Knitella

Give the Right Valentine Gift

2012-02-01T15:06:00.000-08:00

Valentine is approaching very very soon! 14 days to be exact! It’s where couples express more love! It’s a fun thing to do! Some countries are not allowed to celebrate it, but if you are in a place where you can then you def should!

Now the big question: HOW to choose a great gift! Here are few tips:

1- Make a decision of what you want to give: time together, new adventure, an actual gift, or even better all three!

2- Think of what your partner mentioned about gifts. EVERYBODY hint what they want. If you remember then great coz you can just go with it! If you forgot then read on!

3- Adventures are great fun, but they need to be booked on advance, I tried one with red letter days (for the UK) and it was AWESOME!

4- If not the above, then a gift with a nice dinner will do the trick!

So to choose one you have to:

A- THINK of a category, instead of looking at everything from all categories, pick one and focus all your efforts on it. Jewelry? Clothes? Wall Art? Clocks? Bags? Electronics? Crafts? Gardening? It’ll be much easier to pick one and search on instead of putting the word GIFTS in the search.

B- look at Knitella's shop coz there is an AWESOME Valentineline that might help, and u will get a chance to use your coupon (in the February Newsletter, if you didn't get it then SIGN UP to get one ) With headbands, hairclips, cowls, hats and a lot of hearts!

5- HAVE FUN window shopping and choosing the right thing :) think of how happy you'll partner will be!

Hope that helps! :)

lots of love and positive wishes your way! :)

Great Day Everyday

2012-02-01T14:45:00.000-08:00

Life is full of ups and downs, and sometimes we can’t control the big things, but we can change the small things around us to have a GREAT day EVERYDAY!

1- The first second you open your eyes say: “it will be a great day” Even if you have an exam or a hectic schedule, just say it :)

2- Make sure you drink some water to refresh your brain instead of shocking your body with caffeine or in my case herbal teas

3-Make a to-do list coz crossing things off it makes you feel VERY productive, and please put simple tasks there’s no need to set the bar too high, but not too low either. Write down tasks you know u will do, and maybe two ambitious ones to boost you a lil.

4- During the day when everything feels dull, give yourself a treat! No shame of giving yourself a little something after all you deserve it, and I don’t mean go buy something expensive! Just a lil treat; a mini chocolate piece, 5 minutes facebook break, some window shopping, you get my drift :)

5- Smile and count your blessings! I know sometimes things get so hard and you feel like everything is going wrong, but at least you aren’t starving to death or in a war zone!

hope that helps to make your day GREAT! :)

Nutella Hot Chocolate Recipe

2012-02-01T13:39:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I had a great cup of Nutella hot chocolate in a local coffee shop, and since I tried I was instantly hooked lool, I tweeted about it about and got a great response from my AWESOME Knitella followers :D and I decided to experiment with it :D

you'll basically need NUTELLA and milk (any kind you like) or water and of course a mug! :D

put a spoon full of nutella (or more! I liked it with two and a half) into the mug and microwave it (if you don't have a microwave don't worry coz you can just heat it up on the hob! :D ) put it aside and heat up a cup of milk separately (you can just mix it with the melted nutella right away, but it won't turn out that good coz cold and hot don't mesh well, I TRIED lol)

when the milk is heated and ready, pour it on the melted chocolate, and mix well! :D

you can heat it up for an extra 20sec to make sure it's all blended :)

when it's ready add some cream on top with marshmallows, chocolate powder, and maybe some Hershey's chocolate syrup for a more chocolaty taste :)

You can def add more nutella or less, also you can try it with spices, mint, tea, coffee, anything you fancy! :D

next time I make it, I might add some extra hazel nut syrup or powder :D

It's REALLY YUMMY and worth a try! :D

let me know how it turns out, and if u add something extra to it :)

Review of the Chorlton Art Festival Shop :)

2011-11-17T13:21:00.001-08:00

So last weekend, I got a chance to do something different, to step out of the norm and try a new possibility! :) which was renting a shop for the first time in my life. I shared it with three lovely ladies, who I met in the weekly knitting group.

Michelle, Shirley & Pat (the lovely ladies from knitting group)

We had the Chorlton Art Festival Shop for three days; Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The busiest day was Saturday, and we all had good sales.

that's the shop! :D

It was a very nice opportunity to get in touch with the community and to experience working in the retail field. Plus, it was great to see the knitting ladies in action as business women with their gorgeous creations.

We welcomed everyone, we had lovely chats, and we just loved it all! :)

yes they were FREE!

The Shop is going to change every week or so to bring more lovely new local artists and crafters to share their AWESOME creations with you, so keep your eyes open and check it every time you get a chance! :D

For more pix go to the knitella fan page! :D

All about Craft Fairs

2011-11-06T04:41:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone!

When I first started with craft fairs, I was totally lost, and I wasn’t sure on how to exactly start, especially that I didn’t used to go to many. After I attended few, and participated in few more. I got a feel to what it is, how it is, and what’s needed. So, I decided to share what I learnt with you all.

Please feel free to comment, and share your experience! :D

here it goes:

Maybe you’ll ask yourself, why bother and take part in one?

To promote your business (seriously it’s great! People will start recognizing you and your brand)
To connect with like minded people ( sometimes other people around don’t understand how hard working crafters are, some support from other crafters makes it even more fun!)
To sell (maybe you won’t sell a lot, but even 1 sale is better than nothing. Plus, it all adds to your experience!)
To have fun! (They always have food there, other cool items to look at, and people to chat with)

If I convinced on why, let me tell you HOW to find one in 3 easy steps! :)

Ask the local community center in your neighborhood or area. > my 1^st one was a community event!
Check the local galleries because most of them have annual craft fairs > my 4^th was in a local Art Gallery! :)
Search for craft fairs in Google, FaceBook, Twitter, and on the Etsy teams if you are part of any. I found few more craft fairs just by a simple search! For example, on Facebook, search for craft groups or pages in your area, and ask the admin! :)

TIP:

Don’t start with an expensive, super famous fair. Start small and grow big! :) because with each fair you will learn something new that you would want to apply! :)

Ok, you found one you liked, with a good budget? Now all you got to do is to prepare for the craft fair:

After booking your stalls, make sure you have enough time to prepare. Certainly, do everything TWO days in advance. For my last fair, I waited till the night before. NOT a good plan because I ended up staying up till 6am! And the fair was in 2hrs! and in an important day (THE DAY OF THE CRAFT FAIR) you def need some “beauty” sleep, so give yourself extra time! and here are Six main pointers on what you need to prepare! :)

Have your stock ready (the question is HOW MUCH stalk do you need? My advice is: have a variety of your products, BUT still make sure they won’t look cluttered. A mistake I did once, was I took everything I made with me, and my part of the table looked REALLY messy even though everything was neatly folded it still looked too much! And you really don’t want that.
Put your label on your products (with handmade it’s still important to establish your brand, and to set your identity apart from everyone’s work. I simply ordered some online in bulk)
Put any washing directions on your item -if it needs too- (usually people aren’t too much bothered to ask, but I am sure once they want to wash a scarf they bought from you they will be thinking, would that be machine washable?)
DEFINTELY have your prices on your products (Especially if you have a few items with different prices coz you don’t want to get confused when people ask you. Plus, it will look more professional, or if you have a lot of things with the same price, you could just write a little note beside it with that one price).
Have some carrier bags with you (start simple so just plain ones from the supermarket or even the plain plastic ones -as long as they are recyclable of course- maybe when you grow big later you can have your own customized carrier bags! It’s a little embarrassing when people ask for one and you don’t have any! Yes I have been through that.)
Business cards ( always have some business cards or a way for your future customers to contact you)

TIP:

Before you go on a craft fair, do your research on WHO is coming to prepare products accordingly.

Now that you are prepared and all set, all you have to do is Rock it!

Go their early (Usually fairs allow two hours before the start for the crafters to come and prepare their tables, so BE THERE)
Make your table stand out (with Bright colors from either your items or the table cloth.)
Arrange your table creatively (look at pictures from old fairs around the world to get ideas then create your own)
Be friendly! (smile to people, make them feel welcome to your little table! Coz really people hate grumpy seller :S )
HAVE LOADS OF FUN (try to enjoy it coz that’s all it matters!)

TIP:

Think outside the box and make sure you do something unique.

hope these tips help you all! and I wish you a happy craft fair full of sales! :D

Bisabuela in the Spotlight

2011-11-06T03:31:00.000-08:00

While networking with the different Etsy Teams, I found this creative Artist on the Manchester team forum, and I wanted to share her AWESOME talent with you all! :) This is one of the many interviews with our local creative people! :)

I give you

Bisabulea

Q: when did you start?
A: I've always been a creative person since I was a small child inventing characters in my bright pink notepad. However, I first started tinkering with jewellery making 4 or 5 years ago as a way to make gifts for friends, and also things for myself that I'd been unable to find elsewhere. I officially set up shop though in October 2010, so have just celebrated my first year in business!

find item here

Q: Who taught you this skill?
A: I am more or less self-taught, give or take a few internet tutorials for learning how to use certain materials! Actually, the world wide web has been a great source of information, inspiration and support from crafters all around the world. So that, and a lot of trial and error (and a good degree of patience!)

find item here

Q: Where do you get your inspiration from?
A: I find inspiration everywhere really, especially since at home and in work I am lucky enough to be surrounded by creative people full of insight and ideas. I suppose my passion is for bright colours and bold textures, and I'm in love with naive and whimsical storytelling so I am always returning to folk art for inspiration.

find item here

Q: how long do you take to finish a piece?
A: Generally it will take me several days to a week to arrive at finished piece. There are a number of stages involved in my work (cutting, sanding, painting, collaging, gluing, resin casting, more sanding, polishing, more gluing), and lots of waiting around for things to dry (glue, paint, resin, varnish)! But as my pieces are often quite small I tend to make items in batches so that at the end of the week I have a nice shiny range of items to share!

find item here

Also! you can keep in touch with Michelle through her:

blog - www.bisabuela.wordpress.com
FB Page - www.facebook.com/pages/Bisabuela/103052056431988
& Twitter - twitter.com/BisabuelaUK

WOW! doesn't fascinate you reading about how these wonderful creations came to be?!

Checkout more gorgeous jewelry pieces by going to Bisabuela's Etsy shop or Folksy shop :D

Debbie Finch in the spotlight

2011-10-24T11:55:00.000-07:00

Debbie Finch

Q: Who taught you this skill?
A: I was taught by a lady called Cassie in a jewelry making course and I just picked up the technique and the skills.

find item here

Q: Where do you get your inspiration from?
A: At the moment, I get my inspiration from steampunk and rockabilly, I`v been making pieces for a skate shop to sell and for a Steampunk ball. My latest pieces were goth cameo. I made them using scuply clay and molds to create some pendants, and then I made necklaces for them.

find item here

Q: how long do you take to finish a piece?
A: It depends on what I'm making, but the average is around 30 minute to few hours, as I tend to make a few piece at a time.

find item here

ALSO!! there is a 10% DISCOUNT on ALL shop items until Christmas! :D

Isn't it just a nice shop!

Checkout more jewelry pieces by going to Debbie Finch's Etsy Shop :D

Christmas Giving..BE UNIQUE

2011-10-19T08:32:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone!

jolly times are getting closer, and everyone is expecting something under the tree! :)

I bet it's hard to think of something new EVERY YEAR for everyone! So, this year, I want to help you be unique in your gifts instead of just getting the same old things (or getting commercial things EVERYONE got!)

I put together a list of possible unique gifts that you could give, and best thing is they are all in ONE PLACE called ETSY :D now that'll make the whole shopping process fast and EASY! :)

FOR MEN:
seriously you don't have to give ties, perfumes or more socks! you can try these unique sculpture instead! :D
and Mr.Mr can put them (or just one) on his desk and will think of you every time he sees them! :D
(From Poppy Seed Cats' shop)

find item here

the designer and maker of these two piece above loves Christmas because "I love to see my cats chasing every stray bauble and "helping" put the tree up. I also love Christmas morning when my cats will bury themselves in the mound of wrapping paper. I'm sure they have more fun playing with the wrapping than playing with their presents."

and she thinks these two items are perfect to be given this Christmas because "My wire sculptures make fantastic keep sake gifts that every cat lover is sure to cherish. Every sculpture is unique in its own way and is very sturdy so will withstand years and years of handling and admiration."

To read more about this creative artist, please see her full interview here

FOR WOMEN:
more perfume? another sweater that might be too big or too small? it's bet to give a one size fit all ;) and what better than a cowl this chilly winter or gorgeous curly earrings that no one else will have! :D (From SweetShop Creations' shop)

find item here

10% off for this blog's readers! just use this coupon code: KNITELLA at checkout

(valid from OCT 20th to DEC10th)

the designer and maker of these two piece above loves Christmas because "Um...can I tell you all a secret? I *don't* love Christmas, really. I used to, but for a variety of reasons, I just haven't been inspired to celebrate as much as I used to. Just call me the Grinch. It's nice to see other people get excited, though. I really like to see other people enjoying Christmas though--especially little children! "

and she thinks these two items are perfect to be given this Christmas because "The earrings would make a great gift for the fashion-forward person on your Christmas list. They're a statement piece, and I made them because I personally love distinctive, colorful earrings. They make a great pop of color with a neutral outfit. They're the sort of thing that no one really goes looking to buy, but is happy to try--which makes them a great gift! AND The cowl is a simple, classy piece--once again, a great pop of autumn color for a neutral outfit. It makes a great gift for the chic, stylish person on your gift list...the kind of person who wears boots over skinny jeans with tunics, and needs a little something to rock their style boat. Once again, it's not something anyone looks to buy, but is very happy to try."

To read more about this creative artist, please see her full interview here

FOR BOYS:
more electronics? how about something NEW that could be personalized! :D like this original leather wallet or the awesome key chain! :D (From De Lacy Accessories's Shop)

find here

the designer and maker of these two piece above loves Christmas because it's his busy time of the year where he gets the chance to make new things to make people happy! :)

and he thinks these two items are perfect to be given this Christmas because "accessories are great gift as there is a great price range to suit all and each product can be custom handmade by me in many colours and the wallets can be personalised with a name or initials which is always a great personal touch to add to any gift."

To read more about this creative artist, please see his full interview here

FOR GIRLS:
it's usually very hard to find something unique for girls.. I know there are loads of things, but they all blend together and become so normal! So, checkout this necklace and this cuff! :D (From Garden of Beaden's Shop)

find item here

the designer and maker of these two piece above loves Christmas because "One of my favourite parts is the giving of gifts; I just adore seeing the look on someone's face when you know you've managed to find the perfect pressie but most of all I love to be able to find one of a kind, unique gifts which is why buying handmade is so wonderful. "

and she thinks these two items are perfect to be given this Christmas because "My jewellery, especially my polymer clay range is one of a kind so you won't ever find anyone wearing the same piece and my brand new cuff range is just great for the party season and will set off that little black number perfectly!"

To read more about this creative artist, please see her full interview here

FOR little BOYS:
Do you usually give Xbox, Wii, electronics or cars? How about something educational and fun? here are two kits that will keep your child happy and productive, and when he's done, he can play with it or decorate his room! :) (From GrassHopper Crafts' shop)

find item here

the designer and maker of these two piece above loves Christmas because "I love the smells –warm mulled wine and pine needles. Christmas is an intensely multisensory time of year. I love being wrapped up warm and walking past windows glowing with Christmas tree lights. I’ve got a bit of a thing about wrapping presents- I find it immensely satisfying. The best bit though is catching up with friends and family. We go a bit nomadic and trek all over the country catching up with people."

and she thinks these two items are perfect to be given this Christmas because "Adults seem to digest food a lot slower than children. When my dad was still bursting from Christmas dinner, I would be jumping up and down begging him to come and play. It would have made his life a lot easier if he’d had something like one of these kits to distract me with! Kids are renowned for playing with the wrapping paper and boxes as much as the toys inside, and I think that’s because every child has a strong creative streak. The kits give them a chance to make something without you needing about glue on the carpet and paint streaks on the wall."

To read more about this creative artist, please see her full interview here

FOR little GIRLS:
No more barbies (girlie toys) please! when I was a little girl, I used to get SO MANY barbies (for all occasions) I was happy with them, but I just didn't know what to do with the 30!
How about you give the little girl in your family something different? maybe to decorate her room with? Most girls like their rooms to be pretty! here are some adorable hearts that will not only make the room pretty, but it'll keep it smelling nice for your little girl to smile! :D (from Olganna's Shop)

find item here

20% off for this blog's readers! just use this coupon code: KNIT20 at checkout

(valid till the 30th of Nov, 2011)

the designer and maker of these two piece above loves Christmas because "I love the sparklyness of it all, everyone is in a good mood looking forward to time at home, with family eating and drinking too much – bliss! Since I have had children its even better as nothing is as good as seeing the kids happy and smiling. I will be 3 weeks off my due date for my next baby this Christmas so I am not sure how I will feel this time."

and she thinks these two items are perfect to be given this Christmas because "These are little trinket, stocking filler pieces which are great to give to any female. They have a lovely scent and so many uses, hang in wardrobes, on door handles, and in the car."

To read more about this creative artist, please see her full interview here

FOR EVERYONE:
Let's not forget the cards!! or the gift won't be complete! (From PH Designs's Shop)

find item here

More Christmas cards will be posted in the shop this week!

the designer and maker of these two piece above loves Christmas because "I love that everybody seems to be in a slightly better (I won't say good!) mood and the time off with family and friends. I also can't resist going a bit OTT with the christmas decorations! I'll forever be a child inside and LOVE Christmas!"

and she thinks these two items are perfect to be given this Christmas because "what's Christmas without sending Christmas cards to a loved one! And these show that you have made a bit more effort than going to WH SMiths and buying a set of generic cards - that must earn some brownie points!"

To read more about this creative artist, please see her full interview here

SO! there you go! you got a good shopping list with unique items no one will say "BUT my friend got the same thing, I can wear it" OR "I have seen it in the shop"

This Christmas you can TRULY surprise your family and make them feel SPECIAL with these one of a kind pieces! :)

HAPPY SHOPPING & HAPPY CHRISTMAS

PH Designs in the Spotlight

2011-10-19T07:09:00.000-07:00

PH Designs

Q: when did you start?
A: About 2 years ago when I started planning my wedding and looking at Stationary for it, I thought "I can do that!" so gave it a go! I started making a couple of cards for friends etc with very limited supplies and I have gained more experience and lots more goodies since then.

find item here

Q: Who taught you this skill?
A: Mostly myself but I did do art and graphic design up to AS level at college. I gave it up to concentrate on science but never really lost my love of creating pretty things.

find item here

Q: Where do you get your inspiration from?
A: Mostly from cards that others send me / shop windows / other craft sites .... Or when I see something I like (e.g. a paper pattern or a nice embellishment) I try to think about what I can do with it and how to showcase it. I am still learning though so a few of my ideas aren't always a success!

find item here

Q: how long do you take to finish a piece?
A: It depends on how much detail there is but my cards can take anywhere from 15 to 60 mins. That doesn't include the time I spend scribbling down ideas on my train home though!

find item here

WOW! doesn't fascinate you reading about how these wonderful paper creations came to be?!

Checkout more cards by going to PH Designs's Etsy Shop :D

SweetShop Creations in the spot light

2011-10-18T03:45:00.000-07:00

When I came to the UK, I thought I was the only one in the neighborhood who knits, but then I found out there's a weekly knitting group just across the street! It was a blast going there and meeting many wonderful knitters and an awesome crocheter!

I give you Mel (the talented crocheter)

SweetShop Creations

Q: when did you start?
A: I started to crochet about three years ago. I wanted some crochet slippers but didn't want to pay a high price for them, so I bought a cheap skein of yarn and a pattern book and went for it.

find item here

Q: Who taught you this skill?
A: My grandma can crochet and knit, and I vaguely remember her teaching me to make long strings of chain stitch when I was very small, to keep me out of her hair on a camping trip.

But as far as how to crochet actual garments? For that I have the book "Stitch N Bitch Crochet: The Happy Hooker" by Debbie Stoller to thank. I did about a quarter of the patterns in that book in one winter, and that's how I learned most of the skills I have now.

find item here

Q: Where do you get your inspiration from?
A: I really like fashion and knitwear. I can never find small accent pieces that I really like, but I can often think of what I would like. I tend to keep an eye on the fashion blogs at chictopia(I even have one at www.chictopia.com/mamalazarus) to get inspiration as far as what colors and shapes are "in", but I also just think of things that I would like to wear and what might be popular next.

original curly crochet earrings

Q: how long do you take to finish a piece?
A: LOL, this is my biggest problem. I am a slowwwww crocheter. I am a busy, busy person, and although I'd like to have time to finish a new piece a week, the reality is that I often only finish a new piece every two weeks--even if it's a simple hat. It doesn't help that I'm a perfectionist, and I won't sell an item unless it's constructed in exactly the way I want it to be.

find item here

>>>>DISCOUNT especially for the Knitella blog readers<<<<<

use KNITELLA as a coupon code with your order between October 20th and December 10th, you get 10% off of your order!

Also! you can keep in touch with Mel through her

FB page: https://www.facebook.com/SweetShopCreations
& twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/mamalazarus

WOW! doesn't fascinate you reading about how these wonderful creations came to be?!

Checkout more crocheted goods by going to SweetShopCreations Etsy's Shop :D

Olganna in the spotlight

2011-10-16T13:39:00.000-07:00

Olganna

Q: when did you start?
A: I have always sewn, my mum and nan did so I just did it too. It started with cross stitch pictures and cards. Everyone got one at some time or another!!!!

find item here

Q: Who taught you this skill?
A: I studied textiles at school, fashion at college and footwear design and manufacture at university so its always been there. I absolutely love the simple way in which fabric is made and the way stitches are formed in the sewing machine. It is always a pleasure to work with fabric and thread. My background career wise is product development of footwear, accessories and clothing working closely with factories on mass production so I have learnt a lot from experts all round the world.

find item here

Q: Where do you get your inspiration from?
A:This is hard as I just collect pictures and quotes and take pictures all the time. Then I go through them and pin them on my inspiration board and wait for something to come to me. I often start with an idea and realise halfway through it has changed and have no idea why! Buts that’s design development. I often see a colour combination somewhere and go from there.

find item here

Q: how long do you take to finish a piece?
A: It takes maybe 4 / 6 hours to make a bag and maybe an hour to make the scented hearts. It depends how many components there are really and how many I can make at the same time. If I make many of the same thing (even in various colours) it can be a quite a smooth production line. If its one off’s it can be like starting all over again each time. The most time consuming piece is my Nan Bag. A 40’s style handbag which is currently available in purple and a black option with lace. It is so fiddly I need to take a deep breath before I stitch each bit together!!

find item here

AND there's a SURPRISE from the seller!! 20% OFF to the readers of this blog! :)
all you have to do is enter this CODE ( KNIT20 ) at checkout! :)

WOW! doesn't fascinate you reading about how these wonderful creations came to be?!

Checkout more bags, scented hearts, and makeup cases by going to Olganna's Etsy Shop :D

GrasshopperCrafts in the spotlight

2011-10-15T10:15:00.000-07:00

GrassHopperCrafts

Q: when did you start?A: A little over ten years ago I started working as a countryside warden. It wasn't long before I specialised in environmental education. That's when I started making kids’ craft kits.

find item here

Q: Who taught you this skill?
A: My mum really encouraged me to make things from way back when I was a toddler, so I waited for empty cereal boxes and loo rolls with great anticipation. I yearned after double sided sticky tape and split pins- they opened up a world of possibilities!

find item here

Q: Where do you get your inspiration from?A: Lots of my kits originate from an event where we want to raise awareness of a particular creature. For example, the dragonflies were designed for a summer play scheme at Wigan Flashes, which is home to a rare damselfly. But equally the materials I use might suggest something- I remember picking up a couple of fuchsia pink straws in a bar because I had to take them home and turn them into flamingo legs.

find item here

Q: how long do you take to finish a piece?
A: Well really it’s my customers who get to finish the pieces- I just provide the materials. At the moment most of the crafts in my shop are quick and easy- taking between 10 to 20 minutes depending how nifty you are with scissors. That’s because most of the workshops I run have been drop-in sessions and people want something quick to make before they go off and do the next thing.

find item here

MORE ITEMS COMING TO THE SHOP!

"My shop has only been open since September in its current guise. I have a range of kits that I am working on the listings for so expect to see new items appearing regularly."

WOW! doesn't fascinate you reading about how these wonderful creations came to be?!

Checkout more crafty kits by going to GrassHopperCrafts's Etsy Shop! :D

DeLcyAccessories in the spotlight

2011-10-15T09:35:00.000-07:00

While I was search on Etsy for gifts for men, I found this creative Artist, and I wanted to share his AWESOME talent with you all! :) This is one of the many interviews with our local creative people! :)

I give you

Q: when did you start?

A:I started creating bags in my spare time at university and established the "de Lacy" brand in 2005, where I began to sell at Leeds Corn Xchange design market and Portobello market London.

Find item here

Q: Who taught you this skill?

A: I am self taught

Find item here

Q: Where do you get your inspiration from?

A: I am inspired by Designer shoes, bags and the world around me, Music is also a major inspiration as I tend to listen to it all the time, and regularly go to live music events. The creativity of other artisans and designers will continue to be a valued inspiration too.

Find item here

Q: how long do you take to finish a piece?

A: It all depends which piece it is, I also produce bespoke leather bags which can take up to a week to product sometimes, but the accessories are some what quicker. Once I have finished the design and pattern cutting and produced a few samples then the production time speeds up as you get used to the design.

Find item here

WOW! doesn't fascinate you reading about how these wonderful creations came to be?!

Checkout more leather creations by going to DeLcyAcessories's Etsy Shop :D

Poppy Seed Cats in the spotlight

2011-10-15T09:00:00.000-07:00

PoppySeedCats

Q: when did you start?

A: My first experience with wire was when I was 17 and my art teacher accidentally left some lying around the studio. I started playing with it and have been hooked since.

find this item here

Q: Who taught you this skill?

A: I taught myself, I have had some help from my art education background but I always work best just sitting on my own with a new material until I suss out how I can make it do what I want.

find this item here

Q: Where do you get your inspiration from?

A: My inspiration comes from my cats, I've had a cat present in my home since birth so it just feels natural to share my life with them. As soon as I could pick up a crayon I was drawing cats and as I progressed I started to study their movements. I could most probably sketch a decent cat with my eyes closed now.

find this item here

Whenever I feel uninspired I get my charcoal out and start sketching the nearest kitty to me or chase them around the house with my camera.

find this item here

Q: how long do you take to finish a piece?

A: Times vary considerably, my tiny wire kitties sometimes only take 20 minutes but my life size sculptures can take up to 30 hours.

WOW! doesn't fascinate you reading about how these wonderful creations came to be?!

Checkout more pictures, drawings, key chains, wire sculptures and more by going to PoppySeedCats Etsy Shop! :D

Garden of Beaden in the spotlight

2011-10-15T08:50:00.000-07:00

Q: when did you start?

A: I've always been pretty creative and began making jewellery a couple of years ago, but only started working with polymer clay about a year ago. I love the fact that I can create any colour or design of beads and that they are completely unique.

find item here

Q: Where do you get your inspiration from?

A: I find inspiration everywhere but mainly from nature and the changing seasons and the current colour trends from the runway.

find item here

Q: how long do you take to finish a piece?

A: It can take hours to design and create any one piece as the process of polymer clay making is huge. The clay must be manipulated first then the design created (similar to the way a stick of rock is made) before very thin slices are cut off and wrapped around a ball shaped piece of clay. I make a hole in each ball using a cocktail stick and then the beads are cooked for 20 minutes and allowed to cool. After this, each bead is varnished and left to dry for 24 hours, then the jewellery making can begin!

find item here

WOW! doesn't fascinate you reading about how these wonderful creations came to be?!

Checkout more one of kind fabulous ribbon and beads necklaces, cuffs and bracelets by going to
Garden of Beaden Etsy Shop ! :D

Nothing better than some bath treats

2011-10-14T10:53:00.000-07:00

Few days ago, I got some new REALLY nice bath/beauty products from Elina (an Etsy seller)

I have been excited to share it with you since! but I had to run a trial to make this review/feature REAL! :) and let me tell you something the products are NICE! :) and LOCAL (it always make me feel better when I support local sellers! :D )

The Soaps smelled strong and AMAZING.. everyone who went to my bathroom, couldn't resist picking them up just to enjoy their smell.. I only tried two kinds, but Elina got a wide range of gorgeous scented handmade soaps in her Bodycare Luxuries shop (and yes they will make great gifts and a great addition to your wash area :D ) and you can even try few samples, like these :)

The Whipped Cream Soap had such a nice texture! I am just surprised that I found a handmade store that's got an equal quality to big brand shops! and it makes me HAPPY! :D and you can try it 2 and tell me what you think (of course not all skins are the same.. so hope it works on you like it did on mine) :D

Not forgetting the Lip Balm! :D I kept it for last coz it's MY favorite and I'll def be going back to the shop to get more! A lot of the Lip Balms I tried had a light scent and didn't stay longer, but this one did! :D and it was SO YUMMY (yes I was tempted to eat it lool) and it's SO affordable :)

After I tried these products, I just wanted to know more about the seller to know how such great products came to be, SO! I interviewed Elina for all of you to see how she started and established her awesome shop :)

How did u start? and when?

I’ve been making bath products for a few years now – but mainly with an intention to spoil my friends and family and to make some nice gifts for them. Soon enough it turned to my passion. And after many positive feedbacks I decided that I could make it my business. I’ve always wanted my own business and to be my own boss and if it’s something I love to do – what else could I ask for! I took care of all the safety assessments and other legalities, developed product range (and still expanding it J ) and that was the start of Bodycare Luxuries.

Why body/bath products?

I find that making my products gives such an emotional satisfaction to me – to make everything by hand and from scratch and create that amazingly indulgent treat that can lift up your mood so easy and make you feel great! And it makes me happy to be able to offer it to so many people!

What product do you enjoy making the most?

I absolutely love making every single product! No two products are the same – and that’s the best part of it! I love to make Bath Truffles because I can create so many beautiful scents and they’re a real treat for a good bath. And I also love to create new products to add to the existing product range.

what's your fav scent?

My favourite scents probably are fruity ones – apples, citrus fruits, berries.

Would you like to give any special discounts for the blog readers? :D

KNITELLA10 for 10% discount

At: www.bodycareluxuries.etsy.com

and for more promotions and updates you can like Bodycare Luxuries At: www.facebook.com/BodycareLuxuriesUK

Hope you guys enjoyed the review and the feature! :D please leave me comments and feedback :D and remember to checkout Bodycare luxuries Etsy shop

Knitted Goods this Halloween? SURE! :)

2011-09-28T14:35:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone!

HALLOWEEN is almost here! just a month away! and I am sure everyone is busy finding the best custom for that night! :)

well.. I have made FEW items that might be JUST what you want! :D

1- The delicious baby headband for your baby girl's FIRST Halloween! :)

HERE on Knitella's Etsy Shop

2- The mysterious women's headband for warmth, charm, and a taste of Halloween

you can find it HERE

3- The Cute Halloween Hat for absolute warmth and FUN

Here

4- OR if you want to completely go into another personality, you can try this HULK headband! :)

see more pix of it Here

Or if you just want to be yourself and only complement your look with a knitted accessory.. I have something for you too! :) check out the my Etsy Shop: Knitella for a wide range of goods! :)

Have I mentioned that every Item comes with a FREE mini nutella?

To read more about my inspiration this Halloween, check out this feature of me on JammyDesigns awesome blog Jammy Designs: Halloween Items 2

HAPPY HALLOWEEN SHOPPING!

Knitella in the spotlight (3 interviews)

2011-09-27T08:49:00.000-07:00

Being interviewed is AWESOME!

and it's a great way to share thoughts and views with everyone!

Please take a look at these three interviews to know more about me

and how knitella became to be!!

Introducing….Knitella by Sew a bee

Posted on September 5, 2011 by Vicky

Allow me to introduce you to Esra from Knitella, here is the story of how her hobby turned into a business….

I always liked crafts and hand on activities, and when I was taught knitting at school in 4th grade I just knew this would be my lovely hobby Of course when you are at elementary school you don’t do anything for more than a little while, and that’s what happened. It was on and off for me till three years ago when I took it seriously and started actually having finished products! I knitted a scarf for everyone who wanted one from my family and friends, but I never took it further. A few months ago, I joined a knitting group in the neighborhood and there the crafty ladies really motivated me and I started having LOADS of finished projects YAY!! One day one of my knitting friends told me to go on a local fair with her and try and sell the fruits of my labour. So, I agreed, and I loved it! Then I joined my 2nd fair with my wonderful friend Mel the owner ofSweet Shop Creations….

Mel also told me all about Etsy and encouraged me to join, I did and since that moment I can’t seem to leave my knitting looms….

…and my jumbo knitting pencils….

Now I have an Etsy shop called Knitella, if you’re wondering where the name came from knitting and nutella chocolate are MY passion. This summer has been a crazy one and I have enjoyed every bit of it!

Thanks to Esra for sharing her story with us, if you would like to know more why not check out her blog and of course get down to see her at Cherry Events Craft Fair on 11th September at Uppermill Civic Hall.

Knitella Interview By Crafty Arab

Tell us a bit about yourself?
I am a university student, and when I have free time I LOVE to Knit! :D Never took it seriously till the beginning of this summer when a friend of mine introduced me to Etsy and I opened up a shop called Knitella!

Apart from being ‘creative’ what do you do?
I read.. I network.. I cook.. but creating and designing is what I mostly do because it's my hobby and my field of study!

What inspires you to do the kind of work you do?
The yarn itself.. when I go to a yarn shop and TOUCH the yarn and look at all the different choices ideas just jump around, and I start knitting them. Sometimes, I see random things like if I see someone in the street with a color popping, I just make a note to make something with a similar color..inspiration is all around.. *al7amdulilah*

Do you look up to anyone? Who? Why?
I mainly love creative people with unique ideas because they inspire me to achieve and to produce.. there are too many to list!
What other passions do you have in your life?
1- I like making people happy, and pushing them to reach their goals.
2- Interior Design: creating beautiful spaces is what I want to do!
3- Teaching
How do you promote your work?
Facebook, twitter, etsy teams, craft fairs, and *praying*

In the future I’d like to be…a successful design professor *inshallah*

Halloween Feature on Knitella by Jammy Designs

My second item this week comes from Esra of Knitella! It is this beautiful Orange and shiny black headband/ear warmer.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/82170638/orange-and-shiny-black-headbandear

Esra offers a free mini Nutella with every item! Esra says there's nothing more fun than chocolate and yarn!

Knitella is exactly the sort of shop which catches my eye. There is a good range of colours and styles of knitted items. Knitella's Halloween items are themed with black and vibrant orange yarns. What great strong colours - they really stand out on the page.

I asked Esra a few questions about her shop and herself, and here's what she said ...

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO CREATE YOUR HALLOWEEN KNIT?

I love to be current in my shop, and I try to knit something for every occasion (the ones I know about) :)

WILL YOU BE "TRICK OR TREATING" THIS HALLOWEEN?

def treating! :D

TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR SHOP.
My shop is all about yarnie wonders,, at fist it was all about knitting with needles and looms, but now I am adding crocheted goods to the mix :D
The shop's got a wide range of knitted goods all to complement your outfit and overall look :D

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED ON ETSY?

I was in a craft fair with my friend Mel (the owner of SweetShop Creationswww.etsy.com/shop/sweetshopcreations) and she encouraged me to try Etsy :) and now I am totally in love with this site! :D

WHAT'S YOUR BUSINESS AMBITION?
well for now, I am knitting for pleasure, and it gives me a LOT of joy when I see people wearing my items. I would just love for my shop to be known and to be successful :)

Photographs of Knitella's orange and black headband/ear warmer are all copyright Esra of Knitella.

MANY MANY MANY THANKS to these lovely ladies who introduced me, and please take a look at their lovely blogs as well :D

Oldham Craft fair

2011-09-08T17:24:00.000-07:00

GUESS WHAT I've been up to lately!?

I have been KNITTING (no surprise I know) but I've been doing it EXTRA!

because I HAVE A CRAFT FAIR COMING UP!!!

it's THIS SUNDAY! the 11th of SEP, 2011 :)

that's why I am feeling the excitement! :) I have set myself few Knitting goals to achieve.. not sure if I'll be done on time, but there's LOADS to do and so little time!! :) I sometime feel that time is just FLYING!

check out my shop feature from the lovely fair organizer! :) here

The FAIR will be at the Saddleworth Civic Hall, Oldham! :) and remember it's a charity event towards the Oldham Cancer Support Center!

HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL!!! :)

2011-09-06T17:52:00.000-07:00

TOO MUCH knitting >> (is there even such a thing?)

well, take a look at these signs, and you tell me! :D

1- walking to the bathroom with a trail of yarn

2- feeling like there is yarn in your mouth after knitting with fuzzy yarn

3- DREAMing of YARN and new projects when you close your eyes

4- boyfriend/partner got yarn ALL over him :p

5- There's ALWAYS "NO" time to finish all your lovely yarnie projects

6- Feeling addicted to knitting at every free moment of the day

7- Wanting to BUY yarn, knitting books and supplies the moment your eyes SEE any!

( I know I can't stop.. they are all so PRETTY!)

8- NOT realizing aching fingers and wrists till you are done with your project!

9- Half your friends or family gets knitted good! :p

10- knitting does it all for u! it relaxes you,, it makes you feel productive and make u feel good!

if you have experienced some of these mentioned signs then you are surly turning into a knit-holic! :p

but is it bad?

NO!

just make sure you eat, worship, meet up with friends, go out, and attend to your responsibilities in between your knitting projects, and you'll be fine! :D

note 1: these points are only made fun and they aren't based on research rather on some personal experience

note 2 : I apologize if you had to see an inappropriate image yesterday, but it was the URL itself that changed, now I saved all the pictures above and re-uploaded them to avoid the changing pictures problems

Private Landlord? NOT A CHANCE IN HELL

2011-08-15T15:02:00.000-07:00

I never liked my landlord. At first, I thought he was just ok, but now he's a FREAK! He annoyed me just few days ago, but today he pushed me to my limits. I usually have a happier approach, but there is NOTHING happy about him.

He is ANNOYING & SMOTHERING,. He thinks he knows it all, and looks down on me because I am not British! even though, he himself IS NOT. He's got issues. So many of them. I find it hard to start with one!

This is how he looks in my head!

and I just want to chock him.. just like this:

When I first moved to this house, I was very happy with the amazing specious rooms, but then all my happy feelings started fading with every call from my landlord.

For the first three months, he would come every two weeks for EVERY possible reason.. sometimes he wants to check the boiler, to check the fire extinguishers, or the fire alarm >> all the reasons you can't say no to! and he would go ON AND ON AND ON about "it's for your safety" and blah and blah. So, I couldn't say no. Every time, he would come he walks through the WHOLE house checking every little thing! judging everything. UGH.

He had LOADS of junk in the house, like pieces of wood, 2 TINY TVs, and many other random stuff. When I told him to move it out, he kept complaining, and annoying me. He insisted to keep the TVs, and I REALLY didn't want them because I wasn't interested in watching TV at that time, and even if I was I wouldn't watch ANYTHING on a 18 in screen! even my laptop screen is a bigger size! THEN guess what he said? BUT TV IS GOING TO HELP YOU WITH YOUR ENGLISH! that comment just shocked me! because my English is AMAZING (everyone around me says so) and when I don't tell people English is my second language they wouldn't even guess. I gave him the evils, so we took it away, but WHY was it a big deal! UGH

Few months later, my mom came to visit, and decided to buy me a TV " A REAL ONE WITH HUMAN SIZE." and that didn't cross Mr.C! when he saw it, he kept saying oh but u didn't want my TV, and u said u didn't like to watch it!

WELL EXCUSE ME for not wanting to watch any TV in an 18"! and picking a 45" over it!

It didn't only stop at that! after ALL his "MUST BE DONE" checks, he kept harassing me with calls saying he needs to come and see the property! like seriously, what would a Hijabi who doesn't drink, or party do to the place!

Not to mention that when I actually needed him to do something he couldn't even freaking bother!!

Me: Mr.C, can you please fix the lights by the driveway because it gets REALLY dark and scary in the winter and the outlet isn't in my flat, so I can't do it myself.

Mr.C: of course, I'll look into it.

ELEVEN MONTHS LATER:

NOTHING CHANGED, and it still SO DARK!

At first, he was all "it's for your own safety" but when he can't bother my safety could go to HELL

I was very patient with him, and I kept ignoring and ignoring him! but now that I am planing to move out, he went crazy again.

when I first gave him the one month notice, he insisted that we talk, and I told him I'll get back to him. UNLUCKY for me, he lives on the SAME EXACT STREET. So, when he saw me walking, he stopped me to "try and make me stay" and KEPT TALKING FOR TWENTY STRAIGHT MINUETS.

Mr.C: how can I persuade you to stay longer?

Me: (trying to be polite even though he doesn't deserve it) oh thank you, but I really need to live closer to uni.

Mr.C: but the bus stop is a walk from here.

Me: it's a 10mins walk and I have LOADS of things to carry for my course.

Mr.C: try biking.

Me: I don't know how to bike.

Mr.C: I'll teach u!

Me: no thnx.

Mr.C: I saw u learning how to drive.

Me: yes.

Mr.C: y didn't u tell me you wanted to learn? me and my brother have a driving company, and we assure students to pass. R u sure your instructor knows how to teach? we can give you a good price.

Me: oh great, but sorry I paid for my hrs already.

Mr.C: do u want me to find u a car, and u can stay here coz u'll drive!

Me: sweet, but I need to save for the car.

Mr.C: I can find you a loan.

Me: no thnx.

AND THE CONVO WENT ON AND ON AND ON.. mainly him talking!

and yah he also said.. if you move and hate your new flat, it'll be too late to move back!

WAY TO RUIN MY POSITIVE FEELINGS! HMPH

NOW, he's making my life a living HELL with his endless viewings!!

Today, just kept calling w/o leaving any messages DURING my FOOD TIME, and to me there's no precious than my food time, especially after fasting ALL DAY!

After, few txts of me telling him JUST TXT ME THE TIME OF THE VIEWING.. I am busy, he sent me a text. IT WASN'T that hard now was it! *sigh*

I CAN'T WAIT to get out of here. I get the feeling he'll draaaaaag till he gives me my deposit! HMPH

The whole lesson from this is NO MORE PRIVATE LANDLORDS (am sure there r good ones, but I can't chance it)

ANYWAY! I feel better that I expressed it all :D

Hope everything gets better when I leave and move to the new place!

between Ramadan, Knitting & Drop Dead Diva

2011-08-05T18:05:00.001-07:00

Hello All!

hope everyone is doing wonderful these days! :) As some of you know, Ramadan, the 9th month on the Islamic Calendar *just* started about five days ago! :)

since then I have been juggling three things! my fast, my knitting, and my new addiction on drop dead diva!

Fasting in the UK is not as easy as I thought because it's 18hrs of not eating! Only today I finally got used to it, but when I started I felt like I am dying! even though I do it every year, but this is my first time doing such long hours, which actually turned out to be beneficial because now I really feel the suffering of those hungry people, and it's been like a wake up call to realize how blesses we all are with all the food we got! :D

So, since I am not eating during the day I decided to occupy myself with MORE knitting, which to turned to be a blast! so far, I knitted two scarves, and working on my third! It is really helping me feel so productive, but one thing was missing! a knitting entertainment! :) It didn't take me more than five minutes to deiced that I need something to watch while knitting to keep my brain busy as much as my hands :D and in a matter of minutes I found Drop Dead Diva to be the best option :)

Now, I am on season three,, just finished the first episode, and DYING to watch the rest while working on my fresh breeze scarf :)

I know it is Ramadan and I should focus on worship, but at the same time, I think God likes seeing his people busy with useful things! :) and worship could be done in many ways including knitting with love! :)

So far, it's been five wonderful days! :)

Car Boot sale

2011-06-26T13:21:00.000-07:00

So, Yesterday, on Saturday, I went to my 1st ever car boot sale. It wasn't the best, BUT I still learnt few things! :D ONE, focus on craft fairs, add prices, and Always have chocolate to attract ppl ;)

here r some pix! check em out and tell me what u think :D I also added em to my FB like page! plz check it out 2 for more pix :D https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.221553761210419.61776.211282155570913

Remember to follow me on twitter as well! :D https://twitter.com/Knitella

Welcome

2011-06-23T18:36:00.001-07:00

Hello everyone! :D

Welcome to my blog! hope you enjoy my future posts :D

Smiles :)

Knitella