A Crafty Business

As with every little girl at some stage all those pretty dolls end up with their clothes lost or washed and shrunk, but thankfully I had my Nanny to crochet them their own little outfits and bonnets. I always thought they were so pretty and no one else’s dolls had them. Even then my little fashionista was bursting out of me.

Then there was the interest in my mam who makes beautiful bed spreads and does lacework as well but she never thought my patience would stick the crochet. So out of pure stubbornness and about 2 years of giving up and getting back at it, i produced a bag of granny squares to her one day to put together and low and behold my first bedspread was born.

Then more important stuff came along like playstations, boys, going out and it was put in the back of the press again. But on the news that I was going to have a beautiful little doll of my own, my idea of having her own blankets and hats and clothes came floating back so I got busy again. From there friends asked me to make items, then people who had received the items asked me to make more and my little business has grown from there.

I have often been told I could charge more or use other quality items. But as a parent and in the current economic climate, I like to think that I am being fair and leaving something affordable and to a standard that will last. Each item is handmade and where possible I like to keep items unique. When I don’t have the needle or glue gun in my hand, I can be found with a pencil sketching new designs or online doing some research. 

Now my own daughter who is only five is ever so eager to help out. While learning to crochet is taking time she is quite handy and happy with the pom pom maker. When her cousins come to play, they don't want to play with any of the toys they want to have a wool party. 

Bringing home the bacon

As much as I love my craft I love that light bulb moment that will lead to sales. One of my best selling hats to this day was my Peppa Pig creation.

I originally made the Peppa Pig hat for my own daughter as she was obsessed with the cartoon. Once she started wearing it out and about people genuinely stopped me on the street and while we were shopping to ask where I got it. One of my top tips from this experience is to always carry your business cards with you, be it in your jacket pocket or purse.

I decided to post the picture of the Peppa Pig hat on my Little Lids Siobhan Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/littlelidssiobhan and from here sales rocketed.

Peppa Pig while was one of my best sellers but also challenging makes. Making the hat itself was a relatively easy task. The time and labour coming in adding the details such as the ears, eyes and nose. It takes almost as long to make these and assemble the complete Peppa Pig as it takes me to make the hat base. Its a long process and quite time consuming so that's why some hats are dearer because they do take more time and effort to get the finished product.

Autumn Time

The clocks are changing, the evenings are getting darker. Its time to get those Winter woolies out and wrap up. But there is no need to hibernate or hide just yet.

I am working on a range of  adult accessories which  as well as being functional are full of the colours of Autumn, you will be able to match your accessories with the Season at hand.

The selection of warm colours and wool will keep you toasty over the Winter period.

Check out my collection and as always I welcome comments and suggestions.

Away with the Fairies

Being the mother of a little girl of course the fairies were going to come to visit the house, and in our case we took them down the woods.






I love a challenge and making something different, that I really put my own mark on. It gives a great sense of achievement. Last year I made a collection of Fairy Hats all of my own designs.

You can view the full collection here:
Fairy Hat Collection on Facebook

 

I had a little boy comment and tell me that he was not happy with all the designs as there were none for boys !!! So I took the task in hand and corrected this with the addition of a gnome. I love kids their wit and wisdom always comes in handy, and of course their honesty.

 The collection is still open to more designs and options if anyone has comments / suggestions I can work on. I love a challenge.

It takes balls!!!

Literally it takes a lot of balls to keep this business going. I have wool stashed everywhere.

My latest investment was a kitchen dresser with glass doors on the front to keep my collection nice and clean. Also I love all the colours and textures and believe they should be on display and not packed away in some dreary corner.

I plan on emptying it all out in the near future and painting the dresser to make my wool collection even more of a feature in our home.

And no matter how many balls of wool you have, you are constantly buying as some colours have more use than others and popularity can vary. Like for instance I went through about 30 balls of neon yellow wool when Minion mania took over last year. It was not a colour I had ever imagined buying in bulk.

I try work ahead of time especially for school time and then Christmas Markets, usually starting a stock of hats in August to be decorated later in the year.

Ive also accumulated a lot of embellishments such as ribbons and buttons.

For the littlest Hurling Champion

I work with a few local Photographers producing props for their photoshoots and I love when they call. Its always going to be a special creation for someone who is just about to make their mark on this world.

For one particular photoshoot I was told that daddy played hurling and could a hat be made with a hurley on it and all hush hush as the photo was going to be part of a gift for his birthday.

I admit I was a bit puzzled as to how I was going to put a hurley on a hat, I could have crocheted one but the thing about wood that makes it beautiful is the natural pattern of the wood. After must research I decided to buy some wood patterned fabric and literraly make the hurley. So I drew out the pattern and added the bonding paper by ironing. Once cooled I cut it out and placed onto the hat to add again by ironing.

I have to admit I was quite chuffed with the finished design as I hope the family were with my creation.

I welcome custom orders and its no problem to change the colour or design of a hat to meet the customers particular needs. Being verastile when you are a crafter is simply a way of life, you always have to think outside the box and be able to see the finished product in your head.