empty-purse.com

I’m busy trying out new craft fairs at the moment and sewing up a storm in between!

I’ve done 2 since my last post, both of which have been complete poo. Word is that people are too skint and just come to fairs to look around, not to buy. Also things are so stupidly cheap in stores right now, artists and crafters and sewers can’t get a look in as their prices are seen as extortionate in comparison. What can you do?

 I have enjoyed doing them though. I share the tables with my “BFF” Linda so we get hours to chat! And we get so much inspiration from seeing how other people set up there stalls.

The next thing we’re trying is parties where the hostess gets a gift, we organise a bunch of fun games and hopefully party guests will buy some stuff. We have a couple of people interested already, we just need to make some plans and do some research for ideas.

There is also my Etsy shop on the horizon once I’ve figured out all the legalities for my situation and built up my stock a bit more. I can’t wait to finally show my stuff online!

I’ve been busy “adjusting” to my new life looking after this little beauty!

Luckily she is the sweetest, calmest little baby ever so I still manage to get some stuff done in what I like to call my studio! (But it’s really just the end of the living room where all my making and do-ing goes on).

I made a magazine bowl - along with the Record Bowl I think it’s one of those classic crafts everyone does at some point (?) but I’m pretty pleased with myself anyway.

I will NEVER EVER make one again, it was so repetetive and took forever! But it looks pretty.

Here is my first ever bit of knitting that I was supposed to post ages ago, still not finished but getting there.

I’m loving my new camera! I still have lighting issues though - I need some time with the manual.

I’ve also had one of my articles published in CROQ Zine! I’ve always wanted to see my name in print so I was pretty excited when my copy arrived.

The other day I made my first ever sale! A friend came over and saw me making a tote bag and offered to buy it there and then - Yay. I’ve been working on more bags in short bursts between looking after the kids and everything else and I’m getting quite productive! I’m excited about opening an Etsy store and focusing on selling online. And to friends. But at craft fairs - not so much. I’ve got 2 booked for the end of April which I’m doing with my jewelery making friend but I’m not keen on having to sit there all day long and being realistic I don’t think my “target market” will be there. But we’ll see.

Back soon!

She’s finally here!

I know, I’ve been completely crap with posting.

Excuse no.1: I have a baby due in 5 weeks! Therefore I am huge, tired and have soooo much to do to prepare. My brain keeps going mushy - I sit down ready to be all creative and nothing comes out!

Excuse no.2: The lack of a decent camera in my life. I was planning on using a pretty good camera phone to show you what I’ve been up to but look at the lighting on it:

Disgraceful! But I’m definately going to buy a digital camera after Xmas if Santa doesn’t bring me one.

Excuse no.3: I’ve been busy sewing bags for that “craft fair” I mentioned in the last post, which turned out to be slightly crap! We didn’t sell anything at all. We kinda realised we wouldn’t the moment we saw the surrounding stalls - tombolas, cards and cakes pretty much, not the place for big spenders! - but we got compliments on our stuff so that was good. Anyway, I know I said I’d post them all here but with no camera and mushy brain it just didn’t happen.

I also had one more reason to keep them to myself for a while - I’m going to try selling them on Etsy.com. I’ve chosen the name, set up a seller’s account - now I just need good photos.(PLEASE Santa, I’m begging you…!)

So yeah, that’s where I am right now. I’m really hoping to post regularly next year!

Happy Holidays to you all xxxx

Awesomeness has occured! My friend Linda is a creative type like myself and has recently started making jewelery. She happened to mention this to her auntie, saying that I make stuff too, who mentioned it to her friend who is organising a craft fair at this big church a couple of towns away…

…to cut a long story short - we have a table! On 1st December me and Linda are doing our first ever craft fair, me selling bags and her selling jewelery!

It will be one of those granny craft fairs, cross stitch galore, nothing indie about it whatsoever but we’re so excited! So for the next month I’ll be busy making heaps of fun tote bags from whatever I can lay my hands on and of course posting them on here.

In other news I started teaching myself how to knit last night using online videos. It took me a loooong time to get past casting on but I finally cracked it and now I’m practicing by just knitting and knitting until my crappy ball of yarn runs out. I’m dropping stitches and my tension is all over the place, but it’s getting better row by row. As soon as I’ve managed to make a passable scarf I’ll post a picture.

 If you fancy learning yourself I found this video the easiest to follow:

How the hell did I not know about this site until this weekend??! It’s an unbelievably awesome website/show for people who want to make their own clothes.
Yesterday I spent many hours at the computer watching all the videos on the site and reading all the inspiring posts in the forums. You should too!

Some other cool stuff I found:

Backseatkiss.com - has a hilarious record bowl tutorial.

DIY Scene - a new D.I.Y. Indie Design and Craft forum.

Deranged Designs - has a really helpful “D.I.Y Ideas” page where the designer Annie has written up fabric guides, sewing tips, no-sew ideas and even a guide to selling your own creations.

I’m so inspired after finding all these! I’m off to the charity shop for supplies…

I’m officially back in creating mode!

- I finally got the sewing machine all bobbined up in a record time of about 2 minutes. Last time it took me at least an hour and lots of swear words were used.

- I kind of finalised my xmas gift making plan, I’m sure I’ll end up switching things around and finding new ideas though.

(I’m hoping to have everything made and wrapped by the end of November so I can spend ages in December making our home all festive with loads of decorations, card making and xmas cooking with my son and plenty of relaxing family time. And so I can feel smug, ha ha!)

- I’ve made my first 2007 xmas present! I turned the doodle embroidery I had planned to make into a cute little throw cushion. Unfortunately I can’t show you this or any of my other xmas gift making until after xmas so I don’t spoil any surprises, that’s only just occurred to me.

(But I do have some ideas for cheap and cheerful xmas decorations which I’m going to try out and post very soon!)

- I spent some time with the crochet kit. Two minutes reading the instructions and an hour and a half trying to untangle the yarn…

And that’s about it because I caught a horrible cold (a hardcore one, losing my voice and my appetite and everything) and spent 3 days with tissue stuffed up my nose in front of daytime TV.

“The Bloke” is going to be out tonight and tomorrow night so I’ll have no couch buddy

So I’ve decided to have me a 48 hour creativity carnival to get back into the making mode. Here’s my list of fun stuff to pick and choose from:

- fire up the sewing machine! (The poor thing has had a bare bobbin for months now)

- finalise the Xmas gift-making plan

- start a doodle embroidery

- spend some time on the crochet kit I bought yesterday for £1 (!)

- spend some time with my massive bead/charm/bits ‘n’ bobs/ribbon/scooby collection and make some fun jewellery

- spend a morning at the library’s craft section with my notebook, jotting down new ideas and getting inspired

- do a bit of charity-shop-shopping for make-over-able stuff

- draw out a picture on canvas for future painting using magazine images, shapes, patterns, etc for inspiration

- design some clothes

- design some quirky xmas cards

- make friendship bracelets!

- start working on Keri Smith’s 100 Ideas

I’ll be back in a few days with a progress report! And hopefully a pic of my newly prettied-up kitchen. xx

I’m happy to say I’m starting to feel alive and inspired again after weeks and weeks of sloth-like behaviour. Being pregnant just kind of zapped all the life out of me for a while there!

Now the whole nesting insinct seems to be kicking in and I’ve found myself painting and rearranging like mad. The living room is becoming our bedroom, my “studio” (as seen a few posts back) will be the living room and our bedroom area will become my new creation station/office! (- and place for Scotts’ Poker playing and Jordans’ Pokemon research, of course).

I just have this need to finally get all my thrifted pictures and frames up on the walls, all the dirty hand marks painted over, our books on shelves and all the things I’ve accumulated but never found a place for on display before the baby comes.

I’m having a bit of a rest today but I’m itching to get it finished! There’s so much I need to get on with…

- Organise Jordan’s birthday (2 weeks away). I need to make a card, figure out a way to make a simple Super Mario themed birthday cake with as little money as poss and absolutely no cake-making experience at all (Shit!)

- Start making everyones’ Xmas presents, cards, etc. I’ve jotted down a few vague ideas in my sketchbook but still need to come up with a solid plan of action. Desperately seeking ideas for men’s presents…..?!

- Hunt around for cheap/free baby stuff. I’ll be hitting the charity shops, classifieds, friends and family and freecycle I think! We’ll hopefully find out what sex the baby is next week

Well, I’ll be back as soon as the flat is looking spesh and I’ll have lots of pics, promise. In the meantime if you have any ghetto cake making tips or ideas on what the hell to make for a male this Xmas, please enlighten me! xx