We are so looking forward to The Festival of Quilts which is taking place this week!! It is one of the largest and most prestigious quilting events in the world and it is taking place in the U.K. It will attract quilt-makers, textile artists, and enthusiasts.
Marent Crafts cannot wait to visit to see all of the festival showcases, making this event a diverse and inclusive celebration of quilting as an art form.
One of the main highlights for us at this event is the display of stunning quilts and textile art pieces created by talented artists and quilters.
With lots of categories and entries including, Traditional, Two person NEW – Sustainable quilts, quilt creation, pictorial quilts, novice, pictorial, creations, miniature, modern quilts and group quilts, this will be an amazing showcase with no limits! Prizes and recognition will be awarded to each category!
Workshops and Masterclasses will be conducted by experts in the field! We will be looking forward to seeing representatives and friends Janet from Vlieseline and Sharron from Bosal, along with Kerrie from Living in Loveliness. They will showcase the amazing techniques their brands innovate.
Marent Craft has a huge selection of waddings from the brands and we are very much looking forward to seeing these made into beautiful works of art.
We look forward to meeting the wonderful quilting community, friends John Cole-Morgan and the Quilters Guild, we will be up-dating you on and exchanging ideas and sharing the passion for quilting when we are back next week!!
Summer Travel and Storage Solutions: Your Perfect Crafting Companions From Prym
As the temperature rises and the yearning for new adventures begins, we know that the enthusiastic crafter’s desire to continue creating should never be compromised. The thought of leaving your beloved projects behind while embarking on your summer adventures may seem unthinkable.
At Marent Crafts, we proudly present you with Prym’s premium summer travel and storage solutions. Offering an exceptional range of haberdashery summer travel and storage items, these solutions promise to meet the demands of on-the-go crafters and keep your creativity flowing no matter where your journey takes you.
The Importance of Quality for Summer Travels and Storage Solutions for Crafting Tools
When we think of summer travels, we often picture ourselves packing our suitcases with sun hats, flip-flops, sunscreen, and swimwear. But what about our cherished crafting tools and materials? They, too, deserve a place in our luggage. Here’s where the right crafting summer travels and storage solutions come into play.
The quality of haberdashery and storage items can significantly influence your crafting experience, especially during travel. Quality translates to durability, which ensures your tools can withstand the rigours of transportation. Additionally, well-crafted tools provide a higher level of comfort and ease of use, which is vital when crafting outside your usual workspace.
Prym stands tall when it comes to quality. Offering an exquisite range of storage solutions for crafting tools, Prym ensures that your crafting journey continues uninterrupted, whether by the calming beach waves, amidst the lush green countryside, or on a craft retreat.
Top Prym Products for On-the-Go Crafters
At Marent Crafts, we have handpicked some of Prym’s top products offering the ultimate travel-friendly features. Each product has been thoughtfully designed, ensuring that your crafting passions remain unhindered, no matter where you are.
Imagine a spacious backpack that carries all your craft essentials comfortably and securely while also being delightful to carry around. The Prym Store & Travel Backpack Favourite Friends is just that. Its innovative design offers ample space for matching storage boxes and even includes an integral laptop bag. With a high level of padding, your crafting tools are well-protected, and you can enjoy support and comfort while creating on-the-go. This ensures you are always prepared to unleash your creativity without any worries.
As any seasoned crafter will tell you, having a well-stocked sewing kit is essential. The Prym Love Starter Set Sewing, available in charming pink and refreshing mint colours, is ideal for storing and carrying your sewing essentials.
With two layers of sewing essentials, including a fantastic pair of scissors, these kits are a compact solution for your crafting needs. We do not doubt that you’ll fall in love with them, just as we did!
If quilting is your passion, the Prym Patch Bag is a must-have. Quilting often requires various small tools, so having a bag that holds them all is essential. This patch bag simplifies that process by providing a space designed specifically for quilting enthusiasts. Now, whether creating a new quilt or working on an existing one, this bag ensures your journey remains uninterrupted.
The Prym Quilter’s Travel Case is a highly-regarded tool for those passionate about quilting. It offers ample room for storing essential quilting accessories like rotary cutters, needles, yarn, small rulers, and more. Sized at a handy 35cm x 36cm x 7cm, this travel bag can also be used as a work pad, demonstrating versatility at its finest.
How to Shop for Prym Products on Marent Crafts
Shopping for Prym products on Marent Crafts is a breeze. Browse through our extensive product catalogue at your leisure. Once you’ve selected, add the items to your cart and checkout. Our user-friendly platform guarantees a hassle-free and enjoyable shopping experience.
Enhance Your Crafting Experience With Prym’s Travel and Storage Solutions
Prym’s travel and storage solutions, renowned for their durable and functional design, cater to the ever-evolving travelling needs of crafters worldwide. These tools and accessories aren’t just about storage, but also about enhancing your overall crafting experience. They inspire creativity, foster organisation, and provide an uninterrupted crafting journey, no matter where you are.
So, are you ready to embark on your next crafting adventure? Don’t compromise your passion for travelling and crafting. Unleash your creativity anywhere, anytime with Prym’s travel and storage solutions. Shop now at Marent Crafts, and let your creative journey take flight!
How to Earn Money by Making and Selling Arts & Crafts
In this era of mass production, the allure of handmade, unique, and personal items has grown stronger. This resurgence of interest in arts and crafts has created a golden opportunity for artists and craft-makers to turn their passion into a profitable business. Whether you are interested in sewing, embroidery, pottery, painting, or paper crafts, there’s a market out there eager to purchase your creations.
Why Consider Arts & Crafts as a Business Opportunity?
In addition to giving an outlet for your creative energy, an arts & crafts business can provide a fulfilling and flexible career option. It offers the opportunity to work at your own pace from the comfort of your home while generating a substantial income. Moreover, being your own boss, you can direct your business in a way that aligns with your personal interests and values.
The Rising Demand for Handmade Crafts
The charm of handmade crafts lies in their uniqueness and the skill and dedication involved in their creation. In a world where everything is becoming increasingly digitised and impersonal, handmade crafts offer a personal touch that consumers appreciate. Furthermore, with sustainability becoming a pressing concern, many consumers are turning to handmade crafts as an eco-friendly alternative to mass-produced items.
Identifying Your Art & Craft Niche
Aiming to please everyone often results in pleasing no one. The same principle applies in the crafts business. By focusing on a specific niche, you can develop products that meet a targeted audience’s specific needs and tastes, giving you a competitive edge.
A well-defined niche in a crowded marketplace can help your business stand out. It enables you to concentrate your marketing efforts on a specific market segment, making it easier to reach your potential customers. Moreover, focusing on a niche can help you build a loyal customer base who appreciate and seek out your particular style or product.
The world of arts & crafts is diverse, ranging from textile crafts like sewing, knitting, and embroidery to paper crafts, pottery, jewellery making, painting, and so much more. You could focus on one type of craft or combine a few related ones to create unique products. The key is choosing something you enjoy and can see yourself doing for a long time.
Creating Your Crafts: Sourcing Materials and Tools
The quality of your crafts significantly depends on the materials and tools you use. High-quality materials and the right tools can make the crafting process more enjoyable and the final product more appealing.
Sourcing high-quality and sustainable materials can enhance the appeal of your crafts. Many consumers today are willing to pay a premium for products made with sustainable materials due to their lower environmental impact. Moreover, using high-quality materials can improve the look and durability of your crafts, making them more attractive to customers.
Developing Your Crafting Skills
Crafting is a skill that requires practice and dedication. Creating crafts regularly will help you become more confident in your crafting abilities and allow you to refine and enhance your techniques.
You can improve your crafting skills by attending craft classes and workshops or watching online tutorials. These can provide you with new ideas, techniques, and inspiration. They can also offer the opportunity to receive feedback on your work and learn from other experienced craft-makers.
While attending classes and watching tutorials can teach you new techniques, it is through consistent practice that you can truly hone your skills. Through practice, you can also develop your unique style, which can become your signature in the market.
Determining Your Craft Pricing
Pricing your crafts can be one of the most challenging aspects of running a crafts business. You need to price your crafts in a way that covers your costs, provides you with a fair profit, and is still attractive to customers. Here are some factors to consider:
Cost of Materials and Labour
The price of your crafts should at least cover the cost of materials and labour. Remember to value your time and skills and include a fair wage for yourself in the cost of labour.
Market Value of Similar Crafts
Research what similar crafts are selling for in the market to get an idea of what customers are willing to pay. However, avoid underpricing your crafts to compete on price. Instead, provide value through unique designs, high-quality materials, and excellent craftsmanship.
Perceived Value and Price Psychology
The perceived value of your crafts can influence what customers are willing to pay. This is where branding, storytelling, and presentation can play a significant role. The better you are at showcasing the value of your crafts, the more customers may be willing to pay.
Marketing Your Crafts: Branding & Storytelling
In the crafts business, you’re not just selling a product but a story, an experience, and a piece of yourself. Branding and storytelling are essential for conveying the value of your crafts to customers.
A strong brand can set your crafts apart in a crowded market—it’s the visual and emotional image that comes to mind when people think of your business. It can influence customers’ perceptions of your crafts, their decision to buy, and their loyalty.
Social media is a powerful tool for showcasing your work, connecting with customers, and promoting your crafts business. Platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook are particularly effective for visual products like crafts. Regularly posting images of your crafts, sharing behind-the-scenes glimpses of your crafting process, and engaging with your followers can help build a community around your brand.
Selling Your Crafts Online
The internet has opened up a global market for craft makers. You can sell your crafts to customers around the world from the comfort of your home.
Online marketplaces like Amazon, Etsy, and eBay are popular platforms for selling crafts. They offer a ready-made audience of millions of users looking for unique, handmade products. However, they also have their own rules, fees, and competition. Understanding how these platforms work is important to make the most of them.
Selling Your Crafts Offline
While online sales can reach a global audience, selling your crafts offline allows customers to see, touch, and feel your crafts before buying.
Craft fairs and markets are excellent venues for showcasing your crafts, meeting potential customers face-to-face, and getting immediate feedback. Research local events, understand their audience and requirements, and prepare an attractive display of your crafts.
Consigning or wholesaling your products to local stores can increase sales and visibility. However, it’s important to choose stores that cater to your target market and to understand the terms of consignment or wholesale agreements.
The Fulfilment of Running an Arts & Crafts Business
Running an arts & crafts business can be a rewarding endeavour. It not only provides the satisfaction of earning from doing what you love but also allows you to bring beauty and joy into people’s lives. You can turn your love for crafts into a successful business with passion, skill, and the right approach.
About Marent Crafts
Marent Crafts is a leading supplier of crafts and haberdashery, offering a wide selection of quality materials and tools. Whether you’re a hobbyist or a craft business owner, Marent Crafts is committed to supporting your creative journey. With a focus on sustainability and quality, Marent Crafts helps you create crafts you can be proud of.
Ready to turn your passion for crafts into a profitable venture? Start your journey with Marent Crafts today! Explore our extensive range of crafting supplies and embark on a fulfilling and creative adventure.
If you would like to find out more about our products or simply have any questions, please get in contact with us VIA email: info@marentcrafts.com
Marent Crafts are so proud and happy to launch product on our website
In the world of tools and cutting equipment, one name stands out as a symbol of precision, quality, and innovation: Olfa. With a rich history spanning over six decades, Olfa has established itself as a leader in the industry, consistently delivering cutting-edge products to meet the evolving needs of professionals and hobbyists alike.
OLFA offer a lifetime guarantee covering the majority of the tool handles.
The scheme can be obtained through the customer registration link, where the customer will need to register the tool within 28 days of purchase to be eligible.
Choose the appropriate craft knife blade for your project. Olfa offers various blade types, such as standard, precision, or specialty blades, depending on the material and level of detail required.
Hold the craft knife firmly but avoid gripping it too tightly, as it may hinder your control and precision.
When cutting intricate designs or curves, make small, controlled cuts rather than attempting to cut the entire shape in one stroke.
Use a cutting mat or a protective surface to prevent damage to your work area and ensure a clean, uninterrupted cut.
Keep spare blades on hand and replace them when they become dull to maintain optimal cutting performance.
Experiment with Olfa’s specialty blades for specific crafting techniques. For example, a pinking blade can create decorative edges on fabric, while a wave blade adds texture to paper projects.
Before using specialty blades, practice on scrap materials to familiarize yourself with the effect and adjust your cutting technique if needed.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for changing and handling specialty blades to ensure safe and efficient use.
Remember, practice makes perfect! Take some time to become familiar with your Olfa tools and experiment with different techniques to discover what works best for your specific crafting projects. Happy crafting!
We hope you enjoy the Olfa high-quality cutting tools as much as we do at Marent Crafts!!
As we delve into the world of dressmaking, we are thrilled to bring you the latest updates, tips, and product recommendations to help you craft your finest garments. This month, we draw inspiration from the renowned “Great British Sewing Bee” and highlight two essential dressmaking products: Gutermann thread and Vlieseline interfacing.
Gutermann Thread: The Seamstress’ Best Friend
When it comes to sewing, one cannot underestimate the importance of high-quality thread. Gutermann, a household name in the sewing community, has been producing top-notch threads for over 150 years. Renowned for their durability, smoothness, and extensive color range, Gutermann threads are a dressmaker’s best friend.
Whether you’re stitching delicate fabrics or tackling heavy-duty projects, Gutermann thread ensures your stitches are strong and secure. Our Gutermann Mara threads are made of 100% polyester and produced from unique Micro Core technology. making it ideal for a wide range of sewing techniques. From basting to quilting, serging to hand stitching, Gutermann thread delivers exceptional results.
Create flawlessly smooth seams and apply to a range of clothing items with our wide colour selection. The tear and abrasion resistance will create a long-lasting finish whilst keeping an ideal appearance.
Pro Tip: To achieve a flawless finish, match your Gutermann thread color to your fabric or opt for a slightly darker shade. This helps camouflage any imperfections and enhances the overall aesthetic of your garment.
Vlieseline Interfacing: Elevating Your Garments
To create beautifully structured garments, one mustn’t overlook the importance of interfacing. Vlieseline, a trusted name in the industry, offers a range of high-quality interfacings suitable for a variety of fabric types.
Interfacing serves as a supportive layer, providing stability and structure to specific areas of your garments such as collars, cuffs, and buttonholes. Vlieseline’s interfacing options include fusible, sew-in, and even bi-elastic varieties, allowing you to choose the perfect one for your project.
With Vlieseline interfacing, you can achieve clean lines, sharp edges, and professional-looking finishes. Whether you’re working with delicate silks or heavy woolens, their wide range of products ensures you’ll find the perfect match for your fabric and design.
The Great British Sewing Bee: Inspiration and Education
As lovers of dressmaking, we’re sure you’re familiar with the widely acclaimed “Great British Sewing Bee” television series. This captivating show brings together talented sewers from all walks of life, challenging them to complete intricate sewing tasks and showcasing their creativity under pressure.
Watching the Sewing Bee not only serves as entertainment but also provides invaluable insight into different sewing techniques, garment construction, and problem-solving skills. Take inspiration from the contestants’ projects, study their approach to challenges, and expand your sewing horizons. The show can be a treasure trove of ideas, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced dressmaker.
Sewing Bee Product Special
To celebrate our Sewing Bee inspiration, we’re offering a 10% discount on all Gutermann thread and Vlieseline interfacing products throughout the month of May. Use the code “BEESEW” during checkout on our website or present this newsletter at our physical store to avail the discount. Don’t miss this fantastic opportunity to stock up on these essential dressmaking supplies!
We hope this blog has inspired you to embark on new dressmaking adventures and explore the fantastic products endorsed by the Great British Sewing Bee. Remember, the world of sewing is as limitless as your imagination.
At Marent Crafts, we don’t just think about sustainability once a year. For us, we think about this every day!
Here at Marent Craft our absolute top priority is sustainability for the betterment of this beautiful planet that we share. We would go so far as to say that we value sustainability over profit. Way above.
Lets explain…
Whilst other companies in the industry may go to farther and stranger shores to find bargains for their ware, we stay as close to home as possible, and only buy directly from the source. We won’t just buy any old thing either. We only supply the best quality products, and only if that product is the most sustainable version.
The brands we carry Must share our ethos, otherwise we simply cannot promote that brand.
Thankfully, all our suppliers, manufacturers, and brand owners are most definitely in line with us.
Whether it be recycled fibres for the wadding and interfacing from Freudenberg, the elimination of cellophane from Coats and Gutermann, the 100% eco friendly detergent from Soak, the bamboo range from Prym, or all the other eco friendly products, we won’t sacrifice our message in the name of profit.
We hope that you share our passion for Planet Earth, and we hope that, like us, you’re willing to spend a little bit more on not only a superior product, but on a product that is designed with sustainability in mind.
Our Partners
Here’s what some of the brands we work with do for Earth!
The brands that we work with really do have sustainability at the core of what they do and we align ourselves with brands that have values as we do.
Freudenberg Performance Materials recycles around 7 million PET bottles per day and around 2.5 billion PET bottles per year in its European plants. The length of these bottles taken together would reach 15 times around the earth.
Soak’s bottles, caps and labels have always been recyclable and printed with water-based inks. And as of 2013, all our bottles have been made from post-consumer resin, which means they’ve already been recycled once.
From bamboo knitting needles to buttons, our growing range of Prym sustainable quality products are affordable and provide you peace of mind that you’re helping the environment. No matter the type of knitting, crocheting, or materials you’re working with, Prym 1530 is the choice for you.
Marent Crafts were so excited to be part of The Stitch Festival this year at the Islington Design Center, we were on stand number H59! The show was very busy and we had the chance to meet many lovely customers. We really enjoyed listening and hearing about all of the impressive makes that were underway with buyers at the show.
We had lots of products that stood out from the crowds, buyers were pleased that they could get all their dressmaking and sewing products in one place.
Such a great experience to meet so many people in one place with lots of fun fuelled events taking place.
Marent Crafts were able to hold a daily prize give away on the stand exclusively from Vlieseline.
Two of our happy prize winners!
Here were some show highlights!
A trend for neons at the moment, our neon wool range sold out and our customers absoloutly loved our neon thread sets!!! Something to brighten up these rainy days!!
Our Bias Bindings were also a hit as many customers said they find binding hard to come by and we have a huge selection of colours and great prices, so that was fantastic to hear!!
We were joined on our Marent Crafts stand by John Cole-Morgan who did a fantastic job of demonstrating the Vlieseline range for quilting.
“He is polite, friendly, funny and knows what he was talking about!!! “
Quilters highlights from the Vlieseline craft range were the quilters grid, quick screen triangle and quick screen square. The products are all solutions to help quilters in their projects achieve the neat and speedy results they are after!!
Marent Crafts were also the proud Sponsors of the Dressmaking Competition that took place on Sunday!!!
The Dressmaking Competition was open to all contemporary dressmakers who wanted the opportunity to share their creations on The Stitch Festival stage.
The competition featured six categories this year, including a NEW for 2023 Menswear category.
This year’s incredible judging panel included, David Morrish of Kingfly Embroidery, Hand Knit Designer Jeanette Sloan, Josie Hawes – founder of Fabric Godmother and Elisalex de Castro Peake, co-found of By Hand London!
Winners of each Category
Best in Competition (Upcycled/Repurposed category) Regina Fox-Galassi
Knitwear / Crochet Gail Jones
Eveningwear Ksenia Semirova
Childrenswear (Ages 2-14) Tetiana Shelepun
Upcycled/Repurposed Davide Berardi,
Menswear Michał Wilamowski
Judging taking place Josie Hawes – founder of Fabric Godmother & Elisalex de Castro Peake, co-found of By Hand London
Congratulations to the winners of the Dressmaking Competition this year! We’ve loved sponsoring and promoting creativity and we can’t wait to see what they get up to next!
Marent Crafts were thrilled to be part of all of these exciting creative events and look forward to the next Craft Show at the festival of quilts this year!!
