Handmade in Europe

Happy 1. Advent to all of you!

2011-11-27T07:54:00.000+01:00

Have a lovely day ... light a candle ... enjoy the peace ... read a good book ... play a game with your family ... get creative!

This year we don't have an advent calendar like we had last year, I'm sorry. I hope however we'll still be able to make it a little christmassy for you.

Christmas candle earrings by Geschmückt und Zugeknöpft

Magic candle holder by Jochens Elch-O-Thek

Baking for the holiday season

2011-11-26T23:11:00.001+01:00

http://etsyrussianteam.blogspot.com/2011/11/napoleons-or-vanilla-slice-pastry-or.html

Check it out!

Christmas Shopping… without Stress!

2011-11-26T18:51:00.000+01:00

Christmas is almost here! Did you start thinking about your Christmas shopping? Well, don´t panic, just follow these tips and you’ll have your gifts bought in a blink of an eye, without the stress, the confusion, the screaming kids asking for everything they see, and in the end, without the headache and the hurting feet! You’ll be comfortably seated on your sofa, with a cup of tea, relaxing!

First: Put your favourite music playing (the one the leaves in a good mood!), and put on your comfy slippers.

Second: Grab a pen and a paper and start making a list with the names of the persons you’ll be buying gifts.

Third: Turn on your computer, go to the web, and start your Christmas shopping!

Bellow I give you a list of some wonderful shops, so you won’t have to search through the entire web. Prepare yourself to enter in a quite and relaxed Shopping Mall.

Our Shopping Mall:

Arjasuni
http://www.arjasuni.artfire.com/

http://www.etsy.com/shop/arjasuni
http://www.designarja.fi

Armourarmwear

http://www.armourarmwear.artfire.com

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Tinkerbellstiches

http://www.zibbet.com/tinkerbellmarksix

Bluetina
http://www.bluetina.artfire.com/

Butterfly Crafts
www.butterfly-crafts.artfire.com

CatsWire
http://www.catswire.artfire.com/

http://www.zibbet.com/catswire

DeCris Creations
http://www.DeCrisCreations.artfire.com

Eddy’s Pressies
http://www.eddyspressies.artfire.com/
http://en.dawanda.com/shop/EddysPressies

FliaDesign
http://www.zibbet.com/FliaDesign
http://www.flia.se

Jenny Karlsson Design
http://www.jennykarlssondesign.artfire.com/
http://en.dawanda.com/shop/JennyKarlssonDesign
http://www.etsy.com/shop/JennyKarlsson
http://epla.se/shops/jennykarlsson

Kitty Ballistic
http://www.kittyballistic.artfire.com/
http://www.etsy.com/shop/KittyBallistic

NOTON by Raquel
http://www.noton.artfire.com/
http://en.dawanda.com/shop/NOTON
http://www.etsy.com/shop/NOTONbyRaquel

Done all your shopping?
Now, you just have to seat back and enjoy the rest of the day doing what you like most. The mailman will be arriving with all you gifts within a few days.

Quote of the week

2011-10-09T07:43:00.000+02:00

I think it's really important to use your hands and get close to materials. To be up close to real things like rain and mud; to have contact with nature.

Robin Day, British journalist, 1923 - 2000

Pumpkins

2011-10-06T11:17:00.000+02:00

It's October, no doubt. Although ... the weather feels more like summer at the moment. But the leaves start changing colors, that's a pretty reliable sign. The year went by so fast, don't you think? A little over three more weeks and it'll be Halloween.
I first learned about Halloween from a Mary Poppins book as a child and I was so jealous because it wasn't celebrated in Germany. In the countryside there used to be something similar, only there were turnips used instead of pumpkins. Now I didn't know too much about pumpkins anyway except that my grandmother made them kind of sweet and sour which I absolutely hated. Today I love pumpkin soup - even if I'm not a great cook I make a pretty decent one - and if I can ever get around to making it - even being a worse baker than a cook - I'll show you the pumpkin-coconut cake for which I got the recipe from a friend. So yummy.

Ok, let's celebrate the pumpkin first, shall we? We don't even have to sit in a patch and wait for it!
I brought you some sweet (not sweet and sour! ;-)) pumpkin items from all over Europe and I very much hope you'll enjoy.

Felt pumpkins by Filzkreis

Pumpkins 3 - watercolor ACEO by Tweeart

Tiny pumpkin sculpture by Sielukka

Pumpkin lampwork beads by Maya-Honey lampwork

Amigurumi pumpkin by Phooka

And now pumpkin soup for non-cooks like me:
- a pumpkin (butternut, Hokkaido, whatever you like unless it's a decorative pumpkin ;-)), cut up in small cubes
- potatoes, cut up in small cubes
- cut onions
- vegetable broth or just water
- salt, pepper, nutmeg, paprika, cayenne ... experiment, it's what I do
- milk or cream if wanted

Start with roasting the onions in a big pot, then add the pumpkin and potatoes (don't worry about the cubes, that's just to give you an idea how to cut them). Mix and then add the broth or water and the spices. More water, more soupy ... less water, more mushy.
Let that cook/simmer for about 25 minutes, then check on your cubes. You think they are done? Then it's time to get tough and to mash them. More or less, that depends on how chunky you want it to stay. Add a little milk or cream if you like that.
Of course you can also add meat or sausage or whatever you like. I'm a vegetarian, so that's no option for me. What I do is I take some mozzarella, cut it up, put it into my bowl and then add the soup which will make the mozzarella melt while I'm eating.
Oh dear. Now I'm hungry. I still have half a pumpkin in the fridge .......

A walk through the garden

2011-09-24T13:42:00.000+02:00

For someone who claims to have ten black thumbs (and yes, just try gardening with that, it's impossible) and who is convinced that each flower she even says as much as "Hello" to will die an instant, gruesome death, I'm way too fascinated by Botanical Gardens.
A month ago we spent a week of vacation in Cambridge and beside having a look at some colleges, go for a punting tour on the River Cam and eating delicious Indian food, we took the time to see the beautiful Cambridge University Botanic Garden.
Will you accompany me on a little stroll (but don't expect me to know all the plants I'm showing you!).

The fountain - we sat here reading, enjoying the peace, the sun and the birds singing

I'm strangely fascinated by thistles, always have been. What does that say about me? What does it say about thistles?

Echinacea .... I wanted to touch all their little heads, they looked so fluffy!

Another reading break ... hello, Mr. Duck, thanks for joining us.

A ... ehm ... yellow flower, I guess.

Greenhouses against the light.

Green and white knobbly thingies.

Green desert thingies (not dessert!).

If you look veeeeery closely, you'll see a bee.

Pink rose - oh my, I am an expert after all, eh?

The water lily pond ... quite a few birds were running around there, but I think I missed them.

A plant. Yup. I'm sure.

Some kind of pansy. I wonder who ruffled up her "dress".

I hope you enjoyed our little walk. Of course I have more, but I didn't want to bore you. Let me just say if you ever get the chance to go there, do it. It's a beautiful place.

Shelter Island Made Of Plastic Bottles

2011-09-23T21:52:00.000+02:00

Shelter Island Made Of Plastic Bottles

Items of the week

2011-09-23T16:54:00.001+02:00

Wire croechet tree with swarovski crystals by Cat's wire

Large silver hoop earrings with pearl by Bluetina

Black and White zebra peyote cuff by Noton

Silver and gold vintage bead necklace by Kitty Ballistic

Batty Happy Halloween card by Butterfly Crafts

Bicycle set of 4 polymer clay buttons by Ayarina

My new Magazine Seat ...

2011-09-20T09:00:00.000+02:00

Do you have old magazines that you don't read anymore? Don't throw them away!

I recently found on the internet a wonderful idea for a seat made from old magazines, two belts, and a small pillow. The instant I saw it I immediately loved it, and went to get my old magazines that were already in a bag to go to recycling, two old belts, and a small pillow that I never knew what to do with it because it's so small! Here's the result:

What do you think of it? Flappy also loved it, and of course, he had to be the first one seating on my new Magazine Seat!

Flappy said "More than approved!"

Best of Europe Handmade - Here comes Autumn!

2011-09-18T14:38:00.000+02:00

It's one of my favourite times of year at the moment - the beginning of Autumn, when there is still some warm sunshine, the leaves are a mixture of colours, the ground is coloured with mushrooms and toadstools, and the air smells rich and earthy. So I have been inspired by the fabulous colours and textures of the season to put together my first treasury on Etsy, featuring sellers from Europe. I hope you enjoy it!

Celessa $16.00	everydayglory $19.00	BozenaWojtasze... $27.00	krize $27.00
ZsBcreations $21.00	frenchfelt $69.00	strawberriesan... $34.00	sabahnur $9.00
HEraMade $22.00	artwatercolor $14.00	WeirdAndTwiste... $45.00	diohej $28.00
JurgitaMi $17.00	schalle $25.00	colettecolor $19.00	Lindecise $20.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Quote of the week

2011-09-11T09:39:00.000+02:00

Three may keep a secret if two of them are dead.

Benjamin Franklin, American statesman, writer, scientist, philosopher, printer and inventor, 1706 - 1790

So sceptical, Mr Franklin? ;-)

Book of secrets #1 by Ignis Fatuus

Best of Europe - Fly away

2011-09-04T12:51:00.000+02:00

Sometimes I just want to take a balloon and fly away ... leave all cares and problems behind me while I travel with the clouds in the blue sky.

Cynthia at the fair by CW Poppets

Ballon trip painting by Molto

Purple zombie and skull balloons painting by Rocky the Zombie

Pillow cover by Couch Couture

Pre-Order Christmas Decorations at Butterfly Crafts

2011-09-01T09:00:00.001+02:00

I know many people who like to treat themselves to a special, unique Christmas ornament each year. It might be for themselves as a way to build a wonderful collection, or it might be the tradition of taking children to the Christmas shop to pick out something special for them to have on the tree.

Christmas decorations can be costly, especially for the truly unique ones. I love to make Christmas decorations and last year introduced handmade sequin decorations to my online shop and at craft fairs where they were a great success!

This year I have introduced stars as a new shape but also created a special system where by you can pre-order a handmade decoration in any of the shapes and colours I have available and just pay a deposit (as I have to list on Artfire in US$, the deposit is $3 per decoration). I will then make up the decorations for you by the middle of November and then arrange paying the balance. Not only is this a fantastic way to have wonderful Christmas decorations but it also helps spread the cost of what can be an expensive holiday season.

You can learn more about this plan in the Butterfly-Crafts Artfire Shop.

Quote of the week

2011-08-28T09:00:00.000+02:00

Life is like a rainbow. You need both the sun and the rain to make its color appear.

Unknown

P.S. I wish I was better at photographing rainbows when I'm in a hurry ;-) However the meaning counts.

Lime Mousse Recipe

2011-08-27T20:11:00.011+02:00

This is one of my favorite mousses and I love to eat it in the Summer. It's very fresh and it's a great dessert to make because it's very easy and simple.

Lime Mousse

Ingredients:

- 4 limes

- 2 packages of heavy cream

- 1 can sweetened condensed milk

Preparation:

Put the heavy creams in the freezer to chilled them.

Zest the limes and set aside to decorate the mousse in the end, and then squeeze the juice of the limes and also set aside.

In a mixing bowl, beat the heavy creams until soft.

Add the sweetened condensed milk and then the lime juice and gently mix it. Pour into a bowl and garnish with the lime zest.

Refrigerate until serving time.

Bon Appétit

Items of this week

2011-08-26T10:44:00.002+02:00

Three green cobwebs earrings by Flia Design

Small cotton handbag with asian inspired flower design by Jenny Karlsson Design

Silver wire crochet flower necklace with pearls by Cat's Wire

Cream carved silver post button earrings by Kitty Ballistic

Blue & Black fabrick and wooden beads necklace by Butterfly Crafts

Best of Europe Handmade - Animal Magic

2011-08-21T10:17:00.000+02:00

The animal kingdom is always a popular source of inspiration for arts and crafts and everyone has their favourite animals (in case you were wondering, mine are cats, giraffes, goats, and fennec foxes. Although I like all animals really).

Here are some handmade items inspired by animals - maybe your favourite is featured here?

First up is this super cute amigurumi piglet by TheStitchandFold. I am not able to crochet very well, so I am always in awe of people who can make such sweet things using crochet:

Next is this beautiful drawn postcard of Oscar the orangutan by RaspberryDoodles. I love the expression on his face:

Next is this colourful Dala Horse Hanging Ornament by RavenandMatilda. I have a particular fondness for dala horses (I recently blogged about them) and I love the bright colours used:

More fantastic artwork now, in the form of this watercolour painting of a seaotter by Dimdi:

Finally, what about the king of the jungle, the brave lion? Meet Mr Lionheart 13 by jipijipi:

Items of the week

2011-08-19T08:08:00.002+02:00

Wire crochet pendant with lampwork and smoky quartz - Ring of mist by Cat's Wire

Greetings Card with herbal teabag for female Birthday by Butterfly Crafts

Mist wine glass charms by De Cris creations

Wire Wrapped Beach Stone Long Necklace by NOTON

Acorn earrings, bronze glass pearls, antique brass by Kitty Ballistic

White pillow case in linen with folk art pattern by Jenny Karlsson Design

Wendy's Wednesdays

2011-08-17T09:00:00.000+02:00

My heart goes out to all those going on holidays with those little ...erm...helpers

Best of Europe Handmade: The Summer Flowers edition

2011-08-07T10:00:00.001+02:00

Despite what a glance out of the window shows, it is still summer. My garden is bursting with colour, and clearly the extra rainfall is making the plants happy, even if we are not. :-) So to remind ourselves that even a rainy summer is a beautiful thing, here is a collection of summer flower items from European sellers.

When we think of summer, it's difficult not to think of a bright, smiling sunflower, and this beautiful beaded Sunflower Stem by Fleurs de Perles means you can have a touch of summer in your house all year round:

And it wouldn't be summer without some bright red poppies to cheer us up - these felt earrings by lulubijoux are gorgeously bright:

If the sun does decide to come out, then this pretty stained glass Iris suncatcher by Dare to Dream will make the most of it:

This gorgeous machine-embroidered Meadow Bowl by chocolatefrog gives a real feel of the colour and textures of a field full of summer flowers:

This felt sunflower wall art by corazondetela would brighten up any corner of your house - it looks so realistic and tactile too:

And if you want to carry a little summer meadow round with you wherever you go, then this Summer Meadow Lampwork Pendant by Karagems is ideal - such pretty colours!

Quote of the week

2011-07-31T09:00:00.017+02:00

There's rosemary, that's for remembrance; pray, love, remember; and there's pansies, that's for thoughts.

William Shakespeare, English dramatist, playwright and poet, 1564 - 1616

By THOR

Items of this week

2011-07-29T08:36:00.002+02:00

New wonderful handmade products from Europe this week:

Crochet childrens bag & Tic Tac Toe game by NOTON

All is well that endes well lavender sachet by Jenny Karlsson Design

Vintage bead necklace by Kitty Ballistic

Toffee brown and white cowl/neck warmer by Isabelle Knits

Nose, the dwarf

2011-07-25T09:00:00.068+02:00

I don't know if you are familiar with the fairy tale of "Zwerg Nase" as we originally call him in German, "Nose the dwarf" in English). It's a story written by Wilhelm Hauff and it's perfect for this month's theme of herbs and spices.
As the story itself would be too long, I can only give you a summary, but if I woke your interest, you can find the whole story here.

Little James helps his mother, a greengrocer, to sell her fruits, vegetables and herbs on the market. One day an ugly old woman comes along.

"We'll see, we'll see, we'll look at your herbs--look at your herbs, to see whether you have what I want," answered the old woman; and stooping down she thrust her dark brown, unsightly hands into the herb-basket, and took up some that were beautifully spread out, with her long spider-legged fingers, bringing them one by one up to her long nose, and smelling them all over. The poor woman almost felt her heart break when she saw the old hag handle her herbs in this manner, but she dared not say any thing to her, the purchasers having a right to examine the things as they pleased; besides which, she felt a singular awe in the presence of this old woman. After having searched the whole basket, she muttered, "wretched stuff, wretched herbs, nothing that I want--were much better fifty years ago--wretched stuff! wretched stuff"

She finally gets some cabbage heads and asks for little James who meanwhile has commented on her looks quite frankly to carry them home for her.
What a surprise for James to see that she lives in a house that is all marble, ebony, gold and glass inside, not talking of the guinea pigs she has as servants!
The old woman now offers him some soup.

"Now, my dear little son, now," said she, "eat this soup and you will have in your own person all that you admired so much in me. You shall moreover become a clever cook, that you may be something at least, but as for the herb, that you shall never find, because your mother did not have it in her basket."
The little boy did not exactly understand what she was saying, but was the more attentive to eating his soup, which he relished uncommonly. His mother had cooked various savoury soups, but never any like this. The flavour of the fine herbs and spice ascended from it, and it was at the same time very sweet, and very sharp and strong.

Being under a strange spell now the boy spends seven years as the old woman's servant learning how to become a great cook. One day she tells him to prepare a chicken and while he's looking for the herbs to stuff it with, he finds a herb which is yet unknown to him in a closet. It makes him sneeze and wake up from the spell.
When he comes back to his mother and father however, they don't recognize him for the old woman has turned him into an ugly dwarf.

"Zwerg Nase" shopping tote by Tina Toffifee

Nose becomes the Duke's cook and lives in comfort and honor although he thinking of his parents makes him sad. There he meets Miss Mimi, a goose that used to be an enchanter's daughter who had been enchanted herself by a fairy. She tells him that finding the herb that transformed him may also turn him back into his old self.
One day a friend of the Duke's, a foreign prince, comes to visit and asks for a special pie, but alas, Nose can't make it right, no matter what he tries.

"This will not avail you, my good Nose," replied the prince, laughing; "even yesterday I thought you would not be able to make this dish as well as my cook. Know there is wanting a herb called Sneeze-with-pleasure, which is not even known in this country. Without it this pie is insipid, and your master will never eat it in such perfection as I do."

Nose and Mimi are desperately looking for the herb and almost despair, but ...

suddenly the goose stopped, flapped her wings for joy, put her head quickly into the high grass, and plucked something which she reached gracefully with her bill to the astonished Nose, saying; "There is the herb, and plenty is growing here, so that you will never want for it."
The dwarf looked thoughtfully at the herb, and a sweet odour arose from it, which immediately reminded him of the scene of his metamorphosis; the stalk and leaves were of a blueish green, bearing a glowing red flower, with a yellow edge.
"God be praised!" he now exclaimed, "What a miracle! I believe this is the very herb that transformed me from a squirrel into this hideous form; shall I make a trial, to see what effect it will have on me!"
"Not yet," entreated the goose. "Take a handful of this herb with you, let us go to your room and put up all the money and whatever you have, and then we will try the virtue of the herb."

Nose is indeed turned back into a beautiful young man and not forgetting what Mimi has done for him, he takes her home to her father to get her transformed back. Not only he has the girl he loves now, but he can also go back to his parents, purchase a shop and lead a wealthy and happy life.

Only this much may be added, that after his departure from the duke's palace, there was a great sensation, for when, on the next morning, the duke was about to fulfil his oath, and to have the dwarf beheaded in case he had not discovered the herbs, he was nowhere to be found; and the prince maintained that the duke had let him escape secretly rather than lose his best cook, and accused him of breaking his word of honour. This circumstance gave rise to a great war between the two princes, which is well known in history by the name of the "Herb War." Many battles were fought, but at length a peace was concluded, which is now called the "Pie Peace," because at the festival of reconciliation the Souzeraine, queen of pies, was prepared by the prince's cook, and relished by the duke in the highest degree.

Herbs often play a role in fairy tales, but I think this one takes the crown, don't you? ;-)

Best of Europe Handmade: The spice edition

2011-07-24T10:00:00.001+02:00

In the second part of this month's showcase, we will share with you some spice-themed finds from Europeans sellers on various online venues. So grab a glass of water and get ready to spice things up!

First up are these yummy curry coloured earrings by AmaltheaCpH, which give me a sudden craving for mango chutney....

Next is this cute greeting card featuring two adorable characters eating spice cakes by Funny and Cute:

This chilli pepper bracelet by MillieBead features lampwork chilli peppers - the ideal gift for someone who loves spicy food!

This pretty gingham spice bird by PlowmensClocks is not only nice to look at, but she is filled with crushed star anise, so she smells good too:

Next are these gorgeous mustard and deep red earrings by BlueForestJewellery:

Finally, these sweet gingerbread plush figures by Whenaworld are too cute to eat:

Wendy's Wednesdays

2011-07-20T09:00:00.004+02:00

Who fell asleep while knitting by the pool?

Herbs and Spices - Curiosities

2011-07-19T09:00:00.004+02:00

Through a research about this month’s theme I found out that, originally, herbs and spices were used not only in the preparation of medicines, as well as to disguise the taste of food that had begun to sour.
Nowadays we use these spices as seasoning to make our cooking even more tasty. And believe me, using the right seasoning, your cook will be memorable, probably your last night dinner guests will never forget your wonderful stew!
For example, have you tried adding a few grains of ground black pepper to your chocolate ice cream? Or add a few rosemary leaves to your pear or apple jam? Simply delicious!
Herbs and spices are also great to make our food healthier, by substituting fat and salt in our cooking.
But they are not just for cooking, for instance, on a wide variety of herbs that are in this world, what do you think of lavender sachets that Jenny Karlsson has in her shop?

Better Late Than Never Handmade Embroidery Lavender Sachet

They give a great scent to your clothes, placed in the drawer, and also help keeping away the little bugs.

PS - If, at night, you have some difficulty sleeping, try putting a little cinnamon to your glass of warm milk. It will help a lot!

Quote of the week

2011-07-17T09:00:00.001+02:00

Once you got a spice in your home, you have it forever. Women never throw out spices. The Egyptians were buried with their spices. I know which one I'm taking with me when I go.

Erma Bombeck, US humorist, 1927 - 1996

Umm. I think I have to do one of my "re-spice" actions once again ...

Items of this week

2011-07-15T08:07:00.002+02:00

Little Gingerbread girl by Eddy's Pressies

Green flower drop earrings by Kitty Ballistic

Charlotte's web, rose quartz and copper wire by Cat's Wire

Tiny Tardis mini book key ring by Ignis Fatuus

Herbs and Spices Theme - Gingerbread Men

2011-07-13T11:41:00.009+02:00

In our family, we love gingerbread men. It's such a simple recipe and the kids can even do it all by themselves. I just take charge of the oven; heating it and putting things in and out.

Did you know that the first historical mention of gingerbread men was back in the reign of Queen Elizabeth the 1st of England? She had the gingerbread figures made and presented in the likeness of some of her important guests. What they thought of this we will never know. There are traditions of making gingerbread cake and biscuits even further back than that.

American recipes use molasses and many people also use cloves, orange zest and other spices. But I like mine very simple - love that gingery taste.

Here is a recipe for gingerbread biscuits, the recipe for gingerbread cake is different

INGREDIENTS
350g / 12oz plain flour

175g / 6oz light soft brown sugar

100g / 4oz butter

1 medium egg

4 tablespoons of golden syrup

1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

1½ teaspoon of ground ginger

Put the flour, butter, ground ginger and bicarbonate of soda in a mixing bowl. Mix it all together with fingertips until crumbly. Add sugar, syrup and egg and mix until it forms a firm pastry mix.

Pre-heat the oven to 180°C / 350°F / Gas Mark 4

Using the rolling pin, roll out the pastry to about 5mm thick. Make sure the surface and the rolling pin are well dusted with flour. Cut out the shapes with a knife and/or pastry cutter

Place the cut out pastry on a greased or non-stick baking tray. put the baking trays in the pre-heated oven. Remove after 15 minutes (check after 10 minutes). We want them still a bit soft and not too golden or they will be very hard when they cool down.

After they have cooled you can use icing to draw a face and stick on sweets and candies of different kinds - the kids really go to town on this bit.

I really love gingerbread men (and ladies) but once you have your gingerbread you can make anything you like; In Germany they make the most wonderful houses, and many other European countries also have a Gingerbread house as part of their Christmas festivities.

Best of Europe Handmade - The herb edition

2011-07-10T10:00:00.005+02:00

To tie in with our July challenge theme, we thought we'd showcase some herb and spice themed finds from European sellers. This is a two-part post - today's showcase will show off some herby items, and in two weeks, we will show off a collection of spiced items.

First up are these pretty vintage herb print earrings by beautyspot:

Next are these cute polymer clay and herb chicken sculptures by FunkyChickenGifts:

This next item is a bit of a cheat, as it contains herbs and spices. It looks herby though. It's beautiful Anise and Rosemary soap from CampodiFiore:

This carved wooden Rosemary fairy doll by Rjabinnik is so pretty:

This yummy sage green vintage lucite bead necklace by Chameleonite is simply gorgeous:

And we finish with another piece of jewellery - this time, some stunning sterling silver rosemary hoop earrings by Alexis Southam Jewellery:

We hope you've enjoyed this fragrant collection, Don't forget to check our blog during July for more herb and spice themed posts!

A tale of woe

2011-07-09T09:00:00.039+02:00

First let me ask you if you have good nerves and a good tummy. Don't look at the picture if you don't because what you'll see is pure horror.
It's a little bird who has been in the claws and fangs of my cats. He never had a chance for he is ... was ... a catnip bird.

It does look pretty sad, doesn't it? I remember when birdie came to our house, clean, whole in body and soul, and now look at him. For the defense of my kitties I have to say they love him dearly still, even like that.
Catnip, catmint ... "nepeta" is a genus of about 250 species of flowering plants. They are called catnip because of their effect on cats, not only domestic, but also big ones. Not all of them are affected the same way. My cats go nuts about their catnip items for about 10 minutes and fight about one item while two others are lying around "pfff, I don't want the pillow or the mouse, I want the bird, NOW!", then sometimes don't even look at them for weeks. Birdie gets around the place a lot. I think he has been everywhere, underneath the wardrobe, in the bathroom, in baskets, the bed, chairs, hiding under the stairs, but he always comes back.
Do you have experiences to share with us?

You don't want a store bought catnip toy? Well, check out this cute toy from instincts in the Netherlands! What cat could resist this sweet fish?!

Cat toy with catnip

Items of the week

2011-07-08T12:48:00.006+02:00

Hand bound diary with lock by Ignis Fatuus

Orange scented potpourri bag by Butterfly Crafts

Wire crochet and wire lace fossil shell necklace by Cat's Wire

Blue Buttons earrings by Kitty Ballistic

Wendy's Wednesdays

2011-07-06T09:00:00.000+02:00

Quote of the week

2011-07-03T09:00:00.002+02:00

For more beautiful gems check out Deb's gem shop ;-)

The glowing Ruby should adorn Those who in warm July are born, Then will they be exempt and free From love's doubt and anxiety.

Unattributed author, Notes and Queries, May 11, 1889, p. 371

Items of this week

2011-07-01T09:00:00.003+02:00

New in Europe this week, as you may start to notice we are not exclusively and Artfire group anymore, there will be listings here for all venues including self hosted shops:

Red & White chainmaille bracelet by ArjasUni

White cloud key ring by NOTON

Ballet theme birthday card with bookmark by Butterfly Crafts

Pink earrings with vintage lucite beads by Kitty Ballistic

Interview with Mr. H. Dumpty

2011-06-30T09:00:00.001+02:00

No other accident has probably moved people so much over the last centuries. We want to find out the story behind the rumors, behind the medical evidence, behind the riddle, so our journalist talked to Mr. Humpty Dumpty in person.

Q: Mr. Dumpty, first let me congratulate you on your - if I'm right - 200th birthday last year?

HD: I think it doesn't count how many candles there are on the cake, but how you feel in your heart.

Q: Ah, all right. So may I ask how you do feel in your heart?

HD: Hurt. I feel hurt. Have you ever read all the speculations about what I am? An egg with arms and legs, a cannon, an obese person, a clumsy person! Children sang about me in the streets. Nowadays I can be glad if I turn up in a retro computer game. And the horses, oh my, those horses! It makes me shudder just to think of them!

Q: Let's take this from the start, Mr. Dumpty. There is one question that has been puzzling great minds. What did you do on the wall in the first place?

HD: That, well, that is a little personal, don't you think? Don't give me that look, young man. There are, ehm, there are names to protect. I already said too much. Go on now with your questions. I just hope they'll get more intelligent.

Q: Maybe we can come back to this point again later. Can you tell us then why you fell from the wall? There have been suspicions over the years that this was not really an accident, but you never gave a statement about that.

HD: These rumors are completely unfounded.

Q: It wouldn't happen to have to do with this young lady?

HD: This question shows how little you are informed. My great fall happened long before this young lady even was born.

Q: Sir, why did you fall off the wall?

HD: In fact I have a hard time remembering the exact course of events. As you know, I sustained a concussion, among several other most severe injuries that day. Ever since I have been suffering from momentary memory loss. I do remember being on the wall one second and ... and ... excuse me, it's still not easy to talk about it ... on the ground the next.

Q: How did the king's horses come into the picture?

HD: Galloping! I have no idea why the king's men expected the horses to be of any use. They rather made things worse! Big beasts trampling all over me. I still have nightmares about it. My therapist recommended I should spend my reconvalescence on a pony farm to build up good memories. What a quack! One of the ponies bit me.

Q: Mr. Dumpty, I can't help noticing that you sound like a very bitter egg. Man! A bitter man.

HD: I am not sure how you would feel after a bunch of horses - that don't even have fingers I might add - and a group of knights try to mend you. Why didn't they bring in the Queen's maids? I am quite sure they would have done a much better job. No one ever talked about that. Instead my name was used for "the greatest triumph in pin game history" in 1947, not even talking about the game in which children had to pull blocks out of the wall and the one that made me fall would lose the game.
By the way, see the Queen's maids there? So where were they when I really would have needed them?

Q: If the horses and men weren't able to put you together again as it is said in the rhyme, how is it possible then you are still around today? Who has mended you?

HD: Well, the king of course. You didn't think he would just leave me there, all broken? A good man, the king. Crafty man, too. Mind you, it took him a long time, he had to take a lot of breaks what with ruling the country and all that, but finally he said "Humpty, old chap, I think you are as good as new now. Just stay away from those ladi..... walls. Stay away from those walls", he said. And right he was. I've got better things to do.

Q: Is there anything else you want to tell the world out there, sir?

HD: Actually there is something. I'm not just the guy who fell off a wall. I wish people would acknowledge the other things I have been doing over the years.

Q: Such as?

HD: Just to name a few - I led different anthropological expeditions into the jungle of Papua New Guinea. I wrote a series of historical love stories. Also I am co-owner of a free range chicken farm, together with Mr. E. Bunny. Next year I'll produce a movie called "The Egg and I".

Q: Mr. Dumpty, we thank you for this interview.

Era Uma Velha - There Was An Old Woman

2011-06-29T11:00:00.001+02:00

This June’s month is almost over, but there’s still time to share with you one of my favorite Nursery Rhymes from when I was little. It's called "Era Uma Velha" and here are the lyrics, first in Portuguese, and then translated to English.

ERA UMA VELHA

Era uma velha que morava numa ilha,

E tinha um gato com olhos cor de ervilha,

Mas esse gato era muito lambareiro

De vez em quando andava sempre ao cheiro

Mas certo dia sem a velha dar por isso

O gato vai e rouba-lhe o chouriço

O homem chega, e chega para jantar

E vê a velha, a velha a soluçar

Mas ó mulher, ó mulher o que foi isso

Foi o nosso gato que roubou o chouriço

O homem pega, e pega no cacete

E põe o gato a andar de rabanete.

There was an old woman

There was an old woman who lived on an island,

And had a cat with eyes of pea’s color,

But this cat was very sloppy

From time to time, he was always smelling

But one day, without the old woman noticing it

The cat goes and steals her chorizo

The man comes, and comes to have dinner

And sees the old woman, the old woman weeping

But my wife, my wife what happened?

It was our cat who stole the chorizo

The man grabs, and grabs the stick

And puts the cat to spin.

If you want to listen to this song, just take a look here!

This song inspired me to create a keychain of a cat (since I'm in a mood for keychains!). And when I was thinking of how could my cat be, I thought, why not a Kitty’s keychain, every little girl loves Kitty, right?

This keychain was made with felt, and stuffed with fiberfill. (If you want to know more details, click here)

Riddles for the Children (and to everyone else!) - The Answers!!

2011-06-29T09:00:00.001+02:00

And now I leave you with the answers for my last post - Riddles for the Children (and to everyone else!):

1. The well water

2. The ears

3. The darkness

4. The head lices

5. The pencil

6. All of them! They can not take off the tail to eat!

7. To get up on time

8. I wish I had a waist like yours!

9. The shadow

10. The match

So... did you guess any riddle?

Just remember, although we get older, doesn't mean we can't have fun like kids!

Egghead

2011-06-28T09:00:00.002+02:00

This month's subject is nursery rhymes, so who could I be talking about that is an egghead? Humpty Dumpty of course.

Here in Germany Humpty Dumpty is not popular as a nursery rhyme (read his story here), but I (and I bet many others) have known the figure since my childhood, thanks to one of my favorite children's book series, Mary Poppins by P. L. Travers, which I love so much that I own it in both English and German, even in different editions.

Only after meeting him there I met him again in Through the Looking Glass, by no other than Lewis Carroll of course.

Humpty Dumpty got so famous that even the German Steiff factory made him as a felt toy in 1906 and again in 2004 as a limited edition re-issue!

Now it's time for our little rhyme (ha, I can rhyme, too!). Wanna speak along?

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the king's horses and all the king's men
Couldn't put Humpty together again.

You want to see more? In that case look what I found. Good old Humpty in all variations!

Humpty Dumpty all over the place

Curated By: CatsWire

ArtFire.com

Handmade Gifts

P.S. Don't worry about the egg. It was an old egg that had been forgotten in the fridge. I don't like to throw away food, but sometimes it's all you can do and in this case at least he didn't "die" without a purpose ;-)

By Cat's Wire

Best of Europe Handmade - Nursery Rhymes

2011-06-26T10:00:00.000+02:00

As you probably already know, our Handmade in Europe guild's monthly challenge theme is Nursery Rhymes. You may have seen some previous posts about it, and very soon we will reveal the items we have made for the challenge - exciting stuff! So, this edition of our Best of Europe showcase also features items based on nursery rhymes - can you guess which ones? Answers at the bottom of the page.

Our first item needs no introduction. He doesn't look very happy - I think he knows what's coming next. :-) You can find this charming doll at atelierpompadour :

The next item in our showcase is guaranteed to have you humming the song for days. It is worth it though - this fabulous oil painting by diana-2548 makes you wish you were at the seaside:

Next we have something for those of you with very good eyesight - this cute miniature dollhouse book by Marottesud:

Now then, who would have a garden like this? Let me see, silver bells....and are those cockleshells? And what's with all the pretty maids lined up? This charming pen print by madebysteph features a very unusual garden indeed...

And finally, a perfectly matched couple. No matter what these two are served at a dinner party, you are can guarantee there will be no leftovers. These fantastically detailed art dolls were created by Button Box:

Did you guess correctly? The nursery rhymes featured were:

Humpty Dumpty
Row, row, row your boat
Old Mother Hubbard
Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary
Jack Sprat

Wendy's Wednesdays

2011-06-22T09:00:00.007+02:00

You can try to influence a knitter to give a non-knitted gift...

But come that birthday...

Quote of the week

2011-06-19T09:00:00.002+02:00

Matching this month's theme of our challenge "Nursery rhymes" our quote today will be from a rhyme that is found in different version all around the world.
I bet you can sing along.

London Bridge is falling down,
Falling down, falling down.
London Bridge is falling down,
My fair lady.

The earliest printed English version was published in 1744 with a slightly different text.
Did you know that this was also a game? The most common is that two players make an arch while the others pass through in single file. The arch is then lowered at the song's end to "catch" a player. Funny enough, I remember playing something similar as a child, but I don't remember what tune or text we did it to. It definitely wasn't the London Bridge one as I'm from Germany. And no, I'm not in this picture which was taken 1898. I'm old, but not that old.

There is not just one London Bridge in history. A bridge over the Thames has existed at or near the site since the Roman occupation. Bridges came and went (falling down? ;-)), but the Thames stayed. If only the river could talk, what stories would it tell us?
This is an engraving by Claes Van Visscher from 1616. It looks like a little town on the bridge, doesn't it?

And wow, how it has changed over the years!

London Brige Thames Panorama by l-i-n-k

Baa Baa Black Sheep

2011-06-18T08:00:00.000+02:00

With this month’s challenge theme being nursery rhymes there is only one I wanted to pick: Baa Baa Black Sheep. The reason was that I had recently been to stay with my sister-in-law and nieces and the two little girls insisted on showing us their sheep.

According to my friends at Wikipedia, Baa Baa Black Sheep is an English nursery rhyme sung to a variant of the 1761 French melody Ah ! vous dirai-je, Maman. The original form of the tune is used for Twinkle Twinkle Little Star with the words have changed little in two and a half centuries.

The modern day wording is:

Baa, baa, black sheep,
Have you any wool?
Yes sir, yes sir,
Three bags full.
One for the master,
One for the dame,
And one for the little boy
Who lives down the lane

This rhyme was first printed in Tommy Thumb's Pretty Song Book, published in 1744 with the following lyrics:

Bah, Bah a black Sheep,
Have you any Wool?
Yes merry have I,
Three Bags full,
One for my master,
One for my Dame,
One for the little Boy
That lives down the lane

In 1986, a controversy emerged over changing the language of 'Baa Baa Black Sheep' in Britain because, it was alleged in the popular press, that it was seen as racially dubious. This was based only on a rewriting of the rhyme in one private nursery as an exercise for the children there and not on any local government policy. A similar controversy emerged in 1999 when reservations about the rhyme were submitted to Birmingham City Council by a working group on racism in children's resources, which were never approved or implemented. Yet in 2006, two private nurseries in Oxfordshire altered the song to "Baa Baa Rainbow Sheep", with black being replaced with a variety of other adjectives, like "happy, sad, hopping" and "pink".

When making this handmade card, I never thought of the “politics” of it, but more the happy and simplistic memories from childhood and being at nursery school and spending time listening to my nieces sing a new song they have learnt.

Victoria, Butterfly-Crafts: Handmade Cards & Gifts

Items of the week

2011-06-17T10:28:00.002+02:00

Another fabulous collection of handmade items for sale in Europe

Snuggle Penguin 'Buttercup' by Eddy's Pressies

Wire crochet flower pendant by Cat's Wire (who has a sale going on!)

Custom made charm bracelet from your odd earrings by Blue Tina

Brown bag with medieval characters by JennyKarlsson design

Green apple Shea butter cold process handmade soap by Butterfly Crafts

Riddles for the Children (and to everyone else!)

2011-06-16T23:16:00.003+02:00

As you all know, this month we have the theme "Nursery Rhymes", so I'll leave you with some riddles for children. You can all try to guess them, by leaving your comments! I will only post the answers later. Let's have some fun?

1. What is the thing, the higher it is, the easier you can reach it?

2. We are two twin sisters, that naked or dressed, we can never see each other… although we're never angry.

3. What is the thing, the more you have, the less you see?

4. What walks on the head with their feet?

5. What's the thing that borns big, and dies small?

6. Which animal eats with his tail?

7. Why the boy placed a clock under the bed?

8. What did the zero say to the eight?

9. What goes into the water and doesn’t get wet?

10. It's a tiny magic wand, that by touching a box, makes light in darkness.

Don´t forget to check out later, the answers!

For the little ones

2011-06-14T09:00:00.001+02:00

Inspired by this month's challenge I did a little browsing to see other people's items. Aren't they lovely?

For the little ones

Curated By: CatsWire

ArtFire.com

Handmade Soap

Mary had a little ....

2011-06-13T08:39:00.000+02:00

.... baby? Food? Water? Bow? Lamp! Nah. Mary had a little lamb.
Let me ask you a question. What does Walt Disney have to do with this guild's June challenge "Nursery rhymes"?
Well, it's said that Walt Disney heard Clarence Nash, the guy who was Donald Duck's voice until his death in 1985, reciting the poem "Mary had a little lamb" in his "duck voice" and that this actually gave him the idea to create Donald Duck.
I always loved that story, may it be true or not, just as much as I love Donald and his distinctive voice (Nash was the best one ever!).

So when the poll showed that the "Nursery Rhymes" came in first, I couldn't think of anything else but Mary and her lamb, even if it's not a popular poem in my own country obviously.

And this is it:

Mary had a little lamb,
little lamb, little lamb,
Mary had a little lamb,
whose fleece was white as snow.
And everywhere that Mary went,
Mary went, Mary went,
and everywhere that Mary went,
the lamb was sure to go.

It followed her to school one day
school one day, school one day,
It followed her to school one day,
which was against the rules.
It made the children laugh and play,
laugh and play, laugh and play,
it made the children laugh and play
to see a lamb at school.

And so the teacher turned it out,
turned it out, turned it out,
And so the teacher turned it out,
but still it lingered near,
And waited patiently about,
patiently about, patiently about,
And waited patiently about
till Mary did appear.

"Why does the lamb love Mary so?"
Love Mary so? Love Mary so?
"Why does the lamb love Mary so,"
the eager children cry.
"Why, Mary loves the lamb, you know."
The lamb, you know, the lamb, you know,
"Why, Mary loves the lamb, you know,"
the teacher did reply.

I hadn't known myself that this poem is based on a true story, so instead of pretending I can tell you this story, I urge you to check it out here.

I'm not pretending however to have created this piece after being inspired by the poem, so I won't let you wait any longer and give you my interpretation of Mary's lamb which can also be found in my studio now. It's made from fine silver wire with lots of wool consisting of faceted rainbow moonstones.

Best of Europe Handmade - the jewellery edition

2011-06-12T10:00:00.002+02:00

This edition of Best in Europe Handmade is all about jewellery. Our selection shows off some unusual pieces of jewellery - the beauty of buying handmade is that you get an original piece, not something everyone can find on the high street.

First are these simple, sophisticated silver leaf earrings by etincelledesign (Sweden):

Turquoise is one of my favourite colours, so of course this leather flower ring by fleurfatale (Belgium) appeals to me:

This lace necklace choker by cielmesbijoux (France) has a feminine, vintage feel to it:

This lampwork glass pendant by CeeGee Jewellery Design (UK) contains such beautiful colours:

Finally, these pretty red flower earrings by Sarkany (Germany) remind me of poppies and Summertime:

A little trip to Pisa

2011-06-09T15:43:00.000+02:00

I just got back from my birthday present! It was my sixtieth birthday in April for which my Mum and sister organized a little treat. It was also our twentieth wedding anniversary, so Bryn got to come too! We flew to Pisa from Alicante, courtesy of Ryanair, which only took two hours. We stayed in a little hotel in the centre of the old city, only five minutes walk from the famous Leaning Tower.

It does have a slight list to port! We didn't climb up, mainly because my husband has no head for heights, but also because my little old legs started to wobble a bit at the very thought of all those stairs!

In the centre of Pisa is a lovely old square or Piazza, as the Italians call them. This one is called Piazza del Cavalieri. We walked through it most days. We did a LOT of walking. That is the only reason I haven't come home even fatter than I went, in spite of the copious amounts of scrumptious Italian food we consumed!

We walked along the river on Sunday and I've got the blisters to prove it. As you can see, the weather was kind to us. The sun shone most of the time but it was a lot more humid than our Almeria home. I had to go shopping for more clothes!

This is Mr. Garibaldi. He started a failed revolution and had to leave in a hurry. I'm not sure if he's got anything to do with the biscuit bearing his name!

We had a great time in Pisa. It was the first time I'd ever been to Italy but I'm sure it won't be the last.

Wendy's Wednesdays

2011-06-08T09:00:00.001+02:00

Right now the weather is perfect for a good picnic in the park

Thunder - will you bring me rain?

2011-06-07T09:00:00.001+02:00

I can handle rain much better than too much sun.
Also ... who said grey wasn't beautiful?

Thunder - will you bring me rain?

Curated By: CatsWire

ArtFire.com

Fine Art Photography

Quote of the week

2011-06-05T09:00:00.001+02:00

The soul would have no rainbow had the eyes no tears.

John Vance Cheney, American poet, essayist and librarian, 1848 - 1922

Picture by Wing-Chi Poon

Items of the week

2011-06-03T09:48:00.003+02:00

A few new listing from Europe's finest handmade artisans:

Pink flower earrings by Kitty Ballistic on DaWanda

Pale green lace shawl by Madelines Wardrobe on etsy

Rosalind - silver wire crochet lace pendant by Cats Wire on Artfire

Flappy in Portugal

2011-06-02T09:00:00.001+02:00

As you know, Flappy is a very travelled Phoenix, so, when he decided he wanted to visit Portugal, I received him with my arms wide open.

One of the first things he made when he arrived to Portugal was to meet Saul, a turtle with 18 years old. Seemed that they knew each other for ages!

He told me how he was excited to be here and finally meet Portugal. We went for a walk to see the ocean (unfortunately I forgot my camera at home and couldn't take pictures). He was so happy that he wanted to jump and go for a swim, but I grabbed him just in time!

When we got home he helped me with a pair of socks I was knitting for me. I asked him if he could handle it and he answered me "Of course! I'm the HIE mascot, and that means I know many crafts, and one of them is knitting!". So I handed him my started socks...well, no need to say that he got a little confused with all those needles and had some difficulty at the begining, but when he got the hang he didn't wanted to stop!

I even had to undo some rows or else my socks would become tights! Here are my finished socks:

Lovely, aren´t they?

And at Easter Flappy caught a stomach ache. You know why?

He ate all my chocolate almonds in one day, when I wasn´t looking at him! I think he won´t want to see chocolate for a while!
Now he's helping me with my crafts and giving me his oppinion about my creations. He always has something to say!

Interview with Jenny Karlsson

2011-05-30T08:57:00.027+02:00

Please introduce us to who you are.
My name is Jenny, I'm 33 and I live in Linköping, Sweden. My company is called Jenny Karlsson Design – mainly because it is easy and I can do a variety of different things and still keep the same name.

Tell us a little about where you live.
Linköping is in the south east part of Sweden. There's about 140 000 people living here and it is a rather nice town. I have trees outside my windows and birds singing, and without trees I cannot live (like Anne at the Green Gables said). I have my family in the not too far distance and my older brother lives in the house next door.

What is your craft and why do you love it?

For quite a while it has been within the textile field. I make a lot of bags and small crocheted flower brooches. Only recently I re-discovered that I can draw, I've been so caught up in these other things and had quite forgotten. About 10 years ago I wanted to draw comics for a living, so the only odd thing is that one can forget! :) I love creating with my hands and I think that if there is something that you're good at and find easy to do you should use that in life. Working with my hands makes me calm, happy and cheerful and while studying at university I realised that it was something that I missed a lot.

What inspires you at the moment and what are you currently working on?
Right now i am much inspired by Poppy Treffry and others like her who's been about where I am and gotten forward. Right now I am working on making small ornamental birds, fabric flowers and bag No. 360 and onward! -->

Do you have plans for the future concerning your craft/business, and what are they?
My plans are in the making all the time, which is something I partly need to keep that way and partly need to work on to make them clearer in my mind. I have a tendency to want to do everything at once which is more exhausting that useful. I want to grow as a business, sell in more shops, even have staff one day!

Are the people in your life supportive of your craft?
Yes indeed! My family and my beloved one are very supportive and sees that it is something that I am serious about.

What’s your favourite item from your own shop?
I think that it is one of the embroidered bags No.228 or the tweed bag with Colleen Moore (No.247)

Which craft or skill would you most like to learn next?
I think I'd like to do screen print, fabrics and cards.. But there is heaps of things that would be fun to try. I think I'll still stick to what I have been doing also.

What is the most expensive supply or tool you have purchased for your craft? Must be my sewing machines, I don't use that expensive materials – except silk fabric / yarn I guess. So it must be the total sum of all the fabric and stuff that is needed and now in stock.

What people/places/works of art inspire you?
My constant sources of inspiration that I seem to return to is: nature, Country Living magazine, Selvedge magazine, Beatrix Potter, The Pre-Raphaelites, William Morris and the Arts & Crafts movement,childrens books, illustrators like Arthur Rackham, Loreena McKennitt and more...

Tell us about one other crafter who makes things you love?
I have many creative friends that inspire me one of them is my dear penpal Samantha Vanderwyst who I've been writing to for about 10 years now. She's a freelance illustrator and maker of things and you can see more of her stuff here: http://pipodoll.blogspot.com/

Best of Europe Handmade - the Cute edition

2011-05-29T10:00:00.002+02:00

We (that's the Artfire Handmade in Europe Guild) love to share our creations with you, but we also love to promote European sellers in general. So recently in our Guild chat, we decided that we would also promote handmade items from sellers on other venues on our blog, not just Artfire. So without further ado, we present the first of our 'Best of Europe Handmade' showcases. This first edition is filled with cute handmade items from European sellers. Enjoy!

First up is this sweet amigurumi robot by Cute Designs in the UK:

Next is this delightful felt westie brooch by Agustina who is in Spain:

I love this little bean print by Puikeprent who is in the Netherlands *waves*

This bright stripy felt whale is so cute! You can find him in TudoFeltrobyMokis' shop

Finally, this cute fox tea towel by Mibo Ltd is ideal for drying the dishes with, but if you'd rather play than do chores, you can make it into a cushion instead.

I hope you've enjoyed the first in this series of showcase posts.If you have any comments or ideas, please leave them below. :-)

This week's new listings

2011-05-27T11:08:00.000+02:00

This has been a busy week for all our members. Enjoy the variety of items!

Pink and blue owl polymer clay buttons by Ayarina

Wire crochet and carved polymer clay rose necklace by Cat's Wire

Rainforest dream bracelet with rhyolite by Earth Life Shop

Blue button stud earrings by Kitty Ballistic

Vintage plane father's day card by Butterfly Crafts

Brown glass heart necklace by NOTON


Flower print bag with Mary Pickford picture by Jenny Karlsson Design

Wendy's Wednesdays

2011-05-25T09:00:00.000+02:00

We do other things - not just crafting - but our mind is never far from the subject

Oranges in Europe

2011-05-24T09:00:00.002+02:00

I know some people are glad to finally have spring, but on some days our spring already felt more like summer. It made me think of fresh oranges and I can almost taste the sweet on my tongue when looking at all these great items.
Enjoy!

Oranges in Europe

Curated By: CatsWire

ArtFire.com

Handmade Gifts

Quote of the week

2011-05-22T09:00:00.001+02:00

The world's favorite season is the spring. All things seem possible in May.

Edwin Way Teale, American naturalist, photographer and Pulitzer Prize-winning writer, 1899 - 1980

Items of the week

2011-05-20T10:17:00.002+02:00

A productive week for artisans in Europe, look at what we all made this week:

Glass bead earring, red and white stripes by Kitty Ballistic

Snuggle Penguin by Eddy;s Pressies

Earth Treasures necklace with shell, rock and leaf by Cat's Wire

Small birds nest by De Cris creations

Animal train money or gift card wallet by Butterfly Crafts

Juicy, Lampwork and Sterling Silver ring by Babs Beads and Design

Green and white bag with Nancy Carroll and Butterfly by Jenny Karlsson design

Royal blue

2011-05-17T09:00:00.001+02:00

I haven't seen the royal wedding, but I do love royal blue ;-)
This collection is made up of items from our guild members and other artists on ArtFire.

Royal blue

Curated By: CatsWire

ArtFire.com

Handmade Gifts

Quote of the week

2011-05-15T09:00:00.000+02:00

Sleep is when all the unsorted stuff comes flying out as from a dustbin upset in a high wind.

William Golding, English novelist and poet, 1911 - 1993

Well, unsorted as it might be, I think there might be some good stuff in that dustbin every, now and then, don't you? ;-)

Statens Museum for Kunst: Hounds with Wild-Fowl and Game

2011-05-14T10:34:00.000+02:00

Statens Museum for Kunst: Hounds with Wild-Fowl and Game

This weeks new listings

2011-05-13T20:15:00.003+02:00

This week only one of our members listed a new item so you have all the time in the world to look at this beautiful Blue turquoise beaded crochet necklace from Flia Design

Quote of the week

2011-05-08T09:00:00.001+02:00

Every saint has a bee in his halo.

Elbert Hubbard, American editor, publisher and writer, 1856 - 1915

Listings of the week

2011-05-06T13:19:00.000+02:00

It seems as if the spring sun has definitely lifted our guild's spirits, so I'm proudly presenting all of this week's listings for your enjoyment now. Are you ready? *drum roll*
Have fun!


Triangular knitted shawl with crocheted edging by Madeline's Wardrobe

Wirework bracelet by Arjas Uni

Summer shift dress by Rose Glen

Selenite point necklace by Earth Life Shop

Cobweb pendant by Flia Design

Bubbling cauldron stitch markers by Handarbeitskram

Flower button earrings by Kitty Ballistic

Old yellow lace by Cat's Wire

It's Magic

2011-05-04T11:16:00.003+02:00

April was our month for magic, it proved to be a difficult theme but some of our members made some fabulous items

Like Eddy (Wendy) from Eddie's Pressies who made a beautiful reversible 'magic' blanket

Raquel from NOTON made this four leaf clover necklace which will not only make you look stunning but also might bring you a bit of luck

Roseglen made kaftan that is a worthy robe for any magician

And Finally this vintage barbie got transformed in Glaciele the fairy of ice by Catrin from Cat's Wire

Interview with Tina from Flia Design

2011-05-02T09:00:00.002+02:00

Please introduce us to who you are.

My name is Tina, and I live in Sweden, about 140 km northwest of the Stockholm. I’m divorced and have a daughter who lives in the capital with her partner.
I’m disabled since 1996 and managing on a small pension, which is the main reason that I started selling my craft in 2006.
In Swedish “tina” means thaw/defrost, and the lokal old dialect word for it is “flia”. Hence I thought it appropriate to use Flia as my designer name.

What is/are your craft/s and why do you love it/them.

I call myself a “try crafter”, meaning that I’ll try any craft once.
Mostly I try different ways to join yarn, thread and/or beads into beautiful home décor and jewelry.

What inspires you at the moment and/or what are you currently working on?

My mind is creative, so new ideas constantly appear and of course have to be tried. Fine threads, like sewing thread (about size #100) and the smallest crochet hook can inspire me to make delicate and lacy things.
I also find inspiration in beautiful lace made with tatting or bobbin lace technique. I’ve tried both but ended up going back to crochet.

Working with fine threads calls for very small beads (#15)very fine crochet hooks, but the ones I use are no longer made (Boye no 15). Since they break easily I need to always have a few spare ones close. So I go to every flee market and yard sale I hear of to look for them, buying every one I find. What a treasure it is when you find someone selling their grandmother’s stash. Such beautiful fine threads and hooks they used to make in the old days and thank God for grandmothers that cherish their old tools enough to keep them.
I also love butterflies, and make quite a few myself but they are too precious to me to be sold.

Tell us about one other crafter who makes things you love?

I get a lot of inspiration from http://www.artfire.com/users/TataniaRosa here on ArtFire. Her tatted jewelry is absolutely stunning.

Tina's studio is: http://www.artfire.com/users/FliaDesign

This week's new listings

2011-04-29T10:23:00.004+02:00

We've been too busy creating and not so much listing this week :), but some things got listed anyway:

Coptic bound 'old blouse' blank book with dark pages by Ignis Fatuus

Butterfly Money or gift card wallet by Butterfly Crafts

'On Fire' hand dyed cotton long scarf by Cymberrain

Three fabric roses Necklace for little girls by NOTON

Happy Easter!

2011-04-24T08:00:00.002+02:00

Today is Easter Sunday, the end of Lent and the day many people both young and old will be tucking into chocolate eggs and possibly lamb for lunch. One of my favourite Easter treats is a Simnel cake as it combines two of my favourite things, a "sort of" fruit cake and marzipan which I could eat by the slice!

The Simnel Cake signifies the end of Lent which is a period of fasting and repentance culminating in a feast of seasonal and symbolic foods. The Simnel Cake recipe is rich with fruits, spices and marzipan, all forbidden during the period of Lent.

Originally the Simnel Cake was made for Mother's Day by girls in service who were given the day off to visit their mothers. The name is believed to come from a sister (Nell) and brother (Simon) who wanted to make a cake for their mother. One wanted to bake the cake, the other to boil it. They decided to do both and bring them together in one which became The Simnel Cake.

To make this cake you will need:

1 ¼ lbs/ 560g ready made marzipan
1 lb/ 450g dried mixed fruits (currants, raisins, sultanas, glace cherries)
3 oz/80g candied chopped peel
8 oz/ 225g all purpose/plain flour
Pinch salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
6 oz/ 175g butter
6 oz /175g fine/caster sugar

And this is what you have to do:

Preheat the oven to 325°F/170°C/Gas 3,
Line a 7 inch cake tin with parchment or greaseproof paper.
Divide the marzipan into three and take one portion and roll it to a round the size of the cake tin.
In a large roomy baking bowl mix the mixed dried fruits, peel with the flour, salt and spices.
In another large bowl cream the butter with the sugar until light and fluffy. Add the beaten egg to the butter mixture a little bit at a time, beating well after each addition - do not try to rush this process as the mixture could curdle. If it does curdle simply add a tbsp of the flour and mix again, this should bring the mixture back together.
Carefully fold in half the flour and half the fruit into the egg and butter mixture, once incorporated repeat with the remaining flour and fruit.
Put half of the cake mixture into the tin, smooth and cover with the round of almond paste. Put the remaining cake mixture into the tin and smooth the surface carefully. Bake in the center of the oven for 1 hour.
Lower the heat to 300°F/150°C/Gas 2 and bake for 3 hours until the cake is golden brown. Remove from the oven and leave to cool in the tin.
Roll another third of almond paste, again to the size of the tin. Make the remaining almond paste equally into 11 tiny balls.
Once the cake is completely cool, remove from the tin and brush the top of the cake with apricot jam and cover with the disc of almond paste. Place the 11 tiny balls of paste evenly around the edge. Brush the paste all over with a little apricot jam and place under a hot grill until lightly browned.
The cake can then be decorated as you wish with tiny Easter eggs or any other Easter theme.

Enjoy!!!

New listings this week

2011-04-22T09:00:00.001+02:00

Another stunning selection of this week's new listings on artfire from our members:

Sparkling black and turqoise earrings by Flia Design

Love is All You Need - Rhodonite and Rhodochrosite bracelet by earth life shop

Emerald green hand knitted lace stole shawl by Madeline's Wardrobe

Pink print cotton plus size skirt by Rose Glen

Teardrop mother of pearl earrings by NOTON

Grey dotted flower brooch by Jenny Karlsson design

Pendant Recolutions in blue by De Cris creations

How Do You Prepare For Your Fair

2011-04-21T11:29:00.000+02:00

I participated in a craft fair last week, and I noticed that many of the stall holders had someone with them. Umm, it would have been good to have someone along to help with setting up and for company, fortunately I had some really friendly crafters next to me and they were great company. But the break needed to stretch my legs were tricky as this meant my stall was unmanned, so passing trade was lost.

Taken by Creationsfayre (Pauline and Frend of Pauline Sfendilis Crotchet)

I spent the week laying out my display so I knew exactly how they would look on the day. I tagged all my items with description price and size; hopefully if I sold I would remove the tags, which would be an account of the items sold. I said hopefully, as I did not sell a thing.

I brought a large suitcase, cool walking through the shopping centre, people were curious about the fictional holiday I was embarking on. I wish! I bought some cool wooden hangers on eBay with rubber tips, brilliant as they stopped my clothes slipping off when customers were looking, can be quite embarrassing for both customers and me when this happens. I placed all my clothing with hangers in the suitcase, make setting up so easy. I brought my dressmaking dummy on which I displayed one of my designs, great for pulling customers in.

I handed out postcards, which I got from vista print, a great site for freebies; I did pay a little extra, as I wanted additional information. I wrote 20% off on the cards whilst talking to passing customers, adding a coupon code, and handed to them before the customer left. I think it was good move; however I am still waiting for some response.

I brought some really lovely bags – shame I did not get to use any of them this time – maybe on the next fair. I even made sure I had a float. As I was on my own I took a small handbag with long straps, easy to carry around, and it looked rather stylish which complimented what I was wearing, of course I wore my own creations, best form of publicity

Available to Order only in my shop on Etsy

I brought my breakfast with me, not much by the way of food available on the day except cakes, I am gluten intolerant, and so no cake for me, anyway it’s cheaper to bring your own food.

In all it was a great day, I met some really lovely people, hopefully the customers who enquired about custom orders will get in touch, I got to book another fair for July and I had a good time.

So how do you prepare for your fair.

Interview with Bluetina

2011-04-18T10:11:00.001+02:00

Please introduce us to who you are...
My name is Tina and I'm 60 years old today! Happy birthday to me! I'm a grandmother, ex bookkeeper and I make jewellery.

Tell us a little about where you live...
I used to be an Essex Girl but I now live in sunny Spain. The province of Almeria is my adopted home and I love it here. It's the bit in between the Costa del Sol and the Costa Blanca. Very dry and mountainous with loads of sunshine! Contrary to popular belief, it does get (relatively) cold here in the winter. Summers are very hot but I find I have acclimatised over the five years I have lived here. If the temperature drops to 25 degrees I go in search of a cardigan!

What is your craft and why do you love it?
Jewellery designing and making has become my life. I started many years ago when I fell ill and could not work, just as a hobby to combat boredom. It soon grew into a minor obsession! I love to be creative. When I finish something new that has never been seen before, I have a great sense of satisfaction. I still haven't run out of ideas, either!

What inspires you at the moment and what are you currently working on?
What inspires me can very from one moment to the next! I'm a bit of a butterfly in that regard - that is why the pieces I make are usually so different from each other. Today, I am inspired by the sight of copper and silver beads mixed up together on my work bench - which answers the other question! I'm working on a little necklace combining the two metals.

Do you have plans for the future concerning your craft and what are they?
I want to grow my two Artfire studios - bluetina and bluetinatoo - and make them the best they can be. To that end I am beavering away at my photography, SEO, social networking and all that other stuff that seems so necessary in this modern world. I want to learn new techniques and keep progressing. Perhaps that will stop my headlong plunge into old age!

Are the people in your life supportive of your craft?
For the most part, yes. My husband sometimes wonders why I spend so much time on the computer! My daughter-in-law has a shop in the UK where she sells some of my jewellery. It's called Shabby Sheep (very clever!) and it's in Brightlingsea, Essex. I am very grateful for her support. My Mum loves everything I do but, then, she's my Mum!

What is your favourite item from your own shop?
Hmmmm.... Let me think. Perhaps this one -

It's a copper and black onyx necklace an earring set. I made all the components myself and it was also my first attempt at oxidizing. I was pleased with the overall effect and also the photo turned out pretty well, too!

Which craft or skill would you most like to learn next?
I have only just started to get involved in wire wrapping and would love to improve my skills in that area. I have been promised a tumbler for my birthday so I'm waiting for that to arrive before I really get stuck in! Also, soldering is next on the list. I did learn once but I haven't been able to practice for years - not enough light in the garage and he won't let me do it indoors! The lighting problem is due to be solved shortly so I might just have another go! I have become most inventive with cold connections but some things I have in mind cannot be made properly without this skill.

What is the most expensive supply or tool you have purchased in your craft?
I suppose my tumbler, when it arrives, will qualify for that distinction. I do have a smart little Proxxon drill set up for drilling, polishing, grinding, etc. but I didn't buy that one either. It was a birthday present from my husband a few years ago. Hmmmm... perhaps I should go back and amend the answer to question 6. He really is very supportive after all!

What people, places, works of art inspire you?
Well, where shall I start? I am continually inspired by the creativity of all my fellow artisans on Artfire and other similar venues. It spurs me on to be as good as they are and do the best work I can. I am inspired daily by the desert landscape around me in Almeria. Works of art? I think architecture gets to me more than anything else. A well designed building is a joy to behold. I haven't been to Barcelona yet but I have been told there is much to admire, architecture-wise! I think a weekend break is in order!

Tell us about one other crafter who makes things you love...
I mentioned my daughter-in-law's shop, didn't I? Well, she is the most creative person I can think of! She does wonderful things with a few beads, silk flowers, feathers and lampshades! Her window displays are competition winners! Sheryl also produced my two beloved grandsons and that, I believe, is truly the most wonderfully creative thing of all. Sorry, went over the top a bit there!

Items of this week

2011-04-15T09:00:00.000+02:00

Here are this weeks new listing from our guild members:

Custom made crochet sparkling pendant by Flia Design

Blue Snuggle Bunny by Eddy's Pressies

Hand bound Sketchbook/Journal covered in old blouse fabric by Ignis Fatuus

Silver plated chains chandelier earrings by NOTON

Wendy's Wednesdays

2011-04-13T09:29:00.000+02:00

Some people think that we even dream about crafting ......well....I suppose, sometimes

Items of this week

2011-04-08T09:00:00.000+02:00

A selection of the newly listed items from our members:

Dramatic black and silver fringed necklace and earring set by Blue Tina

Black and White decorative money or gift card wallet by Butterfly Crafts

White Pearls Bracelet abd Earrings set by NOTON

Crochet flowers with orange handmade buttons by Ayarina

Jenny's Ramblings April 7th 2011

2011-04-07T08:00:00.005+02:00

Sometimes, when you are a creative person, you can be in a flow and just make things. But of course sometimes you do get stuck. Somehow. In mind or body -or both if you are very in need of stressing down.
Well, I'm in a bit of such a time right now, wondering which way to go, what to aim for, can I really do it.. that sort of thoughts pop up in my mind. There are a few things that are helping me on the way to get unstuck. For example an article about Poppy Treffry in the latest Country Living magazine. I've seen a few things of hers (in this said magazine) before, but haven't really known that much about her. I found this little video on her website - so you can get inspired too:

I get doubts, we all do. But I think we shall just chuck them in the bin, follow our hearts and just don't care about what other people think. They have not, and will not live your life, so let them potter about with their stuff and fluff and you focus on yours. (I am saying this to myself as much as to you.)
So go and follow your joy and be happy!
I will.

http://www.poppytreffry.co.uk/
Image from Country Living British Edition April 2011

March theme: Spring Green

2011-04-05T09:00:00.002+02:00

In march all of our members celebrated spring with lots of green items, there are some fabulous pieces in there and I would strongly sugest you to view the entire collection.

Europe celebrates spring in green

Curated By: ignisfatuus

ArtFire.com

Fine Art Paintings