To the mystical Somerset, a land of Kings, in South West England. Where you can get down to basics at the Gypsy Caravan Holiday Breaks Park.

We’ll sleep in the cider apple orchard …

and wake to horses grazing beside us …

and tea already brewing for us …

and perhaps some more tea at sunset … why not?

and then fall asleep peacefully amongst the trees.

It’s like my favourite thing to do (camping) but oh so much better!

Who’s coming with me?
{images via http://gypsycaravanbreaks.co.uk/}

February 16th, 2010 | 6 Comments »

Monday Moodboard is a feature promoted by the European Street Team of Etsy.  Here are some of my favourites from my fellow team members reflecting my mood today.

Blue Forest – Abstract Landscape Photograph by Eleanor’s Photography

The Square Prince by Senay Akin

The singing birds by ArtMind

Embroidered Fold-top Shoulder Bag by StarBags

Want to see more moodboards? Head on over to Fleur Fatale.

February 15th, 2010 | 1 Comment »

Here is a wonderful tutorial I found for making a lovely, textured S-hook clasp from Wire Jewelry Lessons.

Wire Jewelry Lessons: Big S-Clasp Tutorial.

February 12th, 2010 | No Comments »

To make your own, follow this simple tutorial at Poopscape Projects.

I used an old instant coffee jar for  mine. I also painted it a little darker than in the tutorial, just a personal preference.

I needed something to hold some sticks and twigs that were showing off my adorable little paper baubles that I got from Tanya over Christmas.

I love it so.

It’s the first thing you see when you enter my studio.

Oh! and the little lantern you see there is from the lovely Mabel and Violet!

February 11th, 2010 | No Comments »

I’m looking for some new prints to go up in my new “studio” and I’ve got my eye on all of these pretties.

1. I Can Feel You Breathe by zuppa artista

2. Searching The Forest For The Trees by Umber Dove Studios

3. Tye River Road by Dolan Geiman

4. When Petals Fall Like Tiny Stars by In Most Light

Now, to choose. Etsy sellers don’t make it easy, do they?

January 29th, 2010 | 3 Comments »

To make your own, follow this simple tutorial from Growing Up Creative.

I absolutely love this project!

In the tutorial, only the insides of the rolls are painted white. And I had intended to do mine that way as well because I do love the tan colour of the cardboard, but I found on our TP rolls there was some print from the manufacturer that I didn’t like so much. So, I opted to paint them all white.

After hours of trying to cover every nook and cranny with a paintbrush I finally realized that spraypaint would be much easier. And it looks much nicer. You can probably see in the top two photos that the paint is much more even than the bottom two photos that were done with a brush.

I’ve made about 3 different styles of these now and they look so cute when they are hung.  I just love them. I’ve always recycled our old TP rolls, but this is so much more fun!

I’m sure they would be fun for kids as well.

January 26th, 2010 | 4 Comments »

January 19th, 2010 | No Comments »

Hearts for Haiti is an Etsy shop set up by several enthusiastic Etsy sellers to raise funds for the Haiti disaster relief. Shop items have been  generously donated by hundreds of Etsy shop owners and 100% of the proceeds from this shop (minus Etsy fees and Paypal fees) go directly to DoctorsWithoutBorders (http://doctorswithoutborders.org ).

The shop was set up on January 14, 2 days after the disaster, and since then has had over 220 sales and raised over $2,500. And those numbers are increasing at a very quick rate.

It’s so inspiring to see everyone in the handmade community come together for a greater good.

You can follow the progress of the shop in this Etsy forum thread or follow them on Facebook.

If you would like to donate an item to HeartsForHaiti.etsy.com, please send an email to etsyforhaiti2 [!at] gmail.com for a copy of the donation guidelines.

Or, of course, go buy something lovely and know that your money is going to a wonderful cause.

January 18th, 2010 | 1 Comment »

One of  my favourite artists Yellena James recently teamed up with Schoolhouse Electric Co. to create these stunning works of art.

I will take one of each please!

Read more from Yellena about the collaboration on her blog here.

{ photos: http://www.schoolhouseelectric.com/ }

January 16th, 2010 | 1 Comment »

Fey Handmade is a beautiful shop, thoughtfully curated, to promote the fabulous works of many  independent designers.

“The company started with the belief that great design should be easy to find, and great designers should receive support for all the wonderful things they create.”

I agree, they should!  And this site does a wonderful job of it.

I am happy to now be a part of  Fey Handmade as well.    Go have a look!

And be prepared to get happily lost in there for a bit.

January 15th, 2010 | No Comments »