When we look at the sky and say it's another grey day, that is really under recognising the wonder of the colour of the sky. This is the collection of daily shots for this month. What a lovely patchwork!Sunday, February 28, 2010
Summery Of the sky February 2010
When we look at the sky and say it's another grey day, that is really under recognising the wonder of the colour of the sky. This is the collection of daily shots for this month. What a lovely patchwork!
Day 51 ~ One A Day Challenge ~ Indicolite textured necklace
Indicolite is a lovely inky blue stone with a transparent quality to it. It has been used here with wooden beads and seed beads to create this necklace.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Day 50 ~ One A Day Challenge ~ It's a GIVEAWAY!!!
Hematite glass pearl and bugle bead wrap around bracelet.I cannot believe that this is day 50!!
To celebrate, this one is a giveaway. Simply leave a comment below.
Draw will be made at random on 6 March at 12 noon GMT
Friday, February 26, 2010
Stories of Forgiveness ~ Lent Series ~ Gordon Wilson
Rememberance day 1987 is a day that many of us will remember. It was the day that Gordon Wilson and his daughter Marie Wilson went to the rememberence day ceremony at the war memorial in Enniskillen. During the ceremony, a bomb planted by the IRA eploded resulting in the collapse of a wall and much damage to the surrounding area. Eleven people ultimately lost their lives including Marie Wilson. You can see her mothers account here.
Shortly after the bombing and her death, Marie's Father Gordon was interviewed by the BBC. His statement made national and international headlines:"She held my hand tightly, and gripped me as hard as she could. She said, 'Daddy, I love you very much.' Those were her exact words to me, and those were the last words I ever heard her say." To the astonishment of listeners," He went on to say, "But I bear no ill will. I bear no grudge. Dirty sort of talk is not going to bring her back to life. She was a great wee lassie. She loved her profession. She was a pet. She's dead. She's in heaven and we shall meet again. I will pray for these men tonight and every night"
What an amazing thing to say in the midst of all that suffering, the nightmare he had been through and the loss of his daughter and yet he could say "I bear no ill, I bear no grudge".
He said he had prayed for his daughter's killers and pleaded with Loyalists not to take revenge for her death.
Historian Jonathan Bardon said, "No words in more than twenty-five years of violence in Northern Ireland had such a powerful, emotional impact."
Knitting An Identity ~ Aran
Aran jumpers like the one shown above are knitted with intricate patterns. traditionally they are knitted with pure wool. The history of these garments are little known, but very interesting.The Aran jumper is thought to predate AD800 when there appears to be an aran jumper depicted in the Book of Kells.
The Aran is thought to have been originally knitted in untreated wool . This wool would contain lanalin and would have been waterproof and therefore ideal for fishermen.
It is widely believed that each area had it own design of jumper with each one bearing 4 -6 patterns. Should the fishermen meet with the misfortune of being drowned, then they could be identified by the pattern on their jumper long after the sea did it's worst to their bodies.
The first commercial pattern for aran jumpers was produced by the pattern manufacturer Patons in the 1940's.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Television and creativity
Looking back, I can remember being inspired and impressed, even at a young age by the television programmes I saw.
My earliest memories are of Fingerbobs. It was a really clever programme. Simple, but a real joy to watch. I loved the way the pupets were simple, the context was simple, but terribly effective. I used to make fingerbobs mice and tortoises.
I think my love of beach combing came from this episode:
As I grew older, I loved Rolf Harris. His paintings were amazing.
Then came Vision On and Tony Heart.
Over the years, other programmes have continued to inspire me: changing rooms, Kirsties home made home and of course Blue Peter with it's "here's one I made earlier"
My earliest memories are of Fingerbobs. It was a really clever programme. Simple, but a real joy to watch. I loved the way the pupets were simple, the context was simple, but terribly effective. I used to make fingerbobs mice and tortoises.
I think my love of beach combing came from this episode:
As I grew older, I loved Rolf Harris. His paintings were amazing.
Then came Vision On and Tony Heart.
Over the years, other programmes have continued to inspire me: changing rooms, Kirsties home made home and of course Blue Peter with it's "here's one I made earlier"
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Day 47 ~ One A Day Challenge ~ Triple strand cafe mocha necklace
Triple strand cafe mocha necklace made with an assortment of beads in cream, coffee and chocolate colours.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Day 46 ~ One a Day Challenge ~ Multi String Bracelet
Created with an array of red and black beads this is an elasticated multi string braceletThe streets of hull are paved with fish!
The town of Kingston Upon Hull (usually called Hull) has been built up over the years largely due to the fishing trade. Although this is mostly gone now, Hull holds tight to it's heritage and has embraced it with an exciting way to go sight seeing around the town.All over the modern and historical areas of Hull are fish (like the Eal shown above) they are secreted into the pavements, gates, monuments and you can get a map and take a guided tour round the town whilst searching out all 41 examples of fish. It's a great activity for the kids to really enjoy whilst you take in the beautiful architecture, scenery and history.
You can purchase a guide map from the start of the trail at the Tourist information centre next to the city hall in the centre of Hull (40p ~ this includes a certificate on completion!)
You can also take a sneak preview of what you are looking for by clicking here (click the numbers on the map to reveal the fish!)
It's a fun way to sight see!
Monday, February 22, 2010
Crafts Juice Tuesday ~ a riot of colour!
This Tutti fruiti vegan cold process soap has been created by Silvia Victory and it's multitude of colour and flavour make the mouth water. It would make such a wonderful gift. I really love the swirly decorations.
I really love these colourful handknitted stacking toys created by Stitches In Time. The base is a lily pad pond and then there are three colourful characters, a bumblebee, lady bird and dragon fly.
This notebook by Elles Designs features perspect covers with gem motif decorations. this is definatly a contender froi "riot of colour
Wow, how could anyone fail to love this tea pot cosy created by Blue Shed Crafts. The little knitted rabbits look as though they are having so much fun. Craft juice is a sharing site, where you can show off your handmade creations. you can also vote for other peoples creations. 5 votes mean you get a front page listing! And it's all free!
Be Thou My Vision
Be thou my vision is a hymn that was originally written in the 8th Century. The words are as relevent today as they were when they were written.
They speak of all the things we need God to be to us today.
Be Thou my vision,
O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best thought,
by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping,
Thy presence my light.
2. Be Thou my Wisdom,
Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee,
Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father,
I thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.
3. Be Thou my battle-shield,
sword for my fight,
Be Thou my dignity, Thou my delight.
Thou my soul's shelter,
Thou my high tower.
Raise Thou me heavenward,
O Power of my power.
4. Riches I heed not,
nor man's empty praise,
Thou mine inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only,
first in my heart,
High King of heaven,
my Treasure Thou art.
5. High King of heaven,
my victory won,
May I reach heaven's joys,
O bright heav'ns Son!
Heart of my own heart,
whatever befall,
Still be my vision, O ruler of all.
Day 45 ~ One A Day challenge ~ more earrings
Pale green rose hearts
Swirl Green
Ridged bead green earrings
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Day 44 ~ One A Day challenge ~ Earrings
Todays make has been to add a little colour into a white day! The first pair of earrings are orange glass cubes with pearls and fire opal swarovski crystals.
Orange lobe beads are off set with small glasss beads.
Solid orange coloured glass beads are accented with bali beads and fire opal Swarovski crystals.Day 43 ~ One A Day Challenge ~ Mother of pearl Bracelet
A tab bracelet with gorgeous rectangles of Mother of pearl. spaced with small clear beads
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
Day 42 ~ One A Day Challenge ~ Mulli String Gem Stone Bracelet
Amethyst, lapis lazuli, quartz and hematite are combined to create dual string bracelet.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Auntie Winnie ~ A crafter
You could always tell when one of Auntie Winnie's cards dropped through your door. As a child it was easy to recognise the carefully cut out flowers birds and butterflies, reclaimed from mass produced greeting cards, so carefully applied to the back of the envelope. Her writing also gave the game away, cursive and artistic.
Other tallents included knitting horrendously gaudi mixed colour jumpers. She'd go to jumble sales and buy jumpers and then carefully undo the stiching and the unravel the yarn into balls which would be knitted or crocheted into the jumpers or into dolls blankets.
I don't think that I ever understood her, perhaps she was ahead of her time. It wasn't until recently that I remembered the little touches that were her.
Auntie Winnie died many years ago, but I wonder if that's what sowed the creativity in me.
Craftjuice Tuesday ~ promoting handmade
Crafts Juice is an online promotion site where you can post a photo and description of your handcrafted item and then people get to vote for it. Five votes mean that you get front page coverage.
Crafts juice Tuesday is a chance for bloggers to promote each others handcrafted items that appear on Craftsjuice.
Choose products with a theme; pink items, Earrings, dogs, cats ... I like, what ever you like and simply post the photos and a brief description with a link back to the post on crafts juice. (like this example)
You can sign up for Crafts juice tuesday HERE.
Selling your creations. ~ UK
Most people start out with crafts as a hobby, but the law in the uk states that if you exchange goods for money or reward then you need to be registered with the Inland Revenue.
- You have three months to register from the point you begin to trade.
- It may be that your intentions are to remain as a hobby, but the fact is that by selling or gaining reward, you are infact breaking the law if you do not disclose this to the IR.
- Registering as self employed is actually very easy and only requires a phone call to your local IR. Once registered you will need to keep accounts of all your outgoings and incomings. (keep those receipts)
- Ignorance is not an excuse and does not protect you from charges!
- Another requirement (although not law) is that you have insurance. This should be public liability to protect yourself against claims. Normally this covers you into the millions of £ for claims against you or your products.
- If you are in receipt of benefits, you must inform the benefits agency of your business.
Simply taking the time to protect yourself regarding the rules and regulations of selling your products, can save you hundreds of pounds in fines and means that you start out in a professional and sensible manner knowing whether your plans for world domination are actually feasable.
Day 41 ~ One A Day Challenge ~ Chokers
A silver leaf pressed glass bead in chartreus green has become the focal on this choker. The shape is accented by the use of small green cube beads along the legnth of the choker.
This beautiful peach heart bead is accented by the useof peach beads along the legnth of the choker.Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Day 40 ~ One A Day Challenge ~ Rings
Three rings1: fire polished mocha Czech crystals
2: Red glass beads
3: Opalite (vaseline glass)
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Beautiful South Cave
Another stunning video from Justin at http://www.theenchantedgarden.co.uk .
Showing the work that has been done to enhance an already beautiful village.
Music: What a wonderful world: Very appropriate!!
Pancake Day
Traditionally called Shrove Tuesday, Pancake day symbolises the start of Lent.
Lent is the period in the Christian calender when Christians focus their thoughts on preparing themselves for the forth coming Easter period.
Pancakes were traditionally a good way to use up all the "good things" leaving only basic rations and thus inducing self denial.
Tonight I shall be enjoying lemon and sugar!!
Day 39 ~ One A Day Challenge ~ Strawberries and champagne
A bracelet created with champagne spacers and strawberry shaped glass beads.
Craftjuice Tuesday ~ It's bag time!
Make up bag in stunning black and white fabric by DKA creations
Knitted woollen bag in beautiful colours by Pipistrelle
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