All My Bloggers | Where Are You From? | Blogroll Registration

All of you guys must be thinking i am insane.. what the? This isn't a demographic questionnaire... don't worry!

I want you ALL to leave a comment telling me if you are from the United Kingdom, Ireland, Northern Ireland,  Germany, Canada, Netherlands... America...etc AND LEAVE your blog link and genre - what you blog about most. (I would be Craft and Lifestyle) please lovelies and thank you! It will be a great way to meet new folks 


EDIT - Add your blog link here


Countries are listed on the bottom tabs. If your country is not there ( i only filled out countries already commented below) feel free to use the plus button to add your country and CTRL S after you add your information!


Thank you so much guys and feel free to visit any of the blogs already registered. 




i will be setting up a blog roll page and want my friends to be included by region. If you wish to contribute to be on the main blog roll on the front page of the site you must submit a button to a specific size. 120 x 120 possibly. I will update when necessary. 

Lots of love Claire  xo 

My Purchases From Ollie Bollen on Etsy!

As a lover of Trisha Brink design on Flickr (after i discovered some wall mountable mail sorters she sold in her bricks and mortar shop in the US i started following her) and i recently discovered she has 3 etsy shops! My favourite being Ollie Bollen. Although I could have spent an absolute fortune, I decided to only but what I could justify!

Im very excited about the arrival of these goodies!! I think I shall be using these fat quarters to make myself a quilt :) 


Any interesting purchases recently? I am inlove with the tea tins on her shop also :) 




Lots of love Claire  xo 

ATTENTION! Calling all Artists Photographers and Lovers of Snail Mail!!

Camera Swapping - Explained in more detail below!


I have been INSPIRED! Beyond belief. Ok so while reading an article through photojojo on fun things to do with instant cameras i was taken with this.....
SEND A WORLD TOUR

We’re totally inspired by Matthew McVickar’sdisposable camera project.

He packed up his camera with special instructions for mail carriers to take pics with it along the way, then developed the results!

Say Hi to your postal workers! Then, check out the Camera Mail group on flickr.

If you click on that image you will see he has left instructions for postage workers to take images using the Kodak instant camera while the parcel is on its journey!!

My idea is to do this......

• Create the box with the attached Disposable camera (with instructions for postal workers).. and in the box is another used camera (by your budy - using photo experiments for the camera as per photo jojo article).
  
  

• IF YOUR BUDY owns a lomo camera, a holga camera or any other film camera, you do have the option of sending FILM as a replacement for the disposable camera (still attaching the camera to the outside box for the postie)

• .The buddy does the same thing and then returns the cameras they used to their own buddy partner. So my buddy receives the journey from her house and all the pictures I took and I receive the journey to her destination and all the pictures she took!

• When you receive your pictures you can interpret them, use them as art, or just make a little journal of this crazy little project!

How does that sound?


I am about to price up disposable cameras but i know you can get some for around a dollar/pound in some chemists.

Get one with a flash. I will also post information on how to do cool things with a disposable camera.

If you are on Swap Bot you can sign up or just leave a comment here and I can organise two!

Lots of love Claire xo

Gorgeous Photo Concepts | Styling Inspiration | A Library Themed Wedding Shoot by Jessica Claire

After diving in head first to my new found passion for fresh flowers and flower arranging I was perusing We Heart It for inspiration on arranging flowers in vases and concepts for taking photographs of said flowers when I discovered this...  (Fantastic source for Prop Styling and Photography Concepts dont you think?)

A Wedding with the theme of a Library/Vintage Bookstore with Alfresco dining!! The photography is absolute perfection. So very inspiring!

 As you might be able to tell I am slightly more enamoured with the styling, table layout, cute details and food than the actual bride and groom (the boring bit :p - only because I am not married or planning a wedding). I do however find that Wedding ceremonies such as this can provide a GREAT resource for styling inspiration! 

I adore those chair cushions! I think they're my favourite :) 




original source


Dont forget to fill in the teeny survey (only 5 questions) for a chance to win a copy of "crafting a meaningful home" by Meg Mateo Illasco!

Lots of love Claire  xo 

Artist Love | Luciles Kitchen on Etsy | Free EBook Link to Draw Your Life

After perusing some of Etsy's articles I discovered the wonderful work of Lucile's Kitchen. A truly talented artist from Paris, selling prints of watercolour illustrations. I adore them whole heartedly and I think they would look absolutely fantastic framed or taped to the wall in any kitchen!

This print is my favourite - click on the image to view the Etsy listing. The illustration and colours used in this print are absolutely stunning and I love the combination of the colour Puce and lime green. Also adore the hand writing. Helping a lot with my inspiration for illustrations and watercolour also!

This is a very talented lady indeed. I love the tonality in her paintings. 

Madelines are the most delicious thing ever so this recipe is an absolute MUST for any kitchen!

The cake of love! 


If you are loving these prints click on the images to visit appropriate Etsy Listings! If you are feeling inspired may I direct you to 'Start to Draw Your Life' EBook 

This is a great book for directing creative drawing! Especially if you are stuck for inspiration :) Click on the image for direct link to Michael Nobbs site! I've started doing the numbered assignments on a daily basis. :)


Dont forget to fill in the teeny survey (only 5 questions) for a chance to win a copy of "crafting a meaningful home" by Meg Mateo Illasco!

Lots of love Claire  xo 

The Love of Flowers | Flower Arrangements Book | My Bargain Buy!

Who doesn't love a good book review?! Last weekend when I was browsing a cheap little bargain books store for paint brushes (that i can wreck with PVA) I discovered this book - for £1.99! 

It wasn't this cover I saw initially - the slip cover was on it but i thought this was much prettier!

This is the crazy cover, I love the flowers and the £1.99 sticker! Then I browsed through it, full of great floral inspiration, how to arrange, what to use and what the names of all the flowers were. That part was brilliant for me. I'm now learning what my favourite flowers are!

It was a fabulous day and I've been buying flowers all week! I've also been deeply inspired by Leslie Sherwing and Holly Becker from Blogging Your Way. A fabulous course and I highly recommend it. It is worth every penny! This also means I'm sticking to my new years resolution to buy more flowers! woo! 


Dont forget to fill in the teeny survey (only 5 questions) for a chance to win a copy of "crafting a meaningful home" by Meg Mateo Illasco!

Lots of love Claire  xo 

Quick Reader Survey | Heart Handmade Blog and a Giveaway

Hello my lovelies! Well, I thought it was time to get YOUR opinion! As I have a lot of new followers, I want to say thank you and Hello, as I do try to visit everyones blog to let them know I appreciate the friendship and readership I cant always get around to everyone. As a thank you for participating in this survey I am offering you the chance to win this....

Crafting a Meaningful Home by Meg Mateo Illasco. I bought two copies of this for the purpose of giving one away :)

The book includes tutorials for this rug (definitely suited for US - difficult to find materials in uk) 

and this fabulous kids Teepee!

To enter you must complete the survey and then leave a little comment below! I will be collecting data and information and judging it from that so ensure you have filled in the survey. This Giveaway will run for two weeks and a winner will be chosen via the Random number generator April 15th

Lots of love Claire  xo 

Color Design Class with Celine Navarro

Well its been a while since I posted about the Color Designs Scrapbooking Class I am taking with Celine Navarro of The Green Frog Studio. I am enjoying it but I have definitely taken my time in taking part of the workshops. It is a very small class with very little community spirit so there isn't a lot of creative drive to keep me going. However, I am still enjoying the insight into Celine's creative process!

This is workshop 2 - Inspired by the Anthropologie website layout.

 Workshops 3 and 4 - both created using an October Afternoon 8x8 Craft Pad and Supplies i had.

All four tacked to the wall as they currently dont have a home. How do you store your scrapbook layouts? 

Lots of love Claire  xo 

For The Love of Water Colours | Heather Smith Jones

So, I don't know whether it is because it's getting brighter and coming into spring or something in the water but im feeling very inspired recently to draw and paint and fill out my journals. Last year I took Samantha Kiras True To You journal class and absolutely loved it - i highly recommend it! I was noseying through the Book Depositorys art section and I found 'Water Paper Paint' by  Heather Smith Jones.

Image Credit - Heather Smith Jones

Ive ordered it! Yay! I cannot wait for this to arrive. There is also a sneak peak of my favourite artist ever Gennine! She has a fantastic blog with great advice on what tools to use etc. 


I dont know how I have never discovered Heather Smith Jones before! I cant wait to get started, ive recently reinvested in some blending tools and a shiny new pencil sharpener :D



heather smith jones
a daffodil for you
graphite, watercolor, and acrylic on paper
4 x 5 inches
$40
available for purchase at artstream

Lots of love Claire  xo 

The Incredibly Inspiring Studio of Lula Aldunate

These are my absolute favourite images of Lulas Studio!

Im very tempted to get my self a line filled with fabric and crochet pot holders! I can just image wiling away the hours in this creative studio with the fans on full blast! I think i would pass out in the buenos aires heat!

I adore this white white shelving and bin! I love the eclectic mix of everything in this art studio.

Original Source

Lots of love Claire xo

Indie Biz | Blog Love | Photography Styling Information

Hello to all of you and all of my new followers! Its really great to meet you :) I know a lot of you now through Holly Beckers Blogging your way course which is absolutely fantastic - on there Leslie Sherwing and Holly have been sharing lots of tips on photo styling etc and Holly did a post a long time ago on Decor8 with Photo Styling Links. Since then Ive set up my own little Styling bookmark folder on my computer - since last year really when I became addicted to Helene Dujardin's blog - 'My Tartlette' and her Pictures - she is the most amazing photographer! Although I have the technical ability thanks to my degree, my prop styling was always a little pants.... so the following links have helped me lots.

This tutorial is fantastic and i highly recommend downloading, reading and commiting to memory!! (Click image for link)


5 Prop Styling Commandments That Should Never Be Broken - on foodbloggersunite


10 Essential Props Every Food Blogger Should Own - this is good if you are very interested in cooking and sharing your images on the blog!

Staying Sharp: Achieving Clarity and Crispness in your photos - On Etsy Seller Handbook


Making It Lovely  Product Photography Part 2 - I dont think this is the greatest set of advice as her images are really terribly grainy but the simple light box is worth looking at. There are many different types of tutorials for making these online. If you google DIY Lightbox you may get slightly better information regarding light bulbs.


Etsy Seller Tips is a great Resource - Setting Up The Shot with a Tripod


Etsys Complete Guide to photography resource page - as good as some of the Etsy links are, some of them are darn right awful. Ive chosen the best for you to gander at...


Meylah - The anatomy of a great product shot

Design Sponge - Tips for creating great photography


Photography Tips with Heidiadnum Part 1

Photography Tips with Heidiadnum Part 2




I would Looooove to see how you guys get on styling new shots. My favourite out of all of these links is Ishtar Olivieras (first link) so indepth and easily put into practice. add your images to the hearthandmade flickr pool!

Lots of love Claire  xo 


ARN9EC7REMXE 

Yarn Loves and Colour Inspiration

With "Spring" upon us (nothing says Spring Time like flurries of snow and freezing cold weather) I am finding it necessary to get colourful inspiration from everywhere I possibly can. Ive been enjoying my colourful bedding (see this post) from fresh eyes are taking pictures of the little bedside posies and trying to remind myself about the creative process (byw styling class). I was adding some pins to pinterest and I have found these lovelies...

Seen at Meet me at Mikes

I love these colourful threads, seen at poppytalk! Images of Douglas Couplands Second home

By Melanie Falick! I love these :D

How perfect is this display?!!? I tried having decorative little balls of wool in my home - on a plate but my cat stole every single last one and destroyed it by using it to play fetch!

On Pinterest

Lots of love Claire  xo