Accidental Vix

As I’m in Florida at the moment, it involves lots of fresh fruit… yummy! I’m going to choose my favourite item from the 3 handmade sites I sell on throughout this week to keep you entertained whilst I’m away, and the first theme is fruit…

Soap much love – Strawberry spice soap (mmmmm… I can almost smell this through my screen!)

Henrietta and Morty – Pineapple cushion (This would brighten any home and leave your mouth watering)

Skull and cross buns – Apple stamp (this is one of my absolute fave shops, and I’d buy everything in it if I could)

Have a good weekend

Xx

No-one can deny that it is freezing in the UK at the moment, admittedly it’s not -40 but more than cold enough for me, especially as I’m not able to move round much, my bones don’t like the cold and my poor circulation with my diabetes doesn’t help. As I sit here on the sofa in my many layers, covered in blankets and snuggled up to the hot water bottle I am dreaming of this time next week when we will be preparing to head to Florida and the sunshine. So, what better to do than pick my fave sunny and bright Folksy finds:

Lilley’s – Yellow ninja keyring (this cheery ninja makes me smile despite the cold)

Hooperhart - Yellow rossette (This looks like a happy sunshine)

Jessie G – Tapestry cushion cover (Absolutely love these colours, and Jess gave us an amazing cushion with a similar pattern for our wedding which is brightens up our flat every day)

Laura Potter ceramics - Sunny yellow ceramic buttons (These would brighten up any outfit… I’m thinking one of my coats)

Lydia Crook - You are my sunshine card (love the simplicity of this cheery card)

The rainbow room - Hanging felt hearts (where there’s a rainbow there’s sunshine)

My own new makes this week have been quite sunny too, they’re currently in my etsy shop, but I’m working on new designs for my Folksy shop.

Have a fab weekend,

Xx

Well apart from it being Friday, it’s a special Folksy Friday today as I’m also using it to do my Folksy Finds Handmade Love. All of today’s picks are chosen with the theme ‘made for you’ as I love my husband to bits and in our first year of marriage I always try to make an effort and create him things that are personal to both of us, especially after his Folksy proposal! As it’s a leap year today’s picks are all wedding and engagement related as I wonder how many ladies will take this opportunity to propose:

Made with Love x – Personalised notebook (these notebooks have played such a big part in our life and engagement that it’s at the top of the list)

Old black hen vintage – Floral and lace wedding book (this could make a great guest book but in my opinion an even better wedding planning book, why not use it to think up some proposal ideas ladies?!)

The leaf press – Personalised wedding journal (every bride needs a wedding book, mine was actually the proposal and is bursting at the seams now)

Joy Nevada - Personalised salt and pepper shakers (I can just imagine the proposal – will you pass the salt please darling…)

xx Bags of love - Shabby chic personalised engagement picture (After my own engagement I would encourage anybody to use handmade items in their proposal, and you can keep it forever)

Ink and stylus - The dressing room (this is such a gorgeous and romantic style of illustration)

Zygotegifts – Valentines card (Although unfortunately some of our hearts were misplaced on the day we had some of the 30 newspaper hearts hanging from our pom poms, and BB even made it to our wedding to see them for herself)

Morning Mr Magpie - Cutout heart necklace (This is beautiful and similar to the necklace I commissioned Sal to make to match my bridal earrings)

Artisan silver – Valentines silver necklace (Traceyann made all of my bridesmaids necklaces and personalised them)

Dottie designs - Personalised guest book (If I hadn’t made a message tree canvas for our ‘guest book’ I would have def got a book from Dottie)

Quernus crafts - Love mouse couple (These are too cute for words, they look like a couple who are announcing their engagement!)

Beadazzle designs – Wedding kiss guest book (Love the fun nature of this, and the fact that no 2 are the same)

Imogen’s Imagination - Ivory small fascinator (Sophie made all mine and my bridesmaids’ hats and fascinators, and this one was worn at my hen do)

Atelier 22 - Wedding/engagement card (Love screen printing and the vibrancy of this is perfect for anybody)

Geneva silver – Eco Bridal Bouquet (I made felt flowers for our wedding but these paper ones are fab)

Wall envy art – Personalised wedding vintage book page (Beautiful personalised momento)

By Poppy with love – ‘I DO’print (Beautifully simple, and reminds me of my own ‘I do’ moment last year)

Artyadz - The best is yet to come print (This one’s for my fantastic husband, we’ve had such much bad luck in our first year of marriage but I truly believe the best is yet to come!)

I’m off to reminisce and look at our wedding photos now

Xx

I’m somehow managing to keep up with my blogboost challenge this month but thought it was time to feature Folksy as Luulla has been taking the spotlight so far! As I’m definitely feeling blue at the moment that has to be today’s theme for my first folksy Friday in a while:

Handmade by Anna Cole – Stripey blue heart (Love the fabric combination here, and it is nearly Valentines Day)

Purrfect Designs – Blue Cat (how can he not make you smile?)

Lou Tonkin Artist – Blue Tit (You will all know my love of textiles by now and this really is beautiful)

Gemma Austen Art – Blue characters (I get completely engrossed in this, and means I can ‘lose myself’ for a bit)

Elephant Blossom Glass – Blue tweets (these are so adorable)

Hannah Madden – Blue Swans (Block printing has to be one of my fave techniques and again this is gorgeous for Valentines Day)

Ok, no time to feel sorry for myself must get some fabric out – might be time for a blue hat!

Have a great weekend

Xx

Well my final free little baby booties have gone out, and all I’m waiting for  now is the feedback forms which I’m hoping will be as positive as the first! I must admit I’m all shoed out at the moment, although I have 4 pairs here which I’m plucking up the courage to list in my folksy or etsy shops. Not entirely sure what is stopping me, maybe the thought of deciding what to write as a description, being indecisive about pricing and being a bit scared of feeling like a failure if they don’t sell. Sounds a bit silly once written down, but they take so long to make and are a new challenge to me and the relative safety of my sketchbook. If I don’t sell many cards then it doesn’t feel quite as bad (although I obviously want them to do well) as they are much quicker for me to make and I can get my pen and paper out wherever and whenever and still have sketchbooks upon sketchbooks to flick through at the end. I have invested so many evenings and weekends into my little shoes – let’s hope they succeed.

Another day, another week so maybe it’s time to take that jump.

Xx

A quick Folksy Friday from me today as things are manic at work and stressful in general at the moment. I’m looking forward to going home after work tonight and having a relaxed and fun weekend as my mother in law is visiting and there are some creative plans in the pipeline. Married life is a bit stressful to say the least at the moment and one of the biggest issues at the moment is the battle we are having with our landlord, and to be honest we can’t wait to move – the problem being finding somewhere to move to! So today’s theme for today’s fave picks from fellow Folksy sellers is home which also inspired my latest Folksy listing; no matter where we’re living we are newlyweds and living with each other (that doesn’t stop us dreaming of our perfect home tho!)

Little black heart – Up my street illustration (this is definitely up my street and reminds me of my latest ‘style’ for my sketchbook project 2012 – watch this space over the weekend for more info)

Dollydoo – Funky house cushion (love the bright colours on this, and it would definitely make our dreary flat cheery)

Maggie B Crafts – House collage (in contrast to the bright colours of Dollydoo this would be very calming, again something we could do with at the moment)

Flossy teacake – Fruit and veg shop mono print (ok, so this isn’t strictly a home but it’s so cute and I dream of living in the countryside again one day)

Frillybee – Little house (this is adorable, and you should know about my love of sewing by now)

Time to get back to the mountain of work now.

Have a good weekend.

Xx

There’s nothing like a bit of alliteration on a Sunday afternoon! Today I decided to features Laura’s Little Lovelies as my Folksy showcase for 3 reasons:

1. Her jewellery is amazingly pretty I especially like the swooping swallow earrings, pink flower bracelet, and felt corsage brooch.

2. I’ve been tweeting to Laura on twitter, and she always makes me smile

3. She’s in Yorkshire

Please check out her Folsky shop and take the sales fairy with you… enjoy the rest of the weekend, I’m nearly in Leeds now via Poland and London!

Xx

Before I start talking about my day and my Folksy choices I want to say that my thoughts go out to all those effected by the July 7th bombings in London – it could have happened to anyone, including me as I traveled on a packed out tube at rush hour this morning.

On a lighter note, I got up this morning to a cool breeze and rain clouds overhead, which is quite apt for today’s under the weather card. Feeling a bit low still so the  gorgeous sea glass and silver necklace (above) from Blue Box Studio as part of the Folsky swap was a fantastic surprise waiting for me at home.  I do feel a little guilty that I only sent out 3 cards to my swap, organised by Amie Rose Designs, here’s hoping she isn’t too disheartened and sees the amount of work that’s gone into them! As I also got a little bag of sea glass I thought glass would be a perfect theme for my choices today:

Beadesk – Red and white handbag charm (these glass beads are gorgeous, and as the world cup’s on in the background a bit of red and white is good too – yes I do know we’re out already)

Lazy giraffe – Mojito earrings (Mmmm Mojito, and some gorgeous green glass too)

Buttons and beads gifts – Glass charms (now this is the type of glass I wouldn’t mind holding right now)

Diomo glass – White rose sun catcher (can’t have glass as a topic without featuring Diomo, and a white rose for a Yorkshire lass too)

Kirsty’s creations – Touch of the sea set (Sea, and glass – very tranquil)

Vintage dreams – Corset glitter bags (I can’t keep away from the vintage – it does have german glass glitter on it I promise)

Emma’s made me – All white (So many gorgeous glass beads on here, and I love a good colour theme – hmmm another potential topic?)

Have a good evening, time for me to go and make some new items to list over the next few days (wish me luck!)

Xx

Today’s you rock card is dedicated to my boyfriend – I was having a bit of a rubbish day yesterday but the little gestures remind me that things aren’t so bad and I’ve got all the support I need, and sometimes it only takes a hug and a cheeky smile and it’s all ok again! Yesterday was yesterday and today’s a new day, which was just as hectic but at least I got out of the office for a site inspection – that’s always an experience as a minority female amongst the builders.  So my topic tonight is ‘girlie things’ to counteract the testosterone on a building site:

The little bead box – Freshwater pearls (these are so glamorous, would turn a few heads on and off building sites)

Pretty charming – Flower necklace (pretty in pink)

Top floor treasures – Tote bag (nearly as bright as my fluorescent jacket, but a lot cuter)

Clarebears – Maple bear (he could be my mascot)

Swirls and squiggles – Golden dove earrings (can’t resist a lovely bit of jewellery)

It’s going to be a long week, so time to make lunch for tomorrow then bed time…

Xx

What a day… feeling a bit disheartened at the moment, so I think today’s retirement card is quite apt! We’ve done our Monday routine trip to the supermarket, had tea and now got an hour to look at creative Folksy July Jester shops to make me smile.  Today’s theme is places I’d rather be, people I’d rather be seeing, things I’d rather be wearing and songs I’d rather be singing etc…

Strawberry Anarchy – Wellington boot necklace (I’d love to go to a festival, esp. Glastonbury)

Swirlyarts – Dennis the menace gift tags (takes me back to my childhood, if only I’d appreciated how ‘easy’ things were then!)

Oldskoolretro kisch boutique – Upcycled vintage bag (anything vintage makes me smile… if only I could go back in time)

The glass mountain – Sailing boat key fob (wish we could just sail away today)

The whimsical wren – Jenny wren and the acorn (If we had a garden I’d be sat in it listening to the tweeting birds)

Time for bed now, so I can wake up to a new day…

Xx