LiD Designs Sketchpad...

Personal Project Wednesday

2010-08-25T22:05:00.001-04:00

So a brand new goody arrived in the mail today. Brand new as in new to me, but in reality 96 years old.

I finally managed to score a vintage child’s Singer sewing machine class 20.
It was listed as fully functional but there are 2 vital parts missing, one I can easily get a hold of, but the other is proving harder to research a dealer of.

It needs a good clean, but I should be able to get it up to some kind of sparkly goodness quite soon. The wheel turns extremely smoothly, I thought there may be some gunge or seizing, but no the handle turns like the day it came out of the box.
It measures around 7” tall. The foot plate has some chips and dings and the felt is missing from the bottom of the base, and by the looks has been missing for a long time.
All of this top bit should be silver under this crud. It even has the spool pin which is missing off a lot of these models, and the tension wheel is still in good nick too.

The foot will scrub up silver again too and the dog teeth move freely, but the screw that holds the needle in place is missing, but I already have a dealer I can get a new one from :)
The major part thats missing is the looper which hooks the thread from underneath and creates the chain stitch, it looks like it sheared off, a tiny remainder is still inside the centre of the round piece in the middle of this pic. This, I can’t find a piece for right now, although I have a clear picture of what it should be like.
I want to get it up and working so that I can use it to sew tight, small, fiddly pieces on my hats.
This wheel, all silver with 8 spokes means it the 1914 model.

LiD Designs World Domination

2010-08-23T21:24:00.001-04:00

Today’s LDWD features the fabulous Enise of purpurnaddel.

She recently purchased a large selection of LiD Designs Supplies silk and rhinestone buttons to use on her new winter 2010 collection of hats.

Yesterday she released the first knitted and crocheted hat in a beautiful icy turquoise blue accented with a Turquoise Slash button, and right now it’s available HERE!

How yummy, soft and warm does the Italian wool she used look?

It’s Vintage Sunday!

2010-08-22T19:24:00.001-04:00

As fall approaches I’m currently obsessing about the current trend of clogs.

I searched out my own fabulous vintage pair in my favourite shoe shade (I have like 8 pairs of shoes in this colour from boots to gladiators.)

From blacksheepVL and they are a great fit, they dont ‘fly off’ at all, a major clog wearing issue :)

But don’t despair, there are still loads of hot clogs still available on etsy, so get in there quick (before the snow comes)!

$42 from fabgabs

$194 from FashionHouseVintage

$24 from nickiefrye

$42 from StylinRecyclin

$95 from jamesrowlandshop

And finally, totally kitsch…

$75 from poppygenetierney

Perfect Griege….Nail Polish Hunt Over!

2010-08-21T16:15:00.001-04:00

So for some time now I’ve been looking for the best Griege/Nude/Taupe Nail Polish along the lines of Chanel Particuliere . They have all been either too grey or too milk chocolate brown or made my hands look like I’d stolen them from a corpse! But this week I finally scored the perfect shade, Essie Jazz 304.

It’s beigey nude, with lilac undertones, and grey tint, and it doesn’t suck the colour out of my hands or make my nails look death blue.

It comes out darker than the bottle which looks very white based, but nicely darker. And it lasts, I’ve been wearing it since Tuesday, and have only touched it up for pictures yesterday as the edges were wearing down slightly.

Definitely THE most wearable shade for all occasions that I have come across in a along time.

I think it’s going to last through winter as well as fall.

Sack the Stylist

2010-08-20T12:27:00.001-04:00

I’m sorry, but, what. the. hell??!?

It’s like Cyber-Barbie.

(And, um, is it only me but doesn’t she look pregnant?)

For those of you who don’t know (that would be most people outside of the UK) This is the British glamour model Jordan, real name Katie Price. Now I can’t knock a self made millionaire, this woman has made a fortune out of her body, and for her, this is A LOT of clothing! But seriously love, ever heard of the saying, Before you leave the house, take one thing off?

Check out the iPod tiara and matching earrings. I think it’s the fringed skirt that is too much for me, just the rhinestoned unitard and thigh high boots would have been enough to get the message across ;)

Famous Flags Collection.

2010-08-19T19:48:00.001-04:00

Well the last 6 months have just flown by work wise. A LOT of bridal orders leading up to and right through the summer.

For my birthday I treated myself to a new mini hat block from Guy Morse Brown, and in between orders I’ve been working away on a lot of new designs using it as the basis. Some are already available in the shop, but soon to be released is this Famous Flags Collection. Mini hats decorated in the style of the US and UK flags, perfect for country pride!

This season I will mostly be rocking…..

2010-03-02T21:02:00.001-05:00

The Trench Coat.

I have found mine & its fabulous!

It’s vintage Nordstrom from Westland and it fits like a dream. I wore it today for the first time. It looks best with the top two buttons undone. There are pleats down the back from the yoke to the waist then down through the full skirt at the back and the front and there’s a cute button on tab across the waist at the back (the ties only come through from the side seams) It has too many cute girly features, it totally steps aside from the unisex Spy coats that are normally associated with Trench Coats, and looking around this seems to be a major trend this season.

Even Burberry are girlifying their classic trench, taking it shorter and tighter in a softer shimmery fabric. Love the huge hook and eye on the exaggerated collar stand.

Jean Paul Gaultier for Target is releasing this nautical mix trench on March 7th. And at only $59.99 I guarantee it will be sold out in the first half an hour!

At Celine they have mixed it up totally, ripping off sleeves and moving the double breasted buttons across further turning it into a safari dress of sorts.

For vintage takes on feminine trenchcoats try:

$65 from Secret Lake has pretty poofy shoulders & cuffs, two tone lapels and a semi full skirt.

$54 from The Pudding Store Vintage is cut for a smaller frame.

$52 from The Pigeon Chest in leather adds another edge.

$32 from Gina Michele Vintage goes for a pop of colour.

Lee Alexander McQueen CBE 1969-2010

2010-02-11T22:01:00.002-05:00

The sad passing of Lee 'Alexander' McQueen today has left the fashion world in shock.

After not being able to recover from the death of his mother last week, the designer took his own life last night and was discovered at around 10am UK time today.

He had just taken over at Givenchy before I started at fashion school & was very influential in my time leading up to & during my time there.

Its so sad that you couldn’t overcome the difficult time you were going through personally as professionally you were a genius. Hopefully you can now rest in peace now you have joined your beloved mother. x

Maybe I do have green fingers after all?

2010-02-01T22:33:00.001-05:00

The gold roses as they started the weekend.
They are filling out nicely!

Its Vintage Sunday!

2010-01-31T21:42:00.003-05:00

This week I am awaiting delivery of my new Dinette. I love that word (we don't have it in England) It conjures up images of 1950s housewives, with big hair & prim aprons serving a meat & two veg dinner to a husband in a sharp grey tweed suit on a check tablecloth with cutesy Japanese imported condiment servers. Ok, so mine is just a simple small dining table with 4 chairs to fit in our small kitchen to help improve my cooking/dirtypots/clean drying washing up 2 ft square worktop area but hey! So I was looking at quirky cute vintage salt & pepper shakers to furnish this new dining set with a hint of my imaginary 50’s housewife.

Possibly the funniest kitsch find, a big ole turkey on some scales, perfect for Thanksgiving.

And they come apart for the individual shakers.
From Susantique

A shiny toaster, where the shakers are the slices of bread.

And depressing the lever actually POPS the toast!
From mrsItfry

Perfect miniature coffee pots on glowing red burners.

Although wouldn't they be better as sugar & creamer?
From SASSYspaces

And now for the super kitsch all-in-one everything you would ever need, and all set in a picnic bench!
From Thegoodgranny

A little something I couldn't resist….

2010-01-29T13:10:00.001-05:00

I’ve been lusting after this hat for a few weeks now & although it maybe half an inch too small, I bought it anyway. Well, what else are hat stretchers for??

Its just the redness & the height of the crown & the cute short brim – yummy!

The last picture shows Julie from ScottieinaCanoe model the fabulous little hat in her etsy store.

It’s Bridal Season Baby!

2010-01-28T22:32:00.001-05:00

It is…no really! This week has blown up with requests for custom orders & quotes throughout both stores, and its only January! People are starting early this year, and they are looking for a sweet deal. In this downturn market people are turning to handmade for quality & to have their dream realised by someone with the tools, rather than run to the big bridal stores & just make do with the readymade stock that they have.

I’m currently working on a large order for some Gold & Ivory silk roses (as well as several others)
Here is where I was up to first thing this morning with the gold roses a.k.a layer 1.

Roses are red….

2010-01-27T10:06:00.001-05:00

Since the sinamay Calla Lilies, I’ve been working flat out, but I have managed to develop some more faux flowers.

First off are Roses using two different construction methods, both are proving popular.

Handfolded & twisted Silk dupion rose head, have been bought & used by fellow milliners.

Whilst these roses formed with heat tools from individually cut petals are popular with bouquet makers.

Meanwhile I have put some of the sinamay lilies to good use

Sinamay Lilies

2009-09-03T19:49:00.002-04:00

I have been working with manipulating my own Sinamay this week. Today I have been testing out making curved Calla Lilies.

Sinamay is great to work with like this because it is soft & flexible, but it also hold shapes & twists and turns into interesting forms.

They’re not finished yet, but you can see how the shape is holding up.

I have used a curled green biot goose feather as a stamen in the large one.

I think as well as using them on my hats I will sell them individually in my supply store too.

The small collection of hat blocks I have amassed just this month

2009-09-02T19:16:00.002-04:00

I already have several, but this month there seemed to be loads of hat blocks floating around eBay and Etsy at really low prices. Of these I managed to get my hands on 4 – shhhhh!

Left – 22” flat sided with asymmetric crown dome.
Centre back - 24” regular crown dome.
Centre front – 6” mini beret.
Right – Large beret. (this one arrived just this morning)

Cant wait to get working with them.

The mini beret turns out great -

And right now I’m working on the flat sided one after blocking a buckram base from it.

And then today there was a The Storque article…

2009-09-01T19:12:00.002-04:00

I’m watching the item counters & notice one set of buttons had risen considerably in views today alone. After some investigation I discovered they had been picked as a Related Item to a How-Tuesday article on making reusable lunch bags, sweet!

You can read the whole article here!

And these are the little darlings featured! Available here.

A little more Front Page Exposure

2009-09-01T11:40:00.001-04:00

So August was a very busy month in both Etsy Stores!
This was mainly due to being featured on the Etsy front page 3 times in late July/early August.

I also bought loads of new hat making supplies, including new fabrics & lots of feathers.

So keep an eye out lots of new designs & mini tutorials coming soon :)

Just a little something I couldn’t resist!

2009-06-19T17:38:00.002-04:00

I was out shopping today for ‘something smart’ for a temp cover desk job I’m doing in a few weeks (note: Summer is the WRONG time of year to look for smart work trousers) & this little beauty jumped off the shelf at me in Forever21. It was the last one on the shelf so I really couldn’t leave it there with the big gaudy gold numbers circling it like a jealous gang ready to jump on it & steal it's enamel beauty!
And the real beauty is it was less than $7! It is that perfect fun summer statement necklace & is going to look awesome with the new long black jersey maxi dress I picked up last week for less than $30.

Recession busting at its best :)

Lady GaGa Inspired Finds

2009-06-18T15:14:00.003-04:00

Today I have been pottering about looking out Lady GaGa inspired items on Etsy.

Avant Garde Polka Dot Top by LolitaVintage

Mattamorphis Dare Dress by Mattamorphis

Silver Ruched Jumpsuit by TripleGemini

Dynasty Dazzler Dress by unseenforce1

Avant Garde Puff Sleeve Sweater Dress by nstylevintage

Faux Hair Bow by blacksatinshoes

Buttons Buttons Buttons…….

2009-06-17T09:34:00.001-04:00

Fabric Manipulation Collection in Silk Dupion.

www.liddesignssupplies.etsy.com

Front Page Exposure

2009-06-12T11:21:00.001-04:00

I recently started a new Etsy venture, LiD Designs Supplies, currently specialising in Glamour Lux fabric (mainly silk) covered buttons.

www.LiDDesignsSupplies.etsy.com

We only started 19th April & so far we have had good start up success! Including being featured in a load of treasuries (thanks) and on 2 front pages including being chosen by admin themselves (thanks).

Inkjet Printing onto Fabric Tutorial

2009-06-06T17:19:00.003-04:00

To print your own fabric on an Inkjet printer you will need:

1. Inkjet Printer (for this tutorial I used an all-in-one, but you could use a separate scanner if you don’t have an all-in-one)
2. White paper.
3. Cotton fabric (thin is best)
4. Fine marker pen.
5. Scissors.
6. Masking tape.
7. Spray mount.
8. Spray lacquer.
9. Newspaper.

Step One:
Draw your design onto the top corner of a sheet of plain white paper with your marker pen.

Step Two:
Place image into the scanner part of the printer, and use the colour copy function to print straight out.

Step Three:
Lay copy next to first in the repeat position that you want. Use masking tape to fix into position. Slice far edge to match the edge of the original sheet, you want it to fit into the scanner properly else you will get dark shadows it the sheet doesn’t lay completely flat inside the frame on the machine. Copy again.

Step Four:
Lay second copy on original & repeat step three.

Step Five:
Repeat step three again.

Step Six:
Repeat step three for the last time.

Step Seven:
Put complete sheet into scanner & copy for one last time so that you have a neat sheet to copy onto fabric from (you can skip this step if you want)
BUT place full sheet back into scanner ready to print fabric from.

Step Eight:
Lay fresh sheet of blank paper onto fabric & cut out 1 1/2” bigger than the sheet of paper all round.

Step Nine:
Lay out newspaper to protect your surfaces, and spray Spray Mount all over top side of the sheet of paper.

Step Ten:
Smooth fabric down over sticky side of paper.

Then cut neatly round side so that fabric matches the paper.

Step Eleven:
Lay fabriced paper down on paper tray in printer with the fabric side whichever side up/down that your printer prints out on.

Step Twelve:
Hit print/copy & wait for your newly printed fabric to print out!

Step Thirteen:
Peel paper backing from fabric and place back on newspaper and use Spray Lacquer to seal ink onto fabric.
Not sealing it will result in the ink running if it gets wet.

Then print away on all your favourite background fabrics & make what ever you want with it.

Mini Tutorial – Felting a Crocheted Hat

2009-04-06T18:10:00.002-04:00

You will need:

1. A ball of 100% wool. I like Paton’s 100% Merino Classic
2. 4mm Crochet hook. (with this particular wool)

3. A round plastic form. (to felt shape to. I made mine from the bottom of a plastic food tub)

4. A Knitters Sewing needle.

5. A regular sewing needle
6. Thread matching wool colour.
7. Shiny glamorous button.

This tutorial is for those who already know how to crochet & have a hat pattern to follow. Make sure the pattern works up larger than you want it to end up being as it will shrink considerably during the felting process.

Start to crochet your hat, make sure you leave a long enough end of yarn at the centre point start as you will need it later.

Use a loose long stitch, at least a double crochet stitch, as the stitches need to shrink together & too tight a stitch will stop this happening & very limited felting will occur. I have used treble for this beret.

Finish your hat.

Thread your wool needle onto the long spare end from where you started the piece.

Take your plastic form, thread the needle & yarn through a hole in the centre.

Slide form down yarn.

Tuck form inside main body of hat.

Remove needle & tie yarn securely (several times over)

Put hat inside a pillowcase or lingerie bag.

Throw into the machine on as hot a wash as your machine will do, with a small dash of soap.

Wash several times over to create the desired effect. Once the main shape has been safely formed you can remove the plastic form to finish it off & make sure it is evenly worked. Adding a towel can agitate it further & work up a better finished result.

Thread normal needle with matching thread & secure to inside of the centre hole which should still be just visible.

Poke shank of glam button through hole & stitch securely in place.

As this is a mini beret you will need to attach it to your head some how, so, take a small crocodile clip and stitch to back side of beret at the top.

And the bottom.

News about Next Month

2009-03-31T11:01:00.002-04:00

Next month keep an eye out for a series of mini tutorials, seeing as that was the original premise of this blog.

Covering topics from Felting to Covering Buttons to making Kanzashi Flowers.

My New little Colour Obsession – Red & White

2009-03-30T10:29:00.002-04:00

Recently I have been working a lot with the colour combination a Red & White, I’m loving the striking contrast.

1. Gathered Roses $24 www.liddesignsboutique.etsy.com
2. Love Hearts Collection. Ring $10 Earrings $12 available separately www.liddesignsboutique.etsy.com
3. Giant Poppy Clip Over Silk Hat $85 www.liddesignsboutique.etsy.com
4. Sweet As Cherry Pie Silk Hat $78 www.liddesignsboutique.etsy.com
5. Red Hoola Girl Kanzashi Hair Corsage $22 www.liddesignsboutique.etsy.com
6. Toadstool Mini Beret $48 www.liddesignsboutique.etsy.com
7. Snow White Big Silk Bow Aliceband $24 www.liddesignsboutique.etsy.com
8. CherryDrop Mini Beret $35 www.liddesignsboutique.etsy.com
9. SnowDrop Mini Beret $35 www.liddesignsboutique.etsy.com

Help! I Have Nothing to Wear! The Woes of a Handmade Wedding Guest.

2009-03-27T16:02:00.013-04:00

1. Ruffles Collection Blue Rose $75 www.liddesignsboutique.etsy.com
2. Big Yellow Silk Bow Aliceband $24 www.liddesignsboutique.etsy.com
3. Pink & White Hoola Girl - Large Kanzashi Hibiscus Silk Hair Corsage $28 www.liddesignsboutique.etsy.com
4. Retro 1940s Pink Rhinestone Encrusted Mini Beret $55 www.liddesignsboutique.etsy.com
5. Starburst Silk Mini Hat $78 www.liddesignsboutique.etsy.com
6. Butterfly Catchers Dream Silk Mini Hat $78 www.liddesignsboutique.etsy.com
7. Pleated Jade Evening Pouch $24 www.liddesignsboutique.etsy.com
8. Yellow Hoola Girl - Large Kanzashi Hibiscus Silk Hair Corsage $26 www.liddesignsboutique.etsy.com
Now, what are you complaining about! Go get dressed you're gonna be late!

The Handmade Bride

2009-03-12T10:14:00.007-04:00

A selection of beautiful luxury accessories for brides.
1. Ivory Heirloom Silk Eye Mask $26 www.liddesignsboutique.etsy.com
2. Ivory Hoola Girl Kanzashi Hair Corsage $22 www.liddesignsboutique.etsy.com
3. Snowflake Freshwater Pearl & Swarovski Crystal Mini Beret $60 www.liddesignsboutique.artfire.com
4. Dee-Lite Freshwater Pearl & Swarovski Earrings $25 www.liddesignsboutique.artfire.com
5. Cream Silk Boudoir Eye Mask/Blindfold with Pearls Sold Out available by special order www.liddesignsboutique.etsy.com
6. Ice Crystal-Retro Sequinned White Silk Mini Hat $115 www.liddesignsboutique.etsy.com

Silk Kanzashi Hair Corsages

2009-02-12T18:23:00.012-05:00

Big Silk Hair Bow Alicebands

2009-02-07T14:01:00.018-05:00

Spring/Summer 09 Hair Bow collection, available from Etsy & Artfire

Chunky Monkey Unisex Scarflette Collection Winter 08/09

2009-01-14T18:19:00.013-05:00

Currently only available from my artfire shop www.liddesignsboutique.artfire.com

The Girl Collection - Frilly Scarflettes

2009-01-12T08:14:00.006-05:00

Winter Mini Beret Collection

2009-01-11T10:31:00.019-05:00

Etsy, Artfire, Crochet, and Pain.

2009-01-10T14:55:00.006-05:00

So, I've had a busy two months. I have opened a store on the new handmade site Artfire www.LiDDesignsBoutique.artfire.com to run alongside my etsy store www.LiDDesignsBoutique.etsy.com . As yet I am waiting for my first sale, but the site is still in beta & traffic through there is alot less than with etsy.
Im working hard at promoting you can catch my tweets on Twitter under liddesigns, as well as news updates on Myspace www.myspace.com/liddesignsboutique .
I have been working on filling my Etsy store to have one new/renewed item a day. I have been working on improving the pictures by taking shots in my new GIANT lightbox with special daylight bulbs and then wanging them through Picassa & Photoshop photo editing to bring up the colours and brightness etc. It seems to be working, I'm getting into treasuries regularly, and last week I hit the front page for the first time! Still doing a happy dance from that one.
I have this slight crochet addiction at the moment, which is bringing on pains in my wrists (not good) My whole winter collection started with testing out felting crochet which progessed into a whole collection of mini berets in different colours and some were worked into with beads and sequins. This developed into a frilly scarflette design once the weather began to turn, which has since expanded with a chunky unisex range. I'm now working up a crocheted retro range of hats, in line with my retro silk hat line which has already been released in my artfire store.
I need to start thinking about spring & summer 09 which is going to comprise of sewn hats, purses and shoes, embellished with handstitched embroidery along the lines of Doodle Stitching.
Bringing everything together I am working on my own website which the entire ranges will be showcased on. www.liddesigns.com

Screenshot of my first Etsy Front Page 1st Jan 2009

2009-01-05T13:56:00.000-05:00

A Good Start to the New Year

2009-01-01T21:27:00.004-05:00

So I was pootling around today, clearing up from the NYE party last night, took a break for 5 to see what was going on in the world of Etsy, hit update on my Craft Cult item views page, which was at about 20 hits all morning & all of a sudden the first page hits read 357! With the next 2 pages totalling around 50 hits each. WTF!!?? I did a double take, figured maybe the Heartomatic was having a glitchy 5 minutes, but no, there in black & white in the space of around an 45mins from 2.30pm was a massive spike in views. So I hit Etsy front page to see if it was there, but it was nowhere to be seen, had a quick flick through the gift guides, but again to no avail. Hit on my shop & scrolled down the first page to find that my Ice Crystal hat had more than doubled in views! YAY! Or had someone played a crewl trick & just hit on my item over & over again?
Next stop the treasuries but there was no star next to a title, foiled again! Where do I go now? Hmmmmm.....
Then I remembered a non affiliated site called Feasty, which keeps track of featured sellers on the front page of Etsy. BINGO! Sure enough under the heading 'Front Page' was my hat!
But how did it get there? A secret admirer had hearted it on Dec 31st, could this have been a member of Admin making their own anonymous treasury, well I guess so! So thanks whoever you are!
Still holding out for the Etsyfrontpagers Flickr group to have woken from their NY hangovers & have started taking those screen shots by 2.30pm as none had been uploaded since 3am & I may be able to bathe in the glory once again! And to see what other lovely items it was paired with. Fingers crossed!
Woot Woot! Started doing the happy dance, my first ever front page!
And not only that but on the first day of the new year, is it a sign.........

New Marketplaces

2008-11-19T22:09:00.002-05:00

With so many new selling sites springing up left right and centre, it's hard to know where to pick to sell on. A lot of them are still in beta, so they havent finished testing them out, and there are no real sales figures to go on, so you dont know how successful you will be there.
But thats how Ebay & Etsy started out and now they have millions & hundreds of thousands (respectively) of users.
I have been selling on Etsy now for just over 6 months. I decided not to put all my eggs in one basket and in the last week I have opened shops on two new selling sites: shophandmade.com & artfire.com. Both have opening offers for new sellers, free listings and discounted memberships.
Only time will tell as to how successfull selling on there will be, as sales on Etsy have been slow.

Featured in another blog

2008-11-12T08:18:00.004-05:00

After the weather turned last week I was inspired to crochet up a little grey wool scarflette, I just sat down and the design flowed, no pattern, no nothing just experimentation, even included some button holes and a frill around the bottom.
I actually started with the mustard rose flower which embellishes the outside. That paved the way for the matching mustard silk buttons, and what better to set it off that a nice mid grey background. It is a simple double stitch ground and really didnt take too long to make.
Once listed on etsy the views shot up quickly, and two days later I recieved an email to say that it had been chosen by a fellow blogger as an example on her blog http://wickedlittlepleasures.blogspot.com/2008/11/finds-scarf-by-any-other-name.html

Supply success

2008-11-09T22:32:00.003-05:00

Yay! I just won my new lightbox. This should greatly improve my photographs and bring them all into uniformed line.
I already bought some lamps and daylight bulbs earlier this week (the day someone outbid me on a cheaper lightbox, but hey ho!)
So keep an eye out for further developments and experiments once it arrives!

To sell or not to sell? Part 1

2008-11-09T19:08:00.005-05:00

So do I venture into other selling venues?
At the moment fairs are not an option for me, I dont have the correct paperwork yet for starters a few places have a blanket license, but they still prefer you to have your own, and I dont have transport, display aids or signage. Or for that matter, enough stock to sustain a full day!
So, where else can I go?
Well I did Ebay for 4 years, to start off with I did a few auctions, then after 2 years I opened a shop, which was at £6 a month plus 6p per item listing for the month rather than 30p for a max of 10 days per listing worked out a lot cheaper.
There were ups and downs to only selling through a shop, as one of my friends said (and she owned a shop there herself) that she never looked in the shop listings to buy stuff, only the auctions, because at that time it was a seperate page under all the aution listings. I think they now mix all the listing in together.
Also you got to set the price up actually wanted to sell the item for as a Buy It Now price, not start the auction at a low price to entice bids, like an auction would. Good side, you got a half decent price for it, downside, people only want stuff for 99p! So you still couldnt really set a high enough price for your item, and items didnt move very fast tending to sit around in my shop for months on end. I only really had one good selling stretch, christmas 2006, I managed to make about £250 in one month, but other than that it was dribs and drabs.
Handmade items just dont go down all that well on ebay, people want brand names, and brand names for cheap. They dont want to pay retail for an item they could go out and buy in a high street store, and they most definately dont want to pay full price for something someone has made, not matter how qualified and skilled they are.

Retro Handmade Etsy Street Team Treasury

2008-11-03T16:55:00.003-05:00

I made this treasury on Etsy's Treasury West for our street team Retro Handmade.
It features some of our newer members.
(Screenshot taken by Kelly of retro80s.etsy.com)

Serendipity The Finished Hat

2008-11-02T13:45:00.003-05:00

Remember the first felted mini beret I made last month? Well here is the finished article!
I studded the felted wool with glued tiny pins holding tiny freshwater pearls, attatched matching grosgrain ribbon to tie under the hair at the nape of the neck.
It is sat on a matching handmade hatbox.

Crocheted Grey Felted Mini Beret (unembellished)

2008-11-01T23:14:00.003-04:00

Grey Mix Paton's Classic Merino wool.
Crocheted mini beret, felted post production. (unembellished)

Felted Crochet - To form or not to form?

2008-11-01T23:02:00.003-04:00

Phew! Another busy week. Relly's visiting from abroad, so it was Tourguide Liz for a week! God, you think you have busy life until you have to show people round where you live, then your knackered as hell after day two!
So that put a halt to design and make for 5 days, which was actually abit of a rest! I was eager to get back to it by the end of day 4.
I kept a ball of wool and a crochet hook in my bag for subway trips and got 4 mini beret's worked up and ready for felting. I managed to get hold of and old plastic pot lid which was just the right size for the insides of the berets, so that when they felt down they dont screw up like the first green one did. Although this means I can only felt one at a time (until I get another lid anyway)
The first one twisted slightly, but the second and third turned out well. I didnt put the last two in the tumble dryer, I left them to dry naturally after I had taken the plastic form out of the middle. I pushed the top and bottom apart and gently formed a dome in the top. This has given them a more natural shape, not so forced as the tumble dryed ones. I dont think tumble drying really adds to it. It would only be of use if I was drying larger flatter pieces.

My new hat block and steamer.

2008-10-24T21:02:00.005-04:00

A few weeks ago I bought my first proper wooden hat block. I got it from ebay and it took ages to arrive! But it was well worth it. Next mission was to find something to steam the buckram with. I hit upon those handheld steam cleaners that look like a coffee jug, but for what I wanted it for they can be pretty expensive. So whilst looking on the Bed, Bath & Beyond website for other things I came across one for $20 and instead of the pointed nozzle it had a wide flat 'beek'. The first 'experiment' has gone really well. The wide nozzle means that more buckram is hit in one go, and it also helps to 'smooth' the fabric down which helps to eradicate scolded fingers. Take alook at the pictures.

Masquerade Pink Silk Eyemask

2008-10-22T21:45:00.002-04:00

Pink silk eyemask, with black tatted lace and pink spotted guinea fowl feathers
Available from my etsy shop:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vl_other_1&listing_id=16343512
$36 + s&h

Thai Priestess Mint eyemask

2008-10-22T21:38:00.004-04:00

Mint silk eyemask with pink tatting lace highlighted with ab rhinestones.
Available from my Etsy shop:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16477455
$36 + s&h

Black Widow Grosgrain Rosette Hat

2008-10-22T21:28:00.006-04:00

Grosgrain rosette on a sinamay base with rhinestone detail and veil.
Available from my Etsy shop:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16478455
$68 + s&h

Tatting to Twitter, one busy week!

2008-10-22T21:17:00.005-04:00

Busy busy week! Been setting myself targets (and not meeting them!) all week by drawing up a plan of action for each day.
I have gotten a few items finished and listed on Etsy.
I retaught myself tatting which was tricky to start off, but I soon had the nack of it again. I added several pieces to sosme of the silk eyemasks I have made as way of embellishment.
I've been floating round the forums on Etsy, trying to 'get my name out there'! It's given me a few ideas on places to promote myself, so I've been setting up accounts on different sights.
My latest thing is Twitter, where you just basicaly throw down whatever is happening in the moment. Abit like a blog, but less contrived, more spontanious.
http://twitter.com/liddesigns
I've already been found by two people after 8hrs. I have put the link on my profile page on Etsy and on here, but I want people to find me out themselves, so Im not going to to shouting out about it everywhere.
The green felted hat below is yet to be emeblished, but check out the pictures above of the Black Widow hat and the two tatted eyemasks that have been the majority of this weeks work.

P & S Fabrics is such a great shop!

2008-10-17T10:26:00.003-04:00

I found everything I wanted, craftwise, in one store yesterday, so I didnt have to trek all over to find stuff, I got real feltable wool and spent yesterday afternoon crocheting it up, put it in the washer and woke up this morning to find a fab little felted bundle. I was trying for a mini beret, but I dont have anything to keep it flat with at the moment so it folded up and looks like a tennis ball, but I like it like that!
And I got a tatting bobbin, I thought I'd give that a whirl again.
So today is full of crochet, tatting, finishing off some eyemasks.

Feltable Wool - post felting

2008-10-17T10:22:00.001-04:00

Feltable wool - pre felting

2008-10-17T10:12:00.002-04:00

Paton's classic merino wool, Leaf Green.

Feltable Wool! Yay!

2008-10-16T20:52:00.004-04:00

I finaly got some! And it works! Patons Classic Merino Wool. First off is another mini beret in Leaf Green, at the moment its drying/felting abit more in the tumble dryer, but so far it's turned out pretty well.

Where to buy my fabulous items?

2008-10-15T11:45:00.004-04:00

Why Etsy.com of course!
Etsy.com is a website specializing in handmade items from sellers across the world. Based in Brooklyn NY, it's an easy to use site which you can actually contact the peeps at head office if you have a really bad problem. As well as fashion designers, it caters as an outlet for artists, both painting and sculpture, photographers, beauty product makers & jewellery designers to name but afew.
My shop address is:

www.LiDDesignsBoutique.etsy.com

It's full of my hats, bags & jewellery and I have just reintroduced my fab line of silk eyemasks which proved popular before.

2008-10-12T10:17:00.001-04:00

Prym Needlegrabbers

The product I'm loving today is.....

2008-10-07T21:36:00.002-04:00

Prym Needlegrabbers
Item no. 611 100 (found in the top left corner of the packet.)
You get 2 small round rubber disc's about the size of a £2 coin. They have a hatch marked surface and are GREAT!
I was abit hesitant at first, but I was trying to neaten up the edge of the wedding hat with bias, and was trying to sew through 5 layers of silk and 5 layers of Sinamay. I had been forcing the needle through with a pair of pliers which was taking a long time.
As instructed I folded th disc in half and gripped the end of the needle and, expecting to face resistance I started to push it into the layers of fabric. To my surprise it entered very smoothly and soon there was enough needle poking out the other side to be able to let go of this side of the needle and grab hold of the new piece and pull the whole thing through with ease, as if I was just sewing through an ordinary double thickness of silk!
At 95p for a pack of 2 from John Lewis in the UK and other Prym suppliers, go try them out! Well worth it for the time and finger saving!

The complete wedding outfit

2008-10-07T21:32:00.000-04:00

Sorry about the cheezy grin!

Jade Green Wedding Hat

2008-10-07T08:24:00.002-04:00

Jade green 100% Silk Dupion hat with large AB sew on rhinestones in a starburst, with teardrop pearls on wire tail and scattered self coloured sequins.

Vacation problem solving

2008-10-06T15:00:00.004-04:00

So I've been away on holiday for the past few weeks, Cyprus for a friends wedding. Whilst away I made a hat for the wedding, I managed to sew on a British Airways plane with out any problems, although sharps aren't allowed in your hand luggage. I took pre cut lengths of thread with me so that I didnt have to take scissors on with me and risk having them confiscated! I'd already covered the base with silk and was stitching on big AB rhinestones in a star burst.
I didnt dare take on my crochet hooks as they are metal and would probably have been taken off me at security.
I didnt have much time to 'make' as we were really busy for most of the 2 weeks, but I did get the hat finished (with minutes to spare!) And I crocheted a 100% wool mini beret and top hat. I think I may have cracked the problem I was having before I went away (see my last blog entry). Im going to try this pattern in the bamboo yarn and see how it turns out later this week:
-chain 4, join, 1 chain.
-dc 8 times round ring, join, 1 chain.
-dc 2 in each stitch, join, 1 chain.
-dc in join st, *dc 1 in nxt st, dc 2 in nxt st* repeat between stars until end, join, 1 chain.
-dc in join st, *dc 1 in nxt st, dc 1 in nxt st, dc 2 in nxt st* repeat between stars until end, join, 1 chain.
-**dc in join st, *dc 1 in nxt st, dc 1 in nxt st, dc 1 in nxt st, dc 2 in nxt st* repeat between single stars until end, join, 1 chain.
- repeat ** row
-repeat ** row
- 1 dc in each st, end.
Whilst doing my holiday washing (there was sooo much!) I washed the mini beret on a hot wash, and it didnt shrink or felt at all! I have done this process several times before with ideal results, but never in this machine, I washed it on 3 different hot wash cycles with no joy, so Im not very happy now.

Working out how to crochet a mini hat...I'm stuck!

2008-09-14T23:49:00.003-04:00

Ok, so today Im trying to figure out how to crochet a mini hat base, similar to the sinamay ones I've used before. Approx 11cm across with a light dome to the centre. I've either gotten too much of a dome too early and therefore it would stick out of the side of the head too far, or the dome starts off gently like I want it to, but then the edge seems to turn up and the piece between the crown centre and the edge dips down. I need to find that happy medium. I've been making it out of Bamboo yarn which can ctreate quite a nice stiff fabric. (Note to self: Get it in Black!) For the Domey version Ive been chaining 3, making a ring, dc x 10 in ring, 2 x dc in each st of nxt row, then do a 2nd dc in join st, then 1 x dc in each of nxt 4 st's, then 2 x dc in 5th st, repeat round ring, then on each row after add 1 to the single dc's ( so the next row has 5, then the next 6 etc, etc). The Turned Up one starts the same as the Domey one, then from the 3rd row I did, 2nd dc in join st, 1 x dc in nxt st, 2 x dc in nxt st, and repeat this all the was round, and then repeat on the next row, then the next etc. Hmmmm will keep on with differing combinations. There has to be one out there! I want to eventually make a mini beret but for now I want little capel style to wear on the side of the head like the 'Cool Girl' from Fridays 'Spot' embellished with self coloured sequins or rhinestones.
Lovesxxx

Omega Nylon Crochet Thread

2008-09-14T09:10:00.003-04:00

The top pic is a shot of the reels and the lower shot is of a quick earring I made up quickly to try out the thread. The colours look a little flat and not very bright in the pics, but they are much more lux than this in real life!

The product I'm loving today is....

2008-09-13T12:06:00.001-04:00

Omega Crochet Nylon
I bought some rolls from a lady on Ebay and they arrived this week. Her shop name is: Novelty Quilt Fabric.
Its 100% Nylon thread that is made in Mexico. The roll has 275m/300yds on it so they will keep me going for some time. They have a really nice shiny lustre, perfect for jewellery items like earrings, necklaces and covering beads. I got size No. 2, I think it comes in different sizes too. The colours are really vivid, I have a roll of Lime, which is really limey, not wishy washy and yellowy like you sometimes get, it is colour no. 29, and I got my fave colour Mexican Rose, which is a really hot pink shade (colour no. 10). They look great put together as a contrast.
It works up really well, nice and smooth and the threads dont split.
Go check it out, let me know what you think!

Cool Person in a Hat Spot

2008-09-12T21:28:00.000-04:00

Today while I was walking down Broome St, SoHo, NYC. I spotted a girl ahead of me, all in black and not a goth, with a cute little black beaded mini hat perched on the side of her head. It looked great with her fine blonde hair scrapped back in a knotty little bun just above the nape of her neck. Great way to cover up a bad hair day! Didnt get close enough to get a good look, but she looked cool from far!

Why I decided to start this blog.....

2008-09-12T20:50:00.000-04:00

Well I really want to write a book, but I dont know where to start and I dont think I have enough information to fill one yet! So if I start writing this then I'll have an 'archive' of what I know, and hopefully I will impart some knowledge and plenty of hints and tips and techniques on 'How To' make stuff!
I am a fully qualified Fashion Designer. I have my own label - LiD Designs. I am currently specializing in Millinery and am self teaching myself millinery techniques, so as I learn I can share with you the hits (and the misses!)
I also make bags and jewellery, I love to knit and crochet and felt. I get easily distracted when I see a new technique I want to try (Ive dabbled on so many different things over the last two weeks that I have a load of little piles of half started projects scattered around the room!).
I like to make a fabric from scratch and then manipulate it into an item or garment, its far more satisfying that way!
If anyone wants to know how to do something that perhaps I havent blogged about, please feel free to comment, requesting a tutorial on the subject. I may not know how to do it (yet), but I can probably find out and then we can all learn together!
Ok enough from me now, let me get on and make something!(Or should that be finish off something out of the pile)
Loves!xx