Folksy Arty Flowers

Since opening a shop on Folksy I've found myself becoming more and more active on the forums. Not only that but I've been tempted into trying out other crafts and also found myself returning to old interests. The forums are very lively and, I'm sure I've mentioned this in earlier posts, very supportive. One of the forum threads I particularly enjoy are the ACEO ones. There's such a diversity of style and people are so talented.....and supportive!
This post had to be about ACEOs. I'm sure there will be more on this subject so I thought a theme might be a good idea! Because it's Spring and flowers are always a popular subject that's what I chose. I didn't have room for everyone unfortunately, there are loads more artists out there painting beautiful pictures...This is all I had the space for. Please do try to visit everyone by clicking on their picture links. Not all of these pictures are by full time artists. many make and sell a host of different crafts....who knows what little treasures you might find by visiting these shops!! First one is my own......

Shoogly Beads

Nofanktscurios

Dottery Doo Dahs

Audrey's Art

Cheery Mish Mash

Gweddus Art

Ema Hossain Designs

Greanbea

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RaRa Bazaar

Folksy People

Almost a month since I last blogged...Where does all the time go!! Decided to do another Folksy showcase since so many people have been so supportive and featured Shoogly Beads in their treasuries and showcases.
I nicked this idea from  Linda at http://www.folksy.com/shops/uniquelyyours
Over the next couple of weeks I'm going to try and feature all those shopkeepers who have added Shoogly to their list of favourites.
Here's my first. Please visit and check out all of these shops by clicking on the pictures...you'll find lots of lovely, and often unusual items!! From lovely jewellery, mirrors, ties, kindle cases and decorations for dreadlocks...........

Maram

Kate Blankett

Silver Shell Cove

Brockstones

BaggieAggie Too

Scottish Princess

Sailing Boat Folksy Treasury

I promised myself I'd do my first Folksy Treasury a few weeks ago. Don't know what happened but I didn't get around to doing it. I should have done it straight after mastering the 'Treasury Template' but here I am having to learn it all again!
Next was....what do I choose as a subject? There are loads of things I could have chosen and they'd all have had a nautical/ocean theme...so let's start with 'Sailing Boats'. These are only a very few of the sailing boats that caught my eye on Folksy...There were so many beautiful ones......
The first is unashamedly my own painting!!

Shoogly Beads

The Mosaic Garden

Silk Purse Sow's Ear

Paper Herts

Aileen Clarke Crafts

Joys of Glass

We Have Postcards....

Earlier this year I dipped my toes into the ACEOs thread in the Folksy Forum and started drawing and painting again. I've tried to keep up with this forum thread and enjoyed a couple of the 'Challenges'. The discipline of trying to produce something original in an ACEO 3'5" x 2.5" format is proving extremely difficult for someone as slapdash as me!! 

All of this has resulted in me looking at some of my larger pieces of art work, taking photographs and playing around with sizes. I've added the results to some of my ACEOs and I published my first set of postcards. I have to confess I was astonished when several were sold! I'm sure I'll be left with some unsold but I just didn't think any of the pictures were good enough! 

I'm certain I would not have done any of this without the encouragement and support from other crafters and artists on Folksy and Facebook, they are just brilliant!

I would say to any of you out there.... if you haven't exercised your artistic talents for years go and dig out those old watercolours and brushes. If you've never tried painting before but hankered after giving it a go...do it now!! 

Oh, and artwork these days doesn't have to be painting either.....as long as it's your own original work it can be photographs, mixed media collages, knitting and crochet.

Thistle at Johnshaven

Washing

Bay of Naples - Sorrento Hill Pathway

Unfinished - Sketch of Thistle

Walsa' Lass off Portsoy

Laura Cat

Old Boat (Thistle)

Stylish Blog Award!!

I was awarded this lovely honour by Maxine Veronica...if you click on the 'Stylish Award' Logo you will be transported to her beautiful blog! I'm not sure I'd describe my blog as stylish but I hope some of my jewellery is. Anyway it is an honour...'Thank You Maxine'
I now have to carry out several tasks!
1. I must thank Maxine and link back to her blog.....Done.
2. Tell you all seven things about myself...hmmmm

• I married later in life than most and have been very happily married to Mike for 16 years.
• I'm the oldest of a family of six.
• Animals have played a big part in my life although down to one lovely dog now.
• I've been a piscetarian (mainly veggie but eats some fish!!) for over 30 years.
• I love everything about the natural world and I don't take my beautiful environment for granted.
• Music and the arts are very important to me and I've been secretary of Stonehaven Folk Club for nearly 25 years.
• I have red hair (well out of a bottle nowadays) and I'm told I have the temper to go with it!

3. Find and read 15 blogs I'm not already following and give them this award. This has taken hours of research so no housework done today!!
sugarplumkawaii.blogspot.com/
dianajaneimages.co.uk/blog
mummy-bird.blogspot.com/
lynnespatternparlour.blogspot.com
nanukjewellery.blogspot.com
favouritethingsbysilkpurse.blogspot.com
mary-elliott-jewellery.blogspot.com
missgmrsb.blogspot.com
littlebrickhouseclayworks.blogspot.com
dabandadash.blogspot.com
elinorjenkinsjewellery.blogspot.com
paperbeadsinspiration.blogspot.com
marices-world.blogspot.com
thatfuzzyfeelingsblog.blogspot.com
alibalijewellery.blogspot.com

I'm now following all of the above blogs so please visit when you can....it's always great to see what other people are doing...There are loads more lovely blogs out there I could have added!!!



4. Inform each nominee that I'm awarding this....Will do via the big blog thread (Have You Blogged Today?) on the Folksy Forum..

Something New

My Samples for LBOC

I promised myself I would create a Folksy Treasury this week but personal things got in the way and most plans for the past few days were tossed out the window. Earlier I was trying to think of things I could produce for the Little Book of Crafters. This is the brainchild of Mimi Winfield a lovely idea for spreading the word about crafts. You can find out more here: http://littlebookofcrafters.blogspot.com/
I had been playing around with painting some ACEOs after viewing some threads on the subject on the Folksy Forums. Sometimes I do small water colour sketches for jewellery designs or patterns I'd like Mike to produce in clay and they seemed to lend themselves to this new (to me) format.
Having bought a new printer last week I thought I'd set up some prints of my original water colours and I was quite pleased with the results!
I finally made up some samples to send to Mimi for the LBOC and these included prints of my first attempts at ACEOs.
Next step is to pluck up the courage and list a picture or two on Folksy! Since I've signed up for the Weekly listing club this month I thought I would try listing on there, perhaps tomorrow. Now I can't make up my mind whether to list just the one or to list them all!! Here are my first choices.....

Old Road Sorrento

Washing on Easdale

Doonie Point Stonehaven

Murano Valetine Necklace

Now to think of a Folksy Treasury I can do later in the week....!!

Handwired Bracelets.

I used to make a lot of complex handwired bracelets. As soon as I had a photo in my catalogue they'd be gone! I make fewer now for the simple reason that not so many people can afford them....... I do still handwire bracelets but they tend to be less complex, taking less time to make and with fewer expensive handmade components. Here is a gallery of some of my handwired work..... Excuse some of the pictures as they will have been taken about 6 years ago!

Chintz

After The Rain

Fresh Flowers

Berry Berry

Louisiana Spring

Midnight On The Water

Monsoon Peacock

Moonstones

Opal Morning

Tiger Tiger

Water's Edge

Fishing For Pearls

Swallows At Dusk

Ancient Treasures