I made: a cup candle

Ta dah!  Look at what I made.  Doesn't it fit in niceley with my other blue and white ceramics?  I bought some porceline tea-cups a while ago with the idea of turning them into candles.  I saw a tutorial somewhere online and decided I wanted to give it a try, and I must say I'm pretty chuffed with how they turned out.
It's good to have a project sometimes that's just for fun.  Most of the time I'm thinking about new products for my shop or gifts for friends and family.  Saying that, this would make a great gift and I may end up making more for friends.

p.s. I made a little video on photoshop to go with this post, but I haven't quite figured all the technical stuff out yet and I'm not sure if it can work??  Basically I'm not sure my laptop has the power I need to make the magic happen just yet :(

le weekend

...I've been testing out my new camera and the verdict is - I love it!  It's been an enjoyable weekend here in Sheffield.  Lots of good food, reading in the park, getting dressed up for date night as well as dressed down for comfy Sunday.  Pretty much perfect.  I also managed to get a new blanket started - bonus.

I watched this film on Friday.  It was fun and an easy watch - you'll like it if you enjoyed Love Actually (although not as good in my opinion).  It's always good to veg out to some light-hearted comedy, but I'm ready to immerse myself in something more serious next time.  I'm thinking either Melancholia, Capote or Amour for my next watch.  Any recommendations?

Weekend snapshots

1. Taking my crochet projects to the park.
2. Betty soaking up the sun on our rag-rug.
3. Pretty blooms.
4. Current colours - fingers and toes.
5. My essential oil collection.

I actually did a lot more this weekend than these pictures make out.  We went to see The Great Gatsby at our local independent cinema, watched our friend dance in Matthew Bourne's production of Sleeping Beauty, ate the best burgers ever at a trendy restaurant in Manchester, got giddy on cocktails and met a puppy called Spider.  Yes this last bank holiday weekend was action packed - I had a lot of fun.  Sometimes I regret not documenting each special memory, but at the same time I was having too much fun living them.  It can be liberating sometimes leaving the camera behind.  Next time though, I promise to share.

Sweet smells

My flat is old, and a bit smelly (you know, fusty) so I'm always experimenting with different ways of freshening up the air around us.  This oil burner was a gift from one of Floyd's lovely work friends and I'm really getting into trying out all the different essential oils and blends that are available.  I didn't realise, until I had a bit of a clear-out the other day, that the burner came with these cute heart-shaped soy melts.  They fill the room with sweet rose aromas - just lovely.  They last ages as well!  Next up will be some sort of rose blend, I'm just not sure with what yet ;)

Little things

Just a few of the little things brightening my day.

In my living room

It's cold outside and this old building of ours is chilly and damp.  It's still home though and I love it.  We've got a few extra things lying around since Christmas so the place is looking a little cluttered.  I'm looking forward to having a good spring clean sometime soon!

1. Plant pots and our living tree.
2. Condensation.
3. Sugar skull on our mantlepiece.
4. Busy busy fireplace!
5. Things on our wall.
6. Photo from our first holiday in Filey.

Pootling

With the exception of cleaning my flat, I have not got a lot done today.  I'm feeling a bit lost and I'm not sure why.  I had my little brother living with me for the last month - he left a couple of nights ago and since then I can't seem to get back into the swing of 'normality' for me.  I think a new project should spark things, but I'm having trouble deciding on what to do there as well!  *big sigh*

Until I get my mojo back I'll continue to pootle about... here are three things:

1. My new hand-embroidered cushion cover I treated myself to whilst Christmas shopping.

2. Wooden ducks on my mantlepiece.

3. My Christmas present from Floyd - a portrait of Betty painted by one of my best friend's, Amanda.

Corners

I love this room.  I love how big and bright it is.  Even though I made a small craft area in my bedroom, this is where I spend the majority of my crafting time (and leisure time in general).  Unfortunately the nights are closing in and I am mostly sat in dim light these days (as most of the time I'm out at work).  I'm thinking up alternative ways to make my surroundings brighter - they mostly consist of burning candles (not that original).

This also means that I'm having to be really organised at weekends and get most of my photography done in daylight hours (which I can't do in the evening anymore - boo).  If anyone has any good tips on taking pictures in dim light, please let me know.

Thanks guys :)