I've made some stuff!

Yes I have actually found a few hours to do some "arty" things!
I have been really busy getting my jewellery stock ready for Christmas Fairs - one last weekend and two this coming weekend. However, I am taking a few bits of art plus some cards and gift tags with me to the Concrete Market on Sunday. It's a bit scary as I haven't had any of my arty things on show in public before.
I sometimes feel that my stamped work and collaging isn't "proper art", much the same as Folksy called a lot of my jewellery "assembled". But then I sold some of both on their website and my customers were happy with them. I suppose that's kind of answered my own question...I probably should plan what I'm writing in my blogs and not just type what comes out of my head!
Anyhow, here's a few photos of what I've been up to...

The card and tags were made using stamps from Crafty Individuals - I'd love to buy their entire shop!

 Hmm, I was trying to add photos of three collages, but for some reason Blogger has turned them from portrait to landscape and therefore they end up being sideways! I will try and find out if I can get them the right way round and then edit this post later....

Meanwhile, take a look at this great new online magazine http://www.supporthandmade.co.uk/ which is full of useful articles for crafters, website owners and people who like to buy handmade. Oh, did you go to the Christmas showcase http://www.shhim.co.uk/ ? If not, better get your skates on, it's that present-buying time of year!!

Moving to my website...

Hello,

Well I had a serious think since I last blogged here and decided that the Emporium of Curiosities would move to its own section on my website http://www.pirate-treasures.com/. As I was unhappy with the whole Folksy's new "vision" situation and the fact that they've just added VAT to both their listing fee and commission, I think it's the right thing for me to do. I have been busy adding lots of ACEOs, cards and gift tags to the website, so now all I need to do is promote to make people aware that they are there!

 

Talking of promotion, there's a fantastic Christmas showcase of UK designer-makers by the one-woman show behind Support Handmade, However it's Made - have a good long browse and get your Christmas present ideas here!

I promise not to leave it so long between blog posts, as I'll have Christmas cards & gift tags to show soon!

~Jane

News, Folksy problems & stuff!

Well it's been a while hasn't it?!
Not too much has been going on in the Emporium over the summer...
We had a great holiday in Lido di Jesolo in Italy and visited Venice and the islands of Murano and Burano and another day spent in Verona and Sirmione on Lake Garda. Then had three days in Paris. Fantastic!

Since I've been back, I created an Emporium of Curiosities section on my jewellery website http://www.pirate-treasures.com/ - it's not got masses in it at the moment, but I'm adding my delisted ACEOs from my Folksy shop and more after 1st November when most of my Folksy items will have to be removed due to the new rules.

In case you're not familiar with the new Folksy rules, well you're lucky to have avoided all the nastiness on the Folksy Forums! I've been trying to stay out of it as I haven't decided whether to continue there or not. Basically Folksy want to become a little more upmarket and concentrate on their definition of handmade. However, they have handled it quite badly and many sellers are left very confused, as some of the rules are a bit ambiguous or contradictory advice has been given to different people. I understand Folksy's wish to move away from the hundreds of "bung it on a chain" charm necklaces on sale, but what constitutes "original design" has been interpreted differently and inconsistently. I will go into the jewellery side of the argument in more detail on my other blog later... 

 As far as the Emporium of Curiosities is concerned, I will no longer be able to list anything (ACEO or greetings card) which has just one stamped image, whether I've inked the background or embossed the image or enhanced it in any way. I will only be able to use stamps if I make a collage or layer or use more than one stamp in order to create an "original design".

One of the (ex-)Folksy sellers has set up a page on her website here dedicated to Supporting Handmade However It's Made (see the badge on the right!), where sellers who have been affected by the new Folksy rules can have a free advert and support each other. If you're on Twitter just search for #shhim or pop by the page to see the links to the ever-growing list of sellers and shops. Some are no longer able to sell on Folksy, but have prepared stock for the busy pre-Christmas selling time and will miss out due to Folksy's bad timing and lack of consideration.

I will be adding more ACEOs to the website over the next week and I'm working on a postcard size collage at the moment. I may be having a stall at a couple of vintage & handmade fairs before Christmas so need to work on some festive themes!

I'd better have lunch first though...