Miffed but still creative....

Feeling a bit cheesed off today! Was just about to update my website, doing the usual adding of new pics and text, changing the layout etc. but something's not quite working. Not sure what happened but my yearly subscription has suddenly changed to a free plan which limits my use of data, links, support etc. Bit of a nuisance that this happens on the weekend as I can't contact anyone to help!!! Boohoo!!!

Anyway, on a more positive note I can actually put on some music and just make a few bits of jewellery, to be sent to Vienna next week! Will post a pic later!!

xxxe

Successful morning at hobbycraft!

Today I did my Macramé demonstration at Hobbycraft! Not one for blowing my own trumpet, but - I think it was a success! At first I was a bit worried, don't know why, I've taught loads of workshops in the past and I always like talking to people- but it was good fun. I was busy from the minute I set up and it was nice to see so many young girls trying out some knotting techniques and then walking away with a big smile and a nice little bracelet. Best of all they can show it off to their friends or their gran and proudly say: "I made that"!

Also had some interest in my designs, and am thinking whether I could make them into kits and try and  sell them that way...worth a thought!

xxxe

Feeling quite busy...

Phew, what a day! Have just been writing up an instruction sheet for a Woven "shamballa" style bracelet kit. It always sounds perfectly logical when you explain something but as soon as you put it down on paper it all sounds really wrong. Anyway, it's all done now, have not looked on the web so as not to copy (subconsciously) someone else's writing style. All I need to do now is add illustrations, this will be the fun bit- I'm still not sure whether I should draw them out or have step-by-step photographs.....
I will be -hopefully- selling these kits on sunday at my demonstration at Hobbycraft in Ventura Park, Tamworth, Staffordshire. I'm on from 11-3pm, so please come and see me, have a go at macramé or just have a little chat.

Better get ready now, attending an Espadrille workshop at COW in Birmingham this evening and still lots to finish off here. I will be posting a pic of my new shoes, so watch this space!!

xxxerika

Very happy....!

So, this week I simply walked into a lovely childrens boutique-shop just up the road from where I work to enquire whether they would be interested in selling my jewellery. How pleased and surprised was I when they said "Yes"!!!

Well, it wasn`t quite as quick as I make out. Obviously it is a bit suspicious when some strange woman walks into your shop trying to sell you something. I made sure I had plenty of samples and simply laid everything out on the counter. I also made sure that the style of my pieces was right for the shop,which is called Mooch kids   ( www.moochkids.com )  they sell brands like Joules, Lilly and Sid, etc. so the colours had to be vibrant but the actual piece not too fussy and fun to wear. I went for lots of natural cord which I kotted and paired it with my own colourful Lampwork beads. Apart from bracelets I also did a few necklaces which I platted or knotted. Again, I kept the thread in natural tones but attached some handmade Dinosaur pendants.

Sally, the owner, was really nice and I was very pleased that someone else got excited about my beads and jewellery!

A few pics of what they looked like:

Quite pleased, hope they sell!!

xxxxerika

Guess what I've made....!

Don't think that's a difficult one....it's more owls!!!

I've used some millefiori chips as eyes and I think it really works!! My brother remarked :" I feel hypnotized looking at them!" I think they look slightly dizzy.















I've made some owl beads before but the hole went through crossways at the top, these are slightly quicker to make. I have a huge amount of millefiori so there will be more owls coming soon!

More news: My etsy shop is officially open! At the moment there is only one item for sale, but I'm aiming to add more, something like one item per week. So, it should fill up nicely! The shop itself should look a bit more inviting soon, I'm just thinking about an image to use for the banner....something non-owly perhaps...otherwise I might get a reputation!!

My etsy shop is here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/erikaschrinner

xxxx
erika

Owl beads...and brooches

Almost a fortnight since my last blog....must try and, bla bla bla, I really do sound like a broken record....

Anyway, have made good progress with my macramé owl brooches and owl beads, for sale by next week. Have, I think, solved the postage issue, well it's all going up in price by monday so I have to make sure it's accurate. Decided to go with first class and proof of posting rather than signed for, you never know why things go missing.

Thinking of writing the brooches up as kits and selling them that way, they will be cheaper and should be quite quick to put together, need to find out how to do that on the computer. Might be faster if I draw it all out by hand....!

Right, better get that chicken in the oven...

xxx
erika

Getting there....

Well, slowly I'm getting closer to putting my first item on Etsy - have created a shop but at the mo there's nothing in it!
Anyway, here is a preview of my first item, I still have to do the write up, make sure everything is linked up correctly and then hope that my pieces sell!!!

....hm? I think I have to photograph this again, looks so much nicer in reality....

xxxe