Folksy Handmade - Black & White

If you wonder where inspiration comes from for these each week, this Folksy Friday collection originally started off being a selection of black accessories because I had an email from one of the clothing websites saying one of the trends this spring is monochrome. But as I was searching for black items I kept coming across more stunning work which didn't fit accessories, and that had a lot of white in too. So I've amended my theme to Black & White so that I can include all the other fab things I found. All of the items are original designs, which are hand stitched, drawn, carved, printed, beaten, tatted ...... so, worth every penny to get something that is that handmade and unique.

Click on the pics to visit the shops more pictures and details.

Black Sequined Beret
Maynard Millinery

Lace Plates Set of 4
Yvonne Ellen

Many a Mile Hand Printed Collagraph
Natty Maid

Jacob Lamb Footstool
The Rocking Sheep Company

Flotsam Pendant Black Pearl
BeccaWilliams

Cat 'Il Gatto' Cushion
Jan Brewerton

Kimono Original Hand Printed Print
Amanda Colville Linocut Prints

Black Lace Cuff Bracelet
Decorama

Swarovski Rhinestone Spiders Web
TheJourneyofDesire

Black Spiral Bracelet
Scotianoir

Silver Bird Black Enamel Pendant
Maggie Jones Enamels

Glamorous Plaited Silk Necklace
Beloved

Folksy Handmade - Vegetable Garden

It's March already, and that means time to get the veg bed started. It's like a mini Good Life round here come veg season. I only have a tiny veg bed in our tiny garden. It's 1m x 2m. This year though I am going to fit into it - 8 Broad Bean plants, a row of peas, two rows of snap peas, 4 sweetcorn plants, some carrots and spring onions, and I'll grow a row of French Beans up the fence behind it. It's surprising how much you can fit into a small space. It won't give a massive crop, but it's nice to just go out and pick a few fresh bits here and there as we need them in the summer.

Last weekend I put some homemade compost into the veg bed to get them going (I'm that small scale that it's taken 2 years to get a decent amount of compost in my bin because I hardly have any garden waste to put in, it's all peelings). This weekend, I'll sow my first seeds into it.

So, in honour of the veg growing season starting, this week's Folksy Friday is a plot's worth of vegetables.

To get more details on any of the items, just click on the pic.

Bag of Mixed Salad
Grandma's Miniature Market

Original Lino Art Print Artichokes
Handprinted by A Deegan

Vegetables in Season Art Print
PebbleandBee

Vegetable Seed Catalogue Cushion
Nell's Needle

Five a Day
Loumay Books

Basket of Fruit & Veg Knitting Pattern
Fluff and Fuzz

Carrot Stud Earrings
Sweet 'n' Neat

Felt Peas
TempoDesigns

Vegetable Gift Wrap Set
Kate Broughton

Red Cabbage
Photographs of the Natural World

Onions in Grandpa's Shed
Bakuma

Vegetable Stitch Markers
Rainbow Tree Crafts

Postal Price Casualties

Purple Bee Log House

Aqua Daisy Mosaic Plant Stakes

Mosaic Dragonfly & Heart Paddlestone

19cm Blue Ammonite Bird Bath

Royal Mail are putting their prices up again in April. This time they are really hitting larger items hard. Where some things if they were large, but light, could squeeze into a reasonable parcel price band, they are now being pushed into a general standard parcel size (the smaller price band offered is a very odd size, even with a couple of exemption sizes, and I don't think much would fit into). So, having looked at my items I am going to have to drop a few things at the end of March. If you think they'd look good in your garden, snap them up quick. They are all available on my website.

Folksy Handmade - Summer Garden

Summer Border Suncatcher Cards
JoSara

This week is a feel good Folksy Friday with a selection of garden views. I have just completed a set of suncatcher cards that are designed to let the sun through to light up the colours, and light up the recipents day too. Just making these cards gave me the feel good factor that a flower border in summer brings. So I thought I'd share that and collect a whole page of summeryness. I have tried to select things that have had the garden design totally created by the designer/artist. That way there's a great selection of styles, and crafts.

To see more pictures and get the full details on any of the items, just click on the pic to go to the shop.

After the Rain Watercolour
Dancing Cat Studio

My Garden In June
Suzi Whinder-Cartwright

Abstract Poppies Original
Art by Mr P

Summer Meadow Tea Cosy
Gertrude

Cottage Garden Pin Cushion
Lynwoodcrafts

Summer Meadow Cuff
Claire Gent

Gated Garden Lino Print
Zebedee

Secret Garden Fibre Brooch
By Sally

ACEO A Summer Border
Brushes and Bodkins

Flowery Machine Embroider Brooch
Chocolatefrog

ACEO The Walled Garden
Bluebeezy

Embroidered Flower Garden Picture
Busy Blue Cat

Summer Garden Suncatcher Cards

Magenta Foxgloves Suncatcher Card

Blue Delphinium Suncatcher Card

Wildflowers Suncatcher Card

Set of 3 Summer Garden Suncatcher Cards

Another set of Suncatcher Cards has been added to my website. This set of 3 has a selection of summer garden borders. There's a wildflower border with poppies, cornflowers, and daisies. Another border including magenta foxgloves, and white cowslip. And the final border has blue delphinium, pink echinacea, and orange rudbeckia. They are designed to be displayed with the light shining through them so the translucent paint used lights up and brightens the design. They would make great birthday cards for gardeners, or just as a general card to brighten someone's day. Unique, traditional, and contemporary at the same time.

Folksy Handmade - Practical Mothers Day Flowers

Ditsy Daisy Flower & Mug Set
JoSara

Following on from my practical flowers selection for Valentine's Day, I've decided to do a practical flowers selection for Mother's Day (which is only 2 weeks away now). Things with flowers on that can be used whenever you want, a perfect, and longer lasting, alternative to a bunch of flowers.

Too narrow it down a bit, because there was so much to choose from, I've gone for a colour palette that matches my new mug and flower pot set. There's some fab things here, so if you're not buying for Mother's Day, how about just treating yourself? And all of these things would make great gifts at any time of year for a flower lover.

Click on the pics to visit the shops for more details on each item.

Flower Power Retro Cushion Cover
Retro Sixty Eight

Paisley Brooch
Buttercup Boutique

Felt and Stitch Brooch
Lettuceleaf Handmade

Large Felted Flower Brooch Rose
Tamsyn G

Flower Glass Pendant & Earrings
The Little Laser Shop

Real Pressed Flower Heart Pendant
Because of Annie

Make Up Bag Linen
Kirstie's Allsorts

Iris Flower Jewellery Box
One Off Woodcraft

Pink Flower Miniature Canvas
The Small Art Company

Pocket Moleskin Notebook Lillies
Jacqui Dodds

iPhone Case Flowers
Personalised Cushion and Play Mats

Sweetpea Photo Frame
Dew Drop Crafts