Diary Covers

Hi all,

Just a quick post today - I made and wanted to show you this:

  

So as the title of the blog suggests, it's a diary cover. 

This was my Mum's idea - we were sat in a coffee shop last week (as we do most weeks!) and the idea just popped into her head! We discussed it and this is what we came up with :) And I'm pretty pleased with it. We talked about it having a section to hold a pencil (if the diary didn't have one with it) but I decided against it as it could look a bit like a gimmick. I also thought about adding decoration to it, but in the end I decided just to keep it simple so that there were no 'bits' that could snag or get torn off in a hand bag.

These are for hard back diaries and one is supplied with the cover when purchased. I could also make book covers too using the same principle. Maybe matching sets... Yet again, the possibilities are endless. 

What do you think? They will retail at £3.99 and I have a few ready made now. I will also be making them in different materials soon too. Would you like one? They will be in my Etsy store soon.

Thanks for reading, share if you like or leave a comment.

Julie.

(C) FMN Crafts 2013.

Next Gift Set

Evening all,

It has been a little busy here recently, well, a lot busy actually, but now we have finished at Miniatura for the year, I am able to concentrate on the crafts again for a while.

Here is the second in my line of Christmas (or other) Gift Sets:

This Gift Set is a Tissue Pack and Lip Salve Holder.

I simply love these materials and so have teamed the two items together, making it a very pretty hand made gift set for any lady who likes an organised hand bag (or needs one!).

I know two ladies at least who carry tissues in their bag, right Mum? And I carry a lip salve too so why not have them in a matching set?

These have not been packaged yet, like the sets in the previous post, as I need to buy some lip salves to add to them first, but they will be packaged beautifully, making it very easy for the gift giver.

This coming Saturday I am at a Craft and Coffee morning, in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support and their Worlds Biggest Coffee Morning planned for Friday 27th September 2013; I will be taking my Gift Sets there - fingers crossed they'll go well! Would you like one? They are priced at £8.99. Message me if so or come along to the St. Leonard's Community Centre in Wollaton, Nottingham from 11am - 2pm for a cuppa and a shopping spree :D

Thanks for reading, leave a comment if you wish or remember you can follow me on Facebook or Twitter anytime.

Julie.

(C) FMN Crafts 2013

Dare I say the word 'Christmas' yet?

Hello all,

Hmm, if you are anything like me, I would not be amused while we are still in September...but I'm in business, so it's actually mentioned in June :) Lucky me :D

Anyway, my point is, I have just started to put together Christmas Gift Sets. Here are the first two sets:

The Presentation Packs

These are my beautiful Rose Shopping Bags teamed with matching Rose Coin Purses.

I simply love this material and I think it is so versatile in it's uses. These shopping bags are always good sellers at my craft fairs as stand alone items, but to have them paired with delighful matching purses, just makes shopping day that little bit nicer.

These have been put together with Christmas Gifts in mind, but of course they are ideal as gifts for any occasion. 

The Rose Shopping Bag and Rose Coin Purse together

They come neatly folded, carded for stability, wrapped and beautifully presented. The tags are on ready for use and each pack will have a different, but complimentary to the theme tag.

The Rose Coin Purse holds money and cards

 

The Rose Shopping Bag folds up to be the same size as the Rose Coin Purse for ease of transport

What do you think? Do you have that special person in mind that would appreciate a hand made gift like this? I know I would LOVE to receive a set...

So, for the next however long it takes, I will be making and collaborating sets including place mats & coasters, aprons & oven gloves, pin cushions & scissors cases, make-up bags & make-up brushes holders, bookmarks & glasses cases and...the list goes on. Check back regularly for updates.

If you want to comment or have any questions, just get in touch. If you would like to 'Like' me on Facebook, please do! Thank you for reading.

Julie.

(C) FMN Crafts 2013

Recent Fairs and New Makes

Hi all,

Hoping you are all well. I am currently recovering from a stint of fairs, 7 days in a row, at Matlock Bath and Bakewell in the beautiful county of Derbyshire.

As mentioned in the previous post, I stood for the week at Matlock Bath and I had a great time. The stall holders around me were lovely and we had a few laughs, and the customers were friendly and interested in my products. I sold quite a few things throughout the week, so much so that I was a little worried I wouldn't have enough stock left for the Saturday fair in Bakewell!

So onto Bakewell - that was a really good fair too, organised by Dawn of Craftwise and it has a lovely atmosphere. I sold quite a few things and made some great new contacts too, so all is good :)

I think I drove around 360 miles during those 7 days, to and fro' the fairs, so that as well as standing throughout the days resulted in a long stay in bed afterwards! Lovely.

But, I was back in the workshop today - I have a list of things to re-make now and there's no time like the present!

So, today I have been making shopping bags. I decided to take a few photos along the way just so you can see a little bit of an inside view. This is the rose and cream one:

And this is a new music material one:

 

A little less pictures, but the same principles used. 

I really like these bags, they are so versatile and hard wearing and as they are 100% cotton, they can be put in the washing machine as many times as you like.

I will be putting them on my Etsy shop soon, so please take a look. 

Thanks for reading, if you like this blog, please leave a comment or Like me on Facebook if you wish. Have a nice day.

Julie.

(C) FMN Crafts 2013

Matlock Bath Craft, Gift & Food Fair

Evening all,

Today and yesterday, I had a stall at the Old Methodist Church Crafts, Gifts and Food Fair and I had a really great, if not tiring time! Here's part of my stall:

 

Here's when people were just setting up before the made rush: 

 

And here's my Husband David's stall next to mine - he was selling Dolls, Teddy Bears and hand made Christmas Decorations in aid of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (#RNLI)

We had a good time, there were plenty of people through the door, it's free might I add, and we made quite a few sales. 

David and I will be there again tomorrow and then just I will be there until Friday. It promises to be an exciting week! Joolz and Nathan, the two wonderful people who own the premises and run the fairs, have experimented a little by opening the doors throughout the week, as well as just the weekends and from the last two weeks have found it to be very popular - and in demand, so that is why I am standing this week too. Must give it a try as I love Matlock Bath and the fair, so why not?! David is only able to stand with his charity stall (today and) tomorrow, so if you are in the area and looking for a few bargains, please come and pay us a visit. The RNLI are a non-government funded charity who saves lives at sea - every day. Please give as much as you can.

AND if you mention this blog post, to either David or myself, you will receive a FREE GIFT! Ohhhh can't be bad! :D

Don't forget I'm on Facebook  and Twitter too; please leave me a message!

Thanks for reading, speak soon,

Julie.

Mens Wallets and Unconventional Item...

Good evening all,

It's been a while since I last blogged. Do you have kids? Summer holidays? Need I say more..?

Anyway, I have still been designing and making up (in between sorting 'stuff') and I want to show you these:

 

I know that most of the items I make are predominantly for females and like the tin cans I made a while ago for men, I made these wallets too. My husband liked them straight away and that is why you will see 7, instead of 8! There is room for 4 cards (or more if you put two in each slot like in my purse!) and there is a large slot at the back for some notes. I made these purposely without any form of clasp, so that it will sit flat in the back pocket and not catch on the way in or out. I also made them using hard wearing upholstery material as I know they will be well used, and I lined them in black cotton. I really like them, what do you think?

I also have been working on something a little less conventional. This is a peg bag, but not as you know it...:

I call it an Peg Bucket! This developed from one of those 'we have a problem and need to find a solution' situations. My peg bag is the traditional coat anger style, that hangs side ways on the line, sometimes making it awkward to get to the pegs - and so I thought about it, and made this style where it opening facing you. :) Now, not only is it easier to get to the pegs, but also it clips on and off the line easily, it's sturdy and will hold many pegs, it can clip onto you laundry basket too if you wish and has a draw string closure to keep your pegs clean when not in use. Cool huh? Plus, it's pretty...

I have only made one of these so far, I'm going to wait and see what the reaction is tomorrow when I take it to the fair at Matlock Bath.

Anyway, that's all for now, have a great weekend.

Comment if you wish or Like me on Facebook - either way, I don't mind!

Julie. 

(C) FMN Crafts 2013

Button Bracelets

Good morning all,

Just wanted to share these little beauties with you:

 My latest batch of home made button bracelets :)

Whenever I do a craft fair, these seem to be the 'hot cakes' of the occasion. They always get a look in and the comments are always the same; "arr, they're so cute!" and "I've got loads of buttons, would never have thought to make these!" and such like...

I love making them and I make them of varying lengths so everyone is sure to find one that fits, but I had to stop as I ran out of thread! I use a special thin yet strong waxed twine and its great, as it sits just how you want it to - it holds the buttons in place yet molds easily to the wrist, giving a lightweight feel and a very pretty look!

Here's a pic of when I had just finished this batch:

You see the twine? That's all I have left...soon be off to the shops!

My next fair is at the beginning of August so I am saving these for then - of course if you would like one, just ask, we can get that sorted. They are only £2.49. Bargain!

Thanks for reading, pass this on if you like or leave a comment.

Julie.

(C) FMN Crafts 2013