tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84701096452245200862024-03-13T05:05:04.149+00:00Averilpam DesignPolymer clay, jewellery making, other crafts and life in general...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04594661627722708943noreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8470109645224520086.post-55989425040912620272013-02-23T13:23:00.002+00:002013-02-23T13:23:33.382+00:00Changes<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Changes are afoot! I've been quite ill lately, my offline life has become busier and fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue have flared up to limit how much I can do. So I've decided to limit my online work a little - well quite a lot.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="color: #783f04;">I've closed all my shops except the <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/averilpam?ref=si_shop" target="_blank">Etsy</a> shop, although I've kept my <a href="http://www.averilpam.co.uk/" target="_blank">website</a>. I'll try to update the photo gallery there more often now I've only one shop to keep stocked.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="color: #783f04;">I've been making buttons, and for the Christmas period I made hanging ornaments as well as some acorns, made using real acorn cups. I'm making a lot less jewellery as a result. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="color: #783f04;">My buttons are selling well in <a href="http://www.purelywool.com/" target="_blank">Purely Wool</a>, 56 Market Street, Lancaster and after my next trip to the USA I hope to find at least one more wool shop to stock them.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="color: #783f04;">I also have jewellery as well as some bags and scarves etc at the <a href="http://www.hcgallery.co.uk/" target="_blank">Handel's Court Gallery</a> in Chester.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="color: #783f04;">I'm happy to make buttons to order, though many of the designs can't be exactly replicated. I have lots of moulds that I've made from vintage buttons and these can be made in any colour and with various embellishments. The last two photos here are buttons made from moulds. </span></span><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04594661627722708943noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8470109645224520086.post-56251600554878321402012-07-16T15:57:00.000+01:002012-07-16T15:57:39.692+01:00Cards - A New Line for Averilpam<span style="color: #783f04;">I haven't been near this blog for a long time. I thought I was going to give up on it but I've decided to try and get started again. </span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">I recently bought a new camera which has filled me with new enthusiasm for photography. I took lots of flower photos (with my old camera) while I was in the USA, on a trip to the Botanical Gardens in Washington DC.</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">A long time ago I made and sold (well tried to sell) cards, creating patterns on my computer based on some of my photos. I've been making cards for my own use with some of my photos and a friend suggested I should start to sell them again.</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">So here are a few of my new card designs, and a couple of the photos I'll be putting on new cards.</span><br />
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<a href="http://folksy.com/items/3475809-Blank-Card-with-Three-Photos-of-Flowers" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwxSU99YoUeVC5SJt-kNyMPtttFv8dSfgcmdOMQ4oGiACHcLEkc2SZTNbTi96i6-eS_Ttj9O9zc_GqYSyEFlWc0YTkaM6L6vrdc7WHJdXjE2_v56Na4WZnkaoLYJvgyu3Zwaqj-nPYSlqF/s320/001-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://folksy.com/items/3468685-Blank-Card-with-Three-Pictures-Abstract-Designs" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6zoarX2OPCnWMebunZ2OD-HiJLLs37TmycVjbM9_S1Ac-Vz94d0GLG9ycc1FNm3XQ8WZk8ELrmqd6DwCFcAOJ3K6EWE_Ph8SWTxBdl5RVG44OgsEHmS2cd6255OVFxZvEDbTW_V1yF3nY/s320/010-1.jpg" width="319" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04;"> </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04594661627722708943noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8470109645224520086.post-33795776104355383072012-03-09T11:32:00.000+00:002012-03-09T11:32:07.486+00:00Craft Britannia Shop of the Week - week 2<span style="color: #783f04;">This week the featured Etsy shop is <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Shalotte" target="_blank">Shalotte</a>, which is run by Naomi and her sister Abigail who between them make lovely knitwear, jewellery and accessories. </span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">You can find a great interview with Naomi on the <a href="http://craftbritannia.wordpress.com/2012/03/04/announcing-our-craftbritannia-shop-of-the-week-shalotte/" target="_blank">Craft Britannia Blog</a>.</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">Here are some examples of her gorgeous work</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/74003131/red-garter-shawl-rose-of-the-romantics" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://img2.etsystatic.com/il_570xN.243660394.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/76995763/lampwork-bead-cufflinks-bluebell-wood" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://img3.etsystatic.com/il_570xN.254441839.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/93768955/the-last-pleasure-garden-crochet-cotton" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://img3.etsystatic.com/il_570xN.314800427.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04;">Do pop over to Etsy and check out this lovely shop :)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04;"> </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04594661627722708943noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8470109645224520086.post-49037276498361349672012-03-02T10:16:00.000+00:002012-03-02T10:20:30.356+00:00Etsy Shop Feature<span style="color: #783f04;">It's been so long since I blogged - so many good intentions that I don't keep up with. </span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">I've recently re-opened my Etsy shop. I opened on there in 2009 and closed after selling only one item in around a year. It was mainly my own fault as I wasn't doing anything much to let people know I was there!</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">This time round I've joined some teams, where sellers promote one another to help raise the profile of our shops.</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">One of the teams, CraftBritannia - one of the UK sellers teams, has started a weekly shop feature. We all help to promote that shop for a week and one week, eventually it will be the turn of my shop to be featured.</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">This week the first shop is featured. It is <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/DayzeeLoveDesigns" target="_blank">Dayzee Love Designs</a>. Dayz does brilliant graphic design and sells all sorts of supplies and services for other shops such as bags, labels and logos.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/46643896/transparent-waterproof-labels-50mm-2?ref=v1_other_1" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://img1.etsystatic.com/il_570xN.201340721.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/27071199/custom-logo-design-uk-seller" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://img2.etsystatic.com/il_570xN.166611550.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #783f04;">There's more! Dayz also has a shop called <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/DayzeeLove?ref=seller_info" target="_blank">Dayzee Love</a> where she sells gorgeous jewellery, buttons and magnets.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/67543261/cherry-red-earrings-delicate-frosty" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://img2.etsystatic.com/il_570xN.214870234.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/69948770/liberty-fabric-buttons-mirabelle-tana" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://img1.etsystatic.com/il_570xN.226781513.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #783f04;">So pop over and take a look, whether you have a shop or want a gift Dayzee Love will have something you'll love!</span><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04594661627722708943noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8470109645224520086.post-87325402855164408282011-11-25T14:19:00.001+00:002011-11-25T14:33:51.560+00:00Craft Fair - 'Post Mortem'<span style="color: #783f04;">I had a stall last Saturday at the Green Party's Christmas fair in Lancaster. I have done several and always do reasonably well. I don't ever sell my more expensive items but this year I had lots of older jewellery reduced to rock bottom prices and sold a lot of it. I was very pleased to do this though it would have been nice to sell a little more of my full price items. </span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">However when I looked at two photos a friend took of the stall when I had just set it up I was horrified. </span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">This is the result of setting up a jewellery stall when you are in a state of total fatigue and with very few functioning brain cells (That's me behind the stall trying not to be in the photo!):</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy8jUq-bBRFQPll4UKqA7CBLEeVp89CGZkoz1xBd_gLc04ziAOHEFByyl656DwIuAvG1njv9s2jPNr9UmfTm6RjLU37oOyWXOxnc5sXCnSXrxIlJTVsSslC3VIJDJ0W5Lb7mgLCO6hednm/s1600/green+fair+stall-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy8jUq-bBRFQPll4UKqA7CBLEeVp89CGZkoz1xBd_gLc04ziAOHEFByyl656DwIuAvG1njv9s2jPNr9UmfTm6RjLU37oOyWXOxnc5sXCnSXrxIlJTVsSslC3VIJDJ0W5Lb7mgLCO6hednm/s320/green+fair+stall-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihobJY4j0k0o0qPYNf_VfNvOE4hd-CUU7Z-L3HAToFSz4No_mhyObt8Vdq4bJfKP8nXw-yRvaDH4YoONHpfBd9XYKILeoawNOKsEXUX3MZIioier1ezze0S0uExwMZXcjNof0Dg2AEKBOl/s1600/green+fair+stall-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihobJY4j0k0o0qPYNf_VfNvOE4hd-CUU7Z-L3HAToFSz4No_mhyObt8Vdq4bJfKP8nXw-yRvaDH4YoONHpfBd9XYKILeoawNOKsEXUX3MZIioier1ezze0S0uExwMZXcjNof0Dg2AEKBOl/s320/green+fair+stall-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #783f04;">It looks like a jumble sale! A huge redesign is needed for any future fairs I may do. Next year I'm planning to go to my daughter's in the USA in the spring instead of the autumn which means I won't be jetlagged and exhausted when I do this fair. I'm hoping to be better organised and get a couple of other fairs booked for next year too. </span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04594661627722708943noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8470109645224520086.post-57510827238360310282011-10-29T14:40:00.000+01:002011-10-29T14:40:45.613+01:00A Few Photos<span style="color: #783f04;">I promised I would keep blogging whilst here in the USA but I've not so far kept that promise. I've not really done much of the sort of thing that's interesting for people who don't actually know my family - mostly day to day stuff like laundry and shopping. We've been to one child's birthday party and hosted another, taken the dog for walks and I've been fishing with my granddaughter. Tonight we are going to a Halloween party with friends I've not seen since I was here last year so I'm looking forward to that and may have photos to share later.</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">I also have a jewellery party booked next Friday and hopefully a trip to some botanical gardens nearby. I hope the weather improves at the moment it's pouring with rain and snow is forecast... though 'they' say it will be sunny again next week.</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">So for now here are a few photos, mostly taken in the park behind the house.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcuzYxIR2cFNRVj0m90kM4-3GFfMyV7q5ycru-I2IE0Gsh72COr_MTbudzvjkaEu9bmU8hFVhyaeeKcMFxkmxB1_0NtvUiHlmhCi-MlFN5vYy9b5akFPTUgbXzKGfFhtjRcaQKeYFXpcXw/s1600/Buckeye+butterfly-1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcuzYxIR2cFNRVj0m90kM4-3GFfMyV7q5ycru-I2IE0Gsh72COr_MTbudzvjkaEu9bmU8hFVhyaeeKcMFxkmxB1_0NtvUiHlmhCi-MlFN5vYy9b5akFPTUgbXzKGfFhtjRcaQKeYFXpcXw/s320/Buckeye+butterfly-1.jpg" width="318" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #783f04;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common Buckeye butterfly, wonderfully co-operative, it stayed on this flower long enough for me to get several photos</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ0iudYDaZWU7yJvFqvfI3ZEWr5w9ZDupYPKEj7GipC2A3BCndM3PjJylSRpx35uKBfD4sBS5jXPk-8m3yMLKoKLLc54t0g1OwJ1pcSq6CkX0C0klPswiAnE9ZNVk_88DirsMT0zKYjS7V/s1600/Creek+Run-13.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ0iudYDaZWU7yJvFqvfI3ZEWr5w9ZDupYPKEj7GipC2A3BCndM3PjJylSRpx35uKBfD4sBS5jXPk-8m3yMLKoKLLc54t0g1OwJ1pcSq6CkX0C0klPswiAnE9ZNVk_88DirsMT0zKYjS7V/s320/Creek+Run-13.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #783f04;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vapour trails - we are fairly close to the airport. Some of the planes are low enough to see the logos on their tails!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrO2kuiu0vscWn5i0_ANQerr6oTYEcofJAFDlPV0zYSB6hpMLISXi_D3UsoIjgSvZcmaEQAo1RMsRH0CnRhhb-tNy2vPU_Irh1IjtoveJXO09Jb7pIuaOnK01COq28Nt75arFmzQ52HvD_/s1600/Emily+fishing-2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrO2kuiu0vscWn5i0_ANQerr6oTYEcofJAFDlPV0zYSB6hpMLISXi_D3UsoIjgSvZcmaEQAo1RMsRH0CnRhhb-tNy2vPU_Irh1IjtoveJXO09Jb7pIuaOnK01COq28Nt75arFmzQ52HvD_/s320/Emily+fishing-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #783f04;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emily fishing in the lake. The autumn colours are really beautiful at the moment</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg42vb37jPalH-wHA1E7YIohzXnuYz9TyGdEAdCGhu2x9u0PBveQTj0lDIvHUb1TwNWYa41BVbwF8lcGK4DXcjGVrbXhfEqvX5gnRcBGmVUnuO7UpBPOknUpCO9EZ0vu89UBbdXSyo_-jCR/s1600/Maple+in+sunlight-3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg42vb37jPalH-wHA1E7YIohzXnuYz9TyGdEAdCGhu2x9u0PBveQTj0lDIvHUb1TwNWYa41BVbwF8lcGK4DXcjGVrbXhfEqvX5gnRcBGmVUnuO7UpBPOknUpCO9EZ0vu89UBbdXSyo_-jCR/s320/Maple+in+sunlight-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #783f04;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunlight through a maple tree. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #783f04;">I realised when uploading these
that most of my photos have been saved as tiffs which won't upload so I
need to do jpeg versions of some more. Hopefully I'll manage another
blog post before I go home. </span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">Time is
now speeding up alarmingly and I have just 12 days left here. As always
I don't want to leave my lovely family though I do miss Monty and my
friends at home. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04594661627722708943noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8470109645224520086.post-27235824711161404772011-08-30T14:11:00.000+01:002011-08-30T14:11:08.803+01:00Little Big Shot Close Up Camera Lens<span style="color: #783f04;">I recently bought an amazing little lens from an Artfire seller, David, called the <a href="http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/studio/littlebigshot">Little Big Shot</a></span>.<br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">This is what arrived</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjT4C3WFcvG2IbuYpnjQqnM9H4WbMihfdcbykrPepAwMt3ogODz4BMwDFu54YnRPOIoq90vV4Q0qFUktdvyyeW3DmUNpYYCOldMUgyGxOYNPttCiFUsZa9HB5Sxrz_rAvREEbKUlFbQT3b/s1600/Littlebigshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjT4C3WFcvG2IbuYpnjQqnM9H4WbMihfdcbykrPepAwMt3ogODz4BMwDFu54YnRPOIoq90vV4Q0qFUktdvyyeW3DmUNpYYCOldMUgyGxOYNPttCiFUsZa9HB5Sxrz_rAvREEbKUlFbQT3b/s400/Littlebigshot.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="color: #783f04;"> </span> <br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">I had told David which camera I have and the measurement of the lens area. Two lenses are in the case but the smaller one fits best onto my camera. It's very easy to set up, there are precise instructions via videos on <a href="http://littlebigshot.blogspot.com/">David's blog</a>.</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">The lens goes onto the camera using a piece of click lock tape (a bit like velcro but it snaps together rather than having hooks and loops). You get a good sized piece so if you need to replace it you have plenty.</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">I watched the videos on the blog and went out to try it out. The first attempt was a dismal failure. I couldn't get the camera to focus at all. I've no idea what I did wrong, I thought I'd made the alterations to my camera settings that are recommended but in the process I must have done something wrong.</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">I was feeling very unwell at the time (regular readers or FB likers will know I had a wisdom tooth removed) so decided to put it all away for a while and try again another day.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">In the meantime a friend took me to Southport flower show (see the earlier blog entry) where all my photos came out with a dreadful red cast. I reset the white balance (don't remember setting it wrongly but I must have!) and my camera now functions normally again.</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">I duly watched the video with the operating instructions again. David recommends using the 'P' setting on the camera which I'm familiar with from my previous Canon camera. My Ricoh doesn't have this setting but on reading through the camera manual I found I can indeed change the ISO. </span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">so having got the settings right - it's really simple, right, so how did I manage to mess up the white balance and render the camera unable to focus???</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">My problem now was purely physical. The camera needs to be held really steady, more so than in my usual macro mode, which is challenging for me. I don't have a tripod and it isn't always practical to use one to get to what I want to photograph anyway.</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">My next set of photos were all blurred.</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">Third time lucky, I have some rather fuzzy and some reasonably in focus shots so I've decided to share them.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtxLAjdGeYk9nKcaXW4YKgzibVZsXjDCn0fTWucytOhQzbFfpXwfG_1lZhYhK23mkLTe0mnIjeI84pC1ajCpo22VjFfPpOsR47i98gYXEsMuot_n09qKETVhlg_6q3TH5P7Gu3gvBDUUWu/s1600/red+lobelia-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtxLAjdGeYk9nKcaXW4YKgzibVZsXjDCn0fTWucytOhQzbFfpXwfG_1lZhYhK23mkLTe0mnIjeI84pC1ajCpo22VjFfPpOsR47i98gYXEsMuot_n09qKETVhlg_6q3TH5P7Gu3gvBDUUWu/s320/red+lobelia-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Red lobelia, not perfectly focused but I like it, the colour is amazing and shows better in the next photo</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLR5lpJgsKZeOoIi9Vm25hqvM5eYF1afZjdNPurwVNj4oJd60jlfAbaZ7CpeJ-Da3k7pUS4NUR6K2MF5eftYQWcSKlAn61j3v8_hBj0HBBhucjm4EdAVnpT4m4G32jvKAtNCmJmTm4Y9Ez/s1600/red+lobelia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLR5lpJgsKZeOoIi9Vm25hqvM5eYF1afZjdNPurwVNj4oJd60jlfAbaZ7CpeJ-Da3k7pUS4NUR6K2MF5eftYQWcSKlAn61j3v8_hBj0HBBhucjm4EdAVnpT4m4G32jvKAtNCmJmTm4Y9Ez/s320/red+lobelia.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #783f04;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was the best of the lobelia photos, all the rest were very blurred, but as I had to hold the camera quite high (they are really tall) I'm pleased I got this one.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQ-pxd_1tRL5rrd5CGSHm9pdKQgWx8fUVv71PAcUSEN4CPmiM6FU7x_yHSWAcWsoTa1qjMLcmlZ3e6GdHaztGdGlvrF9phP9kV694zB5B-Id0dN4kWcFxQBhn0Y-dxaixlU_mc-hmoTQ9/s1600/alchemilla-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQ-pxd_1tRL5rrd5CGSHm9pdKQgWx8fUVv71PAcUSEN4CPmiM6FU7x_yHSWAcWsoTa1qjMLcmlZ3e6GdHaztGdGlvrF9phP9kV694zB5B-Id0dN4kWcFxQBhn0Y-dxaixlU_mc-hmoTQ9/s320/alchemilla-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #783f04;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first of the alchemilla (ladies mantle) photos. This is a very old scruffy leaf but the idea was to get the water droplets. I've had fairly good macro shots of alchemilla before but was hoping for something better.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYt6qI4-njzFHw0Vu1OMosmx_4zyVGzdlnr2nvGHUCik1WRcNJMXgI7QlEQLXjxssc4dqNrKChD2I4OXEnmCJunNtt9VhCVDQoIDNAvlPZbnDfBJSbD3HENGTSjV61xNFNcmSryZDgU4n/s1600/alchemilla-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYt6qI4-njzFHw0Vu1OMosmx_4zyVGzdlnr2nvGHUCik1WRcNJMXgI7QlEQLXjxssc4dqNrKChD2I4OXEnmCJunNtt9VhCVDQoIDNAvlPZbnDfBJSbD3HENGTSjV61xNFNcmSryZDgU4n/s320/alchemilla-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #783f04;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here I've got in closer using the zoom with the lens, a bit fuzzy though.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGsEQ4n442yxIxiPTTbUeswxrsLYke_9QTxymdAe4q4iWkON2qbJD0EcBGDpsYOqG2A5ODQJF-LZ_l8iT-3JmhoR6SzSPyv4p9jp5NdtfGMkllPGHSCp_GhU81tuRUzUD2Yg8XwGoG6GfA/s1600/alchemilla-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGsEQ4n442yxIxiPTTbUeswxrsLYke_9QTxymdAe4q4iWkON2qbJD0EcBGDpsYOqG2A5ODQJF-LZ_l8iT-3JmhoR6SzSPyv4p9jp5NdtfGMkllPGHSCp_GhU81tuRUzUD2Yg8XwGoG6GfA/s320/alchemilla-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #783f04;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is looking more like it but still not good enough, I'm still not holding the camera steadily enough to hold the point of focus as I click the shutter. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMftjpxeFFvBtYMLQgTkG8OeY9P7r4F3-ZDCflIVYPWPdKDf31j-VmtpEO8v56QGztttJ3rZYpeSvJ4qzjtHoiu6Ym2YUDwMyusOHDFGslOygG4QWnO_7PKO3-EKtEFMtLM_JCrupd54-8/s1600/alchemilla-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMftjpxeFFvBtYMLQgTkG8OeY9P7r4F3-ZDCflIVYPWPdKDf31j-VmtpEO8v56QGztttJ3rZYpeSvJ4qzjtHoiu6Ym2YUDwMyusOHDFGslOygG4QWnO_7PKO3-EKtEFMtLM_JCrupd54-8/s320/alchemilla-4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #783f04;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finally this is the sort of shot I've been hoping for, getting the little hairs at the edge of the leaf and the reflections in the water droplets. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="color: #783f04;">Well 'they' say practice makes perfect, so I know I've a lot of practicing to do, but I will enjoy it and am confident I'll get better. My wrists aren't going to get any stronger but I'll find ways to keep the camera steady and just keep clicking away until I get what I want. Fortunately plants don't move much if it isn't too windy, getting insects etc will be more challenging as they don't tend to keep still and pose for the camera!</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;"><br />
</span><br />
<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04594661627722708943noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8470109645224520086.post-2816275794041796412011-08-26T12:16:00.000+01:002011-08-26T12:16:13.912+01:00Southport Flower Show<span style="color: #783f04;">Last weekend was the Southport Flower Show. I've never been before, in fact I've never been to any of the flower shows, so I was delighted when a friend asked me if I'd like to go along with her.</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">We started out by looking at all the gardens that had been made, some were just amazing. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8JkoMoc1glQS5OnehUbf6oRiGI5aKWvIKD0WCFuiWuFoNTTwA5TNzUKapGfv1LvExfjWO4S6i6PzJXX2yUYoCQDbXC65nkDJHnlvQ09LzUR5wJpPdd8Gt8oFQ0w2eKBEujxrLhyphenhyphenBxeZOa/s1600/Southport+flower+show-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8JkoMoc1glQS5OnehUbf6oRiGI5aKWvIKD0WCFuiWuFoNTTwA5TNzUKapGfv1LvExfjWO4S6i6PzJXX2yUYoCQDbXC65nkDJHnlvQ09LzUR5wJpPdd8Gt8oFQ0w2eKBEujxrLhyphenhyphenBxeZOa/s320/Southport+flower+show-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1uX5cVnTIe0P2B3U3R081iePrYIeHrT9kWubBOua7PpnfnyyM2Uo7WFQwUUpkG-t1sx-QYStOjtTDIO26VTNVILTu7xknNen_ku06fYkxkTR6iIbNJrRam87STwhf2Od9LW88Y-Tb9-WI/s1600/Southport+flower+show-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1uX5cVnTIe0P2B3U3R081iePrYIeHrT9kWubBOua7PpnfnyyM2Uo7WFQwUUpkG-t1sx-QYStOjtTDIO26VTNVILTu7xknNen_ku06fYkxkTR6iIbNJrRam87STwhf2Od9LW88Y-Tb9-WI/s320/Southport+flower+show-3.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrjsfE8mOjpZwzdbKr6IZVrbF_d4UvNgAA-KUfdjomVVP0m_FXU1fW6oXlXIHqpXZHgbohOXjWO0OFPIVtiLW80xngbWutJ1UvfZicGGCBwJfym9XMuVIVDRgI6_y6nu1tnSZHjaEgUiEA/s1600/Southport+flower+show-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrjsfE8mOjpZwzdbKr6IZVrbF_d4UvNgAA-KUfdjomVVP0m_FXU1fW6oXlXIHqpXZHgbohOXjWO0OFPIVtiLW80xngbWutJ1UvfZicGGCBwJfym9XMuVIVDRgI6_y6nu1tnSZHjaEgUiEA/s320/Southport+flower+show-4.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><span style="color: #783f04;"> The path to the cottage is made from potatoes!</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">I had a problem with the photos which all had a hideous red cast on them. I spent some time on Photoshop trying to correct it but they still aren't as good as I'd like. I later discovered that while playing with some of the camera settings earlier in the week I'd accidentally changed the white balance!</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">After looking round most of the gardens we went on to the various marquees to check out flower displays and lots of stands with amazing plants arranged. There were plenty of plants for sale too and I could have spent a fortune and filled my garden three times over but I managed to resist the temptation, coming home with two plants and some bulbs for my alpine rock garden in a sink. Some of the original plants have died and others have become rampant so I need to revitalise it.</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">I'm thinking next spring I will carefully remove all the plants and remake it completely.</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">We also found some amazing alpine displays using all sorts of containers.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmrOT1ZMTOE_2Fcr3EdcWTKR1BWBYXwqZQGntzbo1pmgaaU5kmpWV8lIT42SRBddkLFs3LkEgwfAWV00oDTieYyu_J6Yvqg3lzvX_9t4gYf189PnLouSBg42vi69mBSR7hX8tvaVizCDgi/s1600/mini+garden-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmrOT1ZMTOE_2Fcr3EdcWTKR1BWBYXwqZQGntzbo1pmgaaU5kmpWV8lIT42SRBddkLFs3LkEgwfAWV00oDTieYyu_J6Yvqg3lzvX_9t4gYf189PnLouSBg42vi69mBSR7hX8tvaVizCDgi/s320/mini+garden-2.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEmryKXPpZzBSZrw3Kjt6tze51ECjFC8L1zBgOoAqq42tyncJtjgPffdgAE_arBNysBM-Azy22-I9dwyS-i_-GsfASDP4-VEF4Dd6IqDWxdhIvU9HsBy8SP06afKUiq7_b7mosn9tYEzvR/s1600/mini+garden-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEmryKXPpZzBSZrw3Kjt6tze51ECjFC8L1zBgOoAqq42tyncJtjgPffdgAE_arBNysBM-Azy22-I9dwyS-i_-GsfASDP4-VEF4Dd6IqDWxdhIvU9HsBy8SP06afKUiq7_b7mosn9tYEzvR/s320/mini+garden-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghK62DrMXVgWSRDuN12tvrUMnvX_Fmi0AO_p7rR67ijqXtnMS2w0A0KFj9TJyevH4JKhdLVXfFSmveOkFXb7C484PQ3R2oD3z5_yFhSiLLyMx8skupXCnonvOJKRmRJw96q6kA9FArre-A/s1600/mini+garden-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghK62DrMXVgWSRDuN12tvrUMnvX_Fmi0AO_p7rR67ijqXtnMS2w0A0KFj9TJyevH4JKhdLVXfFSmveOkFXb7C484PQ3R2oD3z5_yFhSiLLyMx8skupXCnonvOJKRmRJw96q6kA9FArre-A/s320/mini+garden-4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #783f04;">Most of the time I was too enthralled by it all to take photos so this is all I have. My friend plans to try to replicate some of these lovely mini gardens, they are certainly inspiring.</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;"> </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04594661627722708943noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8470109645224520086.post-85361968991677519402011-08-25T11:22:00.000+01:002011-08-25T11:22:26.218+01:00Polymer Clay Lizard Earrings<span style="color: #783f04;">I bought a set of two little stamps recently, each has the same lizard but pointing in opposite directions. I made my first pair of earrings with them and am sending this pair to the shop in Leeds which is taking some earrings and brooches in November.</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">I love them so much that if I could wear earrings I'd keep them!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Tg0A3dOxADSJi1vhZuYuq5xLfDXnfKLEWMteWG808S6pteG6SHqNwt7cQATNpM2DYQIbisT3QE1uqE86Qhss3S2ZakBWu2XHd0rcervEh3JZqRe2Cj8yKgz5ZxXd4HBbipWX3YuryvOp/s1600/106-1+Polymer+clay+lizard+earrings+copper+black.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Tg0A3dOxADSJi1vhZuYuq5xLfDXnfKLEWMteWG808S6pteG6SHqNwt7cQATNpM2DYQIbisT3QE1uqE86Qhss3S2ZakBWu2XHd0rcervEh3JZqRe2Cj8yKgz5ZxXd4HBbipWX3YuryvOp/s320/106-1+Polymer+clay+lizard+earrings+copper+black.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSemtUqN_BewapRCVXlbD0vk1KK3kqXcjF5dor12aKWlKaIjekZrf2D-heRFUF-FWXavPSdH1DTnE0xh9Zkmr_BJWfewYMLrhEhZ_Tp9JrC3-1zY2gtl4ns2b8oktBq1UHiyAA67fm2RzQ/s1600/106-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSemtUqN_BewapRCVXlbD0vk1KK3kqXcjF5dor12aKWlKaIjekZrf2D-heRFUF-FWXavPSdH1DTnE0xh9Zkmr_BJWfewYMLrhEhZ_Tp9JrC3-1zY2gtl4ns2b8oktBq1UHiyAA67fm2RzQ/s320/106-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #783f04;">I've decided to make more of this design. I plan to do them in different colourways, with different beads, different wires etc, they are just too cute not to repeat! </span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">They will cost £14 and will be put on sale in all my shops. If you would like a pair let me know and we can discuss the colours you'd like.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04594661627722708943noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8470109645224520086.post-43448320389848701382011-08-20T09:53:00.000+01:002011-08-20T09:53:03.458+01:00Polymer Clay - Finished Work<span style="color: #783f04;">Here are the two brooches and a ring, out of the oven and finished off.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig5vKZQ5w3aDuc2T8h6GF0xCa760ejbmGeUSvZfpMy8mPx2PmMwKdVQLqSRo2LL5ocL9NCsFsR-Wf5hblbHZHhjU5_MDQSHLVT4_XUCxg6NKioTkyuFWZJbF8FsBjbLPu0nDhtBxjYVk32/s1600/big+ring-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig5vKZQ5w3aDuc2T8h6GF0xCa760ejbmGeUSvZfpMy8mPx2PmMwKdVQLqSRo2LL5ocL9NCsFsR-Wf5hblbHZHhjU5_MDQSHLVT4_XUCxg6NKioTkyuFWZJbF8FsBjbLPu0nDhtBxjYVk32/s320/big+ring-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #783f04;">This is my first attempt at a ring. I've just bought some filigree metal ring blanks from <a href="http://www.folksy.com/shops/treasuresinmeasures">treasuresinmeasures</a> so I'll be making some more soon.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVyGebGXrqAp-VVxzxjR6LkNgW9XrDjwcNqEwYq6yK2Vx5J2_n3itqaicV6aboBtJP0oRHV0krCLRp_GtCwwnHCJkEq17WzZLfVkMxdnO_tPvfjESPZqmxTqEXrLQ_oY6FRYKplFbtfYV5/s1600/087-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVyGebGXrqAp-VVxzxjR6LkNgW9XrDjwcNqEwYq6yK2Vx5J2_n3itqaicV6aboBtJP0oRHV0krCLRp_GtCwwnHCJkEq17WzZLfVkMxdnO_tPvfjESPZqmxTqEXrLQ_oY6FRYKplFbtfYV5/s320/087-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifPM6TUkq1vKzQmas4AJ8yftqmT_neuNiX6QlgELEjfWNQRogaON4XV7aqwrZZV1R8El1qAlSiiPbtZtOVZPUVdiaCPl9msdSWY3PCjME2_rpCoe9U1fhAB3OODLwIu5SyNaGcOmUtmgiG/s1600/088-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifPM6TUkq1vKzQmas4AJ8yftqmT_neuNiX6QlgELEjfWNQRogaON4XV7aqwrZZV1R8El1qAlSiiPbtZtOVZPUVdiaCPl9msdSWY3PCjME2_rpCoe9U1fhAB3OODLwIu5SyNaGcOmUtmgiG/s320/088-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #783f04;"> These two brooches are probably going to a shop in Leeds in time for Christmas, they've asked me to send 6 brooches and 6 sets of earrings and I need to get them made before the end of September when I go to the USA. </span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">The buttons, 3 sets, are available in my supplies shop <a href="http://www.folksy.com/items/2135245-Polymer-Clay-Handmade-Buttons-Square-Purple-with-Cream-Streaks?shop=yes">AverilpamEtc</a> on <a href="http://averilpametc.folksy.com/">Folksy</a>.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04594661627722708943noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8470109645224520086.post-15528462375955180032011-08-04T15:43:00.001+01:002011-08-04T15:45:00.192+01:00Polymer Clay - Into the Oven!<span style="color: #783f04;">Here's a quick pic of my latest oven batch. Three sets of matching buttons, 2 brooches and the top for a ring. I found a tutorial for making a simple ring base using rubber cord, and as I've never made one before decided to have a try. I don't know if I'll ever make them to sell, but <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Polyform-Products/106551216055451">Polyform</a> (they make Premo polymer clay) have monthly 'make it your own' contests and August's is big rings. You can enter as often as you like so I may do some more. Textures and metallic/mica finishes are my fascination at the moment so I'm indulging myself and I've ordered a couple of new texture sheets. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzsWgIPGmtn7Gc0TScdUF0qFanWwxP9GAl25Y-p467mEfuiTmlA-YVq6AJqcGOq0JdSFpkxMsYR_hu4oGobIJmx8JKoiBiTaNigkqijksh6BgmrI_uQaw3tPhe_B-3BpHm-iU3uQUFuUzU/s1600/Into+the+oven.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzsWgIPGmtn7Gc0TScdUF0qFanWwxP9GAl25Y-p467mEfuiTmlA-YVq6AJqcGOq0JdSFpkxMsYR_hu4oGobIJmx8JKoiBiTaNigkqijksh6BgmrI_uQaw3tPhe_B-3BpHm-iU3uQUFuUzU/s320/Into+the+oven.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #783f04;">The heart brooch needs some work, I put too much silver on it so the texture lost some definition but I can sand some of it off and bring out the black/purple base colours. Sorry the photo isn't brilliant but I only took one quick photo before they went into the oven. Once the jewellery is finished I'll post some better photos.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04594661627722708943noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8470109645224520086.post-55913732183808614762011-07-26T21:00:00.000+01:002011-07-26T21:00:16.299+01:00UFO or WIP?<span style="color: #783f04;">Does anyone else find these acronyms confusing - there are so many around these days my poor fuddled brain can't always cope!</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">In this case I'm talking about Work in Progress and UnFinished Object. I'm wondering when the former turns into the latter. How long does a work in progress need to sit around before it becomes an unfinished project that may never be picked up again.</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">I've quite a few sitting around. Firstly a half made scarf on the loom. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZoSRLM0dNA_9J6Yt7WbtpBFOqHxBW8ZgrnSS_5cYPkXZElK0N7bi4VyjCubJW76rZnto2ehh-xxO10_JUzwyo2Mb6WQlLZkFsTDNzP6ZstkqPkduJynPTK1G2PZ0ajF8Ge9ychOMKej81/s1600/RIMG0006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZoSRLM0dNA_9J6Yt7WbtpBFOqHxBW8ZgrnSS_5cYPkXZElK0N7bi4VyjCubJW76rZnto2ehh-xxO10_JUzwyo2Mb6WQlLZkFsTDNzP6ZstkqPkduJynPTK1G2PZ0ajF8Ge9ychOMKej81/s320/RIMG0006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;"> I got part way through and realised I didn't like it so folded the loom up and put it away and got on with other things. Now I'm thinking I may never weave again on that loom unless I decide to cut my losses and cut it off the loom. Such a waste of wool I think but actually a worse waste of a loom if I hide it away and don't use it! Part of me still thinks I should just get it finished...</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">Then there is the rug sitting in a carrier bag behind the couch. I've not done much but like the scarf I've 'gone off' the fabric I used for most of what I have done. I know I should throw it out and start again with fabric I like better. Part of the problem was that the fabric frayed so badly that every time I worked on the rug everything around including myself ended up covered in bits that clung stubbornly to my clothing, the couch and the carpet. At this point there should be a photo of said partly made rug but I can't find it!</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">There is a fair amount of jewellery that I made early on in my jewellery making enterprise and which needs taking apart and remaking - or just taking apart so the beads can be used for something else or sold on.</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">Then there are various little pots and bags with polymer clay projects that are either waiting to be finished off and made into jewellery or - well, just sitting around because they didn't come out quite as planned. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyZhxX9PTK9gbZIUZYDVmE4LIfJ6QxbqqyOP62KzrXWX4MtYTPvSLZ6ta8gBs3q4LhcIWi6IwubY4EdkAODR54yZ4Vri4NWqFspDXESqYDVy_inO5d6gU40nKBiDim26KGtYaf3aS-6wBF/s1600/WIP-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyZhxX9PTK9gbZIUZYDVmE4LIfJ6QxbqqyOP62KzrXWX4MtYTPvSLZ6ta8gBs3q4LhcIWi6IwubY4EdkAODR54yZ4Vri4NWqFspDXESqYDVy_inO5d6gU40nKBiDim26KGtYaf3aS-6wBF/s320/WIP-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-QDU03MROSM6bEUZbkZdFC5npKgi40cT43QmG1IAY2wDTjn0w4zPePZG8M3k7Fx23DXlSoNKHfllAh6HgiGFrZgUk9nqmTmFWrfLdnr1Vycqey38xlv52yiUVi3n_hNXwVODi-bx0g4i/s1600/WIP-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-QDU03MROSM6bEUZbkZdFC5npKgi40cT43QmG1IAY2wDTjn0w4zPePZG8M3k7Fx23DXlSoNKHfllAh6HgiGFrZgUk9nqmTmFWrfLdnr1Vycqey38xlv52yiUVi3n_hNXwVODi-bx0g4i/s320/WIP-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #783f04;">I will probably finish most of these off someday but I'm not sure about the pink beads, basically I don't really like them so I'll leave them sitting for now.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04594661627722708943noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8470109645224520086.post-52242889390850553042011-06-28T15:44:00.001+01:002011-06-28T15:52:28.525+01:00Works in Progress<span style="color: #783f04;">I bought a lovely new book recently - Patterns in Polymer by Julie Picarello. I had pre ordered it from Amazon some time ago and was delighted when it arrived last weekend. It was really inspiring and helped to kick start my ailing creativity.</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">She shows some really interesting techniques as well as really good tips on mixing colours.</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">I made up four colours, a deep red, lighter pink, pale blue and buttery cream. They look good together and had enough contrast for Makume Gane which is a technique which works best with plenty of contrast. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6wtVIQjvUyFr9GOYvHLHeyKtE_0qOETH3YkpZsdmSv4gZ0E_mkiErVv3KG-aqigBU3U7ONOeCwCjQMxz_2V7ImWSEZVuwgT-srLnH8zbrl6GSG9aR8ehyoIYru7EriB0oy2y4WMe26-xz/s1600/Mokume+Gane+beads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6wtVIQjvUyFr9GOYvHLHeyKtE_0qOETH3YkpZsdmSv4gZ0E_mkiErVv3KG-aqigBU3U7ONOeCwCjQMxz_2V7ImWSEZVuwgT-srLnH8zbrl6GSG9aR8ehyoIYru7EriB0oy2y4WMe26-xz/s320/Mokume+Gane+beads.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaUwn_1v7UAe1Q7VALGyb5wsj_inudzVxSGqMidDJgqVf4SVCskbbTSqAw4nyy7vBtJ3_iXXQ2MrGmeyCQsRoixVbHCZ1SyuMzFHYda4gc_R2fjVY9eMp6OQcSXoJig5yz6-2xtfMlLCNd/s1600/Mokume+Gane+Pendants.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaUwn_1v7UAe1Q7VALGyb5wsj_inudzVxSGqMidDJgqVf4SVCskbbTSqAw4nyy7vBtJ3_iXXQ2MrGmeyCQsRoixVbHCZ1SyuMzFHYda4gc_R2fjVY9eMp6OQcSXoJig5yz6-2xtfMlLCNd/s320/Mokume+Gane+Pendants.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #783f04;">The large piece is made using the mokume gane I made, I wasn't very happy with most of the slices and ended up using it to make the beads which I think will make a necklace. The left over stack of colours I sliced with a wavy blade which gives a nice zig zag pattern. I used leftovers to make what Julie calls a lizard tail which I flattened out and used for the bottom piece in the photo. I haven't decided yet what to do with these. <span style="color: #783f04;"><br />
</span></span><span style="color: #783f04;">I made some earrings with the zig zag patterned clay:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ-Iu_VyQ-oPJx2VkLxajTr06rcz2VLK9j7qkB3-hqBByhi1UTLSsSKefjTy1NyQIeUkAAm6yws_x510ueNdd120Z5141-DYxJJJ5WSGHQCpxJYHjYOnpiIkcRmiutxRaV8iRMrPIHHngG/s1600/093-1+polymer+clay+long+earrings+pink+red+and+blue+pattern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ-Iu_VyQ-oPJx2VkLxajTr06rcz2VLK9j7qkB3-hqBByhi1UTLSsSKefjTy1NyQIeUkAAm6yws_x510ueNdd120Z5141-DYxJJJ5WSGHQCpxJYHjYOnpiIkcRmiutxRaV8iRMrPIHHngG/s320/093-1+polymer+clay+long+earrings+pink+red+and+blue+pattern.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ0f4Myx6tGvipoSGyEmzkwn5xeCjJlgDY1RXt4fBMGvCgCSWhbxKCU9eDZKiKeVrHAM7Hh_uAl4dW_dEjZntLsmfE7XMBEnGwXUmLgv4PIm8RqShgxe0OHAM1AYCCH06muxlBfesKaVS2/s1600/094-1+Diamond+shaped+polymer+clay+earrings+with+carnelians.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ0f4Myx6tGvipoSGyEmzkwn5xeCjJlgDY1RXt4fBMGvCgCSWhbxKCU9eDZKiKeVrHAM7Hh_uAl4dW_dEjZntLsmfE7XMBEnGwXUmLgv4PIm8RqShgxe0OHAM1AYCCH06muxlBfesKaVS2/s320/094-1+Diamond+shaped+polymer+clay+earrings+with+carnelians.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN1ptdcwRZUZb-Cg71L4vPVcBKWy4ZkMs329uxryWIPj_9bOb2O66vjq_dpGt4Bzc6gHVLH3kwfK6NV1W1HMuVdybSBDcOkiAjGxtgNBzExE5RyZOc-tiYvhVz1Qwt2AApVwyyKEH-G8OF/s1600/095-1+round+polymer+clay+earrings+pink+blue+and+cream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN1ptdcwRZUZb-Cg71L4vPVcBKWy4ZkMs329uxryWIPj_9bOb2O66vjq_dpGt4Bzc6gHVLH3kwfK6NV1W1HMuVdybSBDcOkiAjGxtgNBzExE5RyZOc-tiYvhVz1Qwt2AApVwyyKEH-G8OF/s320/095-1+round+polymer+clay+earrings+pink+blue+and+cream.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEH0ElG0B68yckuo2eq0K5YMGxWBYyQexMpX4x474NhJ57Cuu52LOisKjmrZEQWUGPAmY-_7NNhgum2HN7d7SYQdLx7CWLvLOjWcvFeqDdo01yDvQ0b95s2ZsTIV6soba-Uz0gYkWDcW3E/s1600/096-1+polymer+clay+earrings+pink+blue+cream+with+copper+gears.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEH0ElG0B68yckuo2eq0K5YMGxWBYyQexMpX4x474NhJ57Cuu52LOisKjmrZEQWUGPAmY-_7NNhgum2HN7d7SYQdLx7CWLvLOjWcvFeqDdo01yDvQ0b95s2ZsTIV6soba-Uz0gYkWDcW3E/s320/096-1+polymer+clay+earrings+pink+blue+cream+with+copper+gears.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #783f04;"> </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04594661627722708943noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8470109645224520086.post-26221268403406323842011-06-14T11:51:00.000+01:002011-06-14T11:51:17.957+01:00Squirrel Antics<span style="color: #783f04;">One of the squirrels came back to my garden yesterday. Well I choose to believe it's one of the same squirrels but it may not be!</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">He climbed up the narrow metal pole with no trouble and first of all made for the fat filled half-coconut shell. I was on the phone to a friend at the time and was describing the scene to her. She told me to put the phone down and get photos for her, which I did. By this time he had given up on the fat and was raiding the sunflower seeds quite successfully by hanging upside down. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl5QTPsd09DSJt_7mr-NDX8cau-UMNVaDAF2Ae6HWfViY2vsb_kE2NOtqNKnjB7FWyYoK6jDRTQHdRfH9AQKTLkhiuo00qLN1MAZnwaCwEMM3ZHO0QRj4WW3VmSS0tWXgRkS7C_gIdJW5B/s1600/More+squirrel+antics-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl5QTPsd09DSJt_7mr-NDX8cau-UMNVaDAF2Ae6HWfViY2vsb_kE2NOtqNKnjB7FWyYoK6jDRTQHdRfH9AQKTLkhiuo00qLN1MAZnwaCwEMM3ZHO0QRj4WW3VmSS0tWXgRkS7C_gIdJW5B/s320/More+squirrel+antics-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFRynLFIhjTsIEdYgxnkMet1Bu5DcSdCzqs6ITCMBS8BArCjmJ9S7mV603kScvVum2A2DTBLW3u9O-giumTU_99h13Uce14S_UagVraf97w-9XxY_XciSGYT3q7oGh0tjTrzE8qgG7NhmQ/s1600/More+squirrel+antics-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFRynLFIhjTsIEdYgxnkMet1Bu5DcSdCzqs6ITCMBS8BArCjmJ9S7mV603kScvVum2A2DTBLW3u9O-giumTU_99h13Uce14S_UagVraf97w-9XxY_XciSGYT3q7oGh0tjTrzE8qgG7NhmQ/s320/More+squirrel+antics-2.jpg" width="318" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbtIMSv6n3a0e8MnbBcKh1BR-ZSt-T1jnJmklHh_aKShZRd9KUwffj9GOTXeovLK2s5Ys5gnJi9SzrAOnx1lJjsQwuLvVYBh_vhRmx5DUtO2hrSMV-K88rRJrKQZJS0cOn0DK0gthnto_t/s1600/More+squirrel+antics-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbtIMSv6n3a0e8MnbBcKh1BR-ZSt-T1jnJmklHh_aKShZRd9KUwffj9GOTXeovLK2s5Ys5gnJi9SzrAOnx1lJjsQwuLvVYBh_vhRmx5DUtO2hrSMV-K88rRJrKQZJS0cOn0DK0gthnto_t/s320/More+squirrel+antics-4.jpg" width="296" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1VzyYNjaguhvyAcjk2Dx_2aBF70YSKGD6Ca2nJoeD1E7flriWBnFxaP72OuxjhUgKCalgIIzRA_FbptiL2ymmN2SGlxRTocjTEee_QW0y5jkp2ZKiDnw8ZeZmogEWg5zeZ_WhA1ThkdRx/s1600/More+squirrel+antics-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1VzyYNjaguhvyAcjk2Dx_2aBF70YSKGD6Ca2nJoeD1E7flriWBnFxaP72OuxjhUgKCalgIIzRA_FbptiL2ymmN2SGlxRTocjTEee_QW0y5jkp2ZKiDnw8ZeZmogEWg5zeZ_WhA1ThkdRx/s320/More+squirrel+antics-5.jpg" width="308" /></a></div><span style="color: #783f04;"> Unfortunately I will have to disappoint him if he returns as I usually have a plastic lid taped halfway up the pole to stop rats climbing up. </span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">The plastic lid recently fell off, due to pigeons standing on it to feed on the seed that drops onto it from the niger and sunflower seed feeders. The only way I've found to attach it is with brown parcel tape, not very pretty and far from permanent, but effective!</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">A squirrel has, in the past, jumped onto the top of the pole from the slate slab which stands upright nearby, so I may not have spoiled his fun.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04594661627722708943noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8470109645224520086.post-26489334891380402052011-06-09T13:43:00.000+01:002011-06-09T13:43:46.079+01:00Keyrings, a New Line for Averilpam<span style="color: #783f04;">I'm trying a new line in my Folksy shop, I've listed one so far and have 2 more to go in soon. The first is made with a gorgeous agate slab. It's dyed purple, which shows up round the edges. In the centre you can see lovely golden brown markings, the photo unfortunately doesn't do it justice. The other two use slices from polymer clay canes with metal charms.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZbKqj1hB-pzGEl1iWfn6wJlPo5BYuc10LhzsvdbB5TyFYo73lMIU47td6u9FN-d4Q73W22UR_oDMm_dJgiMLd7y_HyXiHvVLKqTJEYchuHWe5vHUAOlwpDVUhKt91bVsukmx3_Sfd0G1q/s1600/001-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZbKqj1hB-pzGEl1iWfn6wJlPo5BYuc10LhzsvdbB5TyFYo73lMIU47td6u9FN-d4Q73W22UR_oDMm_dJgiMLd7y_HyXiHvVLKqTJEYchuHWe5vHUAOlwpDVUhKt91bVsukmx3_Sfd0G1q/s320/001-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnNZpQCu8HVElrjLxj3vwvZEZ6KSLV-jSrcQlrBVnzdFYxfRfgSSoBZ8diRV_fhppeS7r_e4xxWL2le6g00z-aODclNhal1ue94dQOStWPMkau18A42r3tMzGfGD_9_9LYEA5z6WDNtT_7/s1600/002+polymer+clay+keyring+with+heart+charm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnNZpQCu8HVElrjLxj3vwvZEZ6KSLV-jSrcQlrBVnzdFYxfRfgSSoBZ8diRV_fhppeS7r_e4xxWL2le6g00z-aODclNhal1ue94dQOStWPMkau18A42r3tMzGfGD_9_9LYEA5z6WDNtT_7/s320/002+polymer+clay+keyring+with+heart+charm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8MKc3dEQc24Kp4dDkw0XVFKCX7hCxTtEKqbnvNLAVsE3nB1hpHQgZTBbNCzmhd5DfEA16AQSlcvMXoRv7ek3v6lMr5oGjgEu5ZbTqB1MJKf9yZBNEeCI-e3jSwHX7yt4CythFyWH2lrBn/s1600/003-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8MKc3dEQc24Kp4dDkw0XVFKCX7hCxTtEKqbnvNLAVsE3nB1hpHQgZTBbNCzmhd5DfEA16AQSlcvMXoRv7ek3v6lMr5oGjgEu5ZbTqB1MJKf9yZBNEeCI-e3jSwHX7yt4CythFyWH2lrBn/s320/003-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #783f04;"> </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04594661627722708943noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8470109645224520086.post-23794458871195205842011-06-06T15:57:00.000+01:002011-06-06T15:57:33.088+01:00June Bugs Listing Club<span style="color: #783f04;">This month the Folksy listing club is the June Bugs so I've been trying to list an item a day. I have opened a second Folksy shop, <a href="http://www.folksy.com/shops/AverilpamEtc">AverilpamEtc</a></span> <span style="color: #783f04;">selling off some of my excess stock of beads etc. I'm selling them very cheaply as it is stock sitting around that I'm very unlikely to use since my jewellery making style has changed radically since I started using polymer clay. So I've not managed to list much in my <a href="http://averilpam.folksy.com/">Averilpam</a> shop, but am getting a fair few beads listed, and I'm glad to say they are selling quite well.</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">Here are some of the listings from the June bugs today, click on the titles below each picture to go to the shops.</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;"><a href="http://www.folksy.com/items/1856525-Copper-And-Red-Coral-Spiral-Wire-Wrapped-Ring?shop=yes"><br />
</a></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://d200fahol9mbkt.cloudfront.net/item/14964805/IMG_3569__copper_silver_coral_coil_ring_1.jpg"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://d200fahol9mbkt.cloudfront.net/item/14964805/IMG_3569__copper_silver_coral_coil_ring_1.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04;">This lovely ring is from <a href="http://www.folksy.com/items/1856525-Copper-And-Red-Coral-Spiral-Wire-Wrapped-Ring?shop=yes">Chicita Gimme That Thing</a>. I like the mix of metals.</span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://d200fahol9mbkt.cloudfront.net/item/14955021/bridge.jpg" width="320" /></div><span style="color: #783f04;">This beautifully painted aceo is from <a href="http://www.folksy.com/items/1855237-Bridge-ACEO?shop=yes">Wellydog Gallery</a>, I love the colours</span>.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://d200fahol9mbkt.cloudfront.net/item/14959733/resized_blue_ticking_anchor_cushion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://d200fahol9mbkt.cloudfront.net/item/14959733/resized_blue_ticking_anchor_cushion.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #783f04;">This is a great nautical cushion from <a href="http://folksy.com/items/1855901-Handmade-Blue-Ticking-Applique-Anchor-Cushion?shop=yes">Ticketty Boo</a>. Don't you love that anchor motif?</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://d200fahol9mbkt.cloudfront.net/item/14972173/Fawn_fabric_and_felt_brooch.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://d200fahol9mbkt.cloudfront.net/item/14972173/Fawn_fabric_and_felt_brooch.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #783f04;">This is a really pretty flower brooch from <a href="http://www.folksy.com/items/1857405-Flower-brooch-fabric-and-felt?shop=yes">Juniper Spools</a> (what a brilliant shop name!)</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">I hope you like these as much as I do, or maybe you'll find something else you like in one of these Folksy shops.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04594661627722708943noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8470109645224520086.post-2166914968612914762011-05-26T12:25:00.000+01:002011-05-26T12:25:35.163+01:00Squirrels on the Bird Table!<span style="color: #783f04;">I know lots of people consider grey squirrels to be pests but I love them. I rarely see any in my garden, so I was surprised a couple of days ago, hearing a clattering and thumping sound, to find a squirrel in the garden. The noise was presumably from it hurling itself from the roof onto the greenhouse roof and from there via a small table to my doorstep. The table is Monty's favourite place to sit and watch the birds, it's a bit rickety so rattles when he jumps up. I'm just waiting for it to collapse one day, along with the greenhouse - Monty likes to snooze on the roof!</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">Today the squirrel was back, with a friend, to investigate the bird table. There wasn't much food up there and they didn't seem interested in the sultanas that the birds relish, so they didn't stay long.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4sYNhLaI2kH-f_O6OQ_YPxGYwuIcm0JSpkewr0olYQGHk91Nnxy_zVlAC4H_QdH4kdbmATGW-qrlUiR4F6zG1uZ73yYgjmsK9DqnjWXvIMzUzOAhqxNUDZJvXsChj2MpK9jzi91b-2bcF/s1600/squirrel+climbing+bird+table.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4sYNhLaI2kH-f_O6OQ_YPxGYwuIcm0JSpkewr0olYQGHk91Nnxy_zVlAC4H_QdH4kdbmATGW-qrlUiR4F6zG1uZ73yYgjmsK9DqnjWXvIMzUzOAhqxNUDZJvXsChj2MpK9jzi91b-2bcF/s320/squirrel+climbing+bird+table.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr-ypKYhm3wPiRVRtEUEQmDvxD9lHqpe9a3RukeoL6YF1P6W-v6kp-aLq54-IRxb3_qm0mXQh3pTioQy2hKZyWmKtq4D2eEc8-unTw6-p4awxY1P7AdHxRXbD5J2F_48hhm_ORebaHGCiv/s1600/squirrels+on+bird+table.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr-ypKYhm3wPiRVRtEUEQmDvxD9lHqpe9a3RukeoL6YF1P6W-v6kp-aLq54-IRxb3_qm0mXQh3pTioQy2hKZyWmKtq4D2eEc8-unTw6-p4awxY1P7AdHxRXbD5J2F_48hhm_ORebaHGCiv/s320/squirrels+on+bird+table.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><span style="color: #783f04;"><br />
</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04594661627722708943noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8470109645224520086.post-36096350801776086272011-05-14T10:44:00.000+01:002011-05-14T10:44:50.465+01:00New Bag Designs - Disappointed!<span style="color: #783f04;">I blogged recently about my new bag design - I've been brewing it for ages but only recently got around to making the prototype. I wasn't entirely happy with the shape and made another but I'm still not happy with it. They are lightly padded and machine embroidered and have small pockets inside. The felt is made with my embellisher using merino wool and some raw silk, then machine embroidered. Each has a hidden magnetic catch at the top of the bag just beneath the handles.</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">Here is the original prototype</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAKlALqeHJKmH-xI9hW9HblsiWTVyxnMfjZm1aD804Tku88qZvD-OGe3ee84wzVmeCY5J8ZaKOsA-RRUMnLyX_5O984ikdMVJjvbXS11StP5yMhJ8j5qCnQC4OQ5gaOECjsS1dN5HhH9JD/s1600/027-1+linen+bag+silk+lined+with+handmade+felt+handles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAKlALqeHJKmH-xI9hW9HblsiWTVyxnMfjZm1aD804Tku88qZvD-OGe3ee84wzVmeCY5J8ZaKOsA-RRUMnLyX_5O984ikdMVJjvbXS11StP5yMhJ8j5qCnQC4OQ5gaOECjsS1dN5HhH9JD/s320/027-1+linen+bag+silk+lined+with+handmade+felt+handles.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #783f04;"> I decided that this one was too long and narrow, and the felt handles were too soft, so here is number two</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYmnZijmZf41NWa7_oo9Yl2bi-TEaCj-ad76CdJvK17wTbPQW6IUfdf0lfmR0MPq6r5fStWG1H9qFQUPZrrX_yQ5AThzDGHeeg_PikxI2tBw9bWgANuyZYXnBxBx01QtgRUMktjUVTCL2e/s1600/028-1+linen+bag+silk+lined+with+purple+handmade+felt+handles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYmnZijmZf41NWa7_oo9Yl2bi-TEaCj-ad76CdJvK17wTbPQW6IUfdf0lfmR0MPq6r5fStWG1H9qFQUPZrrX_yQ5AThzDGHeeg_PikxI2tBw9bWgANuyZYXnBxBx01QtgRUMktjUVTCL2e/s320/028-1+linen+bag+silk+lined+with+purple+handmade+felt+handles.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #783f04;"> I like this one better but it still isn't how I visualised it originally. I feel the handles are too big in proportion to the bag. I have also decided I would prefer the bag wider than it is high. I'm planning to try a different, curved shape, with curved shaped handles.</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">In the meantime I can't decide whether or not to put these up for sale. I love the fabrics, linen with lovely silk fabrics for the linings and I'm quite happy with the felt I made. They just aren't quite what I planned. I'd appreciate some honest feedback.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04594661627722708943noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8470109645224520086.post-77846156623146401642011-04-15T17:40:00.000+01:002011-04-15T17:40:06.773+01:00Charm Bracelet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaMEJgFtCvGwa4DN83JBuZiGu1JJKVxW7uRFKhUpMss111XlbIdew5t9Ca9mlHaKPs9hzUyKuuDdoUgNuAHu3D48V9cf5nVK81fcLq-1F3sKAR2vp1ldduClTN9y3hm104acKu3zyZrmss/s1600/bracelet-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaMEJgFtCvGwa4DN83JBuZiGu1JJKVxW7uRFKhUpMss111XlbIdew5t9Ca9mlHaKPs9hzUyKuuDdoUgNuAHu3D48V9cf5nVK81fcLq-1F3sKAR2vp1ldduClTN9y3hm104acKu3zyZrmss/s320/bracelet-1.jpg" width="314" /></a></div><span style="color: #783f04;">Look what turned up in the mail this week! I won a giveaway (yes again, aren't I the lucky one). This came from <a href="http://www.folksy.com/shops/PuttingontheCharms">Putting On The Charms</a> who had a giveaway on her <a href="http://www.puttingonthecharms.co.uk/blog.html">blog</a>.</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">This gorgeous charm bracelet is what I won. She had several to choose from and it was really difficult as they are all beautiful. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXJu3ei8Ix2FwdVIJCBQb-UZVQEYnWrO6afYAWjP94y29jIPEC8nqY3dIY-pxCUlpfl1-cT1jolrkHr4koOtcr5tAPnU3NE-lmroO0ZmiqkD6e1pf5mCHiPpI4uJYK7cak6twQ3iFJ962v/s1600/bracelet-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXJu3ei8Ix2FwdVIJCBQb-UZVQEYnWrO6afYAWjP94y29jIPEC8nqY3dIY-pxCUlpfl1-cT1jolrkHr4koOtcr5tAPnU3NE-lmroO0ZmiqkD6e1pf5mCHiPpI4uJYK7cak6twQ3iFJ962v/s320/bracelet-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04;">I love it, and it fits me perfectly!</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04594661627722708943noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8470109645224520086.post-62385170665508498012011-04-08T17:11:00.000+01:002011-04-08T17:11:57.905+01:00Scrubbitty Scrub, Pink Blue and Green<span style="color: #783f04;">One of the features I like about Blogger is the bloglist which shows you the blogs you follow, in order of the most recently updated. You get to see just enough of the post to decide if you want to visit the blog and read it all. I'd love to read them all but there are just too many of them!</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">Browsing the other day, I suddenly spotted my name - Averilpam - what a surprise, I'd won a giveaway prize!</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">It was on <a href="http://eidelweisshookery.blogspot.com/">The Hookery</a>. My prize was a set of three Scrubbitty cloths. These are crocheted in lovely soft but strong cotton and can be used for anything you like.</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">Mine are pink, blue and green and I've decided to use them as facecloths, they are too nice to use for washing up! You can find them on Folksy at <a href="http://www.folksy.com/shops/Scrubbitty">Scrubbitty</a> . Claire has another shop, <a href="http://www.folksy.com/shops/Eidelweiss/">Eidelweiss</a>, which sells a great assortment of crochet items - scarves, blankets and cushions; toys, bags and decorations.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM8d9l0YAh_Mum31wtID90gGrNX3iPQqVGyU0HS_mM-Kx331vWSMQMtPxPlIWDuj0LPTSKHSDl5SWDrfqOJaDA5XsuzhVSD1oMqSJ2518OeYSb-cciHM6t_gWaJMQH3Z7l271o1rqaVX1u/s320/scrubbity+cloths.jpg" width="320" /></div><span style="color: #783f04;">Thank you Claire!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04594661627722708943noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8470109645224520086.post-80980228904693793322011-04-04T11:17:00.000+01:002011-04-04T11:17:27.524+01:00New Bag<span style="color: #783f04;">I've had an idea for a new bag design for quite a long time. I made a larger bag from felted mohair fabric and had an idea for incorporating the handles into the bag but when I made it I went disastrously wrong and the holes for the handles are uneven. I kept the bag as I really like it despite the wonky handles and it has been much admired when I have been out and about. </span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">I decided I would make more of them but find a way to do the handles properly. One way to do this is to make the handles separately, which I have chosen to do with the bag I am currently making.</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">This bag is much smaller than the mohair bag, and I'm making it with linen and with a silk lining. I have made some felt for the handles and my first attempt to sew them together looked really messy but fortunately they were also too big so I've cut them down and am hopefully going to get this bag finished today.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNON1h5k6lZnhDDITxrkq-foCcIoSBUVwKpRbrme53XN2rC6K9STAcn08gIZKR3h1PwRcDH-W73N9_2ZptSdPUc2F7oE4qxh7FAlKq0-onojLWDyE5p_LRd9tbog3zofrOsdOfk-uhswQJ/s1600/prototype+bag-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNON1h5k6lZnhDDITxrkq-foCcIoSBUVwKpRbrme53XN2rC6K9STAcn08gIZKR3h1PwRcDH-W73N9_2ZptSdPUc2F7oE4qxh7FAlKq0-onojLWDyE5p_LRd9tbog3zofrOsdOfk-uhswQJ/s320/prototype+bag-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #783f04;">Here are the pieces of bag I am working on. I've used a magnetic closure that is sewn into the lining so it can't be seen. </span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">While I've been writing this Monty the cat has taken up residence in his favourite chair - which just happens to be the chair at the desk where I sew. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH8acbGW6Irnq8NozL42DCTsYrxCAjuKNCUqdivMBL7nsj1xiry6ySm-vRwf0aXdQkYz5hyZcIM0wwet1Rne63InFZbmUXSBV6cBPFKzljvl97p41VK-sKEsTfCMGg1JO_hD1S5Lzrxyyj/s1600/monty+on+desk+chair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH8acbGW6Irnq8NozL42DCTsYrxCAjuKNCUqdivMBL7nsj1xiry6ySm-vRwf0aXdQkYz5hyZcIM0wwet1Rne63InFZbmUXSBV6cBPFKzljvl97p41VK-sKEsTfCMGg1JO_hD1S5Lzrxyyj/s320/monty+on+desk+chair.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #783f04;">I don't think I have the heart to move him just yet! I'll have a cup of tea and decide what to do next.</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;"> </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04594661627722708943noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8470109645224520086.post-84681296052189490212011-03-22T15:32:00.000+00:002011-03-22T15:32:15.311+00:00Needle Felting - Mermaid Hospital, finale!<span style="color: #783f04;">She's finished! This is the final installment in the saga of the little mermaid. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfmlwkTvd3aTR9WcKHTgaie9Lu3RXW6TkAOZly_U-3wgJg0XP_LeyoQBcX1v8ojCtea5FJ6yuaT6-TOQGTMsARg4aY9cU6f_nwGhhygv9vpLmBdQQvgu1NxziylP8g_mEWvApG6KXf8VZT/s1600/mermaid-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfmlwkTvd3aTR9WcKHTgaie9Lu3RXW6TkAOZly_U-3wgJg0XP_LeyoQBcX1v8ojCtea5FJ6yuaT6-TOQGTMsARg4aY9cU6f_nwGhhygv9vpLmBdQQvgu1NxziylP8g_mEWvApG6KXf8VZT/s320/mermaid-12.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">My next task was to embroider her face. I've kept it simple because I'm not too hot on embroidery!</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">Then I gave her some hair. This is raw mohair fleece which is naturally curly.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja-RoCgSyqVQWGEN2r8Mj0ldG9IX8eoR7kSP4QCk5vinjz8BgyzUrN4cHhMCGk9gFBYGvSjH8Q7cBMd6i_NLrn9Z_Qv-AOLR9QPzTTMpVaYSlSGaTMq-Q2xOb2CO-5ab6F_Z0I55VtkWDP/s1600/mermaid-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja-RoCgSyqVQWGEN2r8Mj0ldG9IX8eoR7kSP4QCk5vinjz8BgyzUrN4cHhMCGk9gFBYGvSjH8Q7cBMd6i_NLrn9Z_Qv-AOLR9QPzTTMpVaYSlSGaTMq-Q2xOb2CO-5ab6F_Z0I55VtkWDP/s320/mermaid-13.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDFTuYDx-Hc6rcqpCf_kpTz-Ff_KrzBjl7mqASpQeeN5h7S2x7L7uoSZ5_cy3StR3sG_M54KPBbzSm4l_GwytHPUiar6eyzJMnCfzkuQHovE7uMul3WWC42X-QEfrGnNmMQXaEn-J9h1GC/s1600/mermaid-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDFTuYDx-Hc6rcqpCf_kpTz-Ff_KrzBjl7mqASpQeeN5h7S2x7L7uoSZ5_cy3StR3sG_M54KPBbzSm4l_GwytHPUiar6eyzJMnCfzkuQHovE7uMul3WWC42X-QEfrGnNmMQXaEn-J9h1GC/s320/mermaid-15.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #783f04;">I've given her two layers of mohair locks and needlefelted some lovely blue/green wool with white silk on top to make a little cap for her.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXfmzO1CZDmsG0g2GBZuy5PHbsNzp48XVFbH0AEIOtjsA2F_7WS4bmXCqW9AdEa_ZRj8eDzIKuYR-k0dzsdEBfH3dV-M6g10svCsHkyeUUGhoVQawcwGaL8l-0HZ1A8BFb8IRM_U23xLrO/s1600/mermaid-16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXfmzO1CZDmsG0g2GBZuy5PHbsNzp48XVFbH0AEIOtjsA2F_7WS4bmXCqW9AdEa_ZRj8eDzIKuYR-k0dzsdEBfH3dV-M6g10svCsHkyeUUGhoVQawcwGaL8l-0HZ1A8BFb8IRM_U23xLrO/s320/mermaid-16.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPZLe3XcXYkA2ZYt1B6Z90IZdNjWL1ymBlOIFewMGPb_jsZ0EZ4_8fDDetBf-93eFFpsX1_BiOocHzSpagYC7BPF6vN9B2yyYetahBtccKEet3sVl3Q64xclzHKPjQD_m_KLFhmStcXFYB/s1600/mermaid-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPZLe3XcXYkA2ZYt1B6Z90IZdNjWL1ymBlOIFewMGPb_jsZ0EZ4_8fDDetBf-93eFFpsX1_BiOocHzSpagYC7BPF6vN9B2yyYetahBtccKEet3sVl3Q64xclzHKPjQD_m_KLFhmStcXFYB/s320/mermaid-14.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #783f04;"> I've finished embroidering her tail. I've used two rows of simple chain stitch in green shades with a straight stitched row in brown in between them.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga5HzEtWr8aLvJImAuwFXXJWR-W_QKZpOYn7XYjLbCAbzTNdmbydVo8DhhMRLeOhK8RxQ7iB1062YqEVwGgMSIVswJWIDqH_GZRAFdEIQZ2wmyHPWnaqCOa4bAuO-3sPPP4Z7kC76oNhyphenhyphenA/s1600/mermaid-17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga5HzEtWr8aLvJImAuwFXXJWR-W_QKZpOYn7XYjLbCAbzTNdmbydVo8DhhMRLeOhK8RxQ7iB1062YqEVwGgMSIVswJWIDqH_GZRAFdEIQZ2wmyHPWnaqCOa4bAuO-3sPPP4Z7kC76oNhyphenhyphenA/s320/mermaid-17.jpg" width="275" /></a></div><span style="color: #783f04;">I've given her a lovely necklace made from freshwater pearls which seem appropriate for a mermaid.</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">She also has a belt made from tiny pearly seed beads, and I've sewn more of those beads onto her tail and around her cap.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9bPR2bdZQoDw53sBx0Xz3M2IbnVmpL5LEnnSaXKIcvn2oj6PTt_Q9TW2kh42v-bmZTvVcbMeN_tU3_lIycdOssW2jCBUvHNkybMSqShU2sUM7Ls8kvKeLPSkliEEJw_L2vRZv0xS4rv8h/s1600/mermaid-18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9bPR2bdZQoDw53sBx0Xz3M2IbnVmpL5LEnnSaXKIcvn2oj6PTt_Q9TW2kh42v-bmZTvVcbMeN_tU3_lIycdOssW2jCBUvHNkybMSqShU2sUM7Ls8kvKeLPSkliEEJw_L2vRZv0xS4rv8h/s320/mermaid-18.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">So here she is in all her glory! I'm delighted with her and she will be going home to my friend very soon.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04594661627722708943noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8470109645224520086.post-3629998760984481922011-03-16T15:01:00.000+00:002011-03-16T15:01:46.137+00:00Needle Felting - Mermaid Hospital, part 2<span style="color: #783f04;">Yesterday I got back to work on the mermaid, but forgot to take any photos while I was making the green felt, cutting it and applying it to her tail. I've taken some photos of the beginning of the process for my next piece of felt to show you the machine and give you an idea of how it works.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr3ctRUeMeo-9Ti86lQFHVTvWWijzzgHcLiIbP6GW-RL61mMep0T0nSh7PyY4W95zXiWGLDhJNIc0zH5Jz0MNemm9UPM3yeWypdoCcExyC_Mtr5fZZNkds1yPsVOi4wF7ZWTQ0R-JljtaG/s1600/mermaid-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr3ctRUeMeo-9Ti86lQFHVTvWWijzzgHcLiIbP6GW-RL61mMep0T0nSh7PyY4W95zXiWGLDhJNIc0zH5Jz0MNemm9UPM3yeWypdoCcExyC_Mtr5fZZNkds1yPsVOi4wF7ZWTQ0R-JljtaG/s320/mermaid-8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <span style="color: #783f04;">The machine, which looks like a sewing machine, has a circle of very sharp barbed needles which work exactly the same way as using a hand held felting needle but of course much more quickly. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">There are 5 needles on this machine (A Pfaff Hobby 350p) which thankfully can be changed one at a time. I say thankfully because I broke 3 in the first few days of using the machine. </span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">The clear plastic you can see in front of the needles is a necessary guard which can be raised or lowered a little to accommodate different thicknesses of felt or fabric. However it can't be raised far enough to get your fingers underneath. </span><span style="color: #783f04;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">As you can see the needles compress the fleece into the base fabric forming felt. The base fabric I am using is a 'prefelt' which is very soft partly felted wool fleece which can be bought by the yard/metre. It is possible to make felt directly from fleece without a base fabric but I find it easier to work with prefelt. You can use any fabric as a base and any mix of raw fibre, yarn, lace, fabric etc to embellish.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXKErlUFpun1oV30qfcNzWt8pvnspcJ_j4R1IHaUCvY_RFGBjWIs2mNGtASX8TcaRABsVKb4vleuV4NWzNF9M_KaELvc6nmh59WLzlKCqtw2t_XRtRqk1-u0tfAjySOnfG0lS-A88KeSUf/s1600/mermaid-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXKErlUFpun1oV30qfcNzWt8pvnspcJ_j4R1IHaUCvY_RFGBjWIs2mNGtASX8TcaRABsVKb4vleuV4NWzNF9M_KaELvc6nmh59WLzlKCqtw2t_XRtRqk1-u0tfAjySOnfG0lS-A88KeSUf/s320/mermaid-9.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Here are some progress photos of the little mermaid. She now has her scales and her tail and I've started to embroider the tail. The needle you can see in the sponge is one of the needles used for hand needle felting. They are actually the needles used in commercial felt making machines, which are huge flat beds with thousands of needles.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA8j-JzVfpdiw5VvmR5VEqG_L1k_oHfB7vYchCx9hL_4xPsFLoOL2vkksRTqrE6iGd6-6bYKOaLjRkRs9tonl0U-69ZEJBq-Pcv4iK06Opl2zsfdS038FBSJS2ASpTiVeND8l3SUZBCtR5/s1600/mermaid-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA8j-JzVfpdiw5VvmR5VEqG_L1k_oHfB7vYchCx9hL_4xPsFLoOL2vkksRTqrE6iGd6-6bYKOaLjRkRs9tonl0U-69ZEJBq-Pcv4iK06Opl2zsfdS038FBSJS2ASpTiVeND8l3SUZBCtR5/s320/mermaid-7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiusVA16rTRtjqFRzffgCgOueSKwO78hhOfsdVkMI2eXNqHQS0-FN41R2SxYhmJr2UgNzuth2MWqdamQzg9eogRC_fzaBMXK_BtJKOCuQ4a0azEah0aZn4QVlzGXonbROZ2kiP4gKb_26DK/s1600/mermaid-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiusVA16rTRtjqFRzffgCgOueSKwO78hhOfsdVkMI2eXNqHQS0-FN41R2SxYhmJr2UgNzuth2MWqdamQzg9eogRC_fzaBMXK_BtJKOCuQ4a0azEah0aZn4QVlzGXonbROZ2kiP4gKb_26DK/s320/mermaid-10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIAqsSUdCLu1ff02PaOmi-woizzjziomAX6ZkHWo6v7QcVoTH9xyHOVNM2za5jI7Zlm4xGTlcMxvrNRuWLz0vEGXPBlcHBYe_va7Bx0z3wPRCT9anDpTJenbOyJTyYvXvo2g2Ang8Wf-hP/s1600/mermaid-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIAqsSUdCLu1ff02PaOmi-woizzjziomAX6ZkHWo6v7QcVoTH9xyHOVNM2za5jI7Zlm4xGTlcMxvrNRuWLz0vEGXPBlcHBYe_va7Bx0z3wPRCT9anDpTJenbOyJTyYvXvo2g2Ang8Wf-hP/s320/mermaid-11.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #783f04;"> </span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #783f04;">As you can see I've reinforced her bra, and I've given her a top made from white organza fabric. I also gave her a belt made from red wool, purple silk fabric and some recycled sari silk.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #783f04;">The next stage will be to finish embroidering her tail, embroider her face and give her some hair and some jewellery. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #783f04;">The final installment, part 3, will be the final one and she will be finished and ready to go back home.</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04594661627722708943noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8470109645224520086.post-12708452969511230982011-03-04T20:38:00.000+00:002011-03-04T20:38:34.435+00:00Needle Felting - Mermaid Hospital, part 1<span style="color: #783f04;">A few years ago I made a needle felted mermaid for a good friend who loves mermaids. Here she is -</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9fMHFECLNoZYWdy4Ya9dkiX8ck1CzTEowmVjVCKhuhvSAUpextE8zh4Xj69JNs2XMZIiTZiFXyGsJKEwi2AaS78mWcp8iUCgVNy2DxkgWlhQG6-HQFl33hC0MhSqV2bIP8FdKOieumWe5/s1600/mermaid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9fMHFECLNoZYWdy4Ya9dkiX8ck1CzTEowmVjVCKhuhvSAUpextE8zh4Xj69JNs2XMZIiTZiFXyGsJKEwi2AaS78mWcp8iUCgVNy2DxkgWlhQG6-HQFl33hC0MhSqV2bIP8FdKOieumWe5/s320/mermaid.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><span style="color: #783f04;"> I was rather proud of her and my friend loved her, she held pride of place in her living room. Unfortunately my friend's house was invaded - by moths. They were the little brown/grey moths that lay their eggs in anything made of wool - clothes, carpets... and mermaids. Poor little mermaid got rather damaged and I gave her a revamp. </span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">Recently my friend informed me that little mermaid was rather motheaten again and maybe beyond hope. I decided to give her a radical remake!</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">The first thing I did was to wash her and get rid of the sandy residue that is left behind after a moth invsion. </span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">After beginning the renovation process on the mermaid's head I decided to blog about the process so started taking photos.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq_kaFokZwNem4pWEvHNBgljRvyioyXAcIFUhd9UsBNCl10v00AV249oGjxhr8GdBvK7iDASuOkQobUEWgnm0EVLeXpjuSQ64hNlSicBWq6wyx_FYNcfidQnS_U-3IFXHwPWD47imXgZV4/s1600/mermaid-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq_kaFokZwNem4pWEvHNBgljRvyioyXAcIFUhd9UsBNCl10v00AV249oGjxhr8GdBvK7iDASuOkQobUEWgnm0EVLeXpjuSQ64hNlSicBWq6wyx_FYNcfidQnS_U-3IFXHwPWD47imXgZV4/s320/mermaid-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYqHPY5u4YwpVsQbakEy9_gxJfHOdePWZf-qbROZ34XclGCms6_0XlGLtFSWu4ajHSPGOzMbDyNOAoLDSiss0uLcqOH1hd5d6A2-oandWCl5y3lEvMAeGcRV_jI7aL-RIWCrOtLAEyf1c7/s1600/mermaid-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYqHPY5u4YwpVsQbakEy9_gxJfHOdePWZf-qbROZ34XclGCms6_0XlGLtFSWu4ajHSPGOzMbDyNOAoLDSiss0uLcqOH1hd5d6A2-oandWCl5y3lEvMAeGcRV_jI7aL-RIWCrOtLAEyf1c7/s320/mermaid-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTDwjL7XJohsYoy321MKG45CdF8Ej1tJzyWhYanP3hdMSZ-_IkkD0740U4PBjd-tcp3zGQaJOZ4pWF-J1lsekZm1YtEaUDFE13DZD7hT2JdtxcWrWT550rE8qp1B11ugTTBLazVrl6T5Xx/s1600/mermaid-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTDwjL7XJohsYoy321MKG45CdF8Ej1tJzyWhYanP3hdMSZ-_IkkD0740U4PBjd-tcp3zGQaJOZ4pWF-J1lsekZm1YtEaUDFE13DZD7hT2JdtxcWrWT550rE8qp1B11ugTTBLazVrl6T5Xx/s320/mermaid-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #783f04;">Next I pulled off all the scales and removed her silk belt and her necklace. They will all be replaced. I will have to make a flat piece of green felt - using several shades of green. This will be cut into strips of scales and they will be attached to her body later. </span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">I will pull out my felting/embellishing machine to make the green felt. I have some white pre-felt, which is very soft partially made wool felt, I can use green tops and roving to add a green top layer and firm up the felt to make the scales. I will take photos of this process when I do it. I made the mermaid before I had the machine and made the green felt by hand, cutting out single scales and attaching them. The first time I renovated the mermaid I used the machine to make the felt and again cut out single scales. this time I plan to cut them in strips to make it easier to attach them.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5xWY9y_W7Lz3iyrM8wevZ6adNldn-_iz4UfV0J90O8npBjeeZT5ZAS1R-dElnQJ8Gq6W18MImudfrqVMgVIyLQD3YB-haJv6ZcTVjRQmqIbc_36seAW8CtUbCj7E5tAHhINTSll3c1J19/s1600/mermaid-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5xWY9y_W7Lz3iyrM8wevZ6adNldn-_iz4UfV0J90O8npBjeeZT5ZAS1R-dElnQJ8Gq6W18MImudfrqVMgVIyLQD3YB-haJv6ZcTVjRQmqIbc_36seAW8CtUbCj7E5tAHhINTSll3c1J19/s320/mermaid-4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKMG1931477naojuH042gtq_ZRi1m6Bzk7h2qJSSy5ub1hpnsNdzrBBBYoptQq0BgW51xP2SFvZa6_iDUM4d-SVzq8rByxPIY4cx_bncQQyoo3S4f4IHcpzkXL1KrGIYPctYtUMrhrsn0D/s1600/mermaid-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKMG1931477naojuH042gtq_ZRi1m6Bzk7h2qJSSy5ub1hpnsNdzrBBBYoptQq0BgW51xP2SFvZa6_iDUM4d-SVzq8rByxPIY4cx_bncQQyoo3S4f4IHcpzkXL1KrGIYPctYtUMrhrsn0D/s320/mermaid-5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_lnanmPnYolc-hMusM3POMwYKimgzCmt2AFUzGrB7fzj2vJf-fg_PiW0fFXaxNYlQcUyc5RzWFBQtKio5MRyBTHkz0nij3jmDOX5vgEMBkqhfN8zRpH5ZTkebnu1oIQACFodhht4FlLal/s1600/mermaid-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_lnanmPnYolc-hMusM3POMwYKimgzCmt2AFUzGrB7fzj2vJf-fg_PiW0fFXaxNYlQcUyc5RzWFBQtKio5MRyBTHkz0nij3jmDOX5vgEMBkqhfN8zRpH5ZTkebnu1oIQACFodhht4FlLal/s320/mermaid-6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #783f04;">As you can see from the last three photos I have started to add new wool to the mermaid's body. I removed the tail completely as the embroidery had come adrift and the tail was coming apart. I have started a new tail and since the last photo I've changed the shape and elongated the tail.</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">More photos to come! I will also need to give her a new face and hair, and decide on her jewellery and embellishment. She won't be quite the same little mermaid that you see in the first photo but I hope my friend will be happy with her. </span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">Stay tuned for Mermaid Hospital, part 2!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04594661627722708943noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8470109645224520086.post-63328639511674739232011-03-02T21:16:00.000+00:002011-03-02T21:16:10.165+00:00March Hares!<span style="color: #783f04;">For the last year a bunch of Folksy sellers have had monthly listing clubs. The idea is to commit to list an item every day. Not everyone managed every day, though some made up for it with multiple listings on other days. Not everyone kept it up every month, but it seems they mostly found it challenging, encouraging and fairly successful from a sales point of view.</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">I've finally decided to join in this month, though I don't know if I'll manage every day. </span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">Here are my first two listings for March, and a few of my fellow March Hare's offerings. Click on their shop names to go and see their shops.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggP-sviGaODu8R4RfFkI1OKbnx0k_oVXcxIfb-AVRH6J3PFGu396BqgLW1o2OhCuJlOA63Xt8v5YxZX-9BBmiPut-PIZxCXMOLoLExAxRT_mlbnP6uAkpqUV1Q3JjTeEbjgjcD68nY_1_l/s1600/pen013-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggP-sviGaODu8R4RfFkI1OKbnx0k_oVXcxIfb-AVRH6J3PFGu396BqgLW1o2OhCuJlOA63Xt8v5YxZX-9BBmiPut-PIZxCXMOLoLExAxRT_mlbnP6uAkpqUV1Q3JjTeEbjgjcD68nY_1_l/s320/pen013-4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJslDE5Cbu-GhPH8UYC3SwuXzEz-_L79JomVE6EV6YXznToYbX5z_KlDEmVeC3ndUFsa9XvpNwdDcNRR97SIQRoT-gC2PrhUSAHjP2c6Sir2dKnGTB0XKkFXg2f-EXbqyVIV7aopbeFw4M/s1600/br082-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJslDE5Cbu-GhPH8UYC3SwuXzEz-_L79JomVE6EV6YXznToYbX5z_KlDEmVeC3ndUFsa9XvpNwdDcNRR97SIQRoT-gC2PrhUSAHjP2c6Sir2dKnGTB0XKkFXg2f-EXbqyVIV7aopbeFw4M/s320/br082-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.folksy.com/items/1451041-Clutch-Purse"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://d200fahol9mbkt.cloudfront.net/item/11445233/DSCF2226.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #783f04;"> This lovely purse is from <a href="http://www.folksy.com/items/1451041-Clutch-Purse">Pants and Paper.</a></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.folksy.com/items/1451397-ACEO"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://d200fahol9mbkt.cloudfront.net/item/11448225/lavender_bags_022.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #783f04;">A very sweet Aceo from <a href="http://www.folksy.com/items/1451397-ACEO">Lilipopo at Glass Mountain</a> (don't you just love that name!)</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://d200fahol9mbkt.cloudfront.net/item/11451713/IMG00349-20110302-1113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://d200fahol9mbkt.cloudfront.net/item/11451713/IMG00349-20110302-1113.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #783f04;">Mug cosies from <a href="http://www.folksy.com/items/1425989-Heart-mug-cozies?shop=yes">Tickled Pink Sheep</a> - I posted recently on Facebook that I keep leaving cups of tea to go cold! </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://d200fahol9mbkt.cloudfront.net/item/11440985/Ruby_WA_PA_Main.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://d200fahol9mbkt.cloudfront.net/item/11440985/Ruby_WA_PA_Main.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #783f04;">And one of <a href="http://www.folksy.com/items/1450509-Personalised-Ruby-Wedding-Photo-Album?shop=yes">Dottie's Designs lovely albums.</a></span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">I'm happy to say I sold some earrings today, a very good start to March for me at Folksy, and I sold some earrings on Artfire just the other day. I think I had better get busy making more earrings!</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">I'll keep you posted on how I get on with the March Hares.</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;"><br />
</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04594661627722708943noreply@blogger.com2