Songbirds

I first made my songbird necklace and earrings early on when I started out with metal clay. This week, I made some more with a slightly different design.

This time, I've made them flat backed, instead of a complete 3D bird.  They have always been a best seller, and there must be lots of these little songbirds all over the world.  

As someone who likes long necklaces, I thought the lariat version might be nice too. There's something to be said for keeping designs simple, don't you think?

Weekly bird in the hand

Here is this week's list of things I am grateful for. I think you might notice that there has been a certain theme to my week this week!:

• Our continuing harvest. Today we picked a fridge load of meyer lemons and about 24 soft persimmons.  We still have more of them for future harvests...and also some guavas.
• Cooking new recipes. Today I tried a persimmon pudding recipe recommended by Jennifer.  Yummy - I'm just eating my piece now...warm and a little gooey!
• Cooking extravagantly ie unhealthy dishes, once in a while!  I made Eccles cakes with potted stilton for dinner at a friend's house this week. Gosh was it a wonderful combination.  Not something to eat every week but a couple of times a year - especially around Christmas time, and it really hits the spot.  And I made the puff pastry gluten free and it turned out great.
• Eating out! I've eaten out so much this week, both at friend's houses and at restaurants. It's lovely to share food with good company.
• New cookbook!  I get so excited at the thought of some of the recipes...and can't wait to try them.
• Cold frosty mornings and warm sunny afternoons. It was 71 degrees here yesterday afternoon!
• Having our friend's dog, Bella, back with us for a couple of weeks.
• Making lots of sales from my website and Dawanda's.

Hope you've had lots of yummy food this week too.  What was extra-special?

Dawanda Lovebook Winter 2011/2012

I am delighted to be featured in the 2011/2012 Dawanda Lovebook.  Mine arrived in the mail just today! 

If you don't know who Dawanda are - you should! They are the group that I sell my jewelry through in Europe. They are based in Germany and have a German, French and English platform. 

I was approached by them a couple of months ago and asked to complete an interview for inclusion.  Dawanda are always sooooooo good to me.  I have been selling with them for quite a few years now - and they really do look after me well. They pass on my info to other media - for example, I appeared in the Sunday New York Times last year because I was found on Dawanda....., they include me in their own promotions....I just can't say enough good things about them!  Here is the inclusion they put in their new Lovebook:

Thanks Dawanda, for spreading the love.  You can see the Lovebook here - and check out all the great sellers and products that they feature. Just in time to get ordering for Xmas!

Weekly bird in the hand

Here is this week's bird in the hand - the things I am grateful for:

Amazing photo by John Soong

• My nephew Matt. He just got his GCSE exam results and got 8 A*'s and 2 A's!  Well done Matt.
• Meeting new friends and enjoying each other's company straight away.
• Having new plans in life and getting excited about them!
• Day trips with friends to new places.
• Being on the best seller list on Dawanda.
• During a busy week, having my "bird a week" challenge ensure that I at least make one new thing!  
• Enjoying a whole day with my friend Carol.

Weekly bird in the hand

Here is this week's things that I am grateful for:

 (A birdie photo for all of you who had birthdays this week and are feeling their age):

Photo by digitalART2

• My friend Andy in the UK who is 50 today.
• My friend Diane in Sonoma whose birthday it is today.
• My brother in law Bro Bert whose birthday it was on Monday.
• My friend Dunx in the UK whose birthday it was on Monday.
• Good sales of jewelry this week and two new commissions.
• Being asked to be a featured artist in a new book that Dawanda is producing
• Have Vitamix, will travel. I took my Vitamix to my friend Jennifer's house yesterday and made a healthy smoothie lunch for us.
• Finding new fruits to try, like the mango nectarines.
• The search feature on computer! Where would we be without that? 
• Friends coming up to visit for the day.
• Having fun in a warm swimming pool on a hot day

Win a pair of my flower earrings today

There is a chance to win a pair of my flower ear-thread earrings "The earth laughs in flowers" today on Dawanda.  It is part of their Christmas market with a different prize to win each day. 

 

All you need to do is make a wishlist of things you would like on Dawanda and send it to family or friends and you will get  entered into the raffle to win the earrings, valued at $80. 

Raffle prize on Dawanda

Good luck! Hope you win! Go to the Dawanda Christmas Market to enter. And if not today, keep an eye out for the other prizes that come up everyday.

Dawanda's Christmas Market

Dawanda have opened their Christmas market this week and it runs for the month of November.

They feature lots of gift ideas for all the people in your life.

And once a day they have a raffle to win a Dawanda product, for anyone who creates a wishlist and sends it to a friend.

I was asked to include an item for the raffle, so one day this month you can win a pair of "The earth laughs in flowers" ear thread earrings I've made.

I won't tell you which day they are up as a prize - so you'll have to go back and keep checking.  Actually I don't know what day it is so I can't tell you!!!  :-D

It looks like there are some great prizes so worth checking it out.  Happy Christmas shopping!

Dawanda Interview

I was interviewed for the Dawanda blog this week.  I was really pleased with it...so if you are curious, here's the link to find out more about me and my work: Dawanda blog interview

Thanks Azra!  I really appreciate it.

Merry go round - Networking

It''s time for another ride on the merry-go-round! Jump on and join a group of 9 artists/crafts-women as they link around the world and tell you a little about their lives in art and craft.

This month's questions that we will answer are:

What do you do to network?

In what ways does it work or not work?

A dictionary definition of "Networking" defines it as "a supportive system of sharing information and services among individuals and groups having a common interest."  I like the "supportive" part of that definition.  And also the "sharing" part too. In all my networking, I try to pay attention to the fact that it is not just a one way ticket and an opportunity for me to get my work out there, but that it is also important that I listen and see what others are doing and creating and offer them support.

Here are some of the internet based ways I network and what works for me:

• Blogging 

I really enjoy blogging and think it's a great way to connect with people - both potential buyers, other artists and also, family and friends ( who are, of course, potential buyers and  great for word of mouth marketing).  I publish my blog here on Blogger, and then it is set up to also automatically publish on:

• my own website  www.birdlandcreations.com
• Facebook - both my personal page and my business page
• Twitter

This means that one action gets to hit 4 different avenues which I really like!

In addition to my own blog, I also read and comment on lots of other blogs too.  I have quite a few blogs set up to come to my Google Reader and generally read them every day or every other day.  I love Google Reader as it brings all your favorite blogs to one place so you can read them all together rather than keep searching lots of different sites.

• Etsy

While I have my storefront on Etsy, I'm not one who likes to hang out in the forums and chat. For some people, I know that is a great networking opportunity, but it's not my thing.  However I am part of the Etsy Metal Clay Team and that is a lovely way to stay in touch with other artists using the same media as myself.  It's a friendly team and both inspiring and supportive.  I've met a few members face to face and look forward to meeting more in the future.  We have our own team website and blog and so promote each other and metal clay.

Having a store on Etsy seems to be a great way for other stores to find your work too and I've had quite a few wholesale requests come from Etsy.  While I don't really do much wholesale work, as my pieces tend to me one of a kind, I am working on what could possibly be a great wholesale project at the moment for a company that I really like...so fingers crossed for that - and they found me on Etsy.

• Dawanda

As well as a storefront, Dawanda seems to offer me quite a few interview opportunities and features in other people's blog. This Monday, in fact, I am going to be interviewed for the Dawanda blog, so hopefully that will generate some interest.  Last week one of my products was on their newsletter which got me three sales that day, a blog feature and an interview request. 

 

And of course this "merry go round" originated from other sellers I "met" on Dawanda and the merriers are definitely a supportive networking system!  I do love Dawanda!

  Cartoon by Oliver Widder

• Facebook

I initially joined Facebook as just somewhere to publish my blog...but now I enjoy it as a place to catch up with friends, previous customers, family etc.  While I'm not one of these facebook addicts, I enjoy seeing what everyone is up to and it's a great, easy way to keep up to date with everyone.

• Twitter

I've never really got into Twitter. I don't do anything there except let my blog automatically publish there.  Maybe one day I'll get it....but then maybe not!

• Flickr

Flickr is probably my most recent networking avenue.  For ages I couldn't really see the point of it, but then I gave it a try and have been featured on a few other blogs from people seeing my work there, and it's a great place to see lots of beautiful things.  I guess I'm quite an inconsistent Flickr user but that suits me.

• Online galleries

There are few of these around where you can submit a photo for consideration for their gallery.  Craftgawker is one that I really like and  has brought me several customers.  You need to submit a photo of your work from your website or blog as it has to have some content associated with it - not just a photo.

A couple of blog style galleries are Try Handmade, Etsytacular, and Must Have Cute.  Must Have Cute sent me an amazing number of viewers after featuring my Nate and Kate octopuses.  They found my work - I didn't submit it - but I got hundreds of visitors from them.  They do have a submission process too but I'm not sure how often they use what is submitted as opposed to what they find.

I've found and purchased some wonderful things from these galleries too so they are definitely worth looking at.

What are your most successful networking efforts?  Any you'd like to share or suggest?

Take a look at how other friends on the merry go round network by visiting their blogs via the following links.  Remember that we live on different time zones so some may post later than others.

Alison at Tweed Delights - http://idreamoftweed.blogspot.com
Mitsy at ArtMind - http://artmind-etcetera.blogspot.com
Kim at Vilt a la Kim - http://viltalakim.blogspot.com
Sara at Crafts of Texture - http://sarastexturecrafts.blogspot.com
Fabienne at Easterya Jewellery Creations - http://easterya.blogspot.com
Mariana at Florcita - http://www.florcita.eu/
Agathe at Le Bar du Vent - http://lebarduvent.blogspot.com
Lily at Lily Pang Art and Design - http://lilypangart.blogspot.com

Dawanda is 3 years old!

Dawanda is three years old! And they featured my songbird necklace on their birthday newsletter, as I am one of "the sellers who have been brightening up the English platform with their lovely products since the very beginning".


You'll notice that my little birdie is right next to Sara's Texture Crafts - who is the Sara from our Merry Go Round! Good to stick together!

I love Dawanda. It has always been my most successful artisan marketplace - so happy birthday to them. You can see their blog post here about it - and they have a little giveaway too!

PS. We passed the test yesterday! All we have to do now for citizenship is the swearing!

Front page of Dawanda! - 2 items!

I kept getting all these lovely comments on Dawanda today...so was wondering what was happening that everyone was finding me...

Took a look at the front page and there was not one, but two of my items featured there. Here's a snapshot!


See the aeroplane necklace - "fly me to the moon" (does anyone use the word aeroplane anymore..I always did in England...?!!) and birdfeeder necklace -"feed the birds"? Funny thing is, the plane isn't even listed for sale! I took it off a while ago.

Nice to get some exposure and comments!

Business Matters - Marketplaces - Review

In my business matters posts over the last couple of months, I've given you my point of view and experience with a variety of artisan marketplaces where you can sell your creations. Each one is different, they have their own rules and their own styles. If you want to look at back at my posts, here are the links:
Boundless Gallery
Smashing Darling
Dawanda
Nest
Etsy
Not on the High Street
Zibbet
ArtFire

I hope what you have garnered from my discussion is that you get different things from different places. And while you may think the only place you want to be is where you get good sales, I encourage you to not let that restrict you. These marketplaces offer many things as well as sales - such as exposure, networking, friends, inspiration, connections, ideas for marketing, publicity, support,......

So if you are just using them for selling, I think you are missing out! Try somewhere new and see what you get and also what you can give to others. It's rewarding - and some of our most precious rewards aren't financial.

Here's some links to other sites I haven't mentioned that may be worth considering and there are plenty of others too:

1. http://www.ecrater.com/
2. http://www.bigcartel.com/
3. http://www.rubylane.com/
4. http://www.silkfair.com/
5. http://www.yessy.com/
6. http://www.supermarkethq.com/
7. http://www.elsewares.com/
8. http://www.indiepublic.com/
9. http://www.shophandmade.com/
10. http://www.1000markets.com/
11. http://www.trunkt.com/
12. http://www.winkelf.com/
13. http://www.folksy.com/
14. http://www.artsefest.com/
15. http://www.madeitmyself.com/
16. http://www.lollishops.com/
17. http://www.icraft.ca/
18. http://www.lov.li/
19. http://www.handmadecatalog.com/
20. http://www.coriandr.com/
21. http://www.youcraft.org/
22. http://www.youcraftylot.com/
23. http://www.fuzzb.com/
24. http://www.pinkdoodle.com
25. http://www.americanhandmadecrafts.com
26. http://crafthaus.ning.com
27. http://www.artfulhome.com
28. http://www.wholesalecrafts.com
29. http://www.craftmall.com

If you sell somewhere else and have a good experience - do please let us know in the comments section.

I'll be starting a new theme of "business matters" next Wednesday. Look forward to seeing you then.

Business Matters - Marketplaces - Dawanda

I said last week I was going to post about the Australian marketplace Mintd - but I've changed my mind. It was all too depressing and I can't even get on the site now. Maybe they no longer exist??? So telling doom and gloom doesn't seem like a good way to go! Basically - avoid Mintd - there is no support, no admin, no ...

So instead - how about Dawanda.



I have to say that Dawanda is my favourite of the marketplaces. It is a European site and, with the help of two friends that I "met" on the site, I list my items in English, French and German. The multiple language listings really is the trick to the website. The English part has the least number of buyers/visitors, and the German the most - as it started as a German site. The majority of my customers are German - although my best customer is French. I rarely sell to the UK/US through them.

It's quite a bit smaller than Etsy so you can be found! You don't have to relist all the time - it's just a nice place to sell - and buy.


On the English site there is currently no charge for listing - but that will change sometime this year. The commission is 5%. There has recently been a little bit of controversy with fees being backdated as until this year, we never got any bills at all. I think that has settled down a little - although some sellers left.

The admin is OK and gets back reasonably promptly. The forum isn't as active as Etsy - and I tend to look and respond once in a while. All the prices are in Euros.

I do a lot of mentoring on Dawanda where people setting up a new shop can contact me and I'll help them and review their store and let them know my thoughts/suggestions. I tried to set up an "official" mentor program with Dawanda admin so other "seasoned" sellers could help too - but Dawanda never really seemed to jump on board.


One aspect of Dawanda that is a little different and I do like is that they have sales every now and again - related to something happening - like the olympics or world cup or......Sellers can choose whether to opt in or not - but it seems to be a popular thing. If I recall - it is generally an 11% discount and Dawanda chooses different types of products each day to have on sale.

If there was one thing that I would change it would be that payment would come through immediately. The system of buying at Dawanda is that you make your selection, the buyer confirms it and notifies of postage charges and then the buyer has a week to pay. Sometimes people don't pay or it takes them a long time. It would just be nice if it was a simple one step buy and pay system like other marketplaces.

My overall comment is I love Dawanda.

I've made some great friends, have some wonderful customers and just like it! If you are thinking of trying another store - take a look at Dawanda. If you already sell on there - I'd love to hear your reaction.

Next week I'll tell you about Nest.

Business Matters - Part 7 - 100 Times Rule

I recently heard about the 100 times rule. I've previously written on my Business Matters post about the Rule of 5 - so it's a bit of a jump to the 100 times rule - but this is rule came from Angela from Savor the Success.

Rather than tell you what it is - I thought I'd share a little story that demonstrates it.

A customer on Dawanda clicked to purchase an item of mine in the middle of January. She then had problems with the payment system and so cancelled the sale. Two days later, she purchased the item again....but again had problems paying.

We exchanged quite a few messages - mine in English and hers in German! Both of us using online translators. After a while of back and forth, I sent the correspondence to my German friend Marion who does my translations to see if I was missing anything and if she had any ideas for my next approach and some way to help the customer. Marion then kindly contacted the customer by email and then arranged to phone her and discuss the payment difficulties.

The customer was having a tricky time with a Dawanda voucher, then when that didn't work, she was trying to set up a paypal account - but still no success. Marion couldn't help her. So then I asked Dawanda administration to help her. They couldn't help either.

This is all taking place over a couple of months.....and the "rule" at Dawanda is that if you don't receive payment in 7 days, you cancel the sale. Well, I knew this customer was trying hard but just not managing it and I didn't know how else to help.....She just kept sending me these messages about what she was trying and just seemed to keep on going. This has continued for 9 weeks and I just said to Marion that I should send the customer the necklace anyhow without payment - for all the effort she has put into it!

Fast forward to today and my friend Marion emails me and says she has the money from the customer and she has now just forwarded it into my paypal account! The customer apparently continued to get nowhere and so finally came up with the idea of phoning Marion back and asking if she could send her the money instead of through the Dawanda system!!! And that's what happened!!

She obviously really wanted the necklace and she kept trying different approaches which didn't work but eventually she found a way. Now I can send it to her with the hope that when she gets it, she'll feel it was worth her effort!!

So the 100 times Rule is all about The Power of Persistence. If you are struggling with something, have you tried 100 different ways to make it work? This customer kept on going....and maybe this will be the one and only online purchase she ever makes at Dawanda - but she did it!

And good old Marion! She just jumps on board and gets things moving and then says "I love doing this sort of thing (occasionally!)".

So keep on persisting....try new ways......and you'll do it!

Oh yes - the necklace she purchased was "home is where the heart is".

Business Matters - Part 3c - No man is an island

Over the last couple of weeks I've written in the "business matters" posts about support from others - either face to face, or through the internet.

I know I feel amazingly supported by so many people and it's that support that keeps me going when I have doubts and difficult times. But today I want to turn that around and remind us that there are plenty of people out there who need our support. So what do we do to give support?

One of the key things I am trying to instigate on Dawanda is to set up a mentoring group of people who have been selling there quite a while, so that they can help people setting up a new shop. We can share our experiences and talk about what we find works and help them if there are problems. Whilst Dawanda hasn't quite got on board with this - they are supportive of it, but just don't quite know how to set it up I think - myself and some others have been offering mentoring to other shop owners.

I know I have spent quite a bit of time working with a several sellers, reviewing their store, their profile, their photography....And whilst I'm no expert - I do know Dawanda and how my sales improve and just lots of little tips and hints. Of course the sellers are free to do as they please with my comments - they are just my suggestions that they can choose to accept or ignore, but I've had some good responses to my reviews. And someone else just contacted me today for help....so it continues...

I also seem to have quite a people approach me about using metal clay and how can they get into it and what kiln do I suggest and...........There are lots of questions when you are looking into starting something new - and I'm more than happy to let people know what I do and what works for me but also what others tend to do if different. It's nice to be able to spread the word about a fun product that I love to use and I'm sure others would enjoy too.

Locally I'm also trying to help a friend set up her first venture into selling on line by setting up an Etsy store. We are looking at what she wants to say and then I'll help her put her banner and avatar and things like that up on her store......

So these are just a couple of ways that I try to give back and support others in their art and craft. What about you? Do share some things you do and it may encourage us try something different.

Business Matters - Part 3b - No man is an island

Continuing on from last week with the subject of "No man is an island" and who are the people that support us.......I then spoke of face to face support and the support of my family and friends.

This week I'd like to talk about the large group of people who sustain me in what I do, yet I have never met them and may never meet them. We have only "met" on the internet. This group has been the biggest the surprise for me as I never imagined such friendships would develop.

Two such people from this group, who have become wonderful friends I met online through the Dawanda marketplace website. They both contacted me initially and offered to translate my product listings for me into German and French for my Dawanda website in Europe. Marion and Fabienne have become such important supporters for me. They are often the first to comment on a new piece as I send them the text to translate and offer great feedback. But our correspondences are now much more than jewelry specific - we share ideas and experiences about many things, we share our lives... and also laugh a lot through our emails! They are precious friendships that I would never have imagined would have come about from online selling.

Then I am a member of a couple of yahoo groups for metal clay - one international and one local. Through these groups I keep in touch with what other artists are doing throughout the world with metal clay and hear about new books and classes and competitions etc.

I am also a member of the Etsy Metal Clay group which is a new group of other silver clay artists who sell on the Etsy marketplace. That group I find continues to push me in things like improving my photography, and helps with practical advice on casting and wholesale work and "the jewelry business" at large.

Then through this blog I have gained a lot of support: - from you - reading this now; from those of you who comment; and also from my merry-go-round group of blog posters ( our next merry go round is this Friday - so look out for a shared topic). It's nice that we all "jump on the merry go round" once a month and write on the same subject. It feels like a community.

And finally, through the websites where I sell I also feel part of a community through comments on my products and of course, from feedback from my buyers.

I feel a tremendous amount of support - and am so grateful for this. Thank you. It makes me think of the little saying I include with my "missing piece" bracelet:
"You are an important piece in my life’s puzzle.

You may never know precisely where you fit in my life or others,

but just know that without you, there would be a significant hole."

So what about you? Who are your supporters? And remember, don't be an island - you can find supporters in many different places - including people you'll never meet. Take a look......reach out.....You never know where that support will lead. And remember, powerful alliances are no longer bound by geography.

Business Matters - Part 3a - No man is an island

No Man is an Island

John Donne

Creating art can be quite an isolating thing. I know I sit up in my studio on my own and work away, often for hours on end. Yes, I love it - but it's one of the most individual things I've ever done. I don't create with anyone else, I sit alone and happily go about making jewelry....

But no man is an island and while I enjoy creating on my own, I rely heavily on others for feedback, stimulation, support, self-confidence, reactions, encouragement, responses, input, practical help/advice and ideas. To be successful, we need to surround ourselves with others.

For many people, their support system is the face to face interactions with family and friends and maybe also participation in local business or art groups and the local community. Let me tell you a little about my support system:

Face to face, there is my husband John. He is amazing and patiently listens whenever I ask yet another question or bounce another idea off him. He's a real trouper! While I'm not always looking for an answer, he will always listen and support and encourage. (He also knows lots of "old" songs and sayings so helps with the inspiration and naming of my pieces too :-D ).

Face to face I also have some local friends who always ask what I am doing and want to see my latest creations. They always encourage my local shows and want to know when they can come and see my work.

Then I have another group of supporters - my family who live away from me, but who are there for me through phone calls, emails, my blog, and our visits. They are wonderful self-confidence boosters. This even includes my young nephews who help me come up with names for new jewelry and also offer their opinions (- and even model some of my jewelry!)

Next there are my friends who don't live locally. Again their support comes through emails, this blog, phone calls and our occasional get togethers. This includes friends like Marly and Angie whom I met last summer. They both also work in metal clay and have their own business. Their encouragement and feedback is of particular import as they understand the processes and frustrations.

Phew - what a lot of support I get! How lucky I am.

Are you lucky enough to have the support of your family and friends in your endeavors? In what way do they help you? How do you not feel like an island?

I have also found other avenues of support, the intensity of which, and the friendships that have subsequently developed, have surprised me. But enough for this week! I'll tell you all about them next Wednesday when I continue "No man is an island"...........

Business Matters - Part 2 - Avatars and Banners

When we go shopping in a town, we can wander by a store, look in the window and decide if it interests us and then go in and browse. When you have a store on an artists marketplace, such as Etsy or Dawanda, there is no window to check out, and often the first thing the potential buyer will see is your avatar or banner. I know when I am on other sites or blogs, the styling of people's avatars decides whether I click on it or not. Some I am instantly attracted to and others do nothing for me.

Sometimes the avatar and banner don't specify what is for sale - like my own - Birdland Creations. It doesn't say I make jewelry - and when I came up with the name, that was intentional as I was also making and selling felted purses. Now I only do jewelry, but I don't want to change the name as people know it - but if I was starting again, I'd do it differently I think.

My first banner showed a piece of my jewelry - the "anyone can fly" necklace. I still get the odd enquiry for that necklace with people referring back to it as the "necklace that used to be in the banner " and in fact, I got one just 2 months ago and ended up making the necklace again.

Then I worked with a lovely lady on Etsy - pixel by pixel - to get a logo created and so my banner and avatar came from that.
Here is my square avatar:
and here is my current banner for one of my online marketplace stores:
It is important that even if your banner and avatar don't say what you create or show a picture of one of your items, they should give some indication as to your style. I think my little bird does indicate my sense of whimsy - although I often wonder about adding a necklace to the bird....???

So those of you reading this who have avatars and banners - are yours clickworthy? Does they draw people in and make them want to know more? Do they fit in with your items and style?

I recently saw a lovely avatar that the seller changed depending on the time of the year. It is Lorna's from Le Cerf Volant and she has a store on Dawanda. When I first saw her banner, it had a lovely New Year's greeting... and when I was in touch with her about another matter, I asked her about it. She explained that she changes throughout the year: at Easter time she adds little bunnies, eggs and chickens; at Christmas she adds holly..... And if you click on the above link - she has added "sale" information. I think it's a lovely idea to get people's notice. Here is her traditional banner:
And here is her Christmas version:
It is just a simple change - but it caught my eye and made me notice and want to look further. She even added a little "thank you" notice to her banner to me one day after I had helped her learn about resources for metal clay in France.

So she made me think - yes, you need consistency in your avatar and banner so people remember you but sometimes we can change it around too....

More cities.....

And keeping with the cities and towns postings, I wanted to share with you a beautiful Christmas card that my sister made me this year. I asked her to write a little something about it - so meet my sister Mary.

I have been making cards now for about 5 years and it is my way of switching off from work and home and creating something unique. I sometimes make cards in general, just so I have a few spare, but most of the time I choose the card to suit the person I am sending it to. When I saw this Christmas card in our local craft shop, I loved it so much and knew that my family would love it too. I often make cards for the family one year, and then turn them into mass production the next year for friends, but this one was quite complicated, so I think there will only ever be 3 made - 1 for my husband, 1 for my parents, and the other one is the one in the photo, which I made for my sister and brother-in-law Ruth and John, or Uncle Johnnie as he is known in our house!

(click on the photo for a larger view)
I loved this card for its traditional style. I made other cards this year and experimented with blue, pink and purple cards. They all looked ok, but for me Christmas is about a time for family and friends, with old traditions and also new ideas. I loved the way the houses all look inviting, and that some of them seem to have lights on in the windows. It was very, very cold in England this Christmas, but we haven't had snow for years! The last time there was snow, we were having Christmas with Ruth when she lived in Florida! I hope you all had a great Christmas. Happy New Year from England!

Send more cards anytime like Mary! So nice to feature it on my blog! When will you start selling? A store on Etsy or Dawanda or........

Desk buddy

Hope you had a good Christmas. We did!

Now that everyone has opened their pressies, thought I'd show you another one that I made. I have a wonderful friend, Fabienne, who lives in Turkey. She is French and translates all my listings for me for my Dawanda website and is also part of our merry-go-round.

We met through Dawanda and have such a fun time corresponding with each other and learning more and more about each other. It is people like Fabs who make selling online so much fun. Both her and my friend Marion, who translates my listings into German, have become such great friends and they enrich my life in so many different ways.


Anyhow, she makes jewelry too - absolutely gorgeous stuff. She does the most incredibly fine and detailed wire wrapping - so take a look at her Dawanda store - Easterya.

But as she makes her own jewelry, I decided to make her something that wasn't jewelry but that could sit near her computer or at her work bench and keep her company. So she got a desk buddy - who also happens to double as a friend for her intrepid explorer dog, Jack. Here's her new desk buddy.
I like the idea of desk buddies. I have a few myself......and maybe I'll do a few more of these......It's like a miniature sculpture - adorning your computer or desk instead of you! Hope you like Jack's new friend.

Do you have any desk buddies? Friends who sit with you as you work????? Do tell us about them..