Wildflower Knotted Necklace

I entered this shot of my Wildflower Knotted Necklace into the Makers Online Photography competition a few weeks ago and I made the short list! Very exciting :) The winner was announced today – Chloe Livingstone from Little Green Shoots. Her lovely shot of her Suede Flower Necklace in Toffee Triangles won. Congratulations!

Suede Flower Necklace by Chloe Livingstone

It was fun to enter and I was so chuffed to have been in the top 27. I am always frustrated with my photography skills and wish that my product shots were better, so it was really lovely to be listed with so much talent. There were some great photos in the line up, including one by my lovely Flickr friend Anna Stassen of her stunning Dew Necklace.

Dew Necklace by Anna Stassen

Another photo I loved, that didn’t make the short-list, was Linen Pincushion by Namolio. The original photo has gone from the Makers Online Blog now, so I have chosen a shot of one of her pin cushions from her Etsy shop. I love the subtle lighting, and how the photo has enhanced an already beautiful handmade item. Gorgeous!

Linen Pincushion by Namolio

Check out Makers Online for wonderful handmade items, ranging from jewellery to textiles and greetings cards to handbags, from Uk based designers and crafters.

Poinsettia Necklace

I love making the Poinsettia necklace at this time of year, it feels so Christmasy! I’ve teamed my handmade glass flower focal with red, black, bronze and mossy green beads for a glamorous look. I finished it off this evening and popped it in my Folksy shop :) Hopefully I’ll have time to make the matching bracelet this week – I’m going to pick up a packet of crimp beads while I’m in Nottingham tomorrow from The Bead Shop, as I’ve run out!

Plum Fleur Asymmetric Necklace

Now the craft fair is over, I am starting to fill up my online shops again at Etsy and Folksy. This wintery necklace in deep purple, with one of my handmade glass flowers set to one side, is now available. The corsage style looks great with a little black dress for Christmas :)

I was at Belton House yesterday for the craft fayre. It was a Christmas themed event with decorated trees and a brass band, so there was a nice atmosphere and the customers were really friendly :) My Mum came with me to help out, and I’m so glad she did because it got busy at times and there weren’t enough hands to box cupcakes and package jewellery! The day seemed to go by so quickly apart from at the end as the shoppers tailed off – it’s in the quiet times that you realise how tired you are!

My stall looks a bit odd in this pic because I spaced the jewellery out like this once all my cupcakes and cookies had sold out after lunch (yay!) - I wish I’d taken a photo at the beginning of the day when the table was full, but I was in such a rush to finish getting set up before the first customers arrived!

I took 3 different cupcake flavours with me: milk chocolate brownie, maple and pecan, and lemon curd. I also took an assortment of cookie lollies in light blue, lilac and rose, decorated similarly to the cookies in the post below. Oh, and I made some cookie hearts with ribbon attached to hang as decorations, but I forgot to take a photo before they sold. I might make some as gifts to give at Christmas so will hopefully remember to take a pic then.

I think my favourite thing of the day was using my crash-lock cardboard cupcake boxes, lol! My brother designed me some fab little round stickers with my Gillyflower Bakery logo in pink, so they were stuck onto every box that I sold. So cute :)

It’s always interesting to see what sells – different items of jewellery seem to go at different fayres – but my flower pendants always seem to be popular so I make sure I have them in every colour. The wildflower knotted necklace seems to be my best seller, and usually sells in the first hour, so I’m going to work on expanding my range of knotted jewellery in the New Year.

It was a good day, and I would definitely do the fair next year – there was a good turn out despite the drizzle and people were really interested in buying, which was lovely. Emma Grey, the organiser, did a great job, and the co-ordinators came round with hot drinks regularly which was a nice touch. The stable area that I was in was pretty dark, so that’s probably my only criticism but I knew that when I booked the pitch so I can’t complain! We took a string of lanterns with us and two bright spot lights and created a friendly glow :)

Rose Garden Long Necklace

I didn’t have time to finish this necklace as quickly as I’d hoped, but the hot weather has meant more time sitting (and lying!) in the garden so it’s given me the chance to finish wire-wrapping the beads. I spent a gorgeous evening in the garden cooling off after work today, listening to Blur (so jealous I wasn’t at Glastonbury at the weekend) and I’ve begun a new piece that I’ll be listing in my shops soon. In the meantime, this Rose Garden Long Necklace is in my Etsy and Folksy shops now.

Pink & Green Wire Wrapped Necklace

The necklace features one of my flowers, in pink, set to one side and teamed with an array of lovely chunky beads. I’ve been waiting for a chance to use the sage green crocheted beads I bought ages ago from JillyBeads.com, and I’m loving the pink glass beads with a slightly marbled effect from BijouxBeads.com

I had some time to myself today, so I spent a blissful afternoon in the garden making some new jewellery…

My jewellery making spot :)

It was so relaxing, with the scent of the rose bush drifting across in the breeze. And I’m finally getting a little bit of a tan – although mainly on my feet, haha :)

Climbing Rose

I made a new flower pendant in light green called “Meadow”, and started working on a wire-wrapped long chunky necklace “Rose Garden”. Tomorrow, I’m going to add one of my flowers to one side and some faux-suede cord. Hope it’s sunny!

Work in progress

Dusk Daisy Pendant Necklace

Just finished making this grey handmade flower pendant and  listed it in my Etsy and Folksy shops – it’s great for adding a little prettiness to workwear.  I’ve had a bit of a reshuffle in the shops, as they were looking a bit dull…. They’re looking more colourful now, and new summer items are on the way next week and the week after!

The first in a series of posts featuring shops that I love on Etsy and Folksy :) Today the spotlight is on my friend Helen’s shop Original Minnie. Helen is a fellow crafty Lincolnshire girl, who I met at the Grantham Christmas Fair. She’s incredibly creative and artistic, has a BA(Hons)  in Visual Arts and has now turned her hand to creating gorgeous button jewellery and handmade cards. I especially love this zingy button bracelet, it’s light and colourful, and perfect for sunny summer days.

Beady Buttons Bracelet by Original Minnie

When did you set up Original Minnie and what do you make?

I started Original Minnie in 2008, after I finished my art and design degree in the Summer.  I make textile inspired jewellery and greetings cards using buttons, ribbons, beads, and fabrics.  I prefer to use vintage, reclaimed, and recycled materials as much as possible.

What was your inspiration?

Lots of things …

I named Original Minnie after the lady in my pendant logo – my Great, Great Auntie Min – she and the things she liked are part of my inspiration, because we share similar interests – a love of collecting, clothes, accessories, and colour.

I also find inspiration visiting charity shops, junk shops and museums – seeing vintage/retro objects.  I especially love clothing, and period interior design.

I love fabrics and sewing, and generally being creative and ‘making things’.  So something which combined this with vintage, fashion, etc. it made sense to start making jewellery from buttons, beads and fabrics that I, my mum, and grandmas had collected over the years.  I still enjoy looking out for new and old materials now to use in designs.

Finally, I like quirky, unusual jewellery which has ‘personality’, and stands out from the crowd.

I think Great, Great Auntie Min represents all that Original Minnie is about – a love of vintage, fashion, and original quirky items.

Where do you sell your wares?

I have an internet shop on Folksy. I also like to attend as many arts and crafts markets as I can.  In 2009 I am attending events in Lincolnshire, Nottingham, and Norfolk.  I have an events page on my blog that I keep updated with new events. www.originalminnie.wordpress.com

Which is your favourite piece?

I love the ‘Buttons and Bows’ brooches – I’ve set one of the little gold ones aside just for me to wear.

Tell me a little bit about your art background…

I started art classes when I was 8 years old, but years before that I remember being creative – making presents for my family from bits of kitchen roll – in a ‘Blue Peter style’.  After GCSEs I followed my other interest of health/biology, but after a few years the ‘pull’ to go back to art was too strong, so I completed an Access Course for art and design to enable me to go to uni.  For my final project I designed and hand-printed wallpapers and fabrics, with a design theme of afternoon tea – one of my favourite pastimes!  I graduated in 2008 with BA (Hons) Visual Arts by Negotiated Study.  I then set up Original Minnie, and the rest as they say is history…

What are your other interests?

I’m a fan of afternoon tea, so I enjoy finding quaint little teashops.  I like going to London for the museums and exhibitions – the V&A is my all time favourite (it has stunning original rooms in the café – one was designed by William Morris!)  I also love music, and enjoy going to live music concerts whenever I can.

Where would you like Original Minnie to be in two years time?

I would like to have expanded the product range to include textile items such as bags and purses, and even clothing/household textiles printed with my own designs – incorporating some of the skills/projects I gained on my degree.

Check out Helen’s Folksy shop for more cute and unusual bead and button jewellery, including the “Buttons and Bows” brooches, plus her range of greetings cards, and visit the blog for all the latest Minnie news :)

Square Bows Necklace

Wildflower Knotted Necklace

I’m just finishing off this necklace, and will be relisting it in my Etsy and Folksy shops in a jiff. I love sitting in my garden (or on the sofa today, because it’s been raining!) knotting and attaching the metal dangling beads, it’s so calming :)

Featuring a purple handmade flower, strung on two strands of cord knotted with an assortment of purple and green glass beads, this necklace has a casual look. Little olive green leaves, light pink faceted swarovski crystal beads and dark green swarovski pearls dangle from the cord.

I created the focal flower with purple glass drop beads woven together with purple metallic seed beads and a dark green swarovski pearl as the centre. The necklace is finished with a silver-plated lobster clasp and extension chain.

Make Jewellery Magazine

Yes, another post about Make Jewellery Magazine ;) I was flicking through it again this afternoon, it’s a lovely read. I like the layout and the beautiful photography – I think it has more of a fashion magazine feel compared to some of the other crafting magazines.

Being included in the “Make a Purchase” section has been great for boosting my profile, not to mention how much fun it was to walk into WHSmiths after work and buy a magazine that I was in – I couldn’t help letting out a little squeal of joy! 

Poppy Asymmetric Necklace

My lovely crafty friend Helen has blogged about it over on her fabulous new blog Original Minnie and I’m chuffed to be in a post on Folksy Finds about the latest Folksy sellers to make it into the magazine.

As a newbie to blogging it’s quite exciting to find yourself on someone else’s blog :) I’ll be posting about Original Minnie later in the week – Helen makes gorgeous handmade button jewellery.