Folksy Handmade - Knitting

Laineknits

If you thought knitting was just to make jumpers, scarves, and hats, think on. I ended up picking items to create a similar colour palette just to help narrow it down a bit. But as usual, there are loads more to choose from on Folksy.com. And as usual, if you want any more info on any of the items, click the pic to visit the shop.

*** Folksy Handmade - Knitting ***

Earthpea

Emmalyne's Stuff

Daisy Beth

Gabrielle Vary Knitwear

Jafcreations

Woollygoodness

Elvira Jane Crochet

Pumpkinchickpea

Jules Hogan Knitted Textiles

3D Suncatcher Christmas Trees

These Christmas tree decorations are expanding the Dots Suncatcher range. I have aready made some lantern suncatchers, and a bookmark/suncatcher card with this pattern. This time I've hand painted two sizes of Christmas tree and slotted them together so they can be stored flat, the arranged at right angles creating a 3D effect tree to display. The translucent paint makes these trees great for hanging in a window, or anywhere were light can shine through them making the colours brilliant. They have a fab contemporary, modern look.

Folksy Handmade - Wood

Purple Bee Log House

Having recently listed my wooden bee house, I thought for this week's Folksy Friday I would put together a collection of handcrafted wooden items. I really like the warmth of real wood, and that it can look  contemporary, as well as traditional. There's some very clever and skillful people on Folksy, and there were loads of wooden items to choose from, but I've narrowed it down to these few, as a tiny selection of what's available.

If you want more details on any of the items, click the name under the picture to visit their shop.

*** Folksy Handmade - Wood ***

Cherry Wood Project

Free Range Designs

Inspired to Make

William White

Katie's Handcrafted World

Contemporary Designer Jewellery

Erin Rose

Urban Harmony

Aftertrees

Purple Bee Log House

Purple Bee Log House

Purple Bee Log House

I wanted to try and create a contemporary looking bee home. I came up with an idea to make a stylised 'log' shape to hold bamboo canes in, and I've created the Purple Bee Log House. The depth of the log means the canes are nice and long so the bees can get right in to lay their eggs in their chambers and they are safely away from the entrance. This house is designed for mason bees who are solitary bees (meaning they don't live in communal groups like honey bees in a hive). They are also non-aggressive bees, so they are perfectly safe to have around in the garden. The bees will lay their eggs in the cane, then block the entrance hole up to keep their growing youngsters safe until they emerges in spring.

Purple Bee Log House

One of the worst things that can happen to the eggs over winter is getting wet. The canes have been set back inside the log to give them an overhang of protection from the wood surrounds. The bee log needs to be sited facing as close to south as possible so that should protect it further from the prevailing winter weather. If the weather is really bad, the log can be taken down and stored somewhere dry and put back out in early spring when the young bees will hatch out. There are plenty of gaps in between the canes which could be used by ladybirds and lacewings to overwinter too. All in all, loads of beneficial insects could benefit from this log house, and your garden could benefit from free aphid eaters, and fruit, veg, and flower pollinators to give you a bumper crop and a great flower display.

Folksy Handmade - Blue Lagoon

Inspired by the colours in my new Laguna Mini Bird Bath, which reminded me of the colours you'd see in a lagoon (the clue's in the name), I had a nosey round for some other watery palettes, and came up with this fab little lot, which match my little bird bath perfectly, and some even have a rippling pattern too.

Shop links for each item can be found in the menu below the picture gallery.

*** Folksy Handmade - Blue Lagoon ***

Top Row (Left to Right)
Sea Jewels - merino sportweight yarn, by Abstract Cat Crafts
Peacock Feather Button Charm Bracelet, by Mrs Gibson
"Ocean" Fantasy Fibres for Crafting, by Enchanted Soul
Middle Row (Left to Right)
A4 Giclee Print - Teal, Turquoise & Silver Tree Painting, by Louise Mead
Button, Ceramic Flower Bouquet in Vase, by Handmade with Love, by Shelly Lee
String Pendant - turquoise polymer clay, by Di Keeble Beads and Jewellery
Bottom Row (Left to Right)
MANNAN, A Bead Embroidered Cuff, by Creative Treasures
Green and Blue Lace Shawl, by Brights and Delights
Hand Crochets Cotton Motif Coasters, by OneChurchillsGreen

Mini Mosaic Ripple Bird Bath

Laguna Ripple Mosaic Garden Bird Bath

Laguna Ripple Mosaic Garden Bird Bath

I have just started a new version in my Ripple bird bath range of a smaller sized one. This would still be perfect for smaller birds like sparrows, robins, and blue tits to bathe in. The larger birds can still use it to drink from too, as can other wildlife. This one is called Laguna Ripple because the colours used are the colours of a Lagoon.

Folksy Handmade - Safari

For this Folksy Friday, following the spotting of a 'lion' in Essex this week I decided to put together a collection of items inspired by animals you'd see on safari. Even the retro lion looks more realistic than the one in the picture that sparked the massive lion hunt.

*** Folksy Handmade - Safari ***

Top Row (Left to Right)
Vintage Upcycled 'Safari' Suitcase, by LOVE MIMO
Zebra Stripe Translucent Porcelain Tealight Holder, by Polden Pottery
Vintage Retro 60's 70's Fabric Lion, by Skinibears
Middle Row (Left to Right)
Lion, Giraffe and Zebra Cushion, by SewCarolineSew
African Print Tote Bag, by Little Blue Mouse
Crocodile Tote Bag, by Bunny and Bear Designs
Bottom Row (Left to Right)
Giraffe, by October Kiss
One Leopard Print Sterling Silver Ring, by Luti John
Elephant: 14 x 20 Fine Art Photographic Canvas Print, by Three 6 T

Christmas (excuse the French) Decorations

I know it's a bit of a swear word this early in the year, but I've been persuaded by all the other Christmas items that are starting to be listed, and I've listed these lanterns that I blogged about recently, and these three new things. Mind you, they all could be used as decoraton in the home at any time of year, so that makes me feel a bit better about putting them on in August.

The first thing is this mirror with it's hand painted Scandinavian Folk style design on the tiles. The mosaic tiles are white and finished with a white grout. Then mirror frame wood has been painted white which gives it a lovely shabby chic effect. To tie the mirror into your Christmas decoration scheme it comes with two matching mosaic baubles for use on the tree, or wherever you like.

The next item is this mosaic star. I really wanted a shiney, warm star, so I created my own colour palette by hand-painting tiles with a combination of cherry red, magenta, orange, and gold. Then I've overpainted the grout with gold paint and painted the sides and reverse of the star gold too, so it can be hung to be viewed from any angle. If you have twinkling lights in the house at christmas, and you place this star close to them, the gold should reflect it and make the star twinkle too.

The last thing is this set of 3 mosaic baubles. These were designed to bring Christmas to your garden. I love stained glass, but it would be a bit fragile in the winter winds. So I've made a stained glass effect with mosaic. I've handpainted some tiles to create the palette I wanted, and then I've overpainted the grout with black to create a matt background to resemble metal, and to make the tile colours shine out even more. I think these would look fab hanging near a window in the garden, or in a porch.