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Issue 32 August/September 2012
www.craftfocus.com
www.craftfocus.com
MAGAZINE
We love
WOOL!
A celebration of
knitting and crochet
Festive f lavours
We’ve got Christmas
Craft all wrapped-up
Plus
business advice, industry insights, new product
launches and your retail questions answered
CREATIVE REVIEW
Art materials showcased
Offi cial media partner for
Craft, Hobby + Stitch
International and
proud sponsor of the
New Product Showcase
Handy
work
The latest craft
tools revealed

August/September 2012 Issue 32
Managing Editor
Louise Prance
+44 (0)1376 535 611
Editor
Ella Johnston
+44 (0)7951 017 687
editor@craftfocus.com
Sales Manager
Mark White
+44 (0)1376 535 606
markw@craftfocus.com
Sales Executive
Tracy Voice
+44 (0)1376 535 618
tracyv@craftfocus.com
Production Manager
Scott Brothwell
Deputy Production Manager
Sarah Barnes
Senior Designer
Vicky O’Connor
Graphic Designers
Ami Williams, Samantha Lock,
Rebecca Clarke
+44 (0)1376 535 616
artwork@kdmediapublishing.com
Production Assistant
Charlotte Brown
Web Development Manager
Stuart Weatherley
Subscriptions
Alice Henson, Tammy Wright
+44 (0)1376 514 000
KD Media Publishing Limited
Broseley House, Newlands Drive
Witham, Essex, CM8 2UL, UK
www.craftfocus.com
Front Cover image:
Owl design taken from DMC Crochet
Leafl ets, www.dmccreative.co.uk.
ISSN 1758-0900
Craft Focus is solely owned, published and
designed by KD Media Publishing Limited.
Whilst every effort was made to ensure the
information in this magazine was correct at the
time of going to press, the publishers cannot
accept legal responsibility for any errors or
omissions, nor can they accept responsibility of
the standing of advertisers nor by the editorial
contributions. The views expressed do not
necessarily refl ect those of the publisher. Craft
Focus is published six times a year. Subscription
rates for overseas readers are £75 per annum
(incl. p+p), Cheques should be made out to
KD Media Publishing Limited and sent to
Craft Focus, Broseley House, Newlands Drive,
Witham, Essex, CM8 2UL, United Kingdom.
Craft Focus magazine is proud to be
associated with and supporters of:
contents
regulars
editor’s letter 5
A round up of what’s in this issue
news round up 7
Reporting the industry news and
events that are happening now
brand spanking new 15
The latest product launches
hand-made candle project 30
Maryann Morris of Handmade High Street shows
us how to make her gorgeous tea-cup candle
competition 34
Your chance to win a fabulous felting machine
bookshelf 40
We tell you all about the most exciting
craft-related book releases on the market
q&a – smart shop keeping – your
questions answered? 82
Industry expert Clare Rayner offers
advice and tips on your small retail queries
subscription offer 95
Register for your regular copy of Craft Focus
next issue 96
A preview of what’s in store for
October/November issue that
will be published on I October 2012
43
features
join the carnival 28
Felting phenomenon Gillian Harris of Gilliangladrag
talks about her new book Carnival of Felt
be(ad) inspired 33
Fab ideas from UK jewellery designer/makers
the perfect marriage 37
How you can make the most of the DIY bride
beyond the basic 46
Our round up of the coolest craft tools
strokes of genius 51
Showcasing inspirational art materials
woolen wonders 58
A soft celebration of knitting and crochet
season’s greetings 65
Part one of our fabulous line up of festive crafts
shows
Manchester Gift preview 23
A pre-show look at the north-west trade event,
plus we showcase some of the show’s exhibitors
Docrafts open day 24
Review of how the company
has reached out to its customers
Festival of quilts 24
A preview of a show that’s sure to inspire
ICHF events 27
A look at two hot consumer shows, Crafts
for Christmas and Woman’s Weekly Live!
taking place later this year
65
74
craftfocus 3

51
focus on
natural progression 43
A closer look at Naturaleigh’s new crafty product range
a soft centre 56
Step inside Gilliangladrag’s fabulous Fluffatorium
wizards from Oz 74
We talk to Australian papercraft company Kaisercraft
independent thinkers 76
Profiling Search Press and the secret behind its success
up and coming – Cheetah Crafts 98
How this new company is working hard to make life
easier for papercrafters and scrapbookers everywhere
business advice
crafting the future 81
How the CHA-UK are working to support you
federation of small business 85
John Walker, Chair of the FSB talks infrastructure
work it out 86
Part two of our workshop advice special
word on the web 88
Craft Focus web gurus Loud and Clear on choosing
between shop window and ecommerce options
new EU cookie rules 91
Part one of David Mackley’s focus on this new legislation
4 craftfocus
Suppliers of Card Making, Scrapbooking, Craft and Bridal Supplies
Suppliers of
Craft and Bridal Supplies
Card Making
Scrapbooking
Card Embellishments
Floral Products
sales@e-crafts.co.uk | 01384 230000

The Kunin Group
A most innovative collection
of environmentally friendly
craft felt.
Just launched - exciting
new Fanci felt range for
use in many projects.
Available in cut rectangles
and bolts.
For further information about Kunin Craft Felt
please contact
Fashion Futures Ltd, Units 1 and 2 Mace Industrial
Estate, Ashford, Kent TN24 8EP.
fashion.futures@btconnect.com
Tel +44 (0) 1233 625227. Fax +44 (0) 1233 612352
Bringing you great ideas
Welcome to this issue – as usual it is
packed with new products, creative
inspiration and practical advice.
Christmas starts early in retail and
we’re feeling very festive here at Craft Focus
towers. We’ve put together a bumper crop of
fantastic Christmas crafts in our five-page special
starting on page 65. In fact we’ve got so much
that we couldn’t fit all of it into this issue, so
be sure to look out for our October/November
issue for yet more brilliant yuletide ideas.
As you know we like to inspire you and offer you some hints and tips
on how you can make the most of your offering. So we’ve spoken to
some cutting edge UK jewellery designers to bring you the latest insights
into trends within this area and we’ve also looked into how you can take
advantage of the lucrative wedding market.
Plus we have something really special for knitters and crochet fans.
Our four-page feature showcases some gorgeous yarns and wonderful
products that will appeal to experienced practitioners and novices alike.
You may not know this but in my spare time I’m also an artist, so
putting together our feature on arts materials really got me excited.
Also, I didn’t realise how many useful bits of craft equipment I needed to
help with my artistic practice. Turn to pages 46 and 51 and take a look at
the wealth of innovative arts and crafts products on offer.
We take your business very seriously and Craft Focus is here to
champion and help you as the retailer, that’s why we’ve teamed up with
the Craft and Hobby Association in the UK. This organisation works
for you to support your business as a craft retailer, offering you advice,
discounts and hopefully making you feel part of a wider craft community.
Find out more about the body on page 81.
Plus we’ve picked the brains of our resident web gurus Loud and
Clear, and asked them to spell out the decision making process behind
setting up a commercial website, revealing the options available in a bid
to save you time and hopefully some money! And, as usual, our retail
champion Clare Rayner is answering your questions on page 82.
Remember, this is your magazine, so please don’t hesitate to get in
touch and tell me about the business and creative issues that concern
you. I really want to hear from you.
Enjoy the issue
Ella
Ella Johnston
Editor
craftfocus 5

news round-up
Get the inside track on the issues facing small business retailers,
plus the latest information on what’s happening in our sector…
More creative options for kids
Kid’s crafts is an ever expanding area, with a number
of exciting products popping up all the time. Now
Seedling, a New Zealand children’s kits company, is
trading in the UK.
The Seedling collection includes distinctive craft kits
that have been designed to help children to develop
basic skills. The range encompasses a variety of interests
and abilities, including drawing, gardening, sewing,
science, imaginative play, painting, model building.
The kits are contemporary with a traditional edge.
Seedling hope the products will allow children to
explore their imaginations, while giving them the
opportunity to spend quality time with the family,
helping to improve communication skills, build
relationships and give children confidence in their own initiative.
For more information visit www.asobi.co.uk/seedling.
Jane wraps up
Twitter is proving
to be an effective
promotional tool
within the creative and
retail community, with
small businesses being
celebrated and promoted on the social networking site.
British ribbon designer, wholesaler, ‘international wrapologist’, stylist and blogger
Jane Means has been awarded the June Twittter #WOW award from Jacqueline Gold
(CEO of Ann Summers and Knickerbox).
Every Wednesday, Gold invites female business owners to tweet her their business and
chooses her favourite three to become #WOW (Women on Wednesday) winners on
her @jacqueline_gold Twitter page.
The #WOW award was created by Gold so that she could use her
reach and influence to promote and champion other women in business.
Known as the ‘Gift Wrap Guru’ Jane Means’ portfolio includes services
for Harrods, House of Fraser, Lakeland, The Queen Elizabeth Foundation,
Meadowhall, W.H.Smith, O2, Philips, Marks & Spencer, American Express,
Crabtree and Evelyn, NSPCC and Claridges.
We do like Mondays
Online retailers take note, Monday is the busiest day of the week for shopping via mobiles, according
to research released by online retailer Play.com.
Between 7-8am on Mondays, browsing sees its biggest surge as consumers search for new items
from the comfort of their bed or during the early morning commute. The e-tailer claims to see sales volumes
increase between 8-10pm every Monday as consumers beat the Monday blues with retail therapy.
Mobile shopping is a growing sector. New research from IMRG Capgemini’s Quarterly Benchmarking
Index found that transactions via mobile accounted for 8.2 per cent of all online trading during the first
quarter of 2012 – that’s a 2,000 per cent increase in two years. For more about the benefits of Mobile
retailing, see our Q&A section on page 82.
Suse Jepson
Kraftyhands launch
new trade website
Kraftyhands has announced the re-launch
of the wholesale arm of its business. After a
year’s hiatus spent concentrating on building its
brand and extending its range of products, the
company has also launched its new website –
www.kraftytrade.co.uk – exclusively for trade
customers. Trade Account Manager, Suse Jepson
says: “The new website will make ordering so
simple for customers and there is a wide range
of products and starter packs available for
customers who haven’t stocked Kraftyhands
products before.”
Kraftyhands products include seasonal ranges
for Christmas, ranges for women, men and
children including CD Roms, cardmaking sets
and a variety of die-cut card toppers for all ages
and occasions. These ranges are being added
to on almost a monthly basis so there is always
something fresh and new to look for.
For further information on Kraftyhands
products and trade accounts please contact
Suse Jepson on T: +44 (0)7776 234012,
E: suse@kraftyhands.co.uk.
craftfocus 7
news&events

news round-up
Get networking
with the FSB
The Federation of Small
Businesses (FSB) is widening
its online remit with the
launch of a new app on its
Facebook page. The app
allows small businesses to
enter their details, upload
photos and videos and share
business tips to promote
their business. Firms can
then share the post and get
friends to vote for them to
become a featured business
and get to the top of the leader board.
To be involved to go the FSB Facebook page at
W: www.facebook.com/FederationOfSmallBusinesses
Magazine announces
charity campaign
and competition
Simply Knitting has launched
a new charity campaign and is
calling on knitters to get involved.
The magazine, along with its sister
publication The Knitter, aims to
raise £10,000 for Refuge.
Refuge helps women and families
who experience domestic violence to
rebuild their lives. As well as providing
emergency accommodation through its network
of ‘safe houses’, Refuge offers emotional and
practical support, legal expertise and services
which can be accessed in the community.
The magazine is asking readers to make
teddies for children staying at the refuge. Knitters
can a download a teddy design and a selection
of clothes, taken from Val Pierce’s new book
Little Bears to Knit & Crochet. The design can be
downloaded from justgiving.com/KnitforRefuge in return for a small donation.
The magazine is also launching a design competition as part of its
campaign, with some fantastic prizes for the winner. Entrants are asked
to try their hand at designing their own blanket square, which may feature
in Simply Knitting and be added to its special Refuge designer blanket.
Winners will be invited to join the Simply Knitting team at The Knitting &
Stitching Show at London’s Alexandra Palace in October. Knitters can use
any technique or style of knitting, but the finished result must measure
15cm by 15cm and be knitted in a DK yarn.
For more information visit the Simply Knitting website,
W: www.simplyknitting.co.uk. To find out more about how Refuge has
helped thousands of families in the UK, visit W: www.refuge.org.uk.
8 craftfocus
Hantex builds business
Hantex has become the first UK wholesaler for Sizzix’s
quilting range. Sizzix is launching a range of quilting
products for its die cutting range.
As well as Hantex stocking and distributing Sizzix’s quilting
and sewing range, the companies will also work to promote
one another with each other. Hantex will promote Sizzix’s
die cutters, while Sizzix will show how Hantex fabrics and
felts can be used as mediums for die cutting.
The fabric company have already put this collaboration
into action by allowing customers to try out the latest
Sizzix Big Shot and Big Shot Pro die cutting machines
at one of its open days.
Hantex has been touring the UK with its events, where
the company invites valued customers to view the very latest
products in its ranges, including new fabric and yarn collections,
the latest embellishments and buttons, notions, waddings and
interfacings, woolfelt, ribbons, ric-rac and trim. There are also
opportunities to buy fabric packs for sale on the day. The next
event takes place at the Cairn Hotel in Harrogate, North
Yorkshire on 18–19 August 2012.
Email sales@hantex.co.uk for more details and further dates.

www.plasti-kote.com
Tel:01223 836400
- -

Arts and crafts initiative awarded
Husqvarna Viking
was named overall
winner in the Arts
and Business Award
category of Business
in the Community’s
annual Awards for
Excellence, illustrating
the growing recognition
of the craft industry
within the business
community.
Now in its 15th year, the Business in the Community’s Awards for
Excellence celebrates the positive role that business plays in society.
Husqvarna Viking won the award for its partnership initiative with Craftspace.
The partnership was set up to help community-based arts and crafts
projects across the country that have aimed to develop the capacity and
aspirations of its employees, artists and diverse communities.
The award win was recognised by judges for offering new links with
artists, businesses and also greater friendships within the wider community.
All in all, Husqvarna Viking and Craftspace have run six major projects and
during this time it has been reported that all staff members have gained
confidence, greater creativity and new skills.
Mike Harris from Husqvarna Viking said: “It is tremendously exciting
that the hard work and commitment of our team has been recognised
with this award. Working with such diverse communities has had a
profound impact throughout our company. We have made new friends
and above all have had fun!”
Les Ratcliffe, Head of Community Relations, Corporate Governance
and Social Responsibility at Jaguar Land Rover and chair of the Awards for
Excellence judging panel, said: “This partnership exemplifies how a company
can successfully embed an arts and community partnership into their entire
business model. The relationship between Husqvarna
Viking, Craftspace and the wider community forms a
complete cycle with participants and artists feeding back
directly to the business, R&D and sales.”
For full details and case studies of all the 2012 Awards
for Excellence winners visit W: www.bitc.org.uk/awards.
Simplicity launch new look website
The Simplicity/New Look pattern website has had a makeover,
making it easier to browse and buy patterns, Simplicity
machines and accessories as well as find helpful sewing tips and
techniques. The website also includes Burda patterns plus the
Simplicity craft range of EZ quilting tools and knitting accessories
The new look site has many helpful features including
illustrative line drawings to accompany the pattens plus a list of
recommended fabrics and the quantities needed. Of course, if
you already know the pattern number you want, just use the
quick search option at the top of the page and go straight to
your chosen design.
But the site is not all about the patterns and products. It also
includes a wealth of fabulous helpful advice – from how-to
projects to get you sewing immediately in the Classroom section
to useful advice on getting started with helpful guidelines on
haby, sewing machines and more. Plus there’s info on how to
choose the right size pattern and tips on pattern terminology.
A separate Fit Help section provides useful advice on
measuring and choosing pattern sizes as well as links to
measurement charts and a printable leaflet on getting the
perfect fit – a great resource to recommend to customers.
Simplicity, W: www.simplicitynewlook.com
New retail display
directory out now!
The Shop and Display Equipment Association
(SDEA) has published its latest guide to retail
display. From the smallest hook to a complete
store fit, the SDEA Directory is invaluable for
sourcing all manner of shopfittings, display, PoS,
lighting, signage and visual merchandising. Full
of the latest display ideas, it is conveniently
organised into sections that lead you quickly and
easily to specialist suppliers by company, product,
trade name, location, service or retail trade.
To order call T: +44 (0)1883 348911.
craftfocus 11
news&events

news round-up
Cupcakecrafting add new site
into the mix
Online craft retailer Cupcakecrafting.co.uk
has a new look logo and a brand new
user-friendly website that the company
hopes will become a “one stop shop”,
allowing visitors to buy all their crafting
materials simply and cost effectively.
One of the most exciting new features on
the website is the exclusive Bundle ‘n’ Buy
which allows the customer to pick and mix
a whole host of papers and cardboard in
different colours and sizes to suit their
crafting needs. Shoppers can also become
a Cupcakecrafting Club Member which
entitles them to a 10 per cent discount off
every item for one whole year. It costs just
£10 to join and includes a free gift.
The checkout process has been streamlined
so that it’s all on one page, easy to use and
with a choice of payment methods. For more
information visit www.cupcakecrafting.co.uk.
A crafty retreat
We know crafters are always on the look-out to learn
new skills – now they can do it in luxury.
Set on the foothills of Dartmoor National Park, The Manor
House and Ashbury Hotels provide a unique Craft Centre. The
Centre offers 17 tutored crafts including pottery, glass engraving,
enamelling, personalised hot press printing and woodwork.
The centre’s experienced tutors introduce each course
with a comprehensive talk. To increase appreciation of the
techniques required, they have a stock of examples for all crafts
and continued support from the tutors. The atmosphere in the
centre is relaxed and friendly, and since opening has received
praise from guests, who have enjoyed the diverse range of
crafts on offer. And if that’s not enough there’s also a pool
to wind down in after a day’s making. For more information
and to book visit W: www.manorhousehotel.co.uk.
12 craftfocus
Tweet all about it
A recent survey has revealed the social media behaviour
habits of businesses worldwide, with some particular insights
in to British business practice.
Key fi ndings included that six out of ten British companies are
present on Facebook and seven out of ten British companies
answer client questions and complaints via social media. The
survey also revealed that while 61 per cent of Brit organisations
use Facebook, 44 per cent have a Twitter account, 30 per cent are
present on LinkedIn and 23 per cent use YouTube.
The survey was conducted by InSites Consulting, together with
sample and data collection partner SSI and the translation agency
No Problem. A total of 1,222 top managers from companies in the US, Great Britain,
the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and France were interviewed.
However, although there is high social media usage in British companies, the social media
approach too often remains disconnected from general company management. The survey
showed that while companies fi nd it very important to be present on social network sites, this
does not always mean their method is well thought-out. A mere 10 per cent of the companies
are integrating their social media approach into their overall corporate strategy. “A huge
number of companies feel the external pressure to be present on social media. Unfortunately
this only too frequently results in corporate pages where nothing is really happening. So they
create enthusiasm in their customers which in the end turns into disappointment,” states
Professor Steven Van Belleghem, partner at the research agency InSites Consulting.
Half of the British companies that are using social media listen to what consumers say about
them via these sites. “Social media make conversations between consumers very transparent.
It is the fi rst time that a company can quite easily discover what people are saying about its
products and services. An increasingly growing group is strongly interested (with good reason)
in this real-time feedback from the market,” declares Van Belleghem.
The survey also discovered a wider digital gap in the business world as companies that are
already investing new media will do so even more in the future while other organisations have
no intention of making any future investment. “Even though there is a clear digital evolution
among clients, there are still companies that are not convinced that they too have to go with
the evolution. The risk for these companies is that, in a rather short term, they will miss out on
an important target group,” concludes Van Belleghem.

UK distributor of the
Bejeweler ® Pro UK
Hotfix Applicator. Applies
hotfix crystals instantly to
nearly any surface. Volume
discount available to trade,
please contact for pricing.
t: 0161 7489981
e: info@scattercrystals.co.uk
w: www.scattercrystals.co.uk

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PHOTOS OF RELATIVES IN UNIFORM - OR CURRENT SERVING
PERSONNEL - OR EVEN YOUR JUBILEE AND OLYMPIC
MEMORIES . ALL SIZES AVAILABLE FROM A5 INDEX CARD KIT
TO 12X12 ALBUMS AND PAGES FOR MANY SERVICES.
01273 813396
WWW.UNIFORMMEMORIES.CO.UK
UNIFORMMEMORIES@HOTMAIL.CO.UK

We give you the low down on the latest crafty products available right now…
brand spanking new
DMC Creative World Ltd.
Product: DMC Crochet Leaflets
Contact: T: +44 (0)116 275 4000, E: sales@dmccreative.co.uk, W: www.dmccreative.co.uk
Price: RRP £2.50 per pattern
Specification: 16 new crochet patterns covering ladies fashion, children and baby designs,
homeware and amigurumi characters. Colourful, modern patterns with a wide
appeal.
Retailer Benefits: All DMC crochet patterns use and recommend DMC Petra and Natura 100
per cent cotton yarn so are an ideal sales tool to encourage people to buy the yarn.
Other information: A custom built crochet unit is available for retailers to store the DMC yarns.
Luca-S Cross Stitch
Colouricious
Product: Beetle & Sedan counted cross stitch kits
Contact: T: +44 (0)1263 515267 E: salesteam@solocrafts.com.
W: www.solocrafts.com
Price: Both RRP £21.99
Specification: Stitched on16 count Zweigart Aida fabric and using Anchor
stranded cotton threads. Beautifully presented kits with
pre-sorted threads wound on to floss cards with clearly
marked colour symbols.
Retailer Benefits: Excellent packaging with large picture of finished project
Other Information: Part of the newly introduced Luca-S collection from SoloCrafts.
Product: Colouricious Gift Sets – wooden printing blocks
Contact: E: colouricious@me.com
Price: RRP £35
Specification: Each gift set has a selection of Indian hand carved wooden stamps
that are ideal for a variety of craft projects such as fabric design,
paper printing and impressing into clay.
Retailer Benefits: Presented in stunning handmade boxes.
Other Information: Suitable for all age ranges.
Simplicity
Product: Deluxe Bias Tape & Piping Cord Maker
Contact: T: +44 (0)800 214455, E: uk.sales@btctrim.co.uk
Price: £59.58 trade, RRP £129.99
Specification: Bias Tape Maker comes with 1” single fold bias tip and 1/8” piping cord tip and iron
cover for quick and simple production in the customer’s own fabric.
Retailer Benefits: This product is the successor to the incredibly successful Bias Tape Maker, increasing
average transaction value with higher price point craft sales. The product has a
range of bias tape tips and piping cord accessories available, as well as consumable piping cords and
fusible film that will bring the customer back into store again and again. The product is totally unique to the
market and creates incremental sales at the same time as addressing the growing trend in making and
customising interiors and fashion items in the home.
Other Information: The range is part of the Simplicity machines range available from Groves & Banks and Jaytrim.
craftfocus 15
new products

Jacquard Products
16 craftfocus
RIOLIS
Product: RIOLIS PREMIUM cross stitch kit code R100/033
Contact: T: +44(0)1263 515267 E: salesteam@solocrafts.com. W: www.solocrafts.com
Price: RRP £84.99
Specification: From the RIOLIS PREMIUM collection of counted cross stitch kits stitched on
14 count Zweigart white Aida fabric and using Anchor floss. Kits contain
pre-sorted threads with separate colour symbols and thread cards with each
colour clearly marked. Crystal-clear full colour charts are also included. The
instructions are written in six languages. Finished size is 30 x 40cm.
Retailer Benefits: Beautifully presented boxed kits make fabulous gifts.
Other Information: Packaging shows other kits from the PREMIUM collection on reverse.
Product: Colour Magnet
Contact: Available from Art Van Go, T: +44 (0)1438 814946, E: art@artvango.co.uk
Price: The 473ml jar is £14.95 RRP, the 45ml pen and is £5.95 RRP
Specification: New from Jacquard – the leading manufacturer of quality textile, mixed
media and craft products – Colour Magnet is for use with most types of
fabric dyes. Color Magnet magically attracts more dye wherever it is on
the fabric to create a two-tone effect in just one simple dye-bath. Color
Magnet doesn’t stiffen the fabric, so the two-toned result is perfectly
soft. Color Magnet for screenprinting is a thicker formula for stenciling
stamping and printing. Color Magnet liquid formula for writing,
drawing, stenciling and stamping is presented in a convenient 45ml pen.
Retailer Benefits: The simple process makes customising and ‘upcycling’ clothing so easy.
Ideal for creating unique and individual t-shirts. Makes dyeing even more
exciting and promotes sales of dyes, dye sundries and fabrics.
Craftime Ltd
Product: Craftime Additions
Contact: T +44 (0)115 951 9827, E: sales@craftime.co.uk
Price: RRP £2.99
Specification: A colourful collection of plastic, wool and felt elements that are ideal for
jewellery making, and make great embellishments for craft projects including
card making and scrap booking. They can also be used for sewing projects.
Retailer Benefits: The USP of this range is that it is extremely versatatile and targets a range of
different crafters including; jewellery makers, papercrafters, card makers,
scrapbookers and sewers. Available in a range of bright vibrant colours.
Antex Craft
Product: Fire Writer PYROGRAPHY KIT
Contact: Antex Craft, T: +44 (0)1822 613728, E: deborah@antexcraft.com,
W: www.antexcraft.com
Price: RRP £162
Specification: The professional pyrography unit is easy to use and is temperature adjustable up to
650C. Includes slim pyrography pen with choice of tips and pen clips and has a 40W
output.
Retailer Benefits: The slim pen is comfortable to use and features a removable plug and easy-tochange
tips. Users can work with its own pre-fabricated tips or use one of the five
different gauge nickel chrom wires to make their own shaped tips. Fire Writer splitter
is available separately to allow the artist to switch between two pens with different tips.

The Viking Loom Ltd
22 High Petergate, York YO1 7EH
New exclusive printed
tapestry kits.
For embroidery, a stunning
range of printed table cloths
and runners in a variety of
designs and sizes.
Pretty cross stitch kits and
‘Catherine’ pincushion kit back in
stock with improved
printed design.
A vast range of glass beads from
the Czech Republic along with
top quality plated
jewellery fi ndings.
Come and have a look - we
guarantee you will be amazed.
01904 620587
www.vikingloom.co.uk
accounts@vikingloom.co.uk

Creative Beadcraft
Product: Indian glass beads
Contact: T: +44 (0)1494 786924, E: beads@creativebeadcraft.co.uk,
W: www.creativebeadcraft.co.uk
Price: Available as part of an extensive Starter Selection range, priced at £46.54
excluding VAT, for approved trade customers.
Specification: High quality handmade glass lamp beads, available in five designs including
silver-foiled, teardrop frosted beads and gorgeous flower beads. Each design
comes in a range of shapes and colours. Sizes range from 12mm rounds to
27mm oval flower beads.
Retailer benefits: A selection of these bright patterned beads adds impact to a range of plain beads in a display. Beaders need only use
a few of these beautiful handmade beads to create stylish necklaces, bracelets and earrings. They mix beautifully with
transparent, frosted and lustre glass Indian beads which are available loose, in retail ready packs or on strings. Other
new additions to the range of Indian beads are brushed silver metal beads and bright enamelled metal beads.
Other information: The glass lamp beads are available loose or in bar-coded branded or unbranded retail ready packs. Each Starter
Selection contains 25 products, with three retail ready packs of each product.
Boye
Design Works Crafts
Product: Tobin line “Born to be Wild” nursery set
Contact: T: +44(0)1263 515267, E: salesteam@solocrafts.com, W: www.solocrafts.com
Price: Sampler T21760 RRP £21.99; Pair of Bibs T21759 RRP £21.99; Quilt T21758 RRP
£44.99
Specification: The counted cross-stitch sampler is stitched on 14 count Aida fabric and is
supplied with pre-sorted stranded cotton threads. Finished size 11” x14”; The bibs
and quilt have the designs pre-stamped ready for cross stitching. The bibs measure
12 x 8 inches and the quilt measures 34” x 43”
Retailer Benefits: New additions to the fast selling Tobin Baby line from Design Works
Product: Boye I Taught Myself to Knit / Crochet Kits
Contact: Simplicity UK, T: +44 (0)800 214455, E: uk.sales@btctrim.co.uk
Price: £5.50 trade and RRP £14.99
Specification: Each item includes an easy to follow, teach yourself book, needles, accessories and
instructional DVD.
Retailer Benefits: The ‘I Taught Myself to Knit’ and ‘I Taught Myself to Crochet’ guides are all-in- one
solutions to enable consumers to learn these popular skills. The pack includes an
instructional DVD and a step-by-step guide to knitting and crochet respectively. The
packs also contain needles / hooks and the relevant accessories required. The items
make a great gift and a perfect introduction to these hobbies.
Other Information: The range is from Boye, one of the market leading knitting and crochet brands in the
US and part of an exciting new range available from the Simplicity Creative Group.
EQS
Product: Sew Simple sew-in magnets
Contact: T: +44 (0)116 271 0033, E: enquiries@eqsuk.com,
W: www.trade.eqsuk.com
Price: £3.75 a pack of two for the small size,
£3.99 per pack of the larger size.
Specification: The Sew Simple magnets comprise a pair of magnets, covered in
transparent PVC, which can be easily sewn into your fabric without
the need to punch or cut holes into it. Alternative closure magnets
often cause rips in the material and then detach from the item. This
can be avoided by using the new Sew Simple sew-in magnets. The items come in two sizes: 14mm and 18mm.
They are packaged two pairs in one bag.
Retailer Benefits: EQS, the leading wholesaler and distributor for textile craft products, is introducing a brand-new product for
bag-makers, sewers and all those who need a “closure” for their projects.
craftfocus 19
new products

STAEDTLER
Product: Two new FIMO ‘Kits for Kids’ designs – Fairy and Knights.
Contact: T: +44 (0)1656 778668, W: www.staedtler.co.uk
Price: RRP £5.95
Specification: Perfect for creative stocking fillers, these appealing new sets join the 10 existing designs.
Each kit comprises four half blocks of FIMO soft and opens out to reveal detailed,
step-by-step instructions on how to make the models shown on the front of the pack.
Retailer Benefits: An ideal introduction for children to the creative world of FIMO Soft polymer modelling
clay. The range is attractively presented with large colourful images of the finished items
and clear graphics to indicate that step-by-step instructions are included. The full FIMO
Soft Kits for Kids collection now comprises bears, farm animals, fairy, funny garden, knights,
monsters, space, pets, princess, robots, unicorn and zoo.
Entaco
20 craftfocus
Mill Hill Beads/Hantex
Product: Mill Hill Snow Crystals
Contact: Distributed in the UK by Hantex Ltd T: +44 (0)844 879 4719, E: sales@hantex.co.uk,
W: www.hantex.co.uk
Price: £3.15
Specification: Kit includes Mill Hill glass beads, Mill Hill charm, 14 count perforated paper, floss, needles
and full instructions.
Retailer Benefits: Available with display box or sold as single items – perfect point of sale purchase in the
Christmas run up period
Other information: The full range of Mill Hill Beads are distributed in the UK by Hantex Ltd
Product: John James plastic needles
Contact: T: +44 (0)1527 830940
Price: TBC
Specification: The John James plastic needle is designed specifically for children to use; it has a large eye for
easy threading and a blunt point to protect small fingers. John James is introducing four bright
colourful shades across two different packs: JJ146BR contains one red needle and one royal blue
needle and JJ147PG contains one bright pink needle and one lime green needle all of which
children will love to be seen using.
Retailer Benefits: The John James plastic needle is packed 10 cards per box.
Letraset
Product ProMarker Colour-Blend 3 Sets
Contact: T: +44 (0)1233 624421, E: enquiries@letraset.com
Price: £5.99 (inc VAT)
Specification: Sets of three related ProMarker colours, for easy blending and
shading. There are 12 different colour sets available: red, brown,
orange, yellow, green, turquoise, cyan, blue, indigo, violet, magenta
and pink.
Retailer Benefits: Attractively packaged and easy to merchandise, these sets are
an accessible starting point for beginners and make recommending
colours to your customers easy.
Other information: ProMarker Colour-Blend 3 Sets can be purchased alongside the new
ProMarker Collector’s Sets without duplication, offering retailers a
balanced and logical way to stock ProMarker sets.

THE THREAD MILL
Supplying organised thread cards for cross
stitch, to your personal specifi cations.
ONLY top
Quality thread is
used from:
Ancor
DMC
Madeira
Orders are welcome for quantities from 25 cards.
Cards can be printed with colour numbers, symbols to
match patterns and logos
Or do you prefer twists?
For more information or a quote,
call Tony on 01924 420882
thethreadmill@btconnect.com

out and about
Check out our previews and reviews
of the latest industry shows and events
EVENT PREVIEW:
HEAD TO MANCHESTER FOR GIFTS GALORE
Looking for ideas to pep up your gift offering? Then hit the
north and take a trip to the Manchester for some inspiration.
The Manchester Gift Show in September will be over 50 per cent
larger than last year’s launch event. The trade only show promises to
build on its 2011 success and will be taking place at EventCity. The
north-west venue is a brand new exhibition complex which offers
easy access by road, rail or air, free WIFI and an enormous amount of
dedicated free parking directly outside the entrance.
It is hoped that the new location will make the show unique and
visitors will be entertained by so many exciting activities and glamorous
bars, cafes and international restaurants to choose from. It is also handy
for those visitors travelling from further a-field as they will have more
opportunities to enjoy themselves before and after the show.
Show visitors will have the opportunity to see a very broad
range of products covering giftware, British handmade crafts, textiles,
ceramics, glassware, handmade fragrance gifts and cosmetics, greetings
cards, children’s toys and accessories, home furnishings, fashion
accessories and much more.
Show organisers are particularly excited about the show’s new
British designer-maker area, featuring exceptional hand crafted
products. The will also be a live demonstration studio where visitors
will be able to experience the skill and creativity used to create some
of the items available at the show, plus some professional workshops
by acclaimed artisans. A full schedule of events will be published on
the Manchester Gift Show website just before the show.
Manchester Gift Show
9 th – 11 th September 2012
W: www.manchestergiftshow.com
Facebook / Twitter pages: www.facebook.com/manchestershow,
www.twitter.com/Mcr_Gift_Show
MANCHESTER GIFT SHOW EXHIBITORS
Gift Time Products
Gift Time Products have a range of traditional
style alarm clocks - with a twist. Instead of the
double bell alarm ‘ringing’, the clocks feature
a realistic sound of the animal or transport
depicted. There are eight different animal
models and five transport clocks and also an
amazingly loud Skull & Crossbones model.
With a trade price from just £6.75, each comes in a superb display
gift box and is complete with three batteries. There is even a test
button accessible from the back of each box to hear the sound.
The Bug Store (also part of Gift Time Products) are really buzzing
with its fun and fast motorised Busy Bugs. There are four models
available – Ladybird, Cockroach, Spider (pictured), and Longicorn.
All are supplied on a bar-coded euro-hook blister card and come
complete with a replaceable button cell battery. The adjustable
legs make this product stand out from other, similar, models as
you can change the direction of travel - the company claim that
the products will provide many hours of fun
The company will be on Stand C70 at Manchester Gift Fair.
Gift Time Products, T: +44 (0)118 947 1405,
E: sales@gift-time-products.co.uk, W: www.gift-time-products.co.uk
Fibrespace
Fibrespace is founded by textile designer
Beth Connors who designs and makes
contemporary little kits from the studio
at the bottom of her garden, based in the
historic spa town of Harrogate in North
Yorkshire. Connor’s cute brooch and key
ring kits are packaged in pretty, yet sturdy tins that are easy to display.
The kits themselves are simple to make and have a charming tactile
quality. All products are produced using lovingly sourced materials –
check out her new designs at the show.
Fibrespace, W: www.notonthehighstreet.com/fibrespace
Sepia
Sepia handmake high quality fragrance
gifts designed to retail under £5. The
company does not have a minimum
order and its products include soaps,
bath salts, shower gels, pot pourri.
Sepia, T: +44 (0)1671 820266,
E: sepia@talktalk.net
craftfocus 23
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show news

show news and events
EVENT REVIEW: DOCRAFTS OPEN DAY
More and more trade
suppliers are getting out
and meeting their trade
customer base with a
number of informative
open days.
Docrafts recently
hosted its 2012 Open
Day Event and reported
it to be a resounding
success. Visitors from
across the UK and
Ireland (as well as far
afield as Russia, Bulgaria
and Portugal) were delighted with
the range of activities, information and advice on offer.
The Docrafts Open Day has quickly become an integral part of
the Docrafts calendar, offering great special offers and incentives for
attendees along with the opportunity to view new and forthcoming
products long before they are due in stores, including top brands
Me to You, Forever Friends and Boofle, plus a chance to put some
hot-new Xcut tools to the test before they hit the shelves. Visitors
also benefited from product demonstrations and advice from
members of the Docrafts team.
Mathew Hill of Mountain Ash Crafts commented: “We have
attended the Docrafts open day event for the last three years,
and we always enjoy the hospitality and food. This years event
was bigger than previous years and the addition of information
areas especially for social media was very useful. More than just
placing orders the event was an opportunity for us to share
ideas and feedback directly with our rep and other members of
the Docrafts staff.”
Docrafts, W: www.docrafts.biz
24 craftfocus
EVENT PREVIEW:
THE FESTIVAL OF QUILTS
Haberdasherers and textile retailers in search of inspiration
should take some time out and have a look some of the
fabulous creations on display at The Festival of Quilts.
Organised with the support of the Quilters Guild of the British
Isles, the Festival celebrates its tenth show in 2012 and now attracts
an audience of 32,000 people from all over the world.
As well as inspiration there will also be some 250-plus
companies selling unique supplies plus all the major sewing machine
manufacturers will be showcased. The show promises to bring the
visitor every quilting-related item they’ve ever dreamed of, so it
could give you some stock ideas.
There is also an immense programme of workshops,
masterclasses and lectures plus lots of networking opportunities
to meet the International artists, retailers, manufacturers, authors
and teachers the Festival brings together.
This year’s inspirational galleries come from leading UK
contemporary quilt maker Pauline Burbidge, who will show key
quilt examples spanning her 36-year career. Pauline’s quilts will
be loaned from museums in the UK and the USA, from private
collectors and from the artist herself, who will also be presenting
a new body of work.
The festival also plays host to the prestigious European
quilt exhibition – European Art Quilt VII – which debuts at the
Festival of Quilts before beginning its world tour. The event also
showcases Masters II; the finest work from 37 International quilt
‘Masters’ encompassing a range of fibre art techniques and styles,
from abstract to realistic.
The Festival of Quilts takes place at the NEC, Birmingham
(Halls 7, 8 & 9) from the 16th – 19th August.
Opening hours are 10am to 5.30pm (closes 5pm Sunday)
and tickets cost from £13 per adult in advance. Special discounts
apply for members of the Quilters Guild of the British Isles, plus
those who attend multiple days or in groups of ten or more.
The Festival of Quilts: T: +44 (0)20 8692 2299,
E: anna@twistedthread.com, W: www.twistedthread.com

2 nd & 3 rd September 2012
Dewars Centre, Perth, Scotland
Demonstrations throughout the day.
For show details please contact Yvonne on 07770 870093
WITH MORE COMPANIES STILL TO BE NAMED LATER FOR 2012!
This is a Trade only show - proof of trading will be required by new visitors for entry

EVENT NEWS: CREATIVE STITCHES
& HOBBYCRAFTS TO EXPAND
ICHF Events Ltd are expanding its highly successful Creative Stitches
& Hobbycrafts show to EventCity, Manchester for the first time.
The event, which will take place from the 13-15 September 2012,
will see a partnership with Woman’s Weekly, to create Woman’s
Weekly Live! The Creative Stitches & Hobbycrafts Show. ICHF
Events have previously worked with Woman’s Weekly on some
of their other highly successful shows including Cake International
– The Sugarcraft & Cake Decoration Show that takes place in
November at the NEC, Birmingham and has seen record
numbers of visitors from across the globe in recent years.
Visitors to Woman’s Weekly Live! The Creative Stitches &
Hobbycrafts Show can expect a host of features including:
• Over 125 exhibitors offering the very latest products, ideas
and innovations in the world of creative craft.
• A brand new display of stunning Masquerade Ball costumes that
will showcase the glitz and glamour of the silver screen.
• Woman’s Weekly Live! will host exciting features including live
demonstrations, workshops and fashion shows.
• The Knit ‘n’ Natter Lounge with fantastic projects that have been
designed especially for the show and experts on hand offering
their words of wisdom and answering any questions.
Woman’s Weekly Live! The Creative Stitches & Hobbycrafts Show
EventCity, Manchester, 13-15 September 2012, Open 9.30am – 5pm.
W: www.ichf.co.uk
EVENT PREVIEW:
FESTIVE FUN AT CRAFTS FOR
CHRISTMAS CONSUMER SHOW
Get into the seasonal spirit take a look at
seasonal trends and check out the competition
by visiting Crafts for Christmas, Hobbycrafts and
Art Materials Live! The show promises visitors everything you need
for a beautiful handmade Christmas, this is the perfect way to add
some sparkle to your customers’ Christmas this year.
The show offers a huge selection of handmade gifts and crafts from
hundreds of exhibitors. The brand new Graduate Area will bring
together an abundance of work from the very best of newly qualified
British designers and makers. The Prima Magazine Craft Theatre is a great
way to gain some market intelligence and see what crafty projects your
customers are into, while picking up some clever ideas along the way.
Hobbycrafts, the UK’s largest creative crafts show, will be bigger and
better than ever this year with over 200 exhibitors bringing the best of
the creative craft world together. Discover all the latest innovations and
supplies from the world of creative craft and speak personally to the
exhibitors. With everything from stamping, beading and jewellery making
to papercraft, cardmaking and calligraphy - you will find lots of ideas from
a range of sources. All visitors can enjoy a free programme of Quick &
Easy Workshops, Make & Take sessions, Talks and Demonstrations each
day of the show.
Get creative at the UK’s liveliest and biggest art materials show, Art
Materials Live where leading professional artists will be on hand to offer
the very latest in art supplies, ideas and innovations as well as their top
tips and advice for you to take in and pass on to your customer.
Visitors to the show can attend one of the pre-bookable hands-on
workshops organised by the Leisure Painter & The Artist Magazines, or
can vote for their favourite painting in the ‘Simply the Best’ competition.
Some of the best artists in the country will be demonstrating a variety of
techniques, showcasing a whole range of mediums, materials and subject
matter from which you can learn.
Crafts for Christmas, Hobbycrafts & Art Materials Live – three shows
for the price of one !
NEC Birmingham
8-11 November 2012, Open: 9.30-5.30pm (Sun 5pm)
TICKETS: Adults, £11 on door
(£9 advanced price when ordered by 5pm, Mon 5 November)
Two-day ticket: adults, £16 senior: £14
(advanced only – needs to be ordered by 5pm, Mon 5 November)
Buy tickets on-line, W: www.ichf.co.uk
Phone Ticket Hotline, T: +44 (0)1425 277988
craftfocus 27
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show news

join the carnival
With the arrival of her second felting book,
Carnival of Felting, Gilliangladrag’s Gillian Harris talks
about the publication and the building of her brand…
Last issue we reported on the launch of
Gillian Harris’ new release, Carnival of Felting.
The book, published by Collins & Brown,
contains loads of practical advice on all of the
different felting techniques, and is presented in
the Gilliangladrag trademark colourful style.
In the book Gillian often combines different
felting techniques for projects that are suitable
for both beginners and experienced makers.
Gillian will be selling signed copies to trade for
them to sell retail. Signed copies are available
online from Gilliangladrag Ltd wholesale.
We wanted to know more about Gillian’s
creative journey so we hooked up with the
felter who told us about her background, her
new book and her life as an author…
Tell me about your history
I come from a family with a background in
textiles and art, and I have always been a
“maker”. I vividly remember making a felt
mouse for my best friend when I was about
six. I adore collecting things that inspire me,
and I have a creative “stash” that will one day
be turned into something interesting and
unique. Weirdly I used to collect wool and
paint colour charts, so this was all inevitable
really! Professionally my background is in
graphic design, so I also design all of our
packaging, and our website too. I adore doing
geeky things like that, - and it’s nice to mix that
kind of creativity with all the woolly stuff I get
up to. I also love to paint, and play the piano,
violin and accordion.
Why felting? What do you like about it?
I adore felting as the possibilities are endless.
It’s a hugely forgiving medium, which lends
itself to… absolutely anything! I really enjoy
“painting” with wool, and then magically turning
my creations into something useful and/or
beautiful. Plus you need so little equipment to
make things with and anyone can do it. Young
28 craftfocus
or old, artistic or not. It’s a little labour
intensive but hugely rewarding.
What are the main sources of
inspiration behind your designs?
Inspirations for my designs come from all over
the place. I might be looking through a flower
seed catalogue or just out on a walk with the
dog. I get ideas popping into my mind all the
time. I have so many ideas that sometimes it’s
difficult to decide which ones to run with. I
actually woke up the other night having dreamt
about something that I might pursue!
How do you make the leap from maker
to author? And is it difficult for you to
outline your makes for publishing purposes?
For me it was a very natural thing.
The thing is I simply love writing and words
so I had no trouble at all writing about
what I love to do.
How do you approach creating a publication?
I have to think long and hard about the feel of
what I am producing, and make sure that it fits
in with the look and feel of what I do generally.
I also need to make sure that it appeals to
everyone else and is informative and inspiring.
At the end of the day I want to impart
information and be inspirational to others.
I put together outlines and ideas with the
publisher and develop them slowly to reach
the most favourable outcomes.
Talk me through the Carnival of Felting
concept... It looks like a seamless tie in with
your bright and colourful brand identity?
That was completely intentional. My publisher
and I wanted to ensure that “Carnival of
Felting” tied in with the look and feel of
Gilliangladrag. I’m really pleased with the
outcome and think we’ve achieved that.
The book is full of colourful projects that
are fun to make and inspirational to look at
and own, but it also caters for the novice
feltmaker and takes readers through simple
felting procedures as well as more advanced
projects. It’s a great all round book that covers
both wet felting and needle felting techniques,
so its appeal is wide. The way we’ve put the
book together is fresh and appealing and the
response has been fantastic. It’s proving to be
very popular with everyone that sees it.
You have a very strong look and feel to your
brand. How did you devise this and how
important is this playful look to you?
It is hugely important. It embodies everything
we stand for and the uniqueness of our
products . It was devised during many many

hours of my own design work - so it actually
comes from somewhere deep inside my brain!
I can’t explain what I like and what I don’t
like. It’s more of an instinct. I just know when
something is right and is “me”.
You also have very strong, distinctive product
names to complement your branding – how
did you come up with these?
I absolutely love thinking up the names for our
kits. I guess it comes from my love of writing
and words and generally being creative. I
sometimes spend hours thinking up the names.
I keep an inspirational list of future names too,
even before the kits are made! Again, they are
totally my own work and I try to make sure
they are as unique and quirky as possible.
Would you advise other creative companies
to use this approach to branding?
I would advise other companies to make sure
they have their own “look” and “feel”. By doing
something that is different to everyone else,
you can make your products stand out. It’s
too easy to copy other people’s ideas, and I
honestly believe that most people easily see
through that.
You’ve written two books, what did you
learn by creating the first book?
Gosh! Erm, I’m not sure really! I wrote the first
one in 2008, so things felt like they’d moved
on a bit in 2011/12. I think more people now
know what felting is, and are more familiar
with it, so maybe that changed the way I
approached the second book.
Do you have any future literary plans?
Indeed I do! Watch this space....
What is your favourite make from the book?
It’s got to be the felt chandelier. It was a
labour of love, but it has the “wow” factor
and is totally stunning - even if I do say so
myself! Everyone “oohs” and “aahs” when they
see it. I’ve had a lot of offers for the one I
made but I’d never part with it. It even got
photographed by the Sunday Telegraph! C
Further information
Gilliangladrag.
E: gill@gilliangladrag.co.uk
T: +44 (0)1306 898144
craftfocus 29
great ideas

eternal flame
Maryann Morris, founder of One to Pamper and
Colchester-based shop Handmade High Street,
shows us how to make a soy container candle
Step 1
Cover surfaces with old
newspaper to catch any
spilled or dripped wax.
Step 2
Now we start preparing
the wax. Measure out how
much you need, generally
we fill the container twice
with the wax. You need to
weigh this and then place
the double boiler on the
stove top. Switch hob on.
Step 3
Add your container wax
to the inner pouring pot
and make sure the water
outside the inner pouring
pot is not able to bubble
into the wax as it boils. You must never let your double boiler run dry or
leave it unattended.
Allow the wax to gently melt until it is completely liquefied and is heated to
approximately 70C-80C.
Step 4
Dip your wick in the
molten wax to coat it and
attach the sustainer with
pliers. Fix your sustainer
into the base of the
container using a glue gun.
Use a peg or wick tool to
hold the wick taut and
central in the container.
30 craftfocus
EQUIPMENT REQUIRED
Double boiler – large saucepan of water with a jug
or smaller saucepan sat in the water, thermometer,
soy wax, glass or metal candle container, wick and
sustainer, fragrance oil, metal stirrer, scales, kitchen
towel, heat proof trivet.
Remember that the pour pot, wax and container will
become hot enough to burn during this process. Never,
ever pour waste wax down the sink or you run the risk
of blocking your waste pipes and a hefty plumbing bill.
Step 5
At this point you can add your
fragrance oil. This should be
weighed and added at 10 per cent of the weight of the wax.
Stir gently for a few minutes to fully incorporate. Remove the
pour pot from the double boiler and stand on a heat proof
trivet. Wipe the outside of the pot quickly with a kitchen
towel to remove any condensation which might drip into
your candle.
Step 6
When your wax is at the
recommended pouring
temperature (65C), gently and slowly pour into your
container to the desired level. Remember to leave
enough space for the wick if your container has a lid.
Set unused wax to one side to top up your candle.
When your candle is fully set you might have some
contraction or dipping on the surface. Re-melt your reserved
wax until it is a few degrees hotter than your original pouring
temperature. Gently pour this wax onto the surface of your
candle until you match the original level. If your top up pour
is higher than the original pour you will have a ‘seam’ visible
through the glass. Pour waste wax into a suitable container
and wipe the inside of your pouring pot out with kitchen
towel to clean.
Allow candle to completely cool and then remove
your peg or wick tool. Trim the wick at the top of your
candle to half a centimetre in length.
Step 7
C
Follow safe burning
practices and enjoy
your handmade candle.
Candle maker extraordinaire, Maryann Morris is the owner of the innovative Colchester-based shop
Handmade High Street, which sells a unique, range of handmade items created by some of Britain’s
most talented artisans, visit www.handmadehighst.co.uk for more information. She also runs her own
online gifting enterprise One Stop to Pamper which can be found at www.onestoppampershop.co.uk.

eternal flame
Maryann Morris, founder of One to Pamper and
Colchester-based shop Handmade High Street,
shows us how to make a soy container candle
Step 1
Cover surfaces with old
newspaper to catch any
spilled or dripped wax.
Step 2
Now we start preparing
the wax. Measure out how
much you need, generally
we fill the container twice
with the wax. You need to
weigh this and then place
the double boiler on the
stove top. Switch hob on.
Step 3
Add your container wax
to the inner pouring pot
and make sure the water
outside the inner pouring
pot is not able to bubble
into the wax as it boils. You must never let your double boiler run dry or
leave it unattended.
Allow the wax to gently melt until it is completely liquefied and is heated to
approximately 70C-80C.
Step 4
Dip your wick in the
molten wax to coat it and
attach the sustainer with
pliers. Fix your sustainer
into the base of the
container using a glue gun.
Use a peg or wick tool to
hold the wick taut and
central in the container.
30 craftfocus
EQUIPMENT REQUIRED
Double boiler – large saucepan of water with a jug
or smaller saucepan sat in the water, thermometer,
soy wax, glass or metal candle container, wick and
sustainer, fragrance oil, metal stirrer, scales, kitchen
towel, heat proof trivet.
Remember that the pour pot, wax and container will
become hot enough to burn during this process. Never,
ever pour waste wax down the sink or you run the risk
of blocking your waste pipes and a hefty plumbing bill.
Step 5
At this point you can add your
fragrance oil. This should be
weighed and added at 10 per cent of the weight of the wax.
Stir gently for a few minutes to fully incorporate. Remove the
pour pot from the double boiler and stand on a heat proof
trivet. Wipe the outside of the pot quickly with a kitchen
towel to remove any condensation which might drip into
your candle.
Step 6
When your wax is at the
recommended pouring
temperature (65C), gently and slowly pour into your
container to the desired level. Remember to leave
enough space for the wick if your container has a lid.
Set unused wax to one side to top up your candle.
When your candle is fully set you might have some
contraction or dipping on the surface. Re-melt your reserved
wax until it is a few degrees hotter than your original pouring
temperature. Gently pour this wax onto the surface of your
candle until you match the original level. If your top up pour
is higher than the original pour you will have a ‘seam’ visible
through the glass. Pour waste wax into a suitable container
and wipe the inside of your pouring pot out with kitchen
towel to clean.
Allow candle to completely cool and then remove
your peg or wick tool. Trim the wick at the top of your
candle to half a centimetre in length.
Step 7
C
Follow safe burning
practices and enjoy
your handmade candle.
Candle maker extraordinaire, Maryann Morris is the owner of the innovative Colchester-based shop
Handmade High Street, which sells a unique, range of handmade items created by some of Britain’s
most talented artisans, visit www.handmadehighst.co.uk for more information. She also runs her own
online gifting enterprise One Stop to Pamper which can be found at www.onestoppampershop.co.uk.

e(ad) inspired
Thinking about your beading offering? Get some cutting edge ideas and some sparkling
inspiration with our round up of some the UK’s most creative beading practitioners
Last issue we looked at some gorgeous new beading products and upcoming
consumer trends. To inspire you even further we are showcasing some very
accomplished beaders who are setting high standards, inspiring their peers and
getting new makers excited about this wonderful craft. here they tell us about
themselves, current trends in beading and their particular practice…
ASTER SADLER
I’ve been creating jewellery for nearly
20 years, but fell in love with seed beads
around four years ago.
I enjoy using a variety of stitches
to design both modern and wearable
jewellery and beaded art. Stitches such
as herringbone and peyote are incredibly
versatile and lend themselves to flat,
tubular or three-dimensional pieces.
I love to look at how the fashion industry leads the way for trends in
accessories and how this influences the textures, shades and depths of
dimension in different items. The recent advances in both bead coating
techniques and shaping have allowed for more exploration in design and
I find that variations on the traditional round bead shape create a whole
new field of possibilities.
www.seedybeady.com
REBECCA HANDY
Even as a child I always had a love of making
jewellery. I’m now in my fifth year of business
as a jewellery designer. My favourite techniques
would have to be stringing and linking. These
relatively simple techniques should never be
underestimated and experimenting is the key!
I have a continual passion to explore and push
these techniques alongside others to create
new intricately made statement jewellery pieces.
I naturally lean towards muted colour tones and the beads I use are often
opaque with an interesting texture and pattern. I have always used gemstones
and prefer to call my work mixed media. I incorporate natural materials such as
wood and shell with my own fabric beads and polymer clay work.
In recent collections I’ve used developing techniques in relief work using
polymer clay. The tools I use for this work are indispensible and I couldn’t be
without my sketchbook, round nose and chain nose pliers.
I absolutely love using antique gold or brass findings. Antique findings in
general have increased greatly in popularity and readers of beading magazines
seem to be really inspired by Steam punk and the concept of ‘lost and found’.
There’s also a trend for Art Deco and Art Nouveau pieces. I have noticed
over time though that customers buy jewellery that is personal to them
rather than obviously fashionable.’’
www.rebeccahandy.co.uk
JOANNE TINLEY
I’m a jewellery designer and tutor based in Hampshire. I
work mainly in silver, 24k gold, gemstones and lampwork
beads. My favourite techniques tend to vary according to
what I’m working on and the latest materials I’ve bought!
If I’m working on a commission using an unusually cut
stone then stone setting is my favourite; if a new set of
lampwork beads has just been delivered then I can’t wait
to start working with them! I find great satisfaction in
the knowledge that I am using and passing on skills that
have been used for hundreds of years, and in finding
contemporary ways of using these traditional techniques.
Some of my work features Keum Boo, a traditional
Korean technique that literally translates as ‘attached gold’.
It fuses 24k gold foil with fine silver through a combination
of heat and pressure – the process is almost magical! It
is a beautiful way of adding a touch of warmth to silver
jewellery without breaking the bank. I am one of only a
handful of people in the UK teaching this technique.
Other trends that have become more popular are mixing
metals (especially non-precious metals such as copper and
brass), and combining them with fibres such as silk ribbons
or ribbons made from recycled saris, leather and cords.
Brighter colours are being seen in designs this year,
and designers (both jewellery makers and art bead
makers) are becoming more adventurous in their
mixing of these colours.
www.daisychainjewellery.co.uk. C
craftfocus 33
great ideas

★
34 craftfocus
★
★
Win!
★
★
A Simplicity
Felting Machine
Create fabulous felts with fantastic equipment
Simplicity is feeling very generous with a whole host of
great prizes for three lucky Craft Focus readers.
One very fortunate first prize winner will get
their hands on the following:
• Deluxe 12 Needle Felting Machine: RRP £299
• Deluxe extension table: RRP £25
• Replacement needles: RRP £20
• Felting project book: RRP £6
The 12-needle Simplicity Deluxe Felting / Embellishing
machine does not use thread, but punches and meshes the
fibres of two fabrics, as fine barbed needles snag and take
fibres from the top layer through to the reverse, thereby
creating a new textured surface. The machine is incredibly
safe, easy and fun to use and can transform old clothing
and fabric surfaces into works of art.
But even if you’re not lucky enough to win the first prize,
two runners up will receive a hand held felting machine
(RRP £119) with felting foam: (RRP £8.99).
The hand held machine is the little sister to the Deluxe
model. Whilst less powerful, it is the perfect solution to
smaller embellishing projects and gives consumers an
affordable entry into this crafting practice.
Simplicity is reviving the embellishing scene via the
use of uniquely portable hand-held machines, and its
larger Deluxe machine.
The Simplicity Creative Group is the umbrella brand for
a portfolio of famous craft companies, none more famous
than the eponymous Simplicity dress patterns. The other
brands such as Boye, EZ Quilting, Bondex and Wrights are
household names in the US and are being launched into
the UK this summer. With access to international licenses
such as Disney, Project Runway and Sewing for Dummies,
Simplicity is a one stop solution for your craft shop
requirements. C
For further information or a visit from a Simplicity rep,
please contact the company on 0800 214 455.
HOW TO ENTER
To enter the competition, simply go to
www.craftfocus.com, fill in your details
and answer the following question. Closing
date for entries is 30 th September, 2012.
Q. What animal does wool commonly come from?

o 31 Commercial Road
Edmonton, London N18 1TP
Tel: 0208 884 0999
Fax: 0208 884 4666
Email: mcourtsltd@btconnect.com
Website: www.mcourts.co.uk
New Fashion Jewellery Range
now available
Wholesale Haberdashery Suppliers
To shops, stalls, schools, colleges, carnival
bands, dress & curtain makers, theatres,
designers etc.
See our huge range including
Beads, Trimmings, Lace, Buttons, Ribbon,
Sequins, Diamantes, Motifs, Zips, Cords,
Thread, Masks, Feathers, Flowers, Bridal,
Lingerie Accessories, Craft, Haberdashery,
and much, much more.

a perfect marriage
Handmade weddings are really big right now – we give you some pointers
on how to profit from this and we introduce you to some crafty bridal customers…
Weddings are big business and there is no reason why the canny arts
and craft retailer can’t cash in on this lucrative market.
Craft retailers are in an ideal position to make the most of this
captive audience as there is already a wealth of product available that
will make a perfect project for someone’s big day – all you have to
do is capture their imagination and offer a bridal solution.
The current economic downturn has refocused even the most
demanding of wedding divas, who are now striving for an impressive
look at a fraction of the price. Plus, with an increasing number of
fabulous wedding blogs such as www.rocknrollbride.com and
www.stylemepretty.com coupled with a plethora of Pinterest bridal
boards, the modern day bride has a wealth of innovative decoration
and fashion ideas to choose from. For many women (and men), the ‘pick
from a package’ off the shelf option is not good enough for their special
day. No, today’s wedding has to be unique, and what better way of
ensuring this than by taking a DIY approach?
MEET THE MRS MAKERS Club Green Grethe Øyna
Milivojevic
THE WHOLE SHEBANG!
TWINKLE TROUGHTON
Artist Twinkle (www.twinkletroughton.co.uk) is getting
married in October this year. She wanted to make her
budget go further and as an artist, it’s important to
her that her special day has an individual look.
She’s already made her invitations, and almost every
decorative wedding element, including the cake, name
pebbles and tablecloths will be crafted by hand.
Why are you taking a DIY approach?
As an artist, creating things is a passion of mine, and
from the offset the idea of other people doing what
I love doing didn’t feel right.
I also think that by doing it yourself, it’s a great way to keep
the wedding) personal and give it some individuality. People
love handmade touches and I think they bring something
really thoughtful and sentimental to the whole event. I’ve
been to weddings with loads of homemade elements and
those are the parts that have stood out in my memory.
What are your wedding make essentials?
All sorts. I’m making the cake so all the ingredients and
decorating tools. I’m decorating candlesticks and vases with
paint. I’m using wood for various things, we’ll be doing our
own flowers, ceiling hangings... the list goes on!
What kind of look are you going for
and what has been your inspiration?
I love to find unusual or beautiful objects at car boot
sales and charity shops so it’s quite an eclectic style.
Things we love is my main inspiration.
Grethe Øyna
Milivojevic
Grethe Øyna
Milivojevic
Grethe Øyna
Milivojevic
craftfocus 37
opportunities

DAINTY DETAILS –
GRETHE ØYNA MILIVOJEVIC
Grethe has been making jewellery since she
was a teenager. So, when she got married
in 2010 she was determined to put her
talents to use for her special day. Not only
did she make her own bridal jewellery, she
also made bracelets for her bridesmaids and
even turned her hand to papercrafts, creating
her own invitations and place cards for the
event. You can see her fab creations on the
previous page...
Why did you decide to
‘handmake’ your wedding?
I wanted our wedding to be special.
Designing and making my own jewellery,
invitations and place cards meant that I could
have it my way, and that we would have a
unique wedding with personal touches.
Another important reason was cost. Had
I bought jewellery that was similar to the
pieces I made, I would have had to pay five
to ten times as much. The invitations and
place cards were also a money saver – I only
spent around £15 for about 60 invitations
and almost 100 place cards.
Why do you think more brides are
plumping for a handmade touch?
I think most brides will have the same
reasons as me – cost and the personal
touch! Anything to do with weddings is so
expensive, so anything you can do yourself at
a reasonable cost helps save on the total.
What did you make and what
were your favourite materials?
We chose a red and white colour scheme
38 craftfocus
Edding
and a design of two overlapping hearts. I
bought 100 white cards and envelopes, and
different types and shades of red carton
paper. I designed a heart on the computer,
made a page full of hearts, and printed
those out on the red paper. The hearts were
carefully cut out, a job I regretted doing in
one go, as my fingers were numb from the
scissors afterwards...
I made a tiara, earrings, a bracelet and a
necklace. I used real silver wire, white pearls
in different sizes, and clear Swarovski crystals
– materials that are essential in my jewellery
making. The earrings were made with beads
of Swarovski crystals and freshwater pearls,
fixed one by one with silver head pins to a
thin chain hanging from open fish hook ear
wires. The tapered design, with the largest
beads at the top, is one that I have used
many times since .
What do you think craft shops should
stock for the ‘crafty’ bride?
Packs of blank cards and place cards are
definitely a must!
Craft shops with limited stock in beads and
jewellery should consider stocking some easy
jewellery projects for brides who are new to
jewellery making. Most experienced beaders
will have their preferred suppliers already,
but brides who have never made jewellery
before can still make their own tiara. A tiara
kit with instructions and a suggestion of tools
to buy or to look for in dad’s shed will help
them on their way.
What’s your fave wedding make?
I think the earrings were my favourite. I still
use them regularly, and I love the design.
CLUB GREEN: IN THE BAG!
You may also want to stock some
complementary wedding related items
such as favour boxes and bags that
the bride to be can pick up while
she’s got her making hat on.
Club Green has been the UK’s leading
wholesale supplier of bomboniere and
associated party and wedding products
for 30 years (see pic on previous page).
The company sells traditional favours
using two layers of crystal net available in
an assortment of colours, brought up to
date with a single layer of ivory lace net.
Top with three delicate paper
cherry blossom flowers in ivory and
6mm organza ribbon in navy.
Also available is the ivory silk box with
a daisy twist fasten. Brides can decorate
with a pull-up ribbon, flowers or diamanté
to co-ordinate with your chosen theme. To
make it personal your customer can add
gift – great ideas include sugared almonds,
chocolate hearts, chocolate sugared
almonds or almonds covered in gold foil.
For something different, how about the
rose almond holder ribbon? Pull this ribbon
to create a flower and top and a paper
open rose. This August brings a new range
of wedding ribbons in organza, pleated
satin and jacquard rose – all welcome
additions to the Club Green selection.
There are also great options for guys too
- including tuxedo boxes, or an ivory silk
sachet box that can be used for an alcohol
miniature or small bottle of fragrance.
Essential bridal buys
• Ribbon (in soft, subtle shades of whites,
creams and champagnes)
• Blank cards (whites and creams)
• Tissue paper (whites, pastels and brights)
• Fabric and glass pens
Metallics are particularly popular with pens
and a great example of these are the edding
1200 Metallic Colorpens and edding 2185
Metallic Gel Pens as illustrated above.
POPULAR WEDDING MAKES
• Invitations and place cards
• Tissue paper pom-poms
• Heart-shaped table confetti
• Origami flower table centres (pictured)
• Beaded embellishments
• Hand-beaded tiaras and hair-pieces
• Painted vases and tea-light holders C

ookshelf
There is a wealth of charming new book releases on the market, including some
truly inspirational textile publications, plus lovely baby buys, we dive in and take a look
TEXTILES AND NEEDLECRAFTS
101 Fabric-by-Fabric
Ways to Sew a Metre
by Rebecca Yaker and Patricia Hoskins
Published by David & Charles
(Distributed by Search Press)
£19.99 Spiral bound
ISBN: 9781446302194
Essential for home crafters, who want to ‘stop hoarding and start sewing’.
This handy book comes in a practical spiral-bound format and details
101 projects specially designed to use one metre of fabric. It covers
various different types of fabric, including cottons, flannel, fleece
and oilcloth and features easy to follow techniques and diagrams
that make projects a breeze for sewers of all abilities.
Home Sewn Nursery
by Tina Barrett
Published by GMC
£14.99, Paperback
ISBN: 9781861088352
A brilliant purchase those who want to
create something homemade and magical for
a very special little one. The publication is a
complete sewing guide for creating a bold,
bright nursery stitched with love. The book includes 20 simple sewing
projects suitable for beginners, along with a basic techniques section and
a handy pull-out pattern sheet.
Home Sewn Home,
20 Projects to Make
for the Retro Home
by Sally Walton
Published by GMC
£14.99, Paperback
ISBN: 9781861088406
Great for home-makers, interior design
buffs and nostalgia fans. The book is divided
into four chapters that reflect the key areas of the home: living
room, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom. Beginners will benefit from a
techniques section that outlines the fundamental skills and equipment
required. Design fans will appreciate the book’s advice on sourcing the
right materials to achieve an authentic vintage feel.
40 craftfocus
Stitch, Cloth, Shimmer & Shine
by Sarah Lawrence
Published by Search Press
£15.99 Hardback
ISBN: 9781844486274
Truly original, the eclectic plethora of ideas
covered here is remarkable, and fantastic for
sewers who need a little lift. Sarah Lawrence uses mixed media, stitching
and numerous innovative techniques to produce textile art. Instructions
cover how to make fabric from brown paper, gilding techniques, using
mica, hot fusing adhesives and metal, free machine embroidery and
creating unique embellishments. The book features 11 projects with full
captions on the techniques used to produce them.
Dressmaking
Published by Dorling Kindersley
£25, Hardback
ISBN: 9781409384632
A must for handy fashionistas.
This book covers all the essentials
needed to create your own unique
wardrobe. A bible for budding
seamstresses it outlines techniques
from hemming and hand-stitching to
darts and gathers, buttons and zips.
Includes 12 scaleable patterns and
instructions for classic items such as
a sleeveless shift dress, pencil skirt, palazzo pants or tunic top.
CAKE CRAFTS
Decorating Cakes
with Chocolate
by Katrien van Zyl
Published by Search Press
£14.99 Paperback
ISBN: 9781844488629
A chocaholic’s dream, this book shows you how to create beautifully
chocolate decorated cakes. Brimming with techniques and ideas for
all abilities and time limits, it covers jazzing up a ready-made cake
and includes recipes for home bakers to create from scratch.

KNITTING
Knit Noro Accessories, 30
Colorful Little Knits
by Editors of Vogue
Knitting Magazine
Published by Sixth&Spring
(Distributed by GMC)
£19.99, Hardback
ISBN: 9781936096206
Perfect for knitters who like
working with natural materials and
ecologically sound yarns. Japanese
designer Eisaku Noro has been
producing extraordinary and popular yarns, that are hand colored in
vivid combinations of painterly hues. This book features 32 small projects
that Noro-loving knitters can complete in a weekend, including leg
warmers, cabled mittens, a lace flap hat, and even an iPad cover.
Knitted Booties for Tiny Feet
by Catherine Bouquerel
Published by Sixth&Spring (Distributed by GMC)
£9.99, Paperback
ISBN: 9781936096381
Just the ticket for grannies, aunties and mumsto-be,
this detailed guide is well pitched to
show both beginners and seasoned stitchers
how to create 20 pairs of adorable baby
shoes. The book contains a lovely range of
bootie styles, from Strawberry Jam slippers to sailor-style booties to
urban fashion-forward low-tops .
GENERAL CRAFTS
Craft
Published by Dorling Kindersley
£25, Hardback
ISBN: 978-0756692704
A real crafter’s companion, this book features an
eclectic assortment of exciting projects that can
provide some great upselling opportunities for
your shop. Makes include all manner of activities,
from petal-filled writing paper, appliquéd
flower throws and lavender-infused soap,
to wire hearts, beeswax candles and tin-can lanterns. The book
covers textiles, papercraft, jewellery, ceramics, glass, candles, soap
and eco-crafts and includes over 300 techniques, with step-by-step
photographs and advice on tools and materials. A great book for an
experienced crafter or for curious creatives who want to get started,
this will encourage your customers to get dipping, twisting, brushing,
creating, recycling and upcycling to their heart’s content.
Knit – Step-by-Step
Published by Dorling Kindersley
£12.99, Hardback
ISBN: 9781405362139
A must for knitting novices, this step-by-step
guide introduces beginners to more than
200 techniques and stitch patterns, so it’s
great for people who want to get going
with their own knits. Detailed illustrations
cover everything from basic casting-on and
stocking stitch, to circular and 3D knitting, cables, bobbles, pockets and
fringes. There are 10 easy projects to get people started including hats,
gloves and jumpers and the book also includes a swatch library of stitch
patterns, to encourage newbies to try new effects and embellishments
including beautiful beading, picot-ruffle edging or fair-isle borders.
PAPERCRAFTS
100 Fresh and Fun Handmade Cards,
50 New Designs;
50 Amazing Alternatives
by Kimber McGray
Published by North Light (Distributed by GMC)
£12.99 Paperback
ISBN: 9781440314995
Cardmaking is the most popular sub-category in papercraft and
this book has a wide appeal as it caters for all abilities. It features
step-by-step instructions for 100 card making projects from lastminute
birthday card makes to more advanced papercrafting projects.
Photos will help readers work through all the tricky bits to create truly
memorable cards with swivels, pop-ups, spinners, shakers, sliders and
more for birthdays, holidays and other celebrations.
Book Contacts
A & C Black, www.acblack.com
Anova Books, T: +44(0)207 605 1466, www.anovabooks.com
Cico Books, T: +44 (0)1256 302699, www.cicobooks.co.uk
Dorling Kindersley, T +44(0)207 010 3709, www.dk.co.uk
GMC Publications, T: +44(0)1273 488 005, www.thegmcgroup,com
How2crafts, T: +44(0)121 212 9857, www.how2crafts.com
Jacqui Small, T: +44 (0)20 7284 7181, www.aurumpress.co.uk
New Holland, www.newhollandpublishers.com
Niyogi Books, www.niyogibooks.com
Octopus Publishing, T: +44 (0)207 632 5488
Quarto Group (incorporating Creative Publishing International),
T: +44 (0)20 7284 7197
Quarry, www.quarrybooks.com
Search Press, T: +44 (0)1892 510 850, E: sales@searchpress.com,
www.searchpress.com
Stash Books, www.roundhousegroup.co.uk
The Useful Booklet Company, T: +44(0)1761 439825,
www.heatherworks.co.uk
craftfocus 41
book reviews

natural progression
Vintage elements, tactile materials and feminine finishes are enduringly popular
with consumers, we talk through what it’s like to use all three, naturally…
Founded by Lesa Gray, NaturaLeigh has been
making handcrafted soap for more than 12
years with one of its first designs being the
‘Sweet Thoughts Scented Cushion Cover’. The
flagship product included dried lavender and
heart shaped soaps pinned on the cover, it
set the tone for the company’s output.
Since then NaturaLeigh has gone from
strength to strength and has launched a new
line called ‘Creative Scents by NaturaLeigh’.
The new range includes kits featuring
handcrafted natural soap and scented dried
flowers allowing crafters to make their own
scented home décor. These kits also feature
vintage elements such as hemp fabric and
rope, French Chambray fabrics, vintage print
ribbons and vintage floral printed wooden
buttons. We spoke to Lesa about the launch
and the philosophy behind her enterprise…
How did you start the company
and how has it grown and
developed over the years?
About 13 years ago we had moved back to
Massachusetts where my mother and sister still
“We are introducing hemp
products to the range and I’m really
surprised, just how educated and
in love with hemp the crafter is.
Maybe it’s just the natural texture
that’s so attractive”
lived. My sister Linda had educated herself in
all alternative medicines, including herbal and
aromatherapy. Linda shared an aromatherapy
trade catalogue with me, so I could order a
few bits and pieces such as natural shampoo,
soaps etc. I simply saw a book of how to
make handcrafted soap, and my heart went
pitter patter and hasn’t stopped since.
What is the current state
of play with the company?
Creative Scents by NaturaLeigh sparks a
whole new beginning for the company, with
workshops, help with design, and of course
the offer of the all important craft kits and
necessary components. I’ve now added an
entirely new, or should I say old, style to the
business. I truly feel like I’ve come full circle
and am back to where I am most comfortable
in craft – designing kits and supplying the bits
and pieces so necessary for crafting.
I believe scent should be part of our
life, throughout our homes. It triggers
memories, stimulates energy levels or
calms the trauma of the day.
You have a really unique
proposition – how do you
come up with all your ideas?
Ideas come from in many forms, mostly in
the middle of the night, but of course other
artists and designers are definitely inspiring.
But you can look at anything in nature and
turn it into a finished product.
If my dreams came true, I’d have an entire
vintage village set up with different natural
scenes for inspiration. I’d include areas to
demonstrate methods and run workshops,
I’d have an area for finished products, and
another where you could buy anything you
could possibly need for crafting. Of course
we would include natural scent and home
decor as much as possible.
craftfocus 43
NaturaLeigh

natural progression
What would you say makes
your offering stand out
from the competition?
It all goes back to nature. We offer natural
products, natural methods and natural raw
materials. Such as assortments of dried flowers
scented with essential oils, handcrafted soaps
made in the traditional cold processed method,
hemp fabrics, hemp ropes and our new range
of 100 per cent cotton French Chambray
printed fabrics. We are vintage designers and
use handcrafted soap as room fragrances to
incorporate scent into home décor. Like
with so many crafts, the ideas are endless.
Tell me about how important
the use of natural products
is in your work…
I know people are a bit more educated now
than when I started the business. But I had to
make a decision years ago if I wanted to keep
the company completely natural or to create
products from the enticing tempting world of
synthetics. As hard as it might be some times,
I feel the beauty of natural ingredients in the
end product and I hope other people do to.
If we used traditional natural materials as we
should, I think the world would be better off.
How do you decide on new looks and
colour schemes for your new ranges?
What is the process?
We attend trade exhibitions throughout the
year for the gift industry, and get a feel for
what is popular. But truly, the majority of the
new ranges are born in the middle of the
night, when sleep can’t be had. That’s how
the name of the business came about. I’ve
also been extremely fortunate with colour
schemes by following my intuition. Having
said that, we’re keep a business head on by
always testing new product lines through
consumer market research.
What is it that gives your ranges that
special X-factor?
I think we’re one of the first companies to take
scent, nature, craft kits and home décor, mix
them together and present them in a manner
that allows the customer to identify with them.
The response we received at the consumer
Craft, Hobby & Stitch exhibitions was almost
magnetic. People seemed unable to pass us by,
44 craftfocus
drawn in by the scent or natural vintage design
of the stand. Crafters are always looking for
something, new or different and we are it.
What is the company’s most notable
achievement to date?
I think it is maintaining the integrity of the
business and not forfeiting the quality through
these tough economic times, as well as having
the privilege of working with some amazing
designers and crafters.
We have won awards for presentation
and such like, but we don’t display them (the
awards) as I like people to make up their own
minds about us.
How do you keep up with trends?
I feel sometimes it’s a greater challenge to
create a trend of your own than to spot
someone else’s. As soon as it catches on,
create something new. You must keep evolving.
What are the enjoyable aspects about
being involved in craft?
I believe that it has to be the consumer first.
Every person we speak to at an exhibition is
interested in what we do! Everyone shares
a similar passion – who wouldn’t be pleased
with that? I also love working with so many
talented artists/designers/crafters. And, to be
honest, I simply love what I do.
“I believe scent should be part of
our life, throughout our homes”
What are your biggest-selling
items or ranges?
Our best-selling product has to be scented
dried flowers and our own handcrafted
scented soap. We are introducing hemp
products to the range and I’m really
surprised, just how educated and in love
with hemp the crafter is. Maybe it’s just the
natural texture that’s so attractive.
Where does the future
lie for the company?
As long as I have breath in my body, the
company will strive to maintain the traditional
methods of creating natural handcrafted soap,
scenting the home with natural aromas. We
would like to supply the crafter with anything
they need to make their own and also teach
them how to do it themselves. So workshops
are definitely in our future. C
Further information
Naturaleigh
E: sales@naturaleigh.co.uk
T: +44 (0)1884 38293
W: www.naturaleigh.co.uk

eyond the basic
Great craft tools can not only just ‘do the job’ but can
also really elevate and improve a crafter’s practice.
So, take a look at our round up of the some truly
innovative tools that enable the maker to excel
No matter what the craft practice is, some
tools are universal. In almost every makers
toolbox you will find some basic essentials
such as measuring equipment – rulers, tape
measures, set squares etc – as well as a trusty
pair of scissors and a well-worn collection of
pens and pencils.
But what about those special tools that once
discovered, an individual crafter just can’t get by
46 craftfocus
without? Those beneficial products that make
life much more easier for the maker, or whose
design and user-friendly functionality enable
the crafter to try out new looks with ease
and provide great ideas that really help to
inspire and push on the crafter’s practice?
We take a look at some of these ingenious
items that go beyond the basic and take
people’s work to a next level.
In great shape
With their extraordinary punching power and unique jam free mechanism, the next generation
Simplicity punches set the new standard for craft punches when they were launched in 2011.
Earlier this year Tonic Studios expanded on this popular range and announced the launch of
Simplicity Pattern Punches. Packed with all the features of regular Simplicity punches – power
gearing that enables the crafter to effortlessly punch through 400gsm card, jam free mechanism
and handy paper catcher – but now in beautiful repeatable pattern designs.
The second launch of this already popular range has recently been announced bringing
the total number of Simplicity Pattern Punches to 19 including Scalloped Borders, Victorian
Borders and Floral Strips.
Feedback on these punches has been extremely positive and they really have generated
massive interest on the craft blogosphere – since the launch of the Simplicity Pattern Punches
craft bloggers have been busy coming up with great ways to use them. Whether it’s advanced
techniques like using them to punch in a circle or even just pointing out the obvious but often
ignored uses like punching through both the front and back of a folded card to ensure perfect
line-up, the sheer power of the geared mechanism opens up so many possibilities. For ideas on
how to use Simplicity punches visit www.blogtonic.co.uk.
These punches retail at £11.99, and paired with a minimum pack of four and Tonic Studios’
generous minimum order quantity, an investment in these punches won’t break the bank!
Tonic Studios, E: accounts@tonic-studios.co.uk.
Get a good look
The 3 in 1 LED Handheld Magnifier is the
ultimate tool for crafters working with
small details. In the box you will find three
great magnifiers, one suitable for every
type of activity with varying strength of
magnification and sizes. Crafters don’t
have to worry about interrupting
their work to change lens, as the
“Easy-Swap” system enables the
maker to switch in seconds.
The perfect ergonomic design features
a soft grip handle and a small stand,
allowing the crafter to use it hands-free or
direct the light and magnification exactly
where it’s needed. This light features
Daylight LED Technology, renowned for its
flicker-free, shadow-free properties, and
it’s effective elimination of glare.
The unrivalled bright white light,
featured in all Daylight Lamps, reduces
strained, tired eyes, enabling users to work
for longer in optimal comfort. Users won’t
believe how much more they can see,
with small details jumping out the page
and contrasts instantly improved. They
will also notice fewer mistakes in their
creations, as users will become more able
to see colours as they really are, matching
them seamlessly throughout their work!
Daylight Company, T: +44 (0)20 8964
1200, W: www.daylightcompany.com

Pick me up
Stix2 Anything have introduced its new
2012 range of craft adhesive and glue-based
products, designed especially for hobby
crafters, with includes its Pick Up Pencil. The
Pencil is perfect for picking up and placing all
your gems, stones, diamantes, pins, needles
and embellishments.
Stix2 Anything, T: +44 (0)191 269 7810,
E: sales@stix2.co.uk, W: www.stix2.co.uk
The right application
The BeJeweler® is the original applicator made for Swarovski® hot fix crystals. When you choose
the best crystals - don’t settle for less in your tool. It provides a no-glue, no-tweezers, no messsolution
to crystallizing. It is recommended by Swarovski® and used by professionals throughout
the world. The BeJeweler® is design patented and is ergonomically designed featuring a soft,
flexible handle that maximizes productivity while preventing operator fatigue and discomfort.
SWAROVSKI® ELEMENTS hotfix crystals have a heat sensitive backing. The BeJeweler® picks
up each crystal, heats the crystal evenly to ensure it adheres correctly and places the crystal
exactly where you want it, providing the best possible adhesion. When applied correctly fabrics
and washable items can be gently laundered without losing crystals.
Here are just some of the products being crystallized with the BeJeweler® Pro
Hotfix Applicator and hotfix crystals.
• Jeans, shirts, dresses – even velvet, lycra and fur
• Costumes for theatre, dance and ice skating
• Wedding gowns and bridal accessories
• Quilts and wall hangings
• Purses, belts, hats, shoes, etc
• Home decor: picture frames, candles, lamp shades,
wallpaper, towels, coasters, pillows and more
• Hair bows, ribbons and clips.
• Greeting cards, invitations, place cards
• Dog collars and leads
Scatter Crystals Ltd, E: info@scattercrystals.co.uk, W: www.scattercrystals.co.uk
Sharp practice
The revolutionary Rotary Blade
Sharpener from TRUECUT ensures
that patchworkers, quilters, and
general crafters have a razor-sharp
“new” blade to cut with every time
they use a rotary cutter. Frayed and
ragged edges will be no more!
All brands and sizes of rotary
cutters and cutter blades can be
sharpened, and the Sharpener itself
is completely safe and secure to
use: there is no need to remove
the blade from the cutter, and non-slip feet prevent the Sharpener from moving when pressure is
applied. A simple forward/backward movement along the Sharpener’s hard-wearing stone – just
the same as cutting through fabric or paper – sharpens the blade to produce an exceptionally
sharp edge which allows even the oldest blades to cut again like new.
The Rotary Blade Sharpener prolongs a blade’s life dramatically, and greatly reduces the need
for blades to be replaced on every make of rotary cutter. A very simple concept, but completely
effective, the Sharpener makes cutting with this most essential of tools easier and
safer for everyone.
Groves, T: +44 (0)1844 258080, E: sales@groves-banks.com,
W: www.groves-banks.com
craftfocus 47
craft tools

eyond the basic
Desktop dream
Most seamstresses dream of having a dedicated,
machine friendly, workspace but are put off through
lack of space or see it simply as an indulgence.
However, it doesn’t have to be this way - Adjustoform
Products have just launched their first sewing machine
storage desk as a solution for sewers. The desk is basic
and fairly light-weight (Weight 32kgs) and its compact
dimensions (H 71.1cm, D 66cm, W 80cm) enables it
to fit in the tightest of spaces.
It’s also an attractive piece of furniture, which can be
used virtually anywhere in the home. The dual faced
melamine board is easy to wipe clean and comes in a
light (Pear) finish or a dark (Walnut) option.
It is practical and multi-purpose too. When sewing
is finished and the sewing machine has been stored
away in the body of the desk. A clever, space-saving
device, the machine storage system is based on a spring
mechanism to assist in raising and lowering the sewing
machine and is operated with the assistance of light
hand pressure on the sewing machine. Plus sewers can
also share it with the rest of the household as it can be
also used for school homework or laptop workstation.
So how does your customer get it home? Again,
the desk is made to be straightforward, it is packed in
two cartons each weighing 16.4kgs for easy delivery
and convenient consumer handling. The pieces has also
been designed so that it is quick and easy to assemble
by two people and to avoid any delays a dual headed
screwdriver is included in one of the packs so excited
consumers can begin the assembly process without
searching for tools.
The desk comes with a two-year guarantee and
has been certified by FIRA for assembly, durability
and the desk mechanism.
Adjustoform Products Limited, T: +44 (0)1233
625227, E: adjustoformsales@btconnect.com
48 craftfocus
Elegant borders
Woodware has just introduced five new cassettes for its
award winning Crafty Edger. Its Crafty Edger is a fool-proof
system for punching borders up to 30cm, some of the
existing designs have corner cartridges allowing you to
punch squares and rectangles. The new designs are a good
mix of floral and fun and the cartridges retail at around £7
and the starter kit, which includes a cassette so it is ready to
use, retails for around £20. They are available now.
The company has also launched a new tool kit that it
believes will prove a winner. The kit contains a handle which
can hold a variety of tools including embossing tools and
the ever popular quilling tool all stored neatly in a robust
box. Woodware has also improved its tweezers by adding a
decoupage tweezer to the set which is very useful for floral
punch craft. This stainless steel set is a quality product at a
value for money price.
Woodware, T: +44 (0)1756 700024,
E: info@woodware.co.uk, W: www.woodware.co.uk
Sticky solutions
All crafters need to use a reliable glue for some or most of the time, and the Hi-Tack
range of craft glues from Trimits has long been the UK’s favourite collection.
From the original and essential, All Purpose Very Sticky Glue in its familiar gold
bottle – recognised by many as the most versatile craft glue you can buy – to a large
selection of new, colourful Glitter Glues, Hi-Tack can offer something for every craft.
Best-selling glues include Fabric Glue, School Glue, PVA Craft Glue, and the
remarkable fast-drying Fast Tack Glue, for use when a secure, quick, and flexible bond
is required, while an easy to use Glue Gun
with glue sticks in a variety of colours is also
available for high temperature sealing.
All Hi-Tack glues are completely
non-toxic, and are carefully formulated
for their specific use.
Hi-Tack glues are distributed exclusively by
Groves, and the full range is now available on
a compact and attractive display stand which
provides a real point of focus in any store and
greatly encourages consumer sales.
Groves, T: +44 (0)1844 258080, E: sales@
groves-banks.com, W: www.groves-banks.com
Other craft tool suppliers
• Dremel, T: +44 (0)844 7360107, E: pt.dremelmarketing@uk.bosch.com,
W: www.dremel.com
• Fiskars UK Ltd, T: +44 (0)1656 655595, E: wgreensmith@rsankey.co.uk,
W: www.fiskars.com
• Coats Crafts UK, T: +44 (0)1325 394394, E: marketing.ccuk@coats.com,
W: www.coatscrafts.co.uk
• EQS Ltd, +44 (0)116 271 0033, E: graeme@eqsuk.com, W: www.eqsuk.com
C

New Products
From Reeves
NEW Size
Medium Sketching by Numbers
NEW
Fluorescent Acrylic Paint sets
NEW
Painting by Numbers Titles
View the full range at: www.reeves-art.com
01562 744522 sales@colart.co.uk

strokes
of genius
Artists love to try new things, so we took
a look at some great products that are just
made for creative experimentation
Many artists will tell you that they spend most of their disposable
income on art materials. Even if a product doesn’t relate directly to
their practice, there is always an exciting item that will entice a curious
artist looking to experiment and play-with as well as extend their
repertoire. So whether it’s wonderfully tactile papers that produce
inspirational, artistic results or fabulous mark making products that
work on a range of mediums there is a fantastic array of top quality
materials that are sure to give artists the right tools to unleash their
creative powers – just take a look…
QUALITY ART PAPER
Strathmore
paper is top
quality art
paper loved by
watercolour
artists, comic
creators, book
illustrators and
botanical artists
all over the
world. In fact,
this range is so
highly regarded
that famous
artists request
Strathmore by
Bristol Board and
the Strathmore
Illustration Board
for Wet Media
by name.
The Strathmore paper range includes sketch books, Bristol board,
visual journals, charcoal and pastel papers, watercolour pads and
paper, acrylic paper and canvas, newsprint, a windpower range, black
paper, cards, specialist paper, transfers that can be put through a
home printer, and much more. The papers come in a range of sizes,
and individual sheets and images can be used to help promote
the Strathmore art paper range in your shop, online or in other
marketing materials. If you haven’t tried it before, once used, you and
your customers will be converts.
And if that wasn’t enough, special trade discounts are now
available to retailers in the UK for the extensive Strathmore
Fine Art paper range.
Artist papers, T: +44 (0)1384 485 550,
E: sales@artistpapers.co.uk,
W: www.artistpapers.co.uk
BARS OF INSPIRATION
Artbar gives artists access to an abundance of different marks and
textures, build up layers to create depth and thick dense opaque
colour. This ingenious product helps creatives to draw and paint
with the same medium, and produce everything from light washes
to deep, more heavily bodied texture.
The Derwent Artbar is all about mark making and texture. These
highly pigmented water-soluble bars are extremely versatile and are
perfect for expressive pieces showing off different marks and textures.
They are suitable for large dramatic pieces with lively marks and
shapes, but additionally and perhaps a little unexpectedly, due to their
triangular shape are also adaptable to add in finer detail. These qualities
make Artbar perfect for craft projects such as making backgrounds for
scrapbooks and art journals.
A wonderful set of accessories also accompany the range of 72
colours, allowing for even more creative ideas. As an alternative water
applicator, artists can try the Derwent Spritzer to spray water over
the Artbar marks; get in close and spray into colour lines to make the
pigment disperse, creating an organic watery effect. The Scraper can be
used to reveal underlying layers of colour when used upon dry Artbar
marks. There are a variety of different scraping edges to choose from,
including thin points, fat edges and zigzag areas.
If artists want to shape their Artbar, the Shave ‘n’ Save allows them
to both sharpen the bar, and also collect the shavings for further
use. Artists can sprinkle the shavings over a damp page to create an
interesting textured surface. Artbar is available individually and in tins
of 12, 24, 46 and 72.
Derwent, T: +44 (0)1900 609599
craftfocus 51
art materials

AN ESSENTIAL SELECTION
Artcoe has been supplying art and craft materials to the trade for
over 25 years. Based in Manchester, the company manufacture a
wide range of products, from artists’ pads and blocks, to sketch pads,
blank card packs and much more.
Artcoe is the sole UK distributor for many major brands
within the art and craft sector, including Elmers, X-Acto, Speedball,
Kopykake Projectors, Saral Transferpaper, Tracedown, Atelier
Interactive, and Ghiant.
One of the main benefits to being an Artcoe customer is that
the majority of items can be with you within 24hrs, saving you from
having to hold unnecessary levels of stock. Most items are singular
and as such you only order what you need.
For nearly a century, the name X-Acto has been synonymous
with precision cutting. Crafters, teachers, hobbyists and artists, office
professionals and students have all turned to X-Acto for the high
quality precision tools they need for work, play or passion to bring
projects, creations and memories to life.
An exciting new addition to the X-Acto range is the Z-Series.
As the sharpest, most durable blade ever made, the gold hue on
the cutting edge is a zirconium nitride coating applied at the atomic
level after blades are atomically sharpened.
Frisk Tracedown is a product created by the Artcoe brand Frisk.
This is a must have product for many artists. The wax free tracing
down paper is an ideal all-purpose tracing medium. It eliminates the
need for making your own transfer sheets, and as the coating has
no wax or grease, the tracing can be easily inked or painted over
without skipping. Tracedown is available in graphite, white, yellow,
blue and red, so you can pick the right sheet for the right job.
Artcoe, T: +44 (0)1617 361135, E: steve@artcoe.co.uk,
W: www.artcoe.co.uk
52 craftfocus
BRUSH STROKES
Dynasty® has recently introduced the new faux Kolinsky series. The
range possesses the strength, resiliency and performance of Siberian
sable in an affordable long-lasting, cruelty free, techno-synthetic.
With over 83 years of brush making experience, FM Brush Company,
Inc has developed a proprietary blend of techno-synthetics that recreate
all the attributes of Siberian Sable brushes, but is a socially responsible
alternative to animal hair. The Faux Kolinsky series by Dynasty mimics
the elusive natural tip of a kolinsky brush, paying special attention to
replicating the very fine tip. Its performance is unmatched, with its
generous reservoir. The brushes are elegant with a cupro-nickel ferrule
and long satin black albata handle. It matches the traditional
Kolinsky sizing ranging from round sizes 3/0 to 16. Made by
FM Brush and completely assembled in America. See other
techno-synthetics such as Faux Squirrel and Black
Gold® by Dynasty.
F.M. Brush Company T: +71 (8) 821 5939,
E: jackie.mink@fmbrush.com,
W: www.fmbrush.com

MAKE YOUR MARK
The edding “Creating & Decorating” pen and marker range aims to
expand the artist’s creative possibilities, providing inspiration for new
kinds of exciting work. The company has a new concept focus of aligning
groups of products to their surface application. This is because edding
wanted to offer simple ready-to-use solutions, that don’t limit the user,
and allow them to develop their skills and ability with confidence.
Range highlights include the way in which stunning, co-ordinated,
metallic effects can be created instantly on dark coloured paper
and card, by using a combination of the edding 1200 Metallic
Colorpens and edding 2185 Metallic Gel Pens. Using the fine and
medium stroke widths separately, or together, looks fantastic and
with over six colours to choose from, the colour combinations and
achievable effects are extensive.
The edding 1255 Calligraphy Pens, available in three different stroke
widths and five bold colours, again used separately or in conjunction
with the larger nibbed edding 1455 Calligraphy Marker, provide countless
creative opportunities. This pen and marker assortment contains a
special water-based pigment ink, which will not only write on paper
and card but also on terracotta, wood, canvas, metal and plastic – and
once-dry are permanent and waterproof.
For bright, vivid, metallic and coloured effects on glass, metal,
plastic and porous surfaces like terracotta, wood and canvas – the
comprehensive range of edding Paint and Deco Markers hold the key.
With numerous stroke options, including calligraphic tips, and various
colour combinations the only limitation is your own imagination – and
for that look no further than the edding inspirations section on the
website: www.edding-creative.com.
Finally when it comes to customising textiles, the edding 4500 and
4600 Textile Pens and Markers offer fine and bold marking capabilities
and once fixed with an iron become wash resistant up to 60C.
For further help, product
information and inspirational ideas,
please visit www.edding-creative.com.
The company also offers a wide
range of retail specific sales-units,
POS solutions and minimum carriage
paid orders from £100. Goods are
normally dispatched from the UK
warehouse in three-five working days.
Edding, T: +44 (0)1727 846688, E: info@edding.co.uk.
TACTILE TREASURES
ExaClair Limited has a comprehensive
array of high quality sketchbooks and
papers from group brand Clairefontaine
that are specifically designed to suit a
variety of fine art applications.
Its sketch pads, available in sizes A2
through to A7, contain smooth 90g
paper in white or ivory and are an
ideal surface for drawings in pencil,
charcoal, sanguine (red chalk), ink or felt tip, making them a staple
product for budding artists and particularly art students. Similarly its
drawing pads demonstrate the same attention to quality yet offer
thicker paper options, including smooth 120g or 160g paper (Dessin
Croquis) for quicker or more precise drawings, as well as the
enhanced texture of grained 125g or 180g paper (Dessin à Grain).
For artists working in pastels, as well as other dry media such
as pencils and charcoal, Clairefontaine supplies an innovative range
of paper pads called Pastelmat. The velvet surface of this premium
paper allows multiple layers of even the softest pastels to adhere,
reducing the need to use a fixative and allowing colours to stay
vibrant and fresh after application. The pads are available with white
paper and with two combinations of four shades: either dark grey,
light grey, maize and buttercup, or
brown, sienna, anthracite and white.
For watercolour painting,
Clairefontaine has developed a
selection of pads and books – the
Aquarelle Fontaine range – using
paper manufactured from 100 per
cent cotton, the optimum material
for delivering enhanced levels of
water absorption to the discerning
watercolour artist. The paper comes
in four different textures that
each enable the artist to achieve a
different effect: the smoothest, semi-glazed, for detailed painting; the
most popular, light grain, for a more traditional surface; rough, for a
grain that adds character; and the innovative cloud texture,
to create an irregular Impressionist effect.
There is also an alternative collection of watercolour pads, the
Aquarelle Etival range, that offers the highest quality of cellulose
paper for watercolourists and is ideal for art students. This range
comes in three different paper surfaces – 200g smooth, 300g
smooth and 250g/350g rough grain – and is also available in
smaller, more compact sizes, ideal for use whilst travelling.
Nick Parry, Head of Art & Craft at ExaClair, says that more
and more people are looking to invest in pads of paper before
embarking on holidays and trips: “As many consumers begin to
prepare for approaching travel plans, we often see an increased
interest in sketchbooks and pads of paper that enable budding
artists to commit that beautiful holiday scenery to paper. With
the Clairefontaine range of fine art papers, consumers can do just
that whilst feeling confident that they have the highest quality of
materials at their disposal,” he says.
ExaClair, W: www.exaclair.com C
craftfocus 53
art materials

a soft centre
If you thought Gilliangladrag just did craft kits and books, you’d be wrong. The
booming business also has a retail outlet selling a wealth of wool and felting related
products as well as its own ranges. Owner Gillian Harris takes us on a tour…
Gillian Harris’ Fluff-a-Torium shop in Dorking is
a physical extension of the Gilliangladrag brand.
Acting as HQ for Gilliangladrag Feltmaking
Kits, the retail outlet stocks the full range and
is packed with a plethora of soft, fluffy items.
The colourful space sells Merino Wool Tops in
more than 50 different hues for feltmaking and
spinning, plus custom wool blends and other
fibres. It also stocks a good selection of knitting
and crochet yarns, patterns and books plus
knitting needles and crochet hooks including
Art Viva, as well as a fantastic range of buttons,
ribbons and haberdashery products. The outlet
is also the base for the company’s workshops,
courses and groups.
The shop is also the HQ of Harris’
Gilliangladrag empire, which is also a wholesale
supplier of Gilliangladrag Felting Kits, signed
copies of Harris’ two books and other felting
equipment, as well as Art Viva Knitting Needles
& Knitting Products. The company has also
recently started to stock handbag handles
for trade too.
How did the shop start out
and what was your overall
vision for the outlet?
It came about when we started producing
our feltmaking kits and ran out of room at
my old studio. One day my husband couldn’t
get in through the front door for cardboard
boxes, and the decision was made to find
new premises! I got very excited about not
only having our own space, but also having a
shop that would act as our showroom and
Gilliangladrag “HQ”. When we found our
current premises I was over the moon as it
served our needs on many different levels.
We not only required space for stock, we also
needed the space to continue running our
workshops and this fit the bill perfectly.
56 craftfocus
Was it important for you
for the shop to reflect the
Gilliangladrag branding?
Absolutely! But then Gilliangladrag is me and
that’s what makes it unique. Only I know what
it should be like and how it needs to look.
I’m really interested in branding – which
stems from my background as a graphic
designer. I design everything personally, so
that I can keep the look and feel of the
brand in line with my intentions.
What are your favourite
products in the shop?
Our feltmaking kits have got to be top of the
list! We have nearly 50 different lines now,
so they take up quite a lot of space. I am
also extremely excited about a new range of
handbag handles that we stock, which we are
now going to supply wholesale as well – they
are to die for, and look fantastic attached to
knitted or felted creations. Finally I’d have to
“We try and please all of the
people all of the time by having as
much as possible to choose from”
say our fantastic range of Art Viva Knitting
needles, these are the creme de la creme of
knitting needles – beautiful oak with colourful
beaded spotty ends. They do kids versions
too, but my absolute favourites are the 38cm
x10mm pale blue ones, which I covet. There’s
nothing else quite like them!
Would you describe the shop
as a one-stop shop for felting?
I do think that we introduce a lot of people
to felting. Many people come to our shop to
buy their felting supplies and of course people
who have read my books like to come and
visit as they’ve seen me and my work. It’s
great having so many different colours for
people to choose from. We try and “please

all of the people all of the time” by having as
much as possible to choose from, as everyone
always likes something different. We are also
somewhat of a local attraction – people are
often intrigued by what is behind our fun and
colourful exterior, so it’s great to introduce
them to felting too.
How do you approach
getting stock for the shop?
I use my gut feelings when it comes to
buying for the shop. If items appeal to me
and I think they suit the look and feel of what
I’m trying to do, then I like to stock them, that
coupled with servicing the needs of the people
that come in too of course. I have had to stock
beige wool and bias binding, as that’s what
people actually want sometimes! I’m totally
aware that my taste might not be everyone’s
taste, and have to keep that in mind when
I’m buying - especially with knitting wools.
I do find that a bit tricky.
Talk us through the shop team…
The Fluff-a-tiers: Caroline is my Operations
Manager, she doesn’t actually work in the
shop itself but she is my right hand woman.
Caroline is responsible for all the trade orders
that we send out, and also for the day to day
operation of our business. I don’t know what
I’d do without her! Then there’s Sarah who
is in charge of website orders and kits; and
Denise, Nicky, Fiona, Debbie, Danielle, Polly and
Kerry who either make kits and/or all work in
the shop part time; then we have Clare our
knitting and crochet tutor, Helen our spinning
tutor, and Debbie our felt sample maker. And
me, Master Fluff-a-tier! The most important
thing for me is that everyone is part of a really
great team. They all work tremendously hard
and I am very appreciative.
“The most important thing for
me is that everyone is part of a
really great team. They all work
tremendously hard and I’m very
appreciative.”
Describe your typical customer?
The typical customer tends to be interested in
“crafts” generally - often knitters; crocheters;
felters; sewers; dressmakers; quilters and
scrapbookers. Sometimes we get people who
know nothing, but are intrigued by what we
do! We get people of all ages too, but I’d say
most are over 30.
What advice would you give to small
retailers starting out?
My advice would be to really get a sense of
what you yourselves love and what you are
interested in and find exciting. You can’t sell
things to other people if you aren’t
enthusiastic about them yourself.
You run courses and workshops
– why did you establish these?
My workshops were established many years
ago when I first started the business and
people became interested in what I was doing.
They have gathered momentum over the years
and I now offer as many different types as I
think people will be interested in. It’s a very
helpful way of getting customers into the shop,
so they can attend a workshop and then see
what we have to offer as a whole. Our Knit
and Knatter groups are immensely popular
with the local community.
If I was going to give any tips to others, I’d
advise having strict terms and conditions in
place regarding cancellations and refunds. If you
have overheads and are running your business
efficiently you should have these guidelines in
place. I think people respect rules like these if
you make them clear from the start.
How are you preparing
for the festive season?
I’m keeping my eye open for interesting and
unusual products to sell in the shop and online.
But primarily by promoting our Christmas
Felting Kits; “Extraordinarily Merry” and “Mrs
Christmas’ Day Out” - and also the Art Viva
spotty knitting needles. Imagine having a pair
of those poking out the top of your Christmas
stocking on Christmas morning? Perfect! C
Further information
The Fluff-a-Torium
20 West Street, Dorking RH4 1BL
T: +44 (0)1306 898144
W: www.gilliangladrag.co.uk
craftfocus 57
The Fluff-a-Torium

woollen wonders
Knitting and crochet are classic crafts and two of the most enduring, well loved practices
in the UK, if not the world. When you see the gorgeous yarns, kits and tools that are
currently on the market, it’s not hard to see why they remain so popular…
A wealth of woolly ideas
DMC is widely recognised throughout the
world for its benchmark quality hand sewing
threads; the company’s fantastic reputation
for quality, great choice of colour and
innovation is only supported further with its
offering of 100 per cent cotton crochet and
knitting yarns with patterns and kits.
This autumn DMC offers retailers a
wonderful collection of 16 new crochet
patterns, colourful yarns, including Petra thread,
and new shades of Natura cotton yarn. The
new designs include a range of ladies fashion,
children and baby designs, homeware projects
as well as some Amigurumi character patterns.
The company has found that crocheters
and knitters love working with the finer yarns,
with Petra yarn giving a smooth and silky
appearance for fashion garments and bright
and colourful Amigurumi characters. With
the addition of some wonderful new shades
of DMC Just Cotton Natura yarn, crocheters
are now able to choose from over 57 colours
reflecting the trends in the fashion and home
interior markets
It is so important to draw new crafters
to the crochet and knitting market and
staff at DMC believe that the fun and funky
Hoooked Zpagetti selection of yarns, kits
and patterns will attract many new crafters
by offering a quick and simple way to
learn and ways to create their own
unique, and colourful designs.
For crochet, the company has introduced 16
new patterns and four kits for spring/summer
2012, each with an RRP of £2.50. These are
split into four sections; ladies fashion, baby and
children’s fashion, homeware and Amigurumi.
The range of new babies and children’s
fashion patterns from DMC Creative World
offer a colourful girl’s cardigan, a funky boy’s
hoodie, a delightful baby hat and bootees and
58 craftfocus
a snuggly baby shawl. Hilary Mackin is the
designer of the girl’s cardigan and boy’s hoodie
and has used simple crochet stitches to create
these modern and fashionable garments. With
a variety of sizes offered, 43 shades of DMC
Petra and 34 shades of DMC Natura there
is something for everyone who would like to
create something unique to give as a gift.
Laura Eccleston has designed a charming
colourful baby hat with matching bootee
set in Petra 3 yarn. The design is a timeless
classic that is a perfect addition to any spring
or summer outfit for a baby or toddler.
Wonderful to make and give as a lasting gift.
The baby shawl, designed by Nicki Trench,
uses DMC Natura to make a perfect baby gift
that can become an heirloom for the future.
The simple stitches make this pattern a perfect
project for a crochet beginner. Delightfully
edged in a delicate border, the shawl will make
any baby feel warm and snuggly.
DMC Creative World Ltd, T: +44 (0)116
2754000, W: www.dmccreative.co.uk
Knit, then link
The John James Pebble range is expecting
a new addition: the Pebble in heavenly jade
is especially designed with the knitter in
mind. This pebble has all the characteristics
of its siblings, it is a handy container, easy
to find in your knitting or craft bag and it
looks cute too.
The Knitters Pebble contains three large
needles, which are ideally suited for sewing
knitted and crochet pieces together. Each
needle has a large eye and is great for
threading today’s fashion yarns and also
has a round point ensuring that no fibres
are split during sewing. The Pebble, with its
flip top lid is easy to open, the needles are
easy to pull out and easy to put back and
store safely. The Knitters Pebble is packed
six cards per box and is available from
your John James distributor.
Entaco, T: +44 (0)1527 830940

Gorgeous new yarns
Family owned and operated business,
Thomas B. Ramsden has a whole host of
yarns, design books and leaflets, as well as
crafts and accessories that are sure to delight
experienced knitters and novices alike.
Its Wendy Thor yarn is mega chunky
and available in an exciting range of blended
colours. It is ideal for customers who favour
a quick knitting project as most accessories
can be made in an evening. Though the yarn
is sumptuously bulky it is still light enough to
create full garments and it is truly a delight to
use. To accompany this yarn the company has
produced a series of leaflets covering fashion
and home accessories as well as some fantastic
full garment patterns.
Wendy Celtic is a chunky, tweed effect yarn
in a range of muted earthy tones that give it
a real outdoor feel. Celtic, due to its look and
colour range, is very much a unisex yarn and
its design package features comfortable fashion
garments that are light to wear but also lovely,
wonderfully sumptuous and warm.
With sock knitting very much en vogue at
the moment the company has introduced
Organic growth
Following customer requests, Cornish Organic
Wool is now selling 50g balls of pure, 100 per
cent British organically certified wool. Available
in a range of 14 fantastic colours, it’s now
also possible to
produce machineknitting
wool
on the cone for
manufacturers.
In line with the
company’s ethos,
the product is
still produced entirely within the UK; thereby
supporting British sheep farmers, scourers,
spinners and dyers and the entire process still
adheres to strict Soil Association standards
making this wool truly British and organic.
The new 50g balls have been spun to
DK weight and will be available to retailers
from August, 2012.
Cornish Organic Wool Ltd, T: + 44 (0)1736
350905, E: info@cornishorganicwool.co.uk,
W: www.cornishorganicwool.co.uk
4-ply sock yarns – Wendy Roam and Roam
Fusion. Roam offers five solid colours inspired
by the old St Ives range, whilst Roam Fusion
offers five bright and bold colour mixes. Each
ball of yarn comes with a free sock pattern.
One ball will knit a pair of socks and the Roam
and Roam Fusion colours complement each
other perfectly - the knitter really can create a
truly unique pair of socks. Such a fantastically
colourful yarn need not be used solely for
knitting socks and staff at the company say
that they’re sure that many customers will be
experimenting with it for other projects.
Wendy Merino 4Ply is a fantastic addition
to the Merino range. It is super soft and
comes in mostly pastel shades.
Along with the 17 new leaflets (including
four in DK weight) the team has also created a
stock of new designs which will be given away
free of charge on a regular basis to members
of its Wool ’n’ Threads club so why not
make sure your customers sign up so they
don’t miss out?
Future projects will include a Chunky book
(hopefully in an exciting new format) and a
number of detailed leaflets all of which will be
available mid to late August. A new baby book
is also on the horizon.
Thomas B. Ramsden, T: +44 (0)1943
872264, E: enquiries@tbramsden.co.uk,
W: www.tbramsden.co.uk
Gift for knitters
Interchangeable knitting pins are the new,
popular way to create a versatile selection of
circular pins suitable for any project, and the
PONY Interchangeable Gift Set is something
every knitter will love.
Wrapped in a luxurious, hand-woven fabric
case, and filled with high-quality lightweight
bamboo knitting pins in nine different sizes,
the set contains everything needed to create
pins as small as 3.25mm x 40cm or as large
as 7mm x 160cm – or any size in between.
All components are colour-coded for easy
recognition, and the precisely engineered metal
assemblies are manufactured from solid brass,
ensuring years of use without wear.
The set makes for an excellent introduction
to circular knitting for beginners, and is great for
experienced knitters who are looking to bring
individuality and flexibility to their knitting.
The full PONY range of knitting pins, crochet
hooks, and accessories is one of the largest in the UK. Distributed exclusively by Groves, the
range offers value, quality, and reliability to all retailers.
Groves, T: +44 (0)1844 258080, E: sales@groves-banks.com, W: www.groves-banks.com.
craftfocus 59
knitting and crochet

Gorgeous new yarns
Family owned and operated business,
Thomas B. Ramsden has a whole host of
yarns, design books and leaflets, as well as
crafts and accessories that are sure to delight
experienced knitters and novices alike.
Its Wendy Thor yarn is mega chunky
and available in an exciting range of blended
colours. It is ideal for customers who favour
a quick knitting project as most accessories
can be made in an evening. Though the yarn
is sumptuously bulky it is still light enough to
create full garments and it is truly a delight to
use. To accompany this yarn the company has
produced a series of leaflets covering fashion
and home accessories as well as some fantastic
full garment patterns.
Wendy Celtic is a chunky, tweed effect yarn
in a range of muted earthy tones that give it
a real outdoor feel. Celtic, due to its look and
colour range, is very much a unisex yarn and
its design package features comfortable fashion
garments that are light to wear but also lovely,
wonderfully sumptuous and warm.
With sock knitting very much en vogue at
the moment the company has introduced
Organic growth
Following customer requests, Cornish Organic
Wool is now selling 50g balls of pure, 100 per
cent British organically certified wool. Available
in a range of 14 fantastic colours, it’s now
also possible to
produce machineknitting
wool
on the cone for
manufacturers.
In line with the
company’s ethos,
the product is
still produced entirely within the UK; thereby
supporting British sheep farmers, scourers,
spinners and dyers and the entire process still
adheres to strict Soil Association standards
making this wool truly British and organic.
The new 50g balls have been spun to
DK weight and will be available to retailers
from August, 2012.
Cornish Organic Wool Ltd, T: + 44 (0)1736
350905, E: info@cornishorganicwool.co.uk,
W: www.cornishorganicwool.co.uk
4-ply sock yarns – Wendy Roam and Roam
Fusion. Roam offers five solid colours inspired
by the old St Ives range, whilst Roam Fusion
offers five bright and bold colour mixes. Each
ball of yarn comes with a free sock pattern.
One ball will knit a pair of socks and the Roam
and Roam Fusion colours complement each
other perfectly - the knitter really can create a
truly unique pair of socks. Such a fantastically
colourful yarn need not be used solely for
knitting socks and staff at the company say
that they’re sure that many customers will be
experimenting with it for other projects.
Wendy Merino 4Ply is a fantastic addition
to the Merino range. It is super soft and
comes in mostly pastel shades.
Along with the 17 new leaflets (including
four in DK weight) the team has also created a
stock of new designs which will be given away
free of charge on a regular basis to members
of its Wool ’n’ Threads club so why not
make sure your customers sign up so they
don’t miss out?
Future projects will include a Chunky book
(hopefully in an exciting new format) and a
number of detailed leaflets all of which will be
available mid to late August. A new baby book
is also on the horizon.
Thomas B. Ramsden, T: +44 (0)1943
872264, E: enquiries@tbramsden.co.uk,
W: www.tbramsden.co.uk
Gift for knitters
Interchangeable knitting pins are the new,
popular way to create a versatile selection of
circular pins suitable for any project, and the
PONY Interchangeable Gift Set is something
every knitter will love.
Wrapped in a luxurious, hand-woven fabric
case, and filled with high-quality lightweight
bamboo knitting pins in nine different sizes,
the set contains everything needed to create
pins as small as 3.25mm x 40cm or as large
as 7mm x 160cm – or any size in between.
All components are colour-coded for easy
recognition, and the precisely engineered metal
assemblies are manufactured from solid brass,
ensuring years of use without wear.
The set makes for an excellent introduction
to circular knitting for beginners, and is great for
experienced knitters who are looking to bring
individuality and flexibility to their knitting.
The full PONY range of knitting pins, crochet
hooks, and accessories is one of the largest in the UK. Distributed exclusively by Groves, the
range offers value, quality, and reliability to all retailers.
Groves, T: +44 (0)1844 258080, E: sales@groves-banks.com, W: www.groves-banks.com.
craftfocus 59
knitting and crochet

Beginners luck
Boye, one of the biggest and most influential
knitting and crochet brands in the US is set
to make a big splash in the UK with its new
range of needles and accessories, which are
available through its sister brand Simplicity.
Boye’s strength has always been its precision
engineered aluminium needles; however the
new range now includes innovative teaching
kits, looms and accessories.
I Taught Myself to Knit & Crochet kits start
from £6 (RRP) and feature instructional guides
and needles, with the larger packs including
accessories and DVD’s. The innovative ‘Starting
Points’ provide suede palms or fleece lined
soles that can be used to make knitted or
crocheted gloves and slippers. Each one
includes a free pattern and once the projects
are complete, can be embellished with the
wonderfully personal Boye garment labels.
The NeedleMaster kit offers 13 needle
sizes and four cable lengths creating a huge
selection of circulars with an RRP of £90,
whilst the Crochet Master set with an
RRP of £20, boasts 16 steel and six aluminium
hooks both presented in a neat zippered
case. The artisan tools offer deluxe versions
in wood and nickel plated brass for the most
discerning of customers.
As well as the usual accessories there
are a variety of new and unique ideas such
as re-usable yarn and project talkers, yarn
and needle carry bags and an electronic row
counter, as well as a device to measure the
length of your yarn.
Simplicity, T: +44 (0)800 214 455,
E: uk.sales@btctrim.com
For mini makers
The ‘Good Things for Girls’ craft kit
from Seeding is the perfect gift for the
girl that has everything. It’s a fun kit that
is full of traditional craft and will keep
the young maker occupied for hours. It
includes old favourites such as a knitting
doll, three different coloured wools, a
skipping rope, pick up sticks, a sketch
pad and coloured pencils which are
the perfect ingredients for encouraging
creativity. Suitable for ages 7+
Asobi Seedling, T: +44 (0)1628 200077,
E: info@asobi.co.uk, W: www.asobi.co.uk/seedling
Yarn and more
Viridian specialise in sock yarn, and one of its latest additions is the “Step” from Austermann.
As well as being self patterning it has the added benefit of being blended with jojoba oil and
aloe vera, making it really nice to wear. With gentle washing these ingredients will not wash
out for some time. There are 16 stunning shades to choose from.
The company also has the next Rainforest range from Opal arriving in August, this will
be the eighth in the series. This is also a self patterning yarn and picks up the colours of the
Rainforest. So, this season’s range includes an orangutan, a green frog and some very pretty
birds. A bonus to selling this range is that 10 per cent of Viridian’s profits go back to Opal for
them to pass onto
Rain Forest Rescue.
Viridian also
distribute for Knit
Pro and Clover, two
leading manufactures
of knitting needles,
crochet hooks and
accessories. Knit Pro
has now brought out
“Karbonz”, a light
weight needle made
from carbon fibre
which is used in the
making of racing cars,
planes and space
ships. Due to its
strength, it is ideal for
thin needles which is reflected in the sizes that Knit Pro produce.
Knit Pro has also brought out a new range of attractive wooden needles called “Dreamz”.
These needles are presented in solid colours that are coded across the ranges, so the 3.5mm
aquamarine is the same shade in DPN, straights and interchangeable. Dreamz needles are
currently only available in sets, but we suspect that at some point Knit Pro will bring out all
the individual sizes.
Also available from Viridian are some fantastic little gismos from Clover, our favourite is the
Pom Pom maker that comes if four different sizes as well as two that make ‘heart’ Pom Poms.
The Hani flower loom, the Wonder Knitter and many more little gems are also available.
Viridian, T: +44 (0)117 300 5244, W: www.viridianyarn.com.
craftfocus 61
knitting and crochet

woollen wonders
Trend watch: yarn bombing
Yarn bombing, or yarn storming as it is also known, has become a hot new
trends in knitting over recent years. For those who don’t know about it, yarn
bombing is a kind of friendly
graffiti - where unknown
crafters cover a variety
of objects in knitted or
crocheted yarn rather than
using spray paint or chalk.
Yarn bombing objects can
last for a number of years
but can also be removed
without leaving any damage.
It’s an activity that has taken
the knitting community by
storm (pardon the pun)
and many a UK town and
city has seen cute knitted
creations adorn its streets.
We wanted to know more,
so we spoke to Becky Sunter from Saltburn knitters, who recently took part
in International Yarn Bombing Day at Lingfield Point in Darlington, about the
practice and her love of knitting .
What’s your take on yarn bombing?
It’s an expression of creativity that just makes people smile. Like spray
graffiti it says “I was here”. There is a great deal of humour in yarn bombing,
although often it’s designed to make you notice things that otherwise you’d
have walked straight past. It could be a scarf for a tree, a hat for a statue or a
knitted telephone box.
Tell us about some of your notable ‘bombs’
A graffiti artist is known by a signature, or ‘tag’. Much of the joy is in being
anonymous. Banksy is still unknown, and the Saltburn knitters are keeping
quiet. However, there have been some interesting things appearing at
Lingfield point recently.
Yarn bombs are popping up everywhere, and it can be quite infectious.
The most enjoyable part is in the planning, looking at buildings, lampposts,
street signs and trees, and thinking ‘how can I add to this?’. Probably in the
same way a graffiti artist would look at a new wall.
What is your favorite knitted creation?
Recently I’ve been involved in designing ‘Wool Town’ a local community
project focusing on the connections Darlington has with the wool trade.
It is a huge knitted map of Darlington, with local landmarks and buildings
knitted in detail.
Many of the knitters who have contributed have direct links with the
local heritage, either they or their family members remember working
in the mills and factories, and I learned so much about the real history and
pride in my town.
The wool town project is now on display at Darlington library, there are
plans for it to be displayed in some of the other landmarks on the map.
62 craftfocus
Wool for felting
As well as large packs of
felting wool, La Fourmi
now offers a new range
of mini wool packs,
especially suited to
felting your own design
onto textiles as well as
polystyrene shapes.
These “brand spanking
new” little packs are
small and neat, packed
in two matching shades
and allow people to buy
a whole lot of colours
as they retail at roughly
£1 per pack (41p trade).
They also have a little
felting header with euro-hole for hanging. Available in 14 colourways,
and special Christmas colour combinations, the packs will
be available from September.
To make lovely dry felted designs, you need only a small
amount of wool, but lots of colour. This is what prompted La
Fourmi to create this new packaging.
La Fourmi, T: +32 (2) 6877 629, E: info@lafourmi.eu,
W: www.lafourmi.eu C

Knitting Boards
and Looms

Presents a One-Stop Shop for all your Quilling needs
We are a small family run, Edinburgh based rubber stamp company.
We manufacture in-house, a fi ne selection of Cling rubber stamps.
Brand NEW Christmas Stamps!
We offer FREE delivery on orders over £50 (net of VAT).
You can view our range of products on our website
www.craftystamps.com
Tel/Fax: 0131 221 9440
enquiries@craftystamps.com
Crafty Stamps, 92 Grove Street, Edinburgh, EH3 8AP

season’s greetings!
part one
Yes, it’s that time of year again. And we have such a bumper crop of festive products
we simply can’t fit it into one issue, here’s the first part of our Christmas craft round up…
Festive felts
‘Tis the season to be soft with two
fluffy kits from Gilliangladrag. The
“Extraordinarily Merry” Felt Hearts
kit, RRP £13.95 (pictured below),
has all the ingredients you’ll need
to make these trendy Scandi-chic
hanging hearts, plus full colour
step-by-step instructions written by
Gillian. The hearts are made using
the wet felting method and then
adorned with needle felting and
some other bits too.
These felt heart decorations look
super hanging just about anywhere, but would look really nice on the
Christmas tree, or are great to give as small gifts, - either finished, or for
the recipient to make themselves! Finished hearts measure approx 12cm,
10cm and 8cm high plus ribbon.
The “Mrs Christmas’ Day Out” Little Felt Bag kit, RRP £15.95 (pictured above)
includes everything you’ll need to construct the bag, the signature Gilliangladrag
rose, plus the holly leaves. It makes an ideal gift, or is a great craft project for
anyone in the run up to Christmas.
The finished little bag is ideal for
holding one large, or a few small
pressies (as an alternative to a
Christmas stocking) or as an evening
bag, or just a decoration for the
house. Finished bag measures
approx 19cm high (excluding base)
and about 19cm wide.
Gilliangladrag, T: +44 (0)1306
898144, E: gill@gilliangladrag.co.uk,
W: www.gilliangladrag.co.uk
A sparkly season
Mamelok Papercraft has brought some added sparkle to its papercraft products this
Christmas with the launch of a beautiful Victorian glittered wreath garland and an
expanded range of glittered scrap reliefs – perfect for cardmaking and scrapbooking.
The glittered wreath garland is a new twist on a popular existing product,
with striking red glitter enhancing the wreath’s berries and ribbon. Across the
glittered scrap relief range you will find traditional Father Christmas figures,
festive scenes, angels and cherubs.
The ever-popular 3D Nativity cards complement Mamelok’s long-standing
selection of die-cut and embossed Christmas cards. Also, a new set of masks including
musical icons such as Freddie Mercury and Madonna, are guaranteed to make any
festive celebration go with a bang.
Mamelok, W: www.mamelok.com
All the trimmings
Ribbon designer Jane Means
will be launching her British
made ribbon range in time
for Christmas. The collection
was initially designed for
Liberty and designs will
have a heavy animal
presence including cats, dogs
and reindeer.
Jane says: “Pet products
are a huge trend and I
wanted to design a ribbon
range for animal lovers and pet businesses. Many people
have pets and several high street retailers include pet
stockings in their Christmas gift range, so I decided to design
my own pet ribbon range” she said.
Continuing the theme, Jane has introduced a reindeer
silhouette ribbon for Christmas and the 25mm taffeta
ribbons will be available on 20M rolls to trade for £8.95.
Jane has recently launched her first DVD ‘The Art of
Gift Wrapping’. The DVD is brilliant for retailers wishing to
offer a gift wrapping service. Jane says: “Many retailers have
concerns over the time and expense of offering a simple gift
wrapping service but with just a few simple touches, you can
make the gift seem luxurious and make your customer feel
special” Christmas is obviously a popular time for wrapping
gifts so the DVD is available to trade in singles (£10) or in
packs of 10 (£80) with an RRP of £15. If you sell gift wrap
and ribbons it is a great cross selling product, and having a
simple display of wrapped boxes will encourage buying.
Jane Means, T: +44 (0)1522 522544,
W: www.janemeans.co.uk
craftfocus 65
christmas crafts

season’s greetings!
Just for kids
For young makers, there are some adorable craft kits from
the Mister Maker craft kit range from Creativity International
with some great trade discounts too. Mister Maker is the
fabulous CBeebies TV series, a bright and inspirational fun
kids’ art and craft show.
There are lots of festive ideas in the Mini Makes range
from Festive Friends and Christmas Puppets to the cool
and creative Glitter Makes and Christmas Card kit. RRPs are
just £1.99, which means they’re perfect stocking filler gifts, or
why not also stock the Mega Craft Crate, 3D Alien or Pet
Puppet Show or Doodle Drawers perfect for kids parties
with a higher price point of £12.49 RRP.
Mister Maker, T: +44 (0)1384 485 550,
E: sales@cilimited.co.uk
Joy to the world
The ‘Design your own Snow
Globe’ from Seedling is the
perfect gift to give a loved
one this Christmas. The kit
contains a plastic globe, make
and bake polymer clay, a snow
globe stand, glitter, EVA sheet
and instructions. Little ones
everywhere can get involved
in the Christmas spirit and
model their own figurines
and create something that
represents the meaning of
Christmas to them. All they
need to do then is add water,
glitter and shake to watch it
snow! From ages 6+
Seedling, T: +44 (0)1628
200077, E: info@asobi.co.uk,
W: www.asobi.co.uk/seedling.
66 craftfocus
Seasonal stitches
Nia Cross Stitch is a company based in Wales where cross stitch designer, Nia
Rhind produces contemporary cross stitch charts and kits suitable for a variety
of occasions and for the home. The design instructions are available in Welsh or
English and there is something to suit everyone. There are a selection of seasonal
designs for the Christmas period.
C066 Christmas is a delightful sampler illustrating the spirit of the season. The
word ‘Christmas’ is set amongst fun and quirky motifs associated with this time of
year and has been embroidered in seasonal colours on 16ct ice blue Aida fabric.
Pale blue and gold metallic threads add that extra sparkle to the sampler. C067
Nadolig is the equivalent Welsh version of the design. Both are available as cross
stitch charts and kits.
Nia’s gorgeous C090 Christmas Cupcakes features three magnificent
cupcakes sitting rather gracefully on an elegant cake stand. Here we have a
selection of pastel colours appearing amongst the more traditional festive
colours associated with a Christmas greeting. A selection of fun and colourful
designs to stitch for the festive season.
Nia Cross Stitch, T: +44 (0)1792 897695, E: info@nia-crossstitch.com,
W: www.nia-crossstitch.com
Colourful Christmas
DMC is delighted to offer a selection of bright and colourful
Christmas mini cross stitch kits appealing to all ages. The designs
range from fun and quirky to traditional with a vibrant use of colour
and the custom built point of sale unit will be eye catching at a till
point or in a fixture.
Worked in DMC
stranded cotton
on 14-count DMC
iridescent Aida the
designs are 3 x 3”
when stitched and
can be used for cards,
gift tags or even
stitched onto plain
Christmas stockings
and present sacks.
DMC is also offering
a selection of Fillawant
Christmas ribbon displays with a cohesive selection of celebratory
luxury classic ribbon designs with wide appeal. There are a variety
of widths and finishes available for multi-purchase opportunities. The
reels contain 15m of ribbon ensuring a high return on investment.
Fillawant ribbon is a decorative and versatile product which has
many end usages and is a perfect accessory for decorating special
gifts at Christmas, great for trimming and edgings and a fantastic
addition to creative sewing projects. The ribbons can also be used
for accessorising soft furnishings and home décor as well as card
making and gift tags.
DMC Creative World Ltd, T: +44 (0)116 275 4000,
W: www.dmccreative.co.uk

Derwentwater Designs Ltd
Four new Christmas Cards from
Derwentwater Designs which now makes
a fantastic 42 Christmas Cards in this very
successful range.
01768 - 483 - 119

Cute cards
UK papercraft
company Wild Rose
Studio Ltd is following
on from the success
of its adorable Bella
cardmaking collection
with a festive outing
from the ultra cute
baby elephant.
With eight new
A7-sized stamp designs to choose from and a matching 6x6
paper pack, the Christmas Bella collection covers lots of
different ideas for festive cardmaking, from family-themed
cards to baby’s first Christmas.
Christmas Bella is the first Christmas-themed release from
Wild Rose Studio for 2012; the RRP of the stamps is £5.49
and the paper pack is £4.99.
Wild Rose Studio Ltd, T: +44 (0)117 3643104,
W: www.wildrosestudio.co.uk
Don’t forget
your stamps
Colouricious proudly
presents its new
Christmas gift set
of woodenprinting
blocks, perfect for
block printing on
to fabric, paper and
pressing into clay.
The price is £38
inc VAT. Telephone
orders only.
Colouricious,
T: +44 (0)1494 721 471
Festive finishes
Christmas is the best excuse to get those creative juices going and
decorate your house and dining table in a truly individual way. With
just a couple of products from Plasti-kote, Christmas will not only be
stylish but more affordable too.
For personalised place names that show you care, trying spraying a
pear with Plasti-kote FDE (Fast Dry Enamel) in Gold Leaf and adding
a name, either on a small label or better still use a Plasti-kote FDE
brush to hand-paint the name of a loved one on to a waxy leaf such
as laurel or bay. Fir cones are available in abundance at this time of
the year, try spraying them with white FDE Plasti-kote paint and then
adding a layer of Plasti-kote glitter which is available in silver and gold
before adding the name card.
Plasti-kote spray paint works equally well on glass bottles
as it does on natural seed heads. For a dramatic decorative
statement, try spraying various bottles with Plasti-kote Super
in ruby red and aluminium.
Another trick to try is by making the most of what nature
provides. Use bay leaves and cones, and spray them with Plasti-kote
FDE in chrome. This gives them a fantastically reflective finish before
they’re arranged into a wreath that will grace any front door or table.
Plasti-kote, W: www.plasti-kote.com.
Classic Christmas
RoseRed and Blue is a new children’s company dedicated to encouraging creative play through unique
toys, accessories and craft sets.
The company uses only 100 per cent natural quality materials and carefully considers colours. All
products encourage tactile engagement and are truly ‘designed to last’ with the intention that they
will be used, reused and passed on with love to others.
The company’s Wool Ball Baubles kid can be enjoyed by even small children. All that is required is
some finger knitting, wool rolling and bead threading. Full instructions are included. Its Knitted Santa is a
very simple knitting pattern which means children, knitting beginners and adults alike are able to make a
Santa. The set comes in a small cotton bag complete with knitting needles, 100 per cent mottled tweed
wool, 100 per cent sheep wool stuffing, instructions and a sewing needle.
We really like the Make Your Own Felt Angel decoration. This beautiful felt angel kit comes in a lovely
oval box. The kit includes felt, stockinette fabric for head and hands, natural wool stuffing, white and
golden thread and gold star sequins. It makes a lovely decoration for your Christmas tree.
RoseRed and Blue, T: +44 (0)20 7241 5102, W: www.roseredandblue.com
craftfocus 69
christmas crafts

season’s greetings!
Festive thread work
SoloCrafts, the UK distributor for Design Works, is launching
22 new Christmas felt sewing kits this summer.
In the range are 12 stocking kits with an RRP of £19.99, six ornament
sets with an RRP of £18.99 and four silverware pockets with an RRP of
£18.99. All the kits contain felt, sequins, beads, trims, cotton floss, needle,
patterns and clear instructions.
Stocking themes include snowmen, Santa with reindeer and sleigh,
Santa with cat, Santa and snowman, Santa bearing gifts, teddy bears, and
the best seller is sure to be Santa on his motorbike on Route 66! The
finished length of each stocking is 16 inches.
Themes for the ornaments are, snowmen, gingerbread, bears, cats,
dogs and Santa. Each kit makes 13 ornaments. The finished size of each
ornament is 3” x 4”. Pockets features a Santa face, Santa coming out
of the chimney, snowman face, and Christmas stockings with presents.
There are sufficient materials in each kit to make six silverware pockets
measuring approximately 4” x 6”.
There are also some new festive themes on the company’s plastic
canvas cross stitch ornament kits. This popular collection now offers 15
different kits, each containing materials to make six ornaments and has
an RRP of £19.99. Themes include bears, cats, Santa, snowmen, stockings,
angels, snow globes and many more. The kits contain 14 count plastic
canvas, trims, beads, cotton floss needle and instructions.
If all that wasn’t enough, Design Works also has some Christmas
themed counted cross-stitch stockings, banners and pictures. There are
12 counted cross-stitch stockings in the range each with a finished size
of 17”. All the kits contain white 14 count Aida fabric, cotton embroidery
floss, trims, backing fabric, needle and clear instructions all for £24.99.
Themes include; penguins, cats, dogs, angels, Santa and Mrs Claus, bears,
mice and snowmen. Banners ‘We Believe’ and ‘Santa Stop Here’ have a
finished size of 6” x 10” and the kits contain felt backing material, dowels
and ends, embroidery floss, white 14 count Aida fabric, needle and clear
instructions. For both designs, RRP is £15.99. Several new picture kits
have been added this year, these include 5977 Santa & Kitten, 5978 Santa
with Puppies, 5979 Cosy Kittens, all with an RRP of £29.99.
SoloCrafts, T: +44 (0)1263 515267
E: salesteam@solocrafts.com, W: www.solocrafts.com
70 craftfocus
Deck the halls
Woodware has released new stamps and cassettes for the crafty
edger. With Stampendous’ recent additions to the Frantage
Collection, card making can get off to a sparkling start.
Of course stamps and stencils are not only for card. Crafters can
stamp on just about any surface, with the correct ink pad, so think
fabric, wood, and even glass for Christmas gifts and decorations. Plus
Woodware’s singles stamps are large images that can really grab
attention and hold centre stage in any embroidery project.
Woodware’s double sided scrapbooking paper can be used for
Christmas wreaths and, as it only takes a few sheets of paper and
some ribbon, it represents great value. It’s also a great material for a
festive workshop or a coffee and craft session as rolling the paper is
so relaxing.
Woodware Craft Collection Ltd, T: +44 (0)1756 700024, E: info@
woodware.co.uk, W: www.woodware.co.uk
Create your Christmas
For Christmas 2012, Country Love Crafts has a wide range of
paintable, unfinished craft shapes and decorating supplies. It offers
a huge assortment of designs and products that allow customers to
create custom-made, hand-decorated home décor items, gifts
or personalised keepsakes.
Simply select a preferred surface (e.g.wood, papier-mâché, pottery,
plaster, stone, fabric or glass) and choose the appropriate paint
or decoupage paper to decorate your surface. The company has
thousands of low-cost craft blanks, multi-purpose paints, decorative
papers, craft varnishes and special effect products such as dimensional
snow and glitter.
Remember that some papercraft or scrapbooking products can be
used on wood, papier-mache and even pottery (e.g. stamps, inks and
embossing powders). Instead of cards this year, why not encourage
your customers make a more-durable and functional craft item like a
Christmas tree decoration?
Choose from: boxes, racks and cases; flat or hangtag designs; puffy
or 3D shapes (including letters, numbers and symbols), animals,
Christmas models, Halloween designs and much more. Prices start
from 19p for hangtag shapes.
Country Love Crafts, T: +44 (0)1235 861700,
E: sales@countrylovecrafts.co.uk,
W: www.countrylovecrafts.info

Decopatch decorations
ExaClair Limited has a festive collection of Decopatch papercraft
products that are sure to prove a hit once again this year with
Christmas consumers looking for the ideal gift, decoration
or seasonal craft activity.
Decopatch produces a variety of decorative papers which, when
applied to any surface using a specially designed glossy glue, create
an eye-catching real paint effect. Similar to the art of decoupage,
the method is straightforward and easy to learn but offers endless
creative possibilities and will appeal to all ages.
Ready-to-decorate Christmas shapes range from angels, stars and
trees to reindeer, snowmen and penguins, as well as gift-bags, boxes,
baubles and other tree decorations. There is also a stunning array of
seasonal papers to choose from, in a selection of jolly red, green and
gold designs, plus a selection of shimmering patch liners and gems to
enhance the finished product.
Nick Parry, Head of Art & Craft at ExaClair, says that Decopatch is
an ideal product to inspire Christmas workshops and group activities:
“The beauty of Decopatch is that it is such a simple concept, but
delivers really striking results and can be enjoyed by almost anyone.
“As such, it is a brilliant product on which to run a workshop in
the weeks prior to Christmas,” he continues. “Consumers, including
small children, will be able to grasp the method very quickly, and will
love the many festive designs we have available this year.”
Display stands for Decopatch papers are also available to retailers.
ExaClair, W: www.exaclair.com
Celebration cup cakes
Bothy Threads has been busy in the kitchen again! Following Amanda
Loverseed’s Summer and Celebration Cup Cakes we now have a
Christmas design. It is worked on 14 hpi white Aida, measuring 24
x 25cm with an RRP of £27.49. It uses full cross stitch, back stitch
and a few French knots and is liberally sprinkled with beads and
sequins. Good enough to eat!
Bothy Threads Ltd, T: +44 (0)844 8000221,
E: info@bothythreads.com
Glad tidings
docrafts® has a wealth of great
product ranges for Christmas.
New items from Anita’s range
include Nutcracker, Holly
Leaves and Poinsettia to name
but a few, these Dimensions
Stickers are bang on trend
while the fabulous new
‘Glitterations’ add instant
sparkle and are perfect for
all your Christmas crafting.
Message tags and die cut
toppers can be matched
with cards and envelope
multipacks, which are
available in a range of
different sizes. Add the
tinkle of tiny bells to
crafting projects with
cute silver or gold jingle
bells, each pack contains
30 bells of various
sizes. Wrap up your Christmas
with Anita’s 3m reels of Christmas ribbon, available in six festive
colours. Anita’s products are available at participating stockists from
July 2012 and RRP from £1.00
The opulent Christmas Tidings collection has festive scenes in
abundance across a range of products, including two types of paper tree
ornaments. The collection includes four fabulous card kits, including a
4”x4” stepper card and new for 2012, a Rocking Card kit that contains
additional gemstones for added 3D sparkle – so make sure you
encourage your customers to collect all four!
The A4 and A5 paper packs coordinate perfectly with the
A5 foiled postage stamps, square urban stamps, designer decoupage
sheets and A6 pearlescent cards and envelopes.
If all that wasn’t enough, the collection also boasts the ever popular A4
Ultimate Decoupage Pack which includes papers, decoupage, gift boxes,
alphabets, sentiments and much more! Kids can also create their very
own advent calendar with a kit that lets them count down to Christmas
in style. Christmas Tidings’ products start from RRP £1.75.
docrafts® , T: +44 (0)845 450 3900, W: www.docrafts.biz C
craftfocus 73
christmas crafts

wizards from oz
We profile Australian manufacturer Kaisercraft, the creators of cutting edge
products that promise to take the UK papercrafting community by storm
The Kaisercraft brand is fast becoming a
favourite with cardmakers and scrapbookers
and it’s not difficult to see why. The company’s
wide range of stunning-looking papers and
lavish embellishments including ribbons, lace,
alpha stickers, rhinestones, pearls and rub-ons
add an extra mark of quality to cardmaking and
scrapbooking projects. The Kaisercraft team
took some time out of their busy schedule to
talk about the organisation’s global success.
How does the Australian crafts
market compare to the British one?
Most trends tend to follow on from Europe.
Australia is slightly lagging behind the US and
UK. This could be because most of the major
names in the industry are from the US and
it takes a few months for the products from
other brands to get to us in Australia.
74 craftfocus
How do you work with your UK distributor?
We have been working with Jones Crafts for
nearly two years now and we support the
company as a distributor with catalogues,
workshop magazines and other items. Growth
has been tremendous with Jones and the offer
to always get anything from our range (even
if it’s not in stock) is great for UK retailers.
We generally ship once a month by air as
well as several sea shipments per year.
What would you say makes Kaisercraft
products stand out from the competition?
Probably our Beyond the Page wooden
products for home décor and storage
solutions. These are great as you can
decorate them yourself to suit your own home
décor so they are perfect for any room.
We constantly bring out more for consumers
to choose from, releasing two to three
collections per month at least.
As the industry is always wanting something
new we have had to adapt and give them
more of what they want. Also we publish
our workshop magazine, which showcases
our new collections each month and is full
of great ideas and inspiration for what you
can do with these collections. Instructions
are either printed in each issue or
downloadable from the web.
What is the company’s most notable
achievement to date?
Being recognised as a global leader in
the paper crafting industry and a recognised
brand worldwide for scrapbook supplies.
What are the enjoyable aspects
about being involved in the craft industry?
Definitely watching the trends and being
creative about what we put out. Being one
of only a handful of Australian manufacturers
we don’t have to rely on waiting to see what
America will bring to the table.
How do you decide on new looks
and colour schemes for your ranges?
What is the process?
We research trending colours and look at
those that are suitable for the themes of
the collections. Also we tend to have close
relationships with our customers and they often
tell us where there is a hole in the market. We
look back on our best sellers and determine
what our audience likes and dislikes.
Why do you think paper crafts are becoming
so popular and where do you see the future
for this particular craft practice?
Papercrafting is a creative outlet that anyone
can do. It’s a craft that allows for different

tastes from minimalistic designs to heavily
embellished creations – so it suits almost any
style. In an age of mass production there will
always be something special about home made
items – especially cards.
When it comes to scrapbooking - pictures
and memories will always continue to be a
huge part of peoples’ lives, and even though
digital cameras and scrapping is on the rise,
there will always be people who don’t want
to just sit in front of a computer but be
hands-on and creative.
How do you spot papercraft trends
and keep ahead of the game?
Lots of research and great designers who keep
in touch with what is on trend and what isn’t
– and at times having the courage to step out
and try something new.
What new Kaisercraft ranges would
you like to shout about right now?
Definitely our upcoming Christmas
ranges and new advent calendars.
What is it about these particular
ranges that are so appealing?
Our original advent calendar has taken the
world by storm and is still selling strongly
four years later so this year we have released
three new versions.
We also have a number of new Christmas
ranges, therefore
keeping everyone
happy, and I’m sure
you will find there is
something in there for
every style and taste.
All the collections
have matching
wrapping paper for
those who love having
their cards and gift
wrap coordinated
and we even have
little gift tags for each
range. From creating
presents to wrapping
and the giving of them
we are definitely a
one stop shop this
Christmas.
What are your best-selling items/ranges?
Christmas always sells well and our
best products would have to be our
advent calendar and our storage solutions.
When it comes to collections anything
that is vintage / shabby chic does very well –
such as Timeless, Bonjour, Sweet Nothings
and Madam Boutique
Where does the future lie for the company?
That’s the million dollar question but we
are going to concentrate on supplying our
customers and consumers with the highest
level of service and continue to provide great
quality products to consumers around the
world. The company will continue its tradition
of innovative design and product development.
What trends are you excited about in
scrapbooking and paper crafts?
Probably how the industry is going more
free-form and people are having the courage
to experiment and play. Things are moving
away from the normal flat scrapbooking and
getting more dimensional on and off the page.
We love how people want to show off their
creativity in their homes and we are finding
that our home décor pieces are showing up
in rooms everywhere and are being used in
so many different ways. C
Further information
The UK distributor for Kaisercraft
is JONES CRAFTS
T: +44 (0)115 9781263
E: craftsales@jonesnottm.co.uk
W: www.jonesnottm.co.uk
craftfocus 75
Kaisercraft

independent thinkers
Search Press may be the leading art and craft publisher in the UK, but it still retains a
friendly, family feel – we learn about how this small but perfectly formed company ticks…
Founded more than 40 years ago in an attic
room by Charlotte (Lotti) de Bedoyere, Search
Press is now a major player in craft publishing,
specialising in fine art, textiles, general crafts
and children’s crafts. That said, the publisher is
still an independent family owned company
and is proud of its small close-knit team,
supportive relationships with authors and
friendly office atmosphere. The company’s
Publicity Manager Mary Ellingham explains
why she loves working for Search Press
and why small is beautiful.
How important is your independent ethos?
Our independence gives us a uniqueness that
is pretty rare in publishing considering the
length of time we have been trading.
On a day to day basis it gives us massive
control and flexibility. The ability to have
an idea, big or small, whether from a
staff member, or the management team,
sanctioned, agreed and implemented in a very
short space of time is very rewarding. We are
all used to this non-bureaucratic approach,
and almost take it for granted. It creates an
atmosphere of empowerment and positivity
that resonates at all levels.
What is the team set-up?
We’re small, tight and efficient. A fusion of
family and corporate with the best of both
worlds. Informal and relaxed is our style and
we enjoy a staff loyalty to the company
that can be traced back to Search Press’
founder, Lotti de la Bedoyere. Several of the
staff have been with the company for more
than 20 years and some were employed by
Lotti, so we have the unusual situation that
some of our staff have been with the company
longer than Lotti’s son and present MD,
Martin, who joined us in 1997.
We don’t operate a call centre which is
a welcome relief for our cutomers and the
76 craftfocus
phone is answered during core opening hours
by someone happy to address any query, or at
the very least, find someone who can.
Office dogs are de rigueur at Search Press
and their antics provide the perfect antidote to
any stressful situation. And if that doesn’t cure
all ills, a walk with them in the woods at lunch
is sure to do the trick.
How does this small team give you the edge
in a market dominated by the big players?
Flexibility with close-knit team-work is key to
our success. Our customer service, editorial,
sales, marketing, accounts, production and
design sections are all in one open plan
office presided over by Martin in one corner
and his wife Caroline in another. This leads
to a very open style of management and
working, with communication being supreme.
Miscommunication is very rare due to the
frank openness of the way we work. There are
no barriers or closed doors, so we share all
the ups and downs with family style banter.
Our in-house warehousing and dispatch
allows for a very special edge too, giving us the
ability to fast track any urgent order which can
go from receipt to leaving the building within a
couple of hours if necessary.
How and when did the company start?
The company was founded in 1970 by Lotti in
an attic room in Kensington, London. She saw
a gap in the market for craft book publishing
and single handedly began her journey to
create a craft book publishing company.
With the then current hot trends of pin and
thread and basketweaving, her first titles
were born. Her publishing philosophy was to
produce reasonably priced books packed with
inspirational information and clear instructions
and today, our publishing principle is pretty
much the same. In the early ‘80s she relocated
the company to Tunbridge Wells and a quiet
corner on the North Farm Industrial Estate,
where we still are today.
How has the company changed
and evolved over all those years?
Technology has probably accounted for the
biggest change. Martin has really embraced
this and has used it to push us ahead. We
have a new super photographic studio on
site now too and having converted to digital
photography early on, we use the very best
photographic technology, to achieve a high
standard of imagery for our publications.
We have grown in stature around the
world but still retain a relaxed and informal
style. Martin captains a tight ship (which
may not always be immediately apparent)
but with his relaxed, informal management
style, we all laugh a lot.

What is the company’s most notable
achievement to date?
Does still being successful after 42 years count
as an achievement? We certainly think so! We
have won various awards over the years with
the latest being, Best Craft Book Publisher
2012 in the Craft Business Awards. We are
proud too of our authors and what they have
achieved and Vic Bearcroft has just won the
Best Endangered Species category in the BBC
Wildlife Artist of the Year competition for his
amazing painting of a gorilla.
We have had record breaking growth over
recent years and have just enjoyed our fourth
consecutive year of double digit growth
resulting in a turnover of £7million.
Talk us through the typical
Search Press publishing process?
All our publishing processes are carried out in
house with only one exception, the printing.
From commissioning, editing, photography,
design, repro, production, sales, marketing,
order processing and despatch, it is all carried
out in our offices in Tunbridge Wells. Following
the commissioning, editors carefully plan
books, page by page with the authors, who
are primarily artists and crafts people that
welcome the support and guidance of our
friendly, hands-on editorial team. The process
then moves to our photography studio where
author, editor, designer and photographer all
work tightly as a team to take the book to
the next stage of in house repro and then it is
finally sent off for printing. Meanwhile our, sales,
marketing and publicity teams are already fired
up and pre-publication orders are secured. The
finished book is in our warehouse within four
months, and then sold around the world.
How many titles do you publish a year?
We publish around 100 titles per year across
art, general craft, needlecraft, jewellery,
papercraft and sugarcraft. Together with all
the titles we distribute for other publishers,
we stock around 1,800 lines. As well as
publishing we also distribute for many other
art and craft book publishers. This would
be deemed by many as helping to sell for
our competitors, but we see it as providing
the widest possible selection of art and craft
publications to our customers.
What is the company’s flag ship publication?
It would have to be a series rather than a
single publication and that would be our
Twenty to Makes series. The TTMs are the
brainchild of Caroline and they were primarily
created with the bricks and mortar retailers in
mind. Many of them see the rise of the online
market as a threat to their survival. Caroline
created a series that would be so inexpensive
and compact, it would make it the perfect
impulse buy in a shop, negating the need to
walk out and buy online. The series is now a
huge success with retailers and ironically
with online traders too.
We are soon to celebrate the publishing
of TTM’s fiftieth title and we’ve sold half a
million copies in total.
What’s your favourite Search Press book?
I have three at the moment. I love colour
and one of the most delicious books is Moy
Mackay’s, Art of Felt and Stitch. It’s almost
good enough to eat. I could certainly wear
it, it’s so vibrant. My other favourite for its
pure fun and cuteness has got to be Knitted
Meerkats. The ‘kats’ have been to trade shows,
book signings and exhibitions and stolen every
heart they met. Lastly it’s back to colour and
vibrancy again and Jean Haines’ Atmospheric
Watercolours. Jean somehow manages a
mix of subtlety and pure wow factor in her
paintings that is beguiling to say the least.
What do you like about being
in arts and crafts publishing?
The creative vibe is almost addictive. If you
craftfocus 77
Search Press

independent thinkers
MD Martin, Caroline & Daisy.
are at all arty or crafty, you get to satisfy all
your creative urges by just wallowing in the
atmosphere and feeding off all the artistic
juices that flow around daily. It’s inspiring,
therapeutic, satisfies the soul and feels more
like a hobby than a job.
If you are not at all creative, it’s still a lively,
colourful, crazy place to work. The best fun can
be had in art and craft publishing.... or maybe
that’s just working for Search Press.
What’s your favourite type of craft?
I guess it would have to be knitting. I learnt
to knit at primary school in Ireland and I still
remember with pride the bright yellow socks I
knitted back then. I still get a warm glow every
time I see yellow knitting.
You now have a craft room that can be
used for workshops or demonstrations by
customers, authors or organisations - tell us
more about this?
When we built our last extension, we felt the
need to have some meeting rooms, but they
were hardly ever used so we thought we
would put the rooms to good use and offer
them to anyone who wanted a venue to host
an art or craft event.
So our craft rooms have seen jewellery
making, scrapbooking, quilting and WI meetings
to name but a few of the activities. Currently
they play host to life drawing classes with live
models and occasionally birds of prey (not at
78 craftfocus
Meet the artist day
the same time, I hasten to add). The rooms
are provided free of charge for any art
or craft related event.
You have also established yourselves in
Australia and the USA - what exciting new
plans for world domincation are next?
Sales in Australia and the US continue to
grow but we are a UK company and our
innovations will be based on the publishing
we do in the UK.
The big question for craft book publishers is,
to ‘e’ or not to ‘e’, so we’re dipping our toe into
the water with e books. We are however still
confident that craft instruction books made of
paper have a long future.
How does your website help retailers and
consumers access your books?
Our website gives everyone 24 hour access to
us. We are constantly evolving and looking for
ways to improve our site. All the information
that is required by either a trade or mail order
customer is there at the click of a button: ISBN,
price, author info, stock guide and sample
inside pages. Everything they need to know
about a book and the author is there, allowing
them to make an informed decision. We also
provide the facility to order through the site,
that way, a person can place their order at a
time convenient to them, day or night. This
is hugely important in the fast-moving, time
conscious world of today. C
Sophie takes notes while designer and author
thrash out which brush is best. Photographer
Paul, waits patiently for the outcome.
Sue Stratford - Meerkats author, taking a
knitting break in the garden.
Further information
Search Press
T: +44 (0)1892 510850
E: searchpress@searchpress.com
W: www.searchpress.com

Scrapbooking - Cardmaking - Paper & Card - Rubber
Stamps - Punches and lots more...
2012

crafting the future
The Craft & Hobby Association has been helping those who work in the US craft industry
for many years. With the recent launch of CHA-UK, now British craft businesses can
benefit from the same support. We decided to find out more…
Get ready for a revolution in the British craft
industry. CHA-UK officially launched in May
as an affiliate chapter of the hugely successful
Craft & Hobby Association in the USA. It
will enjoy the full support of the American
association while remaining autonomous
within the United Kingdom, making it the
country’s most expansive, and most inclusive,
creative industry association. And, because it
is based and funded in the UK so will cater
specifically for the needs of Britain’s craft
industry retailers and suppliers.
The UK chapter was founded with the
support of leading UK craft and hobby
businesses. On 18 th May, the CHA-UK Board
of Directors met in Manchester to elect its
officers. The CHA-UK Board of Directors
elected Sara Davies as Board Chair; Carolyn
Schulz as Vice Chair and Derek Bamford as
Board Secretary / Treasurer. The CHA-UK
Board of Directors is composed of industry
leaders and influencers including:
• Colin Poole, Creative Expressions Ltd
• Alastair McMinn, Coats Crafts
• Barry Short, Creatively Inspired
• Jane Gregory, Addicted 2 Craft
• Tony Sheridan, Create & Craft TV
• Catriona Marshall, Hobbycraft
• Derek Bamford, Cutting Edge Craft,
Grafton Projects Ltd
• Mark Hill, The Thomas Kinkade Company LLC
Larry Olliges, CHA Board Chair said:
“Thanks to the dedicated efforts of past and
current CHA Directors including Carolyn
Schulz, Mark Hill, and Sara Davies we’ve been
able to witness this labour of love come to
fruition. I am confident that the CHA-UK will
not only be successful, but that it will serve as
a model for how the CHA will establish and
operate chapters in the future.”
Mark Hill, CHA International Committee
Chair and CHA-UK Board Member added
to these comments and said: “After almost a
decade of discussion and planning, I’m very
proud to be part of the UK’s premier craft
industry organisation. With national craft retail,
media and manufacturing support behind us,
we are truly poised to nurture and expand the
craft and hobby industry in the UK.”
“The UK is at a crossroads”, explained Sara
Davies, newly elected CHA-UK Board Chair.
“We need to come together to collaborate
in order to expand the craft industry in the
UK by leveraging shared experience and
pooling resources to harness the collective
power of an entire industry rather than
individual craft businesses.”
The CHA-UK vision
The aim of the CHA-UK is to:
• Unite the UK craft industry
• Grow the craft industry in the UK and
help members achieve and maintain success
• Organise a trade association that’s unique
to the needs of the UK craft market,
governed by the leaders of that industry
• Offer UK-centric benefits to all members
• Offer affordable membership and tangible
returns unique to the UK craft industry
CHA-UK member benefits
The CHA-UK is a not-for-profit
organisation with all membership fees being
pumped directly back into the association
to benefit all members. The aim is to keep
membership fees as affordable as possible
with the bonus of members being able to
gain access to numerous exclusive benefits.
New members will become an essential link
in the CHA-UK chain, immediately granted
access to the advice and experience of
all fellow members worldwide, to free
webinars, access to survey results and
free up-to-date reports on what’s hot and
what’s not. These are the tools essential
to helping you not just run, but build your
business, optimising returns and therefore
bringing financial success.
The CHA-UK is also in partnership with
the BATF (British Allied Trades Federation),
securing a place within its conglomeration
of leading UK associations including the
Giftware Association and the British
Jewellers’ Association. This will provide all
members with a whole host of unique
benefits, including:
• Competitive reduced credit card
processing rates
• Great discounts on delivery
and mailing services
• Up to 25 per cent off healthcare
• Hotel and leisure reduced rates
• Motoring discounts
• Discounted web design and hosting
• Savings on insurance services
• The body also offers discounts for the
Autumn Fair show hosted by i2i events - 2
C
nd
-5th September. CHA-UK will be co-hosting
workshops and seminars at Autumn Fair
FURTHER INFORMATION
For more information visit
www.cha-uk.co.uk
craftfocus 81
business CHA-UK advice

smart shop-keeping –
your questions answered
Retail Champion Clare Rayner answers your questions, giving you valuable tried and
tested advice on increasing the number of people coming into your premises as well as
providing expert insights to help you make your retail proposition more profitable
QI opened a shop about a year ago, and
although initially the outlet was very
successful, things seems to have petered out
and footfall has dropped quite considerably.
“support Ateam GB” for the Olympics and
Paralympics, so don’t worry yet! Beyond that,
and depending on what you’ve got left over,
you could either sell it as clearance, retain it
Tell me what am I doing wrong?
Often when a new store opens there is a
great Adeal of excitement – many new stores
have opening events and get some local press
coverage. Of course this makes the first weeks
and months buoyant. Then the day-to-day
becomes established, the store isn’t “new”
anymore and footfall dies off.
To counter this I believe retailers need
to create regular and repeated activities
– promotions and events for example
– increasing the excitement around the
brand and maintaining regular contact with
customers to encourage them to come
back. Retailers need to build up an annual
marketing and promotional calendar to
plan in everything from new range launches,
to seasonal window displays and in-store
customer events.
Footfall is a major issue for retailers at the
current time. It’s no secret that high streets in
particular are seeing fewer visitors, so retailers
need to become a destination and not rely
on passing trade. By keeping in regular contact
for future British events or, and this will only
work if the items are separately red, white or
blue, you could create colour themed displays
in order to promote the items individually.
It’s always tough with very time-sensitive
promotions, and this one was particularly
unique in that it won’t repeat in our life-time.
See what you can manage to sell through
Q
the Olympic period and then re-assess the
residual stock to make a decision about
actions to clear or reuse then.
Q
AQA
“Figures show that retailers that
don’t have an mCommerce site
are losing out on an additional
15 per cent in online orders,
therefore not having a mobile site
equates to closing down your
website for one day a week.”
82 craftfocus
with customers, and by creating good reasons
for customers to come back, then it is possible
to buck the trend and whether or not the
latent footfall rises or falls, you can ensure you
drive the footfall you need.
I personally know a retailer, The Dressing
Room in St Albans run by Deryane Tadd,
and she has done a phenomenal job with
these approaches. Although a fashion
boutique not a craft retailer, her success is
based on the same general principles and is
therefore proof that it can be done!
I run a very small retail outlet. If I buy in bulk
I get discounts on stock, but I don’t want my
shop to look cluttered and be landed with
stock I can’t sell - how can I make the most
of my investments but not overstock?
Obviously you should only ever buy as much
a stock as you can reasonably expect to sell
within a timeframe, e.g. within the key season
to which the stock relates.
Then, if the investment in stock makes good
sense then I would suggest looking at costs
for outside storage and replenish to the store
weekly or monthly in order to avoid it looking
cluttered. Of course, the cost of storage may
wipe out the benefit of the bulk-purchase
discount, in which case the little and often
approach may be better for you, and it
will certainly help with cash flow to
purchase little and often as well.
Q
Help! I’ve got lots of red, white and blue
stock left over from the Jubilee – how can
I recycle it and make it appealing to
customers that may be Union-Jacked out?
There is still the opportunity to promote
I know it’s summer but as you know, at this
time of year every retailer worth their salt
is thinking about Christmas. I’m no different
but I need some advice on how can I make
the most of the festive season and when
should I put my strategy in place?
I advise that retailers have an annual marketing
and promotional calendar, as touched on
above, and therefore Christmas would be
planned very much in advance. You are
right, certainly summer is not too soon to
get festive. Now is the time to look at your
current ranges, review last year’s Christmas
sales, what worked, what didn’t, and plan what
number of items, and what volume, you need
to buy to support specific Christmas ranges.
You are right to plan ahead. I would also
visit some of the trade shows (see pages
23-27) where you might purchase Christmas
specific lines. You’ll probably also find that
the buying process is easier as you’ve got a
structure for your Christmas range in mind.

A QA
Okay, I need to know... What is all the
fuss about mobile retailing – I’m a small
independent retailer, why should I care?
Mobile is growing at an alarming rate and
rather like the ecommerce boom a while
back, it’s the “next big thing” – you need to
care because your competition will. Having
a mobile channel is not beyond your reach
and it’s an extra opportunity for customers
to be able to buy from you. Even if your
current customers don’t use mobile this is
likely to change over the next few years and
it’s better to be prepared than to get caught
out. Customers nowadays expect retailers,
Image Courtesy of Gail D’almaine
large and small, to offer them a multi-channel
experience, so that they can browse in store
and transact online (or on mobile) or browse
online and transact in store. Those who don’t
have this capability will miss out, and when
trading conditions are as tough as they are,
retailers cannot afford to miss any sales.
Figures show that retailers that don’t
have an mCommerce site are losing out on
an additional 15 per cent in online orders,
therefore not having a mobile site equates
to closing down your website for one day a
week. That's a big deal. Being a small business
is no excuse, as there are providers who
Further information
Clare Rayner, the Retail Champion, has regularly made guest
appearances on BBC radio, TV and has contributed to various
retail-focused articles and opinion pieces. Clare shares her
expertise in developing strategies with retailers of all sizes to
increase profit, customer base, revenue streams and channels
to market. Clare is also Owner/Director of several businesses
servicing the retail sector including Retail Acumen, The Retail
Conference and e-mphasis Internet Marketing.
specifically work with smaller, independent
retailers to help them “mobilise” – so at the
very least do some research, find out what
others are doing, see which providers could
support you and find out how much it’s
likely to cost. It might not necessarily be the
right time to do it yet, but at least you’ll be
prepared. C
“I believe retailers need to
create regular and repeated
activities – promotions and
events for example – increasing
the excitement around the brand
and maintaining regular contact
with customers to encourage
them to come back.”
If you have a question about any aspect
of your business, simply email: editor@
craftfocus.com or write to: Q&A Special,
Craft Focus Magazine, Broseley House,
Newlands Drive, Witham, Essex, CM8 2UL.
craftfocus 83
expert business advice

nuts and bolts
John Walker, National Chair, Federation of Small Businesses talks about the increasing
importance of securing an efficient working infrastructure to ensure small business success
It shouldn’t matter where a small business is
located, with the transport and technology
of today we should be able to trade easily
overseas, across borders and throughout
our cities, towns and villages.
Exporting is key for economic growth
and we all want our country to be super
connected, but to achieve this we need
to be connected internally first.
Our research shows that six in 10 (63 per
cent) of small, rural firms are suffering with
the speed of their broadband. Another 34
per cent are unhappy with the reliability of
their connection and a quarter are dissatisfied
in terms of value for money. This blocks the
growth of countryside businesses.
With four in 10 businesses operating in
rural areas, it is unacceptable that countryside
firms find it hard to get even basic broadband
speeds and this needs to change.
BT has said that it met its target to equip
10 million homes in the UK with superfast
broadband. While this is good news and does
have a geographical spread across the country,
rural areas haven’t been targeted anywhere
near well enough.
That is why the Federation of Small
Businesses is calling on the government to put
20Mbps broadband in place to support 98
per cent of the countryside. We need to close
the digital divide between rural and urban
businesses, and give countryside businesses
better access to markets.
Smart phones and tablets have taken
off in recent years, and as a result we can
get the information we want, whenever
we want. Mobile broadband is a great
complement to fixed broadband – 48 per
cent of small firms are already using it, or
would do if it was available in their area.
“Our research shows that six in 10
(63 per cent) of small, rural firms
are suffering with the speed of
their broadband.”
This shows how important it is to
get reliable coverage everywhere.
Patchy mobile provision isn’t good enough.
With the 4G spectrum auction still in the
waiting room, we need to get this in place
immediately. Doing this will place the country
at the forefront of digital development. In turn,
businesses can grow, innovate and diversify -
crucial for economic growth.
But it isn’t just broadband that can help
our rural communities thrive. Those living
and working in rural areas face a greater
challenge getting from A to B than their urban
counterparts. People living in the countryside
travel 45 per cent further in England than
those based in urban areas. Yet six in 10 small
firms said the state of the road network
adversely affected their business.
Businesses need to be able to reach their
suppliers and customers quickly and easily,
without unnecessary cost, be that through
time or money. That is why we are calling for a
commitment to more investment, maintenance
and upgrading of UK roads.
Fuel costs are also having a damaging impact
on all businesses, let alone countryside firms.
The high cost of fuel is hitting these firms hard,
and the planned 3p increase in August will
only worsen the situation. The Chancellor has
a real opportunity to make a small difference
to homes and businesses across the country
by reversing this increase.
Our rural businesses have the potential
to make a huge contribution to our
entrepreneurial power and economic growth.
But they need the right conditions. Rural
entrepreneurs needs to be encouraged to
grow, and the barriers that block them from
doing that must be removed. C
FURTHER INFORMATION
To find out more about the FSB, visit
www.fsb.org.uk
craftfocus 85
business advice

Last issue we explored the possible benefits
of running workshops. We discussed the
advantages of introducing and engaging
customers into a new craft and passing on
crafty skills. We also looked at the possibilities
of up-selling and adding another revenue
stream to your business.
There is also a personal, less tangible plus
point in running courses, as Rachael Matthews
from London-based knitting and yarn outlet
Prick your Finger illustrated: “Teaching by
showing is the fastest and most exciting way to
learn. We love teaching individuals or groups
of friends who can go home and continue to
learn together. Teaching for us is rewarding
because we learn too, and at the end of every
class, we seem to love knitting even more.”
However before you don the teachers’ cape
and start ordering the notepads, there are
some practical considerations to take care of.
Be prepared
First you must decide if you are going to run
workshops yourself or employ an outside tutor.
If you’re going to do it yourself, teaching
something you love to interested parties may
appear idyllic, but real thought and practical
preparation is essential.
It’s important that you identify your area of
expertise. Julie Gardner, Designer Maker
for Gilhoolie Lampshades and Textiles
teaches in Berkshire for Arts & Laughs
(www.artsandlaughs.co.uk) and Make & Do in
Reading (www.makeanddoworkshops.com),
she has these words of advice for would-be
‘workshopers’: “I think if you are going to teach
a skill it’s important that it is something you
love doing yourself. When you attend a course
you can tell if the teacher is passionate about
their work and I hope that comes across when
I teach. It’s amazing to be able to help other
people learn a new skill and end the course
admiring their own creations.”
So, you may know your stuff but how can
you communicate what you know? Julie gave
herself plenty of time before embarking on
teaching workshops; she thought carefully
about all the steps involved in making a
86 craftfocus
part 2
work it out
We know that craft workshops are on the rise, and that they can prove to be a
profitable exercise, but where do you start in setting them up? In part two we get
insights from workshop experts on the logistics of running craft training events
lampshade and talked herself through them
each time she made a lampshade for a client.
“I then put it all down on paper and kept
on running through it until I was happy I had
covered every little detail and was confident
I could communicate it to others. Now I
give out these instructions at the end of
my workshops so that people can go away
and make a lampshade on their own with
confidence” she said.
If you’re going to get an external trainer
then it is essential that your tutor has been
equally as thorough and has fully informed you
on their course outline and what materials
and resources they expect you to supply. Sam
Sterken from the Ministry of Craft, a company
that specialises in craft courses, works very
closely with each tutor to ensure best practice
in each course. “We recruit at least one new
tutor every couple of months and start by
working an initial idea into a commercial
course. We then carefully cost materials
and equipment, draft the idea into a session
with either a learning outcome or a product
on completion.”
Create the space
You will also need a good amount of space
to hold your workshop and you must make
sure it is compliant with health and safety
legislation. Hannah Elge from Chelmsford’s
Make, Do and Mend thinks creating the right
learning environment is vital saying: “It is
essential to make sure we have all the practical
things ready for each workshop, the materials
and equipment and the like. We make sure
there is a clean, tidy environment that is
surrounded by inspiring stuff to help people
be creative. Of course tea and biscuits are
also essential course components.”
Tracy Crabtree, founder of StitchEast, who
runs Creative Craft Workshops for ‘new and
vintage chicks’ concurs, and believes preplanning
will also help: “Collate and set out
the materials required for the coming week’s
classes to ensure everything is available when
needed and to allow for time to restock where
necessary. Everything needed for a project is
Gilhoolie
laid out before the customers arrive and a
spare set is to hand, just in case of problems.
This avoids disrupting the class
while replacements are found.”
The size of your workshop group is
also a key consideration, this will depend on
the size and layout of your venue, the kind
of craft involved and resources required – both
in terms of materials and the kind of support
you or your tutor want to offer. “I personally
find around five or six attendees is a nice

manageable number,” says Julie, “That way
there’s enough people to interact with each
other (after all, it’s a social event too!) but not
so many so that I can’t keep a close eye on
what everyone’s up to.”
Again whether you’re carrying out a class
yourself or you employ a personal tutor, you
want your customers to get the very best
out of their session. Let’s face it, for the time
and investment you’ll put into each workshop
you want to ensure that you engage your
customers, build relationships with them and in
turn get them to do your PR for you. So, what
are the challenges of conducting a class and
how do you overcome them?
“The main challenge is ensuring no-one
makes any major mistakes – you want people
to go away with a sense of achievement not a
feeling of failure”, says Julie. “With that in mind
I carefully observe what everyone is doing
but I have to stop myself from taking over if
someone is struggling on a step; they need my
guidance, not for me to do it for them!
“I also keep an eye on time so that we don’t
run over or finish much too early. It’s good to
have a well-deserved break half way through
the workshop so that everyone can relax and
chat with some tea and cake.”
Pitch perfect
In order to ensure that your workshops build
confidence, each session needs to be pitched
at the right knowledge level and each course
attendee needs to feel supported, as Prick
your Finger’s Rachael explains: “Sometimes
beginners are difficult to pitch to because
often, people who think they are beginners
are actually very good, and vice versa. We talk
to people a lot about their experience at the
StitchEast
StitchEast
beginning of the class, and we always have a
teaching assistant to help strugglers or move
on with the good knitters.”
Julie agrees that talking and building trust is
key: “When I’m teaching I watch everyone to
make sure they are keeping up. I structure the
workshop so that the process is broken down
into steps. Then I explain what to do at the
beginning of each step and wait for everyone
to catch up before moving on. On the less
fiddly tasks at the end they can go at their
own pace and relax a bit. That’s when I tend
to go round one more time to make sure
everyone’s happy”.
So how do you know you’re getting
that positive outcome that you need from
workshops? As always the best way to find
out is to ask. Make, Do and Mend’s Hannah
is a great believer in feedback forms –
that way you can get an insight into what is
going well and what you need to work on,
they may be particularly useful if you aren’t
teaching yourself.
“Generally we get five out of five! But the
biggest attribute is returning customers, people
are coming back again and again to do more
workshops and learn more skills so we must
be doing something right!” C
Three top workshops tips from
Tracy Crabtree of StitchEast
• Preparation is key: Set up as much
as possible beforehand and always have
a spare of everything to hand as it’s
inevitable that something will break
or go missing during a class.
• Customers: Everybody learns and works
at a different rate. Ensure you have the
next stage ready for the quick learners
to do whilst you are helping those that
find it more challenging.
• End Product: Everyone wants something
to show for their time with you. Projects
should be suitably challenging but able
to be completed in the time allocated.
WORKSHOP GURUS
Gilhoolie textiles: www.gilhoolie.co.uk
Make Do and Mend:
www.makedomend.com
Ministry of Craft: www.ministryofcraft.co.uk
Prick your Finger: www.prickyourfinger.com/
StitchEast: www.stitcheast.com
craftfocus 87
business advice

get the website you want
Last issue we gave you an overview on how to work with a web developer. In this
edition Beth Scott of web agency Loud and Clear delves a little deeper, taking a
look at some of the specific decisions that you will need you to make and why…
After reading last issue’s piece on briefing your
web designer you should be pretty confident
in how to approaching your online ‘guru’ and
telling him or her what you want. But before
you get started, it may be beneficial to get
clear in your mind exactly what you do want
from your online proposition. So it might be
a good time to consider the scope of the
project again, in particular the decision around
whether to go for an ecommerce site or a
simpler “shop window” one. Leaving aside the
issue of available budget, why else
would you choose one over the other?
A “shop window” shows prospective
customers what you do but doesn’t let them
88 craftfocus
complete the purchase online, whereas
ecommerce allows the prospective customer
to select and pay for the item immediately.
Your primary consideration should be the
amount of communication you need (or want)
to have with your customers and this will
depend on the sort of product or service you
are selling. If you are expecting a high volume
of straightforward low-cost transactions – for
example selling paints or yarns – then it would
be inefficient to have to respond to an enquiry
before every order and an ecommerce site
would be the obvious choice. Conversely, if
you are providing bespoke items, such as oneoff
hand-fashioned embellishments or sourcing
specific artisan materials, then it could make
a lot of sense to interact with customers at
every stage of the order process, making sure
that you both know exactly what the customer
wants and when they should expect it.
There will, of course, be many businesses
whose transactional processes fall somewhere
between these two extremes. For these
specific queries, it is possible for an ecommerce
system to handle complex customisation of
orders (sizing, colours, personalisation etc) but
this could add to your development
costs and you will need to consider whether
the volume of business you expect (or can
handle) justifies the added expense.

Having briefly looked at why you might
choose a “shop window” website over an
ecommerce site, we’ll move on to consider
how you could use one, and what it might
comprise of.
The primary purpose of a shop window
website is to attract new customers so you
need to use your site to start a dialogue
with a prospective customer. To that end you
want to show your products to their best
advantage with quality photography and good
descriptions that explain (where applicable)
all the options. If you can show testimonials
or reviews from satisfied customers then that
can be a great tool for helping prospective
customers visualise their purchase.
As you are relying on prospective customers
to initiate contact with you prior to placing an
order, you need to make communication as
easy as possible. You should make your contact
details obvious and have an enquiry form
that solicits as much relevant detail as possible.
You could also have an FAQ section which
deals with the obvious queries as well as
placing a “got a question?” type email link
on every suitable page.
Moving on, we’ll take a closer look at the
mechanics of updating a site. There are two
main options here, getting your developer
to make the updates for you or doing them
yourself via a content management system
(CMS for short). Most people prefer to do
their own updates but some are happier to
leave it to their developer. This is an issue that
you should discuss with your developer at the
beginning of the project. The main advantages
of using a CMS to do your updates are
flexibility (making changes when you want to
rather than when your developer has time),
control (not having to rely on the developer)
and cost (your time instead of your developer’s
time). So, with these advantages, why would
you not use a CMS? Firstly, peace of mind – if
you’re not comfortable using a computer then
having your developer update your site can
save worry and, potentially, avoid you making
expensive mistakes. Secondly, time – if you
are very busy it may be a better use of your
time to brief your developer on the changes
required than to make them yourself. This
does depend on you being able to explain
the required changes in a concise manner.
So, now you’ve decided to use a CMS to
update your site. Which one of the more than
1,200 available do you use? The obvious thing
to say here is “talk to your developer” – they
will probably have one they normally use,
whether it’s bought in or they’ve written it
themselves. If you find that you have to choose
a CMS then the questions you will need to
ask are whether your developer can integrate
it successfully, does it have the features you
require and how much it will cost.
You would expect a CMS to allow you to
alter product prices, descriptions, options and
stock levels as well as adding new products
(and removing obsolete ones), editing text and
images. CMS are useful for all sites, not just
ecommerce ones - with a shop window site
you may still need to add and remove pictures,
edit text and add to your FAQ.
In terms of product management, an
ecommerce system should be able to update
stock levels as items are sold and should
let customers know if an item is low or out
of stock. It may also be able to re-stock (or
prompt you to re-stock) at specified stock
levels. If you sell outside of your site (through
retail outlets or at craft fairs, for example, or
on other websites such as Amazon or Ebay)
then you will need to adjust the stock levels
in the system for that. If you have a bricks and
mortar shop it may be possible to integrate
an EPOS (electronic point of sale) system
with your ecommerce system to keep stock
levels right. One of our customers did find
themselves unable to fulfil a website order
when he realised that he wasn’t updating
his stock levels to take account of
telephone orders.
So, now you’ve decided on an ecommerce
site that you’re going to keep updated using
a content management system, you’ll need to
decide how people can pay you.
As always, your developer should be able
to give you some guidance here. As well as
the simple (albeit slow) approaches of cheque,
postal order and bank transfer you can take
payments online. We always recommend using
a payment provider rather than taking credit
card details online yourself. The advantage
of using a payment provider is that you do
not access or store the credit card details,
so security is not your responsibility. In
addition, many customers will feel safer using
a recognised payment provider. Three major
payment processors are Sagepay, Worldpay
and Paypal, each of which has their own
advantages and disadvantages. As developers
we have used all three over the years and tend
to recommend on an individual basis. C
Further information
Beth Scott Loud-n-Clear.com
29 Castle Crescent, Reading, RG1 6AQ
W: www.loud-n-clear.com
E: beth@loud-n-clear.com
craftfocus 89
word on the web

new EU
cookie rules
In the first part of his new series, David Mackley looks at cookies and the different types
available, and provides a guide to the new Cookie Law introduced on 26 th May, 2012
If you own a website then you should be
aware of the new Cookie Law introduced
on 26 th May, 2012. This is part of a set of
regulations intended to protect people’s
privacy, and impacts on all owners of websites
that use cookies.
The rules have caused much debate in
the on-line community, as businesses try and
interpret their meaning. Many commentators
say that the guidance seems to be intentionally
vague and leaves many questions unanswered.
Nevertheless, it is up to the business owner
how they interpret the rules and determine
the appropriate course of action.
Where do these new regulations
come from?
The new rules on the use of cookies are
driven by the European Union and enforced by
the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)
in the UK. They can be found at
www.ico.gov.uk (search for cookies).
Put simply, the spirit of the legislation
is that visitors should actively choose to
receive cookies as opposed to just having
them dropped in. In some cases a clear and
comprehensive notice about the cookies used
will be sufficient, in other cases the user must
opt-in before a cookie is installed. Does this
mean millions of websites suddenly switching
to an opt-in approach? All with pop-up boxes
to explain which cookies are used and why?
It sounds like an irritating interruption that
will put a lot of people off visiting completely
harmless websites.
Another challenge is that few consumers
will know what they are opting in to. The
ICO’s own research indicates that consumer
understanding of cookies is very limited. In
2011, from 1,000 individuals asked, only 13 per
cent were confident they understood what
they were. The issue here is that a consumer
will not know what a cookie is and they will
not know what they are opting in to. The ICO
hopes that the cumulative effect from all these
websites informing users about cookies will
raise awareness of the issue.
- Part 1 -
“ A cookie is a small file of letters
and numbers downloaded on to
a device when the user accesses
certain websites. ”
Penalties
The ICO has powers from the Data Protection
Act that allows for fines of up to £500,000
where serious breaches are “likely to cause
substantial damage or distress” (remember, this
is the stated maximum penalty).
EConsultancy says in its April 2012
whitepaper that organisations that are actively,
diligently and demonstrably “seeking to
comply” with their legal obligations are unlikely
to be fined, despite having not achieved all
the requirements. This caveat is unlikely to last
beyond 2012 and should not be relied upon as
a legal defence. So whilst there could be a ‘do
nothing’ approach to this, it would be advisable
to begin the compliance process.
Sadly though, retailers will undoubtedly
receive emails from unscrupulous organisations
looking to make a quick buck by using the
£500,000 figure to potentially scare them into
buying unnecessary products or services.
In addition, Dave Chaffey, the UK internet
marketing guru who writes and lectures on
matters such as cookies, said that the ICO in
this case, is not expecting instant compliance
even after 26 th May, 2012. Although not
strictly legal, you are unlikely to be prosecuted
provided that you are seen to be ‘moving
towards compliance’.
craftfocus 91
retail technology

new EU cookie rules
What is a cookie?
A cookie is a small file of letters and numbers
downloaded on to a device when the user
accesses certain websites. Cookies do lots
of different jobs, like letting you navigate
between pages efficiently, remembering your
preferences, and generally improve the user
experience. They are used with most shopping
carts. They can also help to ensure that adverts
you see on-line are more relevant to you and
your interests.
There are different kinds of cookies that
have varying levels of ‘intrusiveness’. Whilst the
ICO regulations define these different types,
businesses have found it hard to understand
which cookies fall into which categories. A
more business focussed guide that bridges the
gap between the legalistic ICO regulations and
the need of business owners to understand
what to do is available from the International
Chambers of Commerce (ICC) and is certainly
worth a read. The ICC’s guide places cookies
into four categories.
Targeting or advertising cookies
Have you ever noticed when ads follow you
around the internet? They do this by collecting
information about your browsing habits and
then serve up targeted ads. Not only do these
cookies remember which websites you have
been to, they sometimes share this information
with other organisations such as advertisers.
One thing to be careful of is that you may not
have intentionally put this type of cookie onto
your website, they are often produced by a
third party. For example, you may have a deal
92 craftfocus
with an advertising company and the cookie is
put on your website as part of that deal.
What to do: These cookies are highly likely
to require explicit consent from users before
they are used, so it is likely you would need an
opt-in facility on your website.
“There are different kinds of
cookies that have varying levels
of ‘intrusiveness’. Whilst the ICO
regulations define these different
types, businesses have found it
hard to understand which cookies
fall into which categories.”
Performance cookies collect anonymous
information about how visitors use a website,
for example which pages are visited. The ICC
includes analytics, advertising and pay-perclick
cookies in this category – provided the
information is anonymous and can’t be used
for behavioural targeting of ads.
Functionality cookies allow the website
to remember choices the user makes, such as
your user name, language or the region you
are in, and provide more personal features.
For instance, a website may be able to provide
local weather reports or traffic news by storing
in a cookie the region in which the visitor is
located in.
What to do: Depending on the nature of
the cookie, you may want to ask for consent
before the cookie is used and/or amend
wording on your site to clearly communicate
the use of these cookies to all users.
Strictly necessary cookies are probably
the least significant of the categories. They are
related to a service provided on the website
that has been explicitly requested by the user.
These are often used in shopping carts for
the tracking of movement between pages in
the website. For example, if a website shopper
adds items into their basket, then they navigate
to other pages before going back to the basket
again, they will expect the items to stay in
their basket. The cookie will enable this feature.
These cookies tend to destroy the information
they have saved when a browser session ends
so are not stored long term. Therefore they
are considered less intrusive. The ICC says
that user consent is not usually required for
this category of cookie. However, the website
should clearly state that they are being used.
In the next issue we look at what actions
you can and should take to move towards
compliance as well as a look at the debate on
analytics cookies. C
David Mackley MBA BSc is MD of Intelligent
Retail – providers of Multichannel EPoS
and eCommerce websites for independent
retailers. If you have any questions you can
contact David on T: +44 (0)845 680 0126
or E: dmackley@intelligentretail.co.uk

“
See our entire range online
CYGNET
YARNS LIMITED
Telephone: 01274 743 374
Email: Sales@cygnetyarns.com
”

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96 craftfocus
Yuletide log: part two of
this year’s Christmas product
line-up
From me to
you: Card making
in the spotlight
Colourful creations:
A closer look at patchwork
and quilting
In stitches: Celebrating the
fi ne art of embroidery
Issue 33
October/November 2012
Editorial deadline: 3 September
Advertising deadline: 14 September
Published on: 1 October
Plus
• Brand new
products
• The latest
industry news

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Print Polar Fleece Packs.
www.its-sales.co.uk
+44 (0) 1745 562 120
customerservices@its-sales.co.uk

paper perfect
Cheetah Crafts is committed to providing
papercraft solutions to dedicated crafters, novices
and creative kids alike. Founder Samantha Peters
talks us through the young company’s journey
What prompted you to start the company?
My business partner Diane is a lifelong crafter
and air traffic controller, I’ve worked in
marketing for many years. When Diane saw
me struggling to make wedding invitations, she
realised just how hard matting and layering
is for ‘newbies’. She had always struggled to
perfectly line up work, especially when working
with circles and ovals, but for someone new
to craft like me – it’s near impossible. Diane
wanted to get her idea to market but with no
commercial experience she approached me to
work on it with her, from there Cheetah Crafts
was formed and Layer Perfect our launch
product has flown.
Tell us about your key products
Layer Perfect is the product it all started
with, a unique matting and layering tool with
a worldwide patent. We also have four new
products launching this September. Diane
knows most of the issues and difficulties that
come with being ‘crafty’, and comes up with
the solutions. We’ve positioned ourselves
as business partners with other crafting
entrepreneurs who have great ideas but
no capital or knowledge about how to get
a product to market. We look at the idea
and if it’s commercially viable we back it, we
manufacture or import it and agree a financial
arrangement with the designer. It’s hard for
people to launch a product in the UK that
requires manufacturing and investment, we
try to keep as much as possible within the
UK as it’s much easier to keep a check on
manufacturing processes and quality.
98 craftfocus
How helpful is it to have hands on crafting
experience when going into this business?
We couldn’t have done this without the
input of real crafters, and we’ve relied on their
knowledge and feedback. We ran several focus
groups and a few very kind shop owners were
part of our research and development. To have
good sales, you have to have great products,
and that comes from working with the end
users from day one.
Craft for kids is also special to you – how
important is it to get kids crafting?
It’s so important, craft calms kids down, it
provides opportunity for you to talk with
them one to one and share the pleasure of
actually making something. Craft challenges
the way kids approach problem solving, it
doesn’t frustrate them it just makes them look
at things in many different ways. My daughter
Maddy says the best thing about craft is that
there is no right or wrong, whatever she makes
is her creation. From my personal point of
view, it has also enabled me to provide my
children with the belief that you can enjoy
what you do and make a living from it. It isn’t
easy to work for yourself but it is worth it if
you love what you do and are prepared to
work very hard.
Are there any new products in the pipeline?
Yes! We have a magical product to stop
rulers sliding on desktops, table-tops and glass
cutting matts, we have innovative craft rolls
and a few that have to remain secret until the
patents are finalised.
Who is your target audience?
Everyone! Crafters young, old, male,
female, experienced crafters to those
just starting out. That’s the beauty of craft it
crosses ages, gender and ability.
What are your ambitions for Cheetah Crafts?
We have promised to sponsor a Cheetah
in the wild for every year we make a profit.
We have a policy of always trying to ensure
our products are as environmentally friendly
as possible and are hoping to move to
environmentally friendly packaging across
the board in the near future. We want to
earn a living, help others to earn a living from
something they love doing, but not damage
the environment around us by doing so.
We particularly enjoy providing work for
mums. We know so many fantastic women
who wish to work part time but can’t find
opportunities that challenge their brain but
don’t eat into their family life. Ultimately we
just want to continue to develop products,
try to have them manufactured within the UK,
and to make a profit from products that our
customers enjoy using.
What do enjoy most about being
involved in the craft industry?
The people. I have worked in many sectors
from construction and IT to nuclear services
and I can honestly say I have never worked
in a sector where the people are so friendly.
We have now sold Layer Perfect into America,
Canada, Australia, Portugal and are looking to
Germany in the near future, and the people
are the same the world over when it comes
to craft, they are passionate, friendly and
professional. We attended CHA this July
and are really looking forward to meeting
people and putting faces to voices. C
Further information
Cheetah Crafts
T: +44 (0)845 319 4846
E: contact@cheetahcrafts.com
W: www.cheetahcrafts.com