Bohemian Bracelets

Hey Everyone,

Before my Christmas posts start next week I wanted to show off a few items that I've created recently, and  today I wanted to show you all my range of Bohemian inspired bracelets ...  

 I absolutely love the color palette I used for this line, and even though they are cohesive, each bracelet has its own "personality"...

These were so much fun to create and just as fun to wear too...

 

Take care everyone,

Don't forget to follow me on Facebook :-)

or for more Jewelry, follow my Jewelry page

xxx

 

Linking up to some or all of these great parties 

and

A Year in the Life...

Hey Everyone,

Can you believe I've been blogging for exactly a year???

I know right? Where has the time gone...

I was going through my old posts last night in order to write up this post and some of them are so, so  cringe worthy!!!!

But its a journey, this blogging trip I'm on and you have to start somewhere and improve and learn as you go.

So in saying that...I decided to chronicle my year with you all - in pictures.....

My very first post was the Mini Chest Makeover - yikes - its awful! What was I thinking? But then I saved it later on by converting the same chest into a Cupboard....soooo much better....

Throughout the year I've done a number of crafts.... with loads of beach inspired projects

 Some fun furniture makeovers....featuring... a lot of White !

My all time favourite project is still the very first makeover I ever did. It was a major labour of love- and I still love this cupboard every time I see it

   I became obsessed with painting jars and vases, anything glass to be honest....

Shared photos of my beautiful hometown, the NorthShore of Auckland..

 I was blown away by the support from fellow bloggers when I wrote about my son's broken leg and the long long healing process...

I shared many, many jewelry tutorials...and launched my Etsy Shop

Which lead to my very first craft market - last week. Which was a fantastic experience...

But the biggest, most significant part of my first blogging year has to be the formation of Inspiration Cafe.

 

  We are started out as 5 bloggers who barely knew each other, but came together to share weekly doses of inspiration on each others blogs, and we have ended up the very best of friends.

We are there for each other for everything, successes, disappointments, struggles and happy moments. We catch up every single day and we watch out for each other. These 4 ladies, Mary, Sherry, Danni and Heather have meant more to me these past 6 months than they will ever know. 

We all get along so well that we decided to come together in a more permanent capacity...and so Inspiration Cafe - the Blog was launched....

  

 I need to also say that if it wasn't for my amazing family, I wouldn't get to blog, they help me with projects, painting, generally getting in the way - haha, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Love you guys...

And of course, I need to say a HUGE Thank You to all my readers and followers, its been a great first year and I've loved every minute....

And thank you to my great bloggy friends - you all know who you are!!! I love you all and appreciate your support so very much.

Take care everyone,


Don't forget to follow me on Facebook :-)

xxx

 

Linking up to some or all of these great parties 

and

http://www.stonegableblog.com/2012/11/tutorial-tips-and-tidbits-23.html

http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/2012/11/transformation-thursday-no-179.html 

http://www.bystephanielynn.com/2012/11/the-sunday-showcase-party-no-128.html

Sea Glass Wire Wrapped Earrings

Hey Everyone,

I shared these super cute earrings at Happy Hour Projects last week, we are headed into Summer here in New Zealand and what better way to celebrate than to make some beach inspired jewelry ?

These sweet earring are so easy to make, once you start, you won't be able to stop....trust me!

 What you will need for 1 pair of earrings:

2 long headpins, 2 hooks, beads ( I used 2 seed beads and 2 glass beads)

A pair of long nosed pliers and a pair of round nosed jewelry plies.

You could totally make these earrings without the round nosed pliers if you don't have any.

How to Make the Earrings: 

(following the step by step photos)

1. Thread the beads onto a long headpin.

2. Bend the headpin at a 90 degree angle.

3. Using the round nosed jewelry pliers bend the headpin back around to form a loop.

4. Twist the wire of the headpin around the loop once.

5. Start another twist,  but instead of going around the loop, pull the wire across the bead, towards the bottom bead.

6. Twist the tail around the seed bead.

7. Using the long nosed pliers, tighten the end of the wire to the seed bead.

8. Open the earring hook and slip on the wire wrapped bead.

9. Voila  - your earring is complete.... repeat steps 1-8 for the second earring.

How simple were those to make? So easy right?

I actually made 4 pairs in under an hour.

It also depends a little on your skill level, obviously if you're a beginner it will take a little longer for you to "whip" up a dozen of these. 

But what's so great about them, is that ANYONE can make a pair!

 

You can use any type and shape of bead for these earrings and they will still look cute...

And of course I couldn't resist a beachy photo shoot.... love my beachy props!

I really hope you enjoyed my tutorial and I hope I inspired you to try something new today. 

Take care everyone,

Don't forget to follow me on Facebook :-)

xxx

 

 

Linking up to some or all of these great parties 

and

http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.co.nz/2012/11/nifty-thrifty-tuesday-no139-and-giveaway.html 

http://www.stonegableblog.com/2012/11/tutorials-tips-and-tidbits-22.html#more

http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/2012/11/wow-us-wednesdays-92.html 

http://www.foxhollowcottage.com/2012/11/the-power-of-pinterest-pinning-party.html 

http://www.oneshetwoshe.com/2012/11/hello-weekend-past-posts-your-great_17.html

An Awesome Spider

Really??? A Spider - Awesome???

If you know me well (or even not so well) you will know I'm an arachnophobe of note! I have an abnormal fear of spiders - ABNORMAL I tell you  - and I have no shame in saying, that I am instilling that fear in my kids too - Nope I cant even pretend!

My dear husband takes great joy in teasing me with "rescued" spiders that he is removing from the house, usually dangling from his fingers by their creepy thready things....shudder.....

So a few months ago when getting into the car for the school run - something dropped onto the car door! 

If I had seen it was a spider I would have run inside the house screaming, leaving the kids to deal with it (don't judge me!). 

But it looked like a bug....

Look.....LOOK!!!!

Have you ever seen anything like it? Really??

So yes I raced inside, but it was to grab my old camera, so I could have proof of this strange beastie...

The kids and I were fascinated, discussing back and forth if it was a bug or spider.... it had 8 legs after all....

Then it WEBBED..... and dropped down the inside of the car, and we screamed - okay so I screamed and the kids squealed..... and it landed on the ground!

Eew eew...crazy dance ( I looked like I was doing the highland fling) Kids loved it!

We were late for school so I promised the kiddos I would rescue it if it was still there when I got home....

Umm....I may have squashed it in my hurry to run away get to school!

There was a spidey sized splat when I got back home.....

Of course it was the first thing asked of me when I picked them up 6 hours later! Seriously? They thought about it that long?

But I did research the spider - and it was at least a 2 hour search!

 Just before I gave up, convinced it was probably just a bug - I found it....Its a Two Spined Spider

Poecilopachys Australasia

Okay whatever its doing with that spindly black leg (shudder) its freaking me out!

I'm not the only one talking about unusual spiders at the moment either .... check out Debbie's (from Debbiedoos), garden spider. Its cool - but I would not get past the garden gate with that monster residing there! 

Sorry Debbie, but I hope you're sleeping with one eye open!!!

Happy Halloween Everybody...

Be safe

xxx

Linking Up To:

Beachy Side Table

Hey Everyone,

So...We are headed into Summer here (YAY), and what better time to show you my beach inspired table makeover...

 I had this awful bedside table for ages. What to do with it? Well I painted it blue because I thought I would use it in my bedroom and have a blue, white and brown colour scheme. What was I thinking?

Anyone who knows me would wonder why I didn't paint it white? Because lets face it - I'm pretty predictable with my love of everything white...

 

And I decided I didn't need it in my room after all, but we do need it in the living room.

So of course it would be white!!!!And beachy...

I got hubby to sand all the blue off and we got right back down to the wood. Once that was done I painted a quick coat of charcoal coloured paint over the whole table. When it was dry - I ran a candle along the edges and corners.

I totally forgot to take a picture of just the white table - who does that?? 

But I did take a photo of how the white paint just flakes off with the candle wax. I love it - so easy. I took a piece of scrap cloth and gently rubbed along the edges.

 

   To do a shell theme to match my barstools , I used the shell from My Wonderful Walls. I enlarged it and printed on to cardstock , then cut it out and used it as a stencil. 

It looked a little plain, so after much deliberation as to what words I would add - I settled on Sun, Sand and Seashells. 

I used 3 different fonts from Picmonkey, printed onto card, and cut them out to make a stencil.

Using the same charcoal as the base coat of the table - I carefully sponged the paint over the stencil. 

It worked - sigh of relief...

Once the stencil was dry, I sanded the whole table lightly and distressed the top again. I wanted the stencil to blend in with the white. Then I polished and polished the whole table to protect the surface.

Hubby also added a new drawer pull , and I popped in a wicker basket for added storage.

 

I'm really loving it in the sitting room. The drawer and basket are full of kids things and that's cool too. 

It's cute and functional!!

Take care

xxx

 Linking Up To:

Linking up to some or all of these great parties 

and: