www.craftygirls.nl

Above you see the new marketplace of the dutch http://www.craftygirls.nl forum (a bit of the equivalent of crafster or alike forums).
I listed a few brooches there, and some destash beads.

I passed my 100th post without noticing, or I forgot I did. I'm at 115 now. And that in 9 months. Can't believe it has been this long already!

I have loved having a blog so far, and I doubt that will change.
I hope you all had a great start of the week!

Here's something that really made me laugh: http://www.funs.co.uk/comic/32.jpg

Recycling

::You will need::

1. Empty film-boxes (I just had a lot on the attic, but I think you can still find them at photo-printnig shops)

2. Old magazine pages or other decorational paper of your choice.

3. Scissors

4. Measure tape
5. Glue and brush

::And then?::

Measure the hight of the boxes and the circumgerence. Mine measured 5cm x 10.5cm. Cut pieces of paper in the fit size and glue the back sides with a brush (make sure the whole surface is covered with glue). Attach on the boxes.

My boxes house my Trash and Angels collection and are still waiting for tags...

Start of another new collection

I'm so inspired today that after finishing the Trash and Angels collection I had to start working on something else. These are the result of this late night urge to creating.

I made some other pairs of earrings for the same collection that will remain secret untill I list them in my mintd shop.

This collection will also be a small cooperation between me and Bertus (my dear) since he came up with a name for the collection I really like: Touched by Roccoco.

I have to stop coming up with new idea's... I REALLY need to study. Exams start within a month.

Trash Angels

Lunch: Sunny side up with salad and dressing on orange 70's style enameled plates from HEMA and orange juice in vintage CocaCola glasses.

I finished my new collection for Hannah Zakari. I'll will only be available there. It consists of 10 one of a kind pieces. I named it 'Trash and Angels'. I'm not going to show any pics yet, because I want it to be a surprise. I'm off to start making the special wrapping (yes!) for it!

PS.: Thank you for your comments on my previous post. I feel a lot better because of them. They 'woke me up' in a way. I still don't know what I'm going to do, but I feel less pressure to decide about it 'here and now'. So, that's a good thing, to start with.

One thing I will do, is try to take a short jewellery course now and then, like courses of one or two days. One with basic techniques for working with silver clay caught my eye.

More of the same

If you have been reading my blog for a while, you will have noticed that sometimes I find it very difficult to make choices.

Well, that is to say...

I'm very determined about what I want, but find it hard to find myself the best way to GET there. What I want is to work with historical textiles and costume (research as well as reconstruction) parttime, and keep designing jewellery next to that. There is this creative part in me, and an academical part. I couldn't say goodbye to either of them. Nor do I want to say goodbye to either of them.

I study archaeology at the moment, but I'd also love to study textile restoration and conservation, as well as jewellery design / metalsmithing. If I want to study all three of them I will be bound to school for at least 10 years (eight more years after this one), which is a LOT.

I do know, I don't want to study for eight more years.

I'm making myself totally nuts with this. Do I want to get my masters in archaeology? Do I really want to study jewellery design, or should I take evening classes? Do you ever have a hard time making desicions?

I do.

And I've got no clue how to get rid of it.

Something new. Something slightly different

I'm happy with how they turned out.

Making jewellery gives me so much comfort at times I'm to lost to think straight about more important things! (No, seriously, it does).

A list

Ginger, thank you so so so so much for your comment on my last post! You can't imagine how encouraging it was to me.

I decided to listen to your council and make a list of things I have to do. I also put some little jobs on it, because I always find it motivating if I can do several things a day. It's so relieving to remove everything you did that day from your list and see it shrink and shrink.

Yesterday I finished one small paper for University, one I forgot to mention in the previous list of things to do. Now there's only the two big ones left. Last Monday I delved into reading some of the literature I collected for one of them. I decided to take one article with me to University each day, and read it on the train. I usually don't do nothing with the time I spend travelling. It's good to spend it usefull, and to have no need to feel guilty I wasted time.

Today I did four things from the list. One task for school (transcribing a 18th century handwritten document) and three small things I have been pulling off for a really long time, but that only took a few seconds to do.

I like working hard, because then I don't have time to think I actually don't like to work hard. Or maybe I do like it, but I have the bad habit of not being able to see the end of it anymore after a while, and then drown in my things to do list. Mostly that's because I'm not able to give myself some time just for me, to do things I take pleasure in, because I feel guilty for not doing anything usefull that's on my list. Lists work both relieving and stressing for me. I haven't found out yet what to do about it.

"And you certainly don't want to run yourself ragged."

So true...

{ no title }

I took this shot about twelve months ago at Vlieland.

How much do I miss it to not have anything to do. To have nothing on my mind. To have no deadlines. To have a completely empty head. To be able to actually enjoy simple things, like going to the market to pick extra nice vegetables and a juicy piece of meat, and to take all time in the world to turn them into a tasty meal. To get a great movie on DVD and watch it while drinking a glass of wine and eating pistaccio's. To go to bed late. To get up late, without having to feel guilty for that. To wake up easy. To be able to take the time to take a long shower and to give my skin and body a special treat.
I whish I could just get away from the stress for a while, and do nothing but nothing. I whish I could walk right out of here, feel as if I were in a huge light room, lyeing on the flour and watching the dust in the air reflecting the sunlight.

But, with my nose smashed onto the facts, I think - I am sure - I'll have to wait quite long for that.

Now I have to finish:
two papers for university, both need to count ca. 20 pages :: an article on medieval headwear for a danish textile journal :: a comission for a bunnie softie :: a comission for two tassels :: a comission for an embroidered purse I should have finished a long time ago.

I should start:
studying for my exams, that will be starting at the and of may.

In the mean time:

i need to attend classes :: and do some smaller tasks for several courses at university :: i travel up and down to Utrecht at least every two weeks :: i want to be able to keep making jewellery.

I might be trying to do too much? It's so me to try to do to much, and then get to feel down because of needing to do too much...

Sigh. When will I ever learn?!

Metalsmithing etc.

I'm so excited.
With the website.
With Hannah Zakari.


And.

With the fact that I'm planning to buy a jeweller's saw. I have been wanting one for long, so that I could make my own charms. Now my head is bursting with idea's, but I just can't get them out, becasue of the lack of a jeweller's saw.

Well. I've just been talking to a friend from Hight School I haven't seen in two years. She's studying metalsmithing in Antwerp, and could halp me out with where to buy one, what I needed to pay attention to,...

So! Designing my own metal charms and pentands may not seem so impossible after all!

Ok. Off to finally start with my day. Let's begin with breakfast (sigh, let's skip that, it's almost time for lunch already!)

Paper Flower Girl online !!!

Wow! What a day!

I

Finally

Managed

To

Get

The

Website

Online

!

After a lot of trial and error, I have to say!

www.paperflowergirl.com

Apart from that, I have other news! Paper Flower Girl jewelry and accessories are now available at Hannah Zakari, and online boutique based in Scotland.

Paper Flower Girl necklaces available at Hannah Zakari
(Photo by Hannah Zakari)

Shoes Shoes Shoes

An old love of mine. Historical and vintage shoes... I found an old folder on my computer I totally forgot about, with my collection of shoe photo's. I thought I should at least share part of it with you!

Shoes might be my favorite accesorry, together with earrings and handbags. An outfit stands or drops thanks to the shoes you are wearing with it.

I'm a huge fan of high heels. I can't seem to manage to buy flats most of the time, even if I plann to. I need flat sandals or slippers, because the ones I have are completely worn out. Maybe I'll go do some shoe-hunting next weekend!

Gabriella Kiss

One of my most recent discoveries in the world of jewellery designers is Gabriella Kiss. She has a background as a sculptor, but uses this knowledge in her jewellery. Inspired by nature's small creatures, she makes small items that can be held in the hand. Her forms are both abstract and representational, and I think it is this exactly which makes each of her pieces a masterpiece.

http://www.terrencedenley.com/kissbio.html

An Eastern Fairytale...

The new collection is now finished!
I will start uploading it to the shop next weekend.

Meanwhile you can view it on a slideshow. Click here.

Also some of the original artwork done by me included in the slideshow will be available for sale.

A happy customer

Anabela from Köningskinder left me this wonderfull customer appreciation picture after purchasing two pairs of my earrings on Dawanda.

Be sure to take a look at her shop, she makes the most wonderfull toys and children's things!

Jewellery display

A tutorial!





1. Take an embroidery frame and fabric.
2. Cut a round piece of fabric.
3. Put the fabric on the frame and pull tight.
4. Sew together the edge of the fabric on the back side of the frame.
5. Put your earrings on.
6. You can hang these on the wall easily.

New collection

While working on my summer collection, my sister and me took some time to do a photo shoot. She is modelling my jewellery for me.

New indie fashion blog

www.trousseauxtotreasure.blogspot.com

A wonderfull blog bringing us indie fashion, interviews with designers, ... was introduced a couple of weeks ago. It already is a collection of the most wonderfull treasures you can find in indie-land!

shoes from river island
flower pin by foundling
dress from jane's closet
necklace by bombalurina
earrings by neawear
bag from hardtroze