christmas treats

So I am very late to get started with stocking up gifts and decorations for Christmas but I have been doing. Its a good job that I'm not trying to earn a living from this. I am so unorganised I would definitely be going hungry. It's also good that father Christmas sorts out the kids because if it was up to me they might get their presents by New Year.

Anyway, I have been trying to load my Christmas wreaths onto my Folksy shop and for some reason it is not having any of it. I thought I'd put some images up here so at least some people will get to see them before Christmas. Don't you just love technology!

So what do you think? I would love to hear any suggestions as to what else I could do.

By the way, Colin the cat was quite good at leaving me alone. He was more interested in climbing up the curtains.

Colin

I cant believe how long it has been since I last wrote here. In actual fact followers in my shop and on pinterest have probably thought i have fallen of the face of the earth. I havent really had much time for my own crafts and that is sad but hopefully I will get back into it very soon. I guess that I have been put off by a poor turn out to my only craft fair and then the Folksy shop has dried up with very few visitors and no sales since May. My own fault probably as I havent been promoting anything lately.
I have been thinking about Christmas and there are so many things that I would love to try but I just havent had the time.
The arrival of Colin the kitten is not going to help with the idea of getting out sewing and ribbon and buttons and stuff.

He doesn't look like the type who would leave my socks alone does he!
I'll post back soon with the new Christmas ideas.

New ideas for my shop

I have been thinking about the other products that I have made and I am trying to decide whether they would sell well in my Folksy shop. I have some signs to hang on the bedroom door. They are not quite where I want them to be yet so I dont know if they will be more of a negative than a positive for my site.

I would love to know what people think. I don't like them as much as my other work but then my children love them so I have to remember that different people have different tastes.

I know that my other animals would look better but they are more difficult to hang with a plaque.

There are loads of personalised door signs out there but I don't know how well they are selling or which ones are selling the best.

I'm going to post this blog on Folksy to see what the good folk there think.

Latest commission

I know that I have been talking about my sock animals lately and that is because I have just launched them onto the internet. But they are not my only makes. I have painted and sold a few pictures ranging from fields of poppies, to african landscapes to portraits. My latest client has given me permission to put her painting here so that others will be able to see it. She bought it for her mother's birthday and is thrilled with the result. The photo I have is nearing the final stages but there was still some finishing touches and refinement to be done after the photo was taken.

Pop art style portrait.

The client had requested this style and said that she wanted to capture the fun relationship that is between her mum and her children. It was tricky because I was using several different photos. Composing the picture and getting each head in proportion was a challenge.

I would be interested to know what people think.
At the moment my artwork is sold and commissioned through word of mouth so I would also be interested in any ideas as to how I could market this.

New interest in Pinterest.

So I have finally started to put together some picture boards on Pinterest. Everything is more or less off Folksy at the moment but thats because I haven't worked out how to do it from other places yet. I'm sure that I will get quite into this given the time. The concern that I have though is that, just like this blog, I don't have any followers. I have no idea whether anybody is reading anything I write.

http://pinterest.com/osodinki

This is myPinterest page so if you do go and visit it would be good to hear from you.

I need to learn to add pictures and links

So, I am going to try to talk more often on this although at the moment I dont think anybody, other than me and my daughters actually look at it. Anyway that could be a good thing for a while as it means that I can learn how to do more things and not embarrass myself infront of too many people.
I have joined the May dazers on folksy which is a group that supports each other. Everybody tries to list something in their shop everyday and the rest of us do our bit to try to get the items out there. Many are pinning things on Pintrest and of course there is facebook and twitter. At the moment I feel a bit guilty because I am not doing as much as some so this is where it now needs to change.
My new venture with craft fairs and Folksy has really given me a great deal of confidence and pride lately and I feel a new buzz in my life so I really think that this is something which I need to grow and grow.

http://folksy.com/items/3287326-Bonkers-bunny-rabbit-keyring

This is what I have listed today and I hope that I can now work out how to add some of my other favourites in May daily listers on Folksy




http://folksy.com/items/3282614-Steampunk-Mechanical-Dragonfly-Brooch

I really love this shop above and I may even be tempted to part with some money on something.



http://folksy.com/items/3287266-Clock-Wall-Hanging-Dawn-Chorus-Fabric-Beads-Vintage-Embellishments




http://folksy.com/items/3285526-Applique-Beach-Huts-Tote-Bag

Thes are my favourites so far today. I hope to do this quite regularly. So all I need now is somebody to actually read it!!!

May already

So I have finally got around to writing on this again. I have been busy setting up my Folksy shop so it would be good if I can get people to start visiting it now. Still have lots to learn about promoting myself and even more to learn about posting links and pictures etc.

This is one of the sock bunnies which I promised I would post.

And as you can see, there are many, many more.

meet some of my creations

This is Harry who is one of the diamond sock monkeys who is getting ready for the queen's celebrations later this year

 This is coco. He was the first jumper monkey which I made. He has a very cheeky character and enjoys playing peek a boo

Phillip is a very friendly addition to the group, although he is quite quiet and shy.

This is William who is another diamond sock monkey although it is his jumper which has most of the diamonds design. He is very mischevious and likes to play practical jokes.

Rosy has joined the three boys on this photo as they sit watching the television. they are watching their favourite programme.  animal 24/7 (they like to see the animals being rescued and looked after.)

I will upload some of the bunnies later but I would be interested in what people think. I will be looking into setting up a Folksy account tonight so I may add the bunny pictures then. They are all looking forward to showing themselves off on a site where new families could spot them.

osodinki The start of something big

It's time I launched my little empire onto the world wide web!
For months now I have been busy creating a variety of creatures who are now ready to venture into the big wide world. Some are very shy while others are very friendly and each one has his or her own character. They love hanging out with each other but many crave a new home.

This weekend many came with me to sit on my craft stall table. They loved meeting all the new friends who thought they truely were oh so dinky.
Some found new homes and I hope that they are enjoying getting to know the new families that they have gone to live with but many more are waiting to start their adventure.