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Just a quick reminder about the Manchester Craft Mafia Christmas Markets in December. I’m busy working away to have lots of lovely gifts on my stall, this is why the post are a bit thin on the ground at the moment. I have been adding to my new finds list, so please check some of them out and let me know who you like.
The new flower brooches are in the shop at last, I have made only five of each design. The new purses and bags will be arriving in the next couple of weeks, I will let you know as soon as they go on sale. Hope you like them.
This week I’ve been busy making new work for the shop and doing a lot of research on the Internet. I’m trying to find wholesale suppliers for all the bits and pieces I’m using to make the new work, its very boring to be honest. I begin by looking for covered buttons and 3 hours later have a confusing amount of possibilities and wonder how I’ve managed to spend 3 hours just looking for one thing. I have to admit I do get distracted by other more exciting thingson the Internet occasionally. I had a list of all the things I wanted to accomplish this week and and I think I’m going to struggle to do everything. I have so many ideas running through my head its difficult to concentrate on one thing sometimes and as new ideas appear I get bored with the old ideas, if only i could work as quick as I can think. So Ithought I would give you a little taster of the new work in progress. Also I have made a decision to stay with the name Ness Donnelly and not return to Folk for the moment anyway.
This is a corner of my studio where I like to play around with new ideas and the making process begins.
Some new small flower pins made with suffolk puffs and covered buttons. All the fabrics in my current work are red, green or blue with a mixture of plains and prints, I wanted to add a bit more colour this time. I still loved the natural linens and pinks and browns used in previous work, so I am going to make two versions of each item one bright and one muted.
I’m also making clasp purses and bags. These remind me of my childhood, I’ve always loved purses and bags, my earliest memory of sewing was making a purse when I was about six. I also remember going on camping holidays in Wales and coming home with a purse with lots of tiny coloured beads glued to it in a folk art pattern. With these purses and bags I want to bring the show you can be grown up and still have bright and pretty bags that make you smile.
I have a week off from my paid job, so i can get on with what I love doing and make lots of lovely things for the upcoming Manchester Craft Mafia Markets. I don’t know how other craft makers manage to balance making, work and family and friends because I’m just about starting to get the hang of it. It just feels like I never have enough time to do what I want to do, I’m so busy doing what I don’t want to do.
Recently, I’ve been busy doing research formy business which Ilove to do nearly as much as making. I’m a real novice when it comes to running your own business so I thought I would document my ups and downs on the blog for anyone else thinking of taking the leap. So far I have set up my separatebusinessaccount and had a lovely chat with the bank manager about my future plans. From this chat I discovered that I could still use the name folk for my business, which made me happy and confused all at once. I love the name and feel it sums up everything I want the business to be but I have just changed everything over to ness donnelly, so now I have to decide what to do.
For new readers of my blog a bit of background is needed I think, I used to have a blog called folk prior to this one and then I did a search and found a building business in the south of England with the same name registered, so I assumed I wouldn’t be able to use it. Icouldn’t think of a new name I loved as much so decided to use my own name, hence the new blog and shop.
I also need to update the new finds sections, I have lots stored in my favourites that I haven’t had chance to put in the blog, so that will be put right this week. I will also be updating you with the progress on my new work, which I am very excited about. I will leave you with my favourite new find and the promise of more to come. hide n seek make beautiful printed works, this is my favourite because it makes me think of running away and living in the mountains with my husband and dog. This print is for sale on all things original and hide n seek also have an etsy shop
