Festive Mestive

Today was a rather messy day, I spent most of it wrapping the presents I had already bought, making gift bags which one thoroughly enjoyed :)

I also started making my presents for my Secret Santa meal on Monday night!

Gift Bags :)

Tags :)

Such a small fraction of today's productivity, but the camera can not span far enough to encompass the mess I made hehe.

Featured Seller: Marmalady

This week I wanted to feature a fellow UK seller and I couldn't think of anyone better than the lovely Marmalady, whom I frequently talk to on a friday night :)

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself?
I am from the UK -- the Peak District of Derbyshire which is about halfway up the country as you look at a map.I am 56, married for 31 years, with 2 grown-up children. Neither are married yet so no grandchildren on the horizon for quite a while!

2. What made you start creating and selling yummy treats?
Baking / cooking. I have been cooking "forever". Growing up in a family of 4 kids, money was always short -- so Mum always made all our own bread, cakes , jam etc -- and we were all expected to help -- the boys as well as the girls. By the time I was 10 or 11 I could cook a sunday dinner for the family with very little help or supervision.
Selling my baking came about when I was at home with a toddler & baby. A friend was involved with a co-operative market stall selling cakes and so I joined too. At first I only made small quantities but as the kids grew and I had more time, the amounts I was able to make for sale grew too. I continued selling through this market untill a couple of years ago when it folded and I branched out into having my own stall at various Farmers Markets -- I am out at a Market most weeks. For several years now I have also been supplying a local shop with cakes & marmalades every few weeks. So my Etsy shop is just a continuation of what I am doing most days anyway and it is easy to fit in baking my Etsy orders along with my market / shop baking.
3. How do you promote your work?

On Etsy I am active in the forums. I also have flickr, facebook, (neglected) blog, twitter Off-line I give out contact & market details at all the markets I attend.

4. In ten years I'd like to be...

Retired! but probably still crafting for my other shop, Marmaladytoo.etsy.com

Check out some of her yummy items:

http://www.marmalady.etsy.com/

Order Restored

Today I had as near to normal non working day, something I have missed dearly these past few weeks.

I started on the custom toe socks, after spending a good 20 minuets possibly more winding each ball of wool.

Last night I remebered a book I have about an artist called Julie Arkell and while looking through it today I was slighlty envious of these photos:

Now that's a studio!

Toe Socks

First of all I would like to say sorry for the lack of activity on here this past couple of days, been very tired and been a bit of a difficult time.

However, I thought today I would create a mosaic from flickr images (as I had forgotten that thing existed, I forgot how much I love it too!) and the mosaic consists of toe socks.

The reason I have gone toe socks mad, is because I am currently embarking on a custom pair for a customer

Folksy :D

My find for today was a lovely site called Folksy. I had heard a lot about it but hadn't really investigated it until it was in a small article in a magazine right next to Etsy.
I LOVE IT, its great, it is basically UK Etsy, check out my shop on there, the prices are in £s :)

http://www.dingsinsainity.folksy.com/

Apologies for no post yesterday, was a difficult day, energy and time sapping!

A new piece ready to go in both my Etsy shop and my Folksy shop, have a sneak peak:

"Pingoid"

Christmas Tree Number Three

I know, I know second post of the day but after good wine, a lovely homemade made chinese meal and good coffee I thought today was such a nice day (despite an unshakable headache and the current circumstances) that I just had to post a normal entry as well as a Featured Seller post.

So after lunch I headed to the post office and the library for a few errands and then off to Staples to take a cable back and got refunded more than I thought (I bought it in a bundle I'm not a thief hehe) and I almost went out the house like this (I put my hat on and didn't realise it hadn't flopped haha):

Then once home we put up our final tree, a 6.5 foot white sparkly one for the dinning room. getting it down from the eves of the garage triggered lots of screaming and giggling as we eventually just had to bash at it with a broom and let it fall down.

It was then a rather marathon job to get the tree up and decorated:

Yes, I had to climb underneath the Christmas tree!

Here it is all finished:

It has the prettiest lights but they don't show up :(

Featured Seller: Mbell34

1. Tell us a bit about yourself name, location, affiliations, personal stuff...

Michelle Bell, Haverhill, MA, I have three children ages 17, 16 and 14 and have been married for nineteen years. I am an animal lover, especially dogs. I work full time and go to the gym everyday after work.

2. What first made you want to become an artist/designer?

I self taught myself to make jewelry a couple of years ago and have been hooked ever since! I was looking online to open a store when I came across Etsy. I opened my store for business this past June. I was making soap four years ago and stopped ( I cant remember why!) but have recently started again. Right now, the soaps are selling better than my jewelry!

3. Please describe your creative process how, when, materials, etc.

I mostly use silver plated and gold plated metal for my jewelry to keep prices down for my customers, but of course, if my customer wants sterling I will get it for them. I love working with lampwork beads, glass beads, pearls and swarovski crystals. I mostly make my jewelry and soap on weekends in my sunroom because the lighting is perfect and all my supplies are out there.

4. How do you promote your work?

I promote my work on Etsy, of course, which is http://www.mbell34.etsy.com/ in my store, on the forums and in the chatrooms, I have a blog http://www.mbell34etsy.blogspot.com/, I just signed up on Artfire http://beadlover08.artfire.com/, I have my photos on flickr, and I have ads on Project Wonderful.

5. What advice would you give to artists who are new to Etsy?

Advice I would give new etsians is to be patient. Sales don't happen right away. You need to promote, promote and promote. Also, get some business cards and give them to everyone you know. Relist or list items everyday on Etsy. Make sure your photos are clear and take many photos!