UK Amazon Kindle Forum discussion

Patti (Migrating Coconut) wrote: "was i too subtle? ;)"

Yes

Damn.

Like this Patti?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Merino-Shawl-...

Gingerlily (or Cyberlily..) wrote: "Like this Patti?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Merino-Shawl-..."


Ohhhhhhh that's GORGEOUS!!!

I like the goldy coloured one.

I'm knitting my baby dress with merino wool! (I think)

I didn't go online yesterday, hubby and I had a couple of days and a night break in Devon. I've just checked through yesterday's free craft books and only one is still free...

How to draw a sportscar
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

Just one today, a seasonal one

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

ooh, thanks Karen. Got the seasonal one. Looking for a couple more decorations to make now I've painted the twigs white.

No free craft books yesterday, but there is a season one for today!

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

Still busy crocheting scarves etc, less than a week now until the craft fair so prob won't be around much until after hat is finished.

:0)

working on the 6th square of bedspread, but had a break to try a snowflake pattern square. I like it but tried doing the edging in black/very dark navy. Did my eyes in, will have to figure out a different backing colour if I continue with it.

I have trouble with my eyes now when I crochet - never used to. I'm mostly ok with wool but when I try to do the delicate lace work that I used to enjoy, I can't see the stiches properly anymore, so have to wear reading glasses for that. Well done on progress with the bedspread!

I think I am purling upside down...

Jud (Disney Diva) wrote: "I think I am purling upside down..."

? How have you managed to do that?
Use it as a pattern for different texture

Well it looks fine but I think I am wrapping the wool under instead of over the needle, that's what I mean.

I'm thinking of getting a magnifier to help me with the beads - I know they are not that small but the chain & bead patterns are a bit fiddly to see. I want one that I can use anywhere, not just sat at the table, so I was wondering if any of you have one & can recommend a good one.
Thanks

Jay-me (Janet) ~plum chutney is best~ wrote: "I'm thinking of getting a magnifier to help me with the beads - I know they are not that small but the chain & bead patterns are a bit fiddly to see. I want one that I can use anywhere, not just s..."

I'll be reading those recommendations with interest too - I do use reading glasses for fine work but as I am short sighted, not long sighted, it makes me feel a bit weird when I forget and look up. I don't need glasses to read yet, just for using fine cottons.

Still working hard at the crochet for this craft fair - won't have enough to cover a table but I do have some books and dvds that I've cleared out, so can use them to stop the gaps. I'll gradually get a stock built up which will help with future craft fairs - if this experience doesn't put me off, that is!

:0)

Gorgeous scarves!! And had no idea there were craft book freebies going around! Must come back here more often!!

Edit: and must make time for crafty stuff. Been doing a lot of writing lately, which is great, but if I don't do other stuff my brain will fry to a small and unattractive cinder :S

Mhairi wrote: "Gorgeous scarves!! And had no idea there were craft book freebies going around! Must come back here more often!!

Edit: and must make time for crafty stuff. Been doing a lot of writing lately, whic..."

Oh yes, check daily Mhairi - I've adjusted my freebie email notifications so that I just get genres that I'm interested in now - one of those being "crafts and hobbies" There are some most days.

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What do you think about pricing guys? This is my first foray into craft fairs. I noticed that Sarah mentioned seeing scarves at a fair for £20 each - which is what I was thinking of charging. Do you think this is an ok price? All suggestions welcomed.

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I think so, you can always knock the price down later if they aren't selling. My mum knits scarves and sews charms on and they go for £20 or £25. (The ones Judy Dench bought!!)

I was thinking that Jud, could knock them down to about £15 if they aren't selling. Your Mum should put a badge on her scarves saying "as worn by Judi Dench!) ;0)

I've just had a phone call from a friend who is arranging the sale - it starts on Monday now (was going to be Tuesday) so I've lost a day's crochet time! Never mind, I will need something to do whilst I'm at the fair (not really expecting many to turn up as Liskeard town centre is very quiet these days) so I will take my hooks and yarn with me.

Today's free craft book

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

Re Magnifiers: before I got my magnifying lamp I used varying strengths of reading glasses right up to 3.5 strength for very fine embroidery. I have a chest magnifier I don't need if anyone wants it!

Philip (sarah) wrote: "Re Magnifiers: before I got my magnifying lamp I used varying strengths of reading glasses right up to 3.5 strength for very fine embroidery. I have a chest magnifier I don't need if anyone wants it!"

What is the magnifying lamp like?



I won't comment on the chest magnifier ;)

Karen (Kew) wrote: "Mhairi wrote: "Gorgeous scarves!! And had no idea there were craft book freebies going around! Must come back here more often!!

Edit: and must make time for crafty stuff. Been doing a lot of writi..."

£20 sounds perfect - think of the time and the materials. And it's a great idea to take something to do as you're sitting - it gives customers a way in to start talking to you, too! (as well as giving them the idea that there's actually work going into it!)

Are you outdoors? Hot Ribena and warm socks! (or is that just for Aberdeen in December?)

I am still looking for a Daylight lamp like yours Sarah,just missed out on one on e bay,forgot it was finishing this afternoon and someone else got it at a fairly reasonable price,but another there that I will keep my eye on ,I don't put a price up until I see how it,s going

Santa's under instructions to give me a long-arm daylight lamp that'll go over my sewing machine/table! It's ok in the summer but these winter evenings I have to pack up the craft stuff so early cos the light is rubbish.

Lexie wrote: "Karen (Kew) wrote: "Mhairi wrote: "Gorgeous scarves!! And had no idea there were craft book freebies going around! Must come back here more often!!

Edit: and must make time for crafty stuff. Been ..."

Thanks, Lexie

Thankfully the fair is indoors! It's in a lovely old house in Liskeard http://www.stuarthouse.org.uk/

It has a few rooms which you can hire out for sales, we've hired one of them - the rest of the rooms all in use by other people, so hopefully when someone visits them they will find us too - we've got the last room which is tucked away a bit. We've got the room for the whole week, but the house closes at 3.30 each day, and at lunch time on Saturday - so it's not as many hours as it sounds. Also, as a few of us are clubbing together, we can cover for each other if we want a day off or a break now and then.

:0)

From a punter's point of view. £20 sounds very reasonable to me.

Went to a craft fair once where a lady did monogramming 'while you wait'.

She had a kettle and a couple chairs next to her table. People had a free cuppa while she popped initials onto their purchases. People seemed to buy more stuff as they waited. Also bought two or more of the same colour items as they were monogrammed.

Just a thought. :)

It's the Ultimate Craft Lamp from the Daylight Company Janet. The chest magnifier hangs round your neck on a cord and has 2 rubber feet that rest on the chest.I don't need a chest magnifier personally as mine would be hard to miss.LOL!
What a shame you missed out on eBay Kay!I keep popping into the recycle warehouse in the hope of finding you one.

You need more than hot ribena and warm socks for Aberdeen. I had tights, socks AND cosy socks on earlier and my feet were still cold.

Patti (Migrating Coconut) wrote: "From a punter's point of view. £20 sounds very reasonable to me.

Went to a craft fair once where a lady did monogramming 'while you wait'.

She had a kettle and a couple chairs next to her table. ..."

What a lovely idea!

:0)

Today's free craft book

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

:0)

No free craft books today :0(

I've got so much to do now before the craft fair. I've made up a few things which need sewing up, loose threads weaving in, poppers put on etc. I also wanted to make up a few more scarves, headbands and boot cuffs - time just flew away too fast! I also have some books, dvds and bric a brac to sort through and price - I'm filling the gaps on my table with these.

Phew!

:0)

Good Luck for next week and Monday start

Yes, good luck! Wishing you interested and generous customers!

Last minute technical hitch (too complicated to go into) with the craft fair so I won't be doing it until January now! I'm not too disappointed, I can put the stuff that I've made into my online shop and also I've now got some stuff that we can take into tourist shops. I've heard from people who did the fair last year and they said that they found it a waste of time as hardly anyone turned up and they just covered their room hire. I've been given a good boost to build up a stock so I'm prepared for the next craft fair or to make my Etsy shop nice and well-stocked (you get more visibility that way). So although it's a last minute back out, I'm not upset about it.

I'm now going to concentrate on photographing some things for my Etsy shop and gradually building up a suitable stock for the tourist shops.

:0)

Several good free craft books today!

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

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

(I think this is a model for train sets...)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

Make your own scabbard (!)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

:0)

I'm glad there's a silver lining in the craft fair not going ahead, Karen.

I now have a nice green scarf, Patti, which I was going to put on the stall but you can have if you'd like. No charge, if you pm me your UK address, I'll send it to you there..

:0)

It's the first scarf on the left, if you like it (I'm afraid that the other green scarf has already gone cos that was an anniversary gift for someone) - it's in stripes of different shades of green.

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

Ha! So my hinting DID work!!!

Nope. Couldn't take one no charge. Silly banana. You're lovely. Thank you. :)

Might buy some wool for you and commission one of the sort of twirly ones though. Like the blue one, second on the left. I really like that look.

If I have time to go wool shopping, that is.

Oh yeah, meant to say I found the scarf I thought I'd lost. Was in Dave's backpack for some odd reason.

You would have been more than welcome, Patti! Glad you found your lost scarf though. I'll happily make you a twirly scarf one day, I like making those!

:0)

Today's free craft books

Bonsai (was free the other day too..)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

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

Sorry the craft fair is off for now, Karen - but people will have Christmas money to spend come January, so hope all goes well then. Maybe if the weather is as awful as they're predicting, it's just as well it didn't go ahead. One or two of the fairs I've done in the past just had not been publicised so the 'footfall' was dismal - and usually in the run up to Christmas there are loads of others on in the area.

I'm sure it will be for the best as well Karen.
Re pricing for handmade goods... in this weeks Daily Mail TV supplement there is an Arran cardigan available from www.themandonstore.com and it costs £229. My mother used to knit these,she would be flabbergasted to see this lol.

Today's free craft books (weren't any yesterday)

Cake decorating (Not as good as Nicola's though!)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

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

:0)

I haven't seen a leopard-print cake before! Must get started on decorating these Christmas cakes...

Sorry to hear that your craft fair plans have changed, Karen. I went to one in Devon last month - can't remember how much the knitwear was, but I did part with £17 for a knitted Santa toy approx. 18'' tall.

He had a knitted elf and a packet of chocolate buttons in his sack, so that swung it for me! ;)

Thanks for the feedback on prices, everyone!

Several free goodies in the craft area today!

Bath bombs!
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

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

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

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

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

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

:0)

Thanks for the links Karen.