Teal team No. 12

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

This is the very last blog post for the Teal Team

Jewellery:

First up is a recruit I met from a Craft Fayre in Dublin.  This is Liga's first Craftfest and she has done a stirling  job on her stall Valg


Explore originally designed and handcrafted polymerclay jewelry and accessories. If you are looking for special jewelry then this might be the right place. All our creations are either one-of-a-kind or limited edition. Behind every Valg Studio design is story, care and love.
Find more photos like this on Creative Connections
There is also the wonderful Patrica Munro of Whimsy Jig
Find more photos like this on Creative Connections
And last but not least for this Craftfest... Noodle Bubble
Find more photos like this on Creative Connections

Teal Team No. 10

Jewellery Again Today with no shortage of talent. First up: Seawitch Sea Glass
Find more photos like this on Creative Connections
Dream of Silver
Find more photos like this on Creative Connections
And finally, Mystic Moon,
Find more photos like this on Creative Connections

Teal Team No. 9

Tiara's and Tantrums and a few other things for a Craftfest Wedding. Kwur-kee have the head-dresses... Kwur-kee specialises in vintage-inspired headpieces and complementary accessories, handmade in silk dupion and embellished with fine quality crystal buttons, glass beads or genuine vintage brooches. They are ideal for weddings and other special occasions. Most are one of a kind, so you can be sure to stand out from the crowd. I welcome commissions, so do contact me if you have particular ideas or colour combinations and I will work with you to produce a bespoke item for you. My range also includes brooches, hair slides, cufflinks and jewellery handmade in felt, wool and cotton fabrics.
Find more photos like this on Creative Connections
Ellorias Boutique Ellorias Boutique is the story of Jacqueline and Shannan, mother and daughter, designers, writer, life-long flower lovers. We are inspired by natural forms and influenced by cultural references from bygone and contemporary eras. We create experimental yet wearable collections of handcrafted one-of-a-kind and limited edition pieces, that reference the renaissance and art deco periods and bring a modern edge to vintage style. We’re both spurred on by colour, pattern and surface texture and use a combination of muted and bright palettes to converge and radiate our aesthetic desires.
Find more photos like this on Creative Connections
And StARTling Creations I am a 24 year old female just trying to live life happily in one of the biggest cities of the world, Los Angeles-CALIFORNIA. From modeling and acting in my spare time to my at home jewelry, home goods, and art store (StARTling Creations) I have truly achieved living my life exactly the way I dreamed of. I take inspiration from all the LA life surrounding me and my personal travels throughout the world. Some of the most impacting aspects of life that I derive my inspiration from are: Beaches, Sunsets, LA Life, LOVE, Graffiti, Fashion, Art, Models, Instrumental Music & Mediation.
Find more photos like this on Creative Connections

Teal Team No. 6

How about a little more on the Jewellery Front.

Its always the biggest of the stalls and there is just so much talent that it is hard to know where to start.

First up today is Maisy Plum by Jo Pearce

"We have a love of all things handmade, but our real passion is for handmade jewellery. We work with semi-precious stones, sterling silver and metals including copper. We have recently started a selection of hand stamped jewellery which can be made to order. Our philosophy is to make elegant jewellery that is stylish and easy to wear."

Find more photos like this on Creative Connections


Lottie of London is a fellow Lilac Lovely that has joined in with the Teals this Fest...

"My name is Clare Lewis, I am a jewellery designer from South London. All my jewellery is individually handcrafted here in the UK, using my favourite medium Polymer Clay. Polymer Clay features in many of my designed pieces and is perfect for allowing me to explore my love of colours. I take my inspiration from everyday life to experiment with colour and I strive to create jewellery that is bold and unique, the majority of my items are original and occasionally I create limited edition themed items. "
Find more photos like this on Creative Connections


And Finally, Makeaholic



Find more photos like this on Creative Connections

What do you get if you blend Lilac with Purple?

Answer: Teal.

Come on the Teals!

 I had been loving the "Lilac Lovelies" on my first CRAFTfest and have quite enjoyed the last few weeks sitting in the Pretty Purps Team - led wonderfully by Gill but it seems Purple is not where I was destined to be. Come on the TEALS!!! I'm stepping up to the mark as a temporary facilitator for the Tealies at CRAFTfest and I'll be introducing all the stalls on the blog. I've just four days to get the introductions done so I'm getting it under way now.

 First up: Lorraine Dowdle has been the long-running leader for the Teals. I believe the team have long been used to her prompt replies and organisation skills. They will soon adjust!!!! As one of the dedicated Team Leaders so often they forget to promote their own work due to the sense of responsibility of promoting others. Lola has been one of those at fault at almost every CRAFTfest and has decided to put things right and place some focus on her own jewellery so long neglected. BOY DID SHE MAKE THE RIGHT MOVE! Just look at these.
Find more photos like this on Creative Connections


Whilst we are on the theme of Jewellery let me also introduce Jellybean Jewellery Hi, my name is Abi from Jellybean Jewellery. I love to make fun, colourful jewellery from lots of different materials such as polymer clay, glass beads, felt, safety pins, and buttons. I am always trying out something new so you will see a wide variety of jewellery from necklaces, bracelets and earrings to keyrings/bagcharms and hair combs. I am always willing to do custom orders if there is anything you would like, so just ask!
Find more photos like this on Creative Connections


And finally for this installment: Ostra's Creations Hi and welcome to Ostra's Creations CRAFTfest stall, Ostra's Creations was founded by Mellissa Cowx a self confessed addict to all things creative. Ostra's Creations is focused on providing a high quality service and customer satisfaction. All the Jewellery, Accessories and all things creative at Ostra's Creations have been handmade with love to the highest quality, by using high quality beads and findings to ensure a high quality finish.
Find more photos like this on Creative Connections
That's the first one done - just 12 more to do! www.scentcosmetics.com

Dog collars, necklaces and and other Dinky Things!

Well CRAFTfest just grew substantially into a MEGAfest in so many ways. We have decided to grow the week by an extra two days to incorporate "Black Friday" and to further excite people with a Small Business Monday. As if that wasn't interesting enough - we have rapidly grown the number of stall holders at this CRAFTfest from 180 to a wonderful stonking 250! That will keep the team happy and very very busy.
Find more photos like this on Creative Connections
Dinky Things is getting its stall up and running too with these beautiful items.
Find more photos like this on Creative Connections
and lets not forget man's best friend - with these wonderful items from Zukiestyle
Find more photos like this on Creative Connections

Who is behind this thing called craftfest?

So who exactly is behind this little festival called Craftfest?

Anna is the name of the person with whom the buck seems to stop with - and its not just for Craftfest.  This woman seems to single-handedly attempt to rule the the Crafter's World.  All of this in the name of raising respect and worth to those able and gifted in the arts.

The UK has a fabulous history with art, fashion and hobbies - but truth be told it lost its way many years ago to the likes of America, Brazil, Australia and South Africa.  For some it was the pioneering spirit that meant craft became a haven - for others it was a way to while away the day as the servants did the work.

In the UK - it came fowl of the Mother's Union!

Now I am a big fan of the Mother's Union - but their generosity, love and charitable spirit meant craft was effectively free.  It became downgraded as a fundraising mechanism and not as something that had intrinsic value or sentiment.

Anna has sought to change this.

She is the :

Editor of Creative Crafting Magazine http://www.creative-crafting.com
Founder of Creative Connections http://www.creative-connections.ning.com
Founder of The Professional Crafters Guild http://www.procraftersguild.com
Chief Organiser of CRAFTfest http://www.craftfest-events.com
Creator of Healing Gemstone Jewellery at Mystic Earth http://www.mysticearth.co.uk

She is also a mother of two (three if the husband is included)!

And she makes these:



Find more photos like this on Creative Connections

One might ask where she finds the time.  I suspect like the Lilac Team leader has suggested it comes pretty much from sleep deprivation.

Now I haven't as yet seen how Craftfest functions, nor how effective it can be... but I do like transformers.  People who seek to raise the bar a little, people who seek to bring a little bit of metamorphosis to those around them.  People who do not give up in their radical pursuit of being the change they want to see in the world.

I think Craftfest may have just found themselves victim to one such person!  So be prepared, be very prepared as you join the gang in September in the promotion of each others work.  If Anna's vision is anything to go by - it will be both an interesting and rewarding time!

The Second person to mention is Bead Bounty Sal

Sal runs a bead supply stall at Craftfest - but she is more than that.  She epitomizes the spirit of the event.  A group of people willing and able to work together to promote each others work.  A friendly, good-spirited crowd who want to establish an on-line community who function not only to market one another but encourage one another.  You see people like Sal pop in regularly for a little chat on the creative connections website, willing to lend a hand, offer advice or even join-in in some in-house jokes.  Sal is just one of many people to make the community aspect of the project so effective.  And there are others... Its just that I did promise this spot to her.



Find more photos like this on Creative Connections

More Lilac Lovelies

So its time for some more lilac lovelies...

The team has grown somewhat since my first post.  I've since discovered another 18 people with stalls in the Lilac Team.  Thought it high time to start looking around to see what I might fancy.

A fellow stall holder from Ireland is the only proper place to start.  Siog Designs, I thought, made jewelry - but having just scouted out the stall I was most pleased to see the hats and bags that featured in the latter part of the stall.

Its the first big event for Mandy and I want to wish her all the best - It is also ours but we have had the privilege of a longer run-up!  Mandy, its over to you....









Find more photos like this on Creative Connections

Second stall today is that of Gill (Personal Space Interiors).  To be honest I am not sure how she missed out on my first blog as she was one of the first people I connected with in the run up to Craftfest.

Like the rest of the experts she has gone fore more than one stall.  There is the vintage stall and the "Home" stall.  I surprised myself but I've decided to feature her wonderful "home" stall.  I saw far too much that I fancied.

So Gill, Scentcosmetics "likes" you!....




Find more photos like this on Creative Connections

Finally for this post is Juliet Rogers

Tag'e'line is a small craft business creating colourful and playful unique baby and young children's blankets and accessories.

Juliet's aim is to create colourful, texturally interesting and beautiful tag-e blankets which babies and toddlers alike will enjoy playing with. If only Tobin was a few months younger!...
Frustrated by the predominantly pink, blue and neutral colour choice of clothes, toys and nursery items, Juliet tries to make products in a range of colour combinations - but she is not biased, she offers the standard colours too!




Find more photos like this on Creative Connections
For some of her stuff check out this album:

Go go Lilac Team

I've mentioned elsewhere that we will be taking part in Craft fest this coming Sept. It is effectively an online social network trying to sell their wares together at an internet craft-fair. A couple of weeks are allocated each year, we pay a small fee to register and then do our best to promote as best we possibly can other crafters in our teams. With Craftfest rapidly approaching I thought I should make a start of it and stick close to home with my own team until we get up and running

Not an easy task when there are so many wonderful things out there. But without further ado. Lets bring on the Lilacs!

It just so happens that there seems to be a lot of jewellery in the team at the minute and, as much as I hate to admit worthy competition: some wonderful soaps!

I've included the links and a slide show of their soon to be craftfest stall.

First up: Beadedbazaar
http://creative-connections.ning.com/photo/albums/beadedbazaar-s-craftfest-stall



Find more photos like this on Creative Connections


Next in line is Carrie Freeman with those worthy soaps and lip-balms (and I really like the tins)...

http://creative-connections.ning.com/photo/albums/craftfest-products-september-2012



Find more photos like this on Creative Connections


Now, getting back to the jewellry with KK Marie's seleciton of beautiful jewellry

http://creative-connections.ning.com/photo/albums/kk-marie-s-craftfest-stall



Find more photos like this on Creative Connections


Or, perhaps D&D designs...

http://creative-connections.ning.com/photo/albums/d-d-designs-hand-crafted-beaded-jewellery



Find more photos like this on Creative Connections