Photos

I have had a lovely relaxing weekend, I took some time off making and read my book, did some doodleing, made lovely soup and looked through my 'cut out collection'. I started this in my first year at art school for research, and now I can't stop. When ever I find paper, magazine photos, catalogues, newspaper articles that interest me I cut them out and file them. Recently I have been really inspired by wall paper, and interior fabrics so I spent some time on Sunday looking through my files and doodling ideas in my handmade note book/ sketch book/ journal. I made a new one just before christmas, I decided the size I like working best in is A5 so I rummaged through my paper box and cut all different coloured and textured pieces I have and stitched them together with an old cereal box painted white as the back and front covers. I poked holes through the tops of each piece of paper and bound it with wool. Because of the different types of paper I can use different techniques on different surfaces, and I can stitch, draw, punch, paint and stick to my hearts contenet! They are also really interesting to go back and look at and I always have one on the go, and in my bag. It means I can wite down song lyrics, shop names, sketch a scene or person or note down patterns around.

I started doing some funky illustrations last year and got them out again this weekend too. I used my cousins as inspiration, I am the eldest of 14 grandchildren so I have 13 little bundles of inspiration all around! I start off by looking at photographs and highlighting features and stylising them. Then I scan in the images and begin working on them in Illustrator. But some of them that I have tried to upoad the colour is all weird, so I'll need to look into that, or maybe blogspot just doesn't like them!!!

This is Olive, she is based on me! I think I would like to write some stories to match the pics but don't know where to start, so I'll need to give it all some more thought.


I did make the most of the lovely bright day yesterday and re-took some of the earring photographs for my shop. Before they seemed lost on the white backgrounds I was using so I got some advice from Gemmafactrix an amazing jeweller, designer and photographer. She suggested using coloured background and I think they look much better, but still need a bit of work, I need to find the right colours to compliment the pieces. Off now to do some more doodles!

Floating in Blog Land

Just wanted to share some of the new blogs I found yesterday when I took a break from making jewellery. Such inspiring people and crafts/ designs.

First off is jane and the ducks. This is a beautiful 'woof woof' draught blocker and isn't he wonderful. I am in real need of one of these myself! She uses different printed fabric combinations to make amazing goodies!

Next is Molly Chicken she makes wonderful fabric delights and is kind enought to share lots of exciting funky tutorials! Thanks Molly, I'm going to add this stuffed baby to my 'crafty projects' to do list.

yuko at patapri- her shop- PataPri and website

And lastly Print and Pattern, "this is a website that celebrates the world of surface pattern design." They feature all sorts of fabric, paper, textile, interior....... prints, patterns and designs. This is such a stylised and truely amazing style blog. I love the colours, textures and the selections are inspiring. I love the feel of this blog and the wonderful selections of designers/ artists they chose to highlight.

Lists, lists, lists!

Well things are now back to order. I have cleared the way for my next lot of commissions and can start work on some more earrings, and most importantly I have been able to score lots of things off my ever growing list! I meant to show you this at Christmas but totally forgot, so here is the beautiful notebook (now things to do book) I got from one of my friends.

Today I listed some new earrings on Etsy, chakra inspired. Chakra are our bodies centre of enery, located in the midline of the body. We have 7 Chakras, each one is represented by a different stone/ crystal.

Chakra Stone Colour

7- Crown - Rock Crystal -White

6- Third Eye- Amethyst- Indigo

5- Throat -Turquoise- Blue

4- Heart -Green Agate- Green

3- Solar Plexus -Citrine -Yellow

2- Navel -Carnelian- Orange

1- Base -Garnet -Red/ Black


What do you think?

I got the yarn I ordered from K1yarn the other day and have been setting aside 10minutes a day to knit. The yarn I am working on is called 'summer fruits' and is made by a company called Colinette I am really enjoying the knitting this time, I think it is because I have inspiring wool this time and am knitting almost as meditation.

While I was on etsy today I read a thread about something and someone mentioned indiepublic so I ad a look around and have set up a page. There are lots of creative people there too and all seem friendly and making lots of fab stuff. Well tomorrow I am going to make a batch of earring to take to a group of folks who bought from me at Christmas and I'll get to use the new beads and finding I got through the other day!!! Yes I have an addiction, but they are just soo beautiful.

Untill then...

Neglect

Here are a few of my new earrings available in the shop.

I have been neglecting my blog!I am so busy just now with all sorts of different things, notelets, canvas commission, wedding stationary commission, book keeping for my bo, my mum and my self, etsy and making new goodies with my lovely new findings. Don't get me wrong I love it all, but I am having to prioritize and really manage my time and unfortunately blog land has had to be put on hold. I have been really busy today I decided I would have a couple of hours off and check in and see what all my 'daily reads' have been up to. Oh what an inspiring bunch!

My bestist buddy Holly has been knitting away since Christmas and reminded me of my neglect to my knitting project, 1 square a day I think it was. I would really like to get back to it but it will have to wait untill I get a few other projects off my list! My mum got a beautiful crochet hat at Christmas time and the gemini and eternal crafter in me said, "I would love to give it a go" and so I have bought myself some goodies from K1Yarns, knitting boutique , a wonderful shop in the west end of Glasgow. I have ordered some beautiful yarn and a crochet hook and I'm sooo excited! I'll let you see it when it arrives.

Hope you all have a fab weekend and I'll retun again on Monday with lots of things crossed off my TTD list.

Hello Again!

BLUE CZECH and CARNELIAN SNOWDROP EARRINGS

I got the new beads and findings through, aren't they cute? I have been making and listing the last couple of days and I have a card order to fill by the end of the week and Wedding Stationery samples to prepare for a meeting on Saturday!

I'll catch up on 30 Days to a better shop tommorow night when I have a bit more time.

GOLD and TOPAZ SNOWDROP EARRINGS

PEARL AND OPALESCENT GLASS SNOW DROP EARRINGS

30 days to a better shop - Day 6

Photos inspired y Blaze's post on serentiy, here is my little chandelier. I am saving up for a large one, the room is victorian with a high cieling so it really needs a huge one. I have been looking out for them in antique shops but haven't quite found what I'm looking for yet, but the hunt is on. I wanted to show you my fireplace too. It was one of the major selling pionts when we bought the flat, I just feel in love with it.

Well Day 5 of 30days to a better shop is taking some time, Christina spreads this one over 2 days and I can see why! Today we have to update our item titles and descriptions. I am half way through the title changing and will try to do a few description updates tonight, but i'll have to leave the rest for tomorrow.

I have a frame/ box board left over from some of the Christmas presents I made and a blank bit of wall that needs filled and I think tonight I'll work on something for that. Not sure et what my inspiration will be, possibly something collaged? I'll let you know how I go.

30 days to a better shop - Day 5

Well, here is my tidy studio, and I even have tidy drawers!

This is the newest edition to the shop "Toffee and Mint Crunch"! I love the combination of topaz and aventurine, and I added some faceted jet beads to look like chocolate chips. mmmmmm

I have just finished another valentine inspired bracelet and haven't quite decided on its name yet. I have used abalone nugget beads, hematite hearts, czech glass hearts, silver and white pearls and some other little gems! I'm thinking, "Melt this icey heart" or maybe "Precious Heart" because of the semi precious stones I've used?

Today's 30 Day's challange was updating my shop banner and avtar. I changed mine just before Christmas and really like it, so I'm going to stick with it for now.

30 days to a better shop - Day 4

I have just finished the Studio Clear Up! It is great, I now know where everything is and all my little drawers and boxes are sorted. I'll photograph it in the morning it's to dark and late now.


On to day 4 of the challenge - updating etsy profile. I actually did this the other day when I was doing my shop announcement, I have used mine to list postage and other business details.

I wanted to let you see this, the beautiful Christmas card that my blogging buddy Blaze sent me all the way from Seattle, she illustrated it herself. I have taken all the rest of my christmas decs down, but still have this card up!

I ordered new findings and beads from the company in London I use and and etsy shop last week and I'm really excited about getting them through, I have lots of ideas and can't wait to get started on them.

Been working on a new bracelet for the shop so i'll show you that tomorrow too. The reason I keep on tellin you in advance of stuff and then photographing them the next day is that at the moment to get good photos here I have to take them between about 10 and 2 to get the best of the light, not much of that in the last few weeks! So thats why, I make during the day and photograph the things the next morning.

30 days to a better shop - Day 3

This is Taloola, my little cousin Tess got her for Christmas and she is so funky! I just had to get a snap of her!

Today on 30 days it's orginising and sorting out my etsy shop sections. I had never really thought about it before but now that I've changed them it does seem more orginised and easier for a shopper to find different colours/ and stone bracelets.

I'm still in the middle of clearing out the studio, at the moment i'm at that point where it looks like someone has emptied a truck of paper in the door, but i am getting there! I have already filled 2 black bags with paper for recycling, where did it all come from? So i'm going to stick at it tonight so that tomorrow morning i can get stuck in to all the creations i want to make. Hopefully tomorrow I'll have a wee snap of the new room!

30 days to a better shop - Day 2

Day 2 of 30 days to a better shop challange
Today was updating my shop announcements and profiles. I have done both shops now and feel they are much better. I have listed postage, insurance, payment and contact details on both now.

"Be Mine"

Got new listings up today, Ruby Tuesday in shop 1 and some funky valentine cards in shop2 so I am keeping up with my listing each day.

"love birds"

I'm off now to fix some earrings and give the studio a major overhaul and clear out. I am really looking forward to it, clearing out the old and getting sorted for 2008!

30 days to a better shop - Day 1

well today has been a productive one, I made this bracelet "Ice Queen" yesterday and photographed it and got it listed in my shop today. It has a lovely selection of beads and really sparkles in the light.

I made this one this afternoon "Ruby Tuesday", as part of my valentine collection. I took this photo tonight so I'll take it again in the morning in good natural light. I love the swarovski hearts and the carnelian beads.

Day 1 of 30 days to a better shop has been go go go! I have set out my weekly, monthly and long term objectives for Laura Baillie Designs. I got a beautiful notebook from bestist friend and have started a mamoth things to do list, then a sectioned off one, so I feel focused and delighted that I managed to score so many things off today. I feel when I have a list I have a structure and clear objectives. I also decided to have a look at the Etsy Success Stories Series and see how other people are doing it and what tips and advice they have. What an inspiration! Luxedeluxe is one of the featured sellers and her work is beautiful, so good my bo bought me something last night for our anniversary!

Etsy forum

(photo from carasel in Paris at end of Champs Eleyse 2002)

I was on etsy the other night and joined a thread, 'calling all bloggers' and book marked it for a better read later, and that time has come! I am sitting just now working my way through the list and have found some amazing blogs, inspiring people and lots and lots of beautiful goodies!!!!

One blog I have found so far which I am really interested in is Christina Perdue's "30 days to a better shop". She was featured on Etsy's storque with an article about it too. I am going to start tomorrow and give it a go my self and see how I get on, I love a list!!! So watch this space.

Now I'm going back to the forum list to check out some more blogs.

Happy New Year

I am back, holiday is officially over and now it's back to work. I have had a lovely break and am refreshed and full of ideas and things to get making.

I have sorted out my Flickr account and joined some groups this time, I think that was where I went wrong the last time, nobody knew I was out there! I have also been going through my photographs for my new etsy shop and added this the other day.

I got this in a beautiful bouquet of flowers last year for my birthday and don't really know what type of flower it is. I got lots of suggestions on an etsy forum but so many to chose from, so I'm calling it 'Violet Crunch' for now! I got my second treasury yesterday too. http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=21549 , I called it 'Come fly with me'. And I was featured in 2 other treasuries this week too. A big thank you to Kala and Samskiart for including me!

This is 'Key to my heart', a lovely valentine themed bracelet using a combination of rose quartz chips, swarovski crystals, jet bicones and other little gems. I added a key charm I have had for ages but didn't know what to do with before. I have just finished another blue/ aqua bracelet tonight so i'll get that added to the shop tomorrow. I am also working on cards tonight, lots of red and hearts and love!