Fiesta Fiesta!!

Well, the last assignment of Make Art That Sells Module B is finished (I missed 2 of them due to illness) but was pretty happy with how this one turned out.  Based on Folk style we were asked to come up with some party paper ware.  Not sure how much a cockerel says 'party' but it was good fun to do.

Land of Make Believe

I love maps and wanted to try and make a fun one for my daughter, although her bonkers imagination could probably come up with some more imaginative places than I have. Maybe I'll do one with dragons and ice bears next! Went a bit overboard with the photoshop textures!  Probably need to work on it a bit more but I think Im hooked on making maps!

Birds of a feather...

...stick together, especially when they are both stuck in a party belljar! I think this print needs some text but not sure what yet. (Cant really use 'free as a bird' as they are are captive in the jar!)

I've got a pair of nasty bird ornaments that I sprayed gold for a DIY project that I keep in a belljar with some fircones and when I'm at my computer they stare at me from across the room. The other day I thought it might make a good picture. 

If you go down to the woods today...

One of our exercises on the ABSPD Module 1 was to create some character designs.  I've always had trouble drawing animals and people but finally created some girls and woodland creatures that I was fairly happy with as a start.  

I have a habit of throwing everything including the kitchen sink into my designs and this design was even busier until my husband cast his eye over it and said it might be a bit full on.  So this is the pared back version - believe it or not.  The colours have become a bit muted when I've uploaded them this time but you get an idea.  

Which version do you prefer?  Would you like to see anything else added/removed from the design to improve it?  All suggestions welcome.

New website!!!

Yay!!!! I finally got myself organised and got myself a new website with the help of my boyfriend (who designed it) and Applebox Designs (who did all the tech bit and the online design). There are workshops, tutorials, surface pattern design and more to have a gander at on there so go check it out the new Bettyjoy website here and let me know what you think.

Mellow yellow

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Put a bit of a spring in your step with this sunny spring inspiration

New Crafty Social Dates for Jan/Feb/March

The Crafty Social at Jam Jar Beads in Sheffield 6pm-8pm Cost £3

New dates:

25 Jan 6-8pm

8th Feb 6-8pm

22nd Feb 6-8pm

8th March 6-8pm

22nd March 6-8pm

Love tea,coffee and biscuits? Love craft too? Well, you'll be pleased to know that the Crafty Socials are being revived as of the New Year. So why not pop along with your current crafty project or start a new one at the Social, all crafts welcome. We will provide tea/coffee and biscuits and plenty of basic supplies, as well as a library of inspiring crafty books for you to peruse! The socials take place at Jam Jar Beads on Leopold Street in Sheffield City Centre. To book, contact me at craftyworkshops@yahoo.co.uk or contact Yvonne at Jam Jar Beads at info@jamjarbeads.co.uk or on 0114 327 7232.

Upcoming workshops for the festive season

Christmas Presents workshop taking place at Jam Jar Beads, Sheffield on Saturday 11 December from 11am til 4pm. You will have the chance to make a pair of natty armwarmers, an applique t-cozie or cushion, a fabric beaded necklace and a cute birdie (or other animal of your choice!) mobile. Costs £25 and materials, nibbles and hot drinks are included. For more info or to book a place please email me at craftyworkshops@yahoo.co.uk or pop in to Jam Jar Beads on Leopold Street in Sheffield.

Clothing Customisation workshop taking place at Jam Jar Beads, Sheffield on Sunday 21st November from 11am til 2pm. Bring along your old clothes and revamp them using fabric, buttons, ribbons and beads to create lovely wearable new pieces that your wardrobe will be proud of. Costs £15 and materials, nibbles and hot drinks are included. For more info or to book a place please email me at craftyworkshops@yahoo.co.uk or pop in to Jam Jar Beads on Leopold Street in Sheffield.

Mums (and/or Dads!) and Kids Christmas Decoration workshop taking place at Jam Jar Beads on Saturday 27th November from 11am til 2pm. You will have the chance to make fabric wreaths, bunting, cards and lots of other decorations too to adorn your home this Christmas. Costs £15 and materials, nibbles and hot drinks are included. For more info or to book a place please email me at craftyworkshops@yahoo.co.uk or pop in to Jam Jar Beads on Leopold Street in Sheffield.

Winter Workshops

I'm finally getting myself organised and have some dates for winter workshops I will be running in the city centre at Jam Jar Beads:

Sun 21 Nov - Customise your clothing workshop (11am - 2pm)

Sat 27 Nov - Cute Christmas Wreath and Decoration workshop (11am - 2pm)

Sat 11 Dec - Handmade Christmas Presents Workshop (11am - 4pm)

I am in the process of getting the posters organised, along with details and prices finalised etc but if you are interested in attending any of these workshops or need more info in the meantime, please email me at craftyworkshops@yahoo.co.uk

Shoe Customisation Workshop 30 May

I'm doing some more workshops at Jam Jar Beads in Sheffield city centre this month. This shoe customisation workshop will be held on Sunday 30th May from 11am to 1pm and costs just £18. This is a fun and easy workshop where you can come with your own shoes and using our fabric and buttons/beads/ribbons, make removeable shoe embellishments to match your outfits and leave with one of a kind, exclusive pretties for your tootsies.

If you would like to book a place or would like more information, please email me at craftyworkshops@yahoo.co.uk

Workshops

I am doing a couple of workshops over the next couple of months at Jam Jar Beads, a lovely sparkly new bead shop in Sheffield.  The first one is on Mother's Day, make a nice present for your lovely Mum or bring her along with you to this workshop which is a variation on my birdie brooch workshop which I have done a few times before. The second is a shoe customisation workshop.  So if you like the sounds of any of these workshops,be sure to put your name down on the list here at Jam Jar Beads.

I'm working on doing a lot more workshops after I move house, so will keep you all posted.

Fantastic Plastic

I am obsessed with shrink plastic at the moment and hve been experimenting with buttons and charms etc - I need to perfect it and try clear plastic and other colors too, but I'm really enjoying making these, especially the girl charms at the top. 

These are now on sale at my etsy shop

Been busy....

... making bunting/mobiles using scraps of paper and lace etc, got carried away with with a few old wooly jumpers and a bit of old vintage clothkits fabric and made cushions and the blanket/throw - perfect for winter.(The cute little nelly I got from Kiss Prudence at one of our Craft Candy fairs). Also found this desk in a skip, me and my boyfriend went out under the cover of darkness to 'steal' it and then I sanded it down and then rubbed emulsion into it, to try and achieve the shabby beach feel (is that even a description??).

Workshops

Just some shots I took today for future workshops I hope to do - paper jewellery, more big brooch workshops and new shoe customisation workshops.

Blissful Blankets

I have become a bit obsessed with making blankets and quilts at the moment using old wooly jumpers and vintage fabric and I decided to look on the web for inspiration.  Here are a couple of quick faves.

Turkish Bath - Peshtemalis, a type of turkish bath towel, but I think it'd make a cute light blanket

Snitch Snotch - detailed quilts with stitched vintage doilies and images

Helmouse - a nellyphant made from vintage blankets

Swarm

I adore this furniture made using old tapestries and paintings.  The furniture is made using reclaimed items found in old antique stores and dutch markets.   Swarm, aka Leslie Oschmann, used to be the Visual Director for Anthropologie and you can see the great and unique design which is often seen in Anthropologie's amaaazing goods.  I found Swarm's work on a blog, and I'm sorry but I can't remember whose, where it was included in a short film which was part of a series of films by the current visual director(??) for Anthropologie who spends 6 months of the year travelling round the world in search of great finds for Anthropologie - they are interesting videos to watch, except I can't find the link for it anymore, which is fairly useless.  If anyone knows what I'm talking about(!!) and has a link, please do leave a comment and I can add it to the post.

Update: I found the link to the short films from Effortless Anthropologie, a great blog dedicated to all things flowy and Anthropologie, the series of films is called Man Shops Globe - I want this dude's job - it is, quite possibly, one of the best jobs in the world!!!!!  But as my parents say, 'I want never gets'!....Oh well...........

...even more

of my patterns.  I promise that's all for now:) I'm hoping to be able to take on freelance surface  pattern work and provide work for licencing soon - just need to make the patterns look a bit better and master illustrator a bit better! More prints below.

...some more

... of my recent patterns.