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 .

Swirlyarts and Gniwle are winners!

Random.org has chosen a pair of lucky winners. A Pear lip lust is on its way to Lynsey of Swirlyarts and Gniwle has won the Bettie lip lust - Gniwle I need your address so I can put your winnings in the post - email me at katy at girlindustries dot com to get things rolling. Thank you everyone for playing along and if you wish to treat yourself to anything in my shop, have yourself a little WINNER discount code for 25% percent off, which is valid until 10 June.

Giveaway reminder and a big thank you

There's still time to enter the competition to win a Haunt lip lust. Just click here for info and post a comment on the original post by midnight UK time on the 31st May!

Also I'd like to say a huge thank you to my lovely friends and readers who have voted for me over on Heartsy. I have another 6 days to wait for the decision on whether I'll be featured in a deal, during which time my vote is still live, so you aren't too late if you'd like to give it a shot. Either go directly to Heartsy.me, sign up and click on my deal, or go direct via this (affiliate) link which will get you $5 off if you decide to buy one of the daily deals.

Haunt lip lust giveaway

Hi everyone! To celebrate the summer opening of wonderful bath and body emporium, Haunt, I'm giving away two of the shop's wonderful products from my very own stash.

First up is Bettie, a lip lust in a delightfully exotic flavour, evocative of the glamour of days gone by. Secondly we have the fresh zingy flavour of Vanilla Pear, sweet and clean. Both soothe and moisturise your lips, giving them that little extra shine, too.

I'm going to give the pair away separately, so that's one tube for each of TWO LUCKY WINNERS. This is your chance to see what I've been going on about for the last couple of years, Haunt products rock!

But of course once you've perused Erin's shop, to see her description of the two flavours, I'd like you to tell me in the comments here which flavour you'd prefer to win, then hop over to my etsy shop and tell me which of my products you like the best. I'm having a big sort out in my craft room and want to streamline the things I sell, with your input.

Please tweet, blog and repost about this giveaway to your hearts' content and most of all, good luck, I hope you win! Closing date is 30 May at 12 midnight British Summer Time.

UPDATE: Giveaway will remain open until 31 May at midnight due to accidentally putting that date on my update post. I am an official idiot.

If the baby ever naps today...

... I will do a giveaway right here! Clue: it's something to do with the fact that Haunt is having a summer sale this weekend...

Craft destash!

I'm starting an uber-clearout in the countdown to returning to work. First up, on eBay, is a huge chunk of my collection of knitting and papercraft magazines, finishing in fits and starts ('cos that's how I list 'em) over the next 10 days. Just look me up, I'm called Kippersmum - my ginger cat is called Kipper and I thought I would be a memorable name!

I was given a huge partworks collection of crochet and knitting patterns from 1989/90/91 called Creative Needles and I'm selling it off as a 10-pattern lucky dip via my Etsy shop. Coming to both eBay and Etsy will be button packs, trims and ribbons, surplus fabric and more bits and bobs over the next few weeks as I get my craft room organised before I go back to my day job. 11 weeks and counting!

I've also rejigged my craft paper destash item and have 12 sets packaged up and ready to go. Now with 50 different paper ephemera pieces which all fit into a lovely repurposed A5 box for you to keep nice and safe once they arrive instead of loose in a folder or envelope. The collection now includes spare 5 x 7 inch photographs from my travels around the world, including this sepia-tinted shot of the Bethesda Fountain in New York's Central Park, where I used to spend many a happy lunch hour back in the day.

Let my loss be your gain, and stock up on craft goodies while they're at a bargain price. Buy three or more items and I'll refund your postage (UK or international) via PayPal if you mention 'blog' in your notes to seller or a convo before 17 May 2011.

Win with Miss Baah

There's a fantastic giveaway taking place over at the blogging home of Answers on a Postcard contributor, Miss Baah.

Based here in Scotland, designer and maker Elspeth has a quirky Etsy shop full of jewellery and handmade purses and pouches. I know what I'd spend my prize money on if I'm lucky enough to win...

This awesome purse with lovely penguins all over it:

And how about this brooch - love the shiny tentacles!

Head over to the blog right now and help make Miss Baah's first giveaway a success - you've got until Monday 2nd August.

A little bit of crafting

I'm a regular collector of rubber stamps from Corrabelle's Etsy shop, and made these little thank you cards for tucking into packages and notes using one of her beautifully carved stamps, as a little present for a friend with a circus-themed shop.

It's so hot here, I've not been able to do any really complex crafting, but it's nice to be organised, and my craft room is certainly coming together. New photos of that particular project coming soon!

(translation: it's still a flippin' mess, but hopefully not for much longer!)

If you'd like to get hold of some of Corrabelle's lovely stamps, you can visit her shop on Etsy, or you can enter her contest right now - over on her blog at The Mayberry Sparrow.

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.

Lots of news!

What a busy weekend! We got the keys to our new house on Friday, so I was pretty quiet over the weekend while I cleaned and prepped our new kitchen/diner/living space for painting. Mr P had the luxury of going up the ladders and getting up close and personal with the paint can. In the midst of all the activity, I managed to distribute subscription copies of the latest issue of Answers on a Postcard, which is available for purchase in the zines section of my Etsy shop. Contributors, as ever, can get a copy by clicking here.

I had a good response to my blog contest and now have a collection of new questions to ask contributors. I’ll be writing out to you once I’m all set up in my new attic craft room. Pictures to follow sometime in June when we officially move in, I want to get it just so before I share some photos! The lucky winner of the contest is Bronwyn, with her excellent question "what's your favourite tool/material/supply and how do you use it"

Thank you to everyone who took part, both posting on the blog and by emailing me directly. Bronwyn is a local crafter based in Glasgow and a fellow Glasgow Craft Mafia member. She makes some lovely things from found objects under the temptingly tasty name of Rhubarb Crumble and I’m always envious that she has managed to whip her sewing machine into serious good shape. If you’re already here, I know you’ll appreciate her upcycled treasures, so have a look at her shop on Folksy, and her tutorial-packed blog, too:

Commiserations to Marceline but all is not lost as she wins the pleasure of my company this weekend when we drive out to the countryside to set up stall at a craft fair in the beautiful Botanic Garden at Benmore, on the Argyll Peninsula. If you can’t make it (or want to make a shopping list before you set out), visit Asking for Trouble and Girl Industries to stock up online. Marceline is a huge supporter of the Answers on a Postcard zine and has copies available in her shop. She's currently running a special offer, too, so take a look. Also, now the Icelandic ash cloud is rearing it's gritty grey head again, take a look at the selection of products on Zazzle.com which Marceline has designed. I have a tote bag on its way to me as we speak!

Benmore Open Day & Craft Fair
Benmore Botanic Garden
Free entry to Garden all day, regular trips aboard the Benmore Explorer, guided tours of the garden including the restored Benmore Fernery, Chainsaw Carving and a marquee shall host Tombola, Preserves, Cake & Candy Stall and our annual Craft Fair.

Date: 9 May 2010
Time: 12:00-17:00
More info

This is your last chance to shop Girl Industries in person this summer, as I’m having a baby! All being well, I’ll be back in time for the autumn market season in October, with all the new goodies I’ve been planning for ages, including some brilliant collaboration opportunities with some of my favourite crafters. I have to apologise in advance for any baby-themed shopping features over the next couple of months as I sloooooowly get sucked in to the lovely handmade and very much non-essential baby things on offer around the internets. Between the house move and the new arrival, I’ll be closing my shop periodically from now until September. If you have custom orders for envelopes, please let me know as soon as you can, so I can schedule them around my other commitments. And I’d like to reassure everyone that normal Answers on a Postcard service will continue as planned, with subscribers’ copies out on time and new issues uploaded to the shop every month as usual. Hurray!

A little contest...

I'm currently working on putting together the next issue of Answers on a Postcard and thought of a fun little contest. I originally had just over 12 questions to ask the contributors to the series, and some questions have been more popular with our correspondents than others, which means I think I'll have to double up on some issues to make sure my customers are getting lots of answers for their money, every time!

However, this will still leave me with a few additional issues to publish towards the end of the year. Before I write out to current contributors to ask them to think about some new questions, I'd appreciate your help...

Email me at katy (at) girlindustries (dot) com, or leave a comment on this post with your idea of a fun and interesting question to ask. I'll randomly pick an answer from the list to win a prize of a four month subscription (January - April, to help you get caught up) to the zine series, or a refund on your original purchase if you've already bought a subscription.

If I pick your question to be a theme for an issue of the zine, not only will I send you a copy of the issue in question as a little thank you, I'll also credit you as a contributor in the zine and online.

Of course I'm always looking for new contributors to get involved, so email me or leave your email address in the comments here if you haven't answered any questions yet. You get access to the contributor rate for subscriptions and zine issues, and the chance to impart your pearls of wisdom around the world - with copies so far being sent to the US, Europe and all over the UK.

You have until the end of the month, Friday 30 April, to get your thinking caps on, and leave your comments here. I can't wait to hear your questions and comments, so don't be shy!

I hit 100 sales!

Photo: Digital Tech/Flickr

I'm so excited to have reached a milestone with the Girl Industries Etsy shop - 100 sales! I was particularly delighted because it was a subscription to my zine project that ended up being number 100, from an interesting and highly creative local crafty type who has contributed to many of the upcoming issues.

Thank you to all my customers over the past 18 months since I got started. Hopefully this is just the beginning.

Happy Birthday to me!

It's my birthday on Monday, so I've decided to celebrate with 10% off all items in my shop. Just convo me BEFORE you buy and make sure you wish me a happy birthday. I'll set you up with a custom listing, including your discount.

Also, because I'll be out enjoying myself for at least some of the day on Monday, I'll honour your birthday wishes whenever I hear from you - right up to 5am BST Tuesday, so that's midnight Etsy time. But I'll probably process the sale on the following day. Afternoon. Once I get back from the spa!

As an added bonus, the person who purchases item number 100 from my shop will get an extra little present from me, too.

And why the envelopes? Well, I've finally managed to organise myself into updating my flickr! You can see the full set of all the wallpaper envelopes I currently have in stock here.

Pay it forward - The Other Mousie

I set my deadline for the PIF project to be the end of last year, but oops, I just didn't make it. I'm pleased to let you know I'm trying to get things finished and in the post now, so if you haven't received yours yet, don't worry, it's nearly there.

In the meantime, here's a little teaser so you can see something suitably mousie and definitely upcycled for Sarah of The Other Mousie, and do stop by her latest creative venture, Cirque de Chaussettes.

My main excuse for the delay on this one was that I knew what I wanted to make but had to wait for my green handbag to become past its best so I could upcycle it into something new!

Girl Industries Glove Giveaway

My blogging buddy, provider of thank you cards for our wedding, and maker of all-round fantastic stationery, Shauna of Lemon Drop Studio, is hosting a giveaway to win a pair of my gloves on her blog. I'm really enjoying being featured and getting lots of useful feedback on my etsy shop, where you can of course buy a pair of my gloves if you aren't lucky enough to win them.

Welcome new readers, if you found me by following the trail of lemon drops!

Etsyversary giveaway update

Nancy - I think you won the lot! Let me know where to mail your goodies to (and which ones you like) via my email address, katy at girlindustries dot com. And do it as soon as you can so you can get them some time over the holidays.

Be warned, though, I may not send you the supplies given our hoarding track record ;-) Only if you really want me to!

Etsyversary giveaway

Welcome to the final day of my etsyversary giveaway. Today we’re giving away something from me - one of my bumper paper crafting packs, with something for everyone.

To enter, simply sign up to follow my blog or retweet the contest on Twitter. Let me know which prize you'd like in the comments box on any page of the giveaway over the next few days. And let me know if you tweeted or joined up. I will check!

I hope you've enjoyed this week of celebrations and special deals - I know I have. Look out on the Glasgow Craft Mafia website for even more fun giveaways into the New Year.

Also, if you missed me on TV this evening, you may be able to watch me at the STV website.

Etsyversary giveaway

Welcome to the third day of my etsyversary giveaway. Today we’re still going for a positive vibe - with this inspirational scrabble tile from www.smartipants.etsy.com - not just an ace crafter, but an all round lovely person to shop from.

To enter, simply sign up to follow my blog or retweet the contest on Twitter. Let me know which prize you'd like in the comments box on any page of the giveaway over the next few days. And let me know if you tweeted or joined up. I will check!

Remember that you can still get 20% off everything in my shop this week, refunded via PayPal after I've processed your purchase.

Oooh, and you can catch me on STV tomorrow afternoon at 5pm, as part of their daily magazine programme, The Hour. I'll be showing you crafty ways to dress your Christmas presents, so have your scissors and sticky tape at the ready!

Etsyversary giveaway

Welcome to the second day of my etsyversary giveaway. Today we’re commemorating a bit of a local celebrity, Susan Boyle. She’s been immortalised in this stamp from http://www.asspocketproductions.etsy.com/, which you could use to decorate your gift packaging if Susan is on a friend or relative’s Christmas list!

To enter, simply sign up to follow my blog or retweet the contest on Twitter. Let me know which prize you'd like in the comments box on any page of the giveaway over the next few days. And let me know if you tweeted or joined up. I will check!

More goodies to come tomorrow...

Etsyversary giveaway

Now I like to do a fair bit of shopping on Etsy, as well as selling, and sometimes I receive little extras that I can't possibly use or keep. So I'd love to pass on some of these unusual and quirky extras to my loyal followers. Every day this week, there'll be a new little something for a new home... maybe with you!

To enter, simply sign up to follow my blog or retweet the contest on Twitter. Let me know which prize you'd like in the comments box on any page of the giveaway over the next few days. And let me know if you tweeted or joined up. I will check!

On offer for today is this epic dog scarf from http://www.anniessweatshop.etsy.com/ An ideal stocking stuffer for a dog lover, and or a great gift for your pet.

More goodies to come tomorrow!