Felt Wee Folk – New Adventures – the first year

Posted on January 13, 2016 by Salley Mavor

It’s been almost a year since the new edition of Felt Wee Folk – New Adventures was released, so I thought I’d bring you up to date on what’s been happening. Besides feeling a bit guilty for contributing to the wee folk addiction problem, I’m very pleased with how the book has been received. There’s more than one report of innocent people getting hooked on wrapping pipe cleaners and stitching little felt outfits. From what I hear, they’re out of control and haven’t the will power to stop making wee folk dolls. I say, keep stitching, because it helps calm the soul.

The book is now into its 2nd printing and sales have passed 9000 copies. Just imagine the wee folk population explosion! Printed copies or the e-book version have found their way to every corner of the world, helping make the book a C&T Publishing Top 10 Bestseller!

Most books are purchased in craft and quilting shops and from online retailers. A big thanks to all of you who’ve ordered autographed copies from my Etsy Shop. Extras include a poster, note card and fairy skirts and wings. Besides all 50 states, I’ve sent copies to Australia, Canada, UK, France, Norway, Jordan, Israel, Taiwan, Brazil, Latvia, Japan, France and Russia.

poster – Felt Wee Folk

Hundreds of fairies have been dressed in faux flower skirts and wings purchased from my Etsy Shop.

The Felt Wee Folk book trailer has been viewed well over 10,000 times on YouTube, C&T and my Facebook Page.

People have found out about the book through social media (Facebook and Instagram), the blog tour and magazine articles.

I like to think that lots of wee folk brides (and grooms) topped wedding cakes this past year.

Rob and I spent some time playing outside with the wee folk in the bugle weed forest, which grew in our yard.

Many of you made you made and set up your own nativity scene this past Christmas. I hope that Felt Wee Folk – New Adventures continues to be available for a good long while, so that more innocent people can get hooked on making wee folk!

2015 in review

Posted on January 3, 2016 by Salley Mavor

I thought it would be a simple task. But, 3 days after first sitting down to compile a list of things that happened in 2015, I’m finally ready to hit the publish button. Needless to say, it’s been a very busy 12 months! At this time a year ago, I was gearing up for the release of my new book. Once Felt Wee Folk was properly launched, I concentrated on making new work that reflects my desire to move in a new direction. There are other projects and travels mentioned, too. I hope you enjoy following the links to review and find out more about the highlights of the past year. Happy New Year to all of you and may your 2016 be filled with wonder!

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The year started with snow and freezing temperatures outside, but it was cozy and productive inside.

* Prepared for release of new edition of how-to book, Felt Wee Folk – New Adventures.
* Rob and I filmed and edited book trailer for Felt Wee Folk and published it on YouTube.
* Made wee folk cart for the book’s Blog Tour.
* Felt Wee Folk makes C&T Publishing’s top 10 list of best sellers for 2015.

Filled lots of Etsy Shop orders for books, posters, cards and fairy making supplies.
Posted many, many photos on Instagram.
Posted something almost every day on Facebook.

* Curated Fairy Houses of Highfield Hall exhibit.
* Made “Grate Hall” fairy house.
* Made fairy family of 5 and promotional video for Highfield Hall Raffle.

Traveled to Scotland in June & Oct Made new traveling doll, Rosie.

Introducing Rosie Doll’s Travels
Polly Doll’s travels

Finished two new 18″ x 24″ pieces, Face Time and Whiskers. Read blog posts about making Face Time here. I plan to write blog posts about Whiskers soon, but you can see a preview in this Facebook Album.

Worked on women’s heads for Cover Up, a new fabric relief piece in progress. I’ll write a blog post about it when it’s completed later this winter. For now, you can see head close ups in this Facebook Album.

Articles about my work:
Inspirations Magazine
While She Naps Podcast
Home Review Magazine

Made Desire doll for my sister, Anne Mavor’s ancestor art project crowd source raffle.

Completed Ltd. Edition of Fiona fairies.

Turned 60 years old.

Wrote this blog post about artistic privacy and my thoughts about When to tell how and when not to.

The Pocketful of Posies Touring Exhibit was at the following venues:

Lexington Public Library
Newton Free Library
Harford County Public Library
Upcountry History Museum, Greenville, SC (until Feb. 14, 2016)

Made wedding and baby gifts. potholders and thousands of cheese straws.

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Greenland – Land, Sea and Ice

Posted on December 30, 2015 by Salley Mavor

Kong Oscar Fjord, Greenland

My husband Rob has spent all fall combing through the thousands of pictures he took on his trip to Greenland this September. His photographs are so spectacular, that it was a challenge to narrow it down to this selection. I hope you enjoy his tour of the amazing land, sea and ice of Greenland!

Greenland – Ittoqqortoormitt

Posted on December 23, 2015 by Salley Mavor

On his photo excursion to Greenland, my husband Rob visited the northern most village of Ittoqqortoormitt, which is settled by about 300 Inuit. The community has hunted polar bears for generations and is allowed an annual quota of 35 hides. Even in mid September, there were still patches of snow scattered about. I must point out again that there is nothing green about Greenland.

As he walked around, Rob met and photographed people he saw outside, mostly men. They did their best to communicate with sign language and a minimum of English. I hope you enjoy this glimpse at a unique place and people!

Polar bear hide

View from Kong Oscar Fjord

Greenland reflections

Posted on December 20, 2015 by Salley Mavor

My husband, Rob Goldsborough went on a trip to Greenland in September. He and about a dozen photographers traveled aboard a small cruise ship, into several fjords on the west end of Scorespy Sound. The group took daily excursions on inflatable zodiacs, which brought them closer to land and floating ice.

Rob described this northern landscape as being different from what we saw in Antarctica (see posts here). Both had tons of ice, but there was more bare ground in Greenland during this time of year. Of course, there’s nothing green in sight! The story goes that early explorers named it Greenland in hopes of attracting European settlers. Rob visited a village, which I’ll show in another post. For now, I hope you enjoy his beautiful series of reflections taken from the zodiac.

Scotland (Oct. 2015) misc. & video

Posted on December 15, 2015 by Salley Mavor

Glencoe and window in St. Margaret’s Chapel in Edinburgh Castle.

Isle of Skye.

The Great Hall in Edinburgh Castle.

My husband Rob made the following video, which is a composite of our 2 trips to Scotland this year. In June, we hiked the Great Glen Way, along the Caledonian Canal in the Highlands. Then, in Sept./Oct. we traveled with a WGBH Learning Tour, which focused on Scottish music. The video soundtrack includes live music we recorded during the evening performances. The musicians are credited at the end of the video, including the teenage students at the National Centre of Excellence for Traditional Scottish Music in Plockton.

Scotland (Oct. 2015) doorways

Posted on December 10, 2015 by Salley Mavor

Can’t help taking pictures of doorways…

Scotland (Oct. 2015) street scenes

Posted on December 6, 2015 by Salley Mavor

Portree on the Isle of Skye and the streets of Edinburgh…

And rows of houses in the quaint village of Plockton. See more scenes of Plockton here.

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Scotland (Oct. 2015) signs

Posted on December 3, 2015 by Salley Mavor

Here’s a group of signs that caught my eye during our travels in Scotland.

Scotland (Oct. 2015) Iona

Posted on November 29, 2015 by Salley Mavor

One of the special places we visited in Scotland was the small Isle of Iona. The Irish Saint Columba founded a monastery there in the 6th century and it remained a center of Gaelic Monasticism for 4 centuries.