I Knit Weekender - London: Review

Finally it arrived! I've been so excited to go to this event - it involved an early start, getting up at 6.20am to get up, dressed, fed and out to catch the bus to town to get the coach to London. I'm not allowed to travel alone due to my fits, so Stew gallantly volunteered to come with me for the day - he is good like that! Coaches are the cheap way to travel - it worked out at £12 each return to get to London from Cardiff - not bad at all really. The downside of getting the coach is that it takes about 3 hours to get there, when it is more like 2 on the train, there is not much leg room, and we ended up with a "chatty" couple in front, talking loudly about everything and anything... so it was a LONG trip down.


We arrived in the Big Smoke at 11am at Victoria Coach Station, and headed off to find Emily at the tube station. Emily lives in Peterborough near East Anglia - the other side of the country to us, so it made sense to meet in London and head over to the Expo from there. 

http://www.iknit.org.uk/

10 minutes walk from the coach station was the Royal Horticultural Halls - we spotted the Weekender straight away from the decoration outside:

So we went inside - it was £8 a ticket - I booked in advance for me and Stew, and Emily bought hers on the day. They didn't offer a disabled discount like most fairs which was a bit disappointing, especially as Stew was only coming in with me in a carers capacity.


Well... it was a mix really. What was there was really good - there were some fab stalls selling vintage goods, hand spun yarns, felting etc - there were some really beautiful yarns on offer - mostly in the higher price bracket of £10-20 a skein weighing about 100g, not that great for those on a budget.

Some of our fave stalls included Belina Harris-Reid and the Knit Expo, offering hand dyed yarns, patterns and knitting retreats to Devon (!!!), the stunning merino yarn on offer from Sweedish company Millamia - designed to be knit for kids but the yarn is so soft I bought some to knit for myself, and the stunning Alpaca yarn from the Toft Alpaca Shop - offering stunning yarn in beautiful colours, and dreamily soft to the touch, and kits to knit gorgeous bags and hats. They have also got homemade giant wodden buttons to die for!

One of my favourite stalls was there - Rachel John and her giant knitting - this one must have been a mammoth one to knit! 

 

I think that those were whittled from tree branches - must have been about 50 strands in all! Last time we saw Rachel I bought some large needles to make blankets which I featured in my previous blog post.


I think the downside of this event was that it was much much smaller than we were expecting. It took us less than an hour to walk around all the stalls - there were approx 50 stalls in all in a large hall. for £8 per person we were expecting it to take us much longer to walk around. We were also a bit disappointed that each of the lessons were priced up at about £20-40 per session, putting them way out of our price range. There were supposed to be fashion shows, but there was no-where to sit to view them (the few seats there were were taken), and with the PA blaring out I couldn't hear what they were saying anyway - whilst we were there it was someone talking about garments on stage with them on a rack - not really a 'fashion show'...


The bit that I was most looking forward to was seeing my competition entry on display, and seeing what everyone else had come up with. To my dismay, they weren't on display at all - and when I asked about it the response was that "that had not received enough entries" and were considering extending the competition. This made me a bit angry if honest - I put a lot of effort and time into entering the competition an getting it in on time, and to be told that they hadn't bothered to display the entries, and worse that they weren't awarding prizes was really sad. It seems very unfair on those who did bother to enter that you would change the boundaries of the competition after the closing date to suit them. I hope that they sort this out soon and keep to the spirit of fairness by awarding the prizes to those who have entered already.


So a mixed view of the event. What WAS there was great - but was it worth £8 each to get in and travel from Cardiff...? Not so sure...


So after a few hours we went to the pub to chat and catch up, and decide what to do next. Emily went off to meet our friend Gemma who lives in London. Stew and I jumped on the tube and went up to High St Kensington - a cool and hip part of the city, where I went to the Urban Outfitters Sale (woo!) whilst Stew found a couch to sit on, and then we had some tea in Wagamamas - a noodle and rice bar serving Oriental food - this is me tucking into the Cha Han; like a massive bowl of special fried rice: (wearing the headband I knitted for the event)

It was SO yummy! We travelled back on the coach - this time the man sitting behind SNORED the whole way home....sigh... we really don't have much luck with the people we travel with! 


So a good day out! Even Stew seemed to have a good day too. He wants to whittle me some of those giant knitting needles now!

Reminder! My Giveaway is still open until 19th September so get looking now - it's being hosted on Tigerlily's Book Blog and is accompanied by a review of my slouch beanie hat...

Debs!

Celebrate - It's giveaway time in July!

Greetings lovely people!


I've got some really good reasons to celebrate this week:


1. I reached a fantastic milestone of over 100 blog followers in my first month of blogging
2. I got a promotion at work (!)
3. I've had some really good trips out with good friends recently and had a great time with them
4. Only 1 month to go until my 1 week holiday in Norfolk - staying with the inlaws...but it's as close to a holiday as I'm going to get this summer!

SO - to celebrate! I listened to all the comments from my lovely blog followers, and I've decided to give away:

Ladybird / Ladybug Tea cosy / cozy! - RRP $16

This has been a really popular item in store and will be knitted to fit a standard sized pot. SO - you are probably wondering how you go about winning such a fantastic item...?

Well - this is what you need to do - It's not complicated - no research needed, no guessing games – it’s easy peasy!

You get 1 automatic entry into the competition if you:

a. Leave me a comment under this blog entry saying what your favourite item in my Etsy shop is
b. You get another entry if you have left a comment and follow my blog.
c. You get another entry for following me on Facebook
d. You will get another entry if you follow me on Twitter
e. Lastly if you tweet, post to your facebook fan page or post on your own blog a link back to this blog competition you get another entry.

So maximum of 5 chances to win…how cool is that!?

Please leave 1 comment for each entry you are submitting, and make sure when you leave your comment on this blog post that you say where I can contact you (email address, Etsy username, twitter handle, facebook fan page etc)

The winner will be announced on Wednesday 28th July at 8pm BST!

Good Luck!

Blog Feature - GooseEatFox

This is my second in a series of features of different crafty sellers from around the world - this week I'm featuring the wonderful GooseEatFox!

Q: How did you start out on Etsy?

I first heard of Etsy when I was in college, and I was always envious of people who had a shop! But the time was never right until after I graduated, when I finally had some free time... so I decided to take the plunge. It's been great -- it's opened up a whole other world for me. The artist/crafter community is a neat culture, and I'm really enjoying it. My mission here is clothing rehabilitation, creating re-constructed clothing and accessories.

Q: What inspires you as an artist?

Nothing inspires me more as an artist than a long trip to the thrift store. It's just so full of *potential*... it literally makes me giddy. I love to pick up something and say to myself, "What can this *become*?" Being able to remake something, to give it a new purpose, a new direction, is really cool for me. It's poetry.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

Right now, I'm working mostly on marketing and taking better photos. I feel like I've got a pretty good handle on the actual creation process; my products are good. Presenting them in a way that does them justice, and getting them "out there" is a bit more of a challenge for me. But I'm working on it, new skills take time.

Q: What do you do when you aren't working on your Etsy store?

Outside of Etsy, I'm an organic farmer in the Rio Grande Valley in New Mexico. It's been my dream for years to be a farmer, and I'm having a blast!

***PROMOTION***
GooseEatFox is taking part in the Etsy-wide Christmas in July Sale from 11-31st July - and is offering FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING on all items in store!


Thanks a lot to BackwoodSophisticate for being my 100th blog follower! Looking to launch my next blog giveaway NEXT WEEK in celebration - more details to follow...

Featured Seller: Dadswoodentoys

This is the first in a series of features of sellers that I will be featuring in my blog from all kinds of crafts and all kinds of stores - not just Etsy! This week I'm featuring Dadswoodentoys

Q: How did you get started making toys?

I am married with 4 wonderful kids
On them I am not taking bids

I have 7 yr old, 2 yr old and 4 yr old twins
each of them special no one of them wins

I want the best for them all
and that's how I started rolling this ball

The toys every where made noise and light
but I think the kids not the toys should be bright

So my wife and I were searching to find
toys that were natural and good for their mind

I decided I'd just make some instead
Now you see where all of that led...

Q: Why types of natural materials are used in your craft and why is that so important?

I know natural things are generally good
that is why everything I make is wood

It's natural and nontoxic you see
the way I think more things should be

No chemicals paints or dyes
just wood without any disguise

I also enjoy the comforting fact
that my toys left anywhere long enough stacked

will eventually return into the ground
leaving nothing unhealthy that could be found

many new toys are destined to fill
a garbage dump somewhere disguised as a hill

even when thousands of years have past
those broken toys will continue to last

Q: What is it that you want to accomplish with your store?

The goals for this store are many yet one
ultimately I want kids to have fun

but also I want to be kind to the trees
not filling up landfills way up past our knees

Of course I hope to earn some money
a store that didn't now that would be funny

But profits are not my only concern
for happy bright kids I also yearn

Q: What are you working on at the moment ?

My newest endeavors tend to be requests
I like trying new things at a person's request

Are you looking for an animal that is not here
I love a challenge I'll not hide in fear

give me a challenge to brighten my day
"No" is the absolute worst I could say

But I promise to consider each request very well any doubts in my talent I hope to dispel

commission a masterpiece made at your wish
maybe a face, or a dog or a fish

my best work has been with one piece of wood
so what do you think would make wood look good?

Q: What you like to do outside of Etsy?

Outside of etsy I work most the day
but when I get home I like to play

with my kids, they consume my life
I am also in love with my beautiful wife

camping and hiking are a few of the things
that I consider increase the joy that life brings

Written by Dadswoodentoys:
www.dadswoodentoys.etsy.com
www.dadswoodentoys.blogspot.com

Special Dadswoodentoys Blog Feature Offer!
As a special offer to my lovely blog readers, Dadswoodentoys has offered to give an EXTRA SUPRISE animal to all customers who mentions my blog www.debs102.blogspot.com when ordering!

Do you want a blog feature too?
Interested in being featured in my blog? Leave a comment on my blog with a way of contacting you, a link to your website or store and tell me why you want a blog feature!

...We have a Winner!

I've been so happy with the amazing response this giveaway has had - I was a bit worried that it might flop... but it's been very exciting!

And at 3pm here in the UK (BST) I went to a random number generator and picked the winner - and that winner was...

MISSY!

Well done to you - the berry themed slouch hat will be winging it's way to you soon!


To say thank you to all that have entered, I'm offering all entrants 20% off their next purchase in store until 31st July 2010. Redemption codes will be winging their way to all of you that entered very soon!

The next giveaway will be happening later in the month - hoping to make this a regular event so make sure you are following me to enter!

What should I giveaway next....?

Take a look in store and leave your suggestions as a comment on this post - the shop listing with the most votes will be my next giveaway!

Debs

Celebrate - It's giveaway time!

It's giveaway time...at last!

I am celebrating:

1. Over 50 blog followers in 1 week of me launching the site – score!
2. It’s my 25th birthday coming up on the 8th July
3. It is gorgeous and sunny here in Cardiff - summer is here!
4. I need cheering up after a rubbish time recently...

I’m quite stupendously excited about it all!!

It's not complicated - no research needed, no guessing games – it’s easy peasy!

You get automatic entry into the competition if you:

a. Leave me a comment under this blog entry saying what you would buy from my Etsy shop if you had a blank cheque…
b. You get another entry if you have left a message and follow my blog.
c. You get another entry for following me on Facebook
d. You will get another entry if you follow me on Twitter
e. Lastly if you tweet or post on your own blog a link back to this blog competition you get another entry.

So maximum of 5 chances to win… - how cool is that!?

There's a choice of prize for the lucky winner!

EITHER:

A gorgeous slouch beanie hat in NEW berry colours from my new knitted collection - worth $18!

Or

A stunning pair of 100% wool cabled glovettes (fingerless gloves) in navy blue - worth a cool $12!

Please make sure when you leave your comment on this blog post that you say which prize you would choose, and also where I can contact you (email address, Etsy username, twitter handle, facebook fan page etc)

Winner will be picked at random on Saturday 3rd July at 3pm GMT!

Pob Lwc!

(Good Luck!)

Debs!

50 Followers!

Thank you Sarah @ Magnolia Suprise - you are my 50th blog follower, which can only mean 1 thing - I can launch my SUPER knitted blog giveaway!

I can reveal that I will be launching the giveaway on Saturday 26th June (this Sat!) and will be for a custom one off piece of knitwear I'm currently finishing off - a real quality piece from my new collection!

So countdown from now ....3 days to go!

The wonderous new world of Etsy stats!

I've been selling on Etsy since November 09, and to begin with really just threw the shop up in time to catch some good Christmas sales, then have been tinkering with it ever since trying to improve it and make it look professional and sleek... still working on it!

As I was chatting in the forums yesterday I was introduced (a bit late in the day it seems) to the world of Etsy statistics and how to track views, treasuries, features and hearts in store - it was a real eye opener!

I'd heard of Google Ananlytics, but it looked complicated to set up, and I didn't really understand what I was doing. Then I got directed to this really helpful Etsy Guide that had been there all along showing me how to set up Etsy web analytics properly - and to my dismay and delight it was very very easy! (Felt a bit silly for not doing it sooner!!)

Once this was all set up and after a wait of 24 hours for it to kick in, I tried out Craftopolis - logged in with my Etsy username and more data than I could handle flew at me - who has hearted me when, how many hearts were on each item, which page my item appeared on when searched, what treasuries I'd been in recently - it's a data junkie's dream!

Now I realise that most of you are very clued up in this already, which is why I write this with awe as well as a bit of sheepish embarrassment - HOW didn't I find this out sooner?! Was I blind to the info out there for me, or was I looking in the wrong places? Or is it that lucky people happen to stumble across a knowledgeable person in the forums at some point like I did and it then all becomes clearer...?

I'm not sure - but I would say that if you haven't got this set up in your store - do it! It is much quicker and simpler than it appears, and now when I get put into a treasury I won't miss it if the creator doesn't send me a message to tell me I've been included. I feel like a proper seller at last!


**** UPDATE - I'm going to launch a SUPER knitted blog giveaway when I reach 50 followers so if you are not already doing so get following! More details to follow....****