Craftseller032014

BAKE IT Yummy chocolate & lavender pie

98

handmade SPRING IDEAS PERFECT FOR PROFIT!

WIN!

OVER £1000 WORTH OF PRIZES*

CROCHET IT Little piggy take-away cup cosy

MAKE IT Pressed flower pendant

FREE

Mummy Makes book

How cute are ewe?

EXCLUSIVE

NEEDLE-FELT OUR LITTLE LAMBS MOTHER’S DAY

10 CRAFTY GIFTS FOR LOVELY MUMS

Make £££s PAPER SEED PACKETS FELT CORSAGE FURNISHINGS SUPER SOFT CABLE KNIT BAG

“I CRAFT SELL IN THE COUNTRYSIDE!” DESIGNER MARY KILVERT’S TOP TIPS FOR LIVING THE RURAL CRAFTING DREAM…

Fuse Creativity System®

THE DIE-CUTTING MACHINE REINVENTED We didn’t invent the die-cutting machine, we just made it better!

Fiskars Fuse Creativity System® is the only machine that combines die-cutting and letterpress in one easy pass, instantly adding color, texture and shape to bring creative ideas to life with professional-looking embellishments The wide designs sets and letterpress plates range offers you endless possibilities!

It has always been our belief that all things, even the simplest, can be made better and smarter.

Visit our website and see how the Fuse Creativity System® can change your creative life. www.fiskars.com

See the demonstration

PAGE FLAG

Welcome 30

Crochet this sweet and easy-to-make piggy take-away cup cosy!

16

Ewe won't be able to resist making these cute little lambs!

COVER

M

ums are great, we all know that. They do school runs, whip up dinners, pick up pants – to name but a few of the endless, selfless things a mother's day is filled with. So it's little wonder that the craft-selling market soars around Mother's Day – handmade unique gifts show real consideration and who deserves more thought than your mum?

With that in mind, we have an issue packed with gorgeous handmade gifts ideas for amazing mums including a pretty pressed flower pendant over on page 28, sweet upcycled plant pot candles (p72) and vintage-style paper seed packets, perfect for Mum's favourite flower (p27). Elsewhere we have a cute fabric owl doorstop (p84) and of course, there's our adorable cover stars – the needle felt little lambs! So cute you'll find it hard to part with them for selling!

Feature-wise, check out our top ten tips for Mother's Day makes on page 38 and over on page 81, we chat to mother and daughter craft-selling teams who have set up very successful shops. And finally, this month we’re giving you a FREE 28-page Mummy Makes book – packed with spring and Easter ideas to keep little ones crafting all season!

Enjoy! And happy Mother's Day to all you lovely mums!

ZEENA MOOLLA – EDITOR

74

This gorgeous cable knit bag is a perfect gift for lovely mums

84

Owl doorstops are great sellers – try our floral print cutie

94

Shoppers will love these felt corsages for soft furnishings

PAGE FLAG 50

this Look at gorgeous month’s rs! e free pap

Contents

OVER0

£100

OF PRIIZNE!S TO W PAGE 68

March 2014 62

22

74

43

30

Projects 16

27

28

30

34

Raise the baa!

Welcome spring shoppers with these sweet, needle-felted lambs 30-minute make These vintage-style seed packets are a perfect Mother’s Day make Flower power Create this pretty necklace usign dried flowers – it’s ideal for mums This little piggy…

A cute cupholder will keep your shoppers’ coffee warm Foxy phone This cross stitch phone cover will be a hit with animal lovers

4 Craftseller

44

46

47

50

62

Rose & vanilla macarons Treat mums and shoppers to these beautifully-scented bites Chocolate & lavender tartlets Completely irresistible, these divine treats are great sellers Lemon drizzle cake Add cute crystalised flowers to this classic bake for a spring twist For Mum Chic floral papers and two easy card projects for Mother’s Day Mummy makes Pretty, personalised nursery bunting that’s ideal for your stall this spring

72

74

84

92

94

From junk to funk Turn old plant pots into profitmaking, rustic-looking candles The cable girl…

Make this cute, cable-knit bag your next big seller!

Owl get the door!

This charming fabric owl will hold the door open for everyone!

Make a crafty tenner Watch your profits soar with this bright and colourful daffodil brooch More ways than one Liven up a plain cushion or throw with these felt flower corsages

BE AN INSIDER We want to know what you think. After all, the more we know about you the better placed we are to bring you the best magazine possible. So we would like to invite you to join our online reader panel ‘Insiders’.

Interested? Log on to www.immediateinsiders.com/ register to fill out the short registration survey and we’ll be in touch from time-to-time to ask for your opinions on the magazine and other relevant issues.

We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Reader offer Special gift

Subscribe today and receive a mini sewing machine!

40

16

Features 8

10

12

15

22

Making news Get the lowdown on the latest crafty news and views Dear Craftseller Your chance to share all your crafting and selling success stories Pin it!

Make sunny florals and big blooms your go-to patterns for spring Stash it!

Bold, dazzling blue details are a key look this season Real life: Illustrator Mary Kilvert Find out how sheep have been key to Mary’s craft selling success!

38

48

68

70

81

10 best-selling makes for Mother’s Day See what sells well for other crafters Charity bakes Bring out your inner baker and raise cash for three great causes Fab freebies Enter now and you could get your hands on some brilliant prizes Diary of a craft-selling mum A trip to Ikea, a new Easter bunny design and lots of birthdays…

Mother’s pride Can starting up a craft business with your mum really work?

89

98

100

106

Ask us!

Let our experts solve your craftselling queries with the best advice My craft shop Find out how these three successful sellers make cash from their craft Crafty courses Choose from a range of inspiring courses to expand your craft skills Online loves Check out our favourite makes selling well on the web this month

e Turn to page 102 for thos all-important templates Craftseller 5

DESIGNERS

Contributors Meet three Craftseller designers who have created projects just for you…

Katie Skilton Send seed packets for a Mother’s Day gift that keeps giving all spring, on page 27 Based in Brixham, Devon, Katie has always had a passion for paper crafting and now has a very successful design business. Her reputation is such that she’s even guested as an expert on Create and Craft TV! To find out more about her and browse Katie’s designs, head to katieskilton.com.

Claire Watkins

A SPECIAL MENTION TO Editor Zeena Moolla Editorial Assistant Beth Collins Art Editor Kit Cheung Publisher Alison Worthington Publishing Director Cath Potter Managing Director Andy Marshall Advertisement Director Caroline Herbert Senior Advertising Manager Jane Hendy Advertising Designer Catherine Howlett Production Director Sarah Powell Production Managers Rose Griffiths and Louisa Molter Marketing Director Jacky Perales-Morris Direct Marketing Manager Penny Clapp Marketing Executive Lucy Osmond Reprographics Tony Hunt, Chris Sutch Photography Louise Broom, Ally Stuart, Steve Sayers Distribution Frontline Printed in the UK by William Gibbons A special thank you to contributors and designers Katie Skilton, Jess Byrne, Susanne Frank, Vicky Craxton, Liz Ward, Jess Sharp, Sarah Heys, Wendy Massey, Jane Tooze, Claire Watkins, Dorothy Wood, Karen Dunn, Sarah Chadwick, Steve Wright, Marie Parry, Verity Gough, Holly Johnson, Jo Benner, Helen Burge, Katriel Costello Subscriptions and customer enquiries To place a subscription or order any of our wonderful sewing, knitting or craft magazines, please call the subscriptions hotline on 0844 844 0388. It’s open weekdays 8am-8pm and Saturday 9am-1pm.

Join us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter Become a fan of Craftseller on Facebook or follow @craftsellermag on Twitter and you can take part in competitions, share news, tips and more.

Give old plant pots a new lease of life with our Junk to Funk project, on p72

Copyright guidelines for projects We have requested specific permission from authors, book publishers and designers so that you can recreate and sell the projects from this issue. Please credit the designer where appropriate and when it has been requested. Craftseller is for crafting enthusiasts who want to make beautiful, handmade items to sell. You can individually make as many as you wish to sell either for yourself, your local event, summer fete or to raise money for charity. You cannot go into mass production, which means you cannot manufacture in large quantities, especially by machine. Please respect one another’s copyright.

Having been taught to knit by her grandmother at the tender age of seven, Claire is a keen crafter and loves sewing and papercraft. Her main passion is for all things vintage, and she enjoys spending her spare time searching out junk shop gems to use in her next upcycling project.

Immediate Media Company Limited is working to ensure that all of its paper is sourced from well-managed forests.

Dorothy Wood This magazine can be recycled, for use in newspapers and packaging.

Please remove any gifts, samples or wrapping and dispose of it at your local collection point.

Make mums feel special with a sweet and simple flower pendant on p28 We’re not sure there’s anything that Dorothy can’t do when it comes to crafting, and her projects have been published in countless books and magazines. As the UK’s first Ambassador for Swarovski Elements, she enjoys incorporating these crystals into jewellery, beading and knitting.

6 Craftseller

Craftseller is published by:

Immediate Media Company Limited, 9th Floor, Tower House, Fairfax Street, Bristol BS1 3BN. Tel: 0117 927 9009 Fax: 0117 934 9008 Immediate Media Company Limited is dedicated to producing the very best consumer specialist interest magazines, edited and designed to inform our readers, enhance their lives and give them the best value for money possible. Please visit www.immediatemedia.co.uk for details of our other publications. We take great care to ensure all elements of Craftseller are accurate. However, we accept no liability for any misprints or mistakes that appear in this magazine. All prices quoted are correct at the time of going to print. ©Immediate Media Company Limited.

www.silversewing.co.uk For your nearest stockist and expert advice, please contact Silver Viscount on 01933 311888 or enquiries@silverviscount.co.uk

CRAFTY UPDATE

Making news Welcome to your one-stop shop for all the latest craft trends, dates and celebs…

NOW

SUPER SITES

WIN IT! ON PAGE 68

ideas.stitchcraft create.co.uk Tips, interviews, patterns and DIYs to get you inspired for spring.

3

tips from Britain’s Best Bakery judge

Mich Turner

1

My clients have all come to me by word of mouth. My reputation is such that people expect great products from Little Venice Cake Company. I think it is important to have confidence in your product, make it the best – there will always be a market for quality.

2

Get to know the right PR that can make a difference.

Think where your products are aimed and for whom and associate with those synergistic brands. Put yourself in the customers’ shoes – what would make you buy the product?

3

Spend more on getting other people to say how great your product is rather than spending on advertising to blow your own trumpet.

If you fancy getting more top tips from (in the words of Gordan Ramsay) ‘the Bentley of cake makers’, visit lvcc.co.uk and sign up for one of Mich’s masterclasses.

8 Craftseller

beadalon.com This recently relaunched site is a one-stop-shop for jewellery makers of all skill levels. hearthandmade.co.uk Our favourite place to visit while we’re chilling out on a Sunday morning. This blog oozes prettiness.

irstie Check out K ew Allsopp’s n t a craft range k .u o hobbycraft.c

LITERARY LOVE

ole new level Take your business to a wh book by with this inspirational new ess.com chpr Torie Jayne, £12.99, sear

NEED HI RES IMAGE

The future’s bright…

…and it’s most definitely digital! Not only are downloadable patterns cheaper, they’re much more convenient, meaning you don’t have to keep tracing them. You can also choose from a much wider selection! Log on to backstitch.co.uk and take a look at the gorgeous new ranges from Oliver + S, Victory, Megan Nielsen (pictured above) and Made by Rae.

PHOTO: Backstitch

Image: Shine Productions

Our pick of the best from the world of online this month…

CRAFTY UPDATE

CRAFTY EVENTS Our pick of the best crafty events around this month...

Unit Twelve workshops Tixall Heath Farm Stafford Various dates and courses available

Britain’s got talent

S

Make And Mend Craft Market Grainger Market, Newcastle upon Tyne 1 March

he started out as a BGT finalist playing the violin for group Escala, and now Izzy Judd is married to McFly’s Harry and has just launched an online boutique - Izzy’s Attic. Selling gorgeous gifts and one off finds sourced from crafters and designers across the UK, it’s a pretty little haven of handmade goodies. Take a peek - izzysattic.co.uk

LEADING LADY Since starting up her luxury accessories business in 2008, Bristol-based Hermione Harbutt has designed for celebrities and even for the guests of Kate and Will’s royal wedding.

But, not satisfied with such impressive accolades, last month Hermione was crowned winner of the best wedding accessories category at The Wedding Industry Awards for the second year in a row! Check out her intricate wirework and elaborate beaded creations at hermioneharbutt.com.

Spring baking courses Cake Boy - The Cookery School, London 6th March Creative Stitches & Hobbycrafts: SECC, Glasgow 6-9 March

Talent SPOT

Cake International – The Sugarcraft, Cake Decorating & Baking EventCity, Manchester 7-9 March

e Hermion a red ted has crea ection as oll carpet c ridalwear well as b

Simply events Spring Craft Fair Lavenham, Suffolk 16 March

TOP TREND ✓ TOP TREND ✓ TOP TREND ✓ TOP TREND ✓ TOP TREND ✓ TOP TREND

Sewing for Pleasure, Fashion Embroidery & Stitch and Hobbycrafts NEC, Birmingham 20-23 March

THERE’S NO BETTER feeling than giving an old, unwanted object a new lease of life. Turn scraps of salvaged wood or vintage furniture into saleable items by sanding them down and using on-trend paint colours like duck egg and teal, or pot up old crates and personalise them with printed wording.

Images: Crate: plantabox.co.uk, wooden boxes and chest of drawers: theoldcinema.co.uk

RECLAIMED WOOD

Hobbycrafts NEC, Birmingham 20-23 March 2014 Sewing for Pleasure NEC, Birmingham 20-23 March 2014

Craftseller 9

LETTERS

Dear Craftseller We love K choice of im’s fu trimmin nky g

Send us your latest crafting and selling stories each issue – the star letter wins a Abakhan prize!

Success story I WANTED TO TELL YOU my good news. In the last few months a new big seller emerged from my range – my simple macramé bracelet. I’m planning to make a lot more of them in different colours for the new season. I’m also planning to expand my knowledge of jewellery making and learn a few new techniques including micromacramé. That’s the great thing about crafting, there’s always something new to learn.

CRAFTY BLOG todayscreative blog.net

ANGELA FINCH, SERENDIPITY FINCH Ed: Well done on finding a product that shoppers love. Your colour combinations look gorgeous.

Angela’s simple design is perfect for any season

Owls make for cute designs and are a surefire hit with shoppers

LISA JAMESON, TUNBRIDGE WELLS

Sew simple I WANTED TO THANK you for all the advice and personal stories you print that have inspired me to start my own sewing business – A Life Sew Simple, making bags, personalised bunting and gifts.

It’s early days, but the first three months were a pleasure and even better than that – they were a success. I have even sold some of my makes from a stall at local craft fairs. The stories you print prove that it really is possible to turn a hobby into a job you can love. Thank you so much and here’s to the new season being even bigger and better than the last!

KIM WHITE, A LIFE SEW SIMPLE Ed: Congratulations Kim, we’re really pleased to hear that you are already creating a successful craft business. Good luck for the future, with the summer wedding season coming up we’re sure you’ll do well.

10 Craftseller

I have found a great website. It’s a collection of all the best craft, baking, decorating and family-fun blogs around.

Kim picks a new blog to feature everyday so it’s my one-stop shop for craft and home inspiration. Beware, this is really addictive!

Confidence boost I HAVE REALLY GOT into sewing over the last year and enjoy making cushions, bags and gifts. I have a stressful job and I find sewing helps me relax. My family say I should try selling, which I would love to do but I haven’t found the confidence! My husband encouraged me to send you this appliqué cushion cover I made, inspired by your seaside vanity case in issue 25. I love the magazine, it always provides so much of inspiration!

TERRIANNE GEORGE, BY EMAIL Ed: You should feel very confident about your skills, Terrianne, we’d certainly buy this!

LETTERS

Star

LETTER

CRAFTY TALK

This friendly fellow looks smart in his new outfit

Here are some of our favourite posts and tweets this month…

Lovely article on @ the_makery. Inspiring business who don’t need the #dragons!

DRESSED TO IMPRESS

@DRAWNTHREADS

I FELT THAT HANDMADE items were never as good as shop bought items, but after looking at a few editions of Craftseller I found the confidence to make a gift for my boyfriend – a costume for a teddy bear. I have started getting requests to make more and I really enjoy creating new designs – I’ve even started selling them! I love your tips on how to create a whole product, I’d never have thought about the packaging being as important as the product or had any idea how to price them.

CHARNA, PORTSMOUTH Ed: What a cutie! We can see why you had to make more, this costume looks so well made.

Star letter prize!

This month our star letter writer wins £50 worth of vouchers to spend on abakhan.co.uk

Katy added some personal touches to our pendants

Thank you HERE ARE MY NECKLACES from issue 30, I hope you like them! I wanted to give them as gifts so I added a charm and the writing behind has a significant meaning to the recipient. Three years ago I started a Classics course at university, but it wasn’t creative enough for me. When I finished, I didn’t know what I wanted to do, but I knew I wanted to make things. That’s when I found Craftseller! So I want to say a huge thank you to the whole team for helping me find the drive to create my teeny tiny business. Thank you again.

@CraftsellerMag inspired by issue 32’s wrist warmers I made a faux fur lined tweed bag

@SARAEPOOL

@CraftsellerMag has so many fab tips for start up businesses

@DEBBIEDAUGHTER

KATY EDWARDS, TED DESIGNS ON ETSY AND FOLKSY Ed: These necklaces look fab. Now why not try your hand at our pressed flower pendant on page 34?

Good luck with growing your business.

Woohoo! Going to curl up and read @craftsellermag this afternoon

@GIFTFRIPPERY

Wedding season I SET UP MY business three years ago. Last summer, I started making mice from Cornish tartan. I sold lots as gifts for people getting married in Cornwall, so I thought ‘why don’t I make my own Cornish bride and groom’? I’m hoping that they’ll be a big hit for wedding season!

CAROLYN LOBB, PIXIE CRAFTS, PENZANCE Ed: We love this pair! Tweed and tartan are still very popular materials so we’re sure you’ll do well.

Search for Craftseller on facebook.com

My new copy just arrived! Great start to my crafty Saturday!

@STEPHANINA This cute Cornish couple would make a wedding gift

@craftsellermag

yourletters@ craft-seller.com

Dear Craftseller, 9th Floor, Tower House, Fairfax Street, Bristol BS1 3BN

Craftseller 11

PIN IT

2

3 4

1

Florals

Nothing makes us think of spring more than owers, and we love these contemporary-feeling orals...

7

9

8

6

PIN IT

5 1 Somerset by Alice Temperley floral long chemise, £85, johnlewis.com 2 Vintage floral necklace, £20, littlewoods.com 3 Floral cushion, £15.82, littlewoodsireland.ie 4 Fleur jug, £25.50, oscarandeve. co.uk 5 English rose print fabric, £3.35 per half metre, sewlala.co.uk 6 Paper Roses Blue Fabric, £3.15 per half metre, sewlala.co.uk 7 Graham & Brown ‘Spirit’ wallpaper £22, woolworths.co.uk 8 Amelia chair, £1528, darlingsofchelsea.co.uk 9 Field rose royal blue foldaway holiday bag, £40, cathkidston.com 10 Floral fabric windmills, £3.95 each, dotcomgiftshop.com 11 Liberty print buttons, £5, kateevadesigns on folksy.com 12 Bathampton bedspread set, £59.95, houseofbath.co.uk 13 Baroque wedding cake, neviepiecakes.com 14 Moorish bowl in blue jasmine, £7.95, dotcomgiftshop.com 15 Floral distressed cabinet, £199, homesense.com 16 M&S Collection bag, £29.50, marksandspencer.com

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Craftseller 13

Inspirational features, displays, workshops and demonstrations for all creative crafters SPRING 2014 SHOWS SPRING 2014 SHOWS SPRING 2014 SHOWS SPRING 2014 SHOWS SPRING 2014 SHOWS SPRING 2014 SHOWS

CREATIVE STITCHES & HOBBYCRAFTS SECC, GLASGOW 6 - 9 MARCH

-----------------------------------------------------

CAKE INTERNATIONAL THE SUGARCRAFT, CAKE DECORATING & BAKING SHOW EVENTCITY, MANCHESTER 7 - 9 MARCH EXCEL, LONDON 10 - 12 APRIL

SEWING FOR PLEASURE FASHION EMBROIDERY & STITCH HOBBYCRAFTS NEC, BIRMINGHAM 20 - 23 MARCH

---------------------------------------------------

CREATIVE STITCHES FASHION & EMBROIDERY HOBBYCRAFTS

Buy tickets on-line www.ichfevents.co.uk or phone Ticket Hotline

01425 277988

EXCEL, LONDON 3 - 5 APRIL

SAVE UP TO £2 OFF

EACH ADULT & SENIOR TICKET IF ORDERED AT LEAST ONE WEEK BEFORE THE SHOW.

G<CDD=B;

Stash it!

Inspiring ideas for your crafty makes

13mm reversible plain and spotted button %$d YUW\ VYUXdch"Wc"i_ ;ihYfaUbb Sew All thread g\UXY -)- %"*$ VUW_gh]hW\"Wc"i_ GYh of five embellishments, £3.50, The Yellow House on folksy.com

Glitter tapes ]b UeiU hYU` dckXYf V`iY '")$ YUW\ dUdYfaUg\"Wc"i_ >c\b @Yk]g Mosaic Print Fabric in blue, £24p/m johnlewis.com >c\b @Yk]g Mini Sewing Machine in turquoise, £49, johnlewis.com

8mm vintage teal blue faceted round beads %",) Zcf '$ J]bhU[Y6YUX7UW\Y cb Yhgm"Wca 6`iY Gh]W_m Glitter Hearts, £1.49 for 12, YUgmÄcf]ghgidd`]Yg"Wc"i_ 6`iY 6f]W_g ;YcaYhf]W DUhhYfb Stained Glass Fabric, £6.19, lucyintheskyquilts on etsy.com

Craftseller 15

FELT IT

Raise the baa!

Jump into action and make these adorable needle-felted lambs for a perfect addition to your spring and Easter ranges. By Vicky Craxton

MAKEI TA! PROF

£2.50 MAKE FOR

FOR £15

16 Craftseller

FELT IT

COVER

stars

Craftseller 17

FELT IT

How to make the lambs INFORMATION Materials: For three lambs: * 40g white wool roving * 30g cream beige wool roving * 3g brown wool roving * 1g powder pink wool roving * 6 x 0.5cm (¼in) black plastic round beads * Black sewing thread * Black embroidery thread * Foam pad * Sizes 38 and 40 felting needles Size: Height 10.5cm (4¼in), width 6.5cm (2½in), depth 9.5cm (3¾in) Skill level: Moderate

S

hoppers will flock to your stall when you have these little cuties on display.

They’d make a wonderful decoration to celebrate Easter, or to give as a calorie-free Easter gift. Made from natural wool roving that’s available at many wool shops and websites, they are super soft. Make sure you tell buyers they are needle-felted by hand, so each one will be unique. Display among daffodils and Easter eggs on your craft stall or in your shop, and if you are taking photos for online selling, use a nice fresh grassy background to make them stand out.

1 Cut a 25cm (10in) length of white wool roving and tightly roll it up into an ovalshaped ball. Using the 40 gauge needle, stab the ball until it is solid. This makes the body.

2 Cut a 15cm (6in) length of cream beige wool roving and tightly roll it up into an oval-shaped ball. Using the 40 gauge needle, stab the ball until it is a small solid shape. This makes the lamb’s head.

3 Wrap another layer of white wool round the body and, using the 38 gauge needle, stab it lightly until it stays attached. Keep it quite fluffy though – like a real fleece.

5 Cut an 8cm (3¼in) length of cream beige wool roving that is about 4cm (1½in) wide.

Roll it up into a cylinder shape and stab it with the 38 gauge needle until it is solid but leave the top fluffy. Do the same for all three legs. Attach each leg to the body in a square, by stabbing the fluffy end in place.

6 Wrap a thin layer of brown wool roving round the bottom of each leg as a hoof and stab it in place with the 38 gauge needle.

SAFETY FIRST These sheep are not designed as toys but they will appeal to children so make them with care. Make sure the bead eyes are sewn on firmly and the sections are all attached. Remember, if you intend to sell it, there are strict regulations to adhere to. Visit craft-seller.com/freedownloads for advice on child safety.

18 Craftseller

4 Wrap a thin layer of cream beige wool roving round the head shape and, using the 38 gauge needle, stab it lightly in place so it is smooth at the front and has a fluffy end at the back. To attach the head to the body, keep stabbing the fluffy end in place until it stays fixed securely.

7 Cut a 10cm (4in) length of white wool roving that is about 2cm (¾in) wide. Fold it in half and stab it with the 40 gauge needle to make it solid but leave one end fluffy. Fold the sides together on the fluffy end to form an ear shape and stab the fluffy end in place on the head. Repeat for the second ear.

FELT IT

9 Take a very small piece of the powder pink wool roving and roll it up to form a very small flat circle. With the 38 gauge needle, stab it in place on the head to make a nose.

8 While the ear is attached, stab with 38 gauge needle to solidify. Take a small piece of pink wool roving and stab it in place inside the ear. Do the same for each ear.

10 Use one strand of the embroidery thread, double it up and sew a simple nose and mouth shape onto the face, checking it against the photos as a guide. Using the sewing thread, sew the beads onto the head as eyes. Make sure you do this securely.

11 Cover the body with a thin layer of white wool roving and, with the 38 gauge needle, lightly stab it in place to neaten it up a bit.

12 Fold small strips of white wool roving in half and use the folded part as the fringe on the lamb’s head. Lightly stab it in place so you also cover the back of the head with the white wool.

13 Fold 2cm (¾in) of white wool roving in half and, using the 40 gauge needle, stab into a small tail shape with a fluffy end.

With the 38 gauge needle, stab the fluffy end onto the lamb’s bottom.

SELL MORE Cute little ke ll ma details wi s top your lamb sellers

Create a whole family of sheep in varying sizes or make them into keyrings for a sweet gift idea.

Craftseller 19

FELT IT

You’ve made it, now sell it…

Follow our hints and tips to maximise profits from your felted lambs

1

Sell the softness! One stroke of these adorable chaps is enough to win over buyers. Let them handle the lambs and see for themselves just how soft they are!

2 3 4

Make a rogue black sheep out of grey felt to add to your trio and make sure you give them suitable names (we like Flora, Fauna and Ffion).

Create must-have packaging. Print plain white bags with the rhyme Baa Baa Black Sheep – kids will know the rhyme and adults will feel nostalgic.

Sell needle-felting as a fun, addictive but skilled craft by working on a project while you are selling your wares at your next fair. Buyers will love to see how the magic is created!

5

Showcase the sheep well and these lambs could be great sellers all year round. Photograph them on different backdrops to suit the season.

6 7 8 9 10

Make several mini lambs to sell as either cake toppers or as a quirky set to decorate the Easter table with.

Felt some flowers. Make tiny wildflower blooms to tuck behind the lambs’ ears for an extra cute touch.

Print boxes with spring flowers and add shredded green tissue paper to keep the lambs in tip-top condition.

Attract Easter and seasonal shoppers by tagging your lambs with words like ‘spring gifts’, ‘Easter presents’ and ‘May birthdays’.

Needlefelt a ram and ewe to and sell your sheep family as a sweet gift set.

NOW SELLING ON...

Folksy: Sheep brooch by Hollowbourne, £16.50

20 Craftseller

Folksy: Herdwick needle felted ram (tup) by F’git me Knott Designs, £30

Etsy: Tiny Felt Sheep by LaFiabaRussa, £8.50

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Affordable Sewing Wirrall CH46 9QA Bamber Sewing Machines Ltd Eccles M30 7HY Hobkirks Sewing Machines Limited Blackburn BB2 2AJ Hobkirks Sewing Machines Limited Bury BL9 0LQ Lord’s Sew Knit Centre Accrington BB5 3DE R&T Machines (Domestic Sales) Blackburn BB1 2AL Superior Sewing Centre Cumbria CA3 8PW Temptations Lancaster LA2 7HQ The Quilted Sheep Ltd Cumbria LA7 8AE

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Computerised sewing machine featuring 294 built-in stitches including 3 lettering styles and 10 one step button hole styles. Ideal companion for the avid sewer and quilter.

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Innov-is 35

£399

Computerised sewing machine packed with user friendly features such as easy jog dial stitch selection and one touch needle threading. Includes 70 built-in stitches with 7 automatic button hole styles.

All offers valid from 1st February- 31st March 2014. Subject to availability.

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REAL LIFE

‘I craft and sell from my shop’ A

t the top of a steep, cobbled street nestled amongst an impressive array of artisan shops, sewing stores and galleries is a little sheep called Baatholomew peeking out of a window at us. The owner and creator of Baatholomew is Mary Kilvert – an illustrator and designer maker who quit London last year to set up her own little shop. Based in the small Somerset market town of Frome, Mary sells her handmade prints, ceramics, homewares and woollen designs. Above this inviting and colourful little haven is Mary’s studio, where she designs and creates and where we sit down for a cup of tea to discover how just one small needle-felted sheep took her from selling on market stalls to owning her own idyllic little shop…

“I’ve always made things, even when I was little. My mum and dad, who were both artists, used to run a café and as a child I would make earrings to sell in the shop and I suppose that idea of making and selling never left me. I trained as an illustrator at university and worked freelance for a couple of years.

Alongside working on commissions for big companies, I would create my own designs to show off my style. I started selling my prints through my website and Etsy, then in 2007 I took the plunge and did my first craft fair.

“Being an illustrator and working at a desk all day can be quite isolating, so I

22 Craftseller

absolutely loved the buzz of a craft fair and meeting customers face to face. I did craft fairs all over London and it was great to not only meet other sellers and work out the best display for my stall, but the feedback from customers was so good it inspired me to expand my product range. Soon I was selling my designs printed on cushions, mugs, mirrors, badges and a whole host of other items. I had designed a sheep called Baatholomew and decided that I wanted to

“The iconic Fortnum and Mason even chose one of my sheep, Twinkle, as best in show” make him out of something. I saw people doing needle felting at a craft fair and decided to teach myself and also make him a little jumper. I showed him off at my first big craft fair – Country Living – in 2011 and he was really popular so I started making more. Around the same time I applied to join Cockpit Arts who have studios in London and help guide designer-makers to build their businesses.

The iconic department store Fortnum and Mason even chose one of my sheep, Twinkle, as best in show at one of their open studios!

“This gave me a real boost and I was starting to pick up stockists across the country and began selling on Not On The High Street. With the company really taking off, my husband Simon and I started thinking about moving and getting a shop. I grew up in the countryside in Herefordshire and loved the idea of getting back to a more rural location, but we weren’t sure where we wanted to move to until we came across Frome by chance in the autumn of 2012. It was a stroke of luck.

We walked up the road and saw the shop for sale and it was love at first sight. We chatted to one of the other shop owners who told us all about the area and we were sold. Situated between where our parents live and London makes it the perfect location, plus it’s a small town but it’s creative and vibrant while still being quite rural. Once we decided we wanted to buy it, it all seemed to happen quite quickly. It took us a month to get the shop ready for business and we opened the doors for the first time in May 2013 to tie in with Frome’s monthly artisan market. It was very scary, but incredibly exciting. We had our proper launch in June last year and it was so much fun. We had an accordion player, sheep cakes, games for children and a live sheep – although that almost didn’t happen when we suddenly realised we needed a livestock permit before he could join the party!

“Doing the craft markets and big trade shows meant that setting up a shop wasn’t

Photos: Tim Mossford/UNP

Illustrator Mary Kilvert went from craft stalls to her own boutique thanks to a very special handmade sheep… By Karen Dunn

Clockwise from left: Maryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sheep come in all shapes, sizes, colours and styles to suit every taste; wrap your gifts in funky sheep paper to bring an extra smile; owning her own shop is Maryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dream come true; as shoppers walk through the door they are greeted with a whole range of fun and colourful designs

REAL LIFE

Mary’s top three tips for selling in a shop or on a stall Change your displays To keep it interesting and fresh, change your window display and move your stock around as often as you can. If it always looks the same, shoppers may not come back because they might think you don’t have anything new and people who pass by won’t be tempted to come inside and browse your range.

Put on an event to promote your business

Clockwise from top left: The shop is full of eye-catching displays; Mary still uses her illustrations skills; sheep have been vital to Mary’s success

To get people – and the local press – interested in your business, it’s great to put on an event every now and again to create a buzz. At Christmas we had a special late night opening.

We invited a harpist to come and play while the shoppers browsed (and bought). The whole evening certainly got people talking.

Get to know your neighbours If you a run a shop, it’s good to get to know the other local business owners because you can help each other out. I often collaborate with the florists next door, Bramble and Wild, and have their gorgeous flowers in the shop. It’s great to have a community feel to an area and the same goes even if it’s a stall at a market. Often other stallholders can give you invaluable advice, so don’t be afraid to start a conversation.

as daunting as it could have been as I was used to setting up big displays. It was great to have a permanent space for my designs and to be able to stock products made by other small companies too, like Johnstons of Elgin and some of the designer-makers I met while I was at Cockpit Arts studios. It was like being a stylist, picking products that would complement my own. I have my own studio upstairs where I make my products and I’m thinking about expanding to hold workshops above the shop as well.

“I’ve now got over 40 stockists in the UK and Europe and it’s been a big learning curve working out how to juggle running the shop with doing big craft fairs and fulfilling these orders. Luckily, Simon is so supportive and helps out a lot which has enabled me to focus my time a lot

24 Craftseller

more. When it’s quieter in the shop at the beginning of the week, I do my designing and then work in the shop at weekends.

I can often be seen doing a bit of needle

“We’ve had people travel across the country just to visit the shop” felting behind the counter. I still make all the sheep myself, but as the business has grown I’ve started getting smaller companies and local seamstresses to take on some of the other making jobs for me.

This has enabled me to expand my range and take on new business challenges like exporting products overseas.

“It’s been amazing to watch my shop grow over the past ten months and its success has exceeded all of our expectations. The build-up to Christmas was crazily busy – especially when I had some bespoke orders to make for a few wealthy clients. We’ve had people travel from across the country just to come and visit the shop too, which is amazing and such a compliment. I always loved doing craft fairs, but getting a shop of my own has been the icing on the cake.”

To find out more about Mary, visit her website marykilvert. com or follow her on Twitter @marykilvert to be the first to hear about her new ranges.

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MAKE IT

30-minute make

MAKEI TA! PROF

1.50 MAKE FOR £

Create beautiful vintage-style seed packets – perfect little gifts for greenfingered mums this Mother’s Day. By Katie Skilton

FOR £6 INFORMATION

Materials: * Images from thegraphicsfairy.com * Brown card * Cream card * Coloured card * Book pages or text paper * Lace * Ribbon * Brown string * Buttons * Brown distress ink * Double-sided tape Size: 13 x 10cm (5 x 4in) Skill level: Easy

TOP TIP Pop a packet of seeds into your make. You’re adding extra value so sell three for £10

Using the template on p102, cut the seed packet from brown cardstock and make up, folding along dotted lines and sticking the side panels down with double-sided tape. Fold the top flap inside to close the packet.

1

Copy and paste your chosen images from the image site and add the required sentiment.

Print onto cream cardstock.

Trim the image and ink around the edges. Stick onto coloured card and ink the edges.

2

Embellish the seed packet or the image with lace, ribbon, twine or a button and stick on the image panel.

3

Craftseller 27

MAKE IT

MAKEI TA! PROF

R £1.30 MAKE FO

FOR £5

28 Craftseller

MAKE IT

Flower power Stock up on these fabulous pendants ready for spring. They’ll make a great Mother’s Day gift to add to your range, too. By Dorothy Wood INFORMATION Materials: From jasminstudiocrafts.com * 20mm round silver-plated pendant blanks * 20mm round glass high-domed cabochon * E6000 glue * 60cm (24in) silver plated necklace: 2 x 2 x 1mm round link chain * Silver-plated triangle snap bail * Dyed dill pressed flowers available from avonsideflowers.com * Tweezers * Cocktail stick Size: 2cm (¾in) round Skill level: Easy

P

ressed flower pendants are quick and easy to make and all the components are inexpensive to buy. You can buy pressed flowers at any time of the year from sellers such as Avonside Flowers, or why not press flowers from your own garden through the seasons and keep stock for all-year-round replenishing. If you choose the press-your-own route, it’ll be cheaper and more versatile, but remember that thinner, even-thickness flowers press more successfully. We’ve chosen to use these round glass domes, which hold the petals flat and also magnify the flowers creating a really attractive finish. It isn’t easy to cover the flowers with epoxy resin glaze or even selfadhesive epoxy resin shapes because of the lightness of the flowers once dry – but feel free to have a go if you fancy a challenge.

How to make the pressed-flower pendant Draw around the pendant onto white paper and cut out inside the lines so that the cut-out fits inside the pendant. Stick the paper into the pendant with strong glue.

1

2

Using tweezers, select a flower and drop gently onto the face. If necessary, fill in any gaps with some spare tiny flowers, adding tiny bits of glue with the cocktail stick. You don’t need to glue the whole flower onto the paper backing so long as the dome is stuck firmly on top during the next stage.

Apply a small amount of strong jewellery glue around the edge of the glass dome and drop it into the bezel setting.

Wipe any excess glue coming over the edge of the pendant and leave to dry for 24 hours.

3

Attach a pendant bail to the pendant and feed the chain through. Check the length and trim the chain if necessary. You may need to remove the jump ring first and then attach again.

4

TOP TIP This item would make a lovely keepsake, so list your necklace online as a birth flower gift

Use a cocktail stick to apply a tiny drop of glue in the middle of the pendant.

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! Tweet us your tips and advice, and follow our own tweets @craftsellermag

Craftseller 29

CROCHET IT

This little piggy...

Shoppers will love this quirky cup cosy to cheer up a take-away coffee or add fun to kids’ milk time! By Liz Ward

MAKEI TA! PROF

MFAORK£5E FOR £8

30 Craftseller

CROCHET IT

Craftseller 31

CROCHET IT

INFORMATION Materials * One 50g ball each of Sirdar Simply Recycled DK in Seashell (shade 017), Chalk White (shade 010) * 3.5mm (UK 9-10, US 4) crochet hook * Wool needle * 2 black and 1 yellow button * Black embroidery thread Size: 15 x 10cm (6 x 4in) Skill level: Easy

E

veryone loves a cuppa and this piggy will help keep any brew hot and stop your hand from scorching. Simple, quick and cheap to make, cup cosies are great gifts for kids and adults so they’re sure to be popular. This cosy can be made to fit any size cup – just use a larger hook for a bigger cosy.

Go wild and make a zoo-full then team up with your local coffee shop to sell them, or approach different outlets and offer to create customised versions. Change the colour of the yarn and the ear shape to create any animal you want – it’s a great way to use up bits of left over yarn and maximise your profit.

TOP TIP The ears are not worked in the round.

Remember to chain up and turn at the end of every row

ABBREVIATIONS Sl st: slip stitch dc: double crochet st(s): stitch(es) dc2tog: double crochet the next two stitches together blo: work in the back loop of the stitch only

32 Craftseller

How to make the piggy cup cosy Body Make using 3.5mm (UK 9-10, US 4) crochet hook and pink yarn. Ch45.

Sl ss into last ch from hook to form join and form a loop (be careful not to twist the loop).

Round 1: (dc in each ch st) repeat to end.

44sts.

Round 2: (dc in each st) repeat to end.

44sts.

Round 3: 2dc in first st, (dc in each st) repeat to end. 45sts.

Round 4-7: Repeat round 2 and 3 twice.

47sts at end of round 7.

Round 8 & 9: (dc in each st) repeat to end.

47sts.

Round 10: 2dc in first st, (dc in each st) repeat to end. 48sts.

Round 11-25: Repeat round 8-10 five times.

53sts at end of round 25.

Sl st in next st to finish.

Cut the yarn leaving a long tail and pull through loop to secure. Sew in place on the cup cosy. Weave in yarn ends and cut off remaining yarn.

Snout Use the pink yarn. Ch 5.

Round 1: 2dc in 2nd ch from hook, dc in next 2, 3dc in last ch. Turn and work along the back of the foundation ch, dc in next 3 ch. 10sts.

Round 2: (dc in the first st, 2dc in the next st) repeat to end. 15sts.

Round 3: (dc in the first two sts, 2dc in the next st) repeat to end. 20sts.

Round 4: (blo dc in each st) repeat to end.

20sts.

Cut the yarn, leaving a long tail, and pull through loop to secure. Sew in place on cosy.

Weave in yarn ends, cut off remaining yarn.

Ears Make two using 3.5mm (UK 9-10, US 4) crochet hook and pink yarn.

Note this is worked back and forth in rows rather than in the round. Ch15.

Row 1: starting in the 2nd ch from hook, dc in each ch st along ch. Ch 1, turn. 14sts.

Row 2: dc2tog, (dc in each st) repeat to end.

13sts.

Row 3-14: repeat row two 10 times, first at end of row 14.

Cut the yarn leaving a long tail and pull through loop to secure. Sew in place on cosy.

Weave in yarn ends, cut off remaining yarn.

Piggy tail Make using 3.5mm (UK 9-10, US 4) crochet hook and pink yarn. Ch16.

Row 1: starting in the second ch from hook work (2dc in each ch st) repeat along ch.

30sts.

Cut the yarn leaving a long tail and pull through loop to secure. Sew in place on cosy.

Weave in yarn ends, cut off remaining yarn.

Flower Make using 3.5mm (UK 9-10, US 4) crochet hook and white yarn.

Start with 6dc into magic ring. 6sts.

Round 1: work (dc, htc, tc, tc, tc, htc, dc) in each stitch.

Cut the yarn leaving a long tail and pull through loop to secure. Weave in yarn ends and cut off remaining yarn.

Making up Sew two black buttons onto the face with black embroidery thread.

Use the photo as a guide to sew two lines on the snout with black embroidery thread.

Finish off the flower by sewing a yellow button in the centre.

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STITCH IT

34 Craftseller

STITCH IT

MAKEI TA! PROF

£10 MAKE FOR

F O R £ 15

Foxy phone Stitch this cute fox phone cover to include the woodland trend in your range – shoppers will love it! By Sarah Heys

INFORMATION Materials * Threads as listed in the key * 14-count Zweigart Rustico aida in Wheat colour (for size see below) from sewandso.co.uk * Needle * White medium-weight, iron-on interfacing Size: For iPhone 6.5 x 13cm (2.5 x 5in). Other phones vary Skill level: Easy

F

oxes are really popular, and cross stitch is enjoying a revival, so you’ll hit two trends in one go with this hand-stitched phone case. Stitched onto rustic aida for a natural feel, market this case as a great gift for animal lovers everywhere.

We’ve made ours to iPhone dimensions but to adapt for other phones simply make sure you know the measurements and alter the size of the case – the motif can stay the same! Once you’ve stitched this foxy fella, you’ll find out how versatile he is: stitch him as a cushion border, picture, or keyring trim to fox out your range.

Turn under a small section at the top, on both pieces of aida, and sew to create the hem for the front and back. Place front and back right sides together. Sew down the sides and bottom of the case. Turn the completed case through to the right side, push out the corners and press to finish.

3

How to make the fox phone cover On the aida fabric, draw round the phone to be covered, and add an extra 2cm (¾in) to all sides. Do this twice. Stitch the fox motif on one side in the correct position, following the chart and making sure you check the colours used in the key. This will give you enough material to hold comfortably while stitching. Cut the fabric afterwards, using the lines you have drawn.

1

SELL MORE Personalise the cases by adding names at the top – plot these out on graph paper before stitching

Press the finished stitch design and iron interfacing onto the wrong side according to manufacturer’s instructions.

2

Craftseller 35

STITCH IT

FOX KEY Cross stitch in two strands h g z

DMC 720 780 822

Anchor Madeira Colour 326 309 rust 309 2212 brown 390 1908 cream

Stitch count 25 high x 33 wide 14 HPI (28-count evenweave) – 4.5 x 6cm (1¾x2¼in) This design was stitched using DMC stranded cotton on 14-count aida

FOX MOTIF CHART 10 10

10

10

zz h h zzz hh hh hhz hghhhhhgh hhh zhhhhhhhz hhhh zghhhgzh hhhhh zzhhhzzhhhhhhhhhhhh zzhzzhhhhhhhhhhhhhh hhhhh zhzhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh g hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh hhhhhhhhhhhhhhh hhhhhhhhhhhhhhh h hhhhhhhhhhhh hg hg gg hg g g gg gg g g g g gg gg gg gg

h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h h

NOW SELLING ON...

Etsy Phone Cover by LoobieandBoo, £18

SHOW US ON FACEBOOK! If you’ve enjoyed working on this project, post a photo on the Craftseller Facebook page

36 Craftseller

Etsy Phone Case by Fabrictastic99, £20.12

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! Tweet us your tips and advice, and follow our own tweets @craftsellermag

Etsy Owl phone case by GalaBorn, £23

FIND US ON PINTEREST! We’ve got loads of crafty inspiration for you to browse at Pinterest.com/craftseller

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SELL IT

10 makes for

Top

Mother’s Day Mother’s Day is another lucrative time for sellers so get your craft on today with our guide to the ten best makes for mums. By Verity Gough

T

his heartfelt occasion comes but once a year and is the perfect time to lavish attention on mums everywhere and show just how important they are. Gone are the days when a bunch of flowers and a card will suffice – stylish shoppers want beautiful, unique gifts to make their loved one light up when they open it. And if there is one demographic that appreciates handmade with love, it’s mums. But with the everexpanding range of gorgeous, personalised items on offer, what should you be making to get those all-important buyers knocking on your (virtual) door? We ask craft sellers what tops their best-selling lists when it comes to gifts for mothers…

1Bejewelled

Jewellery makers should prepare for a spike in sales around Mother’s Day, says Georgia Robinson who creates unique jewellery under the name of Ukelele on folksy.com. “My ‘Flight of the Bumblebee’ earrings are always a hit.

They’re elegant, feminine, unique and suit just about everyone.” Beastie Brooches’ designer, (beastiebrooches on folksy.com) Linda Lovatt makes even quirkier statement pieces. She suggests using pre-loved items: “A treasured earring that has lost its partner can be turned into a pretty new brooch and a well-loved but chipped old china cup can be used in a lovely mosaic,” she says.

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2Best dressed

Add a touch of glamour with a gorgeous handmade item of clothing, like the luxe Kimono-style robe that tops thecottonroom. co.uk’s best selling list for Mother’s Day. Gill Brown, who also sells girls’ dresses, cushions and aprons in her online store, explains: “The traditional style and very feminine print are popular for mums. Made with 100% cotton fabric, the kind that ‘crisps’ when ironed, mums like that kind of luxury!” she adds.

3Chic and unique

Ready to fly the nest: a ‘mother’s love’ assemblage

by Beastie Brooches

Think different to target buyers with an eye for the unusual, like Hilary Causer’s vintage and modern fabric baskets (lemonloves.co.uk). “Both pretty and useful, they’re perfect for mums who want stylish storage,” she says. “This year I’m making Liberty fabric patchwork coasters,” adds Laura Mackrill who runs Laura Past Midnight on Etsy.

“I love creating patchwork patterns such as Ohio Star - they look so beautiful.”

6Home sweet home

Luxury homewares do very well. Becca Cadbury’s exquisite cushions are her best-sellers for Mother’s Day (BeccaCadburyDesign on folksy.com). Using vintage 70s and 80s kimonos or silk Obi belts, they are luxurious and striking: “I love giving a beautiful object a new lease of life,” she says.

Give her a medal – Sami’s sweet design has captured buyers’ hearts

7 Give mum a medal!

Sometimes the most obvious gifts are the best and none more so than the Teasmade pretty stitched medal that has been flying off the shelves (teasemade on folksy.com).

“It was designed as a unisex medal for Valentine’s Day, but always proves popular around Mother’s Day as mums certainly deserve a special medal!” says creator, Sami Teasdale. “In fact, I’m always running out!”

Her top tip is to make and list things with Mother’s Day tags at least a month in advance to ensure they are ready for eager buyers.

It’s all about the card!

Shoppers love one-off designs like Sarah’s ‘Momma’ card

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Cards always sell well. “My customers love giving something that’s as carefully chosen as a gift!” says Sarah Evans (Sarahevillustration on etsy.com). “My best seller is my ‘Momma’ card: the range of names people have for their mothers is massive so I celebrate that.”

Kutuu.co.uk found a niche that has seen business boom – they now have over 150 UK stockists. “Our ‘Love You Mummy’ keyring comes out top as we get to Mother’s Day. The simple message combined the option to add initials make it a great choice every year,” says founder, Hannah Salomon.

Personalise and customise to give buyers something totally unique

9In the kitchen

Everyone loves their mum’s cooking and a perpetual good seller is the humble apron. Aprons can be chic, classy or plain good fun. Using quirky or retro fabrics is a great way of creating a gift for mums.

Plus, aprons are quick and easy make: “My apron originated when my friend needed a present for her mum who lives in France and likes wine, so I designed it with her in mind!” says illustrator, Nicola Rowlands (nicolarowlands.co.uk).

it in the 10Keep family

Tell her

5Make it personal!

Becca’s designs have a back-story which makes them more appealing to buyers

Time for tea?

Sophie’s charming yet traditional tea cosy goes down well with cakeloving mums

8Time for tea

Gifts relating to the recipient’s brood is a sure-fire way to tug at the heartstrings, and hopefully the purse strings. Nicola Rowland’s portraits are often purchased for Mother’s Day: “They have been really popular and make great gifts,” she says.

“This item has longevity – something that mums can look at every day and smile!”

Nicola’s sweet family portraits will stand the test of time

From crockery and cake stands to tablecloths and napkin holders, teatime is a gift category that canny crafters can tap into. Sophie Field creates all manner of ecoconscious, country-inspired gifts in her online shop, sophiemadethis.co.uk. “There aren’t many mums who don’t like a nice pot of tea so our Country Chicken and Country Pig tea cosies are popular choices for Mother’s Day.”

Craftseller 39

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Say it with flowers!

Prepare the senses for a culinary experience this month with our yummy scented ďŹ&#x201A;oral bakes, perfect for a springtime treat. By Jess Sharp

We love...

Adding unusual ingredients

BAKE IT

S

pring is a wonderful season for bakers.

Mother’s Day and Easter are on the horizon, plus folk are emerging from hibernation ready for a treat to enjoy in the sun. Roll out scented bakes such as fragrant chocolate tartlets – rich with an unmissable lavender aroma. Our citrus, sweet lemon cake, decked with real, edible flowers will make a stunning centrepiece for a traditional tea, or try some perfectly formed rose and vanilla macarons that any mum would love on Mother’s Day. Sell in be-ribboned boxes or offer by the piece in crisp cellophane bags.

Rose and vanilla macarons INGREDIENTS For the macaron shells: 110g (4oz) ground almonds 200g (7oz) icing sugar 25g (1oz) granulated sugar ¼ tsp salt 100g (3½oz) egg whites (approx. 3 large egg whites) Red food colouring For the rose and vanilla buttercream: 75g (2½oz) unsalted butter, at room temperature 150g (5½oz) icing sugar 1tsp vanilla extract A few drops rose water 1-2 tbsp milk Time taken: 1.5 hours Makes: 15 macarons Skill level: Moderate

Place the ground almonds in a food processor and mix for 15 seconds or until very fine. Add icing sugar and process again briefly before sifting the mixture into a large bowl. Line a baking sheet with parchment. Use a stencil or pastry cutter to draw circles, 3cm (1¼in) in diameter and 2cm (¾in) apart, on the underside of the parchment to guide you when piping.

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ALLERGY ADVICE When you are selling homemade food, like these floral fancies, make sure you label all products with clear allergy warnings. For best practice, make sure you have a full list of the ingredients used available to give to any customers who ask. For more information on food safety advice, visit the Food Standards Agency at food.gov.uk

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Measure the granulated sugar and salt into a bowl and stir to combine. Place the egg whites in a clean, grease-free bowl.

Whisk the egg whites on a low to medium speed until frothy (this should take about two mins). Still whisking, gradually add the granulated sugar and salt by the teaspoonful.

Beat until soft peaks form, then increase the speed of the mixer to high and whisk the mixture until it is very shiny and stiff

2

peaks form (this should take a further couple of minutes). Add a few drops of the food colouring and beat briefly to disperse it.

Take a third of the almond mix and fold into the egg whites using a rubber spatula. Add the rest of the dry ingredients and fold until incorporated. Maintain gentle folding motion until the mixture just falls off the spatula in a thick ribbon. As soon as it reaches this stage, the macaron mix is ready.

3

Take the lined baking sheet and use a little of the macaron mixture to stick down each corner of the baking parchment.

Spoon the batter into a piping bag fitted with a round tip, approximately 0.7cm (¼in) wide.

To pipe circles of the mixture, place piping tip directly on parchment and squeeze the bag.

Tap tray on the surface to release bubbles.

4

Set the macarons aside until they are no longer sticky to the touch (about 30 minutes). Pre-heat oven to 170°C, 150°C Fan, Gas 3. Position a shelf near the bottom of the oven and one near the top. Place an empty baking sheet on the top shelf to prevent the macarons from browning too much.

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Once the macarons have rested, place them on the lower shelf in the oven and bake for around 18 minutes – until they have risen and a frilly ‘foot’ has formed.

Remove from the oven and leave to cool.

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To make the buttercream, beat the butter until very soft. Slowly incorporate the icing sugar then add milk, vanilla and rose water. Beat until very fluffy and pale.

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Using a piping bag with a large round tip, pipe small amounts of filling between pairs of shells and sandwich. They’ll keep in an airtight container for up to a week.

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Chocolate and lavender tartlets INGREDIENTS For the pastry: * 250g (9oz) plain flour * 125g (4½oz) cold butter, diced * 50g (2oz) icing sugar * 1 egg yolk mixed with 1 tbsp cold water For the filling: * 300g (10½oz) dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids) * 300ml double cream * 75g (2½oz) caster sugar * 40g (1½oz) unsalted butter, cubed * A few drops culinary lavender essence To decorate: * 1 tbsp lavender (for culinary use) Specialist equipment: * 5 x 10cm (4in) tartlet tins Time taken: 2 hours (excl. chilling time) Makes: 10 tartlets Skill level: Easy

To make the pastry, place the flour in a bowl and rub in the butter with your fingertips until it resembles breadcrumbs.

Stir in the sugar. Gradually add as much of the egg yolk mixture as is needed to form a dough. Divide the dough into two discs, wrap in cling film and chill for at least 30 mins.

1

Place one disc of pastry on a floured surface and roll out to approx 5mm thick. Cut out rounds of pastry using a pastry cutter and use them to line the tartlet tins.

Chill for at least 30 minutes. When you are ready to bake the pastry cases, preheat the oven to 190°C, 170°C Fan, Gas 5. Place a square of greaseproof paper in each pastry

2

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case and fill with baking beans. Bake for approx 10 minutes, remove the paper and beans and bake for a further 8-10 minutes until the pastry is golden. Cool cases and remove from tins. Repeat with the second disc so you have ten baked, cooled cases.

To make the filling, place the cream and sugar in a saucepan and gradually bring to just below boiling point. Meanwhile,

3

TOP TIP Make lavender sugar by mixing 2tsp lavender petals into 1kg caster sugar then leave overnight

FOR

£ 1 . 7L5ET PER TART

chop the chocolate very finely, place in a heatproof bowl with the butter (alternatively grind the chocolate to crumbs in a food processor). Remove the cream from the heat, pour it over the chocolate and whisk until the ingredients are combined and glossy. Stir in the lavender essence. Spoon into the pastry cases, sprinkle with lavender and refrigerate for two hours or until set. The tarts will keep in the refrigerator for up to three days.

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Lemon drizzle cake INGREDIENTS For the cake: * 175g (6oz) self-raising flour * 155g (5½oz) caster sugar * 155g (5½oz) unsalted butter, at room temperature * 3 large eggs * Grated zest of two lemons * 2 tbsp milk

To make the crystallised flowers, use a small paintbrush to brush the petals with a thin covering of egg white. Sprinkle the flowers with sugar and set aside to harden (best left overnight).

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4

Once the loaf is cool, mix together the granulated sugar and lemon juice in a

FOR £5.50 jug. Prick the sponge all over with a skewer or fork, and pour the lemon and sugar syrup over. Let the syrup spread throughout the cake for a few minutes, then decorate the top with the crystallised flowers and leave the cake to set. Set aside a few petals to decorate the cake stand. This cake will keep in an airtight container for up to a week.

For the drizzle * 150g (5½oz) granulated sugar * Juice of two lemons For the flowers * Organic primula flowers (or other edible flowers) * 1 egg white, beaten * 3 tbsp caster sugar Time: 1.5 hours Makes: 1 cake Skill level: Easy

Preheat the oven to 170°C, 150°C Fan, Gas 3. Take a 900g (2lb) loaf tin and line with a loaf tin liner or grease and line the base and sides with baking parchment.

1

Place all the ingredients for the cake in the bowl of a food processor and process for up to a minute until the ingredients are combined and the mixture is pale and fluffy. Alternatively, mix the ingredients for 1-2 minutes using a freestanding mixer or handheld whisk.

Spoon the mixture into the prepared loaf tin and bake on the centre shelf of the oven for about 40-45 minutes, until the sponge is risen and a skewer comes out clean. Leave the loaf to cool in the tin.

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GOOD CAUSES

Charity bakes Bake some delicious eats and treats this month to help raise some cash for these three great charities

The Eve Appeal

Serve pretty floral bakes at a springthemed tea party

Present bakes on pretty stands for bigger donations

Get the girls together for tea this March and help fund research into female cancers March is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, so what better time to use your skills than to help fund research into women’s cancer?

The Eve Appeal’s annual Make Time for Tea campaign encourages women across the UK to hold a tea party this month and ask the guests to make a donation to attend. This is the perfect event for a craft club, so why not make your next meeting a special occasion by throwing a Make Time for Tea party.

Then think of as many ways as you can to fundraise on the day. This year’s campaign is being supported by TV presenter Cheryl Baker who says: “I’m ‘making my mind up’ to have a good old chinwag with the girls

Cheryl Baker is backing the Eve Appeal

“Hold a tea party and ask the guests to make a donation” over a lovely cup of tea and a slice of cake – particularly because this indulgence will make such a difference to reaching The Eve Appeal target of 1,000 tea parties.” Thanks to work that the charity has funded, major breakthroughs are already being achieved towards improving survival rates of women with gynaecological cancers through pioneering research into screening, early diagnosis and risk prediction.

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How you can help Find out more about The Eve Appeal and request a Make Time for Tea fundraising pack at eveappeal.org.uk or by calling 020 7605 0100.

GOOD CAUSES

Bliss Bake to help babies who need special care when you sign up for Cake A Difference The celebs are out in force to give their support and backing to this year’s Bliss Cake A Difference campaign. Last year’s campaign raised a whopping £18,ooo for special care babies in 2013, and this year the charity is hoping to beat that total.

CBeebies presenter Katy Ashworth is supporting the campaign and wants you all to help as well, she says: “This is a shout out to all you budding bakers out there to Cake A Difference for Bliss. By baking and selling cakes in 2014, you’ll be helping raise funds to provide vital care and support to special care babies and their families.”

Bliss is a UK charity that works to provide the best possible care and support for all premature and sick babies and their families. One in nine babies are born premature or sick in the UK each year, and the care that the babies receive after birth can have a profound impact on the

Children with Cancer UK

Test your icing skills to decorate your cake for Bliss

rest of their lives. The charity works with health professionals and families to ensure a high standard of care is provided, as well as funding and supporting research and innovation into neonatal care.

This year’s Cake a Difference takes place from 14-16 February, but if you can’t make that date, don’t worry – you can organise your event whenever suits you and submit the money you raise as it is donated.

To raise funds you could host a tea party, have a cake sale, a fun bake off or a cake and cocktails evening – whatever floats your

Get kids baking to help Children with Cancer UK

Sign up to Bake Club this month for a fun way to help little ones this spring If you’ve got the baking bug then we’ve found the perfect outlet for your skills. The charity Children with Cancer UK is asking crafters to join its Bake Club, a special initiative that invites people to use their culinary talents to raise money for its work.

Children with Cancer UK is a national charity dedicated to the fight against all childhood cancers, which affect around 1600 children in the UK every year. It relies entirely on voluntary donations to continue funding essential research into the causes, prevention and treatment of childhood cancer and to fund its welfare and campaigning programmes.

So how can you help support this fantastic cause? Bake Club is a fun and simple way to fundraise in your own home, workplace, craft club or local community.

Host a bake sale to raise cash for premature babies

boat! Just log on to bliss.org.uk to register your event and you’ll receive a fab range of fundraising goodies to get you started.

You can also see which other famous faces are supporting Bliss and find four mouthwatering recipes to whet your appetite and get you in the mood for baking.

How you can help For more info, visit bliss.org.uk or call 020 7378 1122.

Simply gather together friends, family members, colleagues and neighbours in a venue of your choice, and get them to buy cake! It’s a great opportunity to show off your cake-making and decorating skills and a fab excuse to get everyone together for a social. You could get the kids involved and hold a Bake Club event at school, or at their Brownies, Guides or Scout groups. Children could bake simple chocolate crispie cakes and decorate biscuits to take home. Get started today by downloading a fundraising pack from childrenwithcancer.org.uk/ bakeclub where you’ll find ideas, hints and tips for a successful event as well as free decorations for your party.

How you can help For more information on Children with Cancer UK, call 020 7404 0808 or visit childrenwithcancer.org.uk

Craftseller 49

MAKE IT

MAKEI TA! PROF

50P MAKE FOR £

FOR £3-£4

Love you, Mum! Use this month’s free papers to create sweet cards that will brighten your stand and attract Mother’s Day shoppers. By Wendy Massey

INFORMATION Materials * Card blanks measuring 21cm x 15cm * Free Craftseller papers * Buttons * Flower-shaped beads * Raffia * Small piece of handmade paper in teal * Glue * Fine marker pen * Sticky pads * Small pre-made bow * Plain dark paper * White card

Mother’s day card Cut a piece of white card to measure 19cm x 13cm. Cut a section of flowered paper to measure 18cm x 12cm, dotty paper 18cm x 4cm, white card 18cm x 4cm. Using the templates on p102, cut sentiments, flower stem and flower head and two leaves.

Cut white card to back the sentiments.

1

Glue the flower paper onto the white card. Layer the dotty paper and white card to one side and glue into place. Wrap raffia around, tie at the front. Glue the flower stem in place, tear a piece of handmade paper and glue at the top of the flower.

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Position the flower head, sentiments and leaves and fix with sticky pads.

4

Draw faux stitching around some of the edges to accentuate the shapes.

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Add small flower-shaped beads and a small bow using sticky pads.

Skill level: Easy

SELL MORE

Y

ou don’t need to look far for Mother’s Day inspiration with our eight pages of pretty papers and two easy-to-follow card designs. This issue we have chosen a classic Mother’s Day theme of fun and fresh flowers so that you can make plenty of cards, gift tags and even stylish envelopes that are sure to be popular with mothers and grandmothers on the big day.

50 Craftseller

Adapt your design to suit all sorts of special occasions by using a different sentiment

8 PAGES

of exclusive designs

For Mum

PAPER COLLECTION

For Mum

PAPER COLLECTION

For Mum

PAPER COLLECTION

For Mum

PAPER COLLECTION

For Mum

PAPER COLLECTION

For Mum

PAPER COLLECTION

For Mum

PAPER COLLECTION

For Mum

PAPER COLLECTION

MAKE IT

MAKEI TA! PROF

£1 MAKE FOR

FOR £3-£4

Something different...

This unique design will appeal to contemporary shoppers looking for a special card to suit their lovely mums… By Wendy Massey Best wishes card a piece of flowered paper 1 Cut measuring 20cm x 3.5cm. Cut the heart from the tags sheet, along with the best wishes tag to use as a stem. Using the templates on p102 cut three flower heads (one will be the ladybird body), five petals and one ladybird head.

2

Stick the rectangle, then stems, petals and ladybird head in place using glue.

Position and fix flower heads and ladybird body using sticky pads. Add buttons using sticky pads.

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4

Use a fine line marker pen to add a sketchy outline to the design.

TOP TIP Place all the pieces on your card before you start sticking to check the positions are correct

Craftseller 59

Sewing patterns, books and fabrics that are fun, fresh and perfect for creating handmade items for the young or young at heart instant downloadable patterns now available at

www.mellyandme.com

SEW IT

The personal touch This sweet nursery bunting is perfect for bedrooms or for hanging at birthday parties, and is a staple for your crafty range. By Jane Tooze

MAKEI TA! PROF

£6.50 MAKE FOR

FOR £15

62 Craftseller

SEW IT

Craftseller 63

SEW IT

INFORMATION Materials: * 25cm (10in) pink dot fabric * 25cm (10in) small pink dot fabric * 25cm (10in) pink floral fabric * 25cm (10in) pink stripe fabric * 25cm (10in) beige small dot fabric * 10cm (4in) green floral fabric * 10cm (4in) green dot fabric * 10cm (4in) fur fabric * 10cm (4in) cerise pink fabric * 6m x 5cm (6yd 2ft x 2in) wide cerise pink bias binding * 25cm (10in) Bondaweb * Pink cotton thread * White thread * Lilac embroidery thread * Embroidery needle Size: 18 flags, 6m long (6yd 2ft) end-to-end Skill level: Easy

B

unting is always a good choice for craft fairs as it evokes fun feelings and thoughts of parties in the sunshine! This lovely bunting, made specially for a little girl, features fabrics with florals, dots and stripes that are all mixed up to give a trendy vintage feel. Our bunting has been personalised, but if you’d rather sell a more universal version, use appliqué hearts, flowers and animal stencils instead. Carry an order book to your next fair to take orders for bespoke versions, and don’t forget to charge for personalisation with a price per letter.

How to make the nursery bunting 1 Take the flag template, allowing a 1.5cm (½in) seam allowance all the way around.

Fold the fabric double and cut four flags from the pink fabrics and two flags from the beige dot fabric. For this bunting string we are spelling ‘Lily’, so take four flag fronts from each of the pink patterned fabrics.

2 Take the cerise pink fabric, the green dot fabric, the green floral fabric and the fur fabric and iron the Bondaweb onto them. On the paper side, draw around the templates; you should have 4 x pink rectangles, 2 x green spots, letters spelling ‘Lily’ and two fur deer. Cut them all out. Peel away the paper from the Bondaweb and iron the rectangles and the spot onto the pink fabrics and beige fabric, then iron the letters and motifs on top of these. Make sure the letters are level with each other all the way along the bunting.

3 With your sewing machine set on an embroidery zigzag stitch, sew around the letters and deer in white. Next, sew around the rectangles and spots, stitching with lilac wool and blanket stitch around the shapes.

4 Now take the flags and pin them together, right sides facing. Sew around the

triangle, leaving the top edge open. Repeat until all flags are sewn together. Trim off excess seam allowance and snip across the bottom point to make turning easier. Turn and press each flag.

5 Take the bias binding and iron it all the way from one end to the other to create a neat channel to pin in the flags. Pin the flags at 5cm (2½in) intervals with the name at the centre and an animal motif each side of the name. Next, place the rest of the pink patterned flags each side of the name. Pin and sew all the way along the bias binding, securing all the flags.

TOP TIP Remember to draw letters back to front onto the Bondaweb, so that on the fabric it is the right way

NOW SELLING ON...

Wowthankyou LOVE Felts on wowthankyou.co.uk

SAFETY FIRST This bunting is designed to appeal to children so it should be made with care. Always ensure your work is wellstitched and any loose parts are securely attached. Remember, if you intend to sell it, there are strict regulations to adhere to. Visit craft-seller.com/free-downloads for advice on child safety.

00 Craftseller 64

Not on the high Street Bunny Loves Evie on noths.com

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shing Choose cla n fabrics i s hue matching peal ap for rustic

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Welcome to the world’s first home and hobby cutting machine with a built-in scanner.

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* Terms and conditions apply: The Promoter is Immediate Media Company Bristol Limited. Entrants must be UK residents aged 18 years or older. Texts will be charged at 25p plus your standard network tariff rate. To enter by post: write your name, address and chosen freebie on the back of a postcard and send to: Craftseller 34, Immediate Media Company, 9th Floor, Tower House, Fairfax Street, Bristol BS1 3BN. By entering this competition you are agreeing to receive newsletters, offers and promotions by post, email and telephone from Immediate Media Company Ltd and the prize providers sending offers and newsletters to you by post, email or phone. You can unsubscribe from these at any time. If you do not want to receive this information please add the words ‘NO INFO’ at the end of your text message or write ‘NO INFO’ on your postcard. Closing date for entries is 11.59pm on 12/03/14. For the full terms and conditions visit craft-seller.com/competitions

Craftseller 69

CRAFT SELLER’S DIARY

Diary of a craft selling mum Every month, craft seller and mum of two, Erica Martyn, who makes toys for her business Odds & Soxlets, invites us into her world…

All about me I am 34 years old, and mum to three-year-old Harry and baby girl, Lottie Rose! I have a husband called Martin and a naughty but very sweet 12-year-old Yorkshire Terrier called Mr Biggles. We live in Dorset and I began my business in May 2011. I’m still learning heaps, while at the same time juggling home life, finances, and the needs and demands of my growing family and my customers…

Day 1

Day 6

Most of the time, people I meet through my business are lovely but today I was reminded there are some mean people about. I was involved with a craft fair, a very exciting new online venture for handmade artisans. Today the lady who was organising it (and financing it out of her own pocket) got in touch to let me know it wasn’t happening. The poor woman had been forced to cancel, after months and months of planning, due to pressure from a few other sellers. Her policy, like most craft fairs, was to have only one person selling a particular type of product. As she made and sold a certain type of product herself, she had to decline other similar sellers who later applied – and they turned nasty! They publicly and privately messaged her with awful verbal abuse. I feel so bad for her.

Traditionally, I know Easter isn’t a time when people spend lots of money on gifts but I couldn’t resist making a limited edition Bunny Doll. I figure she might just be purchased for a child who has a birthday at this time of year. It hasn’t taken long to get the first pattern drafted and I’m spending the rest of the day tweaking Bunny to get her just right, ready to tempt shoppers to spend a little more this year.

Day 2

THIS MONTH * Crafty makes: 35 * Tutu sets ordered: 20 * New toys tested: 1 * Birthday parties: 3 * Days in quarantine: 5 * Tissues destroyed: 3 boxes

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Had a terrible night’s sleep – I kept thinking about how something so positive like this fair can be turned into something so negative by a handful of people. Trolling and cyber-bullying seem to be on the rise, so I can only be thankful it hasn’t happened to me. When you work from home, the internet is your lifeline – a link to the outside world and usually a wonderful means of support. I have faith that enough of us will make our voices heard and our positive messages will drown out those wicked cowards trying to ruin everything.

Erica bought her new chair without a family row in sight

CRAFT SELLER’S DIARY

time we forgot what we went in for and left with nothing but a cheese grater. This time though, I’m very glad I did remember because the beautiful pink swivel chair looks great in my office.

Bunny Doll isn’t just for Easter, she’ll be loved by lucky kids all year round

opportunity to make personal things for my little boy’s friends, especially when you happen to see them wearing them at a later date.

See you next month! Erica

Day 18 I’ve been pirouetting for joy the last few days as the tutu sets I’ve created have been a real flyer. It’s funny how things in your past can become relevant again. All the experience I had making tutus back in my dancing and teaching days between the age of 14 and 27, has come into play with my new outfits for little girls. And the nosew technique makes them so simple; the ballerina versions, with the corset-style bodice and full net skirt would have taken over five days to make and materials would cost over £100. I simply cut the length of net needed, gather and thread it onto a crochet band. With the funky t-shirts and matching headbands, I love the look of them. I’m pretty certain that they’re going to be my big seller for 2014.

Day 22 The ‘monstertee’ makes a great gift for little boys

Day 7 Bunny Doll looks perfect, has had her photo taken and is about to take part in all the toy safety tests so she can earn her CE mark.

RIP prototype bunny!

Day 13 Took a trip to Ikea with Martin. We must be one of the few couples in the world who actually enjoy going! Most of our friends insist they’ve nearly divorced by the time they get to the checkout. I must admit though, we do plan our visits like a military operation: 1. Look through the catalogue online and decide beforehand. 2.

Go to relevant aisle and retrieve said item.

3. Do not discuss, doubt, ponder or go off wandering at any point. 4. Go to till, pay and leave. Usually works except for the

In the Martyn household we’re all just getting over colds. I’m still a bit tired so instead of working I spent a lovely, relaxing day hanging out with my sister, my 18 month-old niece Molly, Harry and Lottie.

We had a craft day and it was such fun!

Lots of paint, glitter, splodges and paper everywhere. Sometimes it’s good to be reminded that crafting is a way of relaxing and just being messily creative. Watching Harry trying to teach Molly how to draw and colour was so sweet. That was until he got a bit bored because she wasn’t doing exactly what he said, and instead got absorbed in his own work!

Erica took some time out to relax with her family this month

Day 25 Birthdays, like buses, always seem to all come at once, and they’re all the number 4 at the moment! Harry has been superexcited all day as he was giving his friend Jasper a monster-tee. We personalised the back and made a card to match. To be honest, I know it’s a great opportunity to advertise my makes to more than just my family, but I genuinely love getting the

Get crafty and messy to remember how much fun crafting is

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UPCYCLE IT

MAKEI TA! PROF

1.80 MAKE FOR £

FOR £ 6

From junk to funk Upcycle some old terracotta containers into rustic chic candles and turn them into pots of cash! By Claire Watkins

INFORMATION Materials: For candle suppliers visit makingyourowncandles.co.uk * Old clay garden flower pots * 2p coin * Super glue * Candle wax * Wicks * Metal wick tab * Coloured dye * PVA or ModPodge * Saucepan * Ceramic bowl (or double boiler, insert optional) * Scales * Old spoon for stirring wax * Scissors * Pliers * Measuring jug * Pencil * Blu-Tack

Size: Varies Rating: Easy

T

hese cute pre-loved garden pots would make perfect table decorations for summer weddings. Old pots have a beautiful patina about them, however check they don’t have any hairline cracks.

Also make sure you coat the whole of the inside with a sealer, like PVA glue, to prevent the wax seeping into the clay – otherwise the clay can become flammable!

How to make the candles Seal the inside of the pot with either PVA mixed with a little water, or ModPodge. Make sure you cover the bottom as well as the sides and the rim of the pot.

Once dry, superglue a 2p piece over the hole to prevent wax escaping. You can also gun a small amount of bathroom sealant round the edge of the coin as an extra precaution.

1

Fill the pot with water to the point where you want the wax to sit and pour into a measuring jug. Check your pot is watertight and add extra sealant if needed.

Minus 10% from the amount of water in the jug. This will show how much wax you need.

2

the wax into your double boiler and 3 Put place over a saucepan of water on a low heat. Never place the wax directly into a saucepan as it may catch fire! Once the wax has melted, add the dye. A 10p-size piece of

dye is enough for 100g of wax. Stir this into the wax and add scent if using.

Wick thicknesses differ for the size of your container so check a candlemaking website for the correct gauge.

Dangle the wick into the pot to measure the length you need (you’ll need about 6cm (2½in) higher than the rim of the pot), then cut. Push the wick length into the wick tab leaving a small tail sticking out at the bottom. Close the smaller metal hole around the wick with pliers. Trim the wick on the bottom of the tab for a neat finish.

4

Once the wax has melted, pour a small amount into the bottom of the pot and pop the wick tab into it, making sure it’s central and upright. This ‘fixes’ the tab in place. Once this is dry (about 15 mins), gently pull the wick upright. Place a pencil across the rim of the pot and hold the wick in place with Blu-Tack. This is to hold the wick while you pour the rest of your candle.

Pour the wax, stopping approx 1.5cm (½in) from the rim of the finished candle level.

5

Once your candle is set (approx 2-3 hours) re-melt the remaining wax and make your second pour to get a nice smooth finish. Once set, remove the pencil and trim the wick to about 1cm (¼in). Leave to set for a day before lighting.

6

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KNIT IT

The cable girl...

A cable knitted bag in a neutral shade with bamboo handles and charming fabric flowers ticks all the boxes. By Susanne Frank

MAKEI TA! PROF

£17 MAKE FOR

FOR £30–£40

74 Craftseller

KNIT IT

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KNIT IT

How to make the knitted bag INFORMATION Materials * 1 x 100g of Rowan Creative Focus Worsted in Natural (shade 100) * 2 bamboo handles, 17cm (7in) wide * 6mm (Uk 4, US 6) knitting needles * 6 strips of fabric 8 x 30 (3 x 12in) – 2 strips per flower * Tapestry needle * Needle and thread Size: 30 x 30cm (12 x 12in) excluding handles Skill level: Moderate Tension: 17 sts and 22 rows to 10cm (4in) using 6mm (Uk 4, US 6) needles

ABBREVIATIONS k: p: k2tog: st(s): st st:

knit purl knit 2sts together stitch(es) stocking stitch

TOP TIP Make fabric flowers in different colours and patterns to give buyers' customisable options

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his cabled bag is quick to knit and will look mighty impressive on your stall or website. Just one ball of this Rowan yarn will be enough to knit the whole bag too, so your yarn costs won’t be sky high.

The smooth yarn brings out the cable pattern really well and makes it easier to knit, even if you haven’t tried cabling before. Complement the natural look with the bamboo handles that are so retro, they’re bang up to date!

The flowers are quick and easy to make and

are perfect for using up all of those scraps of fabric from your stash. You could add a seasonal touch by mixing sheer and opaque fabrics but use similar colours for a look that's folksy without being chaotic. You can go further with embellishments and add beading to the flowers too. Make sure you mention all the natural materials you have used on your label – wool, cotton and bamboo all help to make this a premium buy and allow you to charge that little bit extra.

KNIT IT

Cable key: C2F (4 sts): put 2 sts on a cable needle and hold in front of your work. k2 from your left-hand needle, then the 2 sts from the cable needle C2B (4 sts): put 2 sts on a cable needle and hold behind your work. k2 from your left-hand needle, then the 2 sts from the cable needle

BAG: (make two) Cast on 56 sts.

Row 1: k6 ** p2, k8, p2, k4, p2, k8, p2, k4, p2, k8, p2 ** k6 (the 44 sts between ** form the cable panel) Row 2 and all even rows: knit sts as they appear Row 3: as Row 1 Row 5: k6 ** p2, C2B, C2F, p2, C2B, p2, k8, p2, C2F, p2, C2B, C2F, p2 ** k6 Row 7: k6 ** p2, C2B, C2F, p2, k4, p2, k8, p2, k4, p2, C2B, C2F, p2 ** k6 Row 9: as Row 7 At the end of Row 10, cast on 6 sts. 62 sts.

Row 11: k12 ** p2, k8, p2, C2B, p2, k8, p2, C2F, p2, k8, p2 ** k6. Cast on 6 sts. 68 sts.

Row 13: k12 ** p2, k8, p2, k4, p2, k8, p2, k4, p2, k8, p2 ** k12.

Row 14: knit sts as they appear. This forms one complete cable pattern repeat.

Row 15-70: repeat Row 1-14 four times.

Decrease the number of k sts outside the cable panel by 1st at the beginning and end of each 8th row as follows: Row 23: (decrease) k2, sl1, k1, psso, k8 ** cable panel ** k8, k2tog, k2. 66 sts.

Row 31: (decrease) k2, sl1, k1, psso, k7 ** cable panel ** k7, k2tog, k2. 64 sts.

Row 39: (decrease) k2, sl1, k1, psso, k6 ** cable panel ** k6, k2tog, k2. 62 sts.

Row 47: (decrease) k2, sl1, k1, psso, k5 ** cable panel ** k5, k2tog, k2. 60 sts.

Row 55: (decrease) k2, sl1, k1, psso, k4 ** cable panel ** k4, k2tog, k2. 58 sts.

Row 63: (decrease) k2, sl1, k1, psso, k3 ** cable panel ** k3, k2tog, k2. 56 sts.

Row 71: k6, p2, k8, p2, cast off 20 sts, p1, k8, p2, k6. Finish the left hand side first.

Row 72: knit sts as they appear. When you

reach the cast-off sts, turn.

Row 73: cast off 6 sts, k3, p2, k6. 12 sts.

Row 74: knit sts as they appear.

Row 75: cast off 6 sts, k6.

Row 76: p6.

Cast off rem sts. Break yarn.

FINISH THE RIGHT HAND SIDE: Transfer the sts to the other needle. Start knitting from the edge of the work, not from the middle.

Row 1: k6, p2, k8, p2 (this corresponds to R72 of the left hand side) Row 2: cast off 6 sts, p3, k2, p6. 12 sts.

Row 3: knit sts as they appear Row 4: cast off 6 sts, p6 Row 5: k6 Cast off rem sts. Break yarn.

TO MAKE UP THE BAG: Lay the two pieces on top of each other, right sides facing, and close bottom seam. Darn in loose ends. Attach the top of each piece to a bamboo handle. Close side seams up to 10cm (4in) from the top. Turn right side out.

FLOWERS: Cut a scalloped edge on one long edge of each fabric strip. Decide which strip will form the outer petals and which will go into the centre. The outer strip can have bigger scallops. Carefully scrunch up the beginning of a strip so it resembles the centre of a flower and secure with needle and thread by stitching through the fabric folds. Continue to scrunch and secure, and carry on likewise with the second, outer strip. At the end, stitch criss-cross through the base of the flower and sew into place on the bag.

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SELL IT

You’ve made it, now sell it…

Follow these handy hints to maximise profits from your knitted bag

1

Mix-up the look of your bags by trying out different handles and go from retro to modern to vintage to suit your style.

2 3 4 5 6

Experiment with yarns for different looks. Try fluffy angora, a tighter weave or even glitter yarns.

Show its versatility. This roomy bag can take lots of items, so illustrate this with your product photography.

Add a lining. Create a luxe feel by stitching in a satin lining and give a funky pop of colour.

Go vintage and charge more. Create flowers from pre-loved and retro fabrics to appeal to the vintage crowd.

Vary the embellishments. Try pom poms, add buttons or make ribbon rosettes to create different looks.

7 8 9 10

Target the wedding buyer. Add a luxe lining, lace flowers and embellish with pearls to create a gorgeous bridal bag then list online under wedding gifts.

Create a secondary item by attaching flowers to the bag with poppers instead of stitching them on. That way customers can change the look of the bag.

Pick up handles second hand and save money. Old bamboo-handled bags are ten-a-penny from charity shops and car boots.

Add your own label. Be proud of your work and add your company name inside the bag for that professional touch that buyers expect.

NOW SELLING ON...

Folksy: Hand knitted Entrelac bag by Pop Sews The Weasel, £26.50

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Folksy: Small cable knitted bag by GransAttic, £5

Folksy: Blue Wendy Roxy knitted clutch bag by Kent Crafts, £7

Like to buy handcrafted gifts?

Looking to sell your handcraft online?

Join us at:

thecraftersbarn.co.uk The UK’s commission free handcraft website.

Contact Claire on info@thecraftersbarn.co.uk for more information

facebook.com/ thecraftersbarn @thecraftersbarn

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SELL IT

Mother’s Pride

As Mother’s Day approaches we meet mums and daughters who turned shared hobbies into successful businesses and find out what the best thing is about working with your mum. By Karen Dunn

SELL IT

S

haring a passion for craft with your mum and spending lazy afternoons sewing or baking together is one of life’s pleasures. But while the idea of going into business with a family member would make some think twice, many mums and daughters turn their shared love of making into their own successful business.

First choice “When I planned to open my own craft business, I couldn’t think of anyone better to do it with than my mum,” says Njomza Pacarada, 37, who runs clothing and accessories business Nyoki Handmade (nyoki.co.uk ) with her mum Rejhane, 65.

“Everything my sister and I learned was from our mum who crocheted, knitted, embroidered and more. In Kosovo, everyone passes their skills down the generations. My mum’s my best friend, so I almost begged her to join me in the business. I knew we’d work well together.”

However, not all mother and daughter teams thought that they would one day share a business. “If someone had said to me when I was 14 that I’d be working with my mum, I’d have said ‘no way!’,” laughs Anna Hodgson, 32, who runs fabric shop The Eternal Maker (eternalmaker.com) with her mum Sarah, 59.

“Mum was running our other business, The Button Company, when I was growing up and I swore I’d never work with buttons.

However, when I was looking for a career change and she suggested opening up a Anna started her fabric company to compliment her mum Sarah’s business The Button Company

Working with your mum or daughter can be tough on some days but there are so many benefits, too

fabric shop to go with the button-making business, the timing was just right.”

Get the right balance Throwing the ups and downs of family life into the mix could prove disastrous. Getting your mum to give you a hand when you

“My mum is my best friend, so I almost begged her to join me” have a big order is one thing, but sharing a business with the woman who grounded you as a teenager is quite another.

Anna admits it took them a while to get it right: “I think it’s only in the last year that we’ve figured out how to split working life and family life. Living and working together, can be tough. Mothers and daughters know better than anyone else which buttons to press to get a reaction.

The good definitely outweighs the bad though. I know mum supports my decisions and she’s the one person who completely understands my thought process and that’s brilliant when you’re working together.”

All the benefits Working with someone who knows you inside and out clearly has its advantages, especially when it comes to the fun part – designing the products. One mother

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and daughter partnership which relishes sharing ideas is Sandra and Sophie Penford of Kent-based home furnishings company Clementine and Bloom (clementineandbloom.com). “It’s great fun designing together and, while we do have different ideas, because we know each other so well they often end up complimenting each other,” says mum Sandra, 46.

“It was great going to museums together to research our latest collection. Once we started the design process we easily divided the jobs as we know where our skills lie.

While I’m on the computer manipulating the drawings, Sophie’s on the sewing machine. People assume that, because I’m the mum, I pull rank but it’s very much a partnership. Sophie’s 25 – she’s not a little girl anymore and I respect her opinions.’

But what do the dads think when mum and daughter are taking on the business world together? It seems they get roped in to help out too! “My husband often ends up being our roadie and he also built our display shelves,” smiles Sandra. “Sophie’s partner works in finance, so he’s perfect for providing a business point of view and the odd spreadsheet!”

Verity Sparks, 22, who runs the awardwinning company Sparks Clothing (notonthehighstreet.com/sparksclothing) with her mum Deborah, 49, from their cottage in Somerset, reveals that as your company grows you need to be mindful of it pushing other relatives out of the family home. “We’ve just built a cabin in our garden to house the business as it was taking over the lounge and garage. My very supportive step-dad is also relieved to have his house back,” smiles Verity. “It doesn’t stop us talking about it all the time though, but we love it so that’s not a problem!”

Despite the ups and downs, there’s nothing better than sharing your passion with your mum and Verity wouldn’t have it any other way. “When we were running our business and I was at uni, it did become a struggle. I had to take six weeks off to deal with the Christmas rush and not many people would understand that! It made me realise just how much I love working with my mum and now I can’t imagine working with anyone else.”

SELL IT

2

Survive working with your mum 1 WORK TO YOUR OWN STRENGTHS You will both be better at different aspects of the business so stick to what you do best.

There’s no point trying to do something if your business partner can do it better.

2 SHARE THE WORKLOAD EQUALLY If it really is a business, one family member should not be doing all the work! Keep it fair to avoid conflicts. If you both love what you do, you’ll want to do as much anyway.

3. REMEMBER YOU ARE EQUAL PARTNERS No matter the age difference you both have an equal say. Mum shouldn’t pull rank. You’ll just have arguments that could be avoided.

4 DON’T LET FAMILY LIFE AFFECT BUSINESS If you’ve had a silly row, keep that at home.

What’s said in a personal row has nothing to do with business so try to get over it quickly.

5 MAKE THE MOST OF DIFFERENT OPINIONS Take time when designing products together.

You will have conflicting views, but if you work together the outcome will be stronger.

4

1 3

1 Inside The Eternal Maker shop you’ll find the joint passions of Anna and Sarah 2 Njomza never considered starting her business, Nyoki Handmade, without her mum 3 Sandra and Sophie from Clementine and Bloom love working together on new products 4 Verity and Deborah are very proud of the new log cabin home that they have built for Sparks Clothing and Living.

SEW IT

Owl get the door!

Buyers will love this doorstop for its floral print and felt feathered detail.

And of course, owls are always great sellers! By Vicky Craxton

MAKEI TA! PROF

£10 MAKE FOR

FOR £20

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SEW IT

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How to make the owl doorstop INFORMATION Materials: * 64 x 46cm (25 x 18in) ditsy print fabric in magenta * 30 x 30cm (12 x 12in) mint green star print fabric * 3 x A4 sheets lavender felt * 8 x 6cm (3¼ x 2¼in) brown felt * 16 x 9cm (6¼ x 3½in) white felt * Matching sewing thread * Polyester toy filling * Two small plastic bags with handles * 1kg of rice

Cutting out the templates All the templates include a 0.5cm (¼in) seam allowance. * In the ditsy fabric, cut two bodies and one base. * In the star print fabric, cut one front. * In lavender felt, cut four wings, four feet, two outer eyes, one beak and nine feathers. * In white felt, cut two inner eyes. * In brown felt, cut two pupils.

4 Top stitch the outer eye shapes and the beak shape onto the front to make the face.

Pin the feather shapes under the beak as a slightly curved line of five and also a line of four underneath that.

Size: 31 x 37 x 16cm (12¼ x 14½ x 6¼in) Skill level: Easy

Y

ou’ll have a hoot making this cute and quirky owl doorstop – he’s full of character and with his pastel shades and very pretty floral fabric, he’s really on trend this season. He is sure to look great in any home as he can be custom made in different colours and patterned fabrics to suit your buyer’s requirements. When taking photos for your online shop, display the doorstop by a door to demonstrate it in use and to give the customer an idea of its size. You could also scale the templates up or down to create a family of owls and have a bit of fun changing their expressions by altering the eyes slightly!

SAFETY FIRST This doorstop is not designed for children but the bright colours and face details may make it appealing to them. You need to make your doorstop with the same care that you would make a toy. Always ensure your work is well-stitched and any loose parts securely attached, taking special care so that children can’t get to the stuffing. Remember, if you intend to sell your owl, there are strict regulations to adhere to. Visit craft-seller.com/freedownloads for advice on child safety.

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1 Top stitch the front shape onto the right side of one of the body shapes so it is positioned in the middle but along the bottom, as shown.

5 Top stitch a line along the top of the feather shapes to secure them in place.

6 Top stitch the inner eye shapes onto the outer eye shapes so they are positioned slightly more inwards.

2 Top stitch each pair of foot shapes together.

3 Top stitch each pair of wing shapes together.

SEW IT

7 Top stitch the pupil shapes onto the inner eye shapes so they are pointing inwards slightly as shown here.

from the edge of the body. Sew the front of the base shape onto the front of the body with right sides together enclosing the feet and leaving a gap at the back.

10 Turn to the right side and stuff the top half with toy filling.

11 Turn the owl upside down, place one bag inside the other and put them inside the owl with handles up. Fill the bag with the rice and tie the handles several times. Turn the bag the other way up and fill the rest of the owl with toy filling. Stitch gap by hand.

TOP TIP Make smaller owls as paperweights, or make a cushion version by leaving out the base and rice 8 Place the wings either side of the body so the tops are in line with the top of the pupils. Flip the wings over so they are facing the body and so the straight edge of each wing is overlapping the edge of the body.

9 Place the other body shape on top and sew the body shapes together with right sides together, enclosing the wings and leaving the bottom open. Cut a notch in the corner of each ear to prevent the fabric bunching up. Pin the feet onto the (right side) of front body shape so the outside edge of each foot is an equal distance away

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SEW IT

You’ve made it, now sell it…

Follow our tips to maximise profits from your owl doorstop

1

Stay relevant. Owls remain hot in fashion and interiors so make sure you list yours as a top item on your home page to attract the browsing buyer.

2 3 4 5

Keep it in the family by offering to sew on the buyers' family name ('The Jones Family', for example.) You can charge a little more too!

Raid your stash for buttons to use as eyes and fabric scraps to use for wings and feathers. That way you save money and each owl is totally unique!

Adapt the design to create different animals such as a cute puss or pooch.

Just change the owl details for a sweet nose, whiskers and tail!

Create a statement owl. Swap vintage florals and pastel hues for striking monochromes and bold patterns like on-trend houndstooth and chevrons.

6 7 8 9 10

Make the stitching a feature.

Use contrasting thread to the fabric, ensuring your work is finished neatly.

Broaden its use. Photograph the owl as a shelf sitter, paperweight and doorstop to show how versatile it is.

Suit the season. Go ditsy for spring, citrus for summer, natural hues for autumn and red and green for winter.

Diversify! Create owl cushions by omitting the base and rice, inserting a cushion blank and adding a zip.

Toughen up your owls. Use hard-wearing leatherette or corduroy for the feet and wings for a more robust finish.

NOW SELLING ON...

Etsy: Personalised bride and groom owls by TillyFlopsUK, £15

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Folksy: Dotty owl doorstop: Green Penelope by House Of Alphonse, £12

Wowthankyou: Owl cushion by Oddity Owl, £12.95

Q&A

Ask us Our panel of experts is on hand to answer all your crafting and selling questions Getting your finances in order is no chore if your desk looks this great

In stitches I’m teaching my daughter how to knit and although I know instinctively what to do when you get a dropped stitch, I am unsure how best to explain it to her. Can you help?

Q

MRS B MERA, DURHAM Judy Topaz, whose good, clear knitting advice can be found online at knittingtips byjudy.com, says: “Knit until you get to the dropped stitch. Use a crochet hook into the loop of the dropped stitch and grab the bar of the stitch right above it in the crook of the crochet hook. Pull the bar through the stitch. If your stitch has dropped down several rows, repeat until your stitch is on the same row as the rest of your knitting.”

A

For what we’re about to receipt Q

I’m about to set up my own craft business making homeware and accessories. I will be based at home so what receipts should I keep?

NINA LEWIS, DORSET Office expenses are tax deductible and this means everything you use to run your business. It will include a percentage of your rent or mortgage, most of your household bills and your office supplies, along with travel expenses including trips for supplies and jaunts to the post office. Don’t forget expenses incurred for any work-related meetings as well as hotel stays or food. Advertising is tax deductible and includes everything from full-page ads to business cards and flyers. Cost of sales is also an extremely important deduction for crafters.

This means anything you buy to make your product into a ‘saleable condition’.

This doesn’t mean the final price of the item; it means all the individual things you bought to be able to get that item to the customer such as paint, glue, thread, material, etc. For more information visit hmrc.co.uk.

A

Teaching your skills is a really rewarding way to share your love of craft

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Q&A

FAQ

MY TOP TEN TIPS

This month our top Facebook question is…

Q

I’d like to be able to make felt frames but my cutting never seems neat enough.

NIKKI DESBOROUGH

SARA O’DWYER, who sells quirky gifts at MiowandMolly on etsy. com, provides us with her fun top tips

A Fall in love with typography on an Alan Kitching Letterpress course

1

Don’t sew all the seams before you turn it inside out.

2

When using wool, do not have cats in the same room.

3

Don’t use your seat pad as a pincushion, if you do then don’t sit on it.

4

When adding a zip, double check it is the right way round.

5

Do not stuff a toy whilst wearing corduroy trousers.

6

When you start having nightmares about your makes, you have finally lost it.

7

Did you take the pins out before you started sewing?

8 9

Never let cats into your sewing room.

Check your spelling before making a personalised piece.

10

Have fun and enjoy yourself.

90 Craftseller

Just my type I’d love to incorporate typography into my designs but I find the variety and amount of fonts available all quite dazzling. Where do I start?

Q

JAYNE PETERS, LONDON

Who could ty resist Mar k c Allen’s so monsters?

There is a simple step-by-step photo tutorial at makezine. com/craft/how_to_felt_ photo_frame. Their tip for creating a neat frame is to use a template which you can download for free, then fold both the felt and template in half lengthwise. Pin together, then carefully follow the pattern to cut out the centre section.

We found Kitching’s Concise Letterpress Typography Workshop based in south London, which is a two-day intensive course running in April, May and June 2014. It explores the fundamentals and details of typography using letter press equipment and is taught by world-renowned typographer, designer and letterpress practitioner Alan Kitching, whose work has been used by The Royal mail and the multimedia corporation AOL and the Royal Mail.

At £900, it isn’t cheap but foes include all materials and lunch plus, upon sign-up, each participant will receive a limited edition, personalised letterpress print. Visit thetypographyworkshop.com for more information and to book your place.

A

Sock it to me!

I work in a nursery and would love to get some of the children involved in crafting. What could I introduce to inspire the youngest crafters?

Q

LIZA APPLEGATE, TUNBRIDGE WELLS Sock puppets are beautifully easy for a child to make, give instant results and are a wonderful way to help encourage imaginative play. Use them for singing songs, coaxing a picky eater, telling stories and to help build the interactive social

A

Making sock puppets is a fun way to teach children crafts

skills of the shyest children. Parents and carers will probably be delighted to donate their clean odd socks, and where age appropriate use felt, cardboard, wool strands and googly eyes or buttons for tongue, mouth, hair and eyes. The children will probably be bursting with ideas for their puppets’ characters but if you’d like further inspiration then Sock Puppet Madness by Marty Allen (searchpress. com, £12.99) is a good place to start. Just make sure that all those small parts are securely attached.

Q&A

ESSENTIAL CRAFT TOOL mat to protect the table and prevent the blade from getting dull. The rotary cutter ^h ZmigZbZan h]Vge! hd >¼b always careful to retract the blade after each use. The Fiskars is the best for this as it is comfortable to use and the blade is quick and easy to gZigVXi# L]Zc > ]daY fj^ai^c\ workshops, one of the Äghi i]^c\h > Yd ^h h]dl bn students how to handle this valuable piece of equipment with care and respect, just as bn bdi]Zg"^c"aVl Y^Y#º

Material girl

Check out 20th Century Cloth for some truly retrofabulous fabrics!

I love vintage dressmaking but I’ve noticed suitablypatterned, decent quality fabric is increasingly hard to come by. Can you suggest any new places?

Q

LARA, BY EMAIL Helen Snell, a fellow vintage clothing enthusiast and textile designer, encountered the same problem and as a result set up 20th Century Cloth, a home for new retro-inspired fabrics.

She uses mostly traditional hand-drawn techniques to craft the look and feel of a vintage print, then combines this with digital image manipulation and modern printing techniques to produce a range of fabrics with a retro look, but suitable for everyday use. Visit 20thcenturycloth.com for more information and prices.

A

Search for Craftseller on facebook.com

@craftsellermag

JACKIE WADE boasts over 15 years of global business development. Now a trainer consultant, and mother of twins, she has written Successful Selling for Small Businesses and shared some of her wisdom with us.

Connecting with customers “The many ways to connect with customers include phone, email, letter, formal introduction and social media. While there isn’t one single best way to make contact with a potential new customer, there are some simple rules which can help you to connect with them better. >i¼h cdi VWdji WZ^c\ eZg[ZXi! ^i¼h VWdji WZ^c\ active and getting better as you go.

9d ^i gZ\jaVgan# :kZgn h^ijVi^dc XdjaY ediZci^Vaan lead to a new connection, you just need to switch on your sales radar – from the bus stop to the doctor’s waiting room, don’t miss an opportunity!

9dc¼i lV^i id eji V l]daZ YVn Vh^YZ! ^i ldc¼i ]VeeZc# >ckZhi hbVaa! [dXjhZY X]jc`h d[ i^bZ ^cid building relationships instead – it’s more realistic.

BV`Z ^i V YV^an dg lZZ`an ]VW^i# I]^c` dcZ cZl connection a day, a week, a month – whatever is required to reach your goal.

6alVnh [dXjh dc ndjg XdccZXi^dc VcY i]Z^g needs and make it personal to them.

6Ydei V h^beaZ hnhiZb XjhidbZg gZaVi^dch]^e management or CRM) to manage your connections and reconnections, otherwise you risk wasting time and effort.

8ZaZWgViZ ZkZgn »nZh¼ VcY aZVgc id WZ D@ VWdji ZkZgn »cd¼ WZXVjhZ i]Vi cd idYVn ^h cdi necessarily a no tomorrow.

7Z XaZVg dc ndjg iVg\Zi VjY^ZcXZ VcY `Zn relevant messages. Don’t waffle.

7Z iZcVX^djh Wji Vkd^Y WZXdb^c\ V hiVa`Zg Wn varying your methods. Seek to be spontaneous and interesting, not boring and predictable.

Cdi ZkZgndcZ dji i]ZgZ needs you now but someone does. Spread the word clearly, in a focused lVn VcY gZeZVi ^i# >i bVn take time but you will be heard.”

yourletters@ craft-seller.com

Dear Craftseller, 9th Floor, Tower House, Fairfax Street, Bristol BS1 3BN

Craftseller 91

Successful Selling for Small Businesses Wn ?VX`^Z LVYZ]Vgg^bVc"]djhZ#Xd#j`! &%

NAME: Jennifer Campbell @^g`! k^ciV\ZVcYÅdgVa#Xdb TYPE: 6bZg^XVc"hinaZ patchwork quilts TOOL: Fiskars rotary cutter AVAILABLE: johnlewis. com COST: £12

¹> Wdj\]i bn XjiiZg ^c 9VaaVh! IZmVh l]Zc > lVh k^h^i^c\ bn -&"nZVg daY bdi]Zg"^c" law. She taught me how to make quilts and we’d spend eight to nine hours while she patiently shared everything she knew. Using a rotary cutter saves a lot d[ i^bZ Vh > XVc Xji hZkZgVa layers of fabric at once with accuracy. This is essential l]Zc bV`^c\ 6bZg^XVc"hinaZ quilts as the measurements VgZ d[iZc ^c [gVXi^dch# >i ldg`h l^i] V hZa["]ZVa^c\

GUEST EXPERT

SEW IT

MAKEI TA! PROF

£2.50 MAKE FOR

FOR £12.50

92 Craftseller

SEW IT

Make a crafty tenner Pops of bright yellow are really popular this spring, so offer a stylish daffodil lapel pin to seasonal shoppers. By Liz Ward

INFORMATION Materials * Rico Essentials Cotton DK 50g in yellow (shade 036), pistachio (shade 086) * 3.5mm (UK 9, US E/4) crochet hook * Small brooch back or safety pin * Wool needle and embroidery needle Size: 5 x 5 x 3cm (2 x 2 x 1¼in) Skill level: Easy

How to make the daffodil brooch

W

hat better way to cheer up a winter wardrobe than with a sunny daffodil brooch. Evocative of spring, Easter and a great gift for Mother’s Day, this super flower will be a big hit this season. It’s quick and simple to make so if you create lots for an eye-catching display on your craft stall. They would be a lovely project for a charity stall or to add a fresh look to your jewellery stand, and you can present them studded on bags and hats for variety. Make a few and cluster together to act as an everlasting buttonhole for a spring wedding, or why not really go to town and offer a whole bridal bouquet?

TRUMPET

ABBREVIATIONS ch: sl st: dc: htr: tr: dtr: st(s): blo:

chain slip stitch double crochet Half treble crochet treble crochet double treble crochet stitch(es) work stitch in the back loop only

Make a magic ring and work 6dc into the ring. 6sts.

Round 1: 2dc into each st to the end. 12sts.

Round 2: blo dc in each st to the end. 12sts.

Round 3-6: 2dc in first st, dc in each st to the end. 16sts at end of round 6.

Round 7: (ch2, dc) in each st to the end.

Cut yarn leaving a long tail and pull through loop to secure.

PETALS Rejoin yarn to the loops created on round 2.

Round 1: (ch3, skip one st, dc in next st)

repeat to the end. 6sts and 6ch spaces.

Round 2: (dc, ch2, 2dtr, 2htr, tr, 2htr, 2dtr, ch2, dc) in each chain space around.

Cut yarn leaving a long tail and pull through loop to secure. Weave in and cut off any loose ends to finish.

LEAF Make using green yarn. Ch12 Row 1: htr in 4th ch from hook, htr in next 5 ch sts, dc in the next 3 ch sts, ch2, sl st into last htr. Turn and work along the back of the foundation ch. Dc in the next 3 ch sts, htr in the last five ch sts.

Cut yarn leaving a long tail and pull through loop to secure. Sew onto back of flower.

Weave in and cut off any loose ends. To finish sew a brooch back or safety pin onto the back of the brooch with matching thread.

TOP TIP The trumpet of the daffodil is worked first then the petals are formed around it in one piece.

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! Tweet us your tips and advice, and follow our own tweets @craftsellermag

Craftseller 93

SEW IT

More ways than one..

Using a soft, snuggly trio of beautiful blooms, you can create a whole range of matching homeware. By Jess Byrne

MAKEI TA! PROF

£27 MAKE FOR

FOR £50

94 Craftseller

SEW IT

Craftseller 95

SEW IT

INFORMATION

How to make the felt flowers

Materials * 3 different colours of felt * Green felt for leaves * Small scraps of grey felt * Matching thread * 3 x brooch backs or safety pins * Cushion * Blanket Size: Blanket: 120 x 100cm Pillow: 30 x 40cm Skill level: Easy

1 For each flower, cut six circles that measure 10cm (4in) in diameter, then cut them in half.

2 Place in a line, with each semi-circle half overlapping the next. Position them carefully before you sew.

3 Use a running stitch sew the shapes together, then pull slightly on the thread to bunch up the petals a little.

4 Starting with the first petal, start to roll the line of petals, ensuring the straight bottom edges stay together. Use the excess thread to sew the petals into place.

5 For each corsage, create three flowers in different colours of your choice then cut three leaf shapes from green felt. Cut a V-shape from the bottom to the centre of each leaf.

6 Sew the sides of this V together to create some shape in your leaf.

P

erfect for spring, these pretty, brooch-backed corsages are ideal for adorning all kinds of projects or even selling on their own. We added them to a selection of home furnishings to brighten up a neutral-themed room, but you could also pin them to hats, scarves and wraps to extend the range into fashion too. Adjust the project to suit your raw materials by being thrifty and making lots of small flowers if you have off-cuts and odd-shaped pieces of felt in your stash. Being frugal with your raw materials is one way to make a good profit and will allow you to sell your makes at a lower price to encourage buyers.

TOP TIP Why not make a whole bouquet of felt flowers to appeal to the wedding market this summer?

96 Craftseller

SEW IT

NOW SELLING ON...

Etsy Baby Hairband by StudioLily, ÂŁ4.80

Folksy Felt brooch by PolkaDotDesign, ÂŁ6.50

Work the tr for clash end brights w ing pink and ith red, coral felt

7 Cut a small circle from grey felt and sew a brooch pin or safety pin to this circle. Attach three leaves with a few stitches.

8 Attach the three roses on top of these leaves, sewing through the layers of felt to hold securely in place. Your corsage is now ready to add to the other items.

Craftseller 97

MY CRAFT SHOP

My craft shop Meet a trio of craft sellers who share the moneymaking secrets behind their success

The craft fair seller Nikki has learned to pack the essential items for successful craft fair selling

NIKKI HURRELL from Hampshire

WEBSITE Tales of Mrs H on folksy.com

TOP TIP ve a Make sure you ha ice pr good float and ly – your items sensibare round numbers easier to handle

“I have sewn and crafted for as long as I can remember – I got my first sewing machine at the age of eight! It was a metal toy and it did everything I wanted it to do – and some things that I didn’t, including stitching my little sister’s finger!

“These days, I’m enjoying working with vintage and vintage-style fabrics. I love making something pretty from something old – giving a new life to a treasured object or fabric. I’m also trying to incorporate other techniques, such as embroidery, printing and crochet, into my work.

“As well as my Folksy and Etsy shops, I have started selling at craft fairs, too. I find craft fairs much more rewarding than selling online. The face-to-face contact, comments, ideas and suggestions are all so invaluable. I search online for craft fair organisers, and I’ve also joined local handmade and craft groups on Facebook to keep up-to-date with upcoming events.

“Preparing for a fair does take time, but it becomes manageable pretty quickly. I keep all my lovely wares in closed wicker baskets ready for the next event, and I keep my portable ‘office’ in a tin – stapler, price stickers, emergency sewing kit, business cards, a book for orders, and a record of sales. I also keep a float ready.

“I was nervous about learning first-hand what people thought of my work, but people were very complimentary. One lady even told me that my work matched the standard of a well-known homeware store!”

“I find craft fairs more rewarding than selling online” 98 Craftseller

Nikki loves being able to give new life to old fabric

This cushion wouldn’t look out of place in a homeware store

MY CRAFT SHOP

The online marketplace

TOP TIP

Jacqui loves to work with natural materials like wool

tools Having the right sure en for the job will finish a neat, accurate tache – saving the hearain of starting ag

JACQUI DAVIDSON from Liverpool

WEBSITE MissDeeFibreDreams on folksy.com

“Folksy is very supportive”

An Elizabethan custom provided the inspiration for one of Jacqui’s most popular pieces “When my daughter left home, I decided I wanted to travel and earn a living by selling my makes. So, after a year of travelling, I set up my business.

“I did some training with a women’s business startup group and researched setting up a shop, both online and in the real world. After some trial and error, I realised that online exposure is much easier if

you are part of a bigger establishment – so I set up a shop on Folksy.

“My inspirations include the natural world, fairytales and traditions – my Valentine heart gift, for example, was inspired by the Elizabethan custom of sending a miniature portrait with marriage proposals.

“Folksy is a very supportive community. You can try out new ideas at little cost as the fees are so reasonable. Technical support is straightforward and it’s also easy to see which items are most popular.”

The website owner Clear, crisp photos and fresh content are essential ingredients for selling online, says Katherine “Ten years ago, I began making my own greetings cards. I’ve always loved paper and pens – a stationery shop is a bit like a sweet shop for me! I started selling my cards to colleagues at work, but I needed to be able to show my products without carrying a huge box around. So I created a website using WordPress, as I wanted to blog my thoughts as well.

“I wanted a clean, simple look – it had to be easy to update with posts, notes and pictures. There are two key elements for a good website – photos must be clear and content must be kept updated and fresh.

“The majority of my orders come from word-ofmouth and Facebook, but many shoppers also look at the website for ideas and stock updates. I love meeting people face-to-face so, as well as delivering personally to local customers, I do several craft fairs each year at key times – Mothers’ Day and Christmas.

“My focus changes throughout the year, depending on orders or big events. I make cards all year, but have a knitting frenzy in the run up to Christmas.”

KATHERINE BROOKS from Bury, Lancashire

WEBSITE handmadebykatherine. co.uk

At Christmas, Katherine adds knits to her range

TOP TIP

“Shoppers look at the website for ideas and stock updates”

Always ask for feedback from customers to improve your site and service

Craftseller 99

CRAFTY COURSES

Crafty courses Visit Edinburgh’s t po sewing hots

Why not add a new craft to your skill set? Here are some of our top courses for you to try this month

Learn sewing skills at these relaxed courses and see where they take you…

Materialise “There’s a lot of sewing nostalgia about.

Many people remember their mum or gran sewing and wish they had learned when they were younger: others have done a bit of sewing at school but are nervous about using a sewing machine again after so many years.” The speaker, Reese Bucukoglu, is co-founder (with her lifelong friend Brigitte Mulier) of Materialise, a thriving sewing shop and school in central Edinburgh.

“We get all sorts on our workshops,” Reese continues. “From teenagers keen to embark on a fashion career to older girls and guys wanting to learn a new skill.

Many learners are eager to make their own clothes – our dressmaking skills courses are particularly popular. But we’ve also had a

100 Craftseller

small group of learners go on to make and sell their own items after coming to us to learn the practical skills.

“The shop is ‘petite’ but provides enough space for up to eight people to sew and we can fit much larger parties in to make smaller items like fascinators or customised knickers, that don’t require a sewing machine” Reese explains. “Sessions are really informal, and having a smaller class size means we have time for those who might need some one-to-one help. We serve up tea and coffee (or fizz at parties) and tasty cakes throughout the session, and get some good tunes on in the background to create the ultimate relaxed atmosphere and help everyone to feel inspired.”

INFORMATION * Workshops include: Beginner Sewing Machine Skills (3 hours, £45), Dressmaking (4 x 3hrs or 2 x 6 hours, £150), Pattern Cutting: Basic Skirt (2 x 3 hours or 1 x 6 hours, £80) and Clasp Purse (3 hours, £40). * For more info contact Reese and Brigitte on 07860 245696, info@lovematerialise.com or visit lovematerialise.com

CRAFTY COURSES

Rowan Tree Studio Having made her own soaps for a decade, Sarah Harper decided to turn her reallife experience into a creative career. She now runs The Clovelly Soap Company with her family and passes on her skills by running popular soap-making workshops.

Visitors to this purpose-built studio on the picturesque North Devon coast can expect more than just soap making – there are also workshops on furniture painting, patchwork, sewing and more.

“Our students vary in age, from teenagers to older students, but the majority of them are beginners,” explains Sarah. “But we do also offer more intermediate courses for

“Many of our learners are looking for a career change” those looking to improve existing skills.

Many of our learners are looking for a career change and wanting to start small businesses from home.”

“A lot of our soap, candle and furniturepainting students have gone on to start

WHY NOT TRY...

successful small enterprises of their own, and we also teach private groups on setting up craft businesses,” she reveals.

The studio is light, airy and fully equipped, with a tempting array of fabrics, books and more to help the inspiration flow. Students on all courses come away with a finished item, comprehensive course notes, ongoing support – and a real passion for a new skill, Sarah explains.

“I really enjoy helping students to gain confidence, and allowing them the space to relax and get to know their subject without pressure,” Sarah enthuses.

INFORMATION * Courses include Sewing, Patchwork & Quilting, Dress Making, Furniture Painting, Soap Making and Embroidery. Typical prices are £45 (for one day, 10am-4pm) or £75 (for two days). * For more info contact Sarah on 01237 431942, sarah@ rowantreestudio.co.uk or visit rowantreestudio.co.uk

Other great craft courses around the country Edinburgh Contemporary Crafts Courses in weaving, upholstery, printmaking, pottery, jewellery and more at this multi-disciplinary art workshop in Blair Street, Edinburgh. Typical fees are £210 for an 11-week course (6.30-9pm).

Visit edinburghcontemporarycrafts.co.uk Janome Sewing School Sewing machine manufacturers Janome offer masterclasses at their headquarters in Bredbury, near Stockport. Learn to understand your overlocker, try an embellisher, or go crazy ‘doodling with thread’. Day courses run from 10am-4pm and lunch and machines are provided.

Visit janome.co.uk Artworks MK Mixed creative workshops at this arts centre in Milton Keynes. Ten-week workshops in drawing and painting, pottery, project-based jewellery and more: typical fees £120 for 10 x 2 hrs. Also short courses and workshops.

Plus once you have completed an Artworks MK course you may be eligible to take part in Skill Share Sessions to develop your skills.

Visit artworks-mk.co.uk Stitchbusiness This textile arts school in Durham City teaches City & Guilds awards in Machine Embroidery, Hand Stitch, Goldwork and more. Study on-site or as a distance learner.

Visit stitchbusiness.com Bezeal Jewellery courses in Barry and Cardiff, South Wales. Classes include Intro to Wire Work (3 hrs, £40) and Intro to Metal Clay (3 hrs, £54). Various levels of experience: all materials provided. Private individual or group sessions also available.

Visit bezeal.co.uk

What new craft will you learn at the Rowan Tree Studio?

Search for Craftseller on facebook.com

@craftsellermag

yourletters@ craft-seller.com

Dear Craftseller, 9th Floor, Tower House, Fairfax Street, Bristol BS1 3BN

Craftseller 101

TOP TIP Vist craft-seller. com/free-downloads to print all our templates at 100%, ready to use

Templates

Use these templates to make the owl doorstop on page 16, seed packet on page 27, cards on page 50 and the nursery bunting on page 62 NURSERY BUNTING (COPY AT 200%)

CUT 2 BUNTING FLAG Add 1cm (½in) seam allowance

CARDS (COPY AT 200%)

STEM

PINK LETTERING RECTANGLE

FLOWER HEAD /LADYBIRD

ANIMAL MOTIF SPOT

LEAF PETAL

FLOWER STEM

102 Craftseller

LADYBIRD HEAD

MAKE IT OWL DOORSTOP (COPY AT 200%) WING

Cut 4 in lavender felt

BODY

Cut 2 in ditsy fabric

FEATHER

Cut 9 in lavender felt

FRONT

Cut 1 in star print fabric

FOOT

BASE

Cut 4 in lavender felt

Cut 1 in ditsy fabric

PUPIL

Cut 2 in brown felt

INNER EYE

BEAK

Cut 2 in white felt

Cut 1 in lavender felt

WING

Cut 4 in lavender felt

FEATHER

Cut 9 in lavender felt

OUTER EYE Cut 2 in lavender felt

SEED PACKETS (COPY AT 200%)

103 Craftseller

STOREROOM BEADS

CRAFT SHOP

TO ADVERTISE IN OUR CRAFTSELLER STOREROOM PLEASE CALL JANE HENDY ON 0117 314 8823 OR EMAIL JANE.HENDY@IMMEDIATE.CO.UK GENERAL CRAFTS SELLING YOUR CRAFTS AT FAIRS AND SHOWS? LIFT YOUR PRODUCTS TO PROMINENCE WITH OUR PORTABLE DISPLAY SYSTEM

An ever increasing range at £18 per unit Unit 32, Basepoint Enterprise Centre, Stroudley Road, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG24 8UP Tel: 07749027634

Web: www.thebeadbase.co.uk

www.redsquirreldesign.net

www.thecraftroomonline.co.uk

GENERAL CRAFTS

ONLINE MATERIAL NEEDS

FAST MAIL www.pennineoutdoor.co.uk ORDER SERVICE

Cardmaking Supplies For Every Occasion $ EUDQG QHZ ZHEVLWH GHGLFDWHG WR EULQJLQJ \RX WKH EHVW FUDIW PDWHULDOV RQ WKH PDUNHW

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For Quality products at competitive prices Wools Dress, patchwork and quilting fabrics Cross stitch Haberdashery, ribbon, lace, braids ...and so much more 79 High Street, Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset TA8 1PE

Tel: 01278 794751 www.material-needs.co.uk

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Craft Creations www.craftcreations.com

Advertise yyour Craftf Workshops and Craft Courses in our next issue of from as little as £45 + vat per month For more details contact Jane Hendy 0117 314 8823 Jane.Hendy@immediate.co.uk

NEXT MONTH IN BACK ISSUES 25 projects to make you a profit * Crafts to make and sell for Easter * FREE felt bunny Easter treat bag

a Upcycle l beautifu x stash bo ISSUE 31

FREE Handmade Christmas Gifts craft book

ISSUE 32

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FREE Oriental Garden paper pack

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FAVOURITE MAKES

Online loves

Here are just some of our favourite makes from the exciting designers and crafters we’ve discovered this month

Bakes

Fashion

* Make someone feel special with treats that look as good as they taste.

* Make every little girl’s dream come true with matching mum and daughter dresses.

* Hand-piped coconut heart-mallows by TilleeVanillee, £6 for 15 on etsy.com

* Mom and Kid’s Couple Dress, £20 by SoniaSoniaHandmade on etsy.com

Cute

* Fauxidermy wall mounts don’t get much cuter than this mythical marvel! * Marie the Jackalope in Speckled Brown

by Crochette, £50 on etsy.com

Fashion

Accessories

flowers Big, bold rend t are a hot for 2014 Home

* Start dreaming of summer with this floaty chiffon skirt with a colourful heart print.

* Treat yourself to a statement ring and update your look for spring.

* Printed circle mini skirt by IsidoraFashion, £37.50 on etsy.com

* White and light blue clay ring by TunicBotik, £11.20 on etsy.com

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* Want an out of the ordinary Mother’s Day gift? Try this funky, upcycled plant pot. * Up-cycled Mulberry T-Rex Dinosaur Planter by ThePDFfiles, £9 on etsy.com

Go aheadâ&#x20AC;Ś get creative!

Our latest Memory Craft 9900 Professional-style sewing and embroidery machine brings amazing tools to your creative talents.

The amazing MC9900 utilises intuitive technologies and is smooth, quiet and easy to use. Faster navigation and design layout on a high resolution LCD colour touch screen, USB port and unique swing-out carriage offer everything you need in one compact powerful unit.

For limitless embroidery possibilities optional embroidery software is available which can convert artwork into stitches and stitches into works of art.

Unique swing-out carriage

For further information: Telephone 0161 666 6011 or visit our website www.janome.co.uk

The Worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading sewing machine manufacturer

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