Thank You Glassprimitif

I know this is very late and for that I can only offer my deepest apologies to Glassprimitif.

I won her blog competition and received the most amazing prize/prizes. There was so much in there, I was really shocked when I opened it all up. And everything was just so beautiful. If you get a chance pop over to her shop as it really is worth the time.

So firstly, look how beautiful it all looked after I had opened the envelope.

This is everything after I ripped the paper off in a throwback to my childhood Christmas's kind of way.

And these are all the beautiful items that I won.

So this is a huge thank you to Glassprimitif and apologise for the late thank you.

Oh yeah, and she has an Etsy shop too!

Hot Hot Hot

Phew, I am too hot!! With a 30 week pregnancy bump I am finding this heat unbearable.....any good tips out there?

This is a real quickie today as I haven't blogged since last week.

I got another award for my blog which I am over the moon about. It came from Innocence Jewellery, click me to get to her blog, so thanks very much. I am not going to do the 15 pass on's this time as I only just did some and it takes a Looooooongggg time.

And, I won another prize!!! And whilst typing this I realise that I haven't blogged about my previous prize! So tomorrow, I will blog more in depth about those with pictures and links as they came from 2 great shops. The 1st one came from Glassprimitif and the second one from Glitzykitty

Now I am off to flake on the sofa for mins in front of a fan.

Strangelord

Wow, aren't the weeks going quick? Which is great for me in my current state of making a tiny little person...29 weeks and counting.

Anyways, onto my Weekly Wednesday featured seller from Folksy. This week is the turn of Strangelord and when you look in her shop all I can say is....what's not to love? It's so fantastical and magical and appeals to my Kitsch side, which is most of me really.

So on with the interview and all the yummy photos.



1. Where do you get your inspiration?
Over the years I've flitted between disciplines (a spot of painting AKA my degree, textiles/fashion-based stuff, performance), but most recently have settled on collaging and assembling everyday objects together. I'm obsessed with the kitsch and the kawaii, but with a nod towards Dada and/or Surrealism. I'm fascinated by the idea of taking something sickly and sweet and contrasting it with the bizarre, nightmarish or oh-so slightly perverse.

I love the immediacy and integrity of combining found images and objects to make something entirely different.

Inspiration comes from my scavenging nature. I'm a compulsive collector. My media is what others may regard as trash -broken jewellery, old toys, junk shop finds, a pretty button, scraps, charms, trinkets. Patterns, childhood imagery, fragments of text. My friends and family all collect for me. And yes, I've been know to pick things up in the street before. If it's good enough for Kurt Schwitters...!


I'm inspired by Joseph Cornell, Max Ernst, Hans Bellmer. I'm inspired by songs, stories, feelings, fears, everything really. My imagination is constantly in overdrive. Through collaging I like to capture these thoughts and stick them down, along with the mess of seemingly un-associated items, arranged neatly, like restoring order to a somewhat chaotic life.

2. Describe your work space?
Collaging takes place all over our shared Victorian terrace -at the breakfast bar, curled up on the sofa, in bed whilst watching some nostalgic old film or camp musical! I've taken over the back bedroom as some kind of gallery-cum-treasure trove that taste forgot. My work hangs on pretty much every available wall space, and is piled in every nook and cranny.



3. When and Why did you start your crafting business?
See above! I've always had the compulsion to create. I can't sit still for two minutes without arranging things nicely or dreaming up new colour combinations. If my imagination, hands, or both aren't kept busy I fall asleep. Literally. This hyper-activity led to an accumulation of art work. Shows only come up a few times a year so sales through this route are limited, and you can only give each friend or family member so many collaged gifts, so the natural progression was to look for an outlet to tout my wares. That's how I stumbled across Folksy earlier this year.

I don't create to live, I live to create. If people like what I do and wanna buy it, that's a bonus.

I often wonder where the few pieces I have sold ended up. I think there's some kind of art in that -something so personal and unique to me, just hanging there in a stranger's house. They don't know why I made it, but obviously it meant something to them.

4. What is your most favourite item that you sell?
All of it -duh! No, sorry. I like pretty much all of my pieces for different reasons. However I'm especially fond of a little collage I call 'Lepidopterrorist'. It's partly about my fear of moths and butterflies (the big Daddy of all my phobias). I like it because i made it on an awesome vintage tile I found at a car boot sale, but I also love the combination of yellow and purple. Complementary -see I remember colour theory!


I have a couple of box collages I think are pretty cool too. They are my homage to Cornell. I like the idea that you can close the lid and it not only becomes personal and private, but portable too.

5. Where else do you sell?
I love getting involved in art shows and exhibitions as it's always so exciting to see your work up an the walls. I'll be showing at the Great Sheffield Art Show at the Octagon 10th-12th July, with 5 new pieces for sale.

6. Do you do craft fairs and do you think they are a good place to sell?
I can't pretend to be an expert -sorry! I'm more arty-farty than crafty, but I do have a massive respect for skilled craftspeople. I'd love to have the patience to master knitting, or be brave enough to use a sewing machine properly!

7. Describes your style in 3 words.
Gosh, only three? I'm way too wordy for that! Idiosyncratic? Accumulated. Sinister-sweet (not cheating much!).



8. What are you working on at the moment?
I'm almost done with a hanging card collage based on a catacombs/archaeological theme.

9. What is the weirdest thing about you?
At one time or another I have been monophobic, clinophobic, nychtophobic, thanatophobic, necrophobic, iatrophobic, phasmophobic, samhainophobic, trypanophobic, catoptrophobic, mottephobic, claustrophobic, wiccaphobic...I am scared of literally EVERYTHING! I think that makes me a slightly odd kid. Makes great inspiration for my work though.

10. What 1 item would you like to buy from another Folksy seller?
I've had my eye on Zedhead's graffiti print clutch for ages, http://www.folksy.com/items/21042-Graffiti-Print-Clutch-Purse, as sometimes I like to pretend I'm a little bit gangsta. Unfortunately my car is currently dying, so until I get that replaced I can't really be too frivolous!

11. Where is your most favourite place?
PARIS. In my dreams I am there. Had the best trip of my life there two years ago with my fella Alex. I made him a box collage to commemorate it.



12. What is your favourite book?
I urge you to read Tracy Emin's 'Strangeland', what ever you think about her art, or the way she's depicted in the media. Her writings are beautiful.

13. What is your favourite film?
Brief Encounter! It's gut-wrenching. I've never seen anyone so perfectly demonstrate the depths of despair as Celia Johnson. It's those eyes. There's something romantic about stations, isn't there?

I saw a fab stage adaptation by The Kneehigh Theatre Company recently. Not quite the tear-jerker I expected, but they really played up the comic elements and the music was super.

14. What is your favourite song?
There are many, for many different reasons. I would like 'There is a light that never goes out' by The Smiths played at my funeral. Patsy Cline breaks my heart and makes me fall off my chair laughing from one song to the next. 'Moon River' always makes me cry.



15. If you could do anything for the day what would you do?
A lie-in would be nice! The best days are spent with someone close -a stroll round a museum with a friend, hitting the shops for some serious mother-daughter time, prancing around a stately home, my man on my arm, pretending that I really am (as I like to believe) descended from the gentry. I'm easily pleased. I take life as it comes, and find excitement in even the littlest of things.

16. You are a Superhero, what is your power?
To make time stand still. It's racing past me at an alarming rate. Did you ever see the kids' programme 'Bernard's Watch'? I want me one of those! Just think of all the collaging I'd get done!
So that's the end of another interview from another wonder folksy seller. Aren't you all great?
The picture above is my absolute favourite, in fact it's on my favourite list back at Folksy, It's called House. I love it.

Thanks again Strangelord for doing the interview.
Happy Wednesday.

An award from Lily Shay Style

I got a wonderful surprise the other day. I was reading my comments and there was one from a lovely lady over at LilyShayStyle and she had given me an award. An award!!!! I was gobsmacked. So I am humbly accepting the award from her and passing it on to 15 blogs I particularly love.

Here are the Rules:

1. Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award and his or her blog link.

2. Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you have newly discovered. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

So here are my 15 most favouritest of favourite blogs (in no particular order!)........by the way it's very difficult to choose 15 out of so many fantastic blogs. Viva La Blog!!!

1. The Sock Garden
2. Mollimoo Makes
3. Lucykate Crafts
4. Trashy Princess
5. What's Jamball Upto
6. Widget and Friends
   
7. That Crafty Fish
8. Milomade
9. See The Woods
10. Fabric Nation
11. I Love Red
12. Floating Rabbit
13. Dig The Earth
14. Leigh Sheppard
15. Craft Schmaft

Don't forget to check out all these lovely blogs especially LilyShayStyle. And thanks once again LilyShayStyle it really really made me feel good to get this award.

Ha Ha Ha Ha

Just a quickie tonight with no piccies.

I wanted to share a couple of things that I have found very amusing lately although you might find them cringworthy instead....but these tickled my fancy and made me laugh.

Firstly, my lovely partner has joined our very new village allotment association and in a recent meeting where they were talking about how to dish out the new plots, they decided the fairest way was to pick the plots out of a hat.......whereupon my partner chirps up " We could call it The Plottery" He says he only got a few sympathy laughs, if I had been there I would have been on the floor laughing, guess that's why I am with him.

Next up I was reading a conversation on Facebook between my sisters talking about their rubbish day. One sister then says that she was going to go and drink alot of wine. My Cousin-in-sin as he likes to be called then added "be careful you don't catch Wine Flu"

And lastly, I just spotted a Knitted Brown Beard on Folksy by a shop called Wife of Brian. Absolutely brilliant.

The Other Mousie Feature

This week it's the turn of the rather talented Sarah at TheOtherMousie to be featured and I am really excited to be able to pick some of her wonderful items to show you here today.

1. Where do you get your inspiration?

Actually - this is quite difficult! I admire loads of peoples work & wish I could be as clever or talented as them. But I have a grasshopper brain - it's always on the go & most of my ideas just pour out the top of my head - can't you tell - I mean where did Itty Bitty Pirate Kitty come from??

2. Describe your work space?
We have a very busy household so although I always keep my crafty supplies in one place I do tend to work wherever there is a bit of peace & quiet & a bit of space - which is very rare...

3. When and Why did you start your crafting business?
I actually started crafting properly over 14 years ago, just because I can't help it! At that time it was all craft fairs & I'd rent a space in my local library from time to time. I haven't done too much while I've been busy bringing up my 3 children. But as my youngest is getting settled at kindergarten I started to look at it again. The craft world has changed so much due to the Internet - I felt so scared! As soon as I discovered Folksy I knew things would be ok, they are such a friendly supportive bunch & have given me confidence too.

4. What is your most favourite item that you sell?
It has to be my Itty Bitty items - I think that's what people think of when they think of me! I do lots of what I call serious sewing too, but it's the fun items that grab everyone's attention.



5. Where else do you sell?
Apart from Folksy & Etsy, some of it now comes from word of mouth. Also I think I may have just developed a lucrative line of selling at the school gate to my daughters classmates - hope I don't cause any trouble...

6. Do you do craft fairs and do you think they are a good place to sell?
I did one in March that went very well indeed & I will be looking at doing some more in the future. Craft fairs never really change that much - they all seem a bit hit & miss what works for you doesn't work for others.

7. Describes your style in 3 words.
Kitsch, odd, whimsical or I'm not sure!

8. What are you working on at the moment?
A wonderful lady from Glasgow is getting married on International Talk Like A Pirate Day on September 21st & I'm making 72 (74 inc the bride & groom!) Itty Bitty Pirate Kitties as her wedding favours. I'm also continually thinking up new Itty Bitty Kitty variations & trying to fit them in too.

9. What is the weirdest thing about you?
Oh this is such a talent (!!!) I can take my socks off just by using my big toes & turn it into a sock ball - no hands required... it all comes back to socks really!

10. What 1 item would you like to buy from another Folksy seller?
Aaaarrggghhhh - this is a tricky question - I have so many favourites.... but if I had the money I would love to buy something from Jemima Lumley - her jewellery is stunning.

11. Where is your most favourite place?
My home with my husband & children around me.


12. What is your favourite book?
I don't get chance to read as much as I'd like at the moment. But last year I read Pobby & Dingan by Ben Rice & it still haunts me I've read it 3 times since. It means so much to me.

13. What is your favourite film?
Sorry - but out of all the films I love this is the only one I can watch over & over again & never tire of it... The Railway Children - it's a classic. I get to watch it on my own too because my family just don't seem to get the lure of it. Jenny Agutter on the platform saying 'Daddy! My Daddy!!'....... I just have to have the tissues at the ready!



14. What is your favourite song?
Ooooh that's a toughie... I have songs of the moment, I have quite an eclectic taste too. Can I have two - please???? Paper Wings by Gillian Welch and The Book Of Right-On by Joanna Newsom

15. If you could do anything for the day what would you do?
Just to be able to travel anywhere - stress free.

16. You are a Superhero, what is your power?
I would be a superhero that could transform into a fly!! The amount of times I would love to be a fly on the wall - well this could be my chance - think of all the things I could spy on!

Check out TheOtherMousie's blog, it's a really lovely read.

Lastly, many thanks to Sarah for letting me feature her and showing you her beautiful wares, especially her itty bitty pirate kitty which I adore.

Our VW Obsession

I was looking through some old photos the other day and realised that we had owned quite a few different VW's in our time, so I thought I would do a little montage to them all. As they were all very loved in one way or another.

First up with have Buster, the one that got away.......we miss you Buster!!

Then we had our bone shaker Beetle which someone prior to us had lowered so much it shook our bones when we went anywhere.

Next is our current van, she once was blue but now is yellow. Depending on which family member you speak to she is either called Buster2 or Rusty.

Our T25, what a van, another one terribly missed. The room for camping inside this one was fantastic. We changed the colour of this one too from white to truck yellow! I liked to call this one Smeg as it looked like a fridge.

These next two were bought for spares. However the pick up was a lovely van to drive. The purple one was undrivable!

So that's our VW obsession in pictures.

I'm a Winner!!!

A few weeks ago I entered a competition on Scavenger Bird's blog, which by the way it a fabulous read so pop over and follow them. The competition was to win a handmade brooch from the lovely Nifty Thrifty......and guess what....I won, I won, I won. Woohoo, doing the happy dance.

Isn't it beautiful? I am so chuffed. NiftyThrifty and ScavengerBird aka JiJi Kiki both have lovely shops over on Folksy.

I have named this one......

RAGE


Or PREGNANT AND HORMONAL

Here's Something She Made Earlier

Recently I had a request from Oddsox over at Folksy for teeny tiny buttons in pairs. She bought loads, which was great ;-) and was such a lovely person to deal with. Well, I received an email from her the other day to tell me that she had listed some items in her shop that she had used my buttons on. They are so cute I wanted to show them on my blog.....and it just shows you what you can do with a smidge of imagination, a dash of talent and some gorgeous Here Pretty Kitty vintage buttons. As you can see I am not adverse to some shameless pluggin!!



So if you love what she makes, and believe me there are so many more cute items in her shop, or you want to have a go at making something with vintage buttons then pop over to our shops. I promise you a very friendly and pleasurable service from us both.

Talulah Blue Wednesday Featuuuurrrreeee

Wednesday is here already!! And that means it's time to feature one of those fantastic folksy folk again. This week I am going a little risque with Talulahblue. I just wish I had the body to wear some of her beautiful items...oh yeah...and the courage.



1. Where do you get your inspiration?
My inspiration is largely from all things burlesque and historical figures, such as Marie Antoinette. I also love seaweed, pebbles and beach-finds.

2. Describe your work space?
I work from a spare bedroom, but spill over into the rest of the house, to the annoyance of Mr Tony!


3. When and Why did you start your crafting business?
My daughter began making pasties {nipple tassels} to sell and I thought, "what can I make to complement these?", Also, I became computer literate enough, to sell online. I began just before Christmas 08, with faux fur wraps.

4. What is your most favourite item that you sell?
This has to be my cocktail hats. You just feel special and uplifted when you wear one.


5. Where else do you sell?
On my daughter's site www.talulahblue.com on ebay and I've tried etsy.

6. Do you do craft fairs and do you think they are a good place to sell?
I'd like to try craft fairs next.

7. Describes your style in 3 words.
Eccentric, poetic, whimsical.

8. What are you working on at the moment?
I'm working on a peach bustle and obe belt, which we'll use as "props" for our model to wear in our bridal burlesque photo shoot.


9. What is the weirdest thing about you?
I become obsessed easily.

10. What 1 item would you like to buy from another Folksy seller?
Many things!! I've seen some glass vintage buttons that I keep thinking about.

11. Where is your most favourite place?
A cottage we visit in Cornwall. It's hidden in a woodland setting, with a stream running through the garden. Total isolation.

12. What is your favourite book?
Hideous Kinky, by Esther Freud.


13. What is your favourite film?
The Haunting, 1963 version, directed by Robert Wise.

14. What is your favourite song?
"Midnight at the Oasis", any version, including brand new heavies.


15. If you could do anything for the day what would you do?
I'd be on a beach exploring rockpools, which I consider to be a worthy pastime!

16. You are a Superhero, what is your power?
Looking into the future and of course flying.

Thanks very much for letting me feature you Talulahblue.

Don't forget I still have a sale on until this Sunday so now's a good time to stock up on those vintage buttons!