The beading bug is back!

I've got a few new projects that I'm working on at the moment, and I'm finding myself wishing for more hours in the day so I can fit them all in, as well as sleep, and as well as playing the new Harry Potter game on the Xbox, and as well as baking and then eating cupcakes.. it's a toughie!

One thing I have managed to complete in the last week is some new beaded jewellery.



This bracelet was alot of fun. It's made from memory wire, so it's one big stretchy wire with no need for any fiddly clasps! I also made some pretty petal earrings to go with the bracelets..



in lots of different colour combinations..!



I had a handmade surprise gift to make for another fan of beading, so I got a plain wooden trinket box and decorated it, and filled it up with different beads..



This is winging it's way to the United States as I type, so I hope it gets there safely!

Last but not least, and nothing to do with beads, let me introduce you to Fleecy..



Fleecy is for another handmade surprise swap, for a lady who lists amongst her likes - 'sheep, prim style, original artwork'. He was another one that was alot of fun to make. He's on his way to Texas right now!

In Purple Sparkle news, our little shop is filling up with more and more handmade goodies..



In the past week we've got in some beautiful glass jewellery, love tokens and lazy bones fish from Lazy Daisy Glass, and some gorgeous fabric goodies from Julie at Shabby Chic.

See you soon,

Love from Purpley :-)

WOW! Wincanton's Art Trail..

There are exciting things happening in Wincanton this week, the home of my little Purple Sparkle shop. Yesterday launched WOW! Windows of Wincanton, which is an art trail on and around Wincanton High Street..



Almost every shop window is displaying artwork, and it's amazing how much talent there is here. I tried to take a picture of the work in my window, but my photograph just doesn't do it justice!



The artist is Eve Nicholls, and this what is difficult to see in the photograph is that this waterfall is entirely embroidered. The theads and the fabric sparkle in the light, it really is beautiful! The artist bio tells me that each piece takes months of work. I won't want to let this one go at the end of the week!

I have also this week stumbled across the work of The Artificers, who create incredible sculptures in their workshop in Wincanton. Their website has an online gallery which is well worth a visit.

Another artist who just amazes me is Tamsyn G. There doesn't seem to be anything that Tasmsyn can't put her hand to and create beautifully! So I'm very excited to have some of her creations in the Purple Sparkle shop.. these arrived yesterday...



Aren't they lovely! There is so much more over at Tamsyn's website and you must see her paintings too, they're stunning - and a selection is currently being displayed on Wincanton High Street!

So, I really think that Wincanton is the place to be this week. I'll be here too, I'm mainly making candles that look like cupcakes, but then you probably know that already...!

See you soon,

Purpley :-) x



PS.. If you're wondering about the stamps reference in the jolly postcard.. it should be explained here.. Discworld Stamps

:-)

Happy Fathers Day

To my wonderful Dad!

This picture was taken in October 2007 when we had a 'retro weekend' on the Isle of Wight for Dad's 60th Birthday. It was a fantastic weekend, it was as though someone was making sure for us that everything that could go right did!

Dad was telling us a story about when he used to get the train to Ventnor when he was younger, and he used to love the sign in the train station, telling him that he was 294 ft above sea level.

That night we found a pub for dinner.. and what sign should they have recovered to hang up in the pub?



We were so excited, I'm sure the staff thought we were nuts!

My lovely Dad has been quite ill for the past year, and is now going through radiotherapy. But he's doing great, and is putting up with all the 'zapping' that he has to have, with the help of his allotment! He's also a star for putting up with the constant Purple Sparkle chatter whenever Mum and I get together!

Love you Dad, Happy Fathers Day

xxx

All that sunshine..

Has gone to my head and given me writers block - so here are some pictures for you instead to show what we've been up to at Purple Sparkle Crafts recently! Much better than reading my ramblings I'm sure..


We got all dressed up for the Homecoming Parade




We got lots of new handmade goodies in the shop


We've attended lots of craft fairs


We've made some wedding favours


We got patriotic by making red, white and blue cupcakes...


...and candles in vintage teacups for the Great British Tea Party - Purple Sparkle Style!

We got mentioned in the Blackmore Vale Magazine..

And a review at Lushious Beauty..

And we've been making lots and lots of candles and wax melts for new Purple Sparkle Stockists in Kent, Aberdeen, West Wales and Holland!

This weekend, Bryn will be at the Welsh Game Fair in Llandeilo, and I will be at the Horsington Village Fete on Saturday.

But before then, I need to drive up to Wales to deliver some stock for Bryn, so I'd better get a move on!

Hope you are all having a great week,

Love from Purpley :-) x

Handmade Holiday..

What a beautiful day it was here in the South West today, it's starting to feel like summer!

There are lots of exciting things happening at Purple Sparkle this weekend. Firstly I've got some fantastic new handmade goodies courtesy of Plump Pudding. There are pocket mirrors, keyrings, badges, all sorts of lovely things!

In honour of their arrival, I got back into the flat pack furniture and built a new table for their display in the Purple Sparkle shop..



I'm especially excited about this as it's another step in the direction to making Purple Sparkle Crafts full of gorgeous handmade goodies! Whilst I adore all of the ranges I stock, championing handmade is something I'm very passionate about, and I would love Purple Sparkle to reflect this even more than it does already.

Back to the holiday weekend, Bryn has a Purple Sparkle stall at the Joie de Vivre Boutique Market at the Norwegian Church in Cardiff on Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday.

If you can't make it to Cardiff, then you must pop over to www.purplesparkle.co.uk to take a peek at all of the new goodies we have. Including another brand new summery cupcake candle!



This one is summer fruits, it smells absolutely scrumptious, and it's a limited edition fragrance, so be quick if you'd like to try one!

Also, to celebrate the sunshine, if you use the discount code 'HOLIDAY' at checkout this weekend, you will receive a huge 20% off your order! This is valid to 26th May 2009. I have also added international shipping options to make things easier for international customers. If there are any teething problems with this then please give me a shout!

Enjoy the long weekend,

Purpley :-)

Moving, cupcakes and crochet..

Well we made it! I feel as if I have been rushing about like a crazy thing (which arguably I may be) this week. But the main news is that Bryn and I acheived the moving of the Purple Sparkle kitchen down to Wincanton!

There have been a few mishaps whilst getting used to working in a space alot smaller than I'm used to, (including a very nasty bruise on my arm from the chair collapsing underneath me sending me crashing into my newly built shelves - luckily there were no customers about at that time to witness that one!) but the two days I was there were really quite productive!

Saturday saw Purple Sparkle stalls at Hazlegrove School near Yeovil, and Bryn at Brecon Town Hall for her monthly craft market.

And the evenings! It's been very strange not having my candle kitchen at home, and this week I have been so exhausted it hasn't made too much difference, but I did manage to make this altered matchbox..



This is for a 'free theme' matchbox swap on Swap-bot, and I chose 'vintage' for the theme. I found the sheet music in a charity shop for pennies and it's so perfect for collage. I'm also working on an altered journal which I will take some pictures of to share with you soon.

And.. I won Tamsyn.G's cupcake giveaway! I almost forgot all about it with the rushing about, so I was very pleased when postie brought me this on Wednesday...



Cupcake fabric and a gorgeous handmade cupcake brooch! And you can get one for yourself I discovered, if you visit Tamsyn's colourful shop on Folksy or Tamsyn's website - tamsyn-g.com.

Tamsyn also has a bricks and mortar shop in Gillingham, Dorset, which is very close to the Purple Sparkle shop in Wincanton. If you visit Tamsyn's website you can see lots of pictures of the shop, and it looks absolutely wonderful. If I ever manage to finish this Sunday's project, I think this would be a fantastic place to visit for supplies!

Today's project? Here it is so far..



If it ever develops into somethin functional remains to be seen!

Purpley :-) xx

Time for tea.. and time management..

It's a very sleepy monday here after a very busy Purple Sparkle weekend! Yesterday I had a lovely day at Lacock where some more new products from my 'Time for Tea' range made their debut!


Handpoured Vintage Teacup Candle by Purple Sparkle Crafts


Heather and Hawthorn Handmade Soap and Vintage Plate by Purple Sparkle Crafts

Time for Tea is Purple Sparkle style of course, and none of it is edible or drinkable - but delicious in it's own way! :-)

As for time management. I'm bad at it. Very bad at it. It clicked at some point in the middle of last week, when I had stayed up until 3am working in the Purple Sparkle Kitchen (in Bath) and then got up in the morning to go and open the Purple Sparkle Shop (in Wincanton). This is a regular occurance, as is having a quiet day in the shop, then rushing home after I close at 4pm to start work in the kitchen. Wouldn't it make alot of sense to combine the two?

So this is the plan. After I've finished this blog post (whilst I am making some strawberry cupcake candles at the same time - multitasking is good) I will be taking a trip to Ikea to purchase oodles of storage for all of my supplies at the shop. Tomorrow I'll be going to Wincanton to clear out what is currently my junk room behind the shop, and build flat pack shelving (there may be tears!) and Wednesday Bryn and I will be loading up with all the supplies and equipment, and moving it all away from the soon to be ex-Purple Sparkle Kitchen!


Teatime ATC as a break from my rambles.

So.. the benefits of this should be...

~ Increased opening hours at the shop
~ Time in the evenings to work on other projects
~Orders completed in a better time frame
~Having a kitchen at home to be a domestic goddess in enabling me to cook nutritious meals using vegetables dug from my organic vegetable patch and becoming slim and beautiful

Am I getting a little carried away? Maybe we should scrap the last one on that list, but even doing that it seems to good to be true. I'm used to living in chaos, and I can't quite imagine things any other way.

So I'm a bit nervous. But it has to be done!

Wish me luck!
Purpley :-)x