DIY Fridays: Ring Display Box

I've been busy lately, but I'm now dedicating more time towards DIY Projects when I'm not busy with the shop!

I made this ring display because there aren't enough blogs out there that show displays, especially for craft shows or market stalls! I made a different one for my day out at Camden, but I made another one for my collection of rings.


Here's what you will need:

- Sellotape

- Double sided tape

- Stanley Knife

- Scissors

- T Shirt fabric

- Chocolate box

1) Eat all the chocolates! YUMMMM <3

2) Remove all inner packaging and tape all the edges of the box.

3) Use your double sided tape and stick it across your box, to stop the fabric sliding around when you slice the ring slots in.

4) wrap your box, with double sided tape, and if you want a stronger hold, you could use duct tape around the edges and back of the fabric.

5) With your stanley knife, carefully slice your slots.

 6) With your scissors, gently push the sides to create an opening for your ring.

This is your box!

Ta-dah!

Katherine xo

Camden Times!

Me and my friend, Saxon have been busy making jewellery for our day out in Camden. I loved this time because we were more prepared for the day, and it was less stressful setting up! As you can see, we make a lot of jewellery. ;) This is why I have been absent from the shop lately.

I had a great time bonding and making new friends, although it was unexpectedly quiet! I'm still glad I did it though, because I met Natalie from Milk River and she made me realise that I need to add value to my products, because they are unique and people should have a unique experience, so that I will not be discounting my stuff so harshly from now on :). We also traded our products, as I'm in love with handmade goodness and collect a lot of them :).

Here is the goodies that I got:

I'll be adding stuff gradually to the shop tomorrow too, and I have some DIYs in store this week, which I hope you will like!

Katherine xo

Studio Shennanigans.

I've been busy making A LOT of things for mine and my friends day of selling in Camden! Some will be featured in a YouTube video tomorrow. I've been making loads of necklaces and bracelets and a few earrings, which I hope everyone will like!

I'm also selling a few pieces from my sister's online shop, Lotty Lotts Jewellery! Here are a few pieces of what I'd be selling:

If there's anything in particular that you want to get from mine or my sister's shop should do so now before this Friday, as I will be shutting up for the weekend, due to selling in Camden.

If anyone visits, I accept Mastercard/ Maestro card payments, so you can snap up some things with less hassle! :)

Katherine xo

3rd year anniversary post!

Good Evening everyone!

As I am writing this, I am having a whale of a time at home, chilling with my brother and good friend, playing some Nintendo wii and chatting away :).

I have had a difficult year, with my business growing quicker than I thought and then balancing that with University, which was making me a lot more unfocused in both aspects of my life. I wanted to do well at Uni, but then I didn't want to stop progressing with my shop because I saw so much potential and was scared that if I stopped trying then my business would suffer. Maybe this has been a scary year, as a lot of weight had been put on my shoulders.


I don't think my shop has maintained that cute, quirky style that I had liked, and now has become more random, so over the next few months, certain pieces will be moved over to either Iffy Jewellery or sold on eBay to then re-invest into my shop for a much needed change!

Compared to my time last year, I have gotten myself out of my MASSIVE credit card debt, which was a real worry in my life, and for that I'm truly happier than I have ever been. I have also sort of re-gained my love for fashion and I'm now thinking up a new Autumn/Winter Collection for my shop, which I will start working on next month.

Now that my education is over and at the moment, I'm working part-time, I am now thinking a lot clearly and  know what the shop needs in terms of stock, and what needs to be done to grow, so I'm going to be a lot more active about it and push it to where it should be! I've also gotten myself a new assistant that will be coming to help out occassionally with the shop too so hopefully there would be a lot more in stock.

Anyway, enough rambling, I need to plan my week out ;)

Katherine xo

DIY: Scratch Card Tickets

At last, I have a DIY! It's been a while because of Uni and stuff, but I can only hope that I can get back into the habit of this feature and hopefully get you all crafting!

All credit goes to The Dainty Squid, who thought of this amazing idea! I got a bunch of cards from vistaprint as they were promoting cards for free (when paid for P&P and VAT).

If you would like to make your own, please click here, and have a go!

I found it difficult at first to get the consistency right between the washing up liquid and acrylic paint, but I found that if I mixed the paint colour with white or painted it pure black, it was a lot easier to become opaque. I also used sellotape over the bit that was being painted, which was great and convenient :). 

I was lazy about bordering off the edges because I thought I had a steady hand, which I don't! I would say definitely border off the edges with masking tape or something to help keep it neat, but I found that if you have a nice quality flat edged paintbrush, it kept my cards as neat as possible.

I'm giving them out at Camden (selling on the 21st) and to every customer that stops by at my shop! I think this is an wicked and clever idea to charm customers and hopefully make them come back!

Happy crafting!

Katherine xo

Anniversary Discount

In celebration of my 3rd year anniversary of running my shop, I have decided to create a discount for everyone to enjoy for a few days! :) The actual anniversary is on the 15th, but I'm selling in Camden the following week so I thought I'd do it a bit early.

Katherine xo

I've Graduated!

(I designed this dress, by the way. I loved wearing my fashions, especially in African fabric, on this great occasion)

YAY!

I have graduated from University, with a BA in Textiles for Fashion and Interiors!

I was so happy to have passed my course, and then graduated, I wanted to get a good grade so badly, and it has been an emotional year for me, mostly because I have been constantly anxious due to my bad grade in my 2nd year- I have since been suffering from panic attacks, especially with balancing my studies with running an online shop, but I'm glad to have come through the other side smiling!

My graduation was at Guildford Cathedral in Surrey- it is a beautiful place, but I'm only annoyed that it was raining during the ceremony! :( However, I got to shake Zandra Rhodes' hand (she's a famous textiles and fashion designer and is a Chancellor for my Uni) and I was sooo star struck. At least I can say I've met someone well known, even if it was for 5 seconds, haha.

I'm not 100% sure if I would be pursuing Textiles as a career, at least maybe not with my specialism in woven textiles- but I have grown to love and enjoy my course, as testing as it has been. I have also been blessed with some amazing friends who I hope I will keep in contact with.

Graduating from Uni has been the happiest day of my life- whilst I was and still am nervous about my future after University, I'm excited to be free of education, and I'm excited to start my new journey in life. I never thought I would even get into University, yet alone get through it, and now I'm ready for some new adventures!

Katherine xo

Shop Updates

I have finally sewn up some new clothing for the shop! It's been a while since I have done this, I have been so pre-occupied with jewellery and stuff that clothing has taken a bit of a back seat lately. I'm aiming to balance the jewellery/clothing ratio in the shop, so I'll be slowing down the jewellery build up and adding more clothes!

I made these applique t shirts and tops to celebrate my quirky style, and the freespirited, rebellious, vibrant nature that I have always wanted to capture in everything I make- especially now it's coming up to my 3rd year in business.

Hope you can have a look, and snap a few pieces? :)

Katherine