A word from our Sponsors

So today I had a look through the shops of people that had placed bids on our ads blocks here on Autonomous Artisans. I got to see a lot of great goods and would urge you all to take time out to click on the ads and have a look around all the shops. These are a few of the fantastic items I found.

I was so glad I found Gallery Juana. The shop is full of gorgeous works in a variety of sizes and prices, but all are stunning. I chose this one to share because of the warm rich colours. Having a broken boiler in your home doesn't matter when you can be warmed by Juana's beautiful artwork.

Nick Anny Creations soap wrapper made me giggle. I love it! The soap is gently exfoliating and has honey and beeswax in it to soften your skin. Honey is such a yummy scent. Washing with this would be a joy. This shop has much more than just soap in it. Go along and find out what else you can buy.

I love these earrings! They look like little puppy faces who a bit fed up of waiting for a long promised walk. Nathalie of Canadian Rockies Art has lots of high quality handmade jewellery in her shop. Nathalie also offers gift vaouchers, so gents, if you are having a problem deciding between all the lovely goodies to buy yor partner this Valentines Day, you can let your lady choose for herself.

Talking of Valentines Day, Krishell of BlueStarButterflies has created this cosy, sexy cowl that would look so glamourous over the top of that little black dress. You'll be the bell of the ball, so if you don't have a partner yet maybe Valentines Day could be the day you fine one. If red isn't your colour Krishell has others to choose from.

Polka Dot Candle Shoppe has a whole aroma filled shop of choices. Candles galore and scented melts! These voltives come in a stunning 68 (if I counted correctly) different scents. You can mix and match which you want. From strawberries and cream to Gingerbread. A different scent for every occassion.

Written by Lynne of PiratePixieCrew and Hyperloop Hoops

Can you recommend any solar powered lights?

I've been searching the net for some lighting for our market stall. We will be travelling around most of the summer festivals selling Hoops and Hats. and I want to try and light the stall at night with solar powered lights. Now the problem I'm having is finding a lighting system that will work even on dull overcast days. I've found countless people selling the little garden lanterns, but I don't think they throw out much light and most of the reviews I've found of them say they do not work at all on over cast days.

Hopefully the summer will be bright and sunny, but in the UK you can't guarantee that it will. I don't really need these lights to be like flood lights as we hope to have a more soft ambient glow in the night than look like a night match on a football field, but I do need them to work all the time, whether the day has been 12 hours of bright sunshine or dull and over cast all day.

I saw these LED solar lights and though they would look great along the front edge of the stall, but again the reviews were nothing less than bad, saying they were not very bright and that they only lit up after a very sunny days worth of charging.

I really don't want to have to get a generator to run lights, as they are noisy, polluting and costly to run... any ideas all you lovely Blog readers? Have you go a set of solar powered lights you can recommend? If we can't find anything we will have to resort to tea light candles in jars, where the festival organisers will allow us, although that can be a fire hazard when slightly drunk festival goers try to hoop for the first time, late at night next to a candle lit stall.