12 Days of Folksy Day 3 - Sparkle

Day 3 of the Folksy Challenge is Sparkle

My pic for today is......

Ok so it's pretty hard to see the Sparkle in this picture but I promise you the is plenty of sparkle, especially on the stars, you can see more things like this in my stores, you can get to them by the links in the side or top bar.

Jan x

Valentine Hearts on Folksy

It's almost Valentines Day, love is in the air, cupid is doing his job and Red Hearts abound.
Do you celebrate Valentines Day? I think Valentines Day can be too much of a commercial haul but it also gives us the opportunity, and in some cases a reminder (otherwise known as a kick in the rear) to thank our significant others, loved ones or just family or friends and let them know how much we care. So rather than going down the huge commercial route why not pop over to the Handmade Marketplace of Folksy where you find a multitude of lovingly made gifts.

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This teeny tiny glittered heart in a miniature glass bottle is a great way of saying 'I give you my Heart'  A Heart in a Bottle by Handcrafted by Picto on Folksy

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A Beautiful Cupids Dart Necklace for the Love of your Life. This ruby red Murano Heart pendant can be found at Mermaids Purse Jewellery on Folksy

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For a tea lover there is always this lovely hand knitted cosy with a pretty crochet red heart, this can be found at Hook and Loop on Folksy

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For all your crafting needs or for wrapping up all your lovely Valentine Gifts you can find this pretty ribbon at The Ribbon Quarter on Folksy

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This Handing Heart makes a lovely alternative to a conventional Valentines Card, a gift and a card in one from Handcrafted by Picto on Folksy

I hope you've enjoyed seeing my Valentines selection of Folksy Finds.

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There's lots more to see over at Folksy, the handmade market place 💗


Jan 💗

Birds, Cards & WiP Hearts for Handmade Monday

I had a quick trip to the coast one day this week, it just happened to be the coldest and windiest day of the week, after a hot cup of tea at a little cafe I managed to take a few photo's of birds along the waters edge.

Birds on the Rocks

Sanderlings on the Shoreline

I had a look at good old Google when I got home and I think they may be Sanderlings, they are so cute standing on one leg.

A couple more cute birds can be found on the cards I have in my HandcraftedbyPicto Folksy Shop

Happy Bird Day Card

These have been hand painted using acrylic paint and attached to a white card.

Happy Bird Day for a Happy Birthday ♫♪♪

The inside of the card has a nice sheet of lilac paper for you to write your own message.






I'm working on some commissions at the moment so here's a couple of work in progress shots,

WIP Hearts

Do you like my 'one use only, don't bother cleaning, just throw away palette tray'?

Personalised Hearts

I have to be a bit secretive until they are all completed but I can tell you that they each have a name and favorite items painted on.






That's all from me at the moment


Jan x


I'm listing this post over at Lucy Blossom Crafts for Handmade Monday

Happy Friday with Friends & Blue Birds on a Heart

I popped over to a lovely blog full of wonderful colours and happy posts and thought I'd like to join in with the Planet Penny Happy Friday Link Up

 I love saying hi to friends when I'm out and about on my walk.....         

                                                                                         

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 Sometimes I feel close enough to wave to the pilot.....

                                                                   

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 Watching the birds on the feeder..................

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Painting Bluebirds on a Heart

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 Wishing you all a Happy Week

Jan x

Valentine Cards & Gift Hearts all in one

Is it too early to be thinking about Valentines Day? 

Well I know that it's never too early to be thinking about Love

Last year I made Hanging Hearts for Valentines Day, this year I have more Hearts but this time I've attached them to hand drawn cards. These do well for other occasions such as Weddings or Anniversaries, or 'Just Because' after all we don't need an excuse to tell someone we love them.

A Valentine Card and Gift in one

 There is a mixture of Cream or White Cards and each one has a different hand drawn design.

Two Little Blue Birds on a Heart

The insides have been left blank

My Heart Forever

 The Lindor Chocolates used as props have now been eaten......

Love on a Hanging Heart

Well,you didn't think they'd last past the photo session did you?

Mmmm they were yummy.

Ladybirds & Hearts

 The Hearts can be taken off the card and hung up

Kissing Blue Birds on a Hanging Heart

Some of these are in my online shops, you can get to them via the links in the sidebar or you can message me on this blog.

Have you already made anything special for Valentines Day?  or have you yet to make something?

Have a great week

Jan x

I've popped this post over to the Handmade Monday Link up, click HERE to check it out.

Valentine House, Candlemas & Groundhog Day

We are now into the shortest month of the year, the month when thoughts often turn to love, yes this is another Valentine Post but only so I can show you my Valentine House with the lattice windows and Heart details....

Handpainted Valentine House

Hearts & Flowers on a House

There are other significant events that happen in February, one celebration is Candlemas.  

A Snowdrop ACEO from my Etsy Shop

Candlemas is a Christian feast celebrated on February 2nd. Sometimes it's known as the Feast of the Presentation. Snowdrops (galanthus nivalis) are known as Candlemas Bells because they often bloom in February.

You can read more about the  Candlemas Feast here.

February 2nd is also the date Groundhog Day is celebrated. According to folklore, a Groundhog peeps out of his winter quarters and if he sees his shadow he pops back for another six weeks nap because he believes the winter will continue but if the day is cloudy he remains outside, as the weather is going to be moderate. There is an interesting Groundhog Day Article Here 

Have you ever seen the Bill Murray Groundhog Day Movie ? It's a great 'curl up on the sofa with a duvet' movie.

I came across some poems that covers both these events...

In Scotland, the verse:

If Candle-mas Day is bright and clear,
There'll be two winters in the year.

Or an alternative Scottish rhyme:

If Candlemas day be dry and fair,
The half o' winter to come and mair,
If Candlemas day be wet and foul,
The half of winter's gone at Yule.

An English verse:

If Candle mas be fair and bright,
Winter has another flight.
If Candlemas brings clouds and rain,
Winter will not come again.

A European verse:

For as the sun shines on Candlemas Day,
So far will the snow swirl until the May.

So are we going to get a 'second winter' or is spring on it's way? What do you think?

I'm linking this post to Handmade Monday
 

Jan x

The 1st Handmade Monday of 2013

Hello all, I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and your New Year celebrations were all you wanted them to be. But now it's all over, the Christmas tree has been taken down and the decorations have been put back in their boxes for another year, along with the tinsel and sparkle. 

Christmas in a box

 I don't know about you but I miss the twinkling lights in the tree. 

Twinkling Lights

I do however, have a couple of sets of fairy lights that twinkle around the house all year round. 

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Are you rearing to get back to doing what you do best or have you misplaced your motivation? It can sometimes be difficult to get back into the swing of things after having a break from the usual routine especially if you've been affected by the horrid virus that's been around lately. I was lucky that I escaped the bugs but a few family members were not so lucky. (although they are all fine now).

I must admit that I could quite easily have taken a couple more days of laziness but I have a couple of commissions to complete and I've also got an Art Exhibition to prepare for. The exhibition is not until the summer but I know from past experience that it's not a good idea to leave these things till the eleventh hour. 
In between painting I've started sewing a few sock animals (not yet finished)

Fluffy socks

and felt hearts that will be used with them.

Felt Hearts ready to sew

 
Have a great week everyone, I'm popping over to Handmade Harbour for the first Handmade Monday Linky Party of 2013, why not join me?

Jan X