Featuring "The Flowerpress " + Fabulous Giveaway

I  was recently browsing Etsy and came across this wonderful shop called TheFlowerpress and fell in love with it. Necklaces,rings, earrings,brooches and more all recycled from T-Shirts and used in such a clever way that I had to buy one of her adorable necklaces. It arrived beautifully gift wrapped and I am wearing it right now and yesterday I wore it as  headband.

The girl behind the Flower Press is Anne Pinaglia, a multi-faceted late twenty-something. A little over a year ago, Anne packed up her pug, left her home and career in nonprofit work in Portland, Oregon, and moved to Paris, France to be with her long time boyfriend. Not yet having a work visa, she poured herself into her passions, one of which being music, joining forces with the Paris-based English band This is the Kit, playing a plethora of instruments from the Autoharp to the musical saw.

During the summer of 2010, taking two weeks to walk from Porto, Portugal, to Santiago de Compostela, Spain (following the old pilgrimage routes of Saint James), she ran across a necklace made from used fabric. Admiring it, she inquired and was told that it is a longstanding Portuguese tradition to use old fabric and turn it into "new" items. With this in mind, upon her return from Spain she gathered some old tee shirts and started cutting.

"I really didn't know what I was trying to make, I was just testing my creativity," she explains. Slowly but surely, those old tee shirts were turned into simple necklaces, and within a matter of months those simple necklaces became more elaborate, with collections of brooches, earrings and even up cycled clothing added into the mix, some of which are even stained and colored with tea, wine, and vegetable extracts.

Anne adds that she gets tee shirt donations often, and laughs "people must think it's a bit odd when they see my excitement after handing me an old white tee shirt with holes in it. In my mind, I'm already thinking about the size of the necklace and the type of tea I will use to stain it." Those tee shirts would have otherwise been thrown away; after an hour in Anne's hands it is given new life (and hopefully a new home!).

Now at four months into its life, the Flower Press has seen - and continues to see - success, both at craft fairs and on Etsy. "For me it's not just the sales that mark its success, but the response that I get so often on my pieces.

Anne has made a special pair of earrings valued at $10 that one lucky winner will be able to have for their very own. These earrings are (of course) made with up cycled tee shirts which have been stained a lovely soft pink colour  with loose-leaf floral tea. Hanging on silver-plated wires and hoops, they would make a lovely addition to your valentines outfit!

 

Simple Rules to Enter:


1)Please follow my blog yes you know it makes me smile:)

2) Please visit Anne's shop and pick your favourite and post here only takes a few minutes of your time http://www.etsy.com/people/theflowerpress

If you would like to follow Anne on Twitter here she is : http://twitter.com/#!/FlowerPressShop

This giveaway will begin January 17th, 2011 and end at 11:59 pm EST on Feb.7th 2011. It is open to anyone worldwide to enter so come in and have a go. Random.org will pick a winner!

There is no limit as to how many times you can enter! oh and Happy Valentines Day.

Good luck and thank you Anne.

Henry Lee Stradford Photographer

I love meeting people and Twitter is one platform availible today that allows  us to do just that. I came across Henry Stradford who calls himself an amateur photographer (who takes in my opinion very professional pictures) currently living in Japan with his wife and daughter. I wanted to share some of his wonderful shots with you.

I will add his link so you can discover more if you like what you see here.   You wont be dissapointed.

There are many many more beautiful photo's to see and for me they are crisp, interesting and beautiful pieces of art in their own right.

 

http://www.henrystradford.com/

Share your Dreams with me!

I have had several really weird dreams over the past few years, and one I will never forget was this.  I was walking along a path with my mother (I was about 7 or 8 in this dream) she met a friend coming back along the path and they both stopped and  were chattering away and laughing about what I have no idea.  Meanwhile I had to just stand there holding my mum's dress (so she knew where I was I guess).

Anyway this little sausage dog appeared on the path heading straight for me and proceeded to sniff around my feet, then it started to bounce round me whilst yap yap yapping and was beginning to drive me mad, my mum and her friend however, totally ignored this yapping sausage, so I took a deep breath and tried to mimic the bark in an attempt to scare it away from me. However, I then found myself sitting bolt upright in bed  barking and bouncing right back at that silly dog, and went into a fit of laughter. I think my man thought I had lost the plot when I recovered enough and was able to tell him the dream. That was over 20 years ago but it is as clear as if it happened yesterday. I have never tried to analyse it but just might one day, who knows what it might reveal!

Feel like sharing your funny,scary or weird dreams with me? I would love to hear them.  I have a few more dreams I remember clearly, How about a Frog drinking Gin & Tonic!  but that can wait.


If your interested into trying to analyse your dreams then have a look here.

Welcome to Dream Moods! http://www.dreammoods.com/


You are entering the mysterious and fascinating world of dreams, where the rules of reality do not apply. We hope that Dream Moods will help you make sense of your dreams and achieve a better understanding of them.

picture of cute dog from  a-idioteca.blogspot.com
Two ladies Gossiping  from www.ancientrails.com

Sticking Your Neck Out in Style

If your looking for a statement piece then here are four stunners for you. From Vicki one really funky necklace to draw attention like an electrically charged MAGNET!  To Londi's stunning felt and zipper necklace, Monica's ingenious  necklace made from tyres and finally a beautiful necklace made from T-shirts. You girls are amazing and I can't wait to see what you come up with next!!

http://www.etsy.com/people/VickiDianeDesigns



http://www.etsy.com/people/londicreations



http://www.etsy.com/people/dutchfeltart



http://www.etsy.com/people/theflowerpress

Day 1 2011

I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has  read, followed, commented or just looked at my blog since  starting it last March.  I have had the privilage of running a few wonderful features and giveaways for some of the very talented people on Etsy, and have  made many friends with people from all over the world. May this year bring you all that you have wished for and more.

Happy New Year

Much love and hugs to you all
Krishenka
xx

Christmas Market Caussade France

   

Fun day at the Marche Noel with Santa and his wife arriving in style and lots to keep  folks amused despite the cold. Hot chocolate, sweets, clementines and cake were being handed out to all.

Stevie and Poppy after all their excitement waiting to see Santa would have nothing to do him or his good lady, Poppy ran off and Stevie wouldn't even take a sweet that was being waved in his face (following the, don't take anything from a stranger rule with no exceptions.)!!!

Poppy though had no problem getting her face painted especially when she saw  pink paint, and was happy for the rest of the day, well almost.

They were fascinated by how these three guys could be so tall, try explaining stilts to a 4 and 3 year old.

Messages were attached to balloons which were to be sent off to who knows where but if you do come across one you have to send a card to the address, might be mine!


 

 Can't wait for tomorrow as my son and family will arrive, can you imagine the noise levels for the next few days with a 5,4 and two 3 year olds!!! Merry Christmas to you all xx

A Christmas Triva with a $25 Gift Voucher

Finish the Sentence and win a $25 Gift Voucher

Okay, so this is how the game is played. Someone will post something like "I like my potatoes......... and the next person will finish the sentence with something like "...hot, and strong... " A bizarre or comical finish would be fun. After finishing the sentence, please post a new beginning for someone to reply to.


That's it but remember to leave me your contact details and I will pick a winner at random on the 24th Dec. The winner will receive a $25  voucher to spend in my Etsy shop.

I would also like to say a huge thanks to all my followers for all your support and comments. Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas. Have fun  and look forward to seeing your posts.!!!

Ps: My Etsy link so you can go and choose  what you would like!!! http://www.etsy.com/shop/Krishenka

So here's the first line to get you started.


"Can't make an omelet without..."

What's in an Old Tin

Came across this tin a few days ago on one of my travels, and when I saw it of course I wanted it (yes so now you know I collect tins too) and also to open it up but the lid would not budge no matter how I tried. The seller tried but had no luck, you could hear something rattle inside and of course I asked "What's in the tin" to which they replied with a very French shrug "Je ne sais Pas" mmh, now I really wanted to open this tin!! 

A few hours later and I am home and managed with much huffing and puffing to finally open the tin, and this is what I found.

The beetle brooch I thought at first was a Scarab Beetle but now unsure due to the markings and I will endeavour to find out more about it.

This stunning brooch was almost black and I am in the process of very gently restoring it, delighted that it is intact and so therefore will not be subjected to being dismantled, well not by me anyway!

This heart shaped pendant with a stunning Stag engraved on the top half and  when open  there is a heart shaped clear glass disk so I guess a lock of hair or photo could be added. The name on the back not sure but may be a town in France, must google it sometime soon.

Yes there's more! This one is a 4 stranded black glass possibly Jet with a gorgeous square clasp closure.

The next one is another brooch beautiful emerald green in colour

Pair of Marcasite earrings but  2 stones missing

So all in all you can imagine my face when I finally got to open this tin. I think christmas came early for me this year. So next time you come across and old tin, I just bet you open it:)