New Online Selling Marketplace - ToSouk

I was browsing the forums on Folksy.com and came across a thread discussing a newish on line marketplace
http://www.tosouk.com/

I'm excited about this new opportunity as there are no costs involved - no listing fees and no commission charges.

I'm going to try to list a few pieces every couple of days to build up my stock there.

My first listing is for these gorgeous beaded Christmas decorations

So pop over to ToSouk and let me know what you think of it.

Connswater area Ramble - Belfast

Another interesting day out with the ramblers - we started at Victoria Park, Sydenham

A park with swings, flowerbeds, grassy areas, a lovely lake with ducks, geese and swans and a very pleasant place to wander aound.

We rambled through parts of East Belfast, had a lovely light lunch in Espresso East cafe on the Newtownards Road and then wandered onto Orangefield Park - I didn't know this park existed but I'll definitely be back but on a dry day !  No photos because it was very wet at that time.

Our guide, Sean, took us to see a tiny bridge,

 it's over 400 years old, amazing place, just behind the Beersbridge Road, (I think!) we were lucky to see a heron there too - you can just see its long neck to the right of the photo.  Sean told us Belfast Council is planning to fix up the surrounding area to promote its location, they'll provide seating area etc - it's a little piece of unknown history in the heart of East Belfast.

Weather was fairly good at the beginning of the ramble but we had some rain in the afternoon, I took this photo through the car windscreen at the end of the day.

What did you do today?

Folksy Friday - 23 September 2011

Folksy Friday is an opportunity to showcase some of the wonderful handcrafted products available on Folksy.com

My theme this week is 'Anniversary' as it's my mum and dad's wedding anniversary on Monday.











Difficult to restrict to just 6 items as there are so many heart and love theme items available.

What is your favourite?

Tuesday 20 September - tea and cinema

Lovely tea at http://www.wolfesburgers.co.uk/ - becoming one of my favourites places - I adore their swiss mountain burger - a burger, either beef or chicken topped with cheese, garlic mushrooms and shoestring onions - OMG - heaven on a plate.

Then to the cinema to see Jane Eyre - fab version - loved it - really held my attention, no fidgeting!

My friend, Jan, didn't know the story and she loved it too.

Autumn Fair at Botanic Gardens, Belfast

A lovely day out with my rambler friends at Botanic Gardens in Belfast.

Walking through the gardens we passed many wonderful and unusual sights -

The tree lady was so gracious and graceful.

The flower pot ladies? were so funny, swinging their handbags, waving and blowing kisses - I never did figure out how they could see!

Botanic is always worth a visit, it is beautifully maintained and lovely to wander around, the Palm House is very famous and there is Tropical Ravine to visit, an indoor area where you walk through a tropical forest like area.

Today we also had the pleasure of wandering around the marquees which displayed wonderous locally grown fruit and veg, fabulous flowers and floral arrangements and there was also a small craft area, I thoroughly enjoyed it all.

There were also games and activities for children to enjoy.

There were many food stalls and yes I couldn't resist a freshly made burger - delicious.

I understand the Autumn Fair is organised every year and I would recommend putting it in your diary for next year - a lovely family day out.

Teaching, eating and singing!

A lovely day today - doing 3 of my favourite activities. No pics but good memories.

I attended the Newry class - we made an Ogalala beaded bracelet.  I took my camera but forgot to use it, must try harder next month!

Then home for a quick change and out to Benedicts in Belfast for tea with work chums http://www.benedictshotel.co.uk/restaurant-belfast

They offer a fab 'Beat the Clock' menu where the cost of your main meal is the time you order at eg order at 5.30pm and pay £5.50 - food and service is very good and I couldn't resist their chocolate torte - delish

From there I went to the Grand Opera House http://www.goh.co.uk/default.asp
 to see 'Joseph and the amazing technicolour dreamcoat'  brilliant show - I love going to the theatre and 'Joseph' is one of my favourites.  I had warned the girls that I know all the lyrics and would have to sing from the beginning and they may wish to sit far, far away from me!  Everyone enjoyed the show, it's a really uplifting musical.

Excellent night out.

A day out tomorrow to the Autumn Fair at Botanic Gardens - blog post to follow.

Folksy Friday - 16 September 2011

My little sister's birthday is this weekend - I've chosen goodies from Folksy that she would like or are fun or sentimental items.

The bookmark has a sister charm and the handmade book has a sanskrit word for younger sister embossed on it - beautiful.

The plaque is lovely and as sapphire is the birthstone for September the suncatcher is appropriate.








My sister is fond of an occasional vodka ! and although doesn't have a sweet tooth she does like cheesecake and I thought the 'cheesecake' soap is lovely.

Just click on any of the pictures to go direct to the Folksy Shop.

What do you think of my choices?

Folksy Friday - 9 September 2011

My theme this week is beadweaving goodies - tomorrow I'll be attending the NI Beaders' Guild - http://www.nibeadersguild.com/ - it begins again after the summer break.

So I've chosen some beautiful pieces (including one of my own) - they show just a few of the different items that can be made or decorated with beads.








As you know my passion is beadweaving - so pleased to find other beaders in Northern Ireland and now also on Folksy.

Click on any of the pictures to go to the Folksy shops and see much more.



Ooops! It's a day late - Friday and most of Saturday have flown by !

Nephew's Birthday Presents

I bought Mason's presents from Folksy this year (and slipped a little cash into his card) - I was thrilled with both purchases.



This is a fab PE bag or it could be used for books, toys, lunch etc - lovely fabric, well made and delivered very speedily from http://www.folksy.com/shops/CalicoCo

The second pressie was a Tooth Fairy Door Hanger - embellished with a tractor - just perfect.  Mason has started to lose his baby teeth and I thought this would be helpful to the toothfairy when she visits - there is a tiny pocket at the top of the tractor to put the tooth and then the toothfairy leaves a coin in its place!



So cute and useful too!
from http://www.folksy.com/shops/monkeymookids

Why not visit http://www.folksy.com/ for some of your present buying.

My Folksy Shop

Another new bracelet listed today in my Folksy Shop - stunning cobalt blue beads.

It's quite a complex pattern but a stunning finished result - I love it.

My Folksy Shop

I've listed a new bracelet / cuff in my Folksy Shop.

It is a beautiful mix of topaz and amber coloured faceted beads with cream smooth pearls.

There are other colours available and more will be listed this week, so check back again.

I joined the weekly listing club on Folksy.  It's informal but encourages me to list up to 3 items per week, I'm hoping it will keep me focused and it's lovely to see the other new items made by the very talented crafters / artists on Folksy.

This week's list starts here -

http://forums.folksy.com/forums/6/topics/320453