Guilty Pleasures

We all have them!  Guilty pleasures! That thing we do when we feel slightly uncomfortable or even guilty, but still derive pleasure from it.  It if is a secret pleasure even better, because you can enjoy all the more knowing that no one only yourself knows about it!

I am not going to divulge my guilty pleasures, but I am going to do something I feel slightly uncomfortable about, but it secretly gives me some pleasure to do!

I am going to tell you what my customers say...about my handmade creations!  It is very pleasing when you get good feedback from customers and I really appreciate it.  It just makes everything I do so worthwhile especially when I am making someone happy with what they have purchased.

I did share some feedback some while ago, but I thought it was time to share some more of the feedback I have received from customers, so that (hopefully) it will inspire you to buy items from my folksy shop with confidence!

I am also going to share with you items that are currently available in my shop and...  be assured they would all really welcome a new home!

Notebooks

“Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous, and so beautifully wrapped and presented. I now have my first Christmas present. Thank you.”

“I love the note book. It's really beautiful & I'm going to use it to jot down my craft ideas! Thank you!”

Journals

“The journal is gorgeous and will be put away for a birthday gift for my daughter.”

Bags and totes

“I received my bag today it is lovely and very well made to a high standard, very quick delivery and great communication. Thank you very much for the lovely bag.”

“Beautiful little bag, one I have had my eye on for a while! So pleased it is mine! Thank you so much!!!!”

“Nice bag, bought as a present for my sister hope she likes it as much as I do! Speedy delivery and very well made :)”

“Beautiful Bag from lovely seller/maker, Highly Recommended to all, such lovely work. Thank You.”

“Beautiful bag and extremely well made as usual!”

“Lovely bags very well made, pleased with my purchases and the prompt delivery. Thank you.”

Pencil cases

“What a joy opening the package, beautifully wrapped and a really gorgeous beautifully made pencil case, very happy, Thank you!”

“Edwina, Emily is thrilled with her pencil case, she was eagerly awaiting the post man and she said she loved the paper it was wrapped in too, thank you for making my daughter happy :)”

Purses

“I love it :)) very well made quality item, As described, quick delivery, lovely packaging, would buy from again. Thank you.”

“Beautifully packaged, arrived quickly. Love both purses. Many thanks.”

“Beautiful purse, thanks for sending so quickly.”

“Arrived yesterday beautifully wrapped and made - would definitely recommend for a normal or custom order! Thanks again! x”

“The lovely little red purse will make a lovely gift for someone, a great seller with great well made items!”

This is just a selection of the positive feedback that I have received and all of it so encouraging!

And finally...

Rainfall in the month of June has been the worse recorded in a 100 years –

It has certainly been cold, windy, cloudy and dark and not at all like June at all!!!

Let’s hope we see more sunshine in July!!

Sales this month have also been the worse since I joined Folksy last October, but as another seller pointed out to me “it is swings and roundabouts”.  I’m keeping my fingers crossed that July will be a better month, so if you can help me in this please do purchase something – you won’t be disappointed.

In my next blog post I hope to feature some gorgeous makes from other folksy sellers, so if you have something you would like to share please send me the URL and I will be happy to include it!  I shall build a theme around whatever you decide to send.

BFN

Edwina

Poetry and Books

He wishes for the Cloths of Heaven

Had I heavens’ embroidered cloths,

Enwrought with golden and silver light,

The blue and the dim and the dark cloths

Of night and light and half-light,

I would spread the cloths under your feet:

But I, being poor, have only my dreams;

I have spread my dreams under your feet;

Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.

W. B. Yeats

I love this poem, especially the last line.  Sometimes I feel that I have had a herd of elephants stampeding all over my dreams, but it still doesn’t stop me from dreaming!

It has been a while since I last posted, so I am breaking myself in gently by keeping this fairly short.  In recent weeks I have had a really enjoyable time making handmade notebooks and journals.  Learning a new craft is always exciting and because these items are small I hopefully will find some storage space for them!  I sort of got carried away because so many ideas of what I could do came at me like a flood!

This is the first notebook that I have listed in my shop.  It is made from some embroidered silk fabric that I found in my stash.  I hadn’t used the fabric, and immediately I thought it would be perfect for a notebook cover.



I have no idea if my new range of notebooks or journals will sell and the irony of making them is not lost on me.  Why am I making these?  Most people who are in the internet are sharing their lives on line – including myself!  But, I am sure there are a few die hards who still like to write in notebooks and journals scribbling their thoughts, ideas, poetry, shopping lists, sketches,  photos – I was a great one for writing “Things to do” endlessly in notebooks and always carried one around with me!

We shall see.  I shall be listing more in the coming days so keep checking my Folksy shop, as I have some beauties lined up!

Well the good news is that this notebook has sold on the first day that I listed it, so that is why there is no photo link!!!

BFN

Edwina

Big FAT Zero

I love books and so to illustrate my blog post today I have chosen a selection of notebooks and journals, some are mine, but there are a few from other Folksy sellers too.  I hope you like what I have selected. Don't forget to click on the photo to take you directly to the item in the shop. Enjoy!

Right, here we go!  When sales are low or non-existent I sometimes feel like chucking in the towel, and donating all my stock of beautiful items to a charity shop.  This way I can have all my storage boxes empty again, and I can start filling them with a new range of gorgeous items!  It also has the added bonus of making some charity shop happy, hopefully with some sales that will boost their funds.

I haven’t got as far as deciding which charity to support.  We have lots of charity shops in our high street, so there are quite a few to choose from!  I have no idea how they would feel about being given a huge range of handmade goods, because I have not approached any of them yet!  I still keep hoping for that elusive sale!  I have a varied range of bags, purses, notebooks, pencil cases and journals in my shop, and even if I say so myself they are all well made, reasonably priced and I offer FREE UK postage.

Sometimes I feel this lack of sales is a failure in me to promote my shop and the items on the WWW, but I do try, honestly, really, to get the items out there – Pinterest, Facebook, Craftjuice, Flickr, etc.  But, I assume my promoting is just not up to scratch.  I know a lot of sellers have more than one outlet for their sales.  I have set up a shop on Etsy, but sales to date have been a big fat zero (and this is the case for Folksy this month too!)  Admittedly, I do find promoting the Etsy shop difficult.  I find Etsy very confusing and worrying, so I spend as little time as possible on the site.  I am much more comfortable with Folksy which I have got to know quite well over the last six months or so.



I know there are other ways to promote your shop and I have read and looked into other possibilities, but it worries me that I am going to be spending even more time on the Computer than I want too.  Even now I feel I spend far too much time – so much so, that I struggle to find the time to do all the crafting that I want to do!

So, that brings me back to the charity shop idea!  Actually, perhaps I should have more giveaways.  My recent Facebook giveaway to celebrate 100 likes seemed to give such pleasure and delight to the winner.  If I can make more people happy by giving away my items, then it makes sense to have more giveaways!  What do you think?

If I had more room for storing my stash of beauties, the lack of sales wouldn’t be such a problem – I am only desperate to sell my items because I’m at my limit with storage!  However, I also seem to have come to a crossroads – not knowing which way to go.  I have a few projects in production and my aim is to finish them, but after that I have no idea what to do.  It’s not that I lack inspiration or ideas, but mostly because items are not selling in my shop, I don’t want to keep filling the shop with yet more items that are not going to sell.  Do you see my dilemma?

I had a good month in May for sales, but strangely enough I sold no more than in April which I found to be quite a tough month!  Am I obsessed with sales?  Does this come across in this post?  I don’t want to be.  I just want to carry on enjoying what I do, and find an outlet for the items so that I can make more.  I love what I do – I really do, but this lack of reward for my efforts (a sale) can be quite disheartening!  Perhaps we all feel like this – what is the answer?

I have considered using other websites for selling.  I also have considered selling on Facebook and perhaps even setting up my own website.  But it all comes back to time, who has the time for all this work promoting?  My items are not quick to make, they take time, patience, perseverance and creativity!  I don’t know what the answer is, do you?

BFN

Edwina

Top to Bottom: Handmade by Edwina, Dab and a dash, Handmade by Edwina, Sew Amy, Handmade by Edwina, Ritzy Swish, Whimsy Woo Designs, Kate Bowles, Handmade by Edwina

Hopes and Dreams #Folksy Friday#

I hope you enjoy the lovely selection of items I have chosen to illustrate my blog post today!  I thought it was time for something completely different!  Don’t forget to click on the photo and it will take you directly to the shop.

What are your dreams and wishes?  Would you give up designing, creating, making and crafting if you inherited £1 million from a long lost Aunt, or won the lottery? What would you do?

I don’t really have any huge ambitions or desires career wise.  I wish my shop had more sales rather than believe it will eventually!  I love what I do.  Crafting is and has become so intrinsic to who I am that I can’t go for very long without doing something with my hands!  Whether it be designing or formulating a new idea, or working on a piece of embroidery, or storming ahead on the sewing machine, fast and furious!  Cutting out fabric, ironing fabric, selecting fabric for projects, putting a collage together, etc. is all part of my existence now.

The only thing I would do if I suddenly had an abundance of money to spend would be to buy a new house, so that I could either build or create a designated Craft room or Studio in which I could have all my equipment and supplies in a light, airy room that overlooked the garden and had heating in the winter so that it was warm and cosy!  Oh the luxury of space instead of the tiny, cramped conditions that I currently work in.

I would also enjoy the luxury of being able to spend more money on more expensive fabrics, instead or being restricted to remnants or budget range fabrics!  Oh to be able to buy lots of silk instead of FQs, good quality upholstery fabrics etc.  It is nice to dream.

Bringing myself back down to earth, I have some very prosaic hopes and wishes e.g.  like being featured on Folksy’s front  page (very doubtful) or having one of my Pinterest boards chosen for the front page instead of them being systematically ignored or rejected!  I would love to have more than one sale in any one day, like three or four – WOW what a day that would be!  I would love it if some of my more favoured and beautiful items were purchased from my shop.  Also, what a pleasure and a delight it would be if a famous celebrity were to purchase an item or two!

We can all dream and have our hopes and wishes!  However, it doesn’t change the determination or aspiration to make good quality handmade items that are well designed and constructed and that would be a pleasure to sell and receive!  I guess I will just carry on regardless of financial restraints or sales.  It is who I am and what I do and I love it!  What are your hopes and dreams?

BFN

Edwina

Top to Bottom: Handmade by Edwina, Tara Winona Art, Sparrow Primitives, Skippingintotomorrow, Magpie Terrace, Diary of a Design Queen, wall envy art - typographic art on framed vintage book pages, Made to Make

Short and Sweet

I noticed that my blog posts seem to be quite long. So I thought I would set myself the challenge of writing a short post.  However, I have read short posts from other people’s blogs and often come away feeling unsatisfied.  It’s like eating a meal and still feeling hungry afterwards!  So being aware of this, part of the challenge was to try and keep it short, but also satisfying!  Keeping it short is difficult, because I am quite verbose – but how to satisfy readers, how feed them and make them feel full!?  Now that is something else.

I started this blog to talk about my craft and to support my shop on Folksy.  I think I have lost my way numerous times because I don’t want to keep writing about the same products or the same stuff (although I am sure that I do!)  I want to challenge myself and be challenged.  Don't you?

However, I always come back to same idea: crafting is beautiful.  We make beautiful items in the hope that someone will buy them.  Creating beauty is awesome and a challenge in itself.  Don't you think so too?

I hope I can satisfy you by feeding you some beautiful photographs and some delicious items from Folksy sellers for you to drool over

Top to Bottom: Handmade by Edwina, Bits N Bobs, Woolly Duck, The Handmade Home, Badge the Badger

I hope you have enjoyed my short and sweet blog post!

 BFN

Edwina

Turkish Delights

The word turquoise, which dates to the 16th century, is derived from an Old French word for "Turkish", because the mineral was first brought to Europe from Turkey.  This is why I have called my blog post Turkish Delights because it celebrates turquoise the gem stone and the colour.

This pencil case was the inspiration.  When I went to the NEC in March for the three exhibitions, Sewing for Pleasure, Hobby Crafts and Embroidery, Fashion and Stitch I noticed that the colour turquoise was very popular on the Cat Walk!  My sister and I always enjoy watching the Fashion Show.  So off I went to find a fabric stall and promptly purchased some turquoise fabric! This pencil case was made from the two fabrics that I purchased.

Turquoise is not a colour that I have used very often, but even if I say so myself the resulting pencil case did seem quite a beautiful object.  This started me thinking about writing my blog.  When I did the search on Folksy I was enamoured at how often our wonderful jewellery designers/makers use turquoise to create the most beautiful jewellery. I could have used lots of photos of jewellery just to illustrate my blog, but I didn’t want my pencil case to seem out of place!

Of course, I had to search harder and deeper in order to find other items that had been made using the colour turquoise!  I do hope you like my final selection.  Apologies to all the jewellery designers/makers, but I did not want to leave you out completely.  I did have a HUGE choice and it was quite difficult!

Of course, it is not surprising that jewellery designers/makers use the gem stone turquoise.  The finer quality grade of turquoise is quite rare and valuable, but like with most opaque gem stones it has been devalued by the introduction of synthetics onto the market.  But whether real or synthetic turquoise is still very beautiful!

Some interesting facts about turquoise:

·        The first recorded use of the colour turquoise in England was in 1573.

·        The gem stone turquoise had been esteemed for thousands of years as a holy stone, a bringer of good fortune or a talisman.

·        The gem stone turquoise represents the sign Sagittarius.

·        It has been reported that the colour turquoise has a calming effect on patients.

·        Some mainstream psychiatric hospitals have used turquoise and other light tones of blue and green to calm patients by painting the walls in these colours.

·        Nurses often wear turquoise or aquamarine coloured clothing because of the calming nature of these colours.

Well, you learn something new every day!  I have enjoyed exploring the world of turquoise and looking at all the beautiful items available on Folksy.  I hope you enjoy the small selection I have chosen.  Don’t forget to click on the image to view it in the seller’s shop. You never know you might be tempted!  Especially now you know that turquoise might help you to keep calm!

Top to bottom: JellyGiraffe Handmade Jewellery, Creative Treasures, Imogen's Imagination, Ritzy Swish, Shoogly Beads, Marthamoo Krafts, Dottie Designs, Lynwoodcrafts, Ello Design, NOfkantsCurios.

BFN

Edwina

Brooch the Subject #Folksy Friday#

Welcome to my Folksy Friday blog post!  This rather neglected and unloved bag in my Folksy shop is made from wool tweed and it has a butterfly brooch hand stitched to the centre of the bow.  The brooch belonged to my Mum.  Sadly, my Mum died 18 months ago and I inherited some bits of her jewellery. As I don't tend to wear brooches, rather than let this beautiful brooch stay stored away, I decided to give the brooch a new lease of life on this bag, because I felt the bag needed a lift. I think the brooch does the job!

I decided to devote this blog post to that unsung hero the humble brooch.  I have been fascinated by the huge variety of brooches that are available on Folksy.  Before I opened my shop on Folksy, my idea of a brooch was a piece of jewellery just like my Mum’s brooch on the bag.

 

WOW!  Did I have my eyes opened when I came to Folksy!  There are such amazing brooches on offer, with an immense array of colour, fabulous materials, stunning subjects and awe inspiring techniques.  When I did the search it was overwhelming to see so many! Of course, it was very difficult to choose a few for my blog!  But I persevered and certain ones did start to jump out at me!

I love colour, texture, embroidery, buttons, fabric etc. so you will have to forgive my bias towards this in my selection!  I hope more women will start wearing brooches – it would be nice if it became THE latest trend or essential fashion accessory!  And of course, this would help with the sales for the makers of these gorgeous items.

I had a great time looking at all the beautiful brooches available, so I hope you will enjoy perusing this small selection of lovely brooches. Don’t forget to click on the photo to view the item in the shop!

From top to bottom:  Pantsandpaper,  Dottery Pottery,  Leanne Woods Designs,  Oakapple & Rose,  NOfkantsCurios,  Ellie's Treasures,  Buttercup Boutique,  Lynwoodcrafts,

 

BFN

Edwina