http://showcase.culture.info is the latest way for creative companies to showcase their venue, latest performance, collection or exhibition. It’s essentially a YouTube for the cultural sector. You can promote your work, exhibition or a venue for free by uploading video clips. It’s a great way to reach new audiences and will last much longer than an advert or flyer.
Check it out at http://showcase.culture.info.
Well I spoke too soon about the weather. Never mind, take a look at this beautiful jewellery from Magdalena’s Atelier, made in sunny Cyprus.
Sterling Silver and gold filled wire is shaped, coiled and hammer beaten into pendants, earrings, bracelets and necklaces. Unusual beads and semi precious stones and gems are added to complete a pretty and unusual range of jewellery.
Take a look at www.magdalenasatelier.etsy.com.
Well, the sun is shining and it feels quite warm. (The cats have gone out willingly and so it must be.) After all this rain we’ve been having you could almost believe it’s summer today. Accordingly, I’ve got some beautiful natural jewellery to share with you.
Michele Zimmerman of Mikkelina Designs creates her jewellery by combining beads, copper, brass and sterling silver with carved pebbles and beach glass. It’s the simplicity and delicacy of the beads against the raw quality of organic materials that is her signature.
Check out her online store at www.mikkelina.etsy.com.
Following on from last week’s post on Curbside Treasure, I’ve been looking into ACEOs (Art Cards, Editions and Originals) and ATCs (Artistic Trading Cards). I must say that it’s sparked a bit of an obsession.
For anyone who hasn’t heard of ATCs they are small, playing card sized pieces of art. There are only two rules when making the cards. They must be 3 1/2 by 2 1/2 inches in size and they can be swapped but not sold. Anything else goes. Paint them, collage onto them, stamp them, use chalks, oils, pencils or create them digitally - it’s up to you.
So, until midnight last night my mum and I sat at my kitchen table surrounded by boxes of vintage papers, scraps, gems, jewels, charms, feathers, PVA glue - you name it my mum has it in her craft collection - and we created our first ever ATCs. And here they are. The very first ones. 
For anyone lucky enough to be going away over the next few weeks, take a look at Italiacraft. Ann Marie Franscesconi has put together a fun range of travel related handcrafts including passport holders, mobile phone cases, camera holders and wallets. My favourite is the comic strip purse (top left). It reminds me of those photo love stories you used to find in teen mags.
You can also find some pretty household goods.
If you’ve got some time to kill before you down tools for the weekend, take a look at www.italiacraft.etsy.com .
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