Disney, Displays and Damp

I love half term holidays!
It gives me a chance to catch my breath and catchup with friends, particularly my lovely Goddaughter who was able to visit with her mum & 3 siblings. This week also brought my first opportunity to sell some of my things at an Autumn Fair hosted by one of the churches I work for.

I love seeing Terri, T and the family, although fitting all 4 children into our small flat is always amusing, especially when they empty the Playmobil and Lego across the lounge floor. 4 days after their visit and I'm still standing on tiny plastic animals.

Thankfully we were able to get out for an hour and take a walk around the pond to feed the ducks.

But the best thing I can do to keep them entertained and quiet, so Terri & I can talk weddings, is to put on one of my Disney DVDs. I LOVE Disney.

Having recently been asked what I would like for Christmas and it being suggested that my friend adds to my Disney collection, I ended up listing the DVDs that I own and there were about 35 in total!
From the classics like Aladdin and Cinderella to some of Pixar's best like Up and Nemo and their fab live action, especially Narnia.
I did, however, discover that the disc for Hunchback of Notre Dame was missing and that I do not own The Lion King (shocking, I know!!!)

From my love of all things Disney I have recently been pondering how I could be inspired by their stories in what I make. So far I have made a couple of pieces based on Alice in Wonderland, and thinking about the charms I would  need for Cinderella. Would love to do something for Aladdin, but that would mean lots of lovely new charms (oh no, WHAT a shame!!!...)

Alice and Wonderland inspired Bag charm

'Red Queen' charm bracelet - SOLD!!!
Inspired by the court of the Queen from Alice in Wonderland

Yesterday (Saturday) I went to a small market at one of the churches I work for. Only 5 stands (bric-a-brac, hand made bags, franchise home business stationary bits, books, cakes and me), a tombola and a raffle. I only took earrings, bracelets, cards and boxes,as I only have 3 finished painted letters.

On Thursday I started to panic,  realising that I had nothing to display my jewellery on. My sister had given me her jewellery doll, but when I tried to hang something, the wire arms sadly drooped to one side and no amount of super glue could help.
I started to raid the flat, I went through the recycling, all my craft supplies and even my kitchen for ideas. With craft knife and glue I put all my childrens worker skills to the test and then went on a spree in 'Tiger' a shop I love in Basingstoke, and by Friday evening I had a wonderful display.

Bracelets in a small case w/
sticky hooks to hang examples

A whisky tube, covered in fabric

A card box w/ ribbon loops
& covered in pretty paper
mounted on another covered box

Seating plan from my sisters wedding.
frame made & hearts attached by Dad,
I tied the bows & bride printed lists.

I wanted something with different heights and colour. For my cards I had the frame my Dad made for my sisters wedding, this sat on a chair to give a back drop to the display.

The simplicity of glass bowls showed off
my cheapest items and allowed beautiful
display at a low level.

I dug out my jewllery doll (which didn't break) and placed the whisky tube on a pretty gift box to give it extra height.
A heart shaped jewellery display and the spotty case filled the middle space. And my impulse-buy Sainsbury's glass bowls created the lowest level.



I forgot what it was like to go to one of those insular community fairs/markets, everyone goes to the church or is related/lives near someone who goes to the church. Most people just came in, had a coffee & cake and purchased a strip of raffle tickets. Lots of people looked at my stand, many commented that I was 'such a clever girl' (in a patronising voice, as if shocked that someone in their twenties could master a pair of pliers), one commented that everything was out of her price range - meaning they were more than £1.

BUT I made 4 sales!!!! which I'm taking as a success as there were 50 people (and that's being optimistic) who visited in the 2 hours.

Also this week we have discovered that there is a leak in the flat (probably a pipe from upstairs) that runs from the corridor, around the door, both inside and out, through the bathroom and into the en-suite... (it sounds like a chase from an Enid Blyton book) All quiet dramatic really.

Our en-suite ceiling. eek... Does anyone have the number for the TARDIS?

A bit of a long post but a busy and fun week.
Back to work tomorrow but the next holiday is CHRISTMAS.... time to start making my Christmas bits. YAY!!!

p.s. I have almost finished my Christmas shopping, yes I am, one of THOSE annoying people, but what can I say I love Christmas just as much as I love Disney...x

Covered in Paint

As you will hopefully have gathered by now, I am trying to use craft to help me prepare for my wedding (date still to be set) and this should be threefold; to make & sell bits for funds, to make as many of the details as I can for the big day and to save a few pennies by making most gifts that I will be sending for Christmas and birthdays etc.

In the past few weeks these three purposes have sort of overlapped. What started as a decorative idea for the wedding has evolved into a possible idea for things for me to make and also in a slightly different form to be the Christmas gifts for some of my friends' children

What is this new idea?
It is painted wooden letters; I purchased some as an example to show Ed of what I was thinking for the wedding, but after a bit of time I have realised that the idea, or at least the size of the letters, isn't quite going to work.
So I have started to paint them up for children's wall art, and I have also started a variation of this idea to be given as gifts this Christmas.

A selection of the painted letters in various stages of development. Butterfly K and a Pirate Island S

As the letters are completed I will be adding photos to my Facebook page Godiva Crafts and all my handmade Christmas gifts will be added in January so no surprises are spoiled.

I have also been busy painting more boxes, in fact I have painted so many that I now need to go to buy some more as I have run out. I have started playing around with some animal ideas.

Latest box designs: 3D butterfly, snowflakes on Gold with jewel accents, bear/lion, spiral of butterflies & my favorite, the ladybird (both lid & bottom with leaf design & gold gem flowers)

Stay tuned in over the next few weeks to share in my Christmas excitement and to see more of my box designs, including a penguin

Getting ready for the Festive Season

Ok, ok, I know its 25 degrees outside and the 1st of October, I know we still have Halloween and  bonfire night before anyone in their right mind, and the shops, should start mentioning THAT time of year but...
I LOVE CHRISTMAS.

This year being well planned is a must. I am hoping to make presents for most people, or at least part of their gifts, as well as making all my cards and gift tags.
I also work for a church so I have a chidren's activity morning full of crafts to plan & trying to see if i can attend a couple of craft fayres to see how me selling stuff might work.

I'm on my way already, I have started buying some foods for my Christmas cupboard, well box - at home my mum would start to buy the bits we would have over the festive season many weeks before the event to help spread the cost. a tradition I have picked up; so far I have Jelly Babies & Santa's Fetsive Friends

I have also purchased the supplies for the gifts I am making for some of the small children I know and will soon be buying the last beads and findings for the other presents.

Over the next few weeks I will be sharing with you a sneaky peak at what I am up to, both with work & the gifts I am making (without spoiling an surprises for those who will be receiving bits from me), In the new year I will share in more detail some of the complete items. I'm sure Ed will be hoping that this new focus will keep my mind from any thoughts of wedding plans.

103 days

Only 103 days until Christmas -eek!

I am planning to make most of the gifts this year, not only will it be good practice but it will also (hopefully) work out to a little less expensive.

I am also trying to sign up to 3 craft fairs during November & Christmas fairs connected with the church I work for in December - I therefore need to get a shake on and build up my supplies, and what i have available to to sell.

As well as my jewellery I would like to make & sell some seasonal bits, and when I saw these cute bead & ribbon trees on another blog I had to give them ago, along side my beaded angels  I hope people will be tempted to buy one.

 

I have also developed a new style of bracelet that I am calling 'Aurora' they feature two strands if wire; between the larger beads two smaller beads sit on their own strand adding dimension and interest. 

Here are 3 of my new bracelets

'Aurora - bright'

'Aurora - earth'

'Aurora - strawberries & cream'

In my previous post I told you about the bookmarks I ordered - here is my first attempt. Let me know what you think

Accidently on purpose

Having recently discovered a seller on ebay with lots of lovely charms - and finding out that to bid (and win) these charms work out very reasonable - often half the price, or less, if I were to buy them from elsewhere - I have found that I have spent a small fortune on charms, a mistake as I actually am in need of beads to be able to make more items.

However
I have purchased some beautiful bookmarks that I need to add beads & charms to make a lovely gift - watch this space for pictures.

Borrowing Another Life

This week I have been house sitting in a lovely house in the country. We (Ed & I) have been looking after a dog & 3 cats and it's been great! I forgot how much I missed having an animal to come home to.

being out in the country has insprired me to invest in more nature themed charms and after discovering an amazing seller on ebay, i might have gone a little OTT

This week I have had time and space to make some more charms, including a new bracelet and after the encouragement of Anneke, the owner of the house and another friend, in next couple of weeks I am hoping to put a few items on Etsy to see how they sell

Before that I have Holiday club at work to survive, which will be full of fun, craft and mess!

Getting snappy

I have finally found a space in the flat that I can use to get clear photos - one problem: its the balcony so finding time when it's not raining means that it will take a while to get the photos of most of my creations.

I did manage to get a couple today; here's a selection

Hand painted/decorated gift boxes

Small key charms
*Please note keys & ring nit included

Love themed double keys charms
*please note keys & ring not included

To see more images of my items please see my facebook page.

Until net time xx

Hello & Welcome

Inchmahome - Island in Lake Mentaith, where Ed proposed

Inchmahome Priory, a beautiful ruin on a stunning island

Two months ago I became the happiest girl on the planet when Ed proposed, and while we aren't planning just yet there's two things I know:
1) I want to be 'hands on' with my big day, ideally I would make most things like the stationary, the favours, the table centers etc (tho i will be avoiding dress making & most of the flowers)
2) I some how meed to supplement my income so I don't have to stress or compromise - although I expect there will in fact plenty of both!

My conclusion was to fuse the two together and invite others to journey with me on this path of craft and love!

If you are interested in anything you see - please get in touch.