Why I think its Fab at Fab!

 One of our new year’s resolutions was to get organised and start selling our stuff in more places, which to be honest was a bit daunting as both Sally and I are naturally very protective of our work and like to hand it to the customer directly so we know it’s always loved and looked after, but we also knew that if we didn’t start putting ourselves out there we wouldn’t grow as a business which is the whole point.

(We are very precious about our stuff, because we do genuinely love what we do, which for hardnosed business people, which we are clearly not, it's a bit of a bugbear, but what can you do?)

It was with this in mind that we decided to approach Fabrication in Leeds, we’d heard good things about it on the grapevine and knew that its sellers covered a wide range of disciplines from silversmiths, potters and printers to upholsterers, photographers, artists and dressmakers so after exchanging a few emails with founder Dawn Wood we excitedly signed up!

 

This is not to say I didn’t have my reservations, to make it viable financially for us we signed up to the 8hr contract. (other options are available)
This meant that the rent & commission was low but I had to work one day a week in the shop and I wasn’t sure that

 A. I’d like it
 B. I’d have time
 C. It would be worthwhile.

But each of these troublesome worries have been laid to rest one by one.

And I’ll tell you for why...

 

Admittedly I wasn’t sure about the working hours thing at first, but actually I thoroughly enjoy it. I use it as an opportunity to network with other sellers and to meet customers in a much more stress-free setting than some of the events I’ve done.
The Light shopping centre is bright airy and has a relaxed modern feel about it which is reflected in the type of customer we see. I’ve worked in retail and know what arses the public can be but honestly  at Fabrication we have the nicest customers ever. 

 

So yes I like it, but how can I justify the most precious commodity of time?
 Well I soon stopped stressing about it when I realised if i just relaxed a bit the benefits far outweigh the cons.
 For instance, how many countless hours have I stood at a craft stall all day and paid a lot of money for the pleasure?
The answer is hundreds and yet I’ve never felt the need to justify it. I worked out that after all my travel expenses and the rent; it effectively costs us £3.49p a day to have a permanent stall in the centre of Leeds open 7 days a week.
 The average stall fee at a craft fair is about £40 a day sometimes a lot more and in this current financial climate there are no guaranteed sales anymore. We’ve found often that an event that was fantastic last year may not yield the same rewards this. They are all a gamble and we’ve started to view them as more of a marketing tool than a big sales opportunity and now  thanks to Fabrication we now have the added bonus of giving potential customers the security of knowing we are part of a bricks and mortar shop in Leeds city centre.

Also I get to brainstorm and network with some very talented people, which is priceless for someone who spends the majority of her time working alone with a sewing machine called Janice. The other sellers have become friends and advisors, on everything from marketing, pricing, and selling to skill sharing and creative collaborations which is more than a bit exciting.

As for worthwhile, I think the contacts and other opportunities that have grown from being there make it worthwhile alone. Thanks to Fab we've now got a stockist in Holmfirth and thanks to consistently good sales (and that’s through the summer which we were warned can be notoriously quiet in Leeds) we can now consider saving some capital to invest in larger events such as the Country Living and British Craft Trade Fairs which before were just pipe dreams! 
So yes, where else can you get retail space in the centre of Leeds, teaching space, business and admin support and a wonderful camaraderie for as little as £1.42 a day?

 

Don’t get me wrong its not been without its dramas...
The first month sales were slow, and being a country girl at heart I found the big city a bit daunting, (they charge 30p to have a wee at Leeds station!) My train journeys to and fro have become somewhat legendry and there was a time when it looked like the whole shop would have to relocate, but it all turned out fine in the end and I think after seven months I can confidently say its one of the best decisions we’ve made and I would recommend anyone umming and arring to give it a go.

 

If you want to find out more for yourselves pop in the shop and chat to anyone of the sellers there or drop an email to info@fabric-ation.co.uk for full terms and conditions.
Lisa x
P.S I've not been paid to write this, its just my views and I thought it would be nice to share x

 

 

 

 

 

 

We've been thinking of overalling our website for sometime now. The last few weeks have been quite technical and scary, but luckily my other half is very clever and very patient with our overall numptiness when it comes to computers which is a blessing because we know what we want but are not very good at vocalising it into proper working  understandable sentences.
We've spent weeks looking at other websites finding what we like and what we dont like, we've brushed up on terms that still mean nothing to us, like "above the fold" "css feed" "hit rate" & "bounceability" I  may have made the last one up, but I'm going to throw it in there anyway! But we can now say we are well on our way to getting something like what we want. There's still lots to do but please feel free to have a look at our efforts so far...www.ourlittlecraftcompany.co.uk

Valentines made simple.

 I am quite possibly the least romantic girl you are ever likely to meet. 

I find all the hearts and flowers stuff  a bit cringy. 

(bit like xfactor or stripograms) 

Public displays of affection are not what I do, in many respects I'm a bit of a bloke. 

So I'm probably the least likely person to do a list for valentines, but I'm going to anyway.

 Here are a few of my favourite things....

Now gentlemen listen up!
 There is nothing in these pile of lovelies that would break the bank.
I will not spoil you with  tales of the sentimenalt attachment I have to each piece.
I will simply give you this list of links to  some of the most desirable ranges that money can buy.
 Ive added a brief description of why I like them, just to make it even more simple to match the gift to the lady.

Quirky, fun & striking
Made By Lolly 

Elegant understated & beautiful
Leigh Shepherd Designs

Fantastic Tits
Dear Emma

 Stunning, unpretentious & unique
Sabine Little

Finding pleasure in leather
Chic-ycows

  Gothic romance with a pre--Raphaelite twist
Wychbury

Contempory down to earth beauty
Magic in the grass

Painter of my fabulous big black cock
Amy Jones Fine Artist

You can thank me on Valentines Day when your lady love swoons at your thoughtfulness .

Lisa x

Happy New Year!

Belated I know, but have a lovely fun filled fantastic year full of love and surprises!

That said. I hate January.

I’m getting better at it, but I would still rather hibernate till mid May, unfortunately I’m not allowed so instead I’m throwing myself into de cluttering, organizing & planning.

I’ve made a start on remodelling the office into a more viable work space so that I don’t have to keep spreading throughout the rest of the house & I’m hoping this will lead to a happier work/life balance. I know that this is unlikely, cos what they don’t tell you when you decide to live the dream and work for yourself is that the boss is generally a bitch.

( I know, I couldn’t believe it either, but she is. Other bosses are generally only around 9 till 5 but not mine. No.  She nags me to just do that one last job before I call it a day and before I know it its gone midnight. She also makes me eat an inhuman amount of chocolate, then tells me I’m fat, what a cow!)

As you can see it was desperate in there!

Anyway I’m hoping that if I can get a workspace that works for me then I will be able to close the door on it at a reasonable hour and work smarter and harder while I’m in there.  I can dream can’t I?

The hardest thing is throwing stuff out, I’m a natural hoarder but when it comes to crafty bits I’m a nightmare, I can think of a use for everything. It’s a blessing and a curse! But I’m being very strict and have bagged and boxed loads of treasures for the charity shop and dump.  I’ve stripped down the shelves and planned a rough layout of what’s going where and I’m feeling cautiously optimistic that its going to be as fabulous as a 10ft square room can be. 

Wish me luck!

Lisa x

Let the Festivities begin!

Last week at scrabble, (yes, that's how rock n roll I am) I was asked if I'd given the Christmas table any thought, which to be honest I hadn't but I really should have done.
You see, it has become my thing, it ensures that I am never asked to cook the dinner, that's Mum & Jill's thing, or wash the pots, that's a magic thing, apparently....

I'm also aware that many people will not take it as seriously as I do.

I've heard stories of people having their Christmas feast on a tray in front of the TV (...reaches for paper bag...takes deep breaths...) 

NOT ON MY WATCH!

 Over the years we've done many themes, so  this year I'm  thinking of something a bit different but truly festive. In my heart of hearts I want to do a natural wood & stone affair but I could see their faces when I suggested this, its taken me several years to get them to come round to the idea of more than two colours!

Last years brief was "Three Kings" so I was able to  go mad with lots of coloured silks, an abundance of candles, piles of fruit & nuts & ancient scroll menus tied with purple silk & gold ribbon.

One year we had Santas train running around the centre of the table, which was nice!

Thats the fun bit, logistically its a bit of a nightmare as we have to seat as many as twenty two people (Now you see why I dont offer to cook!) This means dressing the whole of my sisters double garage, floors walls and ceiling with sheets and dust covers and assembling a selection of mismatched furniture into one level feasting table...usually takes about six of us a day to get it looking sufficiently Christmassy.

You wouldnt believe there's a stack of bicycles, paint pots and toolboxes behind that curtain now would you?

Place settings are important, I urge you to take control and tell your guests exactly where you want them to sit, Jill and I normally go through at least half a bottle of baileys while drawing up our seating plan. (Even tho its basically pretty much the same every year...)

And I always do something a bit special for the children...

All in all I would encourage anyone who doesnt like cooking to throw themselves at the table in a bid to make it so special, that it too, will become "your thing", it works for me, I get to tuck into this guilt free on Christmas Day,

Happy Christmas
Lisa x

A Breath of Saltaire

Ok so firstly, sorry its been so long, I promise I will try harder from now on, but life gets in the way and it feels like both a luxury and a chore to sit down and actually blog, but today was so inspiring I had to share...

Today we took a train to Saltaire to visit the Makers Fair and to explore the arts trail,  usually we’re busy selling our wares somewhere or other on a bank holiday weekend and so it’s a real treat to be able to be on the other side of the table, so to speak.

Anyway I digress...We stepped off the train and agreed as we generally do that we would grab a cuppa somewhere and plan our day, with four children in tow it’s a prerequisite they are fed and watered at regular intervals and bribed as  and when necessary. However straight out of the station we stumbled upon Number 11 William Henry Street.  Invited inside we were a little nervous to say the least, it seems odd to go into someone’s private house and even stranger when it is strewn with tea of every kind, teabags on the floor and wall, teapots and cups and saucers on every surface and a lady asking if you’d prefer earl grey or “ordinary” tea.

We had one of each out of big china cups and watched the performers a little in awe and a little apprehensive as to how involved we should actually be, (Isabelle & Eliza offered to help out & wash up our cups). We left as a lady in nothing but a bath towel tidied around us...bizarre but brilliant.

We continued visiting  the different houses along the trail holding a variety of artists,  our previous inhibitions gone, not only marvelling at the work on display but the houses themselves, the fire places, the architecture, everything, it was ace! (I am now officially saving up for a Kate Lycett print)

After twelve houses the kids were starving so we stopped for lunch before heading to the Makers Fair at Victoria Hall. I actually felt pretty nervous about this, as I tweet and chat on facebook to a lot of the stallholders exhibiting there through Craft Soup & Yorkshire Made but had never  actually met them in person, I needn’t have they’re all as lovely in real life as they are in cyberspace! I spent almost three hours wandering around wishing I had money to spend, Sally bought a hat, Isabelle & Kathryn bought rag rug kits from The Yorkshire Craft Company and I treated myself to a Dear Emma Blue tit brooch because I would have kicked myself if I’d have gone home without it.

 The quality of the exhibitors was outstanding, it’s so inspiring to see such a high standard maintained throughout the entire fair, and the whole atmosphere is upbeat and friendly, we came away so impressed with what we’d seen and more than a little envious that we ourselves weren’t there with our own stall. (Needless to say we will be applying next year!) To be perfectly honest I could have gone round again, I know I missed a lot as it was so busy, but it was lovely to put faces to  artists and crafters whose works I've admired on the internet, unfortunatley the gang were growing restless and we were running short on time. Apparently Sally and I took so long gossiping that  Jill took it upon herself to make a bivouac with the girls in case we missed the last train home!

At this point we were asked to answer a few questions about Saltaire Arts Trail by a lovely girl and a man with a camera for the website, needless to say I think we will be on the cutting room floor as we went from waxing lyrical to speechless in a heartbeat once we realised they were filming...Obviously we had to run away! Quickly deciding you can’t go to Saltaire without having a bit of Hockney  & making our escape down to the Salts to wander through the galleries before heading for icecream & donuts off the barge & a lovely pint at the pub by the river, a perfect finish to a perfect day.

 Lisa x

Lest We forget

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

You may or may not know that this poem by John Macrae  written in 1915 inspired the Royal British Legions Poppy Appeal that has become a  proud part of our calendar since the first one on November 11th 1921.
 Millions of pounds are raised each year to help and support servicemen and women and their families, not just veterans from the First World War but every conflict since and ongoing now.
The poppy even with its sad significance has always been my favourite flower and so the idea of making our own version to raise funds for the British Legion was a bit of a no brainer, for every one we sell £1 is donated to the Poppy Appeal.

But we're not the only ones if ours isn't your cup of tea then check out these lovely creations by some other handmade crafters who are doing the same!

Donations vary, click on the picks to find out more.
Lisa x