Guest Blogger Week 95 ~ Looking Glass Designs

I would like to say a huge welcome

to Denise

from Looking Glass Designs

• Tell us a bit about you:

I'm a craft addict who has tried all sorts of crafts 

– sewing, knitting, crochet, lacemaking, embroidery, 

cross-stitch, crewel-work, tapestries, ribbon embroidery, 

tape lace.... now I'm passing on my love of crafting to my son, 

who is desperate to learn how to knit.

• How did you decide on the name for your shop?

I wanted a name that was going to encompass everything I was offering 

and I knew that my shop was going to be a 'mixed bag' with sewing, 

knitting and crocheting in it. 

I decided on Looking Glass Designs (shop) and Through the Looking Glass for my blog 

because I love Alice in Wonderland.  

• How long have you been blogging or how long has your shop been open and why did you start?  

I've been selling on Etsy, Folksy and Ebay as a business since Dec of 2011. 

I started because I had just left a job with crazy hours 

and wanted to stay at home with my almost 3 year old son 

and needed to do something with my time. 

I was crafting anyway, so thought I would look at selling on Etsy 

as I knew someone who had done very well on there very quickly. 

I haven't quite had her success, but I enjoy it!

• What is your favourite item in your shop at the moment? 

This is a hard question! 

I have so many different things in my shop it's hard to have a single favourite, 

but I think, if I had to pick, it would be my Letters from Father Christmas - www.etsy.com/listing/164279275/personalised-letter-from-father 

I love writing them and making Christmas a bit more magical for a child. 

I've had wonderful feedback from parents that have bought them for their children. 

Each one is individually written and can come with a burlap sack of reindeer food (I make them too).

• What made you start ….?

I started crafting at 7 or 8 when my older sister gave me a satin stitch kit to do as a present. 

After that I always got kits for presents at birthday and christmas time. 

As I got older, I started to buy my own kits and supplies 

and moved almost exclusively onto cross-stitching. 

I designed and stitched wedding anniversary samplers for my older sisters, 

and when I opened my shops, began to knit, sew 

and crochet again, alter patterns and design my own.

• Where do you get your inspiration from? 

A lot of what's in my shop comes from custom requests - a scarf colour, 

a uterus design, a hat pattern or colour or a completely new item. 

I love to wander online and see what others are making 

and think about what I could add to my shop, 

but lately I've been so busy making orders that I haven't had much time to muse about new designs.

 I plan on offering kits and more of my own patterns in the new year in my shops.

• What other things do you like to do in your spare time? 

I cook, (I used to be a chef) and craft with my son, watch Dr. Who, 

and when I get the chance I love to have a soak in the bath with a good book!

• What would be the one piece of advice would you give to a new blogger or a person setting up their own shop?

My piece of advice is: don't undersell your products! 

Look at what your competitors are selling, and the price range and pick the middle, 

you can always move up once you've got more experience, 

but start too cheap, and you'll never be able to move up. 

Lots of people sell cheaply, and get stuck in the 'cheap and nasty' 

rut when their items actually aren't.

Etsy

Folksy

Twitter: @LookingGlassD

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Thank you ever so much Denise!

You are just so talented.

I love the variations in your crafting.

I hope you'll join me in thanking Denise

and checkout all her sites as I'm sure you'll

find something you'll love in her shop etc.