I Blame Blogland...

Having a sparse wardrobe, I decided last year that I would convert my burgeoning stash (of yarn, fabric... in fact you name it I have a stash of it) into stuff that I could wear. I'd free up drawer space AND have some funky new clothes to wear, I told myself. The trouble is, since starting to blog at the end of last year, I've been bombarded with inspiration from all the amazingly creative people out there, and I have so many ideas...so little time, but I am determined. The trouble is, as well as inspiration, also come links to fresh supplies usually on sale. It started with this from Kemp's Wools which I read about on Twiglet's blog. Well of course, once I'd made a purchase, I was on their mailing list and they very kindly let me know that they had many more bargains in need of a good home. I'm not sure what happened, but this was the result:

some gorgeous chunky wool to knit a hoodie for my little pixie face to wear on our camping trip in the summer (39p a ball!) and some absolutely divine mohair for me whose colour is even more yummy than it looked on the website (59p a ball).

So instead of my stash shrinking, it is in fact multiplying - which is why I blame blogland, nothing to do with me, it would have been rude not to make a purchase...etc.

All I need now is time and peace and quiet... well a girl can dream can't she?

Twilight: To List or Not To List

Following a thread in a Folksy Forum, I had an idea for a pendant for all those Twilight fans. I duly made this:

It's about 1 inch from top to bottom, made out of silver clay which I've textured and oxidised to resemble the appearence of the moon, then carved 'twilight' into it in the style of the book cover. My daughter wants to give it to her Twilight-obsessed friend for her birthday. I wondered about making another to list on Folksy, but I'm not sure if it's a bit too comercial for me, so I can't decide. What do you think?

I also made this ammonite style pendant out of silver clay which I may well list:

All feedback is gratefully received

Jewellery's First Outing

On Sunday I did my first jewellery stall at a fair. I also took along some of my linocuts and my hand-dyed bags. I was side-by-side with my friend Felted House :

Louisa from Felted House, forever tweaking.

My jewellery and cards on display

My framed linocut picture, portfolio and bags (only sold one & it was my favourite one as well). I didn't sell as much as I'd hoped, but neither did my friend, so I presume people just weren't in the spending mood. It was a countryside open day with just a few craft stalls so people were coming to see the alpacas, bees and birds of prey rather than looking to buy. Still it was a good experience and the stuff I brought home with me is already priced ready for the next one in two weeks, I just need to replenish my cards. This seahorse linocut is proving very popular:

Which surprises me. I carved it on the beach last year as a fun card for little pixie face's friends, but all the grown-ups seem to like it too - I even had someone buy it as a congratulations card for her cousin's wedding !

I did sell a few pieces of jewellery, but not enough that I have to restock, so I might list a few more creations on Folksy....

WayHay- First Folksy Sale!

I'm absolutely over the moon to report my first sale on Folksy! It was this little beauty:

which 5 people had favourited and now it's been sold! When I read the email from Folksy telling me of the sale, I was all of a dither & had to go out for a brisk walk to calm myself down. If you saw me on my walk, yes that's why I had a stupid grin on my face. I know it's only £10, well less than that actually by the time Folksy and Paypal have had their slice, but it's so good to know that someone other than me likes it enough to part with their hard earned cash.

As per the advice here, I gingerly entered the Folksy forums and introduced myself. I was pleasantly surprised to find the other traders friendly, welcoming and full of sound advice. With my first jewellery stall at a fair this Sunday, it was interesting to read about others' experience and learn from their successes and sticky points. My friend Felted House had done a mock up of her stall and this was widely supported by the Folksy crew. Someone suggested timing how long it taked to set up so you have time for a quich cup of tea before the fair starts. As my stuff was secreted away in various corners of the house, I didn't time myself, but did a rough mock up of displays and what should go where:

These are my dyed cotton bags diplayed on a fab piece of driftwood (I'll try and take better pics at the fair)- the branch stubs make perfect hooks.

My pendants 'artfully'(he, he) displayed on a bit of a tree which was destined for the fire but has been promoted to a higher purpose:

And my driftwood shelves that I made a while back for my bathroom now pressed into service displaying earrings and rings, with driftwood twigs holding further rings:

My fossil, silver and copper studs all displayed in their boxes with greeting cards along the front, and my linocuts and portfolio to the left with the small cotton bags.

It was a worthwhile exercise as I managed to price it all up, then put everything in a box ready to take on Sunday morning. I realised I had sold out of linocut cards, so spent an hour this morning printing up some more:

I also realised I could do with some more dangly earrings so made a couple more sea glass one and some  lovely silver spiral ones.

Buoyed by my sale today, I'm cautiously hoping for more.

Folksy!

I've taken the plunge and opened up a shop on Folksy. It seems very reasonable and I needed something other than my website to show potential customers at a distance ( I don't want my jewellery mixed in with my painting and prints- at the moment anyway). These are the items I've made, photographed and listed so far:

Apparently, I now need for the Folksy community to accept me - it feels like the first day of school all over again...GULP! I'm not sure how to get accepted, I don't think rolling my socks down and taking out my pigtails will work here somehow. If any of you bloggers out there know the way forward, could you please let me know, and/or accept me? (Is there a funny handshake involved?)