Want to add your shop to the directory?

Here is how:

• Press the link on the right hand panel of this blog, called 'View my Links page'.
• Press 'add link' at the bottom of the page.
• Type your name.
• Under Title type your shop name.
• Type your email address
• The 'link URL' is your DaWanda shop's address. Your code will look something like this http://en.dawanda.com/shop/sarastexturecrafts (english), http://de.dawanda.com/shop/SarasTextureCrafts (german), or http://fr.dawanda.com/shop/SarasTextureCrafts (french)
• Select a Category - choose Boutique if you sell mixed product.
• Add a description for your shop.
• Enter the code and press 'Add Link'
  

I will then process your details as soon as possible. Please note that this may take up to 10 days, depending on the response.

Please note that if you then press the 'I Love DaWanda' logo you will be taken back to this site.

Thank you, Sara x

Show me your DaWanda favourites!

Send me links to your favourite DaWanda items, or better still create a pinboard and invite us to take a look!

Press 'contact the Editor' for a contact email.

July Blog Carnival - Crafting on Holiday.

This blog carnival is cancelled, due to lack of entries... Ironic really, I guess everyone is on holiday!

I'll be back with news on August's carnival and how you can participate... Sara x

Introducing...Supra Monster!

1. DaWanda Shop Name: Supra Monster
2. DaWanda Shop URL: http://en.dawanda.com/shop/neovamp
3. When did you open your shop? Today!
4. Are you in the DaWanda Shop Directory here? I just entered the information and I am waiting for it to be reviewed.
5. What Category are you under? Mainly Art – Original Prints, but I have items under other categories too.
6. What do you sell? I sell my artwork, mainly in original high quality prints, but I'm also expanding it to magnets, cards, matchbooks and other small gifts. Very soon I will add buttons, rings and other jewelry, all based in my paintings and drawings.
7. Describe 2 of your current products.

My original prints are made in high quality Data Becker photo paper, which ensures amazing colours and more than a hundred years of maintenance under the worst condition. I work mainly on fantasy themes, strongly influenced by gothic and pre - raphaelite art. I work mainly on acrylics and Faber - Castell crayons.

Another product I sell are customized matchboxes, which have been a best seller among friends and customers. A simple small matchbox is customized with my paintings and black cardboard. I started making them because I wanted my altar's matches to look better... and then I got custom orders for them!

8. Tell me a bit about you...

I've painted since I can't remember, probably since I could hold a pencil in my hand. I like painting glimpses of my inner landscapes, like if they were doors to the subconscious. Sometimes the paintings become doors to others too – that is magic to me. I never chose it, I was chosen by it. I cannot live without painting and drawing. That is a blessing and a curse I must admit!

I am also a tattoo and henna artist. I was taught by Harry, a wonderful artist and person three years ago. Then I taught my husband and now we share a studio, where I can enjoy the designing of pieces that will last forever on our customer's skin. That is a true privilege I thank everyday. As painting, tattooing is a complex skill that needs lots of patience and love, and something that changes both the tattooer and the tattooed. It has a lot of ritual and makes deep bonds with the person receiving the ink.

I am a complete old-school illustrator: I make sketch, then make drawing, then scan. The only digital editing is adjusting the colours as close as possible to the original piece. I have nothing against digital art (or against any other form of art!), it's just the way I work. I like doing everything by hand.

9. Do you have a website, or blog? Yes, you can find it at http://supramonster.wordpress.com/

A Day in the Life: 'Literary Walk and Wire Crochet'

The weather was so lovely yesterday! Sunny and warm finally!
So we decided to go for a walk, a literary route related to Jane Austen. I just love her novels!
We started in Chawton, where Jane Austen spent her last 8 years, then trough some fields and woodland till Farringdon, a very lovely small village with very charming old cottages and then back, using a disused railway line.
It was great!

Then back home for my new glass beads and wire! For some time now I wanted to try crochet with wire. I saw some absolutely great work around and I really like the way they look! Very organic in a way...
I did some research about what kind of wire I need but it seems I have not done my job properly as it was a nightmare working with 20 meters of wire that as soon as I released the bundle it turned into one big mess blob.
So actually if jewelers from the community would have any suggestion for wire for this kind of project I would really appreciate!
Anyway, I managed to make something but it's far from perfect. What do you think of the end result?
By the way, I call it "The Brazilian Chaos Bracelet" ;)



Written by Ana of http://en.dawanda.com/shop/mysteriouscats

Great Photos will help you sell!

I know we all make these great items and find ourselves frustrated when they do not sell. Why is that? I don’t know it could be many things price, style, or you just have the wrong target audience. Whatever it is one of the most important things to get your items sold is good photos.

What makes a good photo you ask?

*Background*-Well for a product you should keep it on a simple solid color background. White is the best choice for a background since it goes with everything. If it is discolored in the photo it is easier to lighten it up than other colors. Plus it won’t detract from your item. Props can be good but there is a point where they take over the picture.

*Focus*-When I shop online I want to know what I am looking at. I do not want to try and figure out what I should be seeing. Blurry photos are a huge turn off.

*Light*-If your photos are too dark no one can see your product. Using photo editing software like photoshop can really brighten up those dark pictures.

You don’t need a studio to take great pictures. I use a few pieces of white paper and adobe photoshop to fine tune my pics.I am not a photo god either and I have listed some items with horrible pictures with leopard print backgrounds.What was I thinking? So good luck and take some photos.

Written by Andreanna of Glamasaurus

My Recent Purchase from My Little Magic Shop

I do buy from DaWanda as well as sell and wanted to take this opportunity to tell you about one my most recent purchases...

I really love aromatherapy so I asked Carolina from http://en.dawanda.com/shop/magickshop if she had a perfume from her shop's collection that could help to keep me calm on a recent flight abroad... she recommended 'Elizabeth', filled with a fresh soothing bloom fragrance. I couldn't help myself it sounded just the thing...

My little parcel arrived about a week before the flight... here it is... all wonderfully packed.

And with a few small gifts too... a handmade notepad (which is now in my purse) and a sample of incense (which I'm going to try out over the next few weeks).

I love the perfume, it is just what I imagined and I really do feel calm when I wear it... Thank you Carolina!

If you would like to try one of Carolina's perfumes, please see her perfume collection at http://en.dawanda.com/shop/magickshop/18538-Bohemian-Perfumes

Written by Sara of http://en.dawanda.com/shop/sarastexturecrafts
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If you have an article like this, then please let me know.