Q&A
ESSENTIAL CRAFT TOOL glue spoiling my work! The coated stainless steel tip puts a 0.5mm line or dot of glue precisely where I want it and when I’m not using it, I store it upside down in a jar with the pin in place to keep the air out of the glue. I’m still using my 20-year-old applicators and have even filled them with Gem-Tac to attach gemstones; Fray Stop to hem fabrics, or wood glue for intricate wooden items. It gives a new life to all the stash I keep hoarding.”
Glass painting Q
All my efforts at glass painting have been disappointing, with the designs fading to nothing. Help! What am I doing wrong?
DEBBIE RANDALL, HULL Glass is a lovely medium to work with – it makes a great canvas, it’s smooth, reflects light and offers the artist a lot of choices. The results will depend on the quality of your glass paint though so look at transparency, colour range, permanence and ease of application. The Marubu GlasArt Paint range (hobbycraft.co.uk, from £2.69) is high-quality, highintensity and fade-resistant. Once fully painted, bake your design at 150°C (300°F) for 30 minutes, allow to cool before handling and remember the end results are not dishwasher proof.
A
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You can buy glass paint at Hobbycraft, priced from £2.69
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LAURA RIGNEY is the founder of Pitcher House, which helps small businesses get their products listed by retailers. She is also the author of Pitching Products For Small Business (harriman-house.com, from £2).
Knowing your product before a pitch “Before you attempt to pitch your product to any retail buyers, you should know anything and everything there is to know about it. You should be a walking encyclopaedia, with knowledge of how the product is made, where it’s made, what materials are used and the length of time it takes to manufacture. You’ll need to ensure that it complies with any relevant UK safety standards, and, if manufactured abroad, you’ll also want to know the length of time it takes to arrive in the UK. It’s important to learn all of this information so that no matter what questions a buyer asks, you have the answer implanted firmly in your brain. This will show that you are professional, organised and know what you are talking about, and it also shows that you are ready to introduce your product to the mass market. When pitching to a store, it’s also imperative to be well informed about their business. If you have knowledge regarding their buying cycles, their current product range and where your product would fit into their catalogues and onto their store shelves, this shows that you are professional and genuinely interested in being in business with them. If you’re wondering where you can get information on retailers, simply call and request details on their buying cycles or explain that you would like to approach a buyer with your products but don’t want to waste their time and would appreciate knowing when’s best in the year to make your introduction. You should find that the receptionists are willing to supply you with the answers. After all, it makes their lives a little easier, too. “
yourletters@ craft-seller.com
Dear Craftseller, 9th Floor, Tower House, Fairfax Street, Bristol BS1 3BN
Craftseller 91
Pitching Products For Small Business, by Laura Rigney, harriman-house.com, £2 (ebook)
NAME: Anne Peak TOOL: Fine Tip Glue Applicator AVAILABLE: finetip.co.uk COST: £3.50 (plus p&p)
“What I love about this applicator is that I can use it on so many things. Cardmaking, quilling, marquetry, dolls’ house miniatures and even henna hand painting - you name it, this applicator has helped me approach all these precision projects with confidence. I’ve always found other methods, such as using a cocktail stick, messy but this applicator comes ready to fill, is easy to squeeze and there are no shiny trails of
GUEST EXPERT