Cool little film commissioned by the tourist office about what Newquay should be about, not it’s current image of marauding groups of men and women, p*ssed and shouty.
What do you think? I think the sun doesn’t sun quite that much 😉 But I think it’s a fab effort.
Reef Films are the team behind it. Perhaps they’d like to join our network? 🙂
Well, back in the land of the living. The Royal Cornwall Show was great but I needed several days to recover! I also really, really, REALLY hated that bloody robot. Yes I’m scared of robots and don’t care who knows it! (Well, maybe just a little bit…)
So we meet again on the 4 July. (Cowboy hats optional. Can you hear me over the blare of cheap cultural stereotyping?!) This time all the way down in Falmouth at the fabulous Dolly’s tea room.
I was specifically asked to do a Falmouth meeting, so please spread the word. Share and tweet this, drop an email to people who might be interested, run through the streets of Falmouth with only a sandwich board and a cheeky grin if you must!
Once again, I can offer three people a lift coming from Liskeard. Let me know! If you have space in your car, post a note here, please.
I’m also looking to highlight particular projects, so let me know: work in a new gallery, working on a big project, have a film or website to publicise, anything you like, lets whack it on here.
Remember, this isn’t just about meeting, but promoting our work. Nothing to small or too large!
Finally, we are not doing well with our Crowdfunder campaign. No donations yet. I am a little disappointed but genuinely not surprised. I have been told by two people they will be donating, and if people can afford it, I’m really very grateful. Samphire Gallery have also confirmed that they will offer a very special one-off print for the £100+ donators. Thank you so much for that.
We are just not attracting the support and attention needed really to make a splash. But fear not cakers, we will continue, unbowed and undaunted. Where there is cake, there is hope!
Until the next time…
From the land where pixies play…
To coincide with the Liskeard Show this year, Cornwall Coffee and Cake members, Pudwinks, will be launching their first book in the Pudwinks Chronicles.
Come and meet author Colin and illustrator Gail Miles who will be signing copies of ‘Naughty Nicky and the Good Ship Oggy’.
‘Scuse lack of updates. I’m preparing for the biggest show I’ve ever done, the Royal Cornwall Show. I’m there on Saturday (stand 394!) So that’s my focus until after the weekend. I have to say, I admire anyone that can do the whole three days, it’s pretty full on and exhausting preparing for one day!
Please remember to RT and share, the network’s Crowdfunder campaign. Only 27 days to go and so far, no funding. But on the plus side, a lot more people know about the network and even more should after Saturday as I’ve done some FiveC’s leaflets. It was always going to be hard to fund a network, and I think we’re seeing that a little bit. But still, there’s a few weeks left, work still to do, and am hopeful that we can pull in some dough!
PS. Please visit me on Saturday, I’m doing a free prize draw with wine, chocolates, fudge, a limited edition print, and greetings cards!
It’s not just us! Ho-no, one of our members (one half of the delectable Westside Stories) is Crowdfunding too… Check out his project, here, thank you, please.
On Monday, Crowdfunder Cornwall is launched, and that includes a pitch for this very network! (I am trying to raise £1280 – full breakdown on the Crowdfunder site although you might not be able to see the page until Monday. Search ‘Cornwall Coffee and Cake.)
I will be banging on about it mercilessly, but I will be relying also on people that think this network is a good idea, has legs, seems interesting to do the same, please.
Some submit a pitch and then check back in after the allotted time hoping that the money has mysteriously appeared, but of course, it’s incumbent on the pitcher – I suppose that’s me – and supporters, to drum up enthusiasm, awareness and cash!
I’m asking for a modest amount, and really hope we’re successful. I think it would allow this network to develop and flourish by reaching more people. And if appropriate (and indeed, if wanted), help those on low or no pay. Plus the attention will attract new members, whatever happens.
I’ve previously been involved in a lot of exciting projects including a town project, and I’m aware of just how many small towns are doing the same at the moment. The most recent one I’ve come across (and in fact I know some of the people behind it) is Love Fowey. I don’t think it can be underestimated the power of working together to promote and highlight something which is important to you. A town is considerably more important that a burgeoning network, I grant you. But for me the similarities are there. Put simply, when people or organisations work together, there is better communication and connection, and good things happen. For everyone involved.
Please check out the film if you haven’t already to see why I’m so passionate about this.
So if you can RT and share the hell out of this, I’d be grateful. If you have websites, you could include a link. Or email people and say, I think this is a good idea, please check it out.
Thanks 🙂
The first meeting has taken place! Dun, dun, dah…
And it was lovely! Follow (if you don’t already) Webb Street Co., Westside Stories, Choclette, Gingham Chicken (and me, Click_Write) because they’re doing some very cool stuff and had really exciting ideas to connect and promote the towns we work in.
Sadly, deadlines forced a couple of people to send apologies, we’ve all been there! See you next time.
I think it was fair to say we were all wondering what we were letting ourselves in for. Thank mackerel, we all hate networking, so there was none of this thrusting I’ve spoken of at length about before, and we just had a laugh and some fine cake.
One of the things that was discussed is when a proper membership scheme is set up, about offering each other discounts, and so far there’s been a great response. If you’d like to be part of that, let me know. I’m happy to offer 10% off, for example, for members of the FiveC’s.
So a big thank you to everyone that came, I hope you enjoyed it. And thank you whomever made my apricot slice, it was lovely.
Now will you think me very vain for uploading this pic? Remember I told you I’d won a stall at the Royal Cornwall Show? (Pay attention at the back.) Well, they’ve started doing some publicity. I like how it just says, come and meet me as if, frankly, that was more than enough! And you’d be damn welcome to, but you can also talk to me about writing, photography, marketing, comms and anything you like really.
Well at the risk of sounding a little boastful… I’M A WINNER! Too much?
As well as being a professional writer, I started my marketing and communications company back in 2011 and then expanded to include AL Photography (selling framed limited edition pictures and greetings cards) in 2012. Anyway, I entered a ‘new business pitch’ competition run by Outset Cornwall with whom I did a new business start up course. And yesterday I won (there were three winners in total, one for each day of the show) and will now have a stall at the very prestigious Royal Cornwall Show. Which is VERY exciting! A little daunting too…
What the dickens has this got to do with Cornwall Coffee and Cake, I hear you cry. Well I plan to get some promotional leaflets done about the network and have them on my stall. There’s an arts and crafts tent, so I shall drop some off there, too.
I’d also like to encourage you to visit me if you’re going to the RCS this year. As ever, I’ll have free sweets. And I’m giving away a luxury hamper containing Cornish wine and chocolate!
So if anyone fancies designing some leaflets, let me know. I’m not a designer by trade, so mine might be a little basic. If you do want to, feel free to include loud and proud, ‘designed by XXX; member of the FiveC’s network’. Or some such. I’m probably teaching you to suck eggs now.
Remember, we want to highlight members’ work and events on the blog as well. So it’s not necessarily just about attracting new members, but rather promoting what we’re already doing. As they say in retail, another shop door!
Fab news, cakers! Our Redruth/Cambourne meeting has been narrowed down to Redruth, at the wonderful Krowji Studios on Saturday 28th September. And we won’t just be meeting up to enjoy coffee and cake at the on-site Melting Pot cafe, ho-no… they’ve only gone and offered us a tour around Krowji, and an opportunity to meet some of the artists in residence as well!
If you’re not sure what or who Krowji is, you can either follow the link, or from their website: “Krowji is Cornwall’s biggest creative sector cluster, providing studios, workspaces, offices, the Melting Pot cafe, meeting rooms and other facilities for a wide range of creative businesses at the Old Grammar School buildings in Redruth.”
They’re also part of Open Studios, Cornwall which runs from 25 May – 2 June, and have asked us to spread the word!
Flyer for Open Studios, Cornwall
Unusually, and I love them for this, they have a access statement, which can be found here.
Afternoon, cakers, I’ve been thinking about where to have meetings (I do think about other things, honest) and I think after the Duchy (which is Lostwithiel) we should go in this order:
Falmouth, Thursday 4 July – yeehaw! CONFIRMED: Dolly’s tea room
Liskeard, Thursday 15 August CONFIRMED: Liskerrett Centre (with tour)
Redruth, Saturday 28 September CONFIRMED Melting Pot cafe @ Krowji (with tour)
St Agnes, Thursday 10 October
Bodmin, Thursday 21 November CONFIRMED Green Frog Cafe
The proposed dates are also listed. Please be aware, this is not yet confirmed, there is still time to feedback, things can be changed – let me know! We will aim for 10.30am each time.
Not everyone can go to every meeting. But it would be great if people could do their best not only to be there so we have some continuity each time (and that is why they are only every six weeks, so people are not hooning around the Duchy like mad things). But also take it upon themselves to spread the word, help me market this to the widest possible audience. So if you know other creatives in your area, drop them a line…
I’m also looking at funding to try and assist with people’s travel costs, to ensure we’re as accessible as possible. So watch this space for future news. And there will be a couple of events in between as well.
S’all ‘appening!
By the way, if any of you are at Lostfest this Sunday (and why wouldn’t you be, it looks marvellous) I shall have a stall: AL Photography. I’m outside on the Parade. Not on parade I hasten to add.
I’d like to think my sparkling personality would be enough of a draw, but I’m no fool, I’m giving away lovehearts, black jack and fruit salad chews as well.
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