My First Craft Fair & Nearly My Last

 My First Craft Fair & Nearly My Last........

I Wish This Had been My First Craft Fair, but it wasn't.

Some one had contacted my sister through Facebook and asked her, if she would be interested in doing a Charity Fair. 

So, she also got me a place as well, so we headed down to it, she had packed her stuff and I packed some of my beads and supplies to sell.

It was a Cold, Wintery Saturday, there was still a little frost on the ground, which made it slippery and it was now beginning to rain, big cold drops of rain too. 

We set off in my Brother in Law's Car, loaded to the gills and began the journey, it was in a small village in the middle of the country on the far side of Lough Neagh.

We both had great expectations, hoping that we would sell some stuff, at least get our fee back. We drove for about an hour, down wee country roads,  and arrived at the venue, which turned out to be a bar / restaurant, the only Bar in the town. By the time we had got unpacked and into the place, we were soaked, freezing and slightly unhappy, to say the least

We were shown to our tables, which were next to each other, thankfully. We set up and it became apparent that they had just filled the room, with as many people as possible , There were 4 people selling Jewellery. Next to my sister, was a lady from Belfast, who was selling Her Jewellery, which was at least 30 miles away from where she was now. She put her stall up, next to us and never spoke or even acknowledged us  and we all began to wait, people arrived and left and arrived and left, some stopping, a lot more not, even taking time to look.

My sister's prices were at the lower range of jewellery prices, as she wanted to sell stuff off, so that she could buy new beads. 

Then the Lady, next to her began to lower her prices, to stupid money, but no one bought from her. I had a sale and so had my sister, then another one, but the Lady next began to huff,( that was a sight to see), because she had not had a sale at all.

I took a quick walk around , only to find that the other 2 people selling jewellery had bought in the Jewellery made up and it was not Handmade by them, at all.

One of then then came over later and bought some stuff of me, after they had walked round at least 5 times and the day dragged on, like a snail on valium. Then eventually it was all over, 4.00, it seemed like ages, since we had left my house, plus we didn't even clear our fees, I know it was for a good cause, but we never even got enough to cover the petrol money.

I was cold, hungry and bored stupid, seriously disillusioned, I felt that I had wasted my time and felt sorry for my poor brother in law, who had had to sit, outside for 6 hours waiting for us.but I had learned something, about going to fairs.

Never expect a lot and be grateful for any sales

I only have even done another one, and it was a lot better, plus there were only the 3 of us there.

Feast or a Famine...... Lol.

So, How was your First Fair, would be interested to hear, if your experience was better or worse that mine.

Be Happy....

www.wickedprincessbeads.co.uk

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https://twitter.com/WPBeads

The Guiltiness of an Afternoon Nap

The Guiltiness of an Afternoon Nap

Ok I know we are all guilty of it, but was it necessary or is it a necessity.

In the continent they have siesta time, which the EU, is trying to do away with. I’m a rebel, so I’m against the EU and their Idea.

Sometimes I find myself being upset that I have to nap, even in the early afternoon, but really should I feel guilty. Today, I got up and did some garden work, but after a bad night’s sleep, (Which is not unusual for me), I found myself really tired, like an energy leak had happened when I wasn’t looking. After that I had spend 30 minutes writing out orders to be sent and answering emails, looking through new stock items, deciding what to order and so on, but by the end I was sitting on the sofa, feeling so tired, exhausted even

Analyzing my tiredness, from anything from a bad night’s sleep to my age, I made the decision that I would take the plunge and Nap. Now strangely, When I nap it is a heavy sleep unlike my usual Night’s sleep, which feels similar to a sea journey in a rowing boat in the middle of a raging storm,. So I went to The land of Napping, waking 40 minutes later, feeling anything but rested, but I got up trailing myself from the nice warm spot on the sofa, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes, half awake, I stumbled into the kitchen and began to work, Housework first, as I have to do the chores due to my on my own status, made dinner, washed the dishes , Brought a washing in, hung a washing out, put away my uniforms from my part time job as a chef, hung clothes up and more. The amount of work I got done was great and then I began to plan my strategy for my social media at the top of the garden in the sun, as lately I have been busy with my business and my part time job, plus 101 other things. Clearly my nap was not a waste of time, as I finished the strategy plans in record time, with so many new ideas, I surprised myself.  I also began writing my articles for my blog ( This was one of them),

Ok I did miss 40 minutes of Warm sunny weather of our short summer, here in Northern Ireland. Our National Anthem should be the song from Annie “The Sun Might Come Out Tomorrow, I know I have used Artistic license and changed a word, but it’s true. It has been sunny here for 2 days and already people are complaining. ???  Anyway  Folks, getting back to my query about guiltiness and naps. Today, My nap was not a waste of time , it revived me, cleared my head and eventually got my ass into gear. (Note I said Today, in case there is another day I do, feel guilty), as I got so much done.

Now I have discovered, that Albert Einstein,( who slept with his pencil in hand) Napoleon , ( Who napped upon his horse ), Wiston Churchill & Brahms were also advocates for Naps. See I'm not alone :)

But you might disagree. What you think  ????

Let me Know

Have a Great Day.

Smile at someone randomly today, see what happens.

Check out us out at our Website, where we never have naps

ww.wickedprincessbeads.co.uk

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Keep up to date by checking out our Pinterest page

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Guess Who's Back

Guess Who's Back

Hi Folks, I'm back to my Blog again and I'm here to stay....

OH! Yeah....

Only this time around, I'm going to be doing a load of new things & Ideas

My business had 3 beginnings, so I will tell you all about that

Bet you can't wait to find out how we got our name ???

 I am a Big Fan of Handmade Things, as you would expect and I will be showcasing some of the talent, I have met over the last year.

As well as that I will be supporting the 2015, Visit Your Bead Shop.

Loads of New Products to show you, as well as tips and ideas

 A few ideas of how to use Social Media to help your business, as well as Quotes for Crafters & Beaders to make you Laugh and feel Inspired.

As well , as that there will be stories & tales to make you Laugh & some will just make you grateful.

There's loads more as well

Keep Following us on Our Blog as well as on our Social Media

https://www.pinterest.com/wkdprincess/

https://www.facebook.com/wickedprincessbeads

Laird & Gillie...................................... A Different Angle on Tweed.....Plus More

 

Last October, I sat beside a Young Lady at the introduction day at the Church Street Craft Market in Ballymena Business Centre in Church Street for the very first time and immediately I liked her.

She was so full of life, it was bursting from her. When she spoke it was like a light in the darkness, She radiated Life and she is full of it, when she talks to you, it's as quick as the words come out, she is like an overflowing fountain. After talking to her, you feel the same. 

And I still didn't know her name

Her name is Gemma Lowry.

A Graduate from Ulster University in Belfast, she started her own Company 

Laird & Gillie 

And in That Title, there is a story also.

She uses Fabrics and Tweeds to make the most Beautiful Cushions, Pictures, Etc.

She is now working on launching her Dog Collars & Coats Line, aided by her faithful Model Millie, shown here modelling a New Coat & Collar.

:)

Here is just some of the colours of Irish & Scottish Tweeds, that Gemma uses

                                 Below are a small selection of her Designs.

A Selection of Pictures, Dog Collars (Millie posing again) & Cushions

( The Black & White Cushion was taken from a Photo of the Dog & was

 Gemma's very first U.S. order)

Check out her bespoke work on Facebook

 A Beautiful bag for Stuff, We all need one of them.
We always have Stuff

I love this collection of Cushions

                                                                     Beautiful Tweed Cushion with Stags Head

A Recent Fair that Gemma attended

A set of Small Pictures

                                                                Another Stag Cushion. I love the band of 

                                                               colours at the side

A Doggie Dressing Gown

Another Stag Cushion, but with a different design

A Tweed Winter Outside Doggie Coat.

I could tell you the story of how her business got it's name, but I think you should ask her, herself.

https://www.facebook.com/lairdandgilliecrafts

Gemma does Bespoke Orders

She also has her creations to sell in The Church Street Craft Market,

in Church Street. Ballymena

OH ! and don't forget to ask her about Hector :)

Charms & Beads for Valentines Now Available

Beautiful Beads & Charms for Valentines Day

Available at

www.wickedprincessbeads.co.uk

Also take advantage of our New Free Postage Offer which Ends on the 31st of January

Get Free Postage Now, When you Spend only £10.00 or more from Our Website

Working From Church Street Craft Market... Doing Stuff and Selling Hand Crafted Goods

Hi Everyone, 

Today I will down in Church Street Craft Market till 5.00.

Why not call in and see the choice of different Handmade Items for Sale

Check out Our New Window Display, entitled January Blues.

Hope to see you Soon

20% Discount of all Bead Mixes & Bead Kits

All Bead Kits & Bead Mixes on Sale at Church Street Craft Market, Church Street Ballymena

                          
                           20% of all Kits and Mixes.

             Open 9.00 - 5.00, Monday to Saturday.

When you are there have a look around at all the other Crafters and their Handmade Goods

Small Business's and the struggle We have.

As you all know every small business, these days struggle at least sometime during the year. The Struggle isn't helped much by those who keeping moving the Goal posts, on a regular basis.
eBay and our Good friends, Facebook, don't help much, after promising a good time, then go and start making conditions.
Ok , some things might help us, bring in more business, but the time it consumes is greater, something small business's do not have.
eBay and their 101 changes, so that we sell more, if anyone has sat and tried to fix these ,what they want, is almost an impossible task. Ok my picture is this size and I have at least 3, Why?..... A week later they tell me to change them, or why do I want to add some word into my title, so as to sell more, when it tell everybody else to do the same. Oh and I forgot, they then charge us for wasting my precious time. I have things to do, eBay, I have customers to serve, I have website and Social media to update, I have parcels to make up and post.
Now Facebook is getting as bad. They are now talking about doing away with the Friend option and just making us like each other, Fine, but then this came along.

" FACEBOOK has recently changed its rules for Business Pages
A person has to be 'active' on your page a minimum of 3 times within any calendar month period.This means a 'like' of a picture, a comment or a full post on the wall.
If a person is not active on your page, as listed above, after a month of no activity, their 'like' will be removed from your page, as FB has decided they are not interested... in your page! So, if you are a fan of any pages, do make sure you are regularly active. Even just one quick post a week will ensure that the page will remain in your timeline..
It's also been found that the more Likes or Comments any one post receives, the more people that see it in their News feed.
So if you see a post or photo from any Business page you are a fan of make sure you like it, or even comment on it.
Help keep small Businesses running"

Oh and don't forget you have to save everybody you like or you don't get their posts as well as that, you may have 10,000 likes, but only 4 people are seeing it..AAAAAAHHHHH!!!!

I'm not even angry or annoyed.

Ok in Theory, this is fine, but , what happens if you have 500 likes, this means within a month, you have to take time to make 1500 entries on Facebook. Where am I going to find the time to do all this, especially when I get a big delivery in, or when I have to make jewellery, teach, keep my books and all the other things I have to do. Oh! and I have to work Part Time on top of that to keep a roof over my head.

Again Ok, they are only looking after us.....or are they.

Ok Rant Over

I hope everybody is having a good day

Oh and there is Amazon, Twitter & Etsy to keep going as well :)

So from all here at Wicked Princess Beads

Bye for now.

Good news coming soon

Christmas Shop

Hi Folks, Due to a problem with my Internet , My Christmas Shop, on my website, will be opening next week. Sorry.

 

Remember Folks, that your local Crafter's put loads of Hours & Love in at this time of year preparing their creations in hope, that you will buy from them, rather than the Big Chain Stores.

 

Support your local crafters, this year and make their creations, the best present you have ever given.

 

 

 

#visityourlocalbeadstore

 

 

Now Tell Me You Wouldn't Like This for Christmas

Was Checking my Mail, when on my LinkedIn  mail I saw this "amazing storage" post, so I checked it out.
http://www.theoriginalscrapbox.com/the-workbox.

So I decided to have a look.
Oh I Want was my very first words, but alas the price was just too much, but I can but dream

Middle Cabinet

Small Cabinet

Large Cabinet

Now do you understand why I said " I Want "

What made it worse for me was I decided to read a few of the reviews,

I was so jealous, when I read one in particular

" I got this as a surprise gift and I love it"

AAHHHHH!!! Of course you would love it

Check it out, just in case your partner , is handy or rich and hint about one of these as a surprise present

;)

Check them out at

http://www.theoriginalscrapbox.com/the-workbox.html 

Dream the Dream

Did You Miss Me..... Blogging and how it impacts on your business

Hi Folks, Have been a very Busy Bee, since I last Blogged.

 After having 5 deliveries in 4 weeks and having to help my Friend Gary, with the opening of a new restaurant, as well as trying to keep my business running, Blogging, came in last.

 But, also I discovered something else, that I didn't expect, but was interesting anyway and a lesson learned .

Since, I stopped Blogging, because I usually was working 4, 13 hour days and by the time I got home, it was late and I was exhausted and stressed and needed a little time to unwind, before bed.

A pattern started to emerge, which I found interesting. Simply, since I stopped blogging, that my Internet sales from both eBay & my Website, went way, way down, as well as my Facebook page took less hits & likes. As well as that, my customer footfall, fell as well. 

Now after reading the above , you might think, that it negative, but I would disagree, because it has shown me that even though I blogged, I had no idea, how it actually did impact on my business and how it helped me reach more customers, that I never knew that I could. 

Also, when I lasted blogged, 2 of my newest customer, one who arrived at 10.45 p.m. to get Stringing Elastic, for her daughter, rang me because they had seen my Blog. ( As long as I'm waken, I'm Open.....) 

So I have learned my lesson and believe me, so should you.

New In :-

            

20mm Indonesian Clay Beads

21 mm Purple & White Wax Cord Wooden Beads

Oval Malachite Green & Black Glass Beads 20 x 13mm

12mm Neon Two Coloured  Round Acrylic Beads

Craft Knife Set

All of these will be available as from 16 / 9 / 2014

Also available are Halloween Charms & Pendants from as little as 35p

More to Come Soon

Launching Christmas Charms

3 Day 20% Discount days,

Each Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday

from 22nd September

for 2 weeks.

Instore Only