Back From Vacation!

We just got back from vacation in time for the start of school (tomorrow). We had an incredible time...visited New York City for 5 days which was crazy busy. We walked our feet off and completely exhausted ourselves but what a fun place! After that we made our way to Long Beach Island on the New Jersey coastline. What a gorgeous stretch of beach. I had no idea this little gem of a coastline was a 10 hour drive from our place otherwise I would have visited sooner. All in all, it was a fun, relaxing vacation.

I'll be retuning to regular blog posts very soon once the munchkins are back in school and I have some free time.

Winner - Jacaranda Designs August Sweet and Simple Pearl Earrings Giveaway

Yay! We have a winner of the Sweet and Simple Pearl earrings. I used random.org to generate a number and the lucky winner is....

Joanne J

Well done Joanne!

Stay posted for another giveaway in the Fall.

Feature Artist of The Week

Today I'm featuring a talented Etsy artist, Melinda, from LazuliBlueCreations. She makes some very eye-catching, feminine and sexy clothes. I especially love the camisoles! I also like the fact that Melinda recycles cool fabrics that she finds at thrift stores.

Melinda ships internationally and even offers free shipping on some items. So stay a while, read on and take a look at LazuliBlueCreations!



Give us a little background about yourself.
I started making clothes out of recycled fabrics when I discovered thrift shops as a teenager. I found them quite addictive and ended up filling half my mum's garage with fabrics, crochet,lace etc. I have been selling my wares at craft markets on and off for the last 15 years and opened a clothes shop with a friend at one stage.

What do you create?
I love to create feminine clothes that are flattering to the female body. I like halter style dresses, fabrics with flowers, and the colours are very important to me. These days I use both recycled and new fabrics. I also love using vintage crochet and trimmings and hand-dying them for vintage pieces.

What type of materials do you like working with?
I use both woven and stretch materials, recycled and new, and upcycled vintage slips using crochet and trimmings.


Is this a full time or part time venture?
I am fairly new to the Etsy world and have a stall at a craft market twice a month so it is still part time for me, but I would love love love to do this full time one day. I love working from home in my own little bubble. I also teach English to Koreans online.



How to you manage your time?
I make a lot of lists! I usually have one day where I do all the cutting, then I make a pile to sew, but I keep the piles small so that it doesn't become a chore and I can enjoy it. And I only sew when in the mood. I have another day to hand-dye vintage pieces.

What is your favorite item in your shop right now and why?
I would have to say my cafe au-lait vintage slip skirt. Hand-dying is always a surprise, you can never know exactly how well all the different materials and trimmings are going to take to the dye but I love the way this one turned out.
I have also recently started to make children's reversible dresses and love the process of making these with their cute retro-inspired printed fabrics.


And just for fun...

Favorite color
I love anything that is the colour turquoise

Favorite food
Oh there are soo many- chocolate. I am a bit of a chocoholic. Also sushi, anything with seafood, pasta, pizza, ooh and soy lattes.


Favorite music
When I'm at home I like listening to chill out music, especially ethnic music. When I go out I like seeing reggae and hip hop bands and dancing to funk music.

Favorite book
I just read a book recently that took me 2 days because I couldn't put it down. It's called Eat, Pray, Love. It's soooooooo good, I'm telling everybody about it.

Clearing Stock - 50% Off

I'm in the mood for cleaning up the house and getting rid of things that I never use and don't know why I hold on to. We don't live in a huge house so I desperately need to make some space. Yes, my office is such a mess I can feel my creative juices just drying up!

So I thought I'd apply the same "cleaning" to my Etsy shop. I'm gradually reducing many items by 50% in an attempt to move some stock and make some room for new creations! So stop by and have a look...there's some great deals!

SALE SALE SALE SALE

Wasabi Posy Bracelet

I listed a new posy bracelet today. I called it Wasabi because of the color of the floral beads (probably obvious!).

Some Treasures From My Garden

I've been so slack updating my blog lately but in the summertime there's just so many fun things to do outside!

Here's some of the lovely plants growing in my garden right now.

Rose of Sharon - I have had quite a bit of success propagating these. I love them!



Sweet Peas - my grandmother always grew these in her garden so I do mainly for sentimental reasons!

Jacaranda Designs August Sweet and Simple Pearl Earrings Giveaway

This month's giveaway from my Etsy shop is a pair of Sweet and Simple Pearl Earrings. These are a lovely classic earring style. Perfect for the woman who loves simple, chic earrings. They're very versatile so you'll wear them often!

If you'd like to enter the giveaway, it's really simple!

- take a look at Jacaranda Designs and tell me which necklace you'd pair these earrings up with
- for another entry, follow this blog
- for another entry, post this giveaway on your blog (don't forget to come back here and let me know!)
- vote for me in Mom Entrepreneur of the Year Award for another entry (I could really do with your support!)
- buy anything in my shop and you'll get another entry

So have fun, spread the word and don't forget to leave me a way of contacting you!

Contest ends August 20th.

Blog Party - 5 Degrees of Inspiration

Today I'm taking part in a blog party called "5 Degrees of Inspiration" where artists from various places are posting about what inspires them. To see other participants in this fun event, just click on the "5 Degrees of Inspiration" picture on the top right hand side of my blog page. Have fun!




"Inspiration refers to an unconscious burst of creativity in an artistic, musical, or other intellectual endeavor. Literally, the word means "breathed upon," and it has its origins in both Hellenism and Hebraism. So I ask myself, what inspires me to create jewelry?"

These are my five inspirations!

1. Color
There's color all around us and yet sometimes, I think we fail to see it. Sometimes though, I'll look at a color and it will arouse certain emotions in me....love, anger, warmth, energy, creativity to name just a few. I love looking at various color combinations in fabrics, in nature, even in what other people choose to wear. Color not only affects my mood but I think the mood of other people around me also.

2. Nature
I love plants and flowers. I look forward to spring and summer so much, just to see the glorious plants that Mother Nature has to offer. If you look closely at flowers and even leaves, you'll see beautiful textures and color combinations. Even the smell of certain plants can be intoxicating. There's nothing quite as relaxing as taking a stroll around a gorgeous garden and just observing the plants and insects. I take tons of photos during the spring and summer and often refer back to them when I'm making jewelry as they are full of inspiration.

3. My Children
There's something about the innocence and simplicity of the way children look at things that can be very inspirational. Sometimes they comment on or get enjoyment out of those things we find so "everyday" and yet if you really listen closely, it's those details that can be very enlightening provide a different way of looking at things.


4. Music
As much as I love a quiet, silent home at times, most of the time I love to listen to music. I find it very relaxing to work while I listening to certain music. If I had to choose a favourite, I love Cuban music...not too slow that it makes me want to put my feet up and do nothing, and not too loud that I'm prevented from concentrating.


5. Other Artists
I'm constantly awed by the talent displayed by other artists. If I'm ever feeling in a blah mood and not very creative, I just check out some of the wonderful artwork created by others. That's usually all it takes to inspire me to get started on a new project! An example is the lovely applique below made by my mother, Val Garnett.


Lastly (yes, I know it was only five !), my husband inspires me. He's my biggest fan. He's always there to support me and offer words of wisdom and encouragement.

Marmalade Posy Bracelet Is BACK IN STOCK

For those of you who were inquiring about the Marmalade Posy Bracelet, good news! I have more in stock and posted in my ETSY shop.

Back From a Week in Quebec

Last week we headed up to the small town of Saint Saveur in Quebec, Canada to visit my in laws. We spent the time swimming at the local lake (well it was too cold for me but not the boys!) , going for walks, collecting snakes and frogs and visited Mt. Tremblant where we watched a raptor demonstration and took the cable car to the top of the hill.

While I try and get back into the swing of things here, I thought I would just post some pics of lovely cornflowers (well, that's what I call them) taken while on a brief, mosquito infested walk!