Some of my favourite makes

Wild Rose Designs recently celebrated 2 years of on-line selling! During that time I have made a lot of bags!!
So I thought that I'd share just a few of my favourite makes, past and present.

Linda

Folksy Friday - Warm and cosy

Now that the evenings are drawing in and the temperature is dropping, we like to feel warm and cosy. I do love cosy evenings in front of the fire, though I do miss not having a proper log fire. There's nothing quite like sitting and staring into the flames and listening to the crack and hiss of logs burning. I'll just have to make do with my gas fire. Here are a selection of lovely handmade goodies that hopefully will make you feel all warm inside.

I love the colours in this shaggy shawl from Eccentric Ella

There's more than a touch of Miss Marple about this cape from  Moth

(I love Miss Marple, but rarely get to watch it as no one else likes it).

These pretty gloves look lovely and warm.They're by  Crazy About Gloves

This crocheted blanket is sure to keep you warm on a winters evening, it's from  Lindyknits

Love this hot water bottle cover by  Rowan Knits

Just what you need to keep those logs handy, it's from  Homestead and Garden

You can't beat a good candle to give a warm and welcoming glow. They're from  cottage Candles- Handmade Pure Beeswax Candles 

WOW! Just had to include this, it's from  Magnus Larkin

Saucy, but warm. they're by  Lucy Haslam Knitwear

Wrap up warm in this gorgeous Trench coat from  Fashion Couture

I hope you enjoyed my selection this week, thanks for looking,

Linda

Craft Fair - Lessons learned

On Saturday I attended my first Craft fair as a seller, I've been to many a fair as a buyer, but it was an eye opener seeing it from the other side of the table. I'd spent the week preparing for it, labelling and pricing everything, deciding on my table layout and making sure that I had bags and tissue for wrapping. On the day we were there in plenty of time and managed to set up reasonably quickly and I even managed to have a lightening tour of the other stalls before the fair opened. There were lots of lovely things for sale all of a very high quality and that gave me a brief moment of apprehension - were my offerings good enough?  But everyone who stopped by and commented, said how much they liked my things which boosted my confidence a lot.

There were not as many visitors as I hoped but I managed to not only cover my costs but make a small profit too. Lots of my family came to offer their support which was lovely and much appreciated. One thing I became aware of was how important it is for customers to at least acknowledge the seller. A smile and/or hello is all that is needed, we're not expecting you to buy if you speak to us but it is a little disconcerting to be blanked.

I have booked for the November and December fairs so am hoping for better sales then as hopefully people will be Christmas shopping in earnest.

Though sales were not exactly high this time, I did learn valuable lessons from the experience:

o  Less is more! In an effort to show all I had to sell, I think I overdid the display. Next time I will put out fewer items so that they can be seen better. I can always add signs telling people that I have more stock with me.

o  Make sure you have lots of cheaper items to tempt buyers.

o  Try to have a least one range of items that are really different. The lady on the stall next to mine had some cute tiny fabric animals in little sleeping bags in their own tin and they really pulled in the customers even if they didn't buy! She had an almost constant stream of customers chatting to her about her stock and at least taking away business cards.

o  Don't be too rigid with your display. Move it around depending on your stalls location. I moved my rail of bags when I realised their was a big enough space on the other side of my table to have it facing forwards rather than being side on, thus making my bags more visible and easier to get to. I also moved things around on my table to give some items more prominence.

o  Seasonal products! Next time I will make sure that I have plenty of Christmassy things for sale including decorations and Christmas present items to suit all pockets.

o  You can find out about different craft fairs from the other sellers, I may have another two to go to next month!

I don't expect that I shall get everything right next time and I'm sure I'll learn more valuable lessons, but you know what... I can't wait!

Me getting out some bunting to hang along the front of my table

Yup! Definitely overdid the display.

My original placement for the bag rail meant that most of them could not be seen.

Hubby watching tv on the iPad during a lull.

The craft fair is held in a beautiful converted church.

There is a handy cafe on the premises.

My bag rail moved to the other end of the table means that people can get right up to the bags.

Thanks for looking,

Linda

Folksy Friday - Autumn gold

Now that Autumn is really here, the countryside is full of golden hues. I think Autumn is my favourite time of year, I love the crisp mornings and walking through crunchy golden leaves, even the air smells different. Here's my selection for this week..

This gorgeous tiara caught my eye straightaway it's by  Epoch Beads

This beautiful autumn leaf cuff is  by Sally

This stunning 'Tree of Life' bag is from  Handbags by Helen

This lovely corsage is from  Lonely Hearts

A pretty autumn silk scarf and it's by  Broomhead Designs

A beautiful golden bracelet from  Phoebe dreams

A striking original print by  Lil Sonny Sky

This necklace is lovely, it's from  Bessie loves

An unusual crocheted scarf by  Andrea Lesley crochet

And finally a tote from me,  Wild Rose Designs

Hope you enjoyed my selection, thanks for looking.

Linda

My first craft fair!

A couple of months ago, I finally took the plunge and booked a table at my first craft fair! It's something I've been putting off for about a year now, but I decided that if I want to get my name 'out there' then it was really time to face the public and let them see my makes 'up close and personal' as it were. I'm really excited about selling my items direct to the public, but there is a part of me that is more than a little nervous. Selling on line is so solitary and you are cocooned from any criticism or unfavourable comparisons. Seeing your customers face to face seems somewhat daunting, I've worked in shops before, but selling your own work is different. It's easy to sing the praises of someone else's work, singing your own is a different kettle of fish! Though I'm sure any customers I may have will be lovely. Obviously I'm hoping to cover my costs and more but even if I don't I'm sure I'll learn from the experience. I've already booked for a further two in the run up to Christmas so that any tips I pick up will be put to good use. I'm going to take my camera and will take lots of pics on the day to put in a later post and maybe I'll even include one of me if any of them are half decent!

The craft fair is going to be in Worthing on the 13th October from 10 till 4,  so if any of you are in the area, please do pop in and say hello (there's no entrance fee) and there's even a coffee shop on site. The venue is The Lime Cafe @St.Pauls, Chapel Road, Worthing.

Hope to see you there!