I made these! Elephant and House Brooches

Just launched! My new Elephant and House brooches! I've always been a big fan of elephants so just had to create one in silver for my Not on the High Street Store.

I also love this little house. I cast the silver clay as a blank house and etch in the door and windows afterwards, so each one will be different. Want to make a batch of these so I can create a little street of silver cottages!

I made this! - Silver Tree, Silver Pear, Silver Speech Bubble and Silver Cat brooches

I've been so inspired of late to create several new designs to sell in my Not on the High Street store that I could be making jewellery at any spare minute, which with a 16 week old baby in tow I am actually doing. I foolishly believed that whilst I was on Maternity Leave I would have so much time to dedicate to my craft, but what I have realised is how much I love making these crazy little things and love the idea of potentially making this into a full time career for me (a little way off that at the moment!) Here are four more new designs that I added to my store today -

Using Art Clay Silver allows me to create my own moulds. I start off by designing the original, sometimes using Sculpey Mold Maker, but more recently I've been using erasers which I carve my design into using lino cutting tools and scalpels. I then make a cast using a two part silicone putty which becomes the mould then for the silver clay. I love the way I can keep a sketchy look to my designs and how each carved line can become a feature. The main appeal to making these pieces is how every time each one is slightly different depending on how I cast the clay and how I sand and smooth the clay once dry before firing. I personally love the wonky, imperfect look it creates and think this is a feature and that perfection is not always the aim!

I've also tried to incorporate my brand name into my pieces which I've achieved by designing some tiny rubber stamps in varying shapes and sizes which I can press into the back of each piece (if they are big enough). I'm quite pleased with how these look - here's a photo of the back of my latest snoozy cat brooch -

Packaging is another area I am trying to improve on. I often use my Moo Mini Cards as backing cards to my brooches and earrings before I tissue wrap them, but I've started to offer a Gift Box option which has really proven a tricky exercise in finding a nice quality and colour gift box in the right size. There are so many gift boxes available but they all were either funny colours or had sateen ribbon glued to them. May have found some finally that I like and am looking into getting my logo embossed onto the lid which should look lovely. For now though, here are some of my lines on my new Moo backing cards - 

I made this! - Silver Cloud, Silver Moustache and Silver Whale brooches

Been busy lately working on some new designs! Here are three of my most recent additions to my Not on the High Street Store -

I made this! - Solid Silver Buttons

Whilst making a fabric brooch for a friend I thought it would finish it off nicely to sew a real silver button into the centre so I made a silicon mould from a nicely shaped button and then cast one in Art Clay Silver. I loved how this little button looked so decided to make these to sell. There are three sizes, which look really nice sewn as a group onto a coat or bag but I'm also selling them separately so people can either buy several of the same size for sewing projects or individual buttons as little tokens of love or friendship. Available in my Not on the High Street Store - 

I made this! - Butterfly brooch

I must apologise again for being such a bad blogger. My last post was in April - when for me, the world was a much happier place. In May we discovered that my wonderful Dad had advanced Pancreatic Cancer, and we lost him in June. It all happened so, so quickly. We were all in shock. It's been 15 weeks since he passed and each day seems to get harder. My first baby is due any day now, and knowing that Dad won't be here to see him breaks my heart.

It's hard to be positive at times like this, but with the new baby on the way he will bring much needed positivity and happiness at such difficult times. I must admit that I haven't been spending alot of time crafting of late, but have made some bits and bobs for the nursery -

I really wanted to avoid the typical nursery colour and pattern themes so decided to paint it an elephant grey. All the furniture is white so it doesn't make the room too dark - just nice and cosy. I really like scandinavian patterns and bright modern colours (no pastels please!) so have tried to use a mixture of different patterns and fabrics to add colour to the room.

I've been planning to add more designs to my range of brooches which I sell on my Not on the High Street Store so I felt inspired to make a butterfly due to its relevant symbolism to me at the moment. Finally today I have managed to list it online! Hopefully in time for the christmas rush!

Once I recover from Bumpy's arrival I will let you know how it all went and put some photos up too!

I made this! - New brooches

Sorry for the absence of posts this year - I have been busy honestly - but mostly busy making a baby! Yes the hubby and I will be expecting our first baby this October!! So expect lots of baby orientated projects over the next year or so as it becomes my only subject of discussion!!

But babies aside - I wanted to talk about my silver brooches - I have been selling the silver button brooch for a little while -

And the Hedgehog -

And now most recently a smaller owl - as my original owl would have worked out far too expensive to sell - so I have kept her for myself -

So now I need to decide what to make next . .

I've been considering maybe a mouse (of course) or a cat, maybe a fox to carry on the woodland theme - hmm . . if anyone has any suggestions please comment - I welcome the inspiration!! x

Pom pom pom pom pom!!!

Those who are familiar with my flickr gallery may already be aware of my penchant for pom poms!

They are such wonderful little fluffy things, totally impractical most of the time, but so very happy and frivolous! I am currently in the early stages of a new pom pom related product which I will hopefully be able to launch in my Not on the High Street store before Christmas (oh no not the C word!!).

I have made so many of the little blighters I think I could make them in my sleep now!!

I made this !! Button Brooches

Slowly getting back into making bits for my Not on the High Street and Folksy stores lately.

My newest line are my colourful wooden button brooches.

Nice and cheery - even if the British Weather doesn't follow suit!

I made this!! New Batch of Meese!!

Yes I have been busy - been making lots of mice for my NOTHS store, commissions, for friends and as pressies also. I think I can make felt ears in my sleep now!!

Squeak!!

I made this!! Christmas Sock Mice!!

Ho Ho Ho!!!

Hey look what I've been up to . . .

Yep - more Christmas Sock Mice!!

This time they have little woolly hats and scarves!!

I will also be adding more "non Christmas" sock mice to my NOTHS Store.

Merry Christmas everyone!!

x

I made this! - Wooden Button Brooches

Now I know these are nothing new - but after making one of these for myself the other day I thought - hey, other people might like these too - could be a nice idea for my noths shop? I have a growing collection of gorgeous large Italian wooden buttons and already had the brooch backs (from making my corsage brooches) so with a little fiddling around and a little super glue - hey presto - button brooches!!

I couldn't just glue to buttons to the brooch back - that would be too easy!! I had to over complicate things (as usual). I cut out small circles of linen to glue over the brooch backs - so that you cannot see the silver through the button holes (which would look weird) and then I threaded and glued embroidery thread through the holes for the finishing touch!

I made this! - Polka Dot Corsage Brooch

Now you know by now I am quite partial to a polka dot - so much so I am even considering a polka dot wedding dress (don't tell my other half!), so it makes sense that I should make one of my pleated totes in a polka dot fabric!

My sprig tote bag has been very popular so I just had to make a matching corsage brooch for this bag too. I love making corsages - just wish they didn't take me so long!! Will never make my fortune that way!!

I decided to do a little modelling too for the corsage brooch - that's if you can count a shoulder as modelling!!

For those who may want to buy the bag (which comes with or without the corsage) or the corsage on it's own please head to my new Not on the High Street store - click here

I'm on Not on the High Street!!

Very happy today - my store has launched on the Not on the High Street website this weekend!! Here's the link.

I made the decision to take my work more seriously and find a suitable online outlet after some less than successful craft fairs this summer. I have had such a good response from my work shown on my flickr gallery that I thought - hey I could possibly make a business out of this!! So now The Beauty is in the Detail . . . is a proper "serious" brand!!

Still early days - but if you don't try these things you will never know!! Wish me luck!!

x