Sneak peak

Back in September I made three map notebooks which all sold within about 2 hours of being available in the say it shop. Ever since then I've been asked why I don't have more map notebooks and couldn't I get some in the shop quickly because they really really want one and were sad to miss out the first time round.

The truth is that however much I agreed with them (and I did) there were problems to overcome. Firstly, I had picked up the gorgeous map paper in a garden centre whilst on holiday in the summer. I wasn't about to drive 300 miles just to buy some paper, so I had to start researching alternatives. There are some lovely map papers out there by some fantastic designers, but sadly those designers want to keep the designs for themselves and wherever I looked I ran into copyright issues. Now I don't want to start selling my products illegally, even if there is a high demand for them, so this was a significant stumbling block.

Secondly, I knew that my notebook covering technique wasn't producing consistently quality notebooks. Sometimes the glue made the pages too wet and they would warp. Or I would get a crease in the cover. And I needed to figure out a better way of covering the spine, as a paper spine doesn't really work too well. I have a lot of notebooks on my desk, all with various flaws. All of them have solved one problem, and revealed another. I'm not really one for going to classes, or finding out from others how things should be done - I like to solve my own problems so that the products I make are truly mine.

I am sorry for the wait, especially for those who have been eagerly awaiting new map notebooks any day since October. But I finally think I'm there. I have in my hands a map covered notebook that is a) legal and b) high enough quality to sell. I wanted to bring you a sneak peak of what will be available in the say it shop very soon (when I have had chance to make more than one, just in case there's a bit of a rush on them again). 

Update 20/01/12 - The map notebooks are now available at www.sayit.folksy.com.

New Year, New Craft

I'm not one for making new year's resolutions, but I have decided on the new crafts I'd like to have a go at next year. Each one is accompanied by a picture of a handmade item for sale in another shop on folksy - do click on these to head over to the folksy shops of some sellers who have already mastered these crafts.

Felted wool brooch
That Fuzzy Feeling

Inspired by some of the lovely products I've seen on Folksy, I'd like to try needle felting. All I know is it's something to do with jabbing at wool lots of times with needles. Sounds fun ! Maybe I'd best get an instruction book to help me...

Embroidered rose handbound notebook
Kate Bowles

Secondly, I want to give the notebooks another go. I made a few this year, but I want to try out some different techniques and perhaps even a spot of proper book binding.

Button Necklace
Make it Sew

I'm also keen to have a go at button jewellery. Not really a new craft as such, just extending the beaded jewellery with some new materials. In fact, I've already ordered myself some gorgeous buttons, so look out for some new designs coming soon !

Fimo pendant
Pyroangel's Jewellery Box

And finally, I want to get back to my childhood days and buy myself some fimo modelling clay. I've heard that you can make your own beads and embellishments for cards. I don't like depending on things that have been made by others, especially the pretty beads I use in my jewellery, so it would be great to make some myself. And I have a few ideas for cards too.


So, watch this space. I shall let you know how I get on.

The say it shop has been open for 3 months

Today we celebrate our 3 month anniversary !! A big thank you to everyone who has supported us during this time.

I thought I'd look back over the 3 months and see what we've achieved.

In total we've sold:


48 cards or packs of cards

13 bracelets and necklaces

4 packs of gift tags

3 notebooks

We've had 181 visitors to the shop and 31 people reading the say it says blog.

We've got 29 'likes' on Facebook and 4 blog followers.



Not bad really. Lets see how the next 3 months compare...

Christmas is coming - make it from paper

In case you hadn't noticed, Christmas is coming! And, I'd like to promote buying handmade this Christmas, from myself or other handmade shops. So I've put together a selection of my favourite items from Folksy, to help you finish your Christmas shopping. If you're quick, they should arrive in time for Christmas - just click on the pictures to go through to the shop.

This blog post is also being entered into a competition run by Folksy. To have a chance at winning a Singer Sewing Machine, you had to put together your selection of 18 items from Folksy around the theme 'Christmas is Coming'. With thousands of wonderful handmade products to choose from, it wasn't easy.

Presents, decorations, gift wrap and tags - all these items that I've chosen are made from paper. It just shows you how much can be done with a simple sheet of paper and a little bit of skill. I'm amazed by how many lovely things there are made from such an everyday material. Who knows, maybe you'll be inspired to make something yourself!!

Nordic garland
by Corrina Field Handmade

Book flower brooch
by Bookity

Quilled Christmas decoration
by Pure Paper

Snowmen gift tags
by Craftie Nellie

Vintage look tags
by Ginger Rocks

Recycled snowflakes gift wrap
by Sophia Victoria Joy

Paper flowers
by Chicken and Custard

Decoupage bauble
by Classic Becca

Robin decoration
by Rae Welch

Mini Envelopes
by Swirlyarts

Reindeer card
by Ellson Design

Pass the parcel party game
by Louise Lockhart

Sheet music paper chain
by Lucie Kate & Hazey Jane

Personalised gift tags
by Shinta Shop

Christmas tree card
by Say it

Recycled magazine coasters
by re-crafts

Handmade notebooks
by Made to Make

Reindeer ornaments
by Happythought Paper Crafts

Only 4 days left to order before Christmas!

Still shopping for those elusive presents? If you'd like to buy them a gift from say it you'd better get your skates on - there's only 4 days left to order for your items to arrive in time for Christmas.

Of course, we'll still be here. We're not planning on going anywhere. It's just that snail mail doesn't work over Christmas, and they've not yet invented a way of emailing your order to you. So you can still place an order after Sunday 18 December, but it won't arrive in time for Christmas.

Better get shopping :-)

Threading beads

Ever wondered how to thread beads onto a string/cord/ribbon that's too big to thread through a needle, but not stiff enough to push through the beads by hand? After spending ages trying to poke ribbon through tiny beads this morning I decided there must be an easier way!

And there is! Armed with a collection of possible helpful items I returned to my necklace. Larger needles - no good because they wouldn't fit through the beads. Blunt pokey objects - ran out of patience. Needle threaders - perfect once I'd taken the end off!

So, if you ever need to thread beads onto ribbon (or other such stringing materials that don't fit through needles) here's my no.1 tip:

Get yourself a needle threader and take the end bit off so you're left with the wire (or just use a little piece of strong thin wire I guess!). Put the ribbon in the middle of the folded piece of wire, trapping it a bit like a needle. Poke both ends of the wire through the bead, and give it a good pull. It's quite fiddly, so I used pliers to hold the wire.

It worked a treat, and I had my ribbon necklace strung in no time :-)

Don't forget the special offers!

We're counting down to Christmas with 5 weeks of special offers. Into the fourth week now (how did that happen?!) we thought we'd remind you of this week's offer.

Fancy a completely free pack of tags? Just buy any 2 items. Go on, you know you want to!