by Victoria Gregory | Jul 14, 2017 | amigurumi, Uncategorised |
I had a couple of custom orders recently that have led me to expand my range of amigurumi unexpectedly!
I was all set to design a unicorn (which I still plan to do) when I was asked to create a Lion for a first birthday present and a Wolf for a lady who wanted a special present for her boyfriend. I designed these for my customers and immediately loved them so much!!! So I shall now get busy making some more of these for other people too 🙂
See what I mean! How can I not make more of these, they’re so cute!
The Wolf (so hard to photograph in black!) was sold alongside one of my little cats – such a sweet picture they make!
Keep an eye on my Etsy shop for these, they’re on their way!
Vicki x
by Victoria Gregory | Jun 12, 2017 | Uncategorised |
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uetJ7VvifxQ]
Hello!
Those of you that follow me on Facebook will know that I’ve just launched a new concept in my Etsy shop – personalised cards to go with my little amigurumi. It struck me that a gift means so much more when you have a little something with it that has your name on it and a specific reason for giving it. The gift becomes more meaningful and the card and gift become a treasured keepsake for the recipient.
To give people an idea of what I mean I filled out some of the cards with different special events; 1st birthday, christening gift, new job, bridesmaid’s gift and so on.
I’ve added a few to my Etsy shop now, with a view to adding more in the future.
That’s my news for today!
Bye for now!
Vicki x
by Victoria Gregory | May 29, 2017 | Uncategorised |
Not long ago I added some little dogs to my small collection of amigurumi. It seems that my design process starts off in my head, I then draw a, usually very bad, picture of what I have in mind and then start working out how to crochet it.
Here is an unconstructed dog!
I made two versions, one with a fat and another with a more sculpted look head, this last one I was going to use in a dog with all four legs on the ground, as you can see his head is far too heavy!! A design fail! I should have know that would happen!
Eventually, though the design was right and I was ready to make more. Like my cats and bunnies the dog has a little basket and blanket so he can be tucked up all snug at the end of the day. I have a few in my Etsy shop right now!
I’ve even done a little video showing you amigurumi dogs in more detail! Something I would never have done a few months ago! I took part in a video challenge set by Nicola Smith of A Handcrafted Business it gave me the confidence to have a go, it gives me a chance to show myself to you lovely lot!
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GIr5rZ0FxA]
That’s all from me today, see you soon!
Vicki x
by Victoria Gregory | Mar 31, 2017 | Events |
I’m lucky enough to be sharing a stand with Powys Creative again this year at Wonderwool Wales. It’s very exciting, especially as I haven’t seen most of the people I’m sharing with since last year!!
The last couple of months I’ve been busying away trying to get enough stock together – with a few panicky moments along the way too, I’ve still got a few weeks thankfully!
Wonderwool Wales is the weekend of 22nd and 23rd of April and we will be in stall B11.
I’ll be taking with me lots of my little amigurumi creations!
I’m also busy making crochet hook rolls especially for this event. This picture is of the ones I made last year, as I’m still working on this years lot. I upcycle fabric to make these.
Not only that I’ve set aside next week to make some more knitting and crochet bags, they have all the pockets you could need! Including a lovely long internal one for knitting needles and crochet hook rolls.
Right, I’ve got a lot of making to do so I’ll be off.
Bye for now!
Vicki x
by Victoria Gregory | Feb 8, 2017 | Events |
It’s February and I’ve sorted out where I’m going to be throughout this year with craft fairs – nice to be organised!
Saturday 15th April – Hay-on-Wye, Buttermarket
Saturday and Sunday 22nd and 23rd April – Wonderwool Wales, Royal Welsh Showground, LLanelwydd. I’ll be with the Powys Creative Stand
Sunday 14th May – Hay-on-Wye, Buttermarket
Saturday 27th May – Hay-on-Wye, Buttermarket
Wednesday 31st May – Hay-on-Wye, Buttermarket
Sunday 4th June – Hay-on-Wye, Buttermarket
Saturday 24th June – Hay-on-Wye, Buttermarket
Sunday 9th July – Hay-on-Wye, Buttermarket
Saturday 22nd July – Hay-on-Wye, Buttermarket
Sunday 27th August – Hay-on-Wye, Buttermarket
Sunday 10th September – Hay-on-Wye, Buttermarket
Saturday 23rd September – Hay-on-Wye, Buttermarket
Sunday 8th October – Hay-on-Wye, Buttermarket
Saturday 28th October – Hay-on-Wye, Buttermarket
Saturday 25th November – Hay-on-Wye, Buttermarket
Sunday 10th December – Hay-on-Wye, Buttermarket
As you can see I’ll mainly be trading in Hay-on-Wye this year! Though of course I have an on-line shop too, so don’t worry if you can’t make it to any of the events listed above.
by Victoria Gregory | Apr 15, 2016 | Discount Code, Events |
Yesterday I sent out my very, very first ever newsletter – it may sound silly but I’m so pleased! I am planning on sending out one monthly, they are my way of keeping in touch with my lovely customers, letting you know what offers I have on, new products to watch out for and what I can offer as an independent handcrafter!
This month I spoke about buying a gift for someone and hoping they don’t already have it! Has this ever happened to you? It has to me!
Buying handmade makes the chances of that happening drop drastically, the very nature of handmade items are that they are unique and not widely available – that makes the gift extra special!
If you’d like to receive this newsletter it’s not too late to do so, this link here will take you my sign up form Link To Sign Up Form as a thank you for signing up you also get a 20% discount code to use in my Etsy Shop.
Other news this month – I’m going to be at Wonderwool Wales on the weekend of 23rd and 24th April, for this weekend I’ll be shutting my Etsy shop and taking everything there (and lots of things that aren’t) to tempt folk! I’m going to be part of the ‘Powys Creative’ stand, I’m in very talented company too, gorgeous handblown glass items from Fox Glass, felted scarves and hats from Dolyfelin Designs and beautiful willow woven baskets from Mary Zammit. I’m so looking forward to it – and also have so much to do!! Best get on with it.
Bye for now
Vicki x
by Victoria Gregory | Mar 11, 2016 | Discount Code |
I’ve been a busy little bee this month adding lots of lovely blankets to my Etsy shop!
As well as that I’ve started an e-mail list for a newsletter, this is my way of keeping you lovely people informed about new products, what I do that you may not know about, offers and other things that I hope will interest you!
As a thank you for signing up and showing your interest, I’m offering a 20% discount code to use with your first order through my Etsy shop!
If this is something that you’d be interested in please click HERE!
I’m looking forward to hearing from you and creating a little Miss Gregory’s Gorgeous Customer’s family!
by Victoria Gregory | Nov 4, 2015 | Uncategorized |
Hello! I am indeed still here.
I have a few craft fair dates to tell you about, this year has flown by so fast! It’s November already and the festive shopping season is upon us!
I am in the Buttermarket in Hay-on-wye on the 7th November 10am – 4.30pm with lots of other lovely craft stalls, we’ll be giving this one a bit of a christmassy feel as it’s our last one in Hay for the year.
On Saturday 21st November I am back in Brecon Market Hall for our monthly craft market 9am – 4.30pm
This was how my stall looked last month – I trade with the lovely Jeni from Pentre Designs, she makes all those lovely wooden plaques you can see.
Last one for November is a local one, in Builth Wells High School.
On Tuesday 24th November I’ll be in Y Bwyty at the High School for the Cyclch Meithrin Christmas Fair / Ffair Nadolig, this starts at 5.30pm.
Then we’re into December. I have two dates only in December both in Brecon Market Hall.
Saturday 5th December 9am – 4.30pm
Saturday 19th December 9am – 4.30pm
Hope to see some of you these events, do drop by and say hello if you’re around!
by Victoria Gregory | Mar 6, 2015 | Uncategorized |
I don’t know about you but I’ve had enough of winter. It’s time for spring now surely! My garden is starting to show signs of life so I’m feeling hopeful.
These daffodils do have flower buds hiding away in there somewhere. Soon then….
As my first lot of craft markets for the year are coming up I’ve also been thinking about Easter, in preparation for this I’ve been busily making little nests for chocolate eggs to nestle in. My two boys are hoping they don’t sell very well so that they get to eat the eggs – I’m wondering if there might be a couple left for me too!
The nests are adapted from a pattern I found on mooglyblog.com, I recommend you go and look if you enjoy all things crochet!
As well as these I found an adorable little pattern on lookatwhatimade.net (also a very fabulous blog) – little chicks! I adapted the pattern slightly so that I could CE mark them successfully and added a version of the paisley wings from the larger bird. They are so cute!!
Well they are the new items I’ve been making, I’ve also been replenishing my stock of amigurumi bunnies. Keeping to a spring time theme, they’re all in delightful pastel shades!
Not to be outdone by the crochet, the sock bunnies have also requested an appearance – here they are:
I especially love the larger ones ears – they’re enormous!
I’ll be adding a few of my bunnies to my Folksy shop very soon, the ‘shop’ tab in the menu at the top of the page will take you right there.
I have a few craft fairs booked up for this month:
Saturday 7th March – Llanwrtyd Wells Farmers Market 10.30am – 2pm
Saturday 21st March – Brecon Craft Market 9am- 4.30pm
Saturday 28th March – Builth Craft Fair 10am – 2pm
Saturday 4th April – Wyeside in Builth Wells 2pm -5pm
Ooops one for April too in there!
All my nests, chicks and bunnies are looking forward to getting out and about, I have to say I am too.
Vicki x
by Victoria Gregory | Jan 19, 2015 | Business on a Budget |
Product photos are very important, how else are you going to show your product off when people can’t touch it? I don’t think mine have been particularly good so far so I decided to try out a D.I.Y. lightbox.
I’ve had a couple of links bookmarked for a while showing me how to go about it, here they are:
- http://www.handmadeology.com/creating-a-white-background-inside-a-cardboard-box/
- http://www.handmadeology.com/how-to-make-and-use-a-light-box-to-improve-your-product-photography/
The tutorials are great but I don’t have all the equipment so I’m making do with what I do have.
Here’s a suitably large box – I have some large rag-dolls which I hope will fit in there!
Following one of the tutorials I cut my box like this.
Then because I don’t have any white card I draped an ironed (might need another iron!) white sheet in it to create my light bouncing background.
The first picture was taken using natural daylight, it looks ok, though a bit drained of colour. The tutorials suggest using picmonkey to adjust the exposure of your photo, so I did just that and the second picture is the result – much better! Though that sheet does definitely need another iron!
Here’s a picture of a sock toy I made for a workshop undergoing the same treatment. Again this is with natural daylight.
Now I don’t always have good light in my house and I only have one daylight bulb lamp whereas the tutorial says to use two – I’m not going to be buying another one, so again I’m making do with what I have.
Ooo, like a mini studio!
This is the result this time, A bit more of a shadow behind but not bad! Again the first picture is as it comes, the second has had the picmonkey treatment.
Next I tried putting the light in over the top.
I don’t think it works as well, I don’t like the double shadow, but perhaps it’ll work better with different shapes?
I put the lamp in a bit closer.
The colour of the picture is different this time, I don’t like this so much it’s not as natural looking,
I found the whole thing very interesting to do. I realise I have more to learn about lighting and perhaps using different camera settings too but I do feel like I’ve made a positive step towards getting better product pictures.
I hope this blog post will be helpful to you too!
