It was great to see some real publicity for Folky and Etsy in the BBC online magazine this week. The report was really good and I recognised some very familiar names in the interviews with Folksy sellers, so well done to them and good news for all of us with an online shop on either site.
Here's a direct link to the magazine article:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-19599168
and here's a direct link to Folksy
http://folksy.com/
so check out some of the brilliant handcrafted items available there.
(And there are links to all my shops on Folksy and Etsy on this page already, so no excuse!)
Saturday, 10 November 2012
Saturday, 3 November 2012
Up to my eyes in vintage linen & lace
I've dragged it all down from the loft and have sorted it into separate boxes...traditional white/ecru embroidery, colourful embroidery, crochet lace and other laces. Then there are the damaged pieces, which are beyond salvation but perfect for projects - sad to see them torn and stained, but at least parts of them will be admired again.
What prompted this massive vintage sort-out? Well, it was a request for specific types of embroidery and lace, and I had to admit I had no idea what I had up there in the loft. It wasn't until I started going through it again that I realised just how much there was. So in between painting, felting, stitching and making - not to mention the photography and a bit of selling! - I will be working my way systematically through it all, taking photos and recording each piece before it goes into my Etsy shop to (hopefully) find a new home. That will keep me busy during the long, dark winter months ahead!
If you see something here you'd like to buy, contact me directly as it could take a while to get them all listed on Etsy.
What prompted this massive vintage sort-out? Well, it was a request for specific types of embroidery and lace, and I had to admit I had no idea what I had up there in the loft. It wasn't until I started going through it again that I realised just how much there was. So in between painting, felting, stitching and making - not to mention the photography and a bit of selling! - I will be working my way systematically through it all, taking photos and recording each piece before it goes into my Etsy shop to (hopefully) find a new home. That will keep me busy during the long, dark winter months ahead!
If you see something here you'd like to buy, contact me directly as it could take a while to get them all listed on Etsy.
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| part of a set of 13 matching cutwork pieces |
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| delicate lace doily |
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| one of a pair of rectangular lace mats |
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| a beautiful lace table cloth |
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| part of a large set of matching butterfly doilies |
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| one of a pair of beautifully worked lace doilies |
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| five tiny little embroidered mats |
Friday, 2 November 2012
What's the secret of selling?
Don't ask me...I have no idea! I had such high hopes for my first craft fair of the festive season - it was a good venue, well-organised and advertised, usually very well-attended by a good mix of buyers, but still I didn't do very well. I could blame the roadworks on the A27 on the Saturday (not supposed to be there at the weekend), which caused long delays and massive traffic jams for visitors, but even on the Sunday when there were plenty of visitors, I didn't manage to sell more than a few items. The recession maybe? Well, that may have had an impact, but people were buying - mostly jewellery and gifts for children - just not from me!
Perhaps I need to re-evaluate my products, my prices, my presentation. Obviously what I'm making isn't what people want to buy (not in this neck of the woods anyway - hmm, maybe that's the problem) - so what do I do? Do I change what I'm selling, where I'm selling, or just carry on and accept that I'm out-of-step with the rest of the world? You see, the problem is, I love my bags and scarves and everything else I make, and I love making them. Each piece is unique and very special - it has its own personality and it's made by me with a lot of care and love. Some are troublesome and won't do as they're supposed to, others are just so easy and a joy to make. I hate parting with them, which may be part of the problem...maybe I'm subconsciously putting buyers off because deep down I really don't want to sell them...?!!
Well, I have a few more fairs lined up before Christmas, so let's see how those go - I'll give it my best shot, I promise. In the meantime, here are a few new items I listed on Folksy today...
Perhaps I need to re-evaluate my products, my prices, my presentation. Obviously what I'm making isn't what people want to buy (not in this neck of the woods anyway - hmm, maybe that's the problem) - so what do I do? Do I change what I'm selling, where I'm selling, or just carry on and accept that I'm out-of-step with the rest of the world? You see, the problem is, I love my bags and scarves and everything else I make, and I love making them. Each piece is unique and very special - it has its own personality and it's made by me with a lot of care and love. Some are troublesome and won't do as they're supposed to, others are just so easy and a joy to make. I hate parting with them, which may be part of the problem...maybe I'm subconsciously putting buyers off because deep down I really don't want to sell them...?!!
Well, I have a few more fairs lined up before Christmas, so let's see how those go - I'll give it my best shot, I promise. In the meantime, here are a few new items I listed on Folksy today...
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| Make up bag £12.50 |
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| Make up bag £12.50 |
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| Pink felt clutch bag £25 |
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| Blue silk clutch bag £45 |
Thursday, 18 October 2012
Bag preview
I've been on a roll with the bag-making since my last post - to date I've completed EIGHT new bags and still have a few more in the pipeline. I aim to finish at least another two over the weekend, but that's a tough target. It really depends on the designs I choose to make and how much time is spent adding extra bits of decoration or embellishments to them. Most of my bags 'evolve' as I make them, so I have no idea in advance how long each one will take, or what they will eventually look like!
The bags I've already completed include four new small silk handbags, using my own hand-painted and hand-dyed silk, backed with toning silk dupion. These bags were popular last year as Christmas presents, so I decided to add a few more this year. The silk colours are beautiful and each bag is unique, perfect as a special gift, but very affordable at just £25 each. They come boxed and beautifully wrapped too.
The other four bags are a new design, a simple clutch bag - so popular this year - with a flap front. Although the design is simple, the fabrics are gorgeous - embroidered silks, shot rayon, chiffon, velvet and vintage kimono silk in a range of colours and patterns. The bags are well-made and beautifully finished with many layers of interlining, padding, stiffening and lining to give a 'luxury' feel to them. Each one takes a full day to make so they are a bit more expensive (from £50) but still exceptional value for an exclusive, individually-designed bag.
The bags will be available to view and buy at the upcoming Crafts at Lancing College, where I'll be selling over the weekend of 27th/28th October. I won't be listing most them on Folksy until after that weekend, but they can be purchased before then by contacting me directly. Here are some photos of them:
The bags I've already completed include four new small silk handbags, using my own hand-painted and hand-dyed silk, backed with toning silk dupion. These bags were popular last year as Christmas presents, so I decided to add a few more this year. The silk colours are beautiful and each bag is unique, perfect as a special gift, but very affordable at just £25 each. They come boxed and beautifully wrapped too.
The other four bags are a new design, a simple clutch bag - so popular this year - with a flap front. Although the design is simple, the fabrics are gorgeous - embroidered silks, shot rayon, chiffon, velvet and vintage kimono silk in a range of colours and patterns. The bags are well-made and beautifully finished with many layers of interlining, padding, stiffening and lining to give a 'luxury' feel to them. Each one takes a full day to make so they are a bit more expensive (from £50) but still exceptional value for an exclusive, individually-designed bag.
The bags will be available to view and buy at the upcoming Crafts at Lancing College, where I'll be selling over the weekend of 27th/28th October. I won't be listing most them on Folksy until after that weekend, but they can be purchased before then by contacting me directly. Here are some photos of them:
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| Teal and green shot-silk type outer fabric in a diagonal patchwork design, lined with pale blue silk, small inner pocket, magnetic fastener. £70 |
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| Hand-painted silk front, trimmed with buttons, toning copper-red silk dupion back and strap, lined with black satin, button/loop fastening. Sold. |
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| Hand-painted silk front, toning turquoise silk dupion back and strap, lined with gold satin, button/loop fastening. £25 |
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| Hand-painted silk front, toning pink silk dupion back and strap, lined with gold satin, button/loop fastening. £25 |
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| Deep pink/gold silk and black velvet outer fabric, trimmed with black stitching and two large vintage glass buttons, lined with black satin, small inner pocket, magnetic fastener. £60 |
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| Vintage kimono silk crepe outer fabric, lined with royal blue silk-type fabric, small inner pocket, magnetic fastener. £60 |
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| Hand-dyed silk front, toning pinky-mauve silk dupion back and strap, lined with black satin, button/loop fastening. £25 |
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| Brick-red/gold silk outer fabric with a chiffon drape, lined with dark red satin, two inner pockets, magnetic fastener. £60 |
Wednesday, 3 October 2012
Preparing for Crafts at Lancing College 27/28 October
Less than four weeks to go until the Crafts at Lancing College event over the weekend of 27/28 October. I'm really looking forward to it and hoping it will be a bumper turn-out. With just a couple of months until Christmas, I've got my fingers crossed that everyone will be in the mood to buy, but it will be just as nice to meet customers face-to-face and enjoy the festive atmosphere.
I probably have more than enough stock, but I always like to bring out something new and enticing to give customers there the first chance to buy before it hits my online shop. As most things are one-of-a-kind, that means many things never actually make it online.
I've sold a couple of bags in the past week or so, which means I'll be creating some new ones to replace them. That's the part I love most - designing, sourcing fabric, playing with colours, trims, details. Each one is an adventure!
I probably have more than enough stock, but I always like to bring out something new and enticing to give customers there the first chance to buy before it hits my online shop. As most things are one-of-a-kind, that means many things never actually make it online.
I've sold a couple of bags in the past week or so, which means I'll be creating some new ones to replace them. That's the part I love most - designing, sourcing fabric, playing with colours, trims, details. Each one is an adventure!
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| SOLD - 'Beachcomber' bag |
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| SOLD - 'Rouge' clutch bag |
Thursday, 27 September 2012
Busy, busy, busy.....
Still lots going on in Littlehampton....
- the Music & Arts Festival is winding down now but there are still a few displays up around the town
- the sixth Special Little Things Craft Market is on Saturday (29 Sept) in Evan's Courtyard (always worth a visit)
- the first Putting Green Cafe craft fair is on Saturday & Sunday (29/30 Sept)
- the Beach Hut will be open for the last time on Saturday (weather permitting)
- Traders Indoor Market now has an arts & crafts area upstairs (open Tues-Sat 10-4).
- Way Out There And Back (in Evan's Courtyard) now stocks artwork by several local artists. Staci and David are also working on a permanent Arts Trail map, showing all the locations in the town where local art can be seen and purchased
- Jan Bennett's studio can still be viewed (by appointment)
...and elsewhere...
- Bosham Arts & Crafts Centre is open all year round, 7 days a week, selling locally produced art and crafts (including some of my textiles and textile art)
- the Lancing College Craft Fair is on October 27/28 this year, and I'll be there selling my textiles on both days
...busy, busy, busy....
Sunday, 16 September 2012
Littlehampton Music & Arts Festival
The Littlehampton festival is now in full-flow and attracting a lot of attention. As well as the Beach Hut, you can see art at various venues around the town, including the Look & Sea gallery, Traders Indoor Market, the Polka Dot Heart cafe (which has now changed it's name but is still in the same place!), the Museum gallery, the Windmill studio (this weekend only), Jan Bennett's studio in Norfolk Road, and several windows in the town centre.
I have a few textile pieces on display at the Polka Dot Heart cafe (can't remember the new name!) and some photographic prints at Traders Indoor Market, where I will also be setting up a permanent display of my work this week. Some of my prints will also be available to buy at the Way Out There And Back shop in Evan's Courtyard from this week, so drop in if you're in the area and take a look.
I have a few textile pieces on display at the Polka Dot Heart cafe (can't remember the new name!) and some photographic prints at Traders Indoor Market, where I will also be setting up a permanent display of my work this week. Some of my prints will also be available to buy at the Way Out There And Back shop in Evan's Courtyard from this week, so drop in if you're in the area and take a look.
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