Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Another Etsy Treasury


The other day my Christmas notecards were featured in a treasury that a fellow Etsian had compiled.
Today, after waiting patiently for a week - until the number of lists dropped below the cut off number - I compiled a treasury of my own featuring some truly irresistible items made or offered by other Etsians. The aqua colour palette for the treasury started with my own bird silhouette necklace which I wanted to showcase ( you are permitted to feature one of your own items ). I think you will agree that the items featured alongside mine are all gorgeous :) I especially love the art print of the washing being hung out - just beautiful!

If you want to have a closer look at any of the items use the following link:-


Hurry though because it expires in 2 days!!

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Hitting the Canvas


I bought myself some water soluble oil paints a few months ago. I used to use oils years and years ago, but couldn't stand the mess and the hassle trying to get my brushes truly clean!! My friend Melissa had used them and said that they handled the same as regular oil paints so I thought I would give them a try.


I will admit that oil paint, like watercolour is not my favorite medium as it takes so darn long to dry and I am really impatient when it comes to painting. I know what I want the end result to look like and I hate to waste time achieving it!! Anyway I managed to summon up the patience to spend time over a number of weeks to complete this piece. It featues a fun, colourful display of kitchen storage jars. It is totally wrong for my kitchen, but would look great in a modern kitchen with white lacquered cabinets and plenty of stainless steel appliances!!


I have started another oil which is currently drying. What I should do is photograph it at this stage and then do updated blogs as I continue to work on it. I shall do that....
Watch this blog..........................

Etsy Treasury

Anyone familiar with Etsy will have seen the beautiful compilations of tempting items on their 'Front Page'. What you may not realise is that most of these beautiful collections are compiled by Etsy members.

Anyone with an Etsy account - whether you are a buyer or a seller can compile a treasury. However you have to be patient because the number of treasuries has to fall below a certain number before you can compile a new one. So when that magic number is reached you have to be quick off the mark because the window to make one is liturally a few seconds long! I have compiled many treasuries myself but unfortunately haven't kept a copy of any of them. Something I intend to do in the future, however I was featured in one last week which I think you will agree is stunning :) My item is bottom right - a set of Christmas notecards, which I really must remove from my shop as spring is just around the corner!!






If you want to see more beautiful collections check out this blog which features 8 new outstanding treasuries each Tuesday, selected by the blogger. I think you will agree they have fantastic taste :)


http://sandoproductions.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

March Endeavours





Through a happy accident I have more new gorgeous pendants to share. I ordered some beautiful filigree cameo settings for my images, but felt that they were so delicate that they lacked some weight and substance. I went searching on Etsy to try and find something to adhere the setting to for this purpose. What I ended up finding were clear glass cabuchons and voila a new style of pendant was born!!




The glass domes serve 3 purposes - they give the pendants a lovely weight, they enhance and magnify the image underneath them and they protect the image, making the pendants waterproof. In honour of this new method I have of course created some new images such as the initials and dug deep into my library of vintage ephemera to find items that can be used just as they are, such as this delightful 'purple lady'.




A similar happy accident led me to make my first pairs of earrings!! I had to source a small bead to seal onto the back of one of the settings I had ordered that was open on the reverse. I found some lovely rich brown walnut beads that turned out to a little thick for the purpose. Not wanted to waste anything I set to thinking how else I could use them. I ended up adhering my pictures to them and sealing them with resin and stringing them with some upcycled beads from a necklace of mine that had come unstrung. Hoping to add more designs to this range soon :)