Tuesday 28 February 2012

Another member of the flock

If you are knitting away creating your own Ewestace or Ewenice then meet one already skipping round his own field (or kitchen as he is a tea cosy).  Jan, one of the first people to knit the kit, sent me the photo of her the sheep she knitted.  He definitely has his own personality; Jan has done the eyes slightly differently so you may want to check them out to see which you prefer.


See you next Tuesday.

Tuesday 21 February 2012

Last week I was the Marketing Department

... well the administrator really because Kate is the Marketing and Profiling guru.  I did learn what "bitty-links" are so I am feeling very proud of myself. 

This week I have become "Accounts".  We are rapidly approaching the end of the financial year so I have to get down to this side of setting up a business.  At least with this area, having already run (and continuing in a smaller way) my book selling business I don't feel quite so out of my depth.  Last week I was definitely a granny Face Booker!

As Katie Chucklemouse is about crafting I thought I would show you something I have been learning to use.  I cannot paint for all the tea in China.  This has always been a sadness but the wonderful Sheena Douglas has produced transfers, updating the old ones we tried in the past and kept them in her recently released Paint Fusion range, an updating of the folk art many are familiar with.

My first try left a lot to be desired -


I did not get the adhesion I needed at the edges.  This could be overcome by distressing the edges but I also didn't pay enough attention to the bubbles in the centre so some went missing there too when I rubbed off the backing paper.

My next try was an improvement thankfully!



Again, these are unfinished and the edges could be treated in many different ways but progress was made in making sure the transfer became part of the paint background.  I still need to continue rubbing the backing paper away but I am sure I will be happy with the finished item.  This is definitely something you have to learn but once you have the technique it will be so useful.  I have trays and waste paper bins waiting for the treatment.

Well, off now to fight with the figures but will fit in more crafting during the week.  See you next Tuesday and have a lovely crafty week.

Tuesday 14 February 2012

The next stage of Katie Chucklemouse – the Facebook page!

No photos of crafty makes this week as, our steps along the “how to start a crafty business” route have centred round promoting the business.  As it's half-term Kate has been able to set up a Face Book page for Katie Chucklemouse.  I’m sure some of you know all about Face Book but it is a bit of a mystery to me so it’s a good thing one of us knows what we are doing.  I can see that, as a business we will want to communicate with those people “walking” past our shop and looking in to see what we are offering.
First Kate set up the page and then I needed to “like” it so that she could make me an administrator.  She also put in the “info” bit and the first photo’s which I sent over to her.  This may sound simple to many of you but instead of the older generation taking the young by the hand this is definitely the young (forget that big birthday KateJ) leading the older generation. 
This is a really interesting side to internet selling.  I think when businesses first started this form of selling they just put a catalogue on line.  However, you do need (if only for your own sanity when often working alone) a dialogue with your customers and prospective customers.   Do pop over and see what you think – just search for “Katie Chucklemouse” on Facebook.  There are a few things to finish yet – there is no picture of me as I am writing.  They are not quite a rare as hen’s teeth but they are pretty thin on the ground!  We are also setting up an email address so you can email - Katie may be a Chucklemouse but she would love to hear from you.  I would certainly like to hear what kits you would like us to look at putting together. (We will be releasing a new one shortly.)  If you like what you see please click the “like” button.  For those setting up a business and thinking of doing your own Facebook page, 27 “likes” move the page up a level.  I know I will learn more about why that is important over the next few weeks and I will try and share what I can with any of my crafty friends thinking moving into the internet trading scene.
I will keep you up to date with our next steps – although I need to do some sewing and knitting this week too!
Happy crafting to you all and I’ll hope to see you again next Tuesday

Katie Chucklemouse Facebook Page

Tuesday 7 February 2012

Apparently I'm a WEARY!

A Working, Entrepreneurial and Active Retiree appparently.  Nothing for the "Y" although I am sure that you, dear reader, could suggest something.

Such an exciting week last week after my blog with the "sheeps".  Ewestace and Ewenice seem to have struck a cord and the feedback I had was lovely.  The are now staring on Etsy but the originals are both still sitting, looking rather sweet, in my sitting room.  I must return the borrowed teapot to my daughter though!  Although they hadn't been advertised on Etsy at that point, two kits are now on their way to happy knitters and I have been commissioned to make two more up.  This has given me lots of confidence to carry on building Katie Chucklemouse.

On to the object of this week's blog - at last I can show you the mini-pinnies as promised.  This is the little girls version:



And the slightly squarer one for the boys:




They have been designed for little people the squarer on being approximately 18" long (46 cms) and the little girls one approximately 20" long (51 cms).

As you can see I braved the snow to get the photos and it was really lovely to be out in the garden in the sunshine.

Well ... this WEARY person (often in both senses of the word!) is off to make a cup of tea and then get on with more sewing.  See you next Tuesday.