nelli D

thankyou mia!

2011-01-16T12:49:00.000-08:00

One of my lovely customers photographed herself and posted the pic to her blog and it has made my day....doesn't she look lovely ?

and to pass on my thanks to Mia here is some delicious eye candy from her very own website.....yummy yummy yummy....which one shall i eat first??

http://www.facebook.com/MiaWPhotography

maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaAHHHOOOOOOOOOOOSIVE sale...HELLO 2011

2011-01-13T01:49:00.000-08:00

Hello 2011.................well what a year 2010 was...but here's to a new one and to start a fresh and to make room for lots and lots of new and exciting designs...i am having a mahoosive sale...right now! all items are 1/2 price or less...so come and have a look round! enter Sale

im back...and i've got lots to share....

2010-10-30T03:45:00.000-07:00

Well it has been ages since I last posted.....months and months in fact ....and these are the reasons why!

1: new job

2: we bought our first house!

3: and many many other things...............

Firstly I got a job in the Police and I have to say that I absolutely love it....there has been lots to learn and lots to do in my little sleepy new forest town let me tell you!

im in here somewhere......

Secondly me and James bought our first house.yipeeeeeeeeeee...and we love it....i have a whole room dedicated to nelli D and James got the garage he desparately wanted...so all is good.

Anyway apart from the usual decorating and chores to be done in the house (the boring stuff) we decided we needed some new additions....

Introducing.......WHTNEY and PEARL...

Whitney came to me via a chance encounter with a lady at work who had hurt her leg and couldn't deliver cat food for a charity...we got talking and I offered to deliver it for her....thats when I met Jayne of Pound puppies in Poole, who single handedly runs an animal charity for animals that are abandoned in Ireland, they get 5 days in the pound in Ireland before they are destroyed...so Jayne brings them back....and rehomes them, needless to say I couldn't resist ending up with one or two cats! (she also has dogs, and rabbits, but our house is not a tardis (or so i am told) ha ha

Jayne relies completely on donations and fundraises and puts on events even though she herself is heavily disabled...She also happens to be hysterical and when I visit I am there for hours rolling around on the floor with laughter.....

now here is the plea....All animals are neutered and vacinated before they leave Jayne....and tested with other dogs children and cats...trust me her house looks like a kennel and they absolutely love her.

If you could give an animal a home and are thinking about a pet please please take a look at her website:

Pound Puppies

Introducing Whitney....a black and sporadic white cat (she has a sprinkling of white hairs in her ears)

Here she is with her brother and 2 sisters! (i had to decide between them ! horrible)

Watching over them....the little ginger one was too little to leave Jayne and I am too impatient to wait!
So Whitty came home with me...and she is the most loyal and loving cat I have ever known...she follows me to work, waits for me on the wall and even comes on dog walks with me.

Whitty ended up in my handbag...the very first time she followed me....I hadn't noticed her behind me and thankgod I missed her crossing the main.... she ended up..dog lead round her neck and stuffed in my bag..complete with tennis balls and poo bags! (it hasn't stopped her though! damn it!

....so not content with one...we got another.....PEARL

Who is the devil in a white coat, quite literally....very very cute...but very very naughty..you can mostly find Pearl...with her head...in the dog bowl, in the bin....or on the kitchen work surface : ( looking for food......! Apparently..this is quite normal said the vet and very typical of a rescue cat! (great)

Poor dotty....strawberries and cream is her favourite too!

DESTROY DESTROY....i must DESTRRRRRRRRRRRoy!


Notice how the lovely leather sofa is completely covered....opps

Well must dash...lots and lots to do..but don't worry the shop is still ongoing..I have a huge party on 13th of November that I am very excited about...which has taken up lots of my making time.(union jack bags are back on the agenda..and bags that have wearable jewellery pieces attatched ...but there will be lots of new additions ready for xmas.......whats that ? you want a sneak peek?

Go- on then!

Photographing my wares

2010-02-18T06:19:00.000-08:00

this for me is always a headache...I have never been great at taking a photo...chopping bits off / dark/shadowy...argggggggggggghhhhhh...anyway I do try my best. I got a swanky camera for xmas and I have a light box which helps loads.

Becuase I have little to no skill with the aformentioned gadget it sometimes takes me weeks to photograph something...as is the case with the tashley tote which has been in my possession for 2 months since I made it.

Today however I cracked it and got some lovely shots: I put my camera on a tripod to avoid the shakes..and I think it worked.

The thing with me is that I am a dreamer, a romantic soul who always has her head stuck in some fashion or interior magazine cooing over the gorgeous pictures and wowing at all of the scene setups! I like to be sold a story along with a product and a quirky shot will often make me buy something, more so than a plain simple one.

So in my little world I try my best to be stylish and interesting...and recreate a vogue/beautiful homes setup in my own way.

and this is what I came up with for : Professor Cecil Nugent!

my old trunks and suitcases fitted the Professors story perfectly ! but you'll have to visit my shop to read more about him!

Read the Professor's story here

Previous to this I had tried some other shots and I think you will agree the above are a marked improvement!

this one even shows the fold creases...rubbish!

...any way enough said out with old in with the new!!

so on that successful note I decided to reshoot the union jack tote too..in the same vain:

thats all for now folks..off to put some rings into my shop...ok ok..heres a quick photo for you!

Fresh fresh fresh ideas!

2010-02-17T07:55:00.000-08:00

Well its been a while since I last posted, mainly due to me teaching again and having limited time, but its half term and I have been beavering away...and I think you will like what I have made...

As you know I love pastel shades, and I have a tendency to stick to the same shades all the time...so my mission, which I chose to accept was to use different colours: and this is what I came up with!

a beautiful fresh grassy green and a pure crisp white! both colours I haven't used before..

I have also used a really lovely new mould which creates large domed cabs, 1 1/2 inches across, which make fabulous oversized rings ! (so watch this space as they will be in my shop very shortly!)

both of these shades have spurred me on to make single colour collections such as charm bracelets and multicharm necklaces-

so that folks is what I am going off to do..bye for now! x

Make Jewellery Magazine feature

2010-01-27T09:18:00.000-08:00

Today I have a big fat smile on my face....because the postie just delivered issue 11 of Make Jewellery to me....and it features my resin jewellery...cue---dancing around the house!!

I am so chuffed with how it has turned out that I thought I would share it with you all!!....

A couple of months ago I was asked by Lorraine the editor of Make Jewellery (on sale in all major stockists by the way) if I would like to submit 3 resin tutorials of varying degrees of difficulties....and I jumped at the chance...so I set about planning the tutorials and sent off the items to be photographed....and that was that...until today.!

The tutorials explain how to create my layered resin brooches, necklaces and charm bracelets.

This is definately going on the loo wall once I get one (a loo and a wall that is) ......

The magazine also features Laura of SheDraws and her fabulous jewellery ... see above..Telephone necklace

and naturally...the goodies for sale can be found in my shops...folksy, etsy and www.nellid.co.uk

Rainy day brooch

Queen Elizabeth necklace

necklace

Brooch

charm bracelet

and another!

A very Special Tribute

2010-01-25T02:49:00.000-08:00

photo courtesy of Holly Cocker

A twist of fate bought me to Holly Shaw...I was trailling through the mountains of blogs that there are on the web....when I stopped to read Holly's ...http://transplanttantrumsandtiaras.blogspot.com/ mainly because I liked the title! and I wanted to find out more.

this is what she wrote:

Hopefully this will raise awareness of transplantation and organ donation but no doubt I will end up waffling on about about friends, family and shopping (hence the tantrums and tiaras bit). I hope this gives you an insight into life after a transplant and wherever that may take me... (Hopefully to lots of shops!)

I read Holly's humbling story with admiration...having had a kidney transplant in 2008, Holly has dedicated her life to grasping life with both hands and working towards her dreams and achieving them...so I read on.

visit Holly's Campaign here

Holly's mission is to raise awareness of the importance of organ donation and she dedicates her time to doing just that...fundraising and generally doing crazy things like ....abseiling down the 100ft Leasowe Lighthouse! and meeting Ben Shepherd!!! (showbiz)

Along Holly's journey she made many friends, one friend was Jessica Wales. Jessica had been waiting for a double lung transplant for 4 1/2 years and received her transplant a couple of weeks ago...however her body was just not strong enough to cope with the trauma of the operation and sadly Jessica died on the 12th January 2010.

Holly and Jess had remained great friends and supported each other throughout their transplant journeys and both girls felt very strongly about being advocates for their charities...working tirelessly even when they were both very ill...

little list of jobs

2010-01-20T02:30:00.000-08:00

I just had one of those days when my little list of jobs actually got completed! and these little beauties were on my list!

I am constantly trying to come you with new colours and techniques and I really really pleased with my new bubble gum pink colour...take a closer look..

Candyfloss!!!

I also managed to get some earrings made!

yellow hot air balloons
buy me here!

Lilac gingerbread ladies

Bubblegum stars

Strawberry milkshake ..I love U!

and finally....

sickly sweet, candy skulls

My little roll didn't stop there...I also made some i'm late i'm late brooches...

.....and if thats not enough for you my lovelies, I also made this little beauty...I had said to myself that I would try and combine my jewellery with my bags and this is my latest creation.. it has a detachable brooch so you get 2 for the price of 1..BARGAIN!

buy the lilac one here

Buy the pink one here

.as you can see the brooch detaches to reveal a lovely silk bow...

and of course lined with lace!

you can buy the Alice tea party bag here:

and finally.... a charm bracelet:

inspired by a romantic weekend away..my other half likes to spoil me with these bless him...I am very lucky...

The bracelet portrays a trip to the Eiffel tower, walks in the park, a spot of tea...a visit to a Couture house, and lots of love...

What more could a girl wish for!! and it would make a great valentines gift Gents!!

Buy the bracelet here!

Well that was that for my little list of jobs, ! I have more lists to crack on with so by for now x

Please remember all these items are for sale in my etsy shop also..

nelli D on Etsy

What a wonderful week I have had

2010-01-13T10:00:00.000-08:00

WOOOO weeee I have just recieved my very first blog award from the lovely Cinnamon Jewellery...(fab jewellery here so pop along and have a gander)

The Sunshine Award is awarded to bloggers whose positivity &; creativity inspires others in the blog world.
Blush blush I feel soo honoured thanks again Cinnamon

The rules for accepting the Sunshine award ~

Put the logo on your blog or within your post ~

Pass the award onto 12 bloggers ~
Link the nominees within your post ~

Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.

Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award.

So to follow on the trend here are my nominees for a sunshine award,

Firstly: Joe Hurry Creations, for having a very intriguing blog..that even made the OH, stop what he was doing and have a read visit Joes blog here:

http://breadandbadger.blogspot.com/ ( a great read, and a fab name)

MrsGknits (for beautiful stunning knits,and for being lovely)

http://crapblogdetective.blogspot.com/2009/12/stupid-twat-blog.html (now this bloke shouldn't really get an award but it has to be seen to be believed!)

http://hellogorgeousdesign.blogspot.com/2010/01/awesome.html

http://seethewoodsandtherecipes.blogspot.com (because I love food!)

garden divas ( a young lady who together with her mum has turned an idea into a business!..well done Katy)

lhttp://dollipops09.blogspot.com/2009/12/brand-spanking-new-website.html (a truly inspirational young lady, trying her best to make it)

http://waitingforthecall.blogspot.com/2009/11/breathe-easy-girls.html ( heartrendering and humbling, a must read)

helenrawlinson (an interesting read)

shedraws( Laura from Shedraws has been an inspiration to me from the start of my shop and continues to offer support to me even when she has her own work to do )

as if my sunshine award wasn't enough I recieved Monty today!and he is truly brilliant!

Monty had been specially made for me, due mostly because of my patriotic nature...I can safely he fits the bill brilliantly:

TA DA...isn't he great, and to make sure Monty settles into his new home, he arrived safely packaged in a breathable box with his very own Kitty litter!( care instructions, cat bell incase he gets lost and tag) Marvelous!

But what is truly brilliant with Monty is the acute attention detail...have a look at what I mean....

All I can say is : GENIUS!

If you would like a 'Monty' or similar...then you will have to visit the home of GEnIuS....

PussyGalore

You will have to be quick though these babies are hot and don't hang around long!

and if that wasn't enough....yes there is more...It happened to be my bday 2 weeks ago and in with Monty came a lovely bday pressie which I adore!

I have never had such a lovely sketchbook before and I have had loads..this people is a treasured item...love love love it...look at the detail!

...gorgeous!

I honestly have never recieved a more beautifully packaged item before...folksy folk are just so thoughtful, I love handmade...its the best ....thankyou x
.

Hello 2010!

2010-01-07T09:18:00.000-08:00

Wow didn't that year go fast..well lets not dwell, so whats new for 2010 !

Well there are soooo many exciting things I have up my sleave its weighing me down; so for now we will start with my love of facial hair! only kidding, but I do love the crafty versions...

People come up with the most weird and wonderful things... I just love it..and in true crafting style I have created my very own hair related crafty goody!

Meet the TASHLEY bag (the other half thought of the rather corny, but brilliant name)

This rather spiffing black moustache is appliqued onto some gorgeous grey wool, lined of course ,with a girly pink lining! (in wool)

A definite party starter!

buy the Tashley bag here!

(customiseable too, if you prefer a different colour style...get messaging me!)

Currently under construction: the Colonel Mustard clutch...complete with handlebars! oh yes this one is a BEAUTY!...

and as always I love comments..and inpspiration! so please I would love to know what you think??

.....thats not all folks,but you will have to wait a little longer to see some more goodies for 2010...I am shortly going to be having my first giveaway, and the union jack totes are making a comeback!

but before I go here are some other facial hair finds!

The first from Wife of Brian (a whole shop dedicated to facial hair goodies,and the name is cracking)

wife of brian-knitted brooch

For more facial hair goodness: Visit Wife of Brian

And for those of us who are under suspision or don't want to be..another folkster Lupin has some equally brilliant disguises!

This ginger inspired moustache can be found here :Lupin handmade

and for those of us who want to be a little subtler about things/or not then check out this designer...Nell (what a lovely name byt he way!)

Brilliant, think that would look good on my future bathroom wall..hmmmm

anyway stop shopping!

If like me you want to purchase the above print you can visit nell here-she also does some other lovely things,

Nell Smith

So comon everyone put down those Razors and get embrasing that facial hair! it can be fun x

SALE SALE SALE

2009-12-10T06:16:00.000-08:00

Hi all, as its the festive season and I am feeling particulary merry...I'm having a huge sale!

Most items are reduced by up to 60%...yep thats right folks 60%!!!!

necklaces were £12 and now £5!

brooches and rings were £9 now £4!!

Bags were £20 now £15

So just to get your taste buds watering here are a few of the sale items to get you started...just click on the pink links to take you straight too them...x

legend of the unicorn

ysowl on folksy bought the blue one....but really she wanted one in raspberry...which I was more than happy to do...and I love it. (think it will make an appearance in 2010!)

here are some more little beauties for you to browse through...meet Nigel....

Nigel clutch bag

and a nice cup of tea.......

blue teapot brooch

Ideal xmas pressies...just in time for xmas

a little key....ring

there are so many bits on sale I could be here all day posting them...my massively popular clear hearts are on sale too...so be quick...grab a bargain!!

VISIT THE SALE...NOW

my first student!

2009-11-27T00:24:00.000-08:00

One blustery and cold night I had a visitor...her name was Sophie...'I want a union jack bag she said'...'Do you now...well make it yourself!'...'so she did, with a little help from me!

After having a good old rummage amongst my fabric stash (which I might add, takes a while) she pulled out some fabric that she liked and away we went.

I showed her the very basics of fabric cutting and pattern making, we cut out the fabric, found some lovely corresponding purple ribbon. A quick lesson on the sewing machine was needed but Sophie had learnt the basics at school and was not as rusty as she first thought!!

Now for someone who will admit she doesn't try new things....Sophie got stuck in, with sewing..and it wasn't the easiest parts either..she went straight into the main feature of the bag..the union jack.....with very nice results. Now it was time for the handles..we pressed pinned and then sewed..ta da handles

Time had flewn and it was already 10.30pm and Soph had to work the next day....so off she went...very pleased with her first sewing session..

......and the bag..yep...I finished it off for her the next day..!

Well done Soph......next week..world domination!

Presenting earrings and hairpins!...

2009-11-16T04:39:00.000-08:00

I'm am so excited and pleased about my latest packaging ideas for my earrings and hairpins that I thought I should share them with you.

< The weekend started well with the delivery of my new moo stickers (which I put on all of my packaging) so I was itching to use them...

Then I had to complete the orders from my jewellery party.... I had quite a few orders for hairpins and earrings. Once made I popped them into organza bags and then into my usual boxes, but I kept coming back to them...as something was niggling at me! The presentation just wasnt working..they looked naff and I like a polished look....(little bit of OCD methinks) ....so off to the studio I went...

Out came my stash of card and punches and away I went...not forgetting my moo stickers! So simple and easy to do. and here they are...even my rings got a look in...

I am dead chuffed with them..and I can't wait to hand them over to their new owners!

My first jewellery party!

2009-11-14T03:51:00.000-08:00

I had my very first jewellery party on thursday night..and it was a brilliant success.

It took me all day to organise as I was running around like a headless chicken...I didn't know what to bring and I wanted to cater for lots of different tastes.

Previous to nelliD2 I had nelliD, where I sold original paintings and homeware items..such as the rose ribbon box frames that you can see in the pictures. So I took these along with me, the rest belongs to the nellid2 collection- resin jewellery, and handbags and beaded jewellery., some of it, well quite a lot hasn't made it to my online shops yet..

Anyway thanks to the lovely Sophie and her mum Mary I had a whole dining room table to set up on ...and I think you will agree the table looked stuffed and very colourful...I was very pleased.

It was great fun, the ladies who went were lovely and very complementary which made me feel great. I sold lots of bits and pieces and have a couple of custom bags to make...it was a great success and I can't wait to do another one..x The party was also great for ideas, I came away with lots of different ideas that people put forward..so I will be cracking on with them ....

Once again...a big thankyou to Sophie and her lovely mum Mary...ps the mince pies were fab! x

http://www.folksy.com/shops/nelliD2

Birthday boy! Not on the highstreet!

2009-11-05T04:04:00.000-08:00

Hi all I thought I would share with you the wonderful gifts that I had made for my lovely other half for his bday....now he is a simple chap...(not in the thick way) but he likes what he likes and not much more....this includes cars and dogs ! so he is a little difficult to buy for.

Anyway earlier on in the year I had decided to take the handmade pledge..which isn't difficult when there is so much talent bursting out of folksy and from then on I only buy pressies from fellow folksters or crafters.

So I spent much time deliberating what I could get James bearing his 2 loves in mind..when I came across Sara Carr http://www.folksy.com/shops/saracarr who makes the most amazing knitted creations!

I came across this delightful cusion, http://www.folksy.com/items/58041-Lambswool-Dog-Cushion?shop=yes but James has an adverse effect with cusions and cant see the point, I am the opposite and I have them everywhere I love them...he counted them one day and I have 24 on the bed...for decorative purposes!!!

So a cushion was out of the question...but the dog design was just perfect I just love it and knew James would. So I asked Sara if she would make me a scarf..complete with the dog design...she agreed and we talked colours (at this point I was so excited) James loves all things brown, which stemmed from a brown Nova salloon which was the cover feature of retro rides last year...see piccie

Oh and I just have to add this picture in of my lovely nephew Oliver completely bushed after a long and interesting read!

So the colours had to be brown, ! So off Sara went super speedy and made me this, just brilliant and I knew James would love it.

and here he is!

It came beautifully packaged and the quality is exquisite!

Well done Sara..I will be back for some cushions..........he he !

.....James is also partial to a tree or 2!....

Blog feature...my studio

2009-10-22T13:03:00.000-07:00

Yey I have been lucky enough to have been featured by artists in business, for their montly feature on studios...

Have a read here ...I'd love to know what you think? x
http://artistsinbusiness.blogspot.com/2009/10/in-studio-part-4.html

The trouble with display units!

2009-10-03T06:32:00.000-07:00

...Displaying jewellery is, I have decided one of the most time consuming, and headache worthy tasks. But I think I may have cracked it. I wanted to display my jewellery in a quirky, yet functional way that showed off the jewellery to its maximum potential.

My sister has kindly offered to set up a display at her work for me, so I needed to come up with a very simple yet effective way to display my bits and bobs without it causing a headache for her!......this led to a number of headaches!

For weeks I had pondered the whys and wheres of displaying my wares..looking at buying ready made cases, and coming up with nothing I liked...until!

This beast reared its lovely little head! It cost me £2 at a carboot sale, tucked at the back of a ladies stall, she said uggh I cant give that thing away, we got loads when I bought a consignment of carved ones from india and they threw them in as a freebie..give me 2 quid for it she said...I couldnt of handed over the £2 faster!

So it came home for me....basically it had been painted cream, lets just say it was no Van Gogh who painted it, theyd actually painted the draws shut, leaving the inside a hideous sludgy terracota colour....

So arms deep I sanded the draws and walls back and got to grips painting it a lovely antique cream...

After having painted the cabinet, I was eager to put it all togethera and get it going...however it seems that whoever built it may have had a swift half or 2 before getting to grips with a ruler...the drawers with the extra layers of paint on them...wouldnt go back into place!

Cue electric planer ...sanding off in some cases 5 mill, the drawers went in. What I love is the brilliant charm about the cabinet, everything is off centre skeiff, wonky...it hilarious but totally me....

It then needed some lovely eclectic handles that aid its charm...so I got these tiny 2cm glass handles...

So it was on to the decoration...I lined each drawer with wallpaper and got on will filling it up..I wanted to go for an eclectic theme...things spilling out and peeking through! so here it is...I love it

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What do you all think???

Ha how silly of me, I forgot to share the other display unit with you all what a twit....!

Anyone as mentioned my sister wants to put up a little stand in her staff room for me, which is fab..thanks Charles..

So heres the trouble..how do I display my wares in a functional, simple way..bless her my sister hasnt a creative bone in her body so it needs to be simple and easy for her to put up....

so I wracked my little brain and found this..I have a little obsession with suitcases anyway..so it wasn't too much of strain for me to buy it...this one was an old evacuee's suitcase and is well battered..and it had to come home with me...

So it came home with me, and I proudly pronounced the it was my new display case for my jewellery, and got the same reaction I get with many of my ideas..the wide eyed oh god she's lost it look, just smile and nod...and off I went to my summer house, case in tow and I wasn't coming out until it was done!

I had decided that my jewellery is best seen collectively..not that it doesn't look good on its own, but I wanted to give the viewer a feast of colour and choice...and I also wanted to make it user friendly for my sis...pop up and go.

This is what I made...

a pin board..if you were wondering...and in my favourite british theme (of course)

Basically I measured the inside of the case and got my dear old pa to cut some chip board to size for me..then I cut some wadding and fabric to size and stapled it to the back..it really couldn't have been simpler..I did the same thing for the ribbon..here is the back..not my neatest job but who cares!

Here comes the best bit..filling it up!

TA DA!!!!!!!!!!!

and thats that...a very simple user friendly, tamper proof, display case! phew no more headache!

My new job!

2009-10-02T02:17:00.000-07:00

>

Hi everyone, I thought it was about time I told you about my new job.!!!!!!!! yey! As some of you know I moved down to Hampshire in July as James (Other half) got a job down here. Anyway I had been considering leaving the teaching for a while and taking a less stressful/less time consuming role to free me up for making crafts. (my favourite past time as if you didn't know)

So the move couldn't have come at a better time really. So that left me with the issue of the job! after being in a school setting for years I was a little unsure as to where I would be suited! So I applied to various roles and for one thing or the other (over qualified or under qualified) I never found the right one, until, my dad spotted a tiny advert in the local paper for an admin role.

The post stated that it was for an admin assistant for a small local office, but that you must be willing to share the office with dog! (brilliant I thought, and the only advert in the paper that remotely took my fancy)

So after a few interviews lots of tea, and chatting, I got the job! yey

'What is the job' I here you cry! well...

A tiny 3 man team in Brockenhurst Hampshire, runs a non profit based charity providing support and rehabilitation facilities in Borneo, Malaysia for the endangered Orangutan. They raise funds through sponsorship, online adoptions and in anyway they can to ensure that not only my children get to see Orangutans but their children get to see them too!

http://www.orangutan-appeal.org.uk/

My role is to promote their website in any way that I can.....through face book, twitter and any other means possible. I am also responsible for setting up an online facility for children whom sponsor a baby Orangutan to log in and create a craft each week...blue peter style! (so that is coming soon) I will also be sent out to schools to give talks and that sort of schooly thing.

So from small things!......who knows where it will lead!

Now of course I have to do a little promotion,

Are you stuck for a unique present for a loved one or friend, well for £30 a year you can sponsor a baby orphaned Orangutan, and really make a difference. Included in your £30 you will receive a pack, containing a newsletter, detailing the recent work done at Sepilok (the rehabilitation centre) 2 (real) photographs of your chosen Orangutan, taken at Sepilok. An information pack on the history of your chosen Orangutan. A certificate detailing your adoption and 2 6 monthly updates about your baby.

To look after a baby for one year on average it costs £1500 !

The charity itself funds new projects such as the creation of new jungle gyms, and feeding platforms and enclosures so that the babies can learn from watching older more experienced Orangutans.

I've been blonde, brunette and now orange!.......only kidding! meet Sen, an orphan who was rescued in 2006, as you can see he is a cheeky chappy and is fighting fit!

you can adopt Sen and help continue on with his rehabilitation and his future release! here!

http://www.orangutan-appeal.org.uk/shop/?category=8

We welcome any fundraising event you may wish to do, you can email over any requests or if you would like any info on fundraising please email me at:

Orangappeal@btinternet.com and we will be happy to help.

A bit more info:

In spring 2008 5 of the young orangutans which had been living in the nursery at Sepilok were ready to be released into the Kabili forest which surrounds the centre. Each orangutan had a very different history....you can read more on the website.

So that's it for now, I will update regularly on forthcoming events and goings on at the orang' hub (the office)

You can also follow us on twitter: http://twitter.com/orangutanappeal

Or come and find us on face book,

Orangutan appeal uk

Coming soon, Basil....the office Dog!

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=101000856931

How bizzarre!

2009-09-29T13:17:00.000-07:00

Hi all, I just had to put this in a document thingy..it should be kept in some sort of archival manner....so the other half is looking for a car at the mo, and the most obvious place to go it of course flea bay (as I like to call it) any way he calls me over after spending hours trawling through listings and getting no where.!! He notes my boredom and says ...have a look at this...this will make you chuckle...he was right...and I believe it warrants a blogg...

So this is the advert for the car,

Mighty Grey ! BMW525 tds se touring estate car 1994 model Turbo/Diesel This huge battleship is up for grabs ! Lots of good points and some bad ones. It's a 5door estate so lots of room , central locking ,electric windows, electric twin sunroof ,alloy wheels, she was purchased off ebay with no mot or tax 3 months ago ,it cost over £500 pounds to get through its mot. Its had to have front vented brake discs and front brake pads,major welding to its underside and sill repairs,top end overhaul, but interior is clean for the year . Its fitted with a towbar,its got tinted glass all round and a cd player fitted, its good points are it now has 9 months mot left and im hoping i can find it a new home. Now for some not so good points turbo charger has stopped working and garage has told me it needs a new actuator for the turbo,paint work is looking tired in places although it is metallic,there is a bad section of surface ruston n/s rear quarter panel and a dent on n/s front wing ,1x front headlamp looking chatty on inside,bonnet has lots of stone chips, its got lots of receipts but no real service history. Four decent tyres too. If you need any more details on the BMW please give my mechanic a call on 07836201153 and he can tell you all you need to know or you can email me , It is what it is : an extremely well built and durable car and would give someone at least 9 months motoring so I've started the auction price appropriately. Best of luck , viewing is recommended as pictures make the beast look sexier than she is,please no more requests to part ex wolf wings or baby hamishes as i have no facilities for either. I have started the auction low so some one can grab a bargain please only bid if you wish to buy

I love this blokes honesty and if that wasn't good enough it gets better!.....
Pay particular attention to the question and answer at the bottom of the listing...this guy should write a book!

Q: would u be interested in a px with my 1954 whale wookie with twin vole drive and bunter 4shaft converter,it partook in the1989 speed trials at crantock and was driven by harold trubshaw and timothy clythorpe the 3rd it placed 2nd in this race,there is a massive folder of bills and i will also throw in some nuts ? 27-Sep-09

A: wow it was beleived by the wookshon club of dunstar that only 3 versions of the wookie existed & now yours comes 2 light,do u have any more info ??is it the gnome tailed version with bunter drive or the sprint conversion with its magnificent 13ft rear fin??isit painted in royal oak funnel or the misty dew blue??does it have history u know of?? ie documentation by designers (sir ralph wookall,cecil nugent whale,the late great gunter allcock addler??? who sadley passed away whilst working on his beloved vehicle {wookacilin}i look forward 2 hearing from u and am very intersested in the vehicle and the nuts what flavour r they ????? kind regards lord appletree good bike

So after spending a good few minutes in stitches and begging the other half to buy the 'mighty grey' I have decided that in honour of this anoymous ebayer (as I dont think the mighty grey will be ours : ( I am going to name my future makes upon the characters and names within the advert! I think that is apt!....so watch this space for future Whale Wookie's and Cecil nugents! havent decided upon the nuts yet!

Good day!

Jewellery Tags

2009-09-24T10:10:00.000-07:00

I am so lucky...and I just had to share the brilliantness with you all, my good friend Laura of Glueandglitter did some custom tags for me and they are perfect, they add so much to my work I love them.

Take a look:

http://www.folksy.com/shops/Glueandglitter

Laura created these tags based on my shop profile (which she also designed) and has helped make a whole brand for me, everything ties in together and really makes my pieces look extra professional...I couldn't have done it without her. The service she provides is second to none, she checks, rechecks and checks again that you are happy with the design before she makes them and then sends them out pre drilled ready to use..its brilliant.

Laura sells her tags through folksy, and for £15 for 50 tags you are getting a bargain!

http://www.folksy.com/items/65179-Tags-for-jewellery-custom-orders-?shop=yes

A big thankyou goes out to Laura you are very talented x

MadeByGirl: Union Jack as decor...

2009-09-13T08:37:00.000-07:00

MadeByGirl: Union Jack as decor...

Union Jack as decor...

2009-09-13T08:33:00.001-07:00

Oh I am just over the moon that my bag has been featured in this blog..check out the post

Union Jack as decor...

Shared via AddThis

...a new bag

2009-08-26T06:00:00.000-07:00

So....I sold it (the red union jack bag, incase you are wondering), almost half wishing I didn't and my bank balance jumping for joy. My favourite bag has gone to a lovely lady called Helena in Brazil ! (Via Etsy)

So Helena, who said it was love at first site, my fav bag is winging its way to you as we type....

.....................So in true crafting spirit, and after having a lift because I had sold something...I got on and made another...not the same...that is not my style but similar, just with a very green theme...so here we go, as usual I would love your comments please ....over and out!

and of course if you can view it on folksy....

http://www.folksy.com/items/59187-union-jack-large-tote-bag?shop=yes

Thankyou for looking, have a good day and of course comments are highly welcome xx

My new home by the sea!

2009-08-11T06:50:00.000-07:00

As you all know, I have just moved to hampshire..to barton on sea....so I thought I would share some beautiful views with you all..

This is a 5 min stroll from the back-door, to the beach!

This is the view of the beach from the very crumbly cliff top!

As you can see from this next shot it is literally a stones throw from the Isle of Wight and a brilliant little tea shop that overlooks the sea from the cliff top that sells the most amazing homemade clotted cream teas...unfortunately I wasn't quick enough with the camera! ~(ha ha)

And of course...the dog has to come!

It is a real photographers paradise....nooks, crannies, cascading light...textures...truly beautiful..

.....all this of course has inspired a piece of work.... being that we brits have beautiful country side and wonderful views I thought I would pay homage to all things patriotic!

Here is what I have made:

I have used ribbons and floral cotton to make the cross and a beautiful wool and cotton mix fabric to make the main bag with a raspberry cotton jute lining...I think you will agree that it is very patriotic!

...currently for sale on folksy:
http://www.folksy.com/items/55212-union-jack-large-tote-bag?shop=yes

2009-07-02T11:27:00.000-07:00

A big thankyou to haptree designs for including me in her mini treasury about bags, made my day x here it is x
http://haptreeandme.blogspot.com/2009/07/folksy-mini-treasury-handbags-at-dawn.html

haptree and me: Folksy Mini Treasury - Handbags at Dawn

2009-07-02T03:25:00.000-07:00

haptree and me: Folksy Mini Treasury - Handbags at Dawn

Thankyou haptree for including me in your treasury x Such a lovely collection x

Brighton inspired art work

2009-06-29T03:55:00.000-07:00

So by day I am an art teacher, currently training 44 year 10 students to be creative, yup tough challenge I know. The theme for the mock exam was the built environment, and as we live and work in Luton i could for see a few problemos.....namely the factories, motorways and shopping mall smack bang in the middle...

Our aim is to inspire, engage and have a positive impact on the students, taking them out into town was not going to produce any artistic empathies and would result in 44 students descending upon Mc Donalds!

So where could we go?.....lots of deliberation ensued with my colleagues about, various hillsides and even London, but all seemed to lack a real focus....then it hit us...Brighton....

Perfect, they have the peer, the burnt down pier, the pavilion, the square and the lanes, an artistic paradise.....

So off we trundled, to the train station and caught the train to Brighton. The students were very excited, most of them never been before. Bit of a nightmare accounting for all 44 students but we made it.

First stop the gorgeous pavilion....

I must add prior to the trip both myself and my colleague Carri had done a rekki in the half term to plan the trip, and we didn't even get to shop ! We made sketches and decided what we wanted the students to get out of the day.

Whilst at school we got the kids to prepare sketchbook pages, which they could work on top of, whilst down there. (its less daunting and adds drama to the artwork, a blank white page can be tough to start with)

Here's a few of mine; (used to inspire and help the frightened ones!)

(water colour background with 5 min felt tip sketch overlay)

(Prepared page-with masking tape, over-layed with felt tip pen sketch and watercolour relief piece)

(torn paper collage (magazine pages)

(Layers of acrylic worked into with a spatula whilst still wet)

(Once again cause I just love it- torn paper collage!, not finished though)

So after an 1/2 hours drawings in biro,pencil and felt tip it was time for lunch! (my favourite part) and who could resist a go on the merri-go-round, certainly not the boys!

We then descended upon the beach like a swarm of locusts, took photos and got out some watercolours, by then my feet were killing me and I had to bare all? Well just my ankles!
Arghh Miss Tremblay, ruling with an iron fist! ha ha

Isn't there something so utterly charming about the English seaside? I just love it, there doesn't seem to be another country on earth that has that really intoxicating smell of the sea? not to mention the treasure trove of finds!

I saved these for taking back to school with me.....poor unsuspecting year 7's tee heeee

Look at these they are simply stunning!

Now on to my favourite part............... the old burnt pier!;I think you'll agree its absolutely captivating.....

Sad to say but it looks beautiful now, ghostly .... and inspiring!

I didn't realise until we got down there that the metal pillars sticking out of the beach would have housed the walkway onto the pier? (ps I love the chap sunbathing )

we particularly wanted the students to think about composition, background, middle and foreground. Making photographs less like holiday snaps.

Here's a few more from the day !....

As you can see we had lots and lots of great stuff to work from.

Anyway, I shall stop babbling now and show you what has been produced post Brighton..in my year 7 and year 9 groups, they are super brilliant I love them..

and here is my display board..

.................and this is what I've come up with for next weeks lessons (screen printing)...

And lastly my favourite piece, a year 9 lad incorporated rain into his piece, genius ....
I hope you enjoyed my blog...goodbye for now x

Magazine feature......cocktail rings issue 3 make jewellery magazine

2009-05-31T04:25:00.000-07:00

Hi all, just wanted to share with you all my magazine feature ....really because like so many of us...it can be easy to become complacent when you have worked so hard for months for very little compensation...................well I'm here to reassure that there is indeed light at the end of the tunnel..and to not give up because dreams do come true...I shall begin with my first email!

Dear Danni, Hello, my name is Melissa and I am the deputy editor of Make Jewellery magazine. I am putting together an article about cocktail rings and would love to include your pieces; would you be interested in being featured? I'm aware that you don't list your cluster rings as 'cocktail rings', but I think they would fit into that category as well. All you would need to do is answer a few questions, which I'll email to you; plus, would it be possible to borrow a few of your rings for us to photograph? I will post them back via recorded delivery afterwards, or if you are able to provide some high resolution images including one of yourself (at least 1 MB, over 4" x 4" at 300dpi), that would be terrific. Please email me at **********or call my direct line ********** to let me know if you'd like to be featured. I hope to hear from you soon. Best regards, Melissa Deputy Editor, Make Jewellery

When I read that email, I think my heart stopped for a second....me they want my rings....whooo hoo (yep I made that very noise much to the amusement of the 35 year 7 students who were in my class at the time!) So of course I emailed back ...straight away!, sent off the rings (5 in total) for photographing and waited for my questions to come through. Here is the 2nd email.

Dear Danni,

Hi, this is Melissa from Make Jewellery here - sorry to keep you waiting, I was away on holiday last week. First I'd like to say a big thank you for the gorgeous rings you sent over; they look fantastic and I'm really looking forward to photographing them. I'll send them back as soon as I can once our photography is finished. Second, I don't think I've sent you the questions for the actual feature yet, so I'm sending them to you now at the bottom of this email - if you could get your answers back to me by Tuesday next week, that would be great. Thanks again for all your help; I hope you like the article when the third issue is published.

Questions for designers

1 When did you start making jewellery and what inspired you?

2 What can you tell us about the cocktail/cluster rings in your range? What do you make them from and where do you get your ideas for new designs?

3 What do you think it is about cocktail rings that's made them such a hot fashion item at the moment, and what's the best way to wear one?

Best wishes,

Melissa
Deputy Editor, Make Jewellery

This is my response..

Hi Melissa,

Thankyou, i'm glad you liked them....here are my answers to your questions

1: From the beginning of time I was foraging around in my mums sewing box or watching her make different things. It was from then on that my love of crafting began, I would sew scraps of materials together to make bags or tops /corsages or anything else that would take my fancy. This eventually led on to a degree at Central Saint Martins in textile design. My passion for crafting continued after my degree and nelli D was born. Nelli D started life out as just a hobby with friends and family asking me to make gifts for them. This led me to sell on etsy and folksy but the jewellery came a little later.

A good friends mother asked me to make her a bracelet for her friends 50th birthday, I hadn't made any jewellery before but rose to the challenge. I bought a book on the basic techniques and got some advice from a friend of mine who is a jewellery designer, and that was that really! I've never had any formal training in jewellery design but love exploring different techniques and ideas and i'm not affraid to make mistakes - thats the beauty of learning! The really exciting part of jewellery design for me is that I don't really know what I'm doing so I'm not limited by doing things in the 'correct' way.

I love anything that is beautiful quirky or intriguing to the eye. I love the 'how did they do that factor' (something I aspire my work to be like) My inspiration comes from all those things, I teach art in a high school and i'm constantly looking and showing the students new designers and artists and trying out new techniques. I also ask the students to critique my work (as well as anyone else who will listen) they often think of things that I hadn't considered or give me whacky or strange ideas to work on. Colour is another huge inspiration to me. I could never just work with one colour, I generally choose materials based on their colour and texture, I like to feel them as well as look at them (think that stems from my textile background)

I recently went on a one day resin course to learn the basics and that has inspired a whole new collection which I am really excited about! - now showcasing on folksy and etsy.

2:The cocktail rings are inspired from all sorts of different things from images I've seen in magazines to a piece of artwork or quite simply a bead I have seen in a shop. I love vintage and buy alot of vintage beads because- 'they just don't make them like that anymore' (in particular my peaches and cream ring is inspired by vintage channel- I love there timeless colour combinations and their sophisticated glamour.) As for materials I use glass beads, sequins, faceted beads, vintage crystals, glass pearls, laser beads and many many more. I don't select the beads based on their material I select them because I like them.

3: I love the versatility of my cocktail rings, they can take you from day to evening. Perking up a daytime outfit and and setting off a cocktail dress. The best way to wear them though is the old cliche 'less is more' keeping the outfit simple and letting the jewellery do all of the work. Like myself people like change and that's whats great about my rings they are affordable enough not to break the bank yet glamorous enough to inspire an outfit.

Let me know if this needs amending or you need anything else however I'm setting off for Greece on wednesday for a week back (13th)

Kind regards

Danielle x....

So that was that .....I was so thrilled to be asked, just for the recognition that my pieces were good....and it has reawakened faith in myself....I hope you like it ....

http://www.folksy.com/items/38395-tropical-storm-cocktail-ring-magazine-feature?shop=yes,

http://www.folksy.com/items/38315-raspberry-blush-coctail-ring-magazine-feature-?shop=yes.

http://www.folksy.com/items/18282-Peach-cream-gold-and-silver-adjustable-cluster-ring?shop=yes

Please let me know what you think xx and don't give up

how it all began!

2009-02-15T00:30:00.001-08:00

Well my love of all things creative started as a child when I dreamed of being a fashion designer...think it all began in my mums makeup box actually, where I began my love of all things glamorous and indulgent..from there I would draw, paint, cut up things and try to do things better...we weren't a well off family but we never went without for example I remember seeing a t shirt that I really wanted in Tammy girl when I was about 12..mum said it was too expensive for what it was and she would make me one, we bought a plain white T...and off we went to the haberdashery department of John Lewis.....armed with a metre of white cotton daisies, I watched my mum hand sew them to the t shirt....and that was that the world of haberdashery had been unleashed upon me and even now I cannot visit Milton Keynes without breezing through John Lewis.

I got my first sewing machine when I was 16 from my Grandma, who didnt have a use for it any more, I would sew anything and everything together, including plastics, and tubing (all of which I used to get at the Aquatics shop that I worked at) my mum warned me that I was pushing the sewing machine to its limits ( i didnt realise how true this would be until a couple of years later !)

My love of crafting continued, I studied textile and art at gcse which led onto A levels, but what I really had my heart set on was art college....my parents werent best pleased about my choice of career and wanted me to go into something a little more stable and follow a career I would get a job in! ...........however this was not for me...and I compromised with my mum who said ...go and spend a year at college (it was a free btec course in fashion and textiles) and see how you feel after that...great I thought so off I trundled with my portfolio to the North Hertfordshire Centre for the Arts and set out my work eagerly awaiting to see if I had what it takes to get in! ....thankfully I did and it proved to be the best thing I had ever done. Not only did I study textiles and fashion, I did photography, blacksmithing, ceramics and glass, fine art, and graphics...the course only emphasised what I already knew.....I loved being creative.....

However from here onwards I had a little power struggle with my parents...who desperately wanted me to take a different career path...arguments about jobs and securing my future were endless (and still are actually and i'm 26 now!) but I had to do what was right for me... once again mum and Dad bargained with me...I remember mum shouting....'you prove to me your good then'....'If you really have a talent then you'll get into the best uni' .....'Those places are tough and they'll spit you out' she'd said to me...'Okay then I will', i'd said half doubting my own abilities....from then on I made every effort and placed every inch of my time into perfecting my portfolio...because I had decided that I was going to get into .........the world renouned ....'Central Saint Martins'................I applied for the womenswear course and was shocked when I recieved an interview date.. the interview was at the Charing cross site and I'd dragged my heaving portfolio with me, I walked up to the site and was directed through a side door...gosh not very impressive I thought, more rundown and in need of a good lick of paint and few more windows! Anyway onwards and upwards through a maze of staircases and corridors I reached a more impressive top floor landing, adorning the walls were pictures of collections and designers...all past and present showcasing their collections at london fashion week...wow I thought dribbling my way past...thats where I want to be!....The interview was dissapointing to say the least...I was geared up ready to talk about my collections...but no it wasnt like that ....is this your portfolio a woman said to me? yes I said....nope your more textiles..i'm sending you too our sister site for an interview, it'll come through in the post, okay? Okay I said and off I went home...hideously deflated !

A couple of weeks later a letter arrived calling me to interview on the textile course at CSM, on the same day I recieved a letter calling me for an interview at UEL on their womenswear course, this happened to be the day before the 2nd Csm interview. Still feeling deflated I replied and said I'd be attending both, however I didn't rate my chances of getting into CSM so I'd set my heart on UEL, off I went to that interview, the course looked exciting and the course leaders were enthusiastic and I was offered a place then and their...however they new that I was heading for an interview at CSM the next day and were offering me a place on the condition that I didnt go for the interview!!!! God could this get any worse I thought, I had been given till the end of the day to decide! ...I phoned my mum, who said why would they say that to you, they must think you'll be offered a place at CSM... 'do you think, I'd said, yeah I do, no you've got to go for the CSM one, I have a good feeling about this! So I did, I told the course director that I was sorry but I needed to go to the CSM interview, she said she understood and wished me well. So it finally arrived, both myself and my sister arrived with my portfolio's to the Southampton Row site in Holborn, the much more prestigious, more glamorous sister site...Wow I thought this is amazing...the building was old and you could feel the history bulging out of it! There were works of art on the wall and a huge staircase on the right as you walked in, to the left was a gallery showcasing students art work. We were directed up through a set of double doors and told that when we reached the staircase at the end we should turn left and follow the signs to textiles, we passed a very posh looking cafe on the right and eventually found the staircase. We followed the signs to textiles, passing a room that was completely filled with knitting machines. I remember the smell in particular- a mix of oldness and something else? I later come to realise that this smell came from the dye room, anyway we were greeted in the corridor by a group of girls (about 10), all looking equally nervous and eager, we exchanged hello's and talked about the interview..one girl in particular was Jo (lewis) she seemed nice and had travelled from Lemington Spa, we'd both looked disgusted at a girl who had remarked that shed only turned up as she had nothing better to do and that she was going to Australia for six months so couldnt start the course anyway (god damn you I thought ...if only shed known the lengths I'd gone to to get here) the interview process lasted for 8 hours , I had left my poor sister in the cantine (thinking I was only going to be a couple of hours) anyway after leaving our portfolios for scrutinisation, we waited for the for the formal interview, this happened to be with Garth and Anne both course leaders, they asked questions about attitude and what I would bring to the college and if I believed I had what it takes to be apart of CSM. I must have said the right things as 2 weeks later, I recieved a water marked letter from CSM (please see photo) offering me a conditional place on the textile design course!!!!!!!!!!!! Wahoo , I shrieked with delight..i'd done it!!!!!!!!!!! I was shortly on my way to the best college in the country!