Made With Love by Kat

Psst.... would you like more press coverage for your handmade business? A few weeks back I  wrote a piece for the Folksy blog on how to do just that - you can read it here:  http://blog.folksy.com/2015/08/18/get-more-press-coverage-for-your-crafts-and-designs

One of the things I love about selling on Folksy is how much support there has always been from other sellers, even back when I started out nearly four years ago. I didn’t have a clue what I was doing, but people were always so willing to help, and I hope I’ve given some of that support back in kind now – as a former journalist and now a PR professional, I’m always happy to take the time to help people promote their shops. That’s why this post is dedicated to all the other Folksy (and Etsy, and all the other sites) sellers out there. Post your links to your shops below, and next week I’ll blog about my favourites. 

I've finally managed to photograph all the new items I've made and started listing them. I particularly love this bracelet - I've had a lot of compliments when I've worn it to work. I'll be really sad when it finds a new home. I also love this delicate butterfly necklace - the filigree detail of the brooch I transformed is amazing. Check out my new items here , or by clicking the link at the top of the page. 

Sick of buying your Christmas cards in mass produced bundles from the supermarket? I've chosen some of my favourite handmade cards from Folksy - show someone you've really thought about them by sending one of these beauties instead (along with your independent designer-bought gift, of course!) Winter's Arrival papercut print card by Paper, Scissors, Stone Nifty Knits' knitted meerkats have even made it onto the TV, so it was only a matter of time befor ethey had their own range of greetings cards. Next year a calendar, perhaps? The geek in your life will appreciate this Christmas tree in binary, by Dragon Love Amazing Nordic print cards from Little Bird Press Vintage-inspired prints by Gail Griggs Finally, for those who don't really get into the Christmas spirit, how about this "Baa, humbug" card by Out Of The Shadows

I'm not sure how many of you know this, but I administer a Flickr group for people to share their pictures and to give me a constant source of material for this blog. I haven't written about it for a while, but as I was uploading some of yesterday's photo experiments I saw so many lovely things that I wanted to share. Aileen Clarke visited the Blair Castle vintage fair and took this photo. She also blogged about it for Folksy's Frankly magazine, here . Incy Wincy Stitches posted this gorgeous picture of handmade owl hand hotties. I hope she'll be adding them to her shop soon!  Amidesigns contributed this fab bracelet. She has loads of items that woudl look amazing with your Christmas day outfit - check out her Etsy shop .  I LOVE this patchwork bag by Kerry Wilkinson's Pennydog Accessories line. It's called a conversation bag and it certainly would start one, mostly along the lines of "I love your bag". She sells an ec...

Not a very wordy blog post this evening, I just wanted to share some photos I've been experimenting with. The top one is my favourite I think. Most of these items are available in my Folksy shop with the exception of the purple necklace and the blue earrings, which are part of my collection for the Royal Exchange. If you wish to purchase either item before I send them off on December 20th, please drop me an email .  UPDATE: The blue "Seafoam" earrings have been SOLD! I think it would be nice to somehow incorporate birds into this, swooping down holding the necklace. Gold leaf embellished ametrine slab with brass swallow and vintage earring - £25 UPDATE: SOLD! "Dancing Queen" earrings perfect for that NYE outfit - available here Celebrate the announcement of the royal baby with these regal earrings - available here UPDATE: SOLD! Debutante reworked vintage earrings, £15, available here ; Seafoam ear...

For months I have been thinking about revamping the pictures in my Folksy shop – I like them but I have been using the same background for so long and I wanted a fresh start. However, while the weather has been grey and rainy it has been pretty difficult to get inspiration. Happily last week the sun was shining as golden as the British Olympic team’s medals and a glance out of the window showed me that I had everything I needed for a photoshoot right in my own back yard. The salix that stands in the corner of my garden made the perfect prop – not only could I hang earrings from its branches, I could also nestle rings in amongst the trees. A stand for plant pots that has become slightly rusty over the winter provided texture and interest for several photos, as did a worn ivory metal planter and an aluminium bucket. The stone edging to the bed provided another background for smaller items, but I was having difficulty finding somewhere to hand heavier necklaces – until my eye lit on...

There are so many talented people on Folksy it can sometimes seem like you don't know where to start looking. In the first of a series of blog posts, I'll introduce you to a few - and with Christmas fast approaching, don't forget to shop handmade for the holidays as our American pals would have it! Today, meet Maram, a trained silversmith who creates gorgeously elegant jewellery. Name? Mairi Armes aka maramjewellery Where are you from? Originally Glasgow, now living just outside Edinburgh, in the shadow of The Forth Bridge. Purple bows necklace When did you start crafting? Umm, always! Can always remember being arty, trying to knit,sew and so on. Discovered jewellery making at school for a fashion show, never stopped since then! What made you open your Folksy shop? Everyone asking when I was going to start selling my work combined with a touch of free time when my youngest went to school. What materials do you work with? Silver mainly, and a lot of beads Shell blue...

I feel like my photos need to take a big step forward. Or is that backward? I’m just not really happy with the pictures on my Folksy site at the moment, particularly after I stumbled across this pic, which I love: I intend to redo quite a lot of them, and I’ve been gathering inspiration via Pinterest - you can see my board by clicking here . Incidentally, I’m becoming a little bit obsessed with Pinterest - there’s so much gorgeous stuff on there it’s nigh on impossible not to spend hours drooling covetously/seething jealously. I’ve also been experimenting with montages. This is something my fellow Boltonians Jamball do brilliantly, but I suspect their shoots must take hours. Still, nothing ventured, nothing gained. This is my first, very amateurish attempt, done just with some pics of my Ruffled necklace which I was quite happy with: Like this? You can buy it by clicking here. Anyway, I’m off to think about props. I have access to quite a lot of vintage jugs, lanterns, crystal glasse...

I'm back! Yes, I've made a new season resolution (if there is such a thing) to give some more love not just to this blog but to my jewellery line as a whole. The last 12 months have been so hectic I've let thing slide but enough is enough! Time to dust off the cobwebs and get myself sorted (plus, y'know, Christmas is on the way...) I've not been sitting with my feet up, mind. One of the things I've been particularly busy with is taking care of the PR and marketing for my local horse show, Leigh and District . I've built them a blog and set them up a Twitter feed . In the meantime, I've also learned a lot about social marketing, which I will try to share here as and when I can. For now, though, here's a quick post with my pick of the best Halloween finds on our faithful friend, Folksy . For a cheap and cheerful way to add some spooky style to your Halloween outfit, these cute Kawaii badges by Asking For Trouble feature the artist's illustrations...

Easter time is drawing ever-nearer and I'm feeling extra generous. I've been making a gorgeous new newsletter, and to launch it, I'm offering people who sign up the chance to win this necklace: It's made from a vintage scarf clip teamed with a cute pink Swarovski crystal and an amazing slab of faceted lemon quartz. All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning is to sign up to the newsletter by clicking this link: Sign up for the newsletter For Email Newsletters you can trust Everyone who receives the newsletter will also get a 10% discount and free P&P throughout April, even if they don't win the draw. This is with a new mailing company, so even if you signed up for my old newsletter you need to resubscribe in order to get the discount and be in with a chance of winning!

I've spent the evening doing lots and lots of photography so I can list some lovely new items later. But as it takes me so long to list stuff, I thought I would put a sneaky peek on here first. All items are, of course, available to be reserved if you just have to have it now! Vintage cloisonne beads with 14ct gold chain, hoops and garnet, hanging from freshwater pearl and kyanite Asymmetric 14ct gold chain, vintage bead, brass swallow, amazonite and coral earrings Asymmetric vintage marcasite, freshwater pearl and faceted rock crystal earrings Vintage earrings with amazonite drops and fine 14ct gold chain Vintage earrings with amethyst, labradorite and rock crystal

I think Folksy Friday is a wonderful idea - unfortunately I'm a bit shabby at remembering to do them. I was feeling very summery yesterday though, and the sunshine was making me think of funfairs - so here are my carousel-themed picks. What a wonderful selection - my April resolution is to make much more of an effort to do one of these every week. I wonder how long it will last..."