Craftzy – Page 2 – Just another My blog Sites site

Why I want a blog buddy

I’ve been blogging on Craftzy for about a month now and while I am not yet at a loss for blog topics – I’m at a loss for interaction! There have not been many comments on my blog and I feel as if I don’t have anyone to share my “crafting/jewelry” quirks with.

So here’s an open invitation- I’m looking for blogging buddies who:

blog about their handmade jewelry, paper craft, sewing or handmade craft business
can keep me accountable for blogging 🙂
want to guest post on Craftzy or have me to guest post on their handmade craft blog
share links to other craft blogs or sites that will help each other and readers too
suggest ideas for posts or work on projects together
want to motivate me and get motivated in turn
wants to learn more about blogging and networking
will offer comments and feedback on my posts.

You can live anywhere in the world – that is not a concern for me. I would just like to have a craft “pen-pal” 🙂

P.S: This post might sound creepy and desperate but I assure you that I am neither. I am a writer by day and jewelry designer +paper crafter by night. Please read my About Sarah page for more info and stop by my Gallery to see my work too!

Please leave a comment or email me at craftzy@gmail.com if you would like to be my blogging buddy 🙂 Thanks!

It’s Time for My Business

Crafters who are starting out on new business using your creative talents- sit up and take note of April of Blacksburg Belle!

If you work full time (like me) and if you feel that you never have enough time for your creative business – you need to watch this video and this video by April.
April shared some great ideas – these are things I’ve always kind of known but never quite made the connection between theory and practice. Here are the points that I like and what I’m going to do for each:

Wake up early to work on my creative business

April talks about getting up early and tackling creative business tasks in the morning while we’re still fresh. Most often, I plan to make products or list items at night on weekdays but this never ever happens cos I’m either too tired or I’ve reached home very late due to traffic. This point appeals to me as I’m usually up by 6.15 every morning and I have about an hour of time (that I usually dwindle on non-business tasks like reading the paper) before I have to get ready for work.An hour a weekday will give me 5 hours of productive “studio” time or blog time for my business and I am sure that I will be at my freshest at that time.

Go easy on the heavy-duty marketing

I was also struck by what she said about marketing for a new business. Without spending time to make more products that will lead to sales – there IS no business! I keep forgetting this point and I have been busy thinking up business cards, brochures and blog parties to market my business – which technically hasn’t taken off by leaps and bounds yet!Of course, one has to market the business and let people know it is there but for a new business to take off well, it is more important to have products to sell! (Got a nice rhyme to it, aint it?)

Concentrate on high-leverage tasks

In one of my previous posts, I was rambling about trying to finish off this and that in April. Though making products figured right at the top of that list – I have since then realized that I was giving too much importance to other tasks like socializing and networking without actual contact with others (read wasting time on Facebook and lurking around craft blogs without commenting!) Thankfully, I have been creating new pieces consistently during the past month, so my business is not in such a bad shape – but I haven’t made enough items to reach my full potential yet.

As April says, I’m going to concentrate on high-leverage tasks from now on:

- Make more products – I will try to create products at least 2 to 3 days a week.I’ve joined the Bead Table Wednesdays group on Flickr to jump start my creativity.
- Write better product descriptions-Geez, I’m a professional writer and that makes me pretty cocksure that I’ve got this down pat…but reading my item descriptions later always makes me cringe! So I’ve got to spend more time writing smart descriptions!
- Scheduling blog posts – starting today, I’m going to try and write 3 or 4 blog posts before hand so that I’m not running in circles trying to find topics to blog about.
- Improving my products– I don’t want to keep making the same thing or keep using the same materials. This is why, I’ve started deviating from my usual style and comfort zone while making my recent batch of earrings.

Go offline during creative time and use commuting time to read mails/posts/listen to podcasts

I’ve been reading blogs about improving productivity, I’ve signed up for a lot of emails on creative businesses but reading all that content has left me with no time to make anything. From now on, I’m going to go offline during creative time (mornings) and instead I will use my 45 minute commute to stay up-to-date with the helpful stuff in my inbox. I’m not having any more of this information overload business happening!

The tasks that are not on my high priority list for now are:

worrying about my branding and marketing strategies
looking for constant inspiration by lurking on blogs
subscribing to email courses and services that do not help me create and only contribute to clutter in my inbox.
learning new techniques – I will limit my learning time to 1 or days per month so that I don’t waste the time I can spend in creating things in ways that I already know.

How will you make time for your business this month?

What is your creative biz schedule like?

Bead Table Wednesday 27 April 2011

This is my first post since I joined the Bead Table Wednesday (BTW) Flickr group.

For those who haven’t heard about this group yet: Every Wednesday, we get to show off what is on our bead table – take a photo and share it with fellow bead addicts on Flickr. You can show a close-up of what you are working on or the full messy table – it’s up to you! Head over here to view the group in action.
Most jewelry designers, I am sure have a proper work table and storage set up. This is something I need to do as soon as possible. Why? Cos I prefer to make my jewelry on my bed! It’s a unique combination of laziness, comfort and creativity that makes me function like that.I don’t actually have a table to show on Bead Table Wednesday 🙁
My current working space involves a cookie box. Here’s the lid in all its mini-worktable glory and here’s a peek into my bead box (the ex-cookie box).

BTW- 27 April 2011-My current working surface- a cookie box lid! You can also see a button bracelet that I was working on and 2 pairs of earrings.

Tanirika - bracelet made with flat rose buttons and jump ring roses

And please do check out the finished bracelet(I have some tweaks to make before I list it) And, by the way- Tanirika means flower in Sanskrit!

A Kick in the Pants

The past couple of weeks have been both good and blehh for me…My creativity was at an all time high in April and is still going good…I was able to get this blog up and running with the help of my brother and my friends.

So what all have I been trying to do in April?

Making something every weekend– I actually want this to change to a fixed goal of making something 2 days a week. I’ve kept up with this goal for the past 4 weeks. Some days I have experimented with new materials, some days I’ve just jumped directly into making earrings but so far it’s been good. I’ve made about 35 pairs of earrings and 2 bracelets – Will post more pics soon!
Completing my business plan – I had promised my friend that I would send him my business plan for review, but as of now it’s still in progress – I think I enjoy creating more than planning 😛
Introducing myself to other jewelry makers– So, I’ve recently introduced myself to Tara of Art at Zazuta. She makes gorgeous jewelry and hand painted pendants that I’m totally smitten by! I wonder why I never chanced on her blog till now! Silly me! There are more jewelry makers, whose work I adore but I’m too chicken to actually go out there and admire them. I would love to do more guest interviews…Bah! I’m trying to change that…still working on it folks…
Blogging again – It’s very strange that though I am a writer by profession, I can never seem to find anything to write about here! I post photos of my jewelery on Facebook, so that’s done. Otherwise, I just post links to designs I’ve created on other sites like www.Sheyna.com on my FB wall. Most of my posts start all fired up and end up rotting as old maids in my Drafts folder or being Trashed anyway! I need a real kick in the pants to start writing again – so I have signed up for a Free 5-Day Blogging E-Course for Crafters by the Sunday Afternoon Housewife! You can also sign up here.
Creating a solid brand identity– Sigh! this one is the most elusive on my list. My problem is that I like too many things and have too many styles. I haven’t yet settled on a logo or colors for my brand 🙁 I’ve been driving myself up the wall about it. I need to decide soon.
Taking better photographs – You would think that a M.A.Communication student could handle a simple point and shoot camera better, wouldn’t you. Err- this one apparently can’t! After tons of requests for better photos and thermocol backgrounds – I’ve finally succumbed to taking pictures on weekends with the necessary setup. Your wait is over! I’ve ordered for a lamp to light up my pictures better.(Right now I’ve been taking them at noon or early morning in my front porch.)
Spreading the word about Craftzy– I recently came across the Handmadeology website (which rightly deserves an entire blog post for itself!). I decided to submit this blog to their blog directory and I’ve been getting good traffic as a result. You can submit your crafts blog to their handmade blog directory too, right here.

What have you been up to this month?

Newest Earrings

In case you wonder where I’ve been – I was seriously working at making more earrings and I’ve also been trying my hand at other things like bracelets and making beads too…

My count of earrings has reached 34 pairs – I am so proud of myself!

Here are some of my latest creations that have been keeping me busy:

Atimanjula- Sweetness and Sunshine bracelet

Afreen- hot pink, orange wooden beads and silver earrings

Anissa - modern yellow and funky pink wooden beads get their groove on with silver!

Angoori - purple chip beads with glossy yellow grape shaped beads

Chameli - Silver and wine red earrings - reminds me of old fashioned perfume bottles!

Chandana- bronzed beads with flower cabochons- reminds me of vintage movies and English novels

Gauri- blue, red and cool green wooden beads make these very Indian earrings- good to wear with most Fabindia kurtas!

Hasita- Blue and red wooden beads with silver- urban chic at its best!

Induja- a very desi combination of blue, hot pink and mustard wooden beads

Kanti- oxidized silver beads with clear crystal beads

Keiyona- summery yellow wooden beads, gold beads with purple chip beads.

Samudra- gentle as the breeze over the ocean, with pretty aqua blue flowers- perfect for summers.

Tara- sparkling like the stars and so feminine! Beautiful earrings.

Since most of my earrings look and feel ethnic and Indian- I’ve decided to name them with Indian names 🙂 I hope you like these earrings and I hope you’ll tell me what you think about them…

By Hand, From The Heart- Exhibition in Chennai

Hello!

I wanted to let you all know about a great event that’s coming up- no not the IPL (it’s great enough but not what I’m referring to!)
Fabulous Folks of Chennai- get ready to empty your pockets and still have a good time! By Hand, From The Heart: An Exhibition of Art, Design and Lifestyle Products is happening in namma Chennai on the 8th and 9th of April. This exhibition aims to promote artisans and individual entrepreneurs who create unique handmade products.
I am just SO happy that Chennai is warming up to such events for products that are handmade but unlike the usual handicrafts created by traditional craftspeople.
I’ve tried to collect links for each of the designers/product lines that are going to be featured in this exhibition. I am familiar with the work of some of the participating designers like Deepa of 10Fingers! and Vandana of Vandanas Paper Bags but most of the other names are new to me.

Products:
10 Fingers! Paper Jewellery
www.paperjewellery.wordpress.com
10 Fingers! is a line of exquisite paper jewelry made by Deepa. This line consists of handmade paper earrings and pendants that are water resistant and sturdy.

Vandana’s Paper Bags
http://www.vandanaspaperbags.com
Started in 2009,by sisters Vandana and Priyanka,Vandana’s Paper Bags specialize in Handmade paper bags, Decorative Envelopes and Gift packaging for special occasions like weddings, birthday parties and so on. Eco friendly and available in various hues, these paper bags are sure to catch your eye!

Chennai Gaga
http://www.chennaigaga.com/
Crazy about Chennai? Want to give Chennai themed souvenirs to your friends from outside India? Then Chennai Gaga is a must see! Tees, bookmarks, mugs, coasters and more will be presented at this event.

Vartikaa
http://vartikaa-art.blogspot.com/
The Vartikaa Team of artists use unique media and give different twists to traditional art. Coffee art, warli paintings are their forte.

Linen Box
http://www.facebook.com/Linenbox?v=app_2344061033
Linen Box, a Chennai based company designs premium cotton sheeting & duvet sets in white. The line includes Duvet Covers, Fitted and Flat Sheets, Pillow cases, cushion covers, Bath linen, Table Linen, and Baby cot sets.

Sudhas
SUDHAS presents gorgeous hand painted saris, salwars and accessories that are refreshingly elegant.

Eco Craft and Weaves

Designer clutches, mobile covers and pouches made using traditional fabric from Gujarat, ceramics, stylish mugs, jugs and glasses that fuse traditional materials with modern aesthetics.

Cannanore – a Lore From a Loom
http://www.facebook.com/cannanore
Cannanore showcases hand woven home furnishings with beautiful natural fabric. This line merges traditional weaves with contemporary and stylish design.

Desi Popsicles
If you get tired with all the shopping, Desi Popsicles are sure to quench your thirst and put the spring back in your step! Try their traditional ice golas in a rainbow of flavors.

Chaat Le
Prefer something more solid? Are your taste buds pining for something tangy or spicy? Enjoy with tasty chaats from Chaat Le!

Where:
Corner Stone,
Besant Avenue Road,
Adyar

When:
8th and 9th of April, Friday & Saturday, 10am to 8 pm.

Contact Details:
Mobile: 9176567018
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/By-Hand-From-The-Heart/180960371950780

Family Chocolate Cake- Recipe

Okies…the final recipe for the week 🙂 Here’s a new recipe I tried out last weekend. It’s a chocolate cake with chocolate icing!! Double yummy!

Want to make one (or more) for yourself…here you go!

Note: I am really sorry but I forgot to take a pic of the finished cake…I remembered only after all of us at home had eaten our share so it’s a half eaten cake pic *sheepish grin*

FAMILY CHOCOLATE CAKE

Ingredients for the Cake

Softened Butter 125 grams

Sugar 2/3 cup

Icing Sugar 1/2 cup

Self-raising flour 1 and 1/4 cups

Cocoa 1/2 cup

Soda Bicarbonate 1 teaspoon

Salt a pinch

Eggs 2

Milk 1 cup

Vanilla extract 1 teaspoon

How to Make the Cake

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C.
Lightly grease and flour a 23-cm cake tin.
Cream butter with sugar and icing sugar.
Sift flour, cocoa, soda bicarbonate and salt into a separate bowl.
Add the flour mixture, spoon-by-spoon to the creamed butter and sugar mix. Add the remaining ingredients and beat well.( I used an electric blender at low speed.)
Spoon into the prepared cake tin and bake for 40 to 55 minutes or until cooked.
Ice with Chocolate icing when cold.

Ingredients for the Chocolate Icing

Icing Sugar 150 grams

Cocoa 2 tablespoons

Melted butter 1 teaspoon

Warm water 1 to 2 teaspoons (I actually used 4)

How to make the Icing

Sift icing sugar and cocoa together.
Add melted butter to warm water
Gradually mix into the sugar and cocoa mix until a smooth paste is formed(It should be spreadable not watery)
Spoon it over the cool chocolate cake you made and even it out with the back of the spoon.DONE!!!

Note: This recipe was taken from the Cake Bible from Penguin Books 🙂 You can see the book in the plain cake pic!

Strawberry Jam Tarts

So I was telling you that I did a lot of baking and I posted the Lemon Curd Tarts recipe here…Today, let’s see how you can make the best jam tarts ever!! You can use any flavor of jam…I used a lovely Strawberry jam with real fruit pieces and cute little strawberry seeds 🙂 My nephew loved these tarts!!

STRAWBERRY JAM TARTS

Ingredients (makes 12)

Refined Flour (maida) 115 grams

Butter 60 grams

Baking Powder 1/4th teaspoon

Cold Water to mix

Sugar(optional) 5 grams

Jam(any flavor) 55 grams

How to Make the Jam Tarts

Sift flour and baking powder( there should be no lumps).
Rub in the butter lightly with your fingertips until it looks like breadcrumbs (don’t knead like chapathi dough).
Add sugar if you want and mix thoroughly.
Mix with cold water to form a soft dough.
Roll out on a floured slab or cutting board(don’t roll it out too much-should be thicker than a chapathi) and cut as required. ( I use a small katori (bowl) to cut out a round shape from the rolled dough.)
Line 12 muffin tins or patty tins with the rolled out shapes.
Fill each cup 2/3rds with the jam. Distribute jam evenly in the cups.
Bake in a hot oven at 205 degrees C (400 degrees F) for 15 to 20 minutes.
When baked ( it should look lighter and will be solid not squishy) remove from patty tins and place on a plate to cool completely. You can pop them in the fridge for about half an hour and they’ll taste even better.

Notes: This recipe is similar to the lemon curd tarts just that you bake these tarts with the jam filling in them 🙂 The recipe was taken from The Thangam Philip Book of Baking.

Lemon Curd Tarts – Recipe

Eid Mubarak and Happy Ganesh Chaturthi to all 🙂

I spent the day baking and I have some awesome recipes to share over the week!!

I usually bake at least once a month but somehow I didn’t bake last month and I HAD to compensate with some sweet cake goodness this weekend…I made lemon curd tarts, strawberry jam tarts and a chocolate cake!!

For starters, here’s how to make your own lemon curd tarts….they’re yummy, drool in the mouth, sweet and the tarts are light and buttery….delicious!!

Note: Sorry for the blurry pic 🙁 I was too busy drooling at the tarts to concentrate on the photos 😉 And the tarts taste much better than they look in this pic..They’re already over at home 😀

LEMON CURD TARTS

Ingredients for the Pastry

Refined Flour (maida) 115 grams

Butter 60 grams

Baking Powder 1/4th teaspoon

Cold Water to mix

Sugar(optional) 5 grams

How to Make the Pastry

Sift flour and baking powder( there should be no lumps).
Rub in the butter lightly with your fingertips until it looks like breadcrumbs (don’t knead like chapathi dough).
Add sugar if you want and mix thoroughly.
Mix with cold water to form a soft dough.
Roll out on a floured slab or cutting board(don’t roll it out too much-should be thicker than a chapathi) and cut as required. ( I use a small katori (bowl) to cut out a round shape from the rolled dough.)
Line 12 muffin tins or patty tins with the rolled out shapes.
Prick the centers of the shapes lightly with a fork.
Bake in a hot oven at 205 degrees C (400 degrees F) for 15 minutes.
When baked ( it should look lighter and will be solid not squishy) remove from patty tins and place on a plate to cool completely.

Ingredients for the Lemon Curd (enough for 12 tarts)

Sugar 115 grams

Egg 1

Butter 55 grams

Lime 1

How to Make Lemon Curd

Grate the yellow part of the lime skin and keep aside.
Melt butter and sugar.
Add the juice of the lime and its rind (grated in step1).
Remove from the fire and beat in an egg.
Return to the fire and cook in a double boiler or over water until thick.( I don’t have a double boiler- I just fill a big kadai(wok) halfway with water, hold the lemon curd mixture with potholder and place it in the boiling water in the kadai. The lemon curd vessel should not touch the kadai sides directly- just the hot water…It’s sort of delicate cos it has egg and lime-you don’t want it to curdle!)
Remove from water and cool before using.
Spread into the pre-baked pastry cups (ONLY after both the lemon curd and the pastry cups are cool!!).

Notes: These tarts taste equally good after being chilled in a refrigerator!

The recipe was taken from The Thangam Philip Book of Baking. Any mallu worth her coconut oil should have heard of Thangam Philip! Her recipes are so easy to follow and she gives such sensible cooking advice too!

Some of the Indian Craft Blogs I read

Hey…I haven’t disappeared yet-before you leave this blog thinking I did:) I’ve been coming home very late from work and that left me too tired to blog or even tweet often.. I had a lovely Independence Day weekend and I hope you all did too…I got to try a new craft shop- A post will be up about it shortly 😉

I’ve found a new craft to obsess about- paper quilling..I chanced up on it after a random google…(How I love Google!)…in my search for Indian craft blogs I came up on some lovely blogs…I don’t know how these ladies manage it all-family+work+ crafting+selling…phew…I think I need lessons on time management from them 😉

Presenting:

http://www.craftyjc.com/

This is Jaya’s(also known as J.C.) blog where she shows off her paper crafts especially hand made cards. She is a mom and a Software Architect by profession…She has started what must be India’s only monthly Craft Challenge…Just go here to check it out.

Next you just gotta check out Juhi’s handmade cards. She is from Bangalore and she is a hardware verification engineer by day! Her cards are very professional and absolutely CUTE!!

Last, my favorite favorite blog…Reshmi Nair from Mumbai has a craft’s blog with a LOT of detailed tutorials, photos and info on virtually almost every craft I have heard of! She’s into calligraphy, art, quilling, flower making, shell figurines…the list is endless..Her bubbly enthusiasm makes every blog post a fun read…

So there’s these 3 blogs on my “To follow” list for now…I’m off for a new adventure of Paper Quilling! Hope to be able to take some pics and share them with you soon.till then – Happy Crafting 🙂