What is a Hug Token?

A CreativeDynamix hug token is a small item that represents a hug given as a gift to another or for oneself. It is a symbol of considered thought gifting these hug tokens simply says "I'm thinking of you". This little heart shaped hug offers an analogy of affection, care, kindness or love for the receiver to have and to hold.
Someone who bought one in Gorey last week asked "How do I use it?" You can carry it on your person, in a pocket, bag or purse. It can be kept close or in a special keepsake place. The idea is that it evokes a hug when held, squished or looked at.
The experience of the hug tokens are tactile. Sheep fleece is the perfect organic medium to craft this hug with. The packaging also fits that experience reusing old forgotten book pages. So when you gift a medium sized hug token it arrives with a string wrap and button or shell fastener.

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Hug token packaging medium size © 2012 Roisin Markham

It has been a revelation to share the idea with a friends and colleagues and listen to their input. I really appreciate that they have embraced the idea loved it share it and bought tokens also. These tokens are not just for Valentines day. It has been suggested that they would make great wedding favours.
I have a very clear strategy in creating a cup of coffee and slice of cake priced items. The primary reason for creating these hug tokens or keepsakes is to offer people something to buy at a price they can afford. This is a response to what I have learned and absorbed about creating art and selling my art in the current climate. I hear that people really like my work and want to support it. So this is one solution to offer a smaller product. I have been fascinated that people are buying them for friends, family, Mums and teams the quantities are not in ones but in threes, five's and ten's. 
I've also been fascinated that orders have followed via email, over the phone and are not all being funnelled through the Facebook online shop.
In the last few weeks while making hug tokens to sell I've reconnected to a basic joy of making images with a camera. The illustrative side to communicating something I have created. An approach to graphically looking at an object and expressing it in different ways. If you have been following my CreativeDynamix page on Facebook I hope you have enjoyed the images, if you have n't discovered them yet I'd love to hear what you think; like and leave me a comment positive or otherwise on the different images. I am always open to feedback.
So while making these hug tokens I think of love, of someone receiving and holding this hug token which is made here in the studio in Ballygarrett, Gorey, Co. Wexford. A handmade hug token keepsake crafted from sheep fleece. Where possible I try to source the fleece locally.
So lets see where this exploration of smaller items takes us and what we learn on the way...