Crafty Inspirations for the New Year

2013 art calendar by Makissima

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all team members and craft lovers. Anne-Marie of Handmade by Amo'r here. I'd like to share a few inspirational ideas for the start of 2013.

A NOD TO 'THE GATHERING'

One of the most significant happenings in Ireland this year is of course The Gathering, a year-long celebration of Ireland, homecoming events and the Irish Welcome. Perhaps we can come up with small ways we can individually, and/or as a team, celebrate with Irish Etsy people abroad?

Claddagh ring Irish language card by Irish Elements

For instance, I came across this team ‘Auld Irish Artisans’ on Etsy. They are a group of Irish and non-Irish Etsians who love all things about Ireland. A simple idea would be to make cross-team treasuries under the theme and tag of 'The Gathering' to extend a greeting to them. Anyone could do this as an individual member of the team at any time during the year. The more who do it, the merrier! (Don’t know how to make a treasury? See links below for help). 

seaglass fairy born from a crafty exchange across the ocean

Another idea might be to team up with Irish Etsians abroad for mini projects. In 2012 I have been fortunate to make ‘cyber friendships’ with Irish descendants abroad via treasuries, as customers and also through lucky encounters such as with American Irish girl, Joy of Seaglass Lass.  Joy sought some Irish seaglass and I got the chance to experiment with drilled pieces she sent me in exchange. To read about our crafty swap please see link at end of article. Perhaps it will spark ideas for swaps and projects between us and Irish Etsians around the world. Please do post any further ideas that may occur to you in the comments below!

Silver Celtic knot torc pendant by Claddagh Design

In terms of creativity, The Gathering may also provide inspiration for friendship bracelets, mementos, Irish gifts, greeting cards and so on. The possibilities abound.

NETWORKING

Having tentatively networked through the team forums, making treasuries, contributing to this blog, and via the few team meetings I have been able to attend, I have been lucky to find some crafty friends. On a  few occasions I have extended open invites for inspirational/cultural outings for a more relaxed, social meet-up with local team members. Born out of this, I have made two very supportive friends in Mo of Huggleknits and Heli of Heli Creations  and we continue to meet up ourselves on a regular basis for a crafty chat and a day out.

Mo & Heli at the National Botanic Gardens

We’ve had fun beach combing, hill walking, taking photos at the National Botanical Gardens and visiting places of cultural interest such as the Chester Beatty Library. We always come away with fresh inspirations, feedback on our newest creations and a helpful tip or two.  We also promote each other's shops when we post photos of our trips on our blogs or on Facebook. Hopefully in 2013 we will get to go a little further afield and meet other Etsy friends for a day out.

Hello Necklace by Fiore Jewellery

Sticking your neck out to network and meet up can be daunting but I've found it very rewarding.
Why not use the team forums and/or this blog to make contact with team members in your town or area in a similar way?  It's always good to make new crafty friends - and to promote each other too!

GET INVOLVED

On a larger scale, why not make 2013 the year to be more active in the Crafty Ireland team?  Please read the post below from our Team Captain, Sue, calling for volunteers. The roles are filling up fast so don't hesitate! Getting involved is a great way to network and to give something back. According to Etsy Admin, team members who are more active within a team tend to do better saleswise too!

Fleece for hand spinning or needle felting by FEONORcrafts

 JANUARY SPECIFIC

 January is the month for new beginnings, new hobbies, resolutions and early Spring Cleaning. It’s a good time to sell de-stash or set up that supply shop you’ve been thinking about. Why not match your needs to clear out overstock of supplies with someone else’s new hobby and sell your de-stash at a fair, but tempting price?

Garnet & Pearl bracelet by The Crystal Cavern

 The birthstone for January is the garnet, while amethyst is the birthday gem for February. 

Be Mine signed print by Amelie Gagne

Now is also the time to be listing and tagging for Valentines Day and St. Patrick’s Day will be hot on its heels.

Lastly, 2013 is the Chinese year of the snake. Let's hope it's not a slippery one, but a crafty one!!

Free your imagination brooch by Shiny Jane

Wishing you all the best for 2013. May it be a year filled with inspiration, imagination, fortunate encounters and crafty goodness!

RELATED LINKS
TREASURIES, ETSY HELP
SUPPLY SWAP ACROSS THE OCEAN
CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS
TEAM FORUMS

Crafty Ireland Skills Swap

Sundial Fine Silver Pendant by Ella Green Jewellery

Hi Anne-Marie of Handmade by Amo'r here reporting on a successful exchange of crafty know-how. The Skillz Swap Shop was born after an inspiring Dublin meeting back in March this year. The discussion thread gave team members a place to find others willing to exchange skills and knowledge. I've heard that a few team mates have since followed up. Recently I had the fantastic opportunity to meet up with Eimear of Ella Green Jewellery for our own swap.

Eimear (above) offered me an introductory lesson in using PMC (precious metal clay) to make fine silver penants and charms. In exchange I offered help and advice in regard to online selling and her new Etsy shop. I also brought her some gemstones and beads from my stash. I still feel like I came out best in that deal!

The lesson took place at Eimear's home and studio. Though she normally works from her designated office, she had moved everything into the more spacious and airy kitchen.

First she showed me Siligum moulds she had already made from a variety of objects. I set to work pressing some PMC3 clay into them. I used a piece of leather to create interesting texture on the back of this piece.

While leaving the clay to dry on a mug warmer, I answered Eimear's initial queries regarding topics such as shipping rates, Google Analytics and seasonality on Etsy (eg, prepare for Christmas by mid September.)

Eimear then showed me how to cut shapes in the clay using stensils as an alternative to moulds. She used two small, equal piles of playing cards on each side before rolling the clay. This ensures that the clay will roll out evenly. In the picture above I am placing a small flower stensil onto a piece I have rolled out. It was quite a delicate matter getting the flower to land exactly in the middle. (I have to admit I made a bit of a mess cutting around and shaping this flower though....oops!)

Again, the cut-out was left to dry on the mug warmer. While waiting, I showed Eimear how to make an Etsy treasury.

And here is her first team treasury, 'Bye Bye Blues.' (Thanks for the inclusion Eims!)

In the meantime the clay pendants had dried. Next came the real fun as I got to use a butane torch to fire them. I'm afraid we were so caught up in what we were doing that I don't have a decent pic of this in action. This clip from Cooksongold, where I purchased the PMC3, gives you an idea of what it is like. It was so much fun, I'm still not sure if I unleashed the alchemist in me or discovered a disturbing interest in burning things....speaking of which, is that the dinner I smell?

Eimear took me through the follow up stages from soldering on a jump ring, through pickling and quenching to the final stages of brushing and filing. I had to admire her dedication to perfection as she patiently filed away the edges of a pendant.

Meanwhile, I did my best to impart useful advice on pricing and listing her gorgeous jewellery.

Here is my first PMC effort, not perfect, but I love it all the same.

...and the textured back of my second effort. Alas, the dodgy stensiled flower was too embarrassing to show. Methinks I will leave such delicate operations until I am more familiar with the clay.

Eimear often pulls from nature to create elegant jewellery.

I can't wait until I have collected all the tools and equipment to get going! A big thank you to Eimear. The lesson has openend a door to so many possibilities, limited only by my imagination...and that's one thing at least that I have in plentiful supply.

I have a penchant for the asymmetrical and abstract as well as Celtic motifs and sea themes. With precious metal clay I can introduce a new dimension to my designs. I hope Eimear benefits equally from the skills swap.

Ocean Moon by Handmade by Amo'r

The Skillz Swap Shop thread remains open to members of the team. If you have already taken part in a swap session, or plan to, we'd absolutley love to hear about it on the blog!

Bloomsday in Costume

Hi Anne-Marie of Handmade by Amor here. Just for fun, I thought I'd search Crafty Ireland Team shops for inspiration for an Edwardian-styled costume for Bloomsday , a Joycean festival held on and around June 16th every year.

Though far from a literary scholar, I've always loved this celebration of James Joyce's, Ulysses. The book was set in various locations all over Dublin on 16 June 1904. Festivities, fun, Edwardian-themed events and pub readings take place all over the city (though the festival is by no means limited to Dublin or even Ireland for that matter.) You don't have to be involved in the entertainment to dress in costume and for me, this has always been part of the attraction. Think Mary Poppins and My Fair Lady and you've got the look, though in reality, anything goes as long as you vaguely reference the book.

Print of original painting by Tanya Bond

I didn't find much for the guys but what you need is a waistcoat over a white shirt and something like a bowler hat, straw boater or failing that, a flat cap. A rummage in the charity shops can yield results.

Vintage cravats from artyFactz

A bow tie or cravate is good, the dandier the better. Add to that a pair of round wire rim glasses or monacle from a charity or vintage shop and away you go.


For the girls a high neck blouse is the staple for your Edwardian look. This vintage 198os shirt from Little Blue Cottage will do perfectly, though you could get your needle out and sew on a bit of lace.

Vintage or vintage-styled jewellery is a must. This art nouveau necklace by Nicobel is ideal.

Brooch Necklace by Amazing Beads
Peridot Crystal earrings by ViviBijoux

Skirts were worn long but not as wide as in the previous century. Well-to-do ladies would have worn a special corset to create an 'S' shaped figure (most uncomfortable I imagine.) A small bustle could simulate a similar shape - so why not let your creativity loose and make one!

A working class girl would have worn simpler lines. The closest I could find is this vintage 70s skirt from Dandelion Daydreamer. It would do nicely with a long petticoat underneath.

Feather fascinator by Little Miss Bling (Flickie Howe)

Pull your hair up into a loose bun. Oh and don't forget to stick a feather and/or some flowers in your hat ladies!
A crochet shawl or lacy wrap will complete your look. I made this one a few years back, by tea-staining my mum's old kitchen curtains.

To tea stain lace, make up a basin of strongish tea. Remove the teabags before adding in wet lace. Stir with a wooden spoon. Leave until the desired colour is achieved, though bear in mind the fabric will look darker when wet. (I would experiment first before attempting to stain a good piece of lace.) Rinse and then wash gently with a little washing up liquid to remove any acidic residue. Rinse again with water and hang to dry.

I stuck a few strategic stitches under the arms and sewed on a hook and eye with chain clasp that I bought for next to nothing. On my feet I wore an old pair of lace up 1980s boots I found in the attic, but a low shoe will do fine.

'It's Guinness Time' by Jane Packard

Now you're all set to go. If you are not close to any official festivities, find a good Irish pub and start your own Bloomsday party. Enjoy!

The Name Game

Hi there. Anne-Marie of Handmade by Amo'r here, musing if a rose by any other name really would smell as sweet, or if it would be as thorny as my own Esty shop name has become to me of late.

Nameplate cufflinks by Flying Squirl Jewellery

I’m suffering from store name envy. Forgive me a little name-dropping here but ones like Queen of Cuffs, Patchwork Delights and Huggle Knits are simple and clever. These names instantly give a clue to what is on offer while also evoking an emotional response. Irish Woolen, Purls of Colour and Homespun Ireland also conjure up a sense of the brand. Names like Balanced, Rainbow Stained Glass and A Box for my Treasure I find engaging and most importantly, memorable.

How I rue the day I chose to name my store Handmade by Amo’r based on own my initials. (Anne-Marie O’Rourke.) It seemed an obvious choice as I’d gained the nickname Amor, meaning 'love' in Spanish, when living in Spain. My shop was to be, and is, a labour of love.

Scouring the internet for businesses with similar names (in English) I found no reason not to use it. Granted, there were some with Spanish names incorporating the word. Now, if you search for ‘Amor’ with relevant keywords you’ll find tonnes of other brands (but please don’t!) I’m buried so deep I practically don’t exist.

A few years ago when I signed up green and uninitiated, I knew nothing of brand identity or marketing. SEO was just the Irish translation for the phrase ‘here is’. The more I learn, the less I seem to know.

I do know however, I made the faux pas of choosing byAMOR as my Etsy user name instead of amor or even handmadebyamor.

‘an elephant never forgets’ by Michael Prior Photography

My friends, family and happy customers, who are my greatest advertisers, do not pass the name byAMOR on to their friends and colleagues. The simpler term amor, naturally sticks in their heads, sometimes attached to some random other word. As we already know, a search for the term 'amor' will not dig up my store! As if to prove my point, this very week my cousin told me she couldn’t find my shop when she googled said term. The searcher needs to google byAMOR if I am to be found.

While gnashing my teeth over my predicament, I sought distraction and began pondering the stories behind other shop names. Sailmakers Daughter was a name I always found intriguing. Curiosity got the better of me, so I asked the owner, Edana for her story.

Butterfly ring by Sailmakers Daughter

“Like many others I have a strange obsession with the sea and come from seafaring roots - my Mam's family being from Clogherhead and 2 of my Uncle's are fishermen“ Edana explains. “It was something I wanted to incorporate into my shop identity from the beginning but I spent a loooong time deciding on a name. I thought that it should incorporate hand craft also and spent a while looking through annals of bygone crafts. The Sailmaker fitted the bill and Daughter I added because of my family's sea going ways plus I felt it softened the effect and also allows me a nice wide scope for the ridiculous number of crafts I seem to dabble in.”

Mary of ‘The Blue Cow and the Grey Crow’ (Myrasimon) also had an enchanting story to tell.

Evening Bag by The Blue Cow and the Grey Crow (Myrasimon)

“I chose the name ‘The Blue Cow and Grey Crow’ based upon the idea that people describe colour in relation to their own experience. “she says. “A bluey-green isn't the same as a greeny-blue for instance. My father, a farmer, describes cows that are grey in colour as blue (ours is a Belgian Blue/ Freisian cross breed I think, 1980’s), as most farmers do. That’s a bit of a mystery! Hooded crows, as the rest of the world calls them, he calls grey crows. The head and wings of these birds are black and the body is grey.

So in a given context a colour description can be very individual (Grey Crow) or in another context a widely accepted description. When it comes to describing the colour of the pieces, especially the knit ones, on my web site I've faced a similar quandary. Hence the name!”

Beaded heart necklace by The Green Peach

Liz of The Green Peach explains that her shop name is a little of where she grew up and where she lives now.

“I was born and raised in Georgia, USA, just north of Florida, which is famous for peaches. It's called the Peach State. I moved to Northern Ireland about four years ago and that's where the "green" comes from. Mostly because compared to South Georgia, where everything is mostly brown, N. Ireland was quite a welcome contrast!

I've also been making jewellery for a while, but only just joined Etsy recently, so I thought green was appropriate in that sense as well. "

Names like these are memorable and obviously mean something to their creators.

If you are contemplating opening a new or second Etsy shop, you'd be well advised to learn from my follies and heed this important Etsy post ‘What’s in a Name.’ Also, make sure your friends, family and customers have easy access to your shop link - add it to the end of emails etc. If you can, keep your loved ones well stocked with a few business cards and/or other promotional material to pass on.

'Legend,' Connemara marble necklace

As for me, born with a noble Irish surname like O’Rourke, I’m not about to lie down and play dead. Too late to win head-on without starting over, I shall attack the problem from the sides. I’ve already taken the first steps to counteract my rookie mistakes. So far, 'byamor' and 'handmade by amor' seem to be yielding better results but how I solve the greater problem is a story yet to unfold. May the game begin!

Baby, It's Handmade in Ireland

Baby Booties by Mukky Monkey

Hello, Anne-Marie of Handmade by Amo'r here. This week's Trade Secrets Thursday hones in on babywear and gifts. I thought I had so many to buy lately because my circle is at ‘that age’ but it’s official, Ireland is deep in the throws of a major baby boom.

So it looks like the 80s are back in more ways than one. Birth-rate statistics for the Republic of Ireland show we’ve surpassed the peaks of the last baby boom, which was 31 years ago. In 1980 numbers of newborns soared to 74,064. Figures slumped in the 90s, going down to 48,255 in 1994. However, in latter years we’ve reached those highs again with a whopping 75, 065 births in 2008 and 74,728 in 2009.

With a growing birth-rate despite the economic downturn, I gather Ireland is going against the general EU trend towards population decline. And the Irish baby boom is said to continue for the near future.

Baby Ball with Rattle by Patchwork Delights

Great news for those of you who make those cute baby quilts, booties, clothes and other gifts. And perhaps too for those who have the crafty skills to jump on board the baby wagon.

Easter Hat by Babies Republic

Wily wool workers, fear not that demand for your cosy winter hats and gloves might slump this time of year. Yes, it is winter on the other side of the world, but branching out into baby clothes, blankets etc may help boost local sales through the summer months.

Hand-knit Cardigan by Irish Woolen

A point to consider when stocking your shop: expectant mums and grannies tend to buy for newborn to 6 months and they might shop throughout the pregnancy. Friends and extended family however, generally wait until the baby is born before buying clothes. Often they choose something to wear several months later. So there's a good chance they'll be looking for heavier, winter clothes for the 6- 12 month child right about now.

It's a Girl Card by HuggleKnits

If you do go down this route, proper research into EU safety rules and regulations for childrens toys and products and/or children’s clothes is called for. For example, there are standards in place regarding cords and drawstrings in children’s clothing. (The links herein are provided as a starting point. If any of you have any further useful, related links, please do post below.)

Custom Name Print by Designbirdie

Childrens’ art and nursery decorations are a great alternative for babies who have older siblings to hand down clothes etc.

Porcelain Christening Heart by Living Ginger Designs

As a buyer tired of the traditional Christening momentos, I for one, will be on the hunt for something different on Etsy. There is scope for crafters across various disciplines when it comes to creating OOAK nursery decorations, baptism gifts etc.

No 1 Mum Pendant by Nine Design

And let’s not forget the new mother, who deserves a little spoiling herself. I know a few proud mamas who would love a piece of jewellery to mark the occasion.

Chunky Rose Quartz Necklace

Rose quartz is associated, not just with romance, but also maternal love and feminine qualities such as gentleness and compassion.

On that note, a reminder that it’s Mothers Day here this Sunday, 3rd April. If you are participating in a market this week, perhaps highlighting appropriate items or putting together special gift sets or baskets for the occasion will drive some extra sales. Mothers day in the US is 8th of May. There’s still plenty of time, but it may be worth checking out An Post’s Express and courier rates as a possible option to offer your customers.

Now I’ve got a bit of shopping to do myself.....so, if you'll excuse the terrible pun, it’s time for me to wrap up ;-)

Baby Shoes Wrapping Paper by Placed