A great way to display...

As you may be able ot tell from this blog, I do a LOT of etsy browsing and have to say it's really refreshing to come across a shop with great product display. One shop with a cute twist on product display is MemiTheRainbow. I particularly love the way she displays her fabric-covered buttons and can just imagine these sweet little product display cards nestled on a shelf in a little highstreet boutique. 

 

  

For another cute piece of product display, these Sardine/Herring felt brooches are pictured snug in a sardine tin, and jumping from the tin onto a jacket lapel.... ingenius!

If you know of any other etsy shops with great product display please share in the comments!

(Ps. I am having trouble replying to comments at the moment as the word varification letters don't load! But I will reply as soon as this is sorted. Comments are always appreciated.)

x

Shoegazer loves: ELINtm

ELINtm is the work of Elin Thomas, a full-time artist and jewellery maker from Bristol, UK. Elin's beautiful work is often inspired by nature - from the looks of it mainly mould, algee and lichen - things people often consider horrible or associate with decay are turned into clever, delicate, intricate and ultimately beautiful pieces of jewellery, art and fashion.

Take a look at some of Elin's work and see for yourself:

 

 

 

 

Beautiful!

Shoegazer finds: Embroidery

I'm currently itching to get my hands on some mini embroidery hoops to get started on a project I have an idea for. Until I have them I've been looking around to see how other people are putting embroidery / embroidery hoops to good use. Here are some of my favourite finds so far:

Above: I love love love the embroidered necklaces from SpinThread, particularly this one.

Above: A nice example of how embroidery can work in a mixed media piece of work. This is an old envelope from 1927 with collage and embroidery breathing new life to it. The simple, subtle embroidered flowers are perfect! Check out Hens Teeth on Flickr for more.

Above: This embroidered colour wheel by Wardi must have taken hours! It would look great left in the frame and hung as wall art. Be sure to take a look at Wardi's photostream for more embroidery-based treats!

Above: ...Speaking of embroidery hoop wall art, I have loved this piece by Hare and Drum since I first saw it early last year. Check out the etsy shop for other bits of hoop art featuring jelly fish, birds, flowers and more.

Above: If you're falling in love with hoop-based art then you really need to take a look at Mary's Granddaughter on Etsy. Many of the pieces feature tiny antique doll arms which make them really stand out as unusal.

Above: Here Claire Platt (who also knits some fabulous aeroplanes!) deconstructs the different processes and timings of one of her pieces of embroidery. Very interesting.

Above: Last but not least, if embroidery still makes you think of old ladies sitting round gossiping whilst they sew.... the work of Davis Jacque will surely change your perspective. This modern, bright embroidery freestyle gives the artform a completely contemporary edge. Check out flickr for more.

x

Make a house a home

A little inspiration for those who rent accomodation and therefore have to leave the walls the bog standard white the landlord paints them - there is a way to a colourful life! As seen in these lovely images from Marie Claire Maison, simply add life with colourful picture frames, cushions, table cloths, tea towels, lights, art prints and even jars of brightly coloured buttons and bits.

Museum of Childhood

On Saturday, after checking out the BUST Summer Craftacular (post to follow, soon) I popped into the Museum of Childhood as it was just across the road. Needless to say, the old, unusual and sometimes very outlandish toys were a rich source of inspiration!

Above: These prototypes of heads for Daisy dolls, designed by Mary Quant, were one of my favourite things from the museum and have given me some ideas for projects . . .

Lost and found the crafting bug!

It's been a while since I was last able to post because I was away in Germany with work last week and this week have been snowed under with work work work! I also lost the creative vibe a bit - I hate it when that happens, it's so frustrating how it just comes and goes as it pleases! Anyway, now it has returned in full force thanks to the work of Kate Sutton. I stumbled across her blog earlier today and her brilliant work has inspired me so much to continue with the projects I have on the go. Kate is UK-based and does illustration work for Urban Outfitters, Renegade Craft Fairs and Roxy to name but a few. I particularly like her Cuckoo Clocks:

And this patchwork heart:

Take a look at her website and blog if you like what you see. All this makes me want to go home and make squirrels out of corrigated card and such!

Thought fox

I'm currently lusting after fox-based jewellery, I'm not sure why but all of a sudden the fox in all its autumnal glory is my woodland animal of choice! (Only slightly ahead of the deer/fawn).

So all this has inspired me to make some fox brooches (pics coming soon) and hunt for other foxy jewellery online. Here are some nice bits I've found so far...

From BluGrn Designs (More on BluGrn in an upcoming blog)

This one I found on Flickr (more jewellery of this style in an upcoming blog)

This vintage locket holds a cute little painting of a fox inside and is by Septembear.And this one I found via a Google Image search and apparently it's from Built By Wendy, although I couldn't see it on the site.