2012

I don't make resolutions as such at New Year. No real reason to be honest I just don't do it. I don't really have any bad vices that I need to give up (who wants to give up eating chocolate?).

However, I have been thinking for the last few months about my creative life and this blog and I definitely want to keep on with both. Here I will list some of the things I am going to do this year with regards mainly to the blog. I will do a seperate post with an idea of what I want to acheive this year project wise.

• Regular blog posts - I'm thinking I will do a Sunday Stash post and a WIP wednesday. I may also include Favourite Things Friday or something similar depending on who else starts up what.

• Comment more and build friendships through blogging.
  

• Post to Diary of a Flutter Kat's Nosey Parker each month.

• I will post to Lily's Quilts Fresh Sewing Day each month

• Participate in Lily's Small Blog Meet one month.

• Participate in Quilter in the Gaps's FAL

• Use Flickr, put makes on it and use it to shows pictures on the blog.

• Learn to take better pictures with Katy @ The Littlest Thistle

• Host a swap on the blog.

• Host at least one giveaway.

• Start up (if there isn't one already) a UK and Ireland travelling stash.

Here's a wonderful happy and healthy 2012! Wishing you all the very best for the New Year

I promised...

...you some makes and some makes you will get.

Apologies for the long periods of radio silence. I have been working extra long hours lately as my shop has been moving to a new one and I have been absolutely knackered. Just out of interest and only if you are willing to share, how many of you out there in blogland work full time, part time (outside your craft) or craft/blog as a full time occupation. For those who work full time and craft after work how do you fit in the time to blog regularly too?

Onto what I have made recently. Despite being quiet I have gotten a few things made so I will show you a few at a time.

Some lovely Noodlehead 241 Tote Bags. I made these the night before a craft fair hence the pictures being taken at a craft fair in case they all sold that day. The black and red one did actually sell which I'm not surprised about because this is a beautiful design of bag by Anna Graham.







They all brought in a lot of interest from people so I am definitely going to make some more in the New Year.

Domestic Kat New Webstore

I have been selling the things I make at craft fairs for about 4 or 5 years now. For the last couple of years I have kept saying that I need to open a web store.

Finally I have.

Presenting the Domestic Kat store:

Domestic Kat Webstore

I will be adding more items to the store tonight.

Go on, take a wee peek.

Craft fairs

I will post some makes soon I promise as I do have things to show off.

However, I just thought I would show you guys my tables at my recent craft fairs.

First, was last Saturday in Rutherglen Town Hall. This fair was one I have done for the past 4 years and I really love doing it. The organisation is great and Karen always does a great job. They run this fair in conjunction with the Christmas lights turn-on and as a result, it is the official start of feeling Christmassy for me. There is also a good amount of people through the door so I always do a wee turn at it.

The second picture is from a fair in Rutherglen Shopping Centre and is run by Crafts Unlimited Association. It runs from 10-4 and because it is in the shopping centre you are right in the thick of people who are out specifically to shop.

This fair also taught me a valuable lesson about craft fairs (despite having done them for probably 4 years). How you are feeling and how you present yourself makes a huge difference in how many sales you get. I did this same fair a month ago. Looking back I was in the midst of a depressive episode and I was having a terrible morning (even managed to injure my hand setting up). I probably barely cracked a smile all day and did not get any sales.However, on Saturday I was chatty, bubbly, laughing, making jokes and despite having not made any sales by 2pm was still being positive and smiley and chatty. Because it was so quiet I decided to pop into Home Bargains and pick up some art packs for doing my art totes and I was craving some chocolate. I came back and noticed one of my bags was gone but had genuinely thought it had been stolen. Turns out my neighbour who was watching my table had sold 2 bags and a purse while I was gone. That was enough of a wee pick me up to grab even more sales before 4 oclock.

Therefore, I would say that your attitude at a craft fair certainly affects your propensity to get sales.

Maxi dress

Before I went on holiday, some of you may be aware that I was planning on making some of my own clothes to take with me. On my to-do list was 3 items. A dress using some nice blue fabric I had gotten on sale, a t-shirt with jersey I had gotten on sale and something with the fabric below.

I managed to find a nice maxi dress pattern (Simplicity 2692) and a pattern for a playsuit so I decided the blue fabric would suit the playsuit better and the green fabric would look nice as a maxi dress.

The actual construction of the dress was fairly straightforward and, dare I say it, enjoyable. Maybe the fact that I made it 2 months ago is blurring my memory. I didn't follow the pattern exactly as it would have came up too small but it was quite easy to alter.

I like it and it looks quite formal. I recently wore it to a friends wedding which is when I took this picture. What do you guys think of it?

The playsuit never got made. I picked a Burda pattern which stated beginner level on it and I started to make it with the size I thought I would need except the arm holes were MASSIVE on it and where it tells you crossover the neckline was down to my belly button. However the waist was the right size and i felt the legs werent baggy enough so I just gave up on it. I think it was too beginner for my liking also.

The t-shirt that was destined to be made from the jersey was never made however I have decided it is now going to be made into pyjama pants for myself as I LIVE in pyjamas.

Hope you are all doing well.