Sales :)

Actually making some progress with the store. Made two sales in the same week, already got my feedback for one and I'm still waiting on the other as it went on a much longer journey to America! Fingers crossed the pony pair featured in my last post have made it there safely, although I do have a feeling customs will slow things down considerably. Atleast now I have the experience of filling in the customs stickers, as I've never posted that far before.

Since then I've been suffering from a few down days, as I'm unemployed and the job market is very hard and competitive either for low end work. But my creativity is bumbling along in the form of miniature bracelets for dollfie/Ball Jointed Dolls (BJD). I've secretly wanted one since I came across them when I was 17... so that's nearly 10 years of 'I just can't justify it!' that's why I have decided that the proceeds from my store are going to go towards my dream of owning a BJD. Unfortunately you do need a minimum of £700 to get started.... so I have quite a ways to go. And doubly more daunting is that the doll I planned for doesn't seem to be available in my country anymore as the english website has been down for a while... still I may eventually find one second hand. It's a Dolkot Kiss Boy in white skin. Sad face!

Keeping the crafting dream alive is helping with the stress of looking for work. I think if I didn't have so many interests I would be in a bad way right now. But I do have alot to be grateful for so I should really not complain ever! Anyway my plan for toay is to get my photos and products uploaded and to rejoin Den of Angels (the most definitive BJD community) so that I can eventually advertise there too. Keeping my fingers crossed for my page views for my store! :)

Plushie Madness

Whoever invented craft felt is a genius, or at the very least, a joy-giver.

Just cruising about the net I stumbled on a Free My Little Pony FIM Style Plushie Pattern. Now anyone that is close to me knows that I totally heart that animation, but I don't think I could ever do justice to the series by trying to replicate a character (despite the official merchandise not always being accurate, I just prefer to support them by buying not making!).

However, I have enjoyed adapting the pattern to make my own unicorns and deers, to try and sell. I already have this pair up for sale:

Meet Farfire and Tide, a unicorn couple standing about 10cms high, not including horns. I've also made a pink pegasus for my mother, and I have a stag and doe pair ready to be photographed and put up for sale :) I know I'm just riding the high of accomplishing something that is actually relatively small in the scheme of things but I still feel proud of my efforts...

Now that I'm more confident with felt, I'm definitely going to try and make some patterns from scratch! Should help with the insomnia :S

Bracelet Bonanza

Don't ask me how, but I recently realised I have an abundance of glass beads. I guess it was just a slow accumulation over time, but yesterday I actually put them to good use and made some bracelet sets.

I think I like my "Dragons Breath"...

...and "Candy Baby" sets the best.

But I have five up in my Etsy Shop now :) Which is about fifteen bracelets altogether- not bad for an afternoons work!

I've also just started a sewing machine course and I'm loving it so much. Had a sewing machine for two years and never used it (much to my mothers dismay) but now I've nearly completed my first canvas tote bag! I will have to put up pictures when it is done :)

I only have three classes left (six hours) so I want to learn how to put a zip in to something (pencil case? I do love my stationary!) and I also want to learn how to do some pattern cutting, since I've been winging it so far. That should put me in good stead! 

Gimme gimme gimme those tutorials!

I think a combination of job hunting, long commutes and little funds are making me really appreciate the appeal of a crafter's life. Here's to the dream of a future life with more time to create happiness! Tutorials GO!

1. Loving this Festive Wreath at the HipHop Sideproject. I'd love to do a colour pop version one day, maybe so spring pastels theme with a splash of neon :)

2. Omfg I want to make a blanket out of these Mollie Flowers from the Roman Sock! Nice simple crochet starter too (I have two hooks and have yet to crack them out of the cases :P )

3. Uhhhh reused Vintage Book Bag tutorial anyone? Yes please!

4. Sometimes simplicity is best. I think I need to invest in some quality glue and some sequins for a Scandinavian Inspired Star Garland. Just think of all the little cutesy shapes and colours could be used.

5.  Reminds me of my childhood :) Make a Rubber Stamp! I used to collect rubbers (before a tragic radiator accident :( ) and I had some plain ones that I'd cut little shapes into, quite fancy picking some up again!

Motivation is fickle, so I'm grabbing it by the horns!

Hello thar!
So yes, I started off pretty fragmented with this blog, but I have come to realise that I need to give myself a kick up the backside and get myself a proper routine.

My problem has been not only facing the frustration of being a temp worker, and worrying about where the next paycheck is coming from, but also letting my laziness get the better of me in my personal time, which has led me to feel so frustrated and unfilfilled creatively.

So me and one of my best friends are soon going to be starting a sewing course once a week where I can finally learn to use the sewing machine my mother got me TWO YEARS AGO (the shame of it! lol). And to get things rolling again we're going to devote one evening a week to full-on crafting.

I'm finally getting on top of things with my shop and I'm finally putting in the effort to talk to socialise and admire other crafters out there.

I've also fallen madly, undeniably in love with Mollie Makes Magazine and I'm desperate for a subscription! It's a mag that truly highlights the cream of the crop when it comes to crafting and it is jam-packed with beautiful photography, templates and awesome free-gifts. I only have two copies out of 11 so far, but I think some of the back issues are actually digitally downloadable. I'm going to add the blog to my favourite links too :) Highly recommended! Grab a copy ASAP.

Anyway, I'm going to be updating this blog with my favourite links, plans to come, and (fingers-crossed) some photos of the projects I've completed recently.

Two words: miniature homecrafts!

x

:D hurrah for good luck and good friends

On the day that I'm offered a full time position at a new job, I also sold my first Mother Hen and Chicklette set!

I really hope the new owner likes them both /fingers crossed/. Could really use the feedback XD lol.

I also have to say a special thanks to The Bibliophile, who I've known for years (yet I am still the half-arsed one in the friendship!), for featuring my chickens in one of her posts (found here). I really wasn't expecting her to so it really made me happy to see that!

I'd really like to do some felt christmas robins in the next few weeks but everything is very up in the air at the moment. Quitting two part time jobs and moving on to training for this new one is going to be a bit of a shock to the system but it is desperately needed (both financially and for my sanity! I'm sure I will be able to fit my crafting in soon enough :) And the new revenue will atleast give me enough of a cash injection to cover my bills, some debts and potentially more crafting projects :D Awwww yeah.

Please keep your fingers crossed for me, as this good luck is so out of the ordinary, I still feel that it may fall through at any moment!

The Beginning

It's where we all have to start!

Hi, my name is Lila, I'm 25 years old and I'm a secret crafter no longer.

I guess it's always when you feel the most pressure that you get in tune to how you really feel about yourself and what you want to do with your life. I think I was disappointed with university way before it ended but I was in denial. I live in a small community so finding work when you can't drive is extremely hard and full of frustration!

I've always painted or drawn or done creative writing over the years, but those are hard areas to profit from in hard times if you don't live it and breathe it day and night. Now I've realised that all I have is time really, and with whatever scraps I have lying around I might as well make the best of it.

My mother recently purchased some chickens, which are excellent fun, and she loved them so much I wanted to make a chicken themed gift for her as a thank you for all her help in putting me up after uni (she really is the best mum in the world!). That led to me sketching out a pattern design from scratch and slowly piecing together a Sleeping Mother Hen and Chicklette, the first items listed in my shop. Ofcourse I didn't really intend to start trying to sell them, but mum's chicken led to a friends chicken, which led to me beginning to think something of it.

Now they are listed and I'm slowly building up a profile (facebook, searching the community on Etsy, making this blog etc!), I am feeling the benefits of 'well atleast I'm doing something!' And I really want to make more things...

It is early days, and it will be alot of hard work, BUT I have to keep going. One day I will look back on these hard times and think that it was all worth it. xx