Sneaky Peek

I thought you might like a sneaky look at some of the beads that I'll have for sale later today. Those up there are they. New beads will be for sale at 8:30pm this evening.

Thank you so much to everyone who has completed my bead survey so far. Your responses have been brilliant and I really do appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions.

I'll be making a few minor changes to my little bead business (hence getting your opinions) and I've already implemented a couple of those.

Firstly, due to what seem to be constantly rising postal rates, I am now charging £3.50 to post beads to Europe, America, Canada and the rest of the world. However, postage to the UK mainland remains free of charge.

Secondly, I have opened a Folksy shop. I did consider Etsy but a few of you expressed a negative opinion about buying beads through Etsy and suggested Folksy instead. So, I listened and have set up shop there. In my Folksy shop you will find any Freshly Baked Beads that don't sell within a week of my listing them on my website. I'll put the odd set of Lonelies and one-offs in there too so do have a look occasionally to see if anything tickles your bead fancy.

Lastly, I am here now giving you prior warning of bead sellery tonight. A few of you have told me that I don't give you enough notice about new beads. It's not always possible for me to give you lots of notice but I promise you I will do my utter best. If you are signed up for email blog notifications and you rely on these for news of new beads then might I suggest that you sign up to my actual mailing list? It's just that the blog emails are sent via a third party service and I never know exactly when they'll be sent (I can only select a three hour window) which means that they might well be out of date when you receive them. Annoying, I know.

Righty-ho, that's enough waffling from me. I'd better go and melt some glass.

Have a fab Tuesday,

A Post Post

Postman Pat always delivered his mail. Greendale could have been submerged under floodwater, it could have been blowing an almighty gale, his van might have broken down or he may even have had to outwit a thieving magpie, but Pat Clifton would always make sure his letters and parcels got to the people who were waiting for them.

Why the heck can't Royal Mail do the same?

I have customers waiting for beads to be delivered. Beads that I have packed up all carefully and paid money to the Royal Mail for so they can deliver them sometime this century. The other week they lost an expensive parcel of beads. Gone. I can't replace them as they were pretty much a one-off set. They were the 'Sea Breeze' ones, in case you're wondering .....

But it's not just outgoing mail. I am waiting for glass, jewellery supplies and sock yarn (OK, that's not important but it's the principle of the matter) to arrive and I am getting impatient. How on Earth is anyone supposed to efficiently run a business in this country when the people we pay and rely on, and put far too much trust in, couldn't organise a booze-up in a brewery?! (Did you see how polite I was there?)

So, beloved bead customers, if you ordered Cupcake beads and pendants in July then rest assured that they were posted a few days ago and they are on their way to you. When they arrive on your doormats is a different matter and is totally in the hands of our rubbishly naff postal service but I'm hoping that it'll be sometime before Christmas. But of course if you live in Greendale then I'm sure you'll have them already! ;o)

EDIT : I've just seen the new Specsavers ad. It stars Postman Pat himself. Spooky!