LMB Crafts is a local business that creates sweet accessories, crafting kits, home decor and more. They are launching a brand new DIY Kit, so we interviewed owner Leanne to ask her all about them.

Why did you decide to starting doing kits?
"I started the kits because of requests from my customers. At fairs and networking I’d get asked how I make something because they thought it was great or wanted to show it to someone else so they could have a go, at first I was reluctant but then I remembered how much I used to love showing my guides (I was once a girl guide and Ranger leader) how to do something and then, them being so proud of what they’d made. That’s how the sock monkeys came about in the first place and I love to pass on my skills to others."

Tell us about your new kit?
"The New kit is different from previous kits. It’s all about the basics of machine sewing. Again this was based on customer requests. Kids aged 8 upwards were unsure when it came to machine sewing, mums weren’t too sure either so I put together the mini flower tote kit to guide them through the process of making something pretty and practical but nice and simple on the sewing machine."

What was your inspiration for it?
"Ha ha as above really, kids wanting to sew and not knowing how. Mums wanting their kids to sew but not knowing where to start or go for help that wasn’t going to cost the earth."
What level of sewer do you need to be to create it?
"It’s a really basic kit, straight lines all the way. So really basic. Ideal for beginners!"

Where can we buy your range of kits from?
"All my kits are available through Etsy (www.etsy.com/shop/leannescrafts) or you can contact me through facebook (@lmbcrafts) or I’m usually at local craft fairs every month or so."
Follow LMB Crafts on Facebook and Twitter.

Today is also International Museum Day, so we had the pleasure of visiting the Tales Of The Wedding Dress Exhibition at The Cannon Hall Museum. We joined in on the Curatorial Tour of the exhibition, which I enjoyed far more than if I had just visited it on my own. The stories behind the dresses were incredibly intriguing and special in their own right, especially with some being old dresses from as far back as the 1920's. The dresses that are currently on show are the locally handmade ones and then at the end of the month, wedding dress from film and television will be put on show. I highly recommend visiting the exhibition. Here's a few photos from my visit.

















 

On Sunday 14th of May, I got to attend Pam Goodison's Fused Glass Workshop at the Crafty Business Network in the Barnsley Business Innovation Centre (BBIC). It was a fab couple of hours where I got to play around with bits of glass and other decorative bits. We have spoken to Pam before about a little tutorial she did for us, read it here: Make Dichroic Glass Pendant Jewellery with Pam Goodison



At first I was a bit overwhelmed with all of the possibilities and struggled to decide what I wanted to do at first! We has the choice of making either a pendent, a coaster, a star or small piece of artwork. I had an idea that I wanted to make something I could wear and use quite often so stuck with the pendent.


Right in front of me on the table were these little pots of metallic flakes and my eyes lit up. I had to use them in some way! So the pendent I went for was a pink and gold theme. I found this streaked pink piece of glass and loved the flowing natural look to it. I played with these long thin pieces of glass and then glued on these gold flakes. Pam then explained about capping off the piece with a clear piece of glass as the gold flakes can burn away in the furnace when being fired.


After putting way too much glue on this piece, I left this to one side and began a second pendent. I found this textured iridescent black glass and had to use it. I once again reached for those flakes and then capped it with some clear glass.




I can't wait to turn these into chokers and get wearing them! Thank you to Pam Goodison Glass Artist, like her facebook page here: www.facebook.com/PamGoodisonGlassArtist!

The Crafty Business Network is a Barnsley networking group for anyone that has a craft related business, interest, or business idea, etc. We caught up with Steph who originally set up the group to find out more.

How did the Crafty Business Network begin?
When I first started my graphic design business, Black Bee Creative, I had to network to get clients. The events I went to were sometimes rather full-on and it made me quite uncomfortable.
After searching for something that I felt more 'me' I went to the Sheffield Crafty Business group and was completely sold on the concept. Rachel Ferla, who started that group suggested I start one in Barnsley and it's just taken on a life of it's own! It is now a business in it's own right, which I run with my business partner Tracey Mawson.
The concept has evolved quite a bit since the Sheffield days but the craft community is still at the heart of everything we do.  For example, at our meetings we got feedback from the group that there aren't enough high quality craft fairs in the area, so we started holding regular Crafty Business Makers Markets at Penistone Barn to fill that need.


How can you become a member of the network and what benefits can you receive?
The Facebook group is open to anyone who is creative and has a business, or is thinking of starting one. Just join the group and we will accept you.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/CraftyBizBarnsley/
We now have a solid base of 650+ members in the group and we have a wealth of knowledge between us. It's a great community to be part of if you would like to share ideas, problems and discuss solutions on both crafting and business.
What are some of the best workshops and talks that have been on?
We try to give members help with all different aspects of running a craft business, so they are quite varied.
Amy Law from Amy Law Photography gave a great practical product photography workshop. Amy showed us how to make our own DIY photography studios using paper and card utilising the natural light in our homes all with the humble smartphone! She talked us through the planning stage, lighting, backgrounds, colour, editing and resizing, so really covered everything to help us take our photography to the next level.
Rose Chambers runs a craft supplies shop based in Leeds, called Unwrap Colour. Rose shared her secrets on how to create a thriving Etsy store in a talk last year. It was the busiest meeting we've ever had! She went through the basics of running an Etsy shop, useful resources including information about photography, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and even things like how to pitch your ideas to bloggers.
Lisa Rowley from White Apple Thinking has talked at a couple of meetings before. She always gets us inspired and encourages us to ask lots of deep questions about ourselves and our businesses!
Hey Clay! We recently held some workshops for the general public to create our community artwork celebrating the regrowth of Barnsley. This 'Hey Clay!' event was run in conjunction with the Crafts Council and the BBC.
Tracey Mawson from Crafty Business is a ceramic artist so it was right up her street! She enlisted fellow ceramicist Sarah Jones-Morris to help deliver the workshops where members of the public made ceramic leaves and flowers which will be brought together to create a large collaborative community artwork to be installed at the Digital Media Centre this Summer. When complete, people will be able to come and see the artwork. A list of the hundreds of budding artists who have taken part in the project will also be displayed.


What can we expect at the market events?
We want the Crafty Business Makers Markets to be a celebration of all kinds of creativity.  As you would expect we have lots of craft stalls, we also encourage stallholders to give demonstrations of their craft to engage visitors. We only accept stalls selling original and innovative handmade items, so the quality is very high.
We also have live music from local musicians and creative activities for adults and kids. We've had demonstrations of fused glass, chocolate and pyrography in the past. Creative activities have included a potters wheel and pom-pom making - it's a real mixed bag!
Our next Makers Market is on the 4th of June at the Penistone Market Barn. We are open for stallholders to apply for a stand, follow this link to apply: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/XTJ5RHS


What future talks, workshops and events can we expect to see?
We are lining up lots more exciting events for the rest of the year! We've got Makers Markets at Penistone Barn on 20th August, 8th October and 26th November.
We've been asked by Etsy for the Etsy Made Local market again which will be held in December, and with this in mind we will be arranging another Etsy workshop for members before then.
Plus, Google have asked us if we'd like to host some of their training sessions, which is incredibly exciting!
A completely different event we're doing is a crafty de-stash event in July, where members can swap/sell their unwanted or preloved craft supplies.
What are the future plans for the crafty business network?
We're building a website which will be a hub where people can find information about what we do, apply for Makers Markets and have a directory of crafters.
We are working on a paid membership option which will include business resources, plus discounts for workshops and local businesses etc.
We'd also like to branch out to have Crafty Business groups in different areas one day.

There are lots of places in Barnsley to get your craft supplies from. Here are just a few great places for you to visit for your next craft project...


The Craft Box
Based inside the Elsecar Heritage Centre, here you can get all kinds of cardmaking supplies as well as some knitting yarns, sewing accessories and art supplies. They also hold regular classes and drop-ins.
www.thecraftbox.biz
Elsecar Heritage Centre, Wath Road, Elsecar, Barnsley


Home Farm Crafts
A card and crafty small shop, they are a fully stocked place for all your needs. They hold quite a few crafting classes and cardmaking workshops as well.
www.homefarmcrafts.com
High Street, Royston, Barnsley


Oh Sew Sweet Shop At The Hut
A large fabric shop with haberdashery accessories. The shop also boasts a cafe and a whole host of sewing classes and workshops.
www.ohsewsweetshop.co.uk
Dovecliffe Road, Wombwell, Barnsley


P&J Textiles
Here you can buy all kinds of fabrics and haberdashery. They also have many other catalogues that you can purchase fabric from, as well as a good selection of dyes, ribbons, buttons and also sewing machines on sale.
www.facebook.com/P-J-Textiles-243979182323139
New Street, Barnsley Town Centre


The Range
Yes! The Range on Peel Centre Retail Park in the town centre has a surprisingly great arts and crafts section. From Art supplies, stationary, card making and sewing accessories, find it all here on a budget.
www.therange.co.uk
Peel Centre Retail Park, Dryden Road, Barnsley


Waltons Fabrics
A dancewear specialist fabric shop but also boasts a whole host of other fabrics and end-of-line designer fabrics. Always at great prices for good quality pieces.
www.facebook.com/WaltonsFabrics
Doncaster Road, Goldthorpe

Chic-yCow Designs is a local crafty maker, who makes bags and accessories from leather. Here we have interviewed owner Jo all about her inspirations and designing process. We also interviewed Chic-yCow before, you can read it on Chic-yCow by Jo Noble and we did a Chic-yCow Product Review: The Leather Choker.

Where do you start with your initial research for your designs?
'Most of my ideas pop into my brain at daft times of the night and day, I then try and get them out of my head by sketching and scribbling my thoughts onto paper. I use Pinterest to create a secret mood board and spend many hours researching and gathering colour schemes, patterns and shapes that help to develop my design. Once I've decided on a colour scheme, I go through my supplies and find all sorts of mixed media that compliment the colours I've chosen and pile them together. That helps me to decide what
blends and fits.'



What inspires me the most and why?
'I am a big fan of Mother Nature's palette of colours and shapes, so I think I'm most inspired by flowers and leaf shapes and the textures and patterns found all around us. I also like Architecture so I am fascinated by lines and geometric shapes and how it all fits together.'

What making/sewing techniques inspire you most?
'I'm very interested in painting and printing techniques and fabric manipulation. At the moment I'm researching textiles, embroidery and altering metal. I'm working on a collection of jewellery using mixed media, so combining my leather with textiles, metalwork, beadwork and paint.'

How do you decide which ideas to move forward with and which to scrap?
'I've discovered over the past few years that the ideas you have in your head don't always translate into a physical piece of work! I often find myself going off on a tangent and what I started out making somehow turns into something completely different! It's only when you begin to make a 'mock up' of a design, you find out what works and what doesn't.
You also discover whether the costings and amount of labour that goes into the piece makes it a viable product to sell. I often make one - of -a -kind pieces that cost more, but then take a portion of the design and re work it to produce something feasible to sell on a regular basis that is more profitable.'

How do you continue to evolve and push your ideas to the next level?
'When I look back at some of the work I made when I first started Chic-yCow in 2011, I can see just how much my work and the business have evolved.

I have gained many more skills along the way, all self taught, learnt lots about business in general from my fellow Artists and Makers and adapted to different ways of working - I think when you're self employed you are learning all the time, mostly by trial and error!
I am now going back in time a little and revisiting my costume jewellery skills and incorporating them into my work for the future.'