I go to this trade show every year to source craft supplies for our shop and website. It’s also a great opportunity for me to see demonstrations of new products, and new ideas & tips for using existing products.
This year, one of my favourite products was Blossom Sugar Art two-part silicone moulds, which can be used with marzipan, fondant, clay, etc. to make lovely flowers and butterflies with fine detail. Their edible shimmers added the final touch.
Another favourite was decorative tape and glue rollers from Plus Japan. The rollers dispense 4mm tape, which is narrower than most tape dispensers, and I found it easy to control, do curves & waves, etc. Their decorative tape pen was a great way of adding a narrow, coloured border to cards and scrapbook pages.
I loved the range of Debbi Moore CDs and magazines, and have ordered a selection. I also ordered a range of Hunkydory card kits. Together with the newest Payper Box cardstock and papers, our cardmaking customers should be very happy!
I’m expecting delivery of various books on knitting, crochet, sewing, jewellery-making and cake-decorating and have already started stocking a range of magazines on these topics.
Due to popular demand, I will also be stocking felt-making kits. It took a while to source a nice range of kits and accessories at good prices, but I’m happy to report that I will have some within the next couple of weeks. I plan to extend the range over the next few months, with some slightly more advanced kits and a broader range of accessories.
And the really good news is that Impex, who had been in a state of flux/bankruptcy/whatever for the last couple of years, now seem to be back on track so I have finally been able to get glue guns & sticks and jewellery pliers again and should be able to restock their silk flowers, glass beads & pearls, sequins, card toppers and all their other wonderful products (at nice prices) very soon.
Remember, we’re always happy to take requests, suggestions, etc.
Finally, every month I choose a different charity to benefit from sales of products in our Lucky Dip category. For March, I have chosen Trocaire - working to eradicate poverty and promote justice for all. And I’ve already decided on the April charity, because my cousin Ivor is fundraising for IBD research and will be running the Connemarathon on 1 April. (If you’d like to donate but don’t want to buy anything from our Lucky Dip selection, I always provide a link on that page to that month’s charity pick so that you can donate directly to them.)
