Jamsmith - From one Smith to another

This morning I was rudely awoken from my Saturday morning snooze by the postman.

But today I didn't mind this interruption to my beauty sleep.

Firstly... I was meant to be up anyway.

Secondly... I knew the reason why Mr Postie was rat-a-tat-tat-ing on my door.

I had a parcel. And not just any parcel. 

It was a brown paper parcel tied up with string... containing JAM!

It was sent from my twitter chum Vicky

(who just happens to also live in Yorkshire and have the same surname as me.)

From one Smith to another....

But as well as living in Yorkshire and having a great surname, Vicky runs JAMSMITH

 which, in her own words, is....

"a handmade, quality, seasonal preserves business based in the Yorkshire Dales. 

It's a foodie treat or gift by post. I make and send two small-batch, unique flavoured jams, jellies, marmalades or fruit butter every month via a one or three monthly subscription"

This month Vicky appeared in Country Living Magazine (September 2013 p58) 

in the Kitchen Table Talent section describing how she has grown her business over the last 18 months. I loved the article, and thanks to the gorgeous pictures I now covet not only her jam, but also  her house, her dog and her wardrobe!

I am very lucky that Vicky has sent me a sample of her latest seasonal flavour combination to try - 

Yorkshire Raspberry and Wild Spearmint

This is Jam, Jim - but not as we know it!

The flavour is truly scrumptious - and the addition of the spearmint in this particular flavour combination is sublime - adding a delicious, subtle, sweet undercurrent which lingers long after you have finished your toast!

But make sure you savour every mouthful...

You won't come across this jam anywhere else, as it is exclusive to members of the subscription club. Each month Vicky creates entirely new flavour combinations - and no flavour is ever repeated. (Shame - because I love the sound of Lemon, Pear and Ginger!)

I really cannot wait till breakfast tomorrow to have some more.

If you want to find out more about JAMSMITH, head over to 

the website: JAMSMITH.CO.UK

to twitter: @jamsmithclub

to facebook: /jamsmithclub 

to tumblr: jamsmith.tumblr.com

 ...NOPE. Can't do it. 

I really cannot wait until breakfast time.

That jam is delicious.

I'm off to make some more toast!

#IndieMonth - What I've done to support #IndieRetail

Purchases from Delicious, JilMadeThis and Bevolee

You may or may not know, but July has been #IndieMonth where consumers have been urged to change their habits and show their support for local independent retailers.

Being a small independent retailer myself, I could hardly ignore this campaign! 

And although I do try to buy from #IndieRetail whenever I can, this month I have tried a little bit harder, and I thought I would share with you some of what I have been doing to support #IndieMonth!

My very first purchase of the month was a steak pie from Billy's Hill Farm Shop in Hemingfield. Unfortunately this item doesn't have a photo as it was eaten before we had chance to photograph it! 

I can heartily recommend their pies, and award winning sausages! 

They also sell a great selection of cheese, wine, meat and handmade bread.

My second purchase of the month was from Folksy shop Delicious.

Based in Leeds, Elizabeth sells hand screen printed posters and cards, and it was some of her beautifully intricate cards that I treated myself to:

Blue Screenprinted Folk Tree Card by Delicious

 My next purchases all came from the craft fair at Elsecar Heritage Centre organised by Paperdoll Events. Both makers were people that I had admired on twitter, so it was so great to meet them in person and help support their wonderful work!

From JilMadeThis I bought 'Howard'
He is the spitting image of my friend George and I couldn't leave without purchasing this item as a gift! But nor could I leave without something for me too...
So I treated myself to the little floral postbox brooch shown in the photo at the top of the page.

'Howard' aka the spitting image of our friend George!

As I was leaving I spotted Bevolee from Little Paper Spaceship whose beautiful designed washi tape I have admired for a long time. So out came the purse, and another purchase was made!

Washi Tape designed by Bevolee

During this month I have also pledged to support a Kickstarter campaign for the first time!

Local illustrator Jen Whitman is looking for pledges to put toward her dream of getting her designs printed onto calendars and wallplanners. At the time of writing her campaign had 14 hours to go and was disappointingly short of her target. This is a fab project, and by pledging just £5 (or more) you will receive one (or more!) of her lovely calendars.


 So that's what I have been doing to support #IndieRetail during #IndieMonth
Please feel free to leave a link in the comments to share what you have purchased during July!


But before I go, I want to say a big thank you to everyone who buys handmade,
supports local shops, and seeks out independent retailers.
Keep up the good work!
I also want to give a big shout out to my real-world stockists, who do so much to
help support handmade art, craft and design.

Thank you!

Artworks in Beeston, Nottingham

 The Gift Gallery in York

 Shire Hall Gallery Craft Shop in Stafford

Craft Stall Display - How made by lolly has changed over the years

Every time I attend a craft fair or event with made by lolly I do my best to come up with the most amazing stall design that I can. It's not always easy, and I look back at some of my early attempts and cringe!

But... over the years, as my stall display skills have increased, and I have collected a better variety of display equipment the more pleased I have been with the finished design.

However, since I found my 'muse' (You can read all about that in the post 'How I inadvertently invented a marketing strategy...')  I have a much better understanding of my style and what types of craft stall display work best with the felt brooches and corsages that I now make.

So... as I am now on Summer break and won't be attending any craft fairs for a couple of months (don't worry you can still shop online!) I thought it would be good fun to have a look back at some of my previous craft stalls and see how my style and skills have (hopefully!) developed and improved over the years.

Promise you won't laugh... 

Here in all its technicolour glory is a picture of my first ever craft stall.

Taken at Elsecar Heritage Centre on 22nd May 2010:

Look how few brooches I have on my stall back in May 2010...

Next we move on to the rest of 2010 and early 2011.

Purple is still a very big feature. But already you can see lots more brooches!

Unfortunately I cannot seem to locate any pictures for Autumn/Winter 2011 

or Spring/Summer 2012 so we will just have to fast forward directly to 

Autumn/Winter 2012.

The purple tablecloth and mismatched equipment have gone into hibernation 

to be replaced by pale cream and grey wooden crates and baskets.

Felt brooches as far as the eye can see!

 

By Spring/Summer 2013 I have swapped to a grey tablecloth and am using the wooden crates 

to create a stepped display area for my luxury boxed corsages. 

I acquire hessian lined wire baskets and a make a hessian tablerunner to match.

...And hey presto! 3 years and 3 tablecloths later a stall display to be proud of:

Featuring a LOT of felt flower brooches!

I'd love to know what you think of the changes that I have made to my craft stall display 

over the last few years. Is there anything that you particularly liked or disliked?

Have you got any favourite tips for making your stall look fabulous?

Also...

Do you have any suggestions for changes that I could make in the future?

From September I have a lot of big events that I will be attending where I really want to make an impression and stand out from the crowd.

What else could I do to make sure that made by lolly felt brooches get noticed?

Please feel free to leave any feedback in the comments below!

Patchings Art Festival 2013 - during the event

Slightly later than promised... 

...but better late than never, here are some pictures of my stall set-up during 

Patchings Art Festival 2013!

As you can probably tell from the 'before' photos (see my previous blog post!) 

you are given a very generous pitch in which to set up your stall. 

In the end, I think I ended up with a spot approximately 8ft x 10ft - which could have seemed 

quite daunting, given the small size of things that I sell...

However, I had agreed to demonstrate while I was there, and having my second work table 

and all my equipment certainly helped to fill up the space nicely!

I had also decided that I wanted to offer customers the opportunity to have a go at 

designing their own customised take-away felt brooch kit.

 This pic 'n' mix approach was a hit with the customers...

 and if you include pre-made as well as take-away, then kits were the definite best seller! 

I am hoping to be able to refine this idea so that I am able to offer this service at all future craft fairs, but in the meantime, if you are desperate to have a go at some DIY crafting, you can still

 get hold of my pre-made kits to make a hot pink felt flower brooch HERE!

Patchings Art Festival 2013 - before the event!

Packing for a craft fair can be difficult at the best of times - but what happens when the fair is four days long... and you're demonstrating too?

Well this weekend I will be taking made by lolly folded felt accessories to their first four day event, so I guess I'm about to find out!

I'll be exhibiting, and demonstrating in the craft tent at Patchings Art Festival in Calverton (near Nottingham) between 6th - 9th June 2013. As it's my first event of this length, I thought it might be fun to share some behind-the-scenes photos of my planning and preparation!

Packing the car. The impossible task...

Apparently, it turns out that you CAN fit the entire contents of my workroom, all my stock 

and some extra display equipment into a very small car and safely make it over the border 

from South Yorkshire into Nottinghamshire!

Made it! All unpacked at Patchings

Putting the tables together...

Tablecloth on, bunting up. We're slowly getting there!

Almost there...

A sneak peek at my 'make-your-own' brooch kit bar

I can't wait to see what it looks like once all the stock is out on show!

I do hope you'll pop back tomorrow to see the photos of the finished stall display...

...until then, 

goodbye!

Laura x

And the winner of the Poppy Galore Giveaway is....

....Comment Number 6

Congratulations to jkt 1965 for being the lucky winner!

It looks like you will be adding something else from made by lolly to your growing collection!

I shall be in touch to arrange delivery of your prize.



Many thanks to everyone who took part, and for your amazing feedback. I wish you all could have been winners! It's lovely to know you support the idea of making the Poppy Red Collection available all year round, and approve of my new badges :-)

And thank you too for the fabulous suggestion of making a Felt Poppy Hairband...
I will get to work and let you all know when they are ready for sale!

Thank you all for your support.
Laura x

Poppies Galore! and a free prize draw

 made by lolly red felt poppies are back for good!

Due to popular demand, I have decided to make both the traditional red felt poppy corsage AND 

the red felt retro style poppy corsage available all year round!

And in addition, I have created some poppy collectibles too!

Available to buy from my online shop, the 'Poppy Red' collection currently includes: 

 

The traditional Red Felt Poppy Corsage

 

The retro style Red Felt Poppy Corsage

The Red Poppy Badge

The Red Poppy Card with Badge

I'd love to know what you think of the new items - and would also appreciate 

your suggestions as to any new poppy products that you'd like to see in the future...

So, as a little thank you, every person that takes the time to leave a comment offering feedback relating to the made by lolly 'Poppy Red' Collection will be entered into a free prize draw to win a Poppy Card with Badge (to giveaway to a friend) and a Poppy Badge (to keep for yourself!)

Please just check out the T&C's below before entering!

I look forward to hearing what you have to say!

Terms and Conditions:

1. To enter, leave a comment on this post offering feedback on the made by lolly 'Poppy Red' Collection 
2. You may comment on the current collection or new items you wish to see or both
3. Only one entry per person. Multiple comments will be deleted, and only the first comment accepted.
4. Feedback is welcome at any time, but only comments received between now and 5pm on Monday 27th May 2013 will be accepted for the prize draw
5. Each comment will be assigned a number, and a random number generator will be used to pick the winner 
6. I reserve the right to delete comments and exclude from the prize draw any persons that leave comments that are excessively rude or contain spam content
7. The winner will be announced via this blog during the evening of Monday 27th May 2013, and the prize of one Poppy Card with Badge + one Poppy badge will be posted free of charge to the winner within 1 week of receiving confirmed address details.