Happy birthday to me
Sometimes it’s a question of nobody knowing what’s best for you better than yourself and no better reason for a self-indulgent purchase than a birthday. So, with some birthday money and the dinstinct need for a pick-me-up I set about treating myself.
The first thing I bought was the most recent issue of The Pleiades (#17) zine. I already had an older issue in my favourite zines box but when I heard Miranda had resurrected the zine to write an issue about her feelings surrounding turning the big 3-0 I knew I had to get my hands on it. It arrived the other day and I have to admit that Miranda really knows how to do a per-zine well. Hopefully she’ll continue with The Pleiades now it’s back.
The next Etsy purchase was this adorable acorn necklace by SStargell. I was desperately looking for some acorn jewellery as my intended conker present from Him Indoors had to be shelved due to it unexpectedly incorporating a human nipple! (I kid ye not!) So, finding this lovely silver piece, wonderfully free from erogenous body parts, made my day and I was well chuffed when it arrived (beautifully boxed) last week too. It’s sure to be a staple in my autumn wardrobe as I have worn it ever day since I got it.
My BIG birthday gift (not from myself!) is a painting/portrait by amazing artist (and I’m sure he’ll be equally amazing as my bridesmaid) Adam Kerr. Unfortunately it’s not yet finished but I am very excited and will definitely post pics when I get it.
Posted: October 7th, 2008 under Inspiration, Jewellery, Life stuff.
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After a long wait,
So, Friday was the rarity that is February 29th and, much to my grandmother’s disappointment (I have never met a woman more determined to get me up the aisle and popping out babies) I did not go down on bended knee and ask HIm Indoors to be my husband. I don’t think if we did get engaged I would have room on my fingers for any more rings symbolising our relationship. The most recent additions are two which I crafted myself at Glasgow’s 
They are made from solid silver and each have been etched inside with words we picked together. One is Honesty and the other is Eternity. They have both been relief printed with a leaf skeleton too. They are designed to be either worn seperately or on either side of the promise ring he gave me. Enough of the slushy stuff, the main thing is that Miss Crafty managed to get her craft on and one of Glasgow’s best little jewellers offer some great beginners and intermediate classes (
My name is Mariana Dias and I’m a 20 year old Law student, living in Coimbra (Portugal). When I was younger, I was terrible in arts subjects at school (those were always my worst marks and the ones I didn’t like the most), so I’ve always thought I didn’t have any talent for the arts&crafts. Then, around 2005, I started to use the internet more often and found lots of blogs, websites and communities dedicated to crafting and showing off the work of people who enjoyed crafting. I thought everything was so beautiful and fun and felt sad about the fact that I wasn’t too artistic or keen at crafting, so I couldn’t make pretty things like that as well. Then, in the summer of 2006, I was in need of a new hobby and, when passing by a crafts store in a local shopping mall, I noticed an ad saying they were giving workshops about the basic techniques of making jewellery. I signed up for one, really enjoyed what I learned and decided to make some earrings with the knowledge that I had just gained, which I then offered to my friends. They all liked them and complimented my work, so that was when I thought I might actually be good at making something craft related. After learning some other jewellery techniques, I thought it was time to move on to something else, so I asked my mother to teach me how to work the old Singer sewing machine we own (that belonged to my great grandmother!). All the women in my family have been very crafty, so I have stored in my house a number of things that have gone through generations: fabrics, trim, ribbon, thread, wool, etc. I then started making small pouches with those supplies I had and offering them to friends, family and sending them in online swaps also. People continued to be happy with what I gave them and complimenting my work, so that gave me the confidence, practise and skills I needed to start selling it. I had been selling some second handed clothes on the internet since 2005 as well, so I was already familiar with how the transactions online are dealt and the business related stuff, so it was easy for me to then create 
My measuring tape cases, because it took a lot of practise and work for me to make them and get the right way of sewing the tape. And because it’s a concept entirely thought by myself: I’ve never followed any pattern to make the cases, I was the one who “designed” them in my head and put that idea and scheme on paper, then turning it into a real object by assembling all the materials I’ve figured together. Also, the fun that is to go to all the haberdasheries and general stores I step by and search for tapes (I never thought there were so many and so colourful around here!) and give a new purpose to this material, which is normaly used in a different context. Furthermore, these cases always catch other people’s attention and when I use mine people always ask about them, so they’re a great conversation starter about my shop and my work as well.
Mostly, from looking at the materials and imagining things I could do with them. Everytime I go to haberdasheries and craft shops and see something that catches my attention or that I like, an idea of how to use it immediately pops into my mind. Or sometimes I’m in the bus or walking distracted and start thinking about my work and new stuff I could make. I’m very inspired by colours too, I love colourful items! Sometimes I see something with a colour combo I love (it can be a traffic sign or a person’s outfit) and think about making something joining those two colors together and then a new idea for an item pops up too.
Being able to make things people like and will wear and running a business of my own and by myself from home, doing something I love. Having this hobby that allows me to invest even more in my creativity and will furthermore allow me to travel abroad a lot is just great!