Third Newletter

Getting through these newsletters now not sure who reads them tho lol

So quick reminder of christmas orders

Christmas Orders will need to be ordered and paid for by 1^st - 14^th October. I will be providing 15-20 slots for orders which are available from now and dates range from mid September to end of October. If you reserve or gain a slot during September your order will need to be paid in full by 15^th September. If your slot is first half of October your order is to be paid in full by 1^stOctober and lastly if your slot is late October your full payment needs to be in by 14^th October however you will be advised of this at time of ordering.

If you wish to reserve a slot now I will need £1 deposit and full details of order. You can change order up until 15^th September after which time any extra additions will be added after all other orders are completed again will be advised at time. Once all slots are filled I will be able to inform those who may have missed out if theres any extra space.

Unfortunately due to time constraints this refers to any normal non chrismtas items ordered during this time.

For those unsure why im having this system and doing no orders during November and December is because im due another little boy o 23^rd November and my eldest son is 5 on the 16^th November so will be taking at least 3 months off. If I comeback will be big changes to page. There are now only about 10 slots left so grab whilst you can x

This weeks offer is on Bags :)

It will run from 23^{rd -} July 5^th August 

All bags are now with 20% off including change bags, tote bags, back pack and pe bags.  Postage on tote bags and pe bags is free rest normal charges apply sorry. 

Change bags normally around £30-40 now: £24- £32

Tote bags normally small £7 big £10 now: £5.60 and £8

Back Packs normally start at £15 now: £12

Pe bags normally £12 or 2 for £20 now: £9.60 or 2 for £16

BARGAIN!!! any materials personalisation for free :)

Links to albums

Change and pram bags: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.194932040619877.42197.178990222214059&type=3

Back packs: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.204610969651984.44806.178990222214059&type=3

Tote bags: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?

set=a.186577744788640.40097.178990222214059&type=3

Pe/drawstring bags: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.186574248122323.40094.178990222214059&type=3

Multi purpose bag https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.186568238122924.40091.178990222214059&type=3

I also have one last offer and to first person to order and pay can get a  spiderman cape (see albums) for £8 normally £12 with free postage xx

Week 2 - Newletter

So this is the 2nd newsletter of the month with a new offer :)

offer this week is on Pixie boots :) these can be used for decoration on a shelf perfect as an alternative christening, birthday or christmas present. they can also have string attached for putting on your christmas tree. the decorative ones come in a organza bag the tree ones wont sorry. these are not for wearing if wish same for wearing or different sized please ask but wont be included in offer.

They can be done in any colour combination of your choice and are decorated with a few pony beads and bells.

This offer will run from 16th July- 22nd July 10pm. This means ordering and full payment before this time to get offer. These will NOT include free postage sorry x

Heres link for Christmas album if you click the right arrow there is plenty of pictures of them :) 

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.251704854942595.54851.178990222214059&type=3

Offer prices are : £4 each or 2 for £6 or 4 for £10


Due to prices of material i have to insist if buy more than one pair you can't have them all different fabric during offer unless i have what you want in my stash already if pick 1-2 pairs has to be same fabric up to 4-6 pairs can be 2 fabrics or more than 6 can chose 3 :)

Christmas Orders will need to be ordered and paid for by 1^st - 14^th October. I will be providing 15-20 slots for orders which are available from now and dates range from mid September to end of October. If you reserve or gain a slot during September your order will need to be paid in full by 15^th September. If your slot is first half of October your order is to be paid in full by 1^stOctober and lastly if your slot is late October your full payment needs to be in by 14^th October however you will be advised of this at time of ordering.

If you wish to reserve a slot now I will need £1 deposit and full details of order. You can change order up until 15^th September after which time any extra additions will be added after all other orders are completed again will be advised at time. Once all slots are filled I will be able to inform those who may have missed out if theres any extra space.

Unfortunately due to time constraints this refers to any normal non chrismtas items ordered during this time.

For those unsure why im having this system and doing no orders during November and December is because im due another little boy o 23^rd November and my eldest son is 5 on the 16^th November so will be taking at least 3 months off. If I comeback will be big changes top page.

July 2012

NEWSLETTER

Welcome to The Red Spotty Mushrooms verey first newsletter J

I will be posting this via my blog but if you want to sign up for regular emails when their available let me know through message tab on facebook wall (www.facebook.com/theredspottymushroom) or email me at shroomdesigns@hotmail.co.uk.

So the serious stuff first

IMPORTANT NEWS

Christmas Orders will need to be ordered and paid for by 1^st - 14^th October. I will be providing 15-20 slots for orders which are available from now and dates range from mid September to end of October. If you reserve or gain a slot during September your order will need to be paid in full by 15^th September. If your slot is first half of October your order is to be paid in full by 1^st October and lastly if your slot is late October your full payment needs to be in by 14^th October however you will be advised of this at time of ordering J

If you wish to reserve a slot now I will need £1 deposit and full details of order. You can change order up until 15^th September after which time any extra additions will be added after all other orders are completed again will be advised at time. Once all slots are filled I will be able to inform those who may have missed out if theres any extra space J

Unfortunately due to time constraints this refers to any normal non chrismtas items ordered during this time.

For those unsure why im having this system and doing no orders during November and December is because im due another little boy o 23^rd November and my eldest son is 5 on the 16^th November so will be taking at least 3 months off. If I comeback will be big changes top page J

OFFERS

Im vowing from now (well started 2 weeks ago) until September to have a special offer a week there is also discounts on multiple items and early christmas ordering (before September 15^th)

Last weeks offer was 20% off all gift and keyring items and week before was £2 off all mini cushions. This weeks offer will run from Monday 2^nd July 9am till Sunday 15^th July midnight. Items need to be paid in full to gain the discount. And that offer is:

Superhero Capes normall £8 for one or £10 for 2 of same colour or £15 for 2 of different colours

now £5 for one or £7 for two of same colour or £10 for 2 of different colours

Superhero sets: cape, eye mask and arm cuffs normally £12 now £10

Reversible cape normally £15 now £10 any colours add extra £2 for mask and cuffs

And to help on top im offering these with FREE postage!!!!! Bargain perfect gift for Christmas and can be personalised for free also. These capes are unlined but can be done lined or reversible also included in offer and done in variety of sizes age 2-8 velcro or tie fastened. 


heres the link  https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.232225983557149.50821.178990222214059&type=3

Sorry it isn’t a very long one for first go but I hope to provide you with any helpful hints and tips I come across that are useless. Easy tutorials for you and your children. and even mini tutorials for fixing simple tears and lost buttons etc J

I hope to do short newsletters weekly due to wanting to do weekly offers and big once at least once a month J thanks for reading and would enjoy feedback good or bad

I haven't had much time to create any more tutorials and i am by no means an author lol so thought i would leave you with some of my favourite tutorials before we head off camping tomorrow :) were off to a Buddhist festival were daddy does his thing and me and little one play and enjoy the rest well sort of ;) so i shall come back with some amazing pics for you to go wow over :) for now here's my top 10 tutorials:


1.  I have made me and my son one of these each (obviously did mine slightly bigger) and its a fab easy tutorial and a great looking bag at end and only uses about metre of fabric so bargain too :) http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/2010/08/back-to-school-free-let%E2%80%99s-go-backpack-pattern-tutorial/


2. This is lovely uses little fabric but looks cute when made and can be hand sewn would look fab in babies nursery too :) the link to pattern to print off is on right of page
http://www.spoolsewing.com/blog/2008/05/16/bird-mobile/


3. This is another good value one to make uses up scraps and looks lush!
http://www.cluckclucksew.com/2009/10/tutorial-scrap-buster-fall-pillow.html


4. This is a cute one for the kids and they could even help you make it only small so again another one can use scraps for
http://thelongthread.com/?p=7370


5. This is a paper flower these might be bit harder and longer to do but look amazing and you will have fun trying :)
http://www.100layercake.com/blog/2011/07/22/diy-storybook-paper-roses/


6. I personally hate those beaded dummy clips but also my son was forever spitting his out so soother savers are fab so here's a fab one to make
http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/2010/10/october-14-pacifier-clip-tutorial-sophie-lili-giveaway/


7. This is another cheap one to make and PERFECT to make with the kids in those boring days leading up to   Xmas when they moan
http://pepperbuttons.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/diy-snowflake-wreath.html


8. This is just cute no explanation needed just click :)
http://thelongthread.com/?p=173


9.Fab for Xmas for those little boys who want to be builder when grow up :)
http://2littlehooligans.blogspot.co.uk/2010/12/big-boy-tool-belt-tutorial.html


10.Just cute and what my previous tutorial blog was partly based on along with many others
http://thelittlehousebythesea.wordpress.com/2008/11/03/toadstool-cottage-and-mushroom-house-%E2%80%93-free-pattern-and-tutorial/


So hope you enjoyed those would be amazing to see if anyone made anything from them :) x

I saw a tutorial for a fairy house online so decide so design my own and do a tutorial for it :) 


First you need:
thick felt- i got some from eBay and is about 5-6 mm thick
thinner red and white felt
thread
thick strong needle
scissors
cardboard
stuffing
beads, buttons and other decorative items including felt scraps


Step one:
I cut out a circle approx the size i wanted the top part of my mushroom to be and cut it into 4. placed on the red felt and cut out as shown.

Step two:

Cut some white dots however you wish to decorate the top of your mushroom be sure to not sew any spots too close to the edge of the triangles so they don't get sewn into the seams or you can skip to next step then come back to do this step :) 

Step three:
You can chose to do this step before previous :)


You need to now sew your quarters together i sewed them straight however later on realised you need sew on a slant so starting at outer edge about 10mm from edge sew to a point so end up with slanted line

Once all sewn should end up with slight pointy type dome :) Also note front centre why its good idea to sew spots on after this stage lol .

Step four

You now need to decide how raised you want your 'dome' the smaller the circle underneath the more raised up your dome will be but you may need to adjust your original seams so don't end up with a pointy lumpy dome.

I laid my dome as above pic shows and measure from one end to other to determined the diameter of my circle

I cut it out of felt and then again 1cm smaller out of thick card

Step five:

Next place dome on top and pin in place so cardboard is inside. because your cardboard is smaller you have a 1cm seam allowance meaning can use machine without fear of sewing through cardboard and breaking a needle. Sew all way around leaving a 10cm gap 

Stuff with well stuffing!! so its nice and plump no baggy areas but don't overstuffed as the based will bulge and it wont sit straight :) Once you have stuffed enough close up using machine again

You have now done the top :) 

Next is the house :) 

Step one: 

I started by deciding what height i wanted my house. my thick felt was 30cm square so decided to just roll it and that would be size albeit a tall house :)  if you want smaller a craft knife would be neatest option for trimming

Step two :

Decorate your house i hand sewed a door, 2 windows and various other things including beaded flower vines 

I also cut out felt flowers and laid it all on before sewing to ensure its how i wanted. if you look on right side the flower isn't as close to edge as left side this is to allow for sewing up house afterwards without losing the 'garden' 

Step three:

Sew everything on you can also chose to stick them down to make it a bit quicker :) 

My finished design

Close up of beading

Step four:

Sew up the house I overlap the 2 edges and straight stitched all the way up

Step five:

Admire your handy work. you can also add things on or make smaller houses make a village or a lil garden to accompany your fairy house :) 

I added a tree and swing to mine :) 

Have fun and hope to see pics of any houses you make xxx

Handmade Shopping

So something that comes up a lot for sewers and other makers is who can the big stores sell something for about 3 times less than I'm able to make it for. How am I suppose to compete and is it really worth making and selling my handmade goodies.


Well yes it is and here's why:


Pros of mass production


Cheap to make and buy so therefore can make more and sell more


Can get same thing in lots of colours very cheap


Cons


Cheaply made so break easily


Buy more so spend more money on cheap item


Everyone else has the same one maybe in different colours


However what happens when you need something really unique where do you go ?? well to your local or on line custom maker :)


Pros of handmade


You get something unique that no one else has


Can chose any colours, patterns, have a name on it so can get lots of the same thing and everyone will be different


Good quality so lasts for life but certainly a lot longer than mass produced items


You helping a mum, single person a family lots of different people make a living from selling their items


If can't ind what need in shops you can get it made and it will be exactly what you wanted 


Can get it personalised without paying a fortune


Not all but majority of makers are mums or dads so they know what its like they understand and they also have good minds for organising and planning meaning your item will be the best it can


Cons


Little profit for the maker


More expensive than shop bought 


Takes longer to arrive because has to be ordered in advance


However i believe the cons are outweigh because for every con there's a pro to make it ok for the buyer.


Here are some comments from my sewing group ladies to tempt you even further to the handmade side:


"I used to only buy mass produced items because they were cheaper. Once I had Abby and I was looking for some items for her bedroom that I couldn't get in main stream shops I had no choice but to find someone to make them. I have never looked back"


"When you buy from a small mum and dad business, you're not helping a CEO buy another  holiday house. You are  helping a little girl attend dance lessons, a little boy get a new pair of footy boots, a mum and dad put food on the table or pay the mortgage payment. Their customers are their priority, not their shareholders and they are the ones they strive to please. Supporting small business and shop locally!"




"there's a lady that owns a pub by me as well who only ever buys handmade items because
 of the love and care  that goes into making them, she hates buying mass produced "tat" as she calls it"


"We provide a bespoke service so that people can have something tailor made their wants/needs. We don't all want to be sheep following the herd. You just don't get a personal service from big companies and there is also the danger that some poor child in a foreign country is being paid less than peanuts to produce it. Each item we produce has love, care a little bit of us in it. Plus we wrap beautifully when we post out, so the goods feel like a little present, I always give returning buyers a little gift too. I like to think we proved Handmade Goodness that is not available anywhere other than the handcrafted market place. All power to us I say!!"

"I love handmade items! They are definately more unique and personal and by buying handmade i knowim helping to support other people like myself and the ladies in this group"

"I love buying handmade and now im learning to some bits myself a lot of my thought and love goes into making something. No two handmade items are ever exactly the same, that can't be said for mass produced stuff "

• 
  So what are you going to chose? I know what i chose any extra thoughts would be fab x

Mouse in a box

So as my first proper post I thought I would share an easy tutorial


A knitted mouse in a matchbox :)

For this you will need:


one lidded box or large matchbox


one knitted mouse that will fit in said box


pretty paper


small scraps of material and wadding


needle and thread


scissors


craft knife


glue or double sided tape


pencil (optional)

Now you have your tools you need to prepare your box. if using a ready made cardboard match box you need to make it flat by using craft knife down stuck part

now you need to decorate it you can either draw round flatten box onto your paper and cut out with scissors or my lazy option of coating flat box in glue ... 

and place glue down on paper. make sure to coat it well 

 now you can cut excess paper off with scissors or craft knife i used scissors so you have a paper coated box

leave to dry. once dry bend box at folds gently and glue to opened end back up to make your box again

now you can decorate how you wish or leave as papered . put your mouse in box so hes safe and put to the side. now we need to make the bedding.

first you need to measure the inside box for mattress and add 1cm to that then work out how big you want your blanket. i added 2cm to width of box for my blanket so tucks round mouse :)

you will need 2 pieces for each part so place on fold cut round 3 sides then cut on fold so you have 2 pieces

repeat for blanket and cut 1 more from wadding for each piece

now you need to sew the 2 mattress pieces together pattern side together with 0.5cm seam. only sew 3 sides leaving one open for turning an stuffing

do for blanket too. turn right way out and now check wadding will in without lumps by placing on top and triming to size

once sure is right size stuff in :) now need to sew it closed using slip or ladder stitch. remember to turn raw edge inside before starting

this requires catching the inner seam so no stitches show on outside :) you should now have 2 padded pieces for your mouse box

now tuck you mouse in for a nice sleep in her pretty box bed

now you have your completed project :) would be grateful for feedback on this as is my first blogged tutotrial and any tips you think will improve it and most of all if you do one feel free to share your link :) x

My New Blog :) whoop

Just testing colours and the layout and how it looks etc at the moment any comments will be good :) i promise to be up and running properly soon :) x