USE YOUR VOTE!

On Craftjuice.

Handmade by Edwina

I love Craftjuice but I have often wondered how people use it.  It is a great way of displaying your craft items to a huge number of people - there are over 8,000+ followers of Craftjuice on Twitter and 3,800+ fans on Facebook it's a great way to network, show off and even sell your crafts.

Leanne Woods Designs

I hope this post will help anyone who is new to Craftjuice or wondered about how it works or was thinking of using it, but never has.  I am including a range of lovely items to illustrate my post from the November Rockets, the Folksy daily listing club.  Do click on the photos and it will take you directly to their shop.  Lots of ideas for gifts for Christmas if you haven’t finished shopping!!

Knittingtopia

Listing an item on Craftjuice is quite straightforward, but I don’t think people realise how important it is to VOTE.  I have found items from Folksy on page 4 or 5 of UPCOMING Crafts, and unless they get FIVE votes they will stay there and not be published and therefore not promoted on Facebook or Twitter.  After five votes your item is moved into POPULAR crafts, but don’t stop voting!

Adien Crafts

 

Your vote counts!!!

Never underestimate the power of your vote. To become popular and hit the homepage you need VOTES!!!  And you have the power to pick what should be promoted.  There is no restriction on how many items you can vote for so USE YOUR VOTE.  It is one of my favourite features of Craftjuice and I use it to the maximum – voting for a huge number of craft items – mostly from Folksy I confess, but if I see something I particularly like from Etsy or elsewhere then I will vote for it.  I vote for far more than I receive back in votes, but this is because I am not sure that people realise how important voting is.

Midnight Star Designs

Did you know?

Items older than 10 days that get 5 votes will never become POPULAR and not be promoted.  But it is also important not to stop voting once you are published.  Did you know that? The more votes your item has the better. Why? Craftjuice sends out a newsletter to all their members each month with the most voted items for that month. The newsletter goes to 10,000's of craft lovers all around the world.  Potential customers!!!  It was such a thrill when two of my items were in the Craftjuice monthly newsletter.  I also quite quickly and subsequently sold one of them too!

Eccentric Ella

 

Craftjuice is not a shop.  You can’t sell or buy from it, but it is an excellent promotional platform and everyone who is serious about promoting their items should use it.  You also don’t have to be a seller in order to submit your items. Craftjuice will link to any page on the web with a craft item. If you have a blog then submit that, or you can use Flickr.  Any of the handmade markets also submit items, MISI, Etsy, Artfire, and of course, Folksy.   If you have your own individual website, you can also submit items too.  But, don’t forget to VOTE!

Daisy Florence Design

I hope this will get you voting – you don’t have to submit an item, or be a seller, you can go to the site and just VOTE for the items that you like.  You will need to sign in with a password, but apart from your email address no other information is required.  Why not give it a go?

I hope you have enjoyed looking at the lovely selection of items illustrating this post. I want to encourage you to consider using Craftjuice in the future - I will certainly be voting for you, if you do!!

BFN

Edwina



Christmas Gift Guide

Welcome to my Christmas Gift Guide


Handmade by Edwina

THIS BAG IS ON SALE TODAY ONLY 19.11.12 FOR £12.75 WITH FREE UK P&P SOLD


In my Folksy shop you will a lovely selection of items suitable for gifts for family, friends, children, colleagues and anyone else you would like to give a gift to this Christmas.  I have also included in my selection some lovely items from other folksy sellers to stimulate your appetite.  Click on the photo and it will take you directly to their shop.



Bollipotts

Beautiful bags, cute purses, notebooks, journals, items for men and children can all be found in my Folksy shop.  I have some lovely bags and totes that any women would be pleased to receive. They are attractive, sometimes unusual, definitely unique, and practical. My purses are quite popular and are suitable for adults and children alike. I have a varied selection, so there is bound to be one that catches your eye. I have a huge range of handmade notebooks and I have specific ones for children with cute fabrics, and also for the more serious minded man who would like a unique notebook specially designed for him.



Handmade by Edwina

Travellers, Cooks, Gardeners and Artists have not been left out when I made some of the items for my Folksy shop.  Look no further for the perfect unique handmade notebook or journal for each of these creative folk. I have sourced specific fabric and handcrafted the notebooks and journals to a high standard.  They are ideal for scribbling ideas, keeping images, and ephemera. The paper I have used is 100% recycled, but of a very high quality.



Paper Chains & Beads

In my shop I have specific gift sets for children that include a bookmark, pencil case and notebook. Each has been made with matching fabric and would make super stocking fillers for any child. Choose elephants, cupcakes, sea creatures and more. I am happy to make a specific set using fabric of your choice. Please message me.



Handmade by Edwina

What else do I have? Toiletry bags for men, cosmetic purses for women, 2013 diary covers and lots more items are available. Do have a browse. All are reasonably priced and included UK p&p. Do not forget each item has been handmade to a high standard, so it will be totally unique and not available anywhere else.  Please message me if you would like something specific that is not currently stocked in my shop. New items are being added every week!

 



Handmade by Edwina

If you are looking for jewellery, Christmas cards, items made from yarn, Christmas decorations, or something a bit different then also check out the other sellers on here and on Folksy.



Creative Treasures





Silverspiral




UniquelyYours



Enjoy your Christmas shopping and don’ forget that folksy is THE place to come for unique handmade gifts.

BFN

Edwina

PS Another place you should definitely consider for Christmas shopping is the Christmas Merry Go Round.





 







Remembrance



Handmade by Edwina

When I was studying for my degree at college (seems a very long time ago now, even though in was in my 30s when I graduated!) I remember studying Poetry from the First World War.  It was extremely vivid poetry about the sights, sounds, and smells of life on a battle field and in the trenches.  Horrific images of the most senseless and futile of deaths of thousands of young men.

 



NOfkants Curios



It is the kind of imagery that sticks with you for a very long time.  As it is Remembrance Sunday today I thought I would share with you one of the poems that crystallises a moment in our history.

 

In Flanders Fields

 

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead.  Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

 

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

 John McCrae (1872-1918)

 

 

Nowadays we canot escape the fact that there are young men being killed in wars far far away, but the pain and futility for wasted lives is even more acute.  Today we need to remember and celebrate their bravery and mourn with their families and friends.



MarthaMooBeads



On folksy this month the daily listing club is called November Rockets, I decided it was time to show some of the beautiful handmade goodies that these talented folk have been making.

 



Creative Treasures



Uniquely Yours



Daisy Florence Designs




Melanie’s handmade jewellery



Juniper Spools

I hope you have enjoyed looking at the beautiful handmade items from folksy sellers.  Please click on the photos and it will take you directly to their shop.

 

BFN

 

Edwina







Crafting with Emily

“That is so cool”.  When my niece, Emily says this to me, I feel like I am being paid the highest compliment ever!  Today is Emily’s eleventh birthday.  (HAPPY BIRTHDAY, EMILY!)  Last week during half term Emily came to spend a day with me and it was her choice to do some crafting.

First of all she wanted to make a fabric collage.  We found some paper and I pulled out my huge of scraps of fabric – ideal for making collages!  I also found some glue – and I have a small file of images that I have printed on to linen or evolon and she chose this image of penguins.

 

 

I gave her my pinking shears and she set to work selecting her fabrics first and then cutting them up and arranging them on the sheet of paper.  I asked her if she would like to use some blue lace (blue seem to be the colour theme) and then went digging for my bag of blue lace.  She picked out one she liked and then all the glueing started. 

Whilst she seemed quite content and happy to carry on with her project without any further help from Auntie, I cut out some fabric for some purses that I wanted to make.

This is the finished collage:

 

 

After that Emily said she wanted to do some drawing.  “Ice cream” she said, she loves drawing ice cream.  I found my huge box of coloured pencils which she was delighted with, and Emily continued with her second project.

This was her drawing of the ice cream:

 

 



After lunch we discussed what to do next.  Emily liked the idea of making her own notebook which I had suggested we might do.  I offered her a choice of size, A5, (too big) A7, (too small) and A6, just perfect! Choosing the fabric Emily would like on the front and back covers was the next thing to do, so I went and found my children’s fabrics, footballs (she’s a very go footballer) owls – lots of owls (I have two or three different fabrics!) and Handbags, Monkeys and Cupcakes.  What do you think Emily chose?
 

 

Cupcakes.  Rather than turn this into a tutorial on how to make a notebook let’s just say we worked together through each stage, my offering help where needed and showing her how to do things, like stitching the pages together.  Emily was a bit worried about stitching, but when it came to it I think she really enjoyed it.  The needle I use is not sharp but blunt, and I gave her a choice of hemp twine.  (Emily chose purple!)
 

I had already printed on evolon the words “Emily’s Notebook”.  This was really the only thing I had prepared for in advance in the hope Emily would like the idea.  Using my sewing machine, I appliquéd the label to the front cover, whilst Emily was scoring paper. When the notebook was completed I told Emily the glue in the notebook had to be left to dry (at least over night).  Emily seemed to understand the importance of this.
 

Here is the finished notebook:  Aren’t you impressed?

 

Emily is a lovely child, bright, intelligent, and sensitive and she is great company.  We had a lovely day crafting.  I love making notebooks and journals – much more so than bags now. This is how my crafting journey has changed and developed.  I still make the occasional bag.
 

Here are a couple of journals that I have in my Folksy shop at the moment.

 

And here is a preview of two journals that I will be listing this week.

 

 

Hope you have enjoyed reading about my crafting day with Emily.

BFN

 

Edwina

 

Lusting and Coveting

I am sure we have all been there when we have seen something in a shop, on line, or elsewhere, and we have just had that overwhelming feeling that you have just got to have it!  Looking at it, we feel this urgent need to possess, own and hug it to ourselves!  I am talking about something that is both attainable and obtainable!  You can’t stop staring at it and your whole body craves for it – You have got to have it!  You have got to have it!

I know regular readers of my blog may think I have lost it, but what I am talking about is not something I feel very often, strangely enough!  But, I was struck with this longing quite suddenly recently and it took me by surprise.  I was weighing up whether I could purchase said object, and there was a fierce debate going on inside my head. “Don’t forget you have got to pay out that £75.00 on the car this month!”  However, all arguments are lost because you know no matter how hard you want to walk away, you can’t!  I was totally consumed with the idea that I had to own it – it had to be mine and I couldn’t bear the idea of it belonging to someone else!

So I purchased it!  The deed was done and soon the item would be winging its way towards me – I felt relief and excitement!  Have you ever felt like this?  How often do we lust after something?  How often do we covet something?  I know when I look at some of the beautiful items on folksy and I can’t help myself “WOW”.  Gorgeous, fabulous, amazing, beautiful etc. etc. and it is the most wonderful place to visit on a daily basis.

Regular readers will be aware of my obsession with fabric, lace and buttons – I have no idea where it came from!  But I just love them – no I don’t just lust after them or covet them.  I LOVE THEM!  Fabric is such an extraordinary thing, so many designs, colours, textures, and all different!  I just don’t know what it is about fabric that intoxicates me – but it would seem I can never get enough of it!

Well, you must all be wondering what I purchased? Yes? No?  But before I tell you I thought I would mention that today I chose to illustrate my blog with bags – lots of wonderful bags from sellers on folksy.  Aren’t they all gorgeous?  Bags are strange things – we can’t live without them – us girls, (women) – can we?  I hope you will take a proper look at them and click on the photos which link directly to the seller’s folksy shop.  I enjoyed making the selection and I hope you enjoy looking at them too!

Finally, what consumed me so much that I had to purchase it?  Would you be surprised to learn that it was a BAG?  I was.  I am a bag maker!  What am I doing buying a bag?!  But, I tell you this is no ordinary bag, it has the most fabulous fabric and it was the fabric that drew me to the bag.  I can’t, won’t show you a picture of it, because I want you to imagine in your head what would be the most fabulous bag in the world – well, I am the proud owner of it!

So, a brief message to all folksy sellers – we need more lusting and coveting of our items for sale – that will tempt the buyers to part with their money!  Don’t you think?

BFN

Edwina

 

PS  The bag has arrived and it is fabulously gorgeous and I love it to bits!!!

 

TOP TO BOTTOM: HandmadebyEdwina, Lynwoodcrafts, Beledien, Crafty Bags, Wild Rose Designs, Gerda Bags, Handbags by Helen

One Year on Folksy: Giveaway time!

I love giveaways as many of you will know!  This one is particularly special because I am celebrating my first complete year of selling on Folksy!  Today, I have chosen to illustrate my post with vintage inspired or vintage items from Folksy sellers and they are all under £20.00!  Don’t forget to click on the photos and they will take you directly to the shop.  Enjoy!

I don’t have any idea how I have arrived at where I am.  I have sold 121 items in my folksy shop! However, I know I aim to do three important things:

First, make high quality handmade items.  This is essential.  I have high standards and I don’t compromise.  I think about what I am making and ask myself “will this fall apart in five minutes time?”  Quality and unusual fabrics are also essential. This also applies even when I am upcycling!  I use strong threads and repeatable stitching in parts that will receive a lot of wear and tear. Interfacing, careful attention to detail and so forth...

Second, I believe my hard work and more hard work have helped!  I like to list daily and that is always a challenge because of the length of time it takes to make an item. Sometimes I give myself a break from the pressure!  I don’t involve myself full- time in the daily listing club on Folksy, but have month long breaks when needed.  I promote my items on Facebook, Flickr, Craftjuice, Stumble Upon, Pinterest and this blog – I am sure there is a lot more I could do, but time is precious so I only do what I can!

Finally, I feel having a variety of items in my Folksy shop is important, and I think this is a key to what I have sold.  I don’t sell just one type of item – I started with bags, but they are not big sellers (any bag maker will tell you) sure, from time to time I do sell them and that is always pleasing.  However, I love making my notebooks and journals and they have been surprisingly successful, also my purses have done quite well too.  Important to me is to make my items different from what else is being sold on Folksy – not always achievable because I don’t spend my time wading though the thousands of listings to see if someone else is making and selling the same item!!!

Is there a secret to my success?  I haven’t a clue.  In these times of austerity, recession and a negative economical climate, I think selling is really difficult.  I wonder what things would have been like for me if it had been a different time?  I am grateful for the friends and support and people I know on Folksy – my virtual family have made selling a pleasure for me – not a chore.  But, finally I am super grateful for my customers – they are fabulous – so wherever you are – a BIG thank you!

GIVEAWAY!

Now to the important bit that you have been waiting for! I am looking for a WINNER and a RUNNER UP for my giveaway.  I suspect you are wondering what I am giving away?  Well, the lucky WINNER can choose anything; I mean anything, from what is currently listed in my Folksy shop.  The RUNNER UP can choose anything up to the value of £15.00.  Unfortunately, each can only choose ONE ITEM.

What do you have to do?  I want you to have a browse in my Folksy shop and choose the item you would like to have if you were the WINNER.   (If the item you choose is £15.00 or under and you are the RUNNER UP you can have that item or choose another.)  However, if you choose the same item as the WINNER then you will need to choose another item.

I would like you to leave a comment on this blog saying which item you would like and why – please copy the item’s URL as it helps me to know exactly which item you are referring to.

PLEASE ENTER.  You never know if you are going to be the winner!

This giveaway will expire on Tuesday evening 23^rd October 2012 at 9pm.  Soon after that I will announce the WINNER and RUNNER UP.  The method will be random and completely fair.  I want everyone to have an equal chance of winning.

Good luck!

Edwina

 

TOP TO BOTTOM: Tinker Prince, Blue Forest Jewellery, sew amy, Natalie Farrell, Adien Crafts, picocrafts, Say it, Handmade by Edwina

THANK YOU all for entering my giveaway to celebrate my first year on Folksy.

The WINNER is Kimberly Rampersad - Congratulations!
The RUNNER UP is Susan from So Choosy - Well done!

 

Highs and Lows

Life is full of highs and lows.  That’s the way it is.  Yesterday at my Drawing Class the tutor said my drawings were full of energy and visceral.  (Now I have to confess here – I had to look the meaning up of visceral – still not absolutely clear what it means!)  But one thing I am sure of the tutor liked my drawings and that is very pleasing.  Today, I learned that one of my beautiful handmade journals purchased by a customer has gone astray in the post, and I was quite upset.  I have heard of it happening to other people, but this was the FIRST time it had happened to me!  Highs and lows.

 

I have rather neglected my blog lately.  No particular reason, I just could pin an idea down!  My head is full of ideas and I am constantly thinking about themes to write about, but it is no good having a theme and nothing to say!  Earlier in the week I had lunch with some friends.  We talked about our lives, about Art, Exhibitions we had visited and shared what we had been creating.  We had a fabulous meal and a very enjoyable time.  These are very special moments in life and cannot be recreated – just like my lost handmade journal that was totally unique.

One thing I have recently become totally obsessed with is creating new Pinterest boards!  It is quite enjoyable and you find things by accident that you probably wouldn’t find otherwise. It isn’t unusual for me to subsequently make a purchase after stumbling across an item!

Here are a few recent ones:

o   Floral Fantasy

o   The Office

o   Mellow Yellow

Of course, none of them have been chosen for Folksy’s front page, but that is a tough nut to crack and they have so many good ones to choose from.  Not complaining, because I have been VERY fortunate to have had two boards on the front page, so still basking in the glow of that minor achievement!

Of course, the other thing I have been doing, in case you were thinking that all I was doing was having lunch with friends, going to a drawing class and creating Pinterest boards (!) is I have been making some beautiful items to list in my folksy shop.  I have made journal covers, journals and notebooks, a tote, (see below) purses etc. and currently have several projects I am working on (as is nearly always the case!)  I recently rearranged the sections in my shop and I am now much happier with them.  I think they give a browser a much easier task of finding something they may be interested in purchasing.

I am hoping the Christmas shopping season will begin in earnest soon and people will come to my folksy shop looking for gifts.  I don’t have anything Christmassy as such.  Last year, I made some fabric Christmas cards, but I decided this year just to focus on gifts.  Gifts for everyone, children, women and men!

So to sum up – life is full of highs and lows and probably the best thing is to enjoy the highs and not worry or focus too much on the lows – they are just part of life. 

 

Hope you enjoy the selection of goodies I have chosen to illustrate this post.  They are all from the October Optimists Daily Listing Club on folksy and I chosen items that I like. Don’t forget to click on the photo which will take you directly to the sellers shop!  Enjoy!

BFN

Edwina

FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:

Midnight Star Designs, Abyjem handcrafted jewellery, Lynwoodcrafts, Helle Belles Cards, Lampwork beads by Jo, Disco Diva and Handmade by Edwina.