Feedback Friday

Welcome to my first ever Feedback Friday!

Working for yourself can often be great - you can listen to whatever music you want, stop for a brew whenever you want... and more importantly you can design and make whatever you want!

But although this creative freedom can be very liberating, I still need to make a profit from selling the items that I design and make - so finding out what people want is very important.

However - it's not always easy to second guess what my customers might like to buy. So instead of guessing, I thought it might be a good idea to just ask!

And so here it is. 

 

'Feedback Friday' 

My chance to ask you what you think of one of my new plans, projects or products

Your chance to feedback what you really think!

Feedback Friday 19/04/2013

Potential New Product: Pin Badges

Based on my most popular designs

Sold in packs of 4 for £3.50

Manufactured in the UK

Do you think they would sell?

Would you buy them?

What designs would you like to see? 

Do you mind that they would not be handmade by me?

I'd really love to know what you think! 

Give me your feedback...

Please leave a comment below 

OR

Follow the conversation on Facebook

Thank you!

What's On in Sheffield this weekend?

Well... since you ask...

...It's Mary's Marvellous Vintage and Craft Market!

This craft and vintage fair, based at St Mary's Church on Bramall Lane, is one of my favorite events to visit, as a seller AND a customer.

There is always a great atmosphere, the food is delicious and the eclectic mix of retro, vintage and quality craft means that it is very hard to leave the building without treating yourself to something!

This particular fair is important to me as it will be made by lolly's first outing of the season -  with the new Spring Collection of felt accesories making their 'real-life' debut.

As you may know I have been busy extending the range to include felt keyring/bag charms, hair accessories and craft kits which will co-ordinate with the badges, brooches and corsages I currently sell.

I am really looking forward to getting feedback from both old and new customers - so if you are in the area on Saturday 6th April pop in and say hello! 

As the poster says - you will see: 

'the very best of local arts and crafts and a jolly jamboree of vintage!'

New Product: Craft Kit - Felt Flower Pin Brooch

The new products are arriving thick and fast this Spring...

...and the latest item to be added to the made by lolly collection of felt accessories is a do-it-yourself

Felt Flower Pin Brooch Kit.

If you have always fancied having a go at making your own made by lolly style 

retro felt flower pin brooch... now you can!

Cleverly packaged inside the recycled kraft card envelope you will find pre-cut felt pieces, contrasting thread, a polka dot button and a brooch pin - all you have to do is find a needle and you will have everything you need to create your own handmade felt accessory.

There's no need to worry if your sewing skills are a little rusty - the kit is suitable for anyone ages 10+ and the illustrated instructions mean that it's easy enough for even a novice to complete.

And if you are thinking of giving the kit as a gift, the square packaging will make wrapping easy - and as they are so flat they can be posted for the cost of a Large 1st Class stamp!

The Hot Pink version of the Felt Flower Pin Brooch Craft Kit can be purchased now from my online shop along with many other items from the made by lolly Spring Collection.

Spring Collection 2013

Spring Collection 2013 by madebylolly featuring brooches

What's New - Spring 2013

It seems a little ironic that in my last post 'A Sunny Weekend in Yorkshire' I was expostulating the need to take time off, to give yourself a break and to creatively re-charge the batteries...

Ironic, as that post was written back in November October (!) and since then I have been so busy I haven't even had time to blog!

So, what have I been up to?

Well, there's been Christmas Craft Fairs, New Stockists, Application Deadlines, Business Plans, Product Photography, Custom Orders... oh - and being made redundant from the day-job!

BUT... the biggest bit of news is that the made by lolly Spring/Summer 2013 Collection of felt accessories is now available from my online shop! This season's colour collection utilises Hot Pink, Lime Green, Soft Grey and Cooling Cream, and features some designs you may recognise - like the ever popular Blooming Petals....

As well as new brooch designs and colour combinations, like this Retro Ripple Corsage...

And.... New Product Lines too! 

I have recently introduced these layered retro style Felt Flower Hairbands and Keyrings

so now when I say that I design and make 'colour themed collections of felt accessories'

I can really mean it!

And that's just a small taster of the new range! Thanks for being patient in my absence  - I hope you feel the wait has been worth it! I also hope that now I have made contact again you'll be happy to stick around as there's so much more to come from made by lolly this year.

I'll be popping back soon with more updates, but if you really want to keep on top of what's happening in my wonderful world of felt accessories you will find I am regularly available on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest (It really is a wonder that I get any work done, ever!)

If however, you are far to sensible to waste your time getting caught up in all the social networks and would prefer to hear my news in one handy monthly mail out, then enter your email address in the box below and you will be added to the mailing list for the made by lolly newsletter!

Sign up to my mailing list

That's all from me for now! See you again soon!
Laura x

A sunny weekend in Yorkshire!

Even if you're really busy, (and I mean REALLY busy!) it is important to have time off - to relax and recharge and to avoid mental, physical and creative burnout.

But if you're that busy how can you make the decision to stop?

I personally find this really difficult - especially in the 4 month run up to Christmas as my life and my business gets more and more hectic...

But at the weekend my in-laws came to stay (and apart from a few times when I couldn't resist checking my emails - 'just in case') I managed to resist doing any work at all for 4 whole days!

During the weekend, the sun shone, the sky was blue and Yorkshire looked fabulous!

 

And so - for no other reason than I had a lovely and relaxing time taking them, please find below a selection of my favourite pictures from the weekend!

All of these photos were taken with the vintage camera app on my phone when we visited

Cannon Hall Museum and Gardens

Monday Makeover - Red Felt Poppy Corsage Pin

Traditional Style Red Poppy Corsage

Not really a craft makeover in the usual sense, more of a style reboot...

The traditional style made by lolly red felt poppy corsage seems to be as popular as ever; selling well online through my Folksy and Etsy shops, at events and exhibitions and flying off the shelves quicker than I can make them for The Gift Gallery York!

But... it has been in production for over a year now, so I thought it was time that the red poppy brooch pin had a brand new look for Autumn/Winter 2012.

As you may know, the new season stock has been heavily inspired by the bold colours and repeating patterns often found in Folk Art. Many of the new designs feature contrasting colours with clean and simple outlines.

Although there have been lots of new designs this year, my absolute favourite folded felt corsage is the Folk Art Daisy, and so it was this design that I used as a starting point when I thought about re-working the red felt poppy corsage...

And this is the result:

My bright red felt poppy corsage pin has had a retro makeover!

Super sleek, with a clean and simple design, the retro re-boot of this item is proving as popular as the original! Featuring four folded petals made from bright red felt, the centre has been decorated with hand stitching and beading which is finished with a bold polka dot black and white spotty button.

Ever so slightly smaller than the traditional style, the retro poppy corsage measures approximately 7cm in diameter x 2.5cm deep but size isn't everything and I think it is as eye catching as the original!

I am so pleased with the new design, and think that for now at least, it is my new favourite!

Both the traditional and the retro style red poppy brooch are available online from the Folksy and Etsy shops, and will be coming to my next event at Mary's Marvellous Vintage and Craft Market in Sheffield...

 

But for now, the big question is... Which do you prefer?!

 

(I really would love to know! ...please feel free to leave a comment below)