Old World Shops on Etsy

Do you value the more traditional things in life?

Do you appreciate the time and effort that a craftsperson puts into their work?

Are you after an item that will last and reflect your personality rather than a fashion whim for a few months?

Do you appreciate quality and timeless beauty?

If you answered yes to some or all of the above questions then you need to browse in the Old World Shoppes on http://etsy.com

Jump over to Etsy and and enter the code ows into the tag;item search on the top right of the page and you will be led to some fantastic items individually crafted by artists and creators on Etsy from the world over who spend time and patience making these items just for you.

Most of the artists you will find to begin with are from the U.S. but there are a growing number from Canada, U.K., mainland European countries and many other countries.

For quality and individuality visit Old World Shoppes at Etsy.com

New bear added to Etsy

This is the latest bear to be added to http://slackstitches.etsy.com He continues the Jacobite theme of the last bear which is now on it's way to the U.S.A. as a present, hense the vagueness of location.

chicken doorstop 001 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

NEW CHICKEN........ well probably more Cockerel due to the rich cottons that have been used to create him. He has a zip on the base and can be filled with gravel or dried beans, to create a doorstop or you can use it to put your sleepwear in and it can protect your bed. Uses are probably only as limited as your imagination.
chicken doorstop 001 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

New bear

After finishing a kilt and Jacobite style shirt for a 10 month old to wear to a wedding I put together the bear that was lying in pieces waiting patiently to come to life. As he was being assembled a disussion from Etsy forums was going through my head where people were saying that they prefer their bears to be wearing something, even just a hat. Suddenly the flash of inspiration. Having just made a Jacobite shirt for a baby I thought that for a bear would be a dawdle. Ha! Bears have big tummies, and minds of their own. However, I persevered and am quite pleased with him. Have to work now on variations to make this a series. Someone may wish to start a collection of them.

Peace swap

Today, while watching closely day 1 post-op dog, I finished my Item for the Etsy Peace swap.

I was paired with a lovely stained glass artist so I had my work cut out, espeially once I saw her completed piece for me which you can see at http://vickileighstudios.blogspot.com

She requested a bear in anything red. I persuaded myself to part with this last piece of lovely crushed velvet which I adore. Carefull working was needed as velvet frays so easily when you work with it. The little gold coloured tears are to represent the ever striving failure to find Peace in the many parts of our world. As this bear is about to go on a very long journey from Scotland to the U.S.A. I have made it a tartan blanket, also in red, which is in my own family tartan Christie. As you can see it has a very fat tummy so that should see it on it's trip okay.

Peace swap

I have been involved in a Peace theme swap on Etsy, the shopping site for handcrafted goods of all types. This morning I got an e-mail from Vicki ( the person I was paired with ) with a link to this site where she had posted my piece of stainedglass. I amabsolutely delighted with it. I knew Vicki did wonderfull work but ws unprepared for the piece she has made me. I would urge you to visit Vicki's blog at http//vickileighstudios.blogspot.com and take a look at what she has made me. I must away and make progress on what I am making Vicki. I will post it when it is done.

Mother in Laws 80th birthday present

Just as well my mother-in-law doesn't surf as she would be annoyed at me telling the world that she is 80. A very fit, active, independent lady who is very art and crafty herself doing wonderfull decoupage and tremendous cross stitching, what on earth do you get her as a present?

I promised myself that it wouldn't be a quilt, no way. Guess what? Yep! It ended up as a quilt. I went with the memory theme and the square within a square pattern. Due to the messing around I left myself very little time and as a result had to do the piecing by machine. This left me less than happy with the result as it moved around far too much. As usual I did the finishing by hand and put on a label that didn't mention age.

The end result was that she loved it and had a lovely emotional time of memories with her friends on her birthday. I believe before it reaches it's final hanging place it is getting taken around family and friends so I guess the effort was worthwhile and very much appreciated.