Wordless Wednesday- Work in progress

Happy rainbow catching

unikgifts 

Monday Making -Make create, go on dive in!

Inspired by Sarahs blog from Thursday of last week called 

"Old fashioned proverbs",

for August only, replacing our Monday makers blogs,

we have decided to blog about diving in and making.

Just diving in doing it. With our helpful hints and guide.

Remember there is no rules, no bible. Making is personal. But we can add a few of out helpful hints to help you along the way.

Our 4 weeks of make blogs will concentrate on helping to inspire those wanting to create something new but are too afraid to take the leap.

Week one

Making and Inspiration. Good idea to finished product etc

Week two

Selling sites, Photographing the piece,  etc

Week three

Marketing and Promotion

Week four

Packaging and frilly finishing touches

So if you, like Sarah,
are too afraid to jump and delve forward....read the following points we felt
were important to think about when starting something new.



Always start with a clean kitchen

Something that all my work colleagues will all smile to themselves about as it has been literally
DRUMMED into us. But actually it's true. Starting something new with dirty
equipment and unorganised surroundings can be the recipe for disaster.
Cleaning, editing and organising can give your head space to absorb and ponder
over the next step. Plus it's great Feng Shui!

It also means you know exactly what is in your fridge. No.....I am not just talking about baking and
cooking. It applies to all making. 

If you tidy and cleanse you know what stocks you have. 

You re-visit papers, pens and fabrics and get excited all over again by them.

It's like Christmas!

Plus the added bonus
that you won't damage a making with a broken or dirty tool.

Start clean and in order......it helps I promise.

Be inspired

If you are having trouble knowing where to start, get up, get outside and do something completely
opposite. Go to an Art gallery, gardens, or library. Something that you know you enjoy. 

Feeling happy and surrounding yourself with things that make you smile,  will make your mind happy.

Sitting at a desk drumming your fingers is not a way to start!



Play... & make for you

In my opinion if you make a product hoping a shop will be interested in it (for example) it will

never sit happily in your hands. It will always be a little stale and you will
not completely be happy with it. 

From experience of people making for the storeI used to work in I know.

I believe a product/making truly shines when it has be made to make the maker happy.

Then it truly satisfies everyone.

So play, have fun with it, enjoy the making process. It it doesn't work first time play a bit more. I
can tell if something has been made with happiness as it has come easily.

Remember the only restrictions are the ones you set!



Use only the best Ingredients

In my opinion there is no point cutting corners and using cheap ingredients. Again this applies to
more than cooking and baking! The best cakes come from the best cream, best
biggest eggs, most refined flour, best butter, gentle hands and perfect measures.

A badly measured cake with cheap ingredients never ends in success.

Follow this rule. Remember you cannot compete with high street prices.

The high street is mass produced, with materials bought in massive quantities, made in factories where big outlets can haggle over prices as they are buying in 1000's. Don't compete.

What you are making is totally opposite. What you are making is unique, made by one pair of hands,
made with individuality, a little wabi sabi and much love. 

Never try to compete with the high street in price. 

You'll end up bruised and will always loose. In pocket and production.



Function & aesthetic

Does your product tick both boxes? Does it need to?

Ask yourself does it do the task you wanted it to.

Step away, put it away and look at it with fresh eyes the next day and ask the same question.

 Safety & fixing

-Check H&S guidance's for the product you make. Especially for infant products?

-Have you taken all pins out?

-Have all loose threads been secured and cut

-Do your colours run? Can they be fixed?

-Have you copyrighted your product?

-Do you have public and product liability for your name/product?

*see helpful notes at the bottom for more on these points

 Constructive criticism

The maker is always the best critic. BUT...you have seen  and touched this product a lot. 

Ask people who you know will give you constructive criticism to test the product.

Ask for explanations on their opinions. The more you know the better. 

However brutal it is. Then, Take on board what has been said and,

-Try and better the product with the knowledge you have gained.

-Know that not everything that has been suggested needs to be changed if you disagree.



Variations

Once you are happy with the product, can you add alternatives?

-A variety of colours?

-A variety of fabrics?

-A personalisation to make it even more special

-And as a alternative a repeated version that a replica of the first. Runs of the same product.

Take a Peek at these as a inspiration.

Beetroot Presses illustrations

Sarah from Beetroot Press uses a variety of colours for each illustration she creates. 

Our decoupage memory boxes

Anna's original Teddy memory box has now developed into a Rabbits & Birds.




Pattern and recipe

Once you are happy, take the pattern, write instructions and 

measurements so you can make again to the same recipe.

That way any differences are ones that are intentional.

You don't want to have an order for a product you made 6
months ago without knowing how to make it again!

Be resourceful in your cutting of fabric/paper, save scraps (they may be the start of a new project) and and be wise with your buying of materials.



Price

Before you start this part decide is this a hobby or a business?

A hobby means you don't need to make a profit. 

You simply need to cover costs and be happy.

To make a business from your product you need to be more wise in your spending.

Ask your suppliers if you can have a discount on your shopping. 

Ask for a wholesale price or a discount if one isn't possible.

Chat to the supplier, can you get a discount if you name them in a blog?

You can only ask.

Joanne Dewberry has some helpful tips on pricing your handmade products.



*

Now go and Dive in

Most importantly, be true to yourself and
have fun!!!

Enjoy and be happy making.

If it's going badly put it away and come
back to it another day!



*

Helpful sources

*ACID copying in design

*Health & Safety testing

*Product and Public liability insurance.

Joanna Dewberry

unikgifts

Friday Funny- Come dance with me - 1234

This week I have been trying to persuade the naughties

to join with me in reenacting this dance routine.

I LOVE it!

I know they would prefer & LOVE this one instead though!

unikgifts

Monday Maker- Magpie & Treasure boxes

I help capture memories of infants and children by creating Memory & Treasure boxes. 

By personalising them into a persona that reflects the child and all that makes them unique.

It all started with making one for my daughter, Ida, my nephew Joseph, a lovely friends little boy and my niece Elsie Pru.

Neutral Teddy box

Made for my nephew Joseph. Each teddy I have since made has had it's own character and naughty stance.

Bunny Rabbit Box

Made for a lovely friends little boy when he was born to capture every important memento.
I have since made for girls with cream boxes.

Woodland fairy

The first box ever made for my biggest naughty. A mix of woodland treasures in the undergrowth, important people who would have loved her had they still been here and beautiful flowers.

Three little birds box

The original made for my sweet little niece, Elsie Pru. She's a cheeky wotsit with lots of character and I designed this box to replicate her sweet strong characterful nature.

This box is coming soon to the website.

Using decoupage I am able to incorporate family photos or a page depicting a name from a baby naming book into a design. My latest book was especially personal, capturing a special Cat, a frog and a snake amongst Teddies, Bunnies and birds. 

Each box is made from sustainable alder wood and has a fabric lining cloth that can also act as a burp cloth. Boxes can be made extra special with more personalisation and each design is available in green, off white and pale blue.

I am a little bit of a Magpie so collecting treasures and memories is something natural and inherent to me. Making a box to capture my daughters treasure and memories is something I needed and LOVED doing. Now all I have to do is fine time to make my smallest naughty one!

Within my biggest naughties box is Birthday cards, shells collected from our first holiday, first paintings, first letters written and little things she classes as her treasures.

I love making them and love the little ones i make them for.

unikgifts

It's All about the INDEPENDENTS!

Today celebrates Independents day. 

A day to support the little people who keep originality and unique products alive. 

So support local independents by buying from local independent traders today only. 

No Sainsburys, No Amazon & No Asda

Pop to the local Independent Butcher and Baker to shop for tea time ingredients.

Buy some local jams and chutneys to relish and enjoy.

And treat yourself or someone special with something lovely, wonderful and unique from the array of local independents with live beside every day.

Here are a little collection of u-ni-k gifts favourite independents we love and have shopped with recently.

Blaghah jewellery

Handmade Vintage inspired jewellery made by local lady Vicky.

*Commissions available.

Jolly spoon

Molly makes the most fabulous, retro, whimsical, funny cards. I LOVE them and could find one fitting for almost everyone i know. Her little haven is a must to visit.

*Commissions available

Tall grey bird

Wonderfully handsome Bird, Bee and Bat homes made by hand by Tim- he himself a Tall grey Bird.

I've be longing for one of each for my garden since i was first introduced to his wonderful wares.

Ollo foods

Dileep is the KING of Chutney in my eyes. I am addicted to his Tamerind Chutney.

Quite simply heaven!

The Portable Pottery

Claire superbly throws post at her wheel. Sample one of her pots or let her teach you in her calming and wonderfully knowledgable way. She is quite honestly fabulous!

ActOne Adventures
Where imaginations Fly!
Adventure, play, dance, craft and imagination classes for the under 5's
Parties and Special events for 2-11years
Highly recommended

And of course....unikgifts!

#retailindieday

Please support us!

Which flavour?

I have lots of friends with babies due this Summer.
Very very exciting!
Lovingly, most parents are keeping the sex of the baby a surprise.
All for many different reasons.

Some people just prefer surprises. Others like the romantic and traditional feel of not knowing.  Others use it as a way of ensuring that the world doesn't suddenly turn pastel pink of pastel blue. Keeping it un-known means early gifts are kept plain neutral. Helping to keep PINK under control!
It's  also a lovely way to include the Daddy into the birthing process. New Mum has carried baby for 9 months and shared her experience. Now new Daddy can share something unknown as he is almost certain to be one of the first to see which flavour baby is. A gorgeous piece of news to tell your other half. A moment of sharing for the new parents.

Which ever way you are doing it, it's personal, perfect and lovely. No way is right or wrong.

If you are thinking of something neutral and simple, take a peek at our neutral offerings.

To make them extra special, many can be personalised when baby is born with a name or small motif. Commissions made just for you and bump or baby are also possible. Just let us know what you are thinking of, I am sure we can help!

unikgifts.co.uk