Saturday Showcase and a Small Business Tip

This Saturday's Showcase of UK handmade goods is here!
For the people who appreciate that with handmade comes quality - you're really going to love this selection.
For the artists amongst us, who appreciate handmade because you know just what goes into it - take a look at my tip for small businesses at the bottom of the blog.
I hope you enjoy my amazing selection this week.

1. Brooch - iCandy Crafts
2. Card - Zuleikha's art
3. Hair Clip, Fimo - Pretty Little Tings
4. Beanie - Rainbows'N'More
5.Bag - Crafty Bags
6.Glossy Print  - Crystal MoonCat
7. Silver Pendant - Handmade Silver Jewellery UK
8.Pincushion - RuthDesigns
9.Cushion - MinXures Clothing and Accessories
10. Head band - Zoe's Shop

Business Tip of the Week
People buy from small businesses because they often receive a personal touch. They buy from handmade artists because they know that overall the product is better!  However, all businesses make mistakes - we wouldn't be human if we didn't.  The key is not to compound your mistakes. Delivering good customer service means quickly and accurately fixing those mistakes and you'll earn loyalty.  On the other hand, compounding one mistake with another is a sure fire way of driving away your customers.

Brightening up your Day....

It sure is pouring down with rain in the South West of England, so I decided to brighten things up a little this week with my choice of the ten artisans this week.  Again, going to be fairly obvious what my theme is - but I'm not sure if anything can brighten the floods down this way!

I do hope if you're a fellow artist you enjoy my choices and if you're a non crafty person can see the love and dedication which has gone into every piece that I have selected for my blog this week

Number 6 is particulaly apt at the moment and is absolutely gorgeous! So much so, that I've just bought it, ha, ha - I'm sure you'll find some other lovely things from Handmade by suqiz in the shop as I've amended this link so you can visit the main page for this artist.

1. Yellow Skies, Mixed Media  - Sue Coo Art
2. Yellow Finch, Paper - recycled found and purchased - Rae Welch
3. Yellow Rosette - Hand rolled Felt - Hooperhart
4. Yellow Flowers - Silver and Epoxy Resin - Handmade Jewellery
5. Yellow Rose - Sinamay and metal hair clip - The Millinery Studio
6. Yellow Duck - Card - Polymer Clay - Handmade by suziq
7. Yellow Peas - Linoprint  -LaLishDesign
8. Yellow Bear - Crocheted -  Monique Boutique
9. Yellow Light - limited edition print - Betty bay design
10. Yellow Shawl - Chrocheted - Pushek

Please be aware that all the rights to the designs belong with the artists.

The Colour of Summer

Having finished Dorset Art Weeks Open Studios (a 16 day long event), I finally have my life back and can continue with my weekly blog.
This week I'm sure the theme won't be at all hard to guess and I've found some stunning items on Folksy again for your delight.
I'll look forward to hearing from my fellow bloggers with their ideas and creativity.  There is some really amazing quality handmade and handcrafted items in the UK and I only wish I could bring them all to this page - but each week, I'll endeavour to bring just a few for you all to enjoy.

1. Handmade Tutu - Strawberry Annie's
2. Cardigan - Niftyneedles
3. Handcrafted Card -  Something Special by Mars x
4. Lace Gauntlet - Tricot Treats by Helen Dey
5. Felt Owl - Mousey Makes
6. Nu Baroque Mug - Russell Paige Ceramics
7. Handcrafted Earrings - Lesley H Phillips Handcrafted Silver Jewellery
8. Fibre Felt Purse - by sally
9. Personalised Face Cloth - K G Designs
10. Patchwork Handbag -  Handbags by Helen

Please do note that all the designs featured on this blog are the designers own work and as such they hold the Design Rights to them.  Any breach of these Design Rights can result in pursual by the artists concerned.

I'm sure you'll agree that this week's array is a wonderful example of the talent that we have in the United Kingdom and I'll wait to hear from you as to what you think the theme for this week is!