BEACH SHACK PROJECT

Cake Diaries

2012-02-01T15:21:00.000-08:00

Had a friend visiting today who has just flown back from Thailand, having been living out there for a while. I plied her with with milk, butter, cadburys and Bacon (not all at once!) and sent her on her way to Leeds on the bus. Before she left we had lunch at LuLu's. Mmmm.

Looking forward to tomorrow as were going to get Benedict and bring him home. Bought him a beautiful vintage crocheted blanket today in Beyond Retro. I can't believe I've been living in Brighton for about six years and never found it before, its an Aladdin's cave of magic!!! Couldn't resist a rather fetching striped cardigan for myself too. I will be back. With Others. Yes.
Goodbye, untill next time...

A M A Z I N G

2012-02-01T05:36:00.000-08:00

Polish Artist, Nespoon, wanted to bring urban street art to the beach. These crocheted stars left on driftwood are just so awesome, here she is in Goa, India doing her thang....

Goodbye, untill next time...

Preparing for Dog!!!

2012-02-01T02:38:00.000-08:00

Benedict (have decided to call him Benedict, have been watching too much Sherlock Holmes!) will be arriving tomorrow earlier than expected woo! Have been online looking at loads of fun stuff to buy for him, especially at this place which I love...RocStarDog. Have ordered him a handmade jumper to keep him warm ahhhhh!!!!! I'm not sure about the connection but its something to do with Serenah Photography, this awesome photographer based in Australia who takes beautiful photos of dogs, I found her on Flickr a while ago and have followed her work since. Theres an amazing photo of Ralph (her sausage dog!!!!) in an afro wig!
Got the Makers Boutique on Saturday too, busy preparing for that, may be at bit much for Benedict this month so I'm going to have a good friend watch him on saturday for me. Pop in if your in Brighton.Goodbye, untill next time!!!!

Mr Woofley

2012-01-30T13:21:00.000-08:00

So excited I'm getting a dog!!!
Those of you who read my blog will know of Sausage, who lives in Cornwall with my mum, but now I'm getting my very first 24 hours a day 7 days a week dog!!! Wooo!!!
He is a rescue dog that was found outside Crawley, where he was dumped, and he's scared of people and cowers alot so we think he was probably beaten. So sad, some people are evil.
I'm picking him up in a week!!! Can't wait...heres some photos of him being Super Cute in the meantime!!!!!

Goodbye, untill next time!!!!

FREE SHIPPING UNTILL FEB 12TH!!!!

2012-01-30T05:43:00.000-08:00

Added lots more items to the shop.
I am also offering FREE SHIPPING untill 12th February just enter JAN2012 at the checkout!!! Wooooo!!!
Goodby, untill next time!!!!

If I could have any window in the world...

2012-01-27T05:58:00.000-08:00

I would want this window. So so beautiful. Made with old depression glass plates. Probably cost a million pounds. Sigh. Made by Daniel Maher. Want it!!!
Goodbye, untill next time!!!

Katy's Shop...

2012-01-26T14:35:00.001-08:00

Been doing some DIY today...was looking at our HIDEOUS fireplace. Its so SO SO gross!!! So I have been on a bit of a mission to change that today, will post some images later this week. In the meantime I thought I would share some photos from my trip recently to see Kate @ The Makers Boutique Studio Shop, Pratts Market, Hayle, Cornwall. Heres Sausage tired in the morning, he is so lazy!!!

Some of the best Pasties ever...

Beautiful Beetles outside Pasty shop...

Pasties as big as YOUR HEAD! Seriously, this is no camera trickery! And this is a medium!!!

Kates Shop....

Some her her wares, like these fab upcycled lamps she's made with vintage lace....

Beach Shack Project!!!! Kate rescued this fab display from a woodpile, it was from an old gyspy caravan that was being restored. I think its a great backdrop for my jewellery and I am hassling her to get me some more for displaying my own work at craft fairs...

Cute Sausage, probably wants some Pasty...He loves Pasty!

Goodbye, untill next time!!!!

More New items in shop!!!

2012-01-25T10:33:00.001-08:00

More new items in the shop...

Goodbye, untill next time...

Stuck in my head...

2012-01-23T10:44:00.000-08:00

I think I am in love with this band...Rizzle Kicks. They have annoyingly catchy tunes, I have literally been listening to this on repeat, love the fact they have their mums rapping in it...and the video randomly has James Cordon in... watch it here...!

Goodbye, untill next time!!!

New items in shop

2012-01-23T09:49:00.000-08:00

Been busy the last week or so getting some new stock together for the shop, some have already been listed in the shop, others I will be adding over the next few days...

Goodbye, untill next time...

shopping cures most things

2012-01-08T15:37:00.000-08:00

Distraught as I've lost my favourite hat in the whole world. I actually cried. Like a child. Sob.
So I went off for some retail therapy today, went shopping in Truro and bought this AMAZING dress from Monsoon, dunno where I'm going to wear it as I never go anywhere posh so I'm just going to wear it everywhere...lounging around on the sofa, off to Tesco's, etc....Steve said I look like a Disney Villain who has killed some Parrots, which is nice. He has such lovely descriptive ways to describe my clothes!!!!

Also found these shoes in Topshop. I hate high heels, I am 6ft tall and don't need to be any taller and it is incredibly hard to find nice footwear without a secret heel of some sort, so shoe shopping is highly disinteresting for me, but my mum was faffing around for ages and I got bored and tried these on, they remind me of something Janice would wear from Friends. OH MY GOD!!!! Nearly fell over when I stood up so promptly took them off. Don't they look clash tastic with my tights?! Haha!!!

Oh I miss my hat....
:-(
sighhhhhhhh

Goodbye, untill next time!!!

walk, Forest, walk!!!!

2012-01-07T16:19:00.001-08:00

You know in Forest Gump when he just runs for no reason? Today I just walked and walked and walked with mum, just because...
Crinnis-Charlestown-Duporth-Porthpean-Duporth-Charlestown-Crinnis-Holmbush-Crinnis-Home.....
Here are some photos from my journey...

Tired sausage, ahhhh!!!!!
Goodbye, untill next time!!!!!

happy new yurrrrr

2012-01-02T14:26:00.001-08:00

Had a fabulous New Year at Perranporth staying in some unsavoury flats near the Beach. Mind you, for £10 a night you can hardly complain, but to avoid retribution I sincerely advice anyone with a vague level of hygiene not to visit the Sand Bay Holiday Flats. Just read some hilarious reviews on trip advsior!!! It was so bad it was funny!!!!

Check out the hideous art / curtains / boarders. I am a great fan of nautical decor but this is lacking a bit of pizazz...

Been eating ALOT of soup, note Steve's Wolverine hair, he quiffed it back for the Rockabilly theme at the local pub where my friends band was playing, and this is the after effect of sleeping on mass gelled hair!!!

My gorgeous (fake!!!) tattoo! Was actually quite sad when it disappeared!!!

Lovely walk in Fowey yesterday and had a nice soup and mulled cider at the King of Prussia. Steves steak cost more than me and mums lunch and all our drinks put together, but he seemed to enjoy it!!!! Ahhh Carnivores!!!
Back to work tomorrow!!!! Exciting!!! Got some custom orders to do and then release the new booking forms for Makers Boutique dates this 2012....

Goodbye, untill next time!!!!

Merry Xmas

2011-12-26T08:24:00.001-08:00

Well its Xmas and I have neglected my blog this December, as there has been so much going on!!! I have started running the Makers Boutique in Brighton now, so my jewellery took a bit of a back seat this year as I was promoting and organizing our events around Brighton. Here are some photos of what went on this month in no apparent order (as usual!!)
Walking to work....We ran an exhibition at Brighton Fishing Quarter Gallery from 1st December untill the 20th, featuring the work of 14 local artists. The event was a great success and I was shocked at how much we sold, seeing at most of the days were very rainy, windy and COLD!!!

We did two late night shopping events for the Makers Boutique on 8th and 15th December, and pasties kept me sane during this... I had been running round like a headless chicken all day without eating so a pasty was my savour!!! I's Pies in the Lanes defo do the best pasties out of Cornwall!!!

Lucy from Little Things I Make does these amazing foxes which are always very popular at the Makers Boutique Craft Fairs, here is a display I did at Billingshurst Unitarian Church on 3rd December. We raised over £120 for the Church through donating a percentage of sales and doing a raffle, and this went towards repairing the roof. Look forward to doing another one in Summer!!!

A view from Brighton Fishing Quarter Gallery one morning, great location right on Brighton Beach!!!

Found these on Western Road, some scaffolding planks stacked up that I thought looked jolly pretty, don't know if I am loosing it and having a bit of an American Beauty moment (you know, when the plastic bag blows about in the wind and is described as "beautiful!!!)

Andrew...wax working to the max, spent a lazy sunday with him and Steve having a roast in the pub, drinking mulled wine and ruining their candles, the work below is titled "the butchers nose". Maybe shouldn't give up the day job...

Grand Hotel in Brighton, walking past it on my way home from Brighton Fishing Quarter Gallery...my fav xmas decorations I love this tree shape they do every year...

Cake Diaries below....MMmmmmm...!!!!

Here is my favourite Xmas cake below, the Panettone!!! Spent the day before xmas eve running round like an idiot trying to find a free range Panettone without sultanas in (I hate dried fruit!) and Waitrose had sold out so I had to splash the cash and get one from Carluccio's and they only had the chocolate version left (oh what a shame!) so I got that. I hate christmas cake, christmas pudding and mince pies (dried fruit again) so this is my xmas cake!!!! I only ever eat free range eggs so I think its important to buy produce which contains only free range egg in aswell, lots of people will go out and buy free range eggs but then quite happily eat a rubbish cake full of battery hen eggs from Tescos, so even though this set me back nearly £16 it was well worth it, happy xmas chickdee's!!!!

I have been rather transfixed by the below contraption, my business partner Kate bought it for me. My Nan used to have one at Xmas she would get out with angels on, you put a candle in the bottom and the heat turned a wheel which had loads of angels on. I have no idea what they are called, I call it a whirl-a-ma-go-round, and I find the science behind it fascinating. Steve thinks I'm stupid as apparently its quite simple but I think its magic anyway, and the fact that it has Moomins hanging on it instead of angels makes it ten times better!!! Note the fab card from Brighton artist Pinky in the background!!!!

Presents not yet wrapped, the Lizard Kind is trying to escape!!!!

Reallllllllly want this hat by Humdrumhats, who exhibited at one of our late night shopping events, defo on my list of things to get in January.

Steve knows me well, got me this amazing cup and saucer for Xmas. Handmade, ceramic, and tea-related!!! And he got me more Jing!!! Yeehar!!!

On Xmas eve my boyfriend was filming a Service for the BBC in a church in London so I spent the evening in an OB truck waiting for him to clock off at 2am so we could then drive to Suffolk. I have been so busy recently I haven't even had time to read my trashy magazines (Vogue and Grazia FYI) and I had clocked up about 5 unread issues that I went through whilst he was filming, circling lots of things I will never be able to afford, oh big dramatic sigh. I would LOVE the white ceramic and diamond Chanel watch. I have been with Steve for nearly ten years and this is the first Xmas I have spent with him, and also not in Cornwall. Really miss my family and sausage but it was awesome to spend the festive period with him and his family before I whizz off back down to Cornwall tomorrow for a second xmas and New Year. I don't think I have ever eaten so much food or drunk so much Champagne!!! We went for a walk to the pub today and caught these local Morris dancers doing their thing. Hope you had a fabulous christmas and have a wonderful new year!!!!
Goodbye, untill next time!!!!

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Brighton Fishing Quarter Private View

2011-12-05T17:02:00.000-08:00

Had a private view on Friday for the Brighton Fishing Quarter Gallery Exhibition which is running for 3 weeks, was a good turnout with lots of sales and mulled wine and cake and nibbles by Purple Sprouting! Billingshurst on Saturday was also a fab event with loads of people from the town coming to check us out!!!
Here are some photos from the private view...the amazing Tony from Killer Image took these fab fab fabbbbb photos for us!!!

Me blowing up balloons!!!

Ellie

Steve!!!

Pam's Pots!!! Love these!!!

Lisa Janes funky textiles!!!

Katrina Hargie's vintage card pictures...

Gil Stark

Emily from Cuttlefish Love, she makes fab Kanzashi Japanese inspired hair pieces all made from silk, and she came dressed in this fab kimono!!

Dupenny

Deva from Purple Sprouting who did our tasty catering!!! Parsnip and maple syrup cupcakes with edible glitter yum!!!!

Best outfit ever!!!

Beach Shack Project!!!

Baglady of Brighton!!!

Miss Strangeway, perusing the goods on offer!!!

Good night had by all, thanks to everyone for coming!!!!

Goodbye, untill next time!!!

Wolf Girl

2011-12-01T14:23:00.000-08:00

Been so busy today organizing stock and meeting the sellers to collect work for Billingshurst Unitarian Church tomorrow, and then back at Brighton Fishing Quarter Gallery to set up my Beach Shack Project stock. Its a bit chaotic having two exhibitions going on at the same time, but so far its all going to plan!!! I'm setting up the work tomorrow all day in Billingshurst before zipping back to Brighton for the private view at Brighton Fishing Quarter Gallery, going to be a long weekend!!!! Please come along if your in the Brighton Area, its at Kings Road Arches, Brighton, on the seafront before the main pier, BN1 1UB. Free cake, nibbles, mulled wine and arts and crafts, what more do you want?!
In the meantime while my brain frazzles here, and I wait for my boyfriend to return with some garlic broccoli and spring rolls, here is a picture of me in a fetching Wolf Fleece, my mate bought it for me as a joke birthday present!!! Snazzy.
Let the Spirit of the Wolf protect me through this crazy December!!!

Goodbye, untill next time!!!

moustaches and mulled wine!

2011-12-01T02:07:00.000-08:00

Been a busy week getting ready for two exhbitions that Makers Boutique are organizing as well as participating with my own stock for Beach Shack Project. Spent the whole day yesterday down at the seafront gallery setting up and getting the Makers to set up their displays. We have so many cool artists exhibiting, including Dupenny, Lisa Jane, Dana Leigh, Gil Stark and Gabrielle Vary!!!

Its looking really good, so if your in the area come and pop down, its at Kings Road Arches, near the pier, BN1 1NB, 10-5PM, with a private view on friday 6-8pm, with savory nibbles and cakes provided by the tasty Purple Sprouting eating company, and free mulled wine!!! There will also be a professional photographer there who will take much better photos than the ones on my old prehistoric iPhone with no flash, taken on a dark rainy afternoon!!! Must Upgrade!!!
Its been Movember all of November, where men proudly display their chin barnet to highlight prostate and testicular cancer in men, they raise funds by getting men to grow moustaches and get sponsored, whilst also raising the profile of these cancers in men and encouraging them to get checked. I personally find the moustache very ascetically pleasing to the eye, so I have been enjoying this look alot this November! My friend Mark is participating you can watch his videos on youtube.
Also check out my best friends blog, after living in Narnia for the last year or so (Coombe to the locals!!!) she has finally sorted out her internet and is back blogging about her work, you can follow her here... she talks about her artwork, what inspires her and gives us a peek into her fab life running Charlestown Gallery in Cornwall!!! She makes a mean banana and pecan cupcake too!!! Mmmm!!!
Goodbye, untill next time!!!

Rock

2011-11-24T15:53:00.001-08:00

Had an amazing dinner at Gem & Wesmonds beautiful little cottage last night, vegetarian roast, mulled wine, banana and pecan cupcakes and lemon cheesecake!!! Will have to detox now!!! Played a very heated game of Cranium, I got a bit excited about all the drawing rounds!!!
Went to Rock today with Steve, Wesmond & sausage. Sausage was channeling his inner lady GaGa in a fetching snood made by Gems Nan!!! After Rock we popped into Gems Gallery for a quick last cuppa then went home for some dinner and hit the road back to Brighton, busy days now untill Xmas Arghhhh!!!

Goodbye, untill next time...

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Two events coming up next week!!!

2011-11-23T11:05:00.000-08:00

Two Events coming up that we are organizing at the Makers Boutique, Beach Shack Project jewellery will be at both of these too so if you are local to the area please pop in and say hello!!!!
There will be a private view for the Brighton Fishing Quarter Gallery on 2nd December -6-8pm, free mulled wine and cake!!! Woooooo!!!! More details here...

Goodbye, untill next time!!!

Mount Edgcumbe Park and House

2011-11-22T15:39:00.000-08:00

Went to Cremyll today, near the illustrious Tamar, to visit Mount Edgcumbe Park & House. Sorry about grey photos but it was a grey day. Had pasties for lunch (got to squeeze in as many as I can while I'm down!!!).
Such a beautiful part of Kernow that I never really visit, the view over the estuary is phenomenal the higher you get.

Goodbye, untill next time!!!

Sebastian

2011-11-21T04:46:00.000-08:00

I was looking online last night for one of my favourite jewellers, Sebastian Buescher, who makes fabulous pieces of jewellery using mostly found objects. I have always found his work incredibly inspiring, and when I was working a terrible job in the design industry a few years ago, the first thing I would do when I got to my desk in the morning would be to check his blog, with my morning cup of tea!!! I always dreamed of being able to afford his pieces, and secretly thought he would make a fantastic wedding ring if my boyfriend ever proposed to me!!! I just love how his work is so organic and contemporary at the same time, like something that has been dug out of the ground from a strange lost bygone tribal era...
I emailed him when I couldn't find his website or blog, and he emailed back to say he has stopped making jewellery now!!! Nooooooooooooooo!!!!!
So, in honour to Sebastian's fantastic work, I have made a collection below of some of his pieces of work...

Goodbye, untill next time....

❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤

2011-11-20T03:53:00.000-08:00

Heard of the Rum Diaries?! Well.... this is the Cake Diaries!!! (Completely unrelated of course!!!)

Goodbye, untill next time!!!!

Updates....

2011-11-19T13:22:00.000-08:00

Back in Cornwall again, me and my sister drove down last night...its so bliming cold at the moment, I am currently curled up on the sofa clutching Buster's ears to keep warm whilst he snores on my lap!!! Went out and walked him hugging a hot water bottle earlier which encouraged alot of people to give me very weird looks...I'm not mad, I'm cold!!! There should be a hot water bottle coat, best idea ever!!!
Had an excellent day last saturday at Lewes Artists and Makers Fair, which is run once a year. I have been doing this event for about 5 years, ever since I moved to Brighton and one of my stockists recommended me to the organizers. The fair is to raise money for the schools creative departments, and 15% of all my profits from the day went back to the school. Heres a photo of me setting up earlier in the day, and a photo of one of my young customers!!!

Top sellers were the new beach bling seashell studs, will list these online soon in time for xmas...I met so many amazing people, including the fabulous Kathie Murphy whose resin jewellery I love, and who does the fair every year!!! Also ate copious amounts of cake!!! Yey!!!
Went a bit nuts and bought some ceramics, including a beautiful white vase from Bay Heriz-Smith. Lovely lady and lovely pots!!!
Speaking of pots I Went to the private view at Made11 in Brighton the other night before we drove down, which had some amazing artists on show that I wanted to mention, and amazing cake (the victoria sponge was amazing!) and free wine!!! What more do you need in life?! There were alot of great artists who regularly show at the Makers Boutique, like Gabrielle Vary, Martha Mitchell and Gil Stark,
representing Brightons talent, and lots of people from outside our Sussex region.
I have a bit of an addiction to ceramics, I get really excited finding new work. I am facinated by reusing and reworking and Ami Derbyshire is a prime example of this, collecting old ornaments and vases from charity shops, car boot sales and second hand shops and then slipcasting them and mixing them all up a bit, had a very heated debate with my boyfriend at the stand who wasn't that keen, whereas I was in love with it all!!! He has no taste!!! (or maybe I don't, either way if having no taste means I want a vase with a horse stuck on the top of it, bring it on!!!) Then there was Rebecca Anne Lee who is obsessed with textures (me too!!!) who makes these amazing pieces...these photos don't really do the texture any justice, as when I was at her stand and went in for closer inspection, I realized that the black part is, or looks like, some sort of quartz, rough and sparkly, like it had been carved from the centre of the earth...just amazing...and her lace bowls where she has cast the lace in sterling silver (and still remarkably actually looks like delicate vintage lace) were so ingenious. I just spoke to my Dad on the phone and he asked me what I wanted for Christmas, and I think I want some new ceramics please!!!
Nice to be back in Kernow for a few days, went to see my aunts new house which is fantastic (you get so much more for your money in Cornwall than Brighton!!!) and we ate pasties and drank tea...and saw these fabulous bassets who belonged to a busker playing the violin in the town centre, I had to go and touch them!!!

Goodbye, untill next time!!!!

Best Earl Grey Ever!!!!

2011-11-02T18:11:00.000-07:00

Jing Tea!!!!

Steve got me some Jing Tea for my birthday, which I have powered my way through. Its one of the best Earl Greys I have ever tasted so I highly recommend you try it if your a bit obsessed with tea!!!!

Goodbye!!! Untill next time!!!

Autumn

2011-11-02T18:07:00.001-07:00

Windy walks by the sea

Curling up on the sofa

Lots of tea!!! Earl Grey all the way!!!

Decorating the dog!!!

Mini Pumpkins

My new scarf!!! Love it!! By Gabrielle who comes to sell her fabulous knitwear at the Makers Boutique Markets in Brighton!!!

Yellow leaves!!!

Cake!!!

Makers Boutique Market...

Had lots of friends and family visiting recently, and some new friends too!!! This seagul has been popping in every now and again for a bit of bread!!!

More Tea!!!

Goodbye!!! Untill next time!!!

Ellie Curtis

2011-10-18T07:17:00.000-07:00

Just found this designer who makes the most amazing prints, I am in love with her cushions!!!Check out her website for more examples of her fab work, and you can also buy her work online at the Shop Floor Project, another site I love!!!

Goodbye, until next time!!!!

Happy Birthday to Me!!!

2011-10-05T15:13:00.001-07:00

Caketastic!!!

Goodbye, untill next time!!!

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Moving

2011-09-28T16:17:00.000-07:00

Been a bit quiet on the blog front as I've been moving into a new flat, we are on the property ladder at last horay!!! This move also coinsided with a Makers Boutique Market I was running, so it's been a bit chaotic!!! If I never see a cardboard box again it will be too soon, can't believe how much stuff I own!!!
Anyway, here are some photos of the last week, in no order...!

Steve bought me lillies, looked fab when they flowered!!!

Me n liv went shopping, and found a weird catapillar with a horn on the pavement!!! Never seen one before!!!

Makers modelling Lizzie Lock Hats!!! Google her!!! It's hatastic!!!

Makers Boutique had it's first Rabbit rock up!!!

Cramming the car full of our pocessions!!!

Tea!!!!
Goodbye, untill next time!!!

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Mr Poppers Penguins

2011-09-18T21:04:00.000-07:00

Wow sometimes there is nothing to see at the cinema. Admitted I have a very juvenile taste in film, and this next suggestion won't do me any favours in correcting that...but I just watched Mr Poppers Penguins, I love penguins they are possibly the funniest birds ever created and I have always thought it would be great in a hypothetical universe to have one as a pet (they would live in the bath obviously!!!). This film is based on an old book by Richard and Florence Atwater, written in 1938, and the narrative involves a small army of penguins descending on a family and the chaos that then proceeds. Great film if you love penguins, bit rubbish if you don't!!!!

Goodbye, until next time!!!

Shop Floor Project

2011-09-08T06:14:00.000-07:00

A while ago I blogged about some work that I designed for the Shop Floor Project, a fabulous online boutique specialising in unusual and handmade products by British designers and makers. This work is exclusively only available at the Shop Floor Project, and involves weaving organic hemp by hand and combining tiny crystals with bright zesty emerald sea glass or sea washed blues. Below are some of the pieces available...

Goodbye, until next time!!!

Sea Rainbow

2011-09-04T05:31:00.001-07:00

More stock added this week coming!!! Click here to view Sea Rainbow. Made with fifteen pieces of sea glass and pottery in some nice bright shades like Rare electric blue and lime green. Very unusual and not to be replicated ever!!!! You certainly will not see someone else wearing this!!!!

Goodbye, untill next time!!!

New Pendants coming into shop soon....

2011-09-03T06:39:00.000-07:00

Goodbye, untill next time!!!

Sausage in Wonderland

2011-09-02T13:42:00.001-07:00

Goodbye, untill next time

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Pendleton Woolen MIll

2011-09-01T00:07:00.000-07:00

I must have been living under a wooly rock somewhere to have only just discovered this site, now I must own a native american blanket, will be leaving lots of hints around the flat for Steve to pick up on this Christmas.
Loving this one...the Eagle Rock Saddle Blanket. Mmmmm, check out more of their wonderful weaves here...Goodbye, untill next time!!

The woman who swims with Killer Whales

2011-08-31T14:43:00.000-07:00

Watched a really interesting program on BBC2 about Killer Whales tonight, "The woman who swims with Killer Whales" as part of the Natural World series. Ingrid Visser is the star of the program, and is a bit Killer Whale obsessed. She is the type of woman who probably receives many killer whale themed gifts for christmas and birthdays and they are all proudly displayed at different intervals throughout her house during the program, Killer Whale photo montage here, Killer whale plush there, Killer whale clock O' yonder...you get the picture.
She starts by telling us that people think she is mad for swimming with Orcas. Which she is. Crazier than a bag of sea snakes, but her love of Killer Whales is all consuming and she has made significant research through her unorthodox method of getting up close and personal with these 6 tonne giants. The same giants that have supposedly been able to kill a Great White. Now thats scary, there is no way I would jump in the water with a Killer Whale!!!
She is convinced her beloved whales are being polluted by the toxins that enter the sea, a fact already proved in some countries...when a Killer Whale is beached it is actually classified as toxic waste and has to be carefully destroyed due to the large amount of chemicals found in their body through sea pollution. It is very sad to think of the great scale of this, and Ingrid is constantly trying to prove this is the cause of the New Zealand Killer Whale's dwindling population by grabbing blubber extracts where she can and pulling half dead sting rays out of the sea that the Killer Whales have dropped, so she can test their food and blubber for toxins.
This is an amazing woman who would even give her own life for a Killer Whale and is quite happy to jump in her car and drive for hours up the coast to spend the day unravelling a humpback from a fishing net or helping a huge pod of Pilot Whales that were beached. The Pilot whale scene was very distressing, out of about 60 whales beached only 13 survived. Not the most intelligent of the whales but very closely knit, once one is beached and calls out the others all follow and beach themselves like lemmings and drown as their blowholes fill with water in the rising tide. So sad.
Bet you wouldn't catch Ingrid at Sea World. Rock on Ingrid, your crazy but all the best people are!!!!
Watch the program again on BBC iPlayer.

Goodbye, untill next time!!!

Kneehigh

2011-08-29T15:25:00.001-07:00

Flew down to Cornwall for a few days yesterday, and last night I went out for a friends birthday to see the latest Kneehigh play. I have grown up seeing Kneehigh and it's amazing to see how they grown over the years into what they are now. The latest one is based loosely on Cinderella and I don't know any other theatre company in the world where you can go and strut your stuff on the stage which turns into a dancefloor during intermission!!! Mike Sheppard was also hilarious dressed as a giant pumpkin!!! I would reccomend seeing the play but I caught the last showing so if you didn't get a chance to see it you won't now, but look them up if your ever in Cornwall.

Goodbye, untill next time!!!

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Roddas craving...

2011-08-06T16:38:00.000-07:00

Went in Waitrose today to buy pudding as I had friends round for dinner. Cooking is not my forte especially puddings, so off I trotted to buy a lemon meringue. I was a bit greedy and bought some Roddas clotted cream too, a.) because it is the tastiest cream ever b.) it reminds me of Cornwall and c.) it's been repackaged and features loads of cool kernow maids going about their milking business and tin mines in the background!!! Love it!!! Won't be putting that pot in the recycling!!

Also whilst on my pudding mission I spotted this...

A giant egg!!! For £25!!! Laid by a Rhea, whatever the jiggings that is!!!
There is a normal eggbox next to it in the photo so you can see how massive it is!!! Would make a truely awesome omlette...
I looked up Rhea's when I got home, they look basically like small ostriches. Their eggs are ten times the size of hen eggs and take 90 minutes to boil or can be scrambled to make a hearty family breakfast!! The eggs cone from a farm in the west of Cornwall so they a little bit of Kernow too!!!
I will let you know if I try the egg!!!
Goodbye untill next time!!!

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New London Stockist

2011-08-04T13:36:00.000-07:00

Frivoli gallery is a new stockist of mine, located in the interesting shopping district of Devonshire Road, in Chiswick. If your shopping in Londinion town then pop in and say hello to the lovely Hazel who curates it.Goodbye, untill next time.

Catching up...

2011-08-04T05:28:00.000-07:00

Been very busy with many custom orders at the moment and catching up on wholesale orders too. I have just spent the day making up some new pieces for Charlestown Gallery, run by my ickle friend Gemma. My periwinkle shell earrings have been going very well at craft fairs and I have almost sold out, so I made up a fresh batch to send her. These will be launching in the shop soon, which brings me on to my next update. As of Monday there will be lots of new pieces in the shop as I have been working on a new online batch of jewellery for a while too. As well as launching ym new driftwood boats too! (pictured above).

Remnants of a Fondant Fancy on the plate...

Some new pieces half made up!

New bracelets for Charlestown Gallery...

Goodbye! Untill next time!!!

Trip to the art shop!!!

2011-06-27T15:42:00.000-07:00

Me and my sis went to the art shop the other day in Brighton and bought some new comodities to get creative with...there are some doodles below and a new driftwood boat!! There are more but I haven't taken pictures of them yet, I will have even more ready for this weekend as I have a pitch at Paddle round the Pier... so if your in Brighton come on down to Hove Lawns!!! In the meantime I hope the sun stays out pleaseeeeeeeee!!

Goodbye, untill next time!!!
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Driftwood boat

2011-06-21T16:08:00.000-07:00

I made this for my fabulous dad for fathers day, it's inspired me to start work on some more, all I'm thinking about are sail boats now on turquoise water, ahhh roll on summer!!!

Goodbye, untill next time!!!

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Staacks exhibition...

2011-06-13T11:06:00.000-07:00

If you are in West Kirby Check out the Contemporary Coastal exhibition at Staacks Gallery. There is some Beach Shack Project Bling and an aray of seaside inspired handmade goodies like ceramics by Charlotte Hupfield and Wirral based artist Sherilyn Halligan.

Goodbye, untill next time!

Back to Brighton...

2011-06-12T14:55:00.000-07:00

All packed for an early start back to Brighton tomorrow with a case that is very heavy...full of my sea glass harvest!!!

Goodbye, untill next time!!!

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Here comes the sun...

2011-06-11T15:43:00.000-07:00

Magical mystery tour of Cornwall today with my mere, started off in Porthleven then meandered back down the coast to Helford, both two places I've never been too, that's one of the amazing things about Cornwall is there's always somewhere new to discover!!! Finally ended up in Malpas for dinner Mmmm...

Loved the candy coloured houses in Porthleven...

Sausage waiting for some pasty!!! Had such a fat day today I ate a pasty for brunch then had clotted cream (Roddas of course!!!) and strawberries and then had a cheesy pasta at the Heron Inn in Malpas, they do such lush food!!!

Big waves come up over the sea wall in Porthleven, not a good idea to venture out when the sea is rough...

Check out my shades they were 20p at the carboot, bargain!!!

Loved all the thatched houses...

Most people park a car outside their house, not this resident!!!

When we got to Helford we went on a rural walk and stumbled on Kestle Barton, a randomly located but stunning exhibition space, such a pleasure to find and well worth a visit, the gardens were beautiful and we sat there for a while looking at the sculptures in the garden and Art by Juliette Paul, really vibrant abstract pieces.
Check out www.kestlebarton.co.uk for more info...
And if your reading this (you know who you are!) thanks for showing us around and all the best with your illustration in Edinburgh!!!

Goodbye, untill next time!!!

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Crinnis

2011-06-10T13:56:00.000-07:00

People often ask me where I go beachcombing and I never divuldge the best spots in Cornwall that are well worth a drive to get to, these are beachcombers secrets and to find them requires a combination of local knowledge and pure stumbling by chance!!! It is not obvious where to look sometimes because tides and currents can bring treasure from miles away, but Crinnis has always been a favourite of mine. Based outside St Austell it used to be a prime location for beachcombing, I remember only a few years ago trawling up and down the beach finding bags and bags of glass, so much so that you wouldn't be able to carry it all home!! Brilliant hues of Turquoise and bright fuchsia glass and huge slabs of sea pottery were usual pickings...
Unfortunately due to controversial developement on this man made beach alot of this glass has been buried under tonnes of sand. Also Crinnis, or Carlyon Bay beach, used to be the home to a bad but sorely missed nightclub and I believe alot of the glass deposited was a result of the mass drinking that went on there on Friday and Saturday nights, this being good for the lack of rubbish that was being dumped but bad for beachcombing seaglass, the only case of littering and dumped glass being recycled by nature. Not being near a port or reliant on other coves tidal deposits means this beach now has a severe lack of sea glass but this in turn has benefitted the local Eco system and also peoples feet!!! I found alot of very good driftwood though today that I will be using soon....but if you look very hard you may still find some treasure, my cousin found me a fabulous piece of teal sea glass today that made me smile!!!
If you want to see a video that will make you smile watch this amazing pure 80's video by Alison Moyet, set at Carlyon Bay beach, the pirate boat in the video was there untill the 1990's, I remember it being there when I was a child before it was moved for health and safety reasons, the boat was originally put there for a film and used as a prop...enjoy!!! Watch it here....

Goodbye, untill next time!!!!

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New Blog Mission!!!

2011-06-09T12:27:00.000-07:00

Just realised I have not updated my blog for a while now and thought I would kick start my blogging by making a personal mission to post something every day for the next month to get back into the swing of things...
I have been very busy recently having started a new business with Katy Dormer, aka the Bag lady of Brighton, called the Makers Boutique...the only regular arts and crafts fair in Brighton. Have been spending alot of time organizing these events and getting on with the Beach Shack Project work, but due to a venue cancellelation I have taken the opportunity to have a break in Cornwall before the Craft fairs start up again in July...yesterday I went to Hayle to see Katy's new shop she has just opened (we are busy girls!!!) and give her some new stock... If you are in Hayle go check out her fabulous space at Pratts Market and have a pasty at Philips while your there!!!

Sausage in the shop!!!

Katys beautiful cabinet covered in her even more beautiful bags!!!

Rebekah shirleys birds...

After Hayle I jumped on a train back to St Austell and then my best friend Gem came and picked me up and we went for an epic beachcomb, I got so many great pieces!!! That wore us out so we went back to her cute cottage and she made me stirfry for dinner and we drank wine and watched the Lion King, best film ever!!! Remember who you are!!!!

Goodbye, untill next time!!!

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The Beach Shack Project for Men!!!!

2011-05-02T07:44:00.000-07:00

Look at Funky Mark showing off his new chunky bracelet made with drilled sea pottery and knitted organic hemp.
I will be adding a mens range to the store soon but in the meantime alot of the fishermans rope necklaces and bracelets are unisex or I am happy to undertake a custom order...

Goodbye untill next time!!!

Photos from last week...

2011-04-11T07:50:00.000-07:00

Wow the weather has changed significantly in the short space of about a week...the first signs of Spring and Summer always put me in a fabulous mood, the first thing I noticed was this beautiful cherry tree blossom outside our flat!!! I'm sure it will only flower for a bit though which is always a shame, I wish trees were pink all year round!!!

Warm sunny mornings can only mean one thing!!! Breakfast on the beach!!! I love going to the Real pattisserie on western road as they do a mean Earl Grey and Chocolate Almond Croissant!!!

Working on lots of new summery designs, the chunky profiles are doing well in the shop at the mo so I have some more of these to upload tomorrow!!

New Display cards...

And new business cards, love themso much they have a super cute narwhale on them!!

BBQs and evenings spent on the beach!!! Clocked up two BBQs so far since the sun came our again, here's hoping for a third this weekend!! Wearing some ace tights from Falke here!!!

Brighton pier in the background

...and a beautiful sunset!!! Goodbye untill next time!!!

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New Sea Pottery

2011-04-06T08:57:00.001-07:00

Click on pieces to view in shop....

Hand drilled willow sea pottery shards, paired with some other unusual patterns like raku, foliage designs, texture and one watermarked piece! Very one of a kind!
Simple criss crossed bands of wire on crisp white sea pottery....Goodbye, untill next time!!!

Book of Face

2011-03-26T17:59:00.001-07:00

Did you know you can follow the Beach Shack Project on Facebook too?

Stay tuned for updates, special offers and sneak peeks into my new work via the good ol' book of Faces!!!

Goodbye untill next time!!

Huge Amount of New Stock in Shop!

2011-03-26T11:48:00.000-07:00

Have spent this week mostly gearing up for the huge overhaul in the shop!! I am really excited with some of the fab new pieces and I hope you love them too! Theres loads of new additions to the Classic Wire wrapped range, and now a whole section dedicated to all the uber rare pieces of stuff I find too, perfect for a special gift, as well as a whole new range of sparkly sea glass and sea pottery pieces that I will be adding to as the summer draws near!!!
If that isn't enough there is also a great clearance sale of all the old pieces of stock with crazyyyyyyyy prices!!! Snap up a bargain while you can!!!
Here are some snaps of my favourite pieces....click on any product to view it in the shop!

Goodbye, untill next time!!!

New Boots!

2011-03-24T14:05:00.000-07:00

I have new boots, so excited!!! Eeeeeeeeeeee!!!!
But I'm even more excited about all the new pieces that will be hitting the shop tomorrow!!!
Goodbye, untill next time!!!

Art Junky

2011-03-05T03:52:00.000-08:00

Beach Shack Project @ Art Junky at the Phoenix in Brighton, 11-5 today and tomorrow, loads of fab stalls and bargains to be had!!!

Goodbye untill next time!!!
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Alorra lorra birthdays

2011-02-28T00:48:00.000-08:00

Been busy weekend filled with much eating, drinking and merriment!! firstly being my lovely sisters birthday, who was 25. I bought her a really cool dachshund bag and a necklace from Shark Alley (check out Sarahs paper mâché jewellery it rocks!!!) and of course she got a custom made Beach Shack Project necklace. I also made her a beautiful Eton Mess as her birthday cake, it had edible glitter and everything!!! Shame I had to buy Tescos own brand DEVON clotted cream tho instead of authentic Roddas!!!

And today it is Steves Birthday and he is 30!!! Off to the Lake District but currently sat in traffic trying to get out of Brighton!!! Welly boots and earl grey packed!! There are lots of exclamation points today prob because I don't usually blog this early and everything seems more dramatic!!!!
Finally I have been working on some new jewellery tags, all will be revealed soon but here's a sneak preview...!!!!!!
Goodbye, untill next time!!

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Kernow time

2011-02-20T08:58:00.000-08:00

Brief visit to Kernow for my mates birthday, had a lovely Thai meal last night and a bit too much vino!!! Also slotted in some beachcombing yesterday and I found some amazing driftwood which I think will be cool to display stuff on when I do craft fairs. My beautiful friends have been collecting lots of treasure for me too so I have a good haul to take back to Brighton today, so thanks Jen n Gem!!! Here's some pics of my weekend!!!

Passsssssssssssty!!!! Niles are the best vegi ones I reckon!!!

Goodbye till next time!!!!

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Horrible Cold, Lovely tights....

2011-02-04T06:52:00.000-08:00

Its Feb and its still cold on an epic level, at least it is here in the UK!!!
I hate Winter, its not my favourite time of year, and summer far outweighs any positives of winter,but one of the few things I do love about winter is tights!!!!
I have rarely actually worn trousers most of my life, being very tall growing up in Cornwall there were a.) not alot of places that stocked trousers my length, b.) I find trousers suspicious and unpleasing on me. Hense skirts have always been a firm friend.
I was distressed recently to read articles in both Vogue and Grazia dissing the humble tights, in October 2010 Vogue ran a whole article called "Bare Necessity" saying that tights are unfashionable, undo-able with this seasons trends...even going as far as to say that they can weaken an outfit and that we should do as New Yorkers do and "bare all".
Now I love Vogue alot, but this is nonsensicle. If you work at Vogue you should know that there is not just a choice between black and tan tights, but a whole aray of beautiful colours, textures, patterns and materials to choose from, and rather than seeing them as an afterthought to an outfit they can actually quite levitate a boring outfit into an interesting one. Take Gal Stern, who I discovered recently, who hand prints all her tights in her Studio in Israel, whose tights are like mini pieces of art, or the coveted Bebaroque or Quirky French company Les Queues de Sardines.
My favourite place to buy tights is Noa Noa and they do a vast array of fun woolen and denier tights every season. At £16 - £20 a pop for a pair of tights its not cheap but I like to argue that these are my trousers and therego my barrier from the cold, and more importantly when you spend a bit extra on quality tights then the second you snag them a huge ladder won't appear!!!
Marks and Spencers seem to have cottened onto this trend at last and last week I actually noticed a huge dispaly of tights in their Brighton store last week, with most of the fun ones already sold out. At £8 each these are a bit more purse friendly. People in NY may like to get their legs out in winter but the whole leg regime seems a bit intense in summer and to take it a stage further and do this in winter too, when I can just pop on a pair of tights seems like madness. Lovely Bronzed toned legs do look lovely, but the reality in freezing temperatures is a goosepimpled frostbite ridden nightmare. Blue legs look weird, but blue tights look cool!

Cue Montage...

One of my favourite pairs, ice blue Noa Noa high denier tights, I have snagged these badboys on many occasions and still they keep going!!! Wore these to death in Berlin...Heres me again below with Livvy in them...

My New Galstern tights, one leg is fishscales the other one is just plain black!!! Mental!!! I love love love these tights!!!
Can't remember where these came from but I love the pattern, and they are warm and wooly, I actually got given the same pair by Steves mum in Brown and Orange, another rad colour combo! She knows me well!!! Have a bit of an addiction to tall socks too, these ones from American Apparell are super long and very very warm, great to wear over thin tights.

Old faithful Noa Noa pair here, I have these in lots of colour combinations....
Goodbye, untill next time!!!

Valentines day ideas

2011-01-18T14:31:00.000-08:00

Here are some lovely valentines day ideas, whether you fancy treating yourself or would love someone to buy one for you theres something for everyone....
But remember girls if you want your man to treat you, and he's anything like my man, subtle hints never work you've gotta make it veryyyyyyyy obvious!!! Anything by Tom Binns, Steve, if your reading this!!!

All available in my Etsy Shop...

Beautiful heart emblem sea pottery, very unusual....

Pretty Pale Pink and very rare sea glass bracelet

Candyfloss coloured sea pottery necklace, great for all the girls out there who love pink!!!

Unique heart shaped aqua sea glass bracelet, dainty and elegant.

Goodbye untill next time!!!

Hastings

2011-01-16T14:27:00.000-08:00

I went to Hastings today with Steve, Arran and Rich,
Famous for the great battle in 1066,
We mooched on the pebble beach and ate Spanish food,
And finished with ice cream from a cool local dude.

I am a rubbish poet and I will not be giving up the day job!!!

Really massive tile washed up on the beach

Rad Conger Eel statue, I want one!! There was also an octopus and a seahorse.

Who's bike is this?! It's offcially the coolest bike I've ever seen in my life, and Brighton is riddled in bicycles. Beautiful blue paint job, wicker basket, leather seat and handles, what more do you need?! Maybe a bell...?
I am so jealous so I am now on a mission to find a bike to pimp up.
Goodbye, untill next time!!!

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New Stock on Etsy & Folksy

2011-01-12T14:32:00.000-08:00

For those of you peeps that are savvy handmade shoppers I am sure you are aware of Etsy & Folksy, two online marketplaces where you can browse independent designers and small creative businesses wares. Whilst the sale is going on in the main shop I am uploading lots of new items into these stores too. I will be updating the main shop in due course but untill then you can checkity check it out here...Folksy (UK site) and Etsy (USA)
Heres some photographic evidence of whats going on...
Heres a brilliant photo of Buster (The Long one) I found when I downloaded some photos off Steves camera, He took it when we were down in Kernow for Christmas. We were at one of our favourite places...but strangley unknown on the tourist circuit...the Clay tips outside St.Austell.
It had snowed and there was an icy path weaving through the pits. In quite alot of the photos Sausage does look like he is giving Steve an Evil look of discust (I experienced the same look from my flatmates cat Clyde the other day when I woke him up to drape a necklace on him and take photos, he was not impressed!!!). Dammmm he looks dapper in that coat!!!

Goodbye, untill next time!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

2011-01-04T05:31:00.000-08:00

Well, its 2011 now, Christmas is over for another year and its back to normality for a while...

To ease you into 2011 I am offering a massive 30% off all products in the store untill the 31st January, so whether you want to treat yourself, family or a friend ... there is something for everybody.

Just visit www.beachshackproject.bigcartel.com and use discount code HPY2011 at the checkout, simple!

Goodbye, untill next time!!!

Sausage Pudding

2010-12-20T12:38:00.000-08:00

Well I've eloped down to Cornwall where Ive been holed up for the last 2 weeks working away and sending off the last of my orders to customers and galleries, Then I had the dreaded lurgy and sausage was a lovely companion while I lay in bed feeling sorry for myself and watching episodes of Veronica Mars!! Feeling much better today and now the worst of the snow has lifted I actually managed an epic beachcomb today, you would not believe how heavy my bag was today!!!
Off to Truro tomorrow to do my Xmas shopping I'm really slack every year and always leave it till the last minute although I got some lovely ceramics from Ulrika Jarl in the post today!! (if your reading this gem that was a present spolier!!!)
Anyway to honour the long one here are my favourite photos of him I have taken since I have been down...

Goodbye untill next time!!!

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New Crystal and pottery Bling

2010-12-06T10:52:00.000-08:00

Great new sparkly additions to the shop, perfect for the Christmas season, what more can I say?!

Goodbye, untill next time!!!

Remember that snowman I posted yesterday...

2010-12-04T15:48:00.000-08:00

Well, here he is today...

Mwh ha ha, the snow has melted and that meant one thing...Lewes was on!!!
The craft fair in Lewes was amazing, as always, so many lovely handmade things, I went a bit nuts at one ceramic stall and bought four pieces, including a milk jug, one of those random things I've always wanted to complete my tea experience!!!
Here are some photos of my stall, you can see my fab new seagul & west pier cushions, I designed the image myself and had the material printed by a brill company called Spoonflower. One went to a happy new home today which I was very pleased about.

I loved all the chairs revamped by Lizzy Rose, they have all been reupholstered in amazing vintage and reclaimed materials, I would love to commission her to revamp our tired old sofa so I'm sure if I badger Steve enough he may agree, he thought the chairs looked a bit "Alice in Wonderland" but I think that is a perfect theme to emulate!!!

So to recap lots of tea, lots of cake and lots of sales makes me a happy bunny!! Goodbye, untill next time!!!

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Month of extreme

2010-12-03T16:48:00.000-08:00

Well it's been a while since I updated my blog, last on the agenda was the Makers Boutique Winter Market that me & Katy organized. The event was a huge sucess with lots of sales in the beautiful church of St Nicholas, apparently the oldest church in Brighton, built in the 14th Century!!! We plan to hold another in the new year, hopefully in Febuary, so watch this space!!!

One reason I slipped off the radar is because I have moved too! The perils of renting have reared their ugly head and unfortunately our landlords realised what a fantastic flat we had and moved back in!!! Boo!!
I am very upset to leave and also did not realise how much crap I own!!! Moving crates full of sea glass (essentials!!!) down 4 flights of stairs and up 5 is no mean feat and we were lucky on moving day to have loads of friends help out, some of the boys had the power of ten tigers!!!!

Broken Steve!!! Feel his pain!

Also been busy making stock for the biggest event for me every year, the Lewes Artists & Makers Event at the Foundry Gallery in Lewes. Loads of new pieces and even some rad new cushions!!! It's on tomorrow (Saturday) so if your in the area checkity check it out!!! If you can brave the snow that it!! Fingers crossed I get there!!!

Talking of snow, I found this guy outside my front door yesterday!! Goodbye, untill next time!!!

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Winter Market tomorrow!!

2010-11-12T11:49:00.000-08:00

Haven't posted for a while, have been so busy organising the market for tomorrow! I am glad to say we have loads of amazing talented designers displaying their wares so if you are in Brighton tomorrow, please do drop by and see at us St Nicholas Church, on Dyke road, near to Churchill Square. There is a flyer in the previous post....
Gemma has sent me loads of amazing pieces of her quirky art, I really want some already! There is a really cute mermaid and a great card which says "I Love Tea!" with a little smiley happy teacup on it!

Heres some images I took earlier today of my mock table set up! I have made a driftwood board to display my earrings on, and painted another old cork board to display my necklaces on...

Will update you all on the day!!!
Goodbye, untill next time!!!

Roll up, roll up!!!

2010-11-02T05:41:00.000-07:00

Hey Guys,
Just to let you know there will be Beach Shack Project goodies on sale at the first Makers Boutique Winter Market, in Brighton on 13th November. Hopefully I should have my new textiles printed by then, I have been working on a few cushion designs!!!! Yes, cushions!!! Bit different from jewellery but I love doodling and messing around in Photoshop so this should combine a few of my favourite things.
Unfortunately I will be running around like a headless chicken as this is the first event me and Katy, are organzing together. We are bit fed up with the lack of good craft events that we just decided to start our own, so this is it!!! There will be handmade ceramics, clothes, jewellery, textiles, bags, knitwear, peg dolls, illustrators, painters, cardmakers, furniture and much more!
Ruth will be running the caf' with homemade cakes and tea's so if you are in the area you should stop by and pick up some beautiful individual handmade christmas presents, so much better than any of the stuff you will find on the high street. Everyone knows someone who loves something handmade so hope to see you all there!

Btw there are still a few stalls left for anyone who may be interested in selling so please get in touch at makersboutique@gmail.com if you would like to take part...or look us up on facebook

Goodbye, untill next time....

My first Holga Film developed!!!

2010-10-27T06:57:00.000-07:00

Peafowl on the roof.

I was given a Holga camera by Steve for my birthday about 50 million years ago, and then it sat on my shelf for even longer, untill Steve decided to process some of his films and took my film along to be developed too.
Steve has a Holga too and its a bit hit and miss what decides to work. If you are unfamiliar with the Holga camera it is basically a cult plastic camera, popular because of its tempermental behaviour and tendency to give a dreamy 1970's type feel to your photographs. But what I really love about it is when you haven't processed a film staright away and you do find it years later in a drawer or something, and when you process it all these wonderful memories are conjured up...in the digital age you can take as many photos as you want and bore people to death with your photos, but with a old-skool analogue camera you only get a certain amount of pictures and each one you take is usually over-considered and special. Even more so when I found out how much it is to get them deveolped!!! But I am very happy with them...and my first attempt resulted in all my photos coming out!!!

Ottery John, The Stable Boy!!!

My Mum picking berries whilst on a walk - can't even remember where! Multiple Exposure hense the many heads!!!

Dungeoness Beach - Flat Road trip to the barron coast

Charlestown Gallery!!! Home of my Small Friend (Waving!) Sausage is also visible...

And the Long One again, at Rock, for my birthday, probably the birthday I was given this camera!!!

Goodbye, untill next time!!!

Even more new additions....

2010-10-26T12:24:00.000-07:00

If anyone who is reading this, is an artist of whatever medium, I am sure at some point you will turn around and think..."I don't want to sell this!"
After making up a few new jazzy pendants for the shop I couldn't part with this delightful chunky pieces of unusual grey sea glass, and I am currently wearing it right now...I am addicted to blues and greys and this colour kind of hits both of my favourite hues on the mark...

Anyway, I hope you can find a pendant that you can't part with in the shop too! Theres a whole rainbow of choice!!!!

I will be doing a competition later this week for a beautiful deep dark forest green piece of sea glass...so stay tuned for that...
Click the photos to view the new items!!! Enjoy and Goodbye, untill next time!

NEW NEW NEW

2010-10-18T10:12:00.001-07:00

Just to let you know I am now in the process of re-hauling the shop with the new stock so I will be making alot of changes so please bear this in mind if there are any items you are interested in. I hope you all like the refreshed shop as much as I do!!!

Goodbye, untill next time!!!

Alternative guide to Croatia

2010-10-18T06:07:00.001-07:00

As many of you may have known I was in Croatia about a month ago, I've been pretty slack about writing it up mainly because there were literally hundreds of photos to go through (my boyfriend gets a bit trigger happy), but I have chosen a few to document our holiday and the main plus points!!! We started off in the Old Town of Dubrovnik, which is a world heritage site, a beautiful bustling walled town with red brick roofs, tiny winding alleys and marbled lined streets (lethal in my shoes, I am very surprised I did not fall over during this holiday!). I ate at this amazing vegetarian restaurant on the first day called Nishta. "Nishta" means "nothing" in Croatian, as apparently when they were planning their restaurant (the first vegi one in Dubrovnik) the locals got very curious and were asking what kind of food they were selling. When they explained it was anything but meat and fish, the Croatians found this very puzzling and were like "so, you make nothing then?!" and the owners as a joke thought it would be funny to call the restaurant "nothing" instead! Croatians LOVE meat and fish and its everywhere, and their food is very heavily influenced by italy so there is also an adudance of my favourite food, Pizza!!! We had great fun exploring the Old Town and spent one day wandering around the top of the walls, the views were fantastic...
We were island hopping and staying at "Sobes" ("Rooms") which was very interesting! The Sobes are like a cross between a B&B and a room in someones house, infact, alot of the rooms we stayed in were just rooms in peoples houses. They have all been vetted by the Croatian government and proudly display their navy blue signs outside advertising somewhere to stay. We only booked our first nights in Dubrovnik and after that we found our own rooms, which is pretty fun as I like the spontaneity, and is a similar method we used when travelling Thailand.Here are some lovely images of tea!!! Croatians have rubbish tea so if you love tea I suggest bringing your own, most of them serve the tea with cream too, much to our dismay and give you strange looks for not ordering coffee or beer!!! Our next stop was the Island of Mljet, one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to. We caught a ferry from the marina and purred into Polace, the second biggest town there with about 150 local residents. We were met off the boat by loads of locals waving signs about their "sobes" so we followed a young girl to go check out her rooms. The room was perfect and had a balcony overlooking the bay which was great for drinking bottles of wine on!!!There was literally nothing to do on the island, which was great! On our first day we went down this random dirt track expecting to find a beautiful secluded beach at the bottom, we walked for 90 minutes down this track, before it promptly ended, and we were gutted! The dirt track had been built because the island is so densely populated in trees that if there is a fire the track is there so they can get closer to uninhabited areas! There is a protected inland salt lake, part of the national park of Mljet, so one day we hired bikes and rode around it. Here I am below, I am such an idiot on a bike!! Steve is like, mountain bike pro and I scream if I go over a rock or have to cycle up anything that isn't 100% flat!!!Next stop was Korcula, and we had to find a random boat to take us to the next island as all the ferries had stopped about 2 weeks previously, so we paid a man with a very fetching lobster tattoo to take us to our next destination.

Korcula was a bit of a shock after the peaceful tranquility of Mljet, but there were some amazing things to do, one of my favourite activities was going to a rooftop bar in an old tower. The top floor is only accessed by ladder, and all the drinks are brought to you by a pulley system that goes up the side of the building!! I had many tequilla based drinks that evening!!!
Our next stop was one of my fav islands, Hvar. Very Posh and Yacht-club-y with nautical stripes on everything!! It rained for a bit, unfortunately while we were staying here, so we spent alot of time reading books and magazines in the cafes...Hvar turned me into a chair snob too, they have sofas everywhere in Hvar, outside the cafes, in the bars and restaurants, so I found myself looking for places with sofas when the rain came in, it was so comfy to snuggle up on the sofa with my weird tea and watch the rainy world go by under the tarpaulin canvases protecting us from the rain! After the rain cleared it was stupidly hot, and me and Steve hired a boat and sailed it around the nearby islands...

Croatia seems quite limited on vegetables too, we only saw a handful of vegetables so I guess they rely heavily on seasonal varieties, but we saw these green peppers everywhere and they appeared in most meals I ordered! They are quite peppery and have a very distinct taste that I cannot associate with the other types of peppers. Very tasty indeed!

We left Hvar and caught a boat to our last destination, Spilt, which is on the mainland. I also had my first Earl grey tea on this boat which was a strange place for it to crop up after asking for it everywhere else! Spilt has an Old Town too, and parts of it are also a World Heritage Site, so we had lots of fun exploring the little narrow paths and alleyways everywhere again...
We found a really cool little museum that documented traditional Croatian dress and had some very intricate beaded necklaces too...lots of inspiration...Check out Steve channeling the model below!!!!

Spilt is a really vibrant city with alot going on, and even though many people had recommended we don't actually spent much time there me and Steve realy enjoyed it. The nightlife was very exciting and the whole town comes alive in the evening, rather like Dubrovnik.
So to sum up, Croatia is an amazing place to go on holiday...It was hot, cultural, had great food and even better wine (try the Plavac!!) and you should all go right now and check it out!!!

Sleeping Kitties above, there were cats everywhere in Croatia!!! Wish I could have taken them all home, especially this guy....Goodbye, untill next time!

It's my birthday !!!

2010-10-05T14:31:00.000-07:00

It's my birthday and a trip to kernow was the perfect way to spend it, had a lovely walk from St Clements along the river to Malpas. I had a gorgeous lasagne (vegetarian of course!!) at the pub, and the weather was a rare sunny treat for October.
I have had loads of fantastic presents including some new Noa Noa spotty tights, some new film for my fuji instant camera and a handknitted sausage dog I have named claude from my best friend!!!

Goodbye untill next time!!!

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Shoreham by sea House Boats

2010-09-28T12:11:00.000-07:00

Went for a Walk with Steve and Livvy today, along the river to see the Shoreham Houseboats. I was flabbergasted that she had never seen them and dragged her along...the boats are really interesting as they are very ramshackle but look incredibly homely. Some people have been really creative and done some really unusual touches...
My favourite one is here, their boat is made out of half a bus, and a crazy window that looks like something from the yellow submarine. They have a microwave letter box, and there are lots of smaller equally strange vessels that surround it, I love the bath tub window and the washingmachine window too! very inventive, very creative and I would imagine most of these parts have been salvaged too.

Little walkway that leads down to the shed and kayak mooring.

Tennis art!

This one is unusual because it looks like an ex-military boat, its MASSIVE!!!!

This one was very pretty, loved the bunting and the reclaimed fishing nylon weaved fence!

artichoke flower

Went to the beach after and we found SAND! There is rarely sand anywhere around this coast which infuriates me, everywhere is covered in large pebbles and rocks, and makes for very uncomfortable beach sitting, but the tide was quite far out today and there was a whole good 10 metres of beautiful sand, Alfie the dog got very excited and started cantering around when he realized he was on soft lovely sand! Made me reminisce and think about Cornwall, must get down there again soon!

Oh, and I will be uploading more new products tomorrow, very exciting!

Goodbye, untill next time!
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On the road again...

2010-09-17T11:01:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been hectic since I got back from Croatia (special post coming soon!) and I've been busy getting back in the loop, doing custom orders and planning my next trade events,
BUT I am on my way to Suffolk right now for a friends wedding which I am very excited about!!!

It's weird being back in the UK as I feel like I've missed that transistional period as the seasons change and it feels very much like Autumn now, too chilly for bare legs, too dark too early and too much desire to eat comfort foods (first night back I made a round of pasties for the flat! Best yet apparently!) but at least the sun is still out and it's not started raining cats and dogs!!!!

I'm wearing my "on the rocks" necklace above over my mahoosive jumper and a necklace by one of my favourite designers, Wapa (look her up on Etsy, she does AMAZING mugs and pots and tealights too) the necklace I'm wearing of hers is based on plankton and it goes with everything, infact it's the only ever necklace I wear that I didn't design!!! I love the fact it's unglazed too so it feels very organic like alot of the sea pottery I find but very delicate too.
Anyway I have also been busy designing all my new autumn pieces too so there should be more live in the shop soon, the "on the rocks" necklace is available in the shop now so if you haven't checked out the new pieces do so now!!!
Fingers crossed no one spills redwine on my dress tomorrow, I made an impromptu guest appearance at the stag due and promptly had my vino tipped all down my dress, thanks guys!!!!
Have a good weekend,

Goodbye, untill next time!!

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Croatia so far...

2010-09-08T13:03:00.000-07:00

Well, haven't been able to blog for a while, I'm on holiday in Croatia at the moment travelling up the Adriactic coast, started in Dubrovnick (found some wickid glass, pottery and stone in the harbour there) then caught a boat to Mljet where we have been island hopping since. Will update you again soon but in the meantime here are some photos of my journey so far....

Goodbye, untill next time!!!

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Bit random, bit weird...

2010-08-28T05:52:00.000-07:00

Snoop dog, and Clyde the sealion.

"SeaWorld San Diego's Clyde the Sea Lion wanted the rapper to know that he too can bring the bling," a press release from SeaWorld read. "Clyde said he'd be happy to collaborate with Snoop Dogg on one of his future hip-hop songs!"

Goodbye, untill next time...

Curl Magazine

2010-08-27T04:54:00.000-07:00

Got my copy of the winter issue of Curl yesterday in the post, Thanks Lynne!!!! Nice little feature on my Nylon & rope pieces...
Checkity check it out!!!

Goodbye, untill next time!!!

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SUMMER SALE NOW ON!!!!

2010-08-25T13:14:00.000-07:00

To make room for all my new winter stock...(preview below!!!) I'm having a massive clearout of my fishermans rope pieces, so grab a bargain while you still can.There is a new look to the store too, instead of all the products loading up on the first page you will now just see a photo and then be able to navigate through the shop using the toolbar on the right hand side. It should be easier to narrow down necklaces or certain styles like "just wirewrapped" and now there is the new art category too.

I will be stocking the shop with these new items below very very very soon!Goodbye, untill next time!

ART ATTACK!

2010-08-25T08:59:00.001-07:00

New mini-original artworks in the shop,
£15 each, bling seaguls, funky seals, tribal whales....
Check them out HERE!!!
Goodbye, untill next time!

Playgroup & Brunswick

2010-08-25T06:05:00.000-07:00

As I said before I had been busy doing some festivals, first up was Playgroup, a chilled festival just outside Tunbridge wells....

Me and Katy, aka the Baglady of Brighton!!!

Lots of random pianos scattered about for people to tinkle on....

This tree was beautiful, lots of lamps and picture frames and oddities hanging from the branches....

No mud at this festival, even tho it did tip it down most of the weekend!

Here we are at Brunswick festival now, we had a lovely double gazebo and I was selling alongside Katy and Sandra (who makes flipflops) and Gail, another talented artist. Weekend was great fun but I was not impressed with the rain, it didn't again stop all weekend, and then brighton-ed up monday morning, typical!!!!
I am not a good all season market trader!!!! I like sun sun sun not rain rain rain!

Had lots of visitors to the stand, meet Alfie!!!

Some of my work.... the box canvases are some new artlines I have been working on, painting on driftwood and wood that I find...

Katies lovely bags....

Goodbye, untill next time!

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Holiday soon!!!

2010-08-22T14:24:00.000-07:00

I have been busy at a few festivals recently (post to follow tomorrow!!) and getting my winter stock ready for the shop.
But just to let you guys know....
I am going to Croatia for 2 weeks on the 31st August. We are flying to Dubrovnick and making our way up to Spilt where we fly home.
I'm very excited and am hoping to squeeze in a bit of beachcombing along the way too!!!
So if you are going to place an order please bear in mind any orders placed after 30th August will be processed as soon as I return to work on the 14th September.

Goodbye, untill next time!!!

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Playgroup festival this weekend

2010-08-12T02:12:00.000-07:00

I will be somewhere, not sure where yet (venue is a secret!!!) in East Sussex this weekend doing at stall at the Playgroup Festival. Me and Katy will be selling our wares on saturday and sunday so if you are attending the event come over and say hello,
now, fingers crossed it doesn't rain!!!!

Goodbye, untill next time....

30% OFF DISCOUNT FOR ONE WEEK ONLY

2010-08-08T03:51:00.000-07:00

To celebrate a very good month I'm feeling like its time for a discount code, so if your looking for some last minute holiday jewellery, a new accessory to update your summer wardrobe or a present for a loved one just enter the following code below, enjoy :-)
Goodbye, untill next time!

"Perfect Wedding" Feature

2010-08-07T13:46:00.001-07:00

Had a mention in this months issue of "Perfect Wedding" where my wire wrapped sea glass necklace was featured, perfect for a beach themed wedding.
Thankyou for featuring me Angela :-)

Goodbye, untill next time

Etsy Feature on the Beach Shack Project

2010-08-02T11:34:00.000-07:00

I was busy last week preparing some photos for my "through the lens" feature on Etsy.
I was asked by the lovely Amity, the UK blogger for Etsy, to do a day-in-the-life-of me, but through a photographic journal style.
It was loads of fun and I love the collages Amity did with my photos and the opening write up about me. Also I have had so many wonderful comments from people re: my work so a big thankyou to you guys too!
Checkity check it out here...
Goodbye, untill next time!

LOVE THESE STICKS!

2010-07-30T07:54:00.001-07:00

How cool are these? Very inspirational, never thought I would get an urge to paint stripes on sticks!!! By"ginettesqulette" on Flickr.
Goodbye, untill next time!

AW2010 sneek peeks

2010-07-30T05:39:00.000-07:00

Working on the Autumn Winter collection,
lots of crystal, drilled frosted glass beads, sparkle and soft silk threads...
Wont be available untill september October but I was getting excited and thought I would post one of the necklaces online, I'm going to wear it camping this weekend, sweeeeeeeeeeeet!!!
Goodbye, untill next time!

Doodles

2010-07-27T12:33:00.000-07:00

I like doodling,

Here is my Mafia Penguin and some seals swimming aboot....

Goodbye, untill next time...

Ministers Treehouse

2010-07-26T03:12:00.000-07:00

My boyfriend is addicted to StumbleUpon at the moment, its a website that claims to change the way you use the internet! Basically you just join, tick what interests you from a very broad range of topics from Tea to Quilting! He found this the other day, apparently its the biggest treehouse in existence...

Its called the Ministers treehouse, and was built as "Gods Treehouse" when God said that if he constructed a massive treehouse then he would ensure that the Minister would never run out of wood. 14 years later he is still adding to it, using salvaged materials from barns, outbuildings, sheds and garages. It has 5 stories, 80 rooms and a church and belltower!
I love treehouses, my friend bought me a book on them for Christmas a while ago, and my dream house has always been the same....a houseboat in a tree!
There was this example of a boat in a tree in the book, the Gainza Treehouse in France, an amazing eighteenth century replica boat in a plane tree, which then led me to find this:

I can buy it for $34,500.00, could be a good investment if house prices are rising, I'll just plonk it on Brighton Beach! Arrrrrr!!!!

Goodbye, untill next time!

Cool Flowers

2010-07-25T14:35:00.000-07:00

Check out these badboys, so pretty! I was in Poynings today, having a nice pub BBQ and then I spotted these in someones garden when we went for a stroll in the village.
I'm not very good with flowers so I have no idea what they are so if anyone knows let me know!!! I want some!!

Goodbye, untill next time...

UK Handmade

2010-07-23T11:47:00.000-07:00

Love UK Handmade, they are a UK based website that publish online magazines 4 times a year, and it's always a good read, and inbetween all this there's also the blog www.ukhandmade.blogspot.com
I was featured there on Wednesday, so thankyou guys!!!

Goodbye, untill next time

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Trash to Treasure upcycling comp @ makers online

2010-07-21T09:27:00.000-07:00

I heard about the Trash to Treasure competition at makers online. I decided to enter with the following entry below...I love using recycled elements within my work as it really makes you think outside the box sometimes, this necklace was really fun to make and has been inspired by the pieces I choose to use, as is often the case when I make a one-off design. I am always drawn to over the top statement necklaces, so for this one I have made a really chunky piece, with lots of beach bling included. I wanted to create a really summery piece so I choose some bright pieces of Flotsam and Jetsam like the orange reclaimed nylon, forest green cartridges and turquoise plywood.
Everything in the necklace has been reclaimed, even the crystals, apart from the hemp I used which is organic, and some good old fashioned jump rings and picture hooks!
You will need:
One drill
One 2.5mm diamond tipped drill bit
Bowl and water for drilling in
Epoxy glue
Tapestry needles
pliers

Ingredients:
Plywood (found)
driftwood (found)
Sea pottery (found)
Nylon (found)
Pebble (found)
Crystals (reclaimed)
Jump rings
Hemp twine,
BB gun pellets / empty cartridges (found)

Method:
So, I picked some driftwood, some sea rounded plywood and some neutral sea pottery to make up the main part of the pendant. I measured where the sea pottery pendants would hang and drilled some holes in it (not advisable - drilling plywood stinks!). I then glued the driftwood to the plywood using strong epoxy glue (and again smelly), and glued some beautiful sparkly vintage Swarovski crystals onto the plywood.

Then I drilled the sea pottery using 2.5mm diamond tipped drill points, in water (in the little terracotta pot above) and attached it to plywood using gold jump rings...
NB: Don't ever drill sea glass or pottery without doing it in water, it will just shatter, there are loads of tutorials online if you are unsure...

I took the nylon and cut it into some strips, approx 8 inches long, and then sewed and bound the hemp onto the ends by using tapestry needles and created two loops to act as the connecting devise on one end, near the pendant. The nylon is too thick to bend back around itself so I decided to get some hemp on the scene!!!
The clasp is made by taking a beach pebble and hooking it over a larger loop on the other ends...I strung another crystal over the pebble as a little charm....

Next comes one of my favourite parts of the necklace, I wanted this to be a very beach bling necklace, and a while ago I found these BB gun pellets on the beach, which are just empty cartridges from the gun, I thought it would be great to stick crystals in them and add a more dramatic sparkly element to the piece itself...

I put some old picture hooks into the driftwood and this is how the pendant connects to the necklace...I then connected it all together using jump rings...

And then the finished product looks like this once you have connected the pendant to the nylon via the crystal BB pellets!!!

And here's me modelling it!!

Hope you enjoyed seeing my process, if you check out the page link above on the button you can see loads of other great entries too...
Goodbye, untill next time...!!!

Tomorrow I will be mostly doing...

2010-07-09T07:14:00.000-07:00

This!
In Brighton!
I will have a little stall selling sea treasures and trinkets, if your in the area get on down!!!
Goodbye, untill next time!

If there was an interior designer in Moomin land...

2010-07-07T04:48:00.000-07:00

This was the interior design for a family entertainment centre. I don't know what a family entertainment centre is, I even tried googling it and no one else seems to know either. Its where a family goes to be entertained I guess...
Anyway, check out these ultra cool photos, the rooms are designed by Mario Yasko.
I would love to have a room like this...

Goodbye, untill next time....

Stickers!!!!

2010-07-02T07:18:00.000-07:00

Got my stickers in the post today, so exciting!
I had whales, seals and fish ones and I'm going to be using them to decorate my giftboxes, they look so cute!!!

Goodbye, untill next time!

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New rings in store now - BEACH BLING RING

2010-07-02T05:53:00.000-07:00

Hey, just listed these new fab rings in the shop...
Each one is handmade to order and you can choose from 4 colours, to order simply choose your ring size and colour preference....
Goodbye, untill next time...

Ring a ding ding

2010-06-28T15:04:00.000-07:00

Coming soon...
Beach Bling Ring

Goodbye, untill next time...

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New items in shop

2010-06-28T11:42:00.000-07:00

Have added lots more wire wrapped pieces to the shop,
Goodbye, untill next time...

Good Haul

2010-06-25T12:35:00.000-07:00

My cousin and her friend are staying this weekend. My cousin brought up a huge bag of wicked sea pottery that she collected for me so I will be adding some new pieces soon!
I really like the unusual bottle stopper in the bottom photo...I will be adding it to my personal collection!!

Goodbye, untill next time

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Rainbow necklace

2010-06-24T10:36:00.000-07:00

I couldn't resist posting these images of a lovely custom order I just had for Tyler at Corduroy, a surfing gallery and boutique, in Portland, USA.She wanted a rainbow necklace for the opening night of a rainbow exhibition they have planned there. If your in the area you should check it out!
I will also be displaying my work there soon, and I'm busy preparing a range for them.
Goodbye, untill next time...

Curl Magazine Giveaway

2010-06-22T06:50:00.000-07:00

Howdy!!!

Just to let you know that the Beach Shack Project is doing a giveaway via Curl Magazine.
Curl Magazine is a fantastic women's lifestyle magazine aimed at surfer girls, with fashion, beauty, how-to's and travel info.
There are four items up for grabs on the site, including some lovely fisherman's rope bangles.
For more information and to enter please visit the "giveaway" section on their site.

Goodbye, untill next time!