Pinky Olives Etsy Treasury

This is my current treasury west list, what do you think? I really like these colours together, but I didn't know that until I came across Pirilampo Riscardo's super-sweet and unusual seed pod choker in salmon, olive, chocolate and cream (imagine THAT as the foodstuffs all together! Maybe not so good!). This inspired me to find more things with the same colour combination and these are the fruits of my labours!

Featured Etsy sellers, from left to right:
Uncommon, Pirlampo Riscardo, Lic Gifts, 5 Gardenias, Stash/Mariforssell, Pen Felt, Circs, Thumble, Amanda Archer, Jazz Baby 1920, Utile Mud, Golly Bard

Enjoy!
Joey x

I'm Likin' this Lichen...

This is my latest Etsy treasury west. What do you think to it?

Take a closer look at the treasury items above in the Etsy shops, from left to right:

Thredworx, Elin Art, Bodhitree, Budpnq, Wee Green Spot, Jessica Doyle, Mandella Glass, Element Clay Studio, Natalie's Art, Little Creek Yarn, Nature Mandalas, Love All Around

I really love lichen and mosses, because although they're usually very tiny, their little details are quite beautiful when you get very close, which I love to do by taking pictures with the super-macro facility on my camera, like this:

I hope this inspires you to look more closely when you see a bit of insignificant-looking lichen... a natural work of art!

Joey xx

Bunnigami! Simple Origami with Bunnies Part 3

If you've been following this series, you'll have noticed that I'm a couple of days late this posting part 3. Whoops, sorry! I don't know what happened actually. I think I was cooking lentil dhal when I usually remember...

Anyway, here is the latest part, this time you can make a masu box. This is a traditional Japanese model which is meant to resemble a square wooden box which was originally used to measure rice, and later used to drink sake (rice wine) from. I don't recommend using yours to drink wine from though!

You may need to click on the image of the instructions above to get a clearer view. If you get stuck, just leave a comment below.

You can use any sort of paper, but it needs to be precisely square. If you want to make a small box, you will need to use lightweight paper, like cheap printer paper or cheap wrapping paper. If you want to make a very large box, you will find that it holds its shape better if you use thick paper like sugar paper (contruction paper in the US) or even wallpaper.

Have fun!
Joey x

Next Thurs 16th July: a waterbomb!

Rudo Y Cursi - film review

Rudo Y Cursi is a comedy about two half-brothers in Mexico who are spotted by a talent scout and rise from rural obscurity to become professional footballers. I'm not into football at all but I really liked this film. It was great for a Friday night; very funny and I don't think i've read as many subtitled swear-words before! Which is entertaining in itself, in a juvenile sort of way. I do like Gael Garcia Bernal (who played Tato, nicknamed Cursi, above left) which is one of the reasons I wanted to see the film.

The story starts with them working on their banana plantation, with Cursi playing his accordion in any spare moment he gets, and Rudo (played by Diego Luna) struggling to make ends meet to support his family. From desperate poverty, they are lifted to stardom as professional footballers (Cursi was a striker and Beto/Rudo a goalkeeper) in different teams, which adds fuel to their ongoing resentments with each other. However, their rise to fame isn't long-lived or simple, and they each go through their own life-changing journeys.

What I think was particularly good about this film was some great acting, from Bernal and Luna and also Guillermo Francella who played Baton, the talent scout (Francella is apparently big in his home country, Argentina). I really warmed to Tato and Beto because like many of us, they have high goals, but their human weaknesses (lust for one, gambling for another) quickly and cruelly bring them back down to earth.

I'd recommend Rudo Y Cursi for anyone's Friday night entertainment, football fanatic or not.

Now I'm Just Being Greedy!

Etsy treasuries are like buses, you wait ages for one to come along and then two turn up at once.

But that's part of the pleasure of putting them together, it's a game of chance... ;-)

Here's the two treasuries I created (above was made in 'treasury west', the second is in the 'main' treasury):

First treasury (theme: ladybirds)
Etsy shops, from left to right:
Mad Tea Party Furniture, Queen Artist, Mama Runs With Scissors, Bohtieque, Lucky 17, Elizabeth Jewelry, Owlishly, Lagoa Designs, Amber Alexander, Elvyess, Agatka, The Fetching Hound

Second treasury, no theme just things I like
Etsy shops, from left to right:
Louise Broomhead, Tim's Sally, Green Post, Ninainvorm, Sugar Elf, Hydra Heart, Owlishly, Tree for You, The Secret Nest

I hope you liked looking at all the lovely items!
Joey x

Bunnigami! Simple Origami with Bunnies Part 2

Here's the second part of my origami instructions with bunnies! This week there are two pictures; the first are diagrams of origami symbols which are commonly used in origami books written in different languages, the second is the first model you can make: a paper cup!

I hope you enjoy them! :D

Next Thursday: a masu box! Please come back next week...

Joey x

Etsy Treasury - Wimbledon Special!

Tennis is one of the few sports on telly that I can actually watch. So with Wimbledon on this week, it's inspired me to make a treasury on Etsy to commemorate it! Don't you think these things are lovely??!

Why don't you take a closer look at these items and the Etsy shops they're from?

First row, l - r

I really love Sea Pinks little embroidered pendant, the stitches look immaculate.

Sugar Elf's strawberry milk cow is just too sweet for words and I could cuddle that cow to death!

The lightness and simplicity is what attracted me to Nature Mandalas' strawberry flower print.

Debi Birkin Designs' pattern for a strawberry badger is wonderfully detailed - who could be against badgers after seeing this?

Second row, l - r:

Now, if I was a little girl still, I'd want to wear Kitchy Coo Kids' strawberry blouse every day, it's so cute and bright.

Zibergirl's strawberry and cherries print dress looks lovely, the fabric and the style is fabulous.

A strawberry brooch from She Likes Cute is going to brighten up any outfit with its cute smile.

I really like crocheted baskets, and I love the colours of Jane Box's strawberries and cream container.

Third row, l - r:

Melissa Sue's strawberry/bird creatures are wonderfully other-worldly... unexpected and cute. I really like her photo of them as well, eating strawberries, the little cannibals! :D

I love lampwork beads, it's something I wish I could learn. Upsy Daisy Farm's glass beads are wonderful! Imagine them on a lovely bracelet together with turquoise flower beads and other lampwork red beads... just what I'd like.

I really like the simple elegance of this strawberry notecard from The Paper Peony. Cute for grown-ups.

I think all of Ume Crafts' felt patterns are wonderful but I especially like the cake ones... candy for the eyes only.

Fourth row, l - r:

Dinky Daisy's little wristlet is so neat and simple; cute, but too elegant for kids.

How could you not fall in love with Owlishly's little amigurumi crochet patterns of little folk?

The idea of a two-part stamp from Corrabelle is so clever! I love rubber stamps, I've made a few but nowhere as neatly as this.

I like La Pomme's little monochrome strawberry for its cosiness, it makes me feel contented just by looking at it.

Oh, and here's a bunny brooch I made wearing a strawberry dress. I'll be making another of these because I think she's so cute!

So enjoy your strawberries, either real or hand-crafted! :D

Joey x