New autumn finds...

A few newies in the shop... In the shape of the Little Silver Fox charm necklace and a Leather Feather Pendant. Available now in the shop>

My Secret Life

I recently had the brilliant opportunity of joining all the lovely designers at All things Original
The website showcases some really wonderful stuff, from arty things to jewellery and homewares, so it's really worth taking a look.

Here is also a little thing I was asked to write on their blog :)

i found

Newies... Lace, a button collection, and little foxes. These will be ending up in my etsy shop in some form soon...

Giving up my ghastly part-time job

This week is a good week, as I am giving up my ghastly (but previously necessary) part-time job :) So it is celebrations all round! This also means I can spend more time trawling around lots of lovely second hand shops and boutiques, and of course dedicate more time to making things for my new shop that will be opening very soon.

Today is SWELTERING, and i am doodling around indoors pressing letraset onto gift tags (that will later be attached to my buttons and pendants) and then I am hitting the BEACH. Well, the banks of the thames estuary.

In the meantime, here are a few pics from an etsy seller who I think is particularly inspirational and original...Marmod8. Have a look at their shop here. Beautiful.

Blog Feature...

My goodness, it's almost been a month since I last posted...!
Well, a few updates... Several weeks ago I was lucky enough to be chosen at random to be featured on the Creation Collaboration bloghop See the post here. I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to answer a few questions about what it is I do, and what I like doing the most...etc. So thanks very much to you Creation Collaboration. And if you are a fellow female designer/maker then join the blog/blog hop to support them please!

I have also been in the process of opening up another online shop :) All details will be revealed very soon.

Meanwhile I will leave you with a pair of gorgeous vintage-y chairs. These, I think, are quite beautiful.

Listing, listing and more listings.

At last my etsy shop is open, and I've been frantically listing things, and tweeting about them at a hundred miles an hour.

I think I've completely under-estimated the power of twitter to promote products and listings. I highly recommend twitter if you have something you want to advertise or tell people about.

Amongst my listings are a silver Mr Owl pendant, and a black and white checkered sequin cocktail ring...

Anyway, in addition to spending ridiculous amounts of time listing, I also spotted an interesting little blog on etsy which is all about the massive Renegade Craft Fair which is held every year in Austin, Texas. Looks like an absolutely brilliant day out. Have a look here

Computer fixed and etsy up in the next few days!

Hello all. My computer has at last been fixed! I am very excited as this means I can get my etsy shop up and running in the next few days. I am also excited by the fact that my new and improved computer is working at three times the speed as it was before. Hooray. No more waiting for ten minutes for the internet and photoshop to load, and no more sore eyes from too much looking at a loading screen. Hooray indeed.

I will of course post on here when it is at last up and running!


x

Updates, new jewellery, and the countdown to etsy begins!

Here are a few bits to add to the collection... A little gold teacup pendant, on a brass chain and a brass locket with a hand-sequined inside.

I have also recently set up a facebook page, so I can keep friends informed of my new creative ventures, etc. So if you are passing, please feel free to join or 'like' if you so wish. Just click on the magpie feather at the top right of my blog.

I also hope to get my etsy shop up and running in the next 24 hours, (or hopefully before the weekend!) so when it is finally open, I will post on here with a link.

Thanks!
x

Newies ( in new colours)

I have been making most of the easter holidays, and have managed to finish off a few things on my 'unfinished' list! Here is a hand-embroidered butterfly pendant with brass chain, an Art Deco inspired necklace, and at last my dear little pendants that I bought now have somewhere to hang, as I have made use of the silver chain that I purchased from the 'i found gallery'.
I will post more creations in the coming week, so stay tuned...

Teacups, NEW colours, and an art deco button...

These new jewellery findings are from the 'i found gallery' which i mentioned in my last post, there is an original circa 1930's art deco vintage button, tiny gold teacups, a brass locket, and some lovely 'aged' silver chain. I'm sure all these bits and pieces will result in some interesting jewellery creations soon...

And I have also conjured up a nice spring-like colourway for my next lot of accessory ideas... I especially like the combination of ocre and grey. mmm...

Monday...

This weekend, I happened to find an amazing website/online shop which sells the biggest array of vintage jewellery findings I think i've ever seen. It's called the 'i found gallery', and there's everything from oxidized silver necklace chain to art deco buttons and ornate stamps. The shipping is a little expensive, but I haven't found anywhere else that sells such an extensive range... Take a look here

And also, these are the new additions to my accessories collection which will be on etsy in a few weeks time...

Black and white checkered sequin ring
Gold and silver sequin ring
Black and white checkered sequin earrings
Black and white sequin buttons
Black sequin earrings
Pink and Rainbow sequin buttons
Gold and silver sequin buttons

New things...

Unintentionally, these black and white buttons turned out slightly mosaic-y. But I have a thing for monochrome at the moment, so I am going to see where this leads to... Three buttons, a ring, and counting.

Today I found my letraset :)

...And also a really excellent book entitled 'Silhouettes'. The pages above show some amazing silhouttes of gentlemen in top-hats and coat-tails, and victorian ladies in formal attire. A potential research resource for embroidery development ideas... ? Anyway I just thought the book was delightfully twee.

These little pendants will be used in my jewellery project... My favourite is the spoon and fork... Have a browse through their pendants, charms and findings here

Today, these came in the post...

Happy Monday

Here are a few bits and pieces that I bought/found today, along with a few items that were already in my jewellery box...



Piece of ceramic found on the beach complete with faded blue design



A birdy I recieved in the post from a lovely friend.




I bought this lovely ceramic tudor rose when I paid a random visit to Telford in Shropshire...




This old pillbox belonged to my grandfather. It has a beautiful gold embossed underside, and a clever clasp :)




I think this little shoebox speaks for itself. It once contained shoes belonging to my grandmother.

Gia Designs for spring 2010

Back in November 2008, just after graduation, I was invited to do a work placement at Gia London. I used some of my floral prints from 'In retrospect' and designed a new motif for their spring 2010 collection. I also designed a knitwear motif for spring 2010.

Have a browse through more of their collections here and here

Visualisation 3

Visualisation 2

Final piece: Visualisation 1

Cutwork and flock wallpaper sample