Commissions and Sales

So far January has been a pretty good month. I was expecting things to be really slow, but I have had several sales in my Folksy and Etsy shops. I have also had a commission from someone I work with for two felt hot water bottle covers. And yesterday whilst working in the Nottingham Craft Mafia shop I got a commission for a felt lampshade. So its been a great start to the year.

I was going spend the day working on some ideas for a new project, which hopefully is going to lead to something to show at Sherwood Art week. But I think I better do some felt making first.

The top photo is of some unfinished heart brooches. These are made from layering fabric and then cutting back to reveal the layers below, machine embroidery is then added. I hope to add them to my shop this week.

This lampshade is for sale in The Nottingham Craft Mafia shop, I have been asked to make a purple one.

Snow

Yey, at last we final have a decent amount of snow in Nottingham. Somehow it always seems to pass us by. A snow day would have been lovely today, a bit of crafting followed by some fun in the snow, but unfortunately it wasn't that bad and I live and work by main roads so don't really have an excuse for not being able to get in.

Coming back to work hasn't been as bad as expected, although we are still very quiet, so I am not doing much, but I don't think this will last long as its looking like being a busy year.

But I am really missing being at home during the day. I really enjoyed having time to potter about. To be honest I probably didn't make the most of it. So I am now back to trying to motivate myself to make things inbetween working full time. I have written a small list of things I wanted to make this week, but haven't started yet. I think maybe this week just needs to be about finding my feet. I have brought some things into work so I can make cards at lunch, but I think I may go sledging instead!!

Having said all of that I have been busy listing things in my Etsy and Folksy shops, still have a few more things to list, but they are starting to look a bit better.

A Good Start

Well the new year started has well, as I have already had my first Folksy sale of the year. This is very exciting as this shop has been very slow. So I have my fingers crossed that its the start of things to come.

I spent yesterday sorting my stock box and getting organised. I also took lots of photo's of items I want to list over the next few days (I have a lot of listing to do). I can't wait till the spring as my winter photo's are so rubbish, even yesterday when it was fairly sunny everything looks dark, but they will have to do for now.

As well as new listings and having a sort out of my Folksy shop and I am also planning on having a bit of a relaunch in my Etsy Shop. I haven't had any sales through Etsy yet. I find Etsy so huge and competitive, but I know some people who do really well through it, so I think as I do have quite a bit of stock at the moment (and no fairs planned) I may as well try putting some new items on Etsy, I certainly have nothing to loose.

I have also been looking at some of my prices. I know I have written about pricing lots of times. Its something I find quite hard. I know how you are meant to do it, but I think if I really charge my time at a decent rate I would never sell anything. Having said that I have been looking at some of my items particularly my textiles art pieces and I think maybe I am selling them too cheaply. So I have increased some of my prices slightly. I have been thinking about this for a while and have come to the conclusion that I really need to charge a bit more for some items. But I hope the prices still seem reasonable and affordable.

So all in all yesterday was a good and productive day. Here's to many more this year.

Behind already

I have written myself a big long list of things to do and make before my next craft fairs on the 26th Nov (Carrington School, Notts) and 28th Nov (Craft Candy Sheffield). Its only Wednesday and I am already behind.

I don't need to make loads, but just wanted to re-stock on some items, so need to make some more sausage dog draught excluders, more Christmas decorations and more tea cosies, as well as finish some of the things I didn't manage to get done in time and start some of the orders I took on Saturday.

I have the day off Friday as I am working in the Nottingham Craft Mafia Shop (Get Made, St James St, Notts), so should get lots done, but its fairly limiting what you can do there, so I need to try and make enough felt to take with me so I have a productive day sewing.

I have also been neglecting my Folksy shop http://www.folksy.com/shops/Petaltextiles , this is partly as I don't seem to be having many sales, but also as I have been concentrating on making stock for the fairs, but think I probably need to start listing some new items. So this morning I have re-listed a couple of applique cushions and this afternoon I will start listing some peg bags.

http://www.folksy.com/items/106866-Appliqu-cushion-cover-summer-scene

http://www.folksy.com/items/106862-Appliqu-cushion-cover-Red-flower-