Camden Market May 2013

I can't believe how cold it was in Camden, in May!! It was the first time we'd had a proper stall rather than a table and the market first thing in the morning is lovely. I always love being at the market early it's has a real buzz about it. The weather forecast was for rain so we had to wrestle with the tarpaulins. My tip is to take something to stand on unless you are tall.

We had a lot of stock and some new lines like the Aldgate so it took a long time to put the stall out. We are at Camden again Friday 5th July. Hoping for some sunshine this time.

We are going to be live in Camden Market along with other Etsy sellers from the Etsy Team We Make London tomorrow 17th May 2013 and 5th July 2013.

Come along for a great day out in one of the most popular and trendy markets in London.
There is no substitute for seeing items in the flesh and being able to feel the quality and weight of the Hemp fabric. I promise you photographs can not do it justice. Hope to see you there!

Sashiko Lavender Sachets

My latest venture into Sashiko is also one of my favourite things to own and make - lavender bags, or as they are also called lavender sachets.
I always add a hanging ribbon to mine so they are easy to place around the house or even in the car. (I hate those synthetic air fresheners)
I have made these Sashiko sachets from organic hemp muslin and used organic kapok stuffing to give them a lovely soft and squishy feel. I am always amazed at how long the fragrance lasts, and when you give them a little squeeze the fragrance is revitalised - aah!

This one is made using a traditional Sashiko rice flower stitch, which I currently have for sale on my Etsy shop.https://www.etsy.com/listing/120674935/organic-hemp-lavender-sachetbag-sashiko

 For this one I have used a Sashiko style of embroidery to create my own patterns. 

And I have even created some especially for Valentines Day. Please take a look at my Etsy shop for more examples of my designs. http://www.etsy.com/shop/HempLondon?ref=si_shop
If you would like to make your own Sashiko lavender bag, please come back and check my blog in the next few days as I'm planning a tutorial of the Rice Flower design.

Busy busy and new lines.

Spent last week finishing products for our two new lines and dying more fabric. Very soon we'll be introducing lines in our new colour RASPBERRY Hemp canvas.

After many teething problems our new Hemp kindle covers have come out perfect, and have been received well by our customers on Etsy. It fits so many gadgets, I'm hoping this will be our new best seller.We're waiting for some more leather closures to arrive (should be here today or tomorrow) and then we can make some more colours...can't wait!

And then there's our new DALSTON  Hemp canvas bag for men, which is very popular!!!
It's only made up in the charcoal at the moment, but I will be making more colours soon. And of course customers can make custom orders if they want a particular colour.

This week I'm very busy preparing a special order for Fiona, a contact we have made through Etsy.
Fiona and her husband are opening a life style boutique in Scotland. They will be stocking some of our HOXTON men's toiletries bags  in CHARCOAL, SKY BLUE and PEWTER GREY, when they open their wonderful new shop this month, along with many other unique items, which originate from many different  parts of the world. If you're in the Edinburugh area why not go along to LIFE STORY 53, London Street, and have a browse. With Christmas coming we could all do with some original gift ideas. Or you can follow the process of getting the shop ready and the opening on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/lifestoryshop.
This is a wonderful opportunity for HempLondon and Fiona has been so great to work with.

  

Just to add to my busy week, we're moving my sister into live with us this weekend, along with her daughter and her crazy little dog, until her new house is ready.

 Craft sellers - BEWARE INTERNET SCAM!!!

Last week I received an email via my folksy shop asking me lots of questions about one of my Hemp bags.  

Hello Seller
Am Philips James,I came across your item on Folksy, i will like to buy the item,is it ready for the immediate purchase, before i proceed with the payment i will Like to ask about the item…
1) Is the item still available for sale?
2) What is the present condition of the item?
3) Do you accept PAYPAL as your mode of payment?
4) what is the final asking price?
Kindly get back to me with your reply to my private email
hope to read from you soon.
Best Regards.


All the answers to the questions were clearly laid out on the shop, but I replied with an answer to each one. I then received an email telling me he was working at sea and wanted the bag as a present for his sister and needed my home address, Paypal email address and telephone number and he would send a courier to pick up the item as soon as the payment had gone through.

I then became very suspicious and looked on the Etsy forums to see if this was a scam, and found that this was a very similar email to that other sellers had received.

I contacted Folksy and they said they would suspend his account and this was not the only case to be reported. So if you get an order which follows the same or a similar pattern it would best to ignore it and report it as spam to your email provider. PLEASE DON'T GIVE THEM ANY INFORMATION

So Sellers BEWARE!

Sashiko on Hemp canvas

I dyed this Hemp Canvas last week, and I couldn't be more pleased with the colour. It's a beautiful violet shade, but I'm having trouble coming up with the right name to call it on my shop which really describes it. (any suggestions would be welcome).

This is the first item which I have decorated with my new found passion Sashiko embroidery, which originates from Northern Japan and is pronounced 'sash(i)ko, it means 'little stab'. It was originally used for adding strength and warmth to recycled clothes household goods and work clothes.

 It was a craft handed down from mother to daughter in farming and fishing communities and has seen a revival in popularity in recent years. Sashiko can be used as I have here as on stand alone piece, or can be used as part of an intricate repeated pattern.

I can't wait to get on with next design.