UK Amazon Kindle Forum discussion

I was going to suggest painting it with acrylics till I read the bit about 4.5m of it!!

And acrylics have to be mixed with something so as not to cause a very stiff fabric. But I have to put decoration on the finished dress too which I may do in paint or, if I have time, embroidery.

Yep, I've got some textile medium to add to the acrylics. Very tempting to have a go at painting the decoration, as opposed to all the time it wd take to embroider.

I used machine dye years ago to dye all my towels navy blue and it worked a treat. They were very heavy as well Emma so hopefully your fabric will be fine.

Embroidered ribbon may save you some time as an embellishment

I don't think ribbon will work as its a costume that I'm trying to match. I'm dyeing fabric that is already royal blue with a green dye in the hopes of getting teal since dyelon don't do teal and my previous attempts have ended up in pale green fabric!

The dye worked! It's a little darker than is ideal but I can live with that. It looks blue in some lights and green in others.

Oh, well done! It sounds lovely in its own right.

Just got back from Tatton Flower Show. Picked up a couple of ideas, but there were no stalls really selling stuff like I'm making. A few dragonflies and butterflies, but no center pieces or shelf ornaments, which surprised me as I expected to see some. Saw some people walking away with the large garden stakes, but not much else. And when we asked a store holder how much it cost to have a stall there, their reply of around £1000 make me raise my eyebrows in surprise.

That sounds ridiculous!

The dye worked! I've sewn the basic bodice outer and lining as well. Now I've got to decide what to use as a fastening before finishing it. And I've still got to hem all the skirts (underskirt, outer skirt lining and outer skirt outer.) and fix the lining to the outer as well. Then paint or embroider all the decoration. It seemed like a smaller job when I thought it up!

Great news about the dye Emma, looking forward to seeing some photos when you finish the dress.

How do I get UK prices on your Etsy site Shaun?

Philip (sarah) wrote: "How do I get UK prices on your Etsy site Shaun?"

All I found is this if it helps:

As a shopper, you can view listing prices and shipping costs in your preferred currency. When a shop’s items are listed in a different currency, Etsy provides an approximate conversion based on current exchange-rate data.

To set your preferred shopping currency, sign in and go to Your Account > Settings > Preferences.

You can also change your currency using the regional settings bar at the bottom of any Etsy page, or by clicking on the currency abbreviation next to an item’s price on a listing page.

Aaah, look what arrived in my garden today...
https://www.goodreads.com/photo/group...

(thanks, Shaun, she's a beauty)

Shaun wrote: "Just got back from Tatton Flower Show. Picked up a couple of ideas, but there were no stalls really selling stuff like I'm making. A few dragonflies and butterflies, but no center pieces or shelf o..."

Wow, we were wondering what it cost for a stall for 5 days - that actually sounds about right, given the footfall and income brackets. Scary tho

(the Big Art show in Shrews was 220 for a basic stall for the two days, with no track record & as it turned out, a dismally low footfall) and you also hve to factor in the insurance - public liability is essential

... you cd write a book about it

Karen wrote: "Aaah, look what arrived in my garden today...
https://www.goodreads.com/photo/group...

(thanks, Shaun, she's a beauty)"

Pleased to see it arrived safely. Looks great there :)

As for public liability insurance, I'd purchased some, and the policy arrived today, but after reading it, I don't think it will cover me: You do not undertake any work involving welding or other application of naked flame (other than cooking)

Mm, but the policy I had was more to do with stallholding itself, i.e. the harm people cd come to with purchasing your wares, eg severe paper cuts from opening cards, fainting with shock at the power of the words of one's novel... oh, and getting drenched with rain when the outdoor venue has lots of awnings which fill with rain - which has happened

If you don't mind me asking, who did you have the policy with?

Wow - 73 posts since my last visit, and what a lot to catch up with!! I'd be interested to hear how you get on with Etsy, Shaun - the sculptures are beautiful.

Looking forward to seeing the finished dress, Emma!

Sorry that the show was disappointing, Karen.

Loved the little cardi, Jud!

I've been busy crocheting as we haven't had a lot of mobile phone site work lately. We've also been busy with vists to and from family. I finished two of the grandkids blankets and have given them to the recipients who were pleased with them - especially our grandaugther with the very girly one! https://www.facebook.com/BKWcrochet/p...

https://www.facebook.com/BKWcrochet/p...

A friend saw the photo of the spiderman blanket and has ordered a smaller version as a pram blanket. The original pattern is very time consuming so would be expensive to make. I've found a simpler pattern and am using the same colour scheme - I'll post a photo once I've finished it. It's exciting because it is my first order from a non family member!

There are lots of free craft books today - some look new and some have been offered before.

Knitting
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

Crochet
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

Loom bands
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

Fleece patterns
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

Applique
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

Duct tape projects
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

Gift basket business
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

Welcome back, Kew! Well done on the blankets.

Lexie wrote: "Welcome back, Kew! Well done on the blankets."

Thanks, Lexie!

:0)

Shaun wrote: "If you don't mind me asking, who did you have the policy with?"

Sorry Shaun, I've had a search, but can't find it or remember the name, but if you google craft insurance for market traders / stallholders there's a few come up - Combined Market Traders Insurance seems to be the biggest. Shd be just under fifty quid for the year

I contacted the insurer, and my insurance is okay. I'm only not covered if I was using a naked flame outside of the home, like at a craft fair displaying making something, and I burnt someone, which I won't be doing anyway. :)

Shaun wrote: "Philip (sarah) wrote: "How do I get UK prices on your Etsy site Shaun?"

All I found is this if it helps:

As a shopper, you can view listing prices and shipping costs in your preferred currency. W..."

Thanks Shaun! Not sure I'm any the wiser but will give it a go :@)

Just had a reply from a local craft shop that stocks crafts from local makers that I wrote to. 4 artists run the shop and make all decisions jointly. That includes guest artists and their work, so they will all have to come to an agreement if they are to try to sell my work. I've sent them photos and details, and I'm hopefully popping down to the shop tomorrow to chat to them. My fingers are crossed they like my stuff!

Good luck with that - that would save on postage costs, to have something local!

Thanks, Lexie. I actually called in this afternoon and dropped some samples off. Just have to wait and see now.

Yey, fingers crossed. So much better if people can see yr work.

Yes, two of the four owners were in the shop, and they were pleased that I'd brought the pieces in for them to consider. And here's today's latest experiment, calla lillies: https://www.goodreads.com/photo/group...

Wow they are beautiful Shaun. I will buy those for sure once I have somewhere to put them!

Lovely - I particularly like the majestic leaf!

Love the lilies!

Can I buy direct from you Shaun rather than through Etsy?

Those lilies are stunning, Shaun. And slug proof :)

Philip (sarah) wrote: "Love the lilies!

Can I buy direct from you Shaun rather than through Etsy?"

Thanks for all the kind comments. I'm setting up a website to sell through too, and I have some other stuff to arrange but I will accept direct orders via paypal, but I'm going up the Lake District tomorrow for a few days as I'm in a race called Total Warrior on Sunday. Not back until Tuesday. I'll provide more details and get the website up and running next week. Again, thank you to everyone for the support and interest. It's very much appreciated.

Thank you so much Shaun.

Good luck with the race, my niece completed the Rough Mudder, or was it Tough Mudder challenge recently, her photos were hilarious especially the one where she gets an electric shock. Certainly not my idea of relaxation ;@)

Sold three of the calla lillies today, and I haven't even advertised them yet :)

And now there are more places to purchase from:

http://www.deshcadesigns.com/index.html

https://folksy.com/shops/DeshcaDesigns

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/DeshcaDe...

More calla lillies now made and up for sale. All three listed on my website, but one on both Etsy and Folksy.

http://www.deshcadesigns.com/index.html

And now been approached about a commission of taller calla lillies without the leaf ... :)

Ooh! I saw a calla lily water feature yesterday and thought of you, though I can't find it on their website. It had the water spilling from one flower to another for about eight flowers side by side, a bit like a ladder (not explaining this well, who ever thought I was a writer?), and was made from some kind of bronze-like substance, though not as patina'd looking as yours - more shiny mass produced. Still, thought it might give you an idea!

Yes, I saw similar things at the Tatton flower show, Lexie. They looked very nice. I have been wondering if I could do something like that ...

...and there were Calla lilies on sale at the Shrews Flower show. Obviously popular - go with what sells

I wondered briefly why shrews were having a flower show ... Oh, well.

My Calla Lilies arrived today and they are absolutely stunning. The copper burnish on the leaf has to be seen as the photos simply do not do justice to it:@)
Thanks so much Shaun!

Philip (sarah) wrote: "My Calla Lilies arrived today and they are absolutely stunning. The copper burnish on the leaf has to be seen as the photos simply do not do justice to it:@)
Thanks so much Shaun!"

Pleased you like it :)

It won't let me post a picture in the group for some reason, but today I experimented with ferns and bluebells: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?s...

The ferns should sway in the wind, and the bluebells are not fixed, so they move too.

Got to see those this time! They're really pretty - very delicate.

Lexie wrote: "Got to see those this time! They're really pretty - very delicate."

Thanks. I'm now trying Google Adwords to see if it will help increase sales. Only time will tell.

For anyone wanted to put designs onto velvet I've found lestraset pro-markers work really well!

Here's (hopefully) the picture of my Elsa dress pre-decoration. Decorated pics to come Saturday when I've done all my hair and make up and performance (I'll hopefully be posting a video of my dance and I'll link it here if anyone would like to see it). Please note that the fabric shows up dark in the picture, it's about the colour of her dress when she's on the mountain in real life.

Today's experiment mixing copper and stainless steel: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?s...

It's not finished yet, but here's my first water feature: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=...