I have been working hard since my return from holiday, having completed my stock taking at the Scottish Design Exchange in Ocean Terminal , Leith, and working on my order for pictures of felt sheep for Greengate Gallery , Culross, and the Corner cafe, Falkirk.

I decided to test a new Shabby Sheep product idea, so have made a sample personalised family felt picture. The idea is that the number of sheep will correlate with the number of family members and the customer can choose the background colour scheme to match their room. They would therefore be ‘made to order’, unique gifts.

I plan to explore whether this type of product might be suitable for Etsy... some research required. Having recently joined a Facebook forum for all SDX artists, I will be able to gain from their expertise in this area.

I may have to make quite a bit of stock in various colour schemes in order that I can fulfil orders more quickly if they prove popular, but it is quite exciting to consider launching a new product.

I am also in discussion with the Port Gallery , who are assisting with printing , framing and merchandising regarding potential Tote bags and Teatowels with some of my images on them , including the Shabby Sheep crew ... Baa...rbara, Baa...rry, Meh...lvin and Meh...ryl.  

Looking forward to seeing the samples. Not surprisingly, pricing will be the challenge.

As usual, I will turn to Philip, my website hero, to help put them on to my website when I am ready to sell.

He has also been busy launching his printing business recently, so I would suggest checking out his page for info on all of the deals available, especially if you are looking for business cards, fliers etc. https://www.facebook.com/ReadyPrintUK/.

Good quality printing says a lot about your business and the quality of the products which you sell.

Next week I will be up north amongst the mountains, lochs, stags

Rhona X