Handmade by Edwina: February 2012

Sunday, 26 February 2012

Show me something beautiful

A child’s smile, a bride on her wedding day, the look of love on a mother’s face when she sees her new born child for the first time, a dazzling red sunset over the calm sea, a perfectly formed flower glistening with raindrops, an exquisite piece of embroidery, a glorious piece of jewellery, a magnificent painting, and so on... and on...

There are so many beautiful things in our world, but how often do we stop in our busy lives and notice them? Looking a beauty is uplifting, it restores our weary spirits, it refreshes our tired minds – it helps to make us feel at peace and at one with the world in which we live.

What have you seen today that was beautiful?

Creating beautiful things is what I am about. It’s very important. Colour, texture, embellishment, shape, style, depth and that magical quality that is finite – all these are the ingredients for my creations, but there is no guarantee for success because beauty is in the beholder! What we see is unique to us.

Here are a few beautiful bags from Folksy. They were selected because I’m all about bags myself (as you know!) and I thought it would be nice to show you some other beautiful bags that are available on Folksy. Enjoy! And don’t forget to click on the picture and it will take you directly to their shop.

BFN
Edwina

Saturday, 11 February 2012

Fabulous Fabric

Whimsy Woo Designs

Sometimes I seriously have to question my sanity. It is with regard to my obsession with collecting and purchasing fabric! I have storage boxes full of fabric and yet I can’t stop myself from buying it! If I see something that I like, then I just have to have it! Luckily, the sensible part of my brain does kick in when it comes to cost. I’m a big bargain hunter!

Audrey's Cat

Recently, I visited Cath Kidston’s website and I was very seduced by her fabrics, but some were £35.00 per metre and others £20.00 per metre. I just can’t justify the cost. I’m not rich by a long shot! So I happily made a visit to Ebay and managed to buy some at a much reduced price!

Ritzy Swish

PollyKrafts

There is no rhyme or reason to what I like. It is very eclectic. I love all kinds of fabric, vintage, retro, contemporary, lacey and quirky! I think since joining the daily listing club on Folksy my obsession seems to have intensified, because I am always being seduced by such beautiful fabrics that the other sellers display! First, New Year Nutters now February Fruitcakes! Well, I fit right in as I’m definitely a nutter and a fruitcake!

Today, I am illustrating what I am talking about by showing you some of my fellow Fruitcakes beautiful, fabulous fabric items! I have included Polly’s beautiful heart made from vintage lace, because lace is also another obsession! I adore lace, vintage, antique, contemporary and my stash is in further storage boxes (Yes, there is more than one!) so you can see I am quite a collector!

Leanne Woods Designs

Handmade by Edwina

Don’t forget to click on the photos and it will take you directly to their shop. Have a great day!

BFN

Edwina

Saturday, 4 February 2012

Owl’s that!?

Owls are very popular in the crafting community and today I thought I would devote my blog to them.

Here are ten interesting facts about Owls.

Owls are solitary and nocturnal, with some exceptions.

Owls hunt mostly small mammals, insects, and other birds, although a few species specialize in hunting fish.

They are found in all regions of the Earth except Antarctica, most of Greenland and some remote islands.

Though owls are typically solitary, the literary collective noun for a group of owls is a parliament.

Owls are characterized by their small beaks and wide faces, and are divided into two families: the typical owls, Strigidae; and the barn-owls, Tytonidae.

Owls can rotate their heads and necks as much as 270 degrees in either direction.

The smallest owl (weighing as little as 31g and measuring some 13.5 cm) is the Elf Owl.

The largest owl by length is the Great Grey Owl which measures around 70cm on average and can attain a length of 84cm.

Owl eggs are laid at intervals of 1 to 3 days and do not hatch at the same time. (This fact accounts for the wide variation in the size of sibling nestlings.)

Owls do not construct nests, but rather look for a sheltered nesting site or an abandoned nest in trees, underground burrows, or in buildings, barns and caves.

I hope you enjoy looking at the owl crafts. Please click on the photo and it will take you directly to the shop. Enjoy!