Hiatus Hippo

Hi everyone,

Just letting you all know whats going on, and why I've dissapeared.

Turns out Third Year Architecture has very intense periods at times, and now is one of them. So I'll be doing very little in the way of posting either here or on the MOTL blog until things calm the heck down. So apologies :)

I'll leave you with this bunch of awesome however:

A lovely feature on the Gin in a Teacup blog, from her purchase from me at Unwrapped.

And this necklace I found on etsy (which has a sleek new look, not sure I'm a fan though.)



xx Lauren

Just Bought my First How -To Indie Biz Book

I think if I should be taking advice from anyone, its these chaps. And frankly, anything endorsed by Emily Martin, oh lady-of-a-zillion-sales, has got to have some nuts and bolts about it.

Here's what the author's website has to say about the book (read more HERE)

It’s an exciting new world for crafters. Handmade is hip, creativity is what the market wants, and there are many profitable sales opportunities that didn’t exist a few short years ago. For crafters who have more confidence running a sewing machine than setting up a Web site, The Handmade Marketplace breaks down and makes sense of the global possibilities for marketing and selling crafts.

First, determine the right price for every item — not too expensive and definitely not too cheap. Whether the product is beaded jewelry or felted slippers, illustrations or tote bags, author Kari Chapin helps crafters determine cost of goods, market competition, and the pros and cons of wholesale and retail sales. If the price is right, customers will buy.

Then it’s on to selling. The boom in indie craft fairs and sites such as Etsy (”Your place to buy & sell all things handmade”) is providing artisans with an ever-expanding marketplace for handcrafted items. Chapin demystifies every venue. She explains the guidelines that craft fairs impose on exhibitors, the typical yearly calendar of shows, and how to start a new craft fair.

For the crafter interested in online sales, there are tips on styling and propping crafts for photographs and technical explanations of how the most popular Web marketplaces run. Traditional brick and mortar consignment stores are still very good options for many crafters. Chapin explains how to approach shopkeepers and build strong relationships.

Wrapping everything up with media advice and tips on how to get the word out, The Handmade Marketplace is the sales and marketing bible that today’s crafters need.

I'll let you know how I like it when it comes in the next few weeks.

Inspiration - 18th Feb

frankie #33 p88-9

Super Breakfast and A New Design... Pretty good 24 hours I'd say.

Pretty proud of myself really.

Ages ago I got a trunk of old fabrics and crafting stuff from a family friend, and it got put in the shed while I finished my year at uni, which can get pretty intense (think crying fits from stress, sleep deprivation and an unhealthy relationship with both coffee and certain energy drink). So up until last night I had completely forgotten it was there, and got really excited when I pulled it open and all its treasures were revealed. I felt like a crafty pirate with enviable bounty! But thought it best to start off using the more sedate stuff for my first time trying the lined zipper tutorial from HERE, just in case i messed up big time. Alterations I made to the pattern was I squared the corners to give the pouch volume, and included embellishments during construction as well as after. Turns out I could have used the really nice stuff as it went really well, and was much easier to follow than anticipated. I recommend you give it a go!

Right. Stop talking, start with the pictures!




And the second part of my pleasantness from this day was from my VERY late brekky. At my mums house there is a great mini orchard down the side of the property, and as luck would have it, this year the birds have completely ignored the fig tree, which has given us possibly the best harvest ever since we arrived 5 years ago. Which means I get snacks during the day, yoghurt/honey/figs for dessert and buttered toast with extra toppings!




Plus a really great cup of Earl, glass of OJ, and leftover sago pudding made from cute little tapioca pearls that were bright green, pink and white from an amasing asian grocer on William Street. Its made with coconut cream, palm sugar and other yummies!

So all in all, a pretty good day.

xx

A sad Goodbye to Fame

This is what I assume to be the last etsy press post for a while, as I am yet to be convinced that my Twenty Kisses brooch was more than a press-whore fluke (surprisingly though, not one sale as yet *sighs*)

Front Page for one of my Ingrid Frame pendants. Click image for links to items.

And a cute feature on etsy's blog, the storque, make sure you go and look at all the other fantastic items featured HERE.

I'm really excited about where Pip and Emily is heading into the future!

xx

Crafternoon - Niina's Post

Head on over to Niina's blog to read her expose on our pincushion adventure. You will notice immediately the improvement on style, cuteness, and photography skills that Niina has in comparison to me. Gah.

image from Niina's blog

Oh, and just to whet your crafty appertite a bit more, I wanna show you something I just finished (its 2.20am in the morning) tomorrow. Lets hope I remember.

xx

Once-A-Month-Sew-And-Tell :: January!

Take a look at what the club did during January over at our flickr group, I'm very proud to say that there was a bigger turnout than I had expected... to be honest I thought only me and one other person would pull through, but five of us managed a January project, so I'm happy!



Our projects:
Lauren - I had a really ambitious project in mind, but that got shelved for February and so I made a little vintage fabric skirt instead.
Amanda - Tried her hand at shirring using a different method to usual, and her daughter loved it!
Lara - Made a bag for her mother using a very cool pattern, but stopped short of chopping up her mum's old leather jacket for material.
Jen - Made her top in two hours! Amasing, especially as she had to struggle with slinky fabric. I hate sewing wth slinky fabric. She's going to make another one with different fabric later on.

The fifth person is Thea, my mother, but she's been wearing her top so much I havnt had a chance to take a photo of it yet. :)

Feel free to join us if you need a kick up the butt to get into sewing regularily.

The flickr link is here if you'd like to look at our projects in more detail and join up, and the original introductory post is here.