Almost ready!

The Jacob fleece is ready for listing...


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone.
See you soon, Sara x
www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Merry go Around: What is your Purple Cow?

'What is my purple cow?', they asked.
'What is a purple cow? I deal in sheep!', I replied.
Wendren filled us in... Seth Godin, probably most well known for his "Purple Cow' book in the US, is the inspiration for this blog post. Seth believes that all successful businesses have a "remarkable" asset - like a purple cow in the middle of a field of Jersey cows, something that stands out and makes us unique. This purple cow can be a product, an ethos or a service and is something that we should work hard to maintain.

'Oh', I said. 'Now I'm sure I have something, regardless of scale in it's success... I'm not sure I know what it is though?' and off I went to ponder it... crossing my fingers that there was something to write about!


How did I get on? Well, I know what I'd like it to be... my ethos, but the measure of it's sucess is in eye of the beholder, the customer... so while I can clearly gauge a product or a sevice that I do well with the ethos idea is somewhat harder to gauge... especially if you are an on-line business... you don't see the customer... so I guess I will go on what feedback I have had and my vision of what it is to me.

There are many fibre and equipment suppliers in the wool industry, both here in the UK and overseas and while some may have better colour selections, prices, or product ranges as a whole many of them stick generally to retail. Very few offer sidelide services that make them more than just a supplier. I'm hoping my purple calf (still growing up, you see!) is my learning centre. With particular focus on my social network/community sites for feltmakers and spinners (http://workingwithfelt.ning.com and http://spinningweb.ning.com). The customers who I have spoken to have been very complimentary about the sites.

I guess what will turn these calves into true sucessful purple cows, will be how I can turn the site into a selling platform without interferring in the community spirit... afterall I am a supplier first and foremost!


Sara x
http://www.sarastexturecrafts.com/

----------------
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!

Jenny at Jenny Karlsson design http://designjennykarlsson.blogspot.com/
Wendren at Wren http://thewrendesign.com/
Sara at Sara's Texture Crafts http://sarastexturecrafts.blogspot.com/
Charlotte at Fancy Picnic http://fancypicnic.blogspot.com/
Lily at Lily Pang Art http://lilypangart.blogspot.com/
Marianna at Florcita http://florcitasart.blogspot.com/
Agathe at Le Bar du Vent http://lebarduvent.blogspot.com/
Fabienne at Easterya http://easterya.blogspot.com/
Ruth at Birdland Creations http://insidetheartisan.blogspot.com/

My little friend sat up last night!

He's now got a bit more colour in his skin too!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone.
See you soon, Sara x
www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Knitted scarf is coming on!

I've finished knitting it, but need to decide on the next stage. Last time I posted about the knitting, one of my blogging friends suggested some decoration and I agree...


So I knitted a fan on each end of the scarf. The idea is that I will have an area to decorate, while the middle will wrap quite nicely around my neck.

I'll let you know how I get on...

Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone.
See you soon, Sara x
www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Custom carding today...

I've been hard at work today carding...


Using my merino to create my batts...


To post out for tomorrow... It's been hard work, but I got there in the end! Had enough time for a limited edition too, so just hoping for a nice day to list it.

Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone.
See you soon, Sara x
www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Say hello to my little friend!

He started out as an idea from a dream and took shape in pipe cleaner form (you can find these in my eBay shop)... While I watched tv.



Then I started the body with a small selection of my Norwegian batts (available in my etsy shop).



I won't get chance tonight to work on him again as I have a custom batt order to fulfil tomorrow and I think it will take me all day... So must do my paperwork tonight, but he's right by me as I work so if I finish up in time I might do a little bit more to him.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone.
See you soon, Sara x
www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Limited Edition Carded Batts on Etsy!

My range of carded batts seems to be doing quite well, so I had myself a carding day not so long ago and my results are now part of my new LIMITED EDITION pieces on Etsy.

I have got 6 already listing tonight and 6 to follow.

Please do pop over and see them in the shop, I've tried to use a few different fibres that could really bring an extra element to your work... for example in some I have bamboo staple, others have sparkles and some silk.

I'm really enjoying carding as a fibre craft all of it's own and it's lovely to hear what some of my customers have made already (a lovely pair of winter slippers - wet felted, a skein of yarn for another Etsy shop and so on)... I'm feeling I need to book myself a few more days with the carding machine!!

Have a great weekend everyone...

Sara x
http://www.sarastexturecrafts.com/

Customer Photos: Les bérets de Vita‏

You know me... I love to find out what my customers do with their purchases from me and today is no different.

Vita of http://www.beretsdevita.com/, makes the most wonderful berets for Ladies (from 30 Euros) and Children (from 28 Euros). Please take a look!

Sara x
http://www.sarastexturecrafts.com/

3D Secured with Maestro...

I'm now finally up and running for Maestro payments... so UK payments can be made using your debit card.
Thank you,
Sara x
www.SarasTextureCrafts.com

There she goes...

Walking down the street,
She's the craziest person,
That you ever did meet!


Or at least that's what people must think when I'm doing my post run!

Sara x
www.sarastexturecrafts.com

You are so right my blogging friends!

First thing tomorrow I need to sit down with pen, pad and diary and get myself organised... A little at a time while I'm getting back into the flow, but a little of the right kind of stuff! Then I can make a start on my workload feeling a little less snowed under.

So that's my main job for the morning... Get organized. What are you up to?


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone.
See you soon, Sara x
www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Finally... A connection!

After struggling all weekend and most of today I finally got my connection up and running again after the storms... Feel so behind... Maybe it's being just back to work after being ill? Maybe by the end of the week I'll feel a bit better.

Need to check the stock this week and see what else I can list. I have a pile of new stuff waiting to go and some show applications... Wish me luck!

Thanks for all your comments while I've been out, when I get time this week I will pop in and say hi to you all.

Happy crafting folks! Sx


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone. See you soon, Sara x

www.sarastexturecrafts.com

It sure is windy!

So I finally finished packing everything up from the week and got D to help me down to the post office this morning. I was certainly missed, but I'm not sure exactly how happy they were to see me with almost 100 parcels! I think if they'd seen me coming up the road, they would have shut up shop quick, but fortunately D helped me fox them by giving me a lift! Cheeky!!

We had storms here late yesterday and through the night, still very windy today. The winds were so strong that it knocked all of the orange mobile broadband out... I couldn't get back on... Hoping it's back up for tomorrow evening as I will have quiet a lot to catch up on this coming week. Still managing to get online with my iPhone though, so I can blog but not able to log into my email or shops... Fingers crossed for tomorrow.

I'm home all tucked up now... It's horrible outside still so am closing the curtains and thinking about a new project. If I get chance I might start it tomorrow. I think I might do a bit of knitting while D plays his new computer game...

What are you making?


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone. See you soon, Sara x

www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Back to work tomorrow

Yep, feeling a lot better... Just so tired! I will be back to work tomorrow and will start shipping on Saturday morning. Thanks for all of your warm wishes while I was off.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone. See you soon, Sara x

www.sarastexturecrafts.com

It's me birthday and I'll be...

Excited if i want too!
D woke me up before he left, so I could open my cards... Bless him. I think he was more excited than I felt, reaching for another tissue... But to be honest by the time I came around I felt a bit better today... Great timing because I'm hoping D will bring a take away home for tea and I was worried yesterday that I might not feel like eating it!



I had some really lovely cards and D bought me some earrings... Well he bought these a few weeks ago and they've been sitting in their box on the side with some strict instructions not to touch... I was very good (unusually) and didn't wear them once! Well today I get to wear them finally! Yay!!

I also had a few other colourful pressies too...



Some fleece lined gloves,


A new stripey top,


A pair of fluffy slippers and


A lovely colourful fleece! Sorry some pictures are up side down.

Who's a lucky girl... Thank you everyone... Love ya!

I promise I won't wear everything at once for fear of colour/mind overload!!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone. See you soon, Sara x

www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Knitting...

I've picked up some knitting I started a while ago, only managed a few rows before I gave it up... So tired today. I thought I'd show you though, because I'm in love with the colours!



It's an Ashford's yarn I'm testing it for the shop.... Lovely isn't it!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone. See you soon, Sara x

www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Extending the week off...

I've been told to stay home 'til Friday so I'll be posting now on Friday or probably Saturday when D is home to help. Sorry folks for the delay, if this causes anyone any problems do give me shout through the shops and I'll help sort something out.

Just want to say a big thank you to everyone who has sent me 'get well' and pre 'Happy Birthday' wishes for tomorrow You always make me smile! Thank You!!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone. See you soon, Sara x

www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Oh no... taking a short break.

This weekend I have gone down with what is suspected Swine Flu, so while I will very occassionally log in and check my emails I won't be here all the time. Therefore to avoid dissappointment I am taking a short break.

7th Nov – 11th Nov… CLOSED (maybe longer). Purchases can be made and paid for. These will be processed and shipped on my return.

See you soon,

Sara x

Today I am mostly...

Not feelin well... Sneeze... Cough... I feel awful as I had to cancel the few people I had booked for teaching. I really wanted to struggle on and do it, but I would have been no value for money! Apologies!! I promise when I'm back to me old self I shall book new dates and times with you all... And will make sure to have more info on some future dates.

Been a bit of a strange week this week, very up and down. Royal Mail strikes are still holding up a few items, although now that they've cancelled the other strike action before Christmas I'm hoping things with go back to normal soon and everything delivered. Then to contrast that I had the most wonderful voicemail from a customer... Really cheered me up... Thanks Ann!

I did struggle to the post office today... With a lot of help from D... And noticed that the farmer's Market was on. I took a quick stroll through it trying not to breath on anyone and who should I meet? A local farmer selling some fleece... With a roll of the eyes from D I'm now the proud owner of some Jacobs fleece... Watch the shops for details! As I promise I won't keep it all!!

Ok, well better go... Sneeze, cough. Stay warm and toasty folks!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone. See you soon, Sara x

www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Teaching on Saturday

I'm quite excited really, it's been a while. There wasn't quite as much take up as I had hoped, but I didn't really account for time of year/week and of course subject matter. However, it has led to a few discussions about future felting sessions at the art centre... I think I will set up a few open days and maybe a drop in session... Maybe this might help present the concept of feltmaking better? Hmmm thinking hat needs to be worn I think... I can see the need, just how best to approach it...


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone. See you soon, Sara x

www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Customer's Work: Woolen Tales!

Perfect for this time of year my customer http://www.woolentales.com/ has the most wonderful wool angels for to share with us! Grab yours before they fly away!!

This customer buys a selection of my wools, on Etsy.

Sara x
http://www.sarastexturecrafts.com/

Testing my new phone app

So here I am just checking my new phone app.


Let's see if it works... :)

You should be seeing a recent picture of me and D.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone. See you soon, Sara x

www.sarastexturecrafts.com