We are designers - Folksy Friday

This week's Folksy Friday is a bit different. While watching Gok's Clothes Roadshow I had an idea.

High street against Designers. Why are we not there?

There are LOADS of talented designers in the UK who are working hard and the public never even heard of them. We have our little websites and shops at http://www.folksy.com/ and we are lucky if we happen to sell a few of our designs per month. We don't increase our prices as we are worried they would not sell, so they cost the same or just a bit more than something similar on the high street. (though there is some high street chains who sell jewellery for £1!!! Ridiculous! Do people really think they will last? And is it not horrible seeing the same thing on others? Well, I don't like that)

So whom are we really promoting? The mass produced low quality items made by underpaid factory workers somewhere far far east? Or those who already made their luck and get LOADS of money?

What about helping our own hardworking designers who are struggling to get noticed? I believe we are worth a mention. Check out these beautiful things I found on Folksy.com and let me know what you think.

Can Can Hand-knitted Neck Warmer in Rico - BellaCastella

Brooch - Pants and Paper

Teal blue loose weave shrug - iLEAiYE

Dress- Sarah M Designs

Wrap Clutch - Vintage Florals - Leanne Woods Designs

Sparkling fuchsia-topaz bracelet - Iyobo Design

Folksy Friday - Dreaming of spring

For the last couple of days I have been working on my Spring/Summer Jewellery Collection, which is going to be really bright and funky. My head is full of colours at the moment, so decided to make a bright, spring-ish Folksy Friday. Look at these lovely things I have found! : ) The link under each photo takes you to their shop. Hope you like them : )

Pair of Yellow Felt Flower Hair Slides - Lilies and Daisies

2 Blue and Green Egg Cosies - The Knitting Press

Bright and Funky Set of 4 Crochet Coasters - Girlybunches

Kindle 3 Pouch Case Bright Flowers - Pipdesigns

Kitsch Hot Pink Colour Attack Original Acrylic Painting - Esme Dodsworth Design

Folksy Friday - Sunshine

After having a bit of January blues this week my Folksy Friday theme is Sunshine. : )

Interestingly enough on the worst day of the week, after getting some lovely messages from some lovely folksy friends, I sat down and started to paint... Really strange, but I painted a little sunshine, and the colours are so vivid, that it doesn't look at all that I had a bad day... I feel a lot better since then, and trying to take it easy and enjoy the nice things in my life, and the rest will sort out itself... hopefully.. : )

I found some lovely sunny items from other folksy sellers. Please click on the link under the images to see the items from closer and check out their other items too. : )

Crafty Mushroom - Happy Sun Greetings Card

Helen Hallows - Sun Coaster Tile

Crafty Monster - Sunshine earrings, cross stitch

Sketchstitch - ACEO

And finally here is my sunshine ACEO:

This way to my art shop



What is success?

I am a list person.

I wrote a list yesterday about the things I need to focus on (there is a point for blogging... blog more regularly! AND read more blogs!) and this morning I had to write a list again, this time about my life... what do I want to achieve. The list is a bit depressing, because the things I put down are really complicated and would not happen overnight, so I'm not sure it's a good list, as it will only make me feel worse and would not give me any power to move in the direction of completing them.

The most important point, which I would like to talk (or better say think "loudly") about is SUCCESS.

What does success mean to you all?

What I wrote is this: I want to be able to have a nice amount of income from my handmade business which is enough for a comfortable life. Once I have this, I feel successful.

I'm not happy about this. Does it mean I don't feel successful if I don't have it? Like now... Am I a loser? Well, right now I feel like one. : (  And it puts me down as I really-really hate to lose! I'm a fighter and don't just give up things easily. But what can you do when you try your best and still not happening? I have to try even harder I think.... Still don't know how though.

Or does it count if I have a happy child and doing it all alone? Am I done with that and any little extra just adds to it? I'm not sure... It may be the single mum thing, that I want to be successful in every area of life. But boy, it's hard!

So let's see... my plan-list for this year to help me to achieve my goals is:
- Do something really BIG, something courageous, something really different (need to think about this now)
- Set big goals, but be happy for the little steps during the way
- Look back at last year, if there is anything I did right, I have to keep on doing it, or correct those which are not right
- Organise some more quality time programs with my little sweetheart, to make her even more happy... in case the first plan doesn't work, I'll still be a good mother : )

What is on your success list? Are you feeling successful? Hope to hear loads of opinions : )

I need a change

Sorry for not posting anything these days, there was a really frustrating time for me in December when I attended some craft fairs... They were really not the way I expected. It was good as an experience though, because I got loads of lovely feedback and was great to meet fellow crafters, but I thought I would sell a bit more... There were days when I was actually worried if my stock was going to be enough, lol.

Since there is still enough stock in my jewellery store, I don't have to worry of that for now, and until I start to work on some new designs I wanted to do something different... I hate doing nothing, especially after the hard work I put into my business last year. I really worked hard. I enjoyed it very much and I got used to it. I'm really proud of myself being able to decide about starting a business and pushing it this hard, but I'm very disappointed right now, that my effort didn't pay off. Not yet anyway. As I am not going to give it up. I'm not a giving-up person at all! My friends know this about me. I simply don't know it right now how to step forward.

So until I have some new ideas about this I started to paint.... again... There are always these periods of my life when I turn to painting, drawing to get ideas from. I used to work with pastells some years ago, then I tried acrylics, though I enjoyed both, but they were not just perfectly right. Now first time ever I tried watercolour. After some practising I can say I really like it.

Available in my new art shop

ACEOs

And luckily enough there is a new addiction on http://www.folksy.com/ . There is a group of people whom are making these tiny pieces of art, called ACEOs, which stands for Art Cards Editions and Originals. These are very collectable and their only rule is the size: 2,5"x3,5". It's great way to collect original art for affordable prices. And for me it's a great way to paint without needing loads of material and time. I really enjoy working on each piece and hoping to get some inspiration for other areas of my life also, just as for my jewellery business.

Now I'm off to paint, but will be back with more posts soon I promise.

December Elves - 2nd December

New month, new listing club on Folksy. I'm trying to take part until I can, (I'll have 2 craft fairs soon) but I already missed the second day as I was too busy and didn't manage to take photos and it was so dark after 3pm already that I didn't even try it. Will be back tomorrow with a new listing hopefully.

Until then I made a little blogpost about some of the lovely items I found in today's topic. There was a lot more of course, the choice is never easy, but had to keep it limited.

Click on the links under each photo to find out more.

Just K Jewellery and Gifts

Diddybears

Hats and More

Wellydog Gallery

Leanne Woods Designs

One Sunny Afternoon

Visit WeAreBirmingham Shop

We Are Birmingham is a lovely new shop opened on 13th November in Birmingham's town centre. Everything they are selling is handmade, and you can find some jewellery from Iyobo Design too.

The shop looks amazing, I love all the displays, many different shelves, tables (there are pink ones too, which are really fab!!!), and my favorite is this one:

Love the pink blocks displaying my necklace, bracelet and earrings

This is "my shelf", you can find other designers there too

My pink necklace, and 2 pair of earrings (there are more on the shelf)

My rings

The pink table and the shop behind it

Lovely art all over the walls

A table with beautiful things

Look how beautiful!

If you are in Birmingham and like to buy some unique presents, this shop is a must! I'm so proud to have my jewellery in there! : )