2012 - Year in Review

Well, what a year! My focus for 'Green Gifts' shifted this year with the start of an online store. I had been paying fees on it for around 18 months, whilst doing research, but the delay was worthwhile--there are so many elements to running an online store, and I'm glad I considered them fully before embarking on it (a lot of time & money would have been wasted if I had just launched into it straight away).

On the whole, I just allowed the store to evolve as people made stationery requests for their special events/projects. Next year, I would like to introduce some more creative items to my store, as I have been neglecting this shockingly throughout 2012!

On the markets front, I have been surviving, just. Tourism in the Blue Mountains has dropped a little and tighter OHS regulations at the market I attend has affected sales too. Partially, I am responsible for a less-than-successful year at the markets, as I haven't been keeping up with stock levels on account of my online store. It's a balancing act and I hope to do it more effectively in 2013.

I am still loving this hobby business, which is gradually growing into something real. The appreciation and positivity received from customers this year has actually been very rewarding :) As such, I am not convinced that I'll ever fully return to my previous occupation...

'Ode' to Fiji

It's been so busy!

Chervonne and Thomas Ah Kuoi,

100% Recycled "Thank You" Cards,

'Wishing Well' Advice Cards

Well, I'm not quite sure what has happened to this year! I started an online store earlier in the year and certainly never expected it to grow as quickly as it has :) A couple of weeks ago I had to 'shut shop' completely for a time--it was just too hectic! My sister's wedding was approaching and I was a bridesmaid :) I also made some 'Wishing Well' advice cards for the Bride & Groom. I was so pleased to see that many people took the opportunity to write on these cards throughout the night. They are an alternative to a guest book and are very versatile--no waiting in a queue or for the book to be passed around. Just grab a groovy coloured pen and go for it! I haven't heard back from my sister yet, as she has been on her honeymoon, but I will be interested to hear about some of the wonderful messages received by the newlyweds.

I opened my store again after one week, and the orders just came rolling in once again! It hasn't stopped since. I'm now starting to get some larger orders, which is ideal, as it's easier to do things in bulk and package one parcel, than many small orders.

Although my online store is not very creative at this point (lots of bulk stationery items), I'm hoping to inject a bit more vibrancy into it in the New Year. One aspect of my store that has been very encouraging, is the opportunity I have had to sell environmentally-friendly paper products. They haven't exactly taken off, but there is a small percentage of people out there who wish to consciously support sustainable paper production in Australia. I am describing my cards which are made out of 100% post-consumer waste recycled paper. They also come with matching envelopes--all made in Australia, unlike many 'kraft' paper products, which (in worst case scenarios) can be made overseas from old-growth forests!

Well, gotta go for now--so many orders to complete, and I don't think I can get away with asking my husband to man my market stall yet again this weekend!

Gradually Growing

Well, after a couple of years of damned hard work (!), my little business venture is finally seeing some growth :) I am really pleased with how my online store is going. Despite the fees, charges and time it takes to list items online, I have been finding it really rewarding. Customer interactions via email, although arduous at times (!), have been very positive and I am pleased with the feedback being received for my handmade items.

My market stall has been going quite well but, as described previously, it is only a small market with limited space, and other stall holders have been fast-tracked ahead of me due to being 'friends of friends'. I am still attending the market on a regular basis, but not as regularly as I have been for the past 2½ years.

If you have been wanting to buy some handmade cards, feel free to enquire here or click on the link for my online store and message me there. Looking forward to hearing from you :)

Post Updated: Sunday, 23rd September, 2012

I have been neglecting my blog shockingly! Probably because my online store just keeps growing, and it is getting to the point where it is difficult to keep up. I am now enlisting a little bit of help for certain orders, but am not sure if I can sustain too much more growth! (due to the fact that nearly everything in my store is made from scratch).

I had a laugh one day when one of my first customers said she "felt sorry for my poor little fingers". Now I see what she was getting at! I get a lot of orders for hand cut items, as I've always been a bit of a scissors-freak, but the frequency of these orders is now getting a bit a out-of-hand! (pun intended)

There's also some excellent news on the markets front :) I now have a regular spot I can call my own! Can you believe it? After 2½ years of regular attendance, I have a spot I know will be there when I turn up each week! My stall has been going quite well, but I haven't been able to make as much stock as I used to, due to the demands of my online store. Some days, I'm actually quite glad and relieved to not receive many online orders! It's in those rare moments that I work on making some stock for markets, such as handmade cards, which is still my greatest love ♥

To my regular customers--Thank You!

I am so thankful for my regular customers, both from the Blue Mountains and Sydney, who have given me such positive feedback and appreciation for my handmade cards over the last two years. I apologise for not being at the markets every week lately (like I have been over the past two years). Unfortunately, markets politics and the unfairness of life has meant that friends of friends have pushed ahead of me for a regular spot, leaving no viable spaces left for me :(

THE GOOD NEWS! A regular stallholder is unable to attend for the whole of July, so please take this opportunity to visit my stall and stock up on handmade cards. You can always do an online order, if preferred. This is my focus at present because the world of markets, what with the weather and dog-eat-dog mentality, is proving too unstable for me to rely on.

Hope you're all enjoying the refreshing wintry weather (haha) and, even if it is a bit blustery or rainy, drop by my market stall throughout July :) It'll nice and warm inside...

Strange cardmaker I am...

"Happy Birthday to you!" stamp by Stampin' Up! 

I've just finished making two cards out of given, bought and reclaimed materials and have realised just how different they are! The first one is quite muted, made from wooden embellishments, a left-over tag from a wedding order and die-cut leafy branches from reclaimed designer paper. The second card has been made from die-cuts received as a free gift with an embossing folder. They have been further hand cut, dry embossed and embellished. And, of course, I am a little obsessed with doing some kind of simple drawing on most of my cards!

I haven't had a chance to make many cards lately as I have been busy with other ventures and, boy, do I miss it! It's the real reason I started markets but, sadly, it is too hard to sustain stall costs on handmade cards alone (even though my cards are quite popular). The other crafts (e.g. jewellery making) that I have had to do to substantiate my market stall have been a distraction from what I really enjoy doing...

Same goes for my new online store. I have been so busy making craft supplies, etc. for customers that my cardmaking has been put on hold, but only temporarily! It appears to be quite hard to sell handmade cards online but I am determined to give it a really good try and see what happens :) If you have purchased my handmade cards before, or have received one and find yourself curious enough to be reading this post, please take the next step and contact me. I'm itching for an excuse to list some handmade cards online (over the products that have been selling). Please place an order by emailing, texting or phoning me--click on the contact tab above :)

If you have been looking out for me at the markets, my attendance has been a bit sporadic of late. I will back regularly as of next Sunday and, hopefully, with plenty of new cards! See you there :)

Happy Mother's Day!

To all the dedicated mothers out there and, hell, even the not so dedicated ones (it's a hard slog either which way), have a wonderful Mother's Day celebration tomorrow! Thank you to the many mothers who have bought my cards over the years for children, new mothers, husbands, friends and, of course, your own mothers. Each time you bless someone with a special message it makes them feel important, valued and loved. If you have been looking to buy from my market stall lately, I have been away for a few weeks but am back next week. Remember, you can always contact me through this website or my online store for a customised order. Have a lovely weekend :)

I love Peter's Bread!

This post has nothing to do with papercraft or cardmaking. I have been attending markets in the Blue Mountains for a couple of years now and thought that it was about time to give Peter's Bread a decent mention! I have never been a great fan of bread--it always gets freezer burn or tastes like cardboard, but Peter's Artisan Bread is quite another story. He has perfected a number of recipes, one of them being his Honey and Fruit loaf. I have literally lived on this bread when there wasn't any food in the house!

Commercial bread loaves are just awful compared to this stuff. It's Cafe quality (well some Cafes, anyway!) and works out at about $0.50 per slice. Two slices with coffee is fantastic for breakfast. I must confess that I have never been one to eat fresh bread fast enough, so I always pre-slice Peter's Bread and freeze it in. It toasts beautifully in a regular toaster. I have my toaster set to low. The first pop defrosts it, the second pop browns it perfectly. This bread really retains its heat because it is so dense, and the butter/margarine melts right in. Making you hungry? Check out Peter's Bread for yourself at his website.

A couple of years ago, I told Peter that I thought his Gluten-free bread loaves would really take off because he was so determined to keep improving his recipe. Now, he receives countless orders through his website each week for this bread range! If you have special dietary requirements, Peter's Bread will not disappoint. It's really worth trying :)

♥ Create, create, create ♥

Wow, the weather has finally fined up--what a relief! It was getting really dismal for a time there. Visitors and tourists have been returning to the mountains and local markets have been picking up as a result. I have been particularly encouraged by the numerous card sales I have had to 'regular' customers. I don't know any names, but I am starting to recognise some faces after two years of doing this! What lovely, supportive mountain-folk and Sydney-siders, who choose to buy handmade and keep returning. Thank You! It gives me enough momentum to keep creating and pursuing this somewhat crazy venture of leaving a secure teaching position to undertake arty endeavours.

I have recently been working on an online store. I went to a couple of seminars and thought it was worth a shot. Not sure of how it will all pan out but I'll persist with it (as you need to do in this field). It is quite hard to compete against all the mass-produced goods in chain stores and major shopping centres and, at times, you get quite demoralised. I am inspired by customers such as one young girl, who works at Typo, but still prefers to buy my cards! That really made my day, maybe even my year!

If you would like to purchase any of my products, please feel free to visit my online store (click on the icon in right sidebar). Alternatively, click on the 'Contact' tab above to phone or email. I am always happy to receive custom orders, which can be purchased via Bank Deposit, PayPal or through my online store as a special listing.

If you would like to place an order then pick it up from my market stall, please contact me to find out when I will be next attending the markets. Looking forward to hearing from you :)

Unique Handmade Cards by Green Gifts

I arrived home this week to a very waterlogged hollow! It seems that the rain hasn't let up, which makes the markets scene quite challenging up here in the mountains (due to fewer tourists). Nevertheless, I have continued to push on and have made some lovely beaded necklaces and a few cards, ready for this weekend's markets. The card above is a one-of-kind, never-to-be-repeated design, made using reclaimed embroidered fabric. I would have liked to photograph it outside but it was just too misty, wet and dark (like something out of LOTR--quite beautiful, actually).

This type of card is my area of specialty because it does get a little monotonous remaking my popular designs from week-to-week. When I come across an interesting piece of paper or fabric, my creativity kicks in a little and these often become the tactile cards I truly love. This card also incoportates some hand drawn elements to give it that rustic touch. Because this card is extra special in terms of materials and design, I will be pricing it at $5.00. My handmade cards range from $1.50 to $6.00 and roughly reflect the effort and materials that go into them. My more expensive cards often take up to an hour to make, and are geared towards the most discerning of handmade card buyers.

♥ Support your local handmade market ♥

It is always encouraging to meet Blue Mountains' locals, especially after two years of doing markets and festivals here. Sure, not all locals are necessarily interested in markets but it is wonderful when they visit and discover just how affordable and creative handmade craft can be! As tourism has dropped a little in the mountains in recent years, I would love to be able to cater to local customers better.

I predominately attend markets in Hazelbrook, Lawson and Leura. Some of my fellow stallholders include: Bron's Preserves (pictured below), Cindy Smith's one-of-a-kind Sterling Silver jewellery, Dianne's Bears (dressed with gorgeous fabrics and accessories), Bill's Books, and Peter's Bread (of which I am a great fan).

Although I sell a range of beaded and fashion jewellery, both for adults and children, my main love is papercraft. I sometimes get a little demoralised when customers zero in on my jewellery and totally overlook my cards. I wouldn't bother doing markets if it weren't for the cards and other paper products I sell. Next time you come across my stall, please have a browse through my cards. Prices start at $1.50 and include eco-cards (printed on 100% recycled cardstock), handmade cards, and photographic cards.

Most of my cards have an botanical, earthy or arty feel (example below), and are suitable for sending domestically or overseas, attaching to presents, popping into pigeon holes at work, or simply just giving to a special person. People really love receiving a handmade card due to its tactile and three-dimensional qualities. A number of my cards also incorporate hand drawn details, funky patterns and original designs. Please visit soon to check them out for yourself!

This card has been hand: stamped, inked, torn, glued and embellished.

It features dried skeleton leaves, brads (split pins), parchment and wallpaper.

The cards in this garden series (including tulips, parsley, rosemary, mint and sage) sell for $4.00 each.

Happy New Year!

Flower stamp from 'Embrace Life' set by Stampin' Up!

Although I dream about living in the tropics, I have had to be true to myself and give up on the idea. It would simply be too hot and humid! I shouldn't confess this (due to the scorn it will undoubtedly bring), but I have been loving the wintry 'summer' weather up here in the mountains. I used to live by the coast in Sydney, which was wonderful in many ways, but I've come to enjoy the cooler climate over the past decade.

The handmade greeting card pictured above is a recent creation and reflects my idealisation of tropical living alongside palm trees and bright flowers. I've been to the South Pacific Islands a number of times and it's been such an amazingly beautiful and aesthetic experience every single time. I used to have a little photo album of favourite tropical shots on my desk at school. Whenever I was feeling a little down, it always made me feel so happy to flip through these photos.

The inspiration for this card came from a photo I took in Fiji last year (below). I was walking along the road in Namaka, near Nadi, and snapped a few shots along the way. The picture below features Bougainvillea flowers and I love the foreground and background layers captured by my rudimentary camera.

There were so many beautiful things to photograph in Fiji, some of which I will share here another time. Sometimes I think I should invest in a better camera as mine is so basic, but then I realise I wouldn't have the time to really focus on this hobby alongside all of the others I have! For now, I'll just have to focus on the image rather than the technicalities of the tools. Even with a simple camera, you would be surprised at the quality of shots that can been achieved :) I'm just a novice in the real sense of the word but my photographic cards are quite popular as an alternative to handmade cards, so it is worthwhile for me to continue to add new images to the collection.

Hope you're having a Happy New Year and I look forward to seeing you at my market stall in the oncoming months. Alongside my regular stock, I am always creating new cards and gifts, available at affordable prices, incorporating that handmade touch :)