Folksy Friday - Holiday Items!

Wow, I can't believe it's Folksy Friday again, where I get to browse through some of the so talented Folksters shop and select some items to show you. This week I've chosen items with Holidays in mind, as it's that time of year. Just looking through these items made me forget it is actually raining outside at the moment! Anyway these are my choices for this week:

First I chose 'Bodkin & Bead's' pretty travel wallet, perfect to keep all your important pieces of paper together. Next this summery bag from 'Penny Fancy Bags', followed by this clever perfume stick by 'Artisan Curiosities', what a clever idea! I love this passport holder by 'Beautiful Things', and the Foot Thong by 'Gimme That Thing' screams summer holidays to me. Finally I thought this lovely shrug by 'Pigeon Stitch' is the perfect item to wear on a hot summer evening somewhere exotic. I hope you enjoy looking, click on any of the photo's to visit the Crafter's shop. Have a lovely Friday!

Sunny Days and Photo's

Hi all, what fantastic sunshine today! I hope you are all enjoying the same. I have been out and about with my camera recently and would like to share a few summer photo's I've taken. I'm always on the look out for subjects I can possibly use for cards, and have had some success with my own photo's as card toppers. I am no David Bailey by any means but as a complete ameteur armed with my trusty Canon Sureshot I enjoy it. I use The Gimp photo editor which is a free download, Personally I find it more User Friendly than Photoshop which used to crash my PC regularly...I'm sure Disciples of Photoshop will want to shoot me down in flames but The Gimp suits me well. I usually just crop whatever section of the photo I require and then adjust the lighting and use the 'unsharp' mask if a bit more definition is needed. There are lots of filters to play around with if you like, and you can create some very 'arty' effects if that is your taste. For these photo's I was just trying to capture a feeling of Summer and with some I may have succeeded, I'd love your comments...as I say I am a complete novice so I know these are not Professional standard! I'll see what I can come up with on the card front using some of these...couldn't you just eat this Devon Cream Tea right now by the way!!!

Medieval Crafts and Guilds

I love history, especially Medieval and have been reading all about the Medieval Crafts Guilds. The word “guild” is from the Saxon “gilden” meaning "to pay" and refers to the subscription paid to the Guilds by their members. Association to a Guild gave you a higher social status too, members included: Candlemakers, Apothecaries, Cobblers, Bakers, Tanners, Cloth Makers, Painters and more. No one could practice their craft without belonging to their appropriate Craft Guild, and strict rules of membership had to be followed.

(Medieval cloth)

It was hard to become a Guild member in the first place, with three stages to go through: 'Apprenticeship' which lasted between 5-9 years, 'Journeyman' - a paid craftsperson who would during this period create his Masterpiece to present to the Craft Guild as evidence of his skill. Eventually a craftsman aimed to be a 'Master' when he could then set up his own shop and train his own apprentices. What would you be if we were suddenly transported back? I'd love to hear your comments...
Medieval Societies and Medieval Fairs are very popular in this country as well as the rest of the world, and are held all over the country during the summer months. The picture below will take you to the Time Travel Britain site which has more information. Meanwhile back to 21st Century crafting and I have cushions to make...speak soon x

It's Folksy Friday!

This week I've chosen the garden as my inspiration for Folksy Friday. A click on the photo will take you to the particular Crafter's shop on Folksy. There are some great ideas for gifts here:

Featured today are 'Gimme That Thing's' plant labels, Insect House by 'The Birds and the Bees', 'Diggi's' hand turned Garden Dibber, 'Firwel Craft's' wonderful Hare, JML Pottery's Bird Feeder and finally Kate Broughton's fun Seed Card. Enjoy rummaging around their shops!

The 'Rose' Range

Hi all, what a beautiful day again, we just need it to last for the weekend. I'm going to a tulip festival at Dyrham Park, a National Trust propery just outside of Bath so we need the sun!

The only problem is this lovely weather has got the weeds growing like mad in the garden, I know a weed is only a plant in the wrong place but it's dandelion city here. I'm planning a gardening themed Folksy Friday tomorrow to get me in the mood to get out there and do some.
I have been a busy, busy bee sewing this week and completed a trio of items in the 'Rose' range. A cushion, a fabric heart and a dressing table tidy. I've already sold 4 items so have been to my favourite fabric shop today to stock up. Oh the goodies in there, I was like a kid in a sweet shop...no, I was like me in a sweet shop! See you tomorrow for Folksy Friday!!!

I won!

I had to post and say a big big thank you to Zoe at The Jewel Box who ran a blog giveaway which I was luck enough to win! Today I received the prettiest necklace, see photo below, the photo doesn't do it full justice as it is so delicate and the colours are lovely. Of course this means I shall need a whole new outfir ot match it! If you click on the photo this will take you to The Jewel Box blog, thanks again Zoe.

The Heritage Crafts Association

Hi all, I hope you've been enjoying a beautiful sunny Sunday! I came in when it got a bit warm for me and started reading about The Heritage Crafts Association, having been pointed in their direction via The Craft Forum. The Heritage Crafts Association is a campaign to raise the profile of traditional skills and support those in danger of being lost. They say:

'There are crafts that form part of our cultural heritage which are in real danger of dying out. The skills and techniques required are known by only a few, in some cases only one, as craftspeople become older and retire from their work, and there is no-one coming into the craft to take their place.

The Heritage Crafts Association firmly believes in the importance of these crafts as a fundamental part of our living heritage.'

I have added a button to take you to their site which is located just below the friends box on the right, under case studies there are some fascinating cases including British clog maker Jeremy Atkinson, if you have a blog or FB page please consider promoting this worthwhile cause by including a button on you blog!

The above photo should take you to the Case Studies page if you fancy an interesting read. Have a great evening all, Di x