Supporting the world of artisans and the handmade....

As an artisan I take great care and time to make each and every piece no matter how big or small it is.
I believe a part of my personal identity goes into that piece and stays within in it where ever it may end up. 
When someone falls in love with that piece or buys it for someone they know will love it, I am honoured to be a part of that emotion. 
A thing made by hand is just that...made by someone, one persons own hands and if you know it or not it is a connection to that artisans creative soul.
Sure, you see the finished piece, but I urge you to look a bit deeper into handmade, be it a painting, a sculpture, fibre arts, jewlery, ceramics, whatever.
That 'thing' has been enticed from deep within. From thought to design to the actual process of making, which in most cases takes hours, days and sometimes months to finish.
Search out these lovely things from small galleries, shops and shows and remember a few of these thoughts when you're out and about.

I am offering free shipping worldwide in my shop from now until the end of December!

you can find my shop here

New in the shop today...

 Presenting Miss Hazel the field mouse.

Etsy finds...

There's something special about getting a package in the post.

In this day and age of online, digital bla bla bla it's so nice to 

see a hand written, brown paper parcel in the mailbox.

Especially when it has that big gold Royal Mail stamp on it!

...I'm always intrigued by the return address' in the UK...

Maybe it's the child in me that thinks of Dr Doolittle's house in Puddleby on the Marsh.
Maybe the actual place isn't the storybook English village I imagine but it's fun to think that.
I just sent off a sculpture to an address of 7 Horsecart Lane...How pretty does that sound?
Anyway, back to my package...
I love when someone take the time to wrap up their product in a pretty or interesting way...

You would think I ordered the finest linen in Provence the way its wrapped.
But alas! it is one of my favourite things to do sculptures on...

Antique wooden bobbins from England!
Have a look in Brocanteart's shop if you are at all interested in vintage
decorative antiques, textiles and haberdashery (love that old world word!)
If they could only talk...

Maybe they would tell the tails of the grand fabric mills that once dotted the
countryside of the UK.

(image from Henry Clark on Wikipedia of the Gilford Mill in Northern Ireland)
I love a thing with history...

They are perfect little stands for my felted pieces...

(...who have since gone on to other places.)
Two days later I received another package of something else I couldn't resist on Etsy...
Again, packaged in a gorgeous little morsel of a box...

Reminded me of something my grandma would have kept a precious ring in...

In this case it was this lovely resin cameo...

Delicate shades of carnelian and ivory...

This from a seller who has all sorts of cool vintage treasures...
Have a look here
Pinkys of Saratoga Springs in the US.
So there you go...a few great little finds from our beloved Etsy packaged with care and thought!

PS
(If you have any nice wooden spools you might want to de-stash in exchange
for a sculpture, let me know!)

Right on schedule...

It's 9 a.m and Agnes is right on time for the #5 bus to Beaconhill...

 She's been up since 6 prepping for her Easter visit to friends and family...

 ...In her little bag she's got treats for the kiddies...

 ...And on such a glorious spring day she can't help but smile!

 Sensible shoes and her dogwood flower pin and she's ready to go...

 ...now if that darn bus would only get here on time!

 (Agnes is up and ready to go in my Etsy shop)

Whew!

Well like I said last week, it's seems as if I've been busy enough with

Other things that I can barely keep up with posting much but

there is no shortage of things going on in the studio / lab.

Besides trying to get a few items in the new shop, 

I've been putting up a few more things in my Etsy shop.

So I'll do a wee bit of self promotion and give you a preview

of what's been going on...

Thanks for having a look!
"The Dance"

 "December"
needle felted 'painting'

Birch bark inspired wet felted wrist cuffs...

"The Owl and the Pussycat"

All available in my shop here

I've got mail!

I love to see something in the post with this big gold stamp from the UK on it...

This is the third print I've purchased from an artist whom I've never met

but feel a kindred spirit to...

I spoke the other day of the famous naturalist / botanical artist Anna Maria Sybilla Merian

who was able to bring to life the world around her through her paintings.

I have the same thoughts about Val.

Her way of capturing the natural beauty of the flora and fauna

 of  Britain is stunning and gentle.

Just look at this lovely print I just received of a Thrush...

My photos don't do it justice but believe me, it's even more beautiful in real life.

The colours, the texture, the expression in the birds eye and the light are what call to me...

She's also making beautiful little books and woodcut prints which are all available in her etsy shop .

I have the perfect vintage frame that I'm going to put it in.

Thanks Val!

(p.s she also has a blog you can follow here )

 



And yet more woolens...

Speaking of wool...



I give to you...Myrtle.

Felted full of softness and thoughtfulness...right down to her toes... 

(Contemplating life in my Etsy shop)

 

I've got mail!

Have I ever mentioned the fact that I love whoever began Etsy?

For those of you unfamiliar with this site, it is a showcase for all

things handmade, collectible, craft supplies and

 thousands of..just...beautiful stuff.

If you are an artist or crafts person, this is a great place to showcase

your work for next to nothing.

The website can go into more detail.

ANYWAY... I have been a faithful Etsy buyer and seller for a few years

now and just the other day I received a package from one

of those fantastic suppliers.

Dory of Worthy Goods Textiles has beautiful organic fabric,

fleece and some amazing vintage items in her shop.

It was these vintage bobbin spools which caught my eye...

They have a beautiful, dark patina and I have big plans for them.

We'll see if time allows for the creative ideas I'm trying to marry them with.

Dory even threw in an extra spool as a gift.

Thank you!

Have a look at her shop and go get lost on Etsy...

you won't be disappointed!

(P.S...from now until December 7th, I'm offering FREE SHIPPING!)