My First Craft Fair

I did my first craft fair before Christmas. It was at the Church of a friend of mine, and we shared a table between 3 people - my jewellery, my friend Ali's Christmas decorations, and my friend Sophie's ceramics.


This was my little third of the table. I wasn't sure how to best display the jewellery, but I was quite pleased with the final outcome. I would definately have struggled to fill a whole table, though!

The fair itself went ok - I think there were about 200-250 people who visited (and all table/entrance fees went to our local hospital, which is always a good cause), and I made three sales. It was quite a long day for three sales - the fair was open from 10-6, but could probably have closed at 4 quite happily really. However, I got some really lovely feedback from someone who bought a necklace for his mum and was the flavour of the month on Christmas day apparently! That kind of thing always makes me happy!

I did also get to finish my own Christmas shopping from some of the other lovely stalls that were there, and it was lovely to sit for the day with my friend Ali and chat, without one of us always having to jump up to rescue a toddler from imminent doom.

I think I would have to think carefully before signing up for another one though, especially from a space and display point of view. If anyone has any tips on this, I'd be grateful!

New Silver and Copper Bangle

Here are some pictures of my latest bangle, which I finished yesterday. I am really pleased with it, especially as I had originally intended the bowl as a pendant (but couldn't get it to hang the way I wanted). I can always tell it's a good one when the other half goes 'Hm. What is it?'

I have also got photos of Alice's finished box, and the completed Blanket of Doom to upload - to follow shortly!

Apology

Oh my goodness, I can't believe it has been so long since I was on here - many apologies. It all got a bit hectic in the last few months of the year, and I spent a lot of time avoiding the computer because it made me feel sick (a wierd morning-sickness side effect, amongst others), but I am much better now and will update you all soon, I promise!

Jewellery Giveaway - Result!

Thanks to everyone who joined in my giveaway - there were 25 entries in all, and random.org chose the winner to be Calej.

Congratulations, Calej! Your earrings will be in the post very soon.

Everyone else - don't forget to check out my 20% off sale taking place today as part of the UK Silly Sale. There are some great deals to be had! I offer free postage to the UK, and only $2.00 anywhere else in the world.

CuddleNum (or The Chicken Formerly Known as Mr Beige)

'CuddleBunny, meet CuddleNum. CuddleNum, meet CuddleBunny. ' If she could speak, Alice would have introduced the two new friends like this.

So, in case you are wondering what all the introductions are about, the lovely Lynsey of SwirlyArts who makes really cute chicken pincushions and doorstops, among other things, and sells them in her etsy store found herself with a grumpy little pincushion Mr Beige who felt he was being supplanted in her affections by newer chicken pincushions. So Lynsey bowed to Mr Beige's demands and set about finding him a new home. Alice and I stumbled across the competition, and she was quite excited by the prospect of a little chicken, so we entered. And we won! And this is the lovely package that arrived this morning -

There were perfectly pleasant introductions all round, and a little cuddle for the newly named CuddleNum from both Alice and CuddleBunny, but then Alice decided that that was enough of the good manners and tried to bite CuddleNum's beak. Naughty Alice!

So CuddleNum has taken up a temporary station on the bookcase along where he can oversee the chaos that is my living room until this round of teething is done. But he isn't alone, because the also-quite-delicate-in-constitution knitted Elefant is also up there and will keep him company and explain what is going on. Alice will be allowed quick cuddles, because she loves the squishyness of CuddleNum, but I am still working on the concept of 'gentle' with her, so she will be properly supervised at all times.

Thanks Lynsey!

Changes to my shop

This week I have changed a couple of elements of my etsy store, hopefully for the better!

First, I have retaken all of my 'first pictures' for my items. I struggle with my photography sometimes (as first mentioned in a previous blog post here) - I never feel I quite get it right. My original pictures mainly had black backgrounds, as I thought you would see the silver of the jewellery better - but lighting is hard, and the silver would often end up with a funny glow.

But after one of my photos, which I'd done on a white instead of a black background, got some compliments in one of the etsy forums, I thought I'd try doing my pictures on white background again, and also be a bit braver with my cropping and close ups. I am (at the moment!) pretty pleased with the results, and also with the fact that for the first time they all have the same colour background!

Here are some before and after pictures -

Second, I decided to try and unify my presentation and packaging of my jewellery. I bought some lovely ribbon in shades of ivory, dove grey and pale blue from etsy seller Overspill, and got some more black pillow boxes ready. When it arrived, I got all over-excited and straight away cut it all up into perfect earring-box sized pieces of ribbon, temporarily forgetting that I don't just make earrings. Ooops.

Still, all the earring listings are updated, and I'll just have to order some more ribbon and get on with the necklaces and bracelets another day.... Overall, I am pretty pleased with this weeks work.

Oh - and I also launched my first blog giveaway! Check it out here - closes October 8th.

Jewellery Giveaway!

Hello! I have reached my 20th blog follower, and also have over 150 twitter followers, which is all quite exciting for me. To celebrate, I'm going to launch my first giveaway!


I am giving away this pair of sterling silver and pearl earrings, made from honey coloured and brown freshwater pearls, handwrapped with sterling silver wire.

There are 3 ways to enter -

1) Leave a comment below

2) If you comment and follow this blog, that's 2 entries.

3) Follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway @AneksiDesigns

It's as simple as that! This giveaway is open until 10pm Friday 8th October (to coincide with the UK Etsy Silly Sale!) - it will be drawn on Saturday 9th October, and the winner will get their new earrings posted to them the following Monday. It is open internationally, and the results will be posted on this blog.

It really couldn't be much simpler!

GOOD LUCK!

p.s. if you miss out, there is a very similar pair of earrings in my etsy store.... http://www.etsy.com/listing/55724307/silver-and-pearl-earrings