Light...ish...

Yes, today there was a glimmer of light...not much, but just enough {plus photo-shop} to get some snaps of the bracelets!{albeit moody shots!}....the last pieces are now in the shop at last. Tell all your friends to stop by and have a little look if you get the chance, I want this little limited edition lot to be whisked away by the time St. Nic comes in a few weeks!! ;))))

Well, already most of the day has gone now...it's starting to get dark already. I think Autumn is on it's way out here...although Winter has not properly arrived. It often doesn't...just the greyness. I don't mind it really.....I am planning a stroll around the Botanic Gardens {very near me} this Friday, so it will be nice to note the changes...and gather a few leaves before they turn to mulch...I like to oil them to stop them crisping up, and then put them in a book for a few hours to make them go flat. We already have several up in the kitchen, sneaked in behind sconces and picture frames.....

Glad to hear so many of you enjoyed the tutorial yesterday on WhipUp....it was fun to do!
Happy Wednesday everyone..i'm off to get working on some earrings now :)

xox

PS...this just brightened up my day even more!...remember how much everyone loved the vintage penguin poet covers by Stephen Russ that Lena posted about here ...well, check out the penguin poet covers Petra Borner has done. wow! Can't wait to get them....collectables of the future or what!

Dark...

Ooooh it's dark these days!! I have been trying to take some good photo's of the new [new] jewellery for the last couple of days and I have to say I am not having much luck!!....just the one piece has worked out so far. The piece above...another big necklace with lovely rose quartz pillow beads and pearls with an oxidised silver leaf motif has now been added to the shop....and hopefully, by tomorrow, the three bracelets I have made will follow it!! {one grey pearl bracelet with leaf charm, one chain bracelet with white pearl cluster and one oxidised chain bracelet with pink pearls...}....keep your fingers crossed for good light for me!! ;))

As some of you may have already spotted, yesterday I was featured by the lovely Shari on her hand-made for the holidays interviews.....check it out here!! I was so excited and honoured to be interviewed for this series, {it's my first ever full length interview!!} especially as I am in the company of so many amazing ladies whose work I wholly admire!...Thank you Shari for making the time to conduct these interviews {which are such a great read!} and for including me in the troop....:)

I am finding myself hurtling toward Christmas at such a pace it's scary...I am almost afraid to look at the calendar each day! I still have to make the cake {!!}...do *all* my shopping/making {for those friends and family whom I can fobb off with some jewellery as gifts! ;))}..finish all my orders, ship all sales, tidy house for xmas guests...fit in a trip {fun, fun, fun and am soooo excited!} to London in 2 weeks!, see some friends...get some sleep, do some tax returns and books!! yikes. What is on your lists???

I have been introduced to a few great new [to me] blogs in the last few days.....Bend to Squares and elly [ via lena] and re-discovered {with renewed awe} the beautiful work at myriad.....makes me happy to stumble on such lovely little finds each day.

Hope your week is off to a good start!!...see you tomorrow, light permitting ;)

xox

PS..I have a *tutorial* for making your own necklace up on WhipUp!! :)

Thanks....

Hello everyone....I just wanted to drop in this evening to wish everyone who celebrates it a truly wonderful Thanksgiving , we don't have it in the UK...but I hope you will all be having a great time with your families and loved ones wherever you are :)

...and I want to thank you all for all your kind words and support of the new pieces for the Christmas shop, I am so pleased with how it is going so far...and as such, I am working on some more pieces to go in next week as well. Gosh, it really is getting close to Christmas now - I can't believe it!! How do all you U.S lovelies manage to fit in two huge events so close together?....I find it hard enough with the one ;))))

I'll just be working through tomorrow, as its a normal day here, but I will be thinking of you all...hoping you are tucking in with glee to your turkey dinners!!

much love, and happy thanksgiving !..a special hello to my brother, and his missus who are in the states and will be doing the holiday thing too...{hug}
xox

Go forth!!...

..for you will find my shop open and stocked to the brim!!.....all the newly listed pieces are limited edition or one off never to be repeated items - so I hope you like them!?? :)

::Have a look at the new pieces for the holiday gift season here::

I have been included in Mav's holiday gift guide too, which I am just delighted about...check it out here, as it is just an amazing source of good things to buy for yourself {hehe} or your loved ones...

I have decided that tomorrow, Tuesday the 21st of November will be the last date for placing any orders with me from my diffusion collection...so that I will have enough time to get the orders made and sent out in good time for Christmas, so drop me a line if you would like to discuss any pieces... I also sent out an email newsletter today, if you would like to be added to my mailing list just let me know and I will send you one along :)

Happy Monday everyone!! xox

ps...the jewellery even looks great on pooches....;))))!!! x

Getting ready....

Hi everyone....just stopping in to let you all know that I have been working over the weekend to get some pieces ready to go in the shop for Monday. {I am hoping to put more pieces in over the next few weeks too but shall start off with about 10 or so pieces} I am terribly excited, for no other reason than I have actually managed to design a banner for my Etsy Shop at long last....it is a great feat for me, as I am no whizz on the computer and for once, managed what I actually intended. hurrah ;)))

The prints I had planned won't be ready in time for early next week I shouldn't think....so we shall see if they make it in the mix for the holidays or whether they spring up another time...

So, for Monday..look forward to some necklaces with pierced silhouettes in silver, oxidised brooches, fine pearl charm bracelets, and several styles of earrings....all limited edition or one off.

Hope everyone is having a good weekend so far...I am off tonight to see the new James Bond film at the flicks.
xox

Preparation....

I have been spending today {and last night} beginning to get some stock made for the shop, in the form of one off and limited edition pieces for Christmas.....I am hoping to have some pieces {if not all} in the shop by the beginning of next week. I am going to be focusing on making up mostly silver and oxidised silver pieces for all you non-gold lovers.....and as the stock will be made in advance, it will be able to be posted out straight away, ensuring full stockings come chrimbo :)

::: Just a little note to anyone who may like to place an order with me for any jewellery in time for Christmas...be sure to contact me asap so I can get started {things are busying up!} as the last postal date to the USA is the 13th of December!! :::

I am also hoping to do some limited edition solvent prints {50 of each} of my pattern designs as well....so I am leafing through my portfolio trying to choose which ones....but we will see how time goes.... ;)

Thanks for all your well wishes regarding my lack of sleep....ol' girl insomnia is still rearing her ugly head {she was just lulling me into a false sense of security when I got that one great nights sleep}.....but im sure it will sort itself out one way or another. I guess it is just the busyness of this time of year!!!....the brain refuses to switch off, right? ;))))

happy Wednesday!! xox

Building blocks...

Ah, the new week is here....and it is off to a good start already. I popped out this morning to take some parcels to the post office, and went for a little meander afterward..picking up a take-away blueberry muffin en route for with a cup of tea when I got back. It is pretty chilly out {and grey} but the fresh air was just that, and did me the world of good.

This weekend past I pretty much decided just to relax. I had been through a solid week of insomnia, which was really beginning to take it's toll...but I think it broke last night and I got a full, and more to the point, good nights sleep. hurrah!!! I cut a new fringe and arranged my new little muji wooden city [above] which was a gift a few weeks ago from a friend....I love it :) I downloaded the new album from Ray LaMontagne which was just been released in the UK a few weeks ago...and it is playing in my ears as I work today...he blows my mind. really.

Hoping your week is off to a good start as well!! :)
xox

Soviet Textiles...

Soviet Textiles: Designing the Modern Utopia....wow, what a title!! This is one book that is topping my 'newly released design book must haves' wish list {like it?} at the moment, I haven't seen inside yet but I am imagining lots of stunning graphics of a slightly jarring nature combined with a smattering of folk-art steeped visuals........Utopia indeed!! Has anyone read this one yet? I am dying to hear about it!......

.....also, some jewellery posts whipped up here and here :)

xox

Rie Ito....

Ceramicist Rie Ito's work, in collaboration with Graf is really blowing my mind right now! As with much craft and design from Japan, the colour palette, subtlety and originality of form is absolutely stunning and quite unrivalled in my book.......the installation above is part of the 'Animal Magic' exhibition at Vessel Gallery, and you can see Rie's work closer here and read a bit more about her, and her collaboration with Graf here ..... isn't this work just wonderful!!??

happy Wednesday :) xox

Cosy...

I want to keep the chills at bay with these beautiful polish, leather soled..hand embroidered slippers from Toast.....mmmm. bring on the winter.

Aldo Londi....

Okay....the ideas for this 'inspiration week' are really just things that I am coveting right now {a sin?... never.}....so I am just going to jump right in and share what is on my wish list {imaginary, of course} right now.....

The ceramics of Aldo Londi that are being re-released to mark the centenary of his birth {by Bitossi, of whom he was the founding creative director} are perfect examples of exemplary 20th Century design.....this one, sold through TwentyTwentyOne is really tugging at my heart-strings, and I *wish* with all my heart that one could be mine....alas, this is fantasy land....and the picture is going to have to do. ;)

happy Monday xx

Beauty....

Well, it really is about time I shared this beauty with everyone....and said my heartfelt thanks!! As I mentioned in a post a few weeks ago when I met up with Karin and Camilla a few weeks ago in London, they came laden with gifts for me and Claire .....and here they are!!! From Camilla....I couldn't believe it when I opened the package and saw an original drawing no less!!....and at that, Teapots....the one everyone, including me had gone so mad for on flickr......I *love* it so, and am still thinking on the perfect frame for it while it sits, lovingly glanced at often, on my mantel. {Tak Camilla!!!! ;)}

.....from Karin, I received a beautiful little blue pearlescent bowl with leaf decal, which I am soooo in love with....it now holds my rings, which I always loose if I don't keep them in one place. We were laughing at the time, because most people would put their jewellery into a little dish like that -- and well, not many of my designs would fit ;))) I also decided to splurge on the beautiful dish above from Karin, from her stand at Origin Craft Fair...it was the last big dish left, and the colours, form and pattern just whispered to me....buy me, buy me --- so I had to give in!!! I *love* it. {Tak Karin!!! ;)}

Soo, this week I have been working on some little goodies for the Swedish lovelies, which will make their way to them this week....hopefully atoning for my shame ;)))

Tomorrow I will be meeting up with Sharon again, when she will come through to Glasgow to visit me at my flat....I am so looking forward to it, as we have been trying to get a date sorted for far too long!!!

:: Happy Wednesday friends :: xox