Sweet Saturday: I'm Dreaming Of...

Marie Antoinette Pink Daisy Lace Necklace by LittleStudioJewels

...A PINK Christmas! Inspired by my Marie Antoinette Pink Daisy Lace Necklace, here are a few more of my favorite items...maybe they'll inspire your gifts for a special lady as well??

Almond Mocha Mate Tea by LiberTeas

For most women, happiness is curling up under a favorite blanket with a good book, some tasty nibbles, and a warm cup of comforting tea, like the Almond Mocha Mate from LiberTeas.

Small Round Hand Built Porcelain Damask Dish by Raquel Masri

Tasty nibbles are always tastier (and less fattening!) when on a pretty, no, make that beautiful, dish. This is a hand built porcelain dish by Raquel Masri, and it fits the bill perfectly.

Lidded Teacup on Leaf Saucer in Vanilla Bean by DBabcock

A good cup of tea is always made better by a fancy mug, and this is a graceful version (complete with lid and saucer to keep everything hot and tidy) by DBabcock.

Shopping Basket (English Style) by JohnToftBasketry

Finally, no shopping trip would be complete without a beautiful shopping basket to carry your favorite goodies. Alternatively, use this beautiful basket to store and show your magazines or yarns while you are sitting curled up by your fire. In cream and rose, this is feminine without being too girly - the perfect compromise for those with manly men in the house, lol!

I hope you enjoy these beautiful items as much as I do. Have a great weekend!

Fabulous Friday Feature: JohnToftBasketry!

I have been one of the team leaders for the Capital Crafters and a few months ago met John. John was particularly fascinating as he makes baskets the 'old fashioned way', from willow canes and other materials to produce such beautiful works of art that don't seem as if a mere human could have made them. He even grows his own willow for the canes! His blog, http://johntoftbasketryatetsy.blogspot.com/, chronicles his basket making, his inspirations, new items, and how he grows his own basket weaving materials. I really do suggest you visit. Then, pop over to his Etsy store and see the delightful items he has for sale. He even has do-it-yourself kits, but more on that later...Here is what John has to say about his wonderful business:

~Sewing basket~

I trade as JohnToftBasketry (www.JohnToftBasketry.etsy.com/) because I had to choose a name in a hurry when I first began my business several years ago. I needed a business name that was unique as I obtained my Ontario business licence. My imagination hit a road block. The prosaic label that combined my name with what I did was, and is, the best I could come up with.
Later, as I set up my Etsy shop, I continued with that not-so-evocative name since it was then a name becoming known in the art and craft community in and around Ottawa.

~Rib Basket~

In my basket-making I combine the traditions of English basket-making with those of North America. England is where I was born, raised and educated. Canada is my adopted home since 1966.
I specialise in three types of baskets:
My sewing baskets (Top Image) are made using traditional English techniques. These beautiful baskets combine texture, colour, style and utilty, while the liners, made by my wife, Anne, add that essential finishing touch of style.
My rib baskets (Second Image), also following traditional North American techniques, combine practicality and whimsy. The "fanny baskets" are particularly admired and enjoyed.
My market baskets (Third Image) are made using traditional North American techniques in the Appalachian style. While these are utilitarian shopping baskets, their looks and designer elements make them an attractive addition to any home.

~Market Basket~

I was introduced to basket-making as a child in elementary school in England. There, in competition and co-operation as always with my twin brother, he and I so took to this craft that the school was in danger of running out of supplies! Before my retirement from teaching in 1998, I said, "I should do more than golf and garden when I retire. I made a basket once as a child." That Christmas a book on basket-making appeared under the Christmas tree. So began my basket-making journey.

~Tray Making Kit~

My blog at www.JohnToftBasketryatetsy.blogspot.com/ has many articles on different aspects of basket-making, ranging from the dyeing process to growing and harvesting willow to showing how to make baskets.

Via my blog and the kits I sell through my etsy shop, I also invite beginners at basket-making to try their own hands at this ancient craft. The Kits enable a newbie to make a tray with basket edging, while the eight-step tutorials in my blog of June 9th illustrate the various weving techniques used.

Thank you so much for sharing with us John! Please visit his Etsy Store.

To all of my Little Studio Photography and Jewellery blog visitors, remember to enter my monthly contest by adding your name and email to my monthly newsletter (You have to sign up for the newsletter first to be eligible to win!!), see the full contest details here.

I've Been Featured!

I have been featured on JohnToftBasketry Blog! Please go and check it out, he said such nice things that I am still blushing :)

Remember to enter my monthly contest by adding your name and email to my monthly newsletter (You have to sign up for the newsletter first to be eligible to win!!), see the full contest details here.

Thankful Thursday: Some Awards and Updates

For some reason some people are unable to see my posts on my main blog, Little Studio Photography and Jewellery, so I will be redundancy posting here for all to see. Thanks Audrey for letting me know of the issue :)

I have to thank Marianne from Lovely Purses for this Interesting Blog Award - she has the most wonderful blog and really pretty bags :)
I need to share this with 5 bloggers:
1 Jen from Epic Farms Equine Epiphanies
2 John from JohnToftBasketry
3 Marjorie from TheFanTail
4 Renee from CirclingMyHead
5 Heather from 3AMArtProductions
I wanted to thank Audrey at Stage 3! Who Me? for the Uber Amazing Blog award! She is one of the friendliest bloggers out there and I encourage you to visit her blog :)
Now I am supposed to share this with 6 bloggers:
1 The Furkids (and their Mommy and Daddy!) from FriendsFurEver
2 Daisy, Harley and their Mom from DaisyTheCurlyCat
3 The Goats and their Publicist from TheMaaaaaofPricilla
4 The Kitties, Sadie and their Parents at BeadedTail
5 The Llamas and their Mommy at SplitRockRanch
6 Jennifer at TheMare'sTales

Also, to update you on the Arwen story from yesterday...she kept the seal WELL out of my reach for 2 days, and then brought it to me this morning to play fetch, so I suppose I am forgiven :)

And to update on a prayer request, about 2 weeks ago I got an email from Jason asking to pray for his father, recently diagnosed with lung cancer, undergoing treatments and having to be put in ICU for some major health problems. This morning Jason emailed me again saying:
Good Morning,
I wanted to provide an update on my father's condition. The Lord has shown his ray of
healing power. My father was on ventilation and intubated last week but on Thursday,
he was feeling strong enough to breathe on his own. The pulmonologist turned off the
ventilator and my father was breathing normally! To help with his breathing and
coughing up phlegm and other 'stuff', they put in a temporary chest tube to drain the
build-up. What is happening is his lung has the large tumor on it, causing him to not to
be able to cough up and break up everything in his lung.
Since, last Thursday he has been good. At least one person in my family has been
staying the night with him each night but we left him alone last Friday night. That was a
mistake. He had horrible dreams and dreamt of his sister and aunt who passed away,
asking for him to go with them. My father was unable to 'reach' them in his dream but
came out of it and was disoriented. They sedated him and he was fine by Saturday
night. This past Tuesday, he received his 2nd round of chemotherapy. When he
received it last week, he was intubated so they weren't sure how he would react. He
handled it pretty well but had more crazy dreams and disorientation on Tuesday night.
I was with him that night and helped him through it all.
Yesterday we received some better news. They moved him out of ICU and into a
normal room! So, now he can get some more sleep, get some steady physical therapy
and slowly work towards going home potentially!
It is so mysterious how the Lord works. Last Monday, we were told he may never
breathe on his own again or wake up. Now, he is getting stronger and fighting the tumor
and cancer with all his might with the good Lord backing him.
My family and I would like to thank you for all your prayers, kind words and piece of
mind. When I started sending out 'random' emails, my pregnant wife thought it was
strange but I felt that my dad needed more prayers and help. For once, the internet
has shown some positive powers rather than the negatives you see on the news and
read about.
If you don't mind, please continue to pray for my father and my family. I give you full
permission to spread the prayer request to anyone and everyone. Thank you very
much!
God Bless. - Jason Torres

Isn't that wonderful?? I am so happy that all of us praying is helping his family in such a way. Thank you for your prayers!
That's all for now, I'll be back soon with more great things :)
Remember to enter my contest for a chance to win a free pair of earrings!