A Garden plaque with Pretty Flowers

I'm having a bit of a catch-up, I've been lagging on the blogging front but not on the making front.

A personalised plaque for Oma's Garden, this is an outdoor plaque and I love taking the photo's out in the garden, especially when there are pretty flowers about.

Pretty Flowers in Oma's Garden

Beads and Twine to hang the Plaque

I can do similar plaques on request, you can always contact me via one of my shops or facebook, links are on the right.

Happy gardening

Jan x

A Garden Plaque for a Summer Lodge

Gosh it's a bit chilly outside, lots of the country has had snow and ice but we've just had a dusting of snow and lots of cold frosty mornings. I love the look of snow but I much prefer the warmer weather, so as a reminder of  the summer sunshine to come I thought I'd show one of my garden plaques.

My customer had done a google search for an outdoor plaque and came across one of my previous blog posts about this Garden Plaque Here.

She loved the design and commissioned this 'Summer Lodge' Plaque as a Christmas gift for a family member. Because I like all my Plaques to be slightly different and personal to each customer, I asked if she wanted me to incorporate a favourite flower, she chose a Sweet Pea.

A Summer Plaque

The Sweet Pea is such a pretty and delicate flower and looks lovely in the pinks and lilacs to match the rest of the painting. There's also grape hyacinth, daisies and butterflies as well as a couple of ladybirds and a little blue snail, I really enjoy adding all these little touches.  The plaque was finished off with a shimmer of sparkle and a few coats of exterior varnish. I'm sure that when it's hanging up at 'Summer Lodge' it will not only brighten up dull winter days but will look pretty in a garden full of spring and summer flowers.



Take care and stay warm, (unless you're in a hot climate, then keep cool)

Jan x

I'm linking this post over to Lucy Blossom Crafts Blog, I hope you can pop over to check out all the other craft blogs taking part in the link up.

Plaques for a Treehouse & a Garden Shed

I love this sunny weather we are having, it's been a great week, it's lovely to get some work done outside, I managed to get a bit of gardening done as well as finishing and photographing these latest plaques, this Treehouse Plaque was a commission...

Our Treehouse Plaque

No Adults Allowed

Creepy Crawlies in the Tree

and the Dad's Shed Plaque, done in the same style, will be going into my Folksy Shop it would make an ideal gift for Fathers Day.

A exterior Plaque for Dad's Shed

On Sunday a group of us took a motorcycle rideout to a show, on the way we stopped for breakfast at a sweet little diner, I couldn't resist taking a few photo's of the brilliant decor.

The Lollipop Diner (on the A143 Suffolk)

That's all from me for now, I'm popping over to Wendy's Link up over at Handmade Harbour

Jan x

A Plaque for a Garden Play House

I had a wonderful returning customer who wanted a Plaque for her daughters garden play house, the brief was quite loose but she'd like it to include a watering can, sunflowers and grape hyacinth.

Outdoor Play House Plaque

 I emailed a sketch to my client and got the go ahead, we decided on lilac for the edging.

Grape Hyacinth & Glitter Paint

The Plaque is larger and chunkier than the usual size I make, this is approximately 8 x 5 x 1/2 inch, for those that use metric this is 20 x 12 x 1.3cm. It has been finished off with a dabbling of glitter and outdoor varnish.

Sunflowers and Toadstools

I love a sparkle of glitter on outdoor items, especially when we have a bit of sunshine. It was really well received and I got such lovely feedback. I love it when my customers are happy.

I'm popping this post over to the Handmade Monday Link Up over on the Handmade Harbour Blog

Update on last weeks Collared Doves Post... She is still patiently sitting on the nest, aka, hanging basket. The male comes along occasionally to give her a break and she goes off to (presumably) eat, on her return she sits for a few moments on a garden post preening her feathers, father then flies off and she resumes her nesting.



Have a great week

Jan x
 

Birds & Butterfly Plaques for Handmade Monday

Oh hello, it's nice to see you all. 

You can tell it's summer can't you, not just because it's sunny and warm (most of the time) but because people keep disappearing for a week or two. Not me though, I've been a stay at home for now and enjoying the sunny days. I've been keeping busy, mainly with new plaques and it's nice to report that a few have been a direct result from this blog. This is one of them..... 

This is an excerpt from an email I received......

'I was just looking at your blog and saw a 
bedroom door plaque that I would be interested 
in purchasing for my 1 month old daughter........... 
Do you post items to Australia?'

Of course I said 'yes' and this is the finished Plaque. Purples, pinks and butterflies are a popular choice for little girls.This plaque was requested without a ribbon so it could be attached to the door with sticky pads.

Little Girls Door Plaque

This safely found it's way to Australia and I received a lovely reply (Thank you Andrew)......

'Thank you very much. The plaque is perfect 
and looks great up on my daughters door.

Tahlia will be extremely happy 
with it for years to come'.

Don't you just love it when you get great feedback.

 

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I also had more orders from WowThankyou , Tracey (owner of WTY) works hard at promoting her site and with my own networking this has proven to be a successful online store. My latest orders have been.........

Simon's Garden Plaque has twine for hanging in the garden.

A Plaque for Simon's Garden

and on a similar theme....

A Plaque for Daniel's Den

The Plaque for Daniel's Den has been made so it can be screwed onto a door.

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As usual I've linked this post to Wendy's Linky Party over at Handmade Harbour   I'm off for a nosey at who else is taking part, why don't you join me.

Jan x

Southwold Lighthouse

I had a brilliant day out in Southwold, it's a lovely part of the Suffolk coastline especially when the weather has been as brilliant as today. Southwold has everything a seaside town needs, rows of beach huts a lovely Pier and golden sands.

Southwold Beach

It also has a wonderful Lighthouse. 

Southwold Lighthouse

Southwold Lighthouse

 

 I've been busy making and painting more of my Hanging Hearts, I love painting the waves and I think the Lighthouse fits the theme really well. 

A Lighthouse on a Hanging Heart

 These 3 Hearts are currently in a lovely shop called Cavern 4 in Bury St Edmunds.

Painted Hearts

After all that sea and sand I'm off to put my feet up and have a nice cuppa while I pop over to Handmade Harbour and check out who is taking part in Wendy's Linky Party.

Have a great week and enjoy the sunshine

Jan x

 

I saw a ship a sailing on a Hanging Heart

Hello all, I hope the weather is being kind to you wherever you may be. We've had sunny days but for the last couple of days it's been blustery here in my little corner of the UK.

I've been busy painting a couple of new Hanging Hearts, I think that the windy weather may have influenced me. I love these colours, they are so vibrant.

Boating Hanging Hearts

I thought the first and last verse in this little poem written by Anne Bronte suited these Hearts.

 

Boat with a Red Sail

My soul is awakened, my spirit is soaring
And carried aloft on the wings of the breeze;
For above and around me the wild wind is roaring,
Arousing to rapture the earth and the seas.

I wish I could see how the ocean is lashing

The foam of its billows to whirlwinds of spray;

I wish I could see how its proud waves are dashing,

And hear the wild roar of their thunder to-day!

 

 

Hanging Heart

Hanging Heart, Two Boats on the Waves

Boats on the Waves

These Hearts are 51/2 inches by 5 inches (14 cm x 12.5cm)

 and I'll be popping them into my Folksy Shop

Bye for now, I'm off to check on the other bloggers over at Handmade Harbour 

Here's hoping for sunshine and warm days.

Jan X

A Butterfly and Cupcakes Plaques

Hello all, I didn't manage to get over to last weeks Handmade Monday, I was busy painting plaques and the time went so quickly, I'm sure there is a little 'Time Thief' out there somewhere and steals away minutes, hours and even whole days. Here are some of my latest ones.....

  

 Purple, Lilac and Pink are popular colours for a little girls room.

A Plaque for Isabelle

 Pink and Green look good together for nice clean look

A Plaque for Sara's Pantry

Nan's Kitchen Plaque

 Chocolate cupcakes always look yummy

Chocolate Cupcake Plaque

I love all the different colour combinations that are chosen for the personalised plaques, it's one of the things that makes every one unique. Do you have a favourite colour combination?

This week I had a guest spot on Ragbags and Gladrags, a lovely blog by Claire, she makes great clothes and does lots of artwork too. I hope you pop over for a nosey.

That's me done for this post, I'm looking forward to peeking at all the other great blogs that are linking up to Handmade Harbour

Jan X

Piggy Plaques & Birdie Notebooks

A new month and a new post for Handmade Monday  so don't forget to mosey on over and check out all the great blogs that take part.

Hands up who likes pigs? I do, I've done a few piggy plaques in the past that have proved popular so I was thinking of doing more.........

Piggy Plaque & Key Hooks

I was thinking of doing some of these as well......

Birdie Notebook Covers

Maybe I'll do a 'farmyard' of creatures. Do you have a favourite animal? or like me do you like them all and continually change your favourite depending on how you are feeling or what you are doing? 

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I'm going to pop over to leave my link at Handmade Mondays Linky Party  but before I do I would like to say a big Thank you to Linda of The Crafty Network for organising the monthly Craft Challenge over on her blog. I had entered some of my items over the course of 2012 and was was entered into the end of year vote off and I'm very happy to say that I was placed 6^th, which wasn't bad out of 53 choices. My prize was a voucher to spend in Hobbycraft so once again, thank you Linda. I'm also happy to see that one of the entries I voted for was placed, so well done Alison and Chester over at Fiddly Fingers.
Linda has started the 2013 challenges, you don't have to enter all of them, just enter as and when you want and the great thing is, it doesn't have to an item that you may sell, it is for people who craft for fun or for business so follow this link if you want to know more.... The Crafty Network Challenge 2013

Wishing you all a great week

Jan x  

Plaques & Christmas Decorations

Phew, what a busy time everyone is having, but we crafters wouldn't have it any other way would we?
I thought I'd show you a few of the commissioned plaques I've been busy with......

Commissioned Plaques

 and some more Christmas Decorations......

Wooden Christmas Decorations

You may have already seen some of these over on my facebook page. My favourite is the Robin, do you have a favourite Tree Decoration that you use every year?

I've linked this post to Wendy's Handmade Monday over at Handmade Harbour, I do hope you can pop over as this is the last Handmade Monday of 2012, the next one will be in January 2013.

I'm sure I'll be posting again before Christmas but in case any of you are having a break from the blogging  I'd like to send you my best wishes for the festive season.

Love

Jan x

Welcome Plaques & Toadstools

Hello to all my regular followers and welcome to my new followers. I hope you are all well?

One of my favourite Plaques, which happens to be one of the first Plaques I made as Handcrafted by Picto was a 'Welcome to our Home' Plaque.

'Welcome to our Home' Plaque

Recently I had an order for a similar plaque. As usual I sketched three designs for the client to choose from but as I liked them all and me being me I decided to paint all three and the two she didn't choose would be kept as stock for my fairs.

Toadstools & Daisies

Toadstool House with a Red Door

Toadstool House with a Blue Door

Toadstools crop up lots in my paintings, plaques and fairy doors, you might recognise these toadstools from the first picture.

Logo

I've used it as an avatar for The Crafts Forum and for  My Folksy Shop. I've also used it as part of the Cover Photo on my Facebook Page as well as on my business cards, notelets and even my PayPal invoices.

Do you have an image or design that you like to use over and over again or do you have a recognisable logo that you use in your work?

This post is linked to Handmade Harbours Linky Party, please pop over and say hello.

Jan x

Toadstools & Butterflies

Hello all, I've had a lovely week,  I hope you have too. I know a lot of the country has had some really bad weather this week but here in this part of Suffolk has been quite lucky, we have had a bit of rain and a couple of windy days but mostly it has been quite nice, not as much sunshine as we should have this time of year and not as warm as we'd like it but fingers crossed that it will improve for the rest of the summer months.

I had a lovely canvas order this week through my Wow Thank You online shop as well as a double Name Plaque order.

Name Canvas

Name Plaque

Name Plaque

I'm linking this post to this weeks Handmade Monday over at Handmade Harbour. 

I think I've managed to get around all the blogs that took part in last weeks Handmade Monday Linky Party, and I would like to thank everybody who left comments on my blog. I love to get comments and I love leaving comments for others but sometimes I don't always manage to get around everybody, my apologies if I have missed anyone out.

Take care and wishing you lots of sunshine wherever you are

Jan x

Handmade Monday at Handmade Harbour

It's been a busy week for me and a really enjoyable one, not only have I managed to complete my plaque orders including this Cupcake Name Plaque.....

Cupcake Name Plaque

and these A4 Diary Covers......

A4 Diary Covers

I've also had a brilliant week with some special house guests, my Mum, my Daughter and my Grandson, 4 generations spending some quality time together has been wonderful.
We have been very lucky with the weather here in Suffolk today, some of the country has had a bad time of it over the last few days and although we have had a few rainy days this week today has been warm and sunny.....

To complete the week I was also featured in Christmas Pie Crafts as a guest blogger, thank you Jill, it was lovely to join you in your blog.

I have another busy week ahead, don't forget it's Fathers Day soon (17th June). I've got a few things organised but I'll be doing a separate post for this special day.

I'm linking this post to Handmade Harbour as part of Wendy's Handmade Monday linky party so pop over and check out everyone else's great blogs.

Wishing you all a good week

Jan x

Leo's Dragon Plaque

Welcome to my little corner, this week I'd like to show you a new plaque I painted for..... guess who?

It started off as one of 5 sketches that I emailed over to the client and this is the one she chose for her baby sons room, the remit was a dragon for a room with the colour scheme in red, white and dark blue and not too babyish so it would 'grow' with him.

A Dragon for Leo

Firstly I pencilled in the chosen design.

Dragon Plaque detail

Do you recognise what I have mixed my paint on?

Yes, it's the lid from a tub of butter.

Dragon Plaque detail

Nearly there, not much more to do.

 

Dragon Door Plaque

Finished off with the dark blue boarder and a red and blue ribbon for hanging.













This plaque fits in quite well with the countries celebrations this week. The dragon is very English and the colour scheme of Red White & Blue is very British and patriotic for Queen Elizabeth's  Jubilee Celebrations.

Wishing you all a great week end and a brilliant week.

This post has been linked to Handmade Harbour for Wendy's linky party, I hope you can join in.


Jan x

Plaques and a Rainbow

I can hardly believe it's been a couple of weeks since I've done a post, the time has passed so quickly. Not only have I not done a post but I haven't been to visit anyone else either, I hope to remedy that this week and get around everyone.
On Friday I was in Lincolnshire for the day and the weather was a bit unpredictable, it started off foggy, then the sun showed it's face for a while but then the clouds built up and it became quite chilly.....

Rainclouds across the field

 ...... but it did give me the opportunity of seeing this lovely rainbow.

Rainbow through the window

The rainbow & the tractor

Fortunately, on Saturday the weather had improved, for which I was thankful. I had a table at a local Craft Fair and it stayed dry, bright and sunny (but still a little chilly) The event was quite well attended and I had a successful day.

The most popular plaques on this occasion were the 'Biohazard' and the 'Girls Only' plaques.

These Plaques can be personalised and done in any colour with any wording.

 I'm going to sign off for now but before I go I'm going to link this post to Handmade Monday, be sure to pop over and see the other contributors to this linky party.

Jan x