Feature on This Next

Thanks to Kaosinside for the recommendation!

http://www.thisnext.com/item/A0F6208A/77568021/Little-Purple-Puppy-Pin-Badge

Brooches are back!

All the brooches are now back and listed on Dawanda. Coming next are the magnets.........

The Indiego: Spotlight

I am this weeks spotlight feature on Indiego.com!!

The link is one that will change each time there's a new spotlight so here are the questions and my answers again:

Write us a bit about your shop and creations
I create Magnets, keyrings, brooches, buttons and mirrors using recycled bottlecaps (1" Diameter) in a variety of styles using various different and mainly recycled materials. All items are made in a smoke free and pet free environment, in the south east of England. Most are unique and a one off designs because of the materials used. For example the images use sometimes comes from recycled junk mail, magazines or greetings cards and i therefore only have one of those images. I also like to create something different each time as that way you know that your magnet is individual and unique and you will not find another one like it anywhere in the world. And to make it better you'll be helping the environment too as i have rescued these bottlecaps from simply being thrown away.

Where do you get inspiration from?
The materials i have around me. I put together colours and images that i think will go together right down to the coolour of the bottle cap!
What is your favourite creation and the one you are the most proud of? My Favourite Brooch is one that i decided to keep for myself in the end. I painted the bottlecap metalic purple with nail varnish and had an image of the recycling symbol in purple. Once dry it was filled with clear acrylic gloss. It just says everything about me - i love the colour purple and i love recycling (and upcycling and reusing)!

What makes your items special?
The are almost all unique. For many of them i only have one of the image so multiples are not possible. Plus they are handmade and any item that is handmade is special because of the effort that has been put into them.

Do you have any other artistic talents?
I also enjoy making my own greetings cards using my own photography, i am currently working on a large cross stitch for my step dad's birthday and am trying to make my first bag from recycled juice pouches for my nan's birthday. I have tried crochet (creating a couple of ponchos) glass painting, acrylic abstract paintings on canvas (most of which now hang on my bedroom wall with some of my finished cross stitch). I also need to get the sewing machine out soon to put together a cushion and a couple of tote bags out of curtain off cuts. Other crafts i've tried include silk painting, ATCs, long stitch, fimo (coloured clay similar to sculpey) and probably others i can't think of right now. The one thing i can't do and thats knit - now matter how many times i try!

What do you love about being an artist?
Its a wonderful way to express yourself, help the environment and create wonderful things for other people in the process.

Here you get the chance to help promote other artists. Tell us some of your favorites.
Sara's Textures Crafts - she's been a great help and has given me great tips and encouragement too.

Where do you sell your items?
My items are all availabe at Dawanda.com, the lesser known, but just as wonderful Etsy European equivalent.

Any words of wisdom you would like to share?
If you are happy in your craft stick with it. anything that causes enjoyment in life is worth pursuing. and check out Dawanda.com!! So little is know about it by the crafting world and it's full of wonderful designers, crafters and artists!

A Break from Dawanda

I will be taking a break from Dawanda over the next couple of months, so the shop will be empty soon. However i will be back with new and improved photographs of each item and many new designs too. So watch this space or my facebook page for more details!

Featured by Blogasaurus » Happy 4th of July!

 Glamasaurus, from Dawanda featured my American Flag brooch in her 4th July handmade picks today!

Blogasaurus » Happy 4th of July!

High Wych Festival 12th July 2008

I will be at the High Wych Festival on the 12th July in High Wych School, near Sawbridgeworth in Hertfordshire from 10.30am to 5pm.  I visited the festival last year which was very busy and lots to see so i'm excited to be part of it this year, even if only for one day!

more details via  Facebook  High Wych Festival

Hatfield Heath Festival Weekend - Day 1

Yesterday saw the first day of the Hatfield Heath Festival weekend, with the school fete from 12pm until 2.30pm, the church flower festival and a history exhibition in the URC Hall on postcards and pictures of Hatfield Heath both running all day (and all day today as well). But the bit i was involved in was in the Village hall from 11am to 5pm (and the same again today) - The Art exhibition and craft fair - although when i say craft fair there were only four of us who had book tables for crafts in the end. So we each took a corner of the room whilst the paintings and art work hung on boards in the centre and on the wall around us.

I set up on the friday night, so i could plan my table and it's layout which i was quite happy with eventually. I purposely chose a corner that had space where i could hang things behind me too. So yesterday morning i arrived at 10am to add to magnets to the board and lay things out with out too much stress. Adorned with my own 2 badges, a hair clip (not that people could see that unless i turned my back to them!) and a pair of earrings, i was ready to go.

The day started well with one of the other stall holder buying my largest cross stitch before we'd even opened to the public.

I had taken a cross stitch with me to do however i didn't seem to get much done, as with still feeling ill i spent most of the day picking at my lunch trying to slowly eat something, hiding behind my stall! good view for people watching though....

It was very quiet though and i think the door count my the end of the day was no more than 80 people, but then this was kind of expected as today is the main festival day on the Heath with much more going on, starting with a fun run at 10.30am. Other things include a classic car show, dog show, fancy dress, punch and judy, falconary, a little fun fair and other stands. The Salvation army is doing a song's of praise on the heath at 5pm and as i mentioned earlier the church flower festival and history exhibition are going on today as well. So there's a lot more to attract people.

However despite the quiet day yesterday, as well as the cross stitch i also sold 2 keyrings

and a bookmark.

so i had covered my £10 stall fee and thats even after i have donated 10% of my takings to the village pre school which is this years chosen charity.

So now to watch Casualty before mum and D wake up, which D kindly recorded for me last night as i ended up joining them at his friend's 50th birthday bash and we didn't get back until 11pm.

Finger's crossed for another good day, the sun is shining which always helps matters. I must just say a quick thankyou to some wonderful Swap-bot members who have been replying to my panicing and worrying posts about this event, Spinjeny and Mojo, you've been super support. Thank you.

DIY City Mag blog feature.

Another little feature by another great blog.  It's funny how things come in waves..... thats 2 i've found out in one day! I found out via an RSS feed from the Dawanda blog that i'd been featured on the DIY City Mag blog - 2 blog both worth checking out, if you want to find out about other handmade items and artists.

A mention by "How can i recycle this?" blog

Among  the many blogs i subscribe to via RSS is a blog called "How can i recycle this?".  having recently changed me bicycle saddled,  and having seen inspiring things like a hanging basket out of an old deep fat frier basket, i decided to email them and ask if they would feature a bicycle saddle as an item.  The lovely Louisa has posted the question today and has given a link to  both my blogs as well!

The blog features/ask questions and then invites readers to post comment suggesting ideas on how to reuse or recycle items.

Have a look through the archives when you get a moment - there are some great idea given by other readers.

Hatfield Heath Festival - 14th and 15th June

I will be taking my Bottlecaps (and hopefully some of my other crafts) to the Hatfield Heath Festival on the 14th and 15th of June. There will be an Arts and Crafts exhibition in the village hall from 10am on both days where you will also be able to purchase the items and 10% will go to the local village preschool.

Venue: Hatfield Heath Village Hall, Hatfield Heath, Essex

Date: 14th and 15th June

Time: 10am to 5pm

My Samples arrived in Germany!

Ready in time for the next lot to go with them to Ireland to another craft fair:

DaWanda Blog - People and Products with Love - Samples Ahoy!

Featured on Catldy99's Weblog

Catldy99, from the USA, who i met through Dawanda, has featured me in her blog here.

Judy herself has a shop on Dawanda, here, and Etsy, here, selling lampwork beads, other beads and jewellery that she makes.

I think my favourite that she has in her shops right now is this Daffodil focal bead:

DaWanda Shop Directory: Jenny B's Bottlecaps... Farmer's Markets

Featured on The Dawanda shop directory again with part 2 of the farmer's market story.

DaWanda Shop Directory: Jenny B's Bottlecaps... Farmer's Markets

DaWanda Blog - People and Products with Love

 

DaWanda Blog - People and Products with Love

 

Elizabeth's blog entry about her trip to dublin where some of my promo bottlecaps were included in her sample packs!

Front Page of Dawanda

I just logged in to check the forums and not only was i lucky enough to have one item showing - but 2!!

 

My Neon Googley eyes and also Horlicks!

Am i an Upcycler?

Sure i recycle the bottlecaps.... or maybe you would say i reuse them......Or maybe my products are upcycled!

 

Upcycle - Wiki

Featured once again by Dawanda Shop Directory

Even though it was only a direct copy of a blog post i did recently - my last post i think actually - it was still nice to be featured and hopefully my experiences will help others.

http://dawandashopdirectory.blogspot.com/2008/02/jenny-bs-bottlecaps-first-craft-fair.html

i will be writing more for Sara but its been a hectic week and i need a rest!

Featured on Cuteable!

The wonderful Elizabeth at Dawanda, who is also on the admin team, let me a comment on my Dawanda profile to say i have been featured on another blog called cuteable!

It was one of the magnets that got a mention here!

My How To Guide - featured on the dawanda shop directory blog

After i discovered the idea of creating a business page on Facebook for my online Dawanda shop and then shared this with other Dawanda sellers, Sara asked me to write a guide on how to create a facebook page, which she has published on the blog today!

here's a link to the article on the blog

and here's a link to my facebook page for jennyb's bottlecaps

Dawanda Shop Directory again!

Another mention from Sara on the Dawanda Shop Directory blog

I shared my facebook advertising idea on the Dawanda Forum. You can create pages for musicians, charities, teams, organisations and also businesses like online stores! This way people can become fans and show their support.

Here is the facebook page for Jennyb's Bottlecaps

and

Here is the facebook page for Sara's Texture Crafts

Another way to promote Dawanda and help each other promote our shops and hopefully sell more handmade crafts!

Jennyb's Bottlecaps featured on the Dawanda shop directory blog

Sara has been kind enough to feature sellers from Dawanda with a simple questionaire i replied to and has today published my article on the blog here

The blog also has great guides on dawanda and how to buy, sell and promote etc.

jennyb's bottle caps

jennyb's bottle caps
Originally uploaded by courtly

found a photo on flickr of the bottlecap i sent to Courtney for introducing me to Dawanda!

I made it to the Dawanda Spring Newsletter!

http://en.dawanda.com/product_list/spring2008/316?page=2

Feature on Indiequarter

Another wonderful feature on the indiequarter blog.

A Super blog!

http://www.indiequarter.com/blog/2008/03/14/bottle-caps-and-take-out-boxes

First Farmers Market Post - Ugley Farmers Market - A step into the unknown....

It would have to be one of the coldest mornings on a while when i have to get up and leave the house early! by the time we left at ten past nine it had at least reached about freezing, but only by one degree!

Setting up was fine and i managed to get my table presented reasonably nicely although my chalk board canvas idea for the price list didn't work at all - good job i took some paper with me!

So this is how my little corner of the little room looked!


There were only 4 of us in the little craft room, as half term had kept sellers away as well as many buyers! but the lady next to me who was selling various textile items bought a little magnet of a bee as her granddaughter is called Bee.




It was good to network and meet people, and i am very grateful to Angela (who i met through freecycle) for introducing me to her friends. It was great being able to tell the lady with the textiles (apologies for not remembering names but my nerves blocked all of them out today apart from Sue (the organiser), Angela and Steph who makes soaps) about the online opportunities such as Etsy.com and Dawanda, as well as pick up contact details for future events, such as the Countess of Warwick fair in Dunmow which is held in august.

After advertising on facebook, one of my contacts RSVP'ed that he would be attending, i didn't expect him to at all, but he and his partner came over. i was kind of shocked as i hadn't seen him in about 2 years - at least. But it was wonderful to see him and he even picked up a Mother's Day gift from my stall - and some essential beer i noticed! This was the set of three he purchased:

Apparently January, February and March are particualry quiet and even more so today because of half term. So i am encouraged that i was about to cover my costs of the stall on a very quiet morning especially as the lady who has the signs that say "more stalls this way", as you had to walk through the kitchen to get to us (!!) wasn't there this week. If i go again though i am only able to get floor space as the regular photographer who is normally where i was will be back, but David has worked out that i could simply use the tripod to hold my white board.

Its given me a slight boost in confidence depsite waking up wishing it would be cancelled this morning!

Bring on the 15th March!

Farmers Markets are the wrong market

I know i've only done 2 farmers markets now and maybe that isn't enough to gauge whether selling my bottlecaps there will work or not.  But the 2 markets i have done have been complete flops, both Ugley and Newport.  Although at both markets other stall holders have told me that it has been extremely unusually quiet, i still feel that even if it were busier then  it would make much a difference to my sales.

 

Frustratingly this time, as nice as it was to be in the main hall, i was right slap bang in the middle of the hall!

But as i was able to see the whole market this time, i made sure i watched what was going on around me.  so here are my observations;

• General age group: 50+  There were a couple of younger coupler,  and a couple of pregnant women but all the regulars were over 50.
• many came with their own recycled bags and their shopping lists.  they knew what they wanted. they had their regular items that they bought from the market.

Other stalls who sold a lot more were

• The Eggs
• The Fish
• Clavering Pigs (pork)
• The Lamb and Beef
• The Mushroooms
• Mel's Cakes
• The Pate and terrine stall
• The Bread stall

there were only 3 other stall who didn't sell hugely but i think they still sold more than me (yes! i did actually sell something, but the customers were other stall holders)

1. Jams, Chutneys and Sauces
2. Pies and Quiches
3. Handmade soaps

I made 2 sales.  one was a mushroom magnet to the mushroom stall holder and my other sale was to the lady selling beef and lamb.  she liked a cow magnet that was part of a set of 2 and a chicken that was part of a set of three.  she asked me if i'd split them up - well if its going to get them sold then you do what you have to do!

Anyway i'm going to forget about farmers markets for now.  people keep saying "you need to go to a craft market and try there" but what they don't realise if the cost of a stand at those places - the cheapest i found was a market in Ilford for £45 - for my products and prices that just isn't practical.

So all my farmers market stock will now slowly be added to my Dawanda Shop.

Welcome to Jennyb's Bottlecaps!

Welcome to the new blog for jennyb's bottle caps. Here you can find details of the latest products and where you can buy them!