Crochet workshop and more

Almost a week has gone by since my last post. I haven't forgotten you but I'v been quite busy.

First an update on the workshop: it was a big success! I loved every minute of it and my 13 pupils were excited and had a great time.

I started by explaining something about different types of yarn, how to read a label on yarn, etc.

Then I learned them the basic stitches. I started with the smallest (chain) and ended with the biggest one (double crochet). I order to show them how each stitch is made, I had prepared a small example, a simple crochet square with several rows of each stitch, each time in a different colour.

I also brought some hooked zpagetti to the workshop and used this huge yarn to show them how to make each stitch. It worked well. And of course I went over to each pupil to help with the stitches.

Time really went by fast and we all had a great time. The ladies loved the crochet so much that they have asked me for a workshop on amigurimi, an infinity scarf and handbag. To be continued!

Because of the preparation for the workshop I got a bit distracted from my 31 days challenge preparing for my first craft show. I got stuck on Day 4: business cards.

Mollyeleen gave a tip on Friday, her Day 5. My tip is how to make a magic circle.

Day 6 for me is about marketing. Marketing is important when preparing a craft show. So I'm having a give away, not on my own blog this time, but on Erika's blog. So if you're interested in winning a pair of my earrings, just head over there and participate in the giveaway!

I have also changed the header picture on my facebook page. I've replaced a picture of my jewelry with a picture of the craft show. Anyone who visits my page can now see that I am one of the participants. I hope all this helps in making the craft show a success.

And now back to work! Still plenty of crochet jewelry to be made. I'm still working on my collection, but also looking for the perfect packaging.

Inez

Designing a collection

Day 3 in the 31 day challenge 'preparing for my first craft show': how much stuff do I make? 

Big and important question. Difficult one also. So I started researching. 

I read that a jewelry collection - my 'stuff' - consists of 4 to 7 different designs and some orphan pieces. 
Those 4 - 7 designs have to be different in length, cost, target audience (younger or older woman, girls), necklaces for daytime, jewelry you would wear to go to a party etc. 

After having read this, I bought 5 different colours of silk thread and a bunch of glass beads to go with the silk thread. 

I took out my sketch book and started drawing: longer necklaces, chokers, with crochet tubes, with crochet beads and tubes, only with crochet beads and so on.

After this I picked my favourites, took my crochet hook (finally!) and started working. 

The idea is to have different pieces, but that still make a collection. The same five colours of silk thread will be used for each part of the collection.

This is what I got so far: 

A longer necklace. As you can see the necklaces have the same design, but because of the difference in silk thread and the glass beads, appeal to an entirely different type of woman. 

And these three: the same silk thread, crochet tubes combined with crochet beads and glass beads. Some of the glass beads are the same as used in the longer necklaces, others are different. Again, three different necklaces, but still clearly forming part of the same collection. 

In total I have drawn 5 different designs and bought 5 different colours of silk. So my collection will consist of 25 different necklaces. I will also be making matching earrings and bracelets.... plenty of work on my plate! I'd better get going! 

Love,

Inez

Preparing for my first craft show

Through Sara, momwithahook, I have taken on the challenge described on mollyeleen.wordpress.com '31 days: preparing for my first craft show'.

Day 1 has already passed a while ago when I decided to participate in Hangema(r)kt next month. My first 'adventure' with selling my items, was not a success. I participated in a pop-up shop, but hardly sold anything. Auch, that certainly hurts and I was ready to pack it all in and keep it a hobby. But then reason kicked in and I decided not to give up after one try. The location of the shop was not great, there was too many jewelry on sale besides my crochet jewelry etc.

That brought me to Day 2 of this preparation: deciding to be in a craft show.

I always thought it would be too expensive to participate in a craft show, that I would have to sell a lot of items to breakeven with the costs. But I was wrong. The Handgema(r)kt is a one day craft show at about 2 hours drive from where I live. Through an artist who participated last year I learned that this is a very nice fair, with plenty of visitors, well organised and all. So I took the plunge and registered. My application was accepted, and furthermore I was asked to organise a workshop on how to crochet jewelry! Well, how often does one get presented a platform to show off ones skills? Obviously I accepted immediately.

And now I am looking forward to this event. Preparing new jewelry, thinking about how am I going to organise the workshop etc.

And although I am very excited, I'm also a bit scared. Yes scared. What if this turns out to be another flop? I have an etsyshop, but that is no real success either. What if no one likes my work?