Confessions of a Dram-Art Queen
Turned Crafty Lady
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And loved it, despite not making the most money, or that much at all after stall cost, transport and food and drink on the day, not to mention what I spent at other folks stalls. There was so much talent on show, from the baker I was sharing a stall with (http://www.facebook.com/TreatsByTam), to the lovely soap maker (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Miss-Annas-Soap-Bar/354774667882008?ref=ts) that managed to make me part with over £10 on soap I didn’t need, key lime scent is my kryptonite, and so much in between.
Despite it only being a local affair, the number of wonderful, resourceful people (mostly woman at this show, but I’m sure the men are out there) that have turned a small hobby they feel passionately about into something great, amazed me. These people then being brave enough to share that, and get judged by the masses was really inspiring. I must admit my stuff got judged pretty hard and only a few pieces sold. Although that may have worked in my advantage, when a lovely photographer came round and asked to photo a couple of my bits and bobs (http://www.facebook.com/aspire2be.creative).
I left it dog tired and not much better off, but I had an awesome day. I now have a lot of soap and cakes, and stock to share between my next one (which is only two weeks) and my Etsy shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/KirstieKrafts . The next ones at a nursery, so I at least know who to aim stock at.
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Ok, so as some of you may know, I’m far more needle and thread than keyboard and mouse. Unfortunately, its becoming more and more apparent that I need both these skills if I’m ever going to be able to make a proper go at selling on-line. Its not like I haven’t sold anything since I started, quiet the contrary actually. I just haven’t been seeing the level or results I thought I would (I had a pretty realistic expectation of how hard it was going to be), especially now I’m four months into it.
In the past week however, I decided something needed to be done, and have put considerable time and effort into re-working my Etsy Shop and giving my Facebook page a total overhaul. Now, even if I do say so myself, they’ve actually become things I don’t dread linking to, especially the Facebook page. My heart used to sink when an distant relative went ‘Oh you sell one the internet. Do you have Facebook?’
Now I can say proudly, ‘Why yes, I do’
Having put off doing it for so long, I think I’d built it up in my head to be some huge scary task that was going to take hours and hours. It wasn’t that bad, it was boring and repetitive, and Facebook’s page system has a habit of breaking and forcing you away from the computer before you put your fist through the screen. It looks like this now though http://www.facebook.com/Kirstiekrafts . Improved photo’s clear listings and several links to my Etsy shop, which I’ll get onto talking about next. I also shamelessly promoted it on both my wall and my local ‘For Sale, Free or Wanted’ page. Well my items are for sale after all.
Etsy, well, I thought it would be a simpler fix, just a case of sorting Tags and up-dating some of the photo’s after all. Nope, the photo’s themselves were easy enough to update, and sorting certain items info was fine. Now we come to the tags, and its fair to say I’m not exactly sure how and why the work the way they do.
For some reason Etsy doesn’t take what you’ve named the item into account in search listings, and unless you’ve tagged it using it’s name as well, there’s not a scooby of a chance buyers will find it. I don’t understand this. So basically when writing tags, you have to include the name of the item and what it is, which would be fine, except you only get 13 tags. Fortunately, my items are generally named things along the lines of ‘Phone case, green and blue’. That only takes three tags.
Name your items short things people, and never include filler words in the tags. Actually naming them long things is fine, as long as your to the point with the tags. I’ve been trying to think of an example, but all I can think of right now is using a painting of a beach, which is both irrelevant to me and you.
Anyway, here’s a link to the Etsy shop, http://www.etsy.com/shop/KirstieKrafts
Stay classy people, I’m off to have breakfast
Oh and remember you can find me on twitter https://twitter.com/#!/KirstieKrafts
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So, it’s been a while since I last time I posted, and my last post was maybe a tad more downbeat in tone than I would have liked it to be. However I can now say, in all honesty, I’m back, and in a fairly awesome mood. The festive season is here and cramming itself down our throats with its usual mirth filled gusto and there’s no escaping it. I have no idea what I want though, except maybe for a creepy old man not to be walking around my house when I’m asleep.
Having no idea what I want, as I own pretty much everything I need to survive, did however make me look at everything and wonder what was shabbiest and could maybe do with being replaced. A lot maybe needed some work, but very little was beyond the point of no return. Take my beloved TV cushion for example, it had seen better days, and was a wee bit ripped and a big bit lumpy, but was still fixable. And guess what guys?
I love it even more now…
I started by making the hole in the first picture bigger and adding a generous amount of new stuffing, before sealing off the edges with fabric glue, in an attempt to stop further fraying. I then found the original marks from where the shop stitching had came undone and sewed directly through both sides of the cushion, each time finishing with one of the wooden buttons. Lastly I created the pear patch for the centre using felt scraps I was going to bin, and sewed the whole thin together. My super thrifty grandmother would have been so proud of me.
And this isn’t where it stops either for me, although maybe I wont blog directly about the rest of it. I have at least two other items needing patched and a couple of pairs of gloves needing some love. Just goes to show, with a little know-how and a wee bit of love, you can really save a bundle and not have to bin cherished items, you simply re-invent them.
Find me on Etsy, Twitter and Facebook as Kirstiekrafts
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Tomorrow marks the start of my first ever Etsy clear out. A lot of my stock has been sitting for a while and I feel it’s just time to part with it , even if I am not making much profit. (For anyone who’s interested the promo code OCT11CLEAROUT will get you 15% off any of my items between the 24th and 31st of this month. Happy shopping)
This also kind of sums up how I feel about a lot of things at the moment. I feel like its time I properly cleared out my life, kitchen cupboards and craft box (believe me, the craft box will be the biggest problem). I wish there was just a promo code for life, I could send it out to people and they would get rid of everything for me. Anyway, I digress.
What I really wanted to talk about was the decision I made this afternoon. Until I’ve cleared some of my huge backlog of projects, I’m not allowed to buy the stuff to start any NEW craft projects, if it’s something I need to finish an existing one though I can make the exception. I’m also not allowed to start anything new until the half done bits are finished.
Today, when rummaging in my new spare room (I just moved house, there are boxes everywhere), I realised that I have so many of the unfinished, half started and bare bone components of things I thought would be awesome in there, that I really should clear out. It also made me unhappy, I felt like such a disorganised failure, looking at everything I’d put time and effort into then simply forgotten about. So no more. Everything crafty’s getting sorted out. and hopefully my life will follow soon after.
http://www.etsy.com/people/KirstieKrafts
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Sorry, this post is only half art related really, more in the sense I haven’t really done much recently than anything else. It’s that weird, not quite anything, time of year. It’s getting cold and dark, and very wintery in Dundee (although two days ago it felt like summer here) and everywhere seems to have had its Christmas decorations in. This is the twilight period of the year when I struggle to motivate myself to do anything. Christmas has been getting forced down my throat and I struggle to keep merry.
Right now I know I should be working on any crafts I want to sell before Christmas. For example I had hope to make up a huge bunch of these flowers, with either white or green central petals, and make hair accessories, napkin rings, tree decorations, you get the picture.
Right now, I’ve made one and a half. Poor show on my part, I just can’t get motivated in this in between season. I just want Christmas to disappear for another month and a half, so I can work, without it looming over my head like a huge black cloud. Then maybe I’ll appreciate the huge, warm, wintery feeling that should accompany it. In the mean time I’ll soldier on though, once I get started it shouldn’t be that bad.
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I’ve been doing the selling crafts stuff a little over a month now and realised I’d never once blogged about anything crafty. I mean you guys have all seen my drawings and the fact I got a degree amazes me (not selling myself short, just being honest).
Before I post photos I should probably talk you through what was going on when I made the first one. I was sitting, eating Pop Tarts (nearly typed pot tarts, that would have been a different story all together), making yet more felt flowers, of which I’m really yet to sell any (if you’d like one check out my Facebook shop, I’ll put a link at the bottom of the post) and browsing http://www.cutoutandkeep.net/ for Nyan Cat stuff. I stumbled across a pretty poor looking tutorial for a Nyan Cat phone cover. I had a Pop Tart in hand, mouth open, kind of epiphany (I think that’s the right word anyway), dropped the flower in my box of unfinished projects, ate my remaining Pop Tart, and got cutting. The finished result amazed even me.
This one spawned a chocolate one…
And pretty much the moment I updated them to Facebook, I had four, yes four order. I was so happy, it properly made my day and lifted my mood. They are available through my Etsy page if you’re interested in them.
http://www.facebook.com/Kirstiekrafts
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Yeah, Wow. It’s been so long, and so much has changed. I was at Uni last time I posted anything and I haven’t been there in over a year (I graduated, it’s not like they go Kirstie in a very Beuller like fashion every class). So yes, I no longer study Computer Arts. Big change numero uno.
I suppose the second change is that the moment I left, I realised the course really hadn’t been for me. I’d probably known this all along, but had simply put up and shut up, because when I was 16 I convinced myself it would lead me everywhere I’d ever wanted. I wasn’t ready to give up that hope. If I had earlier, well then maybe things would be different right now. I could have transferred onto either a Biology or Events Management type of course. Maybe I’d be doing something more productive right now than working as a cashier, maybe I wouldn’t. I don’t like what ifs to be honest, I try not to dwell on it.
Following on from this, and something I find really weird, is that for once it seems like I totally have a handle on things (well except my hair, but that’ll always be out of control). Life’s always seemed like a huge blur to me, I just got swept along in the flow. The only big decision I’ve ever really made was to go away to University, and even then I chose the wrong course. But I made it out the other side and I’m doing ok.
Exactly a month ago today actually Kirstiekrafts opened its doors (metaphorically) on facebook ( http://www.facebook.com/Kirstiekrafts ). Selling large, very brightly coloured felt hair bobbles. It’s even changed a lot since then, and that was only what, 31 days ago? I’ve also opened an etsy and have a twitter account under the same name and a good feeling about things to come .
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Ok, I’m not going to lie…Most of this art is old, some of its very old. But I still love it.
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And finally…
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Not all of it, but some none the less. And I’ve finished some more, but not posted it into the box of doom and terror yet. Got some finished artwork for you though, from my personal project module, here’s Aga…
Vermont
And Diamond…
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Ok, Its just concept art…no need to get over excited. All of lovely ladies though, I should have probably done more of it by now but you know, I havent. Also all the work from this is for my Personal Project and Persusaive Narrative modules.
