Weekend with friends

Last weekend I had some time off from crafting and I must say that, if one one hand I missed sitting quietly at home among my beads and chains, on the other hand I really enjoyed just hanging around with friends, care-free.
In all honesty, Saturday it was a half-day off..I met up with my two girlfriends and we had a photo-shoot with my T-shirts and my necklaces...It was so much fun!!!!!!!We also had a BBQ, and we celebrated my birthday,wich had been last week.On Sunday we went to meet a friend who was passing by London for a day or so, and we had a walk along the Regent Canal from the East London side.It was nice.
I haven't listed much lately in my shop, except this pearls and quartz set. I'll list other items soon, but I'm just adjusting my focus on what I want to create,lately. I have ideas, but it takes time to find the supplies you want and to "translate" your ideas into something, sometimes..maybe I'm being too perfectionist, but I'm awaiting for the "perfect moment"and the "perfect idea",sometimes..Anyway,here you go: my friends and my last addition to the shop.. enjoy!
xxpetitechacal

Giveaway from International artist..Italy is here!

Guys,
this lady is an italian artist who works with polymer clay and has a great sense of colours, to me.Her style is varied, from elegant to funky, but always with a touch of style.She's just set up a lovely,cute and colourful shop that I suggest you to visit: http://www.misshobby.com/stores/lucertolarosa.
At the moment she's having her first giveaway, please check her blog for info and to participate: http://lucertolarosa.blogspot.com/2010/02/giveaway-di-lucertolarosa-la-primavera.html..
Don't you just love all her jewellery? I absolutely do, and I also love the cute little tags that she's stamped with her hand-carved stamps.
Off to enter the giveaway!! :)

Making a blog badge to grab tutorial, from Haptree

I found this blog and this lovely,lovely lady is offering a tutorial to make your own badge..you can make it with your logo, name, just an image..whatever you want, and it's super-easy!!!!!
Beside being so cheerful and helpful on her website she's set up a craft blog that I highly recommend you :
http://craftbloguk.blogspot.com/..
And the best bit is... Haptree makes amazing crafts!!
I can't wait to browse both blogs properly, and I advice you to do the same, as they look full of great tips for blogging and other things, and it must be real fun! You don't need to be a crafter to be interested, if you have or just thinking to set up a blog..why not having a look?
She also have her own cute blog, check it out:
http://haptreeandme.blogspot.com/
This lovely lady has a shop on Etsy (which is closed at the moment, awaiting some new stock) and a shop on Folksy.Check them out, as she has really cute things!
You'll see the cutest pouches, wristlet purses and so on; she uses quality Japanese fabric and millefiori glass beads and the outcome is really neat and graceful.
Off to have a better look ( and maybe some shopping..:)?)
http://www.folksy.com/shops/haptree
http://www.etsy.com/shop/haptree


Making a blog badge to grab tutorial

Just to make it up to you..

I haven't been very active in terms of blogging lately, so I thought that another post wouldn't hurt.
Today I'm bringing to you an amazing "craft". These ladies recycle wood to make stunning horse sculptures out of it. Have a look:
http://dalesdesigns.net/wooden_horses.htm

What do you feel or think when you see this kind of things?Don't you feel..."fulfilled"by the possibilities that lie on our hands and most of all in our immagination?
I do..and I enjoy it sooo much!

My overdue Labradorite set

 

Aaww...here we go,my last creations from this cosy weekend.
I so,so love labradorite,I just can't get enough of it.I find it so beautiful,surprising,humbly elegant and fierce at the same time. I stared and stared at these large nuggets, then I just started to play with them and string them on the wire.Things came by themselves..When I received the stones I was slightly disappointed at first, as I noticed that a couple of them were a bit rough on some spots (not at the touch,only the look).Like roughly cut,or broken,somehow.But after a minute I was looking at them in the light I realised that I loved those imperfections!!!!They are so natural,and this is what I like.Natural feeling,and these nuggets have plenty of it. I wanted to combine them with sterling silver,but then I changed my mind,as I wanted to make something pretty that everybody can afford,and the sterling would have brought the price definitely up,particularly for the necklace.So..I just put some sterling accents here and there (the clasp on the bracelet,some plating and the irregular links on the necklace)..and everybody is happy!Or,at least,I hope so..I am!

How to make roses from maple leaves

When I saw this lovely lady making beautiful roses with maple leaves I was simply fascinated. Do you see the beauty in something so simple and humble, in how Nature and the human patient hands can act in concert sometimes, and with so much grace? I do, and I just wanted to share this simple little treasure with you. Off soon to try it myself!!

http://haha.nu/creative/how-to-make-roses-from-maple-leaves/