The Waiting Place

This week a friend gave me a copy of “Oh, the places you’ll go!” by Dr Seuss.  Have you read it?  It’s the kind of book that both children and adults can enjoy alike.  The book was particularly apt because of a personal situation that I find myself experiencing.

Today, I have chosen a selection of beautiful jewellery from folksy sellers to illustrate my blog post.  Please click on the photos and they will take you directly to the seller’s shop where I hope you will stop and have a browse.  I know I enjoyed searching in the various shops to find the pieces that I particularly liked and wanted to share with you.

So, the book by Dr Seuss is great fun and it takes you on a journey.  When I first saw the title of it, I was inspired to create a Pinterest board for the folksy front page.  I doubt it will be chosen though, I have made better ones, but it was great fun searching out the different places that had inspired the various handmade creations.  The Pinterest board takes you on a journey to New York, London, Rome, Scotland, New Zealand and many other places!

In the book Dr Seuss writes about “Great Places” and all the opportunities and possibilities that exist to take advantage of during your journey through life.  And Dr Seuss makes it sound so exciting! “Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.”  Then the momentum falters and stops and you find yourself “in a Slump”.  I am sure we have all experienced this at times in our lives!  But for me the best bit is next when you arrive at “The Waiting Place...”

It was this part of the book that my friend thought was most apt for my situation.  We have all been in the waiting place – why you could be there right now!

Waiting for your next sale!

Waiting for a phone call.

Waiting for the birth of a baby.

Waiting for a letter to arrive.

Waiting for the results of a test you had recently.

Waiting for exam results.

Waiting for a critical decision to be made.

Waiting for the result of a job interview.

Waiting for the Post person.

Waiting for the plumber, electrician or washing machine repair man!

Waiting for a new delivery.

Waiting to see the GP, dentist, Optician.

Waiting for a bus, train or plane.

Sorry if I missed any, but we have all been there, may even still be there waiting, waiting... “Everyone is just waiting.”  writes Dr Seuss.

But, it doesn’t last forever, thankfully and we move on. Hurrah.

“But on you will go

Though the weather be foul.

On you will go

Though the Hakken-Kraks howl.

Onward up many

A frightening creek,

Though your arms may get sore

And your sneakers may leak.”

I love happy endings!  Not all things in life have happy endings, but I think that’s why I like them, in books, films, and TV series.  It seems such a wise book.  And I have enjoyed reading it over again all week!

“Step with care and great tact

And remember that Life’s

A Great Balancing Act.”

Finally,

“And will you succeed?

Yes, you will, indeed!

(98 and ¾ per cent guaranteed.)”

I hope you have enjoyed reading my meanderings on this fabulous little book.  I hope too, that you have enjoyed looking at the wonderful selection of handmade jewellery available now on folksy.  Hope you will come back next time!

BFN

Edwina

“Oh, the places you will go!” by Dr Seuss (copyright 1990 by Theodor S Geisel & Audrey S Geisel)

FROM TOP TO BOTTOM: The Beaded Garden, NOfkants Curios, JAustenJewelleryDesign, Bojanglies, Lizzyanthus, I Love Sparkly Stuff and Adien Crafts.

The Shakespeare Collection

Below you can read one of my favourite sonnets from Shakespeare and I never get tired of reading it.  Did you know it is one of the best-known of the 154 sonnets written by the English playwright and poet William Shakespeare? This is probably why it is my favourite. Another question for you: Did you know that you can find handmade items on folksy with a Shakespeare theme?  Nor did I, until I did a search, just out of curiosity.  However, by then I had already started making my Shakespeare collection.

William Shakespeare - Sonnet #18

Shall I compare thee to a Summer's day?

Thou art more lovely and more temperate:

Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,

And Summer's lease hath all too short a date:

Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,

And oft' is his gold complexion dimm'd;

And every fair from fair sometime declines,

By chance or nature's changing course untrimm'd:

But thy eternal Summer shall not fade

Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest;

Nor shall Death brag thou wanderest in his shade,

When in eternal lines to time thou growest:

So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see,

So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.

My Shakespeare collection comprises of a number of handmade notebooks and purses that I have created.  I was inspired by the fact that I live quite close to Stratford upon Avon and after making several visits over the years, I thought it was time I created something that made a connection with Shakespeare’s birthplace.

I did some research into the photos that I wanted to use and the quotes from the plays and this formed the basis of my purses and notebooks.  I really enjoyed making them.  I have no idea if they will sell – do you?

I have also selected a few handmade Shakespeare items I found on folksy to show you what you can buy if you are interested in Shakespeare or like Shakespeare.  They are quite varied and interesting.  I hope you like them.  If you click on the images, it will take you directly to the seller’s shop where you will find a host of delights so why don’t you treat yourself, or buy that gift you need for a sister, friend, Aunt or Uncle, parent or child.  Lots of choices! Enjoy!

I have only added four items from my Shakespeare collection at the moment, but I have several more that I will be adding in the weeks and days to come.  I hoping they will make interesting and practical Christmas presents.  Have you started thinking about Christmas?  Or is it too early?  Normally, I would agree it is too early, but I feel I left it too late last year in terms of stocking my folksy shop with ideas for Christmas, so I have tried to get ahead this year.

I have some vintage Christmas gift tags available and I am working on some vintage Christmas hanging decorations at the moment.  All very enjoyable, plus I have made huge progress with my purse and bag charms that I blogged about recently.  I have even started adding these to my folksy shop.  I think I am going to make too many not to add them!  I think they will make lovely gifts if you buy a bag or purse to go with them!  Where to shop?  Folksy, of course!

I hope you like my Shakespeare collection.  If you click on the link it will take you directly to my shop and the four items I have at the moment.  If you popped back you might find more or none, if they sell!  Here is one of my purses to wet your appetite.

Well, that’s all for now until next time. I hope you will come back for another visit.

BFN

Edwina

FROM TOP TO BOTTOM: Bookish Art, Myartstudio, Bookity, ivoryfishbone, Just Gemma and Handmade by Edwina

September Surfers

Hearts and Flowers is my theme for today.  I have chosen a selection of lovely items from the September Surfers either newly listed items or relisted items. It is so difficult to choose items when there are so many lovely ones to choose from, but deciding on a theme helped me to focus and narrow down my selection.  Huge apologies to those who missed out, but I couldn’t show everyone’s work!

September Surfers is the name chosen for the daily listing group on folksy for the month of September.  Being part of this group over the years I have been a seller on folksy has been a most enjoyable experience.  Participants receive and give support and there is camaraderie amongst the group that is second to none.  We show off our new items and we promote each other’s work.  But we also have a chat and a laugh.  We have shared births, deaths, illness, problems and triumphs and celebrated sales and achievements.

The group is organised by Natalie Ofkants of NOfkants Curios and Accessories, a talented woman, who holds the group altogether with starting the thread each day, keeping the daily tally of sales and cheering everyone on.

I find the group very motivating.  I look forward to seeing what other sellers are listing that day and watching the tally for new sales.  There is nothing like the thrill of reporting a sale and visiting the thread is the first thing I want to do when I get a sale.  Being a member of the group has helped me through difficult times.  And when I am not listing I always want to visit the thread to see what is going on!  I suppose you could say the daily listing thread is my virtual family.

Why not come and join us?  Not everyone lists a new item everyday or relists an item but why not pop in when you can.  Clicking through the items and seeing them in each other’s shop doesn’t usually take very long and this is when I usually pin the items to my Pinterest board.  Doing this often means that the items get repins and are seen quite widely.  Sales have often resulted from this promoting.  Other use Twitter or Facebook or Stumble Upon etc.  There are not rules, just do what you can to support and promote the thread.

Being part of this group as a seller on folksy has enhanced my experienced of selling on folksy.  I think it could be quite boring just selling on my own, but being part of the group is fun and exciting.  I’ve learnt a tremendous amount from being part of the group, and I have also appreciated and valued the support I have received.

Recently my sales have taken a nose dive and it is so hard to keep going when that happens.  But because I keep listing and showing my items in the group, it helps me to continue when I feel like giving up.  I know I am not alone struggling with achieving sales and that helps.  Sometimes self-doubt creeps in, but then someone will say something that helps to banish that thought!

Come and join us or at least have a look at the beautiful items the September Surfers have listed.  Click on the photos and it will take you directly to their shops, stop and have a browse, you are sure to find something that you like.  Remember Christmas isn’t all that far away and you know you need some fresh ideas for gifts this year!

I hope you have enjoyed reading my post about the September Surfers and will come back for another visit.

BFN

Edwina

FROM TOP TO BOTTOM: Nofkants Curios, Vintage Vibe, Lizzyanthus Jewellery, Daisy crazy creations, Stephanie Short Stationery, Dottie Designs, Sewflair, She Is All Art and Juniper Spools.