Crafty to do list

I have a busy day planned.

First on my to do list is to create a video slide show (my first) with narration to explain what is going on. Nerves a plenty here.

In addition to that I want to put a couple of coats of gesso on the two canvases that I covered in hessian yesterday and emulsion a couple of book boxes ready for decorating.  Does any one else have crafty to do lists?

My head is so full of ideas right now that I don't know where to start.  I work with some amazing ladies in the CFG groups and we are always planning the next lot of challenges, projects and swaps and top of that we try to find time to make stuff for our selves.  Yes we want to join in too :D

I'm keeping very busy at the moment and I like it.  Crafty play time keeps me kinda sane.

Here is another sneaky peek at my hessian canvas.  All will be revealed tomorrow I promise.

Time I got started on my list.

Laters

Naomi x

Inspiration

Where do you find inspiration.  I find it all over the place. architecture, things in shops and more and more online.  Pinterest is my best friend.  I look on there most days just to see what comes up on my home page.  I also use it when my mojo takes a break or if I am looking for ideas part way through a project and I have gotten stuck.

Most of my makes have come from inside my head.  I build using chipboard (2mm) and rarely follow tutorials.  I have made "versions" of things that I have seen.

I loved this chest of drawers as soon as I saw it.  I saw it on the Graphic 45 blog (great source of inspiration) and immediately wanted to make my own version of it.  I now know that it was made by a talented artist called Andrew Roberts. You can find his blog here

It was well worth the time it took to work out how to build it and I plan to make a slightly smaller one soon.

I am going to put links in the bar on the right of blogs from people that I find inspiring.  Some offer tutorials, but they all put out such great work, that I have to keep going back.  School run to do soon so I will put the links up later.

I have two more canvases to hessian wrap today, then I will be off to look at pinterest to see what inspires me today.

Stay inspired

Laters

Naomi x

Out of my comfort zone

My Aunt has asked me to make some stock for her to sell at her church.  I wont lie, I am very nervous.  Previously, they have bough some of my crafts, but that was left over stock from craft fairs and this will be different.  This time I will be making samples and the whole line I will be making is very Christian.

Why is this out of my comfort zone? I'm not at all religious.  I respect people who are and I have seen their faith get many people through bad times, but I have never connected with one.  I am spiritual, just in my own way.  Any way. I now need to put bible scripture on my makes and I'm scared to do something wrong.  Going to give it a good try though.

The second thing out of my comfort zone is that I have decided to apply for a Design team.  I love their products.  I'm scared witless, but I will kick myself if I don't at least apply.

Changing the subject.  Hi, My name is Naomi and I am addicted to canvas.

I am so in love with my latest make.  I'm already planning the next one and this one still needs the flowers attaching to it and maybe some stick pins.

This is just a tiny peak at the one I showed you yesterday. I can show it off all I want on Thursday once the event goes live on CFG Scrappers  :~D

I can't get enough of hessian and leather together so I need to play some more and buy more canvases to cover.  I bought some more jute ribbon to play with today and I haven't decided if I will use it to make jute flowers or as trim.  I bought 4 lengths so I can do both.

I had better go make lunch.

Laters

Naomi x

Story behind the name

I was asked why I called my blog "Crafting in my onesie"

I like to be comfortable.  If I know I am not leaving home, I get up get washed and put on a clean pair of PJs or a onesie.  Love my onesies :)  People that know me well enough to turn up un-announced are used to me in my PJ's now.

If I know we have the type of visitors coming over that require real clothes I get dressed lol.

I love crafting in my onesie/PJ's because they are so comfortable, especially in winter.  Just roll up my sleeves and play.  I try not to get paint and glue on them, but if it happens it is not the end of the world.

Today I am wearing pink and black PJ's.  They are made out of that really soft fleecy material that they make dressing gowns out of.  So soft and comfy it's like a hug :)

What do you all wear to craft?

I'm off to do some housework now so that I can get back to playing with my canvas.

Laters

Naomi x

Mixing it up

I have 2 canvases on the go at the moment.  One for a challenge and a mixed media one that I am just playing with.

Today the mixed media one is claiming my attention.  It is 40x40 cm and so far I have covered it in hessian and painted it with acrylic gesso.

The faux leather is out and I have been doing some die cutting.  I'm aiming for a floral, kind of shabby look.  It will feature a photo of me.  I dodge the camera all the time, so there are not that may of me to chose from, but this one has a story.

I will add to this post as the day goes on if I make any progress.  I need to go play with my printer, because it is not giving me a clear print of the picture I want to use.

Laters

Naomi x

Mixed media play time.

I have a design team project to work on for CFG Scrappers today.  The event is not live so I wont be able to show the pictures till next weekend.  I love playing with mixed media.  It is so relaxing, because I don't need to think, just stick and paint and spray.

This is one that I did of my daughter last year.  The picture is from when she was a lot younger.

It still needs something.  I'm not sure what, but every now and again I get it out and stare at it some more.  I haven;t played with this type of mixed media much, but I am hoping to do more in the future.

When work gets in the way

I have a ton of ideas at the moment, but I have to go to work, so no crafty play time today.

Having recently rediscovered my love of scrapbooking, I am on a roll making layouts.  I really need to buy an album for them to go into.

The most recent ones are yet to be revealed in the group I help with a bit so this is one that I made on mothers day.

The picture was taken just after I gave birth to my daughter who is now 20.

Well I had better get ready to go to work.

Hope you all get some crafty time in.

Laters

Naomi x

Who are they?

I have been having a good chat with a couple of friends and the topic of discussion was "Who are your customers?"

In the past I have done a few custom orders, but most of my sales have come through craft fairs.  Craft fairs are a good way to get your hand made products out there, but unless you are selling in affluent areas, a lot of the clientele seem to be looking for a bargain and you can't really charge what you should.

One item can take me days to make as I only do one of a kinds.  I have to work out what I want to do and if I can't manage that, a plan B part way through.

I estimate that this box took four hours work total.  For the craft fairs that I have been selling at I would have charged a maximum of £10 for this, because I know it would be unlikely to sell for more.  That £10 price label suggests that I don't value my time as even if I don't include material costs, I am only paying myself £2.50 and hour. It also suggests that my hand made one of a kind item isn't worth much as I haven't placed a good value on it.

So am I a Primark, a John Lewis or a Harrods?  I think I am pricing like a Primark when I am actually a John Lewis, but I am working my way up to being a Harrods.

I'm going to have a good think about what my time and my products are worth and start pricing the way I should.  I am going to take another look at who I sell to currently and who I actually want to sell to and how to get into that market.

So in my plan now is a new website showing off my makes in a better way (Facebook page just isn't offering what I want).  I also need to find new avenues to sell through and a new market to aim for.  Watch this space :D

Laters

Naomi x

My Crafting Journey

Lots of pics so I will apologise now x

I have always crafted.  As a child my mum tried and failed to teach me to knit, but she did manage to teach me how to crochet lol  I am left handed and she is right handed so some of it was a struggle.  Poor mum.  I do think I got my love of creating from her though.

In m mid teens I was given an sold Singer sewing machine.  The type that you have to wind the wheel to do the stitches. That got me into sewing big time.  Everyone started getting quilted cushions and pillows as gifts and eventually I moved onto dress making.  By the time that I had my eldest son, making clothes was the norm so I made quite a few of his clothes and some of his sisters.

After the birth of my daughter (now 20) I started selling hand painted cushions. My house was covered in them because they needed at least six hours to dry.  I can't remember why, but I stopped sewing after that.

About nine years ago I discovered paper crafting, specifically, Scrapbooking.

This is one of my earliest layouts.

Soon after, I discovered card making and since you can use the same stuff for both, there was no stopping me then.  Anything to do with paper became exciting and the fact that I was helping out in a craft shop only fuelled my hunger to grow my stash lol

Scrapbooking kinda got forgotten not long after that while I focused on card making.  I started making at least one card a day in response to all of the challenge blogs that I had started following and being the geek that I am, I had a spreadsheet to keep it all straight lol.

My card making has gone from here

 to here

I don't know if this is my best card, but it is one of my favourites.

A couple of years ago I got into making Mini Albums.  This is the first one I ever made.

I'm still making mini albums.  I can't get enough of them and I recently taught a group of wonderful women how to make one.  The results were amazing and my chest is still puffed up with pride over what they have done with my design.

The other area of crafting that I have moved into in the last couple of years is altering and construction.  Both are very scary at first, but once you get into the swing of it, it is very easy to get carried away.  My stash has grown from a small chest of 4 drawers to 18 drawers and a number of big boxes.

This is my favourite constructed make.  I had no tutorial and no clue what I was doing, but I am very proud of this make.

That is an overview of my journey so far.  I'm still learning and there is still so much to try.

Take care

Naomi x

Welcome to my new beginning

Back in 2009 I started a blog called Craftily Sugar Brown  I was an active blogger that belonged to more challenge blogs than make sense, but it was fun.  I miss it.  Looking back I am amazed at some of my old makes and how far I have come.  I have met some great people along the way and they have either taught me or inspired me to learn more.

So here's to my new beginning with some of my more up to date makes.

Thanks for reading :)

Naomi x