November Window Display

I've not had much time this past week so the window display is a bit simpler that previous themes.  I think I'll still need to add more pom poms which will be work in progress.

   

http://www.bazaar-boutique.co.uk

Origami Christmas Baubles

I had my first craft evening this week and it was such good fun.  Just creating something simple but gorgeous can make you feel a great sense of achievement.  My ladies were so impressed that they had made a bauble from paper circles and were keen to know when the next class is.

My ladies have asked for an Origami evening to be the next theme...so, I've been racking my brain trying to think of a project that will be Christmassy, easy and look amazing.  I've chosen to make these...

To make this Origami bauble you will need the following:

• 2 x square pieces of paper (of equal size)
• a bit of tape (I used masking tape)

Step 1

Have your paper print face down.  Fold your paper in half and make a crease along the folded edge.  Open the paper and turn 90degrees.  Fold in half again and make a crease along the fold edge.

When you open the piece of paper you will see the following crease lines...

Step 2

Fold the piece of paper diagonally...so point to point to make a triangle.  When you open the paper out you will see the following creases...

Step 3

You now need to turn the piece of paper over so that the print is facing upward.  

You need to make a square fold now.  The diagonal folds need to be folded the inwards.  You should now have this shape...

Step 4

You will now have 4 'flaps'.

Each of these flaps need to be squash folded and you will have a fold that looks like this...

Do the same with the remaining 3 flaps.

This completes the origami...you'll need to do this first 4 steps again with your 2nd piece of paper.

Step 5

This is the tricky bit! 

Now you need to slot the 2 pieces together.  You'll need to do the following...

That's it finished!  You can add embellishments by threading beaded to hang from one end and add a hanging loop to the other end.  If you want, you can do this before you slot the 2 pieces together.

Originally from 'All About Origami'

Hope this inspires you to make your own!  have fun.

All Wrapped Up!

Don't you just love when you get a present that has been wrapped so beautifully?  Your loved one has really thought about the gift and wrapped it with love and imagination.  Here are our top 10 favourite gift wrap ideas from around the internet.



Miki Duisterhof.  Country Living Magazine.

1. This is a great look with the map wrapping paper.  It would be great to use a map of a place that means something to both of you.  Cute touch with the button and string.



Folk & Fest

2.  Fresh flowers make any present that bit more romantic.




originally from Style Me Pretty

 3.  Cute and easy way to wrap little presents or treats.  Just use a sticker or a beautiful gift topper to finish off the wrapping.



The Pink Couch

4.  Oh my, oh my.  This is a beautiful gift!  It would be a shame to unwrap this.  The paper is recycled garment pattern paper.  It's like tissue paper so it is perfect to wrap with.  The ribbon looks like it has wired edges to give the bow some structure.  And last but not least, the printed paper feather gift toppers!  You could print these from the internet or cut out from an old book.  Maybe flowers are your thing?...the possibilities are endless.




Housing a Forest

5. Great idea for a the little monster in your life.  Use round stickers and print-outs from the internet.




Helen Philipps

6.  Very creative.  If you've already got the sewing machine up and ready, this is got to be quicker than wrapping the traditional way with your sticky tape.  I like how the paper has been embellished with stamps, fabric flower motif, raffia twine and the button.  So, so cute.




Fraulein Klein

7.  Simple but effective.  Pom Pom topped parcels.  Nice with the feather name tags too!



Tara Anderson

8. Another Pom-pom topped present, but this one is extra special.  Lovely paper, embellished with a lace band, paper punch-out garland, bakers twine, sparkly leaves and finally the bright wooly pom-pom.  A fantastic use of colour & texture.



Joseph De Leo for Handmade Weddings



Chewing the Cud fabric gift wrap

9.  Using pretty fabrics is such a lovely way to wrap a gift.  Furoshiki is a traditional Japanese wrapping cloth.  There are so many different ways to wrap gifts.  You can even create handbags to carry items with your furoshiki.  Also...it's 2 gifts in 1!



Fab & Luxe

10.  An elegant use of the wide satin ribbon and the sparkly brooch.  You can find lots of pre-loved costume jewellery in thrift shops.  How about using a necklace to tie around the parcel, or a cluster of rings for the topper?

We hope you like our selection.  Follow us on Pinterest to see more wrapping inspiration.

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Thunder Rolling Down the Mountains

 

It was lovely weather here in Perth last week.  There were many tourists wandering the streets and admiring our beautiful city.  On Wednesday, a passer by photographed my shop window display and focused on the paper feather mobile.  What a surprise to find that he had emailed me with some news!  He had posted the photograph onto the National Geographic Your Shot website.  http://yourshot.nationalgeographic.com/photos/4005523/#comments and it was spotted by a lovely lady called Janet. 

Janet is married to a direct decendent of Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce tribe  His true name was Hinmatóowyalahtq̓it which means 'thunder rolling down the mountains'.


Thunder Rolling Down the Mountains.
(b.1840 - d.1904)

Chief Joseph with his family. c. 1880

Janet commented on the post on the National Geographic site.

..."the family of Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce Tribe are delighted to see such a lovely work of art..."

And so now we have made contact.  I emailed her some coloured shots of the window and let her know that her comments about the photo were much appreciated.  It had made my day!
She replied early this week telling me all about her husband's ancestry and about the Chief Joseph's tribe.  Wow.  I just couldn't believe my little paper feathers could connect with someone on the other side of the world.



 

Cocktail anyone?

Just been thinking about my favourite places.  New York is one of my most loved places.  It's where I got engaged and where Mark & I were married...so it holds very special memories for us both.
Our wedding day was really just a drinking tour of the city!  We started with champagne at the Boathouse, then onto the Empire Rooftop Bar for cocktails and nibbles.  Our final stop was Soho House, NY (thanks to our fabulous friend Jane for arranging this) for more cocktails (and some food too).

Empire Rooftop Bar, NY

I do love a great cocktail.  I think they are so special and a real treat.  I found a great website that you can view lots of magazines on.  issuu.com has publications on just about everything.  Some you have to pay for but there are just so many that are free to read!  I'd come across the Soho House Drinks magazine House Tonic which is free to browse.  Or just have a look on their website for some delish cocktail recipes.

How about these:

Pink Girvan by Saele Valese (Berlin Soho House)
50ml Hendricks Gin
10ml Rose Syrup
10ml Elderflower Syrup
20ml Lemon Juice
Serve in a rocks glass garnished with a cucumber.

or,

Manahattan
50ml Woodford Bourbon
25ml Sweet Vermouth
2-4 dashes of Angostura Bitters
Add all the ingredients to a mixing glass.  Start with the bitters, sweet vermouth and the whiskey last.  Add ice and stir until the ice begins to dilute the drink.  Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

I'm definitely going to start making more cocktails.  Just need some fab glasses.  What do you think of these?

 

I have lovely vintage teacups that I could tranform.  I see another project on horizon!

Aila
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We Need Your Votes!

Hello again,

Independent shops are what makes shopping special.  You'll find something different in these shops, see brands and goods that you don't normally find in your high street chain stores.  So take a detour off the main high streets and seek out your local independent.  We need you!
By shopping in these stores you will not only support them but you will be supporting the local community & economy.

Perth, Scotland has a high percentage of Independent Retailers. Each one has it's own style and offers a unique shopping experience, great products and friendly service.  

We have entered this years competition for Perth's Independent Retailer of the Year 2014.  It's going to be a tough one as there are so many fantastic shops taking part.  So please help us to win this year by clicking on the link and selecting Bazaar as your favourite retailer.

https://dcms.typeform.com/to/PJ6HbO

vote for us

Thanks so much.
Aila
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Hello String Art

Hello...
I've been going pinterest crazy with the new shop.  Pinterest has really given me some great ideas and the shop has been the perfect change to get crafting and DIYing.
The latest project has been this 'Hello' sign in the shop.

All I did was:

• Print out the text in the correct size.  I has to tape all the letters together to make the word.
• (Print out another page with smaller font size for reference later on)
• I then marked on the letters where I thought the best places for the pins should be.  This was a massive help!
• After I taped the paper to the wall I started to hammer in those panel pins like a crazy woman.  [TOP TIP: If you're right handed, work from right to left and top to bottom...it's much easier!
• Once the panel pins are in place and secure - gently tear away the paper.
• Now it's time to use your chosen yarn.  This is where the reference page comes in to play.  I had ripped away all the paper from the pins only to realise that I couldn't quite work out where the yarn should go and what the letters looked like.
• I wrapped the yarn around the pins 3 times.  I think I should have been a bit braver and wrapped the yarn 6 times maybe....although I did use a knitting yarn.  If you are using thread or string you will need to wrap around the pins quite a bit to get the right effect.

  

  No turning back now!!!!!!!

  
  

  

  The neon yarn really works in the shop - so glad I found a use for it

I think I might try this in our hallway at home or the kitchen maybe?

Aila

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June Shop Window

Hello,

The shop in Perth has been open for 4 weeks now and the window displays seem to be doing the job of getting customers in the door.
Here's a look at our new window.

The feather scarves seem to be doing well so thought a feather theme in the window might be nice.  The feathers are made from old botanical books.  The floral prints look gorgeous on the feathers and keep that summery feel.

It was really easy to do and i think it looks really effective.

Might try to make some gift toppers using the paper feather, real feather and some beads.

Aila
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