Concentric Rings to Start 2010

I had some time this weekend to play around with my beads and jewelry supplies - and made up this new necklace which I love...

There is something about the neatness of concentric circles really appeals to me.

These rings are made of brass too, so they have a nice weight to them, they aren't heavy, but they have enough weight that they lay nicely around the neck.

I went a little crazy with the picture taking!

Got Craft Holiday!

This Sunday Dec 6 is when the holiday season really gets going for me.

Maked will be at the best craft fair of the year - Got Craft? "Holiday Edition"!

I love this fair - the vendors are always fabulous, creative people, it's a nice, busy show, lots of my friends shop there and stop to chat, there are good tunes in the background. It's just a ridiculously happy experience. And this year there is a drawing for a Yudu screenprinting kit and an industrial button maker.... which is an extra layer of awesome on top of everything!

Vancouver’s largest indie craft fair Got Craft "Holiday Edition"
Sunday, December 6th, 2009
at the Royal Grandview Legion – 2205 Commercial Drive (at E. 6th Avenue)
between 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. Admission: $2.00 (kids are free)

Featuring over 50 local vendors, Got Craft? has something handmade for everyone on your list from clothing to jewelry to art to ceramics and home décor. Psssst! The first 30 people through the door will receive a free, re-useable swag bag packed full of goodies from all of our vendors. (You have to show up early to snag one of these puppies.)

They will also be giving away a personal screen printing machine valued at $400 Cdn courtesy of Yudu and a DIY button kit including a machine and 250 parts courtesy of Six Cent Press.

For more information and a complete list of vendors, please visit gotcraft.com.

Fangirl?

Anyone who has every torn photos of cute guys from teenybopper magazines and stuck them on her wall.... should get a kick of this story over at my personal blog. =)

Be Bold

I've just finished and listed a new necklace. I wanted to make something that took me out of my comfort zone, wanted to push my limits and produce something new and bold. Something that would attract some notice.

I think I succeeded. I'm very pleased. Hopefully someone with the personality to pull it off will find it and fall in love with it too!

Got Craft?

Maked is officially coming out of hiatus to participate in the best craft fair in the universe.... the Got Craft? Holiday Fair. Yay!

We're thrilled to be vending there again, it's always a blast (and people seem to like our stuff).

If you're local, put it in your calendar - it is THE place to get amazingly creative, locally made gifts. And, there's always a good DJ spinning some great tunes in the background.

December 6, 2009 11am - 5pm. First 30 people get awesome swag bags full of goodies. 2205 Commercial Dr. Vancouver BC

Babies + Crochet

Yay for finishing baby gifts for people! Finishing projects is so satisfying!

Latest - 1 baby hat with an awesome button made from wood waste, and 1 round ripple baby blanket.

Bring on the babies.

Actually, don't, I'm still way way behind!


(The pattern I used for the blanket is here: http://woven-stars.tripod.com/rippletutorial/)

Esty Awesome

My latest find on Etsy is Emmy-ray who makes beautiful jewelry and accessories. I'm especially taken by her feather hair accessories - we should all wear more feathers.

She's got a great blog here too, where you can become a follower and keep tabs on what she's up to.

There's no end to the crazy talented people you'll find on Etsy.

Puff

I remember when I first discovered Lush. It wasn't available in my town so I had to hunt it out whenever I was traveling. I loved their stuff, the unusual scents, the amazing handmade products (this was before the handmade movement busted out, now it's wonderfully easy to find local handmade soaps). I recall walking down the street in Glasgow, Scotland on vacation and stopping, sniffing, and saying to Peter - "there's a Lush nearby", we turned the corner and there it was! It can be overwhelming, walking into a Lush store (in an olfactory sense), it's not for everyone but I still love it.

I have some of their dusting powders but don't use them much because they come in these odd shaker cans and I never could get used to the idea of shaking dusting powder on me like salt. I hunted around sporadically for a nice dusting powder puff. I knew they existed, Mom had one for her Chanel powder, a nice big one in a lovely container. I couldn't find anything! Crazy!

I finally got tired of lamenting the lack of puff available for purchase and grabbed some scrap materials I had handy and made one for myself - this is the joy of being a crafter, after all, being able to just make whatever you need! It's just a random bit of faux fur, cotton fabric, ribbon, and batting sewn into a rectangle. So easy, should have done it ages ago. Now I just need a nice container. In the meantime, I can shake the powder on my poof and apply it with dignity.

If you want one and aren't interested in making it, I did finally find some much nicer ones on etsy.....

This one from Soapalaya Soaps

This vintage can (with powder) from Pursimonia

I'm a Winner!

Back when I lived in the US I was a sweeper.

A 'sweeper' being the term for someone who enters a lot of sweepstakes. Or in my case, online contests. There are so many online contests out there (especially for Americans, fewer for the rest of us), you could spend all day every day entering and have a hard time keeping up! I wasn't that hard core, but I did all right - I loved having random prizes arrive in the mail. Like a dozen roses, earrings, enormous quantities of Skittles, dvds, books, etc. My biggest win.... $5000 cash from Time Magazine.

Here's a hint to help weed out real prize win notifications from the scam ones.... if you really win a prize of substantial value, they will not tell you what the prize is until they have verified you're eligible for it. In the case of the $5k I had to prove I was of age first, I think.

I haven't entered as many contests since I moved back to Canada, but every now and then I do. I've had quite the streak of luck lately! I've received two lovely packages in the mail recently, prizes from online contests.

The first was a fabulous pair of earrings by Katrinna Louise (a fellow BC crafter) who has a shop full of pretty jewelry. Thanks Katrinna - I love the earrings!


The second package was a tin decorated for christmas with cute little gift tags and envelopes inside. This will definitely come in handy in a few months! Especially since I never have wrapping supplies on hand. This prize is from a monther/daughter run etsy shop called Le Pink Chandelier. They sell vintage and upcycled items. I particularly love the envelopes made from old maps. Thanks for my prize you guys!

The third prize is less craft related but is awesome - I got free passes to the Vancouver PNE (Pacific National Exhibition) - which I've never been to! I also got passes to Playland and a free dinner. So my boyfriend Peter and I are going to have a great weekend.... for free thanks to the Georgia Straight (a local newspaper).

I really like this winning thing. =)

Delica Glory

Our very popular delica rings have been featured over on this lovely Montreal blog. The writer of the blog is a creative spirit who is raising two beautiful children and running a jewelry business at the same time! I'm impressed.