Imogen's Great Sticker Round-up

Join Fiona from Imogen's Angels in her great new project!

This project came about one evening when Fiona was strolling the stationery aisles and she spotted some great stickers which reminded her of how Imogen, her daughter,  loved to receive stickers after any treatment in hospital.  

Imogen would of been 10 this year.  To celebrate this milestone and her 4th angel anniversary Fiona is hosting a great project -  Imogen's Great Sticker Round-up.  This round-ups aim is to bring colourful sticker fun to the amazing kids spending time in hospital.

Want to join in?

Here’s the details :-

1. Purchase stickers, what ever takes your fancy.

 2. Pop them in an envelope, seal it with love send them to us at :-

Imogen’s Angels
21 Feathertop Rise
Alexander Heights WA 6064

After the 2nd of May we will send the stickers onto Princess Margaret Hospital and the Kid’s Cancer Support Group for them to distribute through out the hospital.

For more details got to imogensangels.com.au

Using Canva to promote Handmade Business.

I made the graphics below using canva.com.  I was introduced to this online graphics program back in September when I virtually attended the Artful Business Conference.  

Advert used on the +Handmade Cooperative blog for Willow Tree Kids

Simple brand promo for +C Percy Designs using my logo and colour pallet 

Cute Sales Graphic I created for my January Sale.  I used my business' colour pallet
and I've given a nod to my logo by using the lamb. 

Canva makes graphic design amazingly simple for everyone, including me!   I've been doing their great online Tutorials and I've learnt a heap about this program and designing in general. 

You can find out more by viewing this YouTube video.

\
This post was originally posted on the C Percy Designs blog - www.cpercydesigns.blogspot.com

Raising Money for Asylum Seekers Centre‏

Okay Crafters is a practical, crafty project that has the aim of bringing together artsy-crafty types who want to see something positive happen for people seeking asylum in Australia.

Okay Crafters is hosting an online Auction, asking people to donate a handmade item to be auctioned with proceeds going towards the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre. The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre is located in Melbourne and provides assistance to newly arrived refugees living in the community and also advocates strongly for people seeking asylum.

The Crafty community has a great deal of talent and heart. One hope of this project is that it helps raise a little awareness that a number of 'regular types' think this is an issue in which our country could craft a more humane, just and compassionate response for people seeking asylum.

The Auction works in this way

1. People donate handmade items, and the cost of postage of that item. 

2. Okay Crafters hosts an photo album of donated items, with links back to people's individual blogs or facebook business pages. 

3. People bid on beautiful handmade items

4. The lucky person who has a winning bid on an item would pay the amount directly to the ASRC and then forward their receipt number back to the person from whom they have purchased the item.

5. Once the receipt number is received their item is posted out. 

This cutie has been donated by moppysgirl 

People can be involved in three main ways

1. donating an item for auction; 
2. bidding on auction items; or 
3.  spreading the word about this project. 

Along with supporting a cause - a craft auction can also introduce a wider audience to your crafty business!

If you want to 'get your craft on' Okay Crafters would love to hear from you! 

For more details click on the image above or go to www.facebook.com/okaycrafters.

Northern Regards Artisan Market has become a monthly market!

An Atmospheric Market in Melbourne's North ... with beer.

We are proud to be Melbourne's only handmade market with a sustainable focus. All our stallholders create handmade wares for your home, body and soul using upcycled, recycled and sustainable materials. Located at the iconic Northcote Social Club in Northcote, Melbourne. The perfect spot to wander down high street for shopping and beer!

We have stallholders creating drinking glasses from discarded bottles, turning your dad's daggy ties into beautiful handbags, jewellery from recycled silver and soft toys from recycled blankets. 

Dee and Kate are two Melbourne makers who wanted to create a market with a difference. We are committed to creating a highly curated market that supports artisans creating with sustainability in mind. 

We'd love to take a look at our website, facebook and instagram for a peak at our fabulous stallholders and market. 

If you have any questions or would like more info, please don't hesitate to contact us on northernregards@gmail.com 

And of course if you are in Northcote on the first Saturday of the month, we'd love to see you at market ! 

Dee and Kate

Northern Regards Artisan Market 

Tip: Turn Instagram Photos into Blog Posts

"if its worth taking a photo of, then it its worth blogging about"

I must admit I am sometimes lost as to what I should blog about.  I usually share my business related Instagram photos on my Facebook and until last weekend I didn't really consider doing the same on my blog.  Why would I?

Then it dawned on me that if its worth taking a photo of, then it its worth blogging about.  Also, not everyone who reads my blog follows follows me on Facebook or on Instagram.

Your simple Instagram photos can be a great way to promote your handmade business. I love the ones that show the process of how handmade products work.  French blogger Isabelle Kessedjian is a master of this, notice how she didn't even have to add any text, just a title "Work in Progress | Travail en cours" to create her eye catching blog post using an Instagram photo.

Personally I love progress shots that show off  the effort, skill and importantly the time that is required to create your products.  They take the reader/viewer on a creative journey with you.  I've done this here on  my own blog - C Percy Designs :: Meet Ness

So go ahead, turn some of those great instagram photos into blog posts.  And when you do, share them below so I can see them.

Christine
Designer | Creator | Mum
C Percy Designs

How are you expanding your Handmade Business in 2014?  

Become a Guest Blogger on the CHA

Have you got something to say?  

Do you want to expand your horizons in 2014?

Why not become a Guest Blogger!

We are looking for blog posts that assist Australian Handmade Businesses reach their goals in 2014.  Blog posts can be in any form as long as it helpful (i.e. tutorial, observation, tips, info-graphic etc).

Pitch your blog post ideas directly to the Editor via email - contemporaryhandmadealliance@hotmail.com

{Promotion} Miss Muddy Stall Holder Opportunity

is a 5km women’s only obstacle course launching on Sunday 2nd March at Canterbury Race Course. Its a fun day out with your girlfriends where they can come and race then kick back before or after and unwind with a nice cold bevy, listen to some tunes from Ministry of Sounds (playing live) and browse the Sponsors Village/Market Area and do a spot of shopping. It ultimate girls day out.

We are looking for a few additional stalls for the market area with products targeted at women 18+.

The opportunity to trade at Miss Muddy is by invitation only as it’s free, because we want the best stalls in town for our lovely shoppers to unwind after their race while taking in the tunes of Ministry of Sounds playing live.

Contact Rachelle at rachelle@missmuddy.com.au to obtain your stall holder pack.

www.missmuddy.com.au

Its time to expand

So I've been working on my "in 2014 I will ..." worksheet that I downloaded from the Tickle the Imagination blog.  

It took me a while but I've come up with my theme for 2013, that being expansion. Its a topic that we talk about all the time, that is how do I expand my mailing list, how do I get more exposure for my business, how to I reach more buyer ... and the list goes on.  

Its also time to expand our horizons.  I've seen a number of businesses do this, like the owners of madeit.com.au who have opened up a retail store and office in Yamba in Northern NSW and Queensland based Bobkin Designs expanding their revenue by selling the pattern to their popular dresses and shorts. 

Both of these businesses have expanded there business and are now benefiting from spreading their wings. 

At the moment I'm still working on ways to expand the CHA, I must admit this blog has been a little quite over the last 6 months.  I talked about being at a Crossroads back in May 2013 and I found that I couldn't fit everything in.  Its now the summer holidays and I'm very lucky to enjoy a 6 week break. Over the next few weeks I'll be mapping out my year, finding amazing people to guest post on this blog and I am aiming to provide you, my loyal handmade readers, with information to help you expand your handmade business in 2014.

In 2014 I will ...

This morning I woke up with out a hangover, its one of the benefits of having kids and knowing that New Years Day wouldn't be much fun for anyone if Mummy wasn't feeling well, so instead of feeling like crap I was able to leisurely turned my iPad on and read my emails.

With my coffee in one hand and the iPad in the other I read with delight Tickle the Imagination's New Years message and clicked over to their blog to download their delightful worksheet.  This post got me thinking about this blog and my other endeavours and what I will be focusing upon in 2014.

Source:  Tickle the Imagination blog

I've printed off the worksheet and I'll be filling it out for the CHA, the Handmade Cooperative and for my beanie business C Percy Designs.  I'll share the CHA one with you in a few days time.

So in 2014 what will you be doing?  Tell us below or leave a message on our facebook page.