100 SALES!!!

That made you look didnt it? wish I could say it was me, but alas no. (or at least not yet) This afternoon my team on Etsy 'Crafty Folk' clocked up 100 sales for their daily listing club for October, and its only the 17th. As a team we are very proud of this, as we are quite new and many of us have only been on Etsy for a month or so. Its a great team to be part of and we are growing daily, plenty of support for each other and the important promotion, infact again today I was added to a superb treasury which all helps to be noticed on such a vast selling platform.

Speaking of which I do find myself in a dilema about whether or not to stay on Folksy at all, I am so disheatened with it. More talented shops are closing each day due to the new rules which keep appearing at random, with the exception of some of the remaining sellers the forum isnt a very nice place to be, so much confusion of what is allowed and what is not? I know it doesn't affect me (so far) but the treatment of so many hard working crafters so close to the best selling time of the year cant help but make one think...

Must stop waffling and get to the point, whilst trying to think of who to feature from the team I decided to show off the most recent new members, so are some of them. I have chosen my favourite item from each shop, but if you would like to look at the item in more detail and the rest of the shop simply click on the picture and it will take you there.

Here are our latest Crafty Folk members from Etsy.

'Bluebell & Rosie' have this lovely patchwork cushion.



'Esme Dodsworth Design' with these simply gorgeous porcelain earrings



'Little Red Robin' with a Panda Bear Bracelet



'Garden Shed Silver' with one of her own creations, Silver Eucalyptus Leaf Earrings



'madebyclifford' new to the team, but I have 'chatted' with on Etsy, lovely person and what a great shop, here is one of her bugs - but there are other great ones too



'Vintage Jewellery Box' with a Bird of Paradise Ring



'CatsCeramics' with this lovely Wild Meadow Necklace




Lastly, me SimJaTa - I'm not as new as the others but still new to Etsy and still need some promo, so here is my latest addition to my shop.




I think I may have mentioned the clay making in my last blog entry, not as easy as it looked so taking a bit more time, even I am not brave enough to show those disasters on here. I am really enjoying 'trying' to create, but not quite managed anything worthwhile so far, but keep at it this week I might improve, sure cant get much worse!

Hope you are all staying warm, hands up all those with the heating on? we are holding out so far, but probably wont be much longer..

~Bags of Swank by SimJaTa~

Supporting Handmade however its made!

Hello Blogland
For today I would like to support some of the sellers who joined in with 'supporting handmade however its made' you can link directly to this cause from the same logo on the right of my page.
In short, the rules on Folksy changed and some of the jewellery and items you see below are not longer welcome there, others have shown their support by closing their shops for a week, but dont worry they will be open very soon. Without wanting to put a dampener on all our wonderful creativity things have changed at Folksy and I too will no longer be adding to my shop there, hence opening at Etsy. My own shop is still open at Folksy for the time being, especially as we have a fabulous the fabulous CRAFTfest event due soon which I will tell you about in my next post.

Such a shame to see the closeknit community split but the majority of us remain friends and contiune to share our support though many now face a new direction. You wont believe how long its taken me to write this blog, got sidetracked at the new shopping avenue's such as 'Wow Thank You', 'Etsy, and the crafters own new websites, what a busy lot they have been.

To begin is "Lilly's Night Garden" on 'Wow Thank You' with this lovely hanging bird decoration



"Bohemia Artful Glass" on 'Etsy' with this Glass Tile Pendant 'Lisette'



"PrestoBeads" also on 'Etsy' with this Copper Rainbow Shell Bracelet



"Pretty Beautiful Designs" on 'Wow Thank You' with a Gold Glass Leaf Pendant Necklace



"Lemonade and Lamingtons" has a super website, be sure to take look lots of goodies there, I choose this Tiny Little Cute Bag to show you



From "Lou Lou's Luxuries" also her own website, are these earrings I liked called 'flutterby dreams'



"Flonightingale" on Etsy, just had to be this as my choice, I found him! 'Mr Octopus'



"Mystic Moon" on Wow Thank You, one of my favourites, the proceeds from this stunning creation go to Cancer Charities, 'Shining the light on cancer' necklace.



"Thrashion" also has her own website, but I couldnt manage the picture from there, so sought her out on Etsy too, with this recycled skateboard pendant on chain



"Kokokelli" can be found on Folksy, and will be open again soon, just loved these earrings



"Cards with a Difference" can also be found on Folksy and will be open soon, hope I can still buy this card then, 'create your own style'




See, what a lot of support there is there! Dont forget to click on each picture to be taken to the shop for some good old comfy arm chair shopping.

..and pop back soon for the information for this weekends on line CRAFTfest, were you can visit a fantastic craft fair, with a warm cuppa or a glass of something good.

~Bags of Swank by SimJaTa~

Its Handmade Monday!

Its handmade Monday time and only my second, I enjoyed it so much last week and met some fabulous new crafters. More importantly though after all this time the lovely Wendy at 1stUniqueGifts who organises all this for us taught me how to do a clicky link, so huge thanks to Wendy who can be found here 1stuniquegifts along with all the other talented crafters who join in with handmade Monday.

Today I am going to talk about quilting, I so admire all those talented quilters who make such fantastic works of art, so much time goes into each piece and the results are amazing. Just for your amusement, here is my very first attempt from last year.




One day I will find the time to start on a real quilt, though I often think I just use the lack of time thing as an excuse. I have all the quilting needs, my Mums friend in Wales was an amazing quilter it was her life, sadly she lost her sight and could no longer continue, she was more than happy to give me all her collection in the hope one day I would learn. I will do one day.
I often visit the exhibitions just to look and admire this craft, and have a few magazines. To begin with I raided the library of all their books, there are plenty there for anyone like me who would love to start.

Last week as a bit of a cheat I had a go at some bags, by quilting the dogs on them, the idea was to give them a 3D appearance on the bags and to keep my hand in so I dont forget, I do think maybe I should have used a different colour thread though but still I enjoyed doing it.





So that was my week, wonder what this week will bring?

Tuesday's Folksy Mayhem Goodies

Another superb selection of fabulous crafts on offer today from the Folksy Mayhem Crafters, my only problem is how to choose. So as not to over do it, I have just selected a few from today, but if there is anyone out there who does not yet know of the fabulous crafts available on Folksy be sure to visit and take a look. Meanwhile, for the ones below simply 'click' on the photograph to be taken to further details and look at the rest of that sellers outstanding shop of beautiful crafts.

To begin is 'Uniquely Yours' with her Gadget Case in blues and purples



A very attractive Turquoise handmade necklace from "MarthaMooBeads"



"Pollykrafts" has some lovely shabby chic lavender Bags, here is just one from today



A Lola filigree heart necklace seen here from "Clover Jeweles" today



From one of the best soap makers (I know as I have one)"Scrub up Lovely" today's is a soothing and calming soap with Apricot Kernal



This caught my eye as being stunning and unusual, a heart polymer clay pendant by "By Creative Hands"



Lastly, from me here at "Bags of Swank by SimJaTa" gorgeous tote bag with Folk Art Cats



I hope you have enjoyed looking at today's selection as much as I have. All the above crafters work very hard at what they do, and take the greatest care both with their items, packaging and Customer Service.

~Bags of Swank by SimJaTa~

Folksy Friday ~Cosmetics/make up bags

Thank Folksy its Friday! For this week I wanted to show off the rest of the cosmetics bags found on Folksy, so here are my 3 volunteers who were willing to do that. Like bag making in general, cosmetic bags too come in all shapes and sizes ready for that personal preferance.

My first 2 are from Eva B Designs, starting off with a space saving roll out cosmetics bag very handy to pop into your luggage. Then a Retro Cotton make up bag. (dont forget, simply click on the pictures to be taken for further details and to take a look at what else is on offer in each shop)





Next from Nostalgia Knits a very handy make up brush roll



From Audrey's Cat, a 60s Patchwork Vintage fabric make up bag, and blue atomic vintage fabric bag.





Not forgetting the very first one from Bags of Swank by SimJaTa, the vintage swan cosmetic bag to match the tote bag also in Folksy shop.



I think all these costmetic/make up bags are superb, they look fantastic and are all reasonably priced, ideal treat for yourself or to give as a useful and attractive gift.

~Bags of Swank by SimJaTa~

Folksy Friday Part 2 - The Special Ones

Yes, I know its Saturday! But unfortunatly Friday's time just totally ran away from me what with one thing and another, even late today due to a houseful of visiters. Sorry for delay, but without further ado, here are the rest of the super Special people who supported me and took the time out to enter my blog giveaway. To view their wonderful crafts in finer detail simply click on the photographs shown below.

I must this time begin with my luck blog winner Millie, from Milliebeads - here is one of her very attractive necklaces




At Helen Jane's Designs like most of the special shops I have struggled to choose an item, dont forget if you click on this one you will magically be taken to her Folksy shop to see the rest



Top Floor Treasures also has a great selection, I have chosen this one as though it shows the artists name this can be customised to your own name in this super artwork or that of a friend



Just how cute is this? Here is just one of the fabulous Dragons from Dragonwys



From Linda at Uniquely Yours is this stunning handbag



I just had to choose on of the owls from ThatFuzzyFeeling, as my Mum loves owls



So many lovely items from Natalie at NofkantsCurios, here is one of my favourites



From DottieDesigns I have chosen this album that can be personalised for any occasion, I won a memory box from Dottie in one of her giveaway's so can recommend how gorgeous they are



This next shop was recommended by Margaret as she does not sell on Folksy, stunning jewellery which again I stuggled to choose a piece to show as my favourite, I was drawn to this one though




Lastly, just listed today from Bags of Swank by SimJaTa




Hope you enjoyed viewing this fabulous collection of talent as much as I have enjoyed choosing them. Just shows how you can shop for luxury items from the comfort of your chair, instead of something mass produced on the high street, on Folksy you find quality and individual gifts and treats.

~Bags of Swank by SimJaTa~