A crafty day out

Yesterday I popped into the Craft for Crafters show in Exeter.


Had a great time with Mum, saw lots of interesting stuff and came away with course information on metal clay, glass bead making and stain glass making... God knows when I'll find time for them, but very inspired to have a go!

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

Etsy Treasury!

Wow, it's not often that I get into an Etsy treasury, especially now that I sell supplies... but the lovely Aldona of http://www.etsy.com/shop/aldonasuneviciene, chose my Alpaca shade pack which is one of my supplies she buys from me.

Thank you Aldona!! Please do visit Aldona's wonderful treasury finds at http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=109342 and of course, don't forget to see Aldona's shop too!

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

How to wear the knitted scarf

Before I bead the other fan I need to work out how the scarf will sit, when I wear it. I don't want it to blow open, so I'm thinking about adding a couple of pop studs.


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

Updated Needle Choice Guide

I've just updated my needle gauge choice guide at... http://fibretales.blogspot.com/2009/02/dry-needle-felting-needle-gauge-choice.html. I have added some new needles in the store, so thought it best to update all of my related guides for choice and use.

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

Cutting Loose...

So I have been working on cutting loose a few extra ciricular stuff to help me make my days a bit more productive. First to go was the DaWanda Shopping Community site... it had had very little input over the last 3-4 months of it's time, so it seemed a natural first choice. It's a shame in that I know Etsy has some very powerful community groups and so I had hoped the same for this DaWanda group, but members seemed to fizzle out... it's very difficult to keep momentum going if you don't see any inspiration in it... and I didn't think I would have anyone to take it over. But, hey, nevermind... not all things work. It's better to make that decision now rather than loose focus on other more personally important things.

The Etsy profiles blog is another site I think I need to cut loose from... I work with a group of people over there, who very kindly agreed to help me about a year or so ago when things got too tough to manage on my own. They do an amazing job, so it would be a shame to close it completely. I'm hoping one of them might consider taking it over... I'll see what they think.

I'm going to leave that as it for now and see where I am with my workload... I have things I feel I really need to do more of this year...

Sara x

Addicted to Fibre, Feltmaking and Spinning? Or want to learn more? Visit my www.sarastexturecrafts.com for everything your addiction needs!

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Beading my knitted scarf

The problem with felting your knitting is that occasionally things don't always turn out as planned. Mostly this scarf is fine, but it's ever so slightly unsymmetrical on the fan ends. To hide this... Which will probably nag at me everytime I look at the scarf, I've decided to bead the background. That way I am hoping the shirbori bobbled will stand out more and draw you eye to them and not the slightly wonky fans...


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

Growing into the Changling!

I was discussing change back on http://sarastexturecrafts.blogspot.com/2010/01/growing-pains.html and so we're planning our move... this has to be right, as we want this to be long term. It also has to be fairly quick if we can manage it... I need to work out whether I am a stay at home worker, or if I need to start renting some premises. That's a difficult one though... while I like the idea of going out to work again, am I big enough to sustain it? I don't want to loose what I have and I'm not sure it's enough yet to warrant it's own place just yet... there's also the hopeful addition of Children to consider. All of my friends who have their own famillies now have warned me to be careful here. While I'm small enough now to scale back slightly and then revamp again once (possible) Children are old enough for school, will a bigger company fair as well from such a scale back? Unless I get to the point where I can employ staff... and that's not looking like an option right now.

I think what I definately need to do though, while we are looking for somewhere is to refocus... customers are the most important aspect of my business. In fact the very corner stone! Without customers everything else is non-existant, so I need to relook at my workload... am I doing anything that doesn't benefit my customers and future sales? Yes, there probably are a few of those... I do get carried away sometimes! I can immediately think of my etsy blog (http://etsyprofiles.blogspot.com/) and DaWanda community (http://dawandashopping.ning.com/). These were things I have started as a source of minor advertsing that just got too big. I have friends who help... maybe it's time to see if they fancy taking it over? If not then it's time to call it quits.

I spent a lot of time last year promoting my learning centres (see main website) and they are bubbling away nicely. Enough so that I could refocus that energy on sales through my main website's eshop. To do this I think I need to consider some changes to the networks in particular (Working with Felt and Spinning Web)... I have a plan for this, but will keep that under wraps until I have fully organised things.

I also did a lot of extra ciricular activities last year, like writing for DIY magazine and Editing the London edition (http://sarastexturecrafts.blogspot.com/2009/07/diy-city-magazine-london-issue-now-out.html)... writing a few craft guides for magazine publications (both got cut from the final run in the end, due to a change of theme by the Editors) and a book (which went very quiet (fortunately I didn't send anything off, so nothing lost). While these were great experiences for me, this year I think I will have to pass on these kinds of projects (well, I'll certainly consider them, but work must come first).

For now call me the 'changling'.

Sara x

Addicted to Fibre, Feltmaking and Spinning? Or want to learn more? Visit my www.sarastexturecrafts.com for everything your addiction needs!

Ok, don't choke...

But I just found a really lovely dress... Yes, a dress!! To wear to my brother-in-law's wedding in March. Now while you might not think that's a strange thing to have done... If you knew how much if a hippie-type, tomboy I am you would be quite shocked at the idea... Well the idea that I actually picked up a dress in the first place!!

I'll have to take a picture...

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

Searching...

We are starting our search today... wish me luck... I'm not quite sure where to start, but we're definately going to start putting those feelers out!

Sara x

Addicted to Fibre, Feltmaking and Spinning? Or want to learn more? Visit my www.sarastexturecrafts.com for everything your addiction needs!

Customer Photos: Heather's First Needlefelting

Little 'max' from side
Originally uploaded by feather

Little Max has been made by Heather of http://making.nearlythere.com/ using some of my Blue Faced Leicester Oatmeal and Shetland Natural White.

Heather is new to needle felting, but I think you will agree has already got off to a fantastic start as Little Max, is already full of character and charm.

Thank you Heather for sharing this... you do realise you will soon be very addicted?!

Sara x
Blue Faced Leicester can be found here - http://www.sarastexturecrafts.com/userimages/procart16.htm
and Shetland here - http://www.sarastexturecrafts.com/userimages/procart28.htm

Growing Pains!

I did want to write a whole post on my plans for the year, back at the beginning of January. I'd worked on a little post it note, carefully bullet pointing my plan for world domination... but it's now the 21st of January and I still haven't gotten as far as blogging it! That's not a great start!!

So what's been holding me back? Well, a combination of things... firstly I have been super busy in the shops, which is thankfully a wonderful thing. So thank you for your wonderful support! Secondly, I've been working on the eshop, over on my main website... it's taking longer than I had hoped, partly because I am so busy and partly because there are always teething problems when you are working with a new system.

But, I guess what has mostly been keeping me preoccupied is the sence of limbo in my personal life... we moved down from Devon back in May, as you know. This was a big step towards our dream and something we had been on 'hold' with for a number of years. However, the step was never complete... we knew it wouldn't be... Darrin got his transfer and we upped sticks as quickly as possible into a rented place, so that we could be together. It wasn't ideal, but at least a step closer to our dream. It's now January and we're still here! Don't get me wrong, this isn't the worst place in the world and I probably wouldn't be so distracted by it, but at the same time the business has dramatically changed and we are back to 'bulging at the seams' again... sitting next to boxes of stock, while you eat your tea isn't ideal and neither is waking up to a few boxes that have now crept into the corner of the bedroom... I had promised to keep it all in the spare room, it just doesn't fit. I've also found that while I never switch off, Darrin is also quickly turning to the dark side... not only does he help put in his spare time, but he's always talking and thinking about the business... while that's good (a supportive partner is a truely great thing), it does mean that Sara's Texture Crafts is now a 24/7 thing! This is becoming a bit of an unhealthy issue!!

So what can we do? Well, I've tried repacking stock, but it simply won't all go in the spare room... so there's no hope of closing the door on it at 5:30. So I guess there's no other thing for it... to get back any semblance of sanity and to be able to plan my working time and my family time better, I think we need to move!

Sara x

Addicted to Fibre, Feltmaking and Spinning? Or want to learn more? Visit my www.sarastexturecrafts.com for everything your addiction needs!

Customer Photos: Creative Bumble Bee

Daughters School Teachers Christmas Pressies
Originally uploaded by creativebumblebee

This is the first posting from my new customer Flickr Group at http://www.flickr.com/groups/1303917@N20/pool/ where you can find what customers have been making with my fibre.

This wonderful brooch has been made by Maria of http://www.creativebumblebee.co.uk/

Maria created this using my Twillight Merino/Tussah Silk Blend and it is now owned by one of the School Teachers from her Daughter's school... what a lovely Christmas pressie!

Do check out Maria's website, for some of her other wonderful creations.

Thank you for sharing Maria!
Sara x
Twillight can be found at http://www.sarastexturecrafts.com/userimages/procart30.htm

Felting my knitted scarf...

Ok, it's time to felt this scarf before the weather gets too warm to wear it! I'm using some large plastic buttons to create my Shibori effect.



I'm securing them with some strong cotton, just so that they stay in during washing.



Then I threw it in the washing machine for a 40 degree cycle... Normally I would do 60, but I don't want too much shrinkage.




Just got to get it dry now... Then decide on decoration. I'm tempted to write up my full method as a tutorial for my new 'How to Make' site... I'll let you know more about that later.

What are you making today?

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

New Flickr Group for Sara's Texture Crafts Customers

Show me your pictures of finished projects using my fibre at http://www.flickr.com/groups/1303917@N20/ with a chance to be featured on this blog!

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

New Ravelry Group for Sara's Texture Crafts

If you buy from me at Sara's Texture Crafts and use Ravelry to uplaod your knitted projects, then please do join me at http://www.ravelry.com/groups/saras-texture-crafts

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

Finishing touches to my little friend

I'm very nearly finished...



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

Ravelry, I'm slowly finding time to be there...

I hope it will help me find inspiration for what to knit with my spun yarn. I have a lot of customer who use the site, so I thought, why not create a group so that they can share what they have made with each other...

I will make sure to give you the link once I'm fully set up.

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

Wonderwool 2010 - I have been accepted to show! Yay!!

I will be showing at Wonderwool this year, the premier wool and fibre festival in Wales.

Saturday 24th, 10am - 5:30pm & Sunday 25th April 2010, 10am - 4:30pm

Location: Royal Welsh Showground, Llanelwedd, Builth Wells, Powys. LD2 3SY. Wales.

Admission - £8.00 including show directory. Under 16s free. You can buy ticket on the door or at the Wonderwool website .

Stand Number: TBC
Demostrations:TBC

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

Customer Photos: Puddytat Pur is spinning my Humbug Blue Face Leicester.

I'm very fond of my Blue Faced Leicetser Humbug blend, it's very soft and is great to handle when felting... I've not yet had chance to try it on my wheel though. Fortunately Sam from Puddytat Pur, who bought this from me at Fibrefest has sent me some pictures of her yarn...


She is spinning the Humbug and plying it with 70/30 Alpaca/Merino. I think it will look fab, especially as she has been able to really separate the colours when spinning. This way you really get the effect of the natural white, next to Oatmeal and Brown. I can't wait to see what she knits up and will follow her progress on her blog at http://puddytatpurr.blogspot.com/

Sam is also on Ravelry under Puddytatpurr, so do pop by and say 'Hi' to her.
 
If you would like to try some humbug for your self, then check out my website.
Sara x
http://www.sarastexturecrafts.com/

Bless...

Him... D made 6 new batts for me. I think he really enjoyed it... Good job me thinks... When it gets busy he can lend a hand now!!

This is one after it's first blend, ready for it's second, plus sparkles.



Just waiting for a good day to photograph for listing.

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

D enjoys carding so much he's...

Taken over my drum carder today!


Dare I tell him I need 30-40 new batts for the shops?!

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

2010 pricing... Catch a bargain while you can!

For the last two years I have managed to keep my pricing the sameon the majority of my products, but with the VAT rise from 15%, back to 17.5% plus general annual increases by some suppliers I'm going to have to make some minor changes.

At the same time I am trying to sort out a new shipping carrier service, which will hopefully see daily collections and better pricing.

... but all of this will take a little time to implement.

So my advice is... if you need any wool roving or equipment for your spinning or felting BUY NOW, before I get chance to change anything!!

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

Remeber I am also on eBay, Etsy and Dawanda.

Today's snowy post run...

Fortunately the sun is quite warm so the roads are clearer... Still, baby steps it is!


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

Ain't it pretty!

Yesterday lunch...



This morning after a 45 min snow fall...




Doesn't look like much but another 10-15cm is due later this morning!

Could be worse... But up country I expect they are really bored of it now... I saw entire cars buried by snow on the news last night!!

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

Snow and paperwork

Snowing on and off today... it's laying too. Fortunately not as thick as it has snowed elsewhere in the UK, but still a worry for the post run tomorrow if it freezes. My trolley have to help keep me upright! How is it where you are?

A snowy day does mean that I get to catch up on paperwork though, which isn't a bad thing... I do have a bit here from over Christmas to deal with, so I'd better write this post during my breaks! The boss will frown at me :)

I have had some good news though... I applied to a show in Wales in April and have been accepted, which is wonderful. I do have a lot of customers from Wales, so it would be nice to meet them and of course anyone else who fancies the trip?! I will have to add a post about that soon.

I'm also waiting for a call from a few mail carriers today. I would really like to get my post runs sorted out... would be great to start offering an every day post service, instead of Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

I need to relook at my product prices too today... with VAT back up to 17.5% from 15% my suppliers charges have increased beyond the normal annual increase :( I'm hoping not to pass all of it onto the customers, so I need to relook at margins... so it's accounting and inventory hat on today. Still good news is that I can do that by the radiator!

Let me know what you are up to today...

Sara x

Addicted to Fibre, Feltmaking and Spinning? Or want to learn more? Visit my www.sarastexturecrafts.com for everything your addiction needs!