More clearance items in the shop...

I'm seriously getting down to tidying and reorganising my craft space this week and came across a stash of these moo business card-sized envelopes that I made quite a while ago.  In the interest of making way for new stock, I'm discontinuing them at a one time special price over at my etsy store.

The print is so lovely and bright for spring - they are also ideal for a neatly folded note (the written or money kind) as an Easter gift if (like me) you're not that keen on chocolate!

On your marks, get set, knit!

Wow, in just over 2 months' time it'll be the closing date for this years Big Knit! UK knitting magazine, Knit Today, has put its usual contributors to work on some fun new patterns for tiny bottle toppers. Including... Pss Beatrice's hat from the first of this year's Royal Weddings. Brilliant!

Time to get knitting - see Innocent's website for the closing date and where to send your completed hats.

PIF of the week

This week's PIF is a small batch of envelopes I made from a hoarding poster advertising the release of electricity, by Suede. I have a ton of these posters saved in a big tube from my student days and wondered if there's a market for some lovely nostalgic envelopes - I'm viewing the PIF as kind of test marketing!

I've even thrown in a set of co-ordinating grey flatcards. Envelopes measure approximately 7 x 11cm and cards are marginally smaller with rounded corners. Also happening in the etsy shop right now is a bit of a flash summer sale. Use the code TOOHOT40 for 40% off, but hurry because I'll be withdrawing the code at some point this week .

PIF of the week

This week you can get my TP in the park brooch for just the cost of shipping and my Etsy listing fee. My day job colleague Emily helped me come up with this idea to celebrate Music Festival Season (because you can never have too much loo roll at a festival), and as this year's season is in full flow, this is my gift to you!

Buy it now in the Girl Industries Etsy shop.

PIF of the week and a zines update

As I clear out my craft room I've found a lot of projects that I simply ran out of steam with, and decided not to continue. It's all good stuff that I've put time and effort into, so I've decided to offer it in my Etsy store as a PIF of the week. If you haven't come across a PIF before, or you have but don't know what it stands for, it's Pay It Forward, and it means that the buyer only has to cover P&P and your Etsy listing fees to take it off your hands. So I'll update you here every Monday about forthcoming PIFs of the week, and hopefully you'll find a bargain that's just up your street!

First up is this set of hand-cut upcycled luggage tags. I was originally going to use them as part of my packaging, but changed my plans once I realised no two of my sales were alike, so different packaging solutions were called for every time. The tags are unstrung, blank kraft on the reverse and are just shy of business card size - around 3 x 5cm

More sale-type action can be found over at Pushpin Zines with a special offer on the Answers on a Postcard series - with THREE new zines added to the series. The new issues are exclusive to Pushpin until the end of August so grab them while they're hot! Find out more about the new questions and answers over at Pushpin by clicking on details of #9, 10 and 11.

Postcard pals

I took part in a really cool snail mail swap organised by Claire of Miso Funky last month. I was so excited when my post card arrived! Molly sent me a tea and flowers themed card - you can never have enough of either tea or flowers in my opinion, so I was delighted to receive it and will be putting it up in my craft room to remind me to take a break now and again.

I also made a new Twitter friend when Liz, cake maker extraordinaire, received my geeky Popeye fold and mail notelet, too. I used to love sending letters to my penfriends Martine, Elin and Olivia when I was a teenager - although I cringe to think what I must have written. Yikes! Luckily I'm still in touch with them via Facebook so it can't have been that bad :)

I hope Claire does another swap soon - I still have a huge postcard and notepaper collection that I'd love to put to good use. Not too mention a good few upcycled envelopes... You can find one or two of my favourites in each of my paper destash boxes. It's all good stuff in there!

More charity knitting

Aaargh! I just remembered that I knitted up a bunch of hats for the annual Innocent Big Knit, while I was unable to do much else in the latter stages of being pregnant. Luckily, Innocent extended their deadline for submission this year until THIS FRIDAY. Here's part of my contribution ready for the post, with a couple of pairs of gloves to show you where the leftover yarn for two of my favourite little hats appeared from!

I don't think I'll be doing much knitting for a little while, so I was delighted to see this donations box at my local health centre. They are crocheting a great barrier reef to raise awareness of fibromyalgia. I've donated a small bag of yarn to help them on their way - my crochet skills are still non-existent, although I wish I had paid more attention when my friend Jo tried to teach me. One handed crafting might be the way to go with a little one in my arms!

p.s. I really am writing this at 5.45am - the joys of being a new parent!

A new project

I've been starting to think about packing my bag for the hospital, and one thing on the list that I didn't have yet was a little blanket for the baby. My personal preference is for traditional cellular cotton blankets, the type you get in hospital, they are so warm and durable. But, I am a knitter, and I do have something of an abundance of yarn, so I decided to knit up a cot-sized blanket in the next few weeks while I'm resting up.

Here's my progress from day 1 - I was hoping to get through a ball of yarn a day, but I'm working in my favourite stitch, moss stitch, which takes more time than a stocking stitch would. It's a bit cheesy, but I'm looking forward to giving the baby something I made just for him or her as a very first present. And what says 'welcome' better than a lovely snuggly blanket - in a tasteful gender neutral colour, of course!

For those with an interest in that kind of thing, I'm working in Rowan Calmer, a shade called Delight, which I would describe as a lightweight springy yarn with a buttermilk kind of colour. I'll keep you updated as I go! Because, you know, that way I'll get it finished.

Lucky dip

I'm such a sucker for tombolas, lucky bags and surprises. So how could I resist when the proprietor of Hannah Zakari was having a clearout of her fabric stash, prior to the exciting launch of her new bricks and mortar shop in Edinburgh?

After placing an order yesterday, I was delighted to see a little red van pull up outside the house this lunchtime with a big old parcel just for me!

And here is a selection of the delights inside:

I've been itching to get back behind my sewing machine for a while, but I have a feeling it needs a service and a new needle before I let it loose on such lovely fabric. If you'd like to score a similar (but entirely different) addition to your own fabric (and notions!) stash, hit up HZ's ebay shop, where you can pick from entire bolts of designer fabric, alongside the mystery bags. To visit the new shop in person, keep your eyes on the website for launch details.

Photo via SBJM

And speaking of good times in Edinburgh this summer, why not do your bit to improve cross-pond relations and help two Brooklyn-based comedians on their way to do almost daily free shows at Whistle Binkies during the festival? I'm hoping to get along to catch a show and say hi, as long as I'm not busy having a baby while they're on, I can manage the stairs and remember if any embarrassments from my student antics preclude me from entering WBs. Last time they were here, Leah and Katie were named "Biggest Revelation" by The Guardian, became addicted to haggis and deep fried mars bars, and even got SUED! Help them make all their dreams come true, and more, by pledging as little as $5 to help them on their way.

As a side note, I'm really impressed with Kickstarter.com as a model for creative types to fund their endeavours - have a look at the main page for an explanation of how it works. It's kind of a justgiving site for the arts rather than charitable organisations. I wonder if Wired UK or one of our Dragons might be interested in a British outpost of the same type of site...

Supplies mania!

I'm destashing with gusto over on eBay, where you'll find me under the pseudonym Kippersmum. I've got ribbons, buttons, yarn, fabric and notions galore. I'll have stampers, punches, paper and stickers, too.

Winners of multiple lots always get combined shipping, so hop on over for a bargain. I need to lighten the load before our house move later this year. And of course the extra cash never hurts, either :-)

I've also put together a button pick'n'mix for the Glasgow Craft Mafia Handmade Haven I'll be at over in Mono this weekend. Woolies, eat your heart out!

I've also been busy today making up some new cushions - they are for the new house but it never hurts to test them out, right?

500 things update

My goodness, this little challenge has been keeping me busy! One of the jobs I keep putting off is organising my collection of newspaper clippings. One of the traits I’ve definitely inherited from my dad is cutting and keeping, or clipping and sending articles from newspapers and magazines to friends and family. And they all do it for me, too. You’d think that tweeting links, as well as blogging, would satisfy this need to share good information in a more up to date way, but I like to keep it old-school, too. As long as my dad takes the time to send me interesting things to read, I’ll continue to think ‘how thoughtful’ and place them in my clippings box file (yes, I have such a thing).

So I’ve found a new way to combine technology with this hobby, and vowed to keep on top of it. I now scan all my must-save clippings, and I’m trying to be more discerning in what I feel that I need to keep.

For example, I was a huge fan of quilling as a teenager, as well as very interested in music. I love these feature covers from the Guardian and the Observer last year which combine these two loves to a tee.



So now I’ve been able to add my box of clippings to the recycling pile, and I can update my list from numbers 18 to 23.

I’ve decided to be a little more strict with myself and count the weekly newspaper clearout as one (22) and on the more lenient side, I’ve included at (20) the prevention of more things coming in…

For six years we’ve been receiving organic fruit and veg deliveries from the good people at Stair, and with great sadness we’ve cancelled our regular order in anticipation of our move. As I start to shop from our freezer and cupboards, I’ll spare you the details and count this as a single tick off my list instead. Sound like a deal?

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 :-)

Etsyversary and Etsy Holiday Sale

In a fun twist of fate, Etsy have announced a brilliant weekend of sales from 27 to 30 November! It doesn't just coincide with my planned etsyversary sale (I've been using Etsy for two years on 29th November), but it's also the Thanksgiving holiday weekend in the US. It's a great time to get ready for the big end of year holidays, including Christmas and New Year, and gives everyone a chance to shop in plenty of time.

I have a great selection of special offers to bring to you - all my handknit and handmade holidays items will attract free shipping for the period of the etsy holiday sale, and commercial as well as upcycled supplies in my shop will attract a buy one, get one free discount. It works in the usual way, get the cheaper item for free when you pick two things out of my shop. There will be a 20% discount on every other item in my shop, as well! Woo-hoo!

If you convo me first (or email me at katy [at] girlindustries dot com) I can set up a custom listing for you to make sure that your discounts are included on your invoice. If you add the items to your basket, your discount will be refunded to you via PayPal. Most of the things I have available in my etsy shop are available in larger quantities, so if you want two reels of the same ribbon for your deal, just convo or email me so I can check stock levels and set it up for you.

Even better - once the Etsy Holiday Sale is finished, I'll be continuing with my own little sale from the 1st to the 5th of December - come back to the blog to check for more info!

Exciting times, eh?

Ribbons ribbons ribbons

How festive - look what's in the clearance section of my shop right now...

Making packages pretty

Every year at Christmas time I try my best to dress up my parcels, usually with nice ribbon, cute tags, or miniature baubles.

This year I've decided to put a little handmade something on all the gifts under our tree... some tiny little handknit stockings.

More colourways are coming soon, but in the meantime you can buy this grey set in my Etsy shop. This year I'm all about the grey, red and white, but what's your Christmas theme colour this year?

Updated to say: here's a red one, too!

Making room for new precious things

You might see from my etsy shop at the moment that I'm having a bit of a destash of supplies. While I was away in Canada I made it to a lovely little shop called ButtonButton, which reminded me of the haberdashery store that used to be just about halfway on my trip to the library when I was little. Unfortunately that haberdashers, and the lovely milliners' next door is long gone (turned into a car park when the local rugby club was closed down and turned into a retail park), but it made me happy to see such a treasure trove of supplies in a quirky little shop in Vancouver.

Check me out getting used to toonies and loonies again...

When I got home I was delighted to receive a wedding gift in the shape of Asking for Trouble's lovely printed bags - nothing could be more appropriate as I like buttons, I'm not so keen on keeping my stash in plastic bags, and my new hubby dislikes a mess.

Holiday plans

I can’t wait to check out all the crafty goings on I have planned for my hols this year. Since visiting the handmade community in Gatlinburg, TN, a couple of summers ago, crafting, thrifting and shopping have become a permanent feature on my road trip to-do lists.

This year I’m planning to stock up on buttons in Vancouver, to shop ‘til I drop at the famous Saturday Market in Portland, OR, and to find lots of new and unknown-to-me goodies in Seattle.

In light of this, I’m planning a big destashing in my shop over on Etsy. I have upcycled fabric bundles, new fabric packs, button packs and ribbons aplenty. Although I'm not entirely sure when I'll find some spare time to photograph and describe them. I'll just leave you with the thought that when they are done, they'll be perfect for making small embellished pouches, patchwork cushions, new and unusual plushies, or even just a bit of mixed media art.

Check back here probably at the start of October to find out when they'll be up on sale. I'd love to help you get a head start on all your holiday crafting (I know, I know but Winifred Robinson mentioned Christmas Shopping on Radio 4 on Wednesday lunchtime, you can't blame me!)

Today is a day for getting things done!

I have a big long to-do list for today, and I'm going to check back in later to let you know how I get on. July is going to be my month for being a completer. And here's my list for today:

• Download the photos on my camera 4.30pm update: DONE!
• Upload photos taken yesterday of our outing to the countryside with Marceline, of Asking for Trouble onto the Glasgow Craft Mafia flickr member pages 5pm update: DONE!
• Organise my own flickr and get rid of some conference photos from work that I had been saving in there 5.15pm update: DONE!
• Finish a tutorial I've been working on for ages by remaking the item, retaking my photos and downloading the photos and making them look good 2pm update: DONE!
• Make my entry for Rhonda's recycling contest, take a photo of it and submit said photo to the relevant flickr pool which I haven't even looked at yet, either (anyone noticing a theme here?) 11pm update NOT DONE
• Sew up the pockets on a baby cardigan I've had in my 'to finish' box for ages 11pm update NOT DONE
• Sew up the TP in the Park brooches I've made 6.30pm update: DONE!
• Sew up the knitted snakes I've been making out of oddments of wool 11pm update NOT DONE
• Make another 3 button heart decorations for the wedding so that part of the decorating is done 11pm update only managed to get 2 DONE!
• Finish sending out the daytime invitations for my wedding to my 5 friends who have recently moved houses (this involves trimming the invitations to size, making the envelopes, putting friends' new addresses into my address book and taking a note in my wedding notebook) 3pm update: DONE! Just off to post them!

Phew! Well I think that's quite enough for now, and I'll be back later to let you know how I've been getting on.

Updated at bedtime... I think I was maybe being a bit ambitious with everything I had to do, but definitely having my readers on board to help me along the way helped out. I can head off to Aberdeen tomorrow knowing everything at home is under control! And I still managed to have fun while I was getting stuff done, too, so it didn't feel like a chore at any time.

Happy Birthday to me!

Had a great day today! I called into Made in the Shade, now installed at Oran Mor, and was lucky enough to win in their tombola. Although I was slightly disappointed not to win any handmade loveliness, the £20 in vouchers for the Lighthouse Design shop that I bagsed more than made up for it.

Now I just have to decide whether I treat myself to some Marimekko fabric, some arty guide books to Vancouver and Seattle (for later in the year) or some of the delicious stationery the shop carries. Decisions, decisions.

Speaking of design, my day was complete when my friend and I spied Justin and Colin enjoying an al fresco coffee on Byres Road. Hurray for celebrity spotting!

All this week, it'll be back to business. I am planning a huge supplies destash as I may, very soon, be moving house. It'll be over at the 'bay, rather than through girlindustries on etsy, but keep your eyes on this blog for more news.

Hope you had a great weekend, too.

Cataloguing

I've been busy for the last week or so with a huge task, of which I'm about a third of the way through. I've been very lucky recently to have come into a supply of yarn. A big supply of yarn. Three bin bags full of yarn (we're talking 50 litres plus) from a colleague who had odd skeins left over from literally tens of projects, and someone on freecycle who didn't like posh yarns as much as my colleague, but has definitely given me plenty of acrylic to turn into turtles over the course of the year. Of course, this is all in addition to the probably two bin bags (a big-ass drawer full and a hol-full) that I was already hoarding.

I'm still only halfway through my big count (and a little scared to continue). Now I know in bag-fulls how much I have, I'm a little scared to break it down to colours, balls and grams. But never fear, I will do it! I've decided for this year that I'm going to challenge myself to try to get it used up and transformed into lovely new things to make and sell. One of the reasons I want to count up how many balls of yarn there are is to make sure that I make at least one of my Innocent hats for charity for every ball I have been lucky enough to receive. I managed to make around 20 for Innocent last year, and would like to triple that this year.

Photos of the stash will follow, but I'm blogging from the couch tonight and for reasons too tedious to explain, the photos are on the other laptop, which I can't use on the couch. It's a Monday... that's my excuse!