Summer in Autumn

I have been off in the sunshine with my hubby in the last few days, sorry I have not been writing! It's like summer has just arrived here in Manchester, since Sunday afternoon we have been blessed with glorious sunshine and high temperatures - well, high for England, but I am not complaining!

Hubby has a week off work so he couldn't have been luckier! And as his loyal wife I am keeping him company, it's a tough job but someone's got to do it!

It's not been all fun and games though, as Hubby is also my business partner we have been brainstorming on a few greeting cards series that I am looking to work on really soon...and can you think of a better way of doing that than sitting in a beer garden in the sun?!

I know what you are thinking...that our session couldn't have been much productive...however it has been the opposite, we are full of ideas for a rock and roll collection of cards and I cannot wait to start working on it as soon as possible!

Tidy Thursday

I find it very difficult to make and create when my crafty stash is not tidy! I am usually quite organized because as I don't have a sort of home office (not yet anyway!) I have to use the dining table and I need to be able to free it up quickly if needed...I store all the papers, stickers, beads and tools in boxes clearly labelled, so when I have to put it all away I just need to put it back in their boxes...shame recently it didn't quite happen like that and it all got a bit too messy for my liking!

Especially the box where I keep all my ribbons and fabrics, let alone where all the embellishments and buttons are...so I set on a mission to dity it all up!

Here are some "before & after" pics!

My ribbon stash got all tangled up in the box it was previously stored, I wondered how I managed to find what I needed in that mess!

my ribbon stash...before...

I used some jars I had lying around the flat waiting to be recycled and voilà, all sorted by colour, so pretty!

...and after!

I then tackled another couple of boxes...in one them I store my sewing kit, spare buttons, some random memorabilia like shells and coins collected on holiday and broken and mis-matched jewellery to recycle in my creations...

before...

...after!

 ...the second box has all sorts of pretty embellishments like buttons, felt hearts, flowers, jems and cards toppers, again it was all mixed up!

before...

...during...

...and after.

I put the buttons into glass jars, by colour, I covered the lids with a piece of paper to match the colour inside the jars so I can distinguish between them at a glance...

Now I just need somewhere to put them...I have already had an idea, I think I found the perfect containers for them, just need to add a little decorative touch to it :-)

I'd love to know how you keep all your things organized, being in the kitchen, bathroom, your office or desk!

Button Brooches

I do love brooches and badges loads and I happen to have a huge collection...

my box of badges

my box of brooches

I pin them on coats, jeans jackets, jumpers and hats, I think they help to make a plain item of clothing a bit more unique.

The love for these pretty things has brought me make some for my shop (soon to be added), I thought I'd give you a sneaky preview of what I have made so far.

I recycled some fabric I had in my crafty stash, gathered it round a circle cut out of cardboard and closed with some pretty buttons and other cute findings.

Each brooch is a one off or part of a limited edition!

One of my little obsessions

One thing you don't know about me and that you are about to discover is that I get so easily obsessed on things I like sometimes, for example at the moment I am obsessed for DIY cake stands!
I first saw the idea on this really cool website called Ikea Hackers, were basically people buy stuff from Ikea and customise it to transform it into a unique item. Since then I frantically search the internet for more examples, especially of the multiple tiers variety because I wanted to use it in the kitchen as a fruit stand instead.

Source: jamiecooksitup.blogspot.com via Ilaria on Pinterest

Source: cleanandscentsible.blogspot.com via Ilaria on Pinterest

Source: giverslog.com via Taís on Pinterest

Source: giverslog.com via Jessica on Pinterest

I have made my first one though it is still a sort of prototype because I need to get the proper glue, but even so it is still standing!

I used 2 Nutella glasses and 3 Whittards plates that I was not using anymore, I had a set of 4 of them but most of them got broken so I thought to give a new life to the ones I had left.

Now my fruit is nicely stacked and I do use it for muffins and cupcakes as well :-)

Happy Birthday Mum!

Auguri Mammona!

This post is for you Mum, thanks for being the best Mum in the world and I hope you have had a lovely day, I miss you loads and I can't wait to see you again soon!

with her Mum Rossana, my Nan, and her little brother Stefano, my Uncle

with my Dad Vincenzo

with baby Me

with Me aged 5

France 1994

Italy 2006

my wedding, August 2010

Buon Compleanno Mamma!!!

Wednesday Treat

Every now and again it's nice to get a take away after a long working day, it's a lovely treat, especially when you have not been food shopping and nothing falls down from the fridge when you open - this is my dad's theory: as soon as you open the fridge door and nothing falls out it means you need to fill it up more!
With me & Stuart, my husband, it's impossible to have some sort of "store cupboard" or pantry in the house, we would always eat everything we find until the last crumb.

It's the end of a very productive day: new business liasons were born, new projects are in the making...I say it's all very exciting!

Holding up my cup of tea to raise a toast, I say goodnight to you all, leaving you with a treat as well, some pretty pictures I stumbled on in the internet when I was asked to make some rose vintage inspired stationery and buttonholes for a bridal fair and I was looking for some inspiration.

Source: etsy.com via Ilaria on Pinterest

Source: thenaturalweddingcompany.wordpress.com via Ilaria on Pinterest

Source: drmartens.com via Ilaria on Pinterest

Source: youandyourwedding.co.uk via Cristina on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Ilaria on Pinterest

New Handmade Rock n Roll!

I have added my handmade buttonholes to my Etsy shop today. I think these blossoms are one of my favourite things to make and I am already thinking of a few ideas on how to use them on other products and occasions, why limit them just for weddings?

I first made these for my own wedding last year because despite every girl’s love for fresh flowers, I just wanted something as a keepsake to cherish forever after my special day.
Here you can see my dad and my husband proudly wearing them!

Each blossom is hand created by me to make a lightweight and unique piece. I use buttons, accents, leaves, beads, pearls and other cute little findings.

Many different looks and sizes can be created, I can make them to match any colour or style you have in mind.

I cannot wait to get my first custom order!

First person to "heart" my shop

What a lovely surprise on this windy day, I log into my Etsy shop to find out a lovely someone has "hearted" my shop, that is she added it to her list of favourite Etsy shops!
I am saying Thank You with this adorable Wood Heart Sign from Save on Crafts.

http://www.save-on-crafts.com/thankyou2.html

Crafty Friday Afternoon

It's my mum's birthday next Thursday 15th September and I am having a go at handcrafting something for her as a present...I can write it on the post because I know for sure she will not be reading my blog!

This is a picture at the start of my project:

Do I hear you say...it looks just like a folded brown paper bag and some ribbons?! Well, it's 3 folded brown paper bags actually! And yes, I am going to use them to make something special, wait and see!

I will leave you with this Friday tease and a meow from Milly the Cat! (not mine unfortunately, I wish she was though, she is so affectionate!)

Hope you all have a very rock n roll weekend!

My Shop is Live!

I am so excited...and I just can't hide...I am about to set my Etsy Shop live today listing my firts items for sale!!!

To start with, there are some pretty Handmade Personalized Name Pictures, the ones below were made for two gorgeous pricesses...I think they are just so cute, it was hard to say goodbye to them once they were ready!

This is not just ideal to celebrate the birth of a new baby, a christening or any special birthday, think about a special gift for your Mum or just spell the word “Love” to hang over your bed.

Or why not spell “Home” and display in your hallway? The possibilities are endless!

I use heavyweight, die-cut chipboard letters to spell your chosen Name or Word, and then decorate the pictures with cute embellishments such as rhinestones, ribbons, felt hearts, flowers and pretty stickers.

Stay tuned for more handmade rock n roll!