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Slideshow Shropshire Rose copyrighted to Alienor Bonnard

By editor Susan Parker Rosen

When Amy of Amy Orange Juice wrote her first article in this series about the wonderful idea of touring the Uk I asked if she would welcome my contribution about a charming historic town that draws many tourists in the Uk, a town that also held the elusive key to yours truly family history, Bridgnorth, located in lovely Shropshire county.

Bridgnorth was no only difficult to find when I was doing this history, due to the town name that dropped it’s E from the word Bridge. When I started my research years ago, Google didn’t give you the option of the varied spelling of words, therefore when I finally did find the lovely town through Google Uk the pieces of the puzzle started to come together Bridgnorth was the major piece I needed.

Should you have the opportunity to travel to Bridgnorth, it can be a dream come true as a step back in time to the 1800s and the Victorian age; during the search for more answers in the quest for my great grandfathers property, it certainly became that and more to me.

You’ll experience the high and low town sections of Bridgnorth, with the extreme incline of a delightful short train that allows you to sight see both sides of the town rather easily, the train ride was not only a delight in itself, but the views were amazing! This is a must see in your travels and I’m sure you’ll find that walking the streets of Bridgnorth will certainly take you back in time. Back to the 1800s when the streets were of dirt and the town offered it’s weekly Town Fair, with farm goods, etc. by the way, that sameTown Fair is still offered today!

It’s an experience that provided me with goosebumps imagining the Parker family living at the end of High Street observing and perhaps taking part in the weekly Town Fair!

Besides the huge cobblestone streets, the authentic low ceiling inns and the old time Railroad lift train that carried it’s passengers up the steep hill to and fro the high and low levels of town.

What a quaint step back into history. Since architecture is an art, this depicts the unusual buildings that you will feast your eyes on in Bridgnorth. This one, once a fire hall is a place where my ancestors, the Parkers, lived at one time! Provided as a service to me by Mr. Gwynne Chadwick who unselfishly assisted me in finding the link to my family prior, to all of the information that is provided today online and also sent me pictures years prior to mny visit. Gwynne has published a book of Newspaper Articles in Bridgnorth and is deep entrenched in that towns history.

You will also find delight in the country side that surronds the outskirts of town are literally filled to the brim with hills and valleys of many sheep and other farm animals. The delightful wooly animals just bring a smile to ones faces!

Sweet sheep by ColinsCreatures

The Town itself is delightful at every turn, every street!

Map Wallet By Marinuri

Visiting historic homes that my family once resided, and walking the same streets that ancestors had once strolled during the 1800s was amazingly fulfilling. Discovering the horse farm where one of the larger mystery pieces of my family tree resided. All of that combined with the charm of the town, the teas along with clotted cream and biscuits, the pub cuisine, etc. all made for a lovely trip that I’m hoping that you have the opportunity to visit Bridgnorth one day, either in person or through the lovely handmade pieces displayed here today.

Part of a series from Amy Orange Juice:
http://www.indiesmiles.com/uk-grand-tour-part-1-cornwall/

By contributing columnist Konnie aka Konnie Kappow
Although they have taken me a bit longer to get through than I had anticipated I’m really enjoying my interviews with male sellers on UK Craft marketplace Folksy!

Following my interview with Tree Gems, it was a pleasure indeed to interview Dan Stanley of Fluffy Thoughts.
Dan is a graphic designer/ illustrator and has been selling illustrated products for the last year. His company is called ‘Fluffy Thoughts’ and so far he has made greeting cards, badges, t-shirts and pendants as well as some prints.

I had definitely noticed Dan’s designs on Folksy before because they’re really cute and quirky and I liked his sense of humour!

Name: Dan Stanley
Age: 25
From: London
Favourite colour: Green
Favourite animal: Manatee
Favourite band: AFI
Favourite movie: Princess Mononoke
Favourite book: Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

How did you learn your craft?
I studied Graphic Design, but I have just been doodling random things since I was a kid.

Your eureka moment – tell us about your favourite thing you have ever made?
My favourite thing is probably my ‘crazy head t-shirt’ it’s full of bright coloured creatures pouring out of someone’s head.

Is crafting what you do full time or do you have a Clark Kent style alter-ego?
One day I hopefully will own a shop and be selling all my illustrated products, but for now I work in an office as a designer as well as freelancing too.

Where do you do your crafting?
Just at home, in the evenings and on weekends with a big mug of tea and a variety of biscuits.

What/ Who are your inspirations?
I have a big fascination with Japanese art and culture, I also love all the art toys that are popular at the moment and their illustrators, especially Tado, Bubi Au Yeung, Tara Mcpherson and Amanda Visell.

Tell us why you think there are far more female than male crafters?
Perhaps it goes back to when we were children, while the girls were making things inside, the boys were breaking things outside…

Tell us something suprising about yourself (non craft related)?
I have very bendy thumbs.

What’s the manliest thing you make?
My Muffinator character, grr.

What’s the least manly thing you make?
Everything else..

What would you say to encourage more men to craft?
It’s fun and let’s you unleash your creativity.

To find out more about Dan and Fluffy thoughts click on these links:
Folksy Shop
Website
Twitter
Facebook

By Publisher Sue aka Alongcomesmary
If you haven’t found Twitter you are missing out! Because now there is a new website brought to you by Indiesmiles.com, a twitter app of sorts that provides tweets from only handmade and vintage shops! Happy Made Tweets finds those who post on twitter about Etsy, Folksy, Artifre and Zibbet!

If you haven’t had a relationship with Happy Made Tweets then you haven’t found the handmade and vintage FUN! When visiting Indiesmiles sister website this morning, some tweets stood our and caught attention! The following Tweets provide some insight as to which tweets can be eye catchers and helpful when promoting your business!

It’s amazing to watch Happy Made Tweets, because it shows that most people that are promoting on Twitter seem to be Tweeting about Etsy shops. Where are all the sellers from the various other venues? If you sell on another website, such as Zibbet, your tweets will show up on Happy Made Tweets as well, so use Twitter to your advantage and promote away!

The following Tweets are a great example of what you can do to not only get your shop and your items noticed, but how you can be a thoughtful Tweeter!

“JACKSKNITS 10% off all items in my folksy shop until 25/6/10 …..please message me first http://www.folksy.com/shop/jacksknits ”
What a great way to get the word out about her sale!

Jacky from Folksy indicated that custom orders are always welcomed!

“AnnabelBurton I have been busy! >http://www.folksy.com/shops/cherrytree”

“I love combining sewing, knitting and crochet altogether and this bag combines all three. I like the fact that the strap unties so can be adjusted and is plenty long enough to wear across the body.

Sometimes general Tweets also can grab people’s attention!

“monikadesign @demure4you TY so much! RT So Cute! RT @monikadesign: NEW! Ladybug Coasters set of 4 by MonikaDesign on #Etsy http://ow.ly/1Xsyx #handmade”

Monikadesign is a lucky gal, there were many Etsy tweets, but this one is an eye catcher!
Seems that Indiesmiles it not the only place where MonikaDesign’s is featured, seems that she was interviewed by
“Woman’s First” magazine in 2009! Congrats Monikadesign’s!

RT help others, it’s always a nice way to PIF on Twitter!

“sisterjewelry SJ’’s Pink Lemonade Watch http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=1336031 ”

“I feel very honored.I’d love to be in your article.Please send me a link, and Ill make sure it gets around to others….”
Giving your item a catchy name often makes people curious!

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By contributing columnist Konnie aka Konnie Kappow

Part three of my Crafty Men series is an interview with the man behind Folksy shop Tree Gems. A true craftsman and thoroughly nice chap; I loved reading his answers to my questions and I hope you will too!

Name: Stewart Would (Tree Gems on Folksy)
Age: Mature
From: near Hornsea in Holderness, East Riding of Yorkshire
Favourite movie: Probably West Side Story
Favourite book: I have a massive collection of books but most are non-fiction.

…..Honestly, nothing springs immediately to mind for [favourite colour, animal or band]. The fact that I had to rack my brains for five minutes suggests that any answer here would have been artificial. Am I unusual? My music collection centres around the blues, but ranges through almost all genres but I don’t know much about Acid House or Grunge!!

How did you learn your craft?

I’m sure I took an interest as a child, when my dad was working with wood around the house doing what was later called DIY. I enjoyed woodwork at senior school and did well at GCE level (No ‘S’ in those days), winning the year prize for the subject. It was when I retired from a mainly desk-bound job that I set up my wood workshop. Books, magazines and websites have been my main source of learning; those, plus actually having a go and trying new techniques.

Your eureka moment – tell us about your favourite thing you have ever made?

A few years ago I made a very large kitchen dresser, for my step-daughter, in English Oak; in fact the biggest piece I have ever done. Over the weeks I worked on it, all I ever saw were little details, problems and challenges. It was only when I finally assembled the piece of furniture on site, that I had the room and time to step back to look, and see it in its entirety. I was honestly amazed that I had made such a thing. ‘Eureka moment’ is a good description.

Your “D’oh!” moment – tell us about you biggest crafting disaster.

Woodturning a bowl on my lathe one day, I was being experimental and aiming to retain a square surround whilst hollowing out a circular centre. At a few hundred revolutions per minute, the corners of the square tend to ‘disappear’. After quite some time of intense concentration, Radio Four piped up with a reference to Blues singer Blind Willie McTell (see answer about musical taste) which, for a split second distracted me. Without going into too much detail, I had to have a dozen stitches in two fingers. Ouch!

Is crafting what you do full time or do you have a Clark Kent style alter-ego?

I’m extremely lucky in that there is no pressure on me to do my craft work. It’s an extension of the hobby that I love. I go to my workshop when I feel like it. I’m fully supported by my wife in what I do, and I support her in her passion for knitting. She has no issue over my growing stash of wood, and I have none over her wool stash. My other interests include family history research, trying to play the guitar, motor cycling and reading motor cycle travel books; my lovely grandchildren and doing voluntary work at the local museum.

Where do you do your crafting?

My workshop is in the garage, with a buzzer from the kitchen to call me in for regular refreshments!

Tell us a bit about your crafting philosophy (e.g. environmental, heritage, family, therapy!)

I do enjoy using wood that a traditional cabinetmaker wouldn’t even look at; wood with what is often seen as faults – knots, twisted grain, fungal staining and so on. I do prefer home grown timbers; yew and figured elm or oak especially. If it’s ‘found’ or recycled, so much the better.

As for style, the range of things I have made is so wide, from tiny wooden earrings to a bedroom suite, that it’s difficult to categorise, but I have a tendency towards what might be called rustic, retaining the bark edging on some of my work, especially boxes.

Tell us why you think there are far more female than male crafters?

Mmmm. Difficult. Folksy certainly suggests that’s the case. Could it be that there are more young mothers trying to supplement their income from home?
The woodworking community www.lumberjocks.com of which I am a member, has 20,000 members, most of whom are male. However, that’s not a craft selling site.

Tell us something surprising about yourself (non craft related)?

We’ve lived without a television for fifteen years, and have no yearning for one whatsoever.

What’s the manliest thing you make?

Some of my wooden finger rings are considered to be quite manly, as is this more unusual spark plug computer memory stick.

And here’s a manly jewellery / keepsake box I made for me.

What’s the least manly thing you make?

Since ‘Diamonds are a girl’s best friend’, it’s got to be my pendant memory stick set with a diamond, now on Folksy.

What would you say to encourage more men to craft?

Turn off your television and make something. Have a go. You might be surprised at what you can achieve!

You can check out more of Stewart’s work at his folksy shop.

Next in the Crafty Men Series is an interview with Jamie Brind aka prototyper of Glowbiles!

Don’t forget to check out the previous interviews with Nosuch Disco and Steam Punk Glass too!

By contributing columnist Konnie aka Konnie Kappow

Name: Glenn Godden
Favourite colour: Blue
Favourite animal: Cats and Hedgehogs
Favourite band: That’s a tough one as music is so important to me. In a ‘glassy’ context I’d have to say Emilie Autumn due to an odd twist of fate that had me searching for glass buttons after hearing her albums, which led to me discovering flamework. In the workshop though I also listen to a lot of Collide albums; they seem to have just the right ‘flow’ to match hot glass, I know I play them a lot as the CD cases are wrecked! Toyah is also great to get in the frame of mind for space marbles!
Favourite movie: Again far too many to pick one, but I’d probably have to say Plunket and McLain because more people should go and watch it and turn it into the cult film is should have become!

How did you learn your craft?
I’ve always crafted and made things, usually functional items. I’ve wanted to work glass ever since I was a kid seeing the local ‘glass animal man’s’ work, but whenever I looked I could only find fusing lessons and that didn’t appeal. I went on to do a lot of woodwork projects, and got quite deeply into guilding and using very old techniques of lacquering and decorative finishes with traditional materials, but none of them really felt like they ‘fitted’ me.

The whole way I got into glass was odd, like any major changes that have happed in my life they have been due to tiny and bizarre chains of events. I’d slipped into the usual bloke routine of going to work, coming home and crashing out and got really worn down by the day to day. This is going to sound mad, but it was the chance discovery of Emilie Autumns albums that gave me a much needed kick up the proverbial! I don’t know why, but hearing them hit something in me – it really felt like I’d just been woken up by someone sticking mental electric shocks through my head! I suddenly realised how I’d stopped living and creating and was just existing. From then on I went back to making things and began crafting like mad, trying things I’d never dared to do; while trying to make a frock coat (I’ve made two now and realise tailoring isn’t my thing!) I wanted some glass buttons. I couldn’t find exactly what I want but while searching stumbled over lampworking and knew it was something I wanted to try.
I couldn’t afford to get the basic kit and lessons, so I went for the kit and some good books as I know I learn best by trying things out. I really haven’t looked back since; it just feels so ‘right’ as a medium.
I am still learning though, there is always a new glass technique to learn. I chat to other lampworkers online all over the world, swapping ideas and inspiration. I don’t think it’s a medium you can ever stop learning about and it’s very humbling. I feel like I am on a very exciting journey of discovery unlike anything I’ve ever done before.

There is a very ‘Zen’ thing about glass; I always feel that each thing I make (especially marbles) is teaching me something to make the next one better. When it goes wrong you have to learn to accept it and move onto the next one.

Your eureka moment – tell us about your favourite thing you have ever made?
There are lots of little ones along the way. One of my favourites was the first marble I put an opal inside; it worked so well and even had four tiny bubbles circling it like little moons which weren’t planned. Before that an object that was a ‘Eureka’ was a little red vortex. I didn’t know what to do with it, naturally it ‘wanted’ to be a marble but I didn’t think anyone would be interested in marbles so tried to force it to be a bead. A few days later I started making my first marbles which opened up a whole different way of thinking and working with glass.

Your “D’oh!” moment – tell us about you biggest crafting disaster
I used to do a lot of gold-leaf work. I was making a golf leaf chess board and there was a slight imperfection in one of the squares. Did you ever see the episode of ‘Father Ted’ when they had a car that had a slight dent? I though I should leave it alone, but tried to fix it, which made the small error worse, then the whole square needed redoing, which then didn’t match the rest of the squares. It’s still hidden in the back of my shed!

Is crafting what you do full time, or do you have a Clark Kent style alter-ego?
At the moment I have to do a rather dull but stressful job, but it’s really glass that dominates my mind. I like to think of myself as a glass artist who’s doing a part-time job to pay the rent, it just happens that at the moment it’s full time but it’s something I actively want to change.

Where do you do your crafting?
I have two workshops, one is a rather dusty shed for the messy jobs, and a tiny spare room converted to a glass studio.

Tell us a bit about your crafting philosophy (e.g. environmental, heritage, family, therapy!)
I really personally like the Victorian/Edwardian design ethic. There weren’t the minimalist lines and they were proud to add flourishes to otherwise boring functional items. You can see the pride in their workmanship and what they made.

Tell us why you think there are far more female than male crafters?
I really don’t know! The more I think about it the less excuse I can think of why there is this difference between the sexes!

What’s the manliest thing you make?
Well glass handled razors and shaving brushes! Although I’ve never yet sold one directly to a bloke, they are usually bought as a gift which is really nice.

What’s the least manly thing you make?
Lots of flower things! Flower pendants, flower bottle stoppers, all in glass! They are quite challenging but are one of my favourite things to make at the moment because of that!

What would you say to encourage more men to craft?
I’d ask what they did this week, can they show something that they produced. I remember a woodworking TV series years ago where the presenter had a motto ‘I too something shall make, and enjoy in the making off’ or something like that. Making is a kind of meditation, and at the end of it – however wonky or crooked what you make might be – you can say ‘I did this; I created this and brought something new to the world.’

And if that doesn’t work I’d point out that I spend my time in front of a flame thrower with molten Pyrex glass inches from my fingertips – how cool is that!

You can check out Glenn’s work on Folksy, Etsy or his own website (I know what I’m getting my Dad for Father’s Day!)

Don’t forget to check out the first interview with Dave Burgess aka The Nosuch Disco!Next in the Crafty Men series is an interview with Stewart Would aka Tree Gems!

Image courtesy of the Rainbowroom

By Contributing Columnist AmyMark aka AmyOrangeJuice