Make 50: Weeks 41 and 42…. and um… 20.

I’ve been trying to figure out why I had a picture missing in my Make 50 set on Flickr. Turns out I jumped from Week 19 to 21. Oops. So here’s three new things to share…

Gardening cufflinks

Glitter cuff (not available for sale as has been sent off for secret project)

Haberdashery paperweight

Only 8 more to go 🙂 In other news I am working on my own range of moulds, just hoping the quotes for production aren’t too scary! I will also be selling more unusual colour of dye in a new Etsy shop as well as on www.pennydog.com

There’s still a bit of time to sign up for the first Rothley Craft Farm workshops too, including the resin jewellery workshop with me! Have a look at www.rothleycraftfarm.com for more information!

Advertisement

Rothley Craft Farm

Things are coming together, waiting on some more products for display in the gallery area, but this is a nice image that doesn’t reflect on the emptiness of the rest of the room 😉

I also got the workshop room all tidied up, going to get another table to seat more people, however…

And I’m taking bookings NOW for workshops if you fancy having a little look at what is on. The website is still under construction so please forgive the lack of pictures and the ordering system isn’t implemented yet. However I am taking bookings and can send you pictures, etc so if you would like further information please don’t hesitate to contact me, and also pass this on to anyone who may be interested 🙂

199 post giveaway!

I’ve had 199 posts in under a year and to celebrate I’m having a giveaway! Rather than wait until I’ve had 200 posts, I need your help in solving a problem that’s been going around my head this afternoon…

For your chance to win, I need a comment on this post with a suggestion for a name for my craft workshops. These workshops will run in evenings and weekends and teach a variety of crafts and skills by a variety of skilled tutors, from my farmhouse home in rural(ish) Leicestershire. I was thinking Rothley Contemporary Crafts, but ideally I’d like a mix of contemporary and traditional, so that won’t work. I also want a name that says what I do, so calling it “The Craft Atelier” isn’t hugely obvious to Joe Public. So I need your suggestions, from the simple and obvious, to wacky and original! The winner will be judged by myself based on the best name suggested, and who knows, I might just use it!

The prize will be tailored to the winner, based on their favourite colours, hobbies, etc, but you are guaranteed a piece of jewellery, some sweeties and some craft materials (if you craft) inside a lovely PennyDog tote bag! *cue OOOOH from the audience*

The competition is open for a week, so you have until midnight Thursday 4th June (GMT) to get commenting, and a winner will be announced shortly after- good luck!

Make 50: Week 13 – Wear Your Heart on Your Sleeve and Rothley Contemporary Crafts!

Something came to my head whilst walking the dog this morning so I knocked up a quick prototype. I was basically thinking about bracelets with heart on with photos in for a “Wear your heart on your sleeve” range and promotion, and I was thinking about a cufflink range for men with a similar idea. Then I thought I could combine the two by making a shirt cuff for a bracelet and having the heart as a cufflink fastener, so I duly learned to sew buttonholes!

This is the prototype, though I plan to go charity shopping for old “real” shirt fabric, and make these to order with keepsakes/photos/stuff inside the resin piece, as well as some off-the-shelf ones. I used a heart piece I had lying around so I am aware the colours don’t go, but what do you think of the concept- will it work?

The outside fabric is cotton, reinforced with interfacing and backed with felt. The cufflink is entirely detachable (so you can swap and change and design your own style within the range once it gets going).

Also, big news- I’m moving house! We are soon to pay the deposit on a part 13th Century farmhouse with pig sty and “cheese roome”, with some milking sheds too, so I am planning on holding crafting workshops now that I have a designated studio and shop/showroom space as you enter the front door! The plan is for the house entrance to be via the courtyard at the rear and the shop to be through the front entrance. It’s all very exciting! If you would like to teach workshops here (based opposite the old green in the large village of Rothley not too far from Leicester) on evenings and weekends every once in a while- or even a one off- in a contemporary craft for either adults or kids, please contact me with your project ideas, how long it will take and hourly wage. Once this gets underway I am happy to deal with the marketing and promotion of your workshop, and discuss material costs and extra facilities necessary.

The sort of thing that I’m looking for is candle making, soap making, kids jewellery, silversmithing, felt jewellery, textile art, embroidery, plush toy making, eco crafts, simple homewares, bag making, tailoring and basically anything else you think I have missed off- I have resin casting covered though thanks 😉

Now for a name, I’m toying with “Rothley Contemporary Crafts” but not sure if this is too boring, so accepting ideas for this too!