Message Board
- Hi
I am looking for Craft Fairs in the Bristol Area in October, November and December. I would be very pleased to hear from anybody running a fair.
Thanks Hilary
- Hi there
I am looking for someone who can copy an earring for me. These were a birthday present so I am rather sad to have lost one! Earring is made of oxidised silver chains with three or four freshwater pearls attached. Would pay a fair price for materials + work. London please.
Many thanks
Alice
- ONLINE SELLING - "MISI", ANYONE??
Hi,
Someone on another craft forum mentioned a new site called MISI (Make It Sell It). It seems to be a UK version of Etsy and I was wondering if anyone here has experience of selling on it?
Thanks!
Christine
Hi I am looking for a leathercraft person to make a muzzle for my pug/french bulldog cross. I live in a take-away zone and she is always rooting around for chicken bone cast-offs when she's off the lead. This is not good as cooked chicken bones can cause internal injuries.
I can't get muzzles for my type of dog online, not clear why. These breeds can have breathing problems but mine doesn't and she will always be supervised in any case. I live in leathercraft central-Walsall-but a yellow pages search yielded no leads, all seem to be maufacturing for retail market. I want a baskerville style muzzle. This is like a cage. Hoping a craftperson with design skills will respond to the challenge. Local would be best as fitting may be necessary (although I could e-mail Piggy's measurements if craftsperson was confident). I will travel if necessary. I am not looking for a bargain and will pay a fair price. Hope someone can help me or knows who can. Thanks. Sydney
- Hi,
I'm looking for an old painter friend called Alan Lewis who used to be on the circuit, but I haven't seen for years.
Does anyone know how I can get in touch with him please?
Thanks.
- A CONTROVERSIAL SUBJECT?!!
Is it just me, or are there more and more business and entrepreneur type people using the craft scene to make a quick killing?
Nowadays, with the onset of kits, imported 'hand made crafts' (albeit made overseas) and part time/retired amateurs, anyone can claim to be a crafts person.
I have spent nearly 30 years making my own products from scratch and I see more and more crafty (in the negative sense) business people who might have bought their own moulds or beads or component parts diluting the credibility of us genuine makers.
Does anyone feel the same, that these charlatans should be strung up by their tender parts and left with a sign around their ankles saying I was responsible for helping to bring down a great and once genuine market?
I don't think the organisers of shows who, lets face it are only interested in lining their own pockets, have done us any favours by their more often than not non-existant vetting policies.
So, what can we do to compete with these savvy and not unintelligent interlopers?
Any ideas, any views any conclusions?
Anon.
- Hi,
I was wondering whether anyone knows where I can find more information on the legal requirement for selling items aimed to children. I make jewellery myself, but I have just recently set up a new company offering jewellery making parties for children and adults. I'm also selling jewellery making kits, based on the project I've developed for the parties. As some of the kits are specifically designed to be used by children I was wondering whether legally I need to have them tested - maybe CE mark?- before I'm allow to sell them or whether a written note warning of the possible chocking hazard and not suitability for children under 3 might be enough.
thanks
Aurora
- Hi - I am a newbie and would like more info. on craft fairs in Norfolk - can anyone help? Wendy
- Hi
I am looking at doing large craft fairs in the autumn for Christmas sales and wondered whether you could recommend any good ones. I design my own tin containers for coffee, tea and cakes.
- Hi,
I'm looking for a company or individual who can do lost wax casting of small sculptures (less than 6 inches), into bronze or brass.
Any ideas please?
D.
- Hello everyone, I am new. I would like some information on craft fairs, and exhibitions on Merseyside, or Cheshire.
Thanks all.
Feedback from Makers wanted on MADE (Brighton) and LIVING CRAFTS (Hatfield House)
1) If they were successful shows for them (worth doing again?),
Hello fellow makers,
I'm considering applying for these shows and wondered if anyone would share feedback on:
2) If they were busy shows (lots of visitors) and
3) If they felt the organizers did a good job (making it a well run show for both stand holders and buyers).Thank you in advance,
Jenefer Ham
- Designer Jeweller's Co-operative Devon
Hi there my partner and I run a designer jewellers' co-operative in North Devon - we retail out of pretty "boutique" gallery in the centre of one of the busiest shopping streets in the area.
My parnter has a large fully equipped modern workshop with casting facilities. One of our designer jewellers is wanting to leave the stunningly beautiful Atlantic coast - she longing to return to the bright lights of the city. We are looking for a self-employed designer jeweller to join the group (display space provided) - we would prefer someone bench trained as we do repairs but are willing to be flexible for the right person. We are in the process of putting together an e-commerce website for the gallery and will be backing the launch of the gallery on the internet up with a marketing campaign (we will be employing a specialist company to help us) - we are looking for the right person with the right skills. Is there anyone out there? Diane and Hillary
Diane
- Hi, please can anyone recommend a supplier of good value/good quality greetings cards and postcards that I can have printed with images of my work? I would also like to order promotional items with a photograph on, not a logo. Many thanks. Lynne
- I'm new to this message board and have been reading past posts about craft fairs with interest. I'm currently considering doing the Harrogate trade craft fair. We make bespoke bags and accessories, does anybody have any specific experience of this event and whether it was a positive experience? We are also considering joining the website notonthehighstreet.com, but again are looking to find out if anybody has any experience of this. We are a business in its first year of setting up and it's hard to know where it's best to invest our money!
Thanks
L
Does anyone know where I can purchase woollen or acrylic knitted cuffs and waistband the type that you see on antique leather jackets. I would be grateful of suppliers name,
thanks
Deb
- Hi - I'm looking for polystyrene shoe forms in various sizes that could be used to make felt shoes - does anyone know of a supplier for these?
Georgina
- Hi I am currently studying at Lincoln University on the Contemporary Decorative Craft course and I was wondering about work experience. Do many makers offer a short 3 or 6 month part time work experience? I want to specalise in ceramic jewellery and feel I lack in the jewellery side of my work. Any advice or pointers in seeking out work experience would be really appreciated.
Thanks
Tamsen
Hi
I run workshops and am looking for someone to produce DVDs for me - tutorials of my workshops. I also want to produce a 'how-to' project book. Does anyone have contacts and/or advice on where to start with this please?
DS
- Does anyone know a method for bonding polypropylene? I used to use a product called 'Liquid Poly' years ago, but I haven't seen it for a long time, and I'm guessing that this will only work with acrylic plastics.
I notice 3M have a commercially produced glue called DP-8005, but including postage from the US, I think this will work out at more than £50 and I was hoping for something slightly more wallet-friendly.
MK
- Hello I am looking for help finding a supplier of Rubber buckles and slides, the ones I am looking for are 7cm x 4cm,they could possibly be used for webbing or straps. I have tried a few handbag manufacturers with no luck.
Any suggestions please let me know, thanks Dean.
- Hello
I've had some success so far selling my jewellery through shops but am looking to expand.
Does anybody know of any shops in the Midlands that may be interested in taking some of my items?
Regards
- Hi
is there anyone in the Hastings area that does Macrame?
I need a repair job done to a hammock we purchased in the Canaries. I am willing to be taught how to do Macrame
Thanks
Anita
- I am looking for galleries who would be interested in displaying my unique woodturned goods. No-one seems to be interested in wood art, more just paintings and similar. Have emailed many galleries but most of them do not even bother to reply.
Can anyone help please as I seem to be on a fruitless search at the moment!
Hertfordshire Army Benevolent Fund will be holding a family Day on 22nd June 2008, we have a Fun Fair and Craft Fair from 3pm and a tattoo from 7.30 at Haileybury School in Hertfordshire - www.haileybury.com
Parking and entrance to the fairs are free and a small charge to see the Tattoo.
We had been let down by a Craft Fair company, so we are looking for stall holders to take part in the event, pitch costs will be £25.00. We had 3,000 visitors last year (it rained) and 5,000 the year before.
The craft fair is new for 2008 and we currently have 25 stalls, we have room for 10 more? Tel 01992 706417 or email. p.bailey@haileybury.com
- Lost Wax Casting - We currently sell sterling silver charms but would like to start making our own using wax carved models. Does anyones know where we could get the items cast, we are looking for a company that takes short runs (20, 50 & 100) of small charms (about 15 x 12 x 4mm). Any does anyone have any idea how the pricing works for things like this ?
- Hi.
I am currently in the process of starting a jewellery range of silver and lampwork glass. We will be selling to trade for approx 60 - 70 pounds and retail at about 120 for a necklace. Does anyone know if trade buyers would expect the jewellery to come packaged in a decent box etc or would they provide their own? When we sell direct to the customer we will be using wooden boxes that cost us about £9. This is fine when trading at full price but at trade it is quite a big margin of the price. Would it be rude to give trade the option of the items coming with/without packaging and charging the extra £9 if they want it? Thanks for any help, Nial.
- Hi
I'm currently a part time student in my final year of an applied arts degree and as such will be exhibiting at New Designers later in the year. I was wondering if anyone could help with idea's on how to get sponsorship to help pay for the costs of the stand. We've so far raised enough to cover the stand itself, but we now need to raise further funds to cover the display items, plynths etc, lighting, transport of the work and display.
We're having an Applied Arts Auction on April 10th to try and raise the bulk of the funds, but from experience I think we will need to still raise another £500 on top of this.
If anyone has any idea's on the best way to approach potential sponsors I would be very grateful.
Heather
- Hello,
I am thinking of starting selling on Etsy and wondered if anybody had any experience of it? Do you find it a good outlet? Do you have many overseas buyers are are buyers mostly from the UK? Have you any tips for promoting your etsy shop and getting featured on the front page? Any advice / comments welcome.
Thank you.
- Hi - I am desperately seeking reasonable insurance for my craft studio. My last insurer seemed to think that I could afford as much as a small car! Any recommendations please.
Carol H
- Hi, I'm looking at making gladstone or carpet bags from all sorts of fabrics. Does anyone know of good quality bag frame manufacturers and/or wholesalers in or outside of the UK? Much googling has brought up info for fittings for leather bags and buckles, but not much else except for one 12" tubular frame from one site. I want to order many and I don't want to be limited to the tubular frame inserted into the fabric. I've seen all sorts of frame designs on bags in the shops from metal to fake bakelite ones, so they must be available, but where do I get them from?!
Catherine
- Hi there, don't know if you or any of your members can help. In December 1990 my husband and I attended a victorian craft fair in Winsford, Cheshire where we purchased a large ride on wooden train made by Ketkuti-Line Toys of Lincolnshire. At the time we were undergoing IVF treatment and optimistically bought this for our hoped for child.
We didn't succeed in becoming parents and the train has spent the past 17 years in our attic.
We now wish to pass this on to our nephew's family but we no longer have the assembly instructions. As the train was multi functional i.e. could be ride on, sit in or push along, the assembly process is not easy to determine without the intructions.
We have tried to contact the seller, but the contact details are no longer valid.
We would be very grateful to anyone who could help.
Many thanks
Christina Power
- Hello
I'm looking for some advice. I'm looking for somebody that can do original fabric painting and quilting. i'm not sure if anybody can do this on a long term basis and how much this will cost. Any suggestions and advice would be great.
Thanks
- Hi
just looking for some advice please. Booked a craft show last year and paid a deposit with the balance to follow so many weeks prior to show.
Unfortunately I had to cancel so posted a cancellation letter by Recorded Delivery on 6th Sept I was well within the time limit for cancellations (nearly 5 weeks before the cut off date). Yesterday received a letter from the Organiser saying that they haven't received any notification from me and I am now liable to pay the oustanding balance to them.
I'm upset as I did everything by the "book", I have my little orange Recorded Delivery slip with their address and date stamp. They are demanding payment, but even if I send payment I'm still not entitled to that space.
I've tried emailing using several address but all are bouncing back, also tried to fax but it just rings.
Sorry to waffle on but wondered where I stand legally.
Any help and advice would be really really appreciated!
Carol
- I've been reading about 'craft holidays' - such as going to Kazakhstan to meet and learn from traditional felt makers, or going to India to see weavers and dyers. Does anyone have any experience of these sort of holidays?
KB
- It is my ambition in the future to open my own gallery. I am trying to gather as much information as possible and I would appreciate any information regarding contracts for sale or return items. I think I need an Opening a Gallery for Dummies book. Any advice would be welcome.
Thanks,
Nicola
- Hello everyone,
My message is similar to the one previously left by Ellie, as I too would like to learn. I am hoping to teach myself and I wondered if anybody could tell me of any good books for a novice on bench Jewellery?! I would appreciate and welcome any advice or guidance!
A part time job may be handy too in the London area to try and build up my knowledge on the trade! But I think that is me hoping and asking too much!!!
Thank you.
Jade
- I'm looking for a change of career and am really interested in Jewellery making. How can I get into the trade without having to do a 3 year course at Uni? Can i teach myself? Or is there anyone out there willing to take on an eager apprentice? (Preferably around the Warwickshire area but anywhere will ultimately be great!)
Ellie
- Hi I make jewellery but also work full time - i intend to sell to galleries and the public do I have to register as a small business with the Tax Man?
Anybody know how it works - thanks guys.
- Hi, I'm looking for transparent bags that I can put individual embroidered cushions in for storage. Any suggestions? Also, can anybody recommend any soft furnishing workshops or courses. Many thanks. Bea
- Hi all
Does anyone know a supplier of the plastic credit card inserts to use in wallets etc? I've drawn blanks with all my usual suppliers of leather & metal work for bags / luggage.
Many thanks
AD
- Hi, I know this is probably a less serious offence than people stealing your own design ideas, (as discussed in a previous thread) but I found the inability to stop people grabbing your pictures from the web and using them on their own website without permission very annoying and frustrating. Recently I've found out that one of my "online competitors" has "pinched" one of my pictures from my site and uses it as an icon for one of her shop categories. I politely wrote to them asking not to use the picture, but while they admitted the picture was not theirs and agreed to take it off, the picture it is still there (after three weeks) and I don't seem to have much power to make things change.
I'm probably overreacting as my picture admittedly has no intrinsic value (being just of some suede thongs!), nonetheless, I found it frustrating that people should think that because something is published on the web they can just help themselves to it without even asking.
I've since reluctantly added a watermark with my logo to all my images, but I don't really like this solution as I think it ruins the appearance of the pictures and makes me look a bit paranoid.
I guess I just have to accept that web thieves exist and look on the bright side and be pleased that one of my pictures (which I considered of mediocre quality) had such an appeal on someone else that they just couldn't resist using it! .... how sad...
Aurora
- Formulae for calculating commission
Does anyone know if there is a formula for calculating the cost you would need to charge for an item if selling through a gallery so that you make something like the gallery commision in return? I've just realised, a little late I'll admit, that items I'm selling net the gallery far more money than I'm making in profit. Whilst I appreciate that they have overheads, it makes some of my products unviable for selling through a gallery for the tiny return. In fact, if I have to post or deliver I would not make anything if they only sold a few items.
I suppose this is the age old question of how do I price my work so I see a reasonable return. Has anyone a magic calculation they use?
SB
- I am becoming increasingly concerned about some supermarkets and retailers not accepting cheques. Is the bank cheque going to become obsolete? I do hope not. I am concerned that consumers might get out of the habit of carrying their cheque books. So what happens when you're at a craft fair and your customer has not enough cash? People don't carry cash these days either. They rely on their credit or debit cards. Cheque book? The problem is without cash or cheque book the customer will not be able to purchase my product.
- Any idea what to say to customers who are blatant about their intent to steal your ideas? I've just come back from 2 days trading where I got mightily sick of hearing people say 'Oh, that's a brilliant idea, I'm going to pinch that'. I had one woman whip out a camera and say I'm just going to take a photo so I can remember how to do it! Obviously I don't want to be rude but I was pretty angry at the way people were so open about stealing my ideas. I felt like putting up a sign saying 'Free information point for the Creatively Deficient' Grrr.
- Hi everyone, i am new to this and could really do with some advice. I design and make my own handbags and was just wondering if they would sell well at craft fairs and if not what would be the best events to sell them at?
Please help!
Hayley
- Hello,
I am starting a new business and I am looking for a used Fudge Kettle. Does anyone know of where I might be able to find one or does anyone have one for sale?
Thank you so much!
Debi
- Do you think making and selling your own Craft can only be a hobby? Is it possible to earn a decent income from craft? Are some crafts more lucrative than others? To make a reasonable living, I've noticed many makers have to supplement their income by running workshops or teaching. I'd like to know if anyone is making money out of designing, making and selling their own craft?
A painter friend of mine employed a joiner to fix her door. He charged her £10 an hour. As an experienced painter, she decided she would charge £10 an hour (or try) for her paintings. How many craft workers can honestly say they get £10 hourly rate for their labour? Not many I should imagine.
Someone else, I know, worked flat out for a whole year but was bitterly disappointed when her year-end profit was only £5000. She was working hard and therefore earning more or so she thought. She felt like giving up altogether.
Do craft workers do it for the love of it then? Are most craft people retired and therefore happy to earn pin money? If the money is not there, perhaps the lifestyle is the attraction? What about the post graduates who are starting out trying to run a small business? How do they make it pay and pay off their student loans?
Has anyone got any comments or answers
MoneyBags
- Hello
I am looking for a permanent full time position as a jewellers assistant or jewellery design assistant. I am 25 and have just completed a City & Guilds in Jewellery at Sir John Cass. I have a portfolio of designs and pieces and would re-locate for the right position. If anyone knows of any vacancies I would appreciate it if you could get in contact.
Thank you.
- I have a stand at a show coming up in june, and will be able to accept only cash and cheques. I can't quite remember when accepting cheques what to look for and how to cover yourself if the cheque bounces - is it just the card number and expiry date that you write on the back of cheque?
Any info would be great thanks!