PCG News - April 2016

PCG

The Professional Crafters Guild 1

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Show the world that you mean Business!

● ● ● ● ● ●

Do you run your own Craft Business?

Are you taken seriously or do people think it is your hobby?

Would you like some support and recognition for your business?

Would you like a widely recognised badge for your website?

Would you like to receive online discounts?

Our members also have the opportunity to become involved with running the Guild?

Join our Guild and find your place in the world of professional crafting.

We know how hard your work.

We know how many hours you put in.

We know that most things you try probably don’t work at first.

We know that you often work alone for long periods of time or in noisy places with children/family around which make it hard. ● We know that you just need a bit of help, support and recognition for your business. ● ● ● ●

Join us today and become a valuable member of the PCG Community. www.procraftersguild.com/apply.html “I have always been proud to say that I am a member of the PCG. Being a member of the Professional Crafters Guild suddenly gave me prestige and credibility. “ “I don’t always get it right, but I know where to go now when I DON’T know something (or when I get it totally wrong). The webinars, information sheets, advice, associate member deals and just having access to social media and marketing experts to run things by before making a colossal error has really changed how I do business.

I would absolutely recommend it to anyone trying to start a business from their crafting hobby.”

700+ Small Craft Businesses Registered 2

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Grab a coffee, put your feet up and have a browse through the PCG

We are back with another issue of our evolving publication which features articles and news from some of our Guild members.

I had no idea that we have so many talented writers amongst us at the PCG, their creative talent clearly knows no bounds. To be able to showcase this at it’s best we have decided to change the publication dates for the PCG News from monthly to quarterly. This will enable us to pack in more fabulous articles and information making it even more enjoyable to read and enjoy.

All of our members run their own businesses so their time is at a premium and we appreciate them sharing it with us in this way. Our next publication will be the all new Summer edition out on 1st June.

Are you a member of the Guild (or hoping to be) and would like to be involved. Please contact us with your article ideas, interviews, business stories and we will publish YOU. For now, sit back and enjoy some creative inspiration in our April 2016 issue.

Regards from the Founder of the PCG

Are you a member of our Guild and would like to submit an article?

Email us at info@procraftersguild.com

Cover image - Gert Lush Designs

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The Bean Counter Improve your Profit Margins

By Helen Gould BA (Hons) CIMA Dip MA As a busy crafter, attention to detail and the pride given to creating a quality item is second to none and that is what your intended customer is looking for too. But your profit margins also deserve the same attention to detail, in order to maintain a healthy business that can continue on trading into the future (this is known as a ‘Going Concern’ in accountancy lingo). In the March 2016 issue of the PCG magazine, I took you through the steps of how to work out your profit margins and this month’s article is all about ways of improving your margins.

To be exact, the Gross Profit Margin is the key factor when it comes to improving the overall Net Profit of your business.

Now this is not a one-time fix all solution, but rather an exercise that should be a part of an annual review as a way of keeping your profit margin healthy.

Here are four ways that you can improve your Gross Profit Margin, but before you rush off to apply all of the ideas at once, take the time to implement one change at a time as a way of testing and assessing the way in which your customers react.

Incremental change is far better than rushing head first in to creating radical changes to your business, like a bull in a china shop!

1.

The Sales Price – Ask yourself, are you asking the right price for your craft creations in comparison to your closest competitors? Do not be afraid to put your prices up as your customers will not shy away from a higher price tag.

Especially if they see that that standard of craftsmanship and materials used are of a very high quality.

2.

No Discounts – It’s true that everybody loves a discount, but it’s a killer to your profit margin and a short-term fix to attract customers. If you offer discounts at the moment, it’s time to stop. Short term you may lose a fickle few customers but you have to think long term. Let me put it another way, if you continually discount your prices by 10%, you will need a 25% increase in your sales, just to keep you in the same position as if you had not given the discount in the first place!

3.

Cost of Materials – Now this is a tricky aspect of cost control when it comes to being able to reduce the cost of making your product, without seeing a drop in the quality of the materials bought. Look at your supplier invoices for the raw materials bought, does the supplier offer better value if you order in a bigger quantity? Are there other suppliers that offer the same quality or slightly lower (taking care that the overall quality will not affect your finished item) for a better price?

4.

Reduce Wastage – Where possible, plan the use of your raw materials in order to minimise wastage on the production of your finished products. By being more efficient with the way in which you use your materials will mean that you can produce more goods to sell, thus, increasing your profit margins.

So that’s the key areas covered for the Gross Profit Margin, but what about the ‘Bottom Line’ aka the Net Profit Margin? Now this is the challenging aspect of business cost management because we are now looking at the operational costs of running the business. Having said that, it’s not an impossible task to reduce some costs in this area, for the small business owner.

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In the last issue, I used an example of operational costs for a craft business owner, Mary-Jo in relation to attending a craft fair and as a reminder, the costs are as follows; Stall Fee Fuel Refreshments Time at Fair Total Operating Cost

£15.00 £5.00 £3.00 £15.00 £38.00

(£3.00 x 5 hours)

So what costs can we hope to reduce? The first step is to identify the cost types involved, which are in this case, Fixed and Variable. Fixed costs are costs which do not change, no matter how many sales you make and Variable costs are cost that change with the activity of the business. A simple table can be used to identify the above costs as follows;

Fixed Stall Fee Time at Fair

Variable Fuel Refreshments

Normally fixed costs cannot be changed and in this case the pitch fee is £15 but I have noticed an increase in cost saving savvy crafters, who have halved the cost of a pitch by buddying up with a fellow crafter to share the pitch. Now this can reduce your costs but it should be noted that it can reduce your ability to display the entire range of your goods for sale.

The time spent at the fair is normally a set time (unless the organisers permit an early pack up) and therefore should be viewed as a fixed cost.

Variable costs on the other hand can be more controllable, and looking at the example, Mary-Jo expects to use £5 worth of fuel. But she can double check her route to see if there is a more fuel efficient way to/from the venue and to only carry the stock she needs for the day. She also expects to spend £3 on refreshments but by taking a flask and sandwiches, she can cut the cost out completely.

One key variable cost that should not be overlooked is the cost of Labour (Wages) to produce the goods. As sales increase, a smarter way of working needs to be found in order to keep costs down and at the same time, keep up with the demand. I’m not trying to be a kill joy here but if you look at how you produce your finished craft products, is there any stage in the production that mass make the components and therefore have a bit of buffer stock as work in progress? A key cost/time saver here is known as ‘Set Up Costs’ and as an example, when I am making my candles, I tend to mass produce the wick tabs by laying out all of the materials that I need. I then make the tabs for the current order and then over make to act as buffer stock for surprise orders.

Now you may be thinking that going over the expenses of the business to find potential cost savings is a real chore, in comparison to actually making your craft products. But it’s an essential part of business management if you want to increase the profit margins of your business.

In the next issue, ‘Cash is King’, a focus on producing a simple Cash Flow Forecast, which is a useful business planning tool.

Do you have any accounting questions? Email us at the Guild and we will pass them on to Helen. info@procraftersguild.com Helen is a member of the PCG and you can visit her here www.facebook.com/spacentralltd

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Ask PCG Loopy!

Do you have any craft or business related questions?

Jane from Loopy’s Place will do her best to answer them for you.

One type of machine I'd say avoid, is the tiny ones that cost about ÂŁ20/30. They are a real pain to sew on and will put anyone off sewing for life.

I use a Toyota, it wasn't the cheapest, but it wasn't the most expensive. I did manage to get it in the sale. It's been a real workhorse and very reliable. The man that did the servicing said they were among the best made basic, modern machines. Others that have them have recommended them too. It's not computerised, so less to go wrong. My only gripe about it is that I can't regulate the width of the zig zag, although it's not been a problem.

I know Hobbycraft have a sale on their machines at the moment, but I've not used a Brother machine, so can't tell you what they are like.

It may be worth trying Freecycle/Freegle to see if anyone is looking to rehome a machine. You never know you, could find yourself a gem.

What machine would you recommend, or even, what would you avoid?

Send your questions about crafts or running a craft business to jane@loopysplace.co.uk

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USING

FOR YOUR BUSINESS

Part Two

By Diane Price Adien Crafts

Following on from last month you will hopefully have set up your Business Pinterest account. Here are the next steps to follow.

A fact you might find interesting is that one of your Pins has a life 1600 times longer than a Facebook post!

Your content can pop up in the Pinterest feed many months after you have posted it, this happens very often so it’s a great idea to get your Pins out there to be discovered well into the future.

Now that your account is set up, complete your profile on your Business Account. ● Enter your Business name. ● Upload your Logo or Headshot. ● Fill in your Bio and make sure to include any key words that might be relevant in a search. ● Add your location and your website details.

It’s a good idea to add a ‘ ’ browser button to your task bar to make it easy to pin not only your own website items but other great images etc you come across. Many sites such as Folksy and Etsy have a Pin It button on each item page which makes life easy. This link will take you to Pinterest with instructions how to add to your task bar, it’s very simple to do: https://about.pinterest.com/en/browser-button You will see that your home page has a box with the words ‘ ’ This is your invite to make your first board, and then as many boards as you like. You’ll find this will grow after time as you have more brilliant ideas for boards to create. It’s a good idea to cover other interests with boards that will attract people to follow your account; they will then also get to see your item/sales pins in their news feed.

Some board ideas might be: ● ( Your Shop Name ) for items you can upload with a link to your website/Folksy/Etsy etc ● Inspiration Board ● Sold Items by ( Your Shop Name ) ● Commission Items by ( Your Shop Name ) ● Tutorials ● Colour Mood Boards

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USING

FOR YOUR BUSINESS

Part Two

By Diane Price Adien Crafts

The Title of your boards is important when it comes to being found in Pinterest search, so take a few minutes to use keywords that you think people will be searching for. For example if you are setting up a board for your own shop add what you are making as well, e.g. Jewellery, Cards, Knitwear …

The list of boards is endless, maybe set up 8-10 to start off with.

So, we’ve opened your account, filled in your profile, added a Pin It button to your Task Bar and created some boards. Next time we’ll move onto filling these gorgeous boards as well as networking and joining group boards on Pinterest, plus the Analytics feature now available.

Follow Diane on Pinterest here https://uk.pinterest.com/adiencrafts/

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by Christine Brown (Alfie Moon Designs)

Do put your most important content at the top; this is likely to be your logo, strapline and main message. Your contact details are usually best placed lower down on your banner design.

Don’t be tempted to over crowd your banner with lots of information. Your main message should be there to catch the eye of a potential buyer and encourage them to ask more about the products and services you sell.

Do use eye-catching colours and images in order to grab people’s attention.

Don’t forget your banner should complement your existing branding and corporate colours and all images should be of a high quality.

Do think about how your banner will be used in the future. For example, will it still be relevant and useable at events in three months’ time? Can it be used for other purposes, for example a permanent display in your shop or office reception?

Don’t make your banner immediately useless by including information which will quickly become outdated.

At Alfie Moon Designs, we design & make character-led gifts, which can be personalised for special occasions. Our corporate arm, AMD Promotions produces merchandise and promotional items for small businesses. The business draws on over 35 years business and retail experience in the team, and uses professional & state of the art equipment including large format eco solvent printer cutters. For more information visit www.alfiemoondesigns.co.uk Use code to get a 10% discount off all banners, X-Stands and custom vinyl stickers and labels during April 2016.

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I'm Annette from Tilly-Minx Vintage, I started my business in June 2013 so now approaching our three year anniversary. It's been a bumpy ride at times and we still have much to do but we're getting there. Today, I'd like to share with you a small part of our work this year.

Way back in August 2015 I attended a Google Digital Garage training at the new Birmingham Library. Not knowing what to expect I was a little apprehensive but had a clear objective in mind..... how to improve my website!

The seminars were packed and it was definitely a case of information overload, especially with regards to the Google analytics but I came away with one loud message ringing in my head and that was to be very clear on the purpose of your website. Selling products? information? selling services? directing traffic? Sounds simple? Obvious? Yes, but it gave me a new perspective!

Our website, at the time was a shop, an unsuccessful shop. Don't get me wrong, I've been very busy but sales from the website could be counted on one hand. My light bulb moment at the Google Digital Garage was that my website needed to sell me and not my products.

Each of my bridal accessories are one-offs, made to order. I do have some ready made pieces but most of my work comes from commissions. So armed with this new perspective I went through the testimonials my clients had written and used their insight to turn my website on its head and focus on selling myself and my services.

A lot easier said than done as I'm not one who feels comfortable talking about myself! I was lucky enough to meet Torie Jochims, a copywriter in Colorado, in one of the many networking groups I get involved in. Collaborative projects were being discussed and Torie was looking for some case studies for her website http://www.wildsparkcreative.com/ so I jumped right in and asked for help.

Torie was able to really get under the skin of my business and through lots of really helpful questions, which really made me think, she understood what Tilly-Minx was about. I wanted my new website to be inspirational for 10

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brides-to-be to visit and see the potential and possibilities of commissioning a personal accessory. I wanted to have a focus on storytelling through; stories from other brides, the story of the making process and the story of a client's own accessory. Starting with a vintage or family jewel and finishing with a very personal accessory and future heirloom. Past, present and future all in one accessory.

It's taken a long while but my new Tilly-Minx Vintage website is now live. It's a little too early to analyse the impact and delve into the analytics but I'm delighted that it is now a website I'm proud of, that reflects so much more about me and the core Tilly-Minx Vintage message. Having gone through the pain barrier of reflection and, in effect, starting a new website from scratch I'm much clearer on how to move forward and yes, there's loads more for me to do but now when I add to my website I reflect on whether it meets its core purpose.

The key learning for me in this process is: ● Use networks and reach out to others who can offer new perspectives and help. ● Don't be afraid to change what you're doing and turn things on its head.

Use the insight of others, especially your customers to identify what's going well. ● Go to free training either in person or online but have a clear objective of what you want from it and make a commitment to carry out one action point. Coming away with one idea is a great way to measure time well spent and helps see the wood from the trees.

If you're like me and don't like talking about yourself or need help with your key message consider a copywriter. I was so happy to find Torie and so impressed that she really understood our business.

We'd love to know what you think of our new website visit www.tilly-minx vintage.co.uk and let us know.

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Jim’s Candle Classes How do i know which wick is the right size?

A common question i often get asked is

and

The correct wick size is very easy to determine. There are a large number of candle wick types in different sizes.

They vary from braided cotton wicks to wooden wicks. There are candle wicks for tealights, votives, container candles and pillar candles.

So, start with the wick type you want to use, e.g. cotton braided or wood, then choose the correct wick type for the wax you are using, and finally choose the correct width for the burn pool size for your candle.

Incorrect wick size will cause one of 2 things to happen. Firstly you will have the "tunnel" effect happen or secondly you will end up with your candle burning down too quickly.

Tunneling occurs in candles that do not have the correct wick size used. It will be

a smaller wick width that is smaller than it should be for the "burn pool" So "how do i determine the correct wick size?"

Tunneling

All candle waxes have what is known as a "memory". When a candle is lit and the wax starts to melt you begin to create what is known as "a burn pool". When a candle flame is extinguished, the molten wax creates the "memory" of its size so when you relight the candle the "burn pool" is created to the same size that it was originally. Your wick size determines the "burn pool" size.

The way to determine the correct wick size is to measure the diameter of the candle you are making. If it is a tealight or container candle you are making, then measure the diameter of the container or tealight cup. To avoid the "tunneling" effect, match the "burn pool" size to the wick size. For example, a container that has a 50mm diameter then choose the wick size that has a 50mm "burn pool".

Always make sure that the wick type is the correct wick type for the wax you are using. This is because different wick types are made for different wax types and candle types. A wick type that is suitable for vegetable waxes will not work very well in a paraffin wax candle or a gel wax candle.

You can often find that your supplier has wicks recommended for a particular candle type such as wicks for tealights or votives.

Also you can find pre-waxed wicks. These wicks have a coating of wax which will be either paraffin wax or a natural wax.

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So you are interested in candlemaking but you are unsure of which wax you would like to use ? Please allow me to assist you:

Paraffin wax has been around for many years and is the cheapest candle wax available. Paraffin wax is a by product of petrolium aka petrol. Some would argue that it is a natural wax since it comes from a fossil fuel. Do you remember paraffin stoves at all? Perhaps your parents or grand parents will remember using paraffin while cooking. Paraffin heaters are still used nowadays but not as widely used as they once were.

There are still many companies nowadays still using paraffin wax to make candles with. One problem with paraffin wax is that it comes from a non renewable source so it cannot be called a "green" wax. Another problem with paraffin wax is that it releases carciogenics when burnt as well as soot which can damage furniture as well as your health over time.

This wax is known as a "green" wax due to it coming from a renewable source i.e soya beans. Soy wax is a fairly new wax in terms of age and is rapidly becoming more popular in use for not only candlemaking but also in beauty treatments such as leg waxing. Soy Wax is slightly more expensive than paraffin wax but has a cleaner burn when lit as well as producing very little soot.

Most soya beans are grown in the US and there has been concerns raised about land being cleared for soya crops as well as farmers using GM soya seeds. I have heard a rumour that the manufacturers of soy wax are keeping the price artificially high for their own gain. Whether this rumour is true or not i have no idea.

Beeswax is really a "true green wax" because it is made by bees to seal the honeycombs in a hive. A real true natural wax because it needs no processing. Beeswax has been used for many centuries mainly by the clergymen in their churches and cathedrals.

Many people are unaware of the benefits of using beeswax candles. One is that, when lit, they release positive ions into the air which attract the negative ions of dust, pollen and other airborne allergens. Thus they help cleanse the air and are ideal for use by people with asthma.

The downside of beeswax is that it is more expensive than other waxes. Although it is the most natural wax you can use, it is subject to weather conditions. The longer cold conditions go on, the less beeswax is produced by hives. Also i have heard a rumour that a certain pesticide has been authorised for use which will reduce the bee population.

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Another fairly new wax is rapeseed wax. Coming from a renewable source, i.e. rapeseed. I have been experimenting with this wax and have found that it is a great wax to use in candlemaking because it has a lower melting and pouring temperature.

A more recent wax is Coconut Wax. Made from the flesh of the coconut i have yet to test this in candlemaking. I have only found 1 supplier of it in the UK so far.

Palm Oil Wax is produced from palm oil which comes from southeast asia. Countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia grow palm trees and also Australia is growing palm trees for the oil. There has been a huge outcry against palm oil because of the deforestain of the natural habitats for animals such as baboons.

There has been calls for manufacturers to cease using palm oil in food because of the plight of the baboons. There are producers of palm oil that are responsible producers who are certified palm oil producers and comply to strict growing regulations.

There are several candle wax blends so check your suppliers descriptions of the blend. Certain blends are ideal for different candle types so please ensure that choose the wax blend for your type of candle you are making.

In summary, whichever wax you use is a matter of personal choice. If you are making scented candles, then i would recommend paraffin, rapeseed, palm oil or soy waxes. I would not recommend using fragrance oils in beeswax candles. For aromatherapy candles i would recommend soy or rapeseed wax.

Article by Jim Laver.

Jim Laver is the owner,founder and main craftsman at www.trulyhandcrafted.com/Shops/sweet-aromas

Jim’s Candle Classes

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To Guild Member Kirsty and family on the birth of your new baby girl

Tegan Beth Dimond.

www.kdjewellery.co.uk

Meet a member

Tuus is a local business run by Wirral-born, John Moreton. The business specialises in the design and creation of locally inspired memorabilia, with products ranging from local landmarks to Beatles inspired decorations.

My most recent designs are a range of Liverpool inspired signs to place in the home. These designs are based on local culture and landmarks. These street type signs depict famous streets and Beatles lyrics, including "Penny Lane" and "The Beatles" and do so with a rustic charm that can only be obtained by individually hand crafted items. The signs are created in 3D, then I create a silicone mould & cast each one individually in a high quality resin, once demoulded they are hand painted, glazed and supplied with velcro on the back for those who may wish to place them on a wall for decoration. The signs are approximately 190 mm x 70 mm and around 8 mm thick, they can be drilled to be screwed to a wall. They remain to size whilst also being very durable. Here are the first two models with approximately 20 more different ones to follow.

You can contact John on tuussculptures@gmail.com

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Colours

Colours are very much an individual subject, we all have our favourites, those we love, those we hate and those that evoke no feeling one way or the other. I have always swayed towards a certain colour palette of pink, duck egg blue, sage green and ivory.

According to certain sources this year sees the revival of pink in home decor both paint and accents. Now I don’t like to boast but that makes me ahead of my time as I have always used pink in my work, haha.

Colours can be seen differently by different people as well, not just those that suffer from colour blindness, so bear this in mind if someone is critical of a colour you have used, very much in the eye of the beholder.

Over the years I have been in my business I have learnt that to do well, keep your colour palette limited. I know it is very tempting to make websites, stock etc all variety of colours. Yet if you browse around window displays and displays in stores one thing they have in common is cohesion of colour.

I have been known to make what I think people want and offer all shades of colours but the last 5 years have reduced that down to my current palette.

If you are unsure, check out google images for ‘colour palettes’. You can insert the colours you want to use as part of the search. As you can see above, apart from ivory, white and cream which are the neutrals try to stick to 5 of the main colours. From a Financial point of view makes it easy to buy fabrics and trims as you know what will work for you. There is nothing worse than having a big spend only to get home and find that you need to spend more just to make the colours work together.

There is no right or wrong but think about your brand, what are you trying to purvey to your customers? If they are into heavy rock style then yes, red and black are ideal. Modern, you may wish to go with the Pantone colour ways. Vintage, which is me more muted and understated.

Some people will automatically think that to limit colours, limits who you sell to. Well not really, take a look at what you make and think who your customers are. Mine are into Vintage of all era’s from Victorian times to the 50’s, they love the gentler times, when life was simpler or appeared to be. Less pressure, less hurtling round packed roads. More Downton Abbey or Ladymead (Miss Marple’s village). Yes, red can appear but generally my customers like me are passionate about vintage. Most genuine vintage items are faded, have a worn and loved look. A bit like a well loved teddy bear faded through cuddling.

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Most of all go with what you love as there will be plenty of others that love what you do. I also have an artist colour wheel which can be invaluable when designing.

Here are some samples of colour palettes to give you an idea of how putting the right colours together can look so good:

I hope my passion for colour has inspired you Caroline Nash www.facebook.com/pages/Carolee-Crafts/48769671593

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Written by Kerry Chumbley

Are you a Professional Crafter?

What is a Professional Crafter?

What assumptions do you make about words that you use? This is something that really interests me.

I have spent some time speaking with other artists and crafters, makers and creators. Some of these ladies are running their business full time and others part-time. I have also discussed this wider with people from various industries to see what their thoughts were.

If you're anything like me, you took something you enjoyed doing, felt you were good at, and turned it into a business - or are thinking about it. Did you just jump in or did you do some research first? I personally did both! I spent a lot of time researching and seeking advice around legalities, the "official" side of running my own business. I wanted to make sure I was all above board and doing things as I should, especially in relation to: HMRC, insurance, accounts, selling regulations (now The Consumer Contracts Regulations) etc. However, in many other aspects of running my own business, I was very guilty of jumping in and not thinking things through.

Looking back to when I first started, I am very aware that I didn't always approach things with a "professional" head. I didn't have any structure around pricing or order processing, I was networking like a crazed women and I was giving a lot of my work away in a shoddy attempt at marketing and advertising. I was saying yes to pretty much all of the charity requests and spending a lot of time flitting from task to task and not making a living. Although it seemed to work in some ways, I wasn't really respecting myself or my work and I found myself having to pull things back and start rebuilding some of the foundations - something I have been reviewing and adjusting again just recently.

For many of the ladies I have spoken to, the basics of being a professional crafter are the same. Although we may have different ideas of specifics, we all ultimately have the same foundations. Being a professional means we adhere to the legalities of running a business as well as in each of our professional areas (testing, certification, insurances etc.); protecting ourselves and our clients / customers. It's having a high level of expertise in our industries; being knowledgeable and skilled in our crafts. However this doesn't mean that we have stopped learning and developing or that we don't make mistakes. Being professional is about the way we conduct ourselves and present our business, our communication, the feelings we leave our clients / customers with, the relationships we build. It's about respecting ourselves, our work and the industry that we specialise in. Where we had differences was around what we felt was appropriate in terms of sharing and communication; the use of emojis, kisses, signing off with our names, slang, etc. Some of us felt this was a personal preference and could vary depending on the existing relationships with customers / clients.

When I asked Louise from Thistle Dubh Ewe what her thoughts were she sent me this: "Well, I relate the word professional to my own business in several ways. In the first instance, it tells my customers that I adhere to a set of standards. It means that I'm adept at what I do. The term differentiates me from both hobbyists and black market traders, those who aren't licensed, tested and registered as applicable. It provides a buyer with a sense of safety which is invaluable in building a relationship of trust between them and me. They expect that I have proper systems in place, not just for running the business or for my production processes, but to protect their buying experience from start to finish. In the second instance, professional means a cohesive branding policy for my company, something that customers will come to recognise instantly and buy into, whether that's my design, my products or the ethics behind the business. Last but far from least, professional describes my approach to my craft and my finished work. It encompasses my years of experience and knowledge, all of the learning and research it's taken to reach this point, as well as the quality I strive for in my work. Professional means I'm serious about my business and my customers".

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Are you a Professional Crafter?

What is a Professional Crafter?

We may all have different ideas of what the word professional means and what a professional might look like. Have a think about it; does this create a barrier for you? Does it mean you run your business in a specific manner? Are there things you would expect from a "professional" in terms of experience, engagement, presentation, services and /or products? WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOUR CUSTOMERS? Read more about my thoughts and the views of some amazing women in other industries over on my BLOG. I would love to hear your views around this.

I'd like to thank the following ladies for taking the time to discuss their thoughts and giving me their time: Louise at Thistle Dubh Ewe, Claire at Wirelife - Art by Cerysanne, Alyssa at Clarise Crafts, Elizabeth at Elibar Handknits & Baby Wear, Imogen at Umbrella Digital Media, Fiona at Sweetie Pie Gifts & Treats and Jane at Jared Designs Please note that regardless of whether you consider yourself a "professional crafter" an amateur, crafter or hobbyist; if you are advertising and selling goods or services you need to register with HMRC and comply with Consumer Contract Regulations. Please look into any other regulations / legislation that you may need to adhere to in terms of your craft and selling. We can look at this in another article if you're interested in knowing more.

Please feel free to send me your thoughts / ideas / questions by emailing the Guild HERE and mark it FAO Kerry.

Find Kerry on Facebook www.facebook.com/Paperama.Kerry

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Simply Little Soaps My name is Linda Barnes, and I retired in 2013 after working for many years in the NHS then latterly working in our local community hall as an administrator.

I had four lovely children who grew up and now have their own families, and I now have 14 grandchildren and 1 great granddaughter! I would have never guessed all those years ago I would achieve such a big family! I feel very lucky and fulfilled in that direction, they are all lovely little individuals, and even better now that I have time to indulge in being a grandmother.

With working long hours and bringing up a growing family, I never had much time for myself and for all the hobbies I wanted to do. I did enjoy knitting and sewing, and cooking but never really manage to fit any other hobbies in.

When the children started leaving home and chasing their own dreams, I starting to paint with water colours and oils, not brilliant and certainly no great artist! but I found it therapeutic and relaxing. Early in my working days, myself and a friend set a goal, that once we retired, lookout. We were definitely going to embark on trying all the creative arts and hobbies that we could.

When our work load use to get us down we use say to one another, how about learning to make lampshades!, what about French polishing! It always made us giggle, never thinking we would ever have the time to do these things. As for my friend she is just beginning her journey. She tends to travel a lot, and does her best to make things. And for me, my time for creativity arrived. Patch working, rag carpet making, crochet, painting, writing, candle making, you name it tried it and enjoyed it all.

Then I came across soap recipes, I tried various methods and loved it. And so Simply Little Soaps was born, I practised in my kitchen, experimented on my family and friends! Everybody had homemade soaps for presents.

I just love creating something different, not only making the soap, but presenting them as gifts sets or beautifully wrapped to show the little guest soaps off at their best.

I am amazed how many people don't actually use them but have as decorative pieces! I use mainly soap bases such as Crystal Goats Milk, Shea Butter and oatmeal,Triple butter, Crystal Carrot, Cucumber & Aloe Vera.

These soaps bases are gentle on the skin, and leaves your skin feeling soft and silky. I do use soap moulds a lot, and finish off the pieces once it has cured, by sculpting it by hand which adds character and definition.

I love creating new designs and expanding my portfolio. The most popular designs at the moment are, ducks, sheep, owl, flowers and fairies. My personal favourite is the new born baby placed in a petal, it takes time and patience to make them, but well worth it.

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Simply Little Soaps The little guest soap gift packs are popular, particularly for special presents. I am continuing my journey by becoming a holistic therapist qualifying in Flower Therapy and therapeutic oils, holistic pain management and holistic skincare.

It is a fact that at some point, everybody needs a bit of love and care, emotional support with added luxury in their lives and if I'm able to provide that just that by creating my little soaps, and holistic therapies then I find it simply highly satisfying and I really recommend it.

Visit Linda at her website here

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Potato and Sweetcorn Vegan Curry (Gluten, wheat, dairy, egg, nut and soya Free) This vegan curry has a combination of spicy and sweet flavours and is delicious and quick and easy to prepare using just one pan. The recipe is gluten free and also does not contain nuts or soy.

Don't be put off by the long ingredients list as the recipe comes together quickly and easily and does not require any complicated techniques or specific equipment. The curry can be made using one pot and prepared and cooked in less than twenty minutes.

It is delicious served on its own or with breads such as chapattis, chickpea pancakes, naan or pitta breads. This dish would also be great as part of a buffet or simply served with rice.

Although they are used as a vegetable, tomatoes are in a fact a fruit that are not only versatile and delicious but also packed with health benefits. Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, a very important anti-oxidant that is thought to help stop the development of cancerous cells and protect against cardiovascular disease. Tomatoes are also a good source of vitamins A and C. One medium sized tomato can provide one-third of the daily recommended allowance of both vitamins while being very low in fat, cholesterol and sodium. Tomatoes also contain many other vitamins and minerals including: vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, vitamin E, vitamin K, folate, calcium, manganese, zinc and potassium.

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â—? Fresh potatoes could also be used in this recipe but would need to be boiled until almost cooked before using. Leftover potatoes from another meal would be ideal to use up in this vegan curry recipe. â—? Frozen, tinned or fresh sweetcorn cut from the cob can be used successfully in this recipe.

170g (6oz) 170g (6oz) 1 tbsp oil1/2 tsp 1/4 tsp 1/2 tsp 1/2 tsp 2 tbsp 1/2 115g (4oz) 85ml (3fl oz) Pinch

tinned potatoes, chopped into bite sized pieces cherry tomatoes, halved mustard powder ground cumin garlic powder coriander powder fresh mint, finely chopped small red chilli, finely chopped sweetcorn tinned coconut milk cayenne pepper

1. Heat the oil in a pan or wok over a low heat. Add the potatoes, tomatoes, mustard powder, garlic and ground cumin. Stir well to evenly spread the powders.

2. Add the coriander, mint and chilli and stir fry for 2 minutes.

3. Add the sweetcorn, coconut milk, cayenne and lemon juice. Stir to combine all the ingredients and cook for 5 minutes or until the sweetcorn is tender.

By Claire Pearcy Elderberry Arts www.facebook.com/Elderberryarts

Look our for more delicious recipes from Claire in future issues

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The CRAFTfest Best of British Event for UK residents taking place in June is also booking NOW

Sponsored by The Professional Crafters Guild

Moshi Beads Crafty Cakes The Crafty Artisan Lyns Gems Creations Send in your: Events, Achievements, News, Fabulous customer reviews, product images for our March Issue!

Also, for budding writers we are now accepting craft and business related articles.

Email us at: info@procraftersguild.com Full Guild Membership means that you are featured for FREE in our directory listings.

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Jewellery Designers A.R.P Jewellery A.R.P Jewellery is a local company based in Devon who sells and makes jewellery from Stirling Silver, Gold and Palladium. We use many different types of jewels such as Cubic Zirconia and Swarovski Crystal. www.etsy.com/shop/arpjewellery www.facebook.com/ARP-Jewellery-54969968785

Adien Crafts Hand made Jewellery featuring Semi Precious Gemstones www.adiencrafts.co.uk www.etsy.com/uk/shop/AdienandIrisBlue www.facebook.com/adiencrafts

Anne Pearson Designs Knotwork jewellery. www.facebook.com/AnnePearsonDesigns

Artisan Designs UK Handcrafted jewellery and gifts creating using mostly kiln fused glass and other quality materials. Award winning designer who works closely with the fashion and animals rescue worlds. www.artisandesignsuk.com

Bernadine's Creations Gorgeous beaded jewellery, watches and gifts. Exclusively designed and created by experienced jewellery maker. www.wowthankyou.co.uk/bernadines-creations www.etsy.com/shop/BernadinesCreations www.facebook.com/BernadinesCreations

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Jewellery Designers Crystal Lady Designs (Mystic Earth Healing Jewellery) Healing gemstone jewellery to help you through life. www.mysticearth.co.uk

Elegance by Sue Handmade, bespoke jewellery. www.elegancebysue.co.uk www.facebook.com/ElegancebySue

Fire-drake Hand made silver, gold filled and gold jewellery. www.firedrakeuk.com www.facebook.com/FireDrakeJewellery

Fire Faerie Designs Mixed media jewellery designer maker. I use the mediums of clay and glass to make exclusive pieces of jewellery art. www.firefaeriedesigns.co.uk www.Facebook.com/firefaeriedesigns

Handmade With Love Designs Handstamped personalised jewellery and gifts www.handmadewithlovedesigns.co.uk www.facebook.com/handmadewithlovedesigns http://craftersboutique.co.uk/sellers/handmade-with-love-designs/

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Jewellery Designers Jewellery My Design Sterling silver, copper, niobium and gold-filled chainmaille jewellery. www.jewellerymydesign.co.uk www.facebook.com/JewelleryMyDesign

K.D Jewellery Handmade Macrame Jewellery and Accessories.

www.kdjewellery.co.uk www.facebook.com/KDJewellery1 www.etsy.com/uk/shop/KDJewellery1

Lucy Bradshaw Jewellery Design & make handmade sterling silver jewellery with a twist of colour. www.lucybradshaw.co.uk www.facebook.com/LucyBradshaw555

Lynns Gem Creations LynnsGemCreations is UK based and specialises in Gemstones and Venetian Murano jewellery. It incorporates LynnsBridalCreations which caters solely for wedding jewellery. www.lynnsgemcreations.com www.etsy.com/uk/shop/LynnsGemCreations www.facebook.com/LynnsGemCreations

Moshi Beads Hand Crafted Jewellery www.moshibeads.co.uk www.facebook.com/moshibeads

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Jewellery Designers Sally Davies Silver Traditionally handcrafted sterling silver jewellery. www.wowthankyou.co.uk/sally-davies-silver www.facebook.com/SallyDaviesJewellery

Semi Precious Jens Handmade semi precious gemstone jewellery & accessories. www.semipreciousjens.co.uk www.facebook.com/semipreciousjens

Silver Sensations High quality affordable handmade unique & limited edition designer jewellery using genuine Sterling Silver, Semi Precious Gemstones, Pearls & Swarovski Crystals. www.silver-sensations.co.uk www.facebook.com/silversensations www.wowthankyou.co.uk/silver-sensations

Tiny Treasures Keepsakes Hand stamped silver keepsake jewellery. www.facebook.com/TinyTreasuresKeepsakes

Vicky Hibberd Silversmith Handcrafted Silver jewellery www.etsy.com/uk/shop/VickyHibberdSilver www.facebook.com/VickyHibberdSilversmith

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Polymer Craft Designers Ace Characters Personalised cake toppers for any celebration. As individual as you are. www.acecaketoppercharacters.com www.facebook.com/acecharacters

Cotswold Characters Unique, high quality hand sculpted models made in polymer clay. www.cotswoldcharacters.co.uk www.facebook.com/ArgyleArt

Upcoming events - do you have an event coming up? Let us know CRAFTfest - Pride of America online event.

22 - 24th April 2016 www.craftfest-events.com

Crafters Cavern online Craft Fair 24th April 2016 www.facebook.com/events/16669722835697 06

CRAFTfest - Best of British online event.

10th - 12th June 2016 Booking Now www.craftfest-events.com

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Artists Creative Memories Framed prints, jewellery. www.creativememorieswarwick.co.uk www.facebook.com/Creativememorieswarwick

Paperama 100% Hand-Cut Paper Art Keepsakes. www.facebook.com/Paperama.Kerry

Super Canvas Bespoke Canvas and Framed Prints. www.super-canvas.com www.facebook.com/supercanvas

Word Art Designs I personally design pictures into word art. www.facebook.com/Wordartdesigns

Model Makers TUUS Create & produce miniature models of Cathedrals,churches

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Mixed Craft Designers Alfie Moon Designs Alfie Moon Designs - Design and make character led, themed and craft based gifts - bags, t-shirts, mugs, miniatures, clocks, badges, wall art and more. All gifts can be customised and personalised. www.alfiemoondesigns.co.uk www.facebook.com/AlfieMoonDesigns

And Sew It Seems Sewing and embroidered gifts. www.facebook.com/AndSewItSeams?fref=ts www.facebook.com/DollsandbearsbyMissyB www.etsy.com/shop/AndSewItSeams56

AnjiKrafts Crochet, fabrics, bead & paper crafting. www.anjikrafts.com www.facebook.com/Anjikrafts

Art of Fun Different types of crafts from painting to badge making, to knitting to looming and a lot more made by arthritic hands, 10% of all items sold goes to arthritis research uk www.artoffun.co.uk www.facebook.com/ArtOfFun2015

Charms by Joanna Favours and Gifts. www.charmsbyjoanna.co.uk www.facebook.com/charmsbyjoanna

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Mixed Craft Designers cherishthememory.co.uk Unique Gifts & Cards for all occasions. www.cherishthememory.co.uk www.facebook.com/cherishthememory.co.uk

ColaCreations Hand crafted gifts and homeware. www.colacreations.wix.com/colacreations www.facebook.com/Colacreations

Feel Good Crafts Market place helping and supporting people with chronic conditions sell handmade craft products www.feelgoodcrafts.com www.facebook.com/feelgoodcrafts

Handmade by Karen Keyrings, bag charms, brooches, decorations and wall hangings made from quality felt, tweed, tartan and other fabrics all by hand. www.facebook.com/karenshomemade

iCandy Bouquets Unique confectionery creations, including chocolate and sweet bouquets and edible gifts. www.icandybouquets.com www.facebook.com/iCandybouquets1

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Mixed Craft Designers Immortal Crafts Decorated candles, plaques and wood items using mixed media, pencil portraiture. www.immortalcrafts.com www.facebook.com/immortalcrafts

Loz's Crafty Corner Personalised keyrings and jewellery. http://Lozcc25.co.uk www.facebook.com/LozCC25

Ooh! I Like That Individual items made from linens & cotton fabric and wool. www.oohilikethat.co.uk www.facebook.com/oohilikethat

Material Girl Fabric bags, cushions, home decor plus

Posh Bird Creations Unique Quality Gift Baskets. www.poshbirdcreations.com www.facebook.com/pages/Posh-Bird-Creations/865420413474481

Romana-Dawn Creations If it's fabric, we can make it! www.romana-dawncreations.co.uk www.facebook.com/romanadawncreations

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Mixed Craft Designers Sewdivinedesigns Specialising in personalised cushions and bags, newbie at CE certified soft toys and dolls. www.sewdivinedesigns.co.uk www.facebook.com/sewdivinedesigns

Simply Little Soaps Soy Wax Jar Candles/Melts/Clay Jar Toppers/ Soap/ Photography. www.spa-central.co.uk www.facebook.com/spacentralltd

SJA CraftyCakes Hand created gifts: nappy & towel cakes; book art; cards; bags & purses; children's knitwear etc. www.sjacraftycakes.com www.facebook.com/sjacraftycakes

Spa-Central Ltd Soy Wax Jar Candles/Melts/Clay Jar Toppers/ Soap/ Photography. www.spa-central.co.uk www.facebook.com/spacentralltd

Spratt's Prints & Crafts Spratt's Prints & Crafts lovingly design and create a range of personalised prints (making it totally unique to them), a selection of artwork and a range of hand-created gifts. Sarah can also be asked to work on something you have in mind.

www.spratt-designs.co.uk www.etsy.com/uk/shop/SprattPrints www.facebook.com/sprattsprints

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Mixed Craft Designers T2Kreations Bespoke gifts, personalised products and homeware. www.t2kreations.co.uk www.facebook.com/t2kreations

Uniquely Your Designs Crocheted Accessories for Person and Home & Patterns, Needle felted Gifts,Word Art, Felted Soaps, Handmade Journal/notebooks.

www.etsy.com/uk/shop/UniquelyYourDesigns www.uniquelyyourdesigns.co.uk www.wowthankyou.co.uk/uniquely-yours

Candle Designers Made By Suzi I specialise in making scented candles in vintage teacups and coffee cups. www.etsy.com/uk/shop/MadeBySuzi www.facebook.com/pages/Made-By-Suzi/207767575964979

Sweet Aroma's Customisable Handmade Soy Wax candles and other aromatic products. www.sweetaromas.co.uk

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Paper Crafts Designers Card Therapy Handmade-cards and papercraft art. www.cardtherapy.co.uk

Glitz and Grammar Creating handmade cards & gifts including clocks, canvasses & photo frames, amongst others. Every item is unique - no 2 the same. Specialising in bespoke items. Handmade with you in mind!

www.glitzandgrammar.co.uk www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Glitzycards www.Facebook.com/glitzandgrammar

Handmade By Helen Handmade cards and paper craft items. www.folksy.com/shops/HandmadeByHelen1 www.facebook.com/HandmadeByHelen

Soft Sculpture Designers Arctophilia Artist and designer of award winning collectable mohair bears... www.mohairbears.co.uk www.mohairbearmakingsupplies.co.uk www.facebook.com/arctophillia

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Card Designers Pig Corner Cards Handmade cards, pictures and gifts in cross stitch which can be personalised to you individual requirements. www.pigcornercards.co.uk

www.folksy.com/shops/pigcornercards www.facebook.com/pigcornercardsandgifts

Pink Fountain Handmade Greeting Cards

www.etsy.com/shop/pinkfountain www.facebook.com/pinkfountain

The Crafty Artisan Bespoke hand crafted greetings cards for all occasions

www.thecraftyartisan.uk www.facebook.com/The-Crafty-Artisans-405737196302162/

Soap Designers Daisy Chain Gifts Gift shop featuring handmade soaps, bath products, floral arrangements, greeting cards, knitwear and homewares. www.daisychaingifts.com www.facebook.com/DaisyChainGifts

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Gifts & Accessories Designers Arabella's Attic Arabella's Attic design and hand craft vintage inspired accessories and gifts such as bags, purses, hair accessories, kilt pins and pocket mirrors.

www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ArabellasAttic www.facebook.com/ArabellasAttic1

Enchanted Elegance by Sue Handmade, bespoke jewellery.

www.elegancebysue.co.uk www.facebook.com/EnchantedElegancebySue

Gert Lush Designs Wirework & Fused Glass Jewellery, Bags, Fabric Creations & Artwork. www.gertlushdesigns.co.uk www.facebook.com/GertLushDesigns https://twitter.com/GertLushDesigns

Handmade by Karen Keyrings, bag charms, brooches, decorations and wall hangings made from quality felt, tweed, tartan and other fabrics all by hand. www.facebook.com/karenshomemade

Silver Sensations High quality affordable handmade unique & limited edition designer jewellery using genuine Sterling Silver, Semi Precious Gemstones, Pearls & Swarovski Crystals.

www.silver-sensations.co.uk www.facebook.com/silversensations www.wowthankyou.co.uk/silver-sensations

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Textiles Designers Gingham Glory Handmade cushions and other items using vintage embroidery and fabrics www.wowthankyou.co.uk/gingham-glory www.folksy.com/shops/lal179 www.facebook.com/GinghamGlory

Honey B's Family run business manufacturing our own products here in the UK Our items are British Made. www.honeybselection.co.uk www.facebook.com/pages/HoneyBselection/223305561084246

Its the Foxes Handcrafted products for home and family. www.gotshop.co.uk/seller-profile/its-the-foxes www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ITSTHEFOXES www.facebook.com/itsthefoxes

Loopy's Place Traditional Handicrafts, making gifts for home and family. www.loopysplace.co.uk www.facebook.com/LoopysPlace?ref=hl

Natalie Tiltman Textile Art Hand stitched cards, art and gifts. www.natalietiltman.blogspot.co.uk www.etsy.com/uk/shop/natalietiltman www.facebook.com/thistledownstitches

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Textiles Designers Rag Rug Textiles Rag rugging: designer, commissions & Kits, embroidery:designer, teacher & stockist. ww.ragrugtextiles.com

The Old Button Patchwork, applique, sewing. https://beta.folksy.com/shops/TheOldButton http://theoldbutton.blogspot.co.uk www.facebook.com/TheOldButton

Tweedie Beasties Harris Tweed animal doorstops. www.tweediebeasties.com www.facebook.com/tweediebeasties

Glass & Lampwork Designers Glasspirations Creating Bespoke Fused Glass Items for the Home and as Unique Gifts. www.glasspirations.co.uk www.facebook.com/Glasspirations

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Paper Crafts Designers Pig Corner Cards Handmade cards, pictures and gifts in cross stitch which can be personalised to you individual requirements. www.pigcornercards.co.uk www.folksy.com/shops/pigcornercards https://www.facebook.com/pigcornercardsandgifts

Scrapbookerry Scrapbooking, Paper Crafts, Wedding Stationery. www.scrapbookerry.com

Scrumptious Design Handmade cards, stationery and gifts. www.facebook.com/scrumptiousdesign

Simply Unique Altered art, memory albums, and home dĂŠcor items. www.simplyuniquecrafts.net www.facebook.com/pages/Simply-Unique/173693672814436

The Codicote Crafter Cards, Keepsake Boxes, Wall Hangings and do much more! www.thecodicotecrafter.co.uk www.thecodicotecrafter.com www.facebook.com/pages/The-Codicote-Crafter/1461692517475714

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Paper Crafts Designers The Scrapbooker Professional digital and paper scrapbooker, paper artist and photographer. www.thescrapbooker.co.uk www.wowthankyou.co.uk/the-scrapbooker www.facebook.com/pages/The-Scrapbooker-UK/261817810495019

Tmd-crafts Handmade cards, invitations, place cards & all Wedding Stationery Items Handmade knitted clothing, goods & photography props. www.tmd-crafts.biz www.facebook.com/tmdcrafts

Wood Crafts Designers Blackberry Wedding Designs Personalised wooden wedding horseshoes,hearts, spoons, rolling pins etc. www.blackberryweddingdesigns.com www.facebook.com/blackberryweddinghorseshoes

www.blackberryweddingdesigns.co.uk

Fran's Crafts Hand Decorated Clocks, Decorated Wooden Shapes and Handmade Cards. www.franscrafts.co.uk www.facebook.com/Frans-Crafts-1704066853163643/

The Rustic Carpenter Personalised handmade wooden crates & signs. www.therusticcarpenter.co.uk www.fontwelldesigns.co.uk www.facebook.com/therusticcarpenter 43

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Millinery Designers Custom Hair Accessories One-off design millinery, bridal hair accessories and jewellery. All our collection are totally handmade including hat blocking. www.customhairaccessories.com www.customhairaccessories.co.uk www.facebook.com/pages/Custom-Hair-Accessories/175756329114735

Lojango Design Stunning, practical, affordable hats along with unusual hair accessories and brooches. Lojango Design combines eye catching designs with superb craftsmanship resulting in wearable items you will treasure for ever.

www.lojango.com www.facebook.com/lojango www.etsy.com/UK/shop/LojangoDesign

Decor Designers From The Heart Creations Hand made creations of Garlands, Wreaths, Candle Jars, Bunting & more! www.fromtheheartcreations.co.uk www.facebook.com/pages/From-The-Heart-CreationsFTHC/562293043886907

Gifts Unique Frames and plaques to hang in your home. www.facebook.com/giftsunique01

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Needle Felting Designers SheepyCreations Memories in Felt!! Ooak felt products including pet portraits, pictures, bags cushions, scarves, etc. www.facebook.com/SheepyCreations www.etsy.com/shop/SheepyCreations

The Happy Ewe Needle felted items, animals, decorations and more. www.facebook.com/thehappyewecrafts/

Online Marketplaces Feel Good Crafts Market place helping and supporting people with chronic conditions sell handmade craft products www.feelgoodcrafts.com www.facebook.com/feelgoodcrafts

WowThankYou WowThankYou is well established online marketplace supporting creative makers and designers based in UK. www.wowthankyou.co.uk www.facebook.com/WowThankYou

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Crochet & Knitting Designers JellyPoppy Bunnies 'n' Blankets, Hats 'n' slippers, shawls, throws, gloves. www.jellypoppy.co.uk www.facebook.com/JellyPoppy

Pitter Patter Tiny Feet Knitting Emporium Specialised, bespoke and designer knits for babies and children. www.pitterpattertinyfeet.co.uk www.facebook.com/PitterPatterTinyFeetKnittingEmporium

www.twitter.com/PptfSharon

Tmd-crafts Handmade cards, invitations, place cards & all Wedding Stationery Items Handmade knitted clothing, goods & photography props. www.tmd-crafts.biz www.facebook.com/tmdcrafts

Watercolours and Lace Hand painted designer yarns in luxury natural fibres, knitting and crochet designs and kits, threads for embroidery and lacemaking, project bags, beaded stitch markers. www.watercoloursandlace.co.uk www.etsy.com/uk/shop/WatercoloursandLace www.facebook.com/WatercoloursAndLace/

Wrapped In Colour Hand-knitted shawls, scarves, cowls, hats and gloves. www.wrapped-in-colour.org.uk/Wrapped_In_Colour/Welcome.html www.facebook.com/WrappedinColour

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Beading Supplies Somerset Beads UK based bead suppliers, we supply a wide range of jewellery making supplies and beads for jewellery making, crafting and other bead projects, including semi precious gemstone beads, glass beads www.somersetbeads.co.uk www.facebook.com/SomersetBeads

Paper Craft Suppliers Teri B Fantasy Crafts Inaddition to stocking mainstream crafting supplies, Teri B Fantasy Crafts' focus is around the themes of Gothic, Steampunk and Fantasy. We are always looking for ideas for 'different' types of crafting products, for our unique customers. www.fantasycrafts.co.uk http://www.facebook.com/TeriBFantasyCrafts https://twitter.com/TeriBcrafts

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PCG A collection of news and articles from our business community Read more information about our publications here www.procraftersguild.com/directory.html

www.procraftersguild.com

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Publication www.creative-crafting.com www.procraftersguild.com