Hummingbirds - New Screen Printed Designs

I've had a productive week this week and have been enjoying more screen printing.  The Hummingbirds panel above is one of my latest creations - perfectly fused on to this lovely turquoise glass.  The panel is now in the kiln again to slump in to a freestanding curve, a mini sculpture.

The second piece is this bright red window hanger:

The weather has been so great lately, I've had lots of inspiration for birds!  Must be the spring air!

What do you think of my new designs?

Kathryn, Lazy Daisy Glass xx

I have decided to run fused glass workshops as an addition to my business.  The first one starts on 31 March, 10am - 4pm, which is next weekend.  No one in Moray is currently working with fused glass or offering workshops, and many people ask whether I teach fused glass. 

I have put it off for many months, due in part being so busy with looking after my daughter (she's 4) and running the business.  But now it is a quieter time of year, I thought I would plan a schedule for the workshop and get things in motion.

I you live in/around Moray and interested in learning a new skill, please let me know.  I only have two places left, and booking is essential. 

Kathryn, Lazy Daisy Glass xx

Spring has Sprung!

I think I'm rather late in posting this, as it seems Spring has been here for some time here in NE Scotland.  Such a mild season. 

However, these pretty little delicate creatures have been finding it difficult to hibernate.  I have had to feed a few of them as they kept waking mid season.  I have been quite worried about them, so had to do some internet research to find out what to do when they wake too early.  So, I fed them sugary water and put them in to boxes. 

They are now waking and have released six to the outside world lately.  These Tortoiseshell butterflies are so colourful. It wouldn't surprise me if there were fewer of them this spring/summer, due to the mild weather we have been having.  If they wake too early, they use too much of their food store for energy.

Kathryn, Lazy Daisy Glass xx

Mother's Day Giveaway

I'm running a Giveaway for Mother's Day - you could win this lovely heart dish above.  But, you have to enter quickly, as the giveaway closes on Wednesday 14th March (midnight).

If you would like to win this lovely fused glass dish, please leave a comment why you would like to give this dish to your mum.  And share, like my Facebook page etc.

Good luck
Kathryn, Lazy Daisy Glass xx

MFR Cash For Kids - How Much?

I'm thrilled to announce that Moray Firth Radio raised a staggering £32,300 at the weekend during their on air Cash for Kids Auction.  A magnificent amount! 

It's a great charity as all the money gets spent on local kids, these are just some of the things the money is used for:
*  Clothing for a 15 year old girl who looks after her mother and her 3 siblings. Her mother had previous battled substance misuse and is now struggling to get her life back on track.
*  We purchased a specially adapted bicycle for a young girl who has Myotonic Dystrophy, learning difficulties and is autistic. As a result she is unable to walk without a walking aid and has communication problems. She is currently living with a foster family and making great progress. The bicycle we bought her will allow her to join in with family cycles and enjoy playing outdoors with her friends.
*  We funded a residential ski break for a 10 year boy with Down’s Syndrome. Despite being in a mainstream school he requires constant supervision. He has already worked very hard to achieve all his goals and going on this ski team is another milestone for this young man. MFR Cash for Kids were able to make this happen.

I'm glad Lazy Daisy Glass was able to help in a small way!

Kathryn, Lazy Daisy Glass xx

MFR Cash for Kids On Air Auction

It's that time of the year when Moray Firth Radio (MFR) have their on air auction in aid for Cash for Kids.  The auction take place all weekend and is going on as I write this.

It is a special auction as all money raised stays within the MFR area (Inverness, Grampian and Highlands).  They do of course raise money throughout the year, but this on air auction raises an exceptional amount of money.  The link here tells you all about what magnificent work they do.

This year, Lazy Daisy Glass has donated a couple of prizes to the auction - £85 voucher for one place on a fused glass workshop taking place on 31 March 2012 and £35 voucher to be spent online at Lazy Daisy Glass.  The voucher to be spent on line could get you something like these -

 Sunset Meadow Mini Sculpture (above)

Lavender Lattice Coasters (above)

It really is a fantastic cause and wish MFR all the best of luck with their auction.  I will be phoning them later to bid on an item too.

Kathryn, Lazy Daisy Glass xx

Etsy and Treasuries

As part of my new marketing strategy, I have re-opened my shop on Etsy and added some of my new screen printed designs.  I first joined Etsy back in 2008, but spent no time trawling the forums and didn't really pay any attention to my shop - hence very little sales! 

New year - fresh ideas and with over 8 million items for sale and 1.2 billion page views, it really is a global shopping experience.  The statistics are amazing - check their latest December's Weather Report,

Apart from my new items in the shop, I have been taking part in the forums (getting myself known, as well as my products) and joined in one of the recent BNR Treasuries.  I still don't know what BNR stands for, but it was fun taking part.  I had to 'Buy in' to the Treasury to have my shop featured, people are then able to purchase from your shop.  It's like taking centre stage at the theatre!

I bought a few items, starting the with Alice in Wonderland Pendant above - purchased from Wishes on the Wind.  It's a lovely pendant made from a scrabble tile and have been wearing it today.

My second purchase from Twink Knits - crochet mug cosy (below). Again, have been using it today.    

I have had a few sales over the weekend and been in TWO treasuries - also a first! 

It just goes to show that taking part in the community does pay off.

If you have an Etsy shop, please feel free to include your details in the comments below.  What do you think of Etsy??  Please share your experiences.

Kathryn, Lazy Daisy Glass xx

I love Screen Printing.....

You may have gathered by now that I love screen printing and here are my latest designs. The dandelion clock coaster above is available in my Etsy Shop. You can buy a single coaster at £8, Pair at £15 or a set of four for £25. The design is set on clear glass.

And, not forgetting Mother's Day, I have created this elegant perfume bottle. Again, the design is set on clear glass and available as coasters. Prices are as above. Available in my Etsy Shop

Pop back soon, I will have some more new designs soon. Already working on them!

Kathryn, Lazy Daisy Glass xx

New Screen Printed Designs

I've been using my screen printing skills recently and made these new products. The Heavenly Angel Wings coasters above are my favourite and are available over on my Etsy Shop. The coasters come as a single item (£8) or a pair (£15).

Next, is this cutesy Diva coasters:

As Valentine is approaching, I created these Love Tokens at only £5 each:

As mentioned earlier, these items are available in my Etsy Shop

I will be creating some more screen printed items shortly, so check back soon.

Kathryn, Lazy Daisy Glass xx

UK Designers Fit for a Queen - Madonna

Never one to big up Madonna, after all she doesn't really need it! But, after all the hype from the weekend I decided to watch the Super Bowl half time show. And show it certainly was! A great performance by the Queen of Pop, Madonna, but was also in awe of the stage set. After some internet research, I found that UK designers were commissioned to make part of her set. The designers, Jimmie Martin, are based in Kensington, London and make some wonderfully quirky products from chairs, beds, cabinets to cushions:

It is great to see a pop icon using UK designers who's main business is to transform old pieces of furniture in to unique items with their urban style.

Not only are Jimmie Martin edgy designers, they are British! And I'm all for supporting UK designers/makers - Buy British!!

Kathryn, Lazy daisy Glass xx

Marketing at the Right Price Point

I was reading an interesting article in Gift Focus Magazine recently about getting the price point right for your creations. Gift Focus is a gift ware trade magazine sent to retailers throughout the UK.

In the first edition of 2012, an 'Industry Insight' article was focused on getting the right price point for your goods. A handful of suppliers and retailers were interviewed about the current climate and it became quite apparent that there has been an insurgence in the £10 category in recent months. Customers will not hesitate in spending up to £10 as these are more likely to be impulse buys.

With forecasts still gloomy, the retail climate continues to be a tough one, it is important as a maker to offer retailers what customers are demanding, and at the moment it is gifts valued around £10.

As a maker myself, it is increasingly difficult to create and offer such goods when the cost of raw materials continues to rise. Also taking in to account the retailers mark-up as well as your own! With this in mind, a maker has to sell an item for £4 in order for the retailer to sell at £10. Not only difficult, but also having to compete with foreign, mass produced goods!

The article has been an interesting read and one which I am now taking in to account. It has made me think about reducing my costs i.e., buying in cheaper/alternative materials, without compromising the end product. The key being to create fun and unusual items that customers still believe to be good value for money. It's not easy having to be one step ahead, but the beauty of handcrafted products, is that they are unique and will often stand out against the mass produced. Keep creating!!!

Kathryn, Lazy Daisy Glass xx

Standing Stones - New Products

The Standing Stones Curve was launched at the recent Spring Trade Show in Glasgow. This will be added to my website and available to purchase. This piece is ideal when a candle is placed behind it and sat on a shelf. Orange and red make a very romantic scene.

The deer scene panel was another item added to my catalogue. Again, with a candle placed behind it, it looks fab. This design is also available as coasters:

All available on the website.

Kathryn, Lazy Daisy Glass xx

POP-tastic! A Great Marketing Campaign

Did you know it was National Bubblewrap Week this week? I'm not kidding, it really was! A local creative company decided to have some marketing fun when they sent out these POP! cards to their clients. The card came in a bright orange envelope, wrapped in bubblewrap and sealed with a small orange sticky dot. I couldn't wait to open mine as I was absolutely intrigued to see what it was. So, did I POP it, SQUEEZE it, or TWIST it?

I have to admit, I'm a TWISTER! I love nothing more that to get hold of a handful of bubblewrap, scrunch it up and twist, making lots of popping noises at once! It does seem so childish, but who doesn't do it??The reason for all the orange colour-coded accessories - the company's corporate colours. Added impact! I contacted the owner Clare of Clock Studio and asked her what she wanted to achieve by sending these POP-tastic cards. She responded "It was a KIT campaign -Keep In Touch. A fun way of connecting with around 60 clients, just to say hello and a reminder that I'm still here should they need anything. Trying to get people to interact via social media was an add on really - an additional way to start an interaction. Its been an interesting exercise".

This is why it pays to talk to experienced people like Clare who can help with great (and unusual) marketing campaigns. After all, they are the experts. The campaign certainly had me going and others to.

People were commenting on it on Facebook and it certainly did make people interact! All in all, a successful campaign, and such fun for ALL.

Clock Studio - Design Agency

Kathryn, Lazy Daisy Glass xx

Bursting with Fresh Ideas

Finally, got around to using my screen printing equipment again. The bulb blew in the exposing lamp in the middle of an exposure and was really annoyed as it spoiled the project! Since then, it has just sat in the studio. But new year, fresh ideas and raring to go! I am trying out some new ideas for a trade show. The photo above shows the screen under the exposing lamp. and below is the exposed screen after being cleaned.
I'm really pleased with the outcome, considering I'm a newbie to screen printing. I love the deer scene and this will be used to make coasters and freestanding piece. Below shows the enamel designs on glass.

I have now made some more items and now waiting to add a splash of colour to the clear glass and will be firing these later. Will be posting photos of the finished pieces soon

Kathryn, Lazy Daisy Glass xx

New Year - Fresh Start

Happy New Year! A little late I know, but have time to breath now. The last few months have been so busy, I haven't had a chance to update my blog. I'm hoping I will be able to keep on track this year!

I have to say, I am using Facebook more and more these days, simply because it's short and sweet! You do not have to spend so long thinking about what to write. Then there is twitter too - so much internet marketing!! It certainly keeps me on my toes.

January is the Spring Trade Show event in Glasgow. I am now working on new products to launch at the show and making some stock. I have also received some trade orders already - and it's only the first week of January!

Kathryn, Lazy Daisy Glass xx