Dear Craft Diary(2)

A lot has happened since I was last in touch.

I spent 3 wonderful mornings in the National Museum at a workshop entitled "Its a Relief". I thought it would be lecture and tour, instead we spend the days making a flowerpot holder from clay and decorating it. Great fun.

I have done some work on the main Huggleknits site and I am a little happier. I still have to do some work on the photos I am taking. Indoor photos are proving a greater challenge than I had expected. Photoshop can only do so much.....

Another shop has been resurrected http://www.mosbitsnpieces.etsy.com/ and there I have, as the name suggests, bits and pieces including head bands, buttons and knitting needles. I have loads of other bits to go in so if you are interested keep an eye on it.

The fliers were done and I am happy with the first lot. They have all gone out and are geared for people who need to cover up due to surgery, chemo etc. It was suggested that I do a pink one also as it is the Breast Cancer colour.... good idea. That will be my next lot.

Huggleknits: have put up some more hats on the site. Now working on a fun Wig Hat.... It will be interesting to see if there are any comments coming when I put it on the site. Hope to do that this evening. I am also working on greeting cards with a knitting theme.....

Thats it for now.

As ta la vista babie.........

First Steps

I have come to the blog a couple of times in the last weeks to add my next entry and was hit with writers jitters..... what do I say...... will it sound stupid......
Then a good friend said look on it as a diary of your journey on the crafting road ahead.
Great idea......

Dear Diary - Date: Sunday 16 May 2010.
My journey so far has concentrated on developing a new range of accessories and promotional material.

1. My Range: I now have 3 types of hat on my etsy site - see pictures at top of page..... all in organic cotton or mixed with silk. But they need care when hand washing so I will have to have a look at machine washable ones in single colours that could be for everyday use around the house (I am thinking of my friend who is going through Chemo at the moment). I have sources a lovely soft yarn which is Cotton mixed with Arcylic and is made for machine washable items. To be done this week.
2. Promotional Material: I have had a new set of business cards printed and have started giving them out mainly to friends so far. Now to get down to sorting out some fliers to send to people and organisation where it would be noticed.

Not much progress on the layout of my blog - can't link my etsy site directly to the page - will have to get some help on this. Also I want to change the banner and avatar - they need freshening up. http://www.huggleknits.etsy.com/ So my learning challenge for this week is to delve into Photoshop Elements to find the answers.

I will be sending off my application to join the craft council of Ireland in the morning -fingers crossed. http://www.ccoi.ie/

As for new hats: as well as making ones to add style and comfort for those who need to retain some dignity I have started experimenting with "fun hat wigs" especially for children. I will update on developments.

That's really it for today - oh I almost forgot I am booked on a course in the National Museum next week on "relief work" so photo will follow with full report.

cheers for now -
Mo

Yellow Brick Road

After years of wishing, dreaming, hoping, ..... I have finally taken the leap of faith and left mainstream work behind me and embraced my "Parole" (aka early early retirement). 31 March last I sent my last email, filed my last letter, organised my last meeting and walked away from routine and having to answer to others into a whole new world.

I am a crafter and a lover of art, music and all things creative. Over the last year or so in my spare time I have been working on my etsy site http://www.huggleknits.etsy.com/ , as well as teaching crochet and knitting, selling in local markets, making garments and accessories to order and researching and learning some of our traditional Irish crafts.

Where do I go from here??? I am not sure yet. I am like a child in a toy shop who has been told they can play with any toy they want. The excitement is too much and I cant take the smile off my face.

So today I start my blog - the first new step on my "yellow brick road"