Tuesday 21 July 2009

This little piggy went to market...

I went to Huddersfield today, to the market.  I really like it and it had a special buzz about it today.  I picked up a few special things.

A comic
It's a random comic, but it had a particulat type of page I wanted for my gift boxes...

Cute cameos
I'm going to make some awesome stuffs with these. Cute and vintage - yay!

Treats
Well... I'm kinda on my holidays so I'm allowed :) To consume during Ugly Betty :)
xoxo

Sunday 19 July 2009

People love me!! Well... 'about me'...

Wow! I noticed in Google Analytics that a few days ago I had a number of visitors to the KitschenSink website via Gary Graye's website.  And... how exciting?! He has put me on his '7 Best About Me Pages' article, at number 2!!

So excited I was, that I tweeted it.  I get a response from @heroscompanion "You r also on a bigger list http://tinyurl.com/l9xc7o p.s. Your art pieces rock & luv the new cards…" (ok, the p.s. bit isn't that relevant to this story, but it seemed an injustice to myself to remove it).

Holy guacamole.  I am number 1 on '55 Awesome About Me Pages'.

I must say, I am pretty proud of myself.  I was told when choosing my A Levels not to study anything involving essay writing, as I was pretty poor at it (and then went on to whoop ass at it at uni).

This feels great! To read this marvel of literary genius, click here.

xoxo

Saturday 18 July 2009

Taking over the world; Step #5 - Re-branding - New business cards!

As part of the re-branding process, of course, I needed new business cards!!

These were designed by the same guy as the website and logo... PJ (check is website here). They double up as swing tags and note cards too... like, totally awesome!


 
Hope you love... I do!!
xoxo

Sunday 12 July 2009

New designs in stock! Vintage Comic Bubble Heart Necklaces

The bubble heart pendants got bigger!!  I am in love with these. I want to keep them all!

Here's the first few fresh from sanding and polishing.  I hope you love as much as I do!




One on sale on Folksy, one on DaWanda so far... lots more designs to come!

Saturday 11 July 2009

A few tips from Ms Vivienne Westwood

I saw Vivienne Westwood on Jonathan Ross last night. That woman is mad as a box o' frogs, but was she has to say is very true.

Climate change is happening cos we use too much stuff (see www.storyofstuff.com).  Here's some tips from the top about how to stay looking awesome without spending too much and ruining our planet.

Photo source: Elle.com

 
xoxo

Friday 10 July 2009

Folksy Finds Friday: Nartchi

Oooh I love today's find! Nartchi  sells wonderfully simple and sweet looking things plus supplies, at very reasonable prices.  Here's some picks I love...






Hope you love, sure you will

Have a fab weekend,
xoxo

Thursday 9 July 2009

Where I get my supplies

"Dear KitschenSink, 

I really do like that piece of jewellery you made there.  Say, where'd you get that wonderful [insert appropriate supply here]? I'd like to make something like that myself.

Yours sincerely,

Fellow (lazy) jewellery maker and seller."

"My dear boy! Do you ask a fish how it swims? Or a bird how it flies? Nosiree, you don't.  They do it because they were born to do it. Just like Willy Wonka was born to be a candyman, and you look like you were born to be a Wonkerer!" (Photo credit: from a movie blog here)

"Dear KitschenSink

I love that cool [insert any KitschenSink item here] you have in your shop.  How did you make that?

Another (lazy) jewellery maker and seller."


"Invention, my dear friends, is 93% perspiration, 6% electricity, 4% evaporation, and 2% butterscotch ripple" (photo credit: blog here)

Fact is, I spend an awful lot of time (and I mean a lot) sourcing supplies. I spend a ridiculous amount of time looking for the best prices and best quality.  I spend a lot of time and money experimenting to create something unique.  I also spend a fair bit of time on forums, Twitter and other channels building a rapport with other crafters/sellers to create a mutual sharing environment, and share what I feel comfortable with.  I do run a business, at the end of the day.

I knew it was bad manners to ask someone where they got their supplies from just because I am generally good with etiquette (personal friends - hush, now), but it's also confirmed in "Craft Inc" (book by Meg Mateo Ilasco) "Creative-business owners work hard to find their vendors, so it's not fair to ask them to give away their hard-earned sources".  Cheers Meg.  I often resist the temptation to ask other makers where they manage to find such cool components. I, however, resist!

So, where do I get my supplies?

........Loompaland :)

Monday 6 July 2009

What's cooking in the Kitschen? (the sneaky peek)

'What's cooking in the Kitschen?', for those of you who don't know, is a sneak preview and touch-base (man, I hate that term) of what's going down at KitschenSink.

I had a bit of a break over the last week or two, which was nice, but now I am back on course with creative thoughts every waking hour. Every sleeping hour too, in fact.


Exciting stuff eh?

Also going on - a lovely supplies order has been made - I can't wait to get it all! This involves a bigger heart mould so that the bubble hearts can be developed further, lockets, giant bows, coloured chains, rainbow ribbons... I might just kiss the postman when he arrives I'll be so excited!

Also commissioned my super graphic/web designer, PJ, to sort out some business/backing tags/swing tags for me... so everything's ship shape for my next few markets.

Comments/guesses on the peeks?

xoxo

Saturday 4 July 2009

University of Leeds Staff Festival 2009

What a super afternoon.  Yesterday was the University of Leeds Staff Festival and KitschenSink held a stall.

It's difficult to tell what would be the best sellers, but on this occasion, girls went crazy for BuTtOn PoP eLeCtRiC bobby pins, especially in pink and purple! More of these will be added soon!





There's only one LoCkEt fUeL fOr CrYsTaL GaZeR left, and I have had many requests in for Alice in Wonderland themed lockets, so guess what my summer will be spent making?

Next up on KitschenSink's real life locations is Saltaire Maker's Fair/Saltaire Arts Trail on September 11th/12th.

I'm going to make a big supply order now in preparation for making lots of cool things.

Have a super weekend,
xoxo

Folksy Finds Friday - Plain Jane Textiles

(Apologies, scheduled posts seem to have stopped working for me)

Well, this brand may be called Plain Jane Textiles, but it's tongue-in-cheek, I reckon.  Or perhaps it's because the textiles start out plain, and then Sarah prints the designs onto them, then transforming them into loads of cool goods! She's also awesome cos she's based in Yorkshire. Here's my favourites...

Hand printed glasses / sunglasses case

 Hand printed knitting notebook

 Hand printed Glamour print fabric pocket mirror

Howwwwww gorgeous?? I lovvvve!

xoxo