*****Melli & Moi*****

My great niece has been with us for a week and boy have we had some fun. Mel or Melli loves to craft as I do so we have had almost a full week of playing. She decribes my work area as a sweetie shop and non fattening into the bargain. So I thought I would show you a few things we came up with.

 The necklace above is a mixture of old T-shirts and the cord from a curtain tieback along with a few beads(we used the inside cord for a necklace further down the page)

Dahlia flower with a lace wrapped rose brooch

 

Rosette hair/dress clip

Headband with three suffolk puffs

Knew I would find a use for my old dress

Tartan hair clip

Friendship necklace

Mellie showed me how to make a  friendship bracelet, loved how simple and fun to make it was, so we took it to another level by making it into a necklace, the one above was made by using the inside cord of a curtain tieback, we removed the outer threads and then made the necklace with seven strands, then added suffolk puffs with little mop buttons for the centre. I found a site which has a tutorial for making the bracelets/necklace and they are easy and take about an hour and very theraputic. Here's the link if you fancy trying one for yourself.

 Friendship Bracelet from  greeniedressesforless.

Melli also loves making cakes and is looking at training for advanced cake making. Here are a couple of her cakes. Thanks for a fun week Meli xxx

Add Your Favourite Item

List any item from your shop and get some free exposure this is a free linky and will run for a month I may run it longer if successful.
All I  ask in return is that you follow my blog, keeps me happy. I will add one to start you off.
Have a great weekend.:)

Set or Separate that is the Question?

You might remember in one off my previous posts where I was given a quantity of shoe clips along with lots off delicious silks and lace from my dear friend Sue. Well I have been playing with them when I can and have made some shoe clips and a bobby pin to match. Now the question is should they be sold as a set or separate. This is where I would like your input if you would be sweet enough to tell me what you think. These are made from a gorgeous golden embroidered silk and I popped a little pearl into the centre. I might even be tempted to give one of my readers a set, just to say thank you.

Christina Nixon Cole -- Glass Blower on Etsy

Browsing etsy with a mind to making a bubble treasury I stumbled upon Christina Nixon Cole's shop where she has a lovely range of glass items. I would love to try my hand at this one day and thought it would be fun to let you see some of her work and find out a little more about Christina at the same time. Wish I lived closer to San Diego area so I could pop in and try my hand  mouth at this facinating process. Hope you enjoy it. Now where was I oh yes bubbles!!

Just after High School, Christina Nixon started her journey of glass beadmaking, also known as lampworking. Starting with an introductory class at a local bead store, in 1996, she soon advanced to working in her own home studio and assisting well known lampwork artists at bead shows and art schools. Starting in 2000, she has taught her own classes at art galleries, home studios, and at the Bead Expo. Christina's passion for beads has taken her all over the states and to Murano, Italy to take an advanced lampworking class in 2001. She has an AA in Art, Jewelry Design. In addition to her glass beadmaking skills, she enjoys silversmithing and fabricating her take on the traditional Italian style Micro Mosaics. Christina’s diverse designs are greatly influenced by ancient, historical and cultural design motifs. She uses her beads in unique jewelry and functional household objects, such as tableware handles, cabinet or canister knobs, wine stoppers and wall hook knobs. You can see more in her shop ChristinaNixon

*****Vicki Diane Designs***** Feature Interview

Last year  Annuk Creations did a feature interview with the vibrant Vicki Diane, it summed her up so perfectly that all I have changed are the pictures of Vicki's fabulous creations. If you have not encountered Vicki before, well you are in for a real treat. As a thank you to my readers Vicki will be offering you a 20% discount on any item in her shop just use the code Vicki2011 at the checkout.

Thanks Annuk and Vicki

*************************

Who doesn't know Vicki Diane on Etsy? Who doesn't know her "Non Stop Rotation Of ARTISTS EXPOSED"? Vicki is a wonderful and sparkling personality, she puts an incredible amount of energy and enthusiasm into promoting other artists, she adores animals and... she is a talented jewelry designer. This multi-talented lady has been traveling the world as a pianist and singer, she paints with a passion and she creates fab jewelry under her own brand Vicki Diane Designs! She is based in beautiful Andalucia, Spain, where she creates her "sexy, bold & funique" jewelry. Even before knowing her personally, I was fascinated by the incredible passion for life and her work that shines through her Profile. Then I got to know a really sweet person and a lovely friend!! And a wonderful mixed media jewelry artist!

Vicki is the Captain of Artist Exposed Treasury Team, and a  memeber of Etsy Mentors SAS (Sellers assisting sellers),  Handmade Harbour, On Fire For Handmade, VintageJunkies1, Luna Essence's Arts and Crafts World Expo Team and Etsy Promo Love. 
Vicki passionately loves life and color! In her own words, she is "in LOVE with life, colour, music and art". Art truly is in her genes, even her photography and the names of her pieces are art in themselves. Her sign? A Libra... what else :)?? Here she shares her artistic journey and her adventurous life with us! 
 

I was born in London, England to wonderful parents, who both were very gifted musically. My father was a successful film director and my mum, a nurse and great pianist, therefore my creativity was inside me from the very first *SLAP* !

I started singing, dancing and acting from a very early age. My inspiration was my father, who was then in partnership with Douglas Fairbanks Jr. although dad sadly died when I was only nine from TB. I attended drama school a while, but hate rules and regulations, and left to do cabaret in London, until I was able to leave the cold wet UK and set off for the Bahamas on a whim (being the daring *free spirit* that I remain ), where I lived and worked - playing piano and singing the blues and show music there for 5 years.
 

This kick started my love of the exotic surroundings...blue seas and skies, hot yellow suns and vibrant breathtaking sunsets. Spoiled I became as I travelled the (warmer parts) of the globe... Jamaica, Florida, the Greek Islands, a year in the Arab Emirates - the list goes on....

I now have lived for 12 and a half years between the Mediterranean -gorgeous Southern Spain- for about 10 months of the year, and have a home in North West England, where I spend a couple of summer months. There, the contrast is green and lush as opposed to the white sands and craggy proud mountains of Andalucia.

 I started playing around making jewellery when I used to go back to London in between contracts, and sold in the infamous Camden Market and The Laines in Brighton, where I realized I could sell my pieces - ALL of 23 years ago. They were then VERY over the top and not quite as honed as they are now :) It was a great self taught gradual learning (by mistakes) process culminating in my selling here in Spain at Fashion Shows and to the shops plus I have invited jewelry parties and a fabulous loyal clientele.

I also paint when I have time (which is hardly ever :( and spent years painting people's animals and portraits which I REALLY enjoyed :D)

My favorite colors are ANY animal print (if that counts ), and red, black and gold combinations.  

I love animals with a passion and have been on safari in Kenya and must have got the addiction from there.... Unfortunately I travel too much to be able to have any pets which saddens me so :(

I create in an outdoor patio covered area which overlooks fountains and the sea which is about 20 metres away.

I simply LOVE what I do and can only imagine that I would be MORE happy if I was ABLE to stay away from the computer so much, but I love promoting artists through my ARTISTS EXPOSED Treasury's in the wonderful world of Etsy. More sales would be FABulous too :P)  

Thank you dear Vicki for this gorgeous interview and for sharing your exciting world! Your passion for life and your work really shines through your words! We wish you lots of fun and continuing success with your work and your life!



You can find Vicki's bold and passionate jewelry in her Etsy shop Vicki Diane Designs

Don't Fall For This Scam

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They never give up do they


I received a call from a 'representative' of BT, informing me that he was dis-connecting me because of an unpaid bill. He demanded payment immediately of £31.00 or it would be £118.00 to re-connect at a later date.
The guy wasn't even fazed when I told him I was with Virgin Media, allegedly VM have to pay BT a percentage for line rental!
I asked the guy's name - he gave me the very 'English' John Peacock with a very 'African' accent - & phone number - 0800 0800 152.


Obviously the fellow realized I didn't believe his story, so offered to demonstrate that he was from BT. I asked how & he told me to hang up & try phoning someone - he would dis-connect my phone to prevent this. AND HE DID !!
My phone was dead - no engaged tone, nothing - until he phoned me again.

Very pleased with himself, he asked if that was enough proof that he was with BT. I asked how the payment was to be made and he said credit card, there and then.
I said that I didn't know how he'd done it, but I had absolutely no intention of paying him, I didn't believe his name or that he worked for BT.
He hung up.
I dialed 1471 - number withheld
I phoned his fictitious 0800 number - not recognized., so I phoned the police to let them know. I wasn't the first! It's only just started apparently, but it is escalating.

Their advice was to let as many people as possible know of this scam. The fact that the phone does go off would probably convince some people it's real, so please make as many friends & family aware of this.
How is it done?
This is good but not that clever.. He gave the wrong number - it should have been 0800 800 152 which takes you through to BT Business.
The cutting off of the line is very simple, he stays on the line with the mute button on and you can't dial out - but he can hear you trying (This is because the person who initiates a call is the one to terminate it). When you stop trying he cuts off and immediately calls back.
You could almost be convinced!
The sad thing is that it is so simple that it will certainly fool the elderly and vulnerable.

By the way this is not about getting the cash as this would not get past merchant services - it is all about getting the credit card details which include the security number so that it can be used for far larger purchases.

Andy ORPIN
Police Community Support Officer

I Just Had to Play with My Goodie Bag

Yesterday I was given not one but two large bags full of beautiful gold raw silk made by James Hare, burgundy, ruby red, cream and baby blue slub silk and ooddles of beautiful cream and ivory lace. At the bottom of one of the bags I found a mountain of shoe clips. All this gorgeous treasure belonged to a friend of mine who ran her own bridal shop in the 80's and due to a house move decided that I was the one to receive the bounty. Whoo whoo am I the lucky one.

Yesterday I spent hours playing with all these goodies and my brain went into melt down and I could not decide what to make or even where to start, and with what, Shish! Today though has been a little better and I am trying to focus on one thing at a time. Meanwhile nothing else is getting done but I don't really care, housework can go take a hike for the moment.

So my first atttempt was these lace rosette shoe clips. Then I made a few pom pom type flowers out of the gold silk and finally a pair of chocolate bows which are perfect for a certain pair of shoes if I can only find them!

So, I wish you all a happy weekend and see you soon.

Me again just to let you see the lace ones:) Thanks Sue for showing me how to make these gorgeous little bows:)