Honey, I'm home!

I'm back and the shops are back open!

I have some really, really itchy insect bites... one on my finger. I have a big fat finger!

I had a few creative thoughts but they didn't hit me until the flight back.

I didn't get the good news I was hoping for. But it's OK. Nothing depending upon it.

Blog again soon!!

xoxo

Adieu, and a favour please?

I'm taking a break for a week, so the shops are closed til Saturday 30th January.  I am hoping to be struck with lots of creative thoughts for new designs whilst I'm away... and looking forward to the break from my day job. And sunshine.

I'd like you all to keep your fingers crossed, in the mean-time.  I applied for KitschenSink to be sold at a pretty cool online retailer. I hope when I get back I'll have an email with an order! Let's hope so!

Adieu and au revoir until Saturday week,

xoxo

The good news

The good news is that Kidd81 and my website are on page 99 of this month's Web Designer magazine (UK) available at all good news agent's.  Wahoooo!

Sunshine blog award :)

I've been given another blog award :)  This time from Rachel Lucie, who makes wonderful gem stone and sterling silver jewels. We've sold at a few fairs together, one of which, if she hadn't have been there Check her out!

The Sunshine Award is awarded to bloggers whose positivity & creativity inspires others in the blog world.
The rules for accepting this award are:-

Put the logo on your blog or within your post.
Pass the award onto 12 bloggers.
Link the nominees within your post.
Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award. 

I hadn't had chance to blog it yet, but I have recently booked into a little craft fair just outside Leeds. So a good few of the 12 are some of the other stall holders I am yet to meet :)

Pandapop - The place where Amy, the fair's organiser, writes about what inspires her

Memo - Illustration, screen printing, collecting awesomeness

Twoducksdisco - love the name! illustrator / graphic designer / lover / screen-print artist / man

Fox Bunting -  Seperately they are Paper Fox and Cotton Fox, together they are Fox Bunting.

Filo e colori di Ila - Yeah I'm not sure what it means, but Ila creates wonderful colourful things and you can translate the page using a button on the right.

Chris Parry - Enjoying his 'ring a day' feature, which is quite imaginative!

Ismoyo Playground - Particularly enjoy her vintage book finds, cos I love them myself!

Bonbi Fruits of the Forest - Blog by Lee May. She's a perfect all rounder. Designs tees, jewellery, lots of beautiful things. And takes photos of local scenes!
Pinkrain -  one word: amazing. Doodles and handmade goodies
Fantastic Toys - They really are.  If only they were edible, they are too too good!
Pop Culture Junkie - If you want to be cool, subscribe.
The Indie Handmade Show - Another beautiful Italian blog, each post is translated into English.

I think that list is pretty awesome and you should definitely check every single one out.  In fact... make yourself a brew. Get a rich tea or garibaldi. Have a read. Be inspired.

Got good news to blog tomorrow!!

xoxo

Call for fashionistas around the world!

Gosh, I am so tired I fell asleep on the train on the way home! I’d like to go and lay on the sofa… but I just had to tell you about this place I found online!

Store Society is a social networking space for both individuals who love fashion and independent fashion retailers.

It’s perfect for you if :
- As a fashionista, you love to ‘dress to express’ (I stole that term from the site’s creator, Kristina) and take photos of yourself. You know what I’m talking about. It’s fairly loser-ish to do it on Facebook, but on here it serves a purpose! Show the world your fantastic finds, bargains, etc, and link to their ‘store’ page if they have one

- As a retailer/designer, you want to showcase your products to the coolest audiences

- As a lover of independent shopping, you want to keep up-to-date with independent outlets you might not usually come across.

Find me on there. Obviously as a store I am KitschenSink. As a member I am GingerSnap.

Here’s the best bit… I am currently featured on the front page!!

In other news, another whinge about feedback, of an eBay nature. I have been blocked by a seller, because, just over a year ago, the products he sent me went AWAL. After a few days, I received a letter, sent to half my home address. It was from a person who lived across town who lived at the same house number as me, with the same street name suffix as me. The seller had written my address in some shit pen that got wet and, well, came off. So I left neutral feedback saying that they should use waterproof pen in future. That’s why he blocked me, stating he felt it was ‘unjustified’. I thought it was unjustified that after spending good money on postage, I had to drive across town to collect it! Dick!

The moral of the story is to always use a waterproof pen when you write on an envelope. If you use anything else, don’t come whinging to me when it gets lost!

xoxo

Mum & Dad, I'm sorry...

I have been feeling quite guilty ever since I wrote my 'about me' section for the website.  I state 'Rowan was born in June 1982, to possibly the least creative two parents in the UK', and it's not strictly true. They were creative for me, just not with me.  Don't call Childline. I wasn't neglected in the slightest.

Anyway. My Dad made a farm for me one year. It had painted fields and a house, and these wooden shapes that resembled blob-like sheep and blocks painted yellow that were supposed to be hay-stacks.

My Mum was pretty good at sewing and made matching dresses for her, me and my doll. Yes we all went out together like that... but I can't find the photo anywhere.  Now, that's the kinda thing I'll do when I have babies.

For now, here's me in the bridesmaid dress my Mum made for me for my brother's wedding!

I should probably add the my Grandma (THE Grandma) did the flower arranging and made the head band.

This week I have been mainly looking at vintage wedding dresses, even though I don't have (nor want) a boyfriend.

Hope you enjoyed your weekend! It's been bleedin' freezing here!

xoxo

Facing facts, Feedback and Fan photos

I was supposed to be buying a sewing machine with my Christmas money.  Unfortunately, the lovelies at Yorkshire Water sent me a bill, reckoning that I use £250 of water a quarter. That’s right, I live on my own.  I barely have any baths. I’m quite frugal with my washing.  What’s that about?! So, I daren’t spend my Christmas pennies, or have any fun for that matter, until it’s sorted. Idiots!!

Deep breaths. OK, let's move on.

Dear buyers of products from independent designers/makers,

Your feedback is important to us.  We spend lots of time and effort designing and making things that are special, photographing them, carefully choosing words to describe them to you. Then when you buy, many of us carefully box-up, perhaps add a little gift, perhaps make an envelope.  It would be great if you could give us a bit more feedback that just how quickly we send it out to you. It ain’t eBay. 

Thank you.

When I sell at markets, you get the feedback straight away in the excitement of the buyer.  It’s a magical moment!

Some buyers, especially when buying handmade, may be worried that the good will be shite.  So… come on people. Leave us some descriptive feedback on how much you enjoyed the experience of shopping with us so others can buy in confidence!!

First place for great feedback goes to Samantha.  I can’t tell you what Samantha bought, it’s a secret as it’s a gift. But she bought one for herself and one for a friend, and they are form my more ‘premium’ range.  As the sale was made outside of Folksy, she’s left some feedback on the Facebook wall, including photos!! Way to go, you are my current favourite customer!

What a wonderful start to my day today! My lovely Kitschensink parcel arrived!! I have never received anything in the post as amazingly cool ever before! Thankyou Rowan!!!!!

I’d love you to add your fan photos to the Facebook page too. To do this, just go to the wall, under the box to write on the wall there’s a photo icon. Upload your photo and add a comment. Easy!

xoxo

What's cooking in the Kitschen?

I am loving the comic pendants and how popular they are. Here's a few more that I have just put on sale (keep reading too, there's a sneaky peek prototype at the end).

I'll start with my personal favourite!

"hE CaLLed!" Vintage Comic Bubble Heart Necklace

This is another favourite:

'dAy oF HeArTbReAk' ViNtAgE CoMiC NeCkLaCe

♥ He was gay, witty, and charming... and as much in love with me as I with him! Our love was without a flaw! Then came our... dAy oF HeArTbReAk ♥

"mY cHaMp!" Vintage Comic Bubble Heart Necklace

♥ Oh, Al, Darling --- I love you --- You'll always be --- mY cHaMp! ♥

Want to see more new stock? Head on over to the KitschenSink Shop!

Here's a piece that's been on the backburner a while. I have wanted incorporate toy animals for ages (I am sure I have blogged about it before). There's a lack of bracelets in the KitschenSink shop, so what do you reckon to this so far??

I like the design, and the mixture of chains. I'd prefer a better quality of charms though. So I'll be keeping an eye out ;)

What do you think? Got any ideas for me?

xoxo