Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Wednesday Wishlist


I know all things francais are a bit "in" at the moment, but I do have a thing for old postcards and you know I love purses.

postcard from France purse by rosiesarmoire

It's nearly September already!

And as you may know the birthstone for September is Sapphire. Love sapphires!
I really should have been a September baby!
While I was cruisng the search over on etsy for sapphires for my sapphire treasury, I found this pretty pink sapphire ring.
So simple - so chic!

pink sapphire ring by Zusev

How about this for total decadent style?
It'll soon be summer after all!


beach swing by firesculptureart


Happy Wednesday! and Happy September!

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

More make your own fabric bunting


Here are some more ideas if you'd like to make your own bunting but don't have a stash of fabrics to use, and you don't want to go out and buy a load of fabrics specially.
A kit is a great way to go providing you with everything you need.

This one comes ready cut out using vintage fabrics.

from The Haby Goddess


If you dont mind using a pair of scissors you might like this printed kit - 
by Yardage Design from Earth Girl

 Or this one from Kristen Doran using her own handprinted fabric -

by Kristen Doran
How easy is that? All you have to do is sew!


Monday, August 29, 2011

Make your own - fabric bunting

I'm sure there are many, many tutorials on how to make your own fabric bunting, but here is one that I came across today and I love it 'cus it uses vintage fabrics as well as some new ones.




You can find how to on Found by Sarah's blog here

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Selling your wares - part 1

So you are creative?
You are actually creating stuff?
What next? You'd like to maybe sell some of your stuff? Yes?

woman selling to man by waytobead


What are your options?

1. Friends and relatives.
Including your neighbours, word of mouth, your or your partners workplace, other places you frequent eg playgroup.

This is often where we all start.
You know you have a few items and show your friends and they are fabulously encouraging, they buy some pieces for themselves or gifts and word spreads.

And you could just stay with this - BUT it is a very limited market.
You want to spread your wings and expand your horizons.
You never really leave these first customers behind, they'll always be there and could be your best advertising.

Here are some ideas for selling your wares in the wider world and I'll come back to them indetail over the next days/weeks and maybe get some discussion going and idea sharing.

vintage salesmanship book by dustylorraine

2. Party plan

3. Markets

4. Art shows

5. B & M (bricks and mortar)

6. On-line

Feel free to share your experiences of how you got started.

Are your family and friends your best customers?

Friday, August 26, 2011

A spot of remodelling/recycling

 As you may know I'm fond of recycling/remodelling/reusing creations that do not sell.

Sometimes just the threat of this fate is enough to result in someone to (unwittingly) buying the piece!
However not this one -

 It's a really bad photo that I took on my market stall one day...I don't think I ever listed it in my etsy or madeit shops.
It did have a matching bracelet and earrings...long gone!

 But I do still love the orange branch coral and the czech glass shell beads and the little acid green czech glass beads. so I draped it around my wrist and "yes"! it could be a very bold and unusual bracelet!


 Then with some of the leftover orange coral drops I made a long necklace on a chain - tres chic!


I think they are still very summery and beachy. We'll see how they go!

Are you getting in the mood for summer and planning your summer creations?

Thursday, August 25, 2011

My creative space


I my creative space this week just a couple of simple bracelets to see how I go with my sore thumb.
I found that I can do most things left-handed and that the most difficult part is tightening the stringing wire, but somehow I managed!


I just love these bright stripey beads - they are a coloured malachite -
Rainbow malachite and fusion malachite...very sweet for summer!

For more creative spaces or to join in pop over here.

See you next week : )

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Wednesday Wishlist

A few simple wishes this week -

sugar bowl and creamer set by dbabcock

cherry blossoms lamp by jerseymaids





fruiti apple skirt by roseglen

Short and sweet - see you next week!

On my bookshelf

These are some books I have recently finished reading and they are on their way from my bedroom (my reading room) to the downstairs bookshelves (the library)


It seems I am a bit of a non-fiction reader!

5 of the 6 books are non-fiction and only 1 novel.

The Unlikely Voyage of Jack de Crow by AJ Mackinnon one of the funniest books I have read, is the story of the author's journey in a small sailing boat form the heart of England to the Black Sea.
And his other book The Well at the World's End is another rip-roaring trans-global adventure.

I guess I'm a bit of an armchair traveller and have shared many of Dervla Murphy's adventures. The Island That Dared is her account of Cuba which is fascinating, if a little history-dense!

Three Cups of Tea I bought at one of the two excellent bookshops in Darjeeling! (where else?). It had been recommended by one of our fellow travellers and is the story of mountaineer Greg Mortenson's
journey to built schools in Pakistan. As an affirmation of what can be done when you set your mind to it - it's awesome!

A friend with Tasmanian connections lent me Carnivorous Nights - on the trail of the Tasmanian Tiger. Having just returned from Tassie I could relate to a lot of the places and this book is so well written, I highly recommend it!

And lastly my fiction pick! I heard Roberta Lowing talk at the Sydney Writer's Festival and was quite smittne with the idea behind her book and the passage that she read. However it didnt really hold my attention - I did finish it - but didnt feel very satisfied. Oh well, thems the breaks!

What are you reading?
Are you a fact or fiction reader?


Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Make your own - paper bunting

I'm still banging on about bunting!

You can make your own, in fact you can print your own -

by graceandguy

Or this fun birthday bunting -

by ewhoo

This little cake topper bunting can be personalised and how cute is it?



by ewehooo




Or you can be really different and have some bug bunting!

by dreamdigital
Have you got any favorite printable bunting sites?



Monday, August 22, 2011

Mad about cowls





Scarves are good but cowls are great!

Ever since I bought this patchwork tube scarf from plumfish a couple of years ago I've been a big fan.


Why is this so?
Well they are warm, easy to put on, dont unknot or undo or otherwise get in the way.
They just sit there neatly and warmly on your neck.


I mad about knitted cabled cowls -

by tickledPinkKnits
stringy cowls -

by EcoShag

fabric cowls -

by HodgePodgeArty

colourful crochet cowls -

by MegansMenagerie

plain linen cowls -

by Runsystem63

Are you are scarf of a cowl person?

Friday, August 19, 2011

My week


 This week I've been doing some bike-riding and some supplies-buying!


I am feeling so much better and the weather has been beuatiful - double incentive for getting out and riding!
I persuaded hub to come with me on the Prospect Reservoir loop.
 It's a 34km circular ride, all on bike paths in Western Sydney. The path is not terribly scenic even though it follows the evocatively named Orphan School Creek for a goodly way.

Here is an example of urban decoration!


But then surprise!
A lovely buddist temple, with ceremonies going on - chanting and incense, it took me right back to south-east Asia.


Another day I ventured further west to the circuit of the Olympic rowing course.
This is such a great asset as open space in the west!



Unfortunately part of the path was closed while a group was testing a solar powered car for the solar car challenge.
Space age or what?


And my supplies-buying-spree!
Not on my list - painted wooden discs.

 Also not on my list - coloured lava stone beads
.
 Irresistible - coloured leather thinging

 You guessed it - not on my list either!
Does that happen to you? you end up with a lot of things you just cant leave in the shop!

And a pile of beads in my workspace that just happened to be there at the same time and became a necklace!

Do you sometimes create like that? Serendipity!
























Thursday, August 18, 2011

My creative space

My creative space this week is bead-free!

I have a very sore thumb.
I think it's trigger finger - or thumb....again!
I have had this in my left thumb before and had surgery....so now I'm supposed to be resting my thiumb in the hope that it will un-freeze!


I'm not very hopeful...and I'm very frustrated - I have lots of lovely new supplies....but can't use them!

Some things I can do lefthanded - like stamping!

If you would like to see other creative spaces or join in pop on over here.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Wednesday Wishlist

I have been lusting after these luscious leggings for a while!

What a gorgeous colour!

leggings by kambriel

This sweet locket necklace comes with 5 interchangeable photos - what a great idea!


necklace by jpgphotography

And you know I'm a sucker for handbags!
I just love the bird design and the large woody button feature.

shoulder bag by LBArtworks

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

A gift and something to do


 I am ashamed to say that I have been meaning to write this post for ages, because, you see someone gave me something and asked me to make some things...but so far I've only made one little thing!

Anyway I will tell you about the one thing and maybe that will inspire me to make more things!
The lovely Narelle, the creative force behind rubyvictoria and printmaker extraordinaire sent me some of her newly printed calico fabric.

 

I just love them! Dont you?

I was in the midst of sewing for a promotion waaaaay in the future, in October, for my craft co-operative The Nook. I was making little pouches (see here) and so I sewed a little business card pouch with ruby victoria's fabric -


and this is the inside -




This one is not to give way!
This one is for me!

Maybe I'll post a tutorial about how to make them - they are very easy!


Monday, August 15, 2011

Mad about bunting!





It seems that I'm not the only one who is mad about bunting!
And it seems that you can make bunting out of just about anything!

So here is a selection to brighten your Monday morning.

You can sew bunting out of fabric -

bubblegum by giggleberry
or you can sew bunting onto fabric -

dress by PunkinThreads

you can do a spot of fabric recycling -

recycled tshirt necklace by creativityismessy

or you can combine paper and fabric -

burlap bunting by lunaclaydesign



You can use paper by itself - cutely -

barnyard buddies by APaperPlayground
or classically -

zen garden elements by funkyjunkart

you can put bunting on paper -

gift tags by rainydaycolors

or on a cake -

cake bunting by jaimemancilla
or on a mug -

mug by teandceremony

Bunting can be photographed -



street party by opart

captioned -



photo by charleneprecious

or painted -

sunday picnic by janethillstudio
You can crochet bunting -

granny squares by bonnierose
or knit -

blue and white knitted bunting by wonderfullypretty
or bead bunting -

banner bracelet by blue sky beads
And my favorites -

dream sequins necklace by wichserstudio



bunting jewellery using leather, metal,




coral flags necklace by fishdreaming

leadlight -

persian garden pendants by jesscontreras
and clay -

bunting flags for spring by mimosabyme

What are your favorite buntings?

I'm thinking of some bunting designs for myself!


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