Glasgow Craft Mafia at Inver Cottage this weekend!

Read all about it over on the Glasgow Craft Mafia blog. It's a great place to visit - Inver Cottage is in a beautiful location and makes the best food ever - and getting a chance to do some early handmade Christmas shopping is a fantastic bonus!

All about zines

And the July issue of Answers on a Postcard is here - pick up your copy in my Etsy shop quick sticks!

If you've ever wanted to put together your own zine, but weren't sure where to start, there's a great opportunity to learn the basics and get some pointers on where to find out more taking place in Glasgow this week. Fellow Glasgow Craft Mafia member, and long-time zine maker and collector, Marceline Smith, will be on hand this Sunday to speak about all things ziney. Alongside Jen Collins of Hello Jenuine, at the new-ish Glasgow crafts and art outlet Welcome Home, the zine workshop will take place this coming Sunday, from 2-4pm.

I'm so gutted that I'm too enormous with child to make it along, and hope that Marceline and Jen might consider re-running the session in future. I understand that a zine to accompany the day is being produced as I type, which you should be able to find alongside issues of Answers on a Postcard in the Asking for Trouble Shop.

Of course the quickest way to get involved in making a zine is to join in the with the Answers on a Postcard project. There are four issues remaining, and it's not too late to answer one or more questions in order to take part. All you have to do is drop me an email at katy [at] girlindustries [dot] com - I've skipped the punctuation here to avoid receiving lots of spam email automatically generated by machines - but just chuck an @ and a . in there to get your mail to the right place. Or leave a comment here and I'll be in touch!

Volcano!

Here's another shot of me, this time me and the bump are modelling my new constant companion, an Asking for Trouble shopper, which I bought on Zazzle.com. I bought the organic shopper version, but there are bookbag versions and allsorts, or you can even buy the design on a t-shirt.

I also picked up some cards with the same design, which are now available directly from the Asking for Trouble website shop. They make a great alternative to a postcard if you're having a staycation this year!

Attention knitters!

There's a new competition over at the Glasgow Craft Mafia website, to win a copy of In the Loop - a fantastic new coffee table/academic book about the edgier side of the revival in knitting. For a full review (by yours truly) and full details of how to enter the competition, go to the Craft Mafia blog before Wednesday 17 June.

Catch up on Answers on a Postcard

Can't get your fix of my zine project while the Girl Industries etsy shop is on vacation? Fear not! AskingforTrouble.org has a great deal on all the zines in her shop at the moment, including your favourite interview zine. The buy one get one free deal is too good to miss, and there are a whole range of good reads in the shop, so if you're up to date with Answers on a Postcard there's still plenty more to treat yourself to.

I'm a big fan of Asking for Trouble designs and products, so hop on over to the shop and pick yourself up something lovely. And a couple of zines, of course! My current favourite (and best recent buy!) is this fantastic volcano tote with an Asking for Trouble illustration over at Zazzle. Luckily the volcano doesn't look like it'll be out of fashion for a long time, and with Fuji threatening to blow its stack later in the year, I'm going to be the best equipped and most trendy shopper at the supermarket for a few months to come!

Image (c) Marceline Smith/Asking For Trouble

Remember to take part in my contest

Which closes in just a couple of days!





In the meantime, have a look at these little notebooks I made, when I recently attended an introductory course on bookbinding.

It's really addictive, and the repetitive nature of cutting pages and sewing bindings is very relaxing. I'm looking forward to getting my own awl and doing a lot more practice. If you're based in the central belt, and fancy learning a new skill, then have a think about the lessons at the Owl and Lion Gallery in Edinburgh. Attendees at the taster session (including new Glasgow Craft Mafia member Frayed at the Edges) were warned that their courses are for learning and working, not drinking tea, eating cake and having a bit of a try at something. So your money will be well spent. And as they are based in the lovely Grassmarket, you can always go for cake and tea, or something a little stronger, afterwards!

Since attending that one session I've been experimenting with colours, papers, and threads for binding. I can't wait to learn more!

Market day

Today's the day - remember the clocks have gone forward!



If you forget, never fear, there's another Mafia event tomorrow - called Trade Secrets. Mafia members and local crafters alike will be getting together at Creation Studios to swap skills, tricks of the trade, and have a good old chinwag in this creative hotspot right in the heart of Glasgow. It's at 16 Trongate, just along from the old clock tower. It all kicks off at 7pm, and promises to be a fantastic evening! Click here for a taster of some of the kind of discussions we're hoping to have.

Remember, catch me at the Handmade Haven this Sunday.

It's my first market this year, and I'm looking forward to catching up with the other mafia members, and meeting some new vendors, too.

Hope to see you there!

Glasgow Craft Mafia Market in March

I'm so excited to be taking part in a market - as a vendor! - this month. I was so sad to step down from my organising post last month, but as those of you who follow me on Twitter will know, I'm in the process of moving house and it is not easy to do right now.

The Glasgow Craft Mafia has a Handmade Haven at Mono on Sunday 28 March, as well as a fantastic social event lined up for Monday 29 March at Creation Studios. Creation is a great hub for all sorts of well, creative, activities here in Glasgow. It offers practice and performance space to musicians, dancers, singers and its cafe area often hosts art exhibitions and other 'happenings'. We're aiming to bring crafts to the creative party, so you can come along and meet members here, too.

Creation is situated at 16 Trongate, in the Merchant City. It's a stone's throw from our friends at Mono, and metres away from the tollbooth clock at Glasgow Cross.

Looking forward to it already!

500 things in 50 days - a new challenge

For those of you who have been following the blog, and particularly my tweets, you'll know that my husband and I are planning to move house this year. A couple of months ago we found a property we like, and following some legal work and many visits and phone calls to the bank, we look 60% likely to be moving at the end of April!

If the sale falls through, we've decided to stay put and ride out the current financial climate at home. Either way, we need to think about seriously decluttering as running a business and a home at the same time can get out of hand in a one-bedroom flat. Particularly when one's strapline is 'making new stuff out of old stuff' - there's a lot of old and new stuff kicking around right now!

So I've decided to keep you up to date here, as it will keep me focused on the task at hand. My birthday is also coming up, and while I love to receive presents I think this year I would really love to get gift cards, particularly Amazon, the proposed demise of 6music is making me think I should get ready to start buying CDs and downloads again... Although if you absolutely want to buy me a present, I want one of these, please.

Yesterday I got started with the following little list:

1-7 items of clothing to the charity shop
8+9 unwanted candles and holders to friend for car boot sale
10 boxed Habitat bathroom fittings (as above)
11 boxed collectible mug (as above)
12 Donation of yarn to a non-profit organisation


13-15 Magazines in the recycling
16 + 17 Made by Hank purse and Origins product to my mum for Mother's Day

Needless to say, a huge eBay destash is on its way later this month, and Asking For Trouble-style I'll let you know how I do in my Etsy shop and also I'll be at the Glasgow Craft Mafia handmade haven later this month, too. Hopefully I'll be finishing off projects I'm halfway through and doing well for sales and not just throwing and giving things away :-)

A day in the life

Encouraged by Claire from Misofunky, via her blog, here's yesterday in minute detail. Skipping what happened in my day job. We don't have a blogging policy and I don't want to be the one who makes that happen. Not that anything bad, or indeed, of note, happened. I'm just not going there.

Enjoy the mundanity, now on with the show!

6.45 Phil's alarm goes off. I spring out of bed to run to the bathroom before he does. Then I doze back off under the covers with the Today programme while he gets ready for work.

7.15 I wake up from a stressful dream about none of my clothes fitting me, to find my lovely husband has run me a bath and made me a coffee. I'm not a morning person. He lets the cats into the bedroom and Clyde sits on my lap while I check my email and etsy shop on my iPod touch.

7.30 Husband leaves for Stirling, and he's in the car today. I tell him where I parked after coming back from the Handmade Haven yesterday and wince as the binmen scrape the flagstones in our back court. The cats aren't allowed out on bin day mornings (too many unlocked close doors and appealing hiding places) but Kipper is in his bed in the living room, and Clyde is happy enough curled up next to me.

7.45 I finish my coffee and hop in the bath. I have new shampoo, conditioner and face cleanser today. This makes me happy.

8.15 I'm out of the bath but not in my work clothes yet. The letter box flaps noisily and I can't decide if it's a knock or just the postman being heavy handed. I can't see anyone through the peephole so I stick my wet-hair head around the corner of the door. The postie finds it hilarious, but I'm waiting for my madebyhank bag to arrive, and my longarm stapler. I wouldn't want to miss either of them!

8.45 Hair dried, lunch packed and breakfast made, I kiss the cats and head out for the bus. I haven't renewed my bus pass due to weekend laziness, so I pay £1.35 to get into the centre of Glasgow, three miles away.

9.20 I arrive at work, log on to my pc and munch on my breakfast before heading to a meeting.

12.24 Time to catch up on a couple of blogs while I eat a bowl of Baxters Chicken Broth. It tastes good. I have a handful of cherries and blueberries while I discover that Cuteable is firewalled. Boo. I consider going to the bus station for a new bus pass but decide I'm not going outside until I have to, it's far too cold out there. I get back to work so I can leave before the bus station closes later.

12.46 Embark on a creative wallchart endeavour. I don't often get to use my cutting and sticking skills at work so I know I'm going to have a fun afternoon.

12.47 Remember that I have a meeting at 4pm, so I need to go for that bus pass. Cold or not, it's now or tomorrow and another wasted £1.35.

13.01 Oooh I'm glad I ventured out. Not only is the queue really short at the bus station, but I witness four policemen arresting a man on Argyle Street, then another man running out of a mountaineering store with four £200 jackets and two security guys chasing him down Buchanan Street. I also smell a lot of other people's chips, so I'm glad I had my soup first.

18.15 Finish work, the wallchart's looking good, but I'm starving hungry and have dry, tired eyes. A walk to the bus stop perks me up a bit, and I phone my friend Jen to wish her a happy birthday. Hope I can get home in time for Come Dine with Me on plus 1.

18.21 I do an imaginary wave to Marceline as I pass through her neighbourhood on the bus, and wonder if she's taking part in today's blogalong.

19.30 After dinner, tv and a quick call to the bank, today's craftiness can officially start. I do some admin to update my spreadsheet with the latest responses emailed in for my Answers on a Postcard zine series. I also print out some layouts to play with and finalise so I can meet my mailing deadline of Thursday.

20.45 Before Glee starts, I take a quick look at my etsy shop orders. The zine is turning into a success. I leave feedback for all the lovely buyers who have invested so far, and relist sold copies. I do a bit of a happy dance.

22.00 I watch the Cleveland Show after Glee, even though I've seen all of both episodes when I was on honeymoon. I'm knitting while I watch TV, so I still feel productive.

23.00 In bed with Radio 4 back on. One last roundup of the blogs I like, and a quick shuftie at my etsy shop. I've sold more zines.

23.10 I fall asleep with a smile on my face. And a certain lucky black cat on my toes.

Markets are coming!

I won't be selling this weekend, but I will be popping in and out. There are lots of new sellers and some old favourites (see www.glasgowcraftmafia.com tomorrow for a full rundown), and lots and lots of lovely things to spoil your valentine with.

Hope to see you there!

Recap on where to buy...

Did you catch me on STV's The Hour last week? If not, don't despair, you can catch up on their online player service, here. I'm in part three, and you can watch online until the end of the year.

I showed off a few of my Christmas shopping gifts on the TV, and here is a recap of where to buy. First up is Sarey Poppins, with this perfect idea for a Christmas pressie...






If you pop one of my lavender sachets inside, your bedding smells all dreamy and relaxing as it heats next to your hot water bottle.

And how about an unique and original little something from embroidery genius Angharad Jefferson?

I know a telly addict who'd love one of these...


I also managed to show off some lovely notebooks from Pumpkinsputnik, I am addicted to her work and simply can't stop buying them any time I need a gift!

You can find the perfect gift wrapping embellishments in my etsy and folksy shops, and watch this space for details of how to make your own! I'll be sharing tips with you via Glasgow Craft Mafia in the next few days.

Off to market today!

Come and meet me today at Inver Cottage at my last Glasgow Craft Mafia handmade haven of the year!

We'll be there from 12 until 5 and we'd love to see you.

I'll be closing the shop today while I'm away as I've taken my Christmas goodies with me, so please bear with me until around 7pm this evening (that's 2pm EST) and I'll get the shop updated. Then normal service will be resumed.

Hope you are having a fun weekend so far!

Festive shopping

Would it disgust you to know I've completed my Christmas shopping? Admittedly, most of it happened completely by accident due to browsing at last month's Handmade Haven. But! I have picked up some fantastic things from Sarey Poppins.

Without giving the game away, look at this perfect idea for a Christmas pressie...

I even picked up a top tip, if you pop one of my lavender sachets inside, your bedding smells all dreamy and relaxing as it heats next to your hot water bottle.

And how about an unique and original little something from embroidery genius Angharad Jefferson?

I know a telly addict who'd love one of these...

I was asked to make a Christmas stocking for a little one I know, but thought that Rikrak has it all under control in her shop.

Wouldn't you love to wake up with one of these hanging on the mantelpiece...

You can find the perfect gift wrapping embellishments in my etsy and folksy shops, and watch this space for details of how to make your own! Or pick some up in person from the Girl Industries stall at the Dennistoun Craft Fair on Saturday 28th November, or at Inver Cottage with the Glasgow Craft Mafia on Saturday 5th December.

The Craft Mafia are coming!

Look out for us in Glasgow and beyond over the next couple of weekends. We'd love for you to join us!

The Coveted magazine and random thoughts on fashion

I'm looking forward to the next issue! Have you read it yet?



One of my big jobs to do that I've been putting off is to have a good sort through my wardrobe so I'm slightly obsessed with fashion/good clothes at the moment. I was even reading Vogue the other day at the hairdressers - their annual 'dash cash' issue is out at the mo, which is about looking good and spending less. A key theme was upcycling so I'll be eyeing up my old clothes to see what I can make...

I was thinking about putting my sewing machine to good use and whipping up one of these patchwork sewing bags from Quilting for Peace, so pretty! Make your own here.

Markets are coming!

I'm so excited about the next few weeks! The nights are drawing in, it's time to pick up gifts and nice things, and spend extra time cosied up with the cats and a cuppa.



I'll be venturing out to shop at all the seasonal Glasgow Craft Mafia events. You can also catch me selling from the Girl Industries line at Dennistoun Craft Market on Saturday 28 November at the foot of Armadale Street just off Duke Street. You know, near where Lulu's from...

Catching up

Hello again! I'm glad to be home but I have a million and one things to catch up on. I'm back on the scene with a bang, though, as this weekend the Glasgow Craft Mafia sails out to the Cowal Peninsula for a market with a difference.

The excellent Invercottage restaurant is hosting a craft market against a backdrop of stunning scenery, delicious food and the cosiest fireside pints known to humanity! I hope you can join us there for a fun day full of crafty goodness. You can treat yourself or steal a march on your festive shopping - I know that most of the mafia members in attendance have been beavering away on new lines and ranges over the summer time.

You can find out more at the Mafia website, or come along and see for yourself. In the meantime I'll leave you with a snapshot of the spot itself. Stick your walking shoes and camera in your boot, along with your shopping bags, you can't beat a good Autumny stomp amongst the leaves with a hot chocolate by the fire afterwards!

Things to do in Glasgow - when I'm not here!

I'm missing some good stuff while I'm away on honeymoon, but if you're in Glasgow, be sure to check out these events on my behalf.

First up is the Glasgow Craft Mafia social at Mono on Sunday 27 September. This is in place of our usual market, so that members, craft fans and potential new members can say hi, have a blether and maybe a cheeky drink or two. Craft materials and know-how will be on hand, so bring your own project, or start a new one on the day.

Over the entire time I'm away, I'm quite spectacularly managing to miss a good deal of hand-sewing going on at Glasgow's Women's Library. They'll be recreating banners in the style of those used to promote Suffragette activity 100 years ago. I love the iconography of the banners, the visual style, the hard work and sheer bloody-mindedness put into them, and of course I love the fact that I can vote. If you love all these things too, you can take part on 22nd & 29th Sept and 6th October from 1-3pm. It's being facilitated by the lovely Loraine, of SherbetHeadCreations, and culminates in a re-enactment of the march on 10 October - when I'll be jetlagged but hopefully able to catch up with all the excitement.

Here's a SherbetHead classic for you.. which also sounds remarkably like something the unreal Troy Dyer would say.

And finally, I've been trying to catch a band called Sonny Marvello in Glasgow for ages. I saw them defeat the band I was rooting for, Maslow, in a Battle of the Bands back in December 2007 in New York. Wouldn't you know that they're back in town... when I'll be somewhere in the Pacific Northwest. Not only are they playing a gig where I actually live, but I could have been holding a stall there too - because it's time for the Pin Up Nights circus! There's even a guest appearance from Naboo from the Might Boosh, he'll be DJing. Get yourselves to the Flying Duck on Friday 25th September. And let me know how it goes!

And if you want to catch the best of indie business and craft, the Made in the Shade Gals are back at the Lighthouse on Saturday 26 September for a shopping extravanganza - so don't enjoy yourselves too much at the circus!