UK Amazon Kindle Forum discussion

There's a cafe in Glasgow that offers free unicorn ride with every cup of coffee (but you have to bring your own unicorn).

Not logged on here in ages! Glad to see that people are still working on their crafts. I'm still busy crafting. Did my first craft show the other weekend, although it won't be a regular thing as I don't have the time to do them! I've expanded my repertoire, as anyone interested can see: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/DeshcaDe...

Need to add a couple more items to the 'for sale' list today, including a tropical fish scene and another hummingbird.

Glad to see you're still busy Shaun. Hope you enjoyed the craft show - it's good that people get to see your creations. Hope you sold plenty.

Thanks, Karen. I didn't lose money, but it didn't go as well as I hoped. Internet sales are my mainstay. I've learned that being in shops is not profitable for me either, which was disappointing. I've also been approached for galleries and wholesale sellers, but I'm not sure that I can make back the discount I have to offer to make it worthwhile. I still have a lot to learn about this craft business, but I'm still enjoying making things, which to me, is the main thing :)

Shaun, the kingfisher is beautiful! Have you any time left for writing, though?

Hi Lexie. I don't write anymore I'm afraid. It's probably been nearly 2 years since I wrote anything, which some people might think is for the best. Lol I became disillusioned with the whole writing scene.

Shame! But you've found a brilliant outlet for creativity this way.

Shaun wrote: "Thanks, Karen. I didn't lose money, but it didn't go as well as I hoped. Internet sales are my mainstay. I've learned that being in shops is not profitable for me either, which was disappointing. I..."

It's certainly tough trying to make it financially viable. Much as I enjoyed doing the craft fairs I was aware that the whole day I spent there meant I wasnt doing anything creative. And invariably I ended up buying stuff from other people's stalls!

That's always a risk! Because I knit, I was able to spend the day knitting, but not every craft is quite so transportable. I found it useful for starting conversations with customers, too.

I can see the headlines "metal worker burns down craft fair", some crafts really aren't trasportable!

I made a pair of hideous leggings at the weekend, I'm going to reuse the fabric as trimming for a top instead. I also made a skirt for my little mermaid costume and learnt that really only knit fabric should be used for circle skirts... This fabric has stretch to it which is why I thought it would be okay, it is wearable at least and that's all that really matters. Also cut out fabric to make Kitty a pair of leggings, they are going to be SO CUTE!

Yes, I couldn't quite see Shaun blasting away at his sculptures behind the table!

Is Kitty going to be an even smaller mermaid?

Eventually! I have enough fabric left over to make her a little matching skirt. I'll eventually get around to it...

Yes, I would be a bit of a fire hazard. Lol. I will probably try another craft fair next year, as I'm sure some will be more successful than others.

I suppose the time of year you go to a craft fair has a big impact on what you are selling.

And the weather ... My first one was in Inverurie on probably the wettest day of the decade. We had to buy things from each other because we were the only people there!

Our local NT stately home isn't having a Frost Fair this year because it just gets swamped with the number of people who come! Thousands! I remember doing one of the first ones they held - the cost per stall was £20 or 10% of takings. Think the charge had increased considerably over the years, which when you're selling small value items doesn't make it cost effective.

Happy New Year, everyone! Were your Christmas projects finished on time? I finally took the Kaffe Fassett frog off the tapestry frame and made it into a cushion cover. No tapestry pattern ought to have that many shades of green.

Now started on the Noah's Ark tapestry and possibly, later, a huge altar frontal. Also knitting a blanket in squares, and a Norwegian jersey for myself. That's plenty for sore thumbs.

should keep you out of mischief :-)

Sadly not! Really enjoying The Cartographer's Apprentice, by the way.

I think I 'peaked' making the Christmas cards. Haven't done much crafting since. Still plenty on the 'to do' list from last year, especially as I need to make a fabric cover for daughter's wedding album/scrapbook. And still got my Book quilt and the ABC quilt on the go. Now all the hoo-haa has died down, I hope to get back at 'em. I do have to tidy away all my sewing stuff while we have people staying. The trick is to find everything again...

I really lost my crafting mojo over the last couple of years, but I intend to kick start myself again this year, there is never anything on tv to watch and so I can spare some time from reading to make cards. I'm going to search through craft blogs and see if I can find some card challenges to spur me on.

Great idea Janet - and I'm finding it a good way of using up fabric bits too! Really enjoyed doing the 'little village' Christmas cards (some pics on my blog)

You could listen to audiobooks! Or my Kindle reader is on my laptop, so I knit and read at the same time. Makes me feel less guilty if I'm multi-tasking.

Lexie wrote: "Sadly not! Really enjoying The Cartographer's Apprentice, by the way."

Oh I'm glad of that. Benor is one of those characters who is such fun to write :-)

I've never got into audiobooks, and cutting out and sticking doesn't go well with reading like knitting or crocheting does.
Perhaps I ought to look at what is available in audio books

I usually have the radio on when sewing but if I'm doing cards I can have the radio iplayer on the computer - lots of good dramatisations on radio 4 & 4 extra. They've done quite a few Falco novels, Cadfaels and Agatha Christie

And Paolo Baldi, too, though if you listen to too many in a row they become a bit samey. Part of the trouble with this, though, is that I now look at the jersey I knitted someone for Christmas and remember the bit of Baldi I was listening to for the various parts!

Brilliant !

Looking at audio books, plenty of choice if I want to listen to classics or popular books. Audible seems expensive for only one book per month (that's me being tight).
Just taken a quick look at the local library catalogues - and they don't have much to impress in audio books, but might be ok for a couple of series of e books that I want to re read.

I might just have to whizz through a card a week then I can get back to the reading.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/G2M...

I have this fabric and want to make a sweater with it, what colour would you pick for sleeves?

At last I have been able to pick up my stitching again, fingers won't put up with hours and hours but I have managed to do an hour here and there. i have got a couple on the go to finish and if I manage to do those 2 then next autumn I plan to start on a beautiful chart I have, it shows 3 lab puppies and although I already have the fabric and half of the threads it will still cost about £40 to get the colours I am short of so I shall only go to buy them if I have completed the 2 that I have already started. At this rate I might even be able to pick up my decoupage again.

Sorry Jud I couldn't see your photo, it asked me to sign in to see it so I can't help with the colours.

I couldn't see Jud's photo either...
Glad you're back stitching again Anita.
I've got a 'To Finish' list for this year, rather than a 'To Do' list. And so far I've ticked off 1 project and am half way to finishing the second - both scrapbooks. Oh, and I have at last had a good sort through my craft cupboard and have put lots of bits on ebay and have a stack to take to my nieces in a couple of weeks. Feeling v virtuous : )

Thanks Karen. I have had a good sort out and intend to put quite a few things on eBay, I just never seem to have the time to get round to it. If I pulled my finger out and sold them I could use the money to buy the new silks I need. My closest friend is great at selling on eBay, she will be coming to stay in 12 weeks I might just give them to her to put on as I doubt I will get round to it before she arrives.

Why can't I link to photos! Grrr... Never mind I think I found some fabric to go with it.

I made Kitty a jumper the other day :o) It was meant to be a hoodie but I forgot to attach the hood... I'll have to try and get a photo

Does that make it a hoodless?

A hoodnot?

A hoodless for my hoodlum!

Jud (Disney Diva) wrote: "A hoodless for my hoodlum!"

For the win.

Mini hoodlum Jud, lovely photo by the way.

Can anyone see this? This is the hoodless hoodie I was talking about https://goo.gl/photos/gLXoQWFM6oasY8nr5

Oh, yes, I can see this one! It looks fine without a hood. Very cute with the stripey sleeves.

There's one of her wearing it but she wasn't impressed https://photos.google.com/share/AF1Qi...

Bless her! She is getting so big Jud!
I love the hoodless hoody x

Brilliant. Love the pics. And the stripey sleeves.

Got those Jud.
Little sweetheart ! Just want to hug her, I think she looks lovely in it.
Emma is right, she looks so grown up !

Just finished making 8 Easter cards for the family, in fabric. More like mini quilts really. I used a template I'd designed a while ago for little grandson's carrycot quilt. Pic is here
https://www.goodreads.com/photo/group...
Now just have a birthday card to make by end of March and it's back to the quilts proper.

That's a lovely pattern! Very cute!

I spent last Saturday glass blowing, a new one on me, and the things I made arrived yesterday - hope to post a picture on my blog. I'd heard it was something you could easily become addicted to - fortunately I didn't, as it's pretty expensive, but I loved my day!

I'm impressed! I love to watch the glass blowers and what they produce is fabulous - look forward to seeing your achievements

It's up now - www.murrayofletho.blogspot.co.uk. Tested the whisky glass last night and it seems to function well!