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What’s Folksy?
By Columnist Tracy Smith of Cinnamon Jewellery
What’s Folksy?” you may ask! Folksy is a UK based website similar to Etsy whose “mission is to support craft and design talent”. It’s a place for UK sellers to showcase and sell their creations, supporting the ethic that “making stuff is fun”. I think we all agree with that!
Folksy started in 2008 and is increasing it’s number of sellers and buyers everyday. Buyers aren’t just limited to the UK, with many sellers posting internationally, sales are made to Australia, the United States and Europe regularly. The good folk at Folksy are hoping to open up to sellers from abroad in the future too. Payments are made by PayPal, keeping things nice and simple for selling worldwide.
With a variety of categories from Art and Photography, Homeware, Jewellery, Gadgets and Geekery, Materials (supplies) to Stationery there’s something for everyone. In future articles I will be focusing on particular categories and showcasing the work of the many talented crafters and designers to be found on Folksy.
The Folksy homepage shows a selection of handmade items and has a weekly themed Featured Items and a Featured Sellers section. There is a “Makes” page showing how-tos for various crafts ranging from felting and making a fascinator to wax batik printed paper!
Although much smaller than Etsy, Folksy has a lively forum, with many friendly and supportive fellow sellers. There’s also a section called UK Events allowing Folksy sellers to let others know about craft and design events they are organising or attending.
Several Folksy sellers also use their shops to support local charities. The Cancer Research UK shop sells a selection of handmade items made available by Folksy sellers with all proceeds going to the charity. Other charities supported include The Retired Greyhound Trust, Oxfam and BACCAS ~ bowel and colon cancer awareness.
A recent competition called Upcycle Christmas asked sellers to take anything secondhand or from a charity shop and transform it into something “new” which would then be sold at an online auction with all proceeds going to Sue Ryder Care ( a UK healthcare charity).
Entries were judged on the following criteria:
1. Most innovative piece
2. Quality of craftwork
3. Best use of materials
4. Appeal
5. People’s Choice ~ the item favourited the most
The winner from each category won the opportunity to showcase their portfolio in the Camden (London) Sue Ryder Care shop for a month. What a great way to support a charity and provide exposure to talented designers and crafters!
Several Folksy sellers and their handiwork have been featured in a range of UK magazines including Making Jewellery, Sew Hip and House Beautiful. Recently the folk from Folksy organized a Folksy Festive Sampler ~ a small newspaper all about Folksy and it’s sellers, featuring lots of photos and ideas for Christmas gifts. Copies are being sent out to journalists and craft fair organizers ~ what a great idea!
You can catch up with what’s going on at Folksy through Twitter and flickr (We Love Folksy group).
The photos I’ve included in this article are just a taster of the talent and originality on offer at Folksy!
Until next time!
First Image courtesy of
AnnieFloribunda
Slideshow images courtesy of:
Tags: charities, crafting business, folksy, handmade, Jewelry, uk, upcycle christmas, wire wrapped
December 14th, 2009 at 6:29 pm
[...] Articles published by Cinnamon Jewellry: What’s Folksy [...]
December 15th, 2009 at 7:17 am
I am so glad you brought up Folksy Art! One time when I worked for Special Events, I was working with “ARTISTS” Well, one day I showed my own work again to my boss. He said to me, “Yes your work is great. It’s very folksy.” I did not know how to take it. He was kinda one of those snobby type artists. I adored him though, don’t get me wrong! For years I think back and wonder what did he mean “Folksy”? Was it a cut down? And now you’ve answered my question and I feel so much better and that is something that doesn’t have to haunt me anymore! Folksy is a GOOD thing afterall!
Linda
December 16th, 2009 at 10:25 am
Hi Linda!
Thanks for your comment
December 18th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
Sounds neat. Will check it out.
December 22nd, 2009 at 3:54 am
Thanks Barbra, Folksy is definitely worth a look!
Tracy
February 7th, 2010 at 2:03 pm
[...] asked three Folksy sellers who do enjoy sewing to let me into the secret of the attraction of the world of needles and thread [...]
February 11th, 2010 at 2:39 pm
[...] 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 [...]
February 13th, 2010 at 12:44 pm
[...] am a stained glass and mixed media artist working in Devon, in the UK and I sell my wares on Folksy and in a range of galleries and shops around South West England. Lots of my Folksy friends ask me [...]
February 17th, 2010 at 9:53 am
[...] know me my Etsy shop is Tracy of Cinnamon Jewellery has taken on the same responsibility for the Folksy group. Barbra of Allaboutthebuttons is Indiesmiles Assistant Editor and Andy of Incredible Angels is the [...]