WOYWW: A lost voice and a volcano

It's Wednesday.  It's Crackerjack!  Oops, wrong day (and much puzzlement to those of you not from the UK and not of a certain age).   So it must be What's on Your Workspace Wednesday.  For a good snoop at more crafty desks, head on over to the DeskMeister Supreme, Julia at Stamping Ground.  

First up, apologies to those of you whose desks I didn't reach last week.  The week before I swooped and snooped at everyone's space.  Then last week, I had the return of the foul pestilence (bronchitis followed by flu) and retired whimpering to lick my wounds and feel sorry for myself.  I reckon I'm on the mend, although I haven't got much voice (so perhaps I should SHOUT here just because I can...that's better).

You can see further evidence of the flu on today's desk.  I am now a connoisseur of the various Strepsils flavours (Blackcurrant Extra Strength are the current favourites, followed by Warm).   Also in shot is something much more exciting: next year's diary.  I have been looking to do some early bookings for next year's craft fairs, and the diary is starting to see some action.  

I'm a bit short on creative inspiration this week, so I've been trying to focus on the less exciting stuff like doing my accounts (*yawn*), tidying out my cupboards (*treasures*) and planning some projects.

In matters elven, the Elf Mum has suggested that I consider making the Elf School for sale next year.  So I have been thinking about what an Elf School pack could comprise, and how much parents might like to do for themselves with their children.  Elf Dad called yesterday and said that the kids were obsessed with the elves, so I'm glad the novelty isn't wearing off.

Today's post brought a gift for the godchildren from the elves.  As they are visiting from a country near the land of fire and ice, I thought that they might welcome a volcano to sit near their igloo.  The volcano apparently burbles and smokes for a couple of days and then produces a dinosaur.  As you do...  Let's hope that it keeps them entertained for a while.

This will be off to the House with the Big Climbing Frame soon.

The Elf Parents Speak

We had some lovely news from the Elf Parents.

The gambling den went down very well.  Goddaughter E worked hard to win back all the chocolate coins from the elves.  Did you notice that the lovely Della had won more than her fair share of chocolate coins?  Atta Girl, Della!

On the morning following the snowball fight, Godson D was sitting on the sofa for half an hour looking around.  Every now and then there was a fresh outbreak of giggles when he looked again at the snowballs.

Goddaughter E has worked out that the elves are making mischief for two nights, and then have a night off.  So Elf Mum is planning to surprise her with some extra mischief this week.

I have some special elf treats on order, so there will be items sent to The House With The Big Climbing Frame soon.  I'll let you know what's being sent.  Two little hints: 1) fire and ice and 2) space.

Further Despatches from the Ministry of Elf

The Chief Elf been advised that Della and Bert have visited human school, had an elves' night in with DVDs and chocolate, and assisted in writing to Santa.  So far, so good...

However, there has also been evidence of mischief making including:

 - kidnap (Stitch was found bound in a sleeping bag)
 - possible petty theft (both elves were found hiding in the fridge) - stock taking is now underway
 - the establishment of a gaming den (see evidence below)

How did they get so much cash???

All in all, I think the evidence points to only one conclusion:  we adults are having just as much fun as the kids.  

The One In Which The Chief Elf Sees An Ideal Igloo

Task one at Elf School is complete.  The somewhat plain igloo has been completely remodelled, and a Christmas tree has appeared in its garden.

Despite hard work on the igloo, it appears that there was still elf mischief during the night.  I hear that there was a snowball fight in the living room, and that Stitch has been tied up in a sleeping bag.

I have just had a text to say that Della and Bert are at human school today. I hope that they worked off their mischief overnight...

WOYWW: the Chief Elf Speaks

For the past three days, I've been working on a big package for our godchildren.  This morning, they should be waking up to meet the delightful Della Sparkle Feet and Bert Speedy Pants, who are joining them for Elf School in December.

Their first job will be to find their igloo, which is being hidden somewhere in The House With The Big Climbing Frame, where the elves are staying.  Then there are plenty of fun tasks and mischief to take them through to Elf Graduation Day on 24 December.

And now I've packed away my cotton wool, glitter, embellishments, craft paper and all the other makings, I have an important role.  For December, I shall be responsible for the Chief Elf's email address, helping with the care of Della and Bert, and answering questions on all things elven.  I can feel my ears turning pointy as I type.

For a hop round more crafty desks, at What's on Your Workspace Wednesday, hop over to the lovely Julia at Stamping Ground using the WOYWW button on the left.

Despatches from the Ministry of Elf

 This is a tale of two elves.

Bert on your left, and the lovely Della to the right.  The Chief Elf is sending them to stay with our godchildren to have some fun before Christmas.  They have packed their passports and sleigh driving licences, and their igloo is being sent to the house (although that may prove superfluous, considering the weather).  My mum has been a star and made Della her pretty skirt and necklace, and cut down their sleeping bags to proper elf size.

Here they are with their igloo.  One of their jobs will be to decorate the igloo during their visit.

I see Bert's already a little tired.  

They have plenty of things to learn and do during their visit.  They have a star chart to record all the things they have learned, including travelling in a human sleigh, feeding reindeer, making elf soup, and setting out a night light so Santa can tune his SPS (Santa Positioning System).  I hope that they will get to visit a human school too.

I am also expecting that they will get up to plenty of mischief.  I am ready to pay good money for the pictures, so I can share them with you.

Please excuse the feet above.  

The reindeer food (with added stardust sparkles) can also be eaten by humans.  (I've never had porridge with edible stars in it before, but I guess there's always a first time).

I have set up an email address for the Chief Elf, so I hope that my Elf impersonation skills are finely tuned when I get to hear from the godchildren.

If they have half as much fun with this as I've had putting it all together today, then I'll be delighted.

There's no business like snow business...

Today I am pleased to be working on something snowy that has nothing at all to do with business.

Tomorrow I am sending two elves to finish their Elf School at the house of our godchildren.  The Chief Elf has decided that they need to understand how families celebrate Christmas, so is sending the lovely Della Sparkle Feet and Bert Speedy Pants for further education.  Yesterday was spent combing the shop shelves to find two elves (more difficult than you might think), elf soup and snacks, sleeping bags, the ingredients for an igloo and various other items to keep two elves, an eight year old and a four year old happy for 24 days.

Pictures to follow, of course.  (From the Ministry of Elf, no less.)

A snowy Saturday - working by the fire

So the promised snow finally made it our way, but only a sprinkling.  This is the back garden this morning; I love the way that next door's conifers (to the right) are looking really Scandinavian today.  Incidentally, that large lump just right of centre in the foreground is my one and only attempt at topiary; a box made of box (yes, I'm sad like that).  

It was definitely a day for snuggling inside, so I felt really sorry for OH when he was scraping the car off at 10am, ready to spend the day working outside.  Brrrrrh!  Despite lots of layers, he still reckoned it was the coldest he'd ever been.  So I made sure there was a roaring fire ready for his return home; there's nothing quite like the smell of a wood fire filling the house, and the ability to stand in front of it warming your very cold nethers.  

While I was toasting my toes, I decided it was time to catch up on recording the projects I worked on for the craft fair.  I set up this book, as I'm pretty sure that I won't remember all the details of what to do and more importantly what not to do on the individual projects.  Incidentally, the locks and other embellishments are rub ons, and I will definitely use them on some storage boxes; they go on like a dream.  (The A4 book  - squared paper - is a bargainous Asda buy.)

So I've remembered to add things like:

• time taken to melt candle wax over a low heat (20 minutes)
• number of teacup candles that will fill (5 scant, 4 generous)
• don't use a black melt pan, as all the colours will look more sludgy than you envisage

It's a bit of an anorak book, but I hope it will remind me of all the things that will otherwise fall out of my tiny brain when it comes to repeating any projects.  

Selling: Ebay, Etsy, Folksy and elsewhere

Following on from the posts about my first craft fair experience, I've been musing on comments about where to sell my makes.  This has been bubbling around in the back of my mind for a while, and I think that the sensible answer is probably going to be a mixture of every venue I can think of and a few that you might suggest to me? (Hint, Hint)

First up, eBay.  I've been registered for a number of years now and selling (mostly clothes from my over-inflated wardrobes) for two.  I think that I have got my selling routine down to a reasonable level of efficiency:

• take photos
• check prices for similar items
• use Turbo Lister to create listings
• upload on Sunday (still seems to be the best day of the week for 7 day clothes sales)
• check for and answer any questions
• pack, post and relist as needed, keeping a postage book for the inevitable lost in the post occasions (two so far, one eventually limped home, and the other was lost for good)

So eBay sounds a reasonable option, although I have some reservations.  I would need a business account so as not to muddy the water with my own personal stuff.  And that would have no feedback status, although I could link it to my personal account.  My other concern is the category for hand crafted items.  It's often full of items to make handcrafted items, rather than the makes themselves (excuse the hoof beats of my hobby horse here...).  And the makes never seem to achieve many bids.  I have bought some lovely items for pennies, which I think should sell for much more.  I know that sellers are choosing their start price, but...

Then there's Etsy.  Now I could (and do) spend hours on Etsy.  The treasuries, the colour-based searches, the lovely, lovely makes and ingredients.  I have bought some art and toiletries from the USA, and have been delighted with everything.  I have to confess that Etsy makes me feel just a teeny bit inadequate.  There are so many beautiful things, and I am not sure if mine are beautiful enough.  Plus I have a practical issue in that my items are quite heavy, and most of the buyers are in the USA...not an ideal combination for cheap postage costs.  

Folksy is the UK based version of Etsy, which was set up more recently.  The number of listings is increasing well; I have just looked at homeware, which now runs close to 600 pages.  Definitely worth consideration. No significant postage issues, and we know some reliable couriers for furniture.    

I really enjoyed my first craft fair, and will definitely do more.  I am lucky to live in a large conurbation, which makes it easy to drive to fairs across a wide geographical area.  In addition, I think I will start looking for fairs other than craft; I know that there are some specialist fairs that my makes might be suited for, and I would be interested in pitching my gazebo at events that aren't necessarily fairs.  (I think that might be another comedy accident waiting to happen - watch this space come Spring for the first unveiling of the gazebo.)  

So - do you sell your makes?  If so where?  Any recommendations, or advice?  

Talking to the Tax Man

I promised I'd update on business issues as well as crafting, so those of a nervous disposition when it comes to matters of self-employment and tax should probably look away now.

For those of you with strong stomachs who are still with me, I registered as self employed with Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs today.  And it took...wait for it...less than 5 minutes.  Yay me, and more importantly, yay to the nice tax man.

I went to a seminar organised by the tax office earlier this year, when I first thought of starting up my own business.  The man who ran the seminar was really helpful, explaining how to register, what happens to National Insurance, and how/when you do your tax returns.  He recommended registering on the phone rather than online, and it was so quick and easy that I was ridiculously impressed.  So my papers are on their way, I understand what I need to do and when, and that's a big tick made on my list of things to do.

And a virtual bouquet to HMRC for making it so very easy.