Wednesday, November 21, 2012

BLACK FRIDAY & CYBER MONDAY

Tomorrow is the fourth Thursday of November which means it is Thanksgiving Day in the US. But what a lot of people are waiting for is Friday, or as it is called Black Friday, which  traditionally marks the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. To make shoppers even more excited  since 2005 on-line sellers have got their own version of brick-and-mortar Black Friday which is called Cyber Monday. Cyber Monday is a marketing term for the following Monday after Black Friday, the Friday following Thanksgiving in the United States, created by companies to persuade people to shop on-line.
Etsy is running a huge campaign for both, Black Friday and Cyber Monday, supporting sellers’ site-wide promotions throughout the 11/23 – 11/26 weekend.
I am pleased to offer a 15% discount on a ready-to ship range of accessories at my ETSY SHOP , not including the items which are currently on sale. To get your 15% discount use  BLACKNCYBER15 coupon code  at the checkout between 22 and 27 November 2012.
It is a very good chance to purchase something you have liked and always wanted to get ☺


This headband is on promotion and can be purchased here



Tuesday, November 20, 2012

1 year later: how to measure my progress?

I made my first ever flower about a year ago. In fact it was not even a pure silk flower as I started with a so-called "soft technique" which presupposes the use of polyester fabrics with a completely different set of qualities. That first rose seemed to be so beautiful and wonderful at the time and I was very proud of it. But now I would like to talk about poppies, by far my best-seller and a very popular flower here and back in Russia. So let's compare my first poppy made of stretch satin (polyester) and my last poppy made of pure silk and cotton velvet to see how much progress can be made in a year.
Here is my first attempt, which again looked perfect at the time and  I wore it with pride:
And this is my last one, hand painted silk and velvet + a bit of fairy dust ☺:


So which one do you like most? Or maybe you like both? They are very different after all...


Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Preparing for Christmas. Not long to go

Now only lazy can ignore all the preparations for the coming Christmas: decorated shops, Chrtistmas cards everywhere, butchers taking order for Christmas turkeys etc.
Despite Remembrance poppies,a couple of craft fairs and some orders I need to work on Christmas designs have not been forgotten. So far I have tried two iconic Christmas plants which are holly and poinsettia. And yes there is a way of making fur trees out of velvet but I am not just sure I will have time to try it ☺ It looks a very time-consuming adventure!
I created poinsettia out of pure silk satin which I hand painted in rich reds and hot pinks. The flower is rather big (about 15 cm across) and is finished with a brooch base.

For the holly corsage I used cotton poplin in dark green and some hand painted pure silk satin for the little berries. The brooch looks very sweet and immediately reminds you of Christmas!

I am thinking about making other fantasy flowers which can decorate festive outfits at parties and corporate celebrations. Should stock on beads and feathers then! :-)

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Remembrance poppies

Welcome to November :-)
And as we all know in 10 days, on 11th November, Britain and other countries of Europe and Commonwealth are observing Remembrance Day, which is also known as Poppy Day or Armistice Day. 
Remembrance Day is observed to remember those who died as a result of World War I.
The red remembrance poppy has become a familiar emblem of Remembrance Day. Red poppies are worn on blazers, shirts, jumpers and other items of clothing on Remembrance Day. Poppies were among the first plants that came from the battlefields of northern France and Belgium during World War I. Some people believed the popular myth that poppies were rich in their redness because they blossomed from grounds that were saturated with soldiers’ blood. 

Red poppy flowers are mentioned in one of the most popular and most quoted poems from the World War  I, "In Flanders Fields", written by Canadian physician and Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae. 

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Both the poem and poppy have remained prominent Remembrance Day symbols.

Here are some of the pictures of red poppies I have created for Remembrance Day. For every poppy I sell I will donate £1 to British Legion 


Remembrance Day poppy pin


These two poppies have been made of synthetic rich red satin and can be purchased in my shop on Etsy.
But if you wish you can always order the iconic hand painted silk poppy  like this one:

With my best wishes,
Your Svetlana