Rainbow's Attic: Our Supply Shop

Hello all

I am pleased to announce the opening of our supply shop Rainbow's Attic!

Now you may have instantly worked out why it's called rainbow's Attic but just in case...Here's why! I have got lots of beads and A4 card and other bits and pieces that I have bought in quantity when I had my last business. Now when I am needing to get some money into this business so I can carry on making lots of lovely jewellery I am rummaging around my boxes to find things I can sell! Now if I lived in that quaint cottage Maria drew for me I'm sure the attic would be the only place I could store things and so I am figuratively rummaging around in Rainbow Cottage's attic to find all those bits that someone else is desperate for. Ok maybe not desperate but hopefully enticed into buying!

So are you the crafty type? Do you need some pretty beads or some necessary findings or maybe some card stock and toppers to make pretty cards with then come on by and visit us at Rainbow's Attic! We look forward to seeing you there. Oh! and do keep popping back! I'm hoping to be adding things daily until it's all listed! If it goes well I'll even be able to buy some more bits to put into Rainbow's Attic!

Well bye for now and Happy crafting!

Teri and Jan xxx

Designer Advertising

Now you might be wondering what I mean by Designer Advertising? Well being a jewellery Designer I need to wear my own jewellery, it's free advertising (all excepting the cost of the beads and the time taken to make it). I have one set of Crochet Wire Jewellery that I have made myself to go with a particular skirt I bought but feel I need to have a bit more in my own jewellery box. So again inspired by a piece of clothing in my wardrobe I have just made this set of jewellery! It is also made with an event in mind. My birthday is just over a week away and am hoping to go out with a friend and think this new top I've bought will definitely be worn!

(Ok so this isn't a great picture and I look rather tired but it looks better than the picture of the top hanging on a hanger!)

 

 

 

 

So here are the pictures of the jewellery lying on the top they are made to go with. I have yet to give it a name so if you have any ideas leave me a comment!

The whole set

Close up of the earrings

The bracelet

Close up of the pendant. This is a clever little thing. If you look closely you might see a little clasp by which I can wear the necklace with or without the pendant!

As for the rest of the business...watch this space! I am building up a supply shop and want to get on with more earrings and then to get listing!

Until then happy crafting!

Love Teri xx

Sunshine Award

I was thrilled to receive this Sunshine Award from The Scarlet Butterfly Company! It has really given me encouragement and inspiration from someone who always inspires me! Thank you Maria!

The Sunshine Award is awarded to bloggers whose positivity and creativity inspires others in the blog world.

The rules for accepting the Sunshine Award

~ Put the logo on your blog or within your post

~ Pass the award onto 12 bloggers

~ Link the nominees within your post

~ Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog

~ Share the lovely and link to the person from whom you received this award

Getting this award means passing it on and so it has also taken me on a journey to find other bloggers whose Blogs are exciting, interesting and of course inspiring as I didn't have many blogs I already followed! So it is a great pleasure to pass this on to some of the new bloggers I have discovered on my journey!

Lori Anderson.
Inspiration Avenue
Hook and Scumble
Life, Craftiness and Everything Else
Beady Pool
Joy Funnell
Deesigned Beads
Coloraddiction
Bumpy Beads
Fired Silver
Dilly Whispers
Randomcreative

Thank you all for such engaging blogs and the inspiration they give! I hope you will go and look at these blogs and that they will give you inspiration and cheer!

Thanks again to Scarlet Butterfly Company for this lovely award xxx

What's New at Rainbow Cottage?

Wow I have lots to share today! There is lots going on at Rainbow Cottage! There is a distinct flurry of ideas and activity in the air!

This weekend I finally got my new laptop and oh! has it made a huge difference! Everything is working as it should and at speeds I haven't had in years! It has buoyed up my spirits and has given me new energy!
The result of this is that I have been looking at things I have around that are just being useless and taking up space and giving off a negative vibe every time I see or even think of them! So what can I do with them?

Well firstly I have a lovely range of Original Poetry Postcards. The poems were written by my dad, Phil Coleman and I have found an almost as lovely picture to complement them! As I write I have 2 listed on Folksy with more to come! I used have them on Ebay where they weren't appreciated but I hope with Folksy's support of originality and handmade items they will get a more appreciative welcome!


Secondly I have some postcards that I designed using stock pictures from my postcard printer/supplier. They are very pretty but are just taking up space! "Let's get rid of them quickly!" thought I and was happy with that decision but in the spirit of handmade and beauty I thought I might be able to do better than that and a new idea was born! Look out for our notelet sets coming soon in handmade wallets! The description doesn't do it justice but I want to keep you guessing until the finished items are ready! A little suspense to whet your handmade appetites!

Alongside these 2 new projects older projects are still ongoing. The arrival of a light tent for photographing jewellery means that I just have to tidy the dining room table and then I can try it out! I have high hopes for it (based on the recommendation of a friend in the business) so once those photo's are taken and uploaded on to my bright shiny new laptop I can get listing the boxful of items I've been dying to show you!

And yet there's more to share! My uncle is very supportive of his niece's enterprise that he has, without any prompting, found a shop in Northampton who is interested in stocking some of my jewellery and so I am beginning to prepare some items to send her. As soon as I have been accepted I will let you know where they are!

As you can imagine all this is very exciting and extremely uplifting! I am happier than I've been in months! suddenly I feel like the business is beginning to take root and maybe even fly!

Alongside all of this I am planning my own home and will be making as much as can for it. I don't have lots of money to spend so this is a project of frugality and creativity. If you are interested in following my progress then follow my blog - 'Teri's Handmade Home' at http://teris-handmade-home.blogspot.com

So do please check out our Folksy shop for our latest ranges including our new Poetry Postcards at http://www.folksy.com/shops/RainbowCottage

Bye for now and thanks for reading

Teri

New Products On Folksy

Hi
Just to let you all know that I have just finished some lovely scarves perfect for this snowy weather and I have already got them listed on my Folksy shop http://www.folksy.com/shops/RainbowCottage
It was lovely to be able to quickly photograph them and have the photo's come out so well and then to be able to list them. Quite a contrast to the difficulties I have with photographing jewellery. However I have been chatting to my friend Maria today and she has given me some great tips that I hope to be able to put into practice soon so watch this space!
I do hope you will pop over to my shop and have a look! it is nice to be able to just see the numbers of visitors come by but of course the best thing is getting a sale. To know that someone likes my work enough to spend the money on it and someone else is going to get lots of wear out of it! We crafters feel very fondly of the items we make. They are a labour of love and some of our heart goes into each item and so it is very lovely when someone likes one of our items enough to buy and wear it!
Well thanks for reading and as ever, happy crafting!
Love Teri

More Business Branding

Although I'm not getting much done in the making and selling of my jewellery, it is still in the forefront of my mind.

I have a plan for a new item of jewellery and am just waiting for beads to arrive from overseas.

While I am waiting I have been looking for business cards. I had some made but seem to have filed them right out of sight! I've looked everywhere and still can't find them so I went to the site I have previously got them from - www.vistaprint.co.uk - and designed them from scratch using the original artwork my friend did for me and the website. I found a lovely design that I think has suited the style really well and here it is. I've also got some free address labels to match - bargain!

Troubles at Rainbow Cottage

I know I don't have many readers of my blog but I will continue writing as though I do in the hopes that numbers will increase eventually.

You may be wondering why you haven't heard from me for a while. This, I am afraid, is because I have ME/CFS and everything I do is based on how tired I am feeling each day. As much as I really want to get on with my business and sell lots of jewellery so I can buy some beads to make more I am struggling to find the energy to do the necessary photographs and descriptions for my listings on Folksy.

It is hard to have plans that are held up by the lack of physical and mental energy I have, not just for one day here or there, but for lots of days together. It is taking me several days (going on weeks) just to hand sew an edging on the hem and sleeves of a top that needs a new lease of life. I have several items of clothing that for one reason or another need some work. Some just need a little personalisation. Over the next few weeks when I have a bit of energy and want to do something I will be working on these items and maybe on a few more pieces of jewellery.

I am not too depressed. I am learning that I have to manage my energy carefully so that I may be able to get stronger and do more. I am losing weight and that is making me very happy. As much as I want to dive in and have a full time business I know this is not possible and I must treat it as a long term plan that may mean doing a little at a time and gradually increasing it over many months. I really want be careful with this business as my last one I rushed into headlong and it couldn't survive. This time I want to let it pay for itself and take it slowly.

So I am going to write this blog as often as I am able that I may let you know what I'm working on and how I am doing. Until then I wish fun and creativity in what ever projects you are working on.