Jewellery By Shalini

I was approached by the lovely news editor of Concept Stamford Magazine asking if I would like to have my profile in a new series called “Crafty People” celebrating local artisans and craftspeople of the area. via Crafty People in Concept Stamford Magazine - Shalini Austin Designs… hand-crafted for YOU! .

So my beadsoup is on its way and this is what it looks like! I am impatient and this is driving me Mad. Hurry Up Mail! Introducing my Bead Soup Partner Susan from Ottawa. Susan makes jewellery for fun, to wear herself or give as gifts. She likes working with copper, fibre and artisan beads. She also makes all kind of  lovely crafty things  in lots of different media and she can sew & knit! RESPECT! My "difficult" relationship with fabric, yarn and thread is no secret! I can just about manage fluff and felt! We have been chatting on email and Susan is lovely. Plus she has a dog so we are definitely going to be friends :-) Susan also has a 12 year old boy, hence M is the word ! Susan makes beautiful jewellery. One of Susan's pieces from last year's party made from beads her partner Marina sent her.  And this necklace that she made for another blogging challenge is AWESOME!  I am really looking forward to seeing what Susan creates from the sou...

So I signed up for another craft challenge... This time its a little different because its not just jewellery makers but all crafty people. Back in August I received an email from someone called Dan asking if I wanted to be part of DHL Crafty Blogger Challenge. This is the challenge: " The aim of this campaign is for you to share your creative craft skills with another craft blogger, by creating an item for them and sending it via a prepaid DHL courier box." OK... Another challenge... Yeah of course I want to be part of it! So they sent me a DHL box with all the instructions and Hobby Craft Vouchers as a thank you for taking part. Now I am not a regular at Hobby craft but I do like to browse and pick up bits from there on and off, especially when working on packaging ideas, so this is VERY welcome. Thank you  parcel.dhl.co.uk Then I had to wait for my item to arrive from Vintage Magpie Bears  which would be my inspiration and theme for the item I have to make f...

"I feel like a princess when people stop at my stand, look at my work and simply say “beautiful!" Read more...  Fabulous Start to the Craft Show Season! - Jewellery By Shalini 'via Blog this'

Really Looking forward to September! I have 4 events booked including the Autumn Market at Easton Walled Gardens which is such a lovely venue. Hope I will be in the stables again... 2 September Fineshade Woods Craft Fayre 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM ---------------------- 9 September  Easton Walled Gardens Autumn Country Market 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM ---------------------- 16 September Craft Fair at Ferry Meadows 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM ---------------------- 23 September Autumn Craft Market – Stamford Arts Centre 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Guest Post: Oakham Festival 2012 on Stamford Artisans Guild : Dave & I will be at the Crafts show at Oakham Castle which is part of Oakham Festival 2012 on 23 June. We had a great day last year at this event which was held on Gaol Street and really looking forward to this one at one of my favourite venues of all - Oakham Castle. Sarah who is the chief organiser for this has been working really hard to get everything in place and I think she is doing a brilliant job! Hope to see you there! 'via Blog this'

Craft Fairs, Shows and Markets Where You Can Meet me & occasionally Mr. A too! : I don’t have a showroom (yet!) but you can meet me at various local craft fairs and hand-made markets in Stamford and surrounding areas. I have updated the Craft Calendar on my website. You can have a look via the link above :-) This little one has been helping me sort out all the jewellery and packaging for the fairs too! If I forget to take something important I blame it on Millie in advance!

Do you know about Craft Blog UK ? Well if you had not heard of it before now you know. You should have a look! Its an excellent resource of blogging tips, social media tutorials and fabulous craft links. This morning there was a really easy to use tutorial on How to Install a Pinterest Tab on Facebook Brilliant pictures explaining what to do. So I did! Have a look via this link!  Jewellery By Shalini : 'via Blog this'

Craft Blog UK: Free spot available in the UK Handmade Showcase! : Competition ends  Saturday 5th May at 6pm! Have you applied? 'via Blog this'

How to survive craft fairs? | Jewellery By Shalini : Wrote this on my website blog a few days ago... 'via Blog this'

It is our Livelihood, it is our Business, it is what helps to pay the bills! Yes, this one's going to be a bit of a rant! One of my artisan friends recently mentioned her experience at a (fairly large) Christmas craft market where a lady spent a lot of time looking at her work and then said "Hmmm Nice Hobby" and walked off. And then I saw this on facebook "Well you must have a lot of time - you obviously don't work!" on a page called Kirsty Elson Designs - another crafter. Probably not spoken by the same person but  it's this attitude from a lot of people that really gets to me sometimes! It's not just a hobby! In my case it is a part time business, but its a part time business that keeps my dogs fed and pays my monthly utility bills! And occasionally allows me to go to the pub and have a drink with my friends.  I work hard for it and I earn it!... AND pay my taxes on what I earn! [UPDATE 01 October 2014: It is now my full time job! So al...

We are really looking forward to your support at our first ever Peterborough event showcasing locally created arts and crafts. ... : 'via Blog this'

Jewellery By Shalini will be at Country Market at Easton Walled Gardens. This event has always showcased the best local plants and food but this year also includes music, book signings, demonstrations and things for children to do. There will be a host of local stands showcasing some of the best produce, vintage products and crafts in the area including Shelly Anderson Glass from This was my stall at the Event last year Easton Walled Gardens Gardener's Market

The Rutland County Museum Christmas Craft Exhibition Opened Last night. There are some absolutely gorgeous hand-made crafts on display including my jewellery (of course!), Wood-turned pens plus textile crafts, weaving and jewellery by 4 other talented artisans from the area. The Exhibition will be on until 22 January 2011 at the Museum at Catmose Street, Oakham, LE15 6HW Work by the followings makers is on display: # Jewellery By Shalini (and Stamford Lapidary ) # Wisteria Woodcrafts (member of The Stamford Artisans Guild ) # Calla # Rhubarb # Wiggles # Jo Edwards Do come along and browse though the beautiful items on display and for sale. The wonderful staff at the museum are very helpful and a great group of people. Some photos from last night:

Yes I know, we are all talking about THE SNOW! And so we should be! Because it is being a nuisance for artisans doing the craft fairs at the moment. It made a real hash of the week-end for a lot of my friends at craft fairs! Its only snow, comes every winter and we should be prepared for it. Yes that's fine! But when you have to travel across narrow country roads which no one remembers to grit and salt it does change your thinking a little. I am brave enough to venture out on proper roads to go into Stamford, Peterborough or Grantham and most people should. The roads are fine and if you use common sense and caution you should be safe on the road. However when it comes to going to a country house in the middle of nowhere I would think twice too! So where is all this leading to? I was at The British Red Cross Christmas Prelude in Tolethorpe yesterday. Its a beautiful place. Except that when the...

It would be great to see you at the Sibson Inn Christmas Fair. Obviously I am there but I can promise you a few other fabulous Artisans too! Stamford Lapidary /Greensleaves Florist / Rutland Colorways /Krafty Kats / Gianni Deidda / Yellow Rose Designs / Amore Bears / Hand-made By Helen / Alan Moir / Victoria George Really Looking forward to it, I know the company will be good and the fantastic Owners and Manager of Sibson Inn Hotel just make every visit there so pleasant and enjoyable :-)

I had a really busy Week-end in terms of events. Sadly not a lot of sales to show for it. The Help For Heroes Military Tattoo was badly affected by the weather unfortunately. It really felt more January than June especially in the strong wind. It was an outdoor event and the Gazebos we set up did not feel secure at all. And as it was so cold a lot of people did not turn up even though the organisers had sold lots of tickets. So the group of Crafters who had set up stalls spent the afternoon chatting with each other and listening to the music played by the RAF band. That was pleasant... and hot food from Tuk Tuk Foods was very welcome too! That was lovely as always! I would like to thank the Organisers of the event for inviting us to be there and I hope they raised a lot of money for this very noble charity, despite low attendance. On Father's Day I was at Sacrewell Farm near Peterborough for a Day of Demonstration and Sales. I took one of our Rock Tumblers to show the tumblin...