Branching out

So something very exciting happened for Hannah's Craft Cottage at the weekend. We took our first batch of stock to a shop in near by Woodhall Spa, to join other local crafters selling their items. The shop is called Stuff with Style run by the lovely Stephanie, you can see their facebook page here.

I'd heard about this treasure trove of local talent thought facebook and a few weeks ago gathered up some sample pieces of our range and contact details and plucked up the courage to go check it out. Its one thing to sell my crafts in my shop and at fairs its a little daunting to take them somewhere else and ask someone if they are good enough for them to sell. Luckily Stephanie is super friendly and seemed to really like our bits.  

So since then I've been selecting pieces and making new stock to make up our first box of stock. I've selected a range of things to see how they go and will adjust based on sales, and as new items join our range. In the fabric items there were some pocket tissue holders £3.99 each (pictured above), nail file holders so handy for handbags £2.75 each, fabric hearts lovely and decorative £3.75 each and lavender bags £2.50 each.

 All the items sent have been labeled up wit the Hannah's Craft Cottage stamp, branding is important, I'm really pleased with how they look.
In Stuff with style all the different crafters work are all mixed up together arranged in eye catching ways and coordinating colours so the tags will make items easily identifiable as mine.  

Lavender bags with a range of pictures on new themes coming in Snapdragons florist soon.

 In my hand stitched felt range I have sent four different designs for now. Some of my super cute toadstools (£3each) from the woodland autumn range because I think they are lovely all year round.

 Some of the felt Russian dolls,(£4.99 each) just in time for mother's day this coming weekend.

 Of course I had to send some of my lovely detailed partridges,(£9.50each), perfect for country gents and ladies which frequent Woodhall.

And our popular felt cats,(£4.99each) hopefully soon to be joined by some dogs when I get time to perfect my pattern.

In crochet I have sent some of my brightly coloured Quirly birds (£3.99each) I have added to their quirkyness by naming them all I hope they find happy homes soon.

Also some pretty crochet flower brooches (£3.50each) a pretty adornment to any hat, jacket or anywhere. Displayed on large luggage tag making a lovely gift.

 Some of Mums sure neat and intricate Tatting has also gone for something different. A selection of bookmarks (£5each)

And keyrings (£2.50each)
So why not have a pop along to Woodhall Spa soon and check out my items and all the other lovely bits Stuff with style has to offer. Supporting local talent.

March already

So it's March already not sure how that happened.
If you can bear to cast your minds back I'm going to do a couple of blog posts about Christmas, One about the crafty things I made for Christmas and one about the crafty things I got for Christmas (cus my friends and family know me so well.)

As an early Christmas present for my sister I made these cat decorations, I used the same template I designed for my general felt cats which I sell and adapted the extra pieces and embroidery to make them look like her cats.

I even managed to freehand embroider their names on the back. I'm rather pleased with how these turned out and my sister was very pleased with them too.

  Oh course I made a batch of Christmas cards lots of them had tree themes this year. the cut away tree punch ones looked good and I was also pleased with the lovely as a tree ones which have sheet music paper behind and vellum with embossed dots for a snowy look in front, these were for my choir buddies.

I had a commission for a couple of Toft critter for my Mother in Law to send to family. This Bridget the Elephant and Austin the Rhino have gone to live with a lovely pair of twin girls.

A cousin of mine was rather impressed with the felt cats I had made for my sister so with lots of looking at Facebook pictures of her two fluff balls I managed to make a pair for her too.

 Again I managed to freehand embroider their names on the back.

 On a baking front I experimented with 3d ginger bread for a games night with friends. I'd had the cutters for a while and have been trying to find a time to try them out. I used the recipe provided with them and although it takes a while to come together (so much so I thought I'd left something out it was so dry.) the end result is really tasty and keeps its shape really well. Along with the 3d bits I also made lots of mini angels and gingerbread men. With the speed which my friends demolished it I think was alright.


I also gifted a couple of crochet quirky birds to my brother in law and his partner but forgot to photograph them before they headed up to their new home in Scotland,




It seems like a very long time ago now but there you are crafty things I did for Christmas.