Holidays, fairs and new ideas!

Well I am back from my well needed holiday to the Lake District, one week of pure rest and relaxation sitting in the hot tub and checking out this view!

After a busy year so far we were all exhausted so the chance to just 'stop' was very welcome.

However, I did manage to find a brill fabric shop in Penrith and treated myself to a couple of pieces, you have to don't you!

Yesterday I had a fair up in Preston.  Having arrived back on Saturday afternoon, I packed up ready for an early start yesterday.  Luckily I was organised enough to have made sure that all boxes were packed and ready to just load into the car.  Although tired from the early start the day went really well, I made some sales and more interestingly made a really good contact who has now filled my head with lots of ideas.  So my tip regarding fairs would be smile at everyone you never know who you will strike up a conversation with!  My next fair is a biggy a whole weekend up in Lytham St. Annes so we are making a bit of a weekend away out of it.  Whilst I am working during the day hubby will be taking the kids off to have a scoot around Blackpool to see what mischief they can get up to no doubt.

Its good to be back and I am now ready and raring to go!

Events Coming Up & Don't Forget to enter the Giveaway!

Apologies for this blog post it is a bit of a mish mash of catch ups!  We have been having intermittent broadband connection over the last couple of days so need to get as much information out before it goes again!


I thought I would share with you some events that I have booked for this year.  I would also be interested if anyone else will be attending the same ones.

*Sunday 25th July Barton Village Hall, near Preston

*Saturday 21st & Sunday 22nd Lytham Craft Weekend, Lytham St. Annes

*Sunday 26th September Whitchurch Market Hall Shropshire

*Sunday 24th October Lydiate Parish Hall Merseyside

I have just booked my hotel for the weekend fair, and am a little nervous as it will be the first big weekend fair that I have done.  I am also looking for  some nice Christmas craft fairs in the North West area so if anyone knows of any can you pass the information along.

Also, don't forget to enter the Giveaway still a few days left until the draw on the 30th May.  You need to follow and leave a message on the Giveaway blog post about which bag you would like and then all the entries will go into 4 separate 'hats' and a winner chosen.  To double your chances you could join my Facebook Fan Page as well this will give you 2 entries, you will need to scroll down the page a bit to find the Giveaway.

Finally, I always like to see pictures of what people are working on when reading blogs so here is a picture of some brooches I have been working on.  My favourite so far is the brown and blue chiffon one, I am toying with the idea of adding some ribbon but don't know whether that would be too much, what do you think?...

Two New Bags & Where I will be this weekend

This weekend is the 2nd fair of my monthly craft fairs at Congleton, Victoria Mill Arts Centre. I am really looking forward to it as I had a whale of a time last time, sat sewing, making sales, chatting to lovely people and drinking coffee what better way to spend a Sunday! So if you are in the Cheshire area why not pop in and say hi. There is a lovely restaurant in the building that does Sunday lunches, you could make an afternoon of it!

Finally two more creations to add to my ever growing stock.  My facebook page is now up and running and as a special offer I am offering Facebook 'fans' 10% off when they use the shop now tab, however, this only lasts until the end of May!

Making my own display stands and handbags!

It was a busy weekend here at handbag headquarters I have the 2nd of my regular monthly craft fairs next Sunday and this time I wanted something to display my larger handbags on.  Most of my regular bags will stand up with the aid of some little stands that I snaffled at Lidl of all places! However, the larger ones need something bigger.  I knew that I didn't want metal as I wanted my display to have a natural organicy (new word I have made up!) feel to it.  So whilst mooching around in my local Instore I came across some trellis and bought two with the aim of hinging them together and voila!  Here they are in there primed up glory,

And here it is all painted up with flowers and my bags,

I have got some clamps to secure it to my table and think it does the job well, what do you think?

Also, I have been working on another shape of bags in the form of my mini hobo.  I love the slouchy feel of the hobo style however, there are times when you just don't need a bag that big, hence, the mini hobo!

And a slightly larger version with gorgeous Amy Butler fabric detail,

Tax, When Craft Fairs go Bad & Learning Curves!

This morning I have made myself legit and no longer fear being fined.  On the Folksy forum someone had started a thread reminding everyone who had a shop that they needed to be registered as self employed.  Now I thought that this did not apply to me as my sales haven't exactly been making Prada quake in their designer boots!  However, apparently it does and also if you leave it longer than 3 months before registering you are liable to a fine.  As you can imagine I was now getting a little fidgety.  So I bit the bullet and rang the helpline (0845 915 4515) and explained what I had been up to and they couldn't have been nicer, all forms were filled in over the phone and some more information on its way through the post.  I have also put my name down for a course in my area which covers book keeping, tax forms, and what paperwork you need etc, so happy days!  So for anyone reading this who hears tax office and flinches a little don't worry give them a ring they don't bite.

So to the fair that I attended on Saturday, we were there bright and early to set up and had great expectations for the day.  However, all did not go to plan and although there were lots of people milling about and looking no one was buying, well from me anyway.  I think the problem may have been that what was billed as a craft fair was actually a collection of stall holders selling assorted products.  Now I am not snobby, however, I like to attend fairs where the vast majority of products are handmade and this was not the case.  Therefore, when people are looking at my handbags they looked shocked at the prices.  So an important lesson was learned there and mistakes that won't be repeated.  What I took away from the day was:-

1)  I now know the buyers I am aiming my bags and accessories at.

2) I know which types of events my pieces will sell best at

3) Next time don't, don't forget the sewing I had put aside to take with me as after ten minutes I was bored rigid!

So back to the creating in time for the fair booked for  next month.

New Handbag & Craft Fair 24th April

Forgot to mention yesterday that we will be here tomorrow in Congleton at the Church House.  So if you are in the North West and fancy an afternoon craft shopping and bouncing on the assault course drop by and say hi!

Todays creation is here it is one of the teeny collection in a lovely spotty fabric and available from my folksy and etsy shops.

Also, big thank you to Marie over at Vintage Inspired Accessories for mentioning my vintage tartan handbag in her Folksy Friday blog post.

And Janice over at Welly Dog Designs for mentioning my swag bag in her Art Deco themed post.

New handbags & Another Craft Fair on Saturday

Quick post today to show off new creation (1 of 4 today I have been on a bit of a sewing frenzy!)

I got a lot of positive feedback last week about the simple yet effective shape of the new collection so I thought I would stick with the theme and add the cream toile bow on.  Think I may have to make another of these for myself!

The four bag frenzy today is in preparation for Saturdays craft fair once again in Congleton and looking to be nice am starting to regret mithering for a space in the marquee now!  Tomorrows post will be longer and contain the other 3 creations.

Mothers Day treats galore!

So yesterday was Mothers Day and for one day only (well about 6 hours anyway!) I was treated and allowed to relax.  My gorgeous girls bought me a beautiful green glass vase and filled it with flowers.  I had my lunch cooked and afterwards we went out for a mooc around my local antique and craft emporium.  I love this place it is an Aladdins Cave filled with all kinds of good things (or junk as my hubby likes to remind me) but one persons junk is another persons treasure.  In one of the units there is just general bric a brac items and in another there is wonderful old antique furniture which would require me having a home big enough to house these items let alone being able to afford some of them.  So if any of you are from the North West and haven't been before Dagfields Antique & Craft Centre is amazing! 

Anyway I digress I had gone with the specific idea of getting something to put all my fabric brooches in on my stall.  I don't know whether anyone else does this but I knew what I wanted I just couldn't explain it all I could tell them was 'I will know when I see it!'  Sooo, much searching and rooting later I found it (much to hubbys and kids relief as they were all moaning for an ice cream by this point).  So here is my vase and flowers,

and here is the bowl we searched for all worn and looking like it could tell a tale or in the words of hubby battered and old looking!

Today I have also been mainly staining things with tea.  I bought two lacey style mats (from the charity shop)to put on my stall.  Alas, they were a tad white and new looking so two tea bags and a bit of hot water later and they now look like this..

So still on my to do list fair wise is a banner to go overhead which I am thinking of fashioning out of a roll of lining paper and some dowling, leaflets and some business cards.  I am collecting lots of different sized boxes to create some height for a display, however, I am thinking of utilising some space across the front.  To achieve this I am thinking of some washing line and fancy pegs to attach some tote bags to unless you have a better idea if so please share..... But so far it is looking like this...

Obviously it will have more stock on it but not too much as I am thinking of taking some and keeping them in boxes under the table then hopefully as something sells I can replace it.  So let me know any ideas you have for attaching some bags across the front of the table....

Getting ready for my first craft fair...

Ok so it is about 6 weeks until my first proper craft fair, all on my own, eek!  So I thought I would start to get organised as I have to provide my own table.  Now at first this was a tad unsettling as I had to source one, however, it has worked out for the best as it means I am able to set it up at home and practice my layout.  On mooching around the internet, as you do, under the guise that it is very important research, when really you are feeding your fish on Happy Aquarium on Facebook! Oh so thats just me then? Anyway I came across this lovely site where Brandi at Craft & Show Designs has done lots of internet mooching herself and collected together everyones ideas for how to set out craft fair stalls.  One word of advice only look at this site when you have plenty of time!  There is lots of inventive ideas of how to display everything from bags to cushions to jewellery.

Soo.. back to my planning so to avoid my stall looking like this .....

And hopefully get it looking more like this...... (photo info Viridian)

I need to get a little more organised and to go shopping! Because so far I have only got this....

But it is a start.  So anybody who mooches around vintage sites a lot, yes Marie hint directed your way! If you come across any interesting display ideas for bags & fabric brooches let me know.  Am off to sew now white rabbit bag coming up.

Craft Fair was it worth the wait..................

Ok so it was my big day on Saturday I have been building up to this day for a few months now.  I had been beavering away building websites, cutting and sticking, and sewing like a lunatic.  The big day dawned and I was very nervous as I had not yet had a sale and was feeling a little, shall we say pessimistic about the whole business experience thus far!  Anyhoo we tootled off having previously been given dimensions of the stall we would have we had a trial run as suggested and had a layout in mind.  I had also worked hard and created a large sign advertising my little site that I was quite proud of.  We arrived and unpacked only to find that the stall was about half the size we were expecting and I was also sharing it with a friend. EEEkkk was not expecting that!  So we had to suck it up and quickly re-design how we were going to display our wares and to be honest despite the initial panic we rose to the challenge.  So an hour later the stall was set and we had quick refreshment break before the hoards descended.............. we waited, .......... and we waited.  Alas, they did not come and after about an hour and a half I decided that we needed to make the best of a bad situation and handed out as many leaflets as I could, I even handed them out to the other stall holders!  However, by the end of the day I had sold 5 fabric brooches and three of those were to other stall holders, so I at least made my money back for the price of the stall and may also have a few leads from the leaflets.  So my big day did not go to plan, ho hum so it is back to the drawing board.

To re-assess the situation yesterday I decided to post a thread on a craft forum that I use, that possibly was not my wisest move given the delicate state I was in after Saturdays disappointment.  I was aware that the website needed some rejigging as it was my first project of my web design course and like your first craft project when you look back on it even though you were proud at the time you cringe a little!  However, I was not prepared for shall we say the honesty of some, talk about not sugar coating it!  Whilst honesty is the best policy there is also room for a little tact and diplomacy so the next time you are replying on one of these web forums please be aware that the person asking for advice maybe in need of some truth and also a spoonful of sugar to make it go down!  I forgot my camera and had to take a pic with my phone (reason for it being a little blurry)..

So the plan for this week is to re-jig the website completely still keeping the pictures but displaying my wares in a more business minded way, heres hoping for that first elusive sale..............

Sew sew close!

The fair is getting closer and my to do list is getting longer! I am so, so tired now and will be a little relieved when it is over as I can then get my beloved sewing machine back out instead of sitting for hours on this darned computer!!! (phew and breath lol) Anyhoo like I said preparations are underway, leaflets are being printed, business cards are not because my printer has decided that it is doing far too much work and business cards are just too much. I have just had a practice set up working on the dimensions given to me by the nice people organising the fair and have realised that I have got lots of stuff, bearing in mind I am doing it with my partner in crime who also has lots of stuff to sell. These on the right are what I spend my nights doing in front of the tv they are fabric brooches which I attach to handbags, I have so many now I think I may have a bit of a problem....

I have also been doing a lot of social networking via forums and facebook and am pleased to see a few of you here! It is so much more fun blogging when you don't feel as though you are talking to yourself! lol. One thing that I have found annoying and if I have done this to anyone reading please feel free to shout at me (but not loudly because I am a bit delicate at the moment!) is when you take the time to comment on somone's blog and they don't even acknowledge it, ooh. I know that some may be in the fortunate position of having lots of followers and well I don't, I like to think quality over quantity ;-) but if you don't have the time to acknowledge then don't blog! ok rant over, wish me luck. Ooh for those that asked by the way fair is at Mid Cheshire College in Hartford, Cheshire and is in aid of charity ASAP (African school that the college sponsors). Toodles x

Remember, remember the 5th November!

After last weeks excitement of Halloween this week we have bonfire night a night in which we remember the chap who tried to blow up the houses of parliament! I guess that even in those days there was discontent with the expenses, however, attempting to blow it up was a tad extreme..... Anyhoo we shall be having fireworks, hotdogs and trying to dodge the rain as part of our annual bonfire night activities.

On a business note had a very exciting package delivered the other day my paper bags in readiness for my first craft fair, very exciting, yes I have acknowledged that I need to get out more! I have adapted my carriers as I have insufficient funds to have proper ones printed, lets actually sell a handbag first! Also, whilst I should have been doing website design course homework I decided that I would make an apron instead! As you do. So, this morning has been spent ironing, checking bags, stuffing and packing away in readiness for my first fair. Starting to get very nervous now as I have spent so long (well a couple of months!) building up to this moment, wish me luck! Ooh also, would love to know what you think of apron, not bad considering I just plucked out a lot of bits of fabric and didn't use a pattern! By the way homework still hasn't been done, need to find a cure for procrastination......

Busy, busy, busy!

I don't know whether I am coming or going this week or the way back! What with hospital visits, bag making, halloween costume making and I have just been asked to quote for some wedding stationary, phew! I am pleased, however, when I was doing card making full time I never got asked, isn't it always the way. Ho hum! Will have to put my card making head back on again and retrieve all my craft stuff from the garage. I am gearing up at the moment for my first craft fair to sell my bags on November 14th at our local college. I am getting quite nervous now, however, some sales would come in handy and also some feedback. I could really do with some honest feedback as I get the feeling that friends and family are getting sick of being asked 'ok what do you think of this one?'

College last night was a bit heavy going, cascading style sheets, frame style, standard style and layers. Trying to stay awake let alone actually do any work once the tutor had stopped wittering was a feat in itself! I think I spoke too soon when I claimed that this web designing lark was easy, I think those words are coming back to haunt me.

Anyway back to work I go, if anyone is still reading my witterings please feel free to leave a comment on anything doesn't have to be bag related and I promise I won't pester you to rate my bags! x

These are two bags I have managed to finish this week the one at the top of the page reminds me of chocolate lime sweets. I really like the colours on this hobo bag and with the padding it is really comfy.