This website isn't always a favourite of crafty types. I can understand why, I really can. However, there's nothing I like more than seeing what other people have made, and any site which narrows down the huge spectacle of Etsy can't really be a bad thing. It drives traffic to Etsy, it gets items sold which might otherwise be ignored, and if you ignore most of the comments from the other users, it's pretty good fun. Sure, there are some people who are just mean or rude, but mostly the sellers themselves enjoy it (and if they don't, the item can be removed). Most of all, the site raises money for charity - t-shirts and other items featuring favourite picks are sold on Zazzle, and all proceeds are given to chosen causes, or the money is used to ask crafters to make items needed by the causes. Most recently, the money was used to buy knitted false breasts for women who've had mastectomies. Have a look, ignore the snarks, and take it in the spirit it's meant, and you'll find something about it to enjoy. http://www.regretsy.com
Tattoo artist Kim Walsh has come a long way in the last few months. From doing some shadowing work and selling flash design on Tattoo Johnny, she's now on the cusp of opening her first studio. Her work has developed significantly recently, and she's really starting to get her own style. An accomplished artist, she can turn her hand to lots of different styles to suit the subject, from a delicate fairy for a memorial piece, to bright and funky cute colours. I've collected some of my favourite pieces of her work below, including my friend AM's Noon style tattoo she had done just yesterday. www.dontdieacopy.com
I did this on my old blog a couple of times, so I'm resurrecting it. My five favourite things on Etsy this week are as follows.
In all cases photos belong to the seller, and you can click on the picture to go and visit the item on Etsy.
 Murray Brothers plaid satchel
Gorgeous upcycled bags. I really want to save up for one of these, cause there's no way I could make one this lovely.
 Blue chameleon sculptural toy
Isn't this amazing?
 Apocalypse Cakes recipe cards
I love these art recipe cards. They're beautifully retro designed, and have fantastic photographs.
 Paper Mache sugar skull
This girl makes amazing sugar skulls. They're all so perfect, it stopped me even trying to make them for my project.
 Dave Grohl felt finger puppet
I love these finger puppets. They're just really cute.
This is the latest for my project on transformation. It's based on an octopus drawing, combined with a bloodbag and some abstract forms. The base is tissue on canvas, and I started with watercolours, before moving onto acrylics, and then oil paints.
I was thinking earlier about what I need to blog about on here, and my goodness, I have a lot of rubbish that spills out of my head.
However, after looking at Katie's site, I decided I should recommend some books. Goodness knows why, cause I don't really read books, I just sort of look at the pictures, and then go and scribble in a sketchbook.
Then I remember. If it wasn't for Keri Smith, I probably wouldn't have started drawing again.
Last year, when I was getting over my nervous breakdown and trying to decide what to do next, I went to the library to see Claudia. I felt immediately at home in that college anyway, but I also took a book home called 'Living Out Loud'. I went home, and read it, and started following what she said to the letter.
The most important thing which I did from it was to transform the room in our house which had hitherto been my in-laws bedroom, or the study, or even the playroom - I built a tent in it, and suddenly it was my studio.
The book also suggested taking a sketchbook and writing down sounds as you drew what you could see, and recommended ways to be relaxed. I started going on sense shopping trips (I had no money for actual shopping trips) ie just collecting little things I found on the floor, or little noises, or smells, or snippets of conversation.
I love looking back over these old sketchbooks. I encourage you, even if you're not creative in anyway at all, to go out and get Keri's book, and start being kinder to yourself. It's less than a tenner, which, let's face it, is less than a bottle of wine and a bar of chocolate, and will last a lot longer. I'm still benefiting from it a year later.
If you can see my flickr gallery on the right, you'll be able to see my sock skeleton, which is halfway through being made. We've got arms, we've got legs, and now I'm desperately trying to work out how to make ribs.
Current thinking is to use string to make a layout, and then add the socks to it. This seems like cheating somehow - maybe I'm a purist.
Ok so last year, I was raising funds for MIND. I auctioned 2 painting on eBay (one sold, one didn't) and held a raffle to win another painting. I also pledged to donate 25% of profits from card sales in the nurses's office, craft fairs and card parties. Doing all this, I managed a slightly paltry £30 to donate to MIND. I wanted to raise £50, but I never quite made it there.
So anyway, 2010, and time for a new LBC charity of the year. This year, it's Ovacome, mainly because I got a leaflet about their new campaign this year. Good timing.
Ovacome is the Ovarian cancer charity. Anyone who doesn't know, my mother died of Ovarian cancer in 2003. She was diagnosed in 2002 with stage 4 cancer after 2 years of going to the doctor with symptoms which in hindsight are obvious. However, if you don't know the symptoms in order to recognise them, it's pretty difficult to mistake it for IBS, or pregnancy (if you're the right age). Unfortunately, it's also the fourth most common cancer in women, making it pretty rare, and it doesn't get as much press, meaning the symptoms are even less well known. We're told to check our breasts, and men are told to check their balls and get their prostate checked, and yet if you ask anyone what the symptoms of ovarian cancer are, they probably wouldn't have a clue.
So I'd like everyone to be aware of the signs and symptoms to watch out for. Ovacome have kindly come up with the following acronym to help with the symptoms (much like the recent FAST campaign for stroke awareness).
THE BEAT CAMPAIGN
B is for BLOATING - persistent, and doesn't come and go
E is for EATING - difficult eating, and feeling full more quickly
A is for ABDOMINAL - abdominal and pelvic pain felt most days
T is for TALK - to your doctor
So in 2010, I pledge to do at least 2 charity auctions on eBay (where 100% of the money goes directly to the charity), another charity raffle in march (Ovarian cancer awareness month) and also give a % of the profits from my card sales. I really want to get to £50 this year.
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