What is the scariest part of my art/craft?

This is what I was asked to write about today, by my blogging buddies who come together once a month to work on a blog 'merry go round'... and I wasn't sure what to write about when I sat down today, which is why I am so late... I thought that there wasn't really anything to write about! I make felt and I'm happy! But then I took myself off for a wander down town (needed to post some parcels), that's when it occurred to me that maybe I should answer this from more of a business stance than personal... I feel the two are very interlinked by now at any rate and it's often hard to separate Sara from Sara's Texture Crafts (quite scary in itself me thinks!!)

It's been a roller coaster year this year, some real highs and some low points too... some great business opportunities and some dry spells... the dreaded 'credit crunch' and even just the talk of it hasn't helped any! And while I know I'm not the only one to suffer, I feel sick and I want to jump from the cart and start cuing at a more slow paced Children's ride... maybe the 'tea cups', even a merry go round... you know that ones that go round and round at a pleasant speed, the one where all the parents stand around cooing over their children and taking a mental picture of a memory to last... maybe it's on the side of the theme park of life that's always sunny?... can't for the life of me spot it on the map though! (A romantic at heart... moi, why yes, but there is also a sarcastic realist/pessimist lurking in my shadow who was quite quick to point out that I should have brought my rain coat!)

So my answer to this question is... What scares me the most right now about my craft is turning a hobby business into a small business... going from just me tinkering away with the things I love best, to a scaled up version where I'm committing myself to a full -time venture and really churning out the units. I do want to make a name for Sara's Texture Crafts... and while I'm not planning to become Alan Sugar (a true self made, millionaire business man) just yet, I do need to start making a proper living if I'm going to get that house in the country! And have enough room for the planned menagerie... the ducks, the sheep, the dog, oh yeah and the children!

So far Sara's Texture Crafts has been slowly moving in the right direction and taking over Kraftmania last month has certainly been a move in the right direction for my craft supply business. 'Why so scared then?', you ask. Don't get me wrong... I'm pleased as punch, this is what I want, what I need in my restless nature and what I am working really hard for... but the pace is blistering! Everything moves so quickly! Just this month gone has been so different to where I was even two months ago now and quite frankly that scares the '#%?*' out of me! And I'm filled with constant questions, like 'is now the right time to be doing this?' 'Is there a right time?' 'Where should I be doing that?' 'and how?' 'Am I doing ok?' 'What do you mean there isn't there a manual?!'

Time to take a 'chill pill' I think and to sit down with a pencil and notepad and refocus... where is this business leading me and what do I need to cope with it when I get there... afterall these stabilisers must come off at some point... in fact there's an eager parent running behind my little pink bike with the trailing ribbons... screw driver in hand... keep pedalling Sara... don't let them catch you... not yet, 'I'm not ready I tell you, I'm not ready! Just once more round the block, I'll be ok then. I promise!'. Let's hope the saddle sore doesn't slow me down too much, or my dress caught in the spokes!

... Wish me luck!

Happy Halloween everyone!

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This post was part of a blog Merry go Around, where I have got together with some friends to talk about a similar subject on the same day... a nice way to meet people!

Sara (me) from http://sarastexturecrafts.blogspot.com/
Ruth from http://insidetheartisan.blogspot.com/
Charlotte from http://fancypicnic.blogspot.com/
Lily from http://lilypangart.blogspot.com/
Marian from http://florcitasart.blogspot.com/
Fabs from http://www.freewebs.com/easterya
Anna from http://halfanacreblog.blogspot.com/
Agathe from http://lebarduvent.blogspot.com/

Spotlight Feature: ParaNoire

Today I want to introduce you to Eva of paranoire-design.com


Sara: Hi Eva! Please tell me a bit about you and your background?
Eva: My name is Eva Wenig and I come from Germany. I was born in Erfurt on a Sunday morning in 1988 and I’m currently rocking the city of Hamburg.


S: How did you get into arts and crafts?
E: Even when I was a small child, I would grab a pencil or scissors and paper to create something artsy And I’ve always been a pen and paper girl until I turned 17. Then, I first thought of actually making one of the garments I had drawn so many times. At first I was really scared by the cast-iron sewing machine monster of my Mom but I quickly taught myself how to handle it. I do still use it today, even if it’s way older than myself!

S: Did you study fashion at college?
E: Actually, I just started a few months ago in April 2008. After launching my label ParaNoire in 2007 I realized that here in Germany I’ll be better off with a college degree if I really wanted to make a living from what I love to do.


S: So where can we buy your wonderful creations?
E: I’ve been selling my work online since May 2007, first on Etsy (ParaNoire.etsy.com), later I discovered the German platform Dawanda (de.dawanda.com/shop/ParaNoire) and in the near future I’ll also sell my products on my own website (paranoire-design.com). My handbags can be bought in the “magasin populaire”store in Cologne, Germany. And you probably met me at the Kleidkunst fair in Berlin (27th and 28th September)!

S: Where do you find your inspiration?
E: The style of past centuries truly inspires me! Clothing has never been more stylish and elegant than in the 19th century. I adore the time and craftsmanship that has been put into those elaborate gowns and I try to bring some of this elegance to modern women’s wardrobes

S: Tell me a bit about your latest collection.
E: My color scheme for the collection winter 08/09 will be mainly black, but I’ll play with textures, transparency and patterns. I’ll also add some garments for the modern gentleman, so keep your eyes open!



This review can also be found at as part of my contributions on DIY City Magazine.

Sara x

Rather Disturbingly... Orphan Works is Passed! by Guest Writer Pamela Baker

On August 26, 2008, I added to my blog, http://magdalenejewelspjk.blogspot.com/, an Article, “Orphan Works-Shelved!”, published by Sara’s “Crafts of Texture” stating that the “Orphan Works Act” had been put on hold by both the Senate and the House of Representatives. As I stated in the Article, “I'll bet you, as I, thought this was a dead issue. Well we, DianeClancy.etsy.com and I just found out that is has been put on hold (again). In fact Congress tried twice to push it through, and both times was held due to the fact that not enough was made known to the public of the ramifications of the Bill”. You can find more details on Diane's Blog at, http://DianeClancy/blog.com.

Now only one month later, Diane and I just learned from a group, “The Illustrators’ Partnership” that as of September 27, 2007, in a very controversial move, the Bill known as “The Orphan Works Act” was passed by the Senate. How and why?

The sponsors taking advantage of the current crisis in Congress, that of trying to save big businesses, by trying to raise $700 Billion, used this opportunity to bail out “business too big to fail” by very quietly passing “The Orphan Works Act” Legislation. Their reasoning is that it would force “us” (artists, photographers, crafters, illustrators, musician, songwriters, etc.) who use the internet as a marketing tool, to buy into Congress’s copyright law. Which essentially means that unless you buy copyright’s to your own work, that piece of act becomes known as an “Orphan Work” , and would allow anyone the right to steal or copy your work. Their plan is to use this money from the small copyright holders to subsidize big businesses who are currently failing. One example, is that of Google, who stands to make millions from the internet interests it already holds in regards to the millions of imagines it’s site support, and which will now due to this Bill, will ‘orphan” these works.

So it seems that Congress in an attempt to protect the many failing Financial Houses on Wall Street, will use the many corporate internet basis, as the source to regain the billions of dollars being lost daily by these large Corporations. What is means to us as “artists” is stated in a quote by David Rhodes, President, of the School of Visual Arts here in Manhattan, “the Orphan Works bill would socialize the expense of copyright protection while privatizing the profit of creative endeavors. Copyright owners neither want nor need this legislation. It will do great harm to small businesses. We already have a banking crisis. Congress should not lay the groundwork for a copyright crisis.”

The Illustrator’s Partnership in answer to this atrocity, is what they call Plan B: The Orphan Works Opposition. They propose that we contact Congress now to stop the House Judiciary Committee from the final adoption of this Bill. We can do so by following this link:

PLEASE EMAIL CONGRESS TODAY.If you've done it before, do it again!It takes only a minute to use our new special letter.Click on the link below, enter your zip code, and take the next steps. http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001Jy9bPtnrLry0dnwUZKg_XIpt2vtesjBjOfw--BpF5j9yhFq9rSJZHrIqlSpCvKU_ULeMredFZM3AQgRjKFmkqw7cBBeN4Xxzd50ouxtxRssaBoX1gZV8ApkY-ebZqiFrxM2knT4XzgQZC0Jw6lbaN0LaDXxK_2M1aVvSWbSOeQwxNox3SEqJW477So1Ck8yxFor

ongoing developments, go to the Illustrators' Partnership Orphan Works blog: http://ipaorphanworks.blogspot.com/%0b%0b%0b

For those of you who are unfamiliar with “The Orphan Work’s Act” please take a read here.... http://sarastexturecrafts.blogspot.com/search?q=orphan

Written by Pamela Baker

And the winner is...

And the winner of my Blog competition #3 is... and this was difficult, as there was only two!... so I decided to pick you out of a hat...

Yvette!

Well done Yvette, your brooch is on'its way and Arlee, I have one of my mystery bags for you.

Thank you for taking part!

Sara x

Felt Frenzy, a Craft Book

Title: Felt Frenzy

By Heather Brack and Shannon Okey

Publisher: Interweave Press

ISBN 13-978-1-59668-009-8

ISBN 10-1-59668-0009-1

Price: £15.99

This is a great book for beginners and those more advanced, especially for those who wish to expand their work with some new and modern ideas.

Brack and Okey start by listing the essentials; needles, yarns and the like and then go onto give a wonderful double page spread of textured yarns and their US suppliers. This gives you so many starting points before you delve into the techniques. All of which are fairly uncomplicated and easy to follow. We have 26 wonderful projects to choose from… so the mind abounds with modern ideas, textures and colours. Projects include hats, bags and accessories, as well as a project for felting your own soap bar, great for exfoliating I’m told!

I’m really happy with the language of this book, I feel like I am experimenting with friends… Just the confidence I need to get started with!

This review can also be found at as part of my contributions on DIY City Magazine and The Textile Directory.

Sara x

Crochet Coral Reef at Ally Pally

I managed to grab this picture on my phone from Ally Pally of the crochet coral reef display... how cool is this?


This is a really great community work and will be continuing to tour and grow around the UK, as a part of the worldwide project. Here's where to read all about the project and find our where it's going to be next... Hyperbolic Coral Reef - a Crochet Project

The Crafts Council tell us this...

The UK Reef is part of a wider international project, spearheaded by the Institute for Figuring in Los Angeles, to make a global Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef.

What is the Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef?
The Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef is a large-scale, constantly mutating series of handmade crocheted forms that replicate natural coral. The project, organised by the Los Angeles-based Institute for Figuring, is a direct response to the plight of coral reefs that are dying through a combination of pollution and global warming. Fusing science and mathematics with fine art and handicraft, the IFF reef is constantly updated by an ever-expanding group of participants from around the world.

The UK Reef
The crocheted corals of the UK Reef have been made by people from all walks of life from complete beginners to experienced crochet artists across the UK who have been inspired by the Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef project.

Wish I could have added a bit... must learn to crochet!
Sara x

Not on the High Street Goes International!

How exciting!

Now you can buy your favourite Sara's Texture Crafts products internationally at Not on the High Street... Here's where to find me http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/sarastexturecrafts

Sara x

DIY City Magazine - DC Issue

Make sure you catch up with the latest issue of DIY City magazine at http://diycitymag.net/washdc/

Deb and Wendy say, 'The DC issue of DIY City Mag is now live! We wanted this issue to be fun and light with the presidential election on our heels. Find designers, artists, and shops in the DC area that live by the DIY spirit. We also included some designers that chose to express their political views through art - which we think added the political feel we were looking for in this issue. So sit back, grab a cup of coffee and enjoy this issue of DIY City Mag!'

I think you will agree this is a wonderful third issue and trust me you will want to be grabbing yourself a place in the competition too!

Thanks Deb and Wendy for including my supply shop ad too!

Customer Pictures - The Wondering Gnome!

Recently I sent some of my Wensleydale fleece to a customer who sells on Etsy, Orit of oritdotandolls.etsy.com. Orit has created the most wonderful gnome, called 'The Wondering Gnome' using the Wensleydale fleece as the hair! Orit tells us that his height without his hat is 9.5" and his hat length is 6", so all together a staggering 15.5"... that's a lot of hard work needlefelting!

Here he is, isn't he great!




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Here's where to find my latest fibre supplies... Sara's Texture Crafts.

Crafts of Texture: Blog Competition #3 - Paisley Dream

Crafts of Texture: Blog Competition #3 - Paisley Dream is now closed and winners will be announced soon.

Sx

DMC product Reviews on Crafts of Texture!

I currently supply DMC product through my craft shop and was hoping to expand the range by offering some of their wonderful skeins of embroidery and crafting threads. Coincidentally and as a bit of a surprise, in the same day DMC (who like to keep up with their stockists!) asked me to review a few of their products here on Crafts of Texture.

Now who could say no to that?! So, I've decided that the best way to show you these products is to use them in some of my own work and tutorials... I think that this will give you a much better idea of how to use them in your own work.

And who knows they may even appear in a few blog competitions (that way you get to try them out for yourselves!), so keep an eye out!

Sara x
http://www.sarastexturecrafts.fusiveweb.co.uk/

Sara's Texture Crafts: How to roll a felt ball

Here's where to find related products... Sara's Texture Crafts.

This can also be found through my group 'Working with Felt'.

Sara x
www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Main website address to change!

Unfortunately Fusiveweb have decided to close it's free website, so I will have to change web hosts. In doing this my main web address will change after the 31st of October (not this blog). As soon as I have more news I will let you know. Meanwhile press 'EMAIL' to email me your request for an instant update.

Sara x
http://www.sarastexturecrafts.fusiveweb.co.uk/

Little Sis’s Wedding – Part 1

Wow!! What wonderful weather….early October should be raining right? But no it was like August… must be a sign… All dressed up we drove in convoy to the Haldon Belvedere and walked the final few metres up to the mount on which sat the most stunning castle…breathtaking!!! I was wearing my mini top-hat and had created some earrings, a ring and a small purse for my tissues!!

It struck me how much handmade/crafted product my little sis used… from the wonderful flowers, the hair stylist, the bridesmaid fairy wings (Etsy), the cake, the photography, the wedding invitations (Etsy) and little old me, the oldest bridesmaid (it wasn’t hard the two girls were under 10!), top-hat and all.

Anyway here’s to my sis and new brother-in-law…

Congratulations, I wish you all the love and happiness for the rest of your lives!!

Sara x
http://www.sarastexturecrafts.fusiveweb.co.uk/

P.S. more photos and close ups to follow... off to the photo shop now!

Ally Pally Classes

It was that time again, my favourite London Craft Show had come around so quick! I was quite nervous this time though, as this year I was hosting of two my very own classes... Sara's Texture Crafts - first workshops!

Each class was one hour long so I decided to make my student's visit as useful and resourceful as possible... everyone likes a little value for money right? And I wanted to take my time to try and convert a few more crafters to the lovely work of feltmaking. A taster class is what I needed to create... simple, fun yet still creative!

I chose my felt bead project. This I hoped would encompass two craft genres... firstly feltmaking and secondly jewellery making. I hoped to show how felt can bring alive modern costume jewellery and I also wanted to cover two areas of feltmaking, the more traditional wet process and possibly my favourite and the least known... dry felting or needle felt.

The aim was that each student would come away from the class having created their first felt bead and inspired to try making more jewellery using felt, or other strands of feltmaing all together.

At first I thought I had probably bitten off more that I could chew with this one, but fortunately an ever patient Darrin helped me with trial runs and it seemed ok. So the day was here... no going back now... I met the Twisted Thread team at the Learning Centre desk. 'Sold out', read the board... wow I hadn't imagined it would be so popular!... Wait what's this an extra student?... 'Yes of course there's room, follow me'... and off I went to set up. Becky, my first student was so helpful, she went out of her way to get me set up... you can't ask for more than that eh?! Thank you Becky... I'll be following your blog at http://mon-petitlapin.blogspot.com/ and thank you for the quick blog about the class when you got back, lookin' good!... can't wait to see more feltmaking! (http://mon-petitlapin.blogspot.com/2008/10/my-felt-ball-from-alexandra-palace.html)

I would have loved to have posted some pictures here of how the class progressed, but unfortunately Darrin couldn't stay with me... so you will have to imagine I'm afraid... 12/13 students... wet rolling some felt to start... then dry felting on their designs... smiley faces too!

I wasn't sure what to expect from the students never having taught before I didn't want to have the project too complicated, just in case it was their first time... on the other hand I didn't want them to get bored either! I didn't have to worry though, students varied from the project to suit their level of expertise and their own personal creativity... I don't think I had two projects finish the same! They really inspired me too... 'are you sure you haven't done this before?' 'Me... no, but I think you've unleashed something in me!' ... wow, we had flowers, hearts with beads, two tone stripes and spirals, 3-d effects and even an intasia, fair isle knit pattern!... I just wished I had the time to take some pictures! Note to self there for next time I think!!

I've been asked to teach again, so watch this space!!

Sara x
http://www.sarastexturecrafts.fusiveweb.co.uk/

Back from the Wedding!

I'll try to get a few pictures of my hat, bag and earrings as soon as I can... Hope you are all well!

Sara x
http://www.sarastexturecrafts.fusiveweb.co.uk/

I'm off to the wedding, but before I go I'll be teaching my first workshop!

Little sis is getting married this weekend, but before I go I have to teach my very first workshops at the 'Knitting and Stitch Show' in Alexandra Palace... oh please wish me luck I'm quite nervous!!

This is what I will be teaching http://sarastexturecrafts.blogspot.com/2008/05/saras-texture-crafts-work-shops.html

I'll be back as soon as I can to get any orders out, blog about what I've been up to and generally just say 'hi' again.

See you soon,
Sara x
http://www.sarastexturecrafts.fusiveweb.co.uk/

Hand & Lock: Competition Winners Announced!

The organisers of Hand & Lock emailed me last week... they have a winner of this years competition (http://www.handembroidery.com/events/and-the-winner-is/)... Ms. Maria Lavigina from Shenkar College of Engineering and Design, Israel, 1st prize winner of the 2008 Hand & Lock Prize for Embroidery.

Wow and her work is beautiful!!

I daren't publish pictures just in case I get into any trouble in doing so, but please pop over and take a look... truly texture inspiration! Well done Maria!

If you press on the link above you can find entries from the other prize winners too... adorable work, very inspiring!

And next year the competition has an open entry, so maybe you could give it a go?! I'm going to keep my eyes open for the application... might have a go if I get the time.

Sara x
http://www.sarastexturecrafts.fusiveweb.co.uk/

Here are my previous post on the subject... Crafts of Texture: Hand & Lock

Natural Dye Tests... fibre addiction of the scientific!

Do you remember my post Crafts of Texture: The Craft of Natural Dyeing ‘Glowing Colours From the Plant World’, about this great book I found? Well today's post is a few of pages taken from my dye test folder... I started the folder a few years ago, when I was working as a full-time fashion designer. It was always useful for recording dye batches, methods and recipes... it had been sitting of the shelf for a while, so when I got my copy of Jenny Dean's book, I thought I should add my experiments.

This is using log wood chips on cotton and 100% wool yarn (super wash)

This is using Turmaric on cotton and 100% wool yarn (super wash)

It amazes me how much difference each element added to the natural dye can have on the colour...

Sara x
http://www.sarastexturecrafts.fusiveweb.co.uk/

Grab a felt book - October 2008

Here are some of the latest titles available from my Amazon affiliate store. These can also be found through my group 'Working with Felt'.

http://astore.amazon.co.uk/sarastexturecrafts-21/detail/0713686014/026-5153755-7587651
Needle-Felting Magic: Easy Machine Techniques and Projects (That Patchwork Place
By Margo Duke

http://astore.amazon.co.uk/sarastexturecrafts-21/detail/0312360584/026-5153755-7587651
Felt: Irresistibly Beautiful Projects
By Robyn Steel- Stickland


http://astore.amazon.co.uk/sarastexturecrafts-21/detail/1579905420/026-5153755-7587651
Fabulous Felt Hats: Dazzling Designs from Handmade Felt
By Chad Alice Hagen

Sara x
http://www.sarastexturecrafts.fusiveweb.co.uk/

New Merino Shades in stock! Come get your supplies!

Come and view my new range of Merino colours... http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Saras-Texture-Crafts/Merino-Colour-Card.html

I have a few of my older colours at a cheaper price to clear, so grab a supply bargain while you can!

Sara x
I hope this helps… Here's where to find related product... Sara's Texture Crafts.

I'm back... but wow what a mountain of paperwork!

So with that said I'd better go! Will post some piccies soon...

Sara x
http://www.sarastexturecrafts.fusiveweb.co.uk/