Archive for the dropped spindle An online meeting place for spinners, weavers, dyers and felters.
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ClaireUK
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Other spinning tools for saleI seem to have got into selling nostepinnes, niddy-noddys and wooden swifts now. 
If anyone is interested, please email me.
Claire UK
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spinningsue
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Way to go Claire, sounds like a business in the making!
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ClaireUK
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Not really a business - I am just offering these on here and on the Angelyarns forum for people I have got to know or fellow enthusiasts.
I'm not going to get into the eBay or webshop thing as then we wont be able to make them really nice and have time for the important details.
Claire UK
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natalie
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Are there photos?
natalie
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ClaireUK
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Not yet as hubby doesnt have his cast off and stitches out till Weds so he is at the design stage at the moment. They will be made only in Oak, Beech, Sycamore or Cherry as other woods arent suitable strengthwise.
Also, I wasnt sure if it was appropriate to go any further with this without your approval Natalie as this is your site.
Are photo's OK - maybe end of next week?
Claire UK
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natalie
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Thank you for being considerate, Claire.
My view is that if any member has something they want to sell or swap, whether it's leftover or hand-dyed yarn for weaving/knitting, a loom, drop spindles, etc etc then it can be posted in the pinboard section.
If it's a single item, a fleece, for example, then just list it as is. If it's drop spindles etc. then by all means post a picture, with a link to a website. And if you are putting something on ebay, then you can let people know it's there.
I think that it's very hard for anyone considering a craft-based business to get started. As you all know I am now dyeing sock yarn for sale, and have put some of it on e-bay, but my researches have thrown up lots of issues for anyone at the pre-selling stage.
ebay shops have just been bumped down the searches for ebay, so an ebay shop may never even be seen by the potential customers. It isn't the logical first option any more.
Craft fairs want samples and references before you can be accepted as a vendor, this is understandable, they don't want "assemblers" they want craftspeople who make a high quality product, but it is another hurdle to get over.
I posted a question on another forum recently about setting up a business and got some informative but slightly snooty replies about Kitchen-Table-Craftspeople. I defy anyone to just dream up an idea, walk into a workshop they are having to pay for, and make a success. The Kitchen Table stage matters, it's where you can make mistakes safely, and it's the place you get the confidence to move on from.
Vive la Kitchen Table!
The purpose of the forum is to allow people to come together to share ideas, expertise, ask questions and I suppose to become a "between meetings" online guild. I haven't been able to get to my guild because of my ankle for three months now and everyone here has supported and inspired me to try new things.
What I have to say is that we are all individually responsible for what we post on the pinboard, and that all transactions (beyond the "I've sent you a pm type post") must be by email away from the forum. I cannot be responsible for things not being sent or not being paid for, and I'm sure you all appreciate this.
The other thing is, that anyone who joins the forum only in order to sell things, will not be welcome. Lurking is fine, lurking and posting on the pinboard with no other contribution is not fine.
Happy entrepreneuring.
Natalie
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ClaireUK
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Thankyou for explaining things Natalie.
My purpose is to fund my obsession with all things fiber by making the sort of tool people will want to use out of the sort of wood people will appreciate and cherish.
Thats why I am only offering these to fellow craftspeople.
I ahve been approached by several retailers, but most only want to buy dirt cheap and sell dirt cheap without honouring the work involved. They want plain objects in cheap 'wood' which is the opposite of what our ethos is.
Right, off my soap box now, rant over 
Claire UK
Piccies in 2 weeks. What with my fractured toes and dh's hand, life is fun right now!
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natalie
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I didn't think it was a rant!
natalie
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spinningsue
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That's not a rant, its rightful pride in your good workmanship! A guy I work with once told me I should set up a business with my beading but import the goods from China (cheap labour and exploitation!) rather than make it myself and sell the imports for a high price. Grrrr! I don't think he's ever recovered from the ear-bashing he got in return!
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sally
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| ClaireUK wrote: | They will be made only in Oak, Beech, Sycamore or Cherry as other woods arent suitable strengthwise.
Claire UK |
All sounding great Claire, but there are other woods that are great., Gareth makes most of my stuff in box or yew, and its perfect strengthwise. Box in particular is a total joy to work with and I'd never heard any suggestion that it wasnt strong enough for the task 
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ClaireUK
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Thankyou for pointing that out Sally. I should have put : the other woods he makes drop spindles from arent streng enough eg. pear, apple, holly.
Claire UK
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sally
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Sorry, reread my post and it came across a bit nitpicky, wasnt intended that way (had just got in a bit shattered from a show).
How does he find the holly to turn, we have a lump awaiting attention at the moment and looking at it I had hopes of it turning nicely, is it not much good for small items then? Rather interesting to discuss spindles from the 'strength of the wood' perspective rather than the aestheics 
I was going to try some distafs made from spindleberry later this winter, had a go with that wood at all?
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fibrespace
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hello,
Natalie, I was reading your bit about ebay shops.
| Quote: | | ebay shops have just been bumped down the searches for ebay, so an ebay shop may never even be seen by the potential customers. It isn't the logical first option any more. |
What i do is list a few things on the main bit of ebay, and have links to my shop. This seems to work well. To be honest, when the shop listings came up as well there was so much stuff it was a bit over whelming for people browsing.
| Quote: | | I posted a question on another forum recently about setting up a business and got some informative but slightly snooty replies about Kitchen-Table-Craftspeople. I defy anyone to just dream up an idea, walk into a workshop they are having to pay for, and make a success. The Kitchen Table stage matters, it's where you can make mistakes safely, and it's the place you get the confidence to move on from. |
and as for kitchen tables, i wouldn't be able to do what i'm doing if it wasn't for the kitchen table, actually it's an old patio table in the garage!! i have young children and prefer to be working from home. it also means i can work whenever i want.
Good luck with your sock yarn, do you use natural dyes or synthetic?
Beth
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