Artistic earrings by Mada

Today I am featuring jewellery maker Mada otherwise known as MADEbyMADA.

www.facebook.com/madebymada

craftsbymada.blogspot.com/

What inspires you to make your beautiful jewelry?

My home town’s name is Szklarska Poręba, which is related to glassworks, it means the place where trees are cut to deliver the fuel for glass making. The whole glassworking thing started in XIV century. The big factory was closed in the end of the XX century. There was not much left from glass greatness here. So I decided to do something that is related with glass. And then I discovered glass beads! I live just few kilometers from the Czech Republic border, which also is well known from its amazing glassmaking. So my first inspiration is the History of the place where I live. My second inspiration is my Country :) Poland and its amazing Folk art.

She lives in a beautiful part of southern Poland, the Karkonosze Mountains.

This is where she creates her precious handmade pieces.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/73369176/sale-valentine-folky-flower-polish-folk?ref=pr_shop

Polish Folk motif Earrings ( pattern on the both sides )
white, yellow, orange, pink, red, blue, navy blue, green, dark green, black

One of a kind handmade decoupaged Earrings with Orginal Polish folk art motif..
finished with Czech glass colorfull beads

Earrings are 4,5 cm ( 1,7inch) long
total lenght is 6 cm ( 2,4 inch.)

The earrings can withstand a bit of water but since they are paper and wood, be careful not to get them too wet.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/82606723/sale-valentine-folk-flowers-polish-folk?ref=pr_shop

Polish Folk art motif Earrings ( pattern on the both sides ), light as a feather.

yellow, orange,pink, red, green, dark green, blue, pink, black

Handmade decoupaged Earrings with Orginal Polish folk art motif.
finished with Czech glass colorfull beads

Earrings are 4,5 cm ( 1,7inch) long
total lenght is 6 cm ( 2,4 inch.)
diameter 4cm (1,57 inch.)

The earrings can withstand a bit of water but since they are paper on base, be careful not to get them too wet.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/85214909/sale-valentine-winter-birds-earrings

Two Robins in the snow earrings ( pattern on the both sides ), light as a feather

Handmade decoupaged Earrings
finished with Czech glass colorfull beads

colors: beige, white, grey, brown, burnt orange

measurements :
Earrings are 4,5 cm ( 1,7inch) long
total lenght is 6 cm ( 2,4 inch.)
diameter 4cm (1,57 inch.)

http://www.etsy.com/listing/85588028/sale-valentine-mandala-oriental-rosette

Oriental mandala earrings ( pattern on the both sides ), very light

colors: black, orange, violet, fuchsia,blue

Handmade decoupaged Earrings
finished with Czech glass colorfull beads

measurements :
Earrings are 4,5 cm ( 1,7inch) long
total lenght is 6 cm ( 2,4 inch.)
diameter 4cm (1,57 inch.)

The earrings can withstand a bit of water but since they are paper on base, be careful not to get them too wet.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/81997856/sale-valentine-goth-black-and-red

Halloween Earrings ( pattern on the both sides ), light as a feather
dark, goth, lolita, black, victorian dress

Unique handmade decoupaged Earrings
finished with Czech glass colorfull beads


Earrings are 4,5 cm ( 1,7inch) long
total lenght is 6 cm ( 2,4 inch.)

The earrings can withstand a bit of water but since they are paper on base, be careful not to get them too wet.

NOTICE: nickel and lead safe - hypoallergenic !

http://www.etsy.com/listing/83330195/sale-valentine-floral-earrings-feminine

Floral earrings ( pattern on the both sides ), light as a feather

pink, magenta, navy blue, black

Unique handmade decoupaged Earrings
finished with Czech glass colorfull beads

Earrings are 4,5 cm ( 1,7inch) long
total lenght is 6 cm ( 2,4 inch.)
diameter 4cm (1,57 inch.)

The earrings can withstand a bit of water but since they are paper on base, be careful not to get them too wet.

NOTICE: nickel and lead safe - hypoallergenic !

This is just a few of the beautiful earrings to be found in Mada's shop. I was really spoilt for choice when it came to selecting a few to showcase.Visit her shop today and see for yourself!

Mosaic Artist Sirli

I have a large beautiful mosaic mirror in my bathroom which is the pattern of a sun made up of different shades of blue. It was purchased 2 years ago from  a little french market that comes to our town once a year. I admire the workmanship that went into it's making.

My feature today is about a young women called Sirli who has a passion for making unique mosaic works of art. This is what she says about herself and how she became interested in mosaics :-

.My name is Sirli, I am a 31-year-old self-taught mosaic artist. I got this "always- itching mosaic bug" when I visited Indonesia in January 2010 and saw mosaics sold on a market. And today I am a truly passionate mosaic artist myself. Every piece I create is done with love and joy, I take very high pride in my work.

Here are just a few pieces of her wonderful work. I have tried to show off a variety.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/70089755/light-blue-glass-mosaic-bowl-and-a-plate?ref=pr_shop





 Information about the MOSAIC PLATE:

As a base of this wonderful glittery light blue mosaic I have used a strong bamboo plate/tray.

All of the pieces of glass are hand-painted and hand-cut by me.

The tray/plate looks equally good on a wall as a wall decoration, or on the table as a fruit/candy/jewelry plate

Diameter of the plate is 14.2 inches (36 cm). It weights a bit over one kg. Decorated with pieces of mirror and grouted in black.

Information about the MOSAIC BOWL:

The glittery light blue mosaic is made on a bamboo bowl, it´s diameter is 11.8 inches (30 cm). Depth of the mosaic bowl is 3.7 inches (9.5 cm).

The bowl makes a delightful and eye-catching addition to your beautiful home, you can use it as a fruit, candy or jewelry bowl

http://www.etsy.com/listing/67620629/pink-flower-pot-forget-me-not-free

The pot is happily pink and it glitters. I used hand-painted and hand-cut pieces of glass, yellow (amber) glass gems and decorated the rim with pieces of mirror. I grouted the mosaic in the same color as the pot itself - terracotta.

When the pot is placed in a sunny spot, it will fill the ceiling and table (or window sill) with many little Suns. Wherever you decide to put the pot, it will brighten up the room for sure. Also it would make a great gift for anyone who loves flowers. For yourself, maybe?

The pot weighs 870 g. It measures 16 cm across (6.3 inches) and 14 cm (5.5 inches) high.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/88721424/orange-mosaic-candle-holder-with-pearls

I gave this ceramic candle holder a new life. My dearest mother picked the candle holder up from a flea market from Finland. I was so exited when I first saw it, I saw a new vivid romantic mosaic candle holder in my mind already then.

I painted some glass, cut it by hand, cut also some mirror and found some pearls. The pearls are not precious, not even fresh water ones (I was working in a pearl farm in Australia, Broome, Beagle Bay, so I would know). The pearls came from an old necklace, what my hubby´s grandmother had given to me. When the grandmom handled the necklace to me few years ago, I thought - what on earth should I do with it - but now I´m thankful to granny Salme, because the pearls from her vintage necklace fit just so perfectly to the candle holder.

                                           http://www.etsy.com/listing/90112168/i-love-you-red-mosaic-fruit-platter

This beautiful glittery and vivid angular fruit platter with mirror would be a perfect gift for a special someone. For your Valentine :)

I used hand hand cut and hand painted glittery glass and long narrow pieces of mirror when making I Love You mosaic. It can used as a fruit, candy or jewelry platter, it´s brims are nicely upwards.

The platter measures: 13 X 13 inches (33 X 33 cm)
Weight: 2.5 lbs (1134g)

                                   http://www.etsy.com/listing/80071990/colorful-mosaic-photo-frame-terracotta

Find a picture of someone, some place or view you love and place it in this beautiful mosaic photo frame. The picture frame would be perfect on your dining or living room table, it would make a great present at a good price for someone special.

The frame is for 10 X 15 cm ( 3.9 X 5.9 inches) photos. The frame is sealed and it´s going to be packed in the most careful way

 

                                http://www.etsy.com/listing/85324243/black-and-white-coffee-table-with-mirror

This gorgeous one-of-a-kind coffee table is a wonderful piece for creating a unique, elegant and interesting look for your living room, bedroom or kitchen.

I used hand-painted and hand-cut glass when creating this black and white coffee table. I also added some pieces of mirror and grouted it all in white. The mirror and glittery silvery black glass makes the table so vivid and very very chic-looking.

Dimensions of the table are:

55 cm long (21.7inches)
55 cm wide ( 21.7inches)
45 cm tall (17.7 inches)

I pack all my mosaics with greatest care, I use bubble wrap, and very strong boxes for shipping. Also I pay very much attention for the quality of my work - everything I create is made with love and joy.

The legs of the table can be taken off and put back easily within 5-10 minutes (all of the tools for putting the legs back are included

 This is just a few from the wonderful items that Sirli makes. Why not visit her shop today and see her other hidden tresures.

The Posh Bird House

Every special day for the past 2 years my little boy has treated me to something out of his own money that he has saved. We put a bird box on our tree that we can view from our window while we are on the computer last year and had some blue tits move in it.

For this xmas this year he has bought me a very posh looking bird box which we have put up a bit furthur along the tree.

The next day we had some birds going in so looks like we will be having young in this one as well as the other bird box. The blue tits are back again busy in and out of the box that we put up last year.

This is the bird box he bought me.

Retro Delights

Some wonderful delights found on etsy

My latest knitting order

I had my first custom order for the year through my own website last night and thought I would take photo's of it's progress. These were the colours choosen by my customer, mint, lemon and biscuit.

 

It is beginning to take shape now. Just needs sewing up and a pompom at the end.

Here is the baby's pixie hat now finished and ready to post.The light today for taking photo's isn't that great but is a really lovely colour combo together.

Gold themed items from Etsy

Some  gorgeous gold themed items for Etsy Sellers

Great cheese straw recipe

After buying a halogen just before xmas I soon found that the recipe book that came with it wasn't much help. My children love cheese straws and found a cheese straw recipe which I tweaked a bit. They are gone as soon as I make them. Have a go and see what you think.



120g marg
1 egg
450g grated cheese ( or as much or as little as you want)
250g plain flour
drop of milk
seasoning of your choice - I add different herbs or seasonings

Rub in the margarine into the flour until it resembles breadcrumbs. Mix in grated cheese and seasoning, add a whisked egg and mix with a spatula. Add a drop of milk until it comes together to form a ball. Roll out until abou 1cm and cut into your desired length. Place them 2 flat round dishes.Place half on the low rack and half on the high rack.
 Cook at 200'c for about 10mins. Keep an eye on them as they really do cook fast and mine is spot on at 10mins but yours could vary. Take the top rack out and swop the bottom layer over. This batch will not take as long as they have already been cooking so keep an eye on them.
Try adding some pre-cooked bacon bits in the mix they are scrummy.

Pink and Grey Favorites of mine

Just a few gorgeous items to be found on etsy.