Handmade Monday No. 90

Only 6 days until my first event,  I know I have mentioned this so many times but have pushed the boat out this year for this one. Have sourced and followed Dixie's ruling of the right sort of customer for handmade, consequently have been very fussy and only booked the 2 events. Rents are more expensive but needs must to take my business to the next level, think I had been too content with the 'village hall' type of fairs for too long. Probably because they were safe and  knew all the people but no more I am a professional and as such must look for professional high quality and the right sort of people. Will take pic's of not only my new dressed stall but hopefully of the event it self and more details on the venue. Just hope being the needlework archive I am not distracted by all the vintage goodies stored for reference.

Designed my own labels 2 circles one with my logo etc and the other which can be removed for my reference of what has sold with the price. Happy with them the main problem was finding suitable string/thread as ties, settled on a fine crochet cotton.

Final makes, well should be:

Keep Calm Door Pillow

This came about as a contact on FB asked for details of the large pillows as the crown is their logo, not wanting to do the full thing without an order thought this would show
as an example of what can be done.

Gingerbread People

Made in the hoop just added the ribbon to the top for hanging, a bowl full of gingerbread people

Christmas Stockings

Finally the Christmas Stockings in white and cream fleece, fully lined and stitched in one colour thread felt this made more grown up and elegant.

Next week apart from stitching some Christmas cards will spend the time pricing and doing a stock list, loading up the car on Friday for a 7am start on Saturday, hope to take some pic's of the day.

Check out the other blogs at Handmade Harbour

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Handmade Monday No. 89

Back to Birthday's this week. My dear friend in Gloucester loves cats so had to use this theme the card pretty and delicate and ho could not loves this cute kitten

The gift, well she also has a sense of humour and thought these stripey cats on raw silk where fun, the back has a button enclosure with the skeletons of fish embroidery, fully lined with cream cotton.

Sent off early, then she emails the day after to say swanning off to Turkey near the Syrian border of all places, just hope arrives safely. PS. got a phone call to say back from holiday and parcel collected and now opened, she loves the gift and the best thing anyone could say to a crafter is "I love you making gifts for me" makes it all worth while.

Back to Christmas and only 9 weeks away am sure time goes quicker the nearer we get. To top it all only 12 days until my first event at the Needlework Archive near Newbury. Next week I am stopping making and starting to price, something that I should have done as I go along but selling online you tend to forget about fairs and the need for pricing labels. Anyway makes for last week:

Candle wraps

In natural linen with Nordic designs on the front of the wraps.

Off to my first meeting with the Fabulous Women in Farnham on Thursday, looking forward to it as the first ever meeting in Farnham. Only bit always wary abuot is the minute talk each of us has to do, hate this bit as not into public speaking and used to detest the role playing courses that the corporate world love so much, so wish me luck as will probably be a stuttering, sweating wreck not a good look.

Check out the linked blogs for Handmade Monday

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Handmade Monday No. 88

Only 19 working days until my first event of the year. The National Needlework Archive at Greenham near Newbury. Had originally dismissed this one when invited as too far but they emailed me back inviting me to visit and see what they do, so took a closer look and must admit looked right up my street and quite an honour to have an invitation to exhibit at one of their events. Bit the bullet an booked, only a morning fair but means home in daylight, which some of you may laugh but being a glass wearer is certainly something one has to consider, as night time  driving can be quite scary.

Still making and this week another pinafore this time in cherry red with Christmas Trees on the bodice

Vintage Green Bauble Pinafore

Not forgetting the boys

On the 'To Do List' for next week!

Stockings in my muted palette of cream and white. I love pastel shades and after reading an American business blog recently where it advised that sometimes keeping to 3 or 4 colours on a website when selling is best. Some may say it limits the market place but also can attract the customers that also love those shades.

Candle jar linen wraps, something not very big but think will add a touch of something extra to the candle jars by that well known candle supplier. will not be selling the candles themselves as they are available in most garden centres etc, should not be hard to find.

Check out the other blogs at Handmade Harbour

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Handmade Monday No. 87

Where is the time going only 78 days until Christmas, how are you all doing with the gift front? I have just about finished the Birthdays for this year and still to sort out the Christmas gifts, oh well it will get done that is if those pesky fairies get on with some work instead of hiding amongst the fabric and day dreaming the day away.

This weeks makes I have tried so hard to be good and not get distracted but not always easy and I am guilty of sometimes flitting from one project to another, so sat myself down last weekend and gave myself a good talking to, I did listen honest. Time to prioritise a list was drawn, reads a bit like war and peace linked on icloud with the ipad, so alarms go off all over the house telling me what I should be doing each day, even printed off my daily diary list and it has worked. Funny I work well with lists I know others do not but I seem to focus more on what is on the list and not about other delicious fabrics lengths that are peaking at me from the fabric cupboard and calling to me to use them. Plus so good to see all these ticks appear as each project is completed. Okay enough of the wittering, boring you to death and what have I done:

Stand Dressing

Have been browsing the net and just love the way our American cousins put so much effort into the dressing of a stall and if you think about this is your 1 day to catch the attention of the buying public. So a scalloped border for the front of the stall, side drapes and a new top cloth all in candy stripe with of course my company name embroidered on. I am happy with the look and hope it will stick in customers memories. I love the Curlz font as the letters are slightly squiffy you do not have to be exact about the placement.

Logo on the centre front of the top cloth

This is the scalloped banner which will go across the top front of the stall, side panels draping back with rose's finish the look

Christmas Pinafores

My regular readers know I made some pretty summer cotton pinafores earlier in the year, now the colder months some beautiful soft cotton corduroy in vintage green, cream and cherry red to be completed. I can hear the Mum's say 'Oh no not cream' but after some research the consensus is that darker colours yes but for a one off special cream fits the bill. These are all Christmas themed with the embroidery on the bodice. I only make for littely's up to age 5, after that the 'I want to wear what I want' comes in. I love party dresses for girls and always had several when a child. Have noticed the parties round here the jeans and sweat tops have gone and the frills, lace and velvet are back with the patent shoes, posh trousers and waistcoats for the boys, so cute as they walk down the road and then come back with a party bag with a big grin across their faces.

Winter Roses and Snowflakes

Poinsettia and Holly

My new Jeanne D'Arc Living arrived yesterday, a fantastic publication from Denmark and available from Betty & Violet in Newbury. Packed again with a delicious vintage goodies. Orders being taken for the Christmas issues.

Check out the other blogs over at Handmade Harbour

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UK Handmade Thursday Week 5

Week 5 and my last week. I would like to thank the few that have joined in and such a shame that there could not be more, odd as so many blogs published each week and as a business never under estimate the power of blogging. Yes you do have to put some effort in not only to post something of interest that is craft related, link back to the host blog, visit and comment on other participating blogs, the latter could be the stumbling block with 'I don't have the time' etc. etc. 

My question is do you not have the time to promote your business? think about it if you join the link party, okay I know only a few but your blog has the potential to reach all the facebook, twitter and blogging followers of not only the host blog in my case in excess of 1000 people but also the others joining in. These if pitched right and not hard sell are all potential customers so more a case if a genuine business can you afford not to join in.

On that note this is my final week of hosting the linky party,  I have enjoyed doing it but feel that I have reached the end of the road. Hope someone else will step into my shoes.

This post is although not exactly about craft it is about the business of craft and think groups are always stronger than an individual, as a team we can all achieve greatness and help each other out, as a lone person you can sink without a trace. The bloggers who have joined in are wonderful crafters all with a tale to tell and products to admire:

Ally - Lovingly Handmade

Emma Louise - Em*Louise

Tazim - Terracotta Blue

Jill - Christmas Pie Crafts

Anna - Silver Paw