Mother's Day Gift Ideas

Well, it's almost here again!  Can you believe how quickly it comes around?  If you're like me, I'm always trying to figure out what I can give my Mum this time.

So, here are some of my favourite pieces that might help - all handcrafted by me and available to purchase through my Etsy shop ... https://www.etsy.com/au/shop/TheHappyViking?ref=si_shop

Small Pouch - Inspired by Hatteberg Brooch

Large Bag - Viking Design

Small Clutch Purse

All orders are gift wrapped but, as a special treat, I will also send you one of my greeting cards to accompany your Mother's Day present.

Armidale NEMAS Easter Gathering and Lithgow's Ironfest

WOW!  What an amazing time I've had!  Two days short of two weeks, roughly 2500 kilometres of driving, being surrounded by Vikings and other people who are passionate about what they do, catching up with old friends and making new ones.

The first part of my trip was Armidale and it was FANTASTIC!  How could it not be?  Spending almost a week in a Pine forest with 500 Vikings and leaving the modern world behind; it was like heaven - or should I say Valhalla? :)

I took my wares up to the Market Road and was delighted to sell almost all of my pouches.  Here's one happy customer who bought one of them.

NEMAS did a spectacular job of organising everything and I'd like to thank them for their efforts.  It's definitely an experience like no other.

My new Viking A frame tent was delivered to me at Armidale and it is GREAT!!  I absolutely love it.  Unfortunately I couldn't safely take the beams on my roof racks because they are too long.  So, luckily for me, a friend in Ulveflokk Vikings took it back to Maleny for me and I took my old one to Lithgow. Tomorrow someone is coming to buy my old tent and the money I get from it should be enough for me to buy a trailer to carry my new one!  Don't you just love how things work out?  I do! :)

The next part of my journey was another 6 hours' drive - Lithgow's Ironfest; a festival of Medieval, Fantasy and Steampunk.  What a feast for your eyes!  All the wonderful costumes and contraptions and friendly happy people.  I loved it!

I loved having a stall at Ironfest.  Other than selling my wares, it was great sitting at my stall watching Vikings walking alongside Sci Fi people and seeing the little UFO camera flying around, taking footage.  It was also really wonderful to meet people who have been following my Facebook page.

I'd like to especially thank Mitch Luke, Byzantine Pete and Benny Softbeard for making me feel so welcome and helping me out and, of course, the organisers of the festival itself.  What an amazing effort!  I definitely want to attend again next year.

Only THREE DAYS LEFT of the Crowdfunding Campaign! :)

This time next week I will be at Armidale!!!  YAY! In the meantime, I'm rushing around like a headless chicken, packing and unpacking baskets - shuffling things around and trying to make as much as possible fit into each one - AND trying to finish off making things. Craziness! 

I'm really looking forward to catching up with friends and making new ones. This was taken last Armidale.

There's only THREE days left of the #crowdfunding campaign so, if you want to make a pledge, you've still got time!  Funds raised from here on will be going towards purchasing materials for the market/demonstration shelter - in front of the tent. Here's the link ...
http://thehappyviking-hlif.blogspot.com.au/2014/03/a-viking-saga-shelter-and-ship-pozible.html

The Campaign is Still Going - You Haven't Missed Your Chance to Pledge! :)

Even though the #Crowdfunding campaign has reached it's target, it is still open for another 5 days! So, if you did want to contribute and felt that you had missed out, you've still got time! 

Any extra funds raised will be put towards purchasing the canvas and wood to make the "market" shelter, similar to that pictured below. Your name will be burnt into the wooden poles in Viking Runes (like below) and you will receive your 'reward' relevant to the amount you pledge. 

THANKS again for all your support. You are BEAUTIFUL! 

LINK TO CAMPAIGN:

http://thehappyviking-hlif.blogspot.com.au/2014/03/a-viking-saga-shelter-and-ship-pozible.html

THANK YOU for Making My Crowdfunding Campaign a SUCCESS!!!!

WOOOHOOOOO!!!!!   

THANK YOU EVERYONE! My campaign target has been reached ... 7 days before it was due to finish!!!!

I am SO GRATEFUL to all of you who supported me either by pledging, sharing my page or just being there for me to talk to. You are all such beautiful beings!

So, here it is again - thanks to YOU - my wonderful new tent.  I will be getting it at Armidale and will post photos as soon as I can.

Many, many, MANY blessings to you all!

Elizabeth
The (EXTREMELY) HAPPY Viking 

MAKE YOUR PLEDGE HERE ... THANK YOU! :)

THANK YOU for your pledge! :)

Please note: Some people have reported that the screen froze in the "processing" stage.  However one person said that it froze on his computer but went through straight away on his mobile phone.

If you experience any problems at all, please contact me either by email - thehappyviking@live.com.au or on my Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/TheHappyViking.Hlif 

DAY 10 - Now Counting Down ... 8 DAYS TO GO of My Crowdfunding Campaign

Now, instead of saying the number of days it's been going, I'm going to start counting down with ... (drum role) ... 8 days left. 

So, another big THANK YOU for your support today. My target is now 82% pledged. WOOHOO!!!

It is SOOOO exciting!!! I have all these ideas and pictures in my mind - from thinking about meeting some of you at festivals and being able to thank you in person, showing you the tent; wondering about the best way to set up the shelter on the side or at the front - so that people can see my leatherwork demonstrations in the shade or out of the rain; to making sure that I get my Dad to show me how to properly tie the ropes around the poles on the roof racks! 

Each day it gets closer and each day I feel so much more inspired, wanting to learn more about Viking lifestyle and wanting to share it with anyone who is interested.Tonight the photo is Saga Vikings and it was the exact day that I found them at The Abbey - about 9 years ago. They had such an amazing display and I sat with them for two hours, just talking and feeling like I'd found my home. Pictured is lovely Jane, telling stories to the children. I wonder if any of their lives were changed that day too? 

DAY 9 of My Crowdfunding Campaign

The days are flying by and the #Viking A Frame tent is getting closer! 

I am now at 78% of my target with $705 and still 10 days left.

I found this photo of Runes burnt into the wooden frames of a tent and it's what I'd like to do with the names of those who have contributed. For those who have so far, take a look below to see what your name looks like in Runes.

I give my thanks again for all your continued support and pledges.

DAY 8 of My Crowdfunding Campaign

Today's been a great day; starting to feel like I'm getting organised for the big trip but I've lost my lounge room! It's somewhere under piles of Viking "stuff" getting sorted. I think my dog is under there somewhere too! 

THANK YOU to those who pledged to my campaign today - taking it to $555, which is 61% of the target. Also thanks to those who gave advice. There are so many beautiful people in the world! 

I came across one of my favourite Viking encampment photos while I was looking for one to share and I just have to share this with you. I've actually got this picture up on my wall in my leatherwork room and look at it every day - dreaming of one day going to Norway and staying at#Gudvangen Viking Village. How spectacular does it look? 

DAY 7 of My Crowdfunding Campaign

I took a break yesterday from the craziness of this campaign and went back to doing what I really love - leatherwork. :)

A new piece of leather arrived in the morning from my favourite shop - Packer Direct Leather Shop - and I couldn't wait to get my hands on it.

Anyway, the crowdfunding also took a break yesterday; a pause, with no pledges made but that's ok. I'm as determined as ever to have the best possible encampment for my stall and I believe that dreams come true!

I'm grateful for where I am now - already living one of my dreams, having my own business and I know that what we focus on is what we get.

Of course this campaign is about raising funds and you have already pledged $495 - 55% of my target ($900) but you all have given me so much more than that. Liking my page, commenting on my work, giving me inspiration and becoming my friends - it means the world to me and for that, I THANK YOU!

Please do come and say hello to me if you see me at any events. I would love to talk to you in person and give you a hug! (Hmm, not the best photo of me but still, you get the idea!

Click Below to Make a Pledge to "A Viking Saga - Shelter and Ship" Crowdfunding Campaign

DAY 6 of My Crowdfunding Campaign

WOOHOO! I'm over half way (55% of my target) in my #crowdfunding campaign and there are 14 days left ... and only 18 days until I go to Armidale!!! Will you be able to come and visit me at my new tent? Oooh, I REALLY hope so! 

Tonight my 14 year old son gave me a quick lesson in iMovie so I've just launched "Take 2" of my video onto YouTube. I think it's better - I've added more photos and the last page is there!  The blurriness of the words on some of the pages .... didn't quite get there but I'm not going to do Take 3.  I'll just improve that part in my next video - maybe my thank you one, showing you my tent! 

Anyway, here's the new one! ... 

    

Video Released on YouTube for Crowdfunding Campaign

Yesterday my day was taken up with doing something completely different - being a Movie Director! :)

I made a "video" and launched it onto YouTube last night.  I'd love you to take a look ...

This was the first time I'd ever done something like this so please accept my apology for the blurriness and the sudden stop of music at the end!  All I can say is that I'd much rather be doing leatherwork! :)

Anyway, I hope you still enjoy it! 

DAY 5 of My Crowdfunding Campaign

Ooh, I didn't give you an update yesterday. Sorry!

So ... DAY 5 of my #crowdfunding campaign:

I launched my "video" for my campaign onto YouTube. It was an all day mission and I'm not 100% happy with the end result but I gave it a go! All I can say is I'd much rather be doing leatherwork. 

Link to video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCdoAv-qxvU&feature=youtu.be)

Again, I connected with some more beautiful people today - I'm loving the "social" side of this and looking forward to catching up with everyone in real life at future events. And the total reached $435 - that's 48% of my target.

Keeping up with the post of tents and inspiration for a great set up, I just came across this one. I love the design on the canvas. Isn't it spectacular?

Once again, I THANK YOU all for your support.

Elizabeth
The Happy Viking 

Day 4 of my Pozible Crowdfunding Campaign: "A Viking Saga - Shelter and Ship"

Today I'm feeling really grateful for the opportunity that this has opened up for me to get to know people better. I've had some great conversations, have been given some wonderful advice and have been encouraged to keep on following my dream.

THANK YOU! Today the pledged total got up to $400. That's 44% of my total goal.  FANTASTIC! 

Day 3 of My Crowdfunding Campaign: "A Viking Saga - Shelter and Ship"

Thanks again to all who have made pledges and shared my campaign.

Today the total has reached $170.  :)

I found this great tent set up the other day and was reminded of it again today when a fellow Viking sent it to me.  How great does that look?  Much better than the one I posted yesterday I think.  I could fit quite a few people in there with me, sharing my leatherwork craft and talking about Vikings.

I've been thinking too, that I'd like to make up some kind of tribute; whether it be a piece of tooled leather or an embroidery to hang or whether it be burnt into the wooden poles - the names (in Runes) of all the people who have helped me raise the funds to purchase the tent.  I feel that it would be a great way to show my gratitude to those who have supported me.

17 days and $730 to go ... (check out the rewards post for your pledges if you haven't already seen them).

#crowdfunding #crowdfundingcampaign #TheHappyViking #VikingAFrameTent #AVikingSagaShelterandShip #Pozible

REWARDS! A Viking Saga - Shelter and Ship (Pozible Crowdfunding Campaign)

Well, this is definitely a learning process and I'm so glad that you are all being patient with me. 

A friend just pointed out that people might like to know what the 'rewards' are before they decide on whether or not they want to make a pledge. So here is what you will receive:

$5 - a personal thank you email.

$10 - a personal thank you email plus a public thank you on my Facebook page.

$25 - a personal thank you email, a public thanks on my Facebook page plus one of my greeting cards sent to you in the post.

$50 - a personal thank you email, a public thank you on my Facebook page and three of my greeting cards sent to you in the post.

$100 - a personal thank you email, a public thank you on my Facebook page and a set (of 6) of my greeting cards sent to you in the post.

If you want a particular card, please send me a message and I will make sure you get the one/s you want. 

Set of 6 Greeting Cards

"Inspiration"

"Celtic Pond of Life"

"Celtic Tree of Life"

"Lady Adeline"

"Celtic Birch Tree of Life"

"Celtic Rowan Tree of Life"

#Crowdfunding #Crowdfundingcampaign #TheHappyViking #VikingAFrameTent #AVikingSagaShelterandShip #Pozible

POZIBLE Campaign - Questions Answered!

Hmm, this campaign is bringing out some comments that I wasn't expecting! 

I have just had someone questioning my campaign, thinking it could be a scam because they couldn't find it on the Pozible page. 

I think I've mentioned before that it is a self-hosted campaign, so it is not listed and you cannot search for it on the Pozible site. I am doing all the work myself - hence the 50 million messages on my FB page and emails to people. 

For anyone wanting "proof" however that it is actually a legitimate campaign, through Pozible, when you go to make a pledge, you will see at the bottom of that box that it says "Powered by Pozible".

I have also had a comment more or less along the lines of "Oh, so this woman just wants us to give her money so that she can buy a tent".

If anyone else is thinking along those lines, then I would like to clarify that for you too. I have a small business and, like all people who have small businesses will understand, it takes time to get one up and running and to get to the point where it makes a profit. My business has only been running for just over a year so, as much as it has been successful and is growing, I am not in the profit stages yet.

The tent and roof racks that I want to purchase are pieces of equipment that I, as a business owner, need to purchase in order for me to do the best possible "job" that I can do. It's no different to other campaigns where musicians have crowdfunding to purchase amps, etc or record an album or artists who want to buy equipment for their studio. This is not just something that is "nice to have" - it is something that I need to purchase in order to adhere to the guidelines set by the Medieval re-enactment community and to portray myself as a Viking re-enactor, business woman and a leatherworker as authentically correct as possible.

Crowdfunding is a way of raising funds for something that I need but, at this stage in my business, am not able to purchase by my own means. I am not asking anyone to hand over money for nothing. Please take a look at the 'rewards' for the different pledge amounts. If you would like to support me in achieving my goal, then please do. If you are unable to make a pledge but would still like to help, then please share my campaign. Either way, I will be extremely grateful.

I hope that this has cleared up any doubts that people may have. Please, if you have any questions, ask me! I will be more than happy to discuss them with you.

Elizabeth
The Happy Viking 


#crowdfunding #crowdfundingcampaign #TheHappyViking #AVikingSagaShelterandShip #Pozible

DAY 2 of my Pozible Crowdfunding Campaign - "A Viking Saga - Shelter and Ship"

Thank you to everyone who is supporting me already with my campaign to raise funds for a Viking A frame tent and roof racks to transport the tent's long wooden poles.

The tent (pictured below) is essential for me to be able to create the best possible environment in which to display my craft and educate people about Viking history at the various festivals and events that I will be attending.

Within the first two days you have already pledged $125.  My goal is to reach $900 by 14/4/14.

For those of you who are unaware of the Pozible crowdfunding scheme - all $900 must be pledged by midday on 14/4/14.  If I don't reach my target, then your pledges are not fulfilled and none of the money is received by me.

So, PLEASE SHARE my campaign - tell all your friends and make a pledge.

I found a photo of another tent the other day, with a fly on the side so thought I'd share this with you too.  It's along the lines of the way that I would like to have my display set up ...

Don't forget to take a look at my Facebook page if you'd like to see my work - https://www.facebook.com/TheHappyViking.Hlif

#crowdfunding #crowdfundingcampaign #TheHappyViking #AVikingSagaShelterandShip #Pozible

Viking Re-enactment

Viking re-enactment is a HUGE part of my life.  I don't think a day goes by without me talking about Vikings! :)

I have been a re-enactor for about 8 or 9 years now.  I remember the day I first met a Viking group at The Abbey Medieval Festival.  I sat there for 2 hours talking to them.  I felt like I had "come home".  Since then I have been in a few groups but they were all a fair distance from my home and I the journey  down to meetings was not always possible.

So, a couple of years ago a friend and I decided to start our own group.  We are both interested in the Celtic Culture as well as Vikings so we agreed to portray Vikings in Scotland.  We did some research and settled on Galloway Bay however, after some time, we realised that there was not a lot of evidence remaining of Viking settlements in that area.  So, we went on the search again and found Brough of Birsay, a small island off mainland Orkney.  This tiny island has artifacts dating from the fifth century AD, perhaps Christian missionaries, the seventh century - when it was a Pictish stronghold and the night century when it was taken over and built over by the Norse.

The parish of Birsay takes its name from the Brough, which in Old Norse was calledByrgisey - the fort island. Its "modern" name reflects these defensive aspects, with the term brough used in Orkney to refer to naturally defensive headlands.


Some of my favourite re-enactment photos from over the years ...

A Viking Saga - Shelter and Ship ... (A Self-Hosted Pozible Crowdfunding Campaign)

*** Please scroll down to the bottom to see the Pledge box ***

It had been a dream of mine for many years to have my own business as a leatherworker and just over a year ago I turned that dream into reality.  I started my business - "The Happy Viking, creating unique leather pieces inspired by Viking, Celtic and Medieval cultures and specialising in custom orders for re-enactors and the general public alike.

Last year I attended the biggest Medieval Festival in the Southern Hemisphere - The Abbey Medieval Festival.  This year I will be attending a number of festivals and events including NEMAS, Abbey, History Alive and Ironfest.

My stall received great reviews last year but this year I want to make it even better.  Other than selling my wares, this year I want to demonstrate the skill of leatherwork and educate people about Viking history and what they have contributed to the world we know today.

It is here that the Saga begins ...

As all re-enactors know, authenticity is everything.  For me to accurately portray a Viking from the Dark Ages, display my craft and educate people, I need to have a period correct tent, shelter in the form of a Viking A frame.

Viking A frame tents for sale in Australia are like hen's teeth.  Fortunately though, after much searching, I found one that suits perfectly.  (Photo below - if for some reason you are seeing a wedge tent instead - I am working on this! :) )

This is where my crowdfunding campaign begins ... With less than 4 weeks to go to the first major Viking event, you can help me to achieve my goal by making a pledge.  Your pledge will assist me in purchasing the A frame tent so that I am able to create the best possible environment in which to display my craft and educate people about Viking history.

Your pledge will also help me to purchase roof racks to actually get my tent to the events.  Viking tents were not made to fit into cars! The wooden poles for my new tent are 3.6 metres long and I need roof racks to "ship" them.

Viking re-enactment and leatherwork are my two greatest passions.  I am so excited about the future and sharing with you all.  If you feel to make a pledge, then I am very grateful to you.  You can also help by sharing this link amongst your friends.

If you are interested in my work, please also take a look at my Facebook page - The Happy Viking.

I thank you for your time and send blessings to you all.

Elizabeth
The Happy Viking :)

This crowdfunding campaign has already reached it's target!  THANK YOU!

Any pledges made from this point on will be contributing to the purchase of materials to make the shelter (similar to that shown in the photo below) for the market stall and leatherwork demonstrations.

#Crowfunding #crowdfundingcampaign #TheHappyViking #AVikingSagaShelterandShip #Pozible

http://www.pozible.com/selfhost/preview/180121/-1/eeeb056768cb8132cd30e4c59e1adc17


I've just created my first ever YouTube video!  Please take a look ...

Calendar 2014

There are four main events that I will be attending this year as The Happy Viking:

- Armidale NEMAS Easter Gathering   -    18-22 April

- Ironfest - Lithgow                                -    25-27 April      http://www.ironfest.net/

- History Alive                                       -       7 & 8 June     http://www.historyalive.com.au/

- The Abbey Medieval Festival             -     12 & 13 July    http://abbeytournament.com/


I am also hoping to be able to get to some other events so please keep an eye on this space and I'll let you know if they come through. :)