Secrets of a Butterfly

Ipad prettiness

My new ipad cover arrived from the lovely etsy seller Simbiosis. (butterfly not included ;) that is on the cushion behind)

I have been looking for the right one since i got it last year and somehow nothing was quite right till now.
I like Julia's zipped pouches and have given them as gifts quite often. So i was pleased to spot this ipad cover in her shop last month.
Its so well made, and padded, that it gives the right protection to my treasured ipad-ey.
And it also looks mightly pretty too, always a bonus, especially as what i was using before was just black.
It has a velcro fastening, and is super easy to take in and out, something which happens oooh a hundred times or more a day! kidding ;)

I recommend Julia's shop Simbiosis, she has a regularly changing array of stock, kindle covers, zipped pouches and various designs for the ipad

love Kathryn xx

Ooshki crochet kitties!

When i saw these totally gorgeous kitties that Elena, from the blog Pretty Light, has been making, i fell instantly in love!

I chose the little white kitten to come live with me, her name is Varya

Should you also fall for their cuteness, you can find them upon the shelves of Elena's new shop, i think the current collection is all sold, but she is working on some bunnies!

Ooshki crochet (it means little ears in russian!)

Love and cute wishes

kat

 xx

Jeska's vintage matchboxes

Lobster and swan is one of my most favourite blogs, and i am always inspired by what Jeska shares and creates. The photos above are from her instagram.

Throughout the month of February, Jeska is decorating vintage matchboxes in different themes, and then popping them onto the shelves of her Etsy shop with any money raised going to Oxfam.

Anyone can join in and decorate their own boxes and add them to the flickr group.
There is a daily schedule to inspire everyone but the themes are loose and can be interpreted any way you choose. Today's is the Birthday one, as it's Jeska's birthday....Happy Birthday sweetie, hope you like the little gifts xxx

Please join Jeska over at Lobster and Swan to say hi, join in and make just 1 matchbox, or the whole 29 !

you can see more specific details in this blog post

I am hoping to decorate some and if i can, i will put them in a post to share with you here,
love

A teacup or two

Hello lovelies,
today i am catching up on some posts that i have wanted to get together to share with you. This pretty package is my order from Susannah Tucker's etsy shop. Isnt her packaging so lovely.
Here is the photo block i chose of vintage teacups...

I love these blocks because they are so versatile, they go on the wall, or stand neatly on a chest of drawers or mantel shelf. For now, i tucked mine in beside the snowy owl (smiles)

Susannah is a lovely friend too, and also included a selection of her other pictures, including one of her mini prints sets, which are for scrapbooking or placing on inspiration boards. They are like fairy size pictures. I wish i had a doll's house and i could frame one for the wall there.

I am so inspired by her range and would love to develop my photography into little products to sell someday too. See Susannah's full range at etsy and her blog here.

Hope to be blogging about some christmassy-ness soon, i have been less well for a few weeks and things have been getting to me emotionally a bit at times. To help me, with not being able to get out over the christmas this year, i got a new pink tree and have some pretty pics of that to share soon.
love and wishes

I love Mollie Makes

Mollie Makes weekend!

One of the best things to come about in 2011, has to be the publication of Mollie Makes magazine. No ordinary craft magazine, this is a world of creativity, full of stylish designer/makers, presented in a beautiful way. And with many recognisable names from the world of blogs, it can feel like a home from home (smile).

I flicked through my growing collection, and picked out a few favourite images from with the pages, to give you a taste of what the magazine is all about. As certainly when it comes to magazines, i am such a visual person, i like to see beautiful content, and this magazine has so much of it!

Its for anyone who loves the handmade worlds of etsy, or who knits, sews, does paper craft, crochet or embroidery. Who likes to attend craft fairs or who has their own craft business.
Its all in there, every issue featuring up and coming or established makers and designers. Showing inside their inspiring homes, or how they have set up their creative spaces.
There are projects too, that are easy to have a go at, clearly printed patterns, and often a free kit is included to make something, such as a corsage.
I like the little features on handmade sellers, or upcoming books. And i also like seeing all the adverts for online craft shops and haberdasheries.

And this little motto, sums up just what the magazine is all about...

Tomorrow i shall share some pics of the calendar that comes free with the current issue of Mollie Makes. If you are interested in buying a copy, you could try newstand, or myfavouritemagazines
or full subscription here
love

A secret art gallery

This post was inspired by the tiniest art collection posts, that Jeska does at her blog, this was the November edition.
All the prints i have chosen, are avaliable through etsy sellers, for all the shops have a look here
To see the collage larger, just click on it.

love

Sasha Pokrass - adorable elephants

I have been browsing artist bears and animals on etsy. And i came across these!

Sasha Pokrass makes many animals including adorable elephants, in her home in Moscow, Russia.

She keeps a blog here
And sells her animals including these elephants at her etsy shop

I love how much care and talent it must take to create these little delights, and how much pleasure they must bring to their owner, surely a toy to treasure for ever and ever

m

Floral friday - Vicky Trainor

Now and again you come across people online that have such a wonderful eye for detail and have created an amazing business from their kitchen table.

When i find people like this, it gives me such a warm feeling, their work radiates a happiness that you just don't find in more factory produced items.

Vicky Trainor is one of these skilled crafters, whose line of wedding stationery has expanded into including fabric wares, often recycling embroidered linens, cut, appliqued and trimmed with further flowers and buttons.

Here's what Vicky says about her inspiration behind the collection...

"The seed was sown for this little collection one day whilst sorting through my secret hoarding of vintage linens. On one shelf, in a forgotten box, was my little sewing case that I made when I was only 7. I spent hours, when I was younger, collecting and making things, some useful, some not so useful!" (me too, Vicky!)

"I was excited about creating a range, different to my printed collections but still holding on to my passion for all that is vintage. The style of the vintage tea party, the home spun and the pretty florals of english country gardens, brought a wonderful eclectic mix."

"I wanted to introduce a new twist to stationery, for those in love with vintage as a source of inspiration for their day. That day may be a wedding, a birthday, a tea party, you may wish to send one of my products as a gift or a little treat for yourself such as a brooch, lavender pillow, a hair clip, a sewing case or a 'boudoir' sign to pin to your pretty armoire."

"The vintage and retro haberdashery linens that I have used were a little unloved and unwanted due to their slight imperfections so I have recycled, re-loved, re-stitched and cared for each individual piece to bring a new precious creation that you will want to keep forever or pass down through time."

Isnt that beautiful, i love the recycled side to the business, and that things get given a new purpose, especially given that they were made with such careful stitching in the first place. Now they will bring renewed joy.

Above is a brooch, and below an embroidered sign. Both of these styles are avaliable at Etsy as well as direct in larger amounts from Vicky's website where personalised orders for weddings can be arranged. There are a multitude of pretty words to choose from, many suitable for the home, or for celebrations.

This is just one of the unique designs of paper wedding stationery that Vicky has on her website.

And this beautiful menu below, is exquisite in its detail. All the items are sewn by Vicky in her home studio.

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Vicky's space for creating...

Vicky your work is an inspiration to me, and i'm sure many of my readers here also. I share your love of vintage linen and embroideries, and i love the colour palette of your designs. Thank you for sharing so much of your work with us through your site The Vintage Drawer and studio blog, i was blown away by just how much you create and how much love you pour into everything you make,

It's always those little extra details that are noticed at weddings and celebrations
and i am certain your magical touch makes everyone's special day so much more beautiful as a result.
love

Handcrafted crowns inspired by nature

I was doing some online research on fabric dolls this evening and i came across these beautifully handcrafted crowns.
They have been made for dolls, for children and to be worn on the wrist and the immense care taken to handmake each one, shines through in all the tiny details.

Creations such as these, all nature, and fairylike, are always so inspiring to me, and to find the maker's blog - The world of Miss T, was a real treat.

Here, Cheryl shares the collections she creates seasonally, each themed according to their different inspirations. From daisies, to birds, strawberries, to cherry blossom, the intricate details capture the heart and lift my spirit.

"for everything there is a season and a time and a purpose too",thats what these little garlands remind me of, because they reflect the tiny details of nature, that we trust to return in autumn, winter, spring and summer each year

Handmade mugs

Now and again, i have a browse around the emporium that is the Not on the High Street website. I am always inspired by the quality of shops there. The vast range of handmade and specially personalised items continues to grow. These mugs by The handmade mug company caught my eye as the colours are so me, and there's even a butterfly tucked inside this one below.

Each mug is handthrown by Lisa Smith in her studio in Leicestershire, England, and then handpainted to finish. Inspiration is both vintage and contemporary and names and dates can be added.

They also produce mugs with your own children's drawings (at £22,it would be more of a keepsake than for everyday use i think)

here's the link to their website The handmade mug company love