Framed ACEO prints

Here is the newest item I have listed in my Etsy shop - a framed print of my 'Bubbles and Squeak' ACEO. The print, featuring two guinea pigs is in a black 6x4 inch frame with a cream mount. I am also happy to frame any other ACEO print from my shop and think they would make the perfect gift for an animal lover!

Pick of the week...

This week's Pick of the Week is an online magazine; UK Handmade. I came across it by chance yesterday and thought it contains a great mix of articles. Although it has 'UK' in the title and is focused on promoting UK artists and designers I think it would appeal to anyone interested in handmade around the world.

The pages of the magazine are well laid out, with easy to read text and lots of great photos. Articles include handmade finds, interviews with designers, recipes, tutorials, business advice and more!

The magazine is produced quarterly and the Autumn edition is available now - I'd definately recommend it for a good read! :)

Time flies...

My waiting is finally over and I got a treasury slot on Etsy today!

This is the treasury I made on the theme 'Time Flies...'

I like finding a variety of items by different people and try to create a mood and a sense of some sort of narrative - that's probably why it takes so long to put together! There are some really nice pieces in this one, including photo prints, jewellery and illustration - you can see it in full here (until 1st November).

Quote of the week...

It is said that for money you can have everything, but you cannot. You can buy food, but not appetite; medicine, but not health; knowledge but not wisdom; glitter, but not beauty; fun, but not joy; acquaintances, but not friends; servants, but not faithfulness; leisure, but not peace. You can have the husk of everything for money, but not the kernel. - Anna Garborg

All I ask is a chance to prove that money can't make me happy. - Spike Milligan

On the theme of money... I heard a story on the radio today; some theives were trying to break into a cash machine by setting it on fire and they ended up burning the money!

Pick of the week

I thought that alongside my 'Quote of the week' I would start a new regular feature called 'Pick of the week'. Being quite a broad title this could include features on a website, book, handmade item or anything thing else which I have come across, like and think that other people may like too!

My first pick of the week is a website; Shop Handmade UK http://www.shophandmade.co.uk/

Rather than an online shopping site like Etsy, Folksy etc it is a directory for UK based artists/ crafters who produce handmade goods. With 15 categories including art and design, jewellery and supplies it brings together over 1100 designers from a variety of online marketplaces.

I came across the site yesterday and have submitted my shop to be added to their directory. Submitting is free and just involved filling in a simple questionnaire. Until my shop is added I won't be able to tell whether it is successful in creating new sales, but I like the idea of bringing together UK artists in one place who would usually sell on separate sites.

There is also a list for designers who supply their goods wholesale, a section for featured sellers and a useful list of events taking place in the UK.

Quote of the week...

Know the true value of time; snatch, seize and enjoy every moment of it. No idleness, no laziness, no procrastination; never put off till tomorrow what you can do today. - Lord Chesterfield

I should read this every time I find myself wasting time on the internet and not getting on with making thing...

Christmas Cards

I've spent the last couple of days working on some new Christmas cards. I'm building my stock of cards up and trying to be prepared before it (hopefully) gets busy for Christmas.

When I'm making cards I start off with just a few bits of paper and card out and as the day goes on my desk and floor gradually disappear in a pile of ribbons, beads, pens and what seems like everything else I own craft wise! No matter what I do I never seem to have enough storage space or desk space - I end up balancing stacks of paper and boxes of ribbons on the open drawers around my desk! I'm sure this isn't the best way of working... but it does usually result in some nice cards. :)

Another nice surprise!

Treasuries on Etsy seem to be like buses at the moment - you wait for ages for one to come along and three come at once! Today I found out that my 'Teatime Cupcakes' greetings card is featured in a treasury with lots of other great cake related items. You can see the treasury, which was put together by Etsy member Marmalady, here.

The 'Teatime Cupcakes' card was made with a print of my photograph of some cakes I decorated myself. I also used coloured papers, scrapbooking paper, ribbon and beads to decorate the card. There is a space left at the bottom of the card for a personalised message to be added. You can see this card and others in my Etsy shop.

Another treasury feature!

I just discovered that I am featured in a second treasury! It had been a while since any of my work had been featured so it's a really nice surprise to find two treasury features at the same time!

'Sunshine in the Dark' features items by UK artists, chosen by AmandaSainsbury. It includes my Storytelling of Crows ACEO - you can take a look at the treasury here.

Treasury feature

Two blog posts in one day! I've just found out that my Siamese Cat ACEO print has just been featured in a treasury on Etsy. You can take a look at the Siamese cat themed treasury by Blushing Mermaid here.

Clockwork Robin...

I have a new Hexley illustration for Christmas! :D It's a Clockwork Robin - what else would you expect to see on a Hexley Christmas painting?!

I was really pleased with how this turned out - it's now my new favourite Hexley piece :) I enjoyed doing the border too - all the holly and cogs took quite a while to do but it was worth it. It reminded me of a few years ago when I spent hours drawing a William Morris style border - time consuming but actually quite fun! I'll have to do some more things like this again soon.

When Edwin Cracknell was asked to make a clockwork animal for Christmas his first thought was a robin. His clockwork birds were held in such high regard that the Clockwork Robin soon became a much sought after item in Hexley.This illustration was drawn in dip pen and ink then painted in watercolours. A print of this illustration will soon be available in my Etsy shop.