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.

Purse and Bag Charms

No, I haven’t suddenly become a jewellery maker over night!  I just love purse and bag charms.  I have collected quite a few over the years that I have been selling on folksy.  Some I have given away as gifts, but some I have kept.  Recently, I had been thinking that I would love to make them.  I felt sure that they couldn’t be difficult, once you know how!  I also thought that because I make purses (and used to make bags) that they were not too far removed from what I do!  Not sure at this point if I will try and sell them!  It depends how I get on.

So far, I have asked for some advice about how to get started and received some from a lovely jewellery maker on folksy.  I have purchased some tools, findings and beads – oh, and a few charms!  I also watched one of those really help instruction videos that you can find on the web.  Learnt some essential tips!

Over the years I have been collecting beads of all types and sizes, not that I had a clue what I was going to do with them!  So I have a box full now plus a few in scattered places around my home!  I used the small pearls beads for my embroidery and I just love them.  Recently, I started using them on my purses with lace and ribbon.  I have a tendency to get carried away when I am embellishing and I often need reigning in!

Oh, in case you were wondering these beautiful bag charms I am illustrating my blog post with are NOT MINE!  They are a selection of my favourite ones that I found on folksy.  Please click on the photos and visit the shops.  The sellers have some amazing, gorgeous items for sale. 

The other thing I have done is start a new Pinterest board which I hope to fill with bag charms that I find, that I just can’t resist!  It will be a lovely collection, I am sure, when I have collected a few more.  Here is the link: purse and bag charms

I haven’t started yet, but I certainly have ideas for my first attempts at making bag charms.  I think it is a really good idea to expand your craft knowledge – don’t you agree?  Perhaps, I should mention that I have no previous knowledge of jewellery making, but I am really looking forward to getting started and if I think my attempts are worthy of showing then I will let you see them!

I am very busy at the moment.  Isn’t it crazy that I am contemplating learning a new craft in the midst of so much to do!  But, what is that saying? – "give a busy woman another job to do and it will get done quickly" – "give a woman who has loads of time on her hands and it will get done sometime, soon whenever!"  The reason I am so busy is because both my sisters have asked me to make stuff for them, plus one of my nieces is going to be a bridesmaid in a few weeks, and she wants me to make her a purse made with the same fabric as her dress (and a matching tie for her little boy!)  I have also two commissions to work on and complete.

Of course, all this extra work will be on top of my rolling workload of makes that are being constantly progressed – purses, notebooks and some new items for Christmas that I am working on!  Crazy? Yes, it helps when you are a busy creative crafter!

Thank you for reading my blog and I hope you enjoyed looking at all the bag charms that I found on folksy.  Can I encourage you to explore a new craft or technique too?  It is very exciting.  I can’t wait to get started on making my very own handmade bag and purse charms!

BFN

Edwina

FROM TOP TO BOTTOM: Adien Crafts, D & K Designs, Di Keeble Beads and Jewellery, Jaysmonkey, Wild Rose Designs, Michelle's Handcrafted Jewellery, Bobby's Boutique, Black Swan Designs.

SPECIAL FEATURE: Clare Sherwen

Today, I am happy to introduce Clare Sherwen and her lovely work.  Printmaking and painting is something that interests me, and knowing a little about the process, I was very impressed with Clare’s work. I am delighted that she agreed to be a special feature on my blog.  Please click on the photos and visit Clare’s folksy shop and have a browse.

Clare says:

“My favourite item in my folksy shop has to be my Purple Cat print, he came out so well and has just been featured in a brand new book called “The Printmakers Cat” which I am still in shock about!”

How long have you been selling on Folksy?

"Since 2011 and I am on my 111th sale which I still can’t quite believe!"

Can you tell me a little bit about yourself, your background and how you got to do what you do?

"I’ve always been arty and love creating things and I did my degree in Fine Art (Printmaking) a few years ago. I specialised in the etching printmaking process at university but it is not really the safest form of printmaking to do at home with all the acids etc! A few years ago I managed to get an affordable table top printing press and started experimenting in collagraph printmaking. This is a safer form of printmaking which involves using a card printing plate and adding various textures with paint, enamel, glue etc and then I print from these plates on my dining room table."

“I’m very reluctant to part with the original painting that this card is taken from. I was there at just the right moment to catch that typical sleepy cat look!”

"This year I have been concentrating on selling online and getting my artwork out into exhibitions. So far I have had three exhibitions and two more are coming soon and I still love the thrill of seeing my art displayed on the wall!"

What is the inspiration/motivation behind your designs?

"As you can see from my shop I’m a little obsessed with animals, especially cats! I’ve just got a tiny mischievous black and white kitten called Morpheus and he is definitely the inspiration behind my most recent artworks!

For my exhibition work I mostly produce prints based on architecture which create a sense of heritage and have a very textural and tonal quality, for my online work I tend to do smaller prints and recently a lot of animal motifs have been creeping in! I have been concentrating on making animal prints and have done a series of purple animal collagraph prints with my most popular being a hippo print which sold very well in the USA!"  

“Another favourite is my lino cut print of my new kitten Morpheus looking very cute!”

"I also love watercolour and acrylic painting and have recently started painting ACEOs (mini collectable artworks that are 3.5 x 2.5” in size) which I only discovered about on the daily Art Thread on the Folksy forum. I’ve now sold over 200 of these all over the world and love the fact that anyone can afford a small piece of original art and start building up their own art collection!

How do you decide what to create next?

I always work from photos so I’m usually inspired by the last place I have visited whether it’s the local zoo with their amazing tigers or my recent holiday to Turkey where I took over a thousand photos and still need to find the time to start working on them properly! I get bored working on just one thing so I love being able to work on a huge animal painting one day to a tiny cat print, to then printing up a load of bags the next day!"

“This is one of ACEOs. They are a real challenge to paint so small but very addictive!”

"I’m hoping to start promoting my watercolour pet portrait commissions soon as I had a break from doing too many as I was so busy over the Christmas period last year. I’m hoping people will be a bit earlier with ordering them than last year so I’m not painting right up until the last Christmas posting day again!

What else would you like to share?

I’d like to say how grateful I am to everyone on the Folksy forums. I’d never been on a forum before so it was a little scary at first but everyone was so welcoming and helpful. The knowledge base that is on there is amazing and I don’t think I would have been able to get quite so far with my selling without everyone’s help."

“This is one of my most complicated to do collagraph prints as the bridge is so detailed so it was a real challenge but I am so pleased how it has came out.”

I asked Clare which three items she liked from my folksy shop.

“Love the colours and detail on this one.”

“Love the notebooks and very hard to choose a favourite but this fabric is so pretty.”

“Beautiful coloured fabric.”

If you would like to see or know more about Clare and her work then please click on these links.

Folksy shop

Facebook page

Blog page

Website

Thank you for visiting my blog.  I hope you have enjoyed reading about Clare and her work. Please come back soon.

BFN

Edwina

Fabric, Chinese take away, chocolate limes and hessian

Fabric

As you can see from the photo I have recently purchased some new fabrics.  I get really excited when new fabrics arrive and I start thinking about all the possibilities that they represent.  What shall I make with them?  The tractor fabric was on sale and a total bargain so I immediately thought of a pencil case for a boy – I am not sure what else, as I find boys difficult!  Do you have any ideas?

I am sure I shall be making pencil cases, purses, probably a sketchbook or two, notebooks, and may be a couple of diary covers. As it’s that time of the year when you start thinking about the big C, no doubt I shall consider other items too.  Well, I never used to think about C. in August but now I have a shop to stock, it’s different!

Pinterest Boards

Recently, I have made a few Pinterest boards that I really like – I don’t seem to share the same view as folksy on this, but never mind!  Anyway, I thought I would share a few with you and also some selected items from the boards to illustrate my blog post.

Chinese take away

Let’s start with “Chinese take away”.  This board was inspired by Shirley’s Dolls House Rug Chinese Dragon in Blue from Whimsy Woo Designs.  It started me wondering what other Chinese handmade items were available on folksy.

When I start searching for images for my board, I never think: what have I got in my shop that fits the theme?  So it always a nice surprise when I am searching, to come across one of my own items that fits in nicely with the theme.  You can find this large Chinese silk cosmetic purse in my folksy shop Handmade by Edwina.

Now who does not like "chocolate limes"?  Well, folksy apparently, because this was another of my boards that has not been chosen for the front page.

Chocolate Limes

This time my inspiration came from the knowledge that the two boards I had previously created and folksy had chosen for the front page were both single colour boards.  So I thought of a colour and then decided to forget that idea, and do a themed board based on two colours: chocolate and lime!

Some gorgeous items were discovered in my search.

Love this tatted brown lace bookmark by Heather from TataniaRosa.

I love buttons so I was definitely drawn to this pretty button bracelet by Clair of Folbar Beads.  I must get around to buying one as they must be really fun to wear.  (Clair is on holiday at the moment, but please do come back and visit her shop.)

Finally, my very favourite board is called simply “Hessian” and what a lovely selection of items I found during my search.  I feel hessian is a much underrated fabric and it certainly deserves much more attention.

Hessian

Those of you who know me will understand why I have chosen this Love Hanging Embroidery hoop.  Yes, I love embroidery!  This was made by Lisa of dilly dally.

Cupcakes – now who does not love them?  So when I saw these cards with the hessian background, they were definitely made for my board.  Created by Lucie from Love, Lucie these Yummy Cup Cake 'Lovely Mum' Card are a super combination of texture and machine embroidery.

I have created one or two other boards, but I think I will end it there.  Do visit the shops of these creative sellers by clicking on the photo and have a browse at their lovely products.

Hope you have enjoyed reading my post and looking at my Pinterest boards.

BFN

Edwina

Creative Angels

August Angels is the name that was chosen for the daily listing club on folksy during the month of August. This is a group of individual creative sellers on folksy who share their newly made items, chat, laugh, offer and receive support, commiserate, and celebrate both personal and folksy triumphs and report all folksy sales. A daily (monthly) tally is kept of all sales received by the group members. The club is open to anyone who wants to join and who regularly add new makes to their folksy shop.

What are angels?

Wikipedia defines angel as a supernatural being or spirit, usually humanoid in form, found in various religions and mythologies. They are often depicted as benevolent celestial beings who act as intermediaries between Heaven and Earth, or as guardian spirits or a guiding influence.

Other roles of angels include protecting and guiding human beings, and carrying out God's tasks.Whether you believe or don’t believe in angels, the notion of a supernatural benevolent being who acts as a guardian does appeal to some people. They like the idea that a guardian angel watches and cares for them during their 21st century lives.

Early Christians inherited Jewish understandings of angels, which in turn may have been partly inherited from the Egyptians. In the early stage, the Christian concept of an angel characterized the angel as a messenger of God. Angels are creatures of good, spirits of love, and messengers of Jesus Christ.

Many Christians regard angels as asexual and not belonging to either gender . Angels are on the other hand usually depicted in painting and sculpture as looking like male human beings. However, while cherubim and seraphim have wings in the Bible, no angel is mentioned as having wings.

Contemporary belief in angels

As recently as the 20th century, visionaries and mystics have reported interactions with, and indeed dictations from, angels.

A 2002 study based on interviews with 350 people, mainly in the UK, who said they have had an experience of an angel, describes several types of such experiences: visions, sometimes with multiple witnesses present; auditions, e.g. to convey a warning; a sense of being touched, pushed, or lifted, typically to avert a dangerous situation. In the visual experiences, the angels described appear in various forms, either the "classical" one (human countenance with wings), in the form of extraordinarily beautiful or radiant human beings, or as beings of light.

In the US, a 2008 survey by Baylor University's Institute for Studies of Religion, published by TIME magazine, which polled 1,700 respondents, found that 55 percent of Americans, including one in five of those who say they are not religious, believe that they have been protected by a guardian angel during their life.

A 2008 survey of over 1000 Canadians found 67 percent believe in angels.

The creative sellers in the folksy daily listing club are not angels as defined by Wikipedia, but they do regularly make the most beautiful handmade items, e.g. jewellery, cards, art, paintings, purses, knitted and crocheted goods, cushion covers, wonderful throws, blankets, quilts, cases, book covers, novelty items, and as in my case, handmade notebooks and journals.  You can also buy craft supplies – did you know that? I have illustrated my blog post today with a few of these lovely items.  Please click on the photographs and it will take you directly to the seller’s shop on folksy. Stop, have a browse, you are bound to find that gift you have been meaning to buy, or why not treat yourself?  Many of the sellers have "sale" items so you may even find yourself a bargain!

I hope you have enjoyed reading my blog post on angels and will come back for another visit soon.

BFN

Edwina

TOP TO BOTTOM: Violet Vickers Creations, Bojanglies, Wild Rose Designs - Handmade Bags and Accessories, The Card Jeanie, The Beaded Garden, JAustenJewelleryDesign and Whimsy Woo Designs.