Another Month Gone! Ennui, websites and newsletters!

This year is just flying by... I had plans which I wrote down then lost, then found again and now can't make head nor tail of. Surprisingly in these plans was absolutely nothing about making a bird a day or holding auctions... or should that be unsurprisingly as I'm not the most organised person in the world!

The good news is the Feltmeupdesigns Newsletter has now got over 100 subscribers, you can join up here on my website. The newsletter gives you automatic entry into all my giveaways so you will never miss one and subscribers get discount codes for my shop delivered straight to their inboxes!

Now I have found the plan I am hoping to get back on track with things, I've been to the studio this week for the first time properly in 2 weeks and I am nearly on top of my gallery orders. Since closing down my Inkmeup shop I still haven't re photographed all my prints so that's priority one. Many of them I only have one of so they are going into my Etsy Shop where stock control is easier.

Priority 2 is rephotographing everything, updating all my product listings and having a cull of products that just don't sell anymore. This is a hard one for me, I'm incredibly attached to some of the designs but I need to be realistic and if they aren't selling I need to move on. It's also hard on another level as since the beginning of 2014 I am basically making everything to order, so to rephotograph things they need making first.

I've started slowly with prints and the big owls, you get some funny looks walking through the woods with an owl and a camera!

My website is also in dire need of an update and I am looking around for other options to my webstore. The hardest part of running this business is having to be a jack of all trades, you have to be maker, photographer, designer, accountant, web designer... and a hundred other things which totally get in the way of the fun stuff!

If you've been following me a while you'll know this year has been a tough one for me, so I bit the bullet and went to the Doctors, waiting on some test results but the verdict is they will all be negative and I have stress related depression (again). I've struggled with depression my whole life so it's a blow to be back here again, I'm hoping that things will improve as the summer arrives and the weather improves so I can be at the studio more. The leaking roof at the studio really was a blow, not being able to use the space as intended for so long was heart breaking and really put a dent in my plans. Fingers crossed it's fixed now and I can move on.

 I'm hoping to launch some new designs next month... watch this space for updates!

New Stockists for Feltmeupdesigns

This Month we have 2 new local stockists in our home town of Scarborough to announce.

The lovely Angela and Rosie on Barr Street. Angela and Rosie stock a lovely range of vintage and handmade goodies downstairs in their boutique shop.

Our little birds nestle happily alongside Angela Knipe's handmade felt jewelery, tuck in next to vintage teddy bears and snuggle up with the work of lots of fabulous local artists and crafters.

Upstairs at Angela and Rosie there is a lovely light, airy gallery space filled with the work of local artists, currently Angela has a beautiful ceramic fish installation by Iona Calvert, Prints by Steph Mitchell and these lovely dolls (who's  maker I've forgot to make note of) alongside work from many other local artists.

I was amazed how much is in this tiny gallery space and yet it doesn't feel at all cluttered in the gallery and the big window gives lovely light to the space.

My other new stockist is Eatme@Home on Hanover Road... you may remember me camping out at Eatme Space for a great portion of last year, well the Eatme boys have decided to open a deli and employ my lovely fella John to run it.

As well a delicious selection of artisan breads, yummy cakes, herbs, spices, gluten free treats and more edibles then even I could get thru the shop has a lovely selection of handmade and vintage goods in Nana's back room at the back of the store.

As well as feltmeupdesigns owls and Inkmeup notebooks and lavender bags there are teacup candles and notebooks by Janilaine Mainprize, kitschy kitchenware and lots of fun vintage bits and bobs... plus you get to say hello to my fella!

For a full list of stockist visit our website:
http://feltmeupdesigns.yolasite.com/stockists.php

Lovely owls at Angela and Rosie

 We're always on the look out for new venues to stock with birdies so please contact me if you own a shop or gallery and would like to stock our birdies!

Prints by Steph Mitchell

Black Friday/Cyber Monday discount for Felty and Inky fans!

Hello felty fans! Are you ready for Christmas? I'm not but then I never am... I waiting for the last posting dates and then there shall be a frantic making and baking of presents for my family and friends!

Over the holiday weekend to help you out with you festive shopping we are offering 10% off at both our Estr shops with the coupon code CYBERBLACKBIRD... and if you buy from both we'll combine your shipping and refund the difference (aren't we nice!)

Visit Feltmeupdesigns and Inkmeup and make sure to put the couponcode  CYBERBLACKBIRD in the little box on the right of your screen when you checkout to redeem the code. If you buy from both shops I'll refund the difference in shipping as soon as the items are posted.

Offer ends Tuesday when I get out of bed and take it down!

Inkmeup Blog Launch Giveway

Inkmeup has been going strong for 9 months now and it's been a really fun ride so far. Ink has spent a lot of time piggy backing on her big sister shop Feltmeupdesigns and it's time for the baby girl to break free and have her own identity and her own blog!

So to launch said blog what better way then to have a giveaway! The winner gets to chose from a Kingfisher, Owl, Wren, Blue Tit or Chicken Goody bag. I'm offering a prize of 1 notebook, 1 print and one lavender bag and a goody bag with some postcards, mini prints and other bits in, this is a fab prize worth $40.
Head on over to Inkmeup's New Blog to find out how to enter

Blog Giveaway Inky Prizes!!!!

I am feeling generous this week, I am looking forward to my week off and moving my boyfriend into my flat and I reckon I need to declutter a bit! So I am having my first inky give away. You may have noticed I have another wee shop on etsy called inkmeup which is edging ever closer to 100 sales. I am offering one lucky winner a great big inky prize of a music wrens print , a blank notebook of their choice plus a great big inky pile of post cards and mini prints... in a big prize haul worth over $50
How to enter
This time there are 4... yes 4 ways to enter!

To enter simply leave a comment on my blog telling me what your favorite item in my shop is or buy an item from from either shop or leave a Twitter comment mentioning this blog post with link @feltmeupdesigns

Finally become a fan of inkmeup at our face book page here ... If you do all 4 you get 4 entries... simples!!!The best thing about having a week off from my day job is I will be getting my fingers well and truely inky and working on new designs. Yay! I will draw the competition by the scientific and totally random way of sticking the entries in a hat and making John pick one out, with his eyes closed, probaly looking dopey... there may even be pictures ... competition closes February 24th.