Dress Up Your Fingers!

image created via picnik

It's taken me a looooong time, but I've finally had a go at creating a ring. I've thoroughly enjoyed fiddling about with tiny scraps of silk and my machine...and adding those delicious ruby red glass beads. My favourite bit, I think, is the dazzle from the AB finish on some of the beads...mmmn!

I think next time, I might have to encrust the surface a wee bit more - but just a wee bit...

Wrists At The Ready...

Opera Wrist Cuff side view with lining, originally uploaded by fancypicnic.

This is a first...a matching set!

I so enjoyed creating the Opera Ruffled Collar I couldn't resist running up a co-ordinating wrist cuff. It doesn't match exactly - there are less ruffles for starters, more wandering stitches and a wider sprinkling of shimmery beads.

The taffeta is two-tone, and has proved to be slightly problematic to photograph - different light situations make it appear a slightly different colour each time. I think if it is sunny again tomorrow...*crossing fingers and wishing three times*...I'll retake both Opera pieces, at the same time!!

Something New for the Weekend

I've added this little wrist cuff to my Etsy store today - crammed full of texture, paraphernalia, and luscious colours.

Again, layers of silk and organza have been collaged together, and adorned with a floral silk motif. Multi-coloured yarn weaves its way around the cuff, over and under bits of organza and velvet trim. A scattering of pretty little beads help to glitter the night away!

Thank Crunchie it's Friday!

Just a Quickie...

I just thought I'd nip in and post quickly...a busy week awaits, what with half-term and a ton of other things besides.

Firstly, thank you, fleurfatale, for featuring my Summer's End necklace in a lovely post about textile jewellery on her blog last week. You can read it here. I love her work - I often find myself admiring her creations over at flickr (oh, the beautiful things you can discover there!), and her Etsy shop is ever-changing. Do pop in for a browse!

Secondly, here's a piece I've just finished stitching. I just love pink and purple with a smidge of greeny-teal thrown into the mix. It is now residing in its new home....xxx

Inspirations...

With the forest playing such a large part of my life these days, the Forest Floor Leaf Brooch has returned to my Etsy store this evening. Imagine a little stroll beneath the trees; of the earth beneath your feet and the many treasures and surprises that rest atop the mossy ground...I think you get the picture!

On My Desk...

Okay - strictly speaking, this is not on my desk today...but it was just over a month ago! I've been busy sanding logs today, but I need a bit of textile solace, so I thought I'd show you this.
This wrist cuff was a custom order for someone who loves turquoise, orange and textures...so, I piled on the colour, added as many different fabrics as I could possibly squeeze into the space, and sprinkled over some faceted beads, to catch the light. I love the bold colour combination, and the tufts of silk.

I was SO tempted to keep it!! If only it hadn't been made for a wonderfully dainty wrist, I think I would have done!

Pop over now to kootoyoo's blog for real desklife activity!

The Forest Sprite Has Been Here...

...do you see what I mean? The whole time I was creating this pendant, thoughts of enchanted forests kept popping into my mind. I think you can tell the sort of stories that crop up in our house with my little girls' imaginations, and I'm not far behind them!!

Mossy dells, trickling streams, bobbing heads of lily-of-the-valley, sunlight streaming through the leaves of the trees, berry stores for the woodland folk....are you with me?! Anyone?!

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...!

Whirr, Click, Whizz, Bang...Ta Da!

Summer's End, top view - close up, originally uploaded by fancypicnic.

Okay - so today I had a brainwave. It doesn't happen very often, so I made the most of it!
Remember yesterday, I lamented the near uselessness of the soluble film that I'd bought? Well, I continued to have a bit of difficulty with it again this morning, so I took a minute to think...and to stay calm! That's a bit of a surprise, to say the least...!
I work in the utility - ahem! my studio - room. I iron the fabrics before I use them/ during the stitching processes. The tumble drier (with regret - so NOT eco-friendly) is burbling away, with the pipe out of the window, and it's raining heavily outside, warm inside....DING!! There's my problem! The film is getting ever so slightly damp whilst I'm using it....so, move rooms....ta da!! Problem pretty much solved! So why hadn't I thought of that before?! Soluble film - the clue is in the title - dissolves in water...I was born with a brain, honest (although those nearest and dearest to me do doubt that sometimes).

I promised news today of those awards I've been given. Apologies...I'm going to aim to do it tomorrow. I need to think about who I'd like to pass them on to, so I'd rather do it all together, all at once, in a nice little package. sealed and ready to go with a big bow on top. xx

The picture above is my new necklace, Summer's End, which should be in one of my shops tomorrow...but which one?* Decisions, decisions....

*Added to my etsy shop

Things of Beauty...

I am in love! I was having a little shufty through flickr (so many gorgeous photos), and I came across these simply wonderful items of jewellery. Aren't they divine? I absolutely crave the blue and tan choker. Well, not the choker...no, all of them! These creations are all available for sale from enhabiten (http://www.enhabiten.etsy.com/). Based in New Hampshire, her background is in fine art and painting, and she lists her inspirations and favourite things as 'little hand stitches, beautiful sentences, soulful rooms, long, long walks and art.'

I think that sums it up in a nutshell. Go and take a look - she makes very desirable pillows, bags and artworks, too! I am so glad I found her...

Treasury City!

Crumbs..I am honoured. I discovered that I was featured in two more Treasuries on etsy yesterday - mistflowermarket's (http://www.mistflowermarket.etsy.com/) 'Summer Brights' curation with Grandma's Attic small pendant (top photo, top left pic), and gracenapoleon's (http://www.gracenapoleon.etsy.com/) 'Deeloverly' one, showing the Midsummer Collar (bottom photo,bottom row, centre pic) - very different collections, but aren't they both beautiful ones?

Florcita (http://www.florcita.etsy.com/) left a comment after the previous post about being featured in thebluebutton's treasury - are my sales affected by being featured? Well, thebluebutton's curation was selected to go on etsy's front page. That meant I received a huge influx of hits to my shop, so it generated interest, but to date, no more sales...but you never know. People like to sit and cogitate before purchasing I've decided. These two treasuries (above) have not been front page listings so far, so we'll have to see.

An aside about yesterday's post...remember the unique ring that eldest made for me? It's in one of my flickr sets http://www.flickr.com/photos/27738539@N05/, and an admin for the 'V&A Your Glamorous Jewellery' invited me to post it in the group..so I did! Glamorous mummy, that's me...

A Quickie for Friday

The school summer holidays are now underway, so here's a little something summery in readiness for those warm, long days ahead.

The cotton based Midsummer Pendant is small and light, with delicate muted colours and a sprinkling of beads for added interest and texture. I'm listing it in my Dawanda shop tonight.

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.

On My Desk Wednesday

Thought this sounded like fun...so this is my entry for kootoyoo's On My Desk Wednesday. I read their page, and nipped over to take this. My next blog entry should see this finished....later...later.... just need to sew some beads and buttons on ...