Festive Goings On

I am very much enjoying my long Christmas break this year, it is nice to have a whole week off after Christmas before returning to my day job. I had a great Christmas, ate too much and received some lovely presents - some of which were handmade too!


My other half bought me this great Dr Who mouse from The House of Mouse and a handprinted notebook from Pumpkin Sputnik. The mouse is sitting in my jewellery studio and the notebook will be useful for keeping notes and ideas all in one place, rather than on bits of paper everywhere.


I also treated myself to a pincushion from Lupin's shop, and I was her 1,500th customer to boot, I received some brilliant freebies from her! The doves are also going in my studio and the flowers pinned on bags and coats :) I love the map writing set too, I think I might include some of these in my orders!

Being as we have had some free time we've used it to spend a bit more time outdoors, we visited Knole Park in Kent on Boxing day, which is full of deer roaming about freely, they are quite tame too so you can get really close up!We also visited Jimmys Farm in Suffolk this week, which has a great nature trail which includes rare breed chickens, guinea pigs (randomly!), ferrets and a lovely woodland walk.
We also stopped at their farm shop to pick up some pork, farmed just in the next field. I'll be blogging a gorgeous crispy pork noodle recipe later.


Amongst all of this I have also managed to make and list one new item for the shop, these Angelhair earrings. I adore these beads, they really jumped out at me when I was bead shopping, they are so interesting and in limited supply. I am definitely going to keep a pair for myself too. In my Etsy shop and soon to be in my Folksy shop too.

I am working on new designs for 2009, including a new version of my popular Two Lockets necklace, this time with oxidized silver chain which matches perfectly with brass lockets. I am eagerly awaiting more silver chain in the post so I can make and list this design. I hope you like it.

I am now going to end this mammoth blog post by wishing you a Happy New Year!


xx

Merry Christmas!

So its nearly here, I think I am prepared. The tree is up, presents are wrapped and I have a couple of my handmade presents to finish off. I've tried hard this year to either buy handmade gifts or make handmade gifts, I have some very special gifts that I made myself which I shall blog about once everyone has received them!

I have one more day left of my proper day job and then I am away for a few days for a relaxing family Christmas, I think it will be a well earned break. I am hoping for snow but I don't think we will be that lucky!

My Etsy and Folksy shops are now closed for the Christmas period, I've had a great festive season in both shops, thank you to everyone that shopped with me, I hope your loved ones enjoy their gifts.

Merry Christmas to all my customers, blog readers and fellow crafters!
I'll be blogging my Christmas crafty projects in the new year :)


xx

Handm@de Cambridge!

I am quite excited to be involved with organising the next Handm@de craft fair in the lovely Cambridge city centre, we have recently opened applications to stallholders for the event which will be on the 4th April 2009. We are hoping to attract lots of gorgeous designers, makers, artists, and crafters to the fair.

If you are interested in exhibiting please visit the blog, Flickr group or email handmadefairs@gmail.com for more information and an application form!

If you are interested in visiting, we will be at the Cambridge Guildhall on the 4th April 2009. :)

xx

New

New Earrings, originally uploaded by lazygiraffe.

I love all the beads that I find and use in my designs, that is the beauty of vintage beads. These beads are my particular favourite, they are so so interesting. I was very eager to get these and start using them. They are lightweight lucite with dark purple swirls, like ink in water. Just perfect.

Inkwell earrings, my etsy shop right now :)

xx

Posterous!

I've started a posterous account, so far I am not sure how I am going to use this but it looks rather helpful! :)

Posted via email from Deepa's posterous

Weekly Special!

I have begun a new special in my shop this week, every customer will receive a free pair of Turquoise Splash earrings with every purchase in my Etsy Shop. They will arrive gift boxed too!


I am also still gift wrapping my boxes with lovely satin ribbon and a handmade gift tag.

Happy Shopping! :)

P.S. - only last order date for customers in the USA, Canada and everywhere else is tomorrow.

xx

For Your Hair

Just to let you know I'm doing a little promotion in my shop this weekend.

Every customer receives one pair of lovely rose hairpins, either a pair of Flamenco red hairpins or Emerald green hairpins. Just let me know when you checkout which pair you would like, if I don't have a message I will suprise you :)


Perfect for filling stockings! In my Etsy shop


xxx

Foodie

I've been meaning to blog about my favourite food blogs for a while, I love food blogs - the best ones are always 200 times better than anything you would find in a magazine. I also like the tried and tested factor of it because I like to know recipes work, there is nothing worse than something you make going wrong because of a duff recipe (obviously I am a fantastic cook so its not my fault ;))

I have been following my two favourite blogs for quite a while now and they are always filled with great recipes.

First is Gastronomy Domine, which I also love for the restaurant reviews - alas I haven't been to some of the fantastic places Liz has blogged about but I have drooled at the pictures. I am going to try and track down a pork hock this weekend on her recommendation, I can't wait to try her latest recipe. You should also definitely try the recipe for Char Sui pork, although its not the weather for it now, its really great cooked on the barbecue.

photo by smitten kitchen

Second is Smitten Kitchen, which is full of what American food really should be about which is great. You should also try some of the cookie recipes, the homemade oreo recipe is the best. One of our household favourites is also the quesadilla with acorn squash recipe (you can use all sorts of different veg, I like courgettes or butternut squash) which is really easy to make. I love the photography too, I can happily flick through the photos and waste a lot of time dreaming of what to make next.

xx

Away and Free Shipping!

Ruffles Earrings - in my Etsy and Folksy shops

I have a busy week ahead of me this week, which is a bit of a wrench for me because I'm a bit of a sad old homebody who prefers to be at home making jewellery and drinking tea than out drinking wine. Actually I don't mind swapping the tea for wine at home though.
Anyway, I will be away between the 3rd and 4th December, back on the 5th probably nursing a sore head.

As I am away, and in the spirit of Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Cyber Tuesday (apparently this is new) and anything else anyone fancies calling days of the week in the USA, I am offering Free Worldwide Shipping on all items in my Etsy shop! All items are already edited so no need to wait for a revised invoice :)

All items will be shipped out on the 5th December!

Happy Shopping!