Friday 25 November 2011

Black Friday and Cyber Monday

It's official - it's the start of the busiest shopping weekend of the year!

I have to say that I didn't really believe all the hype - until my fiance came home the other night and said "I think I'll start the Christmas shopping this weekend". Today, someone in the office told me she will be starting to get her Christmas presents organised tomorrow. Aaa! It seems like everyone is getting ready this weekend, after all!

Except me, who will be waiting till my next "day job" pay day on Wednesday!!!

I love my day job, but I'm proud to be part of a proper little cottage industry. Please come along and support me and my mum this weekend by popping by our Etsy shop!

As a special incentive, get 10% off when you use coupon code TWEETTWEET11 this weekend!

Expires on Wednesday 30th November 2011.

Have a great shopping weekend!!!

Friday 11 November 2011

Ready for the frost

Okay, I know I'll be regretting this in a month's time when it's properly cold, but right now I would really like some frosty weather!

Here in south-west Scotland it has definitely been unseasonably warm. We've had a few chillier nights recently, but nothing of note. And while I DO NOT want a repeat of last winter (minus 15 degrees temperatures and what seemed like several months of relentless ice and snow), it would be nice to wake up to a few more frost mornings!

Knitting just isn't the same in the summer - it's still fun, but there's something about being snuggled up on the sofa in front of the log fire with your latest knitting project. I am so excited that two of my closest friends should be giving birth to baby boys in the next couple of months, but I'm also finding it very hard to get into the mood for knitting when it hasn't been cold enough yet to light the log fire!

Warmer weather - wonderful. I'm not complaining! But it just isn't Christmas (or the wonderful wintery lead up to Christmas time) without a bit of frost!


Getting ready for the colder weather by adding some hand-knitted gloves to my Etsy shop!

Friday 4 November 2011

Christmas is coming!

Christmas is coming, and I've had great fun creating some new accessories!

There are plenty more to come so keep an eye on this blog or follow me on Twitter (@JammyDesigns) for updates, but here's a little taster of what I've got on Etsy already!

I'd love to hear what you think of them so far - we have not listed any items in "traditional" Christmas colours yet (reds, greens, etc), so our Christmas offering probably looks a little bit different from most but hopefully that is a good thing that makes us a little bit more unique!

My mum's creations - a blue bobble hat keyring, and an adorable scarf keyring!



 And my creation - a Christmas Stocking tree decoration!


We're still working on lots of new designs, so I'd love to hear what you think of the ones we've posted so far!

Tuesday 1 November 2011

Experimenting!

I love creating new items and trying out new yarns, and Christmas is the perfect time of year to do that!

Out along the high street today, my eye was drawn to the Christmas themed colours, especially those with a little bit of sparkle! There are so many fun knits to try at Christmas time too. This is the first year I have tried making knitted Christmas decorations (the first of which is on Etsy now!) and I've really enjoyed it. What a fun way to jazz up your Christmas tree, and with all those fabulous yarns available, the only limit is your imagination!


Two of my closest friends are expecting babies around Christmas time this year, so my eye is also being drawn to the baby knits. I love putting new items onto Etsy, but it's even nicer to be making items specially for a baby boy or girl that you know, and getting to see photos of them wearing the socks, hat or whatever it may be!



Of course, with all these new yarns and trying out lots of new patterns, I have so much that I want to add to my Etsy shop - and this means making room for new items by having a sale! I now have a good selection of baby knits in my sale section so I hope you'll come along and check them out!



Wednesday 26 October 2011

Halloween Items 4

This is my 4th and final post dedicated to bringing you a selection of Halloween items from Etsy - so let's take a look at the 3 spooky items I've picked this week!



My 1st item this week is this Igor Mini stuffed Frankenstein Monster from Kathryn Muse of Musers.





http://www.etsy.com/listing/83885416/igor-mini-stuffed-frankenstein-monster

Kathryn's shop attracted me because it has so many fun and unusual items! She describes her shop as a "growing family of original handmade little stuffed plush creatures", and that's definitely what it is! Every item has it's own character and is so individual, you can't help but take a closer look! In particular I found the Igor monster very fun, colourful, and a great Halloween item!

Kathryn's other links -
mymusers.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/themusers


I asked Kathryn a few questions about her item and her shop ...



WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO CREATE YOUR HALLOWEEN ITEM?
This particular item is actually part of an "Inspired Artist" series, where different Etsy artists/creators sign up (via the Etsy Ugly Cute team) for me to pick an item in their shop that inspires me to make a plush interpretation of it. It's been a ton of fun, and this item stood out to me as one I could make a cute and challenging stuffie from.

TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR SHOP.
The Musers shop all started from my daughters originally being very interested in the Uglydolls. I liked them too, but the one thing I thought they were always missing was use of patterns. I also realized how many original characters I could think up to make myself, so I started making them as presents and everyone seemed to love them. I had shopped on Etsy for years, so decided to give it a real try. My goal is to fill my shop with ever-changing unique and original creatures that are cute, well-made, and that people love and can relate to on some level.

WHAT IS YOUR BUSINESS AMBITION?
My current business goal is to make enough money to have a good supplemental income to help our family. My husband works for himself, so there is always that "feast or famine" see-saw happening, and I would like to make enough to help us through the lean times and with life's unexpected happenings.




All photographs of the Igor mini stuffed Frankenstein monster are copyright Kathryn Muse of Musers.



My 2nd item this week is this Brain Necklace from Tyne Watson of Blue Cherry Jewellery.


 Tyne is clearly a lover of Halloween! Blue Cherry Jewellery includes a large range of Halloween-inspired jewellery, everything from pumpkins and ghosts to Halloween cupcakes! As well as this, there is a large selection of jewellery which is based on chocolates or sweeties. The items are really unusual, very colourful, and would definitely make a statement piece for any outfit!

I asked Tyne a few questions about the shop ...



WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO CREATE YOUR HALLOWEEN ITEM?

The gore of Halloween is always the best, so severed body parts and brains galore!

WILL YOU BE "TRICK OR TREATING" THIS HALLOWEEN?

Treating, I'll be carving a pumpkin to sit outside my door and I'll have a bowl of sweets for anyone who might pop along

TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR SHOP.

All my items are handmade Polymer Clay jewellery pieces that range from the very simple & classic cupcake ring to the down right fun & bizzare like severed finger necklaces!

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED ON ETSY?

I loved Etsy for a good few years prior to setting up shop, but I was a wee young'un and didn't own a credit card (A must, according to Etsy's rules, to set up shop) So I just trawled through as a buyer, until one day my bank switched my useless cash card to a Visa Debit card as an upgrade package. It then dawned on me, while I was out shopping some months later, that this was in fact a visa card, a credit card! I could set up shop! I'd been selling items at a few craft fairs and on ebay but to have an Etsy shop was just plain awesome!

WHAT IS YOUR BUSINESS AMBITION?

I would absolutely love to quit my day job and live off of my craft, that's got to be the ultimate Etsy dream. Be your own boss doing something you utterly love doing. Maybe one day ;)



Photographs of Tyne's jewellery are all copyright Tyne Watson of Blue Cherry Jewellery.




My 3rd and final item of this Halloween series is this beautiful watercolour by Sarah of The Golden Trees.


To celebrate being featured in my blog, Sarah is offering you 15% off in her Etsy shop when you use coupon code JAMMYDESIGNILOVEYOU - valid until 15th December 2011.

There is a beautiful selection of artwork in The Golden Trees. The range of colours used are striking and every item has an inidividuality. The watercolour which I chose to feature stood out to me because of the mixture of colours. The moonlight really stands out against the blue background, and although it is not strictly speaking a Halloween item, it has a spooky feel about it! It is very creative and I think it is a great item to finish my Halloween series with.

I asked Sarah a few questions about her item and her shop ...



WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO CREATE YOUR HALLOWEEN ITEM?

I love the celestial bodies and the astronomical-asrologic traditions. October is my favorite month, because I was born on the 29th.
Halloween is one of the party that best represents the dark side of people and their relationship with the ancestors.
It 'a rite of passage, autumn is the sleep of vegetation and the subsequent rest (for whom death) only to return by next spring, to life.
I think it's a sad and cheerful event at the same time.
For my items I was inspired by the moon. I am of the zodiac sign of Scorpio and I have the ascendant in Cancer, which is ruled by the moon,
it seemed proper to make a representation of the water combined with this beautiful satellite.
The moon is a satellite from the strong symbolism, which is often found in the magical nights.
In this case I wanted to represent it in all its splendor, the full moon, the tides, she's queen and ruler of the land liquids.

TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR SHOP.

My shop has painted quite different. I worked for a long time as an illustrator for gift cards and as a cartoons backgrouns artist.
In the last years I'm investigating a style who was born almost by accident.
I had never painted semi-abstract paintings but I was in a period of strong emotional changes, and this research has come as an instinctive need.
Also I did not want to abandon realism and through my ACEO, I can always go to have fun with traditional artwork.

WHAT IS YOUR BUSINESS AMBITION?

I'd like to think it could become a work to which they can spend half a day, maybe more '. I think it is an excellent showcase to be known and, above all,
to meet new people, meet new friends and share interests and passions. There are many talented artisans. It 'a hotbed of ideas!





All photographs of Sarah's watercolour are copyright Sarah of The Golden Trees.



Thank you to Kathryn, Tyne and Sarah who provided the three spooky items for my final Halloween post!

A HUGE Thank you to everyone who provided an item for this Halloween series! The variety of items have really helped to make it an interesting series, and I hope you have enjoyed reading it!
I am already planning a Christmas series so I hope you can add me on Twitter so you get the chance to take part!

Thank you for reading! 
 

Saturday 15 October 2011

Final Halloween Post!



My FINAL HALLOWEEN POST will go up on Wednesday 26th October, and I am looking for three more fabulously spooky items from Etsy to round off my Halloween series!

If you have any awesome Halloween items on Etsy that you'd like to see featured on my blog, please convo me by Sunday 23rd October with a link to the item(s)!


http://www.etsy.com/shop/JammyDesignsScotland

For more information and to see my previous 3 Halloween inspired posts, see the rest of my blog!

http://jammydesigns.blogspot.com/

Thanks for looking!

Kerrie


Wednesday 12 October 2011

Halloween Items 3

This is my third post dedicated to bringing you a little selection of interesting Halloween items from Etsy - and I've got another 3 fabulously spooky items to share with you this week!

My first item this week comes from a fellow member of the Etsy Knit1Treble2 team, Steph Thornton of Loophole. Her item is this amazing autumnal wool.



http://www.etsy.com/listing/76999196/hand-dyed-light-worsted-wool-yarn

To celebrate being featured in my blog, Steph is offering you 20% off in her Etsy shop when you use coupon code BLOGLOVE - valid until 11.59pm, Monday 31st October!

As a fellow knitter, I am of course attracted to Steph's shop! The colours, the textures, so many yarns! But for those who prefer to buy the finished article, there are a wide array of items - gloves, scarves, and even jewellery. A great shop for anyone who knits or who loves to buy knitted items!

I asked Steph a few questions about her Etsy shop ...



WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO CREATE YOUR HALLOWEEN ITEM?

I love bright colours, and the colourway that suits me best is orange/red/brown. Orange shades are obviously indicative of autumn as the leaves give us their fabulous annual display, but the colours work so well as a lift any time of the year. The initial inspiration for this yarn was actually some lovely nasturtiums in my garden!

TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR SHOP.
My shop is full of everything I love to create in my relaxing time. I learnt to knit and crochet many years ago, and find it very relaxing - and it stops me biting my nails! I adore colours and textures, and enjoy embellishing solid-colour items with beads, ribbons, and flowers. Everyone loves an extra little flourish!

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED ON ETSY?

I really can't remember how I first found out about Etsy. I browsed it for weeks before registering to buy a few items, then it took me several months to pluck up the courage to set up my own shop! I am very lucky that I am building up an increasingly steady flow of sales. It always makes my day to find somebody loves one of my items enough to buy it, no matter how big or small!



Photographs of Steph's wool are all copyright Steph of Loophole.




My second item this week is this fun Trick or Treat bag from Leah at Organi Luxe.





To celebrate being featured in my blog, Leah is offering you 10% off in her Etsy shop when you use coupon code TRICKORTREAT10 - valid throughout October 2011.

As the name suggests, OrganiLuxe specialises in organic and eco-friendly items. This is great and I think that these days people do appreciate the use of quality and eco-friendly materials. But as well as this, the shop features practical household items in so many colours and designs. And I just love the Halloween bag designs!

I asked Leah a few questions about her Etsy shop ...



WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO CREATE YOUR HALLOWEEN ITEM?

My mother and I wanted to give people the option to carry a reusable Halloween bag, as opposed to those plastic bags you see everywhere. It was actually my mom's idea. She came up with the general look for the bag, and I sketched out the little Halloween characters for each bag. She's the seamstress, so she sewed the bags and appliqued the designs on the front.

WILL YOU BE "TRICK OR TREATING" THIS HALLOWEEN?
Yes, we will definitely be Trick-or-Treating this year! My kids are 6 and 2, and they'll both be pirates for Halloween. My daughter (the 6-year-old) has been planning her costume for months already! My son doesn't really know what's going on yet, but he'll be excited when it's time to get all dressed up! And they'll definitely be using our Halloween bags for their candy collecting!

TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR SHOP.
Our shop is made up of entirely organic items. Every single product we offer is handmade from only 100% certified organic cotton fabrics. We have bags and totes, purses, lunch bags, sandwich and snack bags, accessories like glasses cases and coffee cozies... And we're constantly expanding our product line. Right now we're focusing on holiday gift ideas, so you'll see baby blankets, gadget cases (like iPad and Kindle holders, etc) and teacher gifts as well.

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED ON ETSY?
We were inspired to start our business because of my daughter, Jillian. She was diagnosed with multiple severe food allergies shortly before she turned one. I did a lot of reading to try and figure out why she had these horrible allergies, and I kept finding research suggesting that chemicals and toxins in our environment may have something to do with the rise in childhood allergies (among other childhood diseases). The first thing we did was clear our home of the worst toxins. We started cleaning with organic/veggie-based cleaners, and we started eating organically. Pretty soon we noticed a lack of nice organic products - everything we could find was beige or green. We instantly thought we could add color and style to the organic world, and we started making organic products ourselves. A friend of mine suggested Etsy back in early 2008, and we've been growing there ever since!

  
Photographs of Leah's Halloween bag are all copyright Leah of OrganiLuxe. 





My third and final item this week is this parasol from Ann of designAnn.


To celebrate being featured in my blog, Ann is offering you 10% off in her Etsy shop when you use coupon code JAMMYDESIGNSTHANKYOU - valid until Tuesday 18th October 2011.

Although this item is not strictly speaking a Halloween item, I was attracted by the uniqueness. In fact, the whole Etsy shop is full of different and unusual items, and in a variety of colours. I think these would look amazing as part of a Halloween outfit!

I asked Ann a few questions about her Etsy shop ...



TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR SHOP.

I started my shop several years ago but didn't get serious until now. I am a fashion designer by trade but find I am attracted to all things creative and artistic. I am still working on getting all my items listed in my shop. When my shop is complete, you will find many exquisite garments and accessories. Specializing in high-end women’s coats, wraps and accessories using tailored silhouettes with feminine detail. I create one-of–a-kind garments of distinction.
 
HOW DID YOU GET STARTED ON ETSY?
I got started on Etsy because I shopped on Etsy. I knew the diversity and quality of Etsy offering were excellent. I felt it would be a good place for my things - a haven for all things creative.
 
WHAT IS YOUR BUSINESS AMBITION? (E.G. TO QUIT THE DAY JOB)
Oh, yeah! Quit the day job would be great! Not work at all would be even better!!!





Photographs of Ann's parasol are all copyright Ann of designAnn.



Thank you to Steph, Leah and Ann for providing the three inspirational items for this week's post!

The final post in my Halloween items series will be up on Wednesday 26th October. If you're interested in taking part, please convo me on Etsy and include links to a few of your favourite Halloween items from your own Etsy shop. If I like your item(s) then you might get to see them here! Like I did with Steph, Leah and Ann, I'll send you a couple of questions to answer about your products and your Etsy shop.

I hope you're enjoying my Halloween series! Please let me know what you think!