sallers - craft in progress

Interview with Kelly of KEBO

2008-09-22T16:32:00.009+01:00

Tell us a little about yourself and when did you start crafting.

My name is Kelly Boulter and I am a 31 year old spendaholic living in Surrey, UK *she says standing up in the circle of addicts*!!! I truly am the worst spendaholic I know (and my friends and family know for that matter!!) and making jewellery really doesn’t help as I am a bit of a magpie, I have to have anything that it pretty and sparkly!!! Because of this I have huge amounts of gemstones and artisan lampwork!! I starting ‘crafting’ about 7 or so years ago when a friend came for a visit from Australia and showed me some cards she had made. I couldn’t believe that someone had made them and then she starting telling me about all the stuff you can buy and that was it, I was hooked!!! I progressed from greeting cards on to wedding stationery and had my own business which used to appear in some of the wedding magazines. After a while, I found I was turning orders away as the thought of doing hundreds of cards in the same design drove me to insanity!! About 3 or 4 years ago, another friend asked me to do a part-time jewellery making course and I thought, why not…big mistake…walking around the bead shops in London felt like I was one of the kids in Charlie and The Chocolate Factory!!!!!!

2. What do you sell in your Etsy shop and how long has it been open?

I have only opened my Etsy shop a couple of weeks ago but I sell jewellery that I have designed and created. My favourite materials to use are gemstones, artisan lampwork and silver.

3. What is your favourite item in your shop?

As I say, my Etsy shop is still very new so there is only a couple of pieces in it…but watch this space!!! I think my favourite may have to be the Murky Waters bracelet or the Candy Corn bracelet. Bracelets in general are my favourite pieces as I never leave the house without a bracelet on, my right arm feels too bare!!

4. What other craft would you like to try?

I have always dreamed of being a painter but alas, I am rubbish at it!!! If I win the lotto I am going to go to one of those retreat places and stay there until I can at least do something that looks like art, even if it is very abstract!!! I also want to learn how to sew and would love to make handbags…as I spend so much on them!!! My mum is a great sewer so I have asked her to teach me….we are just waiting for a day when we are both in a happy and patient mood…it may be a while!!!

5. Do you have a blog or website?

I have both…and some other sites, greedy I know!!!

My website – www.kebojewellery.co.uk

My Blog - http://www.kebojewellery.blogspot.com/

Flickr - http://www.flickr.com/photos/kebojewellery/

Etsy – http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5644114

Folksy - http://www.folksy.com/shops/KEBO

New Card set

2008-09-07T18:02:00.001+01:00

Card set
Originally uploaded by sallers

This is a set of cards I had made up from Moo of some of my flower pictures. The Yellow flower was taken in Florida, but the other two were in my back yard!
I just need to get round to listing them now. Maybe sometime this week, if I get organised.

GET 20% OFF from September 15-30 with EFA Birthday Bash Code!

2008-08-30T03:44:00.001+01:00

CUSTOMERS CELEBRATING THE Etsy For Animals BIRTHDAY BASH AT ETSY: Are you shopping with a coupon from the EFA birthday bash?
If so, during the checkout process in the "Notes to Seller" just enter the coupon "code" you were given.
Don't have a coupon yet but want one? Please use mine, "SALLS", here or in any store participating in the bash (everyone has a different code and we get prizes if ours is used the most, so be careful not to switch codes!)
To find out who's participating or more about the EFA Birthday Bash Extravaganza and how the coupon works, please check out http://efaartistshelpinganimals.org/index.php/promotions/27-bday-bash/11-bday-bash-finale-coupon-commotion

Over 120 Etsy shops are accepting the coupon!

Check your popularity status

2008-08-26T00:27:00.003+01:00

storybeader over at etsy bloggers posted this link

http://www.assets.cc/link_popularity.php

Where you can check the popularity of your domain.

It makes for interesting reading!

Xmas planning it's never too early!

2008-08-25T23:33:00.002+01:00

Tiny Fig has a fab guide to planning for the holiday season ie Xmas!!! here.
Her etsy shop is here.

Maybe I'll have to have a long hard read of it tonight and formulate my plan!

August featured blogger

2008-08-21T23:47:00.002+01:00

This month's featured blogger is Tulips Treasure Box

Her Blog is here.

There are some lovely pictures taken from around her home, which are lovely.

I especially love this wrist cuff available on etsy. The colours are lovely very summery!

Congrats to Tulip on the honour!

Childhood memories

2008-08-21T23:38:00.005+01:00

September 1st's blog carnival topic is about chilhood and what you remember doing as a child.

I used to really like making model kits when I was a kid, and that's what I remember really enjoying.

They were usually little houses either in a kit form or from a book.

I had a whole little village at one point!

My love of making things has obviously stayed with me into adulthood. There's always a cross stitch or some arty project on the go in my house.

Interview with Helen of cattoo

2008-08-19T10:20:00.013+01:00

1. Tell us a little about yourself and when did you start crafting?

I'm a 30 year old British artist living in the city of Hull. Animals and nature are my main inspiration, including 'Neo' my cat, being a secondhand-shop-a-holic and travelling about in my husbands 1970s VW Campervan. I have been crafting for most of my life really, drawing and creating characters since I can remember. Art was the only thing I was ever good at in school and wished I was left to only focus on that subject alone :-). In 1999 I gained a HND in Creative Studies at Humberside & Lincoln University, then moved onto fulltime work as a Reprographics Assistant at a local news paper. After 3 years service there, I then moved onto volunteering and freelancing in the community, running arts and media workshops. This then led me onto my current job at a youth council, were I qualified as a nationally qualified youth worker at Hull University in 2007. Here I listen, support and help young people campaign on issues that they are concerned about in there local area.It was only around a year ago that I started crafting properly again, it is hard fitting it all in when you work fulltime. Spending a little less time infront of the box and net is the key to finding more crafting time I think :-)

2. What do you sell in your etsy shop and how long has it been open?

In my shop I currently sell prints of my illustration's, including brooches inspired from my artwork. These illustrations are of eccentric cats called Cattoo, who love their tattoo's 'cat+tattoo=cattoo' :-). I'm not fully sure where the idea came from, I just love cats, enjoy drawing them and having them as pets.Cattoo.etsy offically opened on 28th July 2008, so it's a baby really. I am currently working on some other items, such as tote bags, cards and plush toy cats, so watch this space :-) Through my sales on Etsy I am also raising money for Cats Protection and am a proud member of Etsy for animals ( http://etsyforanimals.etsy.com/ )

3. What is your favourite item in your shop?

My faviourite item in my Etsy shop has to be 'Hello Sun' http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=13764490, as it not only represents the simple enjoyment of a cat sunning itself but it also has a beautiful oriental look about it.

4. What other craft would you like to try?

I would love to have a go at every possible craft I can get my hands on really, although if I had to choose one new craft I would like to have a go at Gocco printing. As I think this medium could work well with my Cattoo illustrations.

5. Do you have a blog or website?

My website is ( http://www.cattoo.co.uk/ ) and my blog is ( http://www.justalittlepeek-justalittlepeek.blogspot.com/ )

Interview with Sharks and Static

2008-08-07T09:08:00.006+01:00

1. Tell us a little about yourself and when did you start crafting.
I've always been a bit of a crafty lass making my own bags and skirts - I think it comes from wanting to look a little different from everyone else!
I set up Sharks and Static 2 years ago making alternative and hand made jewellery.

2. What do you sell in your etsy shop and how long has it been open?
I've only just recently opened a store on Etsy as I wanted somewhere to sell one off items. My main lines which I try to change every season through my store on the website http://www.sharksandstatic.com/.

3. What is your favourite item in your shop?
I the custom Tattoo Banners as they're so indvidual and you can really make a statement with them. I have made ones for myself which say: Femme Fatale, Hello Sailor and Zombie. You can have a lot of fun with them!

4. What other craft would you like to try?
I'm really inspired by Burlesque. I love the combination of saucy and cheeky! I'm just beginning to play around with fascinators, frilly knickers and pasties. Once i've got a collection together i'm hoping to launch it under D.D. Divine's PinUp Palace!

5. Do you have a blog or website?
ooooh lots of places:

http://www.sharksandstatic.com/

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5181796

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sharks-and-Static/9847399490?ref=s

http://www.myspace.com/sharksandstatic

More Moo's

2008-07-18T11:15:00.003+01:00

More Moo's
Originally uploaded by sallers

You can now link your etsy photos to http://moo.com and get some great things made up. I decided to get some more mini moo's printed. It's a great way of showcasing your products and I will be using them as business cards when I send orders out.

Tile project

2008-07-18T11:13:00.002+01:00

DSCN3065
Originally uploaded by sallers

pcagoe.com's artists are making two joint project alphabet boards for childrens charities.
There are some lovely tiles already and this is my contribution.
Find out about pcagoe at pcagoe.com

100 Books to read

2008-07-14T01:14:00.008+01:00

The Big Read says that the average adult has only read 6 of the top 100 books they've printed.

Here's how it works.

1) Look at the list and bold those you have read.

2) Italicize those you intend to read.

3) Underline the books you LOVE, and strikeout the books you read but didn't like.

4) Reprint this list so we can try and track down these people who've read only 6 or less and make them read.

1. Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen

2. The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien

3. Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte

4. The Harry Potter Series JK Rowling

5. To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee

6. The Bible
7. Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte
8. Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell

9. His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman

10. Great Expectations - Charles Dickens
11. Little Women - Louisa M Alcott
12. Tess of the D'Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy
13. Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
14. Complete Works of Shakespeare
15. Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier
16. The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien
17. Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks
18. Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger
19. The Time Traveller's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
20. Middlemarch - George Eliot
21. Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell
22. The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald
23. Bleak House - Charles Dickens
24. War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy
25. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
26. Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh .
27. Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
28. Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck
29. Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll
30. The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame
31. Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy
32. David Copperfield - Charles Dickens
33. Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis
34. Emma - Jane Austen .
35. Persuasion - Jane Austen
36. The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS Lewis
37. The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
38. Captain Corelli's Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres
39. Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden
40. Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne
41. Animal Farm - George Orwell
42. The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown
43. One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
44. A Prayer for Owen Meaney - John Irving
45. The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins
46. Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery
47. Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy
48. The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood
49. Lord of the Flies - William Golding
50. Atonement - Ian McEwan .
51. Life of Pi - Yann Martel
52. Dune - Frank Herbert
53. Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons
54. Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen
55. A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth
56. The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
57. A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens
58. Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
59. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon
60. Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
61. Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
62. Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov Nabokov

63. The Secret History - Donna Tartt
64. The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
65. Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas
66. On The Road - Jack Kerouac
67. Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy
68. Bridget Jones' Diary - Helen Fielding
69. Midnight's Children - Salman Rushdie
70. Moby Dick - Herman Melville
71. Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens
72. Dracula - Bram Stoker
73. The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett
74. Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson
75. Ulysses - James Joyce
76. The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
77. Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome
78. Germinal - Emile Zola
79. Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray
80. Possession - AS Byatt
81. A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens
82. Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell
83. The Color Purple - Alice Walker
84. The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
85. Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert
86. A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry .
87. Charlotte's Web - EB White
88. The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom
89. Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
90. The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton
91. Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad
92. The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery
93. The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks
94. Watership Down. Richard Adams
95. A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole
96. A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute
97. The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas
98. Hamlet - William Shakespeare
99. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl
100. Les Miserables - Victor Hugo

Well I think thats 46 that I've read well above the average!
Confession thou most of these were enforced reads at school ie the Dickens and the Austen. Not that these are bad books far from it, but not my choice. I think my favourite on the list would have to be The Wasp Factory - cracking read!
Thanks to Made By Melissa where I found this and A Cozy Life for originally putting this on their blogs.

Currently I am taking part in a challenge I found on librarything that involves trying to read 50 books in a year. Since March I have read 24, I don't think that's too bad, well on target I think! heaven knows how I've done it since I only read on a night for about an hour, must be a fast reader I guess!

Interview with Gail of polkadotandpersian

2008-07-13T13:30:00.010+01:00

1. Tell us a little about yourself and when did you start crafting?

I have always loved making and drawing, I loved making cakes out of Fimo when I was a kid. I also had huge collection of beads and making earrings and bracelets was a big hobby. I always planned to go to art college, and for as long as I can remember I wanted to study jewellery design. Which I did, at Edinburgh College of Art. I LOVED it so much and would go back and do it all again if I could. I graduated in 1999 which seems so long ago when I type it out, but it feels like yesterday. After college I exhibited in galleries throughout the UK for a few years but eventually the lure of the wage got me and I started working full time in a proper job, and I stopped be so active making jewellery. Then about 2 years ago I got sick of it, and left my job to train as an aromatherapist. So now I am working part time and doing massage and jewellery part time. I'm skint most of the time and it's hard workbeing self employed twice over, but I have never been happier!

2. What do you sell in your etsy shop and how long has it been open?

I sell jewellery and it has been open since February I think, though I have been a Etsy member for over a year now.

3. What is your favourite item in your shop?

My flower ribbon chokers.

4. What other craft would you like to try?

Dress making. I used to make a clothes for myself when I was at school, and would love to get back into it. I can never find things I love so to be able to make them would be such fun. But I think I have enough on my plate so that will have to go on the back burner for now!

5. Do you have a blog or website?

Yes!http://polkadotandperisan.blogspot.com/Another thing I have got addicited to recently.... it started as a blog about my work, but now it's a place where I chat about my life and things I love.

Tag order

2008-07-13T13:30:00.001+01:00

Tags
Originally uploaded by sallers

I was contacted on etsy last week about my tags. A lady who owns a shop near me is interested in selling some of them!
I am making some samples up and off to see her later this week.
Her shop sells lots of handmade goodies and many of them are made in Yorkshire. It's all quite exciting!

Work in progress take two

2008-07-13T13:27:00.001+01:00

Day 17
Originally uploaded by sallers

This is the second time I have started this piece. The last time I stuffed up and didn't read the instructions properly. I just couldn't face picking it all out so I just went and bought another kit. Luckily it was very expensive. It eventually is going to be for a friend of mine who is expecting a baby next year, so at least I have plenty of time to finish it!

One object 365 project

2008-07-13T13:23:00.002+01:00

14/365 9-7-8
Originally uploaded by sallers

I joined a group on flickr where the idea is to take a picture each day of the same object. This is probably my favourite so far. Only about 330 more days to go!!

July featured etsy blogger

2008-07-11T11:28:00.003+01:00

This months featured etsy blogger team member is A KeepersJackpot

shop: http://akeepersjackpot.etsy.com/

blog: http://akeepersjackpot.blogspot.com/

These green earings are really pretty. I am a great lover of all things green and purple for that matter.

Congratulations for becoming this months blogger!

Finished

2008-07-05T21:21:00.002+01:00

Well I finished off my cat picture today. I decided not to go for the writing at the top, as I thought it looked good as it was. The picture reminded me of my cat Cleo who always hogs the best seat in the house!

Interview with Heather of niftyknits

2008-07-05T20:59:00.001+01:00

1. Tell us a little about yourself and when did you start crafting.

My name's Heather, I'm a primary teacher but I'm not working at the moment. I started knitting again a few months ago when I'd been off sick for a while - someone suggested it was a really good way to relieve stress, and they're quite right. I used to knit years ago when my kids were small, but hadn't knitted for so long that I'd actually given all my needles away to a charity shop so had to start my collection all over again! I've been an ebay seller for years, so at first I just added my knitted items to my ebay listings.

2. What do you sell in your etsy shop and how long has it been open?

My son's girlfriend is an occasional Etsy buyer, she told me about Etsy and said I should open a shop. When I first looked at the range and quality of goods available on Etsy I wasn't sure I was up to it...but she persuaded me to give it a go, and my shop opened on April 28th this year. I sell knitted toys, collectibles, noveltie...even knitted jewelry! I've recently picked up crochet again to add to my repetoire, and have produced a few amigurumi collectibles.

3. What is your favourite item in your shop?

It changes (my favourite is often the one I am working on at the moment) but overall it wold have to be my fuschias. When I first started knitting again I worked from patterns, but the fuschia was the first time I knitted something from my head without a pattern. I'm very proud of it!

4. What other craft would you like to try?

Well - I'm not quite sure what this is called, but it's something I've been meaning to have a go at for a few weeks now. On a day out I saw the piece of artwork in this photo, I think I'd call it weaving? It was very simple, and very efffective. I've got as far as collecting some long straight sticks (!!!) and thought I'd try to do a gardenscape using my knitted flowers.

5. Do you have a blog or website?

http://www.niftyknits.etsy.com/ (of course!)
and http://niftyknits-somuchyarnsolittletime.blogspot.com/

Thank you Heather!

Catch up

2008-07-03T12:09:00.004+01:00

This week I have been catching up with myself, as I have a weeks holiday.

What with life and work, it's hard to find the time to do the essentials like chill and unwind.

I have had some time to watch a bit of tv whilst trying to finish off some new gift tags and my cross stitch.

I want to get the cat picture finished off so I can start my friends baby sampler. It's soo cute!

Interview with glasswingdesigns

2008-06-30T10:17:00.007+01:00

1. Tell us a little about yourself and when did you start crafting.

I've always designed and made things, even at school. I studied design at Uni - specialising in metalwork, jewellery (big body artpieces) and furniture. I've stopped and started a few times over the years. But when I was busy with other projects I always really miss being creative. I started making beaded jewellery about 3 years ago, and just recently started silversmithing again. This time I don't plan to stop.

2. What do you sell in your etsy shop and how long has it been open?

I sell handmade jewellery using a mixture of metals including sterlingsilver, gemstones and Cornish sea glass that my family and I collect on our local beach at Marazon, opposite the famous and beautiful St Michael's Mount. I also sell beaded butterflies and flower jewellery,in which I use wonderful Japanese Seed Beads, gemstones and silver. My Etsy shop, Glasswing Designs, has been open since February this year.

3. What is your favourite item in your shop?

The Moonfly Necklace I think. I made one as a special order for acustomer, who chose the colours, and it came out so well I made another one.

4. What other craft would you like to try?

I've worked in quite a few crafts, including furniture(wood and steel), bookbinding, stained glass (copper foil and leadwork),and I was a 'journeyman' blacksmith for a couple of years, and love wrought iron work. I really like felted jewellery at the moment, and would like to give that a try, but really welding pieces of lovely steel togetherand bashing hot iron is still my passion, I'd love to start making larger scale metal pieces again. Now I am based in Cornwall, with a good size workspace, I plan to do this soon.

5. Do you have a blog or website?

Yes, my blog is http://www.allthingsglassandbeautiful.blogspot.com/ and my website is http://www.glasswingjewellery.com/.

2008-06-25T12:15:00.001+01:00

Featured seller - Kate from katecronin72

2008-06-23T10:06:00.009+01:00

This weeks featured UK etsy seller is Kate from katecronin72

1. Tell us a little about yourself and when did you start crafting?

I'm nearly 36 (that thought makes me want to faint!) and have just graduated from University with a BSc though I will probably be going back in September to do my Master's. I started crafting about 10 years ago after teaching myself cross stitch and embroidery, though cross stitch won the day really :)

2. What do you sell in your etsy shop and how long has it been open?

I sell cross stitched items in my shop, mainly bookmarks, needlecases, scissorfobs,purses and spectacle cases etc. I like practical things and at the moment I'm working through my huge stash of kits in the hope that I can get round to designing my own things. My etsy shop has been open since the end of March 2008 and I've been selling since the 6th of April this year. So far it's going quite well!

3. What is your favourite item in your shop?

Ooo that's a toughie! I think my favourite is probably the Orange Blossom needlecase and scissorfob set, although it was hard to stitch and I did get fed up with it as the colours are quite similar.

4. What other craft would you like to try?

There are so many other crafts I'd like to try! I'd love to get the hang of crochet, I've been trying for years but so far it's not been a roaring success. I'd also love to try silversmithing and make my own jewellery too.

5. Do you have a blog or website?

I don't have a website but my blog can be found at http://katecronin72.blogspot.com/ . I tend to feature people that I've bought from, though I have no clue if anyone actually reads my mitherings or not :)

Thanks Kate you have one of my favourite shops and I wish you luck!

Pillow Boxes

2008-06-19T16:01:00.003+01:00

Have a look at these Pillow boxes I have listed on etsy.

They would be lovely to put your gifts in or your etsy sales.

New items

2008-06-15T15:52:00.002+01:00

I added some new envelope seals today, I think the pattern is really pretty. They would jazz up any gift of letter.
Available in my etsy shop now!!

Interview with Alexandra of bigbluebed

2008-06-15T15:22:00.012+01:00

This week it's the turn of Alexandra from bigbluebed to be interviewed.

1. Tell us a little about yourself and when did you start crafting.
I am mother of a little girl. I work part-time at an after school club. That leaves the mornings for me to work on my shop.
Crafting has always been a part of my life. My mother taught my sisters and me to sew and knit, and my father used to draw funny little pictures for us.
It is only really in the last six months that I started in earnest, thinking of crafts as something that I could do as a business.
Also I made lots of Christmas presents for family members and really enjoyed that. But this year I am going to start a lot earlier!

2. What do you sell in your etsy shop and how long has it been open?
I have quite an eclectic shop. I did worry that that might be a problem so we will have to see. I have some purses, some knitted brooches, some paper work like bookmarks, and recently added dog identity tags. I opened the shop in September 2007.

3. What is your favourite item in your shop?
I love the little zip purses, I designed the shape and eventually worked out how to put the zip in properly. So I am quite proud of those. I have also started making dog tags. I have sold one on etsy, and 3 to my sister for each of her dogs. I think they are fairly unique as I have not seen anything like them on etsy or elsewhere.

4. What other craft would you like to try?
There are so many I would love to try. I started crochet this year, also I want to try tatting. I used to make bobbin lace so wouldn't mind taking that up again some time.

5. Do you have a blog or website?
My blog is : http://www.bigbluebed.blogspot.com/
and my website is: http://bigbluebed.weebly.com/

Thanks for your time Alexandra and I hope you get time to try out some new interests.

Another UK seller next week!

Marjorie's Cracked Plate Jewelry

2008-06-15T15:13:00.002+01:00

Marjories Cracked Plate Jewelry Store offersbroken china, wire wrap and wire crochet jewelry: pendants, necklaces,rings, brooches, earrings, bracelets, etc. and now offering sea glassjewelry.

http://www.marjoriescracked.com

Marjorie offer a novel way of using broken pieces of china and turning them into lovely items of jewelry.

She also has a blog located here -

http://marjoriescracked.blogspot.com/

hand made with amour

2008-06-14T11:41:00.008+01:00

I'm a bit new to blogging but thought this would be fun way of getting to know some other UK based sellers.

Each week I hope to feature a UK based etsy seller so here goes!

The first seller is Maria from handmadewithamour.

1. Tell us a little about yourself and when did you start crafting.
I started crafting not that long ago, last summer, when I moved to England. Changing my background, and finding myself in the countryside with loads of time made me think of trying something creative and fun. I started with felt, then with polymer clay. I am self-taguth and always learning.

2. What do you sell in your etsy shop and how long has it been open?
I sell mainly jewelry and brooches. It has been open since december last year though I must admit that my other shop, Dawanda is working better. I still do not know why :)

3. What is your favourite item in your shop?
Probably the black cat brooch

4. What other craft would you like to try?

I just found out that there are some lampwork courses around my area and can't wait to try!!! I'd be great to make my own glass beads!!! I am also sewing with the sewing machine, but not my brooches, at the moment (they all are hand-stitched) but things like purses.

5. Do you have a blog or website?

I have a website http://www.handmadewithamour.com/
and a blog www.handmadewithamour.blogspot.com/

Thanks Maria and good luck with your sales!

New items

2008-06-11T15:55:00.004+01:00

I have some new items for sale in my etsy shop.

I am branching out into paper goods, starting with a range of gift tags.

Yart sale on etsy until 20/6

2008-06-11T14:06:00.000+01:00

Check this link out for details

http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5659993

Link to my items

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5374473&section_id=5483078

I have 25% off selected items

Crafting

2008-06-10T00:23:00.003+01:00

Although my shop contains mainly jewellery, cards and buttons, I love cross stitch and tapestry.
I find it a lot easier to just get my work bag out and start doing a little bit of the design, whilst sitting on the sofa watching TV.
So my polymer clay work tends to get neglected as I find it a hassle getting the stuff out. I prefer the end result of my clay work and the fact it probably sells better, but as a personal preference I find my cross stitch more relaxing.

My favourite tapestry kits are made by Elizabeth Bradley. I discovered them whilist on holiday in North Wales about 18 years ago. I have done a great number of them and several I have had framed and made into cushions.

These are 2 are amongst my favourites.

My last project was this picture of these cute cats

and this will be my next.

Etsy Bloggers featured blogger

2008-06-09T23:09:00.004+01:00

This month's featured blogger is AliciaMae

Her blog can found here.

Her etsy stores are here for home decor items, and here for her art and photos.

These prints of New York's Central Park are great.

DaWanda Euro 2008 Discount Promotion

2008-06-09T22:34:00.003+01:00

From June 7th until June 29th 2008 the European Football Championship is taking place, and to celebrate this, DaWanda is organising a special promotion!
I'm participating and am discounting my prices by 11% during official game play times only. Once the official play time is over for each game, the selling prices automatically return to the original amount... so grab those discounts while you can! The change in prices is implemented automatically in the shopping basket by the system. So drop in and check out!http://en.dawanda.com/shop/sallers

The DaWanda European Championship is running at these times:
07.06. - 14.06. from 6 pm til 7.55 pm and: 8.45 pm til 10.40 pm
15.06. - 22.06. 8.45 pm til 10.40 pm
25.06. - 26.06. 8.45 pm til 10.40 pm
29.06. 8.45 pm til 10.40 pm

Come on you Tigers!!

2008-05-23T23:13:00.002+01:00

It's a big day football wise for the city I live in Hull tomorrow.

The local team Hull City are playing in the Premiership playoffs at Londons Wembley.

It's the first time they will ahve played there, and if they win against Bristol City then Hull will play in the Premier division of English Football!!

So fingers crossed!

Cards

2008-05-23T05:17:00.003+01:00

I bought these lovely cards from a fellow pcagoe.com member today.

artsyclay makes some lovely things, many animal related.

As you might have guessed i am a bit mad on cats, not nothing like the mad crazy cat lady from the simpsons!

So these cards are just purrfect for me! (groan :)

A BIG Thank you

2008-05-13T11:54:00.002+01:00

Thanks to Mimi of ArtbyMimi at etsy who contacted me about sending some samples to her for some promotions she will be doing over the summer in the UK.

She is a talented artist living in Cornwall, and her art reflects the influences of the area.

Her web site can be found here.

I will have to get busy now as I have 4 parcels to send out!

Dawanda shopping community

2008-05-13T11:42:00.002+01:00

If you post items on Dawanda check out this ning community.

It was created by the fab Sara of Sara's Texture Crafts over at Dawanda.

She is always busy updating her blog and that of the Dawanda shop directory.

Sara also sell some promo bags she has made up from sellers samples.

Thanks to her and all the work she puts in!

Etsy blogger of the month

2008-05-07T15:55:00.002+01:00

May's featured blogger of the month is cozy visit her blog here and here shop here.

She has some lovely headbands just right for the summer that's on it's way!

This one is one of my favourites.

Walkabout

2008-05-07T15:49:00.002+01:00

Seeing as it was lovely weather today I went for a walk in my local park.

There are some lovely Cherry trees there and I took this picture of the branches against the blue sky, it looked such a lovely contrast.

Time off

2008-05-06T09:56:00.006+01:00

I have been really busy this month trying to finish off my college work.

So that means not much time for creating anything new, no blooming for me I have left that for others this month!

Elsewhere this Cherry Blossom Spring ACEO by ZudaGay won first place in the May floral challenge at pcagoe.com

Well done it's beautiful!

My favourite of the entries was this by Polyclarific.

I was thou featured in a treasury last week, my polymer clay cats were featured along with some other cats on etsy.

New items

2008-04-26T10:45:00.004+01:00

I finished off some new items yesterday and listed them here.

New items

2008-04-18T12:02:00.003+01:00

I have some new items listed here, and here.

The roses brooch I created for the PCAGOE monthly challenge - Flowers.

I used white polymer clay baked it then painted with acrylic paint and then varnished it.

I made the buttons out of some scrap clay I had.

The crafting cat

2008-04-18T12:00:00.003+01:00

This is Cleo, I think she was trying to help out with my cross stitch. Well it does have cats on it!

Bull, dare I say ...no I won't!

2008-04-14T02:40:00.004+01:00

This weeks blog carnival topic over at etsy bloggers is Bull. Um Can't think of anything there I thought.

Oh how wrong! I did the obvious and did a tag search for bull on etsy and came up with some great things, but my fav is this picture by primpedpaperie

I love the explanation of what the bullrushes mean.

So there we are you can have bull without the obvious.

Spring to it

2008-04-14T02:20:00.004+01:00

I think spring might just be around the corner, well that was until the snow last weekend!

Still the rubbish weather has made me stay in a create some new designs.

As part of a monthly challenge I have been been making some new brooches with a flower theme.

This is one of the brooches before painting and finishing off. It is a small flower pot full of roses and leaves.

It is made out of white polymer clay and will be finished with acrylic paint and varnish.

Hopefully I will get it posted in one of my online shops this week.

etsy

dawanda

PCAGOE vote and win! Go now!

2008-04-01T12:54:00.000+01:00

Go to pcagoe.com and vote on the monthly members challenge, this month it is PC covered eggs! When you vote for your favourite, you stand a chance of winning a bag full of some great handcrafted polymer clay goodies!!There are some great designs from the polymer clay astists of etsy.com for sale!

Esty blogger of the month

2008-04-01T12:45:00.003+01:00

Each month the great people at etsybloggers are going to have a featured blogger of the month.
This April is StormyDesigns not only is she the Blog Carnival co-organizer, but an all around awesome member of the EtsyBloggers street team.
Here are the links to where you can find StormyDesigns:
shop: http://stormydesigns.etsy.com/
site: http://stormydesigns.biz/
blog: http://StormyDesigns.biz/blog

Stormy makes some lovely creations out of polymerclay and is also an active member of PCAGOE.

I just love this hair clip available at esty.

Edinburgh Picture

2008-03-31T12:29:00.002+01:00

One of my photos of Edinburgh Castle has made it into a web guide - Schmap.
You can see it here!!

Some pics

2008-03-25T21:58:00.004Z

These were taken at Kennedy Space Centre in Florida whilst I was trying not to get sunburnt, no luck there.

I must get going with the craft stuff now I'm back!

Dawanda promo bags

2008-03-25T21:54:00.002Z

This is where you can find the listing for the promo bags which I was involved in.

My item is the purple flower pin in the centre.

http://en.dawanda.com/product/179216-DaWanda-Promo-Taschen-IndieKuenstler-finden-hier

Link for selling tips on etsy

2008-03-25T21:52:00.002Z

Check this link out for tiny figs tips on her etsy selling experience.

http://thetinyfig.blogspot.com/2008/03/6-months-on-etsy.html

DaWanda Promo Bags

2008-03-03T18:02:00.003Z

Here is a picture of the pins I sent off to be included in the DaWanda Promo Bags.

Check out the other sellers at the link.

PCAGOE Vote and Win!!

2008-03-01T14:52:00.000Z

Go to pcagoe.com and vote on the monthly members challenge, this month it is Animals! When you vote for your favourite, you stand a chance of winning a bag full of some great handcrafted polymer clay goodies!!There are some great designs from the polymer clay astists of etsy.com for sale!

PCAGOE prize pack donations

2008-02-21T13:23:00.003Z

I thought I would share the items I am sending off for the PCAGOE's prize pack for the winner of the monthly challenge.

Included are some earrings 2 pins and 2 magnets.

Custom Cat model

2008-02-21T13:18:00.001Z

I have now included in my etsy listing a custom cat model available for purchase.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9725518

Inspiration

2008-02-20T15:34:00.006Z

Thought I would share my inspiration for my entry into PCAGOE's monthly challenge for March - animals.

These cute critters are modelled on 3 of my cats.

First on the left the brown cat is Rosie
then there's Cleo

and finally Jim.

Creative cafe

2008-02-20T15:00:00.001Z

Creative Cafe Salesrooms site has been open since Nov 07. You can list up to 50 items free, paypal checkout is supported.
Creative Cafe is a charitable concern run by volunteers with disabilities.
http://www.creativecafesalesrooms.com/

I have opened a shopfront with them today and listed some of my red glass earings.
When I finally get sorted I hope to list a few more items.

Where can I buy more time?

2008-02-19T11:05:00.004Z

There never seem to be enough hours in the day to do everything you want.
What with work, family and friends there never seems enough time to craft!
I find I have to do it when the mood or inspiration strikes.
Luckily I have time in the evening when I can dedicate to my crafting endeavours, plus I can catch up on my tv watching at the same time! Time maximised, so thats good!

I still managed to find the time to look at some lovely things to buy at etsy.
This is one of stormydesigns lovely pendants. I love the blues here and the flashes of purple.

mosaico has designed some great switchplates for your home. I'm sure there is one to fit into your home decor!
Here's my favourite.
Take a look here.
Finally I just love this magnet-set from clayspirits.

She has some other great items with loads of detail put into them.

These magnets would look fab on any fridge!

Right must go off now and be creative myself now I have got my inspiration meter up to full.

New products

2008-02-16T15:09:00.003Z

I have just listed some new products on etsy... at last.

I took some new photos taking advantage of the sunshine outside today, although it was really cold!!

Please support NACC

2008-02-10T13:11:00.000Z

Although this has nothing to do with craft please take a look.
Some of my collegues are going to raise money for NACC (National Association for Colitis and Crohns) by walking the 3 highest peaks in England Scotland and Wales in 24 hours!!!
It's a charity which I have a long standing association with, as I used to be the Joint Chair of the local Group. I have suffered with Crohn's disease for about 12 years now, and the charity is off great benefit to both sufferers and their families.

http://www.justgiving.com/karenfowler

Thanks for taking a look.

promotion on facebook

2008-02-08T14:48:00.000Z

Get your shop a page on facebook
here's mine http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sallers/12005086146
come and join me!

New blog

2008-02-06T14:28:00.000Z

Check out this new blog

http://uketsyfeaturedsellers.blogspot.com/

it has just started up and will feature UK based etsy sellers/bloggers.
The first featured seller is FuzzyDragons.

Etsy treasury feature

2008-02-03T22:12:00.000Z

I made it into my first treasury on etsy. I was featured as one of the entries of the pcagoe's feb challenge which was about love. My entry was a set of 3 heart pins.

See it here

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=26684

Buttons for sale

2008-02-01T12:38:00.001Z

Buy a set of my stripey buttons now!

PCAGOE - Vote and Win!

2008-02-01T11:56:00.000Z

Go to pcagoe.com and vote on the monthly members challenge, this month it is Love!
If you vote for your favourite you stand a chance of winning a bag full of some great handcrafted polymer clay goodies!!

There are some great designs from the polymer clay astists of etsy.com all for sale I might add!

Stipey Buttons

2008-01-30T12:56:00.000Z

I spent a few hours yesterday mixing colours together and putting them together. Unfortuntley it all went a bit wrong towards the end and I only managed to make some buttons and some flat beads for earrings. As a result I now have loads of scrap clay to make some swirly buttons!

New Logo

2008-01-30T12:54:00.001Z

I had a logo designed by pixelbypixel at etsy.com. I have black cat who I adore, even if she does seem very interested in my clay i.e. gets in the way!

Purple necklace on Dawanda

2008-01-28T05:09:00.000Z

I found this lovely polymer clay necklace on Dawanda tonight.

http://en.dawanda.com/product/144711-Purple

It's made by the seller nanou, I just love the tones of purple in the large beads.

Great clay artists treasury on etsy

2008-01-27T16:47:00.000Z

Check out this lovely treasury made by http://stormydesigns.etsy.com
It features some of the many talented clay artists of PCAGOE!!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=25669

Front page of dawanda!

2008-01-27T02:08:00.001Z

DSC00095
Originally uploaded by sallers

Just found a set of my earrings on the front page of dawanda.com in the featured products.
I took a picture of it on my mobile phone so the pics not that great, but I'm pleased!

Just listed

2008-01-25T14:46:00.000Z

I have just listed a set of 4 Edie Basic Buttons at etsy.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9142585

Introducing Edie!

2008-01-25T12:09:00.000Z

The name of my new set of beads and buttons is Edie.

The colours used in these beads were inspired by 1960's interior designer Eddie Squires.

As found in Kevin McCloud's book Choosing Colours -

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Choosing-Colours-Expert-Choice-Best/dp/1903845777/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=gateway&qid=1201263421&sr=8-2

I thought that Eddie wasn't a a very pink based name so changed it to Edie.

Sorry to any Eddies out there!

There are several forms of my Edie bead/button - from the basic design to the more complex designs and finally the scrap's made into lovely swirls. I hate waste!

Image transfer

2008-01-25T11:23:00.000Z

After finding some great digital images at http://piddix.etsy.com/
I decided to have a go at image transfering.

The one on the left was using a thin laye of liquid fimo on top of some white fimo, and the one on the right was just white fimo.
Both images were printed onto t shirt transfer paper, the clay and the transfer paper were put into my oven for about 7 minutes then taken out, so I could peel the paper away. The clay and the image were then returned to the oven for another 25 minutes.

Both the images came out quite well and the colours were really vibrant. The texture of the paper left it's mark on the image, so I tried sanding it. The image seemed to stand up quite well to the samding although it made little difference to the texture. A slight difference was noted in the vibrancy of the image colours.

In the future I am going to try applying a coat of clear varnish to the image instead and eliminate the need for sanding and polishing.

Sand away!

2008-01-20T23:44:00.001Z

Well I have made a huge batch of new buttons and beads out of a new colour combo.
They are pink, blue, purple and white. They have been inspired by 1960's interior design.
I am still thinking of a good name for them, I have a few in mind and I have the whole night to decide on it, whilst I sit here and sand and buff them up!

A new colour theme!

2008-01-20T16:46:00.001Z

Just listed on etsy are a set of 4 Buttons

and a set of 3 Heart pins.

The pins and the colour theme, which I have called "Raspberry Sorbet", was created for the PCAGOE monthly challenge which was Love.
Both items are for sale on my etsy page right now
http://www.sallers.etsy.com