Happy Friday: Hand stamped dog charms

I promised you dog-themed, hand stamped bag charms last week, and here they are.

Just listed on Etsy here...

I hope they are going to be popular.  I've tested them out on dog walks and can confirm they are quite sturdy!

So which is your favourite?  Let me know.

Lucca says he likes them all, but it's been so hot, he has mostly been concentrating on paddling and sleeping in the sun. 

Alison x

A milestone to share

Just a quick post to share this little milestone - 500 sales in my Folksy shop https://folksy.com/shops/BlueForestJewellery

It's been a while coming, and it was reached at 1.15 am with the sale of a pair of earrings. I love it that sales can come at any time of the day and night, and go anywhere. Yesterday, three bracelets set off for Stockholm, and we all wished we could go with them!

Thanks to all my blog followers and commentators who have kept me at it over the years. Overall sales reached about 1,000 a couple of months ago.  It's great that people like things enough to purchase them, and it's always a lovely surprise to get a sales notification. 

Please pop along to have a look at the shop if you're interested. There are some new key rings, in vintage bronze and antique silver, and until the end of the month, you can use the discount code Celebrate 500 to get a 20% reduction. 

Here are some recent makes.  Which do you like best?  And what are you making at the moment?

Alison x

Craftyfolk Round Robin

This beautiful lady has been travelling the country as part of the Craftyfolk on Etsy team 'Round Robin'.  As she goes round, each crafty person adds a little adornment to what will eventually be the prize for the next team giveaway.  She already had beautiful hair, a lovely printed top and background and a felted flower and vintage style brooch by the time she arrived at my house.

I love her colour combinations of purples and pinks, and as there were butterflies in the background print, I thought I might add to the theme with a dragonfly charm necklace with some colourful drawbench glass beads.

I hope she likes her additional adornment.  By the time she has got round the others in the team, she will be well and truly accessorised!

Further updates on the lady's progress of this poster will be posted on the Team Crafty Folk blog here.

Alison x

Catching up

New on Folksy - heart charm necklace

This poor little blog has been neglected recently and I keep promising tutorials that don't materialise!  I must be more strict with myself.  I've missed handmade Monday for a couple of weeks too.

Wire woven leaf earrings

Mostly my excuse is restocking my Folksy shop, when I've now got a substantial number of items back for sale and have had a good number of sales.  Etsy is good too at the moment, with a recent big order for bag charms and my lovely wire work dragonfly has flown away to the US too.  Here are a few things I've put in since.  Weaving, charms and wire work continue to be themes.  I went a big paisley crazy with the earrings - they are quite big and bold.

Paisley earrings

Quartz swirl earrings

Vase bag charm

Next week I'll be a better blogger.  Already planning a tutorial, and hoping to show some more metal clay creations.  Honestly!

Wordless Wednesday: Does my bum look big in this?

Does my bum look big in this?

The front

Handmade Monday: Brooches and pins

Inspired by some beautiful shawl/scarf/fibula brooches/pins this week, I've been having a go myself.  Mine are pretty amateur by comparison with some that I've collected here on Pinterest.  I wonder why there are so many different names for them?

Blue moonstone and crystal

Amethyst and purple jades

The trouble with being inspired by others is that you start to worry about whether you are unconsciously copying ideas.  At least, I do, as I'm a champion worrier!  So I've stopped looking now and am waiting for a bit more inspiration to come.

Coffee agate beads

These brooches are made with 1.2 mm wire (18 gauge) which is thicker than I've worked with before.  Like everything, I'd avoided using the lower gauges and then once I was working it, couldn't see why I'd done so, as provided I was quite firm with it and ensured it was warmed in my fingers first, it was quite pliant. It was snowing heavily outside, so quite cool.  The sort of weather when any self respecting Roman lady needs a glamorous fibula to fasten her cloak with....

Red creek jasper beads

I also need to file down the ends to a point that will go through knitwear but not be sharp enough to kill anyone.  That's a judgement call, so I'll need a bit of practice before any go in the shops!  What with that and the needle felting/stabbing stuff, I seem to be edging towards the more 'extreme' end of crafting.  Honestly, I would love a blow torch, but for someone without the necessary hand/eye coordination to pass a driving test, it is just too risky.

Here's the link to see what other crafty folk have been making this week.

Wordless Wednesday: Flower loom bag charms

Coming soon to an Etsy or Folksy shop near you!

Folksy Friday: Fruits of the Forest

The woods and forests look pretty abundant at the moment, and I keep having to pick up the fallen apples, so why not a collection of non-edible fruits from Folksy sellers?  Click on any of the pictures to go directly to the shops.



1. Fruity fridge magnets by Kettle of Fish
2. Fruit wreath by Cranberry Charms
3. Bowl of stained glass fruit by JTs Creative Glass



 1. Apple pendant by Funky Art 2. Berry bookmark by Cinnamon Street 3. Pear door stop by Crabtree Lane

You can find more Folksy goodies on this fruity Pinterest board.
And you might like this treasury on the same theme on Etsy too.

Handmade Monday

Decided to have a go at a Handmade Monday post, having read about it on CraftBlogUK - another great tip from the amazing Haptree, thank you!  It will be lovely to see and talk about what other folk are making.

This week I haven't had much time to focus on my current obsession with wire work and antique bronze pieces, but I have been thinking about the end of summer and how to make sure there's plenty of late summer items available in my shops. 

In spring I bought a strand of brightly coloured shells but haven't known what to do with them.  Then I thought they might contrast nicely with the dark wire and I could do some very simple wrapping.  Sitting down one evening, I was going to really make myself go completely random with the pattern but alas, my controlling self got in the way, and as you'll see there are rigid patterns of seven colours in each section!  So wish I could do something random or asymmetrical - perhaps this could be my crafter's challenge?  Anyone else want to join me on that one?!

The finished necklace - bright and dark together

Here's the link back to Handmade Monday:
http://www.1stuniquegifts.co.uk/blog/2011/08/handmade-monday-29/

Folksy Friday: Anniversaries

All these lovely handmade shops are coming up for a year's trading online or more on Folksy.  I've picked my favourite item from each of these 'veteran' online traders.  Not only do they have stickability, they are also pretty skilled crafters too.

Happy anniversary everyone!  Click on any of the pictures to go directly to the shop.

1. Sweet fabric birds by Cwtch

2. Sunny sunflower earrings by Putting on the Charms

3. One of many beautiful ACEOs available from GweddusArt/Teabreaks

4. Striking polymer clay pendant by Averilpam Design

5. Bronze flutterbys by flonightingale

6. Slipper socks (just for toddlers!) by Over the Rainbow

7. Pretty greetings by jujucards

8. Get festive early with this decorative cozy by The Crafty Bride

9. Delicate wire wrapping on this citrine pendant by Mystic's Realm

Folksy Friday: Juicy Fruit

The blackberries are incredibly early this year, inspiring this collection of juicy fruit handcrafted pieces from Folksy sellers.  Click on any of the pictures to visit the shops.

1. Sweet apple mobile phone case by Daisy Beth

2. Strawberry flavoured greeting card by Ello Design

3. A basket of fruit by Paulines Crafts

4. Cupcake anyone? by Dees Designs

5. Blueberry boa by The Crafty Bride

6. Funky kindle case by BaggieAggieToo

My own fruity offerings are these carnelian and yellow jade earrings - 

they are not meant to be eaten though!

Folksy Friday: Holidays are here

School's out soon so maybe you need some of these items from Folksy sellers if you're off on holiday or just hanging round the garden hoping to see the sun!

This holiday aceo by Ghost Goose brings back some memories

Soap flip flops - what a great idea! - by Just Bev Soaps

For those of us who dream of owning a boat or a beach hut, 

recession-beating options from Buttons and Stars and Charlotte Hupfield Ceramics!

Bluebells and Oystershells (fantastic name!) will help you remember your passport 

and Cherry Tree Handmades will keep your souvenirs together in style.

What else do you need for the perfect holiday?