MrsGPicks @Handmade and Fabulous!

I’m not one to brag, but an exciting proposition has filled me with pride, confidence and joy, so I will brag maybe just a little…

My friend, lovely Susie of LynwoodJewellery, who is a regular contributor to UKHandmade, a successful jewellery designer in her own right, lover of all things handmade, woman of great taste, and last but by no means least my best customer and biggest fan has set up a gorgeous new blog Handmade and Fabulous! and asked little old me to be the guest blogger.

My column, called “MrsGPicks” is a monthly fashion article on all things gorgeous in knit, crochet and felt from around the globe. A fantastic job, which has me surfing the net in search of the best, most wonderful, daring, independent designers. If only I could make it my day job… one can dream.

It would give me the greatest pleasure if any of you faithful followers would care to read my first article and leave a comment. It’s “Born Again Granny” and you can find it here.

There will be plenty more gorgeous finds and the next theme to whet your appetite for beautiful handmade fashion is “Here comes the bride…” and will be published very soon, so do keep checking.

Isn’t this Cosi?

Do you know this lovely bijoux boutique in North London’s trendy Muswell Hill? If you don’t please read on. If you do, you will undoubtedly agree that it is a little gem full of delightful home furnishings and other accessories handpicked by the shop’s owner Sarah, who herself, having impeccable taste, chooses only the best and most interesting pieces that independent designers have to offer.

I can proudly announce that amongst all the beautiful crockery, sumptuous blankets and cushions, leather bags, summer baskets, delicious candles and jewellery Sarah found a place for MrsGKnits beaded crochet bracelets. The colour palettes for the shop were personally chosen by Sarah and bracelets hand-made to order and those colours are exclusive to Cosi Homewares, so if you’d like to see them you must visit her shop. 

If you would like a preview of all the treats Cosi has in store click here. However, the website has only a fraction of the goodies that fill the shelves of this lovely little shop.

I urge you to pay Cosi a visit and have a walk around Muswell Hill while you’re there. With plenty of cafes and restaurants offering just about any cuisine you can think of, an old church transformed into a pub and stunning views over North London you can bag yourself some stylish stuff and spend a lovely day out. Well!? Off you go now!!

Sunshine Blog Awards!! part2

  It’s time to present the second person, who kindly awarded me the Sunshine Blog Award. This one is from Tracy at Cinnamon Jewellery.

Constructed from mixed metals and always featuring beautiful stones or pearls and her signature swirls, I have been coveting her designs for a while. 

If you would like to see more of her wonderful jewellery click the pictures to take you to Tracy’s shop on Folksy. If you want to know more about Tracy and Cinnamon Jewellery you can read her blog here.

There are some rules that come with the award which are as follows:
- Put the logo on your blog or within your post
- Pass the award onto 12 bloggers
- Link the nominees within your post
- Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
- Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award.

So far I have fulfilled the first and the last part of the deal, so now onto my own nominations with links to their blogs:

1. Chain Creative – a fabulous blog full of inspiration for the crocheting masses out there. It’s a gold mine of interesting interviews with artists, countless resources and pictures to get your creative juices flowing.

2. Juju Loves Polka Dots – I think Juju is the only woman in the history of the Universe who was given 48 hours in each day. Have a look at her blog to see what she does with her time and how many talents can one person have!

3. Haptree and Me – a blog with so many helpful topics the list is endless written by a lovely, very helpful Hilary. Anyone trying to make sense of the crafting world needs to read it.

4. Talking Beads – creative pursuits of one genius beader

5. Harvey Crafty Cards – this blog is just plain lovely, so even if you can’t read you will enjoy it, I promise!

6. Bejewelled and Beguiled – if Artisan jewellery rocks your boat this one is for you!

7. Cowdy Calling – witty, humorous blog, superbly written! Serena’s writing can make you wish you had volunteered to muck out hippo enclosures just for fun long time ago.

8. Evie George – another beautiful, nostalgic blog

9. Monty – a goldmine of cultural hotspots and events and very inspirational too

10. Talulah Blue – burlesque galore!

11. Angel Treats – diary of a domestic goddess

12. Ginger Knits UK – a mixed bag of fun, craft and how to do good and enjoy it!

Sunshine Blog Awards!!! part1

This is a nice surprise. From the dark depths of drab winter weather this little flower popped up to make my weekend just a little more bearable. I’ve been awarded a Sunshine Blog Award – twice!

I have been nominated by two lovely ladies, who each write a very different blog and who both make beautiful jewellery with a difference.

My first award came a while back, but i had no time to shout about it until now. It’s from lovely nelliD, whose beautiful design i featured before in my Beat The Blues handmade items selection. Check her blog out to see what she’s working on at the moment – it’s all candy & jewells over there – fabulous!

This is one of her bags – the Union Jack features a lot in her designs, but in a very inspired, quirky way. If you want to know more go to her blog and enjoy! If you want to see what she’s selling, click the picture – it will take you to her shop.

Part 2 and my Sunshine Blog Award nominees a bit later. In the meantime enjoy! enjoy! enjoy!

My Funny Valentine…

If you believe Valentine’s Day is a special, romantic date in the calendar I will not have to convert you. But for those cynical grumpies amongst you, who consistently claim us soppy, cheesy bunch only propel the commercial machine that is Valentines please, please read on.  For what I’m about to show you is not commercial, not cheesy or soppy for that matter. The little selection I’m presenting to you consist of beautiful items, which were handcrafted by people of various talents, who believe in non-commercial production of unique items of their own design.  So if you decided to say no to the white fluffy acrylic bears and cards sparkling with rainbows of sticky glitter consider these – one of a kind, uniquely designed gifts – not a fluffy bear or a speck of glitter in sight. Enjoy!

Huge thanks to all the artists featuring in My Funny Valentine selection. The showcased items and a variety of their other designs can be viewed and purchased from:

1. DIG THE EARTH              2. LynwoodJewellery

3, 4. MrsGKnits                   5. Harvey Crafty Cards

6. Glassprimitif                   7. Silky Prudence

8. Talking Beads                 9. PANTSANDPAPER

Beat The Blues…

After a spell of white wintery fluffiness we are entering a drab, dreary phase.The snow is melting away, revealing dark pavements and untidy streets. Here and there dried up, stripped bare Christmas trees are dying in front gardens. Everybody is feeling post Christmas malaise - the winter blues has truly set in.

Despair not! For in the busy corners of the world wide web there are gems aplenty to put a smile on your face, just waiting to be discovered.

About six months ago I discovered Folksy – a site, which, like a virtual shopping centre, houses a huge number of individual shops run by an array of talented people, who joined the handmade revolution. I am a proud owner of two shops – MrsGKnits, a luxury knitwear emporium and QueenOfHerts , a fledgling quirky jewellery collection.

Folksy sellers design, source the materials, hand make and sell beautiful, unique items, which you can’t get on any high street. The range of products is overwhelming, the packaging absolutely divine, the customer service superb and many sellers welcome custom orders, which makes your purchase that little bit more exclusive and more personal.

So there you have it – found on Folksy, my selection of “Blues” to beat the blues…

 

1. Wintry Skies Baby Alpaca sock yarn from Wharfedale Woolworks

2. Silver Filigree Ring from Fen and Ned

3. Fabric Buttons - Tiny Sprigs from Mollimoo

4. Gorgeous Fabric Brooch from PantsandPaper

5. Earrings silver with emerald green freshwater pearls from Lynwood Jewellery

6. Clip Frame Purse from PantsandPaper

7. Polly Cowl – Teal from Silky Prudence

8. Small Butterfly Cards & Envelopes from Harvey Crafty Cards

9. Time for tea! from nelli D – for her

I hope you enjoyed my favourites and they will inspire you to seek out all things beautiful. Click a few buttons, have a browse and find how you can express your individuality in time for beautiful spring.