tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77729555191761622772024-03-05T19:48:41.027-08:00Lucky Ladybird CraftThe lucky ladybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07729555158679691383noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772955519176162277.post-75261808134138644672016-02-17T07:36:00.001-08:002016-02-17T07:38:10.909-08:00And the wait goes onIn May 2015 I suspended luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk and this blog in preparation for the birth of my first baby. I promised in my <a href="http://luckyladybirdcraft.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/and-so-waiting-begins.html">blog post at the time</a> that the shop and the blog would be back in February 2016, but now February is here and I'm sorry to say the shop isn't up yet. It isn't just that I now have a nearly-nine-month-old and that childcare is an ongoing consideration (although that is true) it's also that I, bravely or foolishly, have decided to take on a new business. Inspired by the birth of my beautiful little boy, and by the unprecedented impact his arrival has had on my lifestyle and wardrobe, I have decided to turn my hand to designing a range of breastfeeding clothing. The designs are still in development so for the next few months my new business is going to have to take up the majority of my time.<br />
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Apologies to those who have waited patiently for my items to become available, I'm sorry to say the waiting will have to go on a little longer.<br />
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The good news is that I commissioned some beautiful new artwork for the relaunch of the business, when it finally happens. As you can say I've taken on a slightly different name, Lucky Ladybird's Bag Bakery, which I hope will help people to find me and my designs more easily. Huge thanks to <a href="http://www.lexisplace.co.uk/">Lexi's Place</a> for the re branding. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGaq6RATHyklhUlwO1pGRQvojEdODOYLkst1NdM0LQWDmWJttbDXy3lSdsSDwLDUsiG2TvkUJ7Zi-u9UA5WmFViYTEmDawq3wVvC-vTouLWs0i1TBGcBdgUlAmB0yUh1lnjlsCIXrEAbHb/s1600/LLBB+High+Res+logo+CMYK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGaq6RATHyklhUlwO1pGRQvojEdODOYLkst1NdM0LQWDmWJttbDXy3lSdsSDwLDUsiG2TvkUJ7Zi-u9UA5WmFViYTEmDawq3wVvC-vTouLWs0i1TBGcBdgUlAmB0yUh1lnjlsCIXrEAbHb/s320/LLBB+High+Res+logo+CMYK.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div>
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Thank you all for your support and patience. </div>
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Many thanks, </div>
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LL</div>
<br />The lucky ladybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07729555158679691383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772955519176162277.post-29684686023702568762015-08-08T11:08:00.002-07:002015-08-08T11:08:13.948-07:00Quick and cheap breastfeeding top tutorial<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Since the birth of my beautiful baby boy I've been struggling to find anything practical to wear. It's hard enough making yourself feel attractive post baby-bump, but if you're also quite self-conscious like me then breastfeeding in public can be a real challenge. I inherited a collection of breastfeeding tops from my very generous sister-in-law but have found many of them problematic and impractical. All of them are also maternity tops and so the majority are too large, some fit well but aren't my style. A few friends have suggested the 'one up one down' method, where you lift up a larger t-shirt and pull down a smaller vest top. I've tried it but I'm not a fan. I often end up flashing my tummy by mistake, and who said I wanted to wear baggy t-shirts anyway? They're just not my style either.<br />
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So this is the solution I've come up with. It seems to work really well so I thought I'd share.<br />
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First get yourself a cheap vest top. I've found some in charity shops for as little as 50p, but if you prefer to buy new you can find lots on eBay for under £5<br />
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Try your top on and mark on the front with chalk where your nipples are. Draw a 4" vertically, extending 2" above and 2" below the point of the nipple. You may want to make this line bigger depending on the size of your boobs, experiment to see what works best for you. </div>
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Cut along the chalk marks with fabric scissors and then sew with a zig-zag stitch along the open edge to prevent fraying. Sew backwards and forwards a few times at the top and the bottom of the slit to prevent the fabric laddering or splitting vertically.</div>
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Now pair your vest with a matching cardigan. I recommend something with a high round neckline rather than a v-neck because it's more likely to cover the holes. Keep it mostly buttoned up and just unbutton and pull aside to breastfeed - simple as that!<br />
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Thanks for reading! <br /><br />Love and luck LL x</div>
<br />The lucky ladybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07729555158679691383noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772955519176162277.post-17091078569276536482015-05-07T03:08:00.000-07:002015-05-07T03:08:09.743-07:00And so the waiting begins...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLDsOMHTr7achU0Fl3nhTGPUpEgYsh_PNoq2zJ5amLOwolTx34wzKeHLQtHwUpR2xNVkRSZbfdeKrPTJ8UXRyi5bVPPzscQOSTeG40ilE9iqlN4kCtyt3zG1SqnqWp1PqZeR2RmFW-Lw6p/s1600/Screengrab3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLDsOMHTr7achU0Fl3nhTGPUpEgYsh_PNoq2zJ5amLOwolTx34wzKeHLQtHwUpR2xNVkRSZbfdeKrPTJ8UXRyi5bVPPzscQOSTeG40ilE9iqlN4kCtyt3zG1SqnqWp1PqZeR2RmFW-Lw6p/s320/Screengrab3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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As of today Thursday 7th May 2015 the Lucky Ladybird online shop has been suspended. <a href="http://luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk/">luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk</a> is still up and running but just as a holding page. I've taken my last order and waddled my way to the post office for the last time this year, and so my maternity leave begins! Technically as I'm 37 weeks the baby ladybird is allowed to arrive at any time now, but something tells me I might be playing a waiting game. I will keep you updated, but until then I just wanted to say a huge thank you to all my wonderful fans and customers. This last year has been especially amazing thanks to you. Wish me luck!<br /><br />LL xx<br />
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P.S. The business will be restarting in Febrauary 2016, so this isn't goodbye forever, in fact I'm hoping to bring you all lots of fresh ideas and designs when I return to work!The lucky ladybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07729555158679691383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772955519176162277.post-16278226920172752922015-04-27T09:31:00.001-07:002015-04-27T09:31:16.067-07:00Slowing down and winding upToday is the 27th of April, and if you follow me on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LuckyLadybirdCraft">Facebook</a> you might know that today marks the close of the final Lucky Ladybird Lucky Dip giveaway. But for me today's date has another special significance, it's now a month until my baby's due date. Only 4 weeks left and so much to do! Here's a run down on what's going to be happening over the next few days as I wind up the business for my maternity leave:<br />
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This Wednesday 29th April I will visiting the <a href="https://shopinthesquare.co.uk/">Shop In The Square in Wolverhampton</a> and picking up the last of my stock from them. I've been withdrawing my items from stockists for the past few months and SITS is my last remaining stockist. After Wednesday I'm sorry to say you won't be able to find my items available to buy from stockists, at least until 2016 anyway. <br />
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This Thursday 30th April is the last day of the 'Baby Madness' half price sale which has been running on <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/TheLuckyLadybird">my etsy store</a>. If you haven't taken a look so far now is your last chance to grab a bargain!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/228255499/less-than-half-price-handbag-purse-and?ref=shop_home_active_1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2htjkPNP3nou8HsGCaIGsNkBuA91YYjs0fN6VIADr4g3srr2ASnXDMPyd0kRo5ovkT3DYmbZ6zXDpgogGBL8apwXBfdZWhK0bI0DTBuME31UpcNCntfHK-EEu5BSeRBQT8ehyphenhyphenrzCGzAH5/s1600/mixedsaleset1ONSALE.jpg" height="320" width="269" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/228255499/less-than-half-price-handbag-purse-and?ref=shop_home_active_1">Still available - the last purse and handbag set for only £29 </a></td></tr>
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Next week I'll be winding down the shop on my website. Officially my last day for taking orders is May 6th as my maternity leave starts on May 9th. I hope you'll understand that in my last few days of trading I'm only likely to have a few of my items ready to post out and that it might not be possible for me to complete last minute custom orders or orders for handbags. If you could email me at info@luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk before placing an order I would be very grateful. Despite my best efforts I've found I've slowed down a lot in the last few weeks and I can only only imagine the tiredness increasing as the big day comes closer!<br />
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Thank you for your patience everybody, and thanks to everyone who has wished me and the baby ladybird well. Here's a little picture of me with the bump a couple of weeks ago. <br />
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Love and luck, LL x<br />
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<br />The lucky ladybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07729555158679691383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772955519176162277.post-10931622872138997902015-03-27T09:43:00.005-07:002015-03-27T09:43:58.249-07:00One-a-penny, two-a-penny, hot plush buns!My regular readers will have noticed that Easter is my favourite time of year. From <a href="http://luckyladybirdcraft.blogspot.co.uk/2009/03/over-past-few-weeks-me-and-my-friend.html">Easter baskets</a> to knitted and <a href="http://luckyladybirdcraft.blogspot.co.uk/2011/03/daffodil-for-springtime.html">felt daffodils</a> I always find time to make something special when spring starts springing. This year I decided to make something food and Easter related, for people who love my food bags and purses as well as for everyone who enjoys following my tutorials. So with that I present - the hot plush bun!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LKwd_djqEFk/VRVzbUSIs-I/AAAAAAAACYs/jGZjd9zr5-8/s1600/20150327_145940.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LKwd_djqEFk/VRVzbUSIs-I/AAAAAAAACYs/jGZjd9zr5-8/s1600/20150327_145940.jpg" height="240" width="320" /> </a></div>
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This plush hot cross bun is made entirely from felt and decorated with fabric paint. It would make a quick and easy craft project for your Easter weekend. </div>
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<u>You will need:</u></div>
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Tan or beige felt</div>
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White or cream felt</div>
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Dark brown felt</div>
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Gold and dark brown fabric paint</div>
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Polyester toy stuffing</div>
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<a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B2u9vtqfpKAyVnFIbk9lem5NUGs&authuser=0">Click here for the PDF pattern file for your plush hot cross bun!</a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P2-818jFCVg/VRV1Nr-dVTI/AAAAAAAACZ0/RLIKfEEM9Bg/s1600/20150327_140556.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P2-818jFCVg/VRV1Nr-dVTI/AAAAAAAACZ0/RLIKfEEM9Bg/s1600/20150327_140556.jpg" height="240" width="320" /> </a></div>
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Cut out the pattern pieces from felt using the templates on the PDF above. <br /> </div>
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Next mix your fabric paint. I used a combination of Tulip brown fabric paint and metallic gold fabric paint to create that 'golden brown' toasted colour. <br /> </div>
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Stipple the fabric paint onto the top of your bun (the larger of the two felt squares) with a paint brush and then use a tissue to blot and smudge the paint until you create an even layer. Work from the centre of the square out, decreasing the amount of paint as you go. This should create a 'toasted on top' effect. Leave the top for at least an hour to dry. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OeGN9D3z8U0/VRV0npemTBI/AAAAAAAACZc/6wgO_lhmhro/s1600/20150327_142905.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OeGN9D3z8U0/VRV0npemTBI/AAAAAAAACZc/6wgO_lhmhro/s1600/20150327_142905.jpg" height="320" width="240" /> </a></div>
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Create a cross for your bun with the two white felt strips. Machine or hand stitch them into position sewing as close to the edge of each strip as you can. Next add raisins. You can hand sew or glue these into place as above. </div>
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Lay the white side pieces in pairs face to face (raisins on the inside) and sew along the right side leaving half a centimetre seam allowance.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d33lXYGQfr0/VRV0PCWsnKI/AAAAAAAACZM/OZ-la0l2E9M/s1600/20150327_143345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d33lXYGQfr0/VRV0PCWsnKI/AAAAAAAACZM/OZ-la0l2E9M/s1600/20150327_143345.jpg" height="240" width="320" /> </a></div>
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Open the paired side pieces up and sew them together on the left and right hand edges to create a square. <br /> </div>
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Open the square and pin the top, face down, into the opening. Sew around the top edge leaving half a centimetre seam allowance as before. <br /></div>
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Pin the base of the bun into place as with the top, and sew around the top edge but this time leave one side open. Using this open seam turn the bun inside out. Stuff tightly with polyester toy stuffing. </div>
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Finally close the open seam by hand sewing the edges together using a ladder stitch. And you're done!<br /><br />I hope you enjoyed this quick tutorial. Please let me know if you have any comments or questions. I'd love to see pictures if you make your own hot plush buns!</div>
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Have a great Easter, </div>
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Lots of love and luck, </div>
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LL xx</div>
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Would you like the chance to win some Lucky Ladybird handmade accessories for free? Of course you would! Every Friday in April 2015 I'll be giving away a lucky dip parcel. All you have to do to enter the prize draw is to like and share the weekly Facebook competition image. You can even enter your name into the draw twice if you tag a friend's name in the comments! The winner will be decided my random selection the following Monday. There are lots of prizes and lots of chances to win, so get along to the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LuckyLadybirdCraft">Facebook page</a> and get entering! The first competition image will go live on Friday 3rd April.<br />
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But the bargains don't end there. To celebrate my upcoming <a href="http://luckyladybirdcraft.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/a-baby-ladybird.html">maternity leave</a> I will also be holding a 'baby madness' half price sale on <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/TheLuckyLadybird">my etsy store</a> in April. For a limited time only you will be able to buy a Lucky Ladybird handmade gift set consisting of:<br />
<ul>
<li>A Swiss Roll handbag (chocolate or strawberries and cream colours available)</li>
<li>A matching Swiss Roll purse</li>
<li>A mini bag charm</li>
<li>A few delicious sweets</li>
</ul>
The total retail price for this set would normally be £60, but all
this will be available for only £29 (plus P+P)! Only a few of these
sets are available, so check etsy listings to see if you can grab
yourself a bargain!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Strawberries and cream gift set</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chocolate gift set</td></tr>
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On sale for half price or less will also be my entire sushi collection. For the month of April only you'll be able to buy a sushi roll handbag for £20 rather than the original £40, a clutch bag for £7.50 instead of £15 and a sushi purse for only £5! The sushi items will also be on sale via <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/TheLuckyLadybird">my etsy store</a> only, but make sure to keep checking in as I only have a few items and they're bound to vanish fast! The sale begins on April 1st.<br />
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I hope you'll help to spread the word about the lucky dip giveaway and the sale, it will all help me in my quest to make a little space in my house for the impending arrival. You can keep up to date throughout April on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LuckyLadybirdCraft">Facebook page</a> and the <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/TheLuckyLadybird">etsy shop</a>.<br />
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Good luck, and happy bargain-hunting!<br />
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LL xxThe lucky ladybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07729555158679691383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772955519176162277.post-17961557245176778212015-03-03T02:46:00.003-08:002015-03-03T03:04:45.491-08:00The wedding quilt - a work in progress<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ubK1GUAjQYk/VPWEhKql1II/AAAAAAAACVE/yuv4zFOf0ow/s1600/TomandKatiewithbunting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ubK1GUAjQYk/VPWEhKql1II/AAAAAAAACVE/yuv4zFOf0ow/s1600/TomandKatiewithbunting.jpg" height="213" width="320" /> </a></div>
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Back in the mists of time, three years ago, I got married. Because I'm a very crafty lady it was a very crafty wedding and with a lot of help from my friends we made a lot of the wedding decorations ourselves.This included collecting many colourful teapots, putting dinosaurs on sticks, arranging flowers and, most importantly of all, sewing miles and miles of bunting. Enough bunting to decorate two large function rooms, plus extra mini bunting to decorate the tables. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My beautiful friends making the bunting look good. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FHxY2Ra4tRE/VPWHSf0bBHI/AAAAAAAACVg/MbtQ45tarO4/s1600/Teapot%2Band%2Bdinosaur.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FHxY2Ra4tRE/VPWHSf0bBHI/AAAAAAAACVg/MbtQ45tarO4/s1600/Teapot%2Band%2Bdinosaur.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teapots and dinosaurs on sticks (can you spot him?)</td></tr>
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I chose a selection of fabrics that would match with the colour theme of the wedding (red and white unless you hadn't guessed) along with two fabrics that were meant to represent me and my husband - a polka-dot ladybird fabric and a dinosaur-patterned fabric. I even ended up making us a ring pillow for the ceremony from the same selection of fabrics. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our ring pillow, taken just before the ceremony. </td></tr>
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On the day we gave away lots of the decorations as wedding favours, including lots of teapots, tea-caddies and teacups, but we were left with the miles and miles of bunting which we weren't entirely sure what to do with.That's when I came up with an over-ambitious plan. I decided that I would make a memory quilt from all the bunting flags. I worked out that I could cut the flags into equilateral triangles and arrange them in a patchwork hexagonal grid. I drew up my plan and set to work, and then, well, then lots of other things happened. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My diagram for the wedding quilt</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turning the flags into triangles with equal sides</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I make good progress with the first few rows of triangles</td></tr>
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Firstly I should say that this was my first ever quilting project, and wow did I really throw myself in the deep end. I will go on the record now to say that I would not recommend teaching yourself patchwork as you go along with a hexagonal-grid quilt rather than traditional squares. I managed to make the job even more difficult for myself my using a variety of fabrics, some of which turned out to be very unsuitable for machine sewing (I'm looking at you polka-dots!)</div>
We also moved to a different part of the country a few months later, so the quilt and all the remaining fabric pieces were packed away and, I'm sorry to say, have been sitting rather forlornly in a bag in the corner of my sewing room ever since. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wedding quilt as it is now</td></tr>
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So this is the quilt at the moment. I only need to add two more rows of triangles to the bottom in order to finish the patchwork, but because it's so wide that's 60 triangles to be added. I also would like to add some applique to the centre of the large star to represent the wedding day once the patchwork is finished. I had started adding some embellishments to the centre of the smaller blue stars, but I will have to think about what else to include and where. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f8aABeianiY/VPWBykxtcXI/AAAAAAAACUY/VFs_8mdjEJM/s1600/Weddungquilt2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f8aABeianiY/VPWBykxtcXI/AAAAAAAACUY/VFs_8mdjEJM/s1600/Weddungquilt2.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A dinosaur star with an owl in the middle. It sums up the wedding day surprisingly well</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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I recently inherited some fabric that should work perfectly as a backing for the quilt. I don't have any wadding yet, or any experience quilting through many layers of fabric, but I've got this far and I'm determined to learn what I need to finish it! So here is my plan. As of May I'm going to be on maternity leave, but although I'll no longer be running a craft business I'm certain I won't be able to keep my hands still or my sewing machine quiet. While I'm waiting for the baby to arrive, and possibly after the big day to prevent myself for going stir-crazy, I'm going to work on the quilt and get it finished. <br />
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Once <a href="http://luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk/">Lucky Ladybird Craft</a> is on hold (9th May, last orders taken 6th May) I'll still continue to post here and maintain this blog, so keep an eye out for more updates in 2015.<br />
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Wish me luck! <br />
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LL xx
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February 2015 - Stock will be withdrawn from Bridgnorth stockist <a href="http://www.caricatureme.com/">The Tania Holland Gallery</a><br />
March 2015 - Stock will be withdrawn from Shrewsbury stockist <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Urban-Folk/230025993758688">Urban Folk</a><br />
April 2015 - By the end of the month stock will be withdrawn from Wolverhampton stockist <a href="https://shopinthesquare.co.uk/">Shop In The Square</a><br />
The website will be open and I will continue to take online orders until Wednesday May 6th. After that time the website will still be available to browse but the online shop will be closed. Some stock may still be available to buy through my Rugby stockist the Rugby Art Gallery and Museum (subject to availability).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My current craft project, human life, is progressing well</td></tr>
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To celebrate the big news, and to make sure the business goes out with a bang rather than a whimper, I'll be holding a lucky dip sale at the end of April, hosted through the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LuckyLadybirdCraft">Facebook page</a>. Details to come closer to the time, but let's just say for now that there should be some never-to-be-repeated bargains available!<br />
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After my maternity leave starts I'm sure I'll have my hands full, but I promise not to drop of the radar completely. For starters I'll be maintaining this blog and I have lots of baby-related craft projects that I'm hoping to share once they're complete. I'm also hoping that the break will give me the chance to relaunch my business, streamline things and launch some new products by the time I get back to business at the beginning of 2016.<br />
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Right, time for a nap I think, and possibly also a biscuit.<br />
Lots of love and luck from me and the bump, <br />
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LLxx<br />
<br />The lucky ladybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07729555158679691383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772955519176162277.post-30176005939208328152014-10-03T08:09:00.001-07:002014-10-03T08:10:21.405-07:00Lucky Ladybird makes national news!Those of you who follow me on <a href="https://twitter.com/Lucky_Ladybird">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LuckyLadybirdCraft">Facebook</a> will have noticed that in September I made national news thanks to a partnership with Mr Kipling cakes. Here's the story of how it all happened, as well as copies of press clippings for those who haven't seen them. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kNCxnFUF-Uc/VC63_g7f_9I/AAAAAAAACSs/bDZkn3koHUk/s1600/crop-541af400b9237-imgID6404675.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kNCxnFUF-Uc/VC63_g7f_9I/AAAAAAAACSs/bDZkn3koHUk/s1600/crop-541af400b9237-imgID6404675.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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I've been in contact with the team in charge of Mr Kipling's marketing since the end of November 2013 when, by happy chance, a friend on Twitter mentioned that my bags reminded her of Mr Kipling cakes. The Mr Kipling team (who presumably look out for mentions of their own name on social media) chimed in with our conversation and totally surprised me with their loveliness.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NsDFDVdG8TU/VC6sFcn95CI/AAAAAAAACRU/xFQqRwYKlZ8/s1600/MrKiplingTwitter1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NsDFDVdG8TU/VC6sFcn95CI/AAAAAAAACRU/xFQqRwYKlZ8/s1600/MrKiplingTwitter1.jpg" height="208" width="320" /></a></div>
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After first saying hello they then asked me if they could repost a picture of my <a href="http://luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk/battenberg-handbag.html">battenberg handbag</a> to their fans on Facebook and Twitter at some point in the new year, and of course I said yes.This was the result in January 2014.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fv_gLn-tsTQ/VC6shgDN1cI/AAAAAAAACRc/Qo2Qx_ps0LU/s1600/MrKiplingTwitter2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fv_gLn-tsTQ/VC6shgDN1cI/AAAAAAAACRc/Qo2Qx_ps0LU/s1600/MrKiplingTwitter2.jpg" height="320" width="307" /></a></div>
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The post gained me a few sales and a few new followers, nothing earth-shattering, but I was happy to be able to say that Mr Kipling had called me 'exceedingly talented'! I didn't expect much more, so I was surprised when in July one of their marketing staff called me to ask if they could order a couple of my purses. Of course I was very happy to oblige. I later learnt that they were to take along to a marketing meeting at Saatchi & Saatchi in London. It was one of the most exciting parcels I've ever posted! This is the beautiful photo they took and posted on twitter when the purses arrived. <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i3k3c_eEAZ4/VC6tiWFkMSI/AAAAAAAACRo/Pe8WOOv9eJs/s1600/MrKiplingTwitter3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i3k3c_eEAZ4/VC6tiWFkMSI/AAAAAAAACRo/Pe8WOOv9eJs/s1600/MrKiplingTwitter3.jpg" height="284" width="320" /></a></div>
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Apparently my purses were a big hit and, although I didn't know it then, plans were afoot to select a few craftspeople with Mr Kipling-themed products for a special online competition. In August I was told that I had been chosen along with soap-maker <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BubbliciousSoaps?fref=ts">Bubblicious Soaps</a> to provide delicious cake prizes for Mr Kipling's 'Better with cake' competition online!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7YM92U7hPbSeWqlZz3aJVcLYfahM54ILHcFBF8BkKZ9BNi1uU7kwpy-Q7Wwdt4mAAMIDFDqDw9RtRZwG3vOvuCR5mtKoJGK8NEAKdqdgoJGTKlrGWCM3f71SbiUHFkdMuQHEsobBZANqZ/s1600/MrKiplingFB1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7YM92U7hPbSeWqlZz3aJVcLYfahM54ILHcFBF8BkKZ9BNi1uU7kwpy-Q7Wwdt4mAAMIDFDqDw9RtRZwG3vOvuCR5mtKoJGK8NEAKdqdgoJGTKlrGWCM3f71SbiUHFkdMuQHEsobBZANqZ/s1600/MrKiplingFB1.jpg" height="186" width="320" /></a></div>
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Six <a href="http://luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk/battenberg-purse.html">battenberg purses </a>and six <a href="http://luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk/french-fancy-purse.html">french fancy</a> purses were up for grabs, this is what it looked like when I packed up the delicious-looking parcel!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3oChQc-6hQU-Esn_ZPD1JelBQuw75m658yD2v1a0bwVTIrag-_bol6yftRIWmmWnhenTHqbF3nq65_p6Zi3oJ0Cm816V9jmZT6jvZw68jjpJmMT9YF7bD-UZ6Qg1heJqs78mkJ3GUlrdw/s1600/Cakeprizesjpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3oChQc-6hQU-Esn_ZPD1JelBQuw75m658yD2v1a0bwVTIrag-_bol6yftRIWmmWnhenTHqbF3nq65_p6Zi3oJ0Cm816V9jmZT6jvZw68jjpJmMT9YF7bD-UZ6Qg1heJqs78mkJ3GUlrdw/s1600/Cakeprizesjpg.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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After the competition had run online I decided to contact my local paper the Bridgnorth Journal to tell them about it. They had recently put out a call for local interest stories and, as <a href="http://luckyladybirdcraft.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/in-news.html">I'd been featured by them before</a>, I thought they might be interested. Well it turns out they were more than interested, they booked a photographer to visit me the next day and told me I'd be on the front page of the paper in two days time! This was the front page of the Bridgnorth Journal on September 19th and I was so thrilled with it. The picture is huge and for a few days I was a local celebrity, lots of people stopped to congratulate me in the street!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q7Q5CAK1K-M/VC603quRkeI/AAAAAAAACSI/xR9L7hHXaCA/s1600/Press3Sept2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q7Q5CAK1K-M/VC603quRkeI/AAAAAAAACSI/xR9L7hHXaCA/s1600/Press3Sept2014.jpg" height="228" width="320" /></a></div>
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The same picture also made it to the Shropshire Star the following day, but on page 6 rather than on the cover, and on September 19th I was also featured in the <a href="http://www.expressandstar.com/editors-picks/2014/09/19/bags-of-exceedingly-good-creation/">Express and Star</a>, a Wolverhampton based paper that's popular all over the West Midlands.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Read this article at http://www.expressandstar.com/editors-picks/2014/09/19/bags-of-exceedingly-good-creation/</td></tr>
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Orders started flooding in from the West Midlands, especially for my Battenberg purses, but then a Birmingham-based news agency got in touch with me. They'd seen the story in the Express & Star and wanted to know if I'd be interested in passing the story on to the national papers. I'd never imagined that the national papers would be interested in my little business but of course I had to say yes! They interviewed me again to get more details and then said to keep and eye out over the next week as they couldn't be sure who would pick it up and when. Well it was on Monday September 22nd when my eagle-eyed father in law called me to tell me he'd spotted me in The Times. Here is Page 22, apologies if it's a little grainy. </div>
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Since then I've been rushed off my feet with order from all around the country, and I'm told that there might be more coverage in the near future too as a women's magazine is interested in writing an article on how I started my business. It's been wonderful to find out that my bags are more that a novelty, but something of genuine interest to all all sorts of people. It's also taught be the huge power of media, both new and traditional. If you make something that might be of interest to a big brand then do get in touch with them via Twitter or Facebook, they'll probably be thrilled to know about it, and if you're a small business owner in a small community then be sure to keep in touch with your local paper, because they're always on the look out for stories.<br />
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Huge thanks to Mr Kipling, Stephie (<span class="username js-action-profile-name" data-aria-label-part="">@GO_Dark_Turtle), the Bridgnorth Journal, Shropshire Star, Express & Star and The Times. With your help I'm really starting to feel like the successful business woman you've described me as. </span><br />
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<span class="username js-action-profile-name" data-aria-label-part="">Much love, </span><br />
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<span class="username js-action-profile-name" data-aria-label-part="">LL x </span><small class="time"><span class="_timestamp js-short-timestamp " data-aria-label-part="last" data-long-form="true" data-time-ms="1385719072000" data-time="1385719072"></span>
</small>The lucky ladybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07729555158679691383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772955519176162277.post-34068422206479142952014-08-31T06:07:00.000-07:002015-03-19T03:42:42.329-07:00Something changed - made to orderFrom today you'll find a subtle but significant change in the <a href="http://luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk/">Lucky Ladybird Craft website</a>, larger items like the <a href="http://luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk/page13.html">Swiss Roll and Battenberg shoulder bags</a> are now available via order only. This means you should allow 2 - 3 weeks for these items to be dispatched as they'll be hand made especially for you at the point of purchase. My order book has really filled up over the summer, and with more than one large order of smaller items to fulfil I haven't had the time I've needed to restock these larger items! Rather than withdraw them from sale I thought this was a good way to keep everything available. It's also means that if you'd like one of these items custom made, in a different colour or size to the usual design, then it's easy as pie (or should that be cake?!)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The <a href="http://luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk/battenberg-handbag.html">Battenberg handbag</a> sold out this summer and is now made to order</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk/battenberg-shoulder.html">Battenberg</a> and <a href="http://luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk/choc-swiss-shoulder.html">Swiss Roll</a> shoulder bags, now available to order</td></tr>
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I'm also hoping to add another design to the range of 'order only' handbags available on the website very soon. Here's the prototype of the first ever cupcake handbag, pictured next to a matching cupcake purse. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fgXfVc8x6_k/VQqoDUpga4I/AAAAAAAACYU/OaaM_ZukUT8/s1600/JumboCupcakeContext2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fgXfVc8x6_k/VQqoDUpga4I/AAAAAAAACYU/OaaM_ZukUT8/s1600/JumboCupcakeContext2.JPG" height="250" width="320" /></a></div>
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The handbag is large enough to fit the purse inside, as well as a smartphone, lipstick, credit card, all the necessities! I'm currently making two of these as a special order, but I'm hoping to roll them out to my stockists soon in a range of delicious flavours. Keep your eye on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LuckyLadybirdCraft">Facebook page</a> for more details soon. <br />
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Love and luck, LL xxThe lucky ladybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07729555158679691383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772955519176162277.post-81828840207308476342014-07-15T08:35:00.003-07:002014-07-16T14:04:19.084-07:00Everything you're wearing is handmade<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d4JPk0Vf4zE/U8VDmM5in1I/AAAAAAAACIs/LFnb6YutKVY/s1600/9Outersewing2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d4JPk0Vf4zE/U8VDmM5in1I/AAAAAAAACIs/LFnb6YutKVY/s1600/9Outersewing2.jpg" height="194" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me hand making a Swiss Roll shoulder bag</td></tr>
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I'm a hand-maker, and as such I'm trying very hard to make a full-time living. Every day I spend either with needle and thread in my hand, working the sewing machine, tracing out patterns or cutting fabric. Lots of people I meet have a great appreciation for the hard work that goes into hand making, either because they craft for a hobby or have some training in manufacturing. I can easily identify these people when I'm out and about at craft fairs because they'll consider my work very carefully and, whether they like it or not, they'll say something along the lines of "There's a lot of time gone into this". They're not wrong, each of my purses takes a minimum of three hours to make from start to finish, a handbag might take closer to three days. What they might not have taken into account, however, is how long it might have taken me to set up the stall, man it all day, build a website to sell online, do my accounting and publicise my business. I don't blame them for not noticing these factors, they're mostly hidden, but without them I couldn't be self-employed.<br />
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I feel very privileged to live and work in the UK. I'm encouraged to work but not over-taxed (at least until I make more money anyway), I get free health care in the mean time, and Britons have the expectation of fair and decent working conditions for those around them. Unfortunately it's also my experience that, partly because Britain has lost its manufacturing base, a lot of people in this country have no contact with the idea of hand making, and no appreciation for the time and skill it requires. They want everything they buy to be as cheap as possible, and rarely see the hidden cost of buying cheaply. I've met a lot of people who seem to think my prices should be a fraction of what they are, and when I explain the time and skill involved they tell me to have my designs made elsewhere, specifically in India or China.<br />
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I've mentioned that Britains have an expectation that their fellow countrymen should have fair and decent working conditions. The popularity of the <a href="http://www.livingwage.org.uk/home">Living Wage Foundation</a> is testament to this, they suggest a national living wage should be £7.65 (£8.80 in London) as opposed to the minimum wage which is currently just £6.31. The foundation has received support from David Cameron, Ed Milliband, Ken Livingstone and Boris Johnson. Perhaps because they have this in mind my friends and family are sometimes shocked to find out that, at my current prices, I pay myself around £3 an hour. I'm not trying to garner sympathy by telling you this, I've founded my own business and I consider it my goal to build on my success and aim for better as the business grows. But I refuse to increase my profits by taking advantage of poorly regulated working conditions in countries like India and China. If it's unacceptable that I should be paid £3 an hour for the skilled work that I do then why should it be acceptable for a stranger to do it for me for even less? Workers in developing countries who do work like mine don't chose their own hours, don't work in pleasant surroundings and don't have the benefit of free healthcare. They don't get to wake up in the morning and chose between designing and making, manning a stall or publicising their business. According to <a href="http://www.waronwant.org/campaigns/love-fashion-hate-sweatshops/fashion-victims">research done by The War on Want in Bangladesh</a> garment workers making clothes for highstreet shops can expect to earn between £25 and £32 a month, 80% of workers start work at 8am and don't finish until 8pm or 10pm. They perform the same task again and again, sometimes with unrealistic production targets to meet. The garments these women make are sold in Primark, Asda and Tesco.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.waronwant.org/images/stories/sweatshops/fashion_victims_ii.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.waronwant.org/images/stories/sweatshops/fashion_victims_ii.jpeg" height="186" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Garment workers in Bangladesh</td></tr>
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Take a moment to look at the clothes you're currently wearing. All of it is handmade. It might not be from a handmade emporium, a fair trade shop or a craft fair, but it is handmade. Somewhere the panels of fabric were traced out and cut, skillfully placed together and sewn carefully by a skilled machinist. Details may have been added by another worker, top-stitching, buttons or decorations were added. Finally it will have been hand checked for quality. How much time do you imagine each item took to make, and in what conditions do you imagine it was made? How much do you value the time and the skill of the people who made it for you?<br />
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The real luxury of living in the UK is that I am able to promote myself as a crafter. My skills are valued and even admired by some. If I was from India or China my skills would be commonplace, perhaps even not up to standard, and I would receive very little reward for my hard work at the sewing machine. In the UK we can afford to pay more for artisan-made and <a href="http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/en">fairtrade</a> products. We have the luxury of deciding what conditions we would like to see manufacturers working under, so why do we so often chose the cheapest option? Because the cost is hidden behind the brand, or behind the friendly profile page of the factory owner on Alibaba.com <a href="http://www.alibabafraud.com/category/free-articles/alibaba_fraud_scams/">who offers to make something for you cheaper and quicker than anyone else can</a>. Before you buy cheaply, or suggest that I should make cheaply, look into what these options mean. Consider using your purchase to improve someone elses life, to reward someone for a job well done, to encourage good working conditions and investment in local communities. Imagine meeting the maker of your shirt or pair of jeans and being able to say to them "There's a lot of time gone into this".<br />
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'Would You Still Buy That Dress After Watching This' a documentary on the real cost of cheap clothes from Bangladesh's sweatshops</div>
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'Counterfeiting : Documentary on the Business of Counterfeits and Knock-Offs'<br />
Includes investigations into China's black market manufacturing industry and the fraud behind some alibaba sellers.</div>
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".ky.1:3:1:$comment10151795183110146_9981937:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".ky.1:3:1:$comment10151795183110146_9981937:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".ky.1:3:1:$comment10151795183110146_9981937:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$0:0"><br /></span></span></span>The lucky ladybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07729555158679691383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772955519176162277.post-80306869623811035152014-05-09T07:57:00.002-07:002014-07-16T14:09:33.108-07:00Selling your handmade products in shops - how to find a stockist<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GvGm7YuI6dM/U2zmobEFBxI/AAAAAAAABn0/kJOqrebrgRc/s1600/SITS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GvGm7YuI6dM/U2zmobEFBxI/AAAAAAAABn0/kJOqrebrgRc/s1600/SITS.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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This week I'm happy to announce that I have a new stockist for my products, <a href="http://www.shopinthesquare.co.uk/index.html">The Shop in The Square </a>in Wolverhampton. <span class="userContent">SIT<span class="text_exposed_show">S is a shop run by artists and crafters in the West Midlands and is full to the brim with beautiful handmade items, I'm very proud to be joining them. A few of my friends and fellow crafters have asked me how I've found stockists for my products, and what they should do to find stockists themselves, so I've put together this guide based on my own experience so far. Comments and questions are welcome!</span></span><br />
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<b>1. Sell first</b><br />
Before you start trying to find a stockist for your handmade products you should first get some experience selling your products by other channels. You could sell online via etsy or eBay, or sell at craft fairs. Whatever channel you chose establish a range of products and spend a few months selling them to the public. Find out what sells and what doesn't, experiment with pricing and keep records. This way you'll be able to say with confidence that your products are saleable, you'll know which are your best sellers and you'll be able to set the right wholesale price. Retailers need to know this information, and they'll also be reassured by your figures that they aren't taking a risk on your products.<br />
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<b>2. Crunch the numbers and getting prepared</b><br />
The next thing to do is to start crunching the numbers. Let's start with an example, imagine you make a cuddly toy that you've been selling for £10. The materials for the toy only cost around £1, and it takes you 3 hours to make each one. When you sell the toy online or at a craft fair you make a profit of £9 per toy, and since they take you 3 hours to make you're effectively paying yourself £3 an hour to make them. Let's assume you're happy with that situation because, let's face it, handmade businesses aren't all about big profit. But once you start thinking about selling through a stockist you might find that the numbers are a lot less favourable. It's fairly typical for a shop to ask for 50% commission, so if you set the RRP* at £10 for the toy they'll only want to pay £5 per item. Suddenly your profit is only £4, and your hard work is only worth £1.30 an hour. No one would blame you for being unhappy with the offer, but is there any way around it?<br />
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Some people might argue that the best thing to do in this situation is to double your prices. But a toy that you've proven will sell at £10 might not be so tempting to customers when priced at £20, so by trying to protect your profit you run the risk of making no money at all. I would recommend a middle way, experiment with increasing your pricing through your own channels by 20-50%. Customers might be happy to pay £15 for the toy, and if you can increase your RRP you can increase your profit. The same toy prices at £15 could be sold on to the stockist at £7.50 each, £2.16 per hour for your hard work.<br />
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At this point some sellers might be asking whether supplying a stockist is even worth it when it represents less profit per item. But before you dismiss the idea out of hand it's worth thinking again about the positives and negatives of other selling channels. When you're selling at a craft fair it's easy to see the money in your hand as pure profit, but how much did the stall fee cost you? How much money did you spend on display items? How much were your travel expenses? And imagine for a moment that you were paying yourself an hourly wage for the time you spent looking after the stall, how much is your own time worth? If you add up all these expenses you might find out that the craft fair was less profitable than you imagined, and in comparison stockists can represent value for money. The 50% taken by the shop effectively covers stall fees, travel expenses and the cost of staff to sell your products for you. Depending on the stockist it might also cover advertising and presence in a busy high street location. <br />
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Take some time to look over the numbers, and decide whether or not selling wholesale is for you. Decide the minimum price per hour that you would like to earn and apply it to your products. Keep a list of your products alongside wholesale price and RRPs and this will form the basis of a retail trade price sheet that you can show to potential stockists. <br />
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If your items are large make sure to include pictures of the different product types on this sheet too, otherwise be prepared to take examples with you whenever you approach a stockist. <br />
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<b>3. Approaching stockists</b><br />
In some areas suitable stockists for handmade products might be well known and easy to find, but in others you might have to work hard to find them. Look for independent shops that already stock handmade local items, art and craft galleries and gift shops that are popular with tourists. I don't recommend chain stores for consideration unless you're in a position to produce a big volume of stock very quickly. Check local papers and business directories, and look on facebook and twitter, and try searching the <a href="https://ukhandmade.co.uk/shopdirectory">UK Handmade Directory</a> too. Make yourself a list of potential stockists and if possible go and take a look, and bear in mind that it isn't a good idea to have two stockists within the same town. Ask yourself whether your products would fit in with the products on display, and if you think they would ask to speak to a manager about the possibility of stocking with them. All being well you should give them your contact details and arrange to show them some samples or photos of your work, and discuss money, at a later date. Alternatively if you're familiar with the shop you could call ahead and arrange this over the phone.<br />
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When having an official meeting with the stockist make sure you take along your retail trade price sheet, pictures of items or sample products and details of your previous selling experience including facts and figures about your best sellers. If the shop are interested in a 'sale or return' arrangement make sure to discuss the following:<br />
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<li>What percentage commission the shop will take </li>
<li>Whether a 'trial period' would be helpful to see whether your products and the shop are a good match. </li>
<li>How and when the shop will pay you for the items that have sold. Some may suggest a monthly payment, others may prefer to set a trial period after which time you will need to check which items have sold and issue them with an invoice. </li>
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If the shop are interested in a pre-paid wholesale order discuss lead times** with them, and make sure the manager has a realistic idea of how fast your turnover will be. Be brave and passionate about your products, and don't be too downhearted if the meeting isn't successful! <br />
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(At this point I should add that some shops specialise is handmade sales, and may have their own procedures to cover all this, they might even have an online form where you can fill in your details and attach photos of your work, eliminating the need to arrange a meeting at all. Unfortunately not all shops are so organised, so it's worth getting yourself preparing just in case!)<br />
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<b>4. Delivering your items</b><br />
Congratulations, a shop has agreed to stock your items! Now it's time to deliver a range of stock for them to display. If the shop has paid up front for a wholesale order take your items along with a receipt. Take along two copies and have the shop sign your copy to confirm they have taken delivery. Now you can tell all your family and friends to shop there, and with a little luck they will order from you again soon! If you have a 'sale or return' agreement with the shop then the situation is a little different. Take along a seller delivery list detailing everything you are delivering, again take two copies and have them sign on delivery. Keep in regular contact with the shop to check whether items are selling or not. If popular items are disappearing fast you may want to arrange another delivery, if unpopular items are taking up space or (god forbid) have been removed from display you might want to arrange to pick them up. Make sure you are paid for the items that have sold and that the shop are treating your items with due care and respect. In return keep publicising your stockists, let people know that it's a great place to buy your products and other people's products too. <br />
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Of course once you have one stockist you're bound to want another and another, and that's the situation I'm in at the moment! Maybe next year I'll be able to pass on some more knowledge about managing multiple stockists and growing your craft empire, but until then please support all the lovely shops that sell Lucky Ladybird products at the moment; <a href="http://www.caricatureme.com/">The Tania Holland Gallery</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Urban-Folk/230025993758688">Urban Folk</a>, <a href="http://icemaidencakes.com/">Ice Maiden Cakes</a> and <a href="http://www.shopinthesquare.co.uk/index.html">The Shop in The Square</a>. <br />
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Love and Luck,<br />
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LL xx<br />
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*Recommended retail price<br />
** 'Lead times' the time it will take you to make or prepare your items. The lucky ladybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07729555158679691383noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772955519176162277.post-4799561231079041312014-03-26T05:16:00.000-07:002014-03-26T05:16:02.989-07:00Springing into Vintage<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="userContent">Saturday March 15th at the Castle Hall in Bridgnorth I went to my first fair of 2014, and to my first ever vintage fair. Hosted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/myvintageevents">My Vintage Events</a> the Bridgnorth Spring Fair featured a cake-filled vintage tea room and live music from the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MissFortunes">Miss Fortunes</a>. The stalls were a nice mix of vintage clothing and kitchenware, jewellery and handmade items. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Miss Fortunes sing live as the vintage fair gets into full swing</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Lucky Ladybird stall</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span class="userContent"></span>In preparation for the fair I'd created a few display items including this pin board decoupaged with vintage cake adverts to display my vintage style <a href="http://luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk/choc-swiss-brooch.html">'slice of cake' brooches</a> and <a href="http://luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk/strawberry-charm.html">bag charms</a>. I also added my <a href="http://indielf.com/wishing-spring-daffodil-bunting-knitting-pattern/">knitted daffodil bunting</a> to the table for some spring flair. <br />
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A few of the items on the stall were brand new and put together especially for the event. Because cherries always seem to crop up whenever vintage is mentioned (The Miss Fortunes were wearing vintage cherry earrings and there was quite a lot of cherry patterned fabric on display) I was inspired to create a cherry cupcake purse. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJMli7HhhS-UZzqjI1XlLuEosXmKA_re2uMd-ngDDGYvu4kAAhiqvZX4h9xxW57_Es7bbbcf276azz9mdDKQe2xPcDpcVlNO2E5L4dyMmLu61WWfH1b3FG-8HNiOZVBEscGzjyRyVv8GU5/s1600/CherryDetail3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJMli7HhhS-UZzqjI1XlLuEosXmKA_re2uMd-ngDDGYvu4kAAhiqvZX4h9xxW57_Es7bbbcf276azz9mdDKQe2xPcDpcVlNO2E5L4dyMmLu61WWfH1b3FG-8HNiOZVBEscGzjyRyVv8GU5/s1600/CherryDetail3.jpg" height="275" width="320" /></a></div>
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<img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HiJgk6ac3ZI/UzK2m82wudI/AAAAAAAABm4/r3ZZ_Aty7ME/s1600/CherryExt1.jpg" height="320" width="253" /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk/cherry-cupcake.html"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-viOsMbL-6wI/UzK2oW3KFcI/AAAAAAAABnI/PD7UGy4Thow/s1600/CherryExt2.jpg" height="255" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk/cherry-cupcake.html">Cherry cupcake coin purse from the Lucky Ladybird, now available through the online shop</a></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk/cherry-cupcake.html"><br /></a></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk/cherry-cupcake.html"><br /></a></td></tr>
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Once I started making these cherry cupcakes I fell a little bit in love with them and was plotting to keep at least one for myself, but they all sold at the fair. The stall was very busy and I left with very few cupcakes at all!</div>
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One of the best things about the vintage fair was that I met so many other lovely makers. Directly behind me were <a href="https://www.facebook.com/EmmaCharlotteMakes">Emma Charlotte Makes</a> and <span itemprop="name"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/KitschyKooUK">Kitschy-Koo Designs</a> and to my left was </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/SandijasTreasureBoutique"><span itemprop="name">Sandija's Treasure Boutique.</span></a><span itemprop="name"> Not only were their handmade items beautiful but it was lovely to talk to other makers about local fairs and the trials and tribulations of craft selling. I can't wait to see them again at future events. </span><br />
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<span itemprop="name">Vintage fairs might not seem like the most obvious places to sell handmade items, but my experience at the Spring Fair has taught me that the vintage crowd is warm and welcoming and that lots of people go along hoping to find something quirky and unusual. The live music was especially good for creating a fun atmosphere, and the vintage-style tea room was a big hit too. My next vintage event is just around the corner, so please come along is you're in the area. It's on the 6th of April at Linden House in Wolverhampton, details are on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1448217282077491/">Facebook page</a>. </span><br />
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<span itemprop="name">Happy spring everyone, and stay lucky</span><br />
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<span itemprop="name">LL xx</span>The lucky ladybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07729555158679691383noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772955519176162277.post-41507304532234383232014-02-11T08:00:00.000-08:002014-02-11T08:00:28.693-08:00In the news!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTCGdFR0o00IMpATuNYKn_8c88kCP9g4R2CYot2HgdYW_Pgt7D0cwmeklTpflygBYJy48pw9_N4n5Xr2lEaowSVx-GmdkG3HQASenqv2gvmLEZTpblvbp9ssgl1sunsHjsoVObvgIjMNC9/s1600/BnorthJournal2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTCGdFR0o00IMpATuNYKn_8c88kCP9g4R2CYot2HgdYW_Pgt7D0cwmeklTpflygBYJy48pw9_N4n5Xr2lEaowSVx-GmdkG3HQASenqv2gvmLEZTpblvbp9ssgl1sunsHjsoVObvgIjMNC9/s1600/BnorthJournal2014.jpg" height="357" width="400" /> </a></div>
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I'm happy to be able to share the news that on January 31st I was featured in the Bridgnorth Journal, our local paper. I think the photo came out really nicely, my only complaint is the slight typo in the web address. For anyone is doubt it's luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk, not luckyladybirdcraft<b><u>s</u></b>. Never mind, it's already created lots of local interest and it's something great to be able to share with potential customers and suppliers. </div>
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It's only three days until Valentine's Day now, and I hope everyone who ordered the love-heart cupcakes has received them by now. To avoid the risk of selling a Valentine's Day present that couldn't be delivered in time I'm afraid I've had to remove them from the online shop today. </div>
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Have a great romantic day everyone, and I hope the gifts are well received! </div>
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LLxxThe lucky ladybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07729555158679691383noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772955519176162277.post-87449427522788704732014-02-03T06:44:00.000-08:002014-02-03T07:05:37.262-08:00The Personal TouchThis Valentine's Day I've put together a new cupcake for the <a href="http://luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk/shop.html">Lucky Ladybird online shop</a>, and it's something a little special, the first ever customisable Lucky Ladybird product. Just fill in the initials of you and your partner (for example K and T) when ordering and I will top the cupcake with an individually 'iced' love-heart creating a memorable gift. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lucky Ladybird <a href="http://luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk/valentines-cupcake.html">Valentine's cupcake purse</a> £10</td></tr>
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To help make the new cupcake the perfect Valentine's gift I've also put together a <a href="http://luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk/sweet-nothings-gift-box.html">'sweet nothings' gift set</a>. As well as the personalised cupcake purse I have also included a matching personalised keyring/bag charm, a selection of white chocolate champagne truffles and a presentation gift box all for only £20. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk/sweet-nothings-gift-box.html">'Sweet Nothings' gift set</a></td></tr>
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The special edition cupcakes will be handmade to order, so please place your order by Saturday February 8th to avoid disapointment.<br />
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And if you'd like to make something personal to decorate your Valentine's Day dinner table then why not take a look at my tutorial for a <a href="http://indielf.com/make-personalised-valentines-day-candle-holder/">portrait candle holder</a> (via <a href="http://indielf.com/">IndiElf.com</a>). Using a clear glass jar and some leftover Christmas tissue paper you can make a pretty centre-piece for a romantic meal.<br />
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There will be more spring craft ideas to come soon, but in the mean time have a lovely Valentine's Day everyone,<br />
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The (Lovey) Lucky Ladybird xxThe lucky ladybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07729555158679691383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772955519176162277.post-68514768092192435222014-01-27T02:45:00.000-08:002014-01-27T02:45:05.095-08:00New Moves For The New YearNow Christmas is over I've been ringing the changes at Lucky Ladybird Craft. After a recommendation from a fellow crafter I decided to try supplying a new local stockist, the <a href="http://www.caricatureme.com/">Tania Holland Gallery</a> in Bridgnorth. The Tania Holland Gallery is run by the artist herself and everything inside is beautiful and well made. It's well situated on the most picturesque street in Bridgnorth on the route to the cliff railway, always a popular path for tourists to trace, and the focus on design and originality in the shop means my products look right at home there. Some of my more colourful items have been placed in the window this month and I know they've already created quite a stir locally, quite surprising given that January is meant to be a very quiet month on the high street!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FtAytq0Anfc/UuYnO1rRmLI/AAAAAAAABCg/_AfsrUjyArc/s1600/Tania+Holland+Gallery.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FtAytq0Anfc/UuYnO1rRmLI/AAAAAAAABCg/_AfsrUjyArc/s1600/Tania+Holland+Gallery.JPG" height="320" width="190" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Tania Holland Gallery in Bridgnorth, just look out for the dog on wheels!</td></tr>
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The presentation of some of the products in the THG was is so lovely that they gave me real food for thought. I decided to follow the good example of other local artists and crafters and package my smaller items on handmade backing cards. The new cards are designed so that a badge can be pinned to the section of fabric or a bag charm can be fastened through a narrow horizontal slot. Everyone who has seen these so far has said how professional they look, and I'm hopeful that they will also brighten up the table at my next crafting event.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lDrLegwBLqo/UuYt4q6RmEI/AAAAAAAABCw/o_OMs5KyhF4/s1600/Displaycards2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lDrLegwBLqo/UuYt4q6RmEI/AAAAAAAABCw/o_OMs5KyhF4/s1600/Displaycards2.jpg" height="261" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A selection of <a href="http://luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk/page14.html">bag charms</a> on my new display cards</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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The cards turned out to be exactly the right size for display of a new
range of badges I've just designed. Flat but with a 3D effect I've
called them 'slice of cake' brooches. They're not available on the
website yet as I've only made a few, but I think they should be perfect
for the vintage fairs I will be attending later in 2014 as each of the
'plates' is decorated with appliqued vintage fabric<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HDQylZlT1nY/UuYuDdSnRLI/AAAAAAAABC8/svEhuKFrDnQ/s1600/Brooches2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HDQylZlT1nY/UuYuDdSnRLI/AAAAAAAABC8/svEhuKFrDnQ/s1600/Brooches2.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New 'slice of cake' brooches</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AnJfJcuDy-I/UuYuSD0V12I/AAAAAAAABDA/-rORucMVsRA/s1600/BroochDisplay2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AnJfJcuDy-I/UuYuSD0V12I/AAAAAAAABDA/-rORucMVsRA/s1600/BroochDisplay2.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Slice of cake' brooches on display cards</td></tr>
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In the spirit of making my products look more professional I've also organised something this month that I've been meaning to do for a while and had some Lucky Ladybird fabric product labels made. These fabric labels are now sewn into all Lucky Ladybird products too large to fit on display cards, and they should mean that in the future anyone who buys or receives one of my bags or purses will be able to trace it back to 'The Lucky Ladybird'.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8xPcQzl8LF0/UuYywFVUKUI/AAAAAAAABDM/TqkTQevS5nM/s1600/Fabriclabels3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8xPcQzl8LF0/UuYywFVUKUI/AAAAAAAABDM/TqkTQevS5nM/s1600/Fabriclabels3.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My new fabric labels</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eqafdlwYF08/UuYy0JupsQI/AAAAAAAABDU/cs1j5AV0dg8/s1600/Fabriclabel2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eqafdlwYF08/UuYy0JupsQI/AAAAAAAABDU/cs1j5AV0dg8/s1600/Fabriclabel2.jpg" height="227" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A fabric label sewn into the lining of a <a href="http://luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk/strawb-handbag.html">strawberry and cream swiss roll handbag</a></td></tr>
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There's lots more to do this year and I'll be back very soon with news of a new Valentines Day product. Onwards and upwards!<br />
<br />
LLxx<br />
The lucky ladybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07729555158679691383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772955519176162277.post-27086126747088120152013-12-13T02:23:00.000-08:002013-12-13T02:23:12.261-08:00Dear Dad (or How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love Twitter)Dear Dad,<br />
<br />
I noticed you set up a Twitter account not long ago, and as a self-employed businessman I think it's a great move. Twitter can bring you lots of new fans, and it can also help you find customers and makes sales, it's amazing marketing tool but it's far from self-explanatory, so I've decided to share with you everything I know about how to use Twitter to your advantage. <br />
<br />
1. Target market and contemporaries<br />
<br />
First of all you need to decide two things:<br />
<br />
Who is your target market?<br />
Who are your contemporaries?<br />
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For me my first answer would be something like 'cake enthusiasts', 'bag enthusiasts' etc. and my second answer would be 'craft sellers' and 'small business owners'. For you I would guess your first answer might be 'historical fiction enthusiasts' and your second answer 'self-publishers' and 'small business owners'. We have a little bit of an overlap, but not much!<br />
Now you need to start tracking these two groups down. Use the search function on Twitter and search for one of your key terms. <br />
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Try 'search all people' to bring up a long list.<br />
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Read through the profile information on the list and you'll find a mixture of your target market and contemporaries, and follow anyone who looks like they might be interested in your work. Imagine it like an opportunity to give out a lot of business cards all at once, follow follow follow! You'll be amazed how many people will follow you back automatically, just out of curiosity or interest. <br />
Search regularly for any and all key terms and keep following. Aim to follow around 200 people to start with (yes, really!)<br />
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2. Monkey see, monkey do<br />
Once you have a long list of people you're following it's time to watch what they're doing. This is most important for the 'contemporaries' group. When I started following other craft sellers on Twitter I found out about all sorts of pre-existing organisations who help to publicise small businesses (check out <a href="https://twitter.com/Purpledognet">Purple Dog</a> for example) as well as twitter events that anyone can join in with. There's a '<a href="https://twitter.com/HandmadeHour">Handmade Hour</a>' (Wednesday 19:30-20:30) where lots of people watch the hash tag #handmadehour. By tweeting something like 'Look at this item I made #handmadehour' and including a picture suddenly I had a captive audience. Find out if there's anything similar among your contemporaries, either in writing or publishing and join in. #newwriting looks promising as does #IndiePub<br />
If you see a contemporary doing well on Twitter then take a look at who they follow and who they interact with. Follow who they follow and take a leaf out of their book. <br />
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3. Interact<br />
Once you start to join in twitter events you'll notice that the most popular Twitter feeds are maintained by the chattiest people. Some people have the gift of the gab, but twitter isn't just about self-promotion, it's also about lending a hand and interacting with others. If you see another start-up with a product or service that you think deserves promoting then retweet, tell them you like their product. You might make a useful contact, and that person is much more likely to share your products in the future.<br />
Lots of people will send you a welcome message when you follow, consider whether it's worth doing the same (e.g. Thanks for following, have you seen my website?). It's not mandatory, but it seems to work for lots of businesses.<br />
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4. Repetition, hesitation, deviation <br />
Finally imagine what a billboard would look like advertising your books. What would it say? Twitter is a lot like a billboard, with lots of potential customers driving past at high-speed. If something's worth saying it's worth saying a dozen times. Every time you repeat an important message you increase your chances of people noticing your tweet, and take note of twitter rush-hours on evenings and weekends to increase your visibility. Just reword your tweet and no one will mind if you repeat yourself (and they won't mind if you hesitate or deviate from the subject either).<br />
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There are lots more things to learn about Twitter I'm certain (for example did you know you could pay to promote a tweet saying 'buy my book' to everyone who likes Sharpe or James Bond?) but I'm still learning about all that myself. With a little luck you'll be teaching me how it's done before I work that out. <br />
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Keep tweeting and keep writing, lots of love<br />
<br />
@Lucky_Ladybird<br />
<br />
Note: For my regular readers my Dad is the author of a series of historical spy novels '<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Most-Secret-Book-Gentleman-Spy/dp/0957392117/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1386929840&sr=1-2">Most Secret</a>'. He also runs a self-publishing website helping budding authors get into print and break into the world of e-publishing. Please drop by and say hello. <a href="http://www.chelonist.com/">www.chelonist.com</a>The lucky ladybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07729555158679691383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772955519176162277.post-80935153963959751842013-12-05T07:05:00.000-08:002013-12-05T07:06:06.893-08:00My first crafting ChristmasIt's an exciting time of year, and it's a time when I usually hand make gifts for family and friends, but this festive season is even more exciting for me than usual. This is my first Christmas as a professional crafter, and I've been planning for it since August when I first drew up plans for some special Christmas items for the <a href="http://luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk/shop.html">Lucky Ladybird shop</a>. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2j6Wd-q6Bzc/UqCAyaicnyI/AAAAAAAABB8/YsqK58bAD3M/s1600/20131205_132657.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2j6Wd-q6Bzc/UqCAyaicnyI/AAAAAAAABB8/YsqK58bAD3M/s320/20131205_132657.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plans for a mince pie purse</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0dfGf5rZTfc/UqCAuuefCAI/AAAAAAAABB0/iymwxxa1Qtk/s1600/20131205_132714.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0dfGf5rZTfc/UqCAuuefCAI/AAAAAAAABB0/iymwxxa1Qtk/s320/20131205_132714.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plans for a Christmas pudding clutch</td></tr>
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Having drawn up the plans I didn't actually start to make either of these until after Hallowe'en when I was first able to dedicate some time to Christmas. I made some prototypes, did my best to improve on the designs and then was able to put together the finished items in early November. It gave my husband a shock to see I'd unpacked the Christmas decorations a month early so I could take some suitably festive photos!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pf9yUiAkYrs/UqB-fSrCpwI/AAAAAAAABBY/RqXjkVoA564/s1600/Christmas+specials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="261" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pf9yUiAkYrs/UqB-fSrCpwI/AAAAAAAABBY/RqXjkVoA564/s320/Christmas+specials.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk/mince-pie.html">Mince pie</a> and <a href="http://luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk/christmas-pudding.html">Christmas pudding purses</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SA8A0cp9ops/UqB-lVUgArI/AAAAAAAABBg/th37ejc6nhg/s1600/Christmascover1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="204" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SA8A0cp9ops/UqB-lVUgArI/AAAAAAAABBg/th37ejc6nhg/s320/Christmascover1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Lucky Ladybird collection in a festive setting. The decorations when back into the box after this photo was taken!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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The mince pie and Christmas pudding purses have a red polka-dot lining (unlike most Lucky Ladybird items which have a pink polka-dot lining) and are embellished with sprigs of holly instead of the traditional felt strawberry, but they're still soft and fleecy like my other creations with plenty of felt detailing.<br />
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Once the Christmas specials were designed and made I decided that the website could do with a Christmas makeover. I added a special '<a href="http://luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk/christmas-shop.html">Christmas Shop</a>' section where my products are arranged into useful categories for anyone looking to buy gifts. The <a href="http://luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk/christmas-exclusives.html">exclusive Christmas items</a> and <a href="http://luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk/cupcake-gift-boxes.html">gift sets</a> are easier to find and visitors can also browse items by price to make it easier to shop for stocking fillers.<br />
<br />
After the website re-launch I managed to find some time to write a quick tutorial for a website called <a href="http://pvbdaily.com/">PVB Daily</a>. They had put out a request for 12 Christmas-themed tutorials for a 12 days of Christmas crafting feature, and I was thrilled when they decided to include my <a href="http://pvbdaily.com/christmas-pudding-tree-decoration/">guide to making your own Christmas pudding tree ornament</a> for day 6. As you can see from the picture the decoration is a simplified version of my Christmas pudding coin purse. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cC1h7qyc9rU/UqCKV4C2fFI/AAAAAAAABCQ/HFHKQ2a-53I/s1600/Finished1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cC1h7qyc9rU/UqCKV4C2fFI/AAAAAAAABCQ/HFHKQ2a-53I/s320/Finished1.jpg" width="242" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tutorial available at <a href="http://pvbdaily.com/christmas-pudding-tree-decoration/">PVB Daily</a> </td></tr>
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The rest of November I spent stocking up on my most popular items ready to attend my first ever Christmas craft fair in Donnington near Telford. The venue (<a href="http://www.caseysvenues.co.uk/">Cordingley Hall</a>) was new to craft events, but when I found out that there would be hot food and a special Santa's Grotto for the kids I could tell it would be a popular local event. <br />
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The morning of the fair I packed plenty of tinsel and even wore my Christmas jumper to get into the spirit. The Christmas music playing in the hall helped set the scene and when the doors were opened the venue was quickly packed with visitors. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KJ1jxIZfh4w/UqB-vVCz2AI/AAAAAAAABBo/Wb4c0MEGtEc/s1600/ChristmasFair2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KJ1jxIZfh4w/UqB-vVCz2AI/AAAAAAAABBo/Wb4c0MEGtEc/s320/ChristmasFair2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me set up and ready to go at the Christmas craft fair</td></tr>
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Santa's visit was a big local attraction as predicted and there was also a surprise visit from a dancing reindeer! There was mulled wine at the bar which helped to warm us up, but by the afternoon the hall was quiet. Fortunately it so happened that many of the stall holders were on the look out for handmade gifts, me included! In the last hour I bought some handmade chocolates and some pretty hand-carved wooden gifts from my fellow crafters. They returned the favour by buying some special Christmas items from me, which made for a nice end to the day. </div>
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One thing I've learned in my first year of professional crafting is that many good craft fairs are booked far in advance, sometimes over a year before they take place. There are lots of local events that I would love to have taken part in but which were organised well before I was even thinking about self-employment! I've already signed up to take part in a Christmas craft fair in December 2014 in Shrewsbury and I plan to be at many more if I can. Christmas is a great time of year for family events like craft and vintage fairs, especially in Shropshire. </div>
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Happily my stockists have also arranged Christmas events this year, and my items have also been available through them. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Urban-Folk/230025993758688?fref=ts">Urban Folk</a> took Lucky Ladybird items to a special Pop-Up Shop at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/eatup.co.uk?directed_target_id=0">Eat Up</a> in Shrewsbury as well as to a Christmas Fayre at <span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45,"tn":"*G"}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">Concord College at the end of November. <a href="https://www.shropshire.gov.uk/shropshire-hills-discovery-centre/">The Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre</a> are getting in on the action too with a </span></span>‘Shopping and
Santa Special’ this Sunday 8 December. There will be crafts and stories
and a visit with Santa for the kids and mulled wine for the adults as a well as a relaxed atmosphere perfect for doing some Christmas shopping. </div>
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Until next time good luck with all your Christmas preparations. Lots of love</div>
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LLxx</div>
<br />The lucky ladybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07729555158679691383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772955519176162277.post-90385500006193025852013-11-02T10:16:00.000-07:002013-11-02T10:16:05.363-07:00Stockists, stalls and stocking-upI'm so happy to say that October turned out to be a great month for Lucky Ladybird Crafts. After a slow September I was thrilled to be able to start the month my announcing the the winner of my <a href="http://luckyladybirdcraft.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/cupcake-competition-launch.html">cupcake gift box competition</a>. The new cupcake flavour will be blueberry, photos to follow very soon!<br />
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Soon after I found out that my first ever stockist, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tea-and-Roses/100274903377455">Tea & Roses of Bridgnorth</a>, was moving to a larger premises in Bridgnorth. I organised to pick up my stock while the move took place, and it turned out my items had been selling better than expected! Lucky Ladybird items will be back in stock in Tea & Roses in November when the move is complete. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BygMYErOsE0/UnUpCM_gOCI/AAAAAAAABAA/j-SIRroxFLI/s1600/shopteaandroses250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BygMYErOsE0/UnUpCM_gOCI/AAAAAAAABAA/j-SIRroxFLI/s1600/shopteaandroses250.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tea & Roses in Bridgnorth - now moving to a larger premises also on Bridgnorth high street</td></tr>
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Shortly afterwards I was contacted by the <a href="http://www.shropshire.gov.uk/shropshire-hills-discovery-centre/">Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre</a> in Craven Arms who found me via <a href="https://twitter.com/Lucky_Ladybird">my Twitter feed</a>. They were on the look-out for stockists for their new Shropshire-made Christmas shop. I took some items along and they're now for sale until Christmas along side some beautiful woodwork, glass work and jewellery, all hand made in Shropshire. It's a great centre with a library, gallery, cafe and exhibitions so I recommend a visit if you're in the Shropshire area.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbLRUxalHPq8RpiVyV_Cf11xWaebyRnOsODweuDwukWgxkN9KQ2jIzNgcKtQ8t-hUSlumdYWAeFjN9jUUR9EL8tntXZrYNe7eyTctEaCWMb6YMfIVqcfPTt_0g5_N9ZpNEDd32dk2q6N6n/s1600/v58-10-DSC_3977.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbLRUxalHPq8RpiVyV_Cf11xWaebyRnOsODweuDwukWgxkN9KQ2jIzNgcKtQ8t-hUSlumdYWAeFjN9jUUR9EL8tntXZrYNe7eyTctEaCWMb6YMfIVqcfPTt_0g5_N9ZpNEDd32dk2q6N6n/s320/v58-10-DSC_3977.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre cafe/gallery space</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jmmcy-iDKWU/UnUwf3AMG5I/AAAAAAAABAs/gYrzbKrcaoo/s1600/ShropshireHills.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jmmcy-iDKWU/UnUwf3AMG5I/AAAAAAAABAs/gYrzbKrcaoo/s320/ShropshireHills.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lucky Ladybird bags and purses alongside boards and platters by <a href="http://www.spenceredwards.co.uk/">wood artisan Spencer Edwards</a></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
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I spent the rest of October preparing for a Halloween stall in the Parade shopping centre in Shrewsbury. I made plenty of Day of The Dead items and a few bat badges as well as some simple sushi clutch purses to fill out the stall.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9JEm8OhvaOQps0y9ZauVFARA2My5rmX8GWSuACZCYt6S5ne72Q5WN1K00V0uPbBL5-cbLF8GoM2TaxTmzyvJnVG-CnoYUWfEMiu11Lfe4PwuuW9GWqtyZZrFLWMsS3Eq0PrvE0oRdMBPL/s1600/Dayofthedeaditems.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9JEm8OhvaOQps0y9ZauVFARA2My5rmX8GWSuACZCYt6S5ne72Q5WN1K00V0uPbBL5-cbLF8GoM2TaxTmzyvJnVG-CnoYUWfEMiu11Lfe4PwuuW9GWqtyZZrFLWMsS3Eq0PrvE0oRdMBPL/s320/Dayofthedeaditems.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Special Day of The Dead badges</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S2fYWUOyiAw/UnUqkQLM7CI/AAAAAAAABAQ/FLP3wFkODZ0/s1600/Halloweenstall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S2fYWUOyiAw/UnUqkQLM7CI/AAAAAAAABAQ/FLP3wFkODZ0/s320/Halloweenstall.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Halloween stall in Shrewsbury with new egg nigiri and shrimp nigiri clutch purses (centre left)</td></tr>
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It was such a busy day with cosplayers and shoppers, competitions and kids in costumes, but I made time to drop by my Shrewsbury stockist <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Urban-Folk/230025993758688">Urban Folk</a> while I was close by. It seems the people of Shrewsbury just love my <a href="http://luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk/page14.html">cake charms</a>, I'll just have to start making some more!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wpQNHOWuseU/UnUyWxO5k-I/AAAAAAAABA4/TFG4qtfTKUE/s1600/21241857.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wpQNHOWuseU/UnUyWxO5k-I/AAAAAAAABA4/TFG4qtfTKUE/s320/21241857.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Urban Folk on Grope Lane in Shrewsbury</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eZA7_iQquqA/UnUybNrQpCI/AAAAAAAABBA/xD2p1WYCq_8/s1600/1374262_525597174201567_1269445606_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="291" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eZA7_iQquqA/UnUybNrQpCI/AAAAAAAABBA/xD2p1WYCq_8/s320/1374262_525597174201567_1269445606_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lucky Ladybird purses for sale in Urban Folk</td></tr>
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I've got lots of plans for November already, and you won't be surprised to learn that Christmas features heavily! I'll be preparing for Christmas craft stalls in Donnington and Shrewsbury by making some special edition Christmas items and I'll be adding a new Christmas area to my website with lots of gift ideas and boxes for the festive season. In the mean time you can keep up to date with my new projects at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/LuckyLadybirdCraft">www.facebook.com/LuckyLadybirdCraft</a> or by following my Twitter feed <a href="https://twitter.com/Lucky_Ladybird">@Lucky_Ladybird</a><br />
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Wishing you a happy November,<br />
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LL xx<br />
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<br />The lucky ladybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07729555158679691383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772955519176162277.post-56646393586505733742013-10-26T08:37:00.001-07:002013-10-26T08:37:36.321-07:00Where do you get your ideas from?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm sure everyone in a creative profession gets this question a lot, but because my bags are so unusual quite often my customers have never seen anything like them before. Can I really be so out on a limb? A mad genius concocting one-off wonders? No, of course not. In the wonderful world of the internet my bags are not <i>so </i>strange, and all great ideas have a starting point.<br />
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I first started sewing bags because I wanted a handbag to express my love of sushi. I thought that someone, somewhere, would already be making a bag shaped like a sushi roll, but when I couldn't find what I wanted I <a href="http://luckyladybirdcraft.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/sushi-crafting-retrospective.html">made it myself</a>. I didn't realise at the time that I'd started something momentous, something that would lead me to start my own business. I'd been inspired by the cute and kawaii world of Japanese food, and in Japan there are already dozens of designers turning food into accessories, playthings and furniture.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgEVs-ubsJAN5hvlC6sHWdCj1K9X2BEDG9v1bDQAcPiksCKWnEK8GOIuveW30nZDcKIaQLofACSOPOcJotBL8KHOxBqZusvKxUyeJv0abP8ZW6Gk0EURYjSw-BOoSd4qUzKVyLrAZDxYWe/s1600/article-2402651-1B7B5692000005DC-683_634x632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgEVs-ubsJAN5hvlC6sHWdCj1K9X2BEDG9v1bDQAcPiksCKWnEK8GOIuveW30nZDcKIaQLofACSOPOcJotBL8KHOxBqZusvKxUyeJv0abP8ZW6Gk0EURYjSw-BOoSd4qUzKVyLrAZDxYWe/s320/article-2402651-1B7B5692000005DC-683_634x632.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pastry cushions and sleeping bags from <a href="http://www.felissimo.co.jp/kraso/v14/cfm/products_detail001.cfm?gcd=662293&iid=p_kr_130909_REDIRECT">Felissimo</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ehi1ZvxHKSA/UmeyaVuwhTI/AAAAAAAAA_E/Kj_Nzwi_16U/s1600/makizushi-modular-furniture-system5_TKIhE_24702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="222" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ehi1ZvxHKSA/UmeyaVuwhTI/AAAAAAAAA_E/Kj_Nzwi_16U/s320/makizushi-modular-furniture-system5_TKIhE_24702.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Modular sushi furniture by <a href="http://www.coroflot.com/keiv/MAKIZUSHI-modular-furniture-system-">Sophia Yung</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TA6aQY9EtQA/UmeyvlyoVtI/AAAAAAAAA_M/EpPYVlzKEsE/s1600/ear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TA6aQY9EtQA/UmeyvlyoVtI/AAAAAAAAA_M/EpPYVlzKEsE/s320/ear.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miniature food earrings by <a href="http://meow-box.myshopify.com/collections/miniature-food-jewellery/earrings">Meow Box</a></td></tr>
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The concept for my cake collection came from a desire to make this wonderful world more accessible to the majority of the British population, so I chose iconic British cakes that I thought would make a bold style statement. In drawing up my designs I had a lot of help along the way, firstly from other designers. It's always a good start to find out what other crafters are making and try to work out how they did it. I often browse etsy to get an idea of new trends. When looking for ideas for Swiss Roll bags (which was something I knew I wanted to do) I came across <a href="http://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/88471889/sale-swiss-chocolate-fudge-cake-roll?ref=exp_listing">this ring</a>. I was totally inspired by the simple shape and loved the idea of chunks of chocolate mixed in with the cream.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Bzf9kePdk3s/UdFLSRkos2I/AAAAAAAAA88/FdiGkysIp5s/s757/ring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Bzf9kePdk3s/UdFLSRkos2I/AAAAAAAAA88/FdiGkysIp5s/s320/ring.jpg" width="311" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chocolate Swiss Roll Ring from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/88471889/sale-swiss-chocolate-fudge-cake-roll?ref=exp_listing">PinkFrog4U</a> on etsy</td></tr>
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Next I started looking up recipes. I love to browse recipes in books and online for inspiration. I came across this image through a good image search, and although it's only a stock image I was wowed by the amazing use of colour. Again the design features cream with added delicious chunks, but this time they're chunks of fresh strawberry. Looking at images like this inspired me to include a strawberry with each cake design. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5UPI6Jq9lNc/UdFLcziiMdI/AAAAAAAAA9I/kxDNpseLh88/s400/choc+roll.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5UPI6Jq9lNc/UdFLcziiMdI/AAAAAAAAA9I/kxDNpseLh88/s320/choc+roll.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shutterstock chocolate and strawberry Swiss Roll</td></tr>
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Here's the result, my <a href="http://luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk/choc-swiss-handbag.html">Chocolate Swiss Roll Handbag</a> inspired by this recipe, topped off with the strawberry zip-pull. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tmQNoqsimw8/Ume0zbd6orI/AAAAAAAAA_Y/0TviNN4SqMI/s1600/Choc+bag+ext.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tmQNoqsimw8/Ume0zbd6orI/AAAAAAAAA_Y/0TviNN4SqMI/s320/Choc+bag+ext.jpg" width="242" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chocolate Swiss Roll Handbag, available from the <a href="http://luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk/choc-swiss-handbag.html">Lucky Ladybird shop</a></td></tr>
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Of course if looking for beautiful pictures of food there's one place you can spend hours drooling over - Pinterest! Although my method of constructing my <a href="http://luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk/cupcake-collection.html">cupcake coin purses</a> is a closely guarded secret, I will reveal that many of my cupcake 'recipes' are inspired by beautiful Pinterest images, such as this mouthwatering photograph of a batch of lemon cupcakes. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/a8/31/06/a83106cd5764446abe25b69bede66fa5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/a8/31/06/a83106cd5764446abe25b69bede66fa5.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/236509417904244078/">Lemon cupcakes</a> from <a href="http://montanarosepainter.tumblr.com/post/24087289981/lemonmeringuecupcakes">MontanaRosePainter</a> on Pinterest</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/16/de/f7/16def7522cea0ceb534e760ac57ae704.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/16/de/f7/16def7522cea0ceb534e760ac57ae704.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk/lemon-cupcake.html">Lemon cupcake coin purse</a> by the Lucky Ladybird</td></tr>
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If you'd like to see more delicious images that helped to inspire my crafty creations, and even get a few clues as to some more recipes I'm considering adding to the Lucky Ladybird range check out my Pinterest board <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/luckyladybird/cake-craft/">'Cake Craft'</a> which I've just make public.<br />
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The world of crafting is weird and wonderful, and the only limit is your imagination. As it turns out my imagination reaches about as far as my stomach! Keep looking for inspiration, and good luck in all your creative endeavours, <br />
<br />
LL xx<br />
<br />The lucky ladybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07729555158679691383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772955519176162277.post-24625748827163820962013-09-23T07:01:00.000-07:002013-12-05T07:06:52.725-08:00Cupcake Competition Launch!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Big news LL fans! To celebrate the arrival of my new <a href="http://luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk/cupcake-gift-boxes.html">cupcake gift boxes</a> I'm launching the first ever Lucky Ladybird competition, and it starts today!<br />
First take a look at the new gift boxes to get started. Each set includes a cupcake coin purse, a matching bag charm and a filling of delicious treats all packaged in a beautiful cupcake gift box.<br />
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Introducing, the lemon cupcake gift box<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AfVJhrDfH_c/UkA3c0g0YXI/AAAAAAAAA9c/ijSeaYbyiQ0/s1600/Lemonbox1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="234" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AfVJhrDfH_c/UkA3c0g0YXI/AAAAAAAAA9c/ijSeaYbyiQ0/s320/Lemonbox1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lemon cupcake gift set includes a cupcake coin purse with a filling of delicious <a href="http://www.hopeandgreenwood.co.uk/New-sweets/Lemon-Meringue/">Lemon Meringue</a> flavour boiled sweets as provided by confectioners <a href="http://www.hopeandgreenwood.co.uk/">Hope and Greenwood</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uVeskm2wjM0/UkA3gv1V0PI/AAAAAAAAA9k/feleeBVm5YM/s1600/Lemoncupcake1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="245" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uVeskm2wjM0/UkA3gv1V0PI/AAAAAAAAA9k/feleeBVm5YM/s320/Lemoncupcake1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lemon cupcake coin purse</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Sqe81BYTwGw/UkA3jaCb8VI/AAAAAAAAA9s/7UVpi7QJ58o/s1600/Lemoncharms1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Sqe81BYTwGw/UkA3jaCb8VI/AAAAAAAAA9s/7UVpi7QJ58o/s320/Lemoncharms1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The gift set also includes one matching cupcake bag charm, so small and sweet!</td></tr>
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The Strawberry cupcake gift box<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-msbHUyeGZxc/UkBGAi2kQ7I/AAAAAAAAA98/9wLy9p2DH18/s1600/Strawberrybox1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-msbHUyeGZxc/UkBGAi2kQ7I/AAAAAAAAA98/9wLy9p2DH18/s320/Strawberrybox1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The strawberry cupcake gift set includes a cupcake coin purse with a filling of delicious <a href="http://www.hopeandgreenwood.co.uk/New-sweets/Strawberry-Jam-Tart/">Strawberry Jam Tart</a> flavour boiled sweets as provided by confectioners <a href="http://www.hopeandgreenwood.co.uk/">Hope and Greenwood</a></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KJJsSsMDjYM/UkBGWoQT5wI/AAAAAAAAA-E/mZTOZLMMIBA/s1600/Stawblargeint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KJJsSsMDjYM/UkBGWoQT5wI/AAAAAAAAA-E/mZTOZLMMIBA/s320/Stawblargeint.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Strawberry cupcake coin purse</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EtsuKGbie1A/UkBGb1FW-LI/AAAAAAAAA-M/66OjeixWJn0/s1600/Cupcakecharm2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="257" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EtsuKGbie1A/UkBGb1FW-LI/AAAAAAAAA-M/66OjeixWJn0/s320/Cupcakecharm2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The gift set also includes a strawberry cupcake bag charm</td></tr>
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And finally the chocolate truffle cupcake gift box<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JqCAIp26dnY/UkBHgWXv_LI/AAAAAAAAA-Y/7MposBKQ09U/s1600/Chocolatebox1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JqCAIp26dnY/UkBHgWXv_LI/AAAAAAAAA-Y/7MposBKQ09U/s320/Chocolatebox1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The chocolate truffle gift box includes a chocolate truffle coin purse filled with delicious <a href="http://www.hopeandgreenwood.co.uk/truffles_2/">Champagne 'Tickled Pink' Truffles</a> as provided by confectioners <a href="http://www.hopeandgreenwood.co.uk/">Hope and Greenwood</a>!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_ZEpyq7Qkuw/UkBH2uvqBAI/AAAAAAAAA-s/5wz7BZg1ZQA/s1600/Choctruffle1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="245" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_ZEpyq7Qkuw/UkBH2uvqBAI/AAAAAAAAA-s/5wz7BZg1ZQA/s320/Choctruffle1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The chocolate truffle coin purse</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The chocolate cupcake gift set also includes a mini chocolate cupcake bag charm</td></tr>
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The sets are designed to be the <a href="http://luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk/cupcake-gift-boxes.html">perfect gift for cake-lovers</a>, but I'd love to add a fourth flavour to the range. This is where you come in, what do you think the fourth cupcake flavour should be? Use your imagination. Maybe you have your own recipe that you'd like to see sewn in fabric, or maybe you've seen something mouthwatering on <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=cupcake">Pinterest</a> that you just can't resist. Remember a great cupcake should have tempting flavours but should also look colourful and interesting. I'm looking for something that will really stand out from the crowd!<br />
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The winner will be the person who comes up with the best cupcake recipe suggestion. Not only will they get to see their suggestion become part of the Lucky Ladybird <a href="http://luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk/cupcake-collection.html">cupcake collection</a> but they will also receive a cupcake gift box of whichever flavour they chose FOR FREE! The handmade gift boxes normally retail at £20, and this is a one-off opportunity to win one for nothing at all!<br />
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To enter email info@luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk with the subject heading 'Cupcake Competition'. Include your name and an email address where you can be contacted as well as your suggestion for a cupcake recipe. If it's a cupcake you've made and photographed or seen online then you can include a photo, but that's not strictly necessary. The deadline for competition entry is Monday October 14th, so please email your suggestions soon to be in with a chance of winning. Due to postage costs I'm sorry to say the competition is only open to residents of Great Britain. <br />
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Please spread the word to let cupcake fans know about the competition. There will be regular updates and reminders via <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LuckyLadybirdCraft">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/Lucky_Ladybird">Twitter</a> so keep in touch and feel free to message or tweet me with any questions you have. I can't wait to see what flavours you come up with! Let the competition begin!<br />
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Good luck ladybirds,<br />
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LL xx<br />
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*UPDATE*<br />
Thank you to everyone who entered the competition! The winner was a Mrs Janet Walker with her suggestion of a blueberry cupcake. Stay tuned for details of a new Lucky Ladybird compeition coming in 2014The lucky ladybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07729555158679691383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772955519176162277.post-82654129690742084422013-08-17T14:22:00.000-07:002013-08-17T14:22:18.612-07:00The summer of markets, and all I learned along the wayOver the last month I've taken my first steps into the world of craft markets. It's a world that's completely new to me, and although it hasn't made me a millionaire just yet the process has been incredibly useful.<br />
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The first market I signed up for wasn't a craft market at all but an 'enterprise fair', an event organised to promote young business in the Shropshire area. The event was called 'Enterprise Rocks' and was organised by Young Britain who provide support for young entrepreneurs. <br />
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The stall was free and I knew the event would be well attended by people in the business community so it seemed like a great networking opportunity. In the weeks before the event I hand sewed a banner, got business cards and put together several things to help make a good display including bunting, a cake stand, cups and saucers and a pretty floral table cloth. </div>
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I also had to rush to organise lots of practical aspects of stall-holding. I dug out my old cash box, raised a cash float and chose some red tissue paper for gift wrapping. Finally we were ready to go. 'Enterprise Rocks' was due to take place on the first morning of the summer holidays, but even so my husband agreed to come along and help me set up, which was a big relief because I was very nervous!</div>
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We set up early in the morning. On site all the stalls were in mini marquees, which served as great protection from the weather. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stalls being set up at 'Enterprise Rocks'</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All ready to start selling!</td></tr>
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As you can see I used the cake stand to display small items like my <a href="http://luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk/page37.html">cupcake purses</a> and <a href="http://luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk/page18.html">miniroll purses</a> and a teacup for my <a href="http://luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk/page14.html">teeny tiny bag charms</a>. Everyone who came to look really loved my range of items, and I made plenty of sales to my fellow stall holders! Even better I got lots of feedback and gave out dozens of business cards. </div>
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It was publicised as 'the business version of Glastonbury' which, in the event , was an overstatement. People seemed to have had trouble finding the venue (which was out of town and not well sign-posted enough) and most people I met were there to network rather than to shop. But having a deadline to work towards to get my products ready for sale was really useful to me, and the whole experience convinced me that I was ready to attend more craft fairs. </div>
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After 'Enterprise Rocks' I signed up with <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheNationOfCreation">The Nation of Creation</a> who hold craft fairs in Wellington and Ellesmere. The Wellington venue, Belmont Community Hall, was an easy distance from home for me and the stall booking fee seemed very reasonable, so I was excited to get started! Thanks to 'Enterprise Rocks' I was almost ready to attend my first real craft fair. My only preparation this time was the purchase of a second cake stand ( a bargain I couldn't resist!) and the requirement to provide my own public liability insurance forced me to get my act in gear and get insured for the rest of the year. </div>
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The atmosphere at Wellington was relaxed and friendly, with lots of other crafters and artists keen to talk and take a look. It was great to meet other maker/designers and even better to find out than no one else was making anything quite like my cake bags! Once again I sold a few items to other stall-holders and some small pieces to locals. Over all though the event seemed very quiet, and for a couple of hours I wasn't sure whether I would make enough sales to break even after the stall fee. Thankfully a few last-minute sales made the trip worthwhile, but I was left feeling a little despondent, and wondering whether I had done something wrong! After all some other stalls seemed to have done very well from the day, while I'd only just managed to get by. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The new cake stand complete with the first of my chocolate cupcake purses</td></tr>
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After we packed up, cashed up and went home I settled down to read a very useful book that I'd been reading 'Crafts and Craft Shows, How to Make Money' by Philip Kadubec. </div>
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When I began to read I had a real 'light-bulb' moment and I suddenly understood why the day hadn't gone my way. In chapter 5 'Selecting Your Shows' Philip Kadubec says that different craft items of different values are not necessarily suited to stand side-by side at the same craft fairs. Some crafters make expensive items while other make cheap items. A craft show can be well attended, but if the local people don't have much to spend then all you will get are some encouraging remarks and not a lot to show from it. Equally if you make non-luxury items and try to sell them in a privileged area you might find yourself looked-over. In other words "investigate the general economic conditions of the area in which you intend to do a show" (page 65) and match your product to the area. It's something I'd never thought about before, but it dawned on me that all I had been able to sell in Wellington were the cheaper items, and more than one person had mentioned not being able to 'splash out' on something fancy like a handbag. The experience taught me that I hadn't done anything wrong except in choosing which fair to attend and, although I would consider travelling to Wellington nearer to Christmas, in future I might be better off travelling further afield to somewhere a little wealthier. </div>
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Technically the summer isn't over yet, the leaves are still green on the trees, but the school holidays are nearly over and in the crafting world it's time to start thinking about Christmas. I'm now working out how to put together gift packs and special items for the holiday season, and my experiences this summer should also help me to get ready for Christmas markets. I'm no longer nervous about setting up a stall, I'm happy with setting up a display and with all my practical set-up too. I also feel better prepared to chose the right market for my products, and that might be the most important lesson of all. </div>
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Many thanks for reading, and especial thanks to Philip Kadubec for his wise words.</div>
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Love and luck, </div>
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LLxx</div>
The lucky ladybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07729555158679691383noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772955519176162277.post-40300338380970945342013-07-01T01:53:00.001-07:002013-07-01T01:53:03.380-07:00Food bags galoreSince moving full time into bag-making a lot of people I meet seem confused by what I do. Why would you make bags shaped like food? How did you come up with that crazy idea? Well it isn't just me. In fact it seems to me that a food-shaped accessory is just what everyone needs to brighten their day.<br />
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Check out this amazing <a href="http://www.modcloth.com/shop/wallets/nacho-wallet">Nacho Wallet</a> made by <a href="http://www.modcloth.com/shop/ourdesigners/dci">Decor Craft Inc.</a> (via Modcloth) . What I love about this wallet is that a taco is a perfect purse shape, flat underneath with a curved zip opening. The printed fabrics are also a stroke of genius, they almost make the purse look edible!<br />
Decor Craft Inc. also make a cute set of iPhone covers including <a href="http://www.modcloth.com/shop/wallets/rating-royalty-iphone-case-in-ice-cream">one that makes your phone look like an ice cream sandwich</a>. It's almost enough to make me wish I had an iPhone. <br />
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<a href="http://www.modcloth.com/shop/wallets/nacho-wallet"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AvKvqQ6UBHc/Uc2PYJrF2DI/AAAAAAAAA6s/PFNs3Uw3tTU/s320/taco.jpg" width="224" /></a></div>
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And if you were wondering whether savoury bags were the way to go then consider this weird and wonderful invention, the <a href="http://www.garudiostudiage.com/shop/bags.htm">'Hambag'</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://www.garudiostudiage.com/shop/bags.htm"><img border="0" height="284" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zfgpyorrIHo/Uc2RlRVmLRI/AAAAAAAAA68/kC9HseUfrJ4/s320/hambags.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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These bags are the brainchild of Hannah Havana, a member of the <span class="userContent"><a href="http://www.garudiostudiage.com/">Garudio Studiage</a> collective. The realism of these is brilliant, and yet something about the rubbery vinyl meat says 'dog toy' to me. </span><br />
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Okay, the main course is over, how about dessert?<br />
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/85524224/felt-purse-pattern-cheese-cake?ref=sr_gallery_6&ga_search_query=cake+purse&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=GB&ga_search_type=all&ga_facet=cake+purse"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qiCvJLAJB5A/Uc2Utk_raEI/AAAAAAAAA7M/VAjZHWXBUeQ/s320/il_570xN.284193678.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The pattern to make this felt <a href="http://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/85524224/felt-purse-pattern-cheese-cake?ref=sr_gallery_6&ga_search_query=cake+purse&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=GB&ga_search_type=all&ga_facet=cake+purse">strawberry cheesecake purse</a> is available to download from fairyfox on etsy. The strawberries are very cute, but if it was me I'd put some white seed beads on those!<br />
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And what about this <a href="http://www.deviantart.com/art/marie-antoinette-cake-purse-88235383">'Marie Antoinette cake purse'</a> by ~tabithaemma on deviantart. A hundred bonus points for imaginative use of ric-rac!<br />
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<a href="http://www.deviantart.com/art/marie-antoinette-cake-purse-88235383"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpwLVfVlZP_xn6QUHuKMx13BGfn0FKqcOTGPUEol5t315hTTi69q4rUCJeGZ33lMJnPFcRPN9ec9pmPpy2lGEK4l0dxdNuyok2_4Ekz7PrEpw-Kv5JJOM64M5jTTSjYQvMZ7mFikssI5Si/s320/marie_antoinette_cake_purse_by_tabithaemma.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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But no post about novelty handbags would be complete without mentioning <span class="userContent">Judith Leiber, the handbag designer with a difference. Leiber's '</span>minaudières' (jewellery-like objects designed to work as clutch bags) come in all shapes and sizes including animals, household items and food. What better accessory to take to a wedding than a crystal wedding cake?<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uMGM68LwwI8/UdFAIttTGhI/AAAAAAAAA7s/kSaI57YJlFk/s364/Judith-Leiber-Wedding-Cake-Minaudiere.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uMGM68LwwI8/UdFAIttTGhI/AAAAAAAAA7s/kSaI57YJlFk/s320/Judith-Leiber-Wedding-Cake-Minaudiere.jpg" width="279" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T27Xt1uMbCU/UdFANSyejTI/AAAAAAAAA8E/99ZvWF2xgq0/s450/Bag-Collection-by-Judith-Leiber1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="274" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T27Xt1uMbCU/UdFANSyejTI/AAAAAAAAA8E/99ZvWF2xgq0/s320/Bag-Collection-by-Judith-Leiber1.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqUG5E6mhmoGQ8dREo_UEMxN2qAdzeJEIGC7hH7OcDHbDsJ-RBX7AFXkodad4C1YfC-cAecQATHOnLhfy7F_XvDKTo6p40BYxK0juWlL2Kv8QfsOjLUqWyqiMjyTqlr2_VwXg6w8McoRex/s550/Judith-Leiber-Cupcake-Crystal-Clutch-thumb-550x474.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqUG5E6mhmoGQ8dREo_UEMxN2qAdzeJEIGC7hH7OcDHbDsJ-RBX7AFXkodad4C1YfC-cAecQATHOnLhfy7F_XvDKTo6p40BYxK0juWlL2Kv8QfsOjLUqWyqiMjyTqlr2_VwXg6w8McoRex/s320/Judith-Leiber-Cupcake-Crystal-Clutch-thumb-550x474.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3C-lmWziETY/UdFAJGqXOgI/AAAAAAAAA74/PU9-sxZV91g/s513/judith-leiber-crystal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3C-lmWziETY/UdFAJGqXOgI/AAAAAAAAA74/PU9-sxZV91g/s320/judith-leiber-crystal.jpg" width="255" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--9jeL23s0qI/UdFAQhKDiSI/AAAAAAAAA8M/dSfbAsKSpFE/s1000/Fabulous-Judith-Leiber-Cake-Slice-Crystal-Minaudi%C3%A8re.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="284" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--9jeL23s0qI/UdFAQhKDiSI/AAAAAAAAA8M/dSfbAsKSpFE/s320/Fabulous-Judith-Leiber-Cake-Slice-Crystal-Minaudi%C3%A8re.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Sadly <span class="userContent">Judith Leiber's amazing designer creations are only available at a handful of exclusive locations, and the more decorative items cost between $4000 and $7000. </span><br />
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So it seems it's not just me creating food shaped bags. Whatever your taste in food you can find someone, somewhere crafting the perfect fashion accessory to meet your fancy. Join the revolution with me at <a href="http://luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk/">the Lucky Ladybird shop</a> where cake bags and sushi bags are the order of the day.<br />
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<a href="http://luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk/page34.html"><img border="0" height="254" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7vyeBDJsHsY/UdFCWn6JCBI/AAAAAAAAA8k/N1xjkh65Psc/s320/Sushi+group1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk/page4.html"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6dCKqjutRLs/UdFCdFqYmlI/AAAAAAAAA8s/NTMP96ZsP0w/s320/New+selection1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />The lucky ladybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07729555158679691383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772955519176162277.post-19415741493881145442013-06-28T05:38:00.001-07:002013-06-28T06:05:29.092-07:00How a bag is madeAll the bags for sale at luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk are handmade by me from fleece, felt and oilcloth. But how, you may well ask? Here's a quick guide to my bag-making process. <br />
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I work from my own book of templates which I put together as I design the bags. In this first picture you can see me drawing around the template for my <a href="http://luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk/page28.html">chocolate swiss roll shoulder bag</a> on to the back of the oilcloth that I use as a sturdy lining for all my cake bags. <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pH-eZ3wpCbQ/Uc1lDBHSTOI/AAAAAAAAA4k/cJo7i2vkVzI/s1600/2Innercutting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pH-eZ3wpCbQ/Uc1lDBHSTOI/AAAAAAAAA4k/cJo7i2vkVzI/s320/2Innercutting.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Once the two sides are cut to shape I add pockets, also in oilcloth. Here's me with my trusty sewing machine fixing the pockets in place.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh sewing machine, I love you really. </td></tr>
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Next I cut out the sides, one long strip for the bottom of the bag and a shorter zip section. Again I use the machine to stitch the zip into place.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VxCHySdRJLo/Uc1lJqPl84I/AAAAAAAAA5I/1pqpwC2ZAZc/s1600/5Innerzip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VxCHySdRJLo/Uc1lJqPl84I/AAAAAAAAA5I/1pqpwC2ZAZc/s320/5Innerzip.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The two outer strips are sewn end-to end to make a tube and then I pin the round side pieces into place. Believe it or not I then hand sew around the circular edge of the lining to finish this stage. I find the sewing machine just can't handle the tight corners the way a needle and thread can!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QIa9etGimxs/Uc1lOKvRAOI/AAAAAAAAA5c/Q4U4BDAw8n4/s1600/6Innerassembly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QIa9etGimxs/Uc1lOKvRAOI/AAAAAAAAA5c/Q4U4BDAw8n4/s320/6Innerassembly.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Once the lining is finished I start work on the decorative outer. Back to my templates and here I am cutting the 'cream' for the swiss roll from fleece.<br />
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Likewise I cut a spiral of fleece for the chocolate cake element of the bag. This is then carefully pinned into place and the two layers are hand sewn together. <br />
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This particular design features pieces of strawberry in the fresh cream. These are small squares of red fleece, hand sewn onto the outer. <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j5QovmSuXw0/Uc1lRXPKc7I/AAAAAAAAA5k/5pVc8mJLAHo/s1600/9Outersewing2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j5QovmSuXw0/Uc1lRXPKc7I/AAAAAAAAA5k/5pVc8mJLAHo/s320/9Outersewing2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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As with the lining the outer of the bag is composed of two sides, a long strip for the bottom and a smaller zip section. Once the decoration has been finished these four panels are sewn together. Most of this I'm able to do on the sewing machine. <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-68kccW1qQAQ/Uc1lMJ0IGuI/AAAAAAAAA5U/z4VU7Kp09do/s1600/9Outerjoining1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-68kccW1qQAQ/Uc1lMJ0IGuI/AAAAAAAAA5U/z4VU7Kp09do/s320/9Outerjoining1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Outer and inner complete the two can be brought together. Here you can see the inner being slotted inside the outer. <br />
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Inner and outer are then pinned and hand sewn together leaving a (hopefully) neat join at the zip. <br />
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But the bag's not finished yet, it still needs handles. These are made from pink webbing lined with a strip of polka-dot oilcloth to match the bag interior. I cut these to measure and sew them together to make a strong handle.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MGlhTFsjHfQ/Uc1lYGdEDZI/AAAAAAAAA6U/OcEtUQYK-3E/s1600/Straps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MGlhTFsjHfQ/Uc1lYGdEDZI/AAAAAAAAA6U/OcEtUQYK-3E/s320/Straps.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Finally no Lucky Ladybird bag would be complete without the finishing touch of a beaded strawberry zip-pull. These are made from red felt and white glass seed-beads. The size of the strawberry depends on the size of the bag, but whatever the design each strawberry is hand sewn by me. Beading complete the felt is sewn together and stuffed with polyester fibre stuffing.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t0jqlHduE_s/Uc1lXOoI76I/AAAAAAAAA6M/t9ur2oNcBvI/s1600/Strawb1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t0jqlHduE_s/Uc1lXOoI76I/AAAAAAAAA6M/t9ur2oNcBvI/s320/Strawb1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And, at long last, the bag is complete.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ey74RGN0B6s/Uc1lVpgOlKI/AAAAAAAAA6I/YhY1gmygEtQ/s1600/Completed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ey74RGN0B6s/Uc1lVpgOlKI/AAAAAAAAA6I/YhY1gmygEtQ/s320/Completed.jpg" width="236" /></a></div>
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A bag like this takes about a day and a half to complete, or around 13 hours in total. You can find <a href="http://luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk/page28.html">this bag</a> and <a href="http://luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk/page36.html">more like it</a> for sale at the <a href="http://luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk/page4.html">Lucky Ladybird shop</a>. <br />
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If you have any comments or questions about my materials or methods you can leave a comment here or email me at info@luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk<br />
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LLxx The lucky ladybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07729555158679691383noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7772955519176162277.post-44364222777493904272013-06-18T02:44:00.001-07:002013-06-18T02:44:29.767-07:00On a roll!The past few weeks have been some of the busiest times of my life, in craft terms. I've been spreading myself thin trying to create a range of items of different items of different sizes and I've also been photographing them and building the new website to house the listings. Website design is not something I've ever done before but thanks to some very useful software courtesy of my Dad and some fantastic friends who have experience in the area it's been a lot more painless than I would have imagined.<br />
So what do I have to show for my many hours of devotion? Well firstly there's the <a href="http://www.luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk/page36.html">Swiss Roll Collection</a>. From the mini to the maximum cute, <a href="http://www.luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk/page31.html">bag charms</a>, <a href="http://www.luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk/page18.html">mini roll purses</a>, <a href="http://www.luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk/page16.html">coin purses</a> and <a href="http://www.luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk/page20.html">handbags</a>. <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wfR38r4jtoc/UcAmrGJpbQI/AAAAAAAAA3w/MzLJACcjU0k/s1600/Swiss+roll+group3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wfR38r4jtoc/UcAmrGJpbQI/AAAAAAAAA3w/MzLJACcjU0k/s320/Swiss+roll+group3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Next there's the Battenberg Collection. Battenberg <a href="http://www.luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk/page26.html">shoulder bags</a>, <a href="http://www.luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk/page27.html">coin purses</a> and <a href="http://www.luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk/page33.html">bag charms</a>.<br />
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And not forgetting my favourite, the <a href="http://www.luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk/page23.html">Battenberg handbag</a>. Actual slice of cake not for sale, I had to eat it all!<br />
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And for anyone looking for a savoury option there's also plenty of sushi to chose from in the <a href="http://www.luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk/page34.html">Sushi Collection</a>. <br />
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All these bags and accessories are now available to buy through the new <a href="http://www.luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk/page4.html">Lucky Ladybird Shop</a> which went live yesterday. The site's still new so if you experience any problems with it or notice any mistakes please get in touch and I'll get on it. Just email me at info@luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk<br />
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Being the Lucky Ladybird full time is my new job and, although it's been busy it's also been a lot of fun dreaming up new designs and honing my skills. Listening to the radio and putting the last few stitches into a handbag yesterday I took a moment to relish how much I enjoy sewing, and I hope some of that joy will show in the final products.<br />
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There will be more from me soon including a step-by-step 'how a bag is made' post, but in the mean time take a look around www.luckyladybirdcraft.co.uk and let me know what you think. Good luck, and enjoy your crafts,<br />
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LL xxThe lucky ladybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07729555158679691383noreply@blogger.com1