Handmade Monday 86

Hello and welcome to another Handmade Monday.  I'm talking giveaways today!

Giveaway #1

I've been in secret negotiations this week!  To celebrate the 100th Handmade Monday post (we're on number 86 now) there will be quite a special giveaway on offer, with more than one prize - but one of them is, I think, a very, very special prize - especially good for people who sell (or want to sell) their art or crafts.  All the details aren't yet finalised, but you'll be the first to know when they are.

That's all you're getting for now on that one (I'm such a tease, aren't I?) but there's another giveaway coming up much sooner!

Giveaway #2

Pop back this coming Saturday (6th October) to find out how you could win this book - the Crafter's Guide to Taking Great Photos:

actually, this particular copy is mine - yours will be brand new 
and the irony that this is not a great photo is not lost on me!
In my defence, I've only had the book a few days...

In other news, this week, I got to interview Katharine Jewitt, whose new magazine Make and Craft is being launched very soon.  If you missed it, you can read Katharine's interview here.

What? You want more giveaways?

Oh, go on then!  While we're on the subject of giveaways and the new Make and Craft magazine, I'll share another couple with you:

• You'll find a craft-themed giveaway every day on the Make and Craft forum at the moment - be quick though, it's only until the magazine launches on the 12th October.

• There's a craft book giveaway on a different blog every day on the Make and Craft blog tour - today (Sunday) it's the turn of Tilly Mint Boutique - pop over tonight and find out more about the book Sarah is giving away! 

 

And I think that's enough giveaways for one blog post, don't you? 

 

 So, what else have I been doing?  I'm part way through a few projects at the moment - the papier mache/mixed media project is coming together, a hanging organiser has been kind of finished (but it's not yet hanging) and another one started...

large pockets in Summersville fabrics

mini fabric envelope will form a little pocket

and there is another project screaming out for my attention which I've barely started on.  Deadlines are looming on these - I foresee a few madly busy days ahead.

Seeing as I've blogged so much already, I'll share the projects another time.  I realise there's only so much anyone can take in from any one blog post and I feel I may have already reached overload! 

Meanwhile, it's time for you to add your link below and just enjoy Handmade Monday and all the lovely blog visiting it entails.  Time to pop the kettle on and bring that cake out from where you've been hiding it (oops, is that just me, then?)!

Interview with Make & Craft Editor Katharine Jewitt

Today I'm interviewing Katharine Jewitt, a magazine editor who is about to launch a brand new craft magazine called Make and Craft- here she gives us a little bit of background to both the magazine and the person behind it!

Katharine Jewitt

Hi Katharine!  Thanks so much for agreeing to be interviewed.  Can you tell us how you came to be editing craft magazines – what’s your background?

I first started out in publishing when I was 18 and published a community magazine whilst studying at university to help towards paying my fees. It was delivered to 10,000 homes and businesses. Apart from my printer and distributor, I was a one-woman band producing all the content, designing, editing and selling advertising. I eventually sold the business after graduating, as I started working abroad.

Since then I’ve been writing, editing and publishing for a number of college and university courses. I write university degree courses in a number of subjects. I have seven postgraduate degrees so it allows me to have a varied portfolio of work in a range of subjects. I’m currently studying for PhD so more books and articles are in the pipeline to be published.

What are your favourite ways to relax and do you have time for crafts - if so, which ones?

In my spare time, I love travelling, gardening, playing the piano, keeping fish.  I go to classical music concerts as much as possible and also play golf but haven’t worked beyond a 9 hole pitch and putt.  I enjoy hiking and also supporting my football team Stoke City.

I’m always experimenting in a wide range of crafts. I love trying new techniques. My favourites are cross stitch and knitting. I always have knitting with me wherever I go.  I teach craft workshops in schools, businesses and prisons.

What do you love most about working in the craft publishing industry?

By far, it is the craft community who are the most amazing set of people you could ever wish to meet and keep me constantly inspired and make my working days so enjoyable. Every day I receive inspirational stories by email and see the most amazing creations and have interesting conversations with crafters. I’m always in awe of the inspiring projects that come my way. I love learning something new every day from the people I meet and enjoy the ever-growing network of crafters. I involve as much craft and people as possible in each issue of the magazine. I have lots of conversations during the day about how best we can support an artist, a crafter, a craft supplier, a new craft, the heritage of crafts that are worth cherishing. My work is very rewarding and it is a real pleasure to meet so many lovely crafters every day who are generous, sharing and extremely talented. 

And is there anything you don’t like about your job?  Or any bits that are difficult in any way?

I love my work and am very passionate about what I do and in supporting the craft community. The difficult bits would be not being able to do more for the craft community, but that’s what makes my job so interesting, because the craft community is never ending in its new ideas and creations.

What craft, if any, would you love to learn or develop further?

I’d love to learn how to do stone carving. On my travels, I enjoy exploring architecture and looking at gargoyles and the detailed carving on cathedrals and churches. My first degree was in history and I love exploring the history of places and its architecture.

What sort of things can we expect from Make and Craft magazine?

Make and Craft magazine and website is a hub for the craft community packed with inspiration, lots of projects in a wide variety of crafts. Make and Craft encourages crafters to expand their skills into a style of living and makes craft accessible to all. There are plenty of regular features including:

• going behind the scenes with artists and reviving traditional crafts worth cherishing
• Ambassador for Craft, Anthea Turner, will be sharing creative tricks and crafty tips in every issue
• craft swaps
• a book club
• news
• the best sites to visit
• products put to the test
• new tools and techniques
• events
• giveaways, competitions and lots more.
• plus each issue of the magazine contains a Kids' Craft Club magazine.

Thanks so much for your time Katharine!  I can’t wait to see the first issue - it sounds really exciting!

You'll find out more about Make and Craft magazine here - as well as a forum where you can join in and chat, information on how to be featured as an Artist Behind the Scenes, join a craft swap, a blog with projects, links, inspiration and ideas - and more.  I'm expecting this to grow quite quickly, as I have experienced first-hand how supportive Katharine is of artists, designers and crafters in what she does.

digital subscription offer

Make and Craft launches on 12th October - don't miss it!  Subscriptions start at just £1 for a 3-month digital subscription but there are lots of other offers too (and you can pay with PayPal, which I rather like).

subscription gift with issue one

Follow Make and Craft on Twitter and Facebook too - they're both lively accounts you can really get involved with.

Make and Craft Magazine - Exciting News!

I guess there's always a buzz around a new magazine launch and this is no exception... although this is one launch party that you can get involved in!

Make and Craft magazine has recently announced its launch party - and it's a really exciting event to be part of.  The best news is that everyone can join in, because there are going to be giveaways going on all over the place!

Blogs (including yours truly!) will be taking part in a blog tour - and a different blog every day will be giving away a different craft book.  You can join in all the giveaways if you like, massively increasing your chances of a win! The blog tour starts tomorrow (Wednesday) on the Make and Craft blog - don't miss it!

If that's not enough, the Make and Craft Forum will be announcing giveaways of craft goodies every day.

Head over to Make and Craft and have a mooch around because I think you'll like what you find.  The magazine launches on 12th October - be one of the first to read it by subscribing (there's a pretty amazing £1 for 3 digital issues offer!)

Oh, and don't forget to head back here on Friday, when I have an interview with Katharine Jewitt, editor of Make and Craft magazine.  I'm very excited about that and can't wait to share it with you!

Handmade Monday 85

Hello and welcome to another Handmade Monday.

This week I've had a lot of fun with paper and glue and paint ...

can you tell what it is yet?

This is actually a project for Craftseller magazine and it's in need of quite a bit more playing time work.  It's definitely work if you're being paid for it, right?!  It's still looking a bit like a primary school project, but I promise it will look professional when it's finished!

Speaking of Craftseller, I was delighted that issue 16 arrived on my doormat on Friday (it's in the shops on Tuesday)

 Craftseller magazine with the free wooden hearts

with my clock project gracing its pages!

 

You'll have to buy the magazine if you want full instructions and template but basically, the sofa is made using fabric, felt and pelmet Vilene with some very simple stitching and then glued onto a painted MDF base with a bit of ripped-up dictionary thrown in for good measure.

It has the look of free machine embroidery (and yes, you could easily use free machining techniques for this) but I just used a simple straight stitch - the hardest part when you're used to sewing in a straight line is getting that sketchy waviness into the stitching!  You soon get the hang of it though.

 And do you remember the last-minute mini heart bunting I made from their free gift for this issue?

These are the ones that didn't arrive at the photo shoot address when they should've done and missed the photo shoot altogether!  Well, they managed to photograph them anyway, and I think they look rather good considering this photo must've been taken after the very last minute! 

 They also gave me a very nice little plug for my website (wasn't expecting that!)

 and they gave me (and my website) a mention on the first page (how lovely of them - wasn't expecting that either!) - there I am at the bottom right.

This month's Craftseller looks like a good read as usual - it's always packed with info, tips, interviews and case studies as well as projects.  I also noticed our online friend and Handmade Monday colleague Cocoa and Heart in there too - but I'll leave the bragging rights on that one to her!

There's a taster for next month too, when they're giving away a 2013 calendar with a different upcycling project for each month (you may recognise the hanging hearts, because they were first seen here, quite a while back - they'll be February's calendar project).  My upcycled gift boxes will be in the calendar too.

OK - I've gone on for long enough!  You know the drill for Handmade Monday (if you don't, click here to find out more).  I'm looking forward to putting my feet up and seeing what's been going on with everyone else - do join me! 

Tea and a Chat with Ana from Channelled Creations

Hello!  Good to see you, the kettle’s just boiled – what would you like to drink?

May I have a cup of Organic Chicory please?

You certainly may! So, tell us a bit about yourself and your business.

My name is Ana Goncalves originally from Portugal (born in Lisbon) I have been living in the UK for 21 years now. I have always been very expressive since small be it through writing, dancing, acting, painting, or crafting and believe that it is the gateway to the soul. Expression became like a gateway to express my feelings and gain awareness and clarity through the creative medium. My Etsy Shop Chanelled Creations sells a variety of colourful and heartfelt original artwork, stationery items, prints and intuitive readings.

What inspired you to start your creative business? How did it all begin?   

My Etsy Shop Chanelled Creations was born out of my need to share and empower others through the Art that I make, and to show that you too can discover the richness of connecting to your own experiences through creativity. The decision to open up a shop came almost naturally, as I was moved into it to share and make a difference.

How has your business changed and developed since it started?

I opened Chanelled Creations on Etsy in April 2011 and since then I have made many new friends, learnt a lot of new things (and still learning) while growing inside and being open to new opportunities to arrive. My business has become a vehicle in which I can express myself freely and in that make a difference and uplift others in ways I couldn’t possibly imagine. I am very grateful for that.

What are the main ways you promote your business?  Which methods have been the most successful for you?

When I started I submitted my Etsy Shop to all the craft directories manually, and to all the main search engines. I gradually started using Facebook joint with Twitter and Pinterest. I also promote via Etsy teams which has become my community, where I get support and make new friends. I enjoy stopping by new places and discovering new artists and making connections. I also approach blogs, and do guest blogging, giveaways and soon will write for online magazines. I have also participated in exhibitions, offline Etsy events, trades, exchanges,  and hand out my business cards to people I meet.

I believe that everything that I have done has helped me to be where I am right now, and it is a continuous process to promote and always be open to new opportunities and ways for others to discover you and your work.

What’s your workspace like?  Can we have a sneak peek?  And do you have any workspace organisation tips for the rest of us?

My workspace varies, sometimes it is very unorganized and other times it is very neat. I leave it just the way I want because it reminds me what I need to do next, and where I am at. I think it is important to just go with the flow of your work space and do what feels right for you. It doesn’t have to be fully organized all the time. What matters is how it makes you feel, and whether you are content and at peace with it.

What are the best and worst bits of running your business?

I think the best part about running the business is when people buy my work, and tell me that they are inspired by it and that it makes them happy. I am grateful for the friends that I have made as that is an invaluable gift in itself.

The one thing I have learnt on this journey is to price my items according to my time and the love that I put in, and so if I had known that before I would have spent less time worrying about that aspect. On the positive side it has made me more aware of how others deserve to discover my work and it doesn’t matter what cost it is.

What other small (or not-so-small) creative businesses do you admire? 

I admire anyone who has the courage to express their creativity with the world, because they are leaving a mark and making a difference. I am continuously inspired by people and what they create and knowing that they are contributing a part of them into the world. I respect and appreciate anyone who follows their own path, and what they do.

What tips can you give to others who run (or hope to run) a small creative business?

Be open and receptive to each experience that you encounter and know that it is all an opportunity to grow and learn. Trust yourself in every moment and have faith. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, and learn from others who inspire you.  Have fun, enjoy the journey and celebrate your successes as well as your lows. Don’t be too hard on yourself, and breathe when you need to away from your business as you will be thankful for it in the end. 

What are your hopes, plans or ambitions for the future? 

My plan is to offer more of my custom based services to clients, and to expand into new possibilities and ways to work with others in creative projects and even a centre.

Finally, where are the places we can find you online if we want to partake in a little friendly cyber stalking?

Etsy shop - 30% OFF Coupon Code: BIRTHDAY

Blog- Currently have a September Birthday Giveaway on my blog - feel free to stop by and enter

Facebook

Twitter

Thanks so much for stopping by – it was so nice to be able to take the time to chat with you!

Thanks for having me - it's been a true pleasure having tea with you.

Handmade Monday 84

Welcome to another Handmade Monday (click the link for more info).

I've not done much making at all this week (although I have collected a small stash of driftwood and shells with a vague plan of making something with them!).  Because mid-September is usually quiet for website sales, we took a few days off and did nothing much amid spectacular scenery in Anglesey.

benc with a view

We had booked a what looked like a stunning B&B in Dulas Bay, Anglesey (they have self-catering cottages too), overlooking the Dulas Bay estuary.  We weren't disappointed!

 sunrise from outside the B&B

 I took early morning walks along the estuary

sunrise over the estuary

to the deserted beach

 beach at Dulas Bay

Perfectly peaceful - a wonderful way to build up an appetite for breakfast!

The weather was changeable! From this

rainy and grey

to this

blue skies and sunshine

in about 20 mintes!

We read, sketched, walked, mooched around galleries and shops, relaxed and explored the island.  We enjoyed wide beaches

Benllech

picturesque coves

Eilian

equally picturesque harbours

Cemaes

and remote, wild, wind-battered lighthouses (including one for sale!).

 South Stack lighthouse

This is possibly the worst picture of South Stack lighthouse ever - the wind blew so much, I couldn't hold the camera still (and the lighthouse was closed to visitors because of the blustery wind on the access steps).  But, as you can see from the picture, we were allowed to wander near the edge of "dangerous cliffs"!  I didn't get too close as I'm a bit of a wimp when it comes to heights!

I'd thoroughly recommend Dulas Bay for a relaxing holiday.  If you want superb cooked breakfasts (I think they may have been slightly wary of catering for my gluten-free/vegetarian diet but rose to the challenge admirably), breathtaking views, invigorating walks and easy access to the rest of Anglesey, then you'll enjoy this place.  The building we stayed in was purely for the B&B residents (just three bedrooms, but for two of our three nights there was just us) - Paul and Shirley live nearby, turning up to cook breakfast for us in the very spacious kitchen/dining room.

The self catering cottages even have hot tubs outside, overlooking the estuary, and all the buildings are refurbished to the same very high standard.  You get the feeling there was no expense spared: super-comfy beds, luxury towels, bedding and fittings. Gorgeous - modern, stylish, spotless and just... well, quite a special place.

We'll be going back for sure.  And no, I've not been paid to write this!

Meanwhile, it's back home and even though mid-September is relatively quiet I do now have a huge list of orders to work through, plus a couple more magazine commissions. 

Right now though it's Handmade Monday time - enjoy having a look around everyone's blogs.

Yay! A Little Excited...

My sewing kit tutorial has been on Craftsy as a free downloadable tutorial for a while now.  I've been getting daily emails from Craftsy telling me how many people downloaded it today...

6 people, 8 people, 2 people, 15 people, 5 people ...

that's how it's been going and that's been quite nice.  I figured a free download might be helpful in getting my name known once I start actually selling patterns properly (yup, it's on the to-do list!).

But this morning I opened an email telling me 175 people had downloaded the tutorial in one day.  Maybe it's been featured somewhere on their home page or something... but now it's #1 on Craftsy's free sewing patterns.

Er, wow!

I'm completely blown away by this.  There are so many brilliant patterns on there (even in the free section) that I can't quite believe this has happened.

If anyone knows what has suddenly made it so popular, please do let me know by leaving a comment.  Thanks so much.

OK, am off to do a few excited cartwheels around the garden...

Hmmm...OK, maybe not.  It's been raining heavily, you see (nothing to do with my age, you understand).

Handmade Monday 83

Hello and welcome to Handmade Monday.  If you're new here, check out this page.

Basically, this is all you do:

• blog about something related to handmade

• add a link to this blog in your post

• link up below using the button

• visit and comment on some of the other blogs

It's quick and simple and should bring you some new visitors!  It's a good way of spreading the word about handmade and it's a lot of fun.

This week has been a bit hectic for me.  I've had two magazine deadlines looming as well as a whole load of website orders to paint.  I have now finished (and clothed!) the rabbit for Sewing World.  I was  planning to photograph this rabbit in the arms of a small child but I didn't get that far, unfortunately, before the rabbit needed to be packed up...still, shouldn't be long before s/he makes the return journey (the rabbit, not the child).

I'm hoping to sell this pattern eventually as a download - in the meantime, you can get the printed full-size pattern in the December issue of Sewing World magazine.  A dress and dungarees are included in the pattern.

 Am I being over-sensitive in thinking this rabbit looked seriously alarmed at being encased in bubble wrap ready for enforced enclosure in a box for travel?  How odd that fabric and stuffing that I've put together myself suddenly takes on a personality (even if it's only in my head!).

And I've also finished a diary cover for Craftseller.  I had a little of the linen from Guthrie and Ghani left over from making the rabbit and decided it would be the perfect fabric for the diary cover.

The papers I've incorporated (covered with clear PVC fabric for protection) are being given away free in an upcoming issue of Craftseller and I must say they are rather gorgeous.  Paris in the springtime ... what a very lovely thought!

And while I was playing with the papers, a certain little someone enjoyed playing with the offcuts.  I think she approved of them too - she certainly did a lot of sorting!

It's over to you, now.  I'm looking forward to enjoying some blog reading...

Guest Post: Native Gifts

This post is brought to you by Sophie Edmonds of Native Gifts and I think she describes dreams and dilemmas common to many small businesses focusing on handmade goods.

I'll hand you over to Sophie...

HELLO SOCIAL MEDIA

I moved to Whitstable, Kent with the dream of setting up a natural skincare shop in Harbour Street, the picturesque row of boutiques and restaurants that prove a year round visitor magnet. Despite the recession, leases on the retail ‘golden 200m’ proved elusive & increasingly expensive. 

 In January I decided to re-think and take my dream shop online – a slightly scary proposition for a technophobe like me. The way I planned to differentiate from other websites was to focus on the gifting market: beautiful gift sets, all handmade in the UK, an alternative to sending flowers & cupcakes.

     

My suppliers are a truly inspirational group of talented skincare specialists: all women, all passionate about their products. They measure their success in terms of the quality, efficacy and popularity of their products and strive to use ingredients that are as natural and ethically sourced as possible, sometimes picking them from their own garden and local hedgerows.

Setting up a website these days is pretty straightforward and not too expensive, but the enormity of marketing it suddenly seemed overwhelming.  How would people ever get to know about it in such a crowded market place? I craved a shop window; I couldn’t afford to invest enough in PPC advertising or SEO to compete with the big boys and couldn’t possibly generate enough sales via word of mouth. DIY marketing it would have to be and all signposts pointed to social media.

I have to admit it is unknown territory for me (& still very early days) but suddenly help is at hand. There is a wonderful solidarity between women working from home that makes them generous with information and contacts. Women are great social media networkers because they are natural communicators. They like to blog & tweet. They love to ‘discover’ new things & ‘share’ these with friends. This is the perfect marketing strategy for a small business – word of mouth, but on a massive scale.

Time for me to take control of my marketing and start tweeting and blogging in earnest!

Follow Sophie on Twitter

or view her website: Native Gifts

Thanks Sophie!  I agree social networking is an excellent way for a small business to market itself and there is a wealth of knowledge and information being shared.

So - what are your favourite social marketing tips?  Please feel free to share them in the comments!