To view all my work, other blogs and posts. Please click on link below or click on user name 'Alice Apple' at the end of each post.

https://www.blogger.com/profile/08386316246429701027

Lanyards

I've made these for myself to hang my mini 180ml water bottles at work, they are also handy for hanging my phone via a phone ring, keys et cetera. Made several to match my bottles and like to collect some these characters normally.

My favourite character lanyards

Occasion lanyards

Swapping them out allows me to wash them, since I sweat so much in summer around my neck and dry out my water bottles completely to prevent mould. I got my name professionally printed on ribbon, cut these up to use as name tags and cut my name in glow in the dark vinyl on my vinyl cutter to stick to my bottles, as I have lost one in the past. Tried different sewing techniques and mediums, just for experimentation to see what methods are best. My lanyards and mini water bottles have attracted quite a bit of interest both from colleagues and customers.

I will also be making these for my online shop in different variations and selling them once I am satisfied with quality checks; one with safety break away links, one without, one with cheaper clasps for non-important IDs , one with expensive clasps as shown in photograph for those important goods such as purses and one single sided lanyard with a nice soft backing. Everyone loves novelty and cuteness, so this should sell well.

This one I made for Lunar/Chinese New Year, red and gold are especially auspicious colours in Chinese culture as well as many other East Asian countries. White is considered bad luck as it is associated to death and mourning, blue is also a colour that you should also stay away from as it represents ill health, so if you are gifting a Chinese person avoid these colours at all cost. I went with a burgundy colour, as bright red a little two in your face for everyday wear.

I've made this by sewing grosgrain ribbon together; the gold printed flowers are designed and printed on by myself. I chose plum flowers, as they are a Chinese symbol of spring. My name is sewn on, printed by a online company and have coated it to make it waterproof, however I will be purchasing the machine to do this in the future. There is no reason I cannot wear any of lanyards on a regular basis, my design is simple with no special wording.

Full front of my Lunar New Year lanyard

Back of my lanyard with self-designed gold printed plum blossoms

Bracelets

Initially made this for charity at work, cuteness and novelty sells, it is now selling in my new trademarked online shop as regular stock.

Good photography practice too, had to change aperture to get gold colour right.

Bohemian style wooden beaded bracelet with cute birdie and plastic glow-in-the-dark beads.

Golf Dome Parasol Umbrella Strap - Updating

A full photograph of my product will go up once I've made sufficient sales and I do need to watch my back as much from my extremely nosy stalking neighbours.

Registered design number 15 March 2021: 6124458

Registered design number September 2023: 6307969

So I needed a way to put my registered design number on my strap, it is a requirement to say the design is mine and legally deter any copying. A website address can be used instead of the number, but I don't think many people would be to happy with a giant hyperlink on their strap, not to mention the cost of a domain and running it.

I actually got this idea of using a Brother label printer to attach the number to the underside of my design with TZe Tape from my place of work who love using Dynamo tape. I've got the Brother P-Touch D210VP since it is the only one that comes with a UK adapter and not run on batteries, it's so much fun to play with and the tape is perfect, waterproof and good on budget price wise per label. I'm using a cheap copy of TZe Tape from Amazon which is a whole lot cheaper, each label I make is about 3cm in length, so can produce many sew on labels per meter. The tape will eventually peel off, though it does have it strengths and will stay on for quite some time I expect.

Designs are automatically protected once you create an object, but I've design registered with the government, due to Covid-19 took 6.5 weeks to process instead of the quoted 15 days. The design examination department is unbelievably slow at processing. The plus side when registering it with the government is that you can stop other people selling the design and have a piece of paper to say it is your design and the date in which it was created. I will be releasing my design for sale after trademarking and producing labels for my products in about 1-2 months time.

For my second application which was rejected, the process took 9 weeks for first contact and another few weeks later due to waiting for the examiner to respond and the application will close at the end of June. The examiner refused it on the basis on which she perceived as purely designed around a function. But that doesn't matter, all I need is a date for when I produced it for self protection, I think all my correspondence and application process with her confirms that. It is still my design and it is still automatically design protected, it just doesn't fit in with the government application process.

What I have found is that the Intellectual Property Office examiner will perceive and judge a design according to their own perceptions, which I have found they do not think out the box, they believe a design can only be used for one purpose. All designs cannot be designed solely for a function, which is ridiculous as most designs would have been designed around a function initially (Bauhaus, "form follows function") and replacement parts cannot be protected. A design can be protected for its appearance, configuration, pattern, colour, and materials. Even my umbrella strap was initially designed around its function and then made more appealing. The fact is, most individuals would not buy something ugly that does not work.

The cost of registering a design cost is £50, to register up to 10 designs costs £70. The total I've spent on two designs is £70, so it really is worth considering registering 10 all in one go if you're planning to take this route as a designer and you do lose the money if a design is rejected. I'm registering my designs mainly for CV purposes, to protect myself from despicable individuals and there are a lot of devious people out in this world unfortunately.

If you calculate the cost of my materials for a inexpensive product then there isn't much profit to be made or I may just break even; online sale fees, PayPal fees, site fees, internet security fees, accountant fees, income tax (once you go over personal allowance limit of £12,570), NI deductions (they go towards state benefits and pension, should you need them but it is better to optionally pay this, around 9% of earnings, you'll find the rich only has to pay 2% and 0% if below personal allowance limit).

Every 5 years you will have to renew the registered design for more money than initially paid and gets steeper every year, a total of 25 years. This government really knows how to rip you off. Registering a design is a much better advantage, if your design is an invention and no one has come up with this idea, it will set you back £4,000 per product as a patent.

If you want to read more information on design rights https://www.gov.uk/register-a-design

For more information of image sizing for the design right Intellectual Property Image Sizing

For more information of patenting Intellectual Property Patenting

Now I just need to work out how to produce the plastics myself, since some of the components are no longer sold. I'm learning 3D printing, it's mind boggling as it's a whole different board game, it seems like a useful skill to learn. I'll have to start saving up for a 3D printer. I'm already still learning to produce my own embroidery designs on my new sewing machine (I have 5, this will be my last sewing machine I promise) and graphics using two pieces of software that I'm fairly new to, both of which will help me brand my products for sale at a reasonable price. Professional printing is so expensive!

I now have a new and improved design which is also registered with the government, it's also cheaper to produce, as I have found a couple of wholesalers who produce exactly what I need. I will still need to 3D design a vital component and not use the one initially thought I would.

Cutlery Cases & Face Shield Case

Cutlery Cases

With the left over fabric from making my trolley bags, I've made cutlery cases and a case for my Covid19 face shield which was given to me by my employer, who gave me a gigantic sack to put it in. I always have cutlery on me, as I need to eat my food at speed and a case for my face shield will be good to protect it from scratches and dirt after washing it without taking up too much locker space, which is reserved for my food. All remaining fabric will be used to make storage bags or pouches or even a new handbag.

Blue and purple elephants with print right side up

Warmer tone elephants on other side

Inside seams with waterproof seam tape for better hygiene and easy washing

Cutlery cases are made from purple elephant PU lined Ripstop, after ordering the grey, I decided to order the purple which happens to be very bright, though cheerful. I have sewn them with contrasting closed end auto locking zippers in magenta, pink and purple. Making spare cases due to possible damage or not drying in time in winter.

Face Shield Case

The face shield case is made with the remaining purple Ripstop used for the shopping trolley bag, it is stiffened with the use of non-woven polypropylene green photography backdrop, that has never been used for its purpose (I really like using this combo of Ripstop with photography backdrop). The case is hook and loop fastening opening and finished off with black webbing. A handle made of webbing, so it can be hung up and easy carrying with 'D' rings for a shoulder strap. I would like to keep the face shield after the pandemic, way after it has gone.

Trolley Crazy - Updating

I made both of these bags and panels, trolley adjustments in about 3 days from about late morning to dinnertime which is around 9:00AM - 6:30PM, not working overnight or lunch, tea breaks and house chores that is, that would be absurd. Breaks are what keeps employees motivated, better metal health and reduce over tiredness to prevent mistakes and accidents, time for socialising and talking. Something nasty bosses and MP's don't understand with their legal law of a 20 minute break in one day, it should be at least half hour (I like to see MP's stand all day, not eat, go to the toilet and only have a 20 minute break).

Chatting and "not socialising" (gossiping and b*tching) which my colleagues say I don't do, is what you shouldn't do during work hours. I socialise with the right people, if I like you in general and have a connection (it must be one of my hobbies, I don't watch soaps, have enough drama and b*tches in my life). Plus outside socialising usually costs more money, something I don't have enough of as my hobbies are prioritised my life. In fact I have a record of them treating me like an outcast, so it's not me "not socialising", it is them treating me badly from day 1 just because they are too stupid to decipher fact from fiction.

Cage Trolley & Shopping Bag

This is my new shopping trolley purchased off Amazon for £40.99, thought it is a great design as it is foldable and thought it could be used as a shopping basket as well, after a few personal changes. I will still use my very useful old £12.99 Lidl trolley as it has nice long handle and plastic platform base which I used to carry my mini fridge to and from university dorms. You could say, I have a trolley for every occasion.

(image to be inserted)

On the trolley, I've made panels out of white with silver bird scare metallic thread insect polyethylene mesh. This is see through perfect for anti-security following and strong enough provided it is not gashed with a sharp metal object. The panels are sewn with white hook and loop tape for attaching to the trolley. On the back, the mesh has been made into a pocket to hold a few small thin items. For instance, salami or compact umbrella, as is likely to fall through a couple of small gaps at the bottom of the trolley.

(image to be inserted)

Trolley with mesh panels added.

The trolley handle swivels; that can be kind of annoying when walking, so I've drilled a hole in the handle and added a stainless steel cleat pin with 'R' clip. A key ring and strap has been added, to hang on the handle of the trolley, so as to not lose these.

Cleat pin complete with strap.

Trolley bag before the re-sew.

The shopping bag has been fully stitch picked and made a few changes to the design. The grey straps and handles have been replaced by black polypropylene strapping, they have been moved to the sides from the front. New black snap buttons added to keep the bag flat when folded and the hook and loop tape to attach the bag onto the trolley has been removed. The lid of the bag has been lopped off, hook and loop tape added to make into a secure front pouch that is if I decide to use the bag a general shopping bag. I've added a draw string top to the bag with purple Ripstop fabric, to prevent fraying inside, the seams have been bound with more polypropylene strapping and the side seam French seamed.

Finished trolley bag.

The handle straps have been reinforced with box 'X' stitching.

French seam inside bag and webbing bound seam inside bag.

Drawstring opening made from purple Ripstop fabric, complete with toggle and zipper cord lock ends.

(image to be inserted)

Front secure hook and loop pouch made from flap of bag.

Trolley bag folded flat, handy to carry even without the trolley.

Luggage Trolley & Bag

This luggage trolley £23.99 is so handy, also from Amazon years ago, it is a foldable in design and fits perfectly in my locker at work. I've made a few alterations to the trolley and made a trolley bag to fit it which can also double up as a shopping bag. Sometimes I buy things on the way home from work, obviously buy too much that it gets heavy. As I walk to and from work, this will be very handy to carry shopping home from work or if I put too much water or food in my bag, it will be convenient to pull this along to work.

Added a top plate, to work as a platform on the trolley to prevent the bag and things falling through.

A4 top Plate of 5mm aluminium composite, with filed down corners and attached with upcycled small screws from my old computer.

Bottom of the plate is attached to the trolley bars on the base with plastic cable tie base pieces given to me by my sibling, and cut down VELCRO® brand One-Wrap®, this ensures easy cleaning if necessary.

The bag is very long and made it out of cute, grey elephant fabric, childish but cute. The rip stop is PU lined, though it can flake off once it is heavily creased or damaged, so it has been backed with black non-woven photography backdrop fabric. Both the rip stop fabric and photography backdrop is water resistant and will add added strength to the bag.

(all images will be added later)

Polypropylene black strapping has been sewn all the way down the front, back and bottom of bag which is one piece to intensify bag strength. The join is hidden well underneath the box 'X' stitching forming the handles.

Full length of bag, shows handle strapping goes all the way back and front.

More black strapping has been added to the top of the bag to increase handle strength and 'D' rings allow the bag to be carried once folded or used to attach as a shoulder strap.

Box 'X' stitch conceals join & 'D' rings on either side of the bag.

The seams on the outside and inside of the bag has been bound by more strapping to finish off the look and prevent fraying. I chose rounded bottom corners that were a pain to sew, they look nice, but I'll have to remember to use easier to sew straight corners next time.

Rounded corners and bound in contrasting black polypropylene webbing.

The top of the bag is completed with regular rip stop draw string top, the inside seam is French seamed to prevent fraying and give a neat look to the inside. I do not like flaps as they get in the way when packing and all they do is flap in the wind, a draw string top will keep things secure.

Drawstring top complete with black paracord, cord lock and ends. Plenty of space for more than just a couple bags of crisps.

Trolley bag can folded down to one third in size and stores away easily.

Hook & loop tape fastening, strap with lobster clasp to keep bag folded. Hook & loop tape generally deteriorates over time, so nice and long for ease of repairs in the future.

Shopping trolleys are usually associated and stereotyped to old ladies. I think with Covid-19 around, with funkier designs and longer handles, trolleys could take off. I hope no one mistakes me for a OAP going around town, the stigma that would be other than all the illegal slander which is already going around.

A lot of people look down on crafters, they expect us to sell things cheap to them without any idea of the cost of materials and the time to make products that they all love to buy and wear, so I be listing the cost of the second elephant bag just below. It will also drop in some reality for budding designers, university students as to how much a project costs. The number of students I've met at university who believe government grants will cover everything, or even their parents, who think you don't need extra money to study except to go drinking blowing it all away.

PU lined Elephant Rip Stop £7.99/Metre X2

Non-woven black photography backdrop around £9.99 (2 metres used)

Purple rip stop £7.99/3Feet

10 metres of black polypropylene strapping £3.97

Black hook and loop tape less than one metre 11p (normally sold by the metre with postage on top)

D rings X2 £2.49/10

Black paracord £9.99/30 Metres (about 1.5 metres used)

Zipper cord lock ends £4.13/50

Around 21 woman hours @ £8.72 (minimum wage) = £183.12

So this bag would be around £241 excluding profit, marketing and selling fees online in reality. Or in a shop; an assistant, electricity bill, rent etc. Britain's shops obviously rip off poorer workers and countries to do the work. However, ordering in bulk means you can use excess for future projects and cheaper than purchase a quantity of one. And you don't learn anything about making bags in fashion college/university.

The Leather Works - Updating

So this is my first time working with proper purchased leather, it was very tempting to use recycled leather off my old knee length boots, but thought I shouldn't.

Front of card holder

Side of card holder

Internal of card holder

Since the outbreak of the covid virus, it has been less necessary to carry cash around, not that I do that often anyway on a day to day basis (only street market need coins), contactless is so easy and lighter to carry. So I've decided to make a card holder only for two cards, as that is all I carry, I sometimes don't even carry any form of payment when I go to work, as I walk home. On several occasions, I've had cheeky teenagers ask me for bus fare or coins for phone calls, that was at the start of my hour walk home. My friend said I should have asked them for bus fare.

Made my leather wallet to be quickly accessed for payment and not have to search in my bag for it. Since I'm not a fully fledged leather worker, I do not have any leather tools what so ever, so this is machine sewn and is imperfect. I will be purchasing those later, now that I've got the bug for it, think they'll be worth it. I've worked out how to perfect the quality for sale and may opt for hand or machine sewing or a mix of both later.

The card holder has not been skived or edge painted or dyed, I prefer that look for personal use. I also prefer suede over the upper side of the leather, so have used the under side. Personally the suede side has a warmer feel to it, markings made on the surface are less noticeable than the upper side. I don't understand people who like the whole scaly appearance of reptile skin when they wouldn't even go near the creature in reality.

On the inside, I've added a small mesh window in order to view my card, though it is not really needed. To stiffen the holder, I've cut a sheet of metal from an aluminium can and inserted these on the inside. It has a crinkly sound to it, but on the other hand, it seems to have created a RFID blocking quality, I'll have to do some tests to double check and experiment with some other materials. I've cut a paracord neck strap to size, as so not need to dig in my bag for it, the design is self closing and the cards slide in tight. However, my mother insists it should have a fastening to it, so I now just wrap my hair band around it when ever I go out.

Leather Card Case

Triple Layer Flu Mask - Updating

Made this during the coronavirus outbreak and currently in lockdown, as can't buy these quickly or sky high prices. I will need to go food shopping and other essentials eventually, being the healthiest of my family I've banned my mother and sibling from going out, but my mother insists I wear a mask before going out.

My family are quite happy to stay at home, we are all home bodies, my sibling will not even go out in the garden for a tiny bit of sunshine. My friend has also requested I make some for her and her hubby who is a pharmacist.

Flu mask on styling head, the eyes have been blanked out, as dolls' eyes have always creep me out. I was going to cut her hair up, but seems a waste, so keeping her just for styling. The mask is way too big for the head, but expresses how the mask can be shaped around nose and chin.

This is my own design and pattern, so will have to send her two as samples and see if they fit her, as I have based it on my face size, hopefully they will fit and I will not have to make any changes.

Front of flu mask

Back of flu mask and components

I have made the cover out of again polyester faux suedette for its extra quick drying properties, luckily I stock up fabrics during these crazy times, I was saving it to fix my sibling's chair which has now broken and to make pillow cases out of it, but obviously life is more important then pillow cases.

For the sleeve cover, I've used black on top and navy on the under layer, so I can reverse it if I wish to. Two strings of elastic is threaded through the top layer to make ear loops however, I've decided to keep a long bit of elastic to tie around the back of the head instead, so scraps of elastic has been sewn joined to go around head. I wear glasses, like to have my hands free and for long term use it would be more comfortable and easier to carry wearing it around my neck.

The centre of my face mask is a filter made of green photography backdrop which I do not use, it can be removed to use as normal flu mask and completely washable as it is water resistant and breathable made from non woven polypropylene fabric commonly used in collapsible wardrobes or organisers and other general household items. Along the top of the mask, I've sewn in a plant tie to shape across the bridge of the nose as it is said that the viruses are more likely to get into gaps along the nose, gapes by the cheek and areas around the chin. It takes me about 45 minutes to make one mask, so very quickly to cut and stitch up one.

Will go out and brave the outside world later today and send these to her, hopefully the post office is still sending packets and not too affected by this outbreak.

*Update, unfortunately they were slightly too small for her, but another friend has made her bigger ones which she will customise to fit better with some wire from a shop. It took by 1st class mail, 6 days to reach her. Royal Mail appears to be struggling to post things on time during this outbreak. I've also found this very good for general cleaning in stopping me getting a coughing fit from dust, a face warmer and good protection in windy weather to prevent wind burn on my upper lip and nose area that I always get around this time of year.

I've now got to the point where I take out the filter, I think it is only really necessary if you are a germaphobe, doctor or nurse or someone who has close contact. I'm generally using only within crowded areas and tight spaces, not outdoors, it can get very sweaty otherwise.

Version 2 & 3

I made this out of very thin cream cotton scraps, changed the pattern to include an air space and wire over the mouth and nose to make it easier to breath. I made one with wire over the mouth and one without. I found the fabric up close to the mouth causes severe sweating, steaming up of my glasses and difficult to breath. Made it out of cotton, as most people choose cotton to make a mask and a lighter colour to fit in with summer, as people tend to associate suedette and black with winter. However, I still think the suedette is a better material and more comfortable even in summer. As it is made of cotton, it is slower to dry after washing.


Version 4 & 5

Using the new pattern with an air pocket over the mouth, made these out of nonwoven photography fabric with just the standard wire across the nose. These although good staying in shape, caused severe sweating and steaming up of glasses. I also put them in the washing machine to spin off excess water, this was a bad move as the fabric rips from being scraped in the machine after a few washes, I will have to keep this version away from washing machine. I have found this version is very good for bad weather, as it is warm and water resistant. As for steaming up of glasses, this happens with all masks, I even tried the disposable ones for a day, they steam up particularly if you have a physically active job and sweat a lot in general. I have found controlling breathing to a slow, calm manner helps and the government advice of using soap and anti-fog spray does not work, as I have always washed my glasses daily in liquid soap, glasses wipes and cleaners is what I consider a luxury.

The white one is a 2 layer mask, while the black one is 3 layer mask with light weight interfacing.

Version 5

This one I've made for my family and myself out of my old Debenhams uniform and new cotton fabric, each family member has different pretty fabric pattern to avoid mix ups. This is a pin tucked pleated, easy retracting, two layer mask. I've used a more robust flat elastic and trying out 3mm mask elastic which is friendlier to ears. The mask is threaded through as a neck strap, so more convenient to have hands free to say blow my nose, but it can be rethreaded to become ear loop type mask and more environment friendly when elastic comes to the end of its life. I will be selling this one at a higher price after the corona pandemic as a light fashion flu mask, considering the amount of work put in to making it, but it will of course be made out of brand new fabric when giving to others.  I'm trying not to join the bandwagon of making money out of unfortunate circumstances, so will sell once lockdown is eased. I think a lot of masks are ugly looking and not very comfortable, so I was looking into how to make one functional, look stylish and universal. This one took around 1.5 hours each to make at a nice slow pace, will be able to speed this process up with a pre-drawn pattern and special sewing machine feet.

I do like the Japanese etiquette and a lot of East Asian countries who like to wear a mask to avoid spreading colds to others, it's just in England people just think they're too cool to wear one (same with umbrellas and then they call in sick after being drenched in rain). In fact, in a lot of East Asian countries, masks are trendy cool items; they hide your no makeup face, pimples, give a mysterious vibe and avoid communication or harassment in public like a shield against obnoxious individuals. You'll find it is very popular in Japanese and Korean celebrity culture to hide from being identified. I'll have to try this when I have the next pimple breakout.

*2nd Update. During the November lockdown despite being furloughed, I caught the corona virus at the end of the month from my mother through no fault of my own, my sibling and I never went out the house. My mother gave it to the whole family, because the stupid government re-opened schools of which she works at. We all knew the coronavirus was being spread through the schools and alcoholics and hospitality areas, but they still re-opened these anyway. My sibling had not even been out of the house since the April lockdown, they only went out for car tax and MOT. She had her mask on at all times even outside in the street, I do suspect she was partially at fault for her bad hygiene regime. She was wearing standard disposable face masks, which I have found touches the lips and gets completely soaked through very easily. She now is very careful when going back to work in schools, she wears the mask and visor together.

So my corona symptoms started with a few sneezes, followed by a sore throat for a few days accompanied by a runny nose which was put down to flu symptoms and generally get sore throat when air is too warm in my room when sleeping. I rarely catch colds or flu, but do always get a sore throat first. I had severe continuous headaches and fever for about a week which initially thought was the start of a migraine, on about the fourth day about 7PM, I got nauseous, and achy all over and headache was at its worse; at this time I decided it was best for me to sleep. Next day that was all gone, I had coughing for one day only and the random cough every so often. I think I have very minute cough variant asthma; I just have severe coughing fits all year round aggravated by dust, temperature and strong scents so didn't think anything of it. I found cold tablets did not work, but always clear my headaches first as this makes me feel better. I just took bog standard pain killers and these worked better than anything. My mother and sibling eventually took pain killers of paracetamol and ibuprofen and these helped clear the symptoms, we all take different pain killers. They both had breathing difficulties as well, so it took them longer to recover as they both refused to recover by sleep rather than working and playing games or watching television.

I had the least symptoms; my symptoms were practically gone in less than a week, so I did all the cooking etc during that period. My mother didn't even know I had it (she never knows when I'm sick because my sibling is her baby, common Chinese favouritism of youngest and or male sibling), until I tested positive because my boss insisted to take the test after hearing the rest of my family had it, which wasn't as bad as I thought it'll be (reluctant to prod a stick up my nose). I had to take sick pay due to legal laws, I was actually in very good health already with no symptoms what so ever and was due back to work after being furloughed that very day my family received their test results. This was the first time in five years off work for sickness, it was only a few days, so I was very upset my 100% attendance record was broken, I told my mother it was all her fault! And they both acted like spoilt brats during the time they were sick; one demanded none soup based foods, and the other insisted on soup based foods. My mother says I was probably better at fighting the virus due to walking to work all the time so was quite fit, I kind of knew they were more likely to catch it in the first place, as they have bad health issues and always catching colds. They both had a loss of appetite with corona virus, I never had a loss of appetite, in fact I eat more when I feel nauseous even with normal flu. So my belief is the symptoms vary from person to person, we all thought the symptoms were like a bad case of flu though.

I should also point out the Royal Mail postal service is abismal, a letter of joining the pension scheme from the company that I worked which is now in liquidation sent on the 18 December 2021, arrived over a month late and other mail also went missing. I'd refrain from using the postal service for a while if you can until things get back to normal, as they are behind from Christmas and lockdown mail.

And the worse thing about catching Covid-19 was getting numerous phone calls from NHS Track and Trace. My mother and sibling had about 6 calls each when results were confirmed positive, while getting calls on the home phone, they also called their mobile and left text messages. I also got around 3 calls for living in the same house, as I took the test a little later. They obviously got annoyed, being unwell and being bombarded with phone calls. The government is very unorganised, callers all asked for the same details and insisted answering questions again, despite telling each one of them that we already answered them. I pulled out the home phone and told them to ignore calls to their mobile (I wasn't annoyed, I just chat with them, but my family wanted rest), I plugged the phone back in after being confirmed positive myself. I too immediately had another 2 calls from Track and Trace, as they do not remove your number after being called, plus numerous mobile calls and messages which I did not answer. It was only sorted on the 3rd call, I told them their calling was ridiculous, luckily this call was not from Track and Trace, they told me they were a nurse and they removed all the nuisance calls afterwards. The nurse also confirmed that I could go back to work earlier, as the date I caught the virus would have been earlier than stated.

Small Mesh Nylon Bag

Completely turned around a recycled medium sized beach bag; I used it to store sewing trims, ribbons, zips and other bits and bobs which was over stuffed and caused it to rip at the seam and zipper. Made it into an A4 sized little shopper, it's handy to carry food or clothes to work in the summer and very easy to roll up when not in use, it'll be great when it comes to staff searches since it is see through. Love nylon mesh, as it is very strong and durable when well sewn, it's a shame in isn't sold in the local fabric stores. I've actually used this for a year or so now, only just got around to photographing it (only take photos when family are out the house).

Black mesh shopper with two pockets incorporated for purse, tissues and of course sweets!! Finished off with 'D' rings just in case I wish to sling it over my shoulder and snap buttons for some extra security. Shoulder strap came with some other luggage styled bag. If you haven't guessed, I have a preference to squarish bags, they can hold a lot more.

Inside the bag, including internal pocket with popper button to keep those precious items secure and proof of me making the bag with contrasting self made bias binding left over from Fashion Atelier dress.

Crocheted Scarf - Updating

My mother taught me simple crocheting basics, I've made a few scarfs to sell and have sold one on Ebay in the past, scarfs are very easy to make and crocheting is fast.

I've made this grey scarf for myself, a small content of the knit is partially real wool, even though I'm allergic to wool, but this boucle wool is so fluffy and wool is warm in winter. Made this in three days.

Close up detail of pattern, almost finished, I have enough wool to make another.

(image to be inserted)

Finished scarf.

This is an unusual wool, purchased a long time a go in Poundstretcher for any crafting purpose. It has pom poms all the way a long it, thought I'll have a go a crocheting this stuff into a child's scarf to sell or give as a present.

(image to be inserted)

The finished scarf obviously doesn't have the typical crocheted loops.

Extra Large Duvet Toilet Roll Bag

Made myself an extra large bag in grey corduroy; needed one to carry those big multi-pack crisps, toilet rolls which the bag was sized around (Charmin pack), duvets and any other large products I may bring home.

Fabric was in the bargain bin in my local fabric shop, it had small hole in it which I've incorporated in the fold to extend the life of the bag. Self designed with bits and bobs left over from previous projects and upcycled hook to fasten over small packages, with contrasting purple inner binding on facing. Shoulder strap is from an existing bag or portfolio. My two favourite colours put together.

Made a couple of years ago, only got around to photographing, used the bag a lot to carry duvets from my local Poundstretcher to sew together to make a mattress topper.

Earrings

Made to sell online years ago; 100% 925 sterling silver, with Swarovski clear aurora borealis butterflies and smoky opal crystals.

Jewellery out of precious metals are more difficult to sell, as fine jewellery has to be hallmarked if over a certain weight. This pair of earrings are hallmarked with a extremely tiny 925 on the ear hooks, 925 being the hallmark of sterling silver, the ratio of the metals used.

Silver over 7.78grams is legally required to be hallmarked, besides would you purchase it without a hallmark? Hallmarking will obviously set you back even more, since it has to be laser etched.

You can find out more about the legal requirements of hallmarking and how to get your items etched from the hyperlinks below.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hallmarking-guidance-notes/hallmarking-is-the-law-guidance-summary#:~:text=The%20minimum%20weight%20thresholds%20are,platinum%200.5%20gram

https://www.assayofficelondon.co.uk/hallmarking/what-is-a-hallmark

Necklaces & Chokers

Made these to sell online a few years back.

Gold plated, wire wrapped glass flower with chained red crystals.

Choker with handmade felt flowers on seed bead trail.

Initially made this choker for a charity event at work, now selling in my new trademarked online shop.

Matching set, faux leather crystal buttery choker and bracelet.