BUSY BUSY BUSY

I HAVE HAD A BUSY few weeks as I had committed myself to delivering some Christmas themed brooches to Jemima's Locket, Minster-in-Thanet 
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jemimas-Locket/173724836012474

The shop closes at one o clock on a saturday so I had to make sure I made my deadline.  I wanted to make a dozen brooches.  I also had some hair clips part finished and thought that they would be good to try as well.

I have also been needle felting little gingerbread men for brooches. Some of these have already made their way to ROUGH TRADE in Margate. I want to get some made for Jemimas Locket before Minster's late night shopping night.

Today I weighed out the ten kilo bag of sugar nibs that I brought earlier this week.  I feel happier now it is out of a paper sack and into plastic boxes.  Much easier to store in my cupboards and lots of glorious baking to look forward to.

It was very important that I made some jam as we had run out  completely.  That was squeezed in as well and there are now five jars of Strawberry/Raspberry jam and five jars of mixed fruit jam.  I think I see scones in the very near future.

 

 TODAY I WENT to Margate to give my shelf at ROUGH TRADE a bit of a Christmas makeover.  

While I was waiting for my lift I noticed what a lovely place this area of Margate is.  Known locally as Margate Old Town it is full of beautiful

buildings, charming squares,tiny streets and alleyways.  Situated close to Margate Harbour and the Turner Contemporary every corner hids a new treasure.  And it is here slightly off the 

 beaten track that ROUGH TRADE can be discovered - a collaborative trading area. http://www.roughtrademargate.co.uk/#!

Stalls include  MODS AND ROCKERS (a hairdressers, bespoke silver designs, vintage items, upcycled curios,and various other interesting stalls and items.  A "pop up shop"  way before Mary Portus came to Margate.

 CIGAR BOX BAGS - THREE DIFFERENT DESIGNS, an ALICE BAND with a needle felted flower and some of my LEOPARD PRINT FLUFFY PENS.

 There are a lot of needle felted items here.  SEAHORSES, HEARTS, A BLACK COIN PURSE WITH CHERRIES and my new line of CAT CHARMS. A CAT FOR COMPANY for all of us cat lovers.

A UNION JACK paper mache bag with a London Transport theme, a JAR OF SEAGLASS, SNAIL FRIDGE MAGNETS, and a notebook showing my wonderful cat Bruce sleeping.  

All manner of goodies fridge magnets, Christmas brooches, purses and seahorses.

 A CAT FOR COMPANY currently three designs on sale here at ROUGH TRADE. Marmalade, Perfect Grey and Lucky Black.  There will be more designs to follow.

Just behind the notebook with Bruce is a box of needle felt Christmas brooches. Comets, holly leaves and Christmas Trees.  I keep trying to choose a favourite but haven't managed it yet.  Each brooch is different. 

 AN OVER VIEW OF MY SHELF.  JUST ABOVE IT IS THE ONE SHARED BY MY NIECE AND HER FRIEND.  I think their items are lovely.

LUCKY BLACK CAT

The WHAT'S YOUR POISON BAG has a glittery sheen giving it an unearthly appeal.

The two hearts here were needle felted, then had needle felt flowers and leaves attached to them.  Both have a ribbon loop for hanging. 

One of the Christmas Trees.  This one has bead garlands.  
 

Still needle felting like mad

 I AM STILL really really enjoying needle felting.  I love the idea that a few wispy bits of fleece can be transformed into so many different things.  At the moment I am making hair clips and brooches from simple shape like these flowers.

I think it is partly because the idea of creating from scratch appeals greatly to me.  
 

  So making the fabric for my creations, then embellishing them before attaching them to hair clips in this case gives me a lot of satisfaction

I also am very proud that because of how they are created each item is completely unique.





Soon to be listed at DREAMTIMEMAKES my Creative Stores shop http://www.creativestores.co.uk/DREAMTIMEMAKES/home.php?cat=0&WhatsNew=Y

Needle felt brooches and fluffy pens

 Things are going well with my plan to get my Creative Stores shop fully stocked.  I have spent the last few days making brooches and these rather fun fluffy pens (see left).  I have also been packaging and labeling as I go so that everything is ready when needed. http://www.creativestores.co.uk/DREAMTIMEMAKES/home.php?cat=0&WhatsNew=Y

I have become completely hooked on needle felting  since learning the basics of the craft.  The amazing creations that I found on Etsy and pinterest inspired me to try it for myself.

Partly made brooches, ready to be decorated and attached to brooch pins.  A flower, a christmas tree, a rocking horse and moon faces.

Hearts, ducks and a flower.  Ready packed and labeled brooches - a heart and a bluebird.

CUTE NEEDLE FELT BROOCHES

TODAY I made a selection of brooches.  

 
Hearts, pigs, bluebirds, a aeroplane and a marmalade cat.

 
After needle felting each brooch I outlined them with black thread before putting on the finishing touches and attaching the brooch back.

As these are for my shop at CREATIVE STORES http://www.creativestores.co.uk/DREAMTIMEMAKES/ 
I have taken individual pictures before packaging them.

 I am really pleased with how these have turned out - in fact I liked making them so much I want to do some more.  Here's hoping they are popular.

 

MY ON-LINE STORES

JUST OVER a month ago I decided to try an experiment. 

 I have had an ETSY shop for some time now without much sucess, I think this is partly due to the vastness of ETSY and partly because I have not had as much time as needed to raise my ETSY profile.   

After reading an article in CRAFT SELLER magazine http://www.cardmakingandpapercraft.com/magazine/craftseller 
 I decided to open a store with CREATIVE STORES http://www.creativestores.co.uk/

So this was my experiment - which would be best for me.   I listed the same item on both sites, at the same time.  Now after a month On ETSY  I have had seven views and on creative stores over one hundred and eighty.  I know that it is early days and I am not going to give up my ETSY shop.  http://www.etsy.com/shop/dreamtimemakes?ref=pr_shop_more 

But I think I am going to devote more time to the very helpful, friendly CREATIVE STORES http://www.creativestores.co.uk/DREAMTIMEMAKES/. 
It is easy to use as a seller and easy to find stores and products as a customer.  It is also UK based which is good.

And the piece I used for my trial -  That was a piece of needle felting.  A bag charm in the form of a pair of cherries with leaves - the kind that children hang over their ears.