This week on My Crafty Journey we welcome Ouissi, from the UK.

If you would like to be a guest blogger on My Crafty Journey, please use the contact form above to get in touch.

Ouissi

My sewing journey began further back than my memory permits me to remember. My Aunt is a seamstress, wedding dress designer and corsetier so I cannot remember a time when she didn’t have a room full of sewing machines, pins, hand cut patterns and bags and bags of beautiful fabrics. As children we were allowed to search through the bags containing scraps for a piece we wanted as a cloak or other dress up item. In fact some things never change…I still hunt through them!!

Christmas Pudding

She taught us all to sew, the basic stitches and pattern cutting and using the sewing machines. And in me at least she instilled a love of fabric and drape and particularly embellishment. I have, as a teenager and an adult, spent hours hand beading trains and bodices in front of their open fire and it lead to a love of embroidery, beading and cross stitch. I love the intricacy and the fact I lose myself and time working on a tiny area. During my school exams and degree periods I used sewing to escape the stress, when my beloved books just reminded me too vividly of the piles of relevant tomes I still had to read and remember.

So when I found myself housebound and violently ill with hyperemesis during a much longed for pregnancy I bought some fabric and started sewing for my baby…laundry bags and quilts, cubes and toys. After my son was born, I wanted to try something different. Once he started sleeping through the night I could find time for myself and explore my sewing further.

Dolly Mixtures

I had always love the feel of felt and the bright rainbow of colours it comes in so I bought a few pieces and attempted to make my favourite biscuit, a Jammie Dodger. I had noticed that no-one did felt sculptures of British classic foods…American foods, Japanese foods even the Chinese foods we eat with my Hong Kong in-laws, but not British. I made a few and loved both the process and the stitching…plus people would comment on them. So I opened an Etsy shop and the rollercoaster started!

I love what I do…I love food, cooking and sewing so the combination is perfect for me. A month or so I opened a Folksy shop for my British buyers and both are going well.

I still have the Jammie Dodger….It was the start of it all!

Visit Ouissi - http://britishcreamtea.typepad.com

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I’m very excited about these! I’ve been working away on a new line of necklaces, and today I’m going to give you all a look at the first few in the line.

As do many of my new ideas (and, I’m sure, yours too) the design of these necklaces just popped into my head when I was reading a novel. All of a sudden, I thought “now, if I just do that…” and viola! ‘Delicious’ were born!

They are a line of wire-formed pendants, incorporating many different styles of bead. The first two I’m going to show you are quite similar - in that they both use copper wire and blue/brown hues of beads.

Cleopatra

Cinnamon Sky

I’ve made a whole bunch of these, and I’m going to gradually list them in my Etsy shop over the next few weeks. These two are up there right now

Let me know what you think, and keep an eye on the blog (you could always subscribe so you don’t miss a post!) - I’ll post pictures of more ‘Delicious’ necklaces soon!

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Here are my picks for five fabulous products from Etsy this week!

If you would like to be considered for next week’s Superb Sunday, please leave a comment on this post letting me know which of the following products was your favourite, and also leave your Etsy shop link in your comment!

1. First Date Earrings by jewelledblossoms

2. Danny the Gigantic Dung Beetle by Weird Bug Lady

3. Ruby Clutch by Austin Nicole

4. Driftwood Picture Frame by Black Eyed Susan

5. Delicate Heart Soap by Soap Wish

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Ah, Christmas Eve!

Here is a view of my back yard this Christmas Eve morning…

My backyard

Jealous? It has been quite hot so far this summer, but the worst is yet to come - January is traditionally the hottest month. I have been busily crafting away these past few weeks, but I have only had the energy to list a few things on Etsy - so I thought I’d give you a peek at what I’ve been working on…

Current Projects

I made a whole stack of sea glass pendants when we were over on Moreton Island the other week -

Sea glass galore

I also made my first set of briolette wire-wrapped earrings a few weeks ago. They’re not perfect, but I like them, and I’ve worn them a few times. I even had a girl on the street comment as to how much she liked them, so that’s a good sign!

Briolette Wire-Wrapped Earrings

I’m still crocheting with wire, and yesterday I made this necklace. I  also bought a litte bit of bracelet memory wire and used the left over beads to make a matching bracelet!

More Crocheting with Wire

My newest experiment has been making simple pendants out of wire. I’m not sure about these, but I’ll keep experimenting and see if I can work out a good technique for them.

Wire Pendants

Well, I’m currently trying to type one-handed, as I’m enjoying an ice-cream from the corner store down the road! Mmmm, chocolate and ice-cream… and caramel

I shall bid you all adeau, and wish you all a happy and safe Christmas Eve and Christmas Day!

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Here are my picks for five fabulous products from Etsy this week!

If you would like to be considered for next week’s Superb Sunday, please leave a comment on this post letting me know which of the following products was your favourite, and also leave your shop link in the Etsy forums - under Promotions - “Superb Sundays at Epheriell Designs - Thread for the 28th of December 08″.

1. Hearts and Flowers - Original Painting - by CMZart

Hearts and Flowers

2. Gingerbread Girl - a poetry chapbook - by BloodPuddingPress

Gingerbread Girl

3. Keshi Kid - Meiko with Teddy - by Wunderkind

Keshi Kid

4.  Melancholy Lashes - Acrylic Jewellery - by UntamedMenagerie

Melancholy Lashes

5. Pink and Peach Origami Earrings - by OrigamiOrnaments

Origami Earrings

This week on My Crafty Journey we welcome Rowan, from England!

If you would like to be a guest blogger on My Crafty Journey, please use the contact form above to get in touch.

Rowan

I started my crafty journey at a young age. Although my parents were far from hippies, I was brought up playing with pots and pans and barely had any branded toys at all (perhaps why I now litter my house with crazy toys… making up for lost time!).  I think this is how I got myself the peculiar imagination I have.

My parents both worked, so on school holidays I spent all my time at my Grandma’s.  She ran a floristry business as a hobby and was Art-school trained. She didn’t like the TV getting hot, so I only watched Pugwall and Saved By The Bell and then she would draw, sew, knit, paint etc etc etc with me.  I learnt a lot during those times.  For birthdays I always asked for those big Crayola sets. She used to save me toilet roll tubes and I’d make whole communities of people from them.  Once I left her drawing pad outside after I had been painting in her garden, and it rained. I felt so bad.  She wasn’t too mad though, and she never tired of showing me new things. I have a lot to thank her for.  She passed away when I was 17. I miss her still very much.

Cherry Skull Ring

I chose to concentrate on Music at sixth form/university.  In 2004, I found myself unemployed. Whilst window shopping one day, I was astounded when I saw some simple earrings made from scraps of ribbon being sold for ~£8.  I thought they lacked any skill or imagination and thought I could do something better. I got into the DIY style of jewellery making, scouring car boots sales for random bits and pieces I could use.  I sold and Ebay and have more recently re-branded and started to sell on Etsy and Folksy.  I can’t believe how quickly things have taken off from there - I am a Folksy Featured Seller and have a lot of interest from bricks and mortar shops to sell my work! It’s so exciting and I can’t help thinking I am truly blessed.  I just wish my Grandma could share it with me!

Measure of my Dreams

Visit Rowan…

KitschenSink.etsy.com
KitschenSink.folksy.com
KitschenSinkUK.blogspot.com

Since coming over all crafty and all, I decided that it was high-time I made presents this Christmas. Obviously only for female friends and relatives, though, as I’m yet to crack the skill of making masculine jewellery!

Here are a few of the sea glass pendants I’ve made people so far:

This one was for a good friend and colleague, Liz -

This one I made for my assistant manager, Lydia, who happens to also be Liz’s sister -

And this one is for my partners, mum, Jenny. I know she reads this sometimes, so if so, hello, and I hope you like it

I’m still in the process of deciding what to make for my Mum… it’s a shame that purple sea glass is so rare, as it’s her favourite colour!

I’ve also bought a few handmade presents off Etsy, and hope to visit our local craft market this weekend to get any additional gifts. There’s something really fulfilling about buying hand made goods, and making things myself for those I love. There’s nothing like the feeling of watching someone open their gift and love it, and know it is something that you have dreamed up and created!

How many of you are making your Christmas gifts this year? Have you done this for a long time, or is it a new thing for you, as it is for me?

I realised last night that it had been ages since I made my first lot of knitted wire jewellery - and that it was time to have another go. I was all set to knit, and then I went to cast on… and I’d forgotten the special cast on I used last time. Grumbling to myself, I went off to find the tutorial again, and stumbled across a crochet one instead… Now, you all know how I love my crocheted jewellery

And so, these necklaces (and more!) were born last night… let me know what you think!

Aqua Crocheted Necklace

Aqua Crocheted Necklace On

Autumn Crocheted Necklace

Bountiful Crocheted Necklace

Bountiful

Forest Floor Crocheted Necklace

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Well, my NeckWraps have been really popular - I have sold all the ones I listed in my Epheriell Designs shop on Etsy!

So, I thought it was time for some more, and here they are… inspired by the season…

Summer Heat NeckWrap - made with glass leaves, copper wire, bamboo yarn and swarovski crystals

Cool Water NeckWrap - made with glass leaves, brass wire, and a gorgeous blended yarn

From now on, I’m planning to showcase many of my new creations here and on Flickr at least a day *before* I put them on Etsy.

So if you ever see something you really love, comment or contact me so I can make a reserved listing for you! That way you get it for sure I’ll probably be listing these tomorrow.

I’ve found a new passion! After seeing a ring made by a fellow crafter on Crafteroo.co.uk, I popped over to her blog, followed links to tutorials, got the general idea, and then got creative!

Thanks KittyB, for sharing!!

Here’s what I came up with…

First, a simple ring made with silver-plated wire and a square bead.

Then, I decided a sea glass and copper ring was in order. And so it was…

What do you think? I love the sea glass ring - I’m now planning to start making more and putting them in my etsy shop. Perhaps some brass and sterling silver ones, too?