blogarhythms

I've been very aware that over the last few days the patchwork dress was one of those annoying blogs that hasn't changed, even when checking in daily...I kept seeing those tags in my mind's eye, so will wean you off gently with some more photos taken on the same table!! I expect there is a system where you can get notification that someone has updated their blog (is that RSS?), but somehow I feel this is a slippery slope, so until then, I am content to do the daily rounds.

The 'crafternoon tea' on Sunday was a great idea organised by Cheryl to raise funds for Breast Cancer Awareness... I'd expected a little gathering in a living room, but we each had a 'pitch' throughout the house like a proper craft fair. I immediately got a bit nervous about how to arrange my 'stall', as still getting the judging when to stop making/start presenting timing right.

...these were a fun little extra made to supplement the cards. Tealights made from secondhand china cups! Each has a tealight candle sitting in some (optional) lavender & rose herbs - so as the candle melts in its tray it will heat up the lavender. The bigger cup/saucer is a Wee Willie Winkie type affair - you hold the saucer as you would an old candlestick, and the cup has been super-glued to it's base.

I loved the autumnal pattern on the cup/saucer, and although it was a minor sacrilege to glue and decommission it's teacup status, this was outweighed by it's second life and reuse as a tealight. I often see lovely bits of china, but know I'll never use them as a teacup, so this gives an excuse for a new purpose.
The labels were made using a photo of the lit tealight to show the warmth & prettiness missed when they're unlit. (I've still got some small ones and the autumn cup left)

I picked up the Christmas mitt stamp a couple of weeks ago at Craftology and could see it in red as an emblem for 'handmade Christmas'. On Saturday I popped into 'Hobby Heaven' in Helensburgh for a red stamp pad, and saw the alphabet kit 50% in the sale.. had a lot of fun stamping up these pricetags and labelling some handmade items. It reminded me of college days when i shared a flat with a graphic student and they still set type by hand. There was one computer they could use once a week to print out their text, and then it had to be cut by hand to space and arrange and be photocopied into an original. I can see how computers revolutionised typeset graphics!

These 'winter' cards were something I tried out at the sale, and proved very popular with only one pack left at the end. I've created them as a set of 4 cards of different designs but matching theme... the labels show the 4 designs. In two themes...

...frosty flowers (hoar-frosted hydrangeas and leaves)...

...and snowy trees...

These trees were so heavy with snow, I thought they looked like a Japanese block print. I may still do more with these photos, or wondering if it is worth putting some packs in to the shop.

Comments

[Jessicah]

I think rss is exactly what you are looking for! Your winter cards are beautiful too- i think they will be a winner in the shop!

[Sally Anne]

Yes, yes yes, they will definitely be great in your shop.I LOVE the trees with snow, and the tea cups look wonderful this way.I bet they smell good too.

[driftwood]

hi, I use bloglines to check if people have posted, it's free and I managed to set it up, so it must be easy.
love those teacups - what a great idea.
and the cards are great too.

[amisha]

i love the tealights! such a wonderful idea.
and yes yes, do get bloglines... it will save you so much time!! it is so easy to use, just put in the blogs that you read and then you will only have to check one site. i am not sure how i ever lived without it :)
xo