I have loved little boxes ever since, as a child, I bought a thimble sized Mauchline box for 6d at a jumble sale in our village. All through my teens it sat on a shelf in my bedroom with other “treasures’ and when, as an adult, I started to frequent antiques fairs I acquired a few more.
- Five small Mauchline ware boxes
I also developed a love of Russian lacquer boxes. I envy the skills of those who paint them and learnt about the history of the four state-run village sites that produced them. I did manage to acquire one little box at a craft fair but any others are way out of my price range and nowadays none of those made in the state villages reach the UK as they go to the US. Nevertheless I have books about them which I drool over.
- Very small example of a lacquered Russian box
Then, a few years ago after Christmas I found myself with several little boxes which had contained toiletries or confectionery that were so well made that I just couldn’t bring myself to throw them away. Although I’m not a great artist I tried decorating one in various mixed media techniques. It turned out quite well so I made a few more. I managed to sell several at one particular craft fair so I just kept creating them from time to time.
My relatives now keep their quality packaging for me too so I have a steady supply of various shapes and sizes.
One of my main difficulties in marketing these online is that, in the case of the smaller boxes in particular, the cost of postage to a buyer is almost as much as the cost of the box – unless they buy several at once. Therefore, I have started packaging every small item I sell from my shop, especially jewellery (except for the astrology necklaces which need boxes of a particular size to include the printed information sheets and chart) in a one of a kind gift box.
Each new creation is an adventure into the unknown. When I start I have no pre-conceived idea as to what the end result will look like. Over the two or three days that each one takes to create (because they need to dry between layers) I often go through a phase when I think, “This one isn’t going to work…” But then it suddenly transforms. One feature I like to add when I can is a thought-provoking quotation.
I can create a box as a commission. I once made one relating to a specific country for a travel agent who wanted a special box to hold a customer’s tickets etc.
View all my current gift boxes in my shop.