This Week, is allll shop News!!...

 EEeeep! I have been working so very hard of late.

Working on getting the stock made up for Christmas AND trying to get some of the new designs out of prototype stage and actually into 'production'.

I find this stage exhausting and really wearing - but then, suddenly, i see a stack of freshly sewn items on my table and i feeeel an achievement.

 These are Buttony hearts (also seen in a previous post)

i made some last year, for the Craft Stall and they were so popular that i got around to making more for 2011.

I have tried to colour theme them. My utter favourite is the Gingbread Heart (above) but only because i am obsessed with decorating Gingerbread Houses.

 So, there is a full set of Felt & Button decorations that *in theory* match 3 colourways:

Bold n Bright

GingerBread World

Red & White.

 But that is just like "Show and Tell" at school, because that is not my shop news.

I have a huge range of Buttons arriving, i *hope* this week.

It is good news especially IF you are a craft retailer yourself using any PaperFish Supplies for your Makes....

Watch the Blog if you are keen to know what supplies i can offer you in abundance to get all your projects ready for Christmas (come on it's never too early!!)

I shall be working on Product Information sheets for the Big Range of newbie Buttons.

I shall also try to put together a new Felt Swatch Info. Sheet as requested by a gazillion customers.

So much to do, as always, but i am wonderfully energetic and enthusiastic about this week.

I just love what i do :)

x x x

Button Bouquets! Pure JOY!

Maybe these Button Bouquets are not everybody's idea of GORGEOUS!? Maybe you have to be a bit of a button nut to appreciate them? But I have had a commission from a  Hetro-man for these, so not just 'girly' fun.

 Having found myself in a total crafting DESERT of late, these button stems have been the perfect thing to get my head and heart back into 'creating'. I haven't had a thing in me that has wanted to create or think about prettiness at all. I haven't been shopping / scavenging for vintage and i haven't even been sewing. Broken life and broken heart maybe? Tired..... whatever the reasons, i have a mini-mojo returning.

 I swear, if the buttons themselves don't turn me on, my Tungsten Carbide cutters would do it alone. I love a gadget. I love a bit of technology. As MrsB said to me, when she poked into the studio, "How very You Kirsty, to use high tech digital scales for weighing, but have a vintage bowl on top to the hold the buttons"

 Anyway - Button stems are truly addictive and many many people make these sooo beautifully on Etsy. The Americans have this craft 'licked' my friends. They use them in a big explosion as wedding bouquets!! for baby showers and for their interior decor.

I am thinking that these would be STUNNING on the tables at a wedding? You could have them in the centre and tie a placename to individual stems - making it a favour too?

 The more stems you have in a bunch, the better they look.

The possibilities are endless. It is so calming and satisfying and QUICK (You know i have no attention span for a lengthy project) So many variations. The more buttons you have to choose from, the better, which is obviously easier for a crafter like me, hey!?

I have put mine in a big jar of bells because they need to be sat in something that can spread the stems out - otherwise they'll just fall to one side in a heap. OR the other option is to use a very narrow necked jug or vase - remembering that these stems are made using thick gardening / floristry wire so you can bend and manipulate their shapes.

You can add felt bases and leaves. I chose not too as i have been 'off' sewing :( but i think they do look very special. You could use leather or even cardboard as a base - that would look awesome.

Ever lasting Button Bouquets.

I have listed some for sale in my http://www.lovepaperfish/ shop online but really they are more fun to make yourself. If you are going to do these for a huge party or wedding or event you could buy bunches / stems off many different people, for starters and inspiration, then make a load yourself.

Make it cheaper by mixing new and more expensive buttons with a load of vintage / jumble / ebay button finds? Just make sure you have plenty of bigger ones... that is why i bought the Zebedee buttons as they are the perfect base size.

Have fun - whatever you're making x

Nauty but Nice...

 All the Nice Girls luv a Sailor

 Nautical loving - salute the Captain

Anchors away.... and all the rest of it.

 Loving playing with my buttons at the moment. Just lurving it.

The sunshine is strrreeaaming into the Studio and the buttons are just calling me.

I'm feeling the need for Kitschy stuff and Seaside Tales.

 I am listing a load of button brooches in the http://paperfish.etsy.com/ shop

 And, quite frankly, who minds if they sell or not? I love them so much i want to GIVE them away!

(just had an idea for a SEASIDE themed Giveaway....hhhhmmmmm, watch this space)

Ahoy There Me Hearties!

Liberty-esque & Fruity Florals...

 Aaaah, so pretty! These have a Liberty feel print to the topside in lilacy / blue / pink.

They have been in the shop for about 12 hours and have already proven to be very popular. Available in bags of 10 or 50 (nothing in bewtween, you know how extreme i am)

 Fruity floral, 4 hole wooden buttons. Approx. 2cm so a nice size. These are far more tropical than the Liberty-esque design.

 And there is also this lot for selling in the HARDWARE section of http://www.lovepaperfish.com/

I wanted a load of brooch bars for some buttony creations i am completing, but then.... i saw these Kilt Pins.

I was needing them too.

I am desperate to make a huge wacky brooch with balls and buttons and beads and charms.

I love how versatile this finding is *creative explosion*

 I had been making elasticated rings with my daughter, just for fun but there are also bags of silver coloured rings in the LPF shop (HARDWARE section) as they do look a great deal more professional. They are adjustable sizing too.

 Busy, as always...

does your creative area look somewhat like this?

I have been making Button Stems for a Wedding so it is all a mess. I need lots of buttons out for Bouquets and stems as the best bit is playing with and choosing the buttons :)

And i shall not be secretive, i shall show all the buttony stems and goodness when i get the photos off my camera!

Don't mourn the loss of sunshine my darlings - it will return xxx

Promises, promises...

If you allow me to, and indulge me in, the scattering and smattering of button photographs today...

I will promise to take some lovely photographs of the Craft Fair tomorrow...

Deal?

 I am a super busy Working Mumma - so it pains me as much as it pains you, not to have a blog smothered in Vintage Finds and Fun Days Out. I would like to write about a dreamy sunshine life as much as you might like to read about it. But right now, the sunshine in my life, must come from pretty buttons.

There are many new designs and bags already listed in http://bigfish.etsy.com/ but have yet to reach http://www.lovepaperfish.com/ - (bear with , bear with)

 There is a natural satisfaction gained from 'working'.

I do feel a sense of achievment when i make sales and earn a wage - the bonus here is that i love the goodies that i sell, so it isn't such a 'chore'. We all need monies to live by hey?

But i think this results in so much more pleasure when i do get to spend a day 'away' and indulging in Vintage rummages and coffee shop treats. Maybe that is what i think when i say "promises, promises"? - promises to myself to work hard and remember to play too?

 Selling at Craft Fairs isn't something i have so much time for now-a-days.

It takes a great deal of effort to Prepare - SetUp - Sell - Dismantle the stall.... it can be exhausting!

But i hope tomorrows Fair (see previous post) will be a good one - especially if the sunshine returns.

 Therefore - promises, promises.

If it is Sunshiney and pretty, i will share the fair here on the Blog. And that sounds like fun, right?

Still cueing up some of the blog readers gorgeous Makes! for future viewing xxx

Hope you like the new Button bags and Pretty Colours.

Help me Buttons Lovers....

VINTAGE BAKERLITEs

 As suggested in previous posts.... i need your input!

I need your button appreciation abilities.

PERIWINKLES

 There will be a prize. And i haven't got it sorted to photo yet. But, it will be a Goody Bag of sorts with lots of bits and buttons and maybe a book or a magazine?

 DOLLS HOUSE

and really, you have very little to do. I am asking very little from you all, in order to help me out AND be in with a chance of winning a fun Goody Bag!

 BLOOMING GORGEOUS
(n.b: these are BIG 1.5inch across / 4cm!)

Just leave me a little note in my box of comments... telling me...which of these sets of buttons you like? and why? or what you'd use them for?... or even what you wouldn't use them for but someone else might?

DECO LUSH

I know, price would always make a difference to what you buy and for 'what use' - it is always a factor in my choices. I can't list these prices as i haven't got them sorted yet. None of these buttons here are cheap though. We are talking between 40p and £1.00 per button across this range. If i were selling them, they would be sold in pairs and groups. That is why they are so lovely though. If they were cheap as chips everybody would already be using them, right?

To start: i adore DECO LUSH and i AM going to use one of these chunky dudes on a big cardi i've got that needs it's ONE button replacing - this is the baby for the job. I would also adore a necklace made using a few of these.....

Anyone else?

And a FELT Book....

Obviously, i adore this book too otherwise i would not be selling it.

I only have 2 of these books. It is so inspirational and the book itself is lovely to handle and look at.

Fantastic felted wool projects - recycling and upcycling being the buzz words for this book.

If i had to pull a negative for this book, it would be that the author has alot more access to recycled wool than the average bear (you n me) and some projects will need you becoming a dedicated Finder and Felter of wool.

 But if you do hoarde (like me) and have boxes of wool felt offcuts and felted scarves and sweaters (yep, like me again, guilty) then this book is just the inspiration and direction you need (like i need!)

*must stop thinking people are like me - they probably aren't*!!

 If i am not wearing some kind of recycled sweater dress thing come Winter 2011...

then i'm no Crafter. Awesome stuff.

Also might neeeeeed to make one of those felted wool animal things... grrrrr.

Competition / Giveaway / draw / prize / asking for your input type of thing this coming week.

Stay tooned x

Books are here....

In an exciting twist to the Blog i am bringing you an entire WEEK of stunning new products

for sale in the http://www.lovepaperfish.com/ shop

Obviously, the benefit of ordering some books to sell is that KirstyFish gets to keep them all, mwahaha

There are 4 new titles listed.

Listen, i know that EVERYBODY gets their books from Amazon - why wouldn't you? they are very efficent and well priced but i hope to introduce the one element that Amazon cannot provide you...

customer service!

Each new book has been handpicked by me and chosen because they have all the qualities i value as a crafter and retailer. Nice weight of paper. Good prints and fonts. Stunning photos, clear instructions. Funky ideas and things you want to make.

This is perhaps my favourite of all the titles and the one most suited to a PaperFish customer.

It is called "Button & Stitch" and is by a Seattle based Crafter called Kristen Rask

http://plushyou.blogspot.com/

Full of  new ways to use buttons in craft. Very lovely ideas and pictures.

I love this pincushion button jar - very easy to make.

Everything in this book is suited to beginners or advanced crafters looking for a new direction.

If you have one or two special / vintage / expensive buttons then this book has ideas for you.

Explanations on what glues to use and how to attach buttons for long lasting use.

Incorporating fabrics and how to expand one idea and technique into many uses.

I have worked with buttons for years and there were many ideas in here i am going to try.

All books are limited to maybe 2 - 5 copies of each. I can re-order popular titles on occasions but as 'Book Selling' is a bit new to me, i thought i wouldn't order in a huge container ship full.... you know.

I have, of course, kept a copy of every book for myself. I find them all full of awesome ideas for my workshops with children.

Keep checking the blog over the next week or so as i will go into detail for each new book.

I also have a COOL competition coming for next week and will be asking regular readers and customers help me choose some new button stock.

yippeeee x

Button Frenzy... Sale News...

 So, i have begun re-stocking the buttons after my Christmas chillaxing.

I had a huge box delivered, which is allllways exciting and i thought you might enjoy it too...

I always add extra buttons to my colour mixes so a customer will get unique and exclusive button mixes from my shops. It is part of the alchemical button mix process that i really enjoy.

 http://bigfish.etsy.com/ is expanding slightly over 2011.

I don't want to BoMbArD the customer with an overwhelming choice of buttons but... i do want to start offering any mega Crafters / button obsessives a larger amount of buttons at a better price.

So, i have decided to introduce a WHOLESALE section to my BigFish store.

 Individual button bags with 100 of each colour. Yum Yum!

Also a pack of 1,300 spotty / gingham buttons with 100 each of 13 colours.

I am not sure if i can financially stretch to hold this much stock. Running my business is a constant 'cash flow balance' (isn't any business?) but if they are not available to you directly, i can order them in very swiftly.

So.... i have already launched the SPOTTY wholesale button bags.

Soon to follow, will be these fantatsic Reels of Ribbons *swoon* i know.

I am a spoilt crafting brat and, quite frankly, i hate having random cuts of ribbon held in baskets - i want a REEL. So i can snip off ribbon whenever i feel like it. Secretly, i think you feel the same...?

Well, you can always indulge in a reel of just your favourite colour if you can "justify it". They will work out much cheaper than buying by the Metre, especially if you sell on your creations.

I think there will be a choice of 14 colours on these.

 

 Whilst un-packing the delivery box, many button bags burst (yes, that is very messy and very annoying....) but look at the mix that i discovered! If they hadn't burst i would never have seen hooooowwww pretty these 3 colours look together!

This is called "Boy Girl Party" and is available as a 100g bag

Disco pink, Aqua, White and healthy scattering of spots and stars and hearts to compliment.

 ... i am exhausted after all this *news*

[deep breath and continue]

Gingham buttons will follow the spotty buttons and spotty ribbon reels, when i get a spare hour in the next week or so. Available in 5 new colours and ALSO in the wholesale 100 bags and 1,300 collection.

 SALE * SALE * SALE

There will be a mega 'one day only' FREE POSTAGE offer coming soon.

Keep your eyes on the blog as i will announce the date here: Maybe end of Jan / Begin of Feb. My delightful UK customers will enjoy the rare - once a year only - opportunity to shop for supplies and pay far less than the rest of the year.

Why would i do that? It is no scam people, the prices are not 'going up' to compensate or anything.
{disclaimer: some prices will rise 'soon-ish' to accomodateVAT increase only}
 It allows me to move on older stock and boost cash flow... nothing more sinister. It is also a bit of a thankyou to blog readers and regulars for choosing to buy from me :) i appreciate it!

 In bewteen book-keeping & button listing... i am trying to make things for http://paperfish.etsy.com/ i have had requests from some lovely ladies for more Lavender cushions and matching sets of things. I love you for asking but i cannot start any big sewing till February. The odd little thing will get listed though (like the hanging PinPuffs above) If you are willing to wait, i would be so happy to get sewing again.

And lastly.... HOW does Kirsty fit allll this into her life? (I hear you cry)

1. i bought a tracksuit... it is the beginning of the end for me. I have never owned one but it sure is good for running up to the 'School Run' and between the Studio and the Post Office.

2. i made this awesome chocolate cake... energy = choco burst = tasty = happy.  New Year diet might be out of the window.

I know all this is alot of *news* to digest right now. Normal flippant, meaningless, storytelling blogging, will resume soon.

xxx