NO MORE RAIN PLEASE!

Hi everyone

I know in this country we seem to be obsessed with the weather and can talk about it for hours without drawing breath, but I really do think we have had enough rain.  Yes, I know we need it, but this is June, supposedly summer, not spring, autumn or winter, so please renew the washer in the rain tap, because it is leaking!

This week has been rather like Mastermind (no, not incredibly brilliant and intelligent) but rather as in the phrase 'I've started so I'll finish' except mine has been 'I've started but I haven't finished'.  I suppose the 4-day Bank Holiday threw everything out of sync (although not being a wage slave means I don't get Bank Holidays as such, just keep on crafting), then the loss of my friend's 21-year old cat, Carmen, meant a break in the making routine ( it was a very sad time as we had only celebrated her 21st birthday last month).  I  just haven't been able to catch up this week at all.

I made the two rush birthday cards I had orders for and again forgot to photograph them.  I keep doing (or rather not doing) this and think I need to produce a check-list to follow when making things and add a photograph will be in capital letters near to the end of the list.

Thank you Jan of Handcrafted by Picto for being my latest guest blogger.  It is a great post and certainly has made me think about what  I could/need to do with my business.  I love the variety of blog posts I have on my Friday spot - lots of great ideas and lovely stories too.  

If you would like to be a guest blogger, please do get in touch: christmaspiecrafts@virginmedia.com.  Your post needs to be appx 600 - 800 words, lots of pictures and don't forget to include links to your blog, website,Twitter and Facebook addresses - and a link back to your post on here in your own blog would be lovely please.  I re-tweet the post on Fridays and Saturdays (sometimes on Sundays), and I have some lovely fellow tweeters who always RT my blog posts (thank you Dawn, Badger Boo and Lesley).

A thank you to all of my new blog followers - it's great to have you following and I love reading your blogs too.  Also thank you to everyone who comments on my posts - I love the fact that you spend time here and your comments are great, so please do carry on commenting (now, was that a film??).

My Handmade Monday makes this week are work-in-progress items.  The first two wreaths are almost complete, just needing the back to be finished off.  Before I add more to my 'forgotten' list, do nip over to Handmade Monday to read the other blog contributors posts and take a look at their lovely work.

Wreath made with red and white heart-patterned material, splashed in places with white sequin-decorated netting

Wreath made with pink and white gingham fabric

I made this wreath with red and white star-patterned paper napkins.  Some time ago I saw a blog post about it and thought it was a good idea - I am not completely convinced I like it, but it was worth a try 

Each week I try to make a few more mini-cards (they always sell well at events) and these are some I am working on at the moment.

When I met up with Caroline a few weeks ago, she told me about iZettle and as their website says: iZettle's first service includes a free iPhone and iPad app and a mini chip-card reader that lets anyone take secure card payments any time, anywhere.  I registered on the website and received my card-reader about 10 days ago.  I haven't tested it yet, but it will certainly be good to take to events.  I know that not everyone carries cash when they go out shopping and it is so easy to lose out on sales because of not having a card machine (which I can't really justify).  Many thanks for the info Caroline, I hadn't read about this so would have missed out.

My pottery tutor is taking part in the Open Studios Event and I am off to a private viewing with my fellow pottery course potters (that sounds so professional - I wish).  She has bought in one or two pieces she has made to demonstrate styles to us and I have to say they are fabulous and I know will take years for me to get anywhere near her expertise.  Still, I can hope.

Fingers crossed for some sunshine, enjoy this week everyone and I will be back on Wednesday with my mid-week musings.

Jill

TODAY'S GUEST BLOGGER IS....

Hello everyone, I'm Jill's guest blogger this week so let me start with a short introduction.  I'm Jan from  Handcrafted by Picto 

I love painting and all sorts of crafts, I 'play' around with wood, fabric, paper, clay and all manner of other mediums. I am originally from Merseyside but have lived the rural life in Suffolk for more than 20 years. I occasionally show my art work in local galleries and recently entered a couple of photographs into an exhibition and I'm pleased to say that I made my first photograph sale (I'm especially pleased as it's my first ever photographic exhibition).

I have a Folksy Shop http://folksy.com/shops/HandcraftedbyPicto  and a Wow Thank You Shop http://www.wowthankyou.co.uk/handcrafted-by-picto where I sell my 'makes', my most popular items are Name Plaques and Fairy Doors, I have a facebook page https://www.facebook.com/HandcraftedbyPicto where you can see a wider range of my crafts in the photograph albums.

I thought I'd talk a bit about selling my wares in a bricks and mortar shop, when I first decided to try this I asked advice from people who have already gone down this route, I searched the Internet for information and read anything I could on the subject. I found out that having products a bricks and mortar shop can be a minefield, there is so much to think about and so much to decide. Do I try the Sale or Return route or do I try Wholesale? Do you rent a shelf? Do I keep everything semi informal or do I have a cast iron contract? Most people will have their own preference, what is right for one person may not be right for the next but it's a good idea to set up some sort of agreement or contract, this is a business transaction after all.

Some things to consider (in no particular order) are:

• Pricing. Start with what you want for your product, the shop can then add their own mark-up or they may have a set commission.
• Promotion. Where and how will your items be displayed.
• Loss or Damage. Who is responsible for loss, theft, or damage.
• Statement of Ownership. Make sure that the shop cannot claim the goods as assets if they get into financial difficulties.
• Time Limit. Agree a time scale for changing any unsold items.
• Payment. How and when.
• Product. Are you putting the right product in the right type of shop?
• Location. Is it a local shop you can pop in to or do you have to send items in the post or travel great distances.

OK so do you remember that I said I sought advice? Yes, well, the first time I had anything in a real, walk in shop was against every piece of advice I'd been given or read about. As a trial I asked a friend, who owns a local gift shop, if I could place some of my paintings and plaques in the shop to see what kind of reception they would receive. We didn't have any contract, either written or verbal, the whole thing was done on trust. The items I chose for the shop done well and I was asked to do a few more. One of the reasons that they were successful was they suited the type of shop. Oshuns Emporium http://www.oshuns.co.uk/ sells lots of crystals, essential oils, incense and all manner of eco-friendly and handmade items, so my Green Man paintings, toadstool and nature paintings have done well there.

The second shop I approached sold baby clothes and nursery furniture so the items I chose for that shop were mainly Name Plaques, Art Holders and Bunting. I got lots of new orders and even though the shop has now closed I still get orders from 'repeat' customers.

I then moved on to a larger shop with more exposure Cavern 4 is a great Art Shop in Bury St Edmunds, http://workwise.org.uk/shop/cavern-4_shopk/ I approached them one day while out shopping, I didn't have any items with me but made an enquiry and left a business card. I contacted them a few days later and we set up an appointment, I took along a selection of items which were all accepted. Because this shop is used to dealing with Sale or Return items they had an agreement form already in place that was very fair to both parties.

Cavern 4 is part of Workwise whose aim is to provide work based training for adults with mental health and physical disabilities. They encourage self esteem and independence through work.

I have set up meetings with another couple of outlets and will be keeping my fingers crossed for successful replies.

Sale or Return has worked well for me, I find it gives me flexibility and is another way to get my work 'out there'. 

If you already sell in a shop I'd like to wish you Good Luck with all your endeavours and if you don't I like to say, give it a go, it could be just your thing.

Thank you for reading of my personal experience and a BIG Thank you to Jill for allowing me to take part in her Guest Blogger Spot.

I also blog over at Handcrafted by Picto, I hope you can pop over and say hello.