I was going to conquer the world and then I saw something Sparkly!

I have always been distracted by sparkly items and I blame it all on my aunt. When I was at a young, impressionable age she would swan into our home with a blonde beehive 2 ft high, the latest boyfriend/husband!, mini skirt, long talon nails (always polished), two little Chiuauaus and ALWAYS had on sparkly diamonte jewellery. As a child I was transfixed by my glamorous aunt and the colours and shapes of her brooches and am sure that is why (even to this day) I cannot resist one if I see it at a fete, boot sale or antique/flea market!

I love to work with these "heirlooms", and hate to see a brooch discarded purely because it's pin is broken or it has lost a few stones. I have a kind of jewellery hospital in my spare room now, where I store them all away, until I find another, equally beautiful, but damaged piece and put the two together so that they can live on!

I like to "reinvent" pieces - I use necklaces and bracelets for headbands and tiaras and brooches for bridal bouquets and hair combs...

Welcome Baby Henry!

Awww! He is so adorable...arrived today... 7lb 4oz... mum and baby doing fine.

I bought him the cutest pair 0f handmade reversable boots...

(made by rachelulabell-artycraftness on Folksy.com)

and couldnt leave William (big brother) out, so he got an owl hat

(made by tasha's handmade, also from Folksy.com)

Feeling all bridal!!!

I have been busy making some more posies from vintage costume jewellery, buttons and beads. My favourite is this teal and purple one... if you can't live without it, you can buy it from my Folksy shop, Blooming Lovely - just click on the folksy link above.

These two colours go so lovely together I thought I would also gather some fellow Folksies/Etsians items and showcase them on my blog...So let's kit out this teal and purple bride...

Like this lovely bracelet from "Made by Deb" on Folksy

or...

this gorgeous purple facinator from "Jewels by Susan" also on Folksy

For the bridesmaids dresses, it would have to be...

BellaBeanCouture, from Kansas City, as featured on Etsy

The dress, I am undecided...maybe you've got a favourite?

Vintage Lace & Diamante Paste Tiara

I found an excellent way of stiffening up vintage lace, so now I can use all the beautiful lace and ribbons I have languishing in my loft, for all manner of things. I used to use a product called petal porcelain which you could turn real flowers, lace and other delicate items into porcelain... but I can't find it anywhere now.

Anyhow...Lots of starch and a secret ingredient seem to do the trick! This piece of vintage cotton trim was just perfect for a 1950's style tiara, and I have added tiny pearls and sewn into place a diamante paste necklace whose chain was broken...way too pretty to throw away!

As always it is a "one of a kind", no other like it in the whole, big, wide, world!!!

Please take a look at my Folksy shop for other designs...and if you have a specific style in mind or maybe a special piece of jewellery that you would like Incorporated into your tiara, then leave me a message and I'll see what i can do for you.

Bollywood or 1920's? You decide...

It's Vintage Daaaaaaaaarling!

Well, the "Monroe" tiara is finished. Unique, the only one in the whole wide world, Just need to find a quirky bride now to wear it! I used vintage buttons and jewellery, pretty roses and beads - the central brooch has deliberately not been wired onto the tiara, so that it can be unpinned and worn as as a keepsake/reminder of the perfect day!

Had great fun making it and think I may have to do another! If you are getting married and you can't live without it...then visit my Folksy shop by clicking on the Folksy link at the top of my blog.

Found an old Sanderson wallpaper catalogue the other day...the classic designs were so beautiful I couldn't send them to the landfill. I covered some wooden bunting with the Suva pattern - pretty humming birds, birds of paradise and flowers in shades of blue...

I'm feeling all 195o's tonight!! Found a stash of beautiful old vintage buttons, beads and flowers and have decided to make a "Vintage" Tiara... so if you know of anyone who is getting married...going to a prom...or just LOVES tiaras - then please direct them to my Folksy shop where my new creation will be when complete! Have a look at the pic below, to see what I have to work with...

I'm thinking Hollywood...Weiss, Trifari, Sphinx and Exquisite...Watch this space!

We're going to adopt!

Yes, we are going to adopt...a hedgehog... one that's had a bit of a prickly(!) start in life.

I opened our little garden to Sleafords' gardening set today in "Sleaford in Bloom", and one of my visitors suggested that I get a hedgehog to eat my slugs rather than use slug pellets. She said that for every slug or snail I killed, that I probably killed a blackbird too :-( so i have decided to go green and do it natures way.

So now I need to find a hedgehog sanctuary that's looking for a home for a little chap.

Steve wants to call him Dave. We'll see.

Had a great day today at Sleaford In Bloom and it was good to meet and talk to people who are as nutty about flowers as I am! Hope you enjoy the pictures of my secret garden...

Bluebell Wood - A Magical Place!

Look at this beautiful woodland that I stumbled upon last week! There are so many bluebells in this lovely wood that the sunlight reflecting off them seems to make the silver birch look blue too. I had driven past several times and the blue had caught my eye.

Then, the other day driving home from work, lovely sunny day, I decided to take ten minutes and pull over. Down a ditch and up the other side, I peered through and was met with this lovely sight. Took some photo's on the mobile and scurried back to the car. Had to laugh to myself as I got back into the care ...the passing cars must of thought I'd been caught short!
(Changing the subject quickly)... here is the Texas USA version of our bluebell woods... my friends daughter, hanging onto her hat, in a field of blue bonnets

...lovely

Cath Kidston Giveaway!!!

My first giveaway went so well that I have decided to do one a month now - so this June I have a set of Cath Kidston Memo/fridge Magnets to giveaway. They are large self covered buttons (Just over 3cm diameter), covered in three of Cath Kidstons lovely fabrics.
I love vintage fabrics and repro vintage anything (!) and have been a "Cath" fan for many years - back in the days when she was mail order only - and I never tire of her beautiful prints.
So for your chance to win this giveaway I would like you to "follow" me and let me know about one of your favourite designers on the comments box - or maybe you design vintage fabrics/items yourself? If so I would love to see them - please feel free to add a link to your site in the comments box. I will put all the comments into a box at the end of June and the winner will receive the three memo buttons.
Good Luck...

Hand made wins hands down!

I love anything Parisian and thought I'd share with you all these gorgeous Paris finds from Folksy. All handrcrafted, unique and fabulous!
This really pretty necklace is made by Whimsical Wren - A Vintage postcard print of the Eiffel tower is captured in a picture frame pendant, and adorned with a model Eiffel Tower, a tag which reads "Je t'aime", and two glass flowers - Buy it at http://www.folksy.com/shops/whimsicalwrenjewellery

or how about this charming print - which really catches the charm of a Parisian street cafe...
Buy this and many other lovely prints from Artquirk at http://www.folksy.com/shops/artquirk

Or this cute kitten bracelet - made by Fluffstuffs

Buy it at http://www.folksy.com/shops/Fluffsstuffs


The great thing about all of these lovely items is that they are hand made/crafted and not mass produced. Next time you need to buy a present for someone or a treat for yourself, visit Folksy.com and support hand made

Button Necklace Kit - GIVEAWAY!!

This is my first attempt at a blog "GIVEAWAY"!
To win a button necklace kit, all you have to do is become a follower of my blog and I will then put all names into a bag and pick out one lucky winner. (You can also enter if you are already a follower!)
GOOD LUCK!
See below for a button necklace "how to".

YouTube - Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)

YouTube - Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)

Sunny, Button, Heaven!

I have thousands of buttons (many of which I could never part with). My husband thinks I am a little OCD with my buttons as they are "catagorised and filed" in accordance with colour, shape and age!
OK. a little obsessive, I admit... but at least I know where they all are when I want to make a button necklace


He took this photo of me in our sunny, button, heaven, garden!

To make your own button necklace, you will need:

• an assortment of buttons, new, vintage and fabric covered


• necklace/choker wire with catch


• florists wire (the finer the better, but strong enough to take a good yank!)

Firstly, lay your choker wire onto a flat surface and play around with the buttons. Decide whether your necklace is going to be a symmetrical or a random lay out. Play around with the buttons until you find the design you like best.



Using the florist wire as thread, "sew" one button onto another and then onto another etc to produce a "stack".

Then taking some more florist wire attach the button to the wire and twist the wire onto the band to where the middle of the next button will lay.
Now you can either use what wire is left to "sew" on the next button or twist a new piece of florist wire to the remaining wire and use that. Repeat this process, until you have all your buttons on the wire. (Use a pair of pliers to squeeze tight, any loose wires that are causing buttons to fall forward, and to turn in any sharp edges towards the buttons back).

I used Cath Kidston Fabric covered buttons in this necklace. You can buy the self cover buttons and cover them with a fabric of your choice.

Voila! Lovvvvvvvvverrrrrly vintage button necklace - a unique piece of jewellery to treasure.

If you can't make one yourself, and can't live without one... you can find them in my Folksy Shop at www.folksy.com/shops/AnnieFloribunda

Mmmmmm...Time for Cherry pie!

Sitting in the garden today was just great. The cherry trees are in full bloom in the flats communal garden next door. They tower above the flats and are the biggest cherry trees I have ever seen and must be ages old. At the end of the month my garden will be covered in a layer of blossom "snow!"

Each year there is an abundance of cherries, which sadly are left on the tree to decay and eaten mainly by the birds. I sometimes go off on a daydream about making these beautiful trees more of a landmark of Sleaford town and imagine "Cherry Pie Day".
Everyone in the flats (and their neighbours - so I am included!) would have a giant picnic under the cherry tree. Then the cherry picking would begin...Everyone would get involved and bring baskets, ladders etc... There would be music playing in the background, (It would, of course, be a lovely hot day)... Rugs and blankets would be set beneath the trees and people would laze... and talk... and read. Oh, and there would be wine flowing and daisy chain making too.
Then some people would pop home to make a cherry pie or two... and maybe some sort of cherry liqueur to put by for next years cherry pie day.
Later, in the afternoon, all the pies would be set out on the gingham clad tables and tasted and judged.
There would be lots of eating, relaxing and chatting and then, when the evening started to draw in we would all retire to our homes with full bellies, having given the cherry trees our full attention for the day and the respect they deserve...

Or maybe strawberries are more your thing?

I just adore the Cath Kidstons retro strawberry fabric these buttons are covered in - I put them with some of my (many!)vintage buttons - and hey presto! A pretty Spring necklace. It's in my Folksy shop if you can't live without it!

Tea, Cake & Crafts - my idea of heaven!

As discussed on a "Folksy" forum, I have decided to open up my home (in Sleaford Lincolnshire) for a day on March 22nd, for tea, cake and crafts.
You can drop in anytime between 10am and 4pm - bring what you are making at the moment too as it will be a good time to exchange craft ideas - I will also be swapping/selling small packets of buttons/fabrics/etc so if you have anything to add to the sale/swap table bring that too. Should be a good fun, informal day, for everyone interested in crafts (doesn't have to be sewing). I know that five people are interested in coming already so if you are going to come along too and join us then please leave a comment and I will email you directions etc.

Russian Dolls and Spotty Bunnies

Russian Dolls and Spotty Bunnies are all I've made lately... now working full time, my crafting time has been swallowed up dramatically. But today i am going to light an open fire and cosy up on the sofa with all my buttons, beads and fabrics and...create! Latest additions to my Folksy Shop include a Spotty Bunny Egg Cosy (perfect gift for Easter) and a blackberry/ipod cover made with some fab Japanese fabric I bought a while ago with Russian Dolls on it.

Sooooooo Vintage Daaaaaaahling

Those of you who know me, know that I find it extreemely difficult to throw anything away. My loft is bulging with things "that might just come in handy". My friends joke "if you need something, anything, - Annie probably has it".


Anyway, I ventured up there the other day and opened a few bags and boxes. One box was full of odd napkins. Vintage, embroidered ones. I can't bear to part with them because they are so pretty, but as napkins they are of no use at all (other than for the lone diner!).


I had bought a load of recycled paper notebooks a while back and had been wondering what to cover them with, to pretty them up and UPCYCLE!

So heres a picture of one I've listed in my shop on Folksy (Just in case you can't live without it!)
See it here at http://www.folksy.com/shops/AnnieFloribunda

Don't be a waster!

If ever I write a book, it will be about upcycling/recycling crafts and I'll probably dedicate it to the rag picker children of Mumbai. These children pick through rubbish to recycle... and get paid just £1 a day. The recycling slums. The REAL Slumdog Millionaire. Where families live on the street, 10 to a room or actually on the the rubbish tip, ankle deep in sewerage and rats. People recycling EVERYTHING to make a bit of money just to stay alive. I probably waste enough "stuff" each day, to feed a family in Mumbai - paper, bottles, packaging, etc... so, maybe I will write that book, perhaps some of the proceeds could go to help people in Mumbai. I'll store it in the "future projects" file for now!
With this ub mind if I make one new years resolution it will be "Not to be a waster". This is very bad news for Mr H. It means that more of the loft space will be taken up with boxes, bottles, fabric, beads, buttons, paper, card, paint.............etc! He is already convinced that I am the love child of a Womble...and now it's going to get worse!
I've started already! Making something wonderful from an empty soap powder box and the inner wadding from my old ironing cover...
First, I cut and stuck it into the shape I wanted it to be.

Then I glued the ironing board wadding to the lid of my box and covered the box in some pretty "Sewing" themed fabric I had.

Now I need to carry on with it so I can show you finished product!

Make a Smilebox slideshow