Its raining again .....

These little beauties are my best sellers by far, and very apt for all the stormy weather just now!

Snap a pair for yourself here in my Etsy shop.

x0x

One World One Heart GIVEAWAY!

Hello all, and welcome to my little space in blogland! (For all new visitors)

I am so excited to be taking part in this years "One World, One Heart" event. It is the brain child of Lisa "oceandreamer" Swifka and is now in its third year, and has 500 people joining in!!!

It is so simple, just leave a comment on this post with your email address, before 6pm February 11th and be entered into the draw to win these beautiful heart earrings! I will draw the winner on the 12th of February at 6pm.

I'm off now to check out some of the hundereds of interesting blogs on the list.

Good luck x

Getting in the mood

"My Sweetheart"

I have been getting ready for the next "date" on my calander Valentine's Day and thinking love, romance and rich red.

"Acknowledging our love"

I have been flitting between mixed media and jewellery this week and loving every minute, but I think I'll stick to the paper and illustrations this weekend and then get down to businessey things on Monday. I was about to pack all my papers and paint away this evening but I got a quick visit from Miss L with lovely new brushes, so I'll need to try them all out. Thanks Missy!

A few months ago my bo was unpacking the car having just finished refurbishing someone's kitchen and was making a pile of materials to take to get recycled, when I spied this meter piece of hardboard. I knew I could use it for something and asked him if he could saw it up for me into small squares and rectangles. So on Wednesday night I began transfering some of my recent sketch book pages onto them.

I have enjoyed working on this series so much that I am getting very little sleep. I just can't seem to switch off at the moment which is such a buzz. I am beginning to understand my creative cycle and just work with it. I seem to have a quiet time of doodling, designing and then playing, which is followed by an almost frenzied splurge of production. At the moment I am in the midst of a frenzie, and have a very messy studio to prove it!

My bo is always so understanding of how I work and has been so patient these last two weeks while I have been in hibernation covered in PVA and paint, so this evening I promised him my undivided attention. We have had lovely dinner and are now watching "The Puffy Chair", and I have sneeked a few minutes in blogland while he take Pablo out for a walk.

Hope you all have a lovely weekend x

Oh, what's this?

I have had another busy week making up some new goodies for my jewellery shop with all these beautiful new bits and pieces I got through the post on Monday.

This week has been a combination of making and planning so next week is make, make, making all the way! And some list list listing too, (loving 3's at the moment!). So I have had a lovely weekend, meeting friends and chillin and have come through to my den to get sorted for all my new schemes and plans and complete a couple of commissions so that I am on a roll next week.

What are you doing today to prepare for the week ahead?

Bursts of colour

I have been busy making earrings this week and having such fun! Here is a sneaky preview of some of my new designs I'll be adding to the shop over the next couple of days. I am loving working with all these beautiful semi precious stones


The other day I was checking in on all my daily reads and popped by verylittlebird's blog, and saw she was taking part in Swim it Forward, a very exciting idea that all Etsy members could make a fishy of some sort and send it along to another Etsy member. And maybe one day we could all end up with a little fishy on our desks! I was totally drawn to this idea of spreading love and handmade gift giving through out the world. So I signed up and by default have been teamed up with two people! The first fishy came my way from Phillipa at feltathome, and his name is Graham, isn't he sweet?

I couldn't resist finding him a new home, all be it empty of greenery at the moment!

Taking a break- competition

I have decided to take a little break. I am having a weeks holiday to relax, regroup and revitalise. I am currently sporting coldsores, black circles under my eyes and a thumping head ache which I have had for the last 2 days. So when I get run down like this I know it is time for a break. So in honour of my holiday and rest I have decided to run a little competition.

Just leave a comment telling me what you like to do to "take a break" and I'll get my Bo to select a winner next Friday when I return, and one lucky reader will receive these lovely earrings.

If you blog about my competition I'll add your name into the draw twice!

I hope you all have a lovely weekend and week!

Etsy Sale

Well, that is me I have finally reached my 100th post! So in honour of this I have opened the sale in the shop. I have also added a few new bracelets and there are new earrings to come this week. I have spent most of today photographing them and getting the listings ready to add over the next few days. I have also decided to change the way I name my items and have gone for French girls names. This way they take on more of an identity and are a little more exciting sounding. What do you think, something a bit different or simple description?

"antoinette"

"aurore"

Happy Tuesday evening, off now to tidy my desk and read my book!

Midnight Sparkles

Just aded these and some other little delights to the shop, I love them and have just finished a pair for myself too! I have used fresh water pearls, hematite cubes and black diamond swarovski crystals, and they really do sparkle. Sorry this is short one, but busy busy busy with a huge list of things to do.

Chocolate inspired

One of you, and you know who you are, suggested making some chocolate inspired earrings, so here they are!

These "Topaz Triplets" are in the shop now. Well I'm going to go now and turn this computer off and set up my desk to make some new charm bracelets. I was looking through the shop today and realised how bracelety bare it is, time to bring in some fresh sparkles. And if I have time I'll work on Stefan....... a new Yibble perhaps?

I have arrived!

I would like you to meet Annelise, she was born last night at 9.56pm and isn't she cute? She is the first real, live Yibble! I have been wanted to do some more sewing for a while now and keep looking at the beautiful pile of fabric and decided I would create a Yibble and see if that helps me focus on stories/ doodles ect. She is made of linen from namolio and she is stuffed with a cushion I got from a thrift shop. I have spent some time today working on the first of many "Yibble Adventures". And tonight I'm going to watch a movie and make some more of the family.


Now for your imput, what types of adventure would you like to see Annelise go on?

Got some lovely new earrings I'll be adding to the shop over the weekend so pop by for a wee look. And I'll let you into a little secret too, I'm getting ready for an etsy spring sale! More details coming soon.

I went to one of my local thrift shops the ther day to hand some things in and could not resist these 2 little jars. I haven't decided yet what I'm going to put in them, but my bo has been full of useful ideas, his favourite being one for collecting his tummy button fluf! Somehow I just don't think so!

A big hello to all you new visitors to my blog and thanks for enetring my competition. Keep your entries coming, you still have another 16 days to enter. (I know it seems like ages away!)

Play day

Firstly thanks for all the comments on my 100th post competition, I'll put all the names from all the comments from yesterday until March 31st into the draw so keep adding your reasons for blogging and top tips.

These are a couple of new earrings I added to the shop today, and I have lowered some of my prices too, to make room for new stock, so pop by and have a wee peek. Tonight I spent some time with my little friends the Yibbles and even brought myself to bring out the water colours! I have never really learned how to paint with them but just love how they look with the fineliner, but hey who cares it's all about enjoying what you're doing isn't it? What are your favourite materials to work with just now?

I have just started making time for play dates and although it is hard at first to say 'no, I won't put those clothes away, or clean the kitchen, instead I'm going to play!'. But when I'm done it is so much more rewarding than filling another load in the washing machine. What do you like to do on a play date?

"Spreading the Love" was inspired by all the new friends I have made in blogland!

Go see Blaze

You have to head over and visit Blaze, she has a wonderful blog with sneeky peeks at her illustrations and inspirations and today she has just listed Penny Playlists in her etsy shop. What a cool idea! You can go along and buy one from her shop on the condition you bring someone new to her blog, so head along and introduce yourself!

I have had a lovely day today, making earrings and cards, seeing family and had a hair cut. I got these tiny hearts just before Christmas and have been mulling over what to do with them and have decided on a 'string of dangley hearts'! The hearts are semi precious howlite stones and look so delicate, I love them. So I'm just off to list them in the shop.

At last!

Here they are some new earrings up in the shop! I have had them made up for a while now but just haven't got round to photographing them. But the weather was clear and crisp today so I got some good shots. I love these beads, some of them look painted and have little flashes of contrsting colours with are cute.

Well of now to make up some cards from photos I took of snowdrops in my Mum's garden. She wanted some gift packs to give to friends so I have a little bundle to get ready for the morning. Aren't these beautiful?

stamp, stick, bend

It's been a busy weekend here in Paisley! I have been making non stop all weekend, earrings, earrings, some bracelets and more earrings. I have just finished packageing them all up and have 10 charm bracelets and 60 pairs of earrings. I'll photo them in the morning before I drop them off to the businesses in Barrhead. I started this at Christmas, I went into the bank, council offices and some schools and showed the manager my goodies and asked if I could come back and leave a bo of jewellery and cards for 3 days. Everyone was very kind and gave me the go a head. I was in the bank last week and one of the ladies asked when I was bringing m next batch in, so I have been busy making away for them and one of my friends and her mum work in schools and they want a bo too!

I love it when they are all packaged up, looking very neat with my new stamp. The packaging looks so much more professional now and it saves me using stickers with my contact details.

I took some time out yesterday to sit in my garden, it was lovely and fresh and bright. I have been keeping a close eye on all my bulbs waiting with eager anticipation for new shoots from my tulip selection. I got such a lot of pleasure and photography from them last year and I was very chuffed with them as they were the first bulbs I have planted for my own garden. I have one bed full of herbs, I love growing, watching then eating them! I bought a 'curry plant' when moved here and it just seems to grow like wild fire. I'm not really sure what to do with it, but it smells amazing. I cut some bay leaves to dry for soups and pasta sauces.

This is a photo I took last year of one of the types of tulips that came up, I love the colour, it's rich and velvety. Nature is such an inspiration!

Getting Sorted

The beginning of this week has been filled with non craft/ design things, so the second half of the week I filled with making! I have been making new earrings for my shop and some other outlets.

This week has been a thoughtful one. I have realised that I am spending very little time making for me, not to sell or for a reason, but just for pleasure, and that was a real wake up call. So I have decided to split my week up, blog 3 times a week, flikr twice a week, indirepublic once a week and a maximum of 20 minutes a day on Etsy. And I have penciled in 30mins a day 'artists date' as Julia Cameron calles it in "The Artists Way".

This will be adjusted and more tme added when I have got into the swing of my newtime table. At art school when I was running dry I would just dive back into my sketchbooks, doodle and reaserch and streams of ideas would come. Now I am getting the ideas but not making the time to sit and actually make them and let them develope! So over the next few months I want to explore collage, sewing, drawing, maybe even some painting, more photographing, and really having fun for funs sake! So I'll keep you posted on my progress.

I have also decided to leave the 30 days to a better shop challenge. I am still checkin in at Christina's blog but I don't want to feel I have to keep you all updated with it all the little changes to my shop. I will of cource let you know when I reach my 100th sale!

Here is a little guy I have made for someone special and he has been a large part of my thought shift this week, make time for the good stuff!

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!

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