The retail industry is a funny thing but we all know that after Christmas, many businesses have boxing day sales and end of year lines to move on. There's a lot of local businesses here in Barnsley that have some amazing offers and discounts currently on. Here's our list:



 

The Oh Sew Sweet Shop in Mapplewell & Wombwell is having a big sale on lots of fabrics starting on the 28th to the 30th December of up to 70% off. In both their stores, they have a massive range of fabrics and other sewing and craft supplies. See their website here ohsewsweetshop.co.uk

 



 

 

Chic-yCow are having a discount sale on their Etsy Shop for leather accessories, just input the code NEWYEARSALE at the checkout to receive 20% off for the next 2 weeks only. Here's the Etsy shop  www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ChicyCowDesigns



 

Elegance Bridal Studio based on Eastgate in the town centre are having a sample sale starting January 3rd to the 7th, appointments  must be made. Visit their website here www.elegancebridalstudio.co.uk

 



Moo Designs based inside the Lucorum Building in the town centre is having a big Christmas sale both in-store and online. Visit the website www.moo-designs.com

 



 

Pura Cosmetics, a local handmade natural lip care business is having some end of line reductions on their website here puracosmetics.co.uk

 

 


Many shops down the Victorian Arcade have started their sales as well, in the town centre!

 

 

Have I missed any? Let us know and we'll add them!

All pictures belong to each business.

 

Team Activ is a local company based in the Digital Media Centre and provide activities for businesses, education and the community. In conjunction with Penistone Grammar School, from January they will be running an after school club with them and are looking for arts & crafts tutors to deliver classes over a 12 week block. Read more about Team Activ here www.teamactiv.org

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If you have a craft or skill in the creative subjects and can be taught in a school environment, then you would be perfect! Here are the finer details about it.

Where: Penistone Grammar School / Club Programme

When: 3-5pm 1 day a week (to suit your availability) w/c 09.01.17 for 12 weeks and w/c 27.02.17 for 12 weeks.

Rates: £10-£20 p/h dependent on qualifications and experience.

Looking for: Any teachable craft skills such as: Fine Art, Sewing, 3D crafts, Textiles and more...

If this sounds of interest to you please contact us through the contact form at the top of the page, or email directly to hannah456@hotmail.com with your qualifications and experience and which day would be most suitable to you. We will pass your details on and you should be contacted by a Team Activ member.

I love all things handmade and saving up my pennies to buy that good quality item always pleases me. Here are some of my favourite handmade items from Barnsley businesses that deserve to be on any Christmas wishlist.



This gorgeous Dusky Pink dress really caught my eye and I wouldn't be surprised if it's already sold by the time I'm posting this! It has a really simple chic look to it and looks like you could dress it up and dress it down which I'm always a sucker for garments that are versatile! This dress is £40 and is from Junction 36 Boutique in Hoyland Common, see their website here and Facebook.



Every girl needs a good clutch bag and this one does not disappoint. This one is from Chic-yCow and I love the colours of this with the studs too. I did a product review of my choker that I bought from Chic-yCow, read it here. This clutch is £42.50 on their Etsy shop but also stock numerous other shops locally, see their Etsy here and their Facebook.



Chokers are quite a big trend at the moment and come in all shapes and sizes, however this choker from Klue Doll is really chic looking and can make the right outfit really pop. Klue Doll are doing quite a few different style chokers and necklaces available to order directly from her but this particular one is just £5 and you can order by emailing info@kluebykellyann.com. See the other ones available on her facebook page.



While I'm not a big lipstick girl, I do like to take care of my lips and sometimes a subtle colour is all I want. Pura Cosmetics is a local natural lip care business and I admire all their products. However they are doing a special limited edition Christmas range and how can a Chocolate Orange lip balm not be appealing?? It's on their website for £2.75 along with some other variations for Christmas and all their regular products, see the website here and their Facebook page.



Nomad Atelier in Barnsley town centre has some really exquisite luxurious items but the fabric on this dress really got my attention. A technique called Devore has been used on this, meaning the Devore chemical burns away the natural velvet fibres making this beautiful effect. This dress is on their website for £549, see it here. We visited their shop a few weeks ago for their anniversary party, you can see all the pictures and read about it here.

What's your Christmas wishlist? Let us know in our Facebook exclusive group page, join here www.facebook.com/groups/1676700949320516

Every business will have some sort of physical marketing materials. It might be leaflets, swing tags, posters, look books and more. These are often items that end up in the hands of your customers and they need to make a great first impression in order to appeal to them or make a repeat sale from them. Here's a few tips to make sure your materials are looking the best they can be and make money for your business.

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Colour Palette

The colour palette you use is really important. Try and choose a handful, maximum 5, colours that either compliment each other or are opposites. Your business' logo should also be of the colours to make sure it's all tie-ing in together. Above is a picture of Blue Lights Photography's gift vouchers, obviously the colour is blue but they've used tones of blue, mixed with black and white. This creates a really nice clean look and makes a more professional feel.

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Fonts

Fonts have a big impact on the look of your materials. Choosing the right ones that echo your business' style is the first thing to tackle. Make sure to keep to one or two font styles, maximum of 3 but pick one as your main font and the others for subheadings or other text areas. Using different text sizes and formats like Bold or Italics can put emphasis on certain areas that you want to pop out more to your viewers.

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Imagery

If you choose to have images such as photographs or graphical imagery, make sure they are always crisp photos and clear graphics, no blurred pictures on the physical materials. This can put your customers off straight away if they can't understand what your business is offering or looks confusing. These must always re-iterate your business' style, branding, voice and theme.

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Branding

Your branding is your business' personality and voice, so make sure these are on all your materials in the same sense. They can vary from piece to piece but as long as they match, your customers will always recognise who you are. You can read more on branding from our interview with Klue Doll that explains branding more, read it here.

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Multiple Materials

Most people will have multiple items that you use for marketing materials like business cards, swing tags, leaflets, packaging, banners and more and so you have got to make sure they all match each other. They don't need to be the exact same but as long as they have the same fonts, colour palettes and all of the above, you'll be safe. If you made each piece different, there would be no continual 'voice' for your brand.

All photos belong to each individual business and some to Barnsley Fashion Creatives. Contact for each copyrights.

The Gift Shop at The Hut, Oh Sew Sweet Shop in Wombwell is a little gem of a shop in Barnsley. It is ran by 3 amazing local businesses, they are Spirit Original Designs, Emi B Designs and The Yorkshire Handbag Company. This Saturday they are having a Christmas Extravaganza with lots of offers and discounts on and not only in the Gift Shop, but also in the Oh Sew Sweet Shop next door selling fabrics and craft supplies and their in-house coffee shop.

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The Yorkshire Handbag Company, Spirit & Emi B are offering 10% off items plus other multibuy offers and discounts on Christmas Decorations. They are also offering Prosecco and Mulled Wine! Here's what you need to know about the businesses.

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Emi B Designs has been featured on the blog before (see here) and we already know she makes beautiful handmade items from handbags to make-up bags to circle scarves. They all have a vintage feel to them but are made in a very high quality way.

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Spirit Original Designs creates all kinds of goodies, clothing, homewares, jewellery, bags and more. All handmade in the shop itself so you can see it happen before your eyes. They also offer bespoke and commission services so if there's something you need but just can't find it, Spirit can most likely make you it! We have featured Spirit recently in our Photoshoot project, see it here.

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The Yorkshire Handbag Company sell all high quality bags, wallets, purses and beautiful scarves in an array of patterns and colours. All the bags are carefully sourced to provide you designer level bags with the quality to match. Find out more about them on their website here.

Want your shop or boutique to be featured on the blog? Use the contact form at the top to get in touch.

All photo belong to the individual businesses and Barnsley Fashion Creatives. Please contact for individual copyrights.

The Digital Media Centre is a hub of businesses and startups, making it the perfect place to hold a fair for these local crafters. They had decked up the place with this huge Christmas tree with orange tinsel and ornaments and Craft Business added these amazing hanging circle shapes with the Etsy logo and Crafty logos on them, really helped bring the space together.

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LMB Crafts had a beautiful stall, full of pretty florals and girly colors. They make a range of items from sock monkeys, to zip bags and make-your-own kits. They are wanting to work more into their make-you-own kits for future fairs. See their Etsy page here www.etsy.com/shop/leannescrafts - Facebook

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We have seen Man Knit at past fairs and always love the array of items that can be created from knitting. Hats, gloves, neck wraps, brooches, ties and more, as well as selling speciality yarns and wools. We featured Man Knit from the Makers Market back n October. See more from them here on their etsy shop www.etsy.com/shop/ManKnit - Facebook

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One Over The Eight had a sound stage set up in the DMC. Whilst we were there, La Fox Music was doing a lovely acoustic set with a mixture of songs. Just as we were leaving we heard him singing the jungle book song! Throughout the day there was also music from Beth Newton and Emily Worton.

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Sarah Catterall Jewellery had a beautiful stall and it was that busy I hardly got the chance to get some good photos of the gorgeous jewellery. Everything looked so delicate and had highly contemporary design elements to them, all made from silver. See her Etsy shop here www.etsy.com/uk/shop/SCatterallJewellery - Facebook

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Solus was a truly unique stall, I've never seen items made like this before. All made from recycled fabric into these quirky, colourful pieces from coats, to dresses, to other things. Really drew me in with how many colours and patterns there were. See their Etsy here www.etsy.com/shop/Emrholion - Facebook

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Creative Recovery is a local group that uses creative outlets to inspire people, bring up social issues and encourages well-being. They were selling large canvas paintings which were amazing and all very different. They also had this stall selling christmas decorations and these adorable christmas brooches. Find out more about Creative Recovery.

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They also had local potter Steve Ellis there doing tuition with his potter's wheel, giving the shoppers a chance to have a go at it for themselves. Steve was also at the Crafty Business Maker's Market.

Here we have a video made by Amy Law of Amy Law Photography that did this wonderful live Facebook vid featuring many of the stallholders. Watch it below.
[facebook url="https://www.facebook.com/AmyLawPhotography/videos/1038007826327367/" /]

 

Pam Goodison is a local glass artist that creates all kinds of items just from glass. In this little tutorial, Pam is going to show us the process of creating a beautiful Dichroic fused glass pendant that has this gorgeous iridescent look to it. Dichroic is the term used when glass shows two colours in different lights and at different angles of viewing, it is made by layering oxides and metals in very thin layers with glass. We asked a few questions afterwards too and how you can also learn glass making in Pam's regular workshops.

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Pam: I start with two pieces of glass and cut out the pendant pieces from these. The edges are then put on a glass grinder to neaten.

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After this, the pieces are fired in the kiln to tack them together on what we call a tack fuse. This is how they turn out. Note the two pieces look quite separate in the layers.

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After this they are put on the glass grinder again to make really neat. They are then put in the kiln again. I try to be as economical as possible with the kiln, hence other pieces in there! They are gradually heated up this time on a full fuse which makes the edges of the glass much softer. This picture shows the kiln at 548°C when everything just starts to glow in there.

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The kiln will gradually heat up to a top temperature needed of 765°C. I gradually cool the glass down. Altogether the firing takes approximately 12 hours.

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Now look at the lovely softened edges. The kiln fairy has done her work! This next step shows a hole being drilled underwater to attach a pinch bail. At this point gentle pressure must be applied, using a dremel and a diamond bit drill. This usually take a few minutes with drilling from both sides of the glass so as to not chip the glass.

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Finally a pinch bail is attached with a chain or waxed cord depending on preference and there you have your completed dichroic glass pendant!

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Barnsley Fashion Creatives: How long does the entire process take from first cutting the glass to finishing with the chain? Other than the 12 hours in the kiln?

Pam: I would say about two to three hours to cut glass, grind, clean, grind again, drill then apply bails and make chains.

Barnsley Fashion Creatives: What workshops do you tend to run?

Pam: I do fused glass jewellery workshops at my studio which are two hours long. The cost is £25 and includes materials to make a pendant or brooch or earrings (Other workshops will vary in price.). Additional items can be made for a small additional fee usually between £3-£5 each. Other workshops can be bespoke. If the student wants to learn a particular technique then I can usually accommodate, or they can do a full day making whatever they like, a bowl, picture, or even Christmas decorations.

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BFC: Where abouts is your studio based?

Pam: In Stocksbridge, North Sheffield. They can go to my facebook page, www.facebook.com/PamGoodisonGlassArtist or they can visit my website www.pamgoodisonglass.co.uk and sign up to my newsletter.

BFC: What workshops do you have coming up?

Pam: I have some workshops coming up hopefully in a venue elsewhere in Feb and March next year but have not yet been confirmed but if anyone would like they can register an interest, these will be a different price to the jewellery workshop.

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All photos belong to Pam Goodison.

Creative block is something everyone will suffer with from time to time and when you just don't have the time to procrastinate, it can be frustrating. The bigger problem is the fact that we already know how to combat it, but when we're in that block it's harder to see through the fog without some help. Here's some ways to remind you that you can push through, you can get re-inspired and you will see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Take Your Mind Off It Completely

Whatever it is you're forcing yourself to do, stop. Come back to it another time because it's not going to happen right this second. Instead, take your mind off it completely and either go and relax, watch some mindless television or do a simple job like tidying your creative space or do the washing up. We all know that forcing something to happen won't come easily, so you might as well do something else and let it naturally come back to you.

Go Somewhere That Inspires You

This can be anywhere, it could be as close as your back garden, a museum or a walk through. You could go virtual like Pinterest, Instagram or even have a good look through all your photographs that you have stored on your computer. Anything that can re-inspire you can help deal with creative block because you're igniting those juices once again.

Change The Task

As said earlier, sometimes just simply changing the task you're doing can help. Go and do something more menial like checking your emails, updating your Facebook status, just something simple that doesn't require much thought until your block fades away and you can see more clearly when you come back to the original job. Sometimes completely pushing it to one side and moving past it can work better for others, tackle that other big job on your to-do list that doesn't require much creativeness like updating your accounts.

Make A List

Creative people tend to have so many ideas rattling around that they can become overwhelming and can induce the creative block. Getting it all out of your head in a list, no matter how scattered of a list, can help you see more clearly on each task. I am a big list person, if I don't make a list I try to constantly think of everything so that I don't forget anything. But as a result I push myself into that fog because I can't focus on one task at a time. The lists can be as neat as you like or as messy, just make sure you get it all out! Even the finer details if you've already thought them out, draw diagrams too if you like!

Do you have any other ways of combating Creative Block? Get in touch to be featured.

 



Small Business Saturday is tomorrow on 3rd of December and is a nationally and world-wide recognised day, created to make the public think more about those smaller and independent businesses. Here in Barnsley there are a few things on that you can go and support this brilliant day and all the local businesses in this crucial time of the run up to Christmas.

The first simple steps you can take is just to simply go and look in the independent shops and purchase something from them. Like you would in the high street shops but venture a little further out, maybe head down the Victorian Arcade or buy handmade items at a craft fair instead of online. A lot of ways to buy from small businesses are the same ways as buying from large businesses, you walk into a small local shop the same way as walking into Primark. When you buy from a small business, you are feeding the economy in so many ways and you are buying a truly individual and unique item.

There is an Etsy Made Local Craft Fair running inside the Digital media centre near Barnsley's bus station, full of local handmade businesses in conjunction with the Crafty Business Network. Etsy is an online shop platform for businesses that hand make a range of items that are different to the normal high street items. The Crafty Business Network Barnsley is a group of people based here that come together to help each other with monthly meet ups, talks, workshops and more. Etsy are holding these craft fairs across the UK and Crafty Biz volunteered to host the Barnsley event. It is set inside the Digital Media Centre, just behind the Courthouse car park, which is a hub of digitally based businesses as well as other smaller local ones. The event is set to coincide with the Small Business Saturday to create more of an occasion and a buzz around the whole lot, plus they are also giving away goodie bags to the first 50 attendees!

All council ran car parks are free every Saturday in the town centre, this can help massively to the shoppers and can be surprising how many people still don't know about this. This also means the whole car park surrounding the Digital Media Centre is free, making it a whole lot easier to visit the Etsy Made Local Event.

Emily Sharp Fashion Designer is having a stock clearance sale from their studio in Mirfield (slightly out of Barnsley). She sells all handmade womenswear, menswear and childrenswear in amazing quality and these sale prices are absolute bargains for the craftsmanship that has gone into them. The studio is at 1 King Street, Mirfield, West Yorkshire WF14 8AW and is on 10am-4pm, visit the website here www.emilysharpfashion.co.uk

BagLadyBird have a special offer on for a 1-to-1 sewing lesson about getting to know your sewing machine. This is an hour's lesson based at their home sewing studio in Bawtry (outside of Barnsley but in South Yorkshire) and can be booked for a date during January for just £30. If you're getting a sewing machine for Christmas, this is a perfect session to learn all the ins and outs of your machine or as a gift to go with the sewing machine that you have bought for someone else. You can visit the below link to purchase a £30 gift voucher and then it will be posted out with 48 hours and the date can be booked at your convenience afterwards. www.paypal.me/BagLadyBird/30 You can also visit their Facebook Page for more information here www.facebook.com/bagladybird

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Klue Doll Bridal & Fashion are doing a special 10% off their chokers & lashes for today only, more options are available on their facebook page. You can either drop them a message on their page or send an email to info@kluebykellyann.com. See more on their page here www.facebook.com/KlueDoll

Know of any other Small Biz Saturdays offers, events and other happenings? Use the contact form to let us know and we'll add them here.