Patterns from Nature – a day at the beach

Hi,

This is a companion blog post to match my most recent post on Fabuliciousfifty.  I had a fantastic day out, which you can read all about here.

This post however is a photography post, that celebrates the beauty of nature. We can sit with our pencils and paper, but we can never create the beauty of nature.

We arrived at the Bertra Beach, near Westport and I was immediately struck by the wave patterns in the sand.  As I lifted the camera I was just hoping that the lense would deliver what my eye could see.

The beautiful patterns made by the stones took my breath away.  Every stone is a different colour and hue and really makes you want to get out a water colour pallette and mix up gorgeous burnt seinna and paynes grey (my all time favourite pigment).

Here is hoping for a good summer and many more walks on the beach with my camera in my pocket.

Thanks for visiting.

Kerry x

Happy St Patrick’s Day

First I need to say thank you to this beautiful country for adopting me.  I have made Ireland my home over the last 12 years.  I am now a proud Irish citizen.

But of course, with a name like Kerry, my welcome to Ireland would not have been complete without a visit to the Kingdom of Kerry.

The photos I am sharing today are from Tralee – I wish I knew more about the ruins, but to be honest I was so awed by the light and shadows that I just snapped away.  It was a beautiful day travelling around this awesome county and stealing with my eyes.

I hope you enjoy my crazy collection of Irish memories for today.

 

Kerry x

 

Learn to Dance in the Rain

There are moments when I am sure that the seasons are changing, a little patch of bright sky and the smell or the earth after the rain.  I love spring and autumn best of all the seasons.   In Ireland, spring can quite often be about rain so I thought I would share some cards I originally made for the Yellow Club, a card making club I used to run.  Every month we had a theme. This one was all about the weather and was inspired by one of my favourite sayings –

It’s not about waiting for the storm to pass, it is about learning to dance in the rain!

The photos are not the best, I apologise, I have been trying to learn some new photo editing techniques, so please be patient.  The blue card has 3 techniques, a brayered background, a Tim Holtz for Sizzix die cut and a Tim Holtz for Sizzix embossing folder.

The second ‘rainman’ card uses watercolour paper and lots of inky fun.  Instead of using the cut-out from the Sizzix die I have used the stencil and raised it using foam squares.  I think this give a cool shadow effect.  I have handwritten the saying.

The third card I think is my favourite.  The boot stamp is from the Woodware Craft Collection and it had been overstamped with a Penny Black floral stamp.  Overstamping is a great way of creating new images and ideas from stash you already have.

Hope you like these simple ideas – and that you feel inspired to try some.

If you would like a free download of a sheet pdf sheet of the words of this quote – follow the blog and leave a comment.

Thanks for reading and looking

Kerry x

The magical time between day and night

I love to walk when there is enough light to see and feel, but not enough for definition.  The sun in slowly sinking, or rising and literally painting the sky.  It makes me realise that whatever we do with a brush or paint (or even a camera) we will never be able to capture the multi-layered complexity of natural light at dusk and dawn.

This series of photos was taken at the Museum of Country Life, in County Mayo in Ireland.  On this occassion I didn’t get to see the museum, well worth a visit, but had the opportunity of walking the grounds.  Of course I had my camera and was a bit annoying because I kept on stopping to make an attempt at capturing the moment.

It was a night to remember as my companion and I got locked in.  It was my first visit and I didn’t realise what time the gates closed, and if fact that they had closed behind us only a half an hour after we had arrived.

A very nice gentleman in charge of security approached us and explained that the museum had closed over an hour before, but as we seemed to be enjoying the walk, he didn’t want to disturb us.  We were kindly shown the back way out!

The best part of being a camera carrier is having the visual reminders of what made us smile.

Thanks for looking and I hope these photos inspire you (and me) to put those trainers on a walk, without headphones or distractions.  Walk and enjoy the sights and sounds around us.

Kerry

My New Year’s Word – Create

My word for this year is Create.  I have made new year’s resolutions for most of my life, and believe it for not, most of them have been kept.

A few years ago I came up with the idea of a new year’s word.  The concept is simple.  I contemplate and mull over and finally decide on a world – normally close enough to the end of December.  The word needs to be meaningful and then all I do is ‘make it my word’. I am really flattered that so many people have adopted it and made it part of their lives.  Today my new year messages often incorporated an enquiry about my word, and a message about a word chosen for the coming year.

I paint the (watch this space), and meditate on it.  I am not quite sure how it works, but it does.  Somehow the mind focuses on the idea and through the year it infiltrates into your life.  A few years ago my word was balance (my life was sincerely unbalanced).  By the end of the year I made made so much progress and even realised that I could stand on one leg for a good few minutes.  Now this wasn’t the type of balance I was going for, but somehow as well as achieving balance throughout my life, I had also improved my inner core.

The word for 2014 was ‘discipline’ – I cut my coffee drinking by 90 percent and incoporated self discipline into so many areas of my life.  I do need to continue with this word, but I now know that I am ready for a new and positive word – Create.

I want to write more, I want to paint more, but I also want to create opportunities, create memories and create friendships and relationships.

The paint brushes are washed, a few canvasses stacked up, laptop charged and a positive attitude in place.  I think this little blog might be a busy place in 2015.

Happy New Year – may your year be filled with love and laughter and most of all positive inspiration.

Kerry

I am a snow baby – always have been!

I was born in the snow.  Not this may not seem so exciting until I explain that I was born in South Africa where it only snows every 20 years or so.  For years I longed for snow. I was fascinated by it – the intricacies of snow flakes and the beauty of white all around.

The winter of 2008 changed that for me – I had a car accident in the ice and landed up sitting in an upturned car for a few hours while I waited to be rescued.  I also learnt that although snow and ice is beautiful it is deadly and has all sorts of knock-on effects.  So my love of snow had to retreat to my arty crafty life, where it isn’t cold, wet and slippy.

This photo is of a recent canvas I created for one of my crafty swaps.  I have cropped the bottom where I had the family names painted in.  I did a few of these this year – Snow people family portraits.  I nice keepsake.

Over Christmas I take down all the pictures in my house and replace them with Christmas art – beautiful needlework hangings made by my Mum, creative wreaths from my sister and crafty gifts from friends.  It give the house a festive feel along with scented candles and of course a few seasonal songs.

Here is wishing you and your family a happy Christmas and a peaceful few days – filled with family, friendship and fun.

Kerry

Amazing Inspiration – Christmas in Dubai

I am visiting my very talented sister in Dubai. She is an artist of Christmas. All year long she designs and makes Christmas decor which culminates in an annual show. Every piece is unique and is individually crafted.

It is as much about setting the scene as selling the products. On arrival (now remember it is over 30 degrees) you are met with a beautiful snow scene complete with skating penguins.
Inside the house it is an all sensory Christmas with scented candles, mulled wine and cookies and a Kaleidoscope of Christmas colours and textures.
I was so inspired after a day spent setting things up that I dreamt of making wreaths! And I have never made one.
All inspired to make and create on my return.
That’s for looking.
K

45 Days to Christmas …

My first Christmas Card of 2014 (swiftly followed by an order for 20 cards that I completed today).  I had good fun making this card featuring a great Santa stamp I picked up second hand.  I really enjoyed getting my copics out and colouring the Big Man in Red.  I couldn’t resist a few goes with my stickles glitter glue, although I tried not to over do it!

The card fold is one of the first ones I ever learnt.  Simply fold in half and then fold back. I was in a shabby chic mode so I used a blending tool and brown ink to create an aged feel.  My passion for using up all my bits resulted in the patchwork of Christmas papers which I think look nice and interesting.

I shared this card idea with a ladies group and was so excited to find that nobody made a card exactly like mine.  It was simply an inspiration and I was delighted to see the wonderful cards that were created by the talented ladies at the Westport ICA.

Lots more to come!

K

True Halloween – my style

I didn’t grow up with Halloween.  It was only something that started to impact in my life until my son was born.  When he started to go to nursery he came home with Halloween costume requests and that started me thinking…..

When I moved to Ireland nearly 12 years ago I really started to become curious and did a little studying about the history of Halloween.  Today it is really about the candy and costumes which are not all that scary anymore.  After consuming too much candy (bought for the trick-or-treaters for too many years, this year I am going to simply be spooky and a little dark.

I am told that Halloween evolved from the ancient Celtic festival known of Samhain (pronounced “sah-win”).   This is also November in the Irish language, and the month my son was born.
The festival of Samhain celebrates the end of the harvest Gaelic culture.  It was believed that on 31 October the boundried between the worlds fo the living and the dead overlapped.  This meant that the dead would come back to life and haunt us.

I love this photo taken in the Spiddal graveyard.  As a photographer I really love the winter light.  It creates a starkness to the bare branches and adds a spooky feel to the mudane.

This Halloween I will use the day to go to a little dark place, not a bad place, but simply a contemplative place where I can remember those who have passed from this life into the next.   I choose to believe that I will be guided rather than haunted.

I might have to indulge in a little chocolate just because.

Kerry

Selling and marketing your handmade cards – Part 1

This is a post I have promised for a while.  My take on how to sell your handmade cards ….

For about 12 years I have been making and selling handmade cards.  Firstly in my own shop where I was able to carefully monitor which cards sold and which didn’t. Some where my own and some were made by my very talented crafty friends.  I now sell my cards at a local shop and to friends.  So what is the formula and how do you make a bit of money?

(Just want to make a note here, it isn’t easy to make a living selling cards, so this post isn’t about that, it is simply about making a bit of cash on the side)

I have broken my post down into the 4 Ps (a formula used in marketing – my proper job).  Product, price, packaging and promotion.

Product

What is your product.  This includes all sorts of things like size, the content of the card and of course all the lovely goodies like sentiments, stamping, embellishments and more.  My advice is this:

1.  Cards with sentiments sell better than those without.  I am not sure why but this is something I am certain of.  I love wording stamps – my all time favourites are Penny Black sentiments.

2. Size does count,  Postage is an issue, and most of my cards that I sell are A6 cards or 6 inch squares.  If you are making personalised cards this rule doesn’t apply but that is another post which I promise I will write.

3.  Watch the cost of your pretty bits.  I use a lot of printed papers, stamped images and embellishments like flowers, pearls and lace.  It is a style that sells for me.  I am very frugal and I use all my bits and pieces down the last scrap (well almost).  Don’t waste and watch your costs.

4.  Find a style – right now mine is a little vintage and quirky.  It suits my skill level right now, and I have found an outlet that matches.

Packaging

The second P isn’t all that complicated, but it is really important.

Your cards should be packaged with a good quality envelope and packaged in a ‘cello’ bag.  I buy mine at Ideal Envelopes – this adds around 15c to the cost of the card, but it ensures that your cards look professional and keep clean and tidy, especially when on a shop shelf.

The other thing I do is I use a clear label – see pic.  These come from Avery and it is easy enough to design a label using the free wizard.  This builds your brand, and means that people can come back to you for order (especially important for personalised cards).  The label needs to be subtle and not draw from the card design.

Pricing

The difficult P.  The is the question I get asked the most.  I will cover personalised cards and wedding stationery in subsequent posts, but for now let’s talk about selling cards in shops.

The first thing to consider is the actual cost of the material

Here is an example.

1.  A half sheet of A4 card

2. Two quarter sheets of 12×12 scrapbooking paper

3.  Embellishments

4.  Envelope

5. Cello bag

Now I am guessing these prices as everyone will have a different style and all cards will be different.  As I have said I am very frugal and I know I can make a card for etween  60c  and a Euro, all inclusive.  This is of course an average.

Just a note, I am also quite frugal with my time.  I make a set of 6 to 8 cards at a time, and although I enjoy making them enormously, I don’t spend an hour on a card.  Some days I might make 6 cards in an hour.

When you are pricing any product there are two main considerations.  What it costs you – so let us say 1 Euro, and how much your customer is prepared to pay.  You also need to consider if your outlet will take a commission on your cards.

When I started to sell in my current outlet – the lovely Harvest Breeze in Westport, I put a few cards in the shop.  I tried 3 different sizes and 2 price points.  After a month, it was obvious.  The cards selling at 3.50 sold, those at 4.50 didn’t.  I dropped the prices on the slightly bigger cards and they sold.

Promotion

Promotion is a really important P for personalised cards and wedding stationery.  When you are selling your cards in a store, your options are limited.  Just a few points.

1.  Display area – not always in your control, but you can make suggestions.  You can also offer a simple display stand where appropriate.

2. Make a point of talking to and listening to the store owner.  You can pick up hints and tips about which cards are selling and what type of product they want to sell. Your cards will get pride of place is they are making money for both you and the store.

3.  Watch your stock levels.  Pop in and check that you have enough stock in store.  It is a funny thing in retailing, if there are too few of any product on a shelf, it doesn’t sell.  This was a lesson I had to learn when I had my shop.

Any questions or comments , please leave me a message below.  Share your success stories.

I promise a wedding stationery post and one on personalised cards.

Thanks for reading

Kerry