UK Amazon Kindle Forum discussion

I don't think Facebook likes me ...

Lexie wrote: "I don't think Facebook likes me ..."

:(

Well here's the finished piece: https://www.goodreads.com/photo/group...

I absolutely love the bamboo wall hanging Shaun (I think I liked it on FB too) looks stunning

Emma (Em or Emz) wrote: "I absolutely love the bamboo wall hanging Shaun (I think I liked it on FB too) looks stunning"

Thanks, Emma. I'm very pleased with how it turned out.

I do admire the delicacy of that piece, Shaun. Playing devil's advocate here, is it commercial though?

Hve just done the rounds of the art exhibitions locally this afternoon - some really beautifully crafted stuff, yet it hasn't had sales.

Can you make the bamboo things so that they will survive and stick in the ground outside? Because that's exactly the kind of thing my parents buy. Rustic decoration that fits with the garden. I assume others do the same.

Karen wrote: "I do admire the delicacy of that piece, Shaun. Playing devil's advocate here, is it commercial though?"

If people like bamboo, then yes ;) Seriously though, I think it would be more commercial than say the insects I made. I'll soon know when I come to try to sell a piece. Once I have an ample stock of salable pieces, then I should be able to see what is popular and what isn't. That's my hope anyway.

Emma wrote: "Can you make the bamboo things so that they will survive and stick in the ground outside? "

I'm guessing outside pieces could be made in the same sort of way. As copper is used for pipes for plumbing without rusting or eroding away, then I suppose it should last for many years. It will acquire a patina after a while in the form of verdigris maybe, but that's all.

P.S. I like oriental looking pieces; I've hung the bamboo on my wall at home, and it looks nice.

I think it's absolutely lovely (now I can see it! thanks!).

It'll be fascinating to see what sells most, Shaun - and I reckon it'll be the bugs - judging by what they stock at the garden shows.
They're all beautiful anyway.

Karen wrote: "It'll be fascinating to see what sells most, Shaun - and I reckon it'll be the bugs - judging by what they stock at the garden shows.
They're all beautiful anyway."

Thanks. I'll have to start thinking of a website and prices etc.!!!

Speaking of which, anyone know of the best place to set up an online shop? Wordpress? Wix? Any other ideas?

Etsy?

Jud (Disney Diva) wrote: "Etsy?"

Yes, I think that will be an additional selling place, such as ebay, and I imagine I'll just start with something like that to see how it goes. For the 'store', I'm looking at OpenCart at the moment, which is an open source shopping cart, but that's further down the line.

I'd recommend taking a look at some of the books on selling on Etsy before setting up an account,as you can't change things like your shop name after you set it up.

Lexie wrote: "I'd recommend taking a look at some of the books on selling on Etsy before setting up an account,as you can't change things like your shop name after you set it up."

Thanks. Will do. :)

Oh, and as I'm off work all week, I'm spending it productively by producing more pieces, but these are the actual ones that will go up for sale. Today I did a bamboo wall hanging, two dragonflies flying around bulrushes and another stag beetle.

Love the bamboo Shaun!

Just learnt to do the puff stitch (crochet). I'm in the middle of a cornet to corner throw but have to give this a go. Hopping from one thing to another, not settling on anything.

Thanks, Pat.

Trying to come up with a name now for the 'shop' that has to be available on Etsy and for a website. These are what I have so far:

Deshca Designs (I publish books under Deshca Publications. The letters make up mine, Deb and Callum's names)

Kopper Krafts
Copper Cuts
Copper Cutz

It's really hard to come up with things. At the moment, unless I think of something better, I'm leaning to Deshca Designs ...

Sound good to me. Don't like Copper Cutz but that might just be my age.

I like Deshca Designs, it means that if you ever branch out from copper or a friend asks you to sell stuff it's more generic (I dunno if Deb is crafty at all but I am thinking if she ever wanted to sell things).

Then it does link back to your books as well

Well, though it's definitely the most stylish of the names, the book I read recommended having the product in the name in some way (Natty Knits, for a traditional example) to make it easier for people to search for your products.

The problem is although I'm working with copper at the moment, if I branch off, then using the name 'copper' won't apply. I too read a book about using the product name in the title, but I don't think I will.

How about Deshca Metallicart?

I can't access the earlier links as I'm not on Facebook but The bamboo is terrific.

I have been experimenting with using old books for crafting. Today I bent back some of the the inner pages,glued them in place added gold powder to the open pages. I added retro sewing toppers, buttons, beads and lace and ribbon trimmings. If it works I am hoping to give it to my niece instead of a card for her 30th birthday.

Deshca Metallicart sounds like a robot stripper!

I do like the name Deshca - its a lot better than loads of the names I see on Etsy.

Philip (sarah) wrote: "...
I have been experimenting with using old books for crafting. Today I bent back so..."
Sounds great, Sarah. I saw a couple of great book 'sculptures' a little while ago in the Ledbury craft festival and wanted to have a go at doing a Secret Garden one, but still haven't got round to it!
Wd love to see pics of yours when it's finished.

Think Deschca Designs sounds good tho it's tricky to spell!

Robot stripper PMSL at the idea of what they could be removing!

Had another look at my WIP...not too sure about it looks rather messy, funny that I was pleased with it yesterday. I will have another play around with it then post a picture.
I have a magazine with some wonderful book sculptures Karen, think one would need a VERY sharp scalpel. I'd be minus a few digits.

My latest creations, 3d pictures. Be interested in peoples opinions of these:

https://www.goodreads.com/photo/group...

https://www.goodreads.com/photo/group...

https://www.goodreads.com/photo/group...

https://www.goodreads.com/photo/group...

Those are stunning! That's a fantastic idea adding them to pictures for a 3D effect!

Lovely stuff

Thanks. I don't know whether other people do similar things, but it was just an idea that popped into my head.

Those are great. You are so creative.

Great idea, don't remember seeing anything like that before Shaun. Worth having a go and seeing if they sell. Not sure on the costings - postage especially - as the product is now more complex?

Thanks for the comments. Yes I'll have to work out a price. Frames alone aren't cheap. Want to get a banner and packaging sorted first though.

Getting closer to opening up shop. Ordered some packaging and trying to sort out a logo to make it look more professional.

Yay!

Looking forward to the launch party, Shaun!!
We're popping into town for the Made in Shropshire fair tomorrow (monthly event). There's also a Big Art fair coming up next month in the town, with loads of crafters and artists. Seems to me it's at last a good time to be selling arts & crafts. Tho you do have to factor in the cost of a stall - £220, from memory, for the Big Arts one. for 2 days. But there are loads of others.

Just remembered, we're going to RHS Tatton show (garden stuff) later this month. I'll be taking note of what metalcraft stuff they're selling!

£220 for a stall! That puts £70 for the farmers' market into perspective!

It has been an education, Lexie. I started out selling handmade cards plus my books, but you need to be able to write off rather a lot to balance the table cost. And then, if it the weather's bad or there's not been much publicity, or it's just a slow day, you end up spending more on other people's stalls

...which is why it is crucial you identify very quickly what sells and you have a very firm grasp of your costs - even at minimum wage equivalent, plus materials and all the other ongoing costs of having a stall (ie they usually expect Public indemnity insurance... presumably in case someone suffers a papercut opening one of the cards, or keels over in awestruck horror at the opening of the book?)

It's very high risk shopping at one of these places. Gauntlets and helmets are highly recommended.

Karen wrote: "Just remembered, we're going to RHS Tatton show (garden stuff) later this month. I'll be taking note of what metalcraft stuff they're selling!"

I'm going too, on the Saturday :)

Shaun wrote: "Karen wrote: "Just remembered, we're going to RHS Tatton show (garden stuff) later this month. I'll be taking note of what metalcraft stuff they're selling!"

I'm going too, on the Saturday :)"

Not been for a couple of years, so looking forward to it, tho will be camping nearby I hope as I doubt they'll have sorted out the traffic getting into the site yet. Nightmare.

My banner: https://www.goodreads.com/photo/group...

That's lovely! Eye-catching and attractive.

Lexie wrote: "That's lovely! Eye-catching and attractive."

Thanks. I hope people think the same of the sculptures! Lol

Of course they will! They're brilliant!

Looks fab! But just a little point... I first read it as Eshca Esigns, is there anyway you could outline the butterfly wings to make it more obvious that they are part of the name? Or maybe others would disagree with me?