Bazaar bestsellers!

Following a week consisting almost exclusively of upcycled postage stamp badge sales, it was interesting at the (very quiet) craft fair yesterday, This is Bazaar, to find that my bestseller of the day by far was my brand new Truth-Be-Told Mirrors.  These proved very popular as stocking fillers & Secret Santa gifts, with several people unable to decide between the 2 designs, White Liar and Bold as Brass.  In celebration of this success, I have added a new twin-set of mirrors so that you don’t have to make that difficult decision (I’m so selfless!), and can explore the duality of your nature with impunity.  Or give one to a friend (with a sense of humour).  Or give one to an enemy (sense of humour optional)… 😉

One of the best things about being a vendor at This is Bazaar is seeing all the other cool stuff that local creative types are making (This is Bazaar is always very good at highlighting quirky and original makers rather than traditional/cutesy crafts).

Here are a few of my favourites:

the gorgeous mosaics of Julie Vernon.  Yes, I fell for the bird motifs again – I couldn’t find a pic online, but what I really fell in love with were some bird mosaic ‘pebbles’.  I say pebbles in inverted commas as the term feels slightly insubstantial for items which were large/heavy enough to use as very sturdy paperweights…;

the chunky and colourful resin & silver jewellery by Natonia Pickup.  We had a good long chat & I discovered Natonia also dabbles in bookbinding (amongst other things), so I’m holding out to see some unique hand-bound books at the next Bazaar… 😉

…and I also had an interesting conversation with my ‘next door’ vendor, Steve Brown of Rusty Spoons.  He writes comics(/graphic novels) by creating characters based on emotions & I felt like I got a great deal when I traded an Enchanted Times Mini for the Vanity mini comic! (In retrospect, I think my subconscious decided I should choose this one because of the mirror connection…)  The mini comic is produced on top quality glossy paper for vibrant colour reproduction, but just as importantly, it’s really a great story.  It made me laugh, but the stories are definitely on the darker side, so don’t say you haven’t been warned!  I can highly recommend the Rusty Spoons book, for a compilation of 13 tales which has rather wonderfully been reviewed as “delightfully devoid of hope”.  Love it!

…and the winners are…

Slightly later than advertised, here are the winners from the
International Zine Month Giveaway (as selected by random.org):

• Elizabeth Walker from Windsor, Canada 
• Emma Couch from London, United Kingdom
• Christina Cairns from Perth, Australia

Thank you to every one who took part & helped in the Zine Month celebrations!
A surpise zine (previously reviewed on this blog) will be sent out to each winner by the end of August – really hope you enjoy them!  Feel free to add your comments against the relevant Zines I Like post, after reading. 🙂

Ordering update

Please excuse my poor planning!  I failed to realise when I extended the deadline on the International Zine Month Offer that in fact I would be away from home for the extension period.  Usually I would put the Etsy Store in vacation mode while I’m away, but so as not to backtrack on the previous offer, I am going to leave the store open – which of course means that if you do place an order that there will be a delay of up to 2 weeks before I can begin processing your order.

I will be back in action week commencing August 8th, so will select prize winners & start fulfilling orders from that point on.  I will also be including a free mini-zine for EVERYONE who places an order while I am away, regardless of whether or not you enter/win the Zine Month competition.  Hopefully, that is an acceptable compromise! 🙂

TangleClub August Update

Having realised I am going to be away from home at the crucial moment, the August TangleClub freebie has been added early, you lucky people! 😉  Hop over to the TangleClub Archive for an exclusive preview of a brand new project which I will be launching fully upon my return in a couple of weeks: The Achievement Badge Project (TAB Project, for short!).  As this project is top secret until the official launch, you’ll have to follow the link above for further details…

 If you are not currently a member of the TangleClub but want to share the monthly freebie goodness,  click here for all current membership options, and remember, if you spend £5 or more in the TangleCrafts Etsy Store, you will qualify for TangleClub Basic membership absolutely free!

TangleClub March Update

Yes, it’s that time again, already!  This month’s TangleClub exclusive freebie is a preview from the next issue of the Enchanted Times, a Hansel & Gretel cross stitch pattern adapted from an illustration by Charles Robinson with colours inspired by Clarice Cliff.   Head on over to the TangleClub Archive and check it out. 🙂

Not a TangleClub member (yet) but don’t want to miss out?  Click here for all current membership options, but remember, if you spend $10 or more in the TangleCrafts Etsy Store, you will qualify for TangleClub Basic membership absolutely free!

As mentioned in my previous post, I have made some revisions to the TangleClub offers.  The TangleClub 10% discount offer still holds, though, so make sure you claim it using your Etsy coupon code, when placing an order!  Throughout March, my project will be sending out NEW membership cards to ALL TangleClub members (inc. same member # & expiry date as your previous card).  Once you receive the new card it will replace/supercede the old one & you will see how much it simplifies everything!  One of the additions to the TangleClub offer is that you will receive a free promo item every time you place an order of $10 or more.  If you are a TangleClub Deluxe member, you will be able to claim up to 3 free promo items per order (depending on value).  Promo items include anything from mini-zines, mailing labels, TangleStamps, postcards, pin badges – basically small, random, fun stuff from the realms of Tangledom, just for you!  TangleClub Deluxe members please also note that the next issue of the Mulberry Digest is currently in preparation, so you will receive your new membership card plus new issue of MD simultaneously.

Also in my last post, I mentioned a forthcoming new zine.  A ‘first edition’ of this zine, ‘Valley of Dolls’, is now available in the Etsy Store – I just couldn’t wait any longer to share it!  There are some wonderful projects from contributors including Diane Gilleland (Crafty Pod) & Robin O. Mayberry (Alchemy Studios), interviews with Chickenpants creator Claire Chambers (Absolutely Small) & local (to me) illustrator Tracey Meek, plus exclusive artwork, book reviews, even more projects…the list goes on!  For full details & more photos, check out the Etsy listing.  (Please note, if you are a contributor to this zine, contributor copies will be despatched no later than end March – thank you for your patience!)

Happy New Year! (& TangleClub January update)

Sorry I’m a little late with my New Year greetings, but I am now finally catching up with myself!  An update on the Friends & Faux project will follow in the next few days plus details of a brand new mail art project to join – but in the meantime, the Etsy Store is up and running again (new items to be added soon) and the January TangleClub freebie is now available to download in the TangleClub Archive – a printable sheet of doodled dandelion mailing labels.  Hope they brighten up your day, as well as your mail! 🙂

I also have some fun extras to offer TangleClub members:
when you place an order in the TangleCrafts Etsy Store by the end of January, I will include with your order a selection of special promo packs from some of my Etsy-selling friends:
Craftgasm (oh-so-cool re-purposed stationery sets and notecards),
La Papierre (customisable letter sets & card sets) and
Kitty Darkness Designs (lots of kawaii fun and the coolest hand-carved stamps).

Here’s how the offer will work:

• Spend up to $10 (before postage) and you will receive 1 free sample with your order
• Spend up to $20 (before postage) and you will receive 2 (different) free samples with your order
• Spend over $20 (before postage) and you will receive 3 (different) free samples with your order

*Hopefully I will have enough promos for everybody, but should I run out, you will receive a surprise promo from TangleCrafts, instead, so you won’t miss out!

TangleClub – December update!

Happy December, everybody!  I hope you all have a joyful festive season. 😀

This month’s TangleClub freebie is an online version of my Pied Piper mini-zine (a sampler for the forthcoming Enchanted Times #2.5, a Pied Piper special edition).  Click on over to the TangleClub Archive to read online – hope you enjoy! 🙂

Another exclusive offer for existing TangleClub members:
Place an order anytime throughout December and receive a very random surprise mini-zine which I promise will not be available at any other time!  Remember that there is also a new process for claiming your TangleClub discount (it makes life easier, I promise!).  Please read the update on the TangleClub Discount page for full details.

Please be aware, though, that international shipping dates for Christmas are now drawing very close (some have already passed), and I’m afraid I can’t promise delivery before the big day for any orders placed from now on.

Have you joined the TangleClub yet?  If not, click here for all the different options!  Alternatively, spend $10 or more on anything else in the TangleCrafts Etsy Store and receive a Basic Membership Package absolutely FREE!

Adopt an envelope!

Yes, you heard me right, adopt an envelope, if not 5 of them!  These are handmade envelopes made especially for you from magazine pages given a second chance in life, by a lovely girl in Hong Kong (“…trying to travel the world in the most inexpensive way – the internet and the mail with words from the bottom of my heart.”)

Click on the button above for full details. 🙂

New things!

Check out the TangleCrafts Etsy Store for newly added items!  

First up is a brand new & revamped version of the Post Post Post Club – not only does it include a brand new issue of the Meta Mail Art Zine (available exclusively to club members), but you will also receive a membership card (entitling you to free gifts with future orders); a postmark address book, with PPP-exclusive mailing labels; plus exclusive mail art postcards to play with.  See the Etsy listings for full details & additional photos.  There are lots of different elements involved with each club package, so I will only be making limited memberships available at a time, so that I can keep on top of putting them all together.

And if you’re up for some mail art but fancy something a little bit different, why not enter into employment with the Local Post of Tangledom, as a Travelling Post Officer?  The Post Officer’s Companion will tell you all you need to know, and comes complete with a sample booklet of TangleStamps, a Travelling Post rubber stamp for cancellations, and a DIY TangleStamp kit for your own unique mulberry paper artistamp creations.

And remember – Christmas is coming!  I can’t make any promises, as we all know that the postal services at this time of year can be unreliable, to say the least, but if you place your order before the end of November, I will do my best to have your order reach you before Christmas.  The earlier you can order the better, though! Don’t forget, you will receive a free mini-zine with any order placed before the end of November!

TangleClub – October update!

Have you joined the TangleClub yet?  If not, click here for all the different options!  Alternatively, spend $10 or more on anything else in the TangleCrafts Etsy Store and receive a Basic Membership Package absolutely FREE!

For existing members your club-exclusive freebie for October awaits you!  This month, you can print your very own ‘Ideas Grow’ mini-zine notebook, perfect for tucking in your pocket, and can be used to design your own comic rather than take notes, if you prefer!  Click on over to the TangleClub Archive for full details. 🙂

Another exclusive offer for existing TangleClub members:
Place an order anytime throughout October and receive a First Day Cover postcard of the latest TangleStamp!  The design is called ‘Star of Daphne’ and is derived from a hand-carved block print.  The postcard also tells you the story behind the Star of Daphne, an element of Tangledom’s unique folklore.