Spring in leather bloom

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

As the days become warmer Eva and I spend more and more time wandering pedestrian paths and little streets of our city enjoying spring and the blooms it has brought.
One of the classic spring flowers is a noble camellia. Often hidden in the back gardens it is in full bloom at the moment. More often than not camellia flower has clean lines and a regular shape which is perfect for recreating this flower in leather. I have gone slightly mad and made a whole load of smaller and larger camellias in differently coloured genuine leather and suede.

Leather camellia

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Butterfly decor

Hand painted pure silk butterflies

I know everybody's thoughts are about spring and summer these days especially with wall-to-wall sunshine outside. But some of us do like to plan ahead. So instead of thinking about Easter preparations one of my customers is busy planning her next Christmas tree design! Surfing the Internet she came across a picture of a tree all covered with butterflies and got so inspired that wanted the same. Unusual as it is, I received this order for 10 different sample butterflies a couple of weeks ago. Here are the butterflies, which are going to decorate a fir tree next Christmas. 

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A velvet rose

 Recently I have added a couple of new stunning roses to my portfolio. One of them is this large beauty.

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Velvet poppy brooch

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.

In November I was talking about new poppy designs which I would like to add to my oh-so-popular existing line. One of the ideas was to create a poppy using luxurious velvet fabric. Finally last weekend I found the time for this experiment.
Please welcome the wild poppy made of cotton velvet for petals and cotton melton for leaves and stems.

Velvet poppy brooch

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New year - new tools!

I am always on the lookout for new ideas in the world of fabric flowers. This include different technology, tools, materials, ways of presenting the work.
At the end of last year I decided to be generous and get a silk floristry related gift for myself. I simply could not resist these gorgeous Japanese brushes!

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MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR 2014

Dear followers of my blog, 


From my family to yours... remembering the reason for the season. 

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Free delivery on Cyber Monday!

Finally Cyber Monday 2013 is upon us. The term itself is very new and was coined only in 2005. But since then this day has become a part of our pre-Christmas shopping offering online deals, discounts and all sorts of promotions.
As announced before this year we are happy to offer a FREE INTERNATIONAL DELIVERY on all ready-to-ship accessories at our ETSY SHOP.

It is a great opportunity to get a fab gift for yourself or your loved ones and save on shipping fees!

Happy browsing at OUR SHOP!

Click here to explore our range of designer butterflies

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

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?

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!