Cory is a Fan: hitree

I've been coveting the adorable things for sale in hitree, a 'Woodland Children's Decor and Accessories' shop. Children? I want it all for me! The sweet felt objects that resemble trees and twigs are my favourite, for example this pencil case:

Pencil Pouch Log by hitree

How sweet is that? And what would I put in this pouch you ask? Why, some pencils in these lovely pencil cozies, of course!:

Twig Pencil Cozies Set of Two by hitree

Finally, perhaps best of all... is this Giant Sequoia pillow:

Tree Pillow Giant Sequoia by hitree

Perhaps I'm homesick for the great trees of western Canada...  or perhaps I just like cute felt woodland plush toys. Probably both!

My lonely little shop...

I keep shutting down my poor shop, so I can dedicate 100% of my time to my thesis. The last few months were very busy, and I had to take another break.

But I'm back again! And I notice each time I return, I'm afraid I will never make another sale, and people won't like my jewellery anymore, and I'll have to pack it all away for good and wistfully remember all the good times between me and my little saw and spotlight desk lamp.

But no! I have lovely customers that I am making orders for already. It makes me so happy. Thank you, wonderful book jewellery loving people!

Thank goodness you keep this from happening!  Packing up my desk wouldn't look like this at all, actually...

Make my thesis grow!!!

I should have been making a Harry Potter bookshelf and some earrings today, but instead I was doing this:

It hasn't grown much, but I'm tap tap tapping away...

Spring is here and so am I!

It's been a long, difficult Winter/Spring season, where I've been swamped with PhD work including running a pilot study and finishing a draft of 4 chapters of my thesis to hand in. I shut my little Etsy shop for quite a bit of this time, but have come back in the last few weeks with enthusiasm! New business cards, purchased! Organize workdesk! Uploaded new photos! And, THREE new items have been released in my shop.

New Vintage Penguin Style Stack of Books Earrings

New Teacher's Bookshelf Necklace

Bookshelf on Fire: Hunger Games Bookshelf Necklace

These include a new 'stack of book' style earrings in vintage Penguin design, a bookshelf perfect for a teacher, and a Hunger Games themed bookshelf which I've called 'Bookshelf on Fire', since that's what it looks like - the bookshelf itself is black, overlayed with vermillion, white, and gold paint to make it look like flames shooting out of the inside. On the shelves are an arrow, a little loaf of bread, and a pendant on the top shelf.

So I'm back to work in my corner bedroom workshop now - intermittently reading papers and writing my thesis. But the main message is, I'm back!

Post on xojane.com

Hooray!  Coryographies' vintage penguin book ring is featured on a lovely list of literary fashion on xojane.com.  Check it out :)

Bookshelf necklace making process...

If anyone wants to see a half-made bookshelf necklace... here is a new design coming together!

Coryographies on Go Team Kate!

Go Team Kate! is a fantastic blog run by mummy Shanell, raising awareness, advocating and educating about autism. It's an intense and honest exploration surrounding the issues of family and interacting with a world that doesn't always facilitate the easiest of times when you're a young little one with autism. But Shanell's words are engaging and entertaining, and plus she features a ton of great products on her blog, with chances to win them in giveaways that raise money for things like a service dog for Kate! Check it out and you might win something - or at least learn about a lovely little girl!

http://www.goteamkate.com/products-we-love/coryographies

First sale to Trinidad!

I just made my first sale to Trinidad... that's exciting! I love it when I get to send my jewellery to a new country; now I'm dreaming of sandy beaches and seafood and tropical cocktails, yum... can I fit inside the package and go too?

NaNoWriMo 2014

I've never done this before, but I thought it'd be a good challenge and a way to practice writing - I'm participating in NaNoWriMo 2014! NaNoWriMo means National November Writing Month, and is an international online group of people that for one month ban together and lend support, and write 50,000 words of a first draft of a novel. See nanowrimo.org for yourself if you find that interesting and haven't heard about it before!

I've had a story idea (haven't we all) knowcking around for a year or so, and hey, don't we all need something fun like this to distract us from all our other commitments? I have a 50,000 word thesis upgrade due in May, so I might as well practise writing 50,000 words in one month, so I can write 50,000 more over the course of 6.

Anyone else out there participated in NaNoWriMo before? Will you be doing it this year? Words of advice? Words of warning?

Chameleon Necklace

This is so so so cute (click here for Etsy listing):

A chameleon necklace, transparent so it 'changes colour' based on what you're wearing!  Adorable.  I wonder if she makes them a bit smaller... check out the maker's shop yourself at dinosaurYEAH!

Tattoo Jewellery

ShimmerTatts

This is my new favourite thing - the possibility of wearing a bracelet without it getting in the way?  I might have to order 500!

Melissa Drake of ShimmerTatts on Etsy writes that metallic temporary tattoos are the next big thing - even Beyonce has been spotted wearing them.  Well Beyonce, if it's good enough for you, it's good enough for me!

Talking Canadian

I found this lovely documentary from the CBC on the unique aspects of Canadian English. It was really interesting!  I had read a book on this same topic last year, and they covered some of the same points - regional vocabulary, vowel differences, intonation, some grammar - Canadian English seems so close to American English at first glance, but if you delve into it you can find a lot more that's unique than just 'eh'! :)

Hunting for backpacks

Blue leather and canvas backpack by skyleatherstudio

I've been surprised at the backpacks listed on Etsy - not surprised that there is such a great range, which I expected, but that many are quite affordable, too! September is of course back to school for many, but for us university kids it's often late September early October. So I have only now starting looking disdainfully at my 7 year old detachable day bag that

Dr Who Bookshelf Necklace, new design on Etsy!

Dr. Who Bookshelf Necklace by Coryographies, £32 on Etsy

I have a brand new bookshelf necklace design that I've unveiled to coincide with the new Dr Who season. I hope you like it!  It's my Dr Who Bookshelf Necklace, and I've painted the

Coryographies moves yet again... workshop number three!

Ah, the life of a transient student.  Never in one place for long. My husband and I are unpacking boxes in a new flat - and I really do mean new!  That's exciting for the UK, where I've only lived in places originally built before central heating and indoor toilets were commonplace, so there's been much jiggery-pokery and everything doesn't always fit/work

Coryographies being sold at The Literary Gift Company

Charles Dickens Soft Toy, £16.95

Have you visited The Literary Gift Company before?  They specialize in all sorts of literary gifts, from a stuffed toy of your favourite author, to this delightful animal farm brooch:

An Interview With 'Art as Worship'

Vanessa Lowry runs a blog called Art as Worship, which interviews artists and asks them questions pertaining to their art and spirituality.  I really enjoyed answering Vanessa's questions, as I'm an athiest myself, but have an interest in religion through my studies in

A chilly photoshoot...

I took some of my bookshelf necklaces out into the back garden today for a little winter photoshoot.  Here are the results (it was a chilly day, I took the photos very quickly!!):

Featured on Buzzfeed.com

Hooray, look who got featured on buzzfeed.com!

http://www.buzzfeed.com/juliapugachevsky/book-inspired-accesories-youll-want-immediately

This is a nice collection of things as well, I would love a cute book clutch!

The Top 5 Social Media Tools for Your Etsy Business

So you've opened an Etsy shop, and you've taken some beautiful pictures of your products to show people what you make - now you need to get the word out!  Here are the best tools that I've found gets your word out and doesn't waste your time: