MY NEW TOYS JUST ARRIVED!!!

Hello dear readers!!! Well, I just got my new little toys to play with!!! These are my darling little vintage, vintage, vintage watch parts and I love 'em!!!!! Hmmmm, now what shall I make first???!!!!! xoxo Carol

ALMOST FINISHED!!!!!!!!!!!

Good morning dear readers!!! It's sunny here next to the Irish Sea and I'm loving it!!! Baby was out in the back garden sunning herself early this morning too!!!! She just loves laying in the grass and soaking in the rays!!

Well, it's almost finished!!! This is a sneak preview of my newest and sweetest necklace! I haven't done anything like this before. I bought in some antique porcelain babies and just had to experiment! xoxo Carol

I AM DESTASHING MY STUDIO!!!

Hello dear readers, just a little apology for the horrid pic of my neighborhood, I can't imagine why it looks like it is sliding into the sea!!! It was early morning and I just wasn't too awake when I took it I guess!!!

My destash has begun on my Etsy shop! Here's some more! I need space in my studio so all summer long I am going to shovel stuff out on to my shop hoping someone else can find a use for it!!! xoxo Carol

My Humble Neighborhood!!!

I took a quick pic this morning before I headed down the beach to my studio. This is my humble neighborhood which is springing into action with everything beginning to bloom. The trees are just getting their leaves but the flowers haven't come out in force yet. Maybe when they do I will get a minute to capture it for us! xoxo carol

Vintage French Wallpaper

Good morning dear readers! Just a quickie here to say it is Saturday and I have to get to the studio fast this morning so I can work hard and take the afternoon off so I can go to the pier!! The sky is blue and the birds are singing and I'm sure the tide will be in so I can see the sea!!!!

Here is a pic of some very lovely vintage French wallpaper I bought outside of Paris which I am putting in my shop. I usually use it to back ACEO cards and I have used it in my altered books. Nice stuff to work with, hard to believe this was going to go to the landfill...!!! xoxo Carol

LOVELY DAY FOR A WALK!!

Hello dear readers! I just can't tell you how lovely it is here by the Irish Sea!!! Soft breeze, sunny day with no clouds, and the smell of spring is in the air!!!!

Today I just want to show you one of my new creations! It is none other than My Sweet Little Ring!!!

(Must get back to the studio now!!!) Bye!!! xoxo Carol

YIKES!!!!!!!!

Well, Baby just reminded me we haven't had a FREE Draw in ages!!!! She said she can't even remember the last time we had one! (I think her ulterior motive is that she wants to be the Star of the Draw again!!) So.......I will get something arranged and announce a Free Draw soon...so stay tuned....and many, many thanks to Baby for reminding me!!!!!!!!!

TWEET-TWEET !!!!!!!

Good morning dear readers!! I have enlarged the font size because my eyes are getting older and it is harder to see the small print...but if you want me to put it back to what it was just say so, ok?

Today I want to share with you my little needlefelted birds nest. This is a sweetie, it measures almost 2" across and it is a pin for your spring jacket or sweater. I have filled it with three softly light blue freshwater pearls too. I think this is a sweet way to usher in Spring!!!!! xoxo Carol

GORGEOUS!!!!

Good morning dear readers!! I just had to share this lovely picture with you that was sent to me by Cath at Minerva's Madness......link on the right hand side of the page! xoxo Carol (Actually it is the more beautiful one....I accidently put the one with the trees on...but that one is gorgeous too so I left it!!)

IT's THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN!!!!!

Good morning dear readers!!! Yes, it is that time of year again when I picnic with my hubby!!! Just thought I would show you where we have lunch...this is Llandudno on the North Wales coast of the Irish Sea. A short drive from our town and we love the peacefullness of it too. Just waiting for a sunny day now!!! xoxo Carol (won't be long I hope!!!)

OH MY GOODNESS....IS THIS GORGEOUS OR WHAT???!!!

Hello dear readers!!! Spring is springing into life here on the coast of the Irish Sea!!! The tides have been very high, the waves are crashing against the rocks, the sun is shining, the gulls are all over the sky, the buds are budding and the life of God's beautiful earth is waking up from a long winter's sleep.

Today I have a treat for us all!!! I have found ROCHELLE!!!!! Yes, this artist is really worth note. Her pen and ink and watercolour is outstandingly beautiful without a doubt! This artist combines subtlety with inspiring subjects. The ones I have chosen to post here are so very lovely, in shades of blues which gives them a peacefully perfect feel. The first one is a sweet butterfly in pen and ink and watercolour....the second is my favorite, not only because I live on the outskirts of Paris part of the year, but because it has such a continental look to it. Notice the streets of Paris in the bottom half of the window...just below the Eiffel Tower...the detail is absolutely stunning don't you think?

Rochelle is an Etsy artist who has a shop filled with sweetness, so why don't you just pull up a chair and pour yourself a cup of tea and browse while being wrapped in the most delicious artistic experience of your day! http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5116786

If you are in Canada dear friends, you can find her artwork in these classy shops:Wonderworks, Alchemy, Acadia Art and Rare Books, and Book City......they have been wise enough to recognize beauty when they see it!!! xoxo Carol

CAN ANYONE IDENTIFY THIS???

Good morning dear readers!!! It is a gloriously sunny day here on the coast of the Irish Sea!!! A perfect day to create something beautiful!!

Today I am going to ask for your help in identifying this little mouseie! She was given to me by my Auntie and I want to put her in my Etsy shop hoping she finds a good home. She is about 1 1/2" tall and is an early piece of pottery perhaps....looks like pottery (!). If you have any info just email me or leave a comment, I would much appreciate that! Have a lovely day today! xoxo Carol

ALMOST UNVEILED!!!!!!

Good morning dear readers....well, here is my latest Steampunk Meets Locket.......just a peek!!! I don't have it in my shop yet, but wanted you to see a preview! I know when my daughter sees this she is going to "hint" to me that she should own this one!!!!!!!!!!!!! xoxo Carol

STEAMPUNK MEETS INDUSTRIAL!!!

Good morning dear readers!!! And I hope you are having a lovely day wherever you may be!!! I am going to be on my way to the studio in just a few minutes....the walk along the beach is invigorating this time of the morning!!! Lots of gulls out for their breakfast!! Lots of junk washed up from the tide going out....I love beachcombing!!!

Here is my Steampunk Meets Industrial!!! Brushed steel with vintage!! I never get tired of vintage, no matter if I am wearing it or creating with it!! Yes, that is a 7 on the disk which I hammered in!!! I love 7, absolutely adore 7!!!

Just a note here, I am waiting for a reply from a really lovely artist to profile here, I can't wait to show you her gorgeous work! Are you curious yet!! xoxo Carol

MEET MY NEW STEAMPUNK!!!!!!!! (sold..to a very, very lovely lady!)

Good morning dear readers!!! And what a lovely morning it is here on the edge of the Irish sea today! Lots of sun and a little breeze....and the tiny flowers are starting to bud out....ahhhhhh I think spring is in the air!!!!

Yes...it is STEAMPUNK!! all the way!!! I love it.....Door No. 7......Feast your eyes!!!! I am really getting into Steampunk, I love assemblage and have been selling assemblage pieces for almost a year now, but this is great fun!!!!! Loving it!!! xxx Carol

AWWWWW, THESE ARE SOOOOOO LOVELY!!!

Good morning dear readers!!! It is almost March!! Time Marches on doesn't it??!!!!! (Corny joke I know!)

I just had to show you my sweet little tiny, minature journals!! I have been making books for the galleries again by popular demand. (Imagine that! Popular demand!!! Makes me feel like a movie star or something! Where's that Oscar?!!) Anyway, I am in bookmaking mode this week and wanted to share these pics with you. These are little working journals, they have about 10 pages in each one and can easily slip into your purse or lay by your bedside waiting for the perfect thought to be transferred into! Have a lovely day! I'm off to my studio now.......xoxo Carol

I JUST HAD TO ........

Good frosty morning dear readers!!! Won't you be happy when winter is gone!!?!! I sure will, indeed!!

Here is one from my Angel series I did last year, a sweet lady from Holland requested I put a pic up! This is a beauty and I'm glad all of my angels have gone to good homes. Am I going to make any more? Perhaps if I get some time!!!! xoxo Carol

HOW VERY SWEET!!!

Hello dear readers!!! Is it Thursday already? Where in the world does the time go anyway!!!

I just had to share with you something pretty someone sent me. This lady's name is Liz and she was a customer of mine when I was on Ebay long ago. But, the nicest part of it is that she became a friend! Awwww, isn't that lovely! Well, last week she sent me this gorgeous paperbag album as a gift!! Oh my goodness, was I suprised!!! I had seen her work on ebay http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VINTAGE-OOAK-EPHEMERA-ALTERED-ART-MIXED-MEDIA-CAT-ALBUM_W0QQitemZ110224573082QQihZ001QQcategoryZ83980QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Here is one of her extraordinarily gorgeous albums so you can see for yourself!!! I am including a few very inadequate pics that I took of the one she gave to me, along with a very beautiful card she made. My, my, Liz, you are one very talented lady!!!! Thank you a million! xoxo Carol

HERE IT IS!!

Good morning dear readers! Is it Wednesday already??!!!! Where has the time gone, it is almost February too!!!

Well, here is the mystery item! It is my felted lariat, neckpiece which I origionally named The Rose of Sharon, but changed it to A Rose For My Love. Awwww.....soooo romantic, yes?

I have been felting away for a show at one of the galleries I am in, my poor little fingers look like raisins from all the water!!! But don't be fooled....I absolutely love it!!! Every minute of it!!!! And I have felted on China Silk for this piece and used alpaca wool, and merino wool, and lampwork beads, and Tussah silk strands to give the very long stem of the rose a little sheen. Gorgeous! I even made one for myself...ohhhhh, selfish me!!! xoxo Carol

p.s. Should I make one for Baby too....we could be twins!

ETSY'S BEST KEPT SECRET!!!

But not any longer!!!!

Good morning dear readers! I hope you are enjoying your morning tea and scone with the sun shining outside and a smile in your heart! Today I want to introduce you to a fantasticly (is that a real word?) talented glass bead artist named Jeannie. She works her magic in glass way up there in beautiful Canada. I want to show you a couple of her stunning pieces this morning too.

Her shop is on Etsy, and if you have never visited Etsy, please, do yourself a favor and check it out! Anyway here is a link to Jeannies shop where you will find colourful, gorgeous and truly sumptuous lampwork beads at a very affordable price. http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5244923. I mean, just look at those colour combinations! Only a very talented artist with a keen knowledge of colour theory could bring that to pass and in glass no less!!! Oh, and I forgot to mention that I am the proud owner of one of her masterpieces!!! Yes, I am, and I will treasure it forever!!!! xoxo Carol

ANOTHER GREAT ETSY ARTIST!!!!

Good morning dear readers, I do hope the new year is treating you well so far!! This morning I have a gloriously talented artist to introduce you to, her name is Madelyn and she works magic with metal. She forms it into the most glorious art you can imagine!!!

Madelyn Smoak has been involved in Art and fine crafts for more than thirty years. Past bodies of work have centered around fiber, paper collage and Artist’s books and have been shown in regional galleries such as Somerhill Gallery, Urban Artifacts and Bodycraft. She has been working with metals since the Summer of 2002.She recently was chosen for a Solo Show by Judy Chicago. And as if this wasn't enough, she also sells her beauties on Etsy!!! Here are a few pics and I would encourage you to have a browse in her shop which is filled with the most delightful things!http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5411207

These are such interesting works of art! And please don't miss her gorgeous....and very affordable earrings in her shop!

A great big Thank You to Madelyn Smoak for letting us have a peek at her art this morning!!

xoxo Carol

BABY AND HER WRINKLES!!!

Good morning dear readers! I do so hope this year is going well for you so far.

I just had to show you this pic I fooled around with in my picture program. My husband was kind enough to take a picture of Baby and me, but Baby did NOT want me to put it on my blog until I softened it up a bit so all her wrinkles would not be noticeable. She is getting on in years and in human years she would be older than me! So, since she is my elder I respect what she says and have bowed to her request. She looks lovely, and years younger now than she normally does in glaring light! I know you will understand dear readers, that poor Baby is going through a post-midlife crisis, and we must humor her!

xoxo Carol and Beautiful, Young Looking BABY

JUST A REMINDER OF SUMMER!

If I could just tell you how dreary it is here next to the Irish Sea in January!!!! Every day there are 14 shades of grey outside....everywhere! Today gale winds off the Sea....rain.....but I have an antidote to all that! Here is a picture of my cottage kitchen window from summer. I keep this pic handy to help remind me that better, sunnier days are ahead. Perhaps if you have grey today, or even snow you might be cheered up by the flowers in my little window. I hope so anyway! xoxo Carol

A BROOCH ISN'T JUST A BROOCH ANY MORE!!! ( sold)

Happy New Year dear readers!! I hope 2008 is the year your dreams come true for you!

A brooch isn't just a brooch any more!! It is definitely an artistic statement!!! Yes, and this is my very newest artistic statement, my first of this new year!!!

This one is named Mystic Queen IV. I have been totally obsessed with my Mystic Queen series the past month or so. My first Mystic Queen was a leather bracelet which is pictured down the page from here, in case you have never seen it before you might want to take a look. This Mystic Queen is very regal indeed!! And I have embellished her with little jewels fit for a Queen...pearls, aquamarine, citrine, peridot, and amethyst beads. I will probably put her in my Etsy shop, but if you would like to purchase her before she gets there, be my guest! She is $30 or £15 ,plus postage. I take PayPal, just email me. xoxo Carol

A BLESSED CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL DEAR READERS!

Dear readers, I am wishing you all a very Merry and Blessed Christmas! God has loved us all so very much that He sent His only Son to live amongst us. We celebrate the birth of Jesus with great joy and gratitude in our hearts. When I was only a child of 9, I gave my life to the Lord and promised to live for Him only. I am an old woman now and have never regretted one minute spent in His Presence or His service. John 3:16 says "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever should believe on Him will not perish but have everlasting life" I invite you to call upon His Holy Name and give yourself into His loving hands this Christmas for He loves you dearly and tenderly. xoxo Carol

I MADE ONE JUST FOR ME!!!

Just a quick one today!! With Christmas approaching there is sooooo much to do!!!

I wanted to show you a clutch I made just for myself! I rarely, if ever, make anything for me! But, I wanted something nice to go with a silk suit I bought in Paris over the summer so this is it. Nice isn't it?!!! I used some vintage tapestry fabric I had and beaded around a large Jade cab that I have had for years waiting for the "right" project.

Must run now, have a lovely day dear readers!! xoxo Carol

I HAVE DISCOVERED A LOVELY JEWELERY ARTIST!!

Good morning dear readers!!! First, let me say thank you for stopping by, especially in this very busy season!

Today I want to introduce you to Jeanne, a very sweet lady and lovely jewelery artist from our very own Etsy! If you look at her work you will see bling, quality, and beauty! http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5317621 I have to admit these pieces are photographed with extrodinary precision, so much better than I have ever been able to do with my jewelery, in fact, I asked this very kind lady for some tips!!! And she was generous enough to help me.

Her wirework is simply to die for!!! She tells me that Eni Oken is her role model, and wow you can certainly tell! The intricacy of her work is stunning!

Thanks for looking, and I thank Jeanne for allowing me to share her beautiful work with you this morning. xoxo Carol

IRISH SEA FANTASY!!!! (sold)

Good morning dear readers! Are you getting ready for Christmas? Have you made all your lists and bought all your food and goodies? The days are growing closer and closer aren't they? There never seems to be enough time to get everything done!

This is my lovely Irish Sea Fantasy cuff bracelet! I am so proud of this one! It is truly a one of a kind since I did it as an experimental piece for some things I am making for the galleries. I am entirely inspired by the sea outside my studio window. The tide rushing in and rushing out, crashing waves at times, still and calm at times. Blues and greens and at sunset coppery tones on some of the waves....gorgeous! I love the sea, I would never want to live away from it...so very necessary to my artistic nature! And where else could you find so much inspiration? xoxo Carol

EVERY GIRL NEEDS A NESTEGG!!!! (sold)

Every Girl Needs a Nestegg!!! My dear mother drummed this into my head as a little girl and I never forgot it!!!! I am a compulsive saver!! Anything, everything!!! You never know when you will need it!!!! xoxo Carol

WOW, I FOUND A FANTASTIC ARTIST!!!!!

Good morning dear readers! I did it again, I found a fabulously talented artist to show you here! I just don't know how I do it, I simply seem to "find" them!!! But today is a sweetie of a lady.....and sooooo talented too!!!! Her name is Anna and she is a watercolourist of soft and dreamy art you will adore! On her blog there is a picture of this lovely creature....http://web.mac.com/annabarrow/anna_barrow_/Journal_/Journal_.htmland please read on down where she shows us a picture of her new house in France!!!! Ohhhhh, I am so green with envy!!!!!

Anyway....she sells origionals and prints of her watercolour/ink art pictures in her Etsy shop ....http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5067611and please take a look at her very, very nice banner too! I am also here including a couple of pics of her work....my two favorites, but how could I choose??? They are all so gorgeous!!!!! Have a little browse if you have a few minutes and be prepared to see beauty! xoxo Carol

MYSTIC QUEEN.....FIT FOR A QUEEN! (sold)

Good morning dear readers!!! Happy Thursday to you all!!!!!

Just a quickie this morning before I have to get to the studio and work. I wanted to post one of my leather bracelets here for all to see!!! I love it and if I have time I will make one for myself..but a bit different.

Last year I bought about 100 pounds of leather and have been making leather things ever since...books, jewelery, purses...all sorts of things! (If you get a chance, try your hand at leather, it is really fun!) Leather is soooo versatile and just a blank canvas for my imagination! Here she is in all her glory, I present MYSTIC QUEEN for your enjoyment!!! xoxo Carol