A final few days for the October Owls.

Please click on the picture to go straight to the shop.

Alibali Jewellery - The copper colouring of this pendant is really striking

Artyzan Crafts - These look so warm and soft.

Uniquely Yours - These scarves are so much fun and unique.

Ritzy Swish - Great one for the boys, they're always hard to buy for.

Raven's Stained Glass - This pendant is so delicate and on such a pretty colour.

Audrey's Cat- Fantastic colour and a great design.

Folksy Friday - September Embers

It's the start of a new month and the start of a new listing club on FOLKSY. I've joined the September Embers to try and list something everyday in September. The idea is also to promote the other shops and generally help each other. I've viewed and stumbled this week (although I still don't really have a clue what I'm doing with this) and today I've blogged about some favourites.

Please click on the link to go directly to the shop.

Cola cube Bracelet - Maram JewelleryThe Tower Bridge - IalbertVintage Style Red Pendant - Just K jewellery

Silk Covered Buttons - Sophie's Stuff

Strawberry Earrings - Carol's Crafts

Hair Accessories - Nofkants Curios

Soap making!

A drop of rain kept us in the house for a while today and so out came the craft kits. Birthday boy had been given a soap making kit last week and this was a perfect opportunity to try it. We've started with a basic ball melt and pour soap using hemisphere moulds to get to know how the soap works and then hopefully we will progress to the brains, eyeballs and chopped off fingers that are the idea behind the kit.

My Folksy Friday has been inspired by our soap making efforts. The boys have chosen their favourites, lots of blues, bugs, boats and ninjas!

Please click on the picture to go straight to the FOLKSY shop.

Bottle Upcycling

After a neighbours party this week I came home to find lots of empty champagne bottles on my doorstep. Yes, I'd rather they were full but even empty ones are useful. I've been perfecting my recycling technique and using my kiln to flatten them into cheeseboards. The finished items are smooth, flat, glossy and perfect for small lumps of cheese or canapes. A perfect standby or hostess gift.

I've also tried smashing them up and putting them into moulds but the final product was a bit spiky. I've been successful with some Bombay Sapphire Gin bottles and have some lumps of blue glass to play with. I think they may turn into a mobile.

I love the Corona bottles. Sometimes the writing comes out a bit less white than I would prefer but that's kiln magic! I've had trouble finding suitable bottles for these lime/lemon cutting boards as the design has changed to two etched sides. In the kiln two etched sides just makes a jumbled writing mess and so I've been searching supermarkets for ones with a peel off sticker on one side. Now I just have to drink all the beer!

Whilst researching other bottle recycling ideas I came across this amazing place in Canada. This building and other glass structures  were built by the late Édouard T. Arsenault who was inspired by a postcard of a glass castle in British Columbia. He started collecting bottles and then gradually began building.There are a number of structures and a garden also inspired by glass. Please click on the pictures or go directly to the website http://www.bottlehouses.com to be amazed.

Folksy Friday - Purple

You may know purple is my favourite colour but did you know these purple facts?

 

 In Thailand, purple is worn by a widow mourning her husband's death.

A "purple heart" is a U.S. military decoration for soldiers wounded or killed in battle.

In Tibet, amethyst is considered to be sacred to Buddha and rosaries are often fashioned from it.

In Japan the color purple signifies wealth and position.

Purple denotes virtue and faith in Egypt.

Please click on the pictues to be taken to a purple section of these Folksy shops.

Purple Passion - Tiara - Christals Creations
6 Fruity Fimo Buttons-Red Grapes - Pink Chihuahua Kisses Organic baby blanket  - Baban CatPurple and silver/grey brooch - Juniper SpoolsLilac lampwork beads - Lampwork beads by Jo Diomo Glass gifts - Got Caught Glass Nugget Spider  

Folksy Friday!

I have chosen some of my blue favourites from the June Bugs listing club to showcase this Friday. Please click on the link to go directly to the shop.