Earring Cards

I am always striving to perfect the packaging for my craft items and jewellery in an original and cost effective way.  I have been unsatisfied with my earring presentation cards until yesterday when I 'found' some long strips of lightweight card. 

The card on the longer earrings needed additional support to carry the weight of the crystals.  I found a solution by tying and knotting a piece of fine cord through the front and back of the folded card so that the card  doesn't topple over.

The shorter earrings are displayed on a shorter card that stands perfectly well without the additional support of a cord.  There is room on the back of the cards to display contact details.  I am very happy how these have turned out as they can be free standing or flattened down for storage or for posting.

Word for 2014

Each year I have a word that I focus that year on.  This years word was evolve. 2012 was create and 2011 was nurture.  My word for 2014 is:

 PERSEVERE

To persist in or remain constant to a purpose, idea, or task in the face of obstacles or discouragement.

The following quotes are about persevering and the first one is most timely as it is by Nelson Mandela.

“It always seems impossible until it's done.”  Nelson Mandela.

“I am a slow walker, but I never walk back.” Abraham Lincoln.

 “Many of life's failures are people who did not realise how close they were to success when they gave up.”   Thomas A Edison.

“Continuous effort - not strength or intelligence - is the key to unlocking our potential.” Winston Churchill.

 “Go back?" he thought. "No good at all! Go sideways? Impossible! Go forward? Only thing to do! On we go!" So up he got, and trotted along with his little sword held in front of him and one hand feeling the wall, and his heart all of a patter and a pitter.”  J.R.R.Tolkien The Hobbit.

“Courage does not always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, 'I will try again tomorrow.” Mary Anne Radmacher.

  

“By perseverance the snail reached the ark.” Charles H. Spugeon.

Gizmo Keyring

 I finally got around to completing my Gizmo keyring.  Now I can move onto other things!

 I embellished the back with a few birds too.

The real Gizmo is curled up in the house having sweet dreams.  He has turned into a bit of a night owl going out at 4.30pm and coming home after 10.00pm!  Every night I worry that he won't come home and cannot rest until he shows up on the window ledge.  I can then breathe a sigh of relief and go to bed!

Woodland Strawberry

Most of the garden has gone to sleep but the woodland strawberry is still in flower and producing fruit.  Could the woodland strawberry be up there with the holly and the ivy in the future as a Christmas plant?  It has so much to offer: pretty white open faced flowers, jewel coloured berries and vivid green serrated leaves. It provides excellent ground cover too.  The holly and the ivy are such resilient plants and do not get affected by the frost and harsh weather.  I have yet to see how my little strawberry plant fares in such conditions.

Gifts from the Garden

After a short train ride I arrived at the house of Debora Robertson. Exuberant and bubbly - she warmly welcomed me into her home.  There was eight of us guests and we sat around the edge of a beautiful white marble island that was liberally peppered with cakes, flat breads and biscuits.  We were encouraged to tuck in and offered a range of teas, wine, mulled wine etc throughout the afternoon.

Debora demonstrated how to make some of the items in her book such as caraway flat breads (I made a batch the very next day), rose milk bath,  pine cone firelighters, marigold and oatmeal soap, chili vodka etc deftly moving from one item to the next ably assisted by her supportive husband Sean.

Time moved quickly and as the sun went down over the  herb garden on view from the glass doors,  it was time to set off home again.  We received goody bags including signed copies of Debora's book 'Gifts from the Garden', a heart shaped soap, rose milk bath and a pine cone firelighter (too bad I don't have a real fire to put it on!)

I came away fired up to make edible gifts and beautify my home.

Sparkle and Shine

At this time of year I do like to add a bit of fun and sparkle to my jewellery.   I made the orange bracelet above to match perfectly with an orange and black outfit I am wearing to a Christmas lunch next week.  Whilst on a roll I made a purple and a white one too!  These photos-taken in a poor winter light-really do not do justice to the sparkle on these pretty beads.

Now, I am most pleased with these mother of pearl shell button earrings.  They are so light to wear and just a little more unusual than the plastic button earrings that are sometimes found.  They catch the light beautifully from across the room and dare I say it - across a candle lit table for two!

Losing my Marbles

I haven't actually lost my marbles - I have however, been making wire cages for them to nestle in to.  A lovely way to display a favourite childhood marble by turning them into a pendant or more functional; a key ring.  I just hope my son doesn't discover that they have gone missing out of his jar!

* Just to add that my son is fine with me using the marbles, at 15 he outgrew them years ago! *