Photo A Day - Day 326 - 333

I really enjoy the way that photography makes you look around you with a different eye. You see things that you would have never noticed before. The world really is a stunning place.

On to more catching up:

July 25 2012 - Day 326

Slugs and snails and puppy dog tails. Ok so its just the snail

July 26 2012 - Day 327

Ferd 

July 27 2012 - Day 328

Bobbie pins 

July 28 2012 - Missed

July 29 2012 - Day 329

Postcard Print

July 30 2012 - Day 330

Drawing

July 31 2012 - Day 331

Pin Cushion

August 1 2012 - Day 332

Dragonfly

August 2 2012 - Day 333

Learning to crochet

August 3 2012 - Missed 

Its beginning to look a little spooky

The days are drawing in and the air is defiantly getting a little crisp and the month ends with the feast of new years eve - Samhain.

But the children will only interesting in one thing....


.....Trick or Treat.

I am getting some designs together for swag bags.

Eye of newt and wing of bat, a little bit of this and that.
A pinch of boy and a smidgen of rat.
Combine all together and turn into a cat.

Liberated Art

Sometime ago I found out about the Liberate Your Art 2012 Postcard Swap (you can find out more about the event here and Kat the wonderful event organiser - go on have a little nose around and if you like what you see here is her facebook page and maybe you can join in next year).

At first I was a little should I, shouldn't I. Despite all the lovely comments I get and selling my illustrations I guess I am still a little bit shy (and of course readers and followers will know about my anxiety struggles), I know it doesnt make sense, but I am just a little country Mouse after all.

I bravely signed up and then then deliberated the postcards to send - a selection of my illustrations, some photography, or some shots of my creations. This time I went with a selection of my illustrations.

I packaged my cards up and entrusted them to the Royal Mail to get them across to America in time and eagerly awaited for the swap to officially begin.

I need to say a huge thank you to Kat - oh my god the task you had getting these all sorted, sticking on address labels and stamps (this is how she did it) thank you, thank you, thank you :D

So then it was the waiting.

First glimpse of post cards arrived on the facebook events page - how exciting to share this with everyone.

Waiting.

Waiting - yes I know the postcards had to fly all the way here so I just had to wait patiently.

And eventually Postcard One made it:

Its journey saw it leave Australia to head on over to America and then on to me in Nottinghamshire its a real globe trotting card and I love it:

Copyright magnetisedbylife 2012

The quote on the back of the card was "share your passion, follow your dreams"
Like what you see? Want to see more well here you go etsy, facebook, blog.

Postcard two:

Copyright Jenna Kanna 2012

...and you garden will always have sunshine!

Such a cheery card and a perfect antidote to the rubbish summer that we've had.
For more check out her blog and etsy.

Postcard Three:

Copyright Cinda Bauman 2012

I have bored people for many years with my desire for chicken so this little guy will help to remind me of that and one day I will get there. You can check out Cinda's webite here really great illustrations I was specially taken with "...he turned with a twitter, and raced to the trunk of a tree"

Postcard Four:

Copyright Janice Darby 2012

"hello from the coast of California"

This little guy popped through the letter box just on the right day I had woken up in pain and had been reduced to tears, he just made me smile and wipe those tears away - art is very powerful.
You can check out more of Jancie's photography on her blog.

Postcard Five:

Copyright Maria "Rinda" Ontiveros 2012

Rinda's message was to "enjoy this photographic taste of my coastal community". And enjoy it I am, its a really interesting shot. You can find out more about Rinda and see her work on her blog.

and last but in no way least postcard six from Kat:

Copyright Kat Eye Studio 2012 

I am already looking forwards to next year :) 

Hello Lovely People

Wow so again I have had an unintentional break (more photo a day pictures will be coming).

I sort of lost my blogging confidence after a comment during a meeting to get back to work. It really threw me and I am sure that I took it way out of context as I can sometimes have a skewed view of things due to the anxiety.

But just to today I stumbled across a link to my Folksy V Etsy post on a facebook comment a chance encounter and it got me to think again (and a new post about that will be coming). I knew that I would be coming back I do love blogging and I have received so much support and encouragement to help me through especially during my melt down and having to re evaluate and re learning about my complex health issues that mean I am disabled - not that you would ever know from just looking at me.

So what it happening in the world of Mouse?

I am now getting back to the desk job, completing a phased return and requesting a reduction in hours to see how I go. Its important for me to work but for a long time I placed far too much importance on work (as in the desk job that gives certain financial security) this was fuelled by a bad personal experience of the benefits system years ago and knowing that the situation is even worse now. The reality is that I could lose my job because I am incapable of sustaining attendance and therefore by default incapable of doing the work (an employer can not keep someone on indefinitely on the off chance that they maybe able to work the odd day here and there and I would not expect them to) but I would have a very hard time getting sickness benefits I would be found 'fit' for work despite being potentially 'unemployable' due to ill health disability - so yes the current system for people who really need help, understanding, care and sometimes a big hug is very hard. 

I was in a situation where I was living to work - yes I was able to work full time and afford all the things I wanted - new clothes, new shoes, new Radley - but I rarely went out, did things, my life was work, come home, cook, eat, sleep, pain and repeat - and my health since then has declined. 

I love creating and I was even find doing that difficult as I was just too tired, in too much pain, couldn't concentrate. 

But now I want balance I want to work to live and yes LittlemouseLilly is continuing and growing. I love my Mouse world and the dream is that Mouse will give an income so that fingers crossed in time I wont have to go to a desk job. Mouse work for me is easier to fit around my health needs I can work and rest when I need which is obviously more challenging with a fixed desk job. Mouse work is also not really work (yes obviously there are the serious bits eek Tax Return etc) but Mouse work is really life to me its a huge part of me and I need the creative outlet. 

So at the moment I am working out that balance and I am sure that I will make mistakes along the way - but that's how we learn. 

And of course I am continuing to create lovely things - 

New prints coming 

Beautiful jewellery 

Lovely cushions

And a lovely wedding commission

And I can still be found in all these places:
Etsy
Folksy
Facebook
Twitter 
Blipfoto

Photo A Day - Day 242

Day 242


K

Colin the Lion
Colin is the undisputed King.
But its not a crown he wears upon his head.
Oh no its a fez.


:)

Photo A Day - Day 237 and Cafepress

Day 237

G

And of course G is for Gemstones :)

Today I have mainly been setting up my Cafepress store front - its almost there and then I will add more products.

I am thinking jammies, t shirts, sweatshirts and mugs - but there is a whole host of options on Cafepress - what would you like to see stocked?

These are the section designs so far...

Everything Else

Kids Wear

Night Wear

 I have also finished off these guys

Photo A Day - Day 232

B

My First Craft Fair

So last Saturday was my very first craft fair and I had a great time.


You can see my table here


And here are some of the things that I took:

Some lovely, lovely bags

My badges didn't do as well as I expected - I think it was down to the display  I just popped them all into a pot so for the next one they will be displayed in a better look and me kind of way

And of course I took some cushions and cuddles

My cards went down very well and I got loads of compliments on them - the cushions also proved popular at drawing people to my stall. And the little lavender hearts went down well.


Now like everyone your first is a big deal. Will I sell anything? Will people like what I do? Will I have enough change?


For me it was also about can I do this? Can I cope?


As you all know I have a chronic illness, I also suffer from chronic back pain and anxiety. So my first time was a pretty big deal. Now I was lucky and had the lovely theothermousie on the table next to me (a lovely fellow mouse that I met on twitter) and I have to say a big thank you to theothermousie, Mr Mousie and the Mice for helping me on the day (My Mr Mouse had to stay at home).


I viewed the day as a learning experience the fact that I made some money for me was a bonus. I proved to myself that I can do it - so onwards and upwards. 


Tips that I learnt:
Dont under estimate how much prep work you need to do
If your items can be transported on/in their displays do it (saves time setting up)
Label before you go
Have a list of your items (this will work as a stock list and sales list to help you keep track for your accounts)
Take a pen and note book for contacts/custom order bookings
Take a duplicates book (in case someone wants a receipt)
Calculator 
Make your Storage work for you - think can it double up for display?
Have easy to eat nibbles and try to fit those nibbles in during the lulls of activity
Flask of tea/bottle of drink 
Painkillers
Think about how you are going to transport your stock - I found that those big blue Ikea bags are great along with under bed tote bags (these could then be folded and stored safely out of the way (no trip hazards please)


What will I do differently at my next one?
No jewellery (because jewellery slots were all taken) - but I will be taking a tart book
Better display of badges
Will create stepped display for cushions so they are even more visible
Will make it clearer that I do commission work
Will make it clearer that postcards are there to be taken
Will make sure that everyone who buy something gets a business card and try to hand more out :)


Will I be booking more?
Oh yes 


So how was your first time. Do you have any tips that you want to share?


Now a sneak peak at a new venture:


Wonderfully modelled by Mr Mouse - I will be opening a CafePress store so you will be able to get my lovely illustrations printed on things like jim jams - oh yes I know exciting. I brought these to check out the quality and because I love Mr Mouse and he loves Leonard.