Monday Moodboard

Spring has sprung and we've just had a fun Euro Week on Etsy which revealed many blossoming European shops with awesome talent. So in keeping with the theme of new beginnings, here is my very first Monday Moodboard with some European goodies to celebrate!



1. Bag - Marbled
2. Earrings - ZsBcreations
3. Wall Art - PopWall
4. Bracelet - AMIdesigns

You can see other lovely Moodboards on Fleurfatale's blog here:

Work in Progress

Etsy's Euro Week has been frenetic with lots of wonderful Euro treasuries to make and browse. My clicking finger is worn out! I was very lucky to have been featured in no less than 10 treasuries this past couple of days, which is a record for me! I also managed to snag both a T west and a Main treasury, the first I have made for some time. But even with all this activity many people are reporting disappointing sales results.

I have spent today re doing many of my item photos, trying different backgrounds, and generally sprucing up some of the photos I was less than happy with. But there's still room for improvement!

My Etsy shop is a continual work in progress, I'm always striving to improve it. A few items have recently expired and it's been a tough decision whether to re list them or strip them down and make a new design from the beads. I do wish Etsy would allow sellers to view expired items so I can check how many views/hearts a particular item had to judge if it's worth relisting or better to pull the item and rethink the design. I'm not always on the ball enough to remember to check just before they expire... but I have just done so now with those about to expire this month and have some ideas in mind which I'll be working on over the next week or so.

Midweek Medley

It's my 1st Etsyversary... exactly one year since I first joined Etsy! To celebrate I am offering Free Worldwide Shipping all this week. So why not check out my shop and grab yourself a bargain!
My Etsyversary also coincides with Etsy's Euro Week, a week long promotion of European members, their shops and lovely items.

In other news... the postman delivered a sweet little package today; it was beautifully wrapped, and inside there was a pretty leaf brooch made by the lovely and talented Anna from Sutekidane. I entered a competition give away on her blog, and I won!! :)

To enter I had to watch a video tutorial showing how to make the brooch and then answer a question. I've never entered a give away before, so will have to try entering more!

Thank you Anna, I will enjoy wearing your cute ladybird leaf brooch!




And before I go, here is my latest offering... a vibrant lime green pendant necklace that would make the perfect accessory for Spring!

Lime Crush Necklace:

Fifi Friday

Still feeling poorly so not done a lot this week. My energy levels are depleted and it's all I can do to take my dog for a very short morning walk, then it's back to the couch for most of the day, and early nights.

But I managed to make, photograph and list a pair of earrings. It was an experiment really, to see if I could find a way to use these gorgeous beads that I ordered which unfortunately came without holes. I fixed them with super strength E600 glue inside the lower petaled bead cap. They are very secure, and I'm really happy with the result.

Fifi Earrings:

Poorly Sick

Looks like I did way too much on Sunday and have triggered a major flare that's really painful and has drained me of energy. I really must learn to pace myself instead of frenetic spurts trying to cram in as much as I can on my good days. So I've decided to take a few days off my Etsy shop to recuperate.

A few early nights and lots of rest should do it. I'm still open for business and posting orders, I'm just not listing anything new for a few days. Or at least that's the plan... all depends how much boring daytime TV I can take before I'm lured into my studio by the call of the beads! :/

Forgot to mention these lovely earrings I made at the weekend and sold this morning. Will have to make some more... when I'm better!

Circle of Life Earrings

Sunday - a Day of Rest?

Today is Mother's day in the UK, a day, as I'm sure everyone knows, when children show their love and appreciation of their mum. I received cards off all my 3 adult children, phone calls from the 2 who live away, a big box of chocolates from my daughter, and my son hoovered the house as a treat, which was lovely.

But Mother's day or not, I seem to have been busy all day. I was up early and out in the freezing cold garden photographing the earrings I made last night and edited them all even before walking my dog. After lunch I listed them in my Etsy shop, and set to work making a necklace, which meant more photos, editing and listing.

Here is what I made...

Ballerina Earrings: So called because they remind me of Pirouetting ballerinas.


Dew Kissed necklace:


Clematis Earrings:


I love these turquoise lampwork flowers. I first bought some last year and have just found them again in limited supply, so I bought quite a few for my bead stash. I also have them in a lovely shade of pale green.

I am fortunate to be currently featured in no less than 3 treasuries and an alt in another one. They are all beautiful and I'm delighted to have some of my items chosen. Thank you!

You can check them out here over the next couple of days:

Yay Spring:

Enigma Ring:

Raspberry and Chocolate:

I'm an alt in this one... Touch of Elegance:

Friday Focus

It's been an odd week with 3 days of having to wait in for a man in a van... actually that's not true, today's man arrived in a very posh car. My boiler broke on Sunday and a repair was attempted on Tuesday to no avail, so the engineer had to order a part and come back on Thursday, only he didn't come back, another man did. Then today an insurance surveyor called to assess my broken kitchen sink (don't ask!). He was the one in the posh car. Heaven knows what the neighbours must think with all these men coming and going... possibly that I've fallen on hard times?

But all this sitting around... (who am I kidding) I am so house proud I have to clean up before allowing workmen in. I actually got to play with my lovely beads and made two new pairs of earrings.

These are my current favourites... I adore them and will have to make a pair for myself!

Secret Garden


These pink earrings remind me of Peonies and are suitable for day or evening wear:

Peony

The Wonder of Nature

I start every day with a morning walk in the local countryside with my dog. I adore nature and being close to it. I love watching the changing seasons, colours and textures of the landscape.




But this morning I experienced something I have never seen before which totally fascinated me.
I had stopped for a rest on a bench and was sat there soaking up the sun's rays on a perfectly still bright morning with pure blue skies full of white fluffy clouds.



All of a sudden I heard a rustling noise. I looked up and a few metres in front of me on the grassy arboretum, a little flurry of leaves were being stirred up and dancing around. They started to flutter and swirl, gathering momentum as they they spiraled into the air.



It was about 3 metres wide and a couple of metres high, spinning just above the ground. As it picked up speed it started to travel directly towards me where I was sat. It was surreal, as everywhere around was perfectly still apart from this mini whirlwind of leaves. As it reached me I had to bow my head and close my eyes, the force was so strong with leaves flying in my face as it spiraled into me. It seemed to dissipate somewhat on hitting me and as it reached the trees behind it died out completely.


I was absolutely enthralled, and really wish I'd been able to capture it on video. So enthralled in fact that a few seconds later a couple came walking past and said hello, commenting how lovely the weather was, and I just had to tell them what I'd experienced.

It made me realise just how incredibly powerful natural forces can be. How easily a tornado can rip up houses and cars, tossing them into the air. This was incredibly tiny by comparison, but it was slightly unnerving as it headed directly for me, and I was startled at its force as it passed over me, the leaves whipping my skin. Later when I returned to the car and removed my zipped up fleece jacket, a leaf was actually tucked inside and stuck to my jumper.

It would be nice to think it was the forest fairies playing, kicking up leaves as they flew about. But it was more likely to be a little quirk of nature... though none the less fascinating! It was just a tiny thing, but I'm sure it will stay with me for a very long time.

Spring is in the Air

I seem to have been so busy lately that I haven't had time to update my blog. I'm about to put that right with a gallery of my latest Spring Flower Collection. My flowers seem to be my best seller and after a couple of them were recently featured on the Etsy Front Page interest has grown (no pun intended) and orders have increased. So I figured I'd extend my range with some new designs. I can't claim they are botanically correct, but I have so much fun making them, and it beats gardening in this chilly weather!

Daffodils:



Nightshade Lily:


Bluebell:


First Dew:


Springtime:


Passion Blossom:



Tiffany Fleur:


Spring Green:



Summer Sky:



Lime Blossom: