Kayak For A Cure ~ May Tea Party

Over the weekend we hosted a tea party fundraiser to help out the boys of the Kayak For a Cure team.

The day was a great success and lots of fun, raising $150 for the team and getting lots of talk buzzing about their planned adventure later this year.
You can read all about what the Kayak team are planning on their page HERE at the Everyday Heroes website. (Donations are gratefully accepted!)

Lend me a hand? Sorry, I had to say it...

Our living room became a jewellery show!

The best thing about hosting the party at our home this May was the chance to show off the amazing autumn trees along our driveway.

Home Sweet Home

My homemade garland complete with budget pegs

How do you like my DIY Postcard Display Garland? It includes mossy looking string, fabric flowers and bargain wooden pegs. Construction time 20 mins.


A few more pictures of the display... I'll have to remember next time to have a slideshow of my artwork playing on the TV...

Thank you to everyone who came along to support us & the boys ...judging by all the empty plates it looks like you all enjoyed the scones and cakes. The platters were cleared so fast that we didn't get a chance to take any photos! Snapping some pics of our culinary goodies will have to wait till next time 


I heard the orange rum & raisin cake was amazing...sadly I missed out...but I'm sure my Nan will make another for me if I ask her nicely ;) 


We have been eating the leftover chocolate chic cookies all week. With the cold weather creeping in I'm sure we can justify having a few extra treats (its almost time to hibernate..we need the energy reserves!) Now I'm off to pour a glass of milk to dunk them in


Mmm...

xxx

Tomorrow is another day

Ok, so its a month since I bravely signed off my last blog post with the line "...more project pics tomorrow".

I guess tomorrow didn't go according to plan. And it rarely does. Appointments change, work loads increase and time does not stand still but I often catch myself staring out the window for indefinite lengths of time until I suddenly snap out of it and have to quickly grab a sketchbook and scribble down ideas before they're lost again on the foggy moors of my imagination. Being 'artistic' means calendars and deadlines are something of a challenge for me.

Inspiration however, is in vast supply! And here are pictures of a few things that have inspired me this month

Wicked Witch Bookmark

SpiritHoods for Kids

Danger Crafts Knitting Patterns

Tomorrow is another day. Perhaps I'll get a few things done. Perhaps I'll be daydreaming...

Needle Felting for Beginners

Ha! I love the internet. After a flash of inspiration I decided I wanted to give needle felting a go, so I found the perfect Etsy supplier of basic starter kits, got my hands on one that would suit my little hand stitched critters and armed with the tools of sharp and slightly barbed needles and a handful of wool fiber I Google-ed 'Learn how to Needle Felt'

I was relieved to see that my suspicions were confirmed and that needle felting is a basic skill of keeping your fingers out of the way while making rapid and randomly effective stabs at two pieces of felt positioned on a sponge which would soon resemble a furry piece of cheese...

this is so much fun.

all the bits and pieces

...here are a few photos to document the process of sewing and adding needle felted details to a hand stitched felt Wallaby.

Turn the music up and start jabbing those tiny scraps of felt until they resemble something cute.. and try not to bleed on the merchandise!

In a few weeks time I suspect my fingertips will have developed some impressive calluses. I feel like a human pincushion at the moment.

See the finished wallaby on my facebook page.

More projects pics tomorrow...

CuddleCraft Collective Auction

Cuddle Craft Collective is holding a charity auction on March 18-25 to raise funds for the Bonga Feeding Centre in Ethiopia.  Can you help us achieve our fundraising goal? Check out the auction items listed on the facebook auction page and make a bid for your favorites starting on the 18th March. All the rules for bidding are posted on the Cuddle Craft FB page, please 'like' them and help support a wonderful cause!

You'll see that one of our charm bracelets 'Forget Me Not' is among the auction items 

item #150

and...

item #149

This is Flora, one of my little felt foxes from my new textiles, accessories and children's label, Thistle and Fox.


Flora is a hand stitched pocket sized felt stuffling made from wool blend felt, scraps of quilting cotton and vintage lace trim (the pattern comes from Shelly at Gingermelon.etsy.com)


She will be auctioned online for the Cuddle Craft Collective charity auction March 18-25, 2012.

I've been very busy for the last few months designing prints for fabrics, creating children's wear and one of a kind garments for ladies too! This vintage inspired nightgown was made for a young girl starring in a short film...but more on that in the coming months.

Also on the horizon: bags, headbands, hair accessories, silk scarves and baby quilts.

Foxy

Welcome 'Flora' and 'Fabien' the Fox

'Fabien' ~ Available from ThistleandFox.etsy.com

'Flora' ~ will be sold at a charity auction to be announced at the end of February!

 I am taking requests for custom made felt stufflings. If you have a wish to own a little grey wolf or grass green bunny please contact me to discuss your ideas and we can come up with a plan to create your little felted friend.

A new collection of earrings for 2012 will be available from Jasper and Pearl shortly. I also have some new textile designs which I will take along to my next jewelery party so stay tuned in coming weeks for updates on this blog.

I encourage all the local ladies to let me know if there is a particular weekend which would suit everyone to get together for a morning or afternoon tea sometime in March-April. We often find that it is difficult to co-ordinate our busy schedules and seeing as there are quite a few of you who have expressed a wish to be at our next party, please contact us!

You can send a message to Lauren via jasperandpearl (at) hotmail.com or visit her website & use the contact form you find there.

Coming soon: New collage pendants, collections of tiny flower stud earrings, fabric hair bows and garments for little ones...