Thursday 31 March 2011

Featured seller - boy in park

Have you seen the fantastic Folksy shop - Boy in Park? If you haven't you should go and take a look.... now. Their work is beautiful, and thought provoking,  inspired by travel, politics, culture, and art.






Tell us a bit about yourself
Boy in Park is made up of me (Emma) and my boyfriend Mark. We currently live in Oxford but are aiming to move up to York in the next few years. We love Yorkshire (the Dales, Moors, Coast) and can’t wait to move. We are both passionate about travel, art, politics and beer! And we hope this is reflected in our work. We both produce photographic art but the painting side of the business is all down to Mark (Mark Edward). 

What do you make?
We produce photographic art & contemporary paintings in acrylics. 
We draw a distinction between Photography and Photographic Art. We call our work Photographic Art as we don’t try to provide an accurate photographic reproduction; instead we manipulate our images to evoke emotions and to communicate our experiences of a place. 

Why do you use that medium? 
When trying to capture a moment, or a detail, that will not be the same just a few minutes, or even seconds later, there is nothing like the flexibility of a camera. As long as we capture the moment we can then edit it on a computer to transform it into a Photographic Art piece or interpret it in a painting. Using a combination of painting and photography to create our discourse really gives us the best flexibility. 

When/ how did you start crafting? 
We started crafting properly after Mark created a number of prints using photographs from our European road trip (including ‘Love Locked’ which can be found in our folksy shop) as a present for my birthday. 
 When did you start selling your stuff - where do you sell? 
We started to sell our art about 6 months ago. We sell at craft fairs, through our own website, www.boyinpark.com, and through our Folksy shop. We also have a Facebook Page (www.facebook.com/boyinpark) which we advertise through. 

Do you also have a day job, or is this your main job? 
I’ve spent most of my career working in the charity sector, predominantly for Oxfam. I’m currently unemployed but only looking for part time work so that I can spend a big chunk of time making Boy in Park and our other business, Gold Star Bear, a success. Mark works in IT as a functional developer (don’t ask!). 

What do you love about your medium, what do you hate? 
Photography: I love the flexibility of photography and how you can capture a moment that lasted seconds and freeze it in time. The only thing that I dislike is the growing view that technology means anyone can produce a good photograph. Whilst digital cameras and software such as Photoshop make it easier for people to produce decent photographs this doesn’t always translate into great art. Creating an inspiring composition involves skill and an artistic eye, just like any other medium. 

Painting: I love the way so much can be communicated through a painting, not just through the subject but through the style of the painting, the texture and brushstrokes. I hate the cleaning up after painting and the paint stains throughout our flat! Mark gets the paint everywhere! 

Where do you get your inspiration from? 
We love to travel, whether it’s on a road trip across Europe or a weekend trip to the seaside. Travelling to new places and finding that one thing or event that defines a place, or just makes you wonder, is a real inspiration. We believe art should provoke an emotional response from the viewer or spark interest, otherwise it’s just wallpaper. 

What is your favourite music to craft to? 
Personally I like silence when I’m working; I can’t concentrate with any noise! Ironically, Mark’s the opposite and likes to turn up the volume. He often listens to punk music when painting- the louder the better. The bands we both love are Two Gallants, Okkervil River, The Thermals and Micah P. Hinson. 

What is your favourite piece of your own? 
Our best seller is ‘Love Locked’ but my favourites are ‘Penny Pusher’ and ‘My British Seaside.’ Mark’s favourite is ‘Incandescent Dom’. It’s hard to choose because they are so different from one another.
Where do you do your crafting?
The computer and printer are in the study so most of our work is done there. However, Mark tends to paint at the dining table with a view of the television (It helps to keep him from wandering off and not finishing what he’s started).
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Thanks for taking part Emma!!

Wednesday 23 March 2011

Featured Seller - Falling Dew 2010


Today's feature is on Falling Dew - a gorgeous and original shop with beautiful crochet jewellery, with gemstones, and sterling silver findings. Just stunning!

Tell us a bit about yourself - (where do you live, what's your name etc..) 

My name is Rasa and I live in London at the moment but in the very near future I'm planing to movie to Plymouth:) 

What do you make? 

I am designing, creating and making crochet jewellery with threds and different fabrics, with a mix of natural stones or gemstones. 

Why do you use that medium? 

I was graduated with a BA degree in design arround four years ago.. Creativity relaxes me, I love the feel of being closer to and becoming part of what I create. I hope not to lose that connection with my soul. . I want to create and I want to learn more. 

When how did you start crafting? 

As jewellery was always my passion, I started to experiment with my ideas trying to mix and match them together. 








When did you start selling your stuff - where do you sell? 
I've opened my own website arround two months ago. So, I sell not only on my website I do have a shops on Folksy and Etsy:) 

Do you also have a day job, or is this your main job? 

At the moment this is my first and only priority:) 

What do you love about your medium, what do you hate? 
I don't really hate anything...I love designing it : choosing colors for the threds, matching the stones up, just mixing everything together. 

Where do you get your inspiration from? 

I started my artistic journey when I was a little girl, has always was interest in nature (which inspires me to new ideas), also I loooove to walk near to the sea and find a beautiful stones witch have history and uniqueness. 




What is your favourite music to craft to? 

When I'm crafting my children are sleeping, so that music just to hear myself and I love to be in silence:)) 





What is your favourite piece of your own? 

I really like them all because each has a peculiar charm. 



 
Where do you do your crafting (specially built studio - sofa??) 

I have my small room with table and chair, with small window and lots of beautiful materials:) where I keeping and creating my masterpieces (lol)


Go and check out this beautiful folksy shop

Sunday 20 March 2011

Featured seller - HanconWhite Handmade Homewares


I've just moved house, and so can't stop looking at all the lovely things out there for my new home.... so it seems perfect to be featuring HanconWhite on the blog today.  Go and take a peek at the folksy shop I'm loving the spring feel!

Tell us a bit about yourself

My name is Claire, I was born a Hancon and married a White so it seemed an obvious choice for the brand.
I live with my husband and 2 young daughters in the lovely market town of Olney in Buckinghamshire.

What do you make?

Currently I make aprons and peg-bags, with a range of cushion covers and appliquéd tote bags coming soon.


When/how did you start?

My mum has always sewn and her mum is a knitter so I suppose it was always in my blood. I did a textiles GCSE (many years ago!) but I didn’t think at the time that it was something I could make a living from. I was given a sewing machine for my birthday last year and I got the bug again. Since having the girls, I’m spending a lot more time at home and by chatting to other Mums, I realised that the products we wanted weren’t available in the fabrics / colourways we wanted - so, with help from my mum, I dusted off my skills and set to making!

When did you start selling – where do you sell?

I set up my shop on Folksy.com in November 2010. I also plan to hold mini-shopping events at my home in the future.
Do you also have a day job?

I have my youngest daughter at home with me 3 days a week so I guess that could be called my day job! I get time to sew when she is at nursery.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

I tend to work backwards – I will find a fabric that I cannot resist and then find something to make with it. I’ve quite a collection building up and am brimming with ideas for it all…I just need to remember to write them all down…

What is your favourite music to craft to?

To be honest, as long as there’s music on in the background I’m happy but I have Scott Matthews on the iPod at the moment.

What is your favourite piece of your own?

My favourite piece is my flowers apron – it was one of the first fabrics I found for HanconWhite and I love it! The colours, birds and butterflies are so pretty.


Where do you do your crafting?

I’d love to say that I have a light and airy converted loft space for my studio (a girl can dream!) – in reality, however, it’s my sewing machine on the dining table when the kids aren’t around!

If you'd like to check out hanconwhite some more, here are some links



Follow me on Twitter @hanconwhite

Thanks so much Claire for taking part!


Featured Seller - Fourteen Candles

Candle making is one of the few crafts I've not got around to trying, but looking at the lovely shop Fourteen Candles  makes me want to give it a go.... they are gorgeous, but in the meantime, I know where to stock up on my candles!

Tell us a bit about yourself

My name is Tanya, I’ve just turned 23 and I currently live in Bridport, Dorset with my fiancé and beautiful little cat. 
 
What do you make? 
I make lovely handmade candles and candle gift baskets. 


Why do you use that medium? 
I make candles because I have always loved candles in my home. It seemed the obvious choice for me. 

When/ how did you start crafting? 
I started crafting when I was 21. I found an old candle making kit that my mum had bought for me when I was a child. Typically, I didn’t find it a very interesting gift at the time so it stayed in its box for years. I eventually tried it out when I was bored at home one day and was so pleased with what I had made that I have carried on since. 
 

When did you start selling your stuff - where do you sell? 

I first set up my own website in January 2010 (www.fourteencandles.com). In November & December 2010 I started to attend craft fairs and Christmas fetes, in December 2010 I set up a folksy shop, and in Feb 2011 finally had my first sale from my website!! 

Do you also have a day job, or is this your main job? 
I work in the head office of a well known fashion retailer Monday to Friday. My candle making is weekends and holidays only. I would love to have enough candle orders coming through to become self employed and work from home permanently making candles. 

What do you love about your medium, what do you hate? 

I love the easiness of candle wax – if you go wrong just melt it down and start again. I’ve just invested in a large amount of container wax which I am particularly enjoying using. Although I hate the fact it comes in large slabs rather than beads – makes it much harder work and messier in the kitchen. 

Where do you get your inspiration from? 
Ideas just pop into my head most of the time, sometimes it works out, other times it only works in my mind! My mum is also a great inspiration, we chat for hours about candles and what I could make next, she also helps search through charity shops for vintage teacups and containers. She has the patience of a saint and has helped me so much; I think I would have given up if it wasn’t for her support. 

What is your favourite music to craft to? 

I mostly listen to my local radio station (Wessex FM) when I am making candles as it gives a good mix of music to bop along to. 

What is your favourite piece of your own?
 
 


Currently, my favourite item I have made is my chocolate scented tea lights in gift box. They’re fab – they look and smell great. 

Where do you do your crafting?

In my kitchen, much to my fiancés horror as I make quite a bit of mess!

Thank you Tanya for taking part! Good luck with your shops!!!