Merry Go Round

Each month, a group of craftswomen from around the world join together and give their reponses to the same question. This month, our question is:

What is your Purple Cow?

This question refers to Seth Godin, who maintained that the key to success is to find a way to stand out and be remarkable - to be the purple cow in a field of monochrome Holsteins.

Absolutely. I couldn't agree more! I mean, when we look at successful artists and crafters work, we can intuitively see what it is that gives them an edge...what makes them stand out. Maybe they have something to offer that no-one else provides or maybe their superb craftsmanship is evident. Whatever it is, they've got it in spades.

But what about me...? What is my purple cow? Yikes. Do I even have one? I'm not sure. Or about the success part, either. So, I cast an eye over my Etsy feedback that I've received over the past 18 months. That was helpful. Then, I asked my family. Tell me about my work, I said. Throw some words at me that sum it up. Go on, I can take it...and these are the words that my girls and the woodcutter came up with:

pretty - I like this word. It sums up all things girly and feminine. All women want to feel pretty, don't they?

bold - Good! I like to think that if you're going to wear jewellery, wear it! Let it be seen and get you noticed! It's not for everyone, but I try to put a bit of boldness into each piece I create.

colourful - colour is important - it lifts your spirits, it says so much about you. It captures your attention. I need colour in my otherwise rather monochrome life (yes, I tend to live in black!).

intricate - I just love details. It's all in the detail. Sometimes, it's just that one little extra bead that you need to add to a piece to create a certain sparkle and allure, or just one more layer of fabric to complete the story. Without it, a piece can seem almost lifeless.

Now that I re-read this back to myself, I can see that it has made me think a bit clearer about my purple cow - I'm going to name my purple cow 'complexity'. I realise that every item I create combines all of the above...a bit of this and a bit of that; old bits and new bits; layer upon layer of fabrics; multitudes of beads...I use it all. I like to think this results in the viewer being intrigued and totally drawn in by the complexities of each piece. I can hope...

I found that quite thought provoking and tough to answer. I wonder how my fellow Merry Go Rounders got on this month? Find out by clicking on the links in the sidebar...purple cows await you!

The shop is lucky...

...it is getting some new stock!

Today, the Elven range arrived back from Stampington in America, following publication in the Autumn edition of Belle Armoire Jewelry. Over the next day or two, these five items will be added to the shop!

Autumnal Air

Autumn is most definitely upon us...falling leaves, delicious coppery tones appearing everywhere, and a distinct chill in the air. How about this enveloping, multi-functional neckwarmer to carry you through the season?
Completely reversible, with red silk one side and latte and old gold shades on the other, there are so many ways to wear it! Button it up, flip it over, wrap it around...you choose! For a closer look, click here.

Dress Up Your Fingers!

image created via picnik

It's taken me a looooong time, but I've finally had a go at creating a ring. I've thoroughly enjoyed fiddling about with tiny scraps of silk and my machine...and adding those delicious ruby red glass beads. My favourite bit, I think, is the dazzle from the AB finish on some of the beads...mmmn!

I think next time, I might have to encrust the surface a wee bit more - but just a wee bit...

On My Desk Wednesday

I'm hoping that this will pass muster as to what's on my desk today...it is sitting there, right next to me....
As promised yesterday, here's the collar to co-ordinate with the Rochester wrist cuff made last week. It isn't an exact match - I like to live dangerously! What is it called, when you have a matching set of jewellery? I'm sure there's a name for it...would it be 'wardrobe'?

This should be added to my shop later this evening (probably around midnight - don't ask why it's so late!). Update: in the store now.

For more desk activity, do pop in to kootoyoo and take a little peek - while you're there, why not put your name down and join in?!

Wrists At The Ready...

Opera Wrist Cuff side view with lining, originally uploaded by fancypicnic.

This is a first...a matching set!

I so enjoyed creating the Opera Ruffled Collar I couldn't resist running up a co-ordinating wrist cuff. It doesn't match exactly - there are less ruffles for starters, more wandering stitches and a wider sprinkling of shimmery beads.

The taffeta is two-tone, and has proved to be slightly problematic to photograph - different light situations make it appear a slightly different colour each time. I think if it is sunny again tomorrow...*crossing fingers and wishing three times*...I'll retake both Opera pieces, at the same time!!

Something New for the Weekend

I've added this little wrist cuff to my Etsy store today - crammed full of texture, paraphernalia, and luscious colours.

Again, layers of silk and organza have been collaged together, and adorned with a floral silk motif. Multi-coloured yarn weaves its way around the cuff, over and under bits of organza and velvet trim. A scattering of pretty little beads help to glitter the night away!

Thank Crunchie it's Friday!

Where Will You Find Yourself?

Etsy success...we'd all like to be successful, wouldn't we? So, naturally, I can't resist reading the many hints and tips that are out there in the forums and the Storque, crossing my fingers that I will stumble upon THE MAGIC FORMULA that will turn me into an overnight triumph!! Of course, I could help myself by sewing a lot more, but we'll just quickly gloss over that...

The article I read in the Storque yesterday was Shop Makeover Series: Are Your Photos Front Pageworthy? Hmm. Then, I read about increasing your chances of a high Google rating. The next step, unsurprisingly, was to Google myself. Slightly strange!! Way back when, I thought quite hard about my name, fancypicnic. I wanted something that would allude to my jewellery, which I thought was a little like a luxurious blanket, laden with delicious tidbits - a fancy picnic - but could also encompass other products if I wandered off the beaten track. It still amused me, though, to find myself lodged between 'Fancy Picnic Baskets, Wholesale' and 'For a really fancy picnic think wine and spritzers'. I mean, what did I expect??

It's incredibly flattering to discover myself here and there, in unexpected places - like this little mention on the blooming lily blog - thank you, Laurie! Have you Googled yourself yet? Bet you have. If not, give it a go! It's quite fun, actually!

Thank you so much for your comments left for me over the past few weeks - they're lovely! I'm still popping in on Shopping Lists and blogposts I've missed...I may not always comment, but I am catching up!

Looking Forward...

A belated happy new year to you!

Why this picture? Well, I think the deep shadows really capture my mood - but I love the glow of warmth from the strong highlights and new growth of gorgeous honeysuckle. I always find I feel a bit, well...bleak...at the start of the New Year. For many people, it heralds new beginnings, new ventures and a sensation of casting off the old, and embracing the new. It probably says a lot about my personality that for me, the shrugging off of the old is not really something I enjoy. Why is that, I wonder? Out of my comfort zone? Probably!!

I gave the old sewing machine a complete break this holiday...so now I need to focus on those creative challenges that I've been pondering for a while. I'm completely behind with reading everyone's blogs, so apologies for that...I feel SO out of touch now! The woodcutter needs an extra pair of hands these days, so it is possible that I will be writing a little less over these coming months. A balancing act is in order I think. Here's to productivity, creativity and a reasonable amount of semi-decent organisation!!

The Forest Sprite Has Been Here...

...do you see what I mean? The whole time I was creating this pendant, thoughts of enchanted forests kept popping into my mind. I think you can tell the sort of stories that crop up in our house with my little girls' imaginations, and I'm not far behind them!!

Mossy dells, trickling streams, bobbing heads of lily-of-the-valley, sunlight streaming through the leaves of the trees, berry stores for the woodland folk....are you with me?! Anyone?!

Hand in Hand

Goodness! Will you look at that...there we are, almost hand in hand - top centre and top right, rubbing up against each other (I'm not saying anything) in this beautiful treasury, Feel the Warmth of Giving, by mistflowerstudio. Thank you, Valerie xx

Something New...

Just a quickie to show you the new Edwardiana Cowl collar that has been popped into my shop during the early hours of this morning.

Talking of which, I read a forum discussion once about when exactly was the right time to post new items. I read about people staying up all hours to post at the optimum time. But when is the optimum time....worldwide?! Etsy is, of course, an American site - but the USA doesn't have just one time zone...I tend to do mine at about midnight. Why am I not tucked up in bed??

*created with flickr toys

Perhaps you'd also like a sneaky peek at the woodcutter's new shop?? Currently, gift boxed candle sets are available - but they'll be added to, and you'll also be able to fill up your empty alcoves with clean, stripped decorative logs. Yum.

On My Desk Wednesday - call it Thursday!

A new Random necklace, just right for the forthcoming holiday festive season ... Lots of lovely beads and buttons - some old, some new; glass ones, resin ones, casein ones; venetian ones, spanish ones ... I could go on! A tumbling, freefalling funloving necklace, full of colour with something to interest everyone. Just a shame about our dull weather - perhaps picnik will help me out a bit later. This should be in my Etsy shop by the end of the day.

Click over to kootoyoo's blog for more desk adventures around the world!

Thank you to Jackie for my Blogging Friends Forever award - I haven't forgotten it!

A Touch of Glamour

A little something glamorous - for the festive party season ahead.
This small collar is richly textured with claret coloured velvets, silks and organza. Ruby toned beads are sprinkled here and there to catch the light, and AB faceted beads twinkle from beneath the ruffles. I've had a bit of a job (to put it mildly!) photographing it. I figured that as this item of jewellery is perfect for partywear, it would be worn in the evenings - low light/ electric light...so I wanted to show it as it would be seen and worn.

GRRR!! Hopeless! I'll have to pray for some decent light tomorrow and have another stab at it. Fingers crossed!!

Front Page - and I missed it!

This treasury, by Olaladesign - aptly named Sleeping Beauty - was apparently on the front page of Etsy yesterday evening...and I missed it! I have to confess, I do love a bit of Celebrity Scissorhands.....
I really must get to work on some new products - then, if this happens again (fp), at least there will be something new in my shop to look at. I can't complain - I've been really busy - but the old fancypicnic wares definitely need an injection of newness. I just need to get today and the weekend over with, those orders completed, and my restless fingers can get cracking!

Crikey, Really?!

I've decided to break out of blog hibernation (half term holidays, etsy custom orders....and, sadly, the dreaded lurgy...) to show you this. Utilemud's treasury, which includes my Pomp and Ceremony wrist cuff, was on the Front Page of etsy this morning - that's so exciting for me! I'd like to thank all those lovely people who took time out of their busy day to let me know about it. Thanks so much!

Little Things...

A little gallery of felted brooches. Two are complete, the rest are lying in wait - if you see what I mean! I think these are destined to be sent to a lovely little gallery shop. We shall see...

The end of this half term strikes today, and this afternoon sees us sitting in the school hall watching youngest in an assembly play. Aaah. Makes you think - it won't be long before the Christmas plays arrive...must begin stockpiling the old hankies!

I think my Shopping List Saturday will appear later today, because tomorrow we have a family treat (thanks Mum!) - we're off to Cardiff to see the Birmingham Royal Ballet perform Beauty and the Beast....oooh, can't wait! The costumes and scenery look fabulous, dahling.....

Yay!!

That gorgeous treasury I showed you yesterday? It's just been on the Front Page! Yay!!
Thank you everyone for your lovely, lovely compliments xx

Just a Quickie -

I wasn't going to do a post today - busy working - but then I discovered that my Midsummer Collar had been featured in a treasury...so of course, I had to take a peek. Valerie, from Mistflowerstudio, has curated this amazingly glamorous, romantic and fantasy-filled collection of items, and I simply had to share it!
You can visit it yourself, here, but have a jolly good look now - aren't these items fabulous..? So much storybook drama going on here, it's unreal!
Enjoy - and do visit Valerie's store, too, for the most amazing (that word again, but 'tis true!) mosaic work. Glorious.
Have a lazy Sunday, everyone!

Can You Believe It...?!

Something very small!!

No, really - this pendant is, I think, the smallest piece of jewellery I've ever made! It hangs on a sturdy silver coloured wire choker, and measures a grand total of a smidge over 2.5cms in length!!

Wow. Now I need to go and sit down, to recover from the shock of it. Small?? Well, I never.