My Month in pics ~ August....

August has been an busy and exciting month, it started off with a wedding of some dear friends....

Cards I made for the happy couple ~ An order from a friend for the couple on the right and the card from me on the left.  Both were designed based on the invitation.

I loved the table centre pieces, so much of the wedding was beautifully handmade.  An arty shot of the hubby's button hole, he was one of 5 best men all of who were called Matt, seriously!

A friend of mine is having her first baby soon and to celebrate I hosted a baby shower for her....

The theme was afternoon tea. Other than the date and time the whole event was a surprise.

All the guests contributed by baking and bringing food.  A friend had a vintage tea set from her wedding, which made it look so pretty!

I made a book for her, I asked everyone to send me photos with their messages for the Mum to be and I put it all together.  It was a big job but so worth it and she loved it!

Inside the book.

I gave everyone party bags full of Jelly babies
 

I was so surprised when these gorgeous flowers arrived the next day as a thank you from the Mum to Be! I am so pleased she had a good time, phew!

I can't believe it has been a year since the Folksy Summer School! It was here that I decided to start this blog and decided I could make a business out of my passion!

I still think it is pretty cool that the Prime Minister turned up at the Home Business Summit

I am still in awe of the Corner shop.  You can read about my trip to the shop made of felt here
 

 
 I had another day out of the Craft Den ~ Wedding Dress Exhibit at the V&A/ Poppies at the Tower of London / The Cock at Trafalgar Square outside of the National Gallery. Read more about my day in London here
 

Custom orders have been keeping my busy this month ~ New Home card/ Happy 8th Birthday Fearne / Belated Birthday card for Janie 

 
 1st Anniversary Card / Congratulations to Sharan and Sean celebrating their wedding / 1st Anniversary card based on a New York theme.

Before I go here is some work in progress from Instagram....

 

 

September is set to be an exciting month, can't wait!....

 

fizzi~jayne x

Book Review ~ Turn Your Talent Into A Business by Emma Jones....

I was given this book -Turn Your Talent into a Business, as a gift a couple of years ago just after I decided to start fizzi~jayne makes.... and it gave me the confidence and advice I needed to go for it!  When I took on the venture full time I thought I should read it again and brush up on my knowledge.

I like this book as it covers all aspects of starting a business and takes you step by step through the process. It also takes into account that you may be starting a business whilst working in a full time job and working from home, so it is realistic.

In this book you will discover how to:

• Make sales beyond your friends and family
• Promote your brand
• Register your company and manage your finances
• Embrace technology to save you time and money
• Create a support network and work with partners
• Above all, it shows you how to make money from doing what you love!

It includes top tips with case studies along the way from people who have successfully made the leap. It is a good introduction to all aspects of starting a business.

It highlights the amount of resources available to small, start up businesses which you may not be aware of, I know I wasn't.  Various useful websites are cited throughout the book to check out.

I found it really useful and I am sure I will refer to it again for advice along my journey. 

This book is perfect for anyone who has a hobby, passion or skill whether it is baking, sewing, painting or a writer and wants to make money from it.  So if you are starting out or thinking about it I would recommend picking up this book.

About the author....

This is a book from a business perspective not a crafter. Emma Jones is a successful business owner, she started her first business at the age of 27 and sold it 2 years later.  She successfully runs Enterprise Nation which "help people turn their passions into great businesses".  I saw her talk at the Folksy School 2013 and I attended a free event she organised about Social Media last week (more about this in another post soon).  I admire her passion and she really knows what she is talking about.

My Inspiring book mark for my business books.  It helps me keep focused whenever I doubt myself and my ability.

I am now reading Handmade Marketplace which was one of my leaving pressies from my 9-5.  This book is by a crafter and it will be interesting to compare it to this book (there will be a book review but I'm not the fastest reader so be patient with me!).  You can see what is on my reading list on the right of my blog and any business/craft books will have its review here.

fizzi~jayne x

Disclaimer: Amazon links are affiliate links

The turning point....

So this is my first post....and I'm looking at a blank screen thinking where do I begin, I guess I'll start at the beginning.  I don't want to repeat the "About Me" section so to summarise.... Art student enters real world and has a career in an office looking at spreadsheets, (yawn), so makes cards for family and friends to stay arty and be creative, fast forward to 16th September 2012 and fizzi~jayne makes.... is born. 

 

I started to get regular customers, receive good feedback so I  started to wonder if I could do this full time.  I then doubted myself and dismissed it as a silly idea, I was brought up to  believe the way to make a living is to work for a company where it is a guaranteed wage coming in with a pension plan. The turning point for me to think "you know what, I can do this!" was at the Folksy Summer School held in an idyllic location of Ecclesall Woods in Sheffield back in August.  It was a jam packed weekend full of inspirational speakers and I came away buzzing. 

There were some amazing speakers.... Patricia van den Akker of The Design Trust, a seriously passionate and inspirational speaker.  I was so pleased I made time for the workshop on product photography class with Lyndsey James. It was great to hear Emma Jones of Enterprise Nation speak, I read one of her book, Your Talent into a Business,  which I recommend. Since hearing Polly Dugdale of Handmade Horizons speak I am now attending their online course on Christmas ecommerce. 



My new notebook especially for going back to school





Handmade Pom Poms lead us to the classroom



I came away from the weekend full of drive and ambition and the realisation I need a plan.  

It was Tilly Walnes of Tilly and the Buttons (and The Great British Sewing Bee fame) who was speaking at the Folksy School that inspired me to start this blog.  I want to write about my journey, my highs and lows to hopefully inspire and support others wanting to start their own creative business and share my love and passion of craft.

I hope you will join me on this crafty ride....