Craft Fair this weekend, and a few new creations.

So at the moment I'm on a train, because my beloved car is poorly.  It's no surprise this happens though as I drive a MkII VW Polo.  I just love the thing.  It's an '88 F reg, making it about a month older than me, bright red (the only proper colour for a VW in my opinion!) and I've had it for about 3 years now.  I just love driving something different, something unusual, and it's so reliable.  It has very few problems considering the miles I do!


I don't mind the train too much, except for the little things, like when you book a table seat to get some work done and end up sat with 3 loud friends and can't concentrate despite headphones, or sat opposite a man who's clearly just smoked and smells of it, then pulls out some smelly onion rings and a can of beer.  Or when you pay for 3 hours wi-fi then your final connection train is an old one with no wi-fi anyway.  Grumble.  But hey, it gets me where I need to be, which this weekend is Dorset for a music thing.


Anyway, back on topic!  This week I've been running about like a mad thing.  I have a craft fair this weekend and am determined to make it a success :)  I've been trying to make more of my smaller items such as the cute little key rings with "Friend" or "Sister", and my Hunger Games items.  Things that might catch the eye.  I've also been making more charm necklaces, and my new hair pins!  First though, this "rescued" pendant.

It used to be a lonely earring.  I was looking around Loughborough market and happened to see it, along with a few other shiny things I bought.  It was on a pretty grubby ear hook, so I removed that, gave it a clean and put a jump ring on it.  It's so pretty I almost kept it for myself.  It looks like Mother of Pearl, it changes colour in different lights and has beautiful shades of pink, purple and blue/greens.  Really lovely, and unique, too!

The next thing is my hair pins.  These were inspired by one of the tutorials in the book I reviewed in my last post.  I was trying that out, and this design sort of "happened"!

I can see making these becoming addictive.  I might do a tutorial on them because they're really quite simple and it's actually pretty therapeutic!  :)  Just involves a lot of wire twisting!

I'm going to be making them in pink, purple and blue once my latest order of crystals arrives so watch out for those in my shop's "Special Occasions" section, here.

Last but hopefully not least, is my new beach theme Tibetan Silver charm necklace.  I like this one because it is "multi-purpose".  I think it would be gorgeous for a beach theme wedding, as bridesmaids necklaces or even for the bride!  The crystal colour could be changed to the wedding theme or birthstones, or left as is for a real beach feel.  The starfish charm is pretty and eye catching, but not too big.

I think it also serves as a lovely Hunger Games charm, for those of you (like me!!) who love the series but feel a bit old to be wearing a "Finnick" bracelet or necklace with "District 4" on it, this is a cute subtle way of showing your support for that most dashing of victors.  I also have a similar one for Katniss coming soon.  You can find those in the Tibetan Silver section, or if you want to go all out, I have name bracelets here!

If you can't decide who your favourite is, here's my subtle series fan bracelets.

Last note, for any of you who live near Lutterworth, I'll be holding a stall at the craft fair in Lutterworth Town Hall.  Entrance is from 10am, and there'll be loads of lovely handmade stuff there, so come and support local crafters - and say hi!

Oh, and I'm always looking for blogging inspiration, whether it's suggestions of books to review, or things I make you'd like a tutorial on!  Just leave me a comment and I'll see what I can do!  :)

Craft book review - Making Hair Jewels and Accessories by Gabrielle Byrne

I've been mega busy, but I did get chance to try out my latest craft book!


I bought Making Hair Jewels & Accessories by Gabrielle Byrne.  I bought it from Amazon, and it cost (at the time) £10.71.

This book features a number of products with step by step instructions on how to make them, including tiaras, hair combs, crystal hair pins, butterfly hair pins, crystal decorated hair barrettes, japanese sticks and hair jewels.

The pictures are lovely.  Really clear, and the instructions are easy to follow.

Personally I think this book is a great starting point for making hair slides and accessories.  It inspired me to try other designs, and the Tools, materials and basic techniques section at the start of the book ensures that you've got all the bits, pieces and know how to get started.  I also like the fact it features different styles, not just crystal.

This hair comb is so cute, and you can easily adapt the design.  I'm intending to make this comb using some gorgeous mother of pearl vintage buttons I found at a vintage shop in Hebden Bridge.

On the whole, I'd say this book is a good starting point for anyone wanting to get into making hair accessories, but if you have been making them for a while there may not be much in it for you.  If you're creative though, (you probably are if you're looking at this book!) it will give you lots of ideas for designs, and the basic techniques to make them happen!  Its a really lovely book, the layout and photos are really attractive, and it's enjoyable to read.  :)

I'd give it 4/5.  Great book, beautiful photos and a lovely clear layout and great instructions, but perhaps more suited to beginners.

The bits I've been making from this book will be appearing in the Special Occasions section of my Etsy shop soon!

Sorry for the absence! Here's what I've been making...

Wow, so I haven't posted in almost a month!  It's not because I haven't had stuff to say...


I'm a musician, as my day job (though I'll be starting a "proper job" in September as well as doing music :D), and as the summer rolls around my calendar fills up!  


I've been putting time into my shop recently, and have been making things in my "spare" time, so I have some new stuff to share with you.  In the next few weeks I also have features from Embellishing You, InStyleHeadbands, and I also bought a top secret Fathers Day present from Organica Botanica UK that may make it on here.


For a change though, I'm going to share some of my stuff!  Starting with these, a revelation of my latest guilty pleasure...I also have other character bracelets, and key rings too with more to come...

So I read the Hunger Games.  I heard about it, and saw the film trailers, but knowing that film adaptations are rarely as good as the books I wanted to read it first.  I was apprehensive, having been coerced into reading Twilight and resenting the wasting of hours of my life (sorry Twilight fans), but I loved The Hunger Games!  I think Suzanne Collins did an excellent job of not pandering to the "format" of a lot of Young Adult fiction (I'm trying not to give anything away!).  Normally I'm not one for writing in the first person but actually I really got into the books.  Love the story and I think it's very well written, and the ending is what it needs to be.  All too often (Twilight included) Authors seem to "give up" and provide a happily ever after ending, even if it's unrealistic.  The Hunger Games is pretty tragic, as you'd expect from a trilogy about a world in which children are forced to fight to the death...  If you haven't read it, do.  I couldn't put it down.  I'm 23 (so a bit older than the target audience, I imagine) and I really enjoyed it.  If you're wondering about my taste in books to see if you'll like it, my other favourites include (I read these a while back):

• Harry Potter - who doesn't love it?
• Abhorsen Trilogy by Garth Nix
• The Windsinger Trilogy by William Nicholson
• The Doomspell Trilogy by Cliff McNish

I love to read, so I welcome suggestions if you've read anything you think I'll like!  My "to read" list includes Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones, currently.  Again, I've seen GoT on TV but I want to read the books before I see much more.

Anyway, I digress :)

More sparkly things!  This is how my shop ended up so diverse, I get an idea and try it out, so I end up with a few of each type of item.  Since I last posted I've been making wine glass charms, "Something Blue"s, and hair pins.

Just love these!  When they're in your hair you just see the crystal, and they add sparkle to any hairstyle.

And these wine glass charms make gorgeous keepsakes from weddings or parties.  I make them to order in any colour.  They're such a cute party favour :)

This is one of my favourite wedding keepsake ideas though.  Something Blue...

This little charm on a ribbon ties around the bride's bouquet on the day of the wedding, adding just a little bit of sparkle and a flash of colour, and after the wedding she can take the charm off the ribbon and wear it as a pendant!  I just think it's a really cute way of having part of your wedding you can wear over and over.  This one features Swarovski crystals, and it is packaged for sending on the ribbon, in a pretty organza bag, with a snake chain included.

So, there's a little update on what I've been up to in my absence!  I've got lots more to add to my shop, so please do check it out.  At the moment I'm really trying to build my online following under my new name, so if you could pop over and "like"my Facebook Page, and if you're feeling especially lovely, share it with your friends, I would be most grateful.  I plan to host some giveaways once I have more "fans".

In the meantime, check back here for more product features - I've ordered some gorgeous stuff recently! - and hopefully these craft book reviews I've been meaning to write...