Kickstarting the Creative Engine

Brummmm, brummmm. Turning the key and hoping to jolt the creative spirit into starting. And whatever car analogies pop into mind.

I wrote here about how I am finding it hard to be creative at the moment.  So I thought I would tell you about a few things that are helping.

Sewing with kids - I do work with children and their creativity is inspiring.

Sew from a book. I bought this book and have made a few things from it. I have just made a little bunny for my neice's birthday.  Sometimes just sewing helps.

  

Stringing beads - finding different colour combinations is fun and can jump-start (here I go again!) the process.   Also, I now have a nice bead necklace to wear.


(The blue shirt is my work shirt - just so you don't think it is my choice!)









Or sew from the web. I love making these Kanzashi flowers.I used this great tutorial and would love to buy the book.

 So here's hoping all this activity will encourage me, once more to drive along the road of my own designs. (Sighs).

My Work Space

My family and I live in a one bedroom flat. Last year we bought a sofa bed and gave over the bedroom to our daughter as her room. So our lounge is also our bedroom and my workspace.

A few days ago we bought this storage unit and after many many hours putting it together, I had the fun of sorting through my boxes and boxes and boxes of stuff and putting it all into MY cupboard.

It is not very neat - much to my husband-to-be's annoyance. But it is a workable space for me where I can access what I need. Or will be when I have finished sorting. I still have lots of fabric to put on the shelves. And some paperwork to file which for now I have put behind the doors. Oh yes and much yarn which lives in plastic boxes hidden to the left of the cupboard.

But I LOVE IT.

IslayBowers - button lust and more..much more

I love buttons and I love lace and I love vintage . So Islay Bowers etsy store is the perfect shop for me and I suspect you.

The buttons above are vintage mother of pearl. They just sing out (in a Cole Porter type refrain) glamour.
Also look at this pretty vintage 1930s lace.


Honestly you need to go and have a look in her store because there is more to see.
And then pop over to this store which is Islay's handmade items including this Personalised Applique Letter cushion.

UK Promotion - Me!

The UK people on etsy have decided to promote each other's shops and guess who they have begun with? Me!
It has been great fun seeing my name and my photos in treasuries and people's blogs. So I thought I would share with you.
The Treasuries so far (there was another one by Quercus Silver but I didn't manage to get a screenshot).

The first one is 'Goodbye October, Hello November' by AliBali Jewellery.

This one is 'Star Spangle or Union Jack' by Islaybower:

This one is 'oops' by AliBali Jewellery:

And this one is 'Am I BLUE?' by SimplyMaisy:

Now for the blogs.

Snowdrop's Thoughts by Snowdrops and Daisies

Islay Finds, Makes and Bakes by IslayBower

Quercus Silver by Quercus Silver

Precious Little Birdy by AngelaCallan

Green River Studio by Green River Studio

So please pop over and have a look at their lovely blogs and not just the posts about me. And then click on the link to their shops for each and every one of these people who have featured me in their blogs and in their treasuries are wonderful, talented people.

There are also many more UK people I would like to thank who have supported me, in giving advice, friendship and help promote me on facebook, twitter and etsy promo threads. So..

THANK YOU EVERYONE!!