Thursday, November 28, 2013

BLACK FRIDAY AND CYBER MONDAY '13 PROMOTION

Today is the fourth Thursday of November which means it is Thanksgiving Day in the US.


It is time for many of us to give thanks for what we have, celebrate with a family and share a little feast. And... move on to 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 by offering them special discounts, promotions and  capsule collections.

The opinion poll I conducted myself amongst my fans and followers has shown that the majority of customers would prefer a free delivery rather than a discount on a purchase. With this in mind I am pleased to offer a FREE DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL DELIVERY on my READY-TO-SHIP range of accessories at my ETSY SHOP, not including the items which are currently on sale. To get your free shipping use BLACKNCYBER13 coupon code at the checkout between 28 November and 2 December 2013.

Please use this chance to purchase something for yourself that you have liked and always wanted to get or buy some Christmas gifts for your loved ones! Feel free to browse my ETSY SHOP full of silk and leather floral pieces!

Click here to explore the leather accessories range




Sunday, November 24, 2013

Velvet orchid headdress from my bridal collection




I mentioned before that I am collecting Japanese silk flower making books. Although in many of them you can find some orchids, be it phalaenopsis or Lady's slipper orchid, one of those books is devoted solely to orchids, different orchids and nothing else, more than 20 varieties. One of the varieties, miltonia, has inspired me to create a bridal piece for my Blanc de Blancs collection. These striking orchids, which are also known as pansy orchids, are characterised by pointy petals and sepals and an often oversized lip.
Here is the photo or some real miltonias:



Being inspired by their unusual shape I created a bridal headband with velvet miltonias.


White orchid headband
 This designer headdress with 3 orchids made of off-white velvet perfectly completes the look of any discerning bride. Because it has a vintage flair to it the orchid headband is ideal for vintage-themed weddings.



I used some of the finest materials to create this bridal piece of headwear: silk and viscose velvet, silk organza, silk dupioni, silk pongee and freshwater pearls.
This white headband is ready to ship but a similar one in other colours can be made to order to match your outfit or a wedding theme.

There are many more different orchids to try and recreate in fabric or leather and no doubt I will be doing that shortly. My next favourite is Lady's slipper orchid. Do you have any ideas what kind of accessory this impressive and unusual flower can be turned into?

Sunday, November 17, 2013

Silk roses

Please be kindly informed that we have moved! To read new blog posts, purchase our floral pieces and learn more about how to make flowers you are welcome to visit out new website.

Autumn is taking its toll on nature. The trees are showing their bare branches as the last leaves fall onto the cold wet ground. The grass is not as green any more. The days are short, grey and full of drizzly rain. Gardens seem to be hybernating and apart from a lonely pink nerine or a yellow spike of mahonia the eye does not see any bright colours.

Fortunately for us, handmade silk flowers are still there where the fresh ones might have gone. They please our eye and lift our spirits. Old English roses continue to flower despite the autumnal darkness.

Old English Rose brooch

I am often asked to do a rose tutorial. To be honest, roses are one of the most complicated flowers to be created out of silk and before  one attempts to try and make a complicated silk rose dozens of less complex flowers have to be made to gain enough experience, get to know the tools and properties of the silk, learn coloration techniques and flower shapes. Obviously a .pdf tutorial will not suffice in this case. Although a one-to-one session is ideal, in the modern world of technology the Skype lesson is next best. And now let's concentrate on Christmas pieces!

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Veteran poppies

Please be kindly informed that we have moved! To read new blog posts, purchase our floral pieces and learn more about how to make flowers you are welcome to visit out new website here
It is the beginning of November and I am busy making veteran poppies! Buyers manage to find my flowers on some obscure websites I forgot I was using to sell my handmade brooches :-)

This year I slightly modernised the look of 2 brooches I am selling as veteran poppies: one of the corsages has more petals and no leaves or stems



Veteran poppy

                                                       the other one (although with less petals) features 2 hand painted pure silk leaves

Veteran poppy
I already have fresh exciting ideas for new poppies for the next year which I will present soon. I am going to play with new fabrics and probably shapes too.
Another idea which is hanging in the air is to make a leather poppy. I wonder if my dear customers like it... I am definitely going to give it a go especially that I have all the needed materials including gorgeous thin red leather for it.

As a kind reminder I would like to mention my poppy tutorial again. Using this tutorial you still have plenty of time to create a poppy (or two!) to wear or give to someone special before the 11 November.

The poppies are available for sale at my Etsy shop. The tutorial can be purchased from  my Tutorials e-store.