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Friday 27 April 2012

My latest Steampunk Treasury:

Steam In the Air

Have a peek, leave a comment, tell your friends!
Thankyou :)

Friday 20 April 2012

I've done it! My goal was to get 40 items up for sale by the end of April...and I've just achieved it! Whether it will still be true on the 30th, I don't know. I hope not. I'm sure I'll sell a few pieces by then. So, I'll keep making but I can take the self-induced pressure off a bit, knowing that I've done what I set out to do. Ideas keep popping into my head. Now that I've started making things again, the creative momentum is beginning to build. Part of me would love to do this all day long but I've other aspects of my life to pay careful attention to. Funny, just today my Tai Chi Teacher was reminding me about paying attention to balance. That rings true not just for my physical posture, but the way I apportion my energy and attention in regard to all the aspects of my life. It's too easy to get carried away, sometimes, especially when the ideas are coming thick and fast. So, I shall do my best to firstly become clear on what, exactly, are all these seemingly disparate parts of my life. As I become more aware, so I am more able to work on balancing them. I'm starting to see how certain things which at first seems miles apart, suddenly begin to mesh like the cogs on a turning gearwheel....

Thursday 19 April 2012

Sneak Peek





A sneak peek at the Navigatrix workshop. Well, the old dining table that used to belong to my Grandparents...but quite a few successful enterprises have begun like that, haven't they!

The silver tin of things yet to be photographed...they'll be up by next week.

Wednesday 18 April 2012

So, where did the name come from?


I've been a Live Roleplayer for years so the concept of having a Steampunk character came fairly easily, once I got over the lack of rules to create one. Then I began browsing costume and quickly started to put together a characterized version of myself, a navigatrix who is responsible for pointing the little airship in the right direction yet who also offers metaphysical counsel, helping others to steer their lives on the right course. Romantic and really quite personal, too. Which are qualities I intend for the items in this shop.

I liked the sound of this word, feminine and purposeful. Wanting to know more, naturally I Googled it:

From www.urbandictionary.com: "Navigatrix" -
A stylish woman with a map who can help you find your way.
A good woman to know and have in your life, especially if you are lost.
A woman whose map is not only geographical but also spiritual and esoteric, she may help you find your way geographically, spiritually and personally.

This struck a chord. Yes, I love making pretty things and as a Taurus, can be quite earthily materialistic. However, I have always been a sensitive, spiritual soul and whenever I learn something useful or hear and then test out a piece of advice, I love to share it. So the idea of a Navigatrix seemed to fit perfectly with my own needs and my dreams for this new enterprise.

I follow my own inner compass and so far, it has led me well.

Come see my Wares!






Here are a few pictures to give you an idea of what The Navigatrix offers.

I don't normally offer custom orders as I make what I can with what I've got. However, I'm happy to make the moustache earrings in any colour. You can even send me a picture of a different moustache style to make!

The Navigatrix: Welcome to The Navigatrix!

The Navigatrix: Welcome to The Navigatrix!

The Navigatrix Blog

Please pop by for a quick read, thanks :)

Welcome to The Navigatrix!



Welcome to the budding blog all about The Navigatrix and it's creatrix! I'll be sharing what I learn and find along the way, promoting, supporting and welcoming other likeminded creative people (We are ALL Creative People, in one way or another :)

Let's start with a little background, in the hope that others out there will gain something from the tale.

My name is Sally-Ann and I have travelled a long and interesting path to get here. I started my working life with a Degree in Design Representation (Modelmaking) and worked freelance for three years. After a while working mainly in architectural modelamaking, I became frustrated at not being able to get into the more imaginative yet highly competitive SFX side of the industry. I became very stressed to the point where my health suffered and eventually discovered Reiki. After three sessions, I was hooked and went on to learn how to treat myself and others.

I then visited a career analyst and chose to retrain as a Montessori Directress, teaching 2-6 year olds. I loved the philosophy behind it and really enjoyed working with the children. My creative talents were put to use making classroom materials and displays. Still, something wasn't quite right, even when I found the most wonderful position (and promotion) working in a brand new school in the countryside. My intuition told me in no uncertain terms that it was time to set up a Reiki Practice. I left the school and set up in a rented room within a Health food shop.

Hindsight is great, isn't it?! I could have asked to work at the school part time...well, though I may not have earned a great deal, I learned a lot about working for myself. The most important things I learned were that this suits me down to the ground and that I Can Do It! (Thankyou, Louise Hay). One beautiful baby and a housemove later, I found myself thrown into life's tempestuous hug again. 'Honestly, dear, I willmake you listen!' says Life. So, out of struggle, I am re-creating myself once more.

One of my hobbies is Live Roleplay so it was no surprise when my brother and a friend of mine started to get me interested in Steampunk. This led to the creation of a Steampunk persona and more importantly, a costume (complete with corset!). I made myself some aged fingerless gloves and a little hairclip. I looked at this little clip and thought 'oh, people might buy these' so I asked my brother for space in his online shop. He just said 'Why not make your own shop?'

I found Etsy and suddenly my creative streak exploded. I found that I could make small items easily using pretty much what I had to hand or was given from the bottom of family sewing baskets. So now, alongside a new budding Reiki Practice I have this wonderful shop and a warm welcome in a community of creative and caring people. The Navigatrix is finding her way in the world, at last!