Wednesday, December 01, 2010

Folksy :: Buy "Vintage collage brooch"






1 in stock
Description
Pretty, nostalgic, one of a kind, collage brooch.

I collaged a scrap of vintage text onto mountboard and deckled the edge with silver embossing powder, then I added a recycled bottle top filled with a pretty vintage image, then glazed it and surrounded it with embedded pearl trim.

Swinging below the brooch is a strand of silken threads, loaded with delightful beads and a tiny tassel.

On the back is an easy to fasten badge pin.

Because this is made from mountboard its lightweight and easy to wear on a delicate garment or pin it to your hat or bag to make a vintage fashion statement.

Monday, November 22, 2010

Folksy :: Buy "Pretty in Pink Necklace and bracelet set "




Folksy :: Buy "Pretty in Pink Necklace and bracelet set ": "Description
Beautiful handmade beaded necklace and matching bracelet set in pretty shades of pink from palest candy floss to deepest dusky rose, with a hint of silver, pearl and a tiny touch of spring green.

Includes lampwork glass beads, crystals, facetted glass and rose quartz gemstones all mixed together.

The necklace is Princess length measuring approx 18' long and fastens with a secure rollover claw clasp and a large tibetan silver loop.

The Matching bracelet measures approximately 7 3/4' long and fastens with a tibetan silver t bar and loop."

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Folksy :: Buy "Evening in Paris Beadwork Necklace"


Folksy :: Buy "Evening in Paris Beadwork Necklace": "Evening in Paris Beadwork Necklace
£18.00

1 in stock



Description
I handmade this one of a kind beadwork necklace from a selection of my prettiest beads in shades of mid to deepest blue with touches of green, lilac and purple.

First I made the centrepiece by beadworking a Peyote twist which spirals naturally then I embellished it by intricately working rows and rows of freeform beadwork across and around the spiral twist.

I then added a couple of sperkling blue beads to each end and mounted it on a dainty beadwoven double netted row of small beads and finished it with a Tibetan silver loop and secure rollover claw clasp.

It measures approx 19' long which is a really nice length to flatter your neck and comfy to wear.

You can dress this necklace up or down by evening it will grace the most elaborate ballgown or little blue party dress.

If you can'r bear to stop wearing it by day it will look just as fab nestled in a V neck cashmere sweater, or worn with a checked cotton shirt and jeans.

Its a one-off and a real conversation piece - absolutely stunning.

Old Teddy begged to model it - doesn't he look cute? But it will look even better on YOU !"

Folksy :: Buy "Honey and lime twist Necklace and bracelet set"



Folksy :: Buy "Honey and lime twist Necklace and bracelet set": "Honey and lime twist Necklace and bracelet set
£14.00

1 in stock

I just listed this set on Folksy

Description
Matching set of a beautiful, handmade spiral twist beaded rope necklace and matching bracelet.

Both are handmade from glass beads in shades of honey and lime green.

They fasten with a tiny Tibetan silver heart loop and secure rollover claw catch.

The Necklace measures approximately 20' long (just over 51cm)

The bracelet measures approx. 8 1/2' long (21.4 cm)

They would make a lovely gift set.

Please note - Old Ted isn't for sale - he just wanted to help by modelling some jewellery for me."

Friday, August 20, 2010

Patchwork bags

When I recently got back into sewing again as a hobby I decided I wanted to make some nice bags and smallish items to get back into the swing of using a sewing machine.
First of all heres my veryfirts attempt - a tea towel tote bag. I bought a pack of 3 retro print tea towels in a lovely firm linen like fabric, one tea towel made this really useful shopping bag which I made with one long strap so I can carry it over my shoulder.

Next I wanted to make a book cover as I'm seldom to be seen without my current read in my hand and I tend to take them with me where I go, this useful book cover has a ribbon as a bookmark and I made it with 2 handles so I can carry it about, its very lightly padded so it protects the book but is still light and compact.
I made this one a touch too small and it only fits a smaller papaerback but hey, now I've made one I can make a whole bunch in different sizes and colours!

I wanted to try a handbag and I looked on the web for free bag patterns and found this super free pattern at Made by Rae for a buttercup bag, if you're interested in making bags I can recommend popping by her blog which has several really easy to follow patterns totally FREE to download.
Its quite a small shoulder bag and I made it in really bright tropical summer colours to add a bit of sunshine to the days I use it.
I got a big offcut of this very jazzy fabric at my local car boot sale - what a great find!



In the meantime I bought a small pack of mixed patchwork fabrics so I could get on and do some patchworking which was what set me off on this route in the first place.
First I made this smallish book bag which is smallish enough to carry 2 or 3 paperback books but not big enough for a whole load of shopping.
Its really pretty and I think I might make a larger one for when I go scouting around the charity shops, markets and car boot sales for fabric and books!


Finally here is the most recent one I made - this was MUCH more complex It was made from a pattern my friend gave me when I saw her toting one of these lovely patchwork bags around.
Its padded with wadding and quilted to make it nice and soft and it has ties at the side so it opens out even larger if you need to cram more stuff in!
Its nice and big and strong enough to use as a shopper or a craft bag. I'm going to use this for carrying my current project around when we go away for weekends, or when I go to my craft group or for a crafting session at a friends like I enjoyed last week.


I hope you've enjoyed seeing my efforts so far.

Beady fans - don't worry I haven't stopped beading and have several new beady projects in line to follow shortly.





Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Calling all patchworkers and stitchers

Just wondering if any stitching blog friends can help me out? I'm looking for any unwanted scraps of cotton patchwork fabric that any of you might have going spare?

As you know I do lots of crafts - beading, cardmaking, scrapbooking and embroidery but its many years since I actually did much sewing and I'm planning on taking it up again and this is why ...

My late Mum was a keen patchworker and she made lots of lovely things, before she died she was working on a large patchwork quilt in multi coloured cotton prints. She would buy second hand clothes from jumble sales, occasional new offcuts from the remnant store and use pieces from our clothes and beg offcuts from friends and family as she was very thrifty and never had much pin money for herself.

When she died the patchwork was only half finished but I hadn't the heart to do anything with it so I carefully packed it away in its unfinished state.

When we moved house I gave away the big bag of uncut fabric pieces to a charity who appealed for materials, as we were very short of space and it seemed a shame to have it just sitting around when someone could use it.

The other day I came across this unfinished patchwork and decided I'm finally going to try and finish it, but I need lots of fabric and when I've looked at patchwork fabric its just so expensive. I need lots of variety as each patch is different, its like a windmill with each square made up of 4 pathces of 2 different fabrics and each piece would need to be a minimum of 6" x 18"

As the patchwork was originally going to be made as a thrift item from remnants and offcuts I wondered if any of my blogging friends might have some offcuts of either vintage cotton or left over remnants of patchwork cotton which you can spare me, I'd be happy to swap for beads, or buttons or make you some earrings or a beaded bookmark, or whatever in exchange.

Do please leave me a message or drop me an email if you can help me get going on this project by sending me a few scraps of cotton.

Friday, April 16, 2010

Playing with buttons

I'm loving making jewellery from buttons - its such fun and they look so lavish and rich when I've finished.

Firstly theres the Button Lovers Rococo Necklace

Rich and lavish in deep shades of pink, blue, green, amber with a selection of large metallic buttons. Available now in my Folksy shop


Then last night I completed this ornate pastel bracelet for button fanatics. It's inspired by the style of Marie Antoinette so I called it "Let them Eat Buttons"
Its really lovely and the ice cream shades are pefectly suited to long summer days.
You can see more pictures of it in my Folksy shop



Thanks for looking everyone.

Monday, April 12, 2010

Spring has sprung

Its finally here - the sunshine I mean !! Hooray.

So what am I doing sitting indoors listing jewellery in my Folksy shop ?

Maybe I'm a little bit bonkers. Anyway I'll keep this short and sweet so I can get out in the garden and read my book - I'm reading Martina Devlin's "Ship of Dreams".


Heres a new Beaded bookmark they are always very popular.

There is the Tangeiria bracelet


And heres the gorgeous Tangieria Necklace to match the bracelet

If you'd like to see any of them in more details please click on the links or just visit my Folksy shop

Wednesday, April 07, 2010

Calling ALL crafters

Look what I've just found - Virtual Craft market it looks like a really great place for all us crafters to sell or swap our surplus supplies and its free to list stuff.

You know what happens you need a few beads to finish a necklace, a few embellishments to make a layout and you can only find a whole big pack and the ones lefte over just sit there taking up room in your craft room.

Well now you can de-stash and sell or swap all your spare craft supplies (not your handmade items though) for absolutely free - whether its tools, books, fabric, wool, jewellery making supplies, paper, cardmaking etc.

Do have a peek and join in the big crafty de-stash I'm off to sort out my craft room right now.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Winner has been drawn

I've drawn a winner of my blog candy and have emailed them.

The winner is YukkieJenny from Russia. I hope you enjoy your blog candy and huge thanks to everyone who entered I hope you'll keep following my blog and hope I'll find time to share some more of my makes with you all soon.

Saturday, February 27, 2010

LILAC TIME peyote spiral swirl necklace

Looking for the perfect gift for Mothers day? A little thankyou for a special friend? This gorgeous lilac peyote spiral swirl mecklace might just fit the bill.
A hand beaded peyote spiral of lilac beads in different sizes is threaded onto a pretty feminine ribbon and cord necklace which fastens with a clasp and chain so it can be adjusted between 18" and 19" in length.
A lot of work and care went into the making of this pretty item and now its looking for a loving home - at a fraction of the cost of similar items on the High street and a handmade one of a kind item to boot! Just £8.50 plus postage! Buy it now in my Folksy store

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Just listed 2 necklaces in my Folksy shop

I've just listed a couple of necklaces in my Folksy shop

The first one I've called caramel crunch as the yummy colours remind me of caramel and toffe and icecream and the handmade wire beads I've made and added to it add a crunchy texture.

Please CLICK HERE if you'd like to buy it and you can also see more pictures of it


Caramel crunch beaded necklace £9.00


This one has been mentioned here on my blog - I made it for myself but as I've never worn it I decided to offer it for sale, its really ruch and exotic and I've called it Kasbah necklace!

If you're interested in seeing more pics and maybe buying it, do call by my Folksy shop - please CLICK HERE

Monday, February 15, 2010

Look what I WON !

Look what I won in the Trimcraft prize draw! I'm sure you can imagine how thrilled I was to receive this scrummy selection from their latest collection - Funky Vintage.
Thats just so much right up my street I couldn't have won a better prize if I'd hand picked it.

The envelope contained a full pack of 48, 8x8 papers in 12 different designs a full pack of 72, 6x6 papers in slightly different coo-ordinating designs, 2 pack sof glittery adhesive ribbon, one pack of cards and envelopes and a pack of the most gorgeous big brads - now isn't that a fab thing to plop through your letterbox!

It really kick started my creative juices (which have been needing a nudge lately) and I set to making my first tri-shutter card which I made from a great tutorial which you can find at The Craftiblog. I'm pretty pleased with the results - I used a funky fashionable shoe image which I decouapged and added glitter to the buckle. Everything else on the card is from my funky vintage prize.





I then made another with one of my little altered vintage slidemounts, the paper on the slise was a left over scrap I already had (K & Co if I'm not mistaken) but the rest was from the Trimcraft set. Aren't they just gorgeous papers and embellishments and wasn't I lucky to win.






Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Spring blog candy giveaway for crafty bloggers




I've been blogging about and thinking about Spring coming recently (I can't wait its been such a long winter) and when I was spring cleaning my craft room I came across a whole bunch of craft materials that shout SPRING.

So as I've been entering a few crafty Blog Candy giveaways lately and have been lucky enough to win one WOOHOO, I've decided to offer my own Spring blog candy to cheer someone up in the last dull days of winter.

As its to celebrate Spring it will run until the traditional first day of Spring Saturday March 20th and I will draw a winner at random on Monday 22nd March.
The winner will receive all the items shown above so please have a look at the photo to see what you can win:
They are all from my personal craft stash and include
* 1 pack of Mamelock vintage relief scraps
* 1 pack of Habico flower baskets toppers
* 2 sheets of Mandala peel offs
* Lots of die cut frames and tags
* ribbons and lace
* a tub of large brads
* some fabric motifs
* a few beads and embellishments
* Assorted flowers and leaves
* 1 handmade by Beadyjan altered cd friendship plaque/ wall hanging
* 1 Pair of handmade by Beadyjan earrings for pierced ears
All are in pretty fresh Spring shades of yellow, orange and Spring green.
I'm hoping to gain some new followers so there are a few simple rules.
* Become a follower of my blog
* Add a link to this post from your blog with a picture of the blog candy
* Post a comment once you've done the 2 easy steps above and tell me why you'd like to win.
* I must be able to contact you via your blog or email.
I'd also be delighted if you tell people about it via Twitter, your favourite craft forum or Facebook but that's not obligatory.
Good luck everyone.
EDITED ... to everyone entering for my blog candy PLEASE NOTE the 4 simple rules above as only entries which comply with all of these will be included in the draw.

Tuesday, February 09, 2010

Vintage slide mounts.



When I was tidying my craft room I came across these little vintage themed altered slide mounts I made a while ago - I had a real fad for making these and have a big pile of them which I must use up - I think I'll make a pile of decorated notebooks, journals with them on the front.
I want to use the ones I've made to justify making some more as they are such fun to make and are the perfect way to use up all those pretty but tiny scraps of pretty paper and oddments of ribbon that seem too small to keep.

Each one is only about 2" square and turns out looking like a little minature artwork.

If you fancy making some yourself all you need is a few old glassless slidemounts, (you might have some lying around or you can pick up a box from any photographic shop) a few small scraps of dainty printed paper, oddments of narrow ribbon and lace plus a vintage button or charm or a small flower etc. and some narrow double sided tape.
Finally you'll need a few vintage images and print them out really small - my printer does a contact sheet of 35 images and they are the right size or you can buy sheets of collage images that are meant for domino art and they are also about the right size.
Just put double sided tape on the blank mount then place it face down on the back of your paper, then put dst on the back edges of the mount and add your image then fold the trimmed edges of the paper over to the back and stick them down too.
Then decorate the front with a tiny piece of ribbon, a few beads and a button with the shank removed or a flat button or charm and that it! I finish mine by sticking a square of card over the back to conceal the raw edges of paper and neaten it up.
If you make any do send me a link so I can see what you made.







Monday, February 08, 2010

C.C Designs Sugarplum Spring *CANDY* Kit….


Kellie Winnell » Blog Archive » C.C Designs Sugarplum Spring *CANDY* Kit….

Look at these gorgeous products - well you can win them on Kellies craft a holic blog, just click on the link to be taken there and find out how you can win this amazing blog candy - good luck.

Bring me sunshine

Just a few thoughts today - I'm off to art class this afternoon which I'm looking forward to, its great to get together with a group of like minded people and the tutors really great I always come away feeling I've really learnt something.

I've been busy Spring cleaning my craft room - not a small task but it had become so cluttered it was sapping my creative juices!

So its out with the old and in with the new and in with the new - heard I've won some blog candy so hope that will inspire me to get more creative when it arrives.

Please see my sidebar for links to some of the loveliest blog candy around in blogland right now, and watch this space as I'm going to offer some blog candy myself soon.



We went to our caravan to check it over at the weekend we haven't been able to get there due to the heavy snow up in the Pennines (see the picture above) but its almost gone now and there were hints of spring being on the horizon soon, I can't wait I'm SO not a winter person even though it looks amazing give me sunshine anytime.

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Collage Obsessions Friday challenge

This year I promised myself a couple of things - to get back into creative mode and to blog more regularly. So I found a collage challenge on collage obsessions blog to take an image they provide and make some collage art with it.

Well, heres my fairly pathetic attempt. It's so long since I did any digital collage that when I opened my paint software I found I'd forgotten how to use it!! and spent a frustrated few hours cussing at the programme. I ended up using my fairly basic scrapbooking programme.

Apologies if its not very original or creative I will practise more and hope to get better as I enjoy playing iwth digital images/collage/scrapbooking etc.

Friday, January 22, 2010

Red necklace

I've been a lazy blogger and I really don't know why, the bad weather recently has had me stuck indoors a lot of the time and I could/should have been updating my blog but I've just been reading other peoples blogs, catching up on reading lots of books. I have been doing a bit of crafting and heres a necklace I made for Christmas.

I'm also trying to get myself motivated to get back into papercrafting as its a while since I've done any.

I've been entering a whole load of competitions trying to win myself a nice prize but so far nothings turned up - still you have to be in it to win it don't you? Fingers crossed!