RE inspired

Something I discovered recently is that I want to make pieces I'll love making & selling them would just be a way of sharing those finished items with others; rather than making things that I think people would like and would need to buy.

This came to me at the Love Christmas Farye I did just before Christmas, I'd worked my socks off making stock which I thought would sell great on the night, rushing designs(especially jewellery) and producing high street style pieces, which I sell at a low price.

Wow, did I get a kick in the butt, did I sell any of those? Err, no I sold the items I'd made unhurried and uncaring of what I thought people would want but where I found joy the process of making them.

Hmm, having a major rethink 6 months into starting in business is maybe not the best idea but better now than later.

So re-evaluation over I needed inspiration for a new collection of country cottage/nanna inspired homeware I'm developing, which just happens to coincide with me doing up my entire house.

See number 9 in my goals for the year.

Previously I'd discounted ideas thinking people won't pay what it would take to make that, blah blah, now I don't care, I'll make it & if it sells it sells, but at least I won't feel like a sell out.

As a crafter my problem is never coming up with something to make but what will I really enjoy making, you have so many fragments of ideas floating around in your head but if you pick the wrong one then you'll lose momentum and never finish. Lucky for me I was invited on a girls road trip to Corbridge about an hour away, this small beautiful village boast an amazing array of boutique and antique shops but we'd drove all this way for one shop I've wanted to visit since looking it up in an article from Red magazine.

The shop is called RE. And boy it did not disappoint.

An amazing place the staff/makers even let me take photos for this blog, so look in on them either in person or through cyberspace they're worth the look.

Below are just some of the beautiful items on display.

RE guys your products are beautiful, staff friendly, shop inspiring, and didn't put a major dent in my purse. Thanks for a lovely visit.

Thanks Amanda.x.

Swopping!!!

Well I enjoyed my first swop on MISI so much I had to get my hand in organising one, I wanted to create something a little different though, so came up with a destash swop because everyone has lots of bits and pieces they don't need but would like to see turned into something beautiful.
I have so far only advertised the swop on MISI and there's not much time left, you need to sent me details by SAT 27th June, but if anyone else would like to join in please feel free to message me with your details and you can join the fun too.

THE RULES

Step 1: you will be given your swappers name & address on the 28th June to cyber stalk them as you wish

Step 2: you then pick out a random amount of your stash be it wool, beads, charms, metals, smellies making stuff whatever;amounting to about £5, (just the raw stock do not make it into anything) that you think your swappee will enjoy playing with. You can give them something easy like wool for someone who knits or something for a challenge like a soap making kit for someone who makes jewellery.

Step 3: Post your swap on alotted day(before June 1st), sit back & wait for yours to arrive.

Step 4: Recieve your swap then get making, you will have one month to make something using your item, no cheating you have to use it all.

Step 5: On the 1st August post lovely pictures of your results on MISI, the MISI group on Flickr and the forums here, generally discuss lots on blogs etc giving everyone a hits boost.

Step 6: Sit back look at work and feel proud.The above pictures are a little bit of my beady stash, but i may have to pick from my wool, fabric stash instead, hmmm.

Say hello to Hannah.

Hi saturday tends to be the only time I get to sit down and have a good make day, however that was slowed down today by a teething Lucas, poor boy was chewing like crazy, but now has one tooth, how cute.
I'm trying to get the items listed now but there's one I'm really proud of, my Hannah necklace and Earrings set, I recently bought lots of beads from Glassmania from MISI and am now making them up but its such a difficult process to take such wonderful items & and show their colours hidden within while not dimishing their simple colourful beauty.
I feel with this I achieved my goal.
Snowflake.x.