Posts belonging to Category Handmade Monday

So, the countdown is on – and I’m not talking about Christmas.  The last posting day for first class mail is the 20th, and that’s what I’m counting down to!

I won’t have finished work then, of course.  There are still local orders to finish and deliver, and some orders have come in that aren’t needed until January so I’ll still have work to do.  There’s also two magazine commissions to get done for the first week in January.

But it will certainly get easier after the 20th –  it’s very full-on at the moment: everything is very focused on getting things finished/packed/off to the post office as soon as possible.

In the middle of all this madness, I’ve made a few things that are slightly different from the usual … this one is my favourite:

personalised dressing room plaque

It was a special request, but I’ll try to get this one onto the website as soon as I can (which is likely to be in January!).

Last ordering date from my website for Christmas delivery is midnight tonight.  I need the cut-off point for my own sanity as much as anything else!

Meanwhile, if you’d like to browse some fabulous blogs all about handmade, pop over to Handmade Harbour!

The weather’s been pretty changeable around here recently (rain, sleet, ice, frost, cloud … oh! and the sun made a brief appearance) so it’s been nice to snuggle up warm indoors with all the summery images I’m creating for Christmas orders.

campervans, caravans and beach huts

Seems I’m not the only one hankering after a little sunshine!

The multi-coloured beach huts on the plaque really worked to bring back a few warm sunny memories for me.  Although, if I remember rightly,  there may have been a little cloud and rain there too that week (but that’s a British summer for you!)

I’m popping over to Handmade Harbour to take part in Handmade Monday now.  Come with me and read some of the blogs – there’s always somehing new to discover.

I was contacted a while back by Sarah from Craftseller, who was writing an article about customer service and would I mind answering a few questions?  Of course, I was more than happy to help.

I didn’t expect my contribution to be so prominent – that was a nice surprise!  It’s in the supplement which comes free with Craftseller magazine, a lovely little booklet chock full of craft selling tips and well worth a read for anyone who sells crafts.

craftseller's customer service article

And if you want to double-check my customer service is still doing ok, pop over and have a read of my customer reviews over on Free Index.  Free Index is a independent UK-based website, listing businesses according to positive customer reviews and I’m really proud to be in third position for personalised gifts – that’s out of over 1,000 businesses.

It’s nice to know I must be doing something right as I bumble along in my own little way, just painting stuff for people…

It’s time for Handmade Monday and there will be lots of opportunity to see what people have been making. Pop over now and have a mooch – that’s where I’m headed!

It started with wine o’ clock

wine o clock

although I guess a lot of things start with wine o’ clock

But now, there’s a whole load of clocks on my website inspired by alcohol.

These are the two latest:

cider time

and

prosecco time

I’m currently drowning under a sea of orders!  Although, I have to say it’s nice that people are ordering early for Christmas – there is most definitely a kind of crisis that happens every year in late November and early December and I worry so much about getting the later orders to their destination in time for Christmas.   I really do appreciate the earlier orders as it helps me feel a little more organised.

Only a little, mind you!!

Right now though, I’m going to take some time out to enjoy the Handmade Monday blogs – if you’d like to find a few new blogs, some handmade inspiration or  festive ideas, come and join me!  I think you’ll enjoy it.

It seems there’s a story behind every plaque I make!  Sometimes, I’m not fully aware of the story and sometimes I get told quite a bit about why the plaque is needed.

And sometimes the story tells itself!

toilet plaque

These toilet plaques are destined for a holiday let

toilet plaque

and I the story I imagine is behind these is probably not a very pleasant one – for someone at least!

toilet plaque

Painting these plaques made me think of all the plumbers around the world and what a mess we’d be in without them – literal as well as figurative.  I’m told the plaque I made not long ago for the same holiday let is actually making a difference in tenants watering the plants!  Let’s hope these work in much the same way.

It’s time for Handmade Monday – come and join me in a bit of blog hopping over there.

This plaque is one that was ordered for a little girl’s first birthday…

1st birthday balloons plaque

it was one of those I actually remembered to photograph!  I saved it in my images file and then promptly forgot to upload to here.  I like that the balloons have room for a bit more information – in this case the birthday and date.

I must admit it does feel quite special to be able to be a little tiny part in other people’s celebrations and create a little keepsake for someone.

I’m heading over to Handmade Monday now – come and join me!

Most of the year, I don’t actually sell a lot of these personalised hanging hearts (usually, they’re bought for Christmas, Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day)

a face without freckles

but it’s always fun when I do!  I like that they carry messages for people that are just right for them, because of course the wording is written to order.

I was also asked this week for a plaque which was a little different – the wording and little house was as requested by the family.  I’m not religious, but I appreciate people’s faith often means a lot to them, so it was lovely to be able to help out with this one too.

as for me and my house

I’m feeling the change in the weather – are you?  I know we’ve complained about a miserable summer here in the UK (well, I know I have!) but I’m noticing a definite nip in the air  at both ends of the day now that wasn’t really there before.  It’s going to mean getting the woodburner going in the studio again

woodburner and all-important (slow) kettle

and despite the pile of felled trees and thick branches at the bottom of the garden, I’ll have to buy wood.  The chainsaw and I haven’t been on very friendly terms this summer – and I’m not keen on the idea of falling out with it further so my wood remains pretty much unchopped and probably very damp.  I suspect the chickens have a secret nest somewhere within the woodpile too as the eggs in their coop have been a bit fewer in number than usual!  Try as I might, I can’t find any secret egg stashes – it’s a bit like an Easter egg hunt, but without the chocolate.

It’s Handmade Monday time again now, though, so do join me over on Handmade Harbour – put your feet up and enjoy some very relaxed and enjoyable blog hopping.  There’s always such a lot to be inspired by.

I think one of the things I definitely specialise in is personalised gifts – but it’s lovely to see customers asking for a little bit more personalisation (and then being able to do it for them!).

names and date

This home sweet home plaque was personalised with names and the moving-in date for one couple.

personalised home sweet home plaque

and the beach huts on this plaque were personalised with the names of a whole family (and a place name – Mother Ivey’s in Cornwall – was added for them too)

personalised beach huts wall plaque

It’s lovely to see that handmade is being valued by people, and of course it’s opening up new ways of shopping.  Handmade to order fits in so well with internet selling, which is how so many people do their shopping these days -  no real surprise there, as it’s easy and can free up so much time.  It seems that handmade and personalised also fits in well with people’s requirements – it’s possible that most of us have had enough of bland factory-made lookalikes, so giving a gift that’s a little bit different is definitely a good thing!

I love running a small handmade-to-order business but – phew! – it keeps me busy!   However,  I must admit I sometimes need to remind myself that this is work.  Sometimes, it’s easy to work too much because I enjoy what I’m doing – and then suddenly feel tired.  The lines between work and home blur quite often; I suppose it’s the same for a lot of home-based businesses.

If you’d like more info on any of the plaques pictured above, the beach huts plaques are here and the home sweet home plaques are on this page.  If you want to order but can’t fit all your personalisation details in the boxes provided, just email me the extra details: wendy@1stuniquegifts.co.uk

It’s Handmade Monday time again – join me over on Handmade Harbour for some blog browsing.

This week it’s been nice to see some of my designs used in slightly different ways.  Like how one of my campervan door plaques has become a sign in someone’s kitchen (they’re small and light enough to be stuck up in an actual campervan kitchen too!)

campervan kitchen plaque

another one being used as a door plaque for an art studio

campervan art studio sign

and this one with an upbeat welcome message.

campervan sign with message

It’s lovely that things can be altered to suit customers – it’s one of the many good things about buying handmade, I think.

Lots of camper clocks have been going out this week too, and wine is being exported all over the world in clock form, which is lovely (people in Norway, Australia and Holland have taken delivery of my wine o’ clocks this week).

I’m now doing white wine clocks as well as red wine

three white wines

and even ones with a glass of each!

it's wine o' clock

Right now I’m heading over to Handmade Monday over on Handmade Harbour for a little look round all the craft blogs that are linking up this week.  Come and join me – wine is optional!

This week I’ve made a few new plaques for customers, but this one is my favourite:

personalised sewing machine plaque

It’s actually for a 40th birthday, and the number 40 was added to the sewing machine, hopefully not too “in-your-face”, so the plaque can still be used long after the milestone birthday!

The request was simple: a plaque which would make an ideal 40th birthday gift for a sewing and knitting enthusiast.  The name had to be on the plaque, and the number 40 has to be on there too, preferably quite subtly placed as part of the image.

It’s now available to order on the website too, with a choice of colours and personalisation.

It’s been a bit of a busy week (and next week looks like more of the same, judging by the orders coming in) so right now I’m taking a break and I’m off to do some blog hopping over at Handmade Monday on Handmade Harbour.  It’s a great way to look through a real variety of craft blogs and you never know what you might find!  It’s a bit like window shopping with friends for craft inspiration or handmade goodies (but with your feet up!) – what’s not to love?

Put the kettle on first, though, and get comfy.  We might be some time!