New Mother's Day cards now available....

Don't forget Mother's day is on 26th March 2017 and I've a selection of new designs available in my shop.....

New for 2017! 

Last year I tried my hand at calligraphy and I'm so excited to be able to introduce this into my range of cards. I've designed variations of a pretty, floral design as a contrast to the funny quote....

A floral design with butterflies stamped in yellow, orange and reds.

The following two cards were created using watercolour and stamping techniques....

I have also restocked this popular design....

What do you think?

To see the full available range visit my shop.

5 Tips for Finding Craft Ideas and Patterns Online....

I have a guest writer on the blog today. Cassie contacted me with an idea that I thought you would all like, five tips for finding craft ideas and patterns. If like me your go-to website is Pinterest (which is a great site, but you don't know what you are looking for or you want to try a different resource for a change) the following will give you more ideas to find inspiration. (I've added my penny's worth in italics)

Over to Cassie....

I want to first express my gratitude to Fiona for deciding to give me the opportunity to share some of my tips with her readers. fizzi~jayne’s blog has been one of my favourite resources to find crafting advice, and if you haven’t joined in on the #CraftBlogClub yet, I’d definitely recommend you do so! (Aw thanks Cassie, I promise I didn't ask her to write that!)

If you’re looking for some inspiration for your next craft project, the internet is one of the best places to turn. It’s easier than ever before to find patterns, tutorials and DIY projects on the net, many of which are completely free. You can typically access just about any craft site on your smartphone or tablet too, making it simple to complete creative projects while travelling or visiting a friend.

However, it can be time consuming finding worthwhile craft ideas and patterns online. If you don’t already know of some reputable websites or are looking for a wider variety, you might benefit from some tips! 

Here are five to help you out....

1.     Attend a Class on Craftsy

Craftsy contains not only craft ideas but also patterns. On Craftsy, you can select from a variety of classes to attend right from your computer, tablet or smartphone. Though all of the classes are virtual and lessons are taught through video instruction (which can make learning a little tricky depending on the project), you have access to discussion boards if you’d like some extra help and can also message the instructor when needed.

Each class is fairly inexpensive (many under $50/£38 and some as little as $20/£15), and if you don’t have the cash to spend on classes, you can still benefit from a Craftsy account, as there are often free classes. Every class comes with a money-back guarantee, though, so it’s definitely worth checking out! Your access to each class you enrol in never expires so you’ll always be able to log in on the site (or app) to view the videos (which are in high definition, of course!).

There’s really nothing not to love about Craftsy. Just be sure to protect your devices before using it (especially when using the app on a smartphone, laptop or tablet) because as mentioned here by Secure Thoughts, it can be somewhat risky streaming videos online when you don’t have the proper security software. 

I have signed up for a couple of their courses and I found them useful and inspiring. They often have sales and offers so worth signing up for an account at least.

2.     Purchase Patterns on Etsy

Etsy is an online marketplace dedicated to crafters and is a great site to find all sorts of patterns. Whether you’re looking for crochet, cross-stitch, or just sewing patterns, Etsy is sure to have something you’ll be interested in. Prices tend to vary, but you can find patterns for as low as $3/£2 (on Etsy UK they can be as cheap as 18p).

There are also patterns for paper crafts, and many come as digital downloads so you can store them on your computer. Etsy is especially nice since the majority of the patterns are made by the sellers so you may be able to find some unique patterns you wouldn’t find elsewhere. Overall, it’s a good choice if you have the money to spare, and there’s a large variety with more listings popping up regularly.

As well as Etsy there is Folksy and other handmade marketplaces that you can check out.

3.     Sign Up for CraftFoxes

CraftFoxes is an online crafting community and social network that allows you to create a free account and browse through a wide variety of different crafting projects in categories such as knitting, scrapbooking, jewellery making and more. Their site really has a little bit of everything, even recipes and gardening projects.

You can personalise your profile and upload your own project guides for others to benefit from, sell your handmade goods, post photos of your completed projects, and also participate in the forums where you can ask questions and chat with other crafters. The best thing about CraftFoxes, though, is that all of the projects listed are 100% free, so you can reserve your spending money for another time (or perhaps you might want to use it on supplies).

4.     Check Out Craft Supply Stores’ Websites

One of the best places on the net to find craft ideas and patterns is actually on craft supply stores’ websites. Many craft stores list a fair amount of how-to guides online to encourage shoppers to purchase their supplies from them for specific projects they’ve posted. Whether it’s a local craft store that you’ve visited or a store located in another area, you can find some great tips on their websites.

Some of my favourites are Michaels and Jo-Ann Fabrics and Craft Store, but if you visit the websites of your local craft stores, you may find some great inspiration as well. One perk of doing that as well (besides the tips of course) is that you can typically shop for all of the required materials and locate some money-saving coupons all in one visit to the website. 

For anyone based in the UK, Hobbycraft also share tutorials on their blog.  The suppliers you already use are likely to share tutorials on their websites so it's worth having a look.  

5.     Browse Through MarthaStewart.com

There was a time when Martha Stewart was basically the queen of crafting, at least in the eyes of Americans. She had a wonderful TV show and could inspire even the least crafty of folks to show off their creative side. Though her TV show is off the air now, that’s no reason to push her from our minds, as her website serves as an amazing resource for crafters of all skill levels!

On MarthaStewart.com, craft ideas aren’t the only thing you’ll find either. Her website can also bring out the chef in you and inspire you to throw a festive celebration for the holidays. She has tips posted to help you stay organised too and upcycle your old belongings into beautiful pieces of artwork that will liven up your home.

You can also shop on the site too since Martha Stewart has her own brand of craft supplies and other items (mostly housewares, of course). Most of all, her site may be one of the best for DIY projects, and it surprisingly has a nice selection of craft ideas for kids. It’s a page you won’t want to miss.

Other Ideas

No matter what type of craft you prefer or how much money you have to spend on your hobbies, using what the internet has to offer to your advantage is never a bad idea. There are countless craft projects listed on a ton of websites across the net, and they are most definitely not limited to only five sites. Even popular social media sites have a lot to offer the crafter (YouTube has a lot of DIY videos, for example).

So what are your favourite crafting websites and tips to finding patterns online? Please share them with us in the comments!

About Cassie

Cassie is both a crafter and entertainment blogger. When she isn’t busy writing for CultureCoverage.com, she’s often knitting in her living room or enjoying a class at her local craft supply store. You can follow Cassie on Twitter here.

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Thank you Cassie, for sharing your tips with us. One other website which I would recommend for knitters and crocheters is Ravelry. It's a great resource for patterns and some are even free. 

I hope you have found this useful, it certainly has reminded me about Craftsy and I will be checking out CraftFoxes.  As Cassie said, please share any other resources you use in the comments.

2015 Update...

We're one third of the way through 2015 and I thought it was a good time to check-in and see how I am doing with my goals that I set at the beginning of the year.....

Organise my admin
I now have a system and some pretty stationary, of course! I just need to keep on top of it which is easier said than done, but I have time planned in to do it, so I just need to do it! Which leads perfectly on to my second goal....

Less procrastination
I am getting better at this but it's still work in progress.  I think it helps that I am excited about my plans for this year but I'm also using some easy yet helpful tactics....

• I'm getting up earlier, I'm not a morning person so this is a personal achievement. 
• Regular breaks help. By stepping away from a piece of work to make a cuppa I can go back to it with a fresh outlook.
• I've turned off the notifications for any social media alerts on my phone and I only check these and my emails at set times during the day.

Relaunch my Folksy shop and launch a website
I had a lot of custom orders during February and March which were a pleasant surprise and they have kept me busy but my schedule has been pushed back. I have now limited the number of slots available for custom orders whilst I focus on the online side of my business and I get ready for the craft fairs I have booked.

I am in the process of adding my products on to my Folksy shop. My website is near completion and once I have tested it, launch should be next month. It has been a labour of love and I can't wait to share it with you.

Read more
This is one thing I'm not doing very well. I am behind in my Good Reads challenge and I have a pile of books I want to read. I may need to put my crochet hooks down to make the time!

Crafting 
I'm not learning any new crafts this year but instead immersing myself more in the ones I already enjoy to learn more techniques. So far I've been getting to grips with my new Silhouette Machine (Camilla). I introduced Camilla as part of the #CraftBlogClub challenge reveal where I share a couple of the projects I made.

Lose weight  
I've lost 14lbs so far, woo hoo! I'm not losing it quick enough so I may not fit in the dress I want to wear for my friend's wedding but it just means I'll have to go shopping, what a shame!!

As well as eating healthier and watching the calories I have been running with a club and signed up for a 10km run which is keeping me motivated.  Running is my me time outside of the craft den and I'm really enjoying it, even in the wetter and colder months I still went out, one time it was -4 degrees!

How are you getting on with your 2015 goals? Or have they been long forgotten?

fizzi~jayne x

fizzi~jayne makes.... is 2 years old....

Two years ago I launched a Facebook page and Folksy shop to start selling my cards. At first I didn't have any definite plans for fizzi~jayne makes...., it was friends and family who encouraged me to sell my creations and without them I would not have had the confidence to do it.  Who'd have thought 2 years on I would be doing it full time and developing new products in home décor! 

It is nearly a year ago when I took the plunge to become fizzi~jayne full time and I am so glad I did.  It's been hard work and a very steep learning curve!  I hope I have inspired others that it is possible, really it is! I have so many plans for fizzi~jayne makes.... and a lot of work still to do but I can't wait to make them a reality.

I am so grateful for the support I have from my customers and those around me, without you I would not be able to do what I love.

 

To celebrate my birthday I am offering 20% off in my Etsy and Folksy shops when you use code BIRTHDAY2 but it must end Sunday 21st September at 23:59.

 

To redeem:
Etsy  shoppers ~ enter the above code at the checkout and the discount will be deducted. 
Folksy customers ~ please enter the code in the "note to seller" box and I will refund the saving before dispatch. Unfortunately Folksy do not have the option for sellers to offer discounts at the moment so this is the only way I can do it.

I have added a few new products to my shops (including Christmas!) so now is a great time to go shopping.

Thank you
fizzi~jayne x

Free UK delivery this weekend....

 

 

 

If you live in the UK, this weekend is a Bank Holiday, yay!! So to celebrate I am offering free UK delivery until Bank Holiday Monday.

 

Visit my Etsy shop and enter code FREEUKDEL at checkout and the discount will be automatically deducted.

 

If you are a Folksy customer enter the code in the "Note to Seller" and I will refund the shipping costs before dispatch.

 

Offer ends Monday 25th August 2014 at 23:59 (GMT)

 

Only available for UK postal addresses

 

Happy shopping!

 

fizzi~jayne x



#CraftBlogClub ~ selling your crafts....

I hosted #CraftBlogClub this week and the topic for our chat was about selling our crafts, discussing the opportunities and challenges and offering hints and tips.

It was an interesting chat that raised a lot of topics.  Below is a summary but it was a meaty discussion that we got our teeth into so make sure you have a cuppa ready and are sitting comfortably to read this....

Folksy Vs Etsy
I like Folksy because they are British and it's not as saturated with sellers as Etsy (yet!) so it feels easier to stand out.

Etsy is a huge marketplace that is known globally.  Whereas the benefit of this is you reach customers around the globe but you are up against lots of competition.

I have a shop with both and I like them both for different reasons. I like Folksy because I will support British where possible and I have had more success with them.  However, Etsy allow me to offer discount codes to reward my customers, help drive sales and measure the effectiveness of after sales from craft fairs.

Here are what other #CraftBlogClub peeps think....

@Dainty and Ivory - I've been trying on Etsy but nothing yet!
@Flutterby Button - I find it really hard to stand out on Etsy now, seems saturated. 
 
My advice is to look at the shops that are featured plus Folksy show best selling brands on their homepage.  Make notes as to why you think they have success.  Is it because of their imagery, their descriptions, the type of products they sell or the price points they sell at?  Check out your competition and make a plan of attack!

If you are an Etsy seller you need to sign up for their newsletters which offer lots of advice and support for their sellers.

Facebook
I asked if anyone has sold via their Facebook page....
@jet011 I have but only to people I am already friends with on there
@IcySedgwick I get a lot of people showing interest on FB but no sales

I have made a sale via my Facebook page and people can buy from me directly but it's main purpose for me is to see what fizzi~jayne is up to and find out about promotions & new products.  It also is a portfolio of my work past and present. 

@IcySedgwick has blogged about the challenges of Facebook's algorithms here 

Craft Fairs
I've talked a lot about craft fairs recently on this blog, here are what others were saying....

@Flutterby Button has more success with craft fairs, especially around Christmas etc.
@hookstitch - October through January are my main big selling months
@TheWrightCoach sometimes it depends on where the fair is, it needs to be central and have passing trade.  It's better if all the products are handmade crafts

Knowing who your customer is helps product development and pricing which is why I like craft fairs to meet people

It's important to get your brand out there and I would recommend to sell in more than one place to be seen. You need to focus your time on what is right for you and your brand and the way to find out is to try out different places to sell.

What do you do to promote your products and shops?
@EmmaRuthJones I'm planning a variety of things at the moment, driving traffic via blog and more interaction on Twitter
@LoveAmyBecca Twitter is a good place, as is Pinterest and through my blog

Photography 
Good imagery is key to selling online....
@hookstitch having that great eye catching photo is a must.
@LoveAmyBecca recommends a mini light studio for photos, we bought one for £30 and it's brilliant
@IcySedgwick I like to take my photos outside on an overcast day - clear lighting but no harsh shadows

Teaser alert! ~ I have blog posts planned dedicated to photography in July, including a guest post from a photographer offering tips

As well as good images describing the features and benefits of the product are key to sales. For every feature add why that is a benefit to your customer.  This article from Craftseller offers advice on writing engaging descriptions

Pricing
@Kay_O My struggle would be pricing, because it would never reflect the time/effort
This is a common challenge. Never undersell yourself! you have a skill that has a value and costs to cover
@TheWrightCoach We tend to cost materials & time and then look on Folksy and see what similar items are being sold for
@IcySedgwick I have an hourly rate, plus the cost of materials.

What you also need to consider is any depreciation of tools you use.  For example a printer will need to be replaced at some point.

Doing what you love and being able to earn money from it is an amazing feeling but it can be frustrating when sales are quiet.  My advice to those who are feeling despondent is it takes time to build brand awareness and a regular customer base. I am at the early stages of my business plan so I am not making record sales yet but it is a journey! I have a plan with small steps to achieve that will keep me focussed and less likely to feel disheartened. 

So if you are a seller or thinking of selling my advice is to follow your dreams, persevere, be patient, have a plan and have good friends & family on hand who can give you a pep talk when you are not feeling so positive.

Just give it a go, who knows what is possible until you try.




Source



It was a great chat for me as I am passionate about offering support to others wanting to sell and make a living from their talents. 

I recommend following the below on Twitter, they regularly post useful articles on selling and you should check out their websites which are full of resources:
Claire Hughes and Polly Dugdale from Handmade Horizons
Design Trust
Enterprise Nation

Is there a topic you need advice on? Let me know, I am happy to share my knowledge and experience and what I don't know I will find out.

fizzi~jayne  x 
 
Pssst.... I am next hosting #CraftBlogClub on 17th June.  The topic is yet to be decided but if you would like to chat about anything craft or blog related let me know. 

New products and a saving for this weekend only!!....

This week I have been busy adding new products to my Etsy and Folksy shops.  They have been a little neglected recently as I have been busy with customer orders and getting ready for craft fairs.

I used the craft fair in New Milton to test some new products and I got a great response about these coasters from customers....

 

I was inspired by my love of funny and inspiring quotes.  For the packs of 4 coasters I used the decoupage techniques inspired in a previous #CraftBlogClub challenge.

 

The coasters are glazed twice to protect the artwork from hot mugs and makes them easy to wipe clean. It is important to me that my products are fit for purpose so I tested prototypes this included drinking lots of hot drinks, (it's a hard life!). They also have cork mat on the back to protect surfaces.

 

I have also added wall hangings to my collection and I have one left from my stall which can be found in my shops....



 
I added  more cards to my range, some of which co-ordinate with the coasters.

To celebrate the launch of my new products, and it's a bank holiday yay! I am offering 20% off everything in my shop!! (excludes P&P). 

To receive this great offer use the code MAY20B at the checkout of my Etsy shop and the discount will automatically be deducted.  To shop in my Folksy store, use the same code in the note to seller and I will refund the saving before dispatch.  Unfortunately Folksy do not have the option for sellers to offer discounts so this is the only way I can give you a discount via Folksy.

This offer must end Bank Holiday Monday 5th May 2014, so don't miss out!

To see all the new additions to my range and to take advantage of my 20% off go to either my Etsy or Folksy shop.

I hope you like my new products

fizzi~jayne  x 

Berkhamsted Artisans Art & Crafts Market....

I had my first stall at the Berkhamsted Artisans Art & Crafts Market last Sunday, there were other newbies there which was nice and there was a great camaraderie feel about it. 

There wasn't much footfall, it was thunder, lightning and generally a miserable wet day (thankfully it was an indoor market, I felt for the farmer's market that was outside!).  It was the sort of day if I didn't have to leave my house I wouldn't have so I can imagine a lot of people stayed in the dry and who can blame them!  The good news is everyone was in the same boat so although sales were low, it wasn't just me.


All set up and ready to go



Me and my stall

I produced a flyer with an exclusive 10% off promo code to use in my Etsy shop so I can track how many customers have visited my shop and bought my cards since seeing my stall.  It is a shame Folksy don't do promotional codes yet, there are lots of requests on the forums so hopefully they will get this sorted soon as is a great way to track success of any kind of marketing and in this instance the craft market.

Free sweets!

I need to improve my sales technique, which is odd seeing as my career has been in marketing and most recently I spent my day writing features and benefits for toilets, yep toilets! The trouble is it is now personal and I find it hard to big myself up but the more I do it the more I will improve. One of my strengths has always been my people skills, so I need to get a grip and just talk to potential customers like I would anybody else and let my bubbly self shine!

Sales = 2 :-(

Business cards/ promo leaflet taken = lots, I lost count but I certainly am reassured that they were interested in my cards and with the promo code I can track how true this is.

New ideas for my display = 7

My next one is 17th November, with it being closer to Christmas I hope it will be more successful, plus I am working on some exciting new products and displays, watch this space....

 

Who else has recently had a stall at a craft fair?  Was it a success? I would love to hear about it....

My main thought this week has been....

What is my niche? 

In an earlier post, Why do I need a plan?, I asked myself the questions, what am I going to sell to hit those sales numbers? What is my niche? 

Online is a huge marketplace, if I only look at Folksy and Etsy, the amount of talented makers & sellers are impressive. 

So how do I compete? I need to stand out and have a niche. 

I love making cards, it is what I have become known for but it is a saturated marketplace.  What makes me stand out, my USP (Unique Selling Point) in marketing speak.  My intention was always to do more than cards and I now have the time to explore the other areas of craft I love ~ I love constructing 3D designs from paper and card, I sew (my degree is in Fashion), I enjoy cross stitch, photography and I have recently taught myself to make jewellery. 

 

What is a niche....

A niche = Your specialism + Your target customer

                                        

Benefits of a niche....

• What I become famous for - an expert in that field, making it easier to stand out from the crowd and get noticed
• Easily defined product
• Easily defined market.  By knowing who my customer is keeps marketing costs low, customer loyalty high and deeper revenue with those customers

 

By thinking about the following will help me find my niche....

• Values - Quality of product and service.  I hate poor service and not getting value for money.  Good quality supplies are important to me, I also aim to buy British where I can and support our economy.  I want to be known for excellent customer service, treat my customers how I like to be treated.
• Passions - creating, designing, making pretty things that makes someone feel special - so not product specific but a start
• Talents - I am not very good at blowing my own trumpet but I would say I have a talent in designing, a good eye for colour and I am creative, all of which I hope shows through my products
• Ideal clients - This is tough as ideally, anyone who buys!  A question posed to me was which customers challenge me and who do I enjoy working with?

So I need to do some more work to find my niche and be able to answer the above, so the plan is....

• Product - Cards will always have a place in my range but what else can I create to complement them?  I will now have the time to try all the different projects I want to do and test different markets, not only what sells but what I love doing.  The way I am going to do this is make products relating to a theme and have a "collection" for example Christmas is a great theme to create a range of products.
• Online sales - Both Etsy and Folksy provide stats for my page and I also use Google Analytics which is free. By looking at these I can see what has been viewed and purchased.  The disadvantage of online is you can see what products are looked at but you don't know why they didn't buy
• Craft fairs - This will fill in the gaps that online stats don't answer.  Craft fairs and markets are great for free market research, I'm going to speak to people to find my ideal customer, what they like about my products, what they buy and who buys them and what turns them off. 

I have a stall at Berkhamsted Town Hall tomorrow, it is my first time at the Berkhamsted Artisans Art & Craft Market, I am really looking forward to it and if you can come along it would be great to see you but if you can't make it don't worry, I will be posting pictures on my Facebook page and on Twitter during the day and you can be sure to read all about it here in a future post....

Berkhamsted Town Hall Postcode is HP4 3AP

 

 

Why do I need a plan....

So why a 5 year plan? Why not a 1 year or 10 year plan?  The company I work for has a 5 year plan and having worked in retail/marketing for the past 11 years this concept is not new to me.  When one of the case studies at the Folksy Summer School mentioned she had one, it was the first thing on my to do list.  Whatever business you have you need a plan and having small, achievable goals is a good way to check in and make sure you are on target to reaching the ultimate goal. 

The goal is personal to you and ultimately is what success means to you.  Success to me is:

• Being able to make enough money from my passion that I no longer need to supplement my income by working for someone else. 
• Have regular customers
• Being an expert in my field

On the internet you can find many a template for a business plan,  I've come up with my own headings to consider:

Income ~ Am I able to earn enough from fizzi~jayne straight away? The reality of course is sadly no, but can I afford to go part time, or how long do I need to stay full time for?  These are all things I need to consider and plan. First thing I need to work out is how much income I need to pay the bills.  Thankfully I have a supportive husband so I can afford to earn a lower income than what I am used to. 

Sales Forecasts  ~ By knowing how much I can sell will help me know what income I will have from fizzi~jayne and how much I need to earn from another job.  Any forecasting I have done at work is days spent looking at trends and past sales, unfortunately I don't have a lot to go on as I have only been "trading" for a year and that is when I can fit it around work. What is the possibility if I were doing it full~time?  Ok, so a different approach required, how much revenue and profit would I like to earn in 5 years time?   Is it achievable (a bit of tweaking), reduce further, there we go, something more realistic. This feels a little finger in the air for my liking but its the best I can do right now. 

Product ~ What am I going to sell to hit those sales numbers? What is my niche?  I am known for my cards but I have so many ideas and projects I want to try out.

Workshops ~ One thing I have been thinking about is other ways to earn crafty cash and to share my passion and knowledge.  Hosting workshops is something I would like to do, but when is the right time to do this?

Customer ~ Who am I going to target?  At the moment I sell to anyone who will buy but by knowing your customer, marketing costs are low and customer loyalty is high.  By knowing my customer I will know how much to sell my products for, where to sell them and how to advertise.

Marketing ~ Once I know who my customer is, how am I going to target them?

Place ~ Where am I going to sell? Currently,  I have 2 online shops on Folksy and Etsy and I have craft fairs booked.  Long term do I want to sell to retailers, have my own website?

Where will I work? ~ currently I work from my spare room (aka my craft den) but it would be nice to have a place of work to go to with other like~minded people in a studio.

So I haven't got much of a plan just lots of thoughts and questions to answer. Ahh! too much to think about and how am I going to achieve it whilst I work full time and without burning out??!  The positive me says "Where there is a will there is a way" and "short term pain for long term gain".  Coincidentally at the end of the 5 years it will be my 40th Birthday, eek!!  Time for a G&T....

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....