The International Otter Survival Fund

Since starting to sew otters in 2011, I have donated 10% of sales to an otter sanctuary or charity every year.  To be honest, I don't make much money on these as they are incredibly labour-intensive (the larger ones take about three hours to sew) so this is a big deal to me.

The recent unprecedented storms and flooding in the UK have actually had a huge negative impact on the otter population, contrary to what you might think.  Holts will have been flooded out and families separated.  Adult otters will have had to find alternative ways around their territory as culverts and spaces under bridges vanish under the flood waters. This usually means crossing roads which can result in the otters being run over, leaving their cubs orphaned.  The quality of the flood water is very poor as it gets mixed in with sewage, which leads to infections, so any rescued cubs being brought into animal shelters can be in a very bad way and often don't survive.

Cub rescued from the River Cam - picture Cambridge News

This year, the money will go to the International Otter Survival Fund (IOSF).

Conrad the rescued otter cub - picture by the IOSF

Based on the Isle Of Skye, the IOSF was set up by Paul and Grace Yoxon to safeguard otter populations around the world.  They raise awareness of otters, help improve local environments to enable otter survival and fight against the trading of otter fur, as well continuing international research into otter behaviour and populations to ensure that each of the 13 different species continue to survive and flourish.

On Skye, they take in and rehabilitate abandoned or sick otters - mostly cubs who have lost their parents.  All healthy otters are released back into the wild if they can be. This is why the centre is not open to the public, as they need to keep human interaction to the minimum so that the otters remain as wild as possible.

Rescued cubs Jasper and Mangal cuddle up - picture by the IOSF

Their work has won them two awards in the last couple of years - the IFAW Animal Action Award in 2012 and the British Animal Honour's Wildlife Conservation Award in 2013.

Shark Alley's otters are also on sale in the IOSF online shop, where a massive 30% of the price goes towards supporting their work.

So every Shark Alley otter you buy goes to help the real thing! Shop with a good conscience and wear your halo of goodness ALL DAY.  Then you can send me pictures of your otter doing funny things and I can put it on the Fuzzy Otter blog.  Take a look - it's quite fun!

Tarquin, Mungo & Splash - picture by their keeper, Bosun Smee.

International Otter Survival Fund
7, Black Park
Broadford
Isle of Skye
IV49 9DE
Scotland

Go Pro

Product shots. They are the bane of my life.

I have limited time to attend to all my Shark Alley duties, and product photography and the ensuing editing and uploading take up an entire day.  I don't have a professional studio and just setting up the table with backdrops, camera, tripod and a light and reflector (usually a mirror or a piece of white paper - so pro!) takes a fair while.

When selling online, photographs are the ONLY thing a customer has to go on, and so getting them right is incredibly important.

PROFESSIONALS DON'T HAVE TO WORK THIS WAY!

In particular I was struggling with photographing the resin pieces on a white background, as the necklaces have white elements in them. These were just very hard to make work and required lots of patient effort in Photoshop afterwards.

Leaping Fox & Star Necklace

Unfortunately, I don't have oodles of cash to spare either, so making the decision to get a professional to take my shots felt quite huge.  I had three options and umm-ed and aah-ed over them for ages.  Eventually I decided to go with Brighton-based photographer Rory Townsend Seddon and his studio Capture Factory, mostly because it was on the doorstep and Rory was very good at staying in contact, then eventually enticed me with a good deal for the shots.

Flamingo Pendant

The joy of having 40 shots on a pure white background arrive in Dropbox last week was indescribable.  No Photoshop editing! All I needed to do was upload onto my website.  I'm really happy with them.  Rory was very receptive to all my comments and needs after the test shots had been taken, and the way he has arranged the chains on the necklaces look brilliant.

I need to save my pennies to get ALL my shots done this way.  And getting professional model shots would be a dream come true . . .

Leaping Hare & Star Necklace

Otter Brooch - detail

All jewellery shots by Rory Townsend Seddon at Capture Factory
Unit 4, Beaconsfield Studios, 25 Ditchling Rise, Brighton, BN1 4QL
http://www.capturefactory.co.uk/

I Heart Recycling

Shark Alley recycled labels

ORIGINS

Like most people of her generation born during WWII, my Mum learned to make do and mend rather than buy new things.

Yaaay

Growing up, we reused lots of things. My drawing paper was a long continuous sheet of computer print-out from Dad's work (how I longed for proper cartridge paper), we had a big craft box filled with things like toilet roll tubes, toothpaste boxes and milk bottle tops for when I wanted to get busy with making, and old bedspreads and t-shirts were used as picnic blankets and dusters respectively.

I don't know whether it's that influence, or my tendency to hoard useless, pretty bits and pieces, or the fact that as an artist, I don't have endless amounts of cash to splash about on materials, but I LOVE to recycle in my work.

 PAPER

The Metro newspaper gets made into something far more exciting

The mixed media brooches are made from a papier mâché base of recycled newspaper. They may then be decorated with patterned paper bags and reused gift wrap. I've also been experimenting with pages from old books and maps.  Even an old 500 lire bank note got used very effectively.  Stupidly I forgot to take a picture of this, but here are some other ones.

Leopard print paper bag and a bead from a bracelet bought in Capri.

Pages from an unwanted book.

I think that some papers are so beautiful, it's a shame to just chuck them away.  Why not make them into something usable and wearable, where they can be seen, admired and celebrated?

FABRIC

I feel the same way about fabric.  Having used lots of scraps over the years to make a patchwork quilt (currently nearing completion - see blog post here) I still get the greedy urge to snap up offcuts and remnants and transform them into something AWESOME.

Through my part-time job at U-Handbag I have learned how to make purses and can now use these offcuts to create little coin purses, with animal designs incorporated into the original fabric pattern.

Scampi Moo the otter nestles in some swirly embroidery

Hare transferred onto a beautiful Free Spirit fabric

Basket of purses - some on remnant curtains and cushion covers

STAMPS

Another benefit of working at U-Handbag was the brief access to a truly beautiful set of bird stamps from Hong Kong, which used to adorn packages of metalware.  I couldn't bear the idea of these going into the bin, so I rescued them and waited for inspiration to strike.  Which it eventually did.

The stamps are layered with Japaneses chiyogami paper and resin and the pendants end up looking quite 3D.  I think the postmarks really add to the design, although on some of the stamps they had actually obliterated the birds' heads.

Sadly, as soon as I'd found a use for them, they stopped sending them.

PLASTIC BAGS

In another throwback to my childhood, I remember Mum making a Christmas wreath from Marks & Spencer and Laura Ashley bags (bright green and dark green respectively) cut up and knotted around a coat hanger.  This thing was indestructable and spent many Christmases adorning our front door.

Could I recreate this marvel?  Hmmmm. You betcha.

I used red foil sweet wrappers to make holly berries and pieces of ribbon to decorate the wreaths.

PRACTICAL RECYCLING

In the spirit of not wasting anything if I can possibly help it, Shark Alley otters are currently being stuffed with the insides of IKEA cushions which have seen better days.  This stuffing is excellent - really dense.

I also recycle packaging to send out orders, which means I don't have to charge customers for packing.

 

 BLOGS

Shark Alley gets a mention on a couple of recycling blogs.  Whoop whoop! 

Craft Central Recycles 

Recycle Crafts