Christmas pressie update

So for Christmas this year many of the family got handmade hampers with chutneys, jams, pickled nasturtium seeds (bit like capers), elderflower cordial and Sloe Gin.

However those overseas means I cannot always send handmade food items (especially to New Zealand) so I have to rethink their gifts.

This year I was able to make my mum some glass ear rings and necklace.  I attended a glass workshop and we made different items learning how to layer glass rods etc, I really enjoyed it and it is something I would do again (it could be quite addictive I have already done a couple of glass blowing lessons too!)

It meant got to make something individual and personal that I know she won't already have so I was pleased with that.

If anyone else has any ideas for presents that can be sent overseas then please let me know as I am running out of ideas!!

Happy crafting

kyla

Silk cocoons

I must apologise for the photo as it's not the best but this is the birthday present I made for my sister-in-law's 40th Birthday (forgot I hadn't blogged it).

I stuffed a dyed viscose ribbon and created ruching and knots at regular intervals.

I then cut dyed silk cocoons and hand stitched them together adding sequins and beads.

 

I attached these with silk thread and viola-the lightest necklace ever (seriously, I have made a lot of necklaces over the years and there is NO weight to these).

It is hard, fiddly work on the hands and takes several days to make but I do love these and have made about half a dozen (most of which I end up keeping as I love them SO much!!).

Happy crafting

Kyla

 

Jewelry makes for Christmas

Hello peeps, I hope you all had a fabulous Christmas.

I made several Christmas presents this year so have not been able to show them on 

here until after the big day!!

 

 These are a couple of the presents that went out to my family in New Zealand

 This necklace and ear ring set for my aunt is red and amber (the red didn't show up too well in the photo).

These are cufflinks I made for my uncle.  Not Marks and Spencer (or even S&M!!) but his initials!

I got some lovely crafty bits and bobs for Christmas so am off to play.

Happy Crafting

kyla

 

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Wow, Santa was very generous this year and I have lots of new crafting goodies to experiment with (boy, am I going to get in a mess!). I can finally publish some of the items I have made for people for their pressies (now that they have opened them). Here are just some of them....

This is an altered book I made for my mum which contained a necklace and ear rings that I made. I carved the book out to create a recessed area to hold the jewelry.

I also embroidered some serviettes for my sister-in-law as they have recently moved into a new home, I love the retro feel of the flamingo, she is a great baker, hence the cake, they have an aquariam, hence the fish and the love birds are because they were married last year...ahhhh...

This is a necklace I made for my Nan, all the way over in New Zealand, it's made from serpentine and is long enough so that she can slip it over her head, but also has a lobster clasp so that she can make it into a double shorter neckalce should she wish.


This is a bag I made for my mum with a removable brooch, its lined and has a magnetic clasp inside to keep it a bit more secure (I'm not too good at working out how to insert zips yet!) and is made the fabric (blue and butter cream spots) from the 2 skirts I have already made her (I have a few more in the nest that I need to crack on and make).

And finally, my multi-cultural snow people!! .......

Seasons Greetings.
Li'l Pidge x

UFO's galore

Is it a bird?
Is it a plane?
No - it's a UFO! An Un Finished Object!

Having cleaned up the craft room (or 'the tip' as we have started referring to it!) I discovered many UFO's, so I decided to finish some off.

This is one of the vast collection of Christmas choccy tins that friends collected for me way back in January!!I had already sprayed it white and decided to stick black and white patterened paper around the tin, adding ribbon around the rim and a piece of embossed card on the lid. The idea is that I can use it as posh and useable wrapping for birthday cakes or cookies that I intend to make at some point (another UFO?). Now, only 6 other tins to decorate!!

Next, I have had some paper roses for a couple of months and haven't used them for anything, so I decided to make a romatic styled card using torn vellum, card and some gold threaded purple fibre paper.I also bought some wired ribbon, so made this corsage and box-I have no idea what to do with it, I may try to sell it for charity, its really pretty and I think it would look great also on a bag or at the waist on a prom dress
Next up, some beads I bought with the sole purpose of making some ear-rings as a gift for my nan who lives in New Zealand (I don't think she is online often, so am probably safe putting a picture on here-but Nan, if you are, you go girl-silver surfers rule!)Then next up, a re-purposed hardwood pencil box I bought to put a necklace and earing set in. I lined it with velevt paper and made the necklace with a large glass pendant strung with leather cording and organza ribbon. The ear-rings are a new thing, as I haven't tried hooped ones before, but I am please with the results, so will definately try these again.And finally, a piece for me. The pendant I bought at a craft show, collaged a butterfly, glitter and micro beads and covered it with Judikins 3D gel. Expensive (much more than diamond glaze) but a great result. I wouldlove to have a go at resin pieces, but too many H&S issues etc, so this is the next best thing for me. Now I need to scour the net for some more pendants I can mount things in!
Also, I noticed (blushing) that on the latest Crafts Beautiful e-newsletter they kindly chose my secret garden/peter rabbit card for one of the members projects! Wow, how nice, thats 2 items now on the e-newsletter and one actually in print! Such a buzz-thanks.

Well, thats it for now, happy crafting

Li'l Pidge