The Finished Article

A little behind the times (for all of you flickr folk who're privvy to this already), but here's the now completed brooch that thinks it's a sea anemone. See what I mean?!

Other business...well, I am just about to commence work on the best custom order ever - a juicily large collar, bedecked with masses and masses of black and silver fabrics and braids, with a dash of lime and a hint of purple.

Sorry, folks - you'll have to excuse me, 'cos I'm in heaven right now...!

Feeling Felty

Oooh, I love these colours! They make me feel all warm and cosy! I really like how the turquoise seems to glow when it's set amongst these pinks, purples and browns. This is a really quite deep collar, which is a bit like a...hmm...a 'scarflette', I suppose. Thickly felted, with a smattering of sparkles, and a fabulously clashing deep greeny-turquoisey-satiny-ribbony lining. Yum, yum, and yum again.

That's me for the day - well, almost. Our primary school's Friends AGM was this evening, so I've been quite busy - but the best is yet to come. Oh, yes! Henry VIII in all his glory is repeated tonight, in about ten minutes, and I can hardly wait!

Obviously, I'm watching it for the costumes, the jewellery and the historical facts. That is obvious, isn't it??!!

On My Desk Wednesday time again!

Here we are again...Wednesday already!
So, what's on my desk? Well, sit comfortably, and I'll begin....

The headless bod across the table is displaying some work in progress. I think I work in a slightly odd fashion..I tend to dive in, all or nothing. In this instance, I made a paper pattern for the collar section, and several circle patterns for the dangling 'jewel' underneath. Trial and error as to which size is the most suitable. This is only the top layer - you can see that the fabric isn't yet edged, neither does it have a backing; in fact, look closely and you can see that the whole thing is simply pinned into place. I'm wondering...make it reversible? I love that classic design fabric that you can see in the bottom right corner - maybe back it with that. My tendency is to lean towards something that would really contrast with the copper and blue striped fabric...but I don't think that's appropriate here. Hmmn, the possibilities!

For a long time now, I've been rather partial to all things Egyptian. I'd been to Egypt several times before we married, we honeymooned there, we spent our first anniversary there - you can tell where this is heading! - but we've not returned for, ooh, must be ten years now. I'm feeling a bit deprived! A good friend of ours gave us that wonderful book you can see in the photo, The Cairo Museum Masterpieces of Egyptian Art by Francesco Tiradritti/Thames & Hudson; the imagery is amazing, and very inspiring...the picture you can see open on the table (shabti figure of the delegate hat 1353-1335 BC) was the starting point for this collar (although I have to say that the collar seems to be evolving into some sort of plate armour - watch this space!


For more photos from other players of the 'On My Desk Wednesday' meme, pop over to kootoyoo's blog: while you're there, why not add your name to the list, and join in?

Ooh, There's My Collar...There, Down There!

Will you look at that!

What a way to start your Sunday...having a quick once over on the computer before croissants and tea for breakfast - checking for sales that may have occured overnight - to see this! Thebluebutton's (http://www.thebluebutton.etsy.com/) simply gorgeous Treasury, being featured on the home page at etsy!!
I feel totally honoured to be included in this rather ethereal and beautifully conceived collection. Thank you so much, bluebutton!

(My item is the Midsummer Collar: bottom row, centre).

Being featured has had a huge impact on the number of people viewing my products. The featured Collar received an extra 300+ hits whilst the Treasury resided on the front page. Wow. Back in June, I was lucky enough to be featured in another Treasury (by Heloise http://www.heloise.etsy.com/) with my Collar of Delights; I was still very new to etsy then, but I have to say that the immense feeling of joy that I felt then is in no way diminished now. I'm on Cloud Nine!

The Midsummer Collar

I think this is just about finished...the Midsummer Collar. It takes the place of my showcase (?) item, the Collar of Delights, that sold at the beginning of the week. This is considerably smaller, and feels quite summery to me - hence the name! I'm listing it in my etsy shop later this evening.
I think reading the Violise Lunn feature on bettyjoy's blog put me in the mood for a summer wedding....if I was to have my big day all over again, I think I'd try to squeeze back (well, actually I'd have to suffer the humiliation of needing to get it ..ahem..adjusted..somewhat first) into the same bronze dress and old gold coat I wore back then, but I'd make myself one of these to go with it.

Sweet, Sweet William

Mmm - I just love these flowers.

So, today was a good day. Number one, obviously, is this vase full of little beauties. I can never manage to arrange them very artfully - although that said, they manage to work their magic perfectly well without any help from me. Think cottage gardens...old friends (you know who you are!)...grandma's table...and now my windowsill. Lovely.


Number two - and this is BIG - (HUGE squeal of pleasure being emitted as I write) was findng my Collar of Delights on a fellow blogger's page, sitting proudly in her etsy Treasury! Oooh, thank you Heloise! I can't begin to tell you quite how much joy and excitement I experienced with that discovery!

Yipppeeee!!

Lastly, my two twirlies ascended quite happily up to bed this evening - wonder of wonders! No pleading to stay up 'just one minute longer, Mummy, pleeeze? Daddy, purleeeze?'; no requests for 'just a little water, Mummy? I'm SOOO thirsty!'...Nothing!

Crikey, I didn't know what to do with myself! Husband remained outside bark stripping -marginally escaping chopping his finger off because it had gotten so dark out there - so I was all alone, twiddling my thumbs. Housework time? As if!! The internet was calling, and my fingertips were itching to get browsing...etsy shopping, ebay bargain hunting - bliss!

The hoovering'll simply have to wait for another day...