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.