Strawberry Birthday Cake

My daughter recently had her 4th birthday and requested a strawberry shaped cake for her party. I don't have a huge amount of experience in baking but this was fairly easy to make; first I made a simple circular chocolate cake which I cut into a heart shape and covered in red ready-rolled icing. Cut out some green leaves and made the stalk, I then used white chocolate drops for the pips (glued on with jam as they wouldn't stay put!), and then for the final touch melted a ton of chocolate and poured it over the end to make it look like it had been dipped in it! I was pretty pleased with the result and I think my daughter was happy too!!

I've got a QR code!

So a few weeks ago I went and upgraded my old brick of a mobile phone and purchased a new smart phone.  Eek, what is this new technology?!  I have to admit it baffled me slightly and then I started coming across some strange looking barcodes everywhere - in magazines, on bus stops, on TV cooking programmes.  My boss told me these are QR codes and if you get an App for your phone you can use them.  Hmm, definately out of my reception area here I thought!  Anyway, I persevered with my new posh phone and realised that when you scan one of these funny images, they whisk you straight to a web page, instead of having to type in www.blahdeblahdehoohha.com, 'Brilliant' I thought 'That's really clever!' and went and got myself one for this blog which is pictured below, from www.goqr.me  Ok, so now what the heck do I do with it!?

DIY and Vintage Display Ideas

I have just updated my Craft Fair Display Ideas page as I hadn't done so in a while. There are lots of inspiring ideas on it for all you bloggers and crafters out there that are looking to make your craft fair display tables look interesting with things that are easy to make yourselves (if you fancy a bit of DIY), or you can adapt vintage items you already have around the house!  My page has been up and running quite a while now and it has proved a very popular resource, so I hope it will inspire you too!  What do you think these bracelet displays are made from? Click on the image to take you to my page and find out....

My necklace has been seen on.....

My Rosa Belle Necklace available from The Emporium, has been seen on Bonfire Night Bride's Wordpress Blog!

What to do with all those fabric samples...

I recently decorated my daughter's bedroom with bright yellow walls and pink accessories and it took along time to choose the right fabric for her curtains and blinds. So as you can imagine I had a pile of pink and yellow fabric samples sitting in the corner staring at me! Then one day whilst tidying away my 'junk' (as hubby likes to call it!), I came across some old embroidery hoops. So I framed the fabric samples, added a few buttons and stitching, a little pink felt pig and this is the resulting project currently up on her wall. She likes to move them around into different positions (much to my irritation!). Apologies for the quality of the pic, taken on my mobile.

Go yearbook yourself.....

Oh I had lots of fun with this little site, Go Yearbook Yourself yesterday. Just upload a picture and watch yourself be transformed into a different era! I was amazed at how much I look like different generations of my family. I think I look alot like my Mum did in the 70's version! And if I were to look in the family photo archives, I'm sure I could find a picture of myself looking just like the 80s one! Scary but true! 1952 1964 1976 1984

Opening soon......Vintage Emporium

I am really excited to report that my Vintage Inspired Jewellery will be for sale in Sheena Holland's new Emporium as from Monday 22nd August. So I thought it would be nice to give you a sneak preview of what will be available from my page..... Myrtle's Carriage - with Vintage starburst motif and Aurora Borealis beads

I have to admit to not having made any jewellery for some months now as I have been busy doing up the house and working more hours at my other job. Any hoo, when Sheena mentioned the idea of starting the Emporium and having a new fabulous vintage platform to sell on, it was the kick start that I needed. I have since made 19 new vintage inspired jewellery and accessories for it and as I don't have a workshop space since moving house, the kitchen table has been the central focus for creating the new work! Rosa Belle - Vintage ceramic pendant and Venetian Glass beads

I am also in the process of re-branding the business and I am now trading as Ivory Bird, inspired by a poem I wrote a few years ago. So you will see some visual changes happening in the coming months - which I will share with you as they develop. Evelyn Necklace, bracelet and earrings - Vintage Art Deco beads

I think the Emporium is going to be a very fabulous place to visit where you'll find little gems of handmade vintage loveliness!

Sanderson 1950s retro fabric collection - My window display

I have been very busy this weekend making and installing the new window display for the place where I work part-time, Sue Foster Interiors. We were given these three pieces of fabric to work with from Sanderson's 1950s Collection:

1. Perpetua Design 2. Park Life Design - the image really doesn't do this embroidered fabric justice I'm afraid 3. Kandinsky Velvet Design I made a central feature wreath made from lots of wallpaper cones (crumbs these took ages!). I also made several flower garlands, again made from wallpaper cones, to hang at random places in the window I also made some cute little paper dress cuts outs, also from Sanderson retro wallpaper samples that I strung together on a washing line and hung at the top of the window And here's the finished window display... I really enjoyed the whole process and hope they let me do it again one day!

Guest Blog Post via Lynne at Adorn - Treasures of the Past

Hi. My name is Lynne.I was a reluctant Blogger but through the encourgement of a few friends I started my Blog Adorn in December 2009. I've never looked back as it has allowed me amazing opportunities such as being on various DTs and also Guest Artist spots. I stamp and do cards, mixed media and altered art. At the moment I am on the DTs for The Stampsmith and Divas D'Este. I am at my happiest when creating to a vintage style, usually with a sense of romance, as a friend recently called me, the Queen of Romance! When I started out dabbling in cardmaking I never anticipated that it would lead, not only to branching out into Mixed Media and Altered Art but that it would also lead to a growing love of vintage. I count myself as extremely lucky to have in my possession the most beautiful buttons that at one time belonged to my paternal Grandmother and also my Great Aunt. When I tell you that both of these ladies were born in the early 1900s it might give you some understanding as to why I called this post "Treasures of the Past". This post is split into two halves, one where I will share with you little collections of some precious buttons and the other is a piece of artwork I created specially for this Guest Artist spot to show how I incorporated 2 items to add to that sense of authentic vintage. No matter what a person collects it is a lovely idea to have those collections on show adding to the home decor. Buttons poured into vintage glass dishes, especially glass buttons catch the light so beautifully. It is a pity that the collection of 3 Art Nouveau buttons are not shown to the best of their beauty. In reality they have a beautiful iridescence to them. Two more Art Nouveau buttons which have the most amazing detail on them. The three buckles are amongst my favourite items. Although I've always liked the daisies. As you can imagine, knowing that those items belong to the women who went before me it adds a sense of history to them which makes them even more precious to me. This is when I have a struggle with myself, should I keep such items as little pretties in dishes having them there merely to look at or should I incorporate them into artwork? I am at a point that so long as the artwork stays in my home I am now able to bring myself to use them in this way, after all it is another form of display. A vintage buckle and glass button appear in this Mixed Media canvas which I call "Treasures of the Past" When using vintage images in artwork working with vintage buttons, lace, etc adds to the authenticity of the piece. Here, a florist's pin is inserted through a glass button and adhered to a peach lace applique to create a special embellishment. At the top of the canvas lace was inserted through the buckle and laid onto layers of various colours of lace. By lovingly using such items in artwork it is a very special way of honouring the past. If you are hesitant about using special items in your artwork, with buttons and lace become more readily available via auction sites why not buy from there and as there is no personal history attached you will probably find that you don't think twice about incorporating them into your art. You will discover that in no time you will want to dip into your mini treasures. Have fun adding your treasures from the past to your artwork! Wishes Lynne

Next Guest Blogger due!

I am pleased to report that the lovely Lynne from Adorn will be writing a guest post for this here vintage lovelies blog due for release on Monday. Lynne makes gorgeous creations from her fabulous collection of vintage trinkets, which she will be telling you all about then....

Leave of absence !

Hi everyone, I am back again after a rather long break - thanks to a useless broadband service provider and a broken laptop (wont go into further boring details!). Life without the world wide web these past few months has at times, been a tad difficult. I hadn't realised how reliant on it I had become. However, after a while I soon began to re-adjust and found many other ways to spend my time and ways of finding out information! But eventually, technology won through and as my husband was suffering with severe eBay withdrawals, I went and bought a new computer. I found the cheapest one I could and have to say it's been brilliant and am looking forward to reacquainting myself with my previous online world! Hope you're all OK and will be popping by to see what you've all been up to soon!

A stiff, hairy upper lip for Folksy Friday!

All these great moustache creations can be found on the FOLKSY handmade crafts website. Just click on an image and it will whizz you to the maker's shop. Enjoy!