Clumsy Kate's Christmas Gift Guide - Mens Gifts

So it's December now and I can really get stuck into talking about Christmas shopping! Anyone who follows my Instagram or facebook accounts will know how much I value and admire other small businesses. People who work for themselves and design and make truly unique items you can't find on the high street. I want to hi-light some of those businesses which I admire.

I'll start with the guys! What DO you buy the man that has everything?

Korero Press

Korero Press puts out some fantastic books about art and counterculture. What's more, worldwide shipping is free so you really can't go wrong!

The Best of Mens File

Since 2008, the cult magazine Men’s File has explored the authentic roots of men’s style. Whether expressed in the counter-cultures of surf, café racers or hot rods, or in creating retro revivals of the gentlemanly pursuits of cricket or sailing. This book is a stylish chronicle of the magazine, put together by photographer and writer Nick Clements.

Skumbags

Got a fella who is crazy about the weird and the wonderful and the slightly freakish? Head over to the Skumbags website and check out their new range of resin figures and bizarre plushies. There's even a pizza slice with a mouth!

This is Pierre Piston Head from the Workshop Weirdos range. They also have some fantastic Tikis and the aforementioned pizza. Prices start at just £5. Great for stocking fillers.

Closed Monday Leather Co.

The Closed Monday Leather Co create practical handmade leather goods built to last. Made in the UK with ethically sourced UK leather. Their products are made with care and attention and are of outstanding quality.

This stylish black 6mm round leather lanyard has solid brass findings. The idea gift for the motorcycle loving man who has everything.

So, there is a small selection of mens gifts, if you make products for men, let me know and if i like what I see I will include you in this post.

Ladies gift guide coming soon!

Clumsy Christmas Market Schedule

Ho ho ho, it's that time of year again! Yes, the time for getting up at the crack of dawn, loading up the car, and bringing my goodies to you my dear customers! It's Christmas Fair season. This year i've been quite select with the fairs I will be selling at, only the very best! So *drumroll* here they are!

Nov 22nd and 23rd: Renegade Craft Fair - The Truman Brewery, London FREE ENTRY

Dec 6th: The Secret Vintage Fair, Tap & Kitchen, Oundle, Cambridgeshire Just £2 ENTRY

Dec 7th: Last Gang's Alternative Christmas Market, The Blue Moon, Cambridge FREE ENTRY

and Last but DEFINATLY not least....

Dec 14th: The Mid Century Market Christmas Edition, Cecil Sharp House, Camden, London Just £3 Entry

If you can't make it to any of the above events, you can find most of my range online at www.clumsykate.com :)

New 50s style Kiss Lock Purses

For the last couple of months i've been developing a few new products to add into my range. This always seems to take me longer than anticipated as I've become a bit of a perfectionist, and want to bring you only the best and most quality products!

It took a bit of experimenting but now I have perfected the design and making technique, i'm pleased to present my new range of kiss-lock purses...

Atomic Star Burst Kiss Lock Purse

As with all of my products, the kiss lock purses feature exclusive prints designed by me, Clumsy Kate. They are also handmade by me, using quality materials.

Peach Pineapple Kiss Lock Purse

I've gone for a larger size than many coin purses available, so that you can fit your cards and notes in their easily as well. But at 15cm x 13cm they will still fit easily in your bag.

Sugar Skulls and Polka Dots Kiss Lock Purse

I've started the range with some of my most popular prints, but if you love the idea of a purse like this but you prefer one of my other prints, just drop me a line at kate@clumsykate.com to request a custom order for no extra charge.

Atomic Bean Kiss Lock Purse in Cream

All these purses can be purchased for £18 each plus p&p from my Etsy shop. Look out for lots more new products coming soon!

Fabulous Finds... Little Miss Delicious, Yummy Handmade Jewelery and Accessories.

Part of the reason I wanted to do my Fabulous Finds feature, is because I’ve met so many talented designer/makers in the last few years, and I wanted to highlight how hard they work to follow their passion. One such person is Maxine, owner/designer/maker/pizza taster/CEO at Little Miss Delicious.

Maxine makes all of her jewellery range by hand, and her skills and attention to detail are astounding! She’s worth following on facebook and instagram for her work in progress pictures, which are truly inspiring. You can see an example above. It's sometimes as if she is creating a smiling food army, which is spread through the land, teaching us to love what we eat, and making us smile in the process!

For those unfamiliar with Maxine’s range, the main theme is food; cute, sweet, and tasty snacks such as popcorn, chips, toast, pizza, and sushi. Each item comes with an adorable little face, smiling back at you! I’ve picked out my favourites from the range, but there is soooo much more to see on the Little Miss Delicious website.

This Loved Up Toast Necklace is my favorite item from the range. Look at his cute little face! yum. Now where did i hide the toaster?

Check out the attention to detail on this Sushi Charm Bracelet. Each charm is lovingly crafted by hand. 

I love the retro american style of this Poppin Popcorn Necklace. Look at his rosy little cheeks. SO cute!

And finally i love this set of coasters. Perfect for popping your tea cup on.

You can follow the adventures of Little Miss Delicious on the following social networks:

https://www.facebook.com/littlemissdelicious

https://twitter.com/LMDelicious

http://instagram.com/lmdelicious

And ofcourse you can purchase her range at www.littlemissdelicious.com

Clumsy Web Shopping Questionnare

Lots of exciting things are happening at Clumsy towers, and I am trying to develop my business so I can bring you more exciting and unique products. Over the next few months I’ll be doing some research into what you, my fabulous customers, really want! And I’ll be thanking those who help me with a series of discounts and special offers.

Please take a look at the questions below, and copy and paste them with your answers in an email to kate@clumsykate.com

I will then email you back with your own personal thankyou code.

Thanks in advance, your help and input is always greatfully received.

If you haven’t visited my website before, please take a look at www.clumsykate.com before 

1-    Have you ever brought a product from me before, and if so was it online or in person?

2-    Do you ever buy from independent online stores? (not amazon, asos etc, stores like mine).

3-    When searching for products/websites like mine, what keywords do you type in to google?

4-    What would you type in to google if you specifically wanted to find my website?

5-    Please list 5 words you would use to describe my products.

6-    When buying online, which of the following are most important to you? Please rate them in order of importance 1-5. 1 being very important, 5 being not important.

-       Price

-       Design

-       Cost of shipping

-       Individuality/limited edition products

-       Made in the UK

7-    Which social networks do you visit on a regular basis (ie more than once a week). Please place in order, 1 being the most visited, 6 being the least visited.

-       Instagram

-       Facebook

-       Twitter

-       Pintrest

-       Google+

-       Blogs

-       Other (please state)

8-    Do you visit any specialist online forums/blogs on a regular basis. If so please list.

9-    Which magazines do you read on a regular basis? (ie more than once a year)

10-Which car shows/tattoo conventions/festivals do you visit?

11-Would you say you pay attention to facebook/instagram posts from small businesses, or do you just scroll on past (please be honest).

12-If you would like to be added to my new mailing list please say “Aye!” I will not be spamming continuously, it will be monthly and packed with exclusive designs, and discount codes.

13-If you would like to receive a 20% off discount code to use at www.etsy.com/shop/clumsykate as a thankyou for your time, please say “Aye!”

Thankyou very much! J

Clumsy Customer Pics

I just love it when people share photos of their Clumsy goodies on Facebook and Instagram. So I have decided I will share my favorites with you all!

Here is a fabulous picture taken by Charlotte Thomson-Morley of her custom Black colourway of my Atomic Cats cushion. I just love how it matches her interior. This colourway will be on the website soon, but is currently available in Mint.

This picture is soooo cute! Check out this adorable pooch Ada, who belongs to Fi from Make Do and Vend, with one of my Cream Homeward Bound cushions. Now in the sale!

I love both of these pictures, and would love to see any others people have of their Clumsy items in their new home. Just email them to kate@clumskate.com or tag me on Instagram as @clumsykate . Or if facebook is more your thing, you can post a picture to the wall of my fanpage!

Christmas Wishlist Prizes

You may have seen from my previous post that I am doing a Christmas Giveaway. Each day i will post Christmas Wishlist hints on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. You can share these to show your loved ones/followers what you want for Christmas, PLUS each share gets entered into a Clumsy Christmas Giveaway which will be picked after Christmas.

I've had a root through my Clumsy goodies and picked out some great prizes. Some are pictured below, and i will announce some other prizes nearer the time.

Don't forget, you can share as many hints as you like, and each share gets entered. If you share on Instagram or Twitter don't forget to tag me too so I know to enter you into the draw!

Find me on facebook and instagram as clumsykate and twitter as theclumsykate

See you there! :)

I know...i know...I keep mentioning Christmas, but for us small entrepreneur's we have to think ahead, well that's my excuse anyway!

Talking of entrepreneurs...i'll be having a stall this year at the Mid Century Christmas Market in Hammersmith in London. It's organised by the fabulous Bettina Scarlett, and she is a girl who knows how to throw a good party! I'll also be donating a prize for a forthcoming competition where you can win tickets to the event! So watch this space. More info below the image...

SAVE THE DATE IN YOUR DIARY FOR THE BEST RETRO Christmas Market IN LONDON coming to Hammersmith club, 11 Rutland Grove, W6 9DH on Saturday 14th December 2013 between 10.30am – 4pm.

Bettina Scarlett presents: The Mid Century Christmas Market. After the success of the Vintage Fashion Revue at the UK’s biggest Rockabilly festival ‘the Rockabilly Rave’. Bettina Scarlett is bringing her dazzling new fair to London town. If you are looking for a Christmas market that mixes bygone eras and trendsetters too. Bettina Scarlett has created a unique and innovative day out. Why you say? Well the Mid Century Christmas Market is a 1950s inspired fair showcasing glamorous companies from all over England including vintage and reproduction clothing, crafts, jewellery, records and much more. Whether you are after a cute and kitsch necklace or you want a retro rocking record to have you jiving the night away, the Mid Century Christmas Market is perfect if you are shopping for those last minute Christmas gifts.

Come on down to the Hammersmith Club and take a step back in time. Only a hop, skip and a jump from Hammersmith tube stations, the Mid Century Christmas Market opens its doors to visitors on Saturday 14th December for one day only; from 10.30am until 4pm for a knock out entry price of £2. Whilst you are there, have a hot bevy served from delectable antique china in Calamitea Jane’s vintage tea room. Looking to paint the town red that night? Well you can revisit the golden age of glamour and have your hair pin curled and coiffured in the Vanity Box’s vintage hair parlour. Go on; release your inner pin up and hep cat so you are ready to party like its 1956.

Strike a pose! Treat yourself and take a small reminder home with you from your day at the Christmas Market, make sure to visit the pop up photo booth where our photographer will be snapping away to create some retro inspired shots for every shopper. Of course no event will be complete without some foot tapping tunes played by rockabilly royalty. Some of the most notorious Dj’s from London’s hottest rockabilly clubs will be spinning killer tracks to keep you moving and in the mood.

So there is nothing else to do but put the date in your diary and head down to the Mid Century Christmas Market where our very own Santa’s helpers will be there to greet you on arrival.

For all enquiries please email Bettinascarlettpresents@outlook.com

Clumsy's Christmas Wish List

So it's that time of year again! And I am here to help you get the presents you really want! Oh ok...I can't get you a 1953 Cadillac or a private tropical island...but I can help you hint to your loved ones if you are after Clumsy goodies for Christmas!

From today I will be posting Clumsy Christmas Wish List hints which you can share with your loved ones via social media! I'll be sharing them on Instagram, twitter and Facebook. AND...if you share them on your page you will be automatically entered into a Christmas prize draw. All you have to do is the following:
-Instagram - re-gram the entire image and tag me in the post @clumsykate.
-Twitter - re-tweet and tag me in the post @theclumsykate
-Facebook - share directly from my fan page facebook.com/clumsykate

So keep your eyes peeled for my posts over the next few weeks. You can share as many items as you like and each time you share you will be entered into the draw. Prizes include cushion covers, hair ties and zip cases, please note your prize will not necessarily be the image you share, but a goody bag made up from some of my popular prints! There will be 3 winners. Winners will be selected at random, most likely picked from a hat by my pet sock monkey Bailey. Winners will be notified by the 31st December 2013.