Vintage collection 2016

Still making but have now launched my new products for 2016 on my website. The latest makes a gift wrap bag including tags, string, brown paper and fabric flower toppers. The tags are prety enough to replace a card

A lace patterned knitted scarf, with added embellishments of a diamante pin and a cameo and butterfly pin with faux silk ribbon. These scarfs are decorative rather than for warmth. Have enough wool to knit another the same design, then will move onto something different.

Currently working on a selection of Swarovski earrings Enjoying making them but not going to be cheap as plan to start with 12 designs, stock including the display pair 6 of each, eek!!!!! My sister has offered to give selling them a go, fingers crossed.

This year I am giving a final push to make this business work. At the end of 2016? well will have to do some soul searching. I say this every year and every year my passion for making drives me but tbh after running a business on and off for 37 years think it may get to crunch time. I know we all do it spend money on new ideas and directions but comes a time when you have to step back and be sensible and say 'enough is enough'. The vintage style is my way of going out possibly with a bang.

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Happy New YearTime for Reflection

Time for Reflection

Christmas is over and now ready for a New Year.  2016 what will this year hold for us?

Lee and I are not ones for shops or sales, January to me is a time to think back over the past year business wise, what has worked, what has not. As my regular readers know I am going back to what I love best and whilst I have completed the business worksheet for 2015 (if you are a member of the Professional Crafters Guild you can download the work sheets every month) know that 2016 holds new adventures.

On a personal note always feel raring to go in a New Year, just thinking all that time ahead to plan, design and stitch for Birthday and Christmas gifts for family and friends plus new makes to add to my website to give a new life blowing through the pages.

2016 is my year to teach myself some new skills plus revisit old ones long forgotten.

New skills: tapestry weaving on a loom, crochet, tambor embroidery.

Revisit: Water colour painting been a long time since done this in fact not since my O level in 1974.

Have you any plans for 2016? something for yourself or your business?

Reflecting have felt that Craft Fairs are not for me, will still do the Christmas fair in Headley (local village) but going to try out Vintage style fairs instead. Tbh have had enough of craft fairs, loading the car, unloading and setting up, being optimistic only to come crashing to earth at the end of the day, pack up, load the car and trundle home. Thinking of the time wasted and what I could have been doing instead. Since getting older (will hit the big 60 in 2017) feel that each minute and hour is precious.

From the website point of view need to work out how to get my site found more. I do get a lot of hits but turning them into sales is another matter. May take a look again at Dawanda and Etsy could never take to Folksy and being tight will not pay exorbitant fees for the likes of NOTH's etc, not that they wanted me, lol.

Plan to take my time making in 2016 and not mass producing, I prefer OOAK's and this way each item will be unique. As going to use a lot of recycled buttons, lace etc this will fit in perfectly.

I wish you all a Happy and prosperous New Year and thank you for reading and commenting in 2015.

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Happy Christmas

Thank you to all my readers and for the wonderful comments this past year. 

Wishing you and your loved ones a very Happy Christmas

Not long now

The big day is almost here and I for one cannot wait. I am a big kid where Christmas is concerned, just love this time of year. One thing that would improve it though is the weather would love to have some cold, crisp, dry days with a hint of sun. Nothing better than walking when frosty, love to see the pattens made by a frost, Mother Nature is so perfect in many ways.

Not much on the making front apart from stitching out some free standing lace flowers onto organza, now have a selection of these to use in projects. Also tested out 3 lace flowers, liking the petal one best (bottom right) and have ordered rather a lot of the petal ribbon and guipure lace, not to mention the pearl diamante centres as think the ones with the leaf style petals are the best. Have added brooch bars to the back. Being small they are handy to wear, add to a handbag to dress it up for an evening out or a small gift to give as a thank you.

Not sure what is planned this week, looking for some crystal icicles for the tree, a trip to Forest Lodge may be on the cards. Love their Christmas displays as they have colour and theme rooms ie gold, silver, country etc.

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Should be back next week.....

Paris label bag

Another week and ever nearer Christmas day, the tree is up, the house decorated. Most of the food bought just the fresh to be delivered on the 23rd. Writing the cards today ready to post off tomorrow. The house is all twinkly and festive gives me a warm cosy glow, no I have not been on the Bailey's yet, lol.

Makes this week,  another bag this time using ivory cotton canvas and raw silk.  The texture of raw silk and stitching the Paris labels was fun. Backed with the cream guipure lace, love this fabric so sumptuous.

Will be exciting when I launch in January a new direction for a New Year.

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Hope you are well on your way to being ready for the 25th, same time, same place next week. 

Have fun.

Small Business Saturday

Carolee Crafts is part of Small Business Saturday today, celebrating the backbone of British shopping, the small entrepreneurs. 

Champagne Lace and Damask

Still working on my new vintage collection this time a beautiful bag made in cotton canvas for body but overlaid with a heavy guipure lace, adding faux leather handles in a dark brown.

As you know not making a lot atm but loving what I am doing, feel back to how I used to feel when stitching, happy and content not to mention confident that doing something I love.

Damask Monogram Lavender Sachets

These are for an order for a group of ladies who sew and natter. Damask monogrammed initial lavender sachets, made in ivory linen and filled with lavender, delicious. Will be adding these to my website as think they fit the vintage collection perfectly.

The last fair of the year for me was on Saturday at Headley Village Hall, fun, music, laughter and visitors looking for a perfect gift for Christmas. This event is always so happy maybe because organised to raise funds for the hall and not an organiser. I did so well and from the comments the ladies who bought were happy as well. One thing I have learnt over the years at this sort of village fair is to sell and make low ticket items. This year I had sale items but if I feel the need to use up odds and ends with low prices this is the time to do it. 

All goods packed away in the stock room now, which frees me up to decorate the house with glitter and baubles. Love Christmas and our tree goes up on Monday. Then Tuesday relax with a good film, a Chinese courtesy of M & S, maybe a tipple, exchange our cards, what could be better than the 1st day of the festivities. Not forgetting to open day 1 of our Jacquie Lawson advent calendar. I buy one of her calendars every year and also send one to a couple of friends, just love them.

Have a good week and hope you all did well at events this weekend and any future bookings for 2015.

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