The Maker challenge hosted by Joanne Hawker as it's something I've admired other makers doing over the years and I love talking about Christine Gardner Design and what I get up to - and give you some behind the scenes info!
I know that a lot of my customers aren't on Instagram or Facebook where I share these posts so thought I would share them in a blog starting with the first 10 days and all the information that went with the prompts - enjoy!
Day One - You and Your Work
Hello, I’m Christine and I’m addicted to flowers!
If you have been following me for a while you will know that flowers form most of my work. I get seasonal inspiration from in and around my West Sussex studio. What are your favourites? 🌸
Just a little introduction for Day 1 of #marchmeetthemaker - You and Your Work prompt.
I hope you’ll join me throughout this month and we’ll get to know each other better!
Day Two - Brand Values
My brand values. Happiness, kindness, creativity, celebration, inspiration, and thoughtfulness.
It’s what I like every product I create to represent and how I hope everyone feels when they receive one of them too.
Day Three - Planning
Join me in…. Planning a Range!
A new series of start to finish reels that gives you a behind the scenes look at what I get up to! Exciting eh?!
For Day 3 of #marchmeetthemaker the prompt is ‘planning’ so I’m showing you what goes in to a range. It starts with a spreadsheet - the products I want to design - and then goes through various stages of sketching, design and drawing to get to the final printed pieces (I haven’t even touched on the proofing stages!) Anyway, hope you like it.
Is there anything else you would like to know about my planning process?….
Day Four - 3 Things
Instead of sharing some facts about my business today I thought I would share a few things I try to do in between the daily running of Christine Gardner Design!
Maybe it’s something you could try this weekend?… If you do, be sure to let me know how it went!
So 3 things I try to do every day….
1. Draw something! Not just for the business, just things for myself. Nothing beats getting creative and doodling, sketching, painting, colouring, anything involving pens and paper is very therapeutic for everyone!
2. Get away from your Desk… Let’s face it, we’re all pretty stuck to them, or our screens, for a lot of the day. I love going for a walk or reading a book to get away from the screen and using your hands to make, create or bake something is a great feeling! I’ve started crocheting again - I’ll show you my results soon!
3. Do something for someone. It’s always great to connect with people. I work on my own, in my own house, so connecting to people is vital for me - and could be vital for them too. Send card, write letter, email or text. Just ask someone how they are. It will brighten your day for sure!
[Day 5 and 6 - weekend!]
Day Seven - Favourite
Todays prompt for #marchmeetthemaker is ‘Favourite’.
I have lots of favourite things about my business but I think my absolute favourite is coming up with new ideas. Whether it’s creating a whole new pattern that becomes a range, finding a gap in my offerings and designing a range to fill it, or making brand new products.
I guess as I’m talking about new ideas and new things it’s the perfect opportunity to introduce you to my new wrap boxes! My Christmas sets were such a success that I decided to make some every day ones. These are extra special and include some beautiful velvet ribbon. These weren’t meant to be released yet but as with all new things I design - it’s hard to not share them straight away! They are in the shop already, and I will share more details over the next few weeks…
Which one is your favourite? 1, 2, or 3?…
Find out more about my gift wrap boxes here: https://www.christinegardner.co.uk/giftwrap
Day Eight - Best Decision
The best decision I ever made? Starting my business! At the time I didn’t realise I was really doing it. I just put a couple of listings on Etsy that a friend wanted to buy, and as soon as they sold I got the bug! When people I didn’t know started to buy them too it was even more amazing!
So for todays #marchmeetthemaker prompt of ‘Best Decision’ this is it! Opening my shop on Etsy, starting a business based on something I love - and enjoying every minute of it!!
Day Nine - Hands at Work
Day 9 of #marchmeetthemaker is ‘Hands at Work’.
When I thought about this prompt I immediately thought about me drawing, but my hands do so much more too!
1. Sketching
2. Drawing digitally
3. Typing
4. Building my website
5. Packing products
6. Posting orders
7. Hand making gift boxes, candles, reed diffusers and writing sets
8. Creating social media posts!
9. Taking photos
10. Unpacking and packing stock
And probably lots more!
👋🤝🤲🤜🤛✍️👌👍
Day Ten - Storage
Day 10 of #marchmeetthemaker is ‘Storage’.
Most of my products are tucked away in really useful boxes until they are sent out, to keep them safe, but my wrap is on a display rack which I love! I get to see all the designs together and it really helps when I want to test a new design with them. I slip in ideas to see how they compare and contrast, it’s like a giant mood board!
The rack is full of print and pattern in my otherwise quite blank packing room, which is why I love it and had to share it today!
Any of your favourites among this lot?…
Find out more about my wrap here: https://www.christinegardner.co.uk/giftwrap