Macramé, horror knitting & branching out!

Hello crafters!

First of all I want to thank everyone who has gotten on board with The Moody Octopus project so far! If you haven't started yet then don't worry! There's still plenty of time to get involved!

I've set up a Facebook event for it here!

You don't need to attend on the day, pieces are welcome to be posted in advance! You can find the address here!

I'm thrilled to be doing this project in conjunction with The Liverpool Mental Health Consortium, Time To Change Campaign, Up For Arts and The MakeFest!

The Octopus now has a home at Liverpool Central Library after the day of the MakeFest so if you are local & cant make the day you can still view him afterwards!

Special thanks to The Merseyside Etsy Team for blogging about him too!

I am accepting suggestions for a name...keep referring to it as male. Take from that what you will!

In other news I finally have my couch! Only ordered it 7 weeks ago so finally feel like we can settle properly in our new home & no more living like students out of the bedroom!

Not my living room but my new couch!

I’ve also branched out...I’m now in comics! Well, not strictly speaking, but I am working in conjunction with two lovely chaps on a Kickstarter campaign for a graphic novel which has received rave reviews! I'm making some merchandise for them as one of the Kickstarter rewards; it is an adult comic & it is horror based so you have been warned! The artist Macro 'Sbrillo' Fontanili designed my latest logo & the knitting hedgehog.

It’s been 16 months of hard work for them both so I really hope it does well. If you like any of the old slasher films you’ll love it. I like Kickstarter as a format too; getting a product, just the same as you would via any other method of purchasing but you are directly funding a bit of someone’s dream.

It’s really gotten me in the mood for Halloween though! You can expect a big range from me this year, I have actually started planning...think I have about 30 patterns drafted.

New skill moment! I have taught myself macramé! Totally addictive...takes a while to get your head around all the knots but so worth it!

Due to popular demand I'm announcing new workshop dates over the weekend so keep your eyes peeled!

Why you should learn to knit NOW!

On Saturday I taught a wonderful workshop at The Rare Bear Boutique just off Allerton Road in Liverpool. On my social media pages I had been joking, using the popular Game of Thrones phrase, "Winter is coming.." so learn to knit but actually I'm not wrong!

I've already discussed the mental health aspects of knitting but time is a big factor too!

At yesterdays craft meet, a lady who had been on one of my workshops came for help on a project she was finishing off. She is still learning & commented that a) we make it look easy & b) that she will never be making jumpers for her little one this winter without a lot of practise...

Knitting - huge scope for imagination

Vintage inspired

Lace headbands of mine in progress!

Its true, knitting does take practise, an so many people asked me about classes last winter since the weather had gone cold & they wanted to make items for themselves. The truth is though, if you want to be making yourself beautiful autumn cardigans or big winter jumpers then the time to start practising is now!

Jumpers take a lot longer to make than people realise (if I had a £ for every time I heard "oh, make me a jumper!' as if its gonna take me a few day....), they can take a good few weeks & thats if you are working on it most days.

Vintage Christmas Jumper by Susan Crawford

Knitters tend to work a season in advance, as sad as it is to say, I will be starting to think about Christmas in the next few months! I'm already wearing my lovely lace spring knits now but if I wanted a jumper for Christmas, I'd start it no later than September/October.

So if you would love to be all wrapped up in handmade wonders this winter the time to learn is now, plus you have the summer to enjoy knitting outdoors making gorgeous little things for yourself as "practise".

This is just the best picture!

Just gorgeous! 

I only have 2 more dates left for workshops before my break for summer, this Saturday at Knit Wise in Ormskirk & 17th May at The Rare Bear Boutique!

I will have new workshop dates from September!

An Independent Cup of Coffee

I love coffee! I am a serious coffee addict. My coffee machine is never off…In work everyone drinks tea & I'm alone in my high caffeine bubble! I love independent coffee shops too, not the tax dodging ones but the ones that pride themselves on making a good cup of coffee rather than a mass produced one!

Awesomely I teach workshops in a coffee shop that ooze's what a coffee shop should be! Quill's Coffee...

At university, Lee recognised how important it was to have a space to read and study, and so tried to find such a magical place. Soon he found himself in a Goldilocks situation. The library was too quiet, stuffy and formal, and although it boasted quality resources, it suffered poor vending machine drinks and worse vending machine food. So onwards he travelled to the local coffee shop, where he found better food and drink with a somewhat relaxed atmosphere, but at the cost of crowds, tiny tables, and high prices.

Getting the balance right was tricky, and often meant only staying for a short amount of time. From this, the idea to offer a better reading, study and social experience was born: the study-equivalent of the 'just-right porridge'.

Not only do they have a wizarding way of making coffee they have their own blend and their cake-y goodies are made by a local independent baker!

They are heavily involved in community projects and have just launched a second shop in Nook & Cranny on Bold Street in Liverpool, the hive of independent business's!

Next weekend I'm running a workshop knitting/crocheting Easter Bunnies at their original shop in Rex, just off Church Street, in the  basement of the old George Henry Lee's in what is now Rapid! (More info & how to book here!)

Regardless the staff are amazing, they really love what they do and they have achieved their original goal so pop in, treat yourself and do not forget to tell them I sent you!  

Nook & Cranny is located at 28 Bold Street right by Central Railway Station.

Rex is located in the basement of Rapid, 20-48 Basnett Street just off Church Street.

The Week in which EVERYTHING Happened...

Well last week was fun!

I've managed to give myself half a day off today (I'm typing this at 11pm after craft meet) after doing 7 full days last week but I love my little business & I will do what it takes for it to be a success. Fingers crossed.

It started last Sunday with a stall for International Women's Day at The Baltic Social which was ace! I love working stalls at fairs as I love interacting with the other stall holders! Everyone is always so friendly, lots of advice & it makes for a great day regardless of what sales are like!

This was my first stall with my boyfriend as an assistant & to be fair he was pretty good! He even taped one of my business cards to his chest to be a little walking advertisement! 

Me & Frank :)

Monday was all day admin applying to more fairs & doing the books. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday was working in the day job, I normally only do 2/3 days a week so bit of a hit to the system. Luckily I only did short-ish shifts as I had meeting on Wednesday, left early to go to The Lock In on Thursday & more meeting Friday!

The Lock In was brilliant! Its a networking event with workshops & applications for funds in a very relaxed atmosphere with like minded small businesses who get the opportunity to meet with a variety of people who can help with funding & other businesses who might benefit you! 

Me top right!

The only downside was wheeling a suitcase full of wares around all day but that is the life if you do not have a car! 

Saturday I did my first fair with Tinderbox Fairs at The Arts Club in Liverpool & we could not have been looked after better by Jenny or the staff!  I'm working with Jenny again in the future & I'm super excited about it! 

I worked the early shift on Sunday then it was off to my Mum's to cook her dinner since it was Mothers Day & I do get a wonderful amount of support, help & encouragement from her during stressful periods, as well as everything else in-between! 

Now this week, no rest for the wicked, I am running my first set of workshops at The Rare Bear Boutique teaching knitting & I'm really looking forward to it as its such a beautiful & inspiring setting as well as donating some knitting or crochet classes to a S.O.B's (Survivor's of Bereavement by Suicide) fundraiser as well as a lace & fabric cushion. This is just such a fantastic cause (click here for my blog on knitting & mental health) & if you are Liverpool based & can make it on Saturday then you should! Click here for the Facebook event page.

However its not all work as I'm out with the girls on Wednesday night! My friend is back from Australia for a few months so high school reunion time! We have been friends for over ten years so I just hope we all behave & do not drink too much as if you look at my Facebook page I've mountains coming up!

More about that later though! ;)

Hope you have an excellent week! 

Quick Crafty Catch-up!

Sorry I've been so quiet of late! I've been mad designing & getting stock ready for Valentine's Day then I was struck down by a virus! Took me about a week to recover properly & I couldn't afford any time off from the day job so spent my evenings in the foetal position on the couch an then I had a birthday which took up quite a few days! But I'm back now!

Just uploaded lots of new workshop dates including at the new venues Knit Wise in Ormskirk & The Rare Bear Boutique on Allerton Road!

The Rare Bear Boutique

The first workshop at Knit Wise was amazing! The ladies where just a dream to teach & Myra really took care of us even though she was unwell herself! We covered so much before lunch & everyone went home with their own hand knitted item. It's so nice to teach in such a traditional knitting shop! There are so few left now & it's so inspiring being surrounded by all that wool!

Next one at Knit Wise, Ormskirk is this coming Saturday & there is one on Sunday at Quill's Coffee in Liverpool City Centre!

The Rare Bear Boutique is owned by expect sewing teacher Emma & if you have any occasion, event, or child of all ages in your life, this is the place to shop! Just off Allerton Road in South Liverpool, it is a beautiful shop & I'm so lucky that she wanted to stock my baby comforter blankets there!

Oh hey guys!

Monday was another craft meet at The Everyman Theatre, thEATre! They are free to pop along! Just bring whatever you are working on, knitting, crochet, sewing, spinning, weaving, whatever & have a cuppa or a glass of wine. A reward for surviving another Monday!

Craftiness is happiness!

I've been researching & reading up loads on the real health benefits, both psychological (my degree is in Psychology so big area of interest for me! & physical. Absolutely fascinating! I was at Edge Hill University on Wednesday running a stall for their mental health awareness & it was fabulous! I'll be doing a blog post on my finds next week.

  

I'm back at Edge Hill University, Monday 23rd for their "Give It A Go" week doing an hours knitting demonstration so if you are there come say hi!

Oh I was also at the Manchester Sticking, Sewing & Hobbycraft Show volunteering for the UK Hand Knitting Association which was a very interesting day but I'll do a whole blog on that later in the week!

Spent a week(!) coding & redesigning the website & I'm 90% happy with it but I've spent too long away from my crafting & there's big events to be planning for Mothers Day sneaking up soon! I'm trying to get a real, fully stocked Etsy shop on the go too so watch this space! 

If you have not noticed I've now put in an option to sign up for our newsletter! It will give you a heads up on what's new events wise, new product designs & offers! I'm aiming to send 2 a month so you wont be inundated with emails!

Speak soon!

Love Gemma x

New Years Organisation Resolution!

This year (although only on day 5) is going well so far! Have a day off from the day job so didn't get out of bed till past 12 (normally up 6.30-7.30am depending on shift) as super comfortable & the house was cold!

I have had this date earmarked to sort out all my books for months as I am TERRIBLE at bookkeeping! The Women's Organisation would be ashamed! What it has meant though, in my desperate desire to avoid, is that I've got LOADS of other admin & emailing done! 

My CE certification pack will be arriving today so can now set a testing day.

I'm in the middle of organising loads of workshops on top of the one I have advertised. 

I'm also organising a charity knit/crochet which I'll be posting about in the next few days! Project guest blog is set for April to celebrate GOPA being a year old!  

New lighting equipment has been ordered.

Valentine's & Easter makes are designed, priced & have completion dates.

Meetings have been set.

Enquiry emails sent.

Possible new home found for craft meetings.

Organising a second charity drive.

I don't want to do my books ha ha!

But I will...

Yesterday was the wife's birthday (we have been bff's for 6 years so now at wife status) so we (me, the wife, the boy & the sideburn-y one) ventured out to anew restaurant on Bold Street, Liverpool, called Mowgli's & it was fantastic! 

Indian tapas is awesome & the staff where super helpful with our waitress putting up with our group indecisiveness & eventually ordering for us! She made some wonderful choices...

We then did late Christmas, as always we failed as part of both of the wife's & sideburn-y'a presents are still m.i.a, but they did good with presents of food & booze, including posh biscuits which we have been enjoying this morning (afternoon) with coffee instead of eating lunch (see what I meant about old habits?!) 

If you would like to be involved in the craft charity event drop me an email at enquiries@girlonpurlaction.co.uk & I will send you the info pack out asap!  

Winning & a hot drink!

Cup cosy's make for happy mugs and hands!

For those of you that follow me on Facebook & Twitter will have seen that I have a new job!



What most of you wont see through the delightful happy posts & tweets is the reality of what running a business & working 20-30 hours a week in another job is. Its getting up to do business work on 4-5 hours sleep when I have 'work' in the evening so working a 16-20 hour day is not uncommon. It's never having a full day off because for a business to succeed it requires immense amounts of hard work, especially since everything is hand made by me. I'm often found crocheting or knitting on the couch till I fall asleep in my work.

Your average night

The old job, which I'm in till Friday, can be physically as well as mentally demanding & draining. The hours are not set so I often find myself trying to change shifts as I have arranged meetings/have workshops etc & have been unable to get the time off I need. Its trying to pick up more hours when mine are short, so I can live, do not want to touch the business money at all if I can help it.

Getting weekends off, being a waitress, is a nightmare as well but all my workshops & stalls are at weekends!

However this is all about to change!

Me now...

My new job is set hours. Its also day shifts so my sleeping pattern might now start to match the average person (mines currently sleeping hours between 4.30am - 12pm if on a night shift with no daytime business work that needs to be done in the morning) & its weekday work too....jackpot!

The volume of stress & pressure that has been taken off me is incredible as now I feel I can start to get more organised rather than playing it by ear & it being a week to week or day to day plan.

So new workshops! Yay!

Look how happy he is with a snuggle coffee!

After a mega successful weekend of workshops; pom-pom's Friday, arm & finger knitting Saturday & crochet, perfect fit, mittens on Sunday I'm looking ahead to December!

Thank you Sian for letting me photograph your fingers!

The Crosby Tea Room dates are already available for mega pom-pom decorations on the 13th & crochet Christmas decorations on the 14th December (more on them later in the week!)  but now let me introduce you to knitted or crochet cup cosies on the 7th December at Quill's Coffee Shop in Rex!

YOU NEED TO BOOK ON THIS ONE as its a set start time of 12 - 3pm! I will bring all the materials need!

Only £5 each (retail up to £10 on Etsy!) you will go home with a hand made cup cosie which is great for yourself or as a gift for that tea or coffee lover in your life!

You can either book online by clicking here or you can book through Quill's Coffee Shop themselves & do not forget to have a shop around & stop by my little shop!

My shop :)

New design baby comforters!

New stock!

Baby hats & phone covers

Purses

Cable laptop covers