Off Line !

Hi everyone
I am doing this quick post from a friends Laptop because my internet connection is down again and they cant say when it will be fixed. I am quite desperate now!  It has been down for more than a week(feels like a month!). I will be posting some great handmade gift ideas as soon as it is up and running again! So do keep checking in and pray for a miracle for me - because it seems like that is what it is going to take to get me back online (I spoke with the technician this morning and he cant give me any answers - he did give me a hug tho!) :0)
much love
speak to you soon ....

Arty Gifts

If you have creative/arty friends and/or family members you must visit this site for a range of really interesting and unique Christmas gifts:

 

(Please note that they will be closing on 11 Dec 2012 for the holidays so don't delay with your orders!)

Give your creative self a gift:   Sign up for a free creative e-course with STRATHMORE.  Your heart will thank you!!

"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream..."
-C.S. Lewis-

Inspired to Recycle

I have been so inspired by Jennibellie's craft videos that I just want to recycle everything nowadays.
Here are some pics of a journal I made using 90% recycled materials and the cover was made from this chocolate box (geuss who had a birthday in October?) :

The pages are made from "throw-away" cardboard ie: egg box labels, backing from sticker packs etc.

 I left the little notches on the sticker sheets so that I can tie ribbons etc onto them.

I covered the outside of the Journal with white paper which I will later paint and decorate. The inside covers were decorated with some patterned paper and lace/braid.

To make your own recycled journal visit Jennibellie's Blog and watch her videos on how to make recycled books/journals.  She's awesome!  I also made some recycled buttons from cardboard packing boxes. YES- you can watch the video on Jenniebellie's Blog or Youtube.
I decided to make my buttons in neural colours so that I can use them for a lot of different projects.
But they can be made brite and happy too!  I spent a very happy Sunday morning making these (Thank u for the inspiration Jenny!!!)

                                          This is what I started with

                               And these are my finished buttons - of which I am really proud!

"Overcome the notion that you must be REGULAR.  It robs you of the chance to be EXTRAORDINARY."
-Uta Hagen-

I am Featured Artist on TAT !

Sooo exciting! check out my interview on Jennibellie's blog:

 

Got me some STUFF....

I completely agree that IT IS BETTER TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE, love to give, BUT this week was a week of GETTING - and I enjoyed it!!!!  So I decided to share my little finds, treasures and gifts with you:

 I filled up my button box with "waste" buttons that I bought for R5 a cupful at a little fabric shop in town. I seem to use an aweful LOT of buttons - I am always running out of buttons!

And these exquisite wooden buttons were sent to me by a wonderful, generous , lady!  Thanx again, Maryanne!

 My friend, Tasneem, emailed me and said I simply MUST go and look at the new fabrics at Moolas Store . Well, it was so hard to choose just a few- they had so many new and wonderful fabrics. My dear Mother wants to know: "what are you going to do with them - you have so many bits of  fabric lying around??"   The answer will come to me ..... soon..... :o)

 

I have been looking for sheet music to use in my collages- but cant find any.  This week I visited the Book Exchange and found this church hymnary (which will now be used as collage pages and become beautiful artwork - to Glorify Him!) I also couldnt resist the book on the right- it was so beautifully embellished- they dont make books like that anymore.  So it had to come home with me to be added to my collection of old books:   (The two of these together cost me R12- Bargain!)

This is part of  the collection.  I think they are so beautiful - so they get displayed all over the place!

 

Just as a matter of interest I wanted to show you this little book. It  is over 100 years old.  The inscription inside :

That is 14 July 1909 !!!! (before the invention of the ballpoint pen!)

Aren't these too adorable - like mini Aloes?  My friend, Linell, gave me these - and TODAY they are going to be planted Linell!!! (I Promise!)

 

I ordered some more wool from Woolhogs and because of their November special I received two free balls of wool.  I requested the Bambi wool as my freebee.  It is 70% organic cotton and 30% bamboo.  It is very textured and absolutely gorgeous - Dont you just love the Aubergine colour?

And the final little gift I want to share with you today is this lovely quote, sent to me by Linell. I have added it to my "collection".  LOVE IT :

"Friendship is born at the moment when one person says to another: "what? you too? I thought I was the only one."  "

-C. Lewis-

No Words Wednesday. . .

To watch Regina paint go to : blog.creativekismet.com  and find the same button as the one above and click on it.  It's a treat! Very inspiring.

Special Offers & Other Interesting things...

Hi everyone
Hope that you are all well and being creative and productive!  I have been busy this week working on some items to sell at the local Farmers Market on 17 November. Leave a comment and share with me what you have been working on.

I wanted to mention these super specials specially for South African Readers:

WOOLHOGS has a fun special for November 2012 - If you order wool for R200 or more you get two surprise colours for FREE!   (Geuss who's going to be ordering more wool?)

KALAHARI.COM has FREE shipping on all items ordered,  until 31 December 2012. A great place to get Christmas gifts!

And then another interesting bit of news I'd like to share. (Specifically because these are great ideas to get your CREATIVE JUICES flowing) I got a lovely surprise GIFT FROM OVER THE SEA this week from a very special aunt of mine who lives in Australia:

 

An extraordinary card with a fabric border, leaves and bird. Exquisitely detailed.

 

And a very unique scarf that she had made for me- in my favorite colour!

 

The little bird detaches from the card and you can hang him up as a decoration- how cool is THAT?!

Thirdly :  Have you noticed that I have added some delicious NEW BLOGS for you to explore? See the sidepanel on the right of the screen: "favorite blogs and websites"
ENJOY!!!!!

"Imagination is everything. It is the preview to life's coming attractions."
-Albert Einstein- 

To find out more about the above course go to: willowing.ning.com