July Treasuries

Thank you so much to fellow Etsy members who made these recent treasuries featuring one of my items:

Thank you yet again to Lynn Corrigan of Lynn's Creative Crochet for Red Moon Rising treasury. Thanks so much for featuring my flame necklace in this hot hot hot collection.

Thank you Mandy of Siog Designs for this lush purple treasury , aptly named Purple Purple Purple, and for incuding my berry coloured, stone pendant.

And also a big thank you to Agnieska of Good Moments for this ecclectic, Irish mix 'Simply Unique.' I am honoured to see my red tiger eye pendant featured among these quality, handmade goods.

Thank you Pat of  Pat's Paraphernalia for featuring my seaglass bookmark in 'The Celtic Man'. Cool idea for a treasury!

 And I just love the seafoam colours of 'Though the Sea be Rough...it Soothes the Soul' by Jules Vernon Vintage. Thank you for including my Irish seaglass pendant.

Etsy Treasury Time Again

It's that time again when I share recent Etsy treasuries either made by me or featuring one of my items. Feast your eyes and appreciate handcraft, OOAK, handmade, original artwork, unique gifts, once-off, one of a kind......need I say more?

 To Market To Market

Here's a treasury I made featuring only Crafty Ireland Team members when I should have been preparing for a craft market.

Can't Help Thinking In Black and White by La Creature and You
(a blend of Crafty Ireland Team and  A Printmaker's Revival Team)

And this sleek treasury in black and white was made by fellow team member, Raphaele of La Creature and You. It is a cross-team collection featuring 50% Crafty Ireland team and 50% A Print Makers Revival Team. A special thanks is due to Raphaele as she regularly makes cross-team treasuries to introduce the Irish squad to other, international teams on Etsy and faithfully posts them on the team blog. Thank you too Raphaele for including my black lava earrings, Dark Moon.

Thank you to all these lovely Etsy peeps around the globe who featured my work in their stunning treasuries this past week or so:

 

Shades of Purple by Treazured Designz

Extra by red road DESIGN

Fathers Day Gifts Under $20 by Lynn's Creative Crochet

USA based, Lynn Corrigan, deserves a special thank you from me as she regularly features my items in her well-thought out treasuries.

Sneak Preview

Here's a sneak preview of new items I've been making lately. Don't forget to pop into Christ Church Cathedral craft market tomorrow, June bank holiday Monday and see them for yourself if you can!

Inspired, by fairytale sessions with my 5 year old niece, I've been experimenting with different designs for pretty fairy and angel ornaments, hanging decorations and charms.

Irish seaglass angel - suncatcher or wishdoll

Irish seaglass bookmark

Come see more of my beaded hook bookmarks at the market . This one is made with Irish seaglass.

Connemara marble ornament

I've also been wiring up new, unique, Connemara marble ornaments. I am even going to bring just one or two of the more festive ones too for those who shop for Christmas all year round. Get em while you can!

And of course, you can see some of my usual jewellery and gifts from my Etsy store!

Doors open 12-5pm. See this post for more info

Raindrops

Wooooah, the rainstorm has come! We got away with a pretty mild Winter and Spring so far in Dublin. But it looks like Mother Nature finally let go of all that rain and wind she's been holding onto a bit too long.  It's pretty nasty out there today. Stay dry and warm people! Whatever other woes I may have of late, I am grateful to have a roof over my head.

A Burt Bacharach song my Dad used to sing to us is circling in my head. I won't quote all the lyrics to 'Raindrops keep falling' but will share a few lines from the popular 60's song. It was written by Bacharach and Hal David and sung by BJ. Thomas in 1969 on the soundtrack to Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. It got to number 1 and was obviously a hit with my Dad. I remember him singing it for yeeears whenever it rained. (Ha, it was frequently on the soundtrack to my childhood so!) You may remember it from the soundtrack to Forrest Gump in 1994.

Labradorite Raindrop pendant

'Raindrops keep falling on my head

And just like the guy whose feet are too big for his bed

Nothin' seems to fit

Those raindrops are falling on my head, they keep falling...'

 

Larkivite and Swarovski Crystal Earrings

'...So I did me some talking to the sun

told him I didn't like the way he'd got things done...'

Blue Chalcedony drop earrings

'...Sleepin on the job

Those raindrops are falling on my head, they keep falling..'

Golden sunshine agate pendant

'...But there's one thing I know

The blues he sends me wont defeat me

It won't be long till happiness steps up to greet me.......'

The Difference Is In The Detail II

 Daisy button pendant, 'Jinny'   by  Handmade by AMO'R

Last week I  blogged about the quality and detail found in handmade items: The difference is in the detail. The post spawned the idea of a regular spot for my blog, honing in on fab little details in work by fellow Irish crafters, artisans and artists.

A natural place for me to start is with work by talented friends, fellow Irish Etsy peeps who have shown me kindness and some of my super duper blog followers! (Oftentimes these are one and the same.)

 Kitty cat detail on child's tufted coat by HeliMG

 Oyster shell detail on wire-wrapped pendant by Balanced

Crystals and flowers on baby girl card by Good Moments

Button details on heart wreath by Quirky Apple

Researching items for this post was such fun and very inspiring.  I hope you enjoyed this close up of the wonderful little details you wont always get in mass produced goods.  

To be continued.......

The Difference Is In The Detail

For better or worse, and sometimes to my detriment, I am a detail person. You can't fob me off with half a story. I want all the juicy ins and outs of what, who, where and the big one: WHY. I've no doubt when I was a kid I was a pro at 'the why game' and drove my parents demented.  Those, let's say with a more streamlined way of thinking, who want 'the bare bones and get out of here', can find me annoying. I find them equally frustrating.  I can't deal with half a message. I'm not psychic.

But when it comes to chasing the details, I'm your woman. I have my uses. A journalist friend of mine often asks me to pre-edit his work before submitting. I will always notice (and alert you) if you're about to step out with your label showing or your zip undone.  I'll put a lot of thought into your birthday present and if I don't get it right it wont be for the lack of trying.

Attention to detail is important when handcrafting. It is widely accepted that what makes handmade goods special is the quality. An item created with care and individual attention should last longer than the mass produced. I believe the difference is also very much in the little details.

 

 Handmade hook and beaded eye of Connemara marble pendant

Crimp covers & Wire guards used to protect ends of eyeglass lanyard

Back of simple button pendant

Wire work element in brown gemstone necklace 

Beaded detail on both ends of attachable extender chain

(Citrine earrings, Honey Dew)

Additional circular link between hook & dangle in most of my earrings for a better drop down

I will revisit this theme before long to share favourite details from fellow Irish crafters on Etsy.

Etsy Treasury Time

Just thought I'd share a few recent Esty Treasuries to show off some wonderful, handcrafted goods. (Treasuries are lists of Etsy items curated by Etsy members in order to showcase each other. As we try to make them beautiful, treasuries have become an art form in themselves.)

Firstly, a couple of Valentine treasuries that I made to promote fellow members of the Crafty Ireland Team (Etsy Ireland.)

The Darker Side of Love (Crafty Ireland Team Treasury)


Fabulous February (Crafty Ireland Team Treasury)

My own items appeared in a couple of treasuries in the last couple of days too. This gorgeous one features my flame-coloured agate purse charm:

'Mud and Rocks' by Nancy and Mike of Hilltop Pottery

And my Connemara Marble Heart Pendant featured in this beautiful, Valentine list:
''Who Said Hearts have to be Red' by DesignsBloom

Then yesterday my Irish Sea Pottery Pendant featured in this stunning Celtic collection:

'Twilight Blues' by Karen of Capallglas Studio

I hope you are drooling over all these lovely items made by small, independent artisans around the world. I know I am!

If you are an Etsy fan and would like to know how to make a treasury, here is an article I posted last year for the Etsy Ireland Blog: Step by Step to Making Treasuries. Have fun!