Ooer, I’ve gone all Steampunk!

My very talented friend Ann specialises in steampunk, (I had to look it up!),  grungy, goth-type jewellery which is sometimes amusing, often daring, from time to time very offbeat but always original and beautiful.   This is my great new necklace which she made especially for me.  It screams ‘look at me’ and I foresee many people coming to examine it in close-up so I must remember to moisturise!

My Mentalembellisher Necklace

The Voyagers – Maia Chavez Larkin

Don’t you just love this feisty girl, what attitude!

Peregrine, The Pirate's Daughter by Maia Chavez Larkin

I am currently being blown away by Maia’s fantastic blogs – (must be something to do with her being a journalist) – and her gorgeous illustrations. 

Maia has travelled extensively and lived in many different places, hence the name of her shop ‘The Voyagers’ and she comes from a very illustrious artistic background.   Her inspiration is her daughter, Q, who was adopted by Maia and her husband from a Chinese orphanage and she has committed to donating $1 from every sale of her prints to ‘Love Without Boundaries’ (www.lovewithoutboundaries.com), an organization dedicated to providing humanitarian assistance to orphaned and impoverished children in China.

Her Shadow by Maia Chavez Larkin

Have a look at Maia’s blog and see if you find it as addictive as I do.

Laura Trevey – Bright, Bold and Beautiful

Sometimes you come across other people’s blogs which can really cheer you up and inspire you.  Laura Trevey’s blog is called Bright, Bold and Beautiful and that’s just what it is.  She calls it her ‘Inspiration Blog’ .   She features other artists on her blog and sometimes interviews them and she finds some really interesting and beautiful objects  (I know, I know, I’m being immodest as she has featured a couple of my things but it’s true!)

Laura is herself  a very talented watercolour artist and also has a ‘Watercolour Blog’  where you can see her work.   I love this painting of a rooster because it captures their devilish and roguish nature very well – at least that’s what my rooster is like!

Ralph the Rooster

She also incorporates her paintings into items for the home and I particularly like this Crabby Pillow – it would look great in a kitchen or conservatory. 

Crabby Pillow

I find Laura’s work so colourful and vibrant – it is ‘cheerful’ art if such a genre exists.

Oh, I wish I could paint!  Or draw!  But I can’t!

Maggie at Ikimono

Vintage Silk Kimono Jacket

My friend Maggie has always been passionate about fashion, design and sewing which led to a career as a fashion buyer for Marks & Spencer.  Inspired by a family wedding which took place in Japan, Maggie has been collecting kimonos, both vintage and new for over 10 years.  She has become very knowledgeable about oriental culture and as her collection of kimonos grew so did her understanding and appreciation of the traditional symbols and images used on them.

This  knowledge of Japanese imagery and silk textiles has developed into an unusual “day job” as a kimono interpreter. It is so interesting listening to Maggie explaining a particular image or design and if, like me, you are tempted to become the owner of one of these beautiful items, it makes it even more special to know a bit about the culture behind it.  I have a silk haori jacket which I wear belted and also a garment which is more like a coat but I wear that belted as a dress as I love the beautiful silk,the designs and the sleeves but prefer a fitted look.

 

Cotton Yukata Fabric

 

 

Maggie fulfilled a long-standing dream last month and visited Japan where she met with suppliers and enjoyed the beauty of  the kimono in its own surroundings.  She has been newly inspired, made some new contacts , strengthened relationships with existing ones and returned with some more beautiful silks and yukata cottons in her luggage (excess baggage had to be paid of course!!)

Maggie has a shop in which she offers vintage kimono, Japanese silk and cotton fabric for use in dressmaking or crafts and also some items she has crafted herself by adapting the oriental culture to fit in with the western lifestyle.

Scarf made from Vintage Japanese Kimono Silk

 

 

I always find Maggie’s enthusiasm about Japan so infectious and I’ve encouraged her to start a blog because she has so many interesting things to say about Oriental culture in general, and kimonos in particular, that I think people will really enjoy reading it.

 

Beads By Laura

Sometimes I come across other people’s work which really appeals to me.  Not only the finished product but the production method itself – I quite fancy wearing a mask and wielding a hot torch, but that’s another story and probably one best kept private.

Laura has been making jewellery since she was 14 and decided to specialise in designer glass beads a few years ago and, as you can see,  they are totally gorgeous so I think she made a wise choice.

One of Laura's Beautiful Glass Beads

 

Laura’s lovely beads make me want to start making jewellery - have I got  the time I wonder??  

My favourites have got to be her little cupcake beads – how yummy do they look?   If, like me, you have no time for any more crafty endeavours, or your talents lie in other directions, Laura can supply these for wearing as a pendant or as a little charm hanging from your phone, camera case, or bag zipper.  And, even better, each one is baked especially to order.

Freshly Baked Beads - Yum!

 

I’m off to the cupboard now, I have a sudden craving for something sweet!

‘Tis Nearly the Season….

Ooer, it must be nearly time to start the Christmas shopping.  My friend Anna has put some gorgeous cotton tapes with a festive theme in her shop. 

Yesterday, I bought some fabulous  reindeer fabric – amazingly in a local shop!! – so watch this space.  I have a festive table runner in mind in order to show off as many reindeer as possible.

Meanwhile, have a look at this and get yourself in the Yuletide spirit

Anna's HoHoHo Cotton Tape

Mental Embellisher

What a great name for this shop which features original jewellery made by Ann here in France (but a lot further North than me) and such brilliant descriptions for her items that it’s worth a visit to etsy to read them as well as to lust after the jewellery.  Her style is steampunk and a bit Gothic and a bit French, the combination of which makes for some really interesting  pieces and, also, for some light-hearted ones.  Father Ted fans are well catered for!

 

French Birdcage Steampunk Necklace - Suncatcher Heart

 

 Vintage typewriter keys feature frequently in Ann’s  jewellery designs and, whereas sometimes she makes use of the  original letter or symbol within the key, she often  uses a bit of artistic licence in order to create a piece of themed jewellery or something more personal.  ‘Bitch’ and ‘Stud’ anybody?

Coincidentally, having just posted ‘Let’s Hear It for the Boys’ where I bemoan the lack of affordable yet exciting  gifts for men, I noticed that the Mental Embellisher could certainly help out with this dilemma and, if your man (or boy) has a sense of humour, I’m sure he wouldn’t be disappointed with a gift  from this shop.

Chaud Froid - Faux Cufflinks

Big Boy Pendant

Have a look at some more of this fun and original jewellery at http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5699522 and you could start your Christmas shopping with a smile on your face.

Ric Rac

I have never met Jodie as she lives in Australia but looking at her pictures and reading her blog make me wish she lived around the corner so that we could chat and some of her awesome talent might rub off on me.

Jodie makes some great items and I love her robots which, in a great series of photos on her blog, she has dancing to the Bee Gees’ ‘Staying Alive’ – and you thought it couldn’t be done!

Jodie's Robot Dancers

http://vintagericrac.blogspot.com/

There are times when I am inspired by other crafters and there are other times when I am just completely overawed. 

Jodie is a totally amazing craftswoman who has a thing about collecting selvedges left over from other projects but, unlike the rest of us ordinary mortals who might use them as trimmings or knock up a little purse she turns them into totally awesome items such as this dress and I have also seen a beautiful parasol and even a covered chair that she has made.

Jodie's Amazing Dress Made with Selvedges

 

Recognising that the rest of us need some help, Jodie generously puts some fantastic tutorials on her blog which are easy to follow and produce some great results.  I am going to try her one hour bag and also her little fabric buckets but I think I’ll leave the selvedges to her!

roseachocolat

Book Cover by roseachocolat

Who needs to know whether you’re reading the latest bestseller, a classic novel  or your child’s copy of  Harry Potter?

I love Isabel’s gorgeous book covers.  I don’t embroider myself – I’m sure it would push me over the edge(!), a bit like cross stitch – so I admire it in other people’s work.

I couldn’t resist these gorgeous colours and I love the castles and little hearts so I had to buy it.   I might use it on a journal or address book so that it is in constant use – I’ll decide when it arrives.

See some more photos of  Isabel’s work at http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosaechocolat

The Beauty is in the Detail

mouse group natural

Originally uploaded by the beauty is in the detail . . .

Looks like the mice are having a good old chin wag. Love the spotty one with the plain tail but, then again…..
More gorgeous sock mice by The Beauty is in the Detail