Patchwork Bag

Patchwork is something i have been meaning to try for quite a long time.  I bought some patchwork books several years ago, and after getting myself confused and frustrated i thought i would just have a go at it myself.  I hardly even remember what it was i used to make my first patchwork attempt, but i do remember it was supposed to be a cushion cover but it came out a bit lopsided LOL! 


This time i actually went to a class......highly recommended i have to say, if you have never done patchwork before!! 


Because i was just starting out and didn't have a lot of different coloured fabrics i opted for buying some mixed squares - ok so it was cheating a little bit as i didn't have to cut them all, but i have learnt how to do that now as well :).


The colour of the project was determined by the colours i got in the pack to a large degree, but i spent some time sorting and matching up what would go together as a theme.  As you can see from the pics below i decided on an autumn colours sort of theme.


The main shape of the bag i got from a pattern book, but i altered it quite a lot, putting my own stamp on it really.  As usual i also decided to not follow the pattern when my head was telling me of another way to do it!! 

 These first 2 pictures were taken after sewing the squares together and adding the wadding which gives the padded effect and gives the bag some form.  On the second picture you can see the quilting that i did on it by sewing lines both diagonally and horizontally just on the inside of the squares.


I lined the bag with a complimentary colour and added both a pocket and a key fob in a colour that provided some contrast on the inside of the bag.  You can see these in the pictures below.

The bottom of the bag, as shown in the next picture, is square which helps to provide space inside the bag, and gives the overall boxy style.

The square colours are completely mixed and so the two sides of the bag are different.  Despite the squares looking like they are randomly placed i did have to spend some time planning where the colours would go to get the best arrangement and prevent there being several dark or light squares together.  I also decided to have a brighter side with the yellows and reds, and a side that was less bright, giving some flexibility with which side would be on show when i was being used as well.

The completed bag has a dark brown tone of edging around the top, which is continued on as a shoulder strap.  This i chose as a way to tie all the colours together, both inside and outside.

I have to say i am rather pleased with the finished bag - it did take me some time to finish it but i think it was worth the effort ;)

Cream Ted - The finished Project

He is here! No longer Headless Ted because he has been transformed into Trew the Cream Ted! Trew used to be a pair of trousers.....that is until i was wearing them one day and my rather unruly bum decided to made a break for freedom!! I was about to get into the car when rrrrriiiiiiiiipppppppp and the neighbours saw a little bit more than either i or them ever expected to see!! 


You know when you have some item of clothing that you just love wearing and even though they had become unwearable you just can't bear to part with it? That was these trousers.  Anyway after sitting in the "i need to do something with these things" pile for just a few weeks i bravely chopped them up and made about sewing and stuffing them into shape until Trew the pudding loving bear was born!! 

A little bit here and a little bit there!

I really am trying to get some of my unfinished projects completed, honest I am! I do seem to have a bit of an aversion to doing any one project right through to the end before starting a new one though - don't know if its just my head getting too excited and running way ahead of itself or what it is to be honest! I drive myself doo lally with it sometimes!

Anyway, at the minute i am working on:

The infamous headless ted - literally just needs his head sewed on now as i have got him stuffed and all now!

The also infamous purple elephant - have been doing a little bit of sewing up on him and he finally has feet all joined to his legs :) head partly sewed up and body is the same.  He is actually really big, much bigger than i had thought! He is lovely though, can't wait to see him taking shape.

The patchwork bag - I have just the binding to add on this and a strap to design.  I did take some pics of it yesterday as i was sewing it up:

It gives you a wee idea of what it will be like without giving it all away :D

Yesterday i also came across an old jumper that i used to love - but it is way past its best now, so i decided to start unpicking it and have an idea for recycling the wool.  I love being able to do that - take something old and turn it into something new! 

Oh i forgot about the 2 doggy coats i'm working on as well! I have decided to undo the neck of the multi coloured one and make it easier to get on and off - I have the second goldie coloured one at the same stage now too - just need to add some elastic and sew up the collar bits.

So, as you can tell I am progressing with the projects, but it is a bit here and there so nothing is actually finished as yet.  Getting really close mind you.......well i would be if i stopped thinking about what to make with the recycled wool! Hahahahahaha honestly I'm not wise ;)

Branding the Cow???

Its a funny word branding isn't it? It always makes me think about cows and hot metal designs being seared into them!! I suppose technically we are talking about the same thing when we talk about branding ourselves and our businesses - its about being able to recognise our 'cows' from the rest of the herd.

In my working life we talked about branding a lot.  I worked for a charity and the need to be a recognisable and household name was key to being able to have successful services - The public needed to know who we were, what we did and where to find us or they simply couldn't or wouldn't support us.


Now that i am considering setting up as a craft business the concept of branding comes back into my mind, but where do i start? and do i really need to be thinking about this already??


Honestly, my answer has to be i'm not really sure, but i know its something that i need to bear in mind.  The brand i choose is what will tell people about what it is i do and why they should be interested in looking at my craft products rather than the thousands and thousands of other crafters products that are available.  


I have been crafting and selling for quite some time as i have already said, but this time i feel the need to re-brand myself somehow, changing the name of my business signifies a new start for me and a chance to really stop and think about what it is i want to do and the messages i want to send out to potential customers.  This time i have chosen to use the name Funky Junkified Crafts which relates to the core value of recycling that i want to embrace, hopefully it portrays a fun and unique sort of personality as well :).  The issue of recycling is an important concept for me personally, and has been for many many years, so it is something that i can use to add to my passion for crafting as well as striving to be unique.  


I guess what i am trying to say in my usual long winded way is in my view it is important that a 'brand' is not something that is made up simply because it sounds good.  Its something deeper and much more meaningful than 'just a name'.  It also provides me with a framework for working in and so in my view the earlier i think about this the better as it will give me a natural direction and theme for my work.

Building an Online Presence

Anyone who makes crafts to sell at some point has to consider what outlets they have for advertising and selling their projects.  Over the years i have used various options including having my work sold in craft shops, attending craft fairs, holding craft parties and more recently starting a Facebook page.  Due to my on/off crafting history i have not been able to use any of these methods of getting my work seen on any sort of consistent basis and so they tend to come and go.  


Now that i am once again in a productive mindset and also considering rebuilding contact with potential customers i have been looking at online selling.  I opened a Folksy account a little while ago but to be honest have not really added much to the stock on there as yet.  


Over the next weeks i intend to start trying to build up an online presence again, including updating the Folksy shop and the Facebook page - i believe the two will interact well together, but i guess only time will tell! 


The link to the Folksy Shop should you want to have a look is http://folksy.com/shops/junkified though i have only 2 items listed on there at the minute! 


The link to the Facebook Page if you would also like to drop by on there is facebook.com/FunkyJunkifiedCrafts.  Don't forget you can 'like' the facebook page to be kept up to date with my news and new products.


I guess i have quite a lot of work ahead of me with developing these online resources - I will of course keep you informed :) 

Some More Ceramics

I did complete quite a range of ceramics, so here are a few more pics I'd like to share! 

This one was my version of the Mindwise Butterfly 

Collectors Money Box

A couple of Baby Gift Items

My version of Lord of the Rings Figures

Flower bud Fairies

This is just a very small range of ceramic figures that I painted and sold at various craft fairs.  I completed many projects that i didn't photograph - something i have always regreted actually! I did a lot of paint to order items as well as ones I painted to sell directly.

I haven't done any ceramic painting for quite a while, a couple of years probably, but i'm sure i will go back to it at some stage :) 

Ceramic Alphabet Teds

Just to show that I do actually finish projects I thought it would be good to share some pics of hand painted ceramics that i did quite a while ago.  One of the sets of ceramics i did was these cute little teds!