Last weekend was full of stressful events and the swimathon of course (1hr 54mins! Pow!) so there was little chance for some quality alone time with Him Indoors. We did however manage to grab a quick half hour to head down to the Green to check another item off my 30/30 (the 30 things I want to do before my 30th this year) – fly a kite.

I can’t remember the last time I flew a kite, but HI was determined that we mark something off so we bought the cheapest kite imaginable and had a ball. Sure, it spent more time on the ground than soaring in the sky, but I loved it. So to celebrate, here’s this week’s theme Thursday…

The first item is an adorable Kite Pin by Deborah Sepos. I’m not usually a fan of brooches but this chunky porcelain pin is a different story. The hand painted design features a lovely kite with the added bonus of some bluebirds helping it on it’s way. The 24 carat gold edge and red ribbons add an extra element of classiness and it’d be a perfect accessory to wear with this season’s nautical colours. The pin measures approx 1 1/8″ x 1 1/2″ and comes with its own gift box.

The next item is a lovely red t-shirt with a kite design from Etsy seller Supastarr, a lovely husband and wife team from Ohio who run a fairtrade coffee shop by day and transform into crafty stars at night. The design is drawn by Caroline Wilson and features a character (who somehow reminds me of Lucy Campbell’s Molly) flying a kite. The shirt is a bargain $10 (before shipping) and is just one of the many great designs the pair have for sale. 

It’s all well and good having a kite brooch and a kite t-shirt but what about an actual kite? Given our cheapo kite both looked and flew like a ‘gay pride carrier bag’ (HI’s words, not mine), we decided we’d look into buying a proper kite such as those available from Dakokichidekalb. This classic box kite comes shipped in a tube for easy self-assembly and is made from white Tyvek, making it easily to personalise with markers or acrylic paint. So many ideas!

I knew I tempted fate earlier by bemoaning the fact I have far too many prints lying around shescrafty HQ and that I can buy no more, but that was before I stumbled across this amazing Kite themed print by Clever Bird. Not only is it the exact shade of green that I have been basing the bedroom transformation around, it’s also gorgeous and it’s pay day – that’s got to be a sign! Right?

Posted: April 24th, 2008 under Life stuff, Theme Thursdays.
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I’m lady who loves her laptop. Well, actually I don’t because I don’t have one that fits my needs. I have a lovely ibook that isn’t wireless and drives me mad, anotehr laptop riddled with Office issues and a battery that lasts approx 12mins just now and now I have a new work laptop.

So, what better excuse to prowl Etsy in search of a lovely laptop bag.

The first bag the I took a shine to was this lovely fresh Asian Cherry Blossom Print Design laptop tote bag from Janine King Designs. I have been loving the bursts of cherry blossom in the local park over the past month and mourning the loss of the pretty pastel petals since they fell so think some everlasting cherry blossom would be the perfect solution to having the joys of spring on your arm all year round. With plenty pockets and available in a wide range of fabrics it’s certainly a contender.

Speaking of a wide range of fabrics, Etsy seller Stilleto has a brilliant range of fabrics to pick from if you order one of their laptop messenger bags. There are over 30 different fabrics to choose from and the bags are currently on sale for a very reasonable $29 for bags for up to 15″ laptops (contact for 17″).  Each bag also has the required pockets for necessities like mouse, charger, cables etc. The problem is just which wonderful fabric to choose. I hate decisions!

The problem with lighter fabrics is that they get dirty very easily (Miss Crafty is officially a mucky pup) so I set out to find a black bag that wasn’t too plain or boring. Enter this laptop messenger bag from Nonpareils. Bright, bold geometric shapes on a black background make this a nice combination of smart yet interesting. Not too wacky for work but not on the first train to dullsville. Mucho important you see. But we still have one more pick…

I realise that the crafty world is stuffed full of typewriter images and fonts to the point where it’s lost it’s appeal for me but there’s something about the thought of carrying my laptop in a bag with a typewriter on it that really appeals to me. The pale polka dot fabric may be lacking in practicality but there’s international shipping and seller Track and Field Designs can also produce bags for bigger laptops if this one (for 14″ laptops) is a bit small for yours.

Posted: April 17th, 2008 under Theme Thursdays.
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So this particular Theme Thursday was selected about 3 weeks ago (actually, maybe more) and since then I have been trapped in a whirlwind of romance, stress and home repairs. Add to this the fact my flight back from Nottingham was cancelled last night and you have one very tired crafty lady trying to kill time at work (further explanation in today’s next post) and finally get this Etsy pick online.

I picked out these pretty dresses because there’s a couple of weddings I have been invited to this summer and figured my usual choice of black or black or black with a hint of pink wasn’t quite suitable.

That said, I just couldn’t resist this gorgeous black charleston dress from Delancy St. It may have been the wonderful pics, or just the fact that Miss Crafty can never have too many black dresses to choose from, but this really had to make the pick, summery or not. Like all of Delancy St’s wonderful vintage items, this dress perfectly gives that retro look while not looking like something your nan would head down the bingo in (unless you have an uber stylish gran of course!). In my beloved 1920s style this flapper dress is made in  Italy and features a silky lining below the rich knit of the overlay. If only it wasn’t black…

Skip ahead a couple of decades and check out this sexy cream wrap dress  with a lovely 1940s feel to it. From Etsy seller Rebecca Winters (who is selling her wares to help fund her travelling for her cookbook), it may not be made from the most suitable material for a summer wedding (rayon blend) but we’re talking Scotland’s summers here and there’s no denying a wrap dress is the perfect shape/shape to hide a multitude of sins and flatter the figures of most.

My next two picks are in a lovely pale yellow but the more I think about it I’m not sure it would look right against my paler than pale complexion (I feel I could resemble some kind of fried egg). Still, this beautifully simple sheath evening dress from vintage store Recycled and Wearable does look like a great way to get an elegant look with minimum effort. The high gathered waist and deep V neck make this dress have a hint of Hollywood glamour without the associated price tag and that’s got to be a good thing.

My final dress choice is perhaps a little too fussy for me but if you can’t wear lace to a wedding then when can you? And it’s got to be good for ventilation. Mmm, summer breezes! This pale yellow lace and chiffon maxi dress is from Etsy seller Skivvy Lulu Vintage and wonderfully captures the spirit of 60s fashion with it’s cute bows and volume. It’s probably a little too cute and girly for me but this week’s theme thursday has definitely shown me that it’s vintage only for me from now on, even if it does end up being black!

Posted: April 14th, 2008 under Theme Thursdays.
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I’m honored to say that I have some pretty talented friends and I took a call from one such friend yesterday regarding a little something I have planned for my birthday. Adam is a wonderful artist and my parents are commissioning him to do a painting for my birthday. Given that I absolutely hate pictures of myself we’ve decided against a formal portrait but have gone for something a bit more quirky (don’t worry, it’s not a nude!) which I’ll tell you all about nearer the time.

However, our chat today got me thinking about what portrait options can be found on Etsy.

The first one which caught my eye and is definitely tempting is an embroidered portrait by Etsy seller Ellemvee. Art teacher by day and crafty lady by night, Leah has an amazing eye for faces and her custom embroidered portraits are a wonderful example of the current folk art revival in crafting. Each portrait takes roughly 2-3 weeks to produce and you’ll be sent a drawing for approval before Leah starts her sewing.

Next up is one for those of us with a little more cash to splash (though I always feel an original piece of art is worth spending serious wedge on and a portrait is extra special). This custom collage art work by Cindy G is again a personal piece that will involve exchanging photos and ideas with Cindy before she can begin creating it. It will take at least 2 weeks to produce the final item but I think it’d be worth the wait.

One Etsy seller with a range of custom portraits which I thought had a nice feel to them were by Chicago’s UnlessSomeoneLikeYou. Her designs for wedding invitations (no, there’s no Crafty engagement to be announced folks!) and posters are design only and include 2-3 design edits for free but they have a nice modern feel when compared to some more traditional designs.

The best solution for someone as photo-shy as me would be a silhouette portrait like the ones offered by Etsy seller Figure 22.  The image is hand-cut from acid-free heavy-weight black paper and mounted to your choice of graphic background and comes complete with an 8″x10″ beveled oval cut black mat, ready for framing. Again, give at least 2 weeks for completion.

Posted: March 13th, 2008 under Theme Thursdays.
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In celebration of booking a cheeky wee all-inclusive beachy holiday with Him Indoors yesterday, I bring you a special ‘life’s a beach’ Theme Thursday.

I’ve always been in love with beaches. Not the covered-in-frying-fatties Med types, more the ragged freeze-your-nuts-off Scottish ones and but it’s rare that I get the chance or the weather to go to them. That’s why this gorgeous beach globe from Etsy seller Uppity Woman Designs would be the perfect addition to my workbench (not that there’s any room on it!). The small globe is approx 2.5″ high including the wooden base and contains sand, shells and beach glass that you can re-arrange with a simple shake. If winter is a snow globe, then summer is a Uppity Woman Designs’ beach ball. Just a pity I’ve gone and blown all my money on a week with the real thing.

Speaking of limited funds, my next finds were found during my trawl inspiration for some holiday makes. I was on the look out for a nice size of beach bag to carry all my things in. I have a thing for outsize bags (though I do get a bit raging at the fact I can never find my keys in their depths) and was particularly taken with the range of bags at Madison Gre. Perfect for my beach wardrobe of browns and oranges was this colourful bag from their Working Girl range but there’s plenty other great fabrics to choose from. Plenty of room for all that factor 30 I need for my Casper-like complexion.

The next item on my inspiration/idea search was one of this summer’s style ‘must haves’, the maxi dress. This cute empire waist halter dress from 5963impala really caught my eye due to it’s soft material which is great from cramming in a case and shape is flattering for most sizes. Not entirely sure about the Grecian design on the front but at a bargain $15, I could live with it. It would look great with the roman-type sandals which are the trend for this summer too. Check me, anyone would think I’m a fashionista!

If I was a fashionista and not a lily white lady who lounges in baggies, I would need to get myself a pair of chunky shades to hide from the paps and I have to admit that this pair of vintage white shades from Kevey Dean have really taken my fancy. I’m very much a low-key, don’t draw attention girl but, in a foreign land surrounded by strangers, I think I could pull off the bug-eye look, if only for comedy purposes.

Posted: March 6th, 2008 under Theme Thursdays.
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As if Miss Crafty wasn’t already clucky enough, the internet has gone cute kid daft this week thanks to this lil cutie and her hilarious reviewing skills. And, before I could even go order my ‘the shiny guy always worries’ shirt, the lovely Tree Fall Design’s had a brand new arrival to celebrate.

So, my broodiness at full whack and mothers day (at least here in the UK) this coming Sunday, it seemed only fitting to celebrate the wealth of crafty goodness available for the little grubs of this world:

The first thing that caught my eye was this cutie sheep wall decal from Lewa’s Vinyl Designs in Arizona. You all know by now that I love some sheepie action (now, now, keep it clean kids) but I severely doubt that Him Indoors would indulge me with a sheep on the bedroom wall, but a nursery is a whole different ball game isn’t it  But if animal sketches aren’t your thing, their store also has some more ‘mature’ decals for your walls, such as lanterns, dandelions, flowers, even a bicycle! Lewa’s Designs also have a wide variety of colours of decals to chose from and they even accept custom orders if there’s something you’d like them to tackle for you.

There’s a whole host of baby booties/shoes on etsy and lots of simple free patterns online, but Etsy seller Rose Toes Shoes has taken things that little bit further and created something a little bit special with their beautiful signature shoes. They are hand sewn in gorgeously soft leather and decorated with a nice flower detail on the toe (hence the name obviously). They are soft-soled and if they made them in adult sizes I’d be seriously tempted to get myself a pair (BTW I am on the lookout for comfy practical shoes for Paris if you have suggestions). Though I’m more a cute red mary janes type myself.

To try and attempt to counteract the fluffy pink cutesieness of this babyfest of craft, I had to include this skull babygro in a juicy bright orange. I’ve never been one for the whole ‘dress your baby in your favourite band’s shirt’ but this has a healthy dose of metal kid about it and I have been on a skull themed bent with my crafts lately. The onesie is from seller Armelle Jewellery who has a handful of baby goods in amongst the jewellery in her store. It’s a new line for her and judging by this first batch, it’ll be a successful one.

The next item is a little bit random but there’s just so many things you have to take into consideration with a baby and, unfortnately, one of them is the whole changing nappies/diapers situation. So, while I’m not suggesting for a minute that a pretty changing mat is going to make it a fun and enjoyable task, it will at least make it a slighty more stylish affair thanks to the range available at Kaori Color’s store. Now if only it was also lemon scented!

Posted: February 28th, 2008 under Theme Thursdays.
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It’s very rare that I turn down a gift, especially when it’s a hat, but last weekend I graciously declined Him Indoors’ offer for me to keep his lovely black beanie. Part of it was madness and part of it was so I can still drool over him wearing it.

Anyway, with my hat lust in my mind and looking forward to our trip to Paris in a few weeks time, I realised my hat collection is missing the continental flavour that only a beret can provide.

So, my Etsy searching brought me to the store of HLMiller who, alongside stocking some wonderful looking yarns, has this cute fuzzy beret in her store just now. What particularly caught my eye were the great variegated colours of the felted 100% wool, which means it will match more outfits (have I mentioned my severe addiction to colour co-ordination – it’s a biggie!), plus the soft tones look almost as soft as the hat itself. Sized at roughly 23″, it should fit most noggins easily.

The next bundle of beret shaped goodness was the only crocheted pick of my bunch and the reason it stood out was it’s deliciously hot pink colour (I swear I didn’t deliberately go looking for pink hats, it just happened that way. Those who know me know I’m no pink lady). I do however like bright pink (as you may have gathered from shescrafty’s design) and I think this pariticular beret would look great with a black coat.  This bright beret is the creation of Maribel, a UK Etsy seller who is based in London and gearing up to make 2008 her year of crafting. Custom colours are available.

My millinery madness was heightened by my discovery of Etsy seller Boring Sidney’s store. Run by Belle in Seattle (one of my favourite cities in the world) it’s bursting with beautiful hats. Belle has a BA in Apparel Design and a minor in Costume Design and her flair for headwear (and apprenticeship under a master milliner!) all combine to produce amazing hats. Even a basic beret, when given the Belle touch of co-ordinating vintage buttons, looks great and is more affordable than her other creations I’m coveting.

It’s amazing what a little embellishment can add to a simple item like a hat and this is definitely true of the cute embroidered berets available at Heartfelt Handiwork’s Etsy store. In amongst the range of items (that include some seriously sweet hand painted pottery eggs – perfect for easter!) she offers great selection of felted 100% wool berets which she has embellished with co-ordinating hand stitching for that extra interest factor. The added bonus is her money back satisfaction guarantee, though we doubt you’ll need it.

Posted: February 21st, 2008 under Theme Thursdays.
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I swear to you that the delay in getting this week’s Theme Thursday online has absolutely nothing to do with trying to stick with this week’s theme (time) and my lack of it lately. It was just further proof that time is, quite simply, a rare commodity a la shescrafty.co.uk just now and as such we’ll do anything to get our hands on some – even it’s just on Etsy.

The first item which caught my (red)eye was a wonderful Wall Clock made from an old cake cover by Etsy seller IMOTIME. I just loved the retro feel of the piece and the fact it also had the word ‘Cake’ embossed on it was also an added bonus. I’m a lady who lives for cake! Personally I thought it would look amazing in my new kitchen but, further proof of that time problem of mine again, the damn thing was sold today! *weep* I guess the good thing is that IMOTIME stock a whole host of quirky clocks, the gutting thing being however (as it is with reclaimed goods) there’s little chance of getting another one quite like this. Still, I think his shop is worth checking on the off-chance of finding another funky clock.

The next item that caught my eye on this week’s Etsy trawl was just plain bonkers… a retro kitchen timer with legs made of milk bottles and feet made of cows! It’s fun and, according to it’s maker, the equally bonkers named Alien Bacon, it’s a piece of practical art. It puts the fun in functionality and, bizarrely, has me craving an ice cold glass of the white stuff the longer I look at it. It seems fitting it comes from an Las Vegas artist and, like the clock, it’s something you can be pretty sure no one else will have in their kitchen, which, let’s face it, is part of the kick of buying from Etsy!

It’s not just clocks and timers that have got me thinking about time. For those not in the know, Miss Crafty, is going to be hitting the big 3-0 this year (argh! no!) and with that in mind I have been thinking back to what I have been up to over the decades and looking back fondly (and often embarrassedly)through photographs, gig tickets and letters. Funny then that, just as I was thinking of compiling one this year, I came across this pretty time capsule kit from Melissa King at MK Design. The cute little tin contains lots of specially printed forms, envelopes and tags as well as plenty of room for your own items – and all for less than $10 (before shipping). Bargain!

The last item to catch my eye was this lovely Perpetual Calendar from Queenvanna Creations. It’s just what I need after all the faffing I seem to have trying to find a nice calendar for the flat every year. I also really like the travel theme of the print but, if that’s not quite to your tastes, then there’s also plenty of other designs to chose from. I may not be able to get more free time but at least I can chart it passing me by in a suitably stylish way.

Posted: February 15th, 2008 under Theme Thursdays.
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I’m sure I’m not the only person out there in craft world who has more supplies than they need. I’m sure that you’ve all at some point bought something, be it beads or fabric, knowing that one day you’ll find the perfect use for it. It’s an addiction that when it pays off produces a wonderful high (like last week when I found that Michael Miller fabric in my stash).

So, supplies addicts beware, I am about to introduce you to some quality dealers…

First up we have the adorably named Black Sheep Beads from partners in crime Jay and Pam. They scour lesser known suppliers and frequently come up with amazing finds, especially vintage beads and findings.  I particularly love their range of vintage brass findings, such as this lovely double flower. Not being a keen jeweller myself I love to think of other projects I can incorporate such things into and lots spring to mind when trawling Black Sheep Beads impressive Etsy store. If you’re needing proof of what can be created you can always stop by their jewellery store at Black Sheep Designs.

Having said I’m not big on beads I do like to have some on hand for …well, ..I don’t know what for exactly! I just like ‘em dammit! I particularly like funky stuff filling up Peppermint Soda’s online store run by the delightful Naomi Cleary.  With a distinct retro feel to many of the lines and really great shipping rates, it’s been hard for me not to snap up a few lovlies for myself. Some beads which caught my eye were these millefiore squares which immediately took me back to playing with my granny’s paperweights as a child. So many colours and patterns are sure to brighten up these cold dark winter days.

Next up is Atomic Veggie, a wonderful treasure trove of vintage goodies run by a mother and daughter combo (I have no patience for such things – much respect ladies!) from Pennyslvania. After years of trawling junk shops and flea markets, the pair have developed quite the eye for vintage charm and, even better, their prices are really reasonable. I like this cute little owl but it seems the crafty world has gone a bit owl daft recently so perhaps I’ll hold back on buying, just for now Then again, he’s quite the cutie and is there really such a thing as too much supplies?

My favourite supply fix is fabric and there’s a huge number of great little Etsy stores with well-priced fabrics to be found. One such store is Lucky Kaeru Fabric which stocks some simply gorgeous fabrics from the likes of Amy Butler, Alexander Henry and Michael Miller, the designer of this cute little guitar fabric. I love patterns like this as they are nicely gender neutral and therefore have double the potential. Plus, being a muso gal, I loves me some guitar action. (Not that I can play, merely enthusiastically appreciate).

Posted: February 7th, 2008 under Supplies, Theme Thursdays.
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Yup, it’s that time of week already! It’s so weird how the first few days of a week drag so badly, but the minute you have things you need done by the end of the week, it’s Thursday.

Last Thursday I had my first ever appointment at Balance in the West End where it was discovered that Miss Crafty should maybe consider going by the name Miss Corkscrew. With a pelvis so twisted a rollercoaster would be jealous, this chiropractor has taken up the challenge of repairing my poor wee bones.

So, with his wall charts and skeleton (who I like to think is called Boris and who I firmly believe would be considerably enhanced with a jaunty red hat with pom-pom) becoming a new fixture in my life I thought today’s theme should be anatomy.

The first item which caught my eye was this lovely anatomical heart. Forget about those red fluffy cute ones that are flooding the shops in preparation for valentines. Go for something more ‘real’.  Nothing says ‘love’ like a left ventricle as far as I’m concerned! Called ‘My Viceral Valentine’ this pendant is made by Tilly Bloom, a Scottish lassie now living the dream in Brooklyn, New York. Tilly’s eye for the unusual and love of anatomy illustrations are key to her pieces and this is no exception. It’s an impressive 2.5″ x 1.7″ and comes with it’s own lovely gift box. You may want to check your lovely lady has a good sense of humour or impeccable design taste before you bag this for Valentines though but, one thing’s for sure, you’re bound to get a reaction!

Next up is another pendant. This one features a rather beautiful vertebrae and is by Sushipot , an Etsy seller who has a wonderful way of transforming seemingly mundane finds into lovely objects. This one in particular comes from an old poker chip which has then been collaged with the vertebrae image. I personally never realised how pretty these little things are. Sure, they help hold me up but they’re also wonderfully easy on the eye. At a distance there’s a distinct  heart-like shape or even a bird, or perhaps I just need a new prescription for my glasses!? Regardless, this is a lovely object that would look great on a chain or ribbon.

Getting away from jewellery, we have this pretty little etching from fouridlehands who are sisters with a thing for skulls and skeletons. This etching gets my vote thanks to my own brushes with the technique (the most recent resulting in a rather terrifying nitric acid burn which has left black marks on my once lovely hands). The 5″ x 7″ notecard is part of a series of skeleton notecards the sisters recently created and is printed on a light tan, slightly speckled cardstock using a process called chin colle.

The inside is left blank so you can add your own message and it comes with an A7 silver metallic envelope. (Contact them for International Shipping Rates).

The final piece is wonderful in that it’s custom. Etsy user Neurasthenia loves custom work and this item is a Custom Anatomical Pendant made with your own choice of body part. Personally I like the thought of a brain or pair of lungs but really it’s up to you. Intricately hand drawn on clear plastic they come with a jump ring so you can wear them on your favourite chain or maybe use as a key fob, bag tag or something else your imagination devises. The added bonus is that Neurasthenia also considers swaps, so perhaps you can trade your own wares for a body part? Gives the phrase ‘costing an arm and a leg’ a whole new meaning…

Posted: January 31st, 2008 under Theme Thursdays.
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