By Contributing Columnist Lauren aka Jewels Of Saraswati

Just the other day I was meeting with a good friend and got inspired by an enthusiastic discussion of music….various genres, styles, bands, personas, fashion. Being a professional musician myself (and an Etsian!) things can often get way too focused on business and less focused on fun! So I decided to compile an eclectic collection of some of my favorite musical related items.
Ahhh.. the joy of scoping Etsy for some of the hottest finds!

So hard to resist was this Ukulele by Celentano Woodworks, also a recent featured seller on Etsy.

If you want to see this baby in action, you can find a great video here!

Let’s get graphic…..this Headphones Tee by Critters Jitters will do the trick!

And if you are geared more toward the classical end, try this eco-fabulous
Piano Black Keychain made from a recycled vintage piano by The AntFarm.

These days it seems like the Twitter bird is everywhere….but this bird has a swagger way cooler and it is nursery art! Check out this limited edition print of this Bird Spinning Vinyl II by Barking Bird Art.

Music should always be played from the heart. Now this personalized Hand Stamped Guitar Pick by Gracen’s Designs let’s you do just that……

And if you are lucky enough to have a space just for your music, these casette decals by Beepart are perfect!

Can’t figure out what to do with all those old compositions? Little White Dog came up with a great way to recycle unused music and be fabulously decorative!

So rock on my friends!!!!

Slide show photo courtesy of GalleriaLindaLoft
Edited by Barbra aka All About The Buttons

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!

Photo courtesy of: http://thequietcanadian.Etsy.com

By Contributing ColumnistLindaGJ aka LindaGJ

“It makes me feel good to know I help make the world a better place.”

I participated in an art fair a few days ago. I didn’t notice it at first, but my booth neighbor had something very special that she handmade. At once, my eye’s vision became crystal clear as I focused on the extraordinary art books she had to offer! Well, I guess they are not really art books. She has her own name and meaning for them as you will see.

Her name is Amie Krebbs, originally from Kansas City, Missouri and has lived in Houston, Tx. for 6 years. She came here to be closer to her grandmother who unfortunately passed away 9 months later. Amie has been in Houston ever since. She works as an anesthesia technician, which she is not so passionate about, to say the least!

I found Amie’s Bio in her Etsy shop and thought it was well worth adding:

“Amie, Starfire Wonderchild Extrordinaire, and the crazy person behind this endeavor started perfecting her bookbinding skills in the womb, and had mastered them by birth. Her uncanny ability for expressio and paranormal coincedence means that when you buy a “Gournal” it was meant for you, and no one else.
Every Gournal is made with love and recycled materials. That means good for you AND the earth. And yes, she knows that journal is spelled with a “j”. But these are Gournals. There’s a difference.”

She has a few years of college under her belt, but has only taken two art classes…EVER!!! She was always involved in music.

“Pin pointing when I got started in art is difficult. I was telling people I wanted to be an artist when I was 7 or 8, but didn’t even take an art class until college. I guess it started right around the end of high school. I’d always kept a journal (I’ve been keeping one before I could even write!)
I would dictate to a neighborhood girl that was older than me, “Now write this down…”) but I started sketching and drawing (not very well I might add) doing a lot of collage.”

From the beginnings of her little journals, sketching, and collages, her art progressed to decoupaging furniture and decorating journals for herself, friends, and the occasional mixed media on cardboard.

Binding journals came about when she was in a little shop in Montrose, which is an artsy area of Houston. They were looking for local artists to sell their craft. The only problem was that the shop took 50% of your sales. She would have to sell her journals for $50.00 to make a profit!

“I had to sit down and figure out how to make a book out of materials I had around…cardboard and construction paper. And Gournals was born. I also taught myself how to bind.”

Amie told me that she finds inspiration “EVERYWHERE!!!”
“I know it sounds cliche, but it’s true. A lot of my art incorporates are found objects. I like using trash. It makes me feel good to know that I help make the world a better place just by being able to look at something differently than the average person. Trash into treasure! If I’m ever feeling uninspired (which is a lot lately), I usually start cleaning my studio ( just to see if I need to clear the space to clear my head), then move onto looking through
art books,magazines, and digging around in the dirt. (I love plants, especially herbs. I’m kind of a witch doctor in my spare time.)”

Amie is inspired to create her “gournals” for the love of books and being in the right place at the right time. Other than making these as her passion, she also loves food! She loves to cook! Gardening, anything involving recycling, homeopathic healing and more.

On keeping artists inspired she says: “I really don’t have a way to inspire other artists. I haven’t found my own sure-fire way of finding inspiration. I do not know that you can’t force an idea into existence. So be calm, and if an idea doesn’t leap right out at you, walk away and do something else. It will come out when it is ready.”

I just wanted to conclude this bio by mentioning her shop’s introduction Amie states that “Gournals are my attempt at being green, so all Gournals are made with recycled paper, re-used cardboard, salvaged materials, love, and a little bit of attitude. I even recycle the scraps of cardboard that I don’t use. Every Gournal is unique, but should you want one of your own design, custom orders are welcome.”

Please visit her shop at www.gournals.etsy.com
She may not have a lot listed in her shop, but at the festival, she had so many to choose from! They were are all so unique and very special. Yall should contact her from her shop and have her show you more of her precious creations. Her craftmanship is superb!

By contributing columnist Elle aka: EllesDesigns

It’s Not Art…

As I browsed the newest items on Folksy this week, I came across a really beautiful necklace that caught my eye. The ‘scimitar’ shaped pendant featured gorgeous shades of purple, with just enough silver to reflect the light, and eye catching layers, too. I was mesmerised, and the shop just gets better! Not only does it feature really beautiful, contemporary jewellery, they are all made with recycled materials too!

I decided to talk to the shop owner about their new business, and how it was going! Annie started making jewellery to wear herself, and eventually began giving it to friends and family. They were really impressed with her talents, and suggested she start selling online…it’s a big first step, though! I really struggled with gaining the confidence to list my items, but Annie didn’t have the same problem. Within a week she has created a shop on both Folksy and Misi, and started making sales!
Her inspiration for pieces often comes from what she has in the house to craft with. As well as unwanted CDs, which created the gorgeous necklace that attracted my attention, she has made pieces with dominoes, chess pieces, mah jong tiles, draughts pieces, and bottle tops. Things that would usually be thrown away are transformed into really gorgeous, unique pieces.

And the name? It‘s Not Art  was inspired by a stamp, she recalls. “Lots of people get really precious about ‘art’ and so on, and I liked the self-deprecating tone of the stamp and adopted it as my name”. It’s certainly a name I think you’ll be seeing a lot of, the whole collection is utterly gorgeous!

I’m off to look for more new talent on Folksy, but let me know what you think of Annie’s work…I’m in love with it! It’s definitely on my wish list.

Photo courtesy of Gypsy Pottery

I’m Nikki and I am the brain (so to say) behind the Sugar Shox Crafts name and Etsy shop (http://sugarshoxcrafts.etsy.com).

I’ve loved making things since I was a little girl, but didn’t really jump very far into crafting until my sophomore year of college when I made my very first purse and realized that I could really make anything I wanted as long as I had patience. My first love is sewing, and I retaught myself how to use a sewing machine over the years. I also adore working with polymer clay (you can make ANYTHING you can think of out of polymer clay) and making fun-themed jewelry.

Food and recycling are my favorite motifs, as you can most likely tell from my shop’s items. Strangely enough, making stuffed food has helped me curb my food-happy cravings. Recycling is the heart behind my wallets and many of my home decorations—I always like to find new uses for things, and am a sucker for colorful designs. From books that I turn into CD wallets to candy packaging I turn into wallets, I believe there is a second life for everything!

I have found that the perfect companion to having my Etsy shop is writing about crafting and my fellow artisans. I have a degree in journalism and always dreamed of being able to write about crafting (something I could never do at the newspapers I worked at), so I’m very grateful to Sue and Linda of Indie Smiles for giving me a shot! I love writing features on the handmade community and spotlights on items and sellers to help others get their name out there—promoting can be a challenge, so I’m donating my writing skills to help out.

My blog is at http://sugarshoxcrafts.blogspot.com, and my shop’s Facebook page is http://facebook.com/sugarshoxcrafts . Come on down!

ARTICLES by SugarShoxCrafts;

I live in Exeter, Devon with my husband, two very young girls and sleepy cat. My background degree and training is in art and textiles, I graduated from Leeds University intending to become an art therapist, however, life got in the way and I retrained as a mental health worker and my artist side took a back seat for several years

Moving to Devon in 2003 gave me the opportunity to take my art more seriously and I studied stained glass techniques for 2 years (as an evening course with Exeter College) and before I knew it enough friends and acquaintances were commissioning me for me to make a business from it. I completely fell in love with the process of making stained glass windows and the way you can use colour and line really appeal to me.

Last year saw me return to practicing as a mixed media artist and I am beginning to make a name for myself in the recycled art movement making mosaics from scrap glass, found objects and broken costume jewellery

My style has always been expressionist and bold. I make simple striking designs with bold colour and strong lines, leaning towards abstraction, or at the least highly stylised. I love the Art Deco period and find the stylised forms very pleasing. I am also greatly inspired by the local countryside and coast and I have a keen interest in the environment and all my mixed media work used recycled materials.

You can find me in my studio (shed with a plastic roof, built with love by my dad!) and my work in galleries around the South West, on my Folksy shop or on my website. I also have a blog which I update with my works in progress and I have been known to tweet!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/amyorangejuice

ARTICLES by AmyOrangeJuice

By Contributing Columnist AmyMark aka AmyOrangeJuice

I had not participated in formal artistic activities for 8 years, until the TRAIL collective was brought to my attention. Now in its 6th year this is an artist collective which exhibits sculptures all along the sea front of Teignmouth (Devon, South West England). The only conditions to exhibit are that the sculpture must be made out of at least 70% recycled materials and have an environmental message. The collective is very inclusive and there are quite well known artists, through to local community support groups, schools and youth groups.

The standard of the work was amazingly high (the Eden Project in Cornwall are currently exhibiting one of the sculptures, by The Hub Outdoor Art Group) and I was impressed with what people who don’t necessarily have an art background can produce when given a non-elitist forum to show their work. The diversity of the work produced is amazing too, from knitted Bees in the gardens at Dawlish, to paper mache sculptures of sea monsters and everything else in between! The fact that the public enjoying a day on the beach can interact with the exhibition by voting on the one they like best is fantastic! There is a public vote prize and a sponsor prize each year, so a real incentive to make something memorable.

This collective really fired my imagination; maybe because my husband is an environmental scientist, maybe because I have always been of a make do and mend mentality. Whatever it was, I embarked on a 120cm square mosaic of a plankton bloom, made from waste glass from my stained glass business and my glass merchant. I was very nervous about showing my work (I had found university had knocked my creative spirit out of me and I had not exhibited since I was 24). But the sight of my piece glinting in the sunshine on the sea front really inspired me and gave me more confidence than I could of hoped for.

I also found that creating one thing lead to other and I found myself back in the creative process. I had used bottle tops filled with shells and sparkly found objects (to represent plankton on the panel) and when a friend suggested I should turn them into brooches my best selling product was conceived (since that date I have sold over 200). I also found a love of mosaic making, which I had never really thought of before and I have developed my own mixed media style of mosaic making; using waste glass and broken costume jewelery and it is this type of recycled art that I am now creating for exhibitions.

I am so thrilled to be part of the recycled art movement and the TRAIL (Teignmouth Recycled Art In Landscape) collective and my enthusiasm seems to be paying off because I have 10 mosaic panels of plankton showing at the Recycling Exhibition at Otterton Mill and a panel depicting 8 plankton and a 45 boat mobile showing at TRAIL Inside.

Both exhibitions are free, so if you are in the area please pop along. And please remember, no matter how low your confidence, never turn down a chance to be creative, or even start your own community art project, what have you got to loose?

To find out more about TRAIL got to www.TRAIL.org.co.uk
‘Recycling’, running from 6th March for 6 weeks, Otterton Mill, Otterton, South Devon, England.
‘Trail Inside’, running from 15th March for 2 weeks, Ariel Centre, Totnes, Devon, England.

Pic Courtesy of www.folksy.com/shops/clothwood

Enjoy a sampling of the creations from “The Trail”

By Contributing Columnist Natalie aka HarveyCraftyCards

For my 1st article I have interviewed a fellow Folksy shop owner Sam also known as Pants from a wonderful shop called Pantsandpaper I love this shop and was actually the 1st shop I brought something from so seems quite fitting. Sam stock fabulous handmade items made from recycled fabrics the items that Sam comes up with are truly amazing and very unique Sam has been able to design a style that is very distinctive and loved by all thank you Sam for taking the time to be interviewed!

So here goes
When did you open your shop? & How many sales?

I first opened my shop on Folksy in march 2009. I did not really expect any sales but thought I would pop a few items on there to see how it went. I had three sales over a few months. At the end of October I decided to start getting more involved, chatting on the forums, stocking my shop and promoting. I felt that it was time to really make a go of it. It certainly paid off and over Christmas it was a mad rush with sales coming in. To date my sales have reached 108 and I am so thrilled. It is hard work and a lot more than just stocking your shop and waiting to see.

What got you to start making things?

I started making at a very young age. I spent a lot of time with my Grandma in her cottage and she did not have a TV. She used to keep a big bag of making bits for me. I used to love sewing on her old singer machine and I still have it. She taught me so much and the love of making has never left me and I have certainly passed it on to my children.

Where you got your inspiration?

I look for inspiration from all sorts of places and I read hundreds of books. I have always looked to find my own style and my own place in the crafting world and it is something that I found frustrating at first. Now I believe I have found me and I think my items are recognisable as mine.

How you got your shops name?

PantsandPaper name grew from Hubby callling me sexy pants – later shortened to pants. I have a love of collaging and have stacks and stacks of paper tucked just about everywhere. I was always covered in glue and bits of paper – so the name Pants and Paper was born.

How did you feel when you found out you were a featured seller?

I was so so excited about being a featured seller on Folksy. I must admit I used to sit there every Sunday waiting for the featured sellers to change, it was a bit like waiting for the lottery. The week I was featured seller I must have jumped and screamed around the room most of the evening. Im not sure my family knew what all the fuss was about.

Many thanks Sam was lovely catching up and finding out a little more about the fab people behind the fantastic shops check out Pantsandpaper for some truly unique gifts and items.

Tracy Smith of Cinnamon Jewellery

I have to be honest, sewing is not one of my favourite things, in fact if at all possible, I avoid it like the plague. I can sew I just choose not to. Hem of your trousers come undone? No need to get out the needle and thread, just use safety pins! See what I mean!

Needlework classes at school were interesting. The first thing we had to make was a needlework bag to keep everything in. Lets just say the way my foot hit that peddle on the sewing machine wouldn’t have put a boy racer to shame at a green light. I made various items of clothing, including a checked granddad shirt (hideous) and a voluminous blue skirt (even more hideous). I never wore either of them and was very relieved when I could drop the Needlework class and try woodwork instead. My efforts there resulted in an “interesting” but rather shapeless piece of wood, but at least it was lovely and smooth ( I was very good at sanding apparently). I’m so glad I eventually found my “calling” in beads and wire! Strangely, I still have the needlecase I made for my Mum years ago. It’s tucked away in the sewing tin that I never open……

I asked three Folksy sellers who do enjoy sewing to let me into the secret of the attraction of the world of needles and thread and sewing machines.

Zoe of Top Floor Treasures has always wanted to be an artist/crafter since she was a young girl. She uses beautiful fabrics to make pencil cases and cushions. “I love working with printed fabrics that have a design that I love; the best part is seeing the finished product and feeling proud of what I have created. It’s lovely when you create something and someone wants to buy it, that’s the biggest compliment you can get and is a great feeling!”

Gemma of SugarandRhubarb is inspired by fabric prints and life’s little happy moments. She takes beautiful fabrics and turns them into tea cosies, take-away cup huggers and iPhone covers. She has just lauched her new range of cute Ninja Kitties on Folksy. Gemma loves the sense of achievement she felt when she got a gold star from the teacher when she was at school and when she had finally finished a piece of work that had taken a long time to do. “I get this same buzz when I sew. The process of thinking of a design, figuring out how to create it and then the end result is so rewarding, it may take a while and several moments of throwing unsuccessful attempts across the room, but to be able to create something beautiful gives me that same sense of achievement that I felt as a child. Being a part of a community like Folksy makes it even better, you can share ideas and support and you really feel that there are fellow craftsters out there rooting for you to do well. My favorite moment is when a customer buys an item and then takes the time to thank you for it. As each of my items are handmade I become attached to them so it’s lovely to know that someone else is enjoying it as much as I did making it.”

Kate of Bluebell and Rosie makes cushions and purse and also sells sewing supplies. She likes the way sewing takes her away from the stresses and strains of everyday life. “I love being able to get lost in the moment. I find it doesn’t matter whether I make something thats useable/wearable etc – its the whole process of making that I find really therapeutic and a great way to relax.”

Being handy with a needle and thread means recycling is an important part of creating for Zoe, Gemma and Kate.

Zoe recycles materials if she has enough for the task in hand. “I’ve used old jeans to make bags, ribbons from other bought items get re-used. At the moment I’m working on some magnets which feature scraps of a lovely fabric that used to be one of my daughter’s blouses!” She also uses buttons from old clothes in other projects.

Gemma gets a particular buzz from using fabrics that other people might have just thrown away. “When I was younger I’d regularly clear out my wardrobe for new items (My name’s Gemma and I’m a shopping addict) and send the unwanted clothes to charity shops, now they become a part of my fabric hoard, and I love that. I love being able to make a cosy or lavender bag out of something that was once unwanted by myself or someone else. If anyone is having a wardrobe clearout I’m usually there stroking the clothes or inspecting the print, the same happens if I go near a charity shop!

I never throw out the scraps that I create whilst sewing new goodies. I have a box filled with randomly shaped ends of fabric that I find are perfect for those appliqué moments. It’s especially satisfying when you find a scrap from a yardage you had months ago and, even if it’s the size of a penny, to be able to use it in another project makes me really happy.”

Kate has been given a lot of fabric which she recycles. “I’ve not been sewing for long but I have a stash of materials passed to me from my mother in law which she has had for years and I’m constantly on the lookout in charity shops for any materials I might be able to use.”

It’s not just the haberdashery store that provides a source for new supplies. There are lots of other sources to increase your stash.

Zoe: “The materials I use come from a variety of places, such as charity shops, online auction sites, fabric websites, local craft shops, and I’m also given things by friends that they think I might be able to use. I can happily spend hours looking at fabric websites wishing I had enough money to just buy everything they have!”

If fabric obssessed Gemma had the money she would build another house just to store all of her finds, “colour-coded obviously!” She is always on the look out for pieces to add to her collection and will find any opportunity to buy or nip into a fabric shop. “The unexpected pleasant surprises come from eBay or online stores like Fabric Rehab. Otherwise my favourite places to spend an afternoon are Kirkgate Market in Leeds and Ditto Fabrics in the North Laines in Brighton. I bought some stunning Paul Smith and D&G fabric from them in their sales which I can’t wait to use. Plus charity shops, be it old clothes or pillow cases there’s always a fabric treat to be found, my best find was a duvet cover on sale for 99p which will make some lovely homeware goodies and toddler dresses.”

Kate loves the sales for her fabric finds. “I’m in the process of building up a varied fabric stash so I’ve got fabrics from Ikea, Fabric Rehab, Gaga Fabrics and Laura Ashley.”

Thank you to Zoe, Gemma and Kate. When I look at the lovely things in their slideshow it’s possible to make with a needle and thread a small part of me wishes I liked to sew. It’s only a very small part though!

Pic courtesy of Hello Monkey