Accessory Mayhem.

Good Evening!

I have been really busy in the studio, creating a lot of goodies for my shop. I decided to create a few more multiples of the things that I have in my shop, to show more variety and not make everything look so jumbled and random, and just generally more coherent!

I have some news in regards for my shop though:
- From Monday 1st of August, I will be cutting down the hours I am spending in my studio until Mid-May 2012, when I graduate, as I want to focus more on my studies for Uni. I really want to push myself to do well, and I think that I am prioritizing my shop over Uni a bit too much. So rather than every other day like I usually do, I will be spending my Saturdays in the studio, creating new things, and on a Sunday listing new items, blog posts and such.

- Because of this, I will no longer be doing wholesale orders until I graduate, and people who want custom orders should expect to have a 10 day turnaround time, but if you would want it sooner, I would definitely arrange a time with you to send it that would be good for both of us.

And finally, today is the last day of my sale in the shop, so take advantage! enter 'HAPPYANNIVERSARY' upon checkout for a 50% discount.

I hope you can understand where I am coming from, and I hope you enjoy everything that's new in the shop!

Katherine

A Belated Anniversary Post

This is kind of a belated anniversary post on my shop... It has been an emotional two years, but I'm still growing, both as a person and a Designer/Maker, and my style has changed throughout my time of selling online.

I have always been a somewhat creative person, and I had become more expressive within my Art during my year at London College of Fashion, where although I was really happy experimenting with my sketchbook and stuff, the design aspect was really difficult, as there was a sense of restricted freedom. I knew from this point that I disliked fashion, not in the sense that I didn't have any passion for it, but because the pressure to come up with something that was original, yet in trend was too much, and I've never followed trends!

This was one of my designs that I had designed for a shoot for a class magazine, which didn't get featured. The model that I worked with, had said that she loved my style and I should sell my designs. This was like a light bulb moment in my head, so I had finished my foundation, started job hunting and doing volunteer work at my local charity shop.

I didn't find any jobs, and after randomly searching on Google, I stumbled across Etsy. After looking at people's shops, I was like "I could sell my designs here, the community on here seems so amazing!" So I collected as much clothing as my Manager at my charity shop would let me have for one month, and through a  bit of trial and error, created 6 pieces for my shop. Here are some of them:

   

I have faced many challenges first hand whilst getting the hang of things in the shop, such as customer issues, pricing issues, and photography issues. As a 19 year old, I had no idea about running a business, it really was a scary thing, but I know I would get there eventually. The worst thing that did happen was when I got into a £2,000 debt, due to a flawed plan, and it was hard to get the business to grow when I owed so much money, and living by myself for the first time, it really saddened me to be in so much debt on my 21st birthday. Luckily, thanks to student finance, my parents, and my agency work, as well as my business, I have been able to pay off 2/3 of my debt, and lived kind of comfortably for the year I was away from home.

Now I have so much more passion for handmade, indie businesses, especially my own business, and I know that in a few years, I will be a lot more successful! I also have gained a lot more skill and more creativity since running my shop, and although I'm not the most religious person, I thank God for every sale and opportunities that he has brought me and I hope I get a lot more!

Have a great evening!

Katherine

Much Love Mondays #05: O Bella Naturals.

Hey guys, I'm aware that it's not monday, but I forgot to put a post for this yesterday, as I was watching Jersey Shore! I'm a freak for that show. Anyway, here is a quick post of an Artist I love, which is:



I had come across O Bella, through a Featured Seller Article on Etsy about a year ago, and when I read it, I was completely in awe. Betsy, the owner of her brand seemed to have a warm character, and I love how passionate she is about everything from the beautiful things she creates, to the food she makes being absolutely natural.





She has always been my inspiration over the year that I have been 'following' her, and reading her blog and watching her shop has been a constant inspiration and motivation to be shameless of the things I create, and be as distinctive as I possibly can, which I have been working on for the few months!

Everything about O Bella is completely natural in style, processes and colours.

Blog
Twitter
Clothing shop

Katherine xo

New Market Totes.

I am introducing a limited addition to my shop; the heart market tote. I created these on a whim after my day on the stall in Camden, because I wanted to now appeal to the mainstream market, but still keep my  quirky edge. They are affordable too, and they make your outfit look really cute! So, get your shop on! 

Don't forget, this is the last week for my 50% off sale! just type in 'HAPPYANNIVERSARY' upon checkout. Offer ends Sunday! :)

Katherine xo

Sharing Circle.

As I am writing this, I am watching my Omnibus of all the soaps I have missed. I was totally inspired (inspired? I mean I wanted to join in) by Jill's blog on Lune Vintage. So I wanted to share a few odd habits I have so you can get to know me better! :)

I have 4 tattoos. 

Only the angel and my heart tattoo mean something to me, the scales was done because my sister was treating me and the tribal mark was just because I got excited because I was getting my student loan.

I call every Sunday, Lazy Sundays. I'm taking advantage of my faith and use the day of Sabbath to just relax, watch TV all day and just read up on people's blogs. The only work I do with my business is adding new items in my shop.

The colour I paint my nails is my general mood at the time I paint them. Last week's colour was black, so I am feeling more serious, a little bit melancholy and a bit dark minded.

I get excited with own brand food at supermarkets. Everyone that knows me knows I get overly excited when I see a Sainsbury's Basics item... I think I actually know the cost of every Sainsbury's basics item in that supermarket!

When I lived in my student house, I lived on a budget of £7.50 a week on food. It was hard at first, but I got the hang of it eventually through my creativity and I lost a lot of weight! Its a shame it all came back on when I moved back with the parents!

I like to budget, but people don't understand that sometimes I just am incapable of sticking to it, there is so much temptation in the world!

I love food, but I'm all about convenience. I hate standing for too long, making food, unless I have company, then all is well! :)

I like to add "lol" and "haha" at the beginning and end of each sentence when I'm talking to people online. I don't know what's wrong with me. :D

Enough randomness on my part, I hope you enjoyed reading my post!

Katherine xo

Lots of fresh new stuff in the shop.

I have lots of new summer stuff to sell! I was so excited when I was creating my Minnie bow Jewellery, because it represents everything my shop is about; quirky, cute and makes a statement!

I think they have a somewhat vintage feel to it, or some kind of ultra feminine edge... maybe that's just my imagination running away with me.

I have also made some cute tube tops, which are very versatile! you can wear it on its own, or over a tank top, or wear a skirt over it, or over a bikini during the summer months.

Well, I'm off!

I shall add some more hair slides, headbands, and tote bags tomorrow.

Katherine xo

I've been away for way too long.

Hello lovelies, sorry for the lack of blogging lately, I've felt extremely lazy this week... I have had so many distractions and everything that it's distracting me from my work. But I also have to realize that I have to have a life too, and not be so consumed by my work, as much as I really want it to go well, I shouldn't run before I can walk with my business. :)

So heres what I have been up to:

I went out to a club in London, it was very entertaining. This is the first time I had been clubbing properly in London in my life. I absolutely loved it, because for once I wasn't too drunk or emotional, I had a real blast, enjoying my life as a newly singleton, and enjoying the nightlife. I want to definately do this again :)

I had a bit of a re-organisation in my attic/studio space. I know it's not some delicately placed and magazine worthy type of space, but its my space, I keep it real, haha. It's just how I work. 

Did you notice my new pink sewing machine? Yeah, my other sewing machine that I have had more or less the same time that I have been running my machine just absolutely fell apart, and I just thought, enough is enough, so I bought a nice new one. I JUST noticed a sewing machine shop in Croydon, so I am going to make a stop there and buy a nice one, with insurance, of course. Although I love this pink machine, it is noisy, and its hard to sew it onto harder fabrics in comparison to my last one, and it absolutely sounds scary! 

My attic is quite awkward, so It's hard to put things away properly without making everything look cluttered. However, compared to the state that it was in before, when I had just moved back from Farnham, it is a much better condition.

                      
I got a new tattoo! I have been wanting one for the past year, but because I was heavily in debt, I couldn't get one. It's not perfect, but let's face it, none of my tattoos are. But this one is most significant, as it shows my love for sewing mostly, but for everything remotely creative.

Okay, I'm talking too much again, but before I go, please don't forget to take advantage of my discount, where you get 50% off everything in my shop, when you type 'HAPPYANNIVERSARY' upon checkout. :)

Have a great day!

Katherine xo

I have new things for sale!

Here are most of the things that I have created this week for sale in my shop.  I hope you love them as much as I do! I have been thinking of making simpler things for the people who don't necessarily want an outrageously extravagant piece like some of the things I create myself. Stay tuned for lots of cute things! :)

New Goodiesssss.

I have new pieces in the shop, especially the beautifully and lovingly knitted 'Minnie' bow hair slides. I have been busy making these bad boys, and I have been helping making the BBQ in the garden, and now I stink of  the smoke, which I absolutely hate. I'm actually quite worn out now, so I haven't got much to say. I am going tor read some of the blogs that I love, and then change out of my clothes, and then sleep.

Have a great evening!

Katherine xo

Happy Anniversary!

I'm so excited, its been 2 years since I first opened my shop, and only had like 6 items for sale. Now its two years later, and I've got like 144 items for sale, and consignments with numerous boutiques around the world. It's been an emotional 2 years, but it has given me a new love for creating new things, and I have a more appreciation for a lot of things handmade. 

Please take advantage of my discount, and I hope you can join me in this celebration!

I have been creating some 'cheap as chips' hair slides, which will gradually be added to the shop later on today, along with nearly a dozen new garments. (yes, I have been busy.)

Have a brilliant day!

Katherine. xo

Market Stall Inspirations.

I am just in that 'market stall' mind, sorry guys! haha.

I'm just browsing for some inspiration, and I think these would be perfect!



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I loved the way that the accessories and jewellery were displayed, this has really given me an idea of how to display mine in the future! I'm overly excited, so I will calm down now. :)

What I have learnt.

Since my amazing adventure in Camden yesterday, I felt as if it was a great learning experience. It was a great way to just really think about what I am doing wrong and what I need to do to further improve my sales when I return there. I really want to make a success of myself online and offline. I'm not the most religious person ever, but I felt as if God had given me the courage and confidence to expose myself to the public and go to Camden with my friend to think about what people like and don't like, and what sells!

I woke up today... 6am to be exact, because my new blackberry decided to fail on me and die even though I charged it last night! Anyway, I layed there for a couple of hours, and a ton of ideas came to me! Then I went on ebay and bought a few lovely supplies to create some necklaces. I really want to create jewellery, and I have had this hidden passion for a while, but it was since my internship that I am now taking the plunge.

So I have decided, that in all future stalls:
- I will no longer bring LOADS of clothing like I always do. Some of the clothes I make look a lot better on the mannequin, and when its just hanging there on the clothing rail, it doesn't show it off as usual. From now on, it will be the simple, statement pieces that I will bring.
- I will be bringing a lot of accessories, so that all you lovely people can snap up some little pieces to remember me by if you can't afford to buy some of the clothing!

That's all I remember right now, but I am trying to have a lot more focus and attention to details when doing this.

Have a great evening!

Katherine xo

Camden Market Times!

Hello everyone!

Today I am just going to write a quick post on me and my friends adventure in our market stall in Camden. 

It was really great, although it was really quiet, so there wasn't a lot of customers to check out our stuff, but nonetheless, we had such an amazing time, and we swapped some of our creations, which I will be rocking in future outfit posts! We munched on vegan burgers, Chinese food, burgers and had gallons of caffeine (lots of coke and coffees/fraps). It was also a great way to brainstorm some ideas on how we can display our creations properly, and hopefully get a better stall! It seems that the earlier you come, the more likely you are to get a better stall, so next time, I will arrive 30 minutes earlier than before, so that we can get a more attractive stall, and get a lot more sales!

I would say she is one of my greatest friends, I am glad that we are working together on our stall! We are hopefully also going to the Oktoberfest in Germany, seeing as its probably around the time of my birthday. 

Here are some photos:

Amelie's Display

Me proudly holding my clutch on our display.

 Amelie proudly showing off her display!

 Amelie loves my stuff, that's why we work well together! :D

My postcards I ordered from Vistaprint FINALLY came! I love them, I am gonna use them for our next event! :) This was exactly what I needed to promote myself even more. :) I have used a couple of them to display in my studio space, and I hope this will make me want to be true to myself.

Man, am I tired? I've already drawn out a plan for next time we come, so I hope this time it really well!

Good night lovelies!