In My Studio: Sight and Sound

Sewing a big pile of play mats while watching the Great British Sewing Bee

Since schools have gone back its been all systems go in my studio. I have been knuckling down to some hard work to getting stocked up before the fall and holiday craft fairs.

In this blog post I would like to share some of the things that have been keeping me entertained, inspired and sane while I have been working:

The Merriweather Council Podcast: The host Danielle Spurge is a craft business consultant with many years selling her embroidery on Etsy. She is a fountain of knowledge and with her new podcast shares some great tips to help other small handmade businesses thrive. This podcast was only launched a few weeks ago but she has already covered so much in her concise and 'no nonsense' manner. Episodes have included topics such as: shipping, pricing, blogging, inventory, feedback, creativity and photographing your products.

I highly recommend listening to this podcast for some great ideas and inspiration.

Available on the Merriweather Council website and Itunes.

Mid Hudson Library System Digital Downloads: If you reside in the Mid-Hudson Valley and are a member of a local library you can use your membership number to access audio books (and ebooks) from their website. Using the Overdrive app (available in the app store) you can download and listen to these audio books on the device of your choosing.

I download them onto my ipad and listen to audio books while I work. It's a great (and free) way of listening to some really good books. You are entitled to borrow up to 10 titles at a time and can also put holds on titles that are currently checked out.

I recently listened to the thrilling third installment of the Comoran Strike books by Robert Galbraith 'Career of Evil' which I highly recommend.

Streaming TV Shows: Sometimes if I am on the sewing machine for a long period of time I also like to watch TV shows, especially 'crafty' ones (photo at the top). My favorites include Project Runway which is about to start a new season and The Great British Sewing Bee (available on you tube).


I would love to hear what inspires you while you work....

Good luck getting ready for the busy season and good listening! 

Sarah
So Handmade

In My Studio: Label Making

Today on the blog I am revisiting this blog post from a couple of years ago. I recently changed my logo and had to make some new labels. I also saw that Kim from QuarterLifeLuck has been using this tutorial to make her own labels too with some great results:

Labels made by QuarterLifeLuck

How to make your own Fabric Labels

In order to save money buying in professionally made custom labels I have been making my own. The results look great and are very easy and cheap to do. In this tutorial I give you the steps in order for you to make your own:

Materials
Printable transfer paper
Fray Check
Iron
Sharp scissors
Ribbon

Method

1) On your computer take a copy of your logo and insert it into a word document. Measure your ribbon and scale the logo so it will fit onto the ribbon. It will look best if the background of your logo is left white. 

2) Once its the correct size click the 'format' tab at the top of the word document. Find the 'rotate' tab and click the option 'flip horizontally'. This will invert your logo so that it will be the correct way around when printed.

3) Copy this version of the logo and paste in columns on the document (as below left). Print this document out onto the transfer sheet making sure you print on the correct side of the paper. Cut into strips (below right)

 4) Heat the iron to its hottest setting and iron one strip of logos onto the ribbon. Make sure the iron gets really hot and then before it cools down quickly remove the backing paper. (it is best to iron on the top of a hard surface)

 5) Apply the fray check to the back of the ribbon in the area between the logos and leave to dry.

6) Once dry cut the labels

7) Apply the labels to your products, remembering not to iron over the label once its been attached as this will melt it.

My new logo!

Good luck and good making!

Sarah Omura - So Handmade

Out Of My Studio: At Fiber Flame

Recently on this blog we read about a visit by fellow Hudson Valley Etsy Team blogger

Lark Practical to the Rhinebeck Arts Festival. She reviewed the booth provided by Fiber Flame and the wonderful time her son had spent painting a lizard. I decided this month to visit the mother ship- the original Fiber Flame studio located on route 212 between Woodstock and Saugerties. I say mother ship because recently Fiber Flame have also opened a studio in Rhinebeck and can be found at many local events, festivals and fairs.

Mother ship can also be used to describe the inspiring futuristic construction of the Fiber Flame building. Upon entering you are immediately welcomed by a beautifully curated gift shop, combining wares made from local crafts people to fair trade goods sourced from all over the world. This area is truly inspiring for any would be maker to get their creative juices flowing.

Gift shop at Fiber Flame

The space is then given over to numerous crafting tables where visitors are able to get making themselves. Shelves are jam packed with projects for children and adults alike to decorate and assemble. The walk in studio offers visitors the ability to come in whenever fits their busy schedules; Tuesday to Thursday and Sunday 10am-5pm and Friday and Saturday 10am -6pm.

Some Halloween 'blanks' ready for decorating

Visitors first choose a 'blank' on which to work. This could be anything from a onesie to a wooden car, a piece of pottery to glaze or a canvas tote to decorate. Each 'blank' has varying prices from $1 upwards. You also pay a studio fee of $10, for this fee all the studio materials are included in your two hour session; from buttons, beads, fabrics, papers, embellishments, a rainbow of glazes and also help from one of the friendly assistants if you need it.

Embellishments

Fiber Flame also offers a wide variety of classes for children and adults including its monthly Dirty Girls Night Out; offering women the chance to have a night out, make a mess,  try something new, meet and chat with fellow like minded people and get creative.  Previous nights have included embroidery, needle felting, indigo dyeing, jewelry making and pottery.

The studio also throws wonderful children's birthday parties and is open to private bookings including film showings on its huge movie screen. Kids Nights Out are held regularly whereby the youngsters can create, eat dinner and watch a movie while their parents enjoy a night out.



Dirty Girls Night- Indigo Dyeing Workshop



Main area- crafting tables

It is truly a remarkable and creative place well worth a visit -to fill some time on a rainy day, learn a new skill or to make Christmas gifts for the whole family.

"Fiber Flame is our effort to honor and feed the ancient human need to adorn ourselves, our loved ones, and our environment with handmade beauty. In a mass-produced world, it feels good, essential even, to make, have, give and receive one-of-a-kind, imperfectly-rendered objects." Shea and Christina


For more information about classes and events:

Fiber Flame

1776 Route 212

Saugerties

845 679 6132

make@fiberflamestudio.com

www.fiberflamestudio.com

or visit the new studio at 18b East Market St Rhinebeck

Sarah Omura - So Handmade

In My Studio: Organizing

This year my first New Year's resolution was to organize my studio- and keep it that way. After the hectic Christmas season my studio was a dumping ground for all manner of craft fair equipment, boxes full of materials, display furniture and other things I just hadn't had the chance to put away.

In order to get back to work in 2013 I needed to do some serious sorting out. Organizing is something I really enjoy; printing out labels and sticking them on countless storage boxes, separating the pencils from the paintbrushes and seeing all my fabrics folded neatly onto color coordinated piles gives me a  tremendous feeling of satisfaction.  Unfortunately when time is short and the orders and craft fairs keep coming tidying up is not a priority.

Keeping a studio shipshape is important for many different reasons:

• It allows me to keep an inventory of my stock so that I know by a quick glance when I'm running low on particular supplies.

• Organized also means it is much easier to clean, therefore avoiding dusty materials and products.

• An organized space= an organized mind, I find it much easier to be creative when clutter is kept to a minimum. 

• Having a studio I feel proud to show off to anyone who might call round unexpectedly, maybe even a potential customer...

• Keeping supplies organized means it is much easier to find them if everything has been put away in the right place, hunting for those buttons I know I have somewhere can be a huge time waster.

With this in mind here are a few tips to help you keep your studio organized in the year to come:

1. Keep a basket dedicated for odds and ends that you have been using. This can be sorted out when you get the chance but in the mean time keeps them tidied away.
2. Use transparent boxes and glass jars so you can see easily what is in each.
3. Bring a box/drawer into your TV room and organize it while watching TV at night. It doesn't feel like a chore then and you're not wasting any 'production' time.
4. Design a simple labeling system with a basic label template saved on your computer so you can quickly print up new labels as and when they are needed.
5. Have an area (or a box if you don't have space) dedicated to packing, keeping all the things you need such as scissors, tape, boxes, tissue paper, bubble wrap and business cards in one packing place. Then when orders come in you can dispatch them quickly and efficiently.
6. Similarly have a box dedicated to craft fairs and keep in it all the basic things you need to set up and run a stand. Print out a basic list to keep in the box of these items so you can quickly check them off.
7. Use your wall space effectively, if its pin boards, pegboards, even shoe storage hangers converted into stationary holders, from studio floor to ceiling, to maximum the storage space.
8. Look online for many inventive and creative ways to store your craft supplies.  Look for ideas on Pinterest, Michaels, Simple Magazine etc.
9. Devote an area in your studio/ house for photographing your products, keeping a backboard, lights and spare camera batteries ready and set up to use when needed.

my packing box

"Out of clutter, find simplicity. From discord, find harmony. In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity." Albert Einstein

Good luck and good making!

Sarah Omura, SO Handmade