New supplies and inspiration - My creative space

It's always fun and inspiring to get new supplies!
Last weekend I went to the Craft and Quilt Show in Sydney and was thrilled that my favorite Venetian bead supplier was there.
She sells some of my very favorite beads - they are beautiful quality...not cheap. And not cheap imitations either!

I like to just make some simple earrings with them - to let their beauty take centre stage.

I've also been playing with the pendants that I showed you last week  that I bought from Beadfreaky on etsy.

I used a design idea by Sarah Kandell-Gritzmaker from Stringing magazine substituting what I had for bits I didn't have.
I used the loop bits from some fob or toggle clasps and took apart a necklace that had a green pendant with malachite beads (unsold, unloved!) for the back of the necklace.

I have many more ideas...but they will have to wait for another time....

Come on over and join in with us at My Creative Space on Village Voices at Kidspot.

Five Fabulous Friday Finds From My Faves

It's a very long weekend here - is it at your place too?

I'm not sure what day it is! At first it felt like Sunday, and now it feels like Saturday...I wonder what day it will be come next Tuesday!

Anyway - because it is actually Friday it's time for some faves!

Just look at the gorgeous colours of these stones!
I love natural or rough-cut stones and this simple under-stated necklace is just perfect.

rainbow titanium necklace

Yeah, I know ....I'm always posting photos - well I do like a nice atmospheric snap.
I can just see and hear these flags fluttering in the breeze.
Again a lovely under-stated design - but so much gentleness.

fair penants by sophiebrownehandmade

As jewellery makers myself I'm a bit keen on jewellery storage.
This one is brilliant!
It's an old printers drawer, and I love all the hanging hooks - genius!

jewellery organiser by blackforestcottage

Missy Mao Mao makes the most gorgeous bags.
Some of her latest creations feature a photographic panel. This photo was taken by a Melbourne photographer Esther Freida.
What a fabulous collaboration.

fallen leaves satchel by missymaomao

This furniture shop has chairs to die for! (I would die for a chair? Um, maybe not!)
But have a look - they a scrummy.

patchwork armchair by namedesignstudio

Have a great weekend - whatever length it is!

A glutton for punishment - my creative space

A while ago I finished making this beaded pendant - way back in November last year, do you remember? It was here.
Well this week I finally made it into a necklace - yay!

And because I am mad, I started making another one!

I have also been sewing

Here are the first three bow ties, finished!

What have you been up to?
If you would like to take a peep at other creative spaces or join in pop on over to My Creative Space at Village Voices on Kidspot.

Five Fabulous Friday Finds

I feel that I am always posting the same sort of things in my Friday Faves.

I have a penchant for rings, coin purses, photographs and quirky art - that's all!

I love the simplicity of these diamond stacking rings - would love to have all three of them! (The link goes to a listing for the bottom ring only).
Hey! I can dream - right?!

white diamond stacking ring by LexLuxe

Continuing my love of sweet little zip pouches - I have to severely restrain myself from buying every zip pouch/coin purse that I see!
I could easily pocket all of these -

fabric purse by WhimsiesbySusanJames

I'm a bit the same way about notebooks - you can never have too many can you?
This one has adorable original artwork on - reminds me of children's stories, or nursery rhymes.

notebook by NeskeGraphic

The next find fills my addiction to both dreamy photography and cushions!
I would need to buy some more chairs if I bought more cushions - but I can dream!
I admit that I saw these over on Red Parka - thanks Jen for sharing!

You really should go and check out this shop - it has many beautiful applications of her photographs -

pillow by andrekart

.....and now for something completely different!
From my lovely on-line friend Deb of Two Cheeky Monkeys - a range of eye-popping neon necklaces.
Wow!

pink neon pearl necklace by Two Cheeky Monkeys

I promise next week I will break away from my "usual" picks and find some mad, unusual stuff!.....off I go to search....

Have a great weekend!

Five fabulous finds on Friday

It's nearly Christmas!
How are you going?
Are all the presents packed and wrapped under the tree?
Or are you like me...and just starting the serious stuff?

Well, whatever - here are some sweet picks from my faves.
Now that I look at them, they are a very eclectic collection!

A great mix of styles and a wonderful range of creativity.

Who could resist this cheeky little sexpot by JMNPottery?

sexpot by jmnpottery

At the far extreme of style - is this gorgeous wallet by italia craft.
I love them both - is that odd of me?

wallet by italiacraft

I love the rustic qualities of this silver and gold ring set.

sticks and stones ring set by colbyjune

And I am so attracted by the simple strong design of this necklace

coral red necklace by nspottery

And of course, I'm totally fascinated by this art photo from stoevvaletin, they are the treasures of the planet after all!

gemstones still life print

And the winner is....

The winner of the necklace giveaway is AC of Anastasia Drawing and Dreaming!

Congrats Anastasia.

The next giveaway will be a grab bag of a ring, a keyring and a brooch!
The brooch will be a fabric brooch from my Boos Tees shop something like this one.

Please leave a thoughtful comment on any post to go into the draw to win the grab bag.

You can find more blogtoberfest participants on I saw you dancing's blog.
And you can find more giveaways over at Ms Curly Pop's page.

A winner and another giveaway

The winner of the earrings giveaway is Dani! Yay! for Dani!!

This week's giveaway is a sweet glass beaded necklace set on a chain.
Like the one shown here.

All you need to do is leave a comment on any post this week and I'll draw a winner next Tuesday 16th October.
For more blogtoberfest giveaways pop on over here.

My Creative Space

 Do you get...well...not stuck in a rut exactly? But maybe in a groove....or you get stuck with a certain design idea, or colour scheme and can't shake it off?

Well I have this week - I couldn't stop playing with the combination of these lovely natural amazonite beads with darker blues - lapiz, blue agate and glass.
I had to force myself to make something different!

 So far I have come up with these 4 necklaces - but I have more beads and I have'nt managed to use the square lapiz ones yet - I've only got 3 of them left.

How is your creative space going this week - hope you're not stuck in a rut!

Have a look here for more creative spaces.

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?

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

Wednesday Wishlist

wool cowl by sheepsclothing

wrap by sandmaiden

silver necklace by ovoNIJEnakit

My creative space

Hi! and a bit excited to be playing along with this bloggy fun! (even if it is the last one of the year : ( )

Today I turned a bit this pile -

and some of that -


into this -


that -

and the other -



My creative space is hosted by kootoyoo here. Pop along and have a look - there is much craftyness and lots of lovely crafty folk!

Wednesday wishlist

I'm in the mood for birds!

whimsical little love bird sitting on its perch by ElizaGomez

Maybe because it is spring!

bird and berries by studiolyon

And I can hear the birds tweeting outside!

little bird bowl by TinaFrancisDesigns

What are you in the mood for?

Please leave a comment on any post and I'll collect all the names together tomorrow and one person will get a surprise!

Wednesday wishlist

This week I am wishing that it was a bit warmer so i could wear this dress -

turquoise dress by outofline

But it's still cold enough for slippers and I really need some new ones, my old ones are falling apart and I'm sure will trip me up some day!

felted slippers by aureliaLT

I'm just blown away by the design and technique of this crocheted necklace -

ranunculus fluitans by irregular expressions

How are your wishes going?
Have you got any to share?

Wednesday wishlist

It's been a few weeks since I wished for anything, but of course I have been adding to my favorites!

So here is a selection of the latest.

I love everything in this newly discovered artists shop -

blue period by stephanielevy

It's hard to go past a classic skirt - so useful!

long skirt by trapperjane

and this creative necklace would look great with the skirt!

ruffle necklace by frankieideas

What have you got in your favorites at the moment?