Orchy Design Blog

Mystery Monday

2010-07-12T09:43:00.000+01:00

Well I'm glad to say that this Monday I have enough time to squeeze in the Mystery Monday blog before retuning to the building of our new website.
So this week I am pleased to announce our featured business is Gifts by Jenny run by Jenny Andrew. From personalised photo frames, hearts, letters, magnets and plaques there are plenty of sweet little items that can be finished with a message of your choice.
Being an old romantic at heart (aren't we all really!?) I just love this heart plaque that was commissioned by a gentleman for his fiancee - so thoughtful and personal I'm sure she was over the moon and what a beautiful and original love token - well done that man!

One of Jenny's latest items are these great little fridge magnets ideal as a thank you gift for a much appreciated teacher.

Jenny's decorated letters can be used for all sorts of reasons - a gift for a child's bedroom with their name on the letter, a wedding gift with the initials of the bride and groom or buy a set to spell out a word which can be used to decorate any room in the house - Home, Love, Bathe, Cook just some of the ideas I had but the possibilities are endless, all you need is some imagination.

I just love gifts that can be personalised as the recipient knows how much thought has gone into it. So finally I would like to share this beautiful personalised photo frame which really sums up how a gift can be made really special with a bit of thought and a few well chosen words.

Show your support for handcrafted items by joining her facebook page today which also has a selection of items for sale.

You can visit Gifts by Jenny on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stafford-United-Kingdom/Gifts-by-Jenny/115423815148349?v=wall&__a=16

Until next time, take care, Susanne x

Busy, Busy!

2010-07-09T11:19:00.000+01:00

Sometimes it feels as if there are just not enough hours in the day! This week I have been busy starting to build a new and hopefully much improved website. Building a website is always a challenge when you are teaching yourself as you go. This time I have decided to go with Weebly which is not only free but has been recommended by several other crafters with pretty websites.
The biggest problem with our current website is the size of the images in the online shop. Unfortunately they are quite small and although you can click on them to enlarge the photo, I find that from a personal point of view I prefer to visit a website and see nice, bright, clear images of all the prodcuts for sale.
So it is back to the drawing board and the homepage is now complete and looking pretty good if i do say so myself!
I have also been busy taking photographs of our new 'Highland Colours' collection. Thankfully yesterday was a dry and fairly bright day in Glasgow which allowed me to get out into the garden and take a few snaps. I plan to redo a few that I'm not completely happy with but here are a couple to give you an idea of how the new designs are looking.

There are a couple of other colours and bracelets and earrings in the collection but I hope you like what you see so far. Susanne x

Mystery Monday on a Tuesday!

2010-07-06T10:27:00.001+01:00

Well I know it is officially Tuesday but as I had a rather hectic day yesterday I did not think it would be fair to write a rushed blog for the sake of it as I wouldn't have done our featured business justice. So here I am on a Tuesday with my coffee all ready to tell you about this weeks Mystery Monday, BlackCactusinLondon, run by Anna Jackson.
With a mixture of hand printed and vintage fabrics, Anna produces items that are fun and useful, always a good combination. When I first came across BlackCactusinLondon it was when Anna was asking about feedback on her hand printed cushions covers. With such lovely colours and bold prints there was of course, plenty of positive feedback given.

These are two of my particular favourites although there are plenty of other designs to choose from in her Etsy shop. They are machine washable and can be gift wrapped if requested which is a lovely personal touch.

If you are looking for a quirky shopper then Anna has a few for you to choose from, my attention was caught by these unusual bags using vintage McDonald's fabric.

Of course, working with prints and fabric you would expect to find some lovely items that you can wear and Anna has thought of those too! If like me you look for something stylish to wear to the gym then Anna's speciality peeved rabbit design, hand printed cotton tank top is just the thing.

In her shop you will also find a range of buttons and corsages so there is something for everyone. If you have not done so already, please join Anna's facebook page as she will be doing a giveaway when she reaches 100 fans. She will be giving away this handprinted peeved rabbit design shopper to a lucky winner when she reaches her fan target.

To see more of Anna's work follow the links below. Until next time, take care x

http://www.etsy.com/shop/blackcactusinlondon?ref=seller_info

http://www.facebook.com/pages/BlackCactusInLondon/126871154010462?v=wall&ref=ts

Mystery Monday

2010-06-28T09:43:00.002+01:00

It's that time again when I would like to share with you another fantastic business busy making and producing lovely things for you all to enjoy.
This week I would love to tell you about Just Soaps who produce a range of hand made natural soaps and body care products free from the chemical additives and preservatives, such as SLS (sodium laurel sulphate), Parabens, Petrochemicals and EDTA, found in over 96% of commercial soaps and toiletries, 95% of their products are registered with the Vegan Society and they use the highest quality grade of oils, butters and essential oils from sustainable sources to produce their soaps and body care products.
Wherever possible they source ingredients such as Spring Water, Honey, Oats, Goat's Milk, Beeswax and Lavender buds from local suppliers.

Okay, that is the technical part and it is all very impressive but what delights can I buy I hear you ask? Well some of the most scrumptious sounding and looking products I have seen!

Want to scrub up for the summer? Then a slice of loofah soap is just what you need, choose from lavender and geranium or lemongrass and lime.

Just Soaps have as the name suggests many lovely bars of natural soap and if you check out the properties of each bar you should find something that suits you and your skins needs. If you are feeling really indulgent or are looking for an unusual and pretty gift then you have to check out the cake slices which look good enough to eat, mmmm yummy!

If you want to spend a weekend pampering yourself with lots of delicious products then Just Soaps have everything you need to complete your beauty regime. From bath and shower products, hair care, face masks, lip balm and foot care, you will feel refreshed and ready to start a new week

If like me you share your home with a four legged friend who, let's face it can sometimes smell quite unpleasant no matter how much you love them, then why not treat them too! I will definitely be ordering a dog shampoo bar.

I love my wee Jasper and I'm looking forward to bathing him with a chemical free bar made with neem oil which is reputed to contain natural antibacterial, antifungal, and insecticidal properties. It also includes teatree & eucalyptus essential oils.

I know that Jasper will love his bathtime even more as this doggy kit includes an especially commissioned dog biscuit containing Leicestershire milled flour and eggs - Jasper says how thoughtful!

If you are looking for a present then there are plenty of gift packs to choose from, all beautifully packaged.

Not sure what to get? Then why not choose a gift voucher

All products can be ordered online and delivered.

If you are looking out for a day out with a difference then Just Soaps also run soap making courses which will help you to understand the benefits of using a variety of plant oils and you will be able to formulate a recipe that is perfect for your skin. It is suitable for complete beginners and you get to take your own handmade bar of soap home with you - how good is that!

So that is Mystery Monday over for another week and I hope you will take the time to visit Just Soaps website and find out more. I will be placing my order with them soon as Jasper is definitely starting to give off a slight doggy odour!

Just Soaps website - http://www.just-soaps.com/index.html

Facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/OrchyDesign#!/profile.php?id=1645758948&v=wall

Blog - http://justsoaps.blogspot.com/

Remember and follow our blog to find out who will be featured next Monday :)

Another Giveaway - Yipee!!

2010-06-26T19:13:00.000+01:00

I am so excited that we now have 150 lovely facebook fans and quite a few followers of my little blog. To thank you all for your support, comments and feedback we are doing another giveaway.

To be in with a chance of winning one of our lovely bracelets, all you have to do is choose what colour you would like to win and leave a comment on this page - simple!

They are all on sterling silver and we will adjust the size for the winner.

Choose from Pink & iridescent, Gold & green or Red & violet. Winner will be chosen at random on Monday 28th June at 8pm - good luck :)

Pale pink and iridescent sparkles

Ruby red colour with hints of violet as it catches the light

Gold and green metallic effect on a black background.

Tell your friends, spread this blog so they can enter too!

Can't see the woods for the trees!

2010-06-24T10:00:00.000+01:00

Sometimes when you are running a business it is necessary to take a step back and review your progress. It helps you to focus and gives you a chance to motivate yourself all over again.

Sometimes you can't see the wood for the trees!

No matter how big or small your enterprise it is very easy to get lost in the day to day cycle and forget what you are actually trying to achieve. That is why this week my mum and I have spent alot of time reviewing and updating our business plan, reading business books and articles and measuring our progress so far.
Being half way through the year this gives us a good indication of whether we are on track or not. Unfortunately business plans, finances and general admin may not be the most exciting of ways to pass the day but they are extremely useful and necessary for anyone running a business.

It never ceases to amaze me when I come across other crafters who have no business plan, no marketing plan, sometimes even no business cards!!! and generally no idea what they are trying to achieve. These are the same people who then sit moaning that they have no money and wonder why they can't make a living out of what they are doing.
I'm not trying to be harsh but unless you are only planning on making and selling things as a hobby then I have no sympathy with these complaints. I always liken it to having no map and a vague idea of a destination you want to go to and then wondering why you never get there! (Apologies all this paperwork is making me slightly grumpy!)
Anyway, this weekend we have not booked any craft fairs and we are treating ourselves with a wee day trip to Edinburgh. Sometimes just taking a day out is enough to help you focus and recharge your batteries.
Next week we have booked into another Business Gateway workshop which are always packed full of useful advice and are a good opportunity for meeting other business owners. Whether you are thinking of starting up or have been in business for a while these workshops will answer most of your questions and the best thing is they are free.
We have set aside next week with a list of further tasks that we need to complete and then we will have a whole new set of goals to work towards!

Who said running a business is easy?

I just wanted to finish with a quote that sums up my week for me and will hopefully give anyone else in the same situation the motivation to keep going :)

"The victory of success is half won when one gains the habit of setting goals and achieving them. Even the most tedious chore will become endurable as you parade through each day convinced that every task, no matter how menial or boring, brings you closer to fulfilling your dreams."

Mystery Monday

2010-06-21T10:54:00.000+01:00

When you spend a large part of your time meeting others that make beautiful things with so much love and care, who are nice people into the bargain, it is hard to not want to blow their trumpet for them.
My house is filled with one-off and unusual items, sourced form designers all over the world. From jewellery to art to beauty products and homewares (and everything else you can think of), I love sourcing things that are unique and sometimes quirky. Things that have sprung from someones imagination and then lovingly brought to life.
Therefore I would like to introduce my Mystery Monday where I will be sharing the work of some of those people. Each week I will feature a different designer, who is busy imagining and making in some part of the world. Hopefully you will be inspired to visit their website or blog to find out more. It is exciting to think that in one small year I can share 52 of these people with you and it does make a change from talking about myself all the time!

So this Mystery Monday I would like to tell you about Sweet Cotton Threads run by Em Wallis. Although I have never met Em in person, I have come to know her and her work through this virtual world that I sometimes exist in.
She has pretty shabby chic and vintage inspired fabric designs.

For all you budding domestic goddesses there are a range of floral and gingham pinnies, ideal to keep you looking pretty next time you are baking your batch of cupcakes! I particularly like this floral one with the pretty bow.

When you are inviting friends round to share that lovely homebaking, make sure that you have some pretty cushions for them to snuggle in to. Whether your home has a modern interior or a country cottage feel, Em has a range of cushions to suit every style.

If you have friends coming round, don't forget by pinning the details on one of Em's very handy and very pretty memo boards.

Em also has bunting, door hangers and bags all available to buy online in her shop. New items available include summer bunting, picnic fleece rugs, picnic cutlery holders, light weight patchwork blankets, reusable ingredient bags. With the perfect summer weather we are having at the moment these are ideal for stylish outdoor parties and picnics.

Visit Sweet Cotton Threads website at http://www.sweetcottonthreads.co.uk/index.htm

Follow Em's own blog at http://sweetcottonthreads.blogspot.com/

Follow updates on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sweet-Cotton-Threads/110870542286114?ref=ts

Sweet Cotton Threads is also on Twitter at http://twitter.com/SCTDesigns

So that is Mystery Monday for this week, watch out for another featured maker next week :)

Cufflink Update

2010-06-18T08:32:00.000+01:00

A couple of posts back I told you that we had been asked to design seven sets of cufflinks to match the seven tartans of Houstons Traditional Kiltmakers near Glasgow.

Well I am pleased to say that the first lot have been approved by Ken and posted off. The first lot comprised of 5 sets which I was really pleased with.

Due to technical problems! and not having suitable glass for the remaining 2 sets, they are still a work in progress although they are now almost complete.

Here is a sneak preview of a few that have been sent off, hopefully you will agree that they are a good match!

I have just completed a brown set which I had to order glass for and a red set which has been causing me great anxiety! The colour changing properties of dichroic glass is the thing that makes it special but when trying to match colours it can sometimes be problematic to say the least. I have now completed about 10 test firings to achieve red cufflinks to match a rather striking dark grey tartan with red stripes.

The problem I have had is that the red glass has shown too much orange when it moved in the light and just wasn't right. It has really been a case of trial and error and a great learning experience for the future ( I am now an expert on every variation of red dichroic glass!).

I am hesitant to say I think I have now cracked it with a great if not perfect match until it is approved by Ken but deep down I am almost letting out a small sigh of relief!

Carnival Colours

2010-06-15T08:45:00.000+01:00

As I mentioned in a previous post, one of the great things about this job is attending all sorts of wonderful events and this weekend was no exception.

We had a stall at the Glasgow Westend Festival which has now been running for 15 years! The festival runs for 3 weeks and during that time there are lots of free performances that take place at different westend venues.

On Sunday it was the opening parade, and although it is not a patch on Nottinghill or Rio, there is still a friendly carnival atmosphere with music, costumes, performers and dancers.

Despite the on/off drizzly rain, there were plenty of beautiful colours to brighten up the day. I thought I would share a few of my favourite outfits from the parade and if you are in Glasgow in June, I would recommend attending some of the fantastic free events.

Unfortunately my camera battery ran out at this point after much enthusiastic previous clicking and I only managed this one photo of the Chinese costumes which were my absolute favourite. They were really beautiful with the most amazing colours. I guess I'll just have to go back again next year :)

Free Jewellery Giveaway

2010-06-11T11:25:00.000+01:00

I am so excited that Orchy Design now has over 100 fans on facebook - 109 at the last count. To thank all the lovely people that have taken the time to join our page we are giving away a piece of jewellery absolutely FREE! No strings attached!

All you have to do is decide which piece of jewellery you would like if you are the lucky chosen winner. All our lovely blog followers are invited too - if you are one of our followers on facebook or this blog, simply leave a comment stating which piece of jewellery you would prefer from these three lovely pieces.

Blue pendant, with shimmery green stripes

Candy Pink Earrings

Orange and iridescent rainbow pendant

All fittings are sterling silver. Winner will be chosen at random on Monday 14th June at 8pm - Good Luck!

Adapting to the Market

2010-06-08T14:42:00.000+01:00

This week we have been preparing for a big festival in Glasgow which will take place this weekend. This is our third year there and we know there is no shortage of people desperate to part with their hard earned cash for delightful objects. The problem is that as this is a free event people tend to arrive with little money, enough for a burger and ice cream but not much else!

For us this means adapting from the range of jewellery that we normally sell. We have found that items under £10 are most popular - not easy when you usually only make jewellery with sterling silver! So we have put our thinking caps on and designed some bright and colourful pieces that we think will fit in well with a colourful, carnival atmosphere.

I have set up a temporary workspace on the dining room table just for this project.

I have been busy making pendants that are mainly made from brightly coloured bullseye glass, only fusing in a small amount of dichroic to keep the cost down, yet enough to give them that extra sparkle.

To sell these at under £10 sterling silver isn't an option so we decided on silver plate chokers. We thought that even when the choker starts to tarnish they will still have a lovely pendant which can be hung on another chain and kept for a lifetime. Of course we will still have our sterling silver range with us.

We think they have turned out rather well and will be just right for a colourful festival crowd.

The first batch is ready, and here are the next lot cooling in the kiln.

We have decided to sell them at £8 each which will even leave enough change from £10 for that ice cream! Now we just have to hope for good weather!

What is dichroic glass?

2010-06-02T13:52:00.000+01:00

On an almost daily basis I am asked what is dichroic glass? It would be very easy to start rambling and boring people with the scientific ins and outs and history which I don't claim to even begin to understand anyway! The answer isn't exactly straight forward and widely debated and it has taken me some time and research to come up with a definition which is easy to explain and understand (and doesn't cause customer's eyes to glaze over!).

The simple answer is that 'dichroic' is defined as the property of having more than one colour, especially when viewed from different angles or in varying degrees of light. This term is frequently used incorrectly, even in the scientific literature. There are two common uses for the term:

(1)Dichroic glass has the appearance of different colours when it is viewed from different angles in white light. There are very early examples of this, for example Chinese glass which in transmitted and reflected light takes different colours. Another is the Roman Lycurgus Cup - see below.

(2)Dichroic glass is the term applied to glass coated with thin layers of metallic oxides which transmit certain wavelengths of light and reflect others. This causes a sparkling rather than a truly iridescent effect which changes with the angle of observation.

Many dichroic glass designers will tell you that it was invented by Nasa and although that is partly true, it is not strictly correct, as this is a only a type of dichroic glass.

The better way of phrasing it is that Nasa developed the technology to manufacture a certain type of dichroic glass and this technique is now used to mass produce sheets of glass, making them accessible and affordable to those working and designing with glass. Although, this method was in fact first invented over 100 years ago and then developed by the space industry.

So going back to the fact that 'dichroic' simply refers to having more than one colour, the earliest complete example of this glass dates back to at least the 4th century AD as seen in the Lycurgus cup, a Roman glass beaker in the British Museum.

The glass cup, which dates from the fourth century A.D., is opaque green which turns to a glowing translucent red when light is shone through it. The glass contains tiny amounts of colloidal gold and silver, which give it these unusual optical properties.

There are further examples of Roman dichroic glass that have been discovered but as yet no-one seems to have come up with an explanation of how they achieved this effect. If you want to read more about the Lycurgus Cup I would recommend reading this research article http://www.goldbulletin.org/assets/file/goldbulletin/downloads/Lycurgus_4_40.pdf.

The technology used to produce dichroic glass now widely used by glass workers and jewellery designers was in part developed by NASA for use as face plates for space suits and space vehicles, which needed transparent mediums which filtered out unwanted light spectrums such as harmful infrared or ultraviolet rays.

Dichroic glass used in my designs contains multiple micro-layers of metal oxides and quartz crystal (these thin layers of oxides have a total thickness of three to five millionths of an inch) which give the glass the ability to show two different colours when looking at it from different angles. It also appears very sparkly and vibrant when viewed up close.

With the play of light, together with its vibrant colour, dichroic glass is a perfect medium for creating beautiful and unusual pieces of jewellery.

These are examples of sheets of dichroic glass prior to them being fired in a kiln.

Working with dichroic glass can be challenging as you often get unexpected results once the glass is fired. Depending on what colours and textures you layer together, which way the glass faces and even which part of the kiln you heat the glass in can affect the end result. It is no wonder that throughout history different civilisations have found ways of developing their own forms of dichroic glass as the results, even when unexpected, are always interesting and beautiful.

Hot Marquees and Winter Boots!

2010-05-24T18:08:00.000+01:00

Well I hope you are all enjoying the warm weather while it lasts! On Friday and Saturday we were selling our jewellery in a craft marquee at a local flower show. We have done many marquee events before, from sub zero temperatures until we couldn't feel our fingers, toes, noses or in fact any body parts to damp and windy conditions with leaks and dripping ceilings! This weekend was a first for us as we were actually too hot. I don't just mean warm, I mean we were actually baking from the inside out!

In fairness on Friday I was not suitably dressed for the summer weather as from past experience I was fully prepared with big boots and a woolly top so it's no surprise I was over heating.

On Saturday I was better equipped with summer clothing and a bottle of water which went some way to helping. As the day went on and the heat built up we had to open all the vents in the marquee to actually get some air. One of our display cards also made a handy, improvised fan.

However, we couldn't have wished to be in a lovelier location on such a hot day. Although only a short distance from where I live in Glasgow, I had never been to Viewpark Gardens before and was pleasantly surprised. It is an oasis of foliage and wildlife in amongst houses and busy roads.

Before the crowds arrive!

It was wonderful strolling around the many themed gardens and finding a quiet bench to eat my lunch. From wildlife and eco-friendly gardens to contemporary and sculpture gardens and many, many more this is a really beautiful spot which I can't believe I've never been to before.

Even with all the crowds there were some peaceful spots just to take some time out and enjoy the surroundings.

One of the many themed gardens

The festival encourages local families to come along and experience the lovely greenery on their doorstep. With entertainment, a tea room, craft tent and children's rides there was plenty to keep everyone busy.

Statue in one of the hot houses

Almost every weekend we travel around Scotland to many beautiful locations to sell our jewellery which really is one of the highlights of this job. One week we can be in the centre of a major city, the next week by the coast and the next week in the mountains (not to mention medieval and Viking festivals!) and of course it is a delight when you find a wee gem like this on your doorstep.

Cute copper frog sculpture!

Cufflinks and Tartan Kilts!

2010-05-19T15:32:00.000+01:00

This year we introduced a wide range of cufflink designs and have been marketing them to future Grooms as ideal accessories for their wedding day. The fact that we can make them in any size, a wide range of colours and textures and a choice of fittings allows for a very bespoke design.

Therefore we were delighted this week when Ken MacDonald of

Houston Traditional Kiltmakers

asked us to design a range of cufflinks to match their own

Bute Heather Tartan Range.

This is very exciting as Houstons is the only kilt shop in the world able to show every tartan and are also able to create kilts from special weaves. They also ship around the world.

Ken is sending us out tartan samples and then we can get to work on producing cufflinks that do them justice.

Once we have them completed we will be sure to post the images on here.

We have already completed several orders for bespoke cufflinks for Grooms, the Best Man, Ushers and for birthday gifts. You can buy many designs direct from our online web store and below is an example of some of our online designs.

We offer a range of fittings to suit all budgets with prices ranging from £18 - £30. All our cufflinks come presented in a very stylish chrome mirror box.

Our cufflinks are also ideal for a very unique and personal Father's day gift, but remember as our cufflinks are made to order it may take up to 2 weeks for delivery!

£467 raised! Thanks to everyone involved!

2010-04-27T20:17:00.000+01:00

Thank you to everyone that donated an item and everyone that supported the auction by bidding and promoting we have raised a fabulously, fantastic
£467
FOR THE MSRC

If you have won your item you should have received an e-mail with details on how to pay for your item. You can check if you were the highest bidder below each lot.
Payment is due within the next 7 days direct to the MSRC.
If for any reason you have not received your e-mail please contact me at orchydesign@googlemail.com

Once payment has cleared your item will be dispatched.

THANK YOU AGAIN TO EVERYONE INVOLVED FOR MAKING THIS EVENT SUCH A SUCCESS :)

LOT 1

Dichroic glass and sterling silver pendant, earring and bracelet set. This is our contribution to the auction! This is a vibrant metallic blue with hints of turquoise, which will be presented in a pretty gift box, all fittings are hallmarked sterling silver. The pendant is on an 18" sterling silver chain and the bracelet is approx 7 1/2", if you require these lengths adjusted please let us know.

This is one of our most popular colours and is much more vibrant in real life as dichroic glass is very difficult to photograph. You are bidding on all 3 items.

To see more of our jewellery including our funky cufflinks please visit us at Orchy Design here.

EMAIL ORCHYDESIGN@GOOGLEMAIL.COM TO BID ON THIS LOT

LEADING BID NAME: PAMELA M

LEADING BID AMOUNT: £40

______________________________________________

LOT 2

This limited edition handmade fused glass mobile has been kindly donated by Becky at Aspect Glass. It is an abstract multicoloured stripe design. Looks great hung near a window to catch and reflect sunlight.

As well as fused glassware, Becky makes Tiffany-style (otherwise known as copper-foil method) lampshades and decorative panels to commission, as well as one-off pieces for general sale and check out her funky recycled bottles here

EMAIL ORCHYDESIGN@GOOGLEMAIL.COM TO BID ON THIS LOT

LEADING BID NAME: NIC H
LEADING BID AMOUNT: £30

___________________________________________________

LOT 3

This pretty sterling silver three leaf drop pendant has been donated by Moira of Moira Findlay Bespoke Jewellery Design. It is on 16 inch silver snake chain which can be changed to silver cable if preferred.

Moira produces an eclectic mix of styles - from traditional delicate necklaces here.

incorporating swarovski crystals for women to chunky modern rings in silver

and rubber for men jewellery. Check out her online store which also offers a bespoke design service. Visit her website

EMAIL ORCHYDESIGN@GOOGLEMAIL.COM TO BID ON THIS LOT

LEADING BID NAME: KATE G

LEADING BID AMOUNT: £30

________________________________________________

LOT 4

This lot is made up of 2 lovely items.

The first item is this gorgeous sky blue cushion which has an applique design of a bird with heart and motif "Love is Real" and has been free hand embroidered. The cushion has been donated by Anna of Rosita Handmade. It also has mother of pearl button decoration and measures about 30cmsq.

Anna loves to illustrate everyday things that make her smile like cakes and birds. Her designs can grace canvas bags, aprons, tea towels and wall-hangings. Visit her online shop here.

The second item is this lovely limited edition gift bag made using hand-dyed fabric from Ghana. It contains 4 gorgeous butterfly cards that have been hand crafted using recycled materials. The butterflies are hand painted and then decorated with glitter and gems and each card is different. Each card comes with a recycled envelope in a clear bio-degradable bag. This gift really stands out as a unique buy! These cards were donated by Lynne at Greetings from Leith.

Lynne makes beautiful recycled greeting cards as well as many other forms of environmentally friendly crafts. She also runs a social enterprise with environmental initiatives within the arts and crafts community in Leith. Visit her website here.

EMAIL ORCHYDESIGN@GOOGLEMAIL.COM TO BID ON THIS LOT

LEADING BID NAME: RAY R

LEADING BID AMOUNT: £16

___________________________________________________

LOT 5

This eye-catching hematite and swarovski disco ball crystal set has been donated by Donna of DMS Designs. The set includes a necklace with a pretty heart chain catch, a stretchy bracelet to fit all sizes and sparkly disco ball earrings which all come in a pretty gift box.

Donna designs a range of jewellery using materials such as swarovski crystallized beads and pearls, fresh water pearls, semi precious stones and murano glass beads. Her online shop also features a wedding collection, you can visit her site here.

EMAIL ORCHYDESIGN@GOOGLEMAIL.COM TO BID ON THIS LOT

LEADING BID NAME: JENNY G
LEADING BID AMOUNT: £25

______________________________________________________

LOT 6

This fantastic framed and signed print is a stylish and quirky aerial view of giraffes playing basketball! Kindly donated by the artist, Michael of Michael Murray Art. It is a digital photographic collage, printed on Kodak lustre print with a double white mount. It has been professionally framed in a deep dark brown wooden frame and measures 40cm x 40cm. It is also signed and titled.

Michael specialises in commission work and creating exciting original pieces of digital art, including stylish photographic collages to highly complex digital mixed media aerial scenes. To view his gallery and online shop click here.

EMAIL ORCHYDESIGN@GOOGLEMAIL.COM TO BID ON THIS LOT

LEADING BID NAME: MARGARET C
LEADING BID AMOUNT: £75

_____________________________________________________

LOT 7

This beautiful and stunning byzantine style chainmaille bracelet is made from sterling silver with a toggle clasp. The design is named 'Freya' and has been donated by
Mia of Jewellery by Mia.

Mia creates custom made jewellery, unique in design and construction including pandora style bracelets, jewellery sets and a bridal collection. View her designs and online shop by clicking here.

EMAIL ORCHYDESIGN@GOOGLEMAIL.COM TO BID ON THIS LOT

LEADING BID NAME: GEORGI G
LEADING BID AMOUNT: £45

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LOT 8

Due to the popularity of her bracelet in the lot above, Mia from Jewellery by Mia has very kindly donated this second bracelet. It is a sterling silver handmade swarovski heart charm bracelet with swarovski and silver hearts. The design is called 'Nicolett' and it is available in the following sizes 17cm, 25cm, 21cm.

Mia creates custom made jewellery, unique in design and construction including pandora style bracelets, jewellery sets and a bridal collection. View her designs and matching items in her online shop by clicking here.

EMAIL ORCHYDESIGN@GOOGLEMAIL.COM TO BID ON THIS LOT

LEADING BID NAME: SUSAN B
LEADING BID AMOUNT: £20.00

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LOT 9

In this lot you will be bidding for 2 items that I think go really well together.

The first item is this stylish red beret which should bring a touch of Paris to your life! It is hand knitted from an unbelievably soft cotton blend yarn, with a slight sheen to it. The open vine lace pattern is perfect for warmer weather. One size should fit all women. The beret is machine washable in cool water on the gentle cycle, and is best to either tumble dry on a low heat or lay flat to dry. This is one of 2 items donated by
Karyn of Charliesue.

Karyn is still in the process of developing her website but can be contacted at info@charliesue.com. You can also view the pretty purse she has donated further down the lots.

The second item in this lot is this flower shaped brooch in red. Handcut from vegetable tanned quality leather. Hand tooled, dyed, finished and set with a Swarovski crystal. This striking brooch was donated by
CJ of Curious Cat Creative.

CJ designs a variety of items from leather by cutting the shape, tooling the design, through to the application of a dye and finish. You can view her work and order online here.

EMAIL ORCHYDESIGN@GOOGLEMAIL.COM TO BID ON THIS LOT

LEADING BID NAME: LAURA D

LEADING BID AMOUNT: £40

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LOT 10

This gorgeous necklace features a hammered sterling silver heart on string of soft pink freshwater pearls, the necklace has a silver extender chain and is about 18 inches long. It has been donated by
Jackie of Five for Silver.

Jackie designs and makes jewellery using sterling silver, semi precious stones, crystals and handcrafted lampwork beads. You can visit her shop here.

EMAIL ORCHYDESIGN@GOOGLEMAIL.COM TO BID ON THIS LOT

LEADING BID NAME: MARTIN A

LEADING BID AMOUNT: £30

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LOT 11

This lot is for all you dog and chocolate lovers! Again this is a lot featuring 2 items that I think work well together.

The first item is this stylish handmade designer dog collar. 100% heavy cotton fabric that is lined with high quality webbing and/or interfacing for structure and durability. Side release contoured buckles for comfort following the natural curve of your dogs neck. Heavy duty welded D-Ring. Durable, comfortable and stylish! You will be able to choose from 3 sizes. Small: 10" to 15", Medium: 13" to 19" or Large: 15" to 24".

This lovely collar has been donated by
Frances of Designed by Frances

Frances is also a jewellery designer specialising in sterling silver and many pieces are enhanced by the use of colourful semi-precious gemstones, beads, freshwater pearls, Swarovski crystals and Miyuki glass seed beads. You can visit her online shop here.

Frances has also designed a beautiful sterling silver necklace with all the proceeds from sales being donated to Macmillan Nurses you can purchase this pendant and find out why she is supporting this cause by visiting here.

The second item in this lot is perfect after walking the dog in rainy weather! It is this colourful tartan mug with Scotland on the handle containing hand flaked Belgian chocolate mmmm! There are instructions included and the item comes wrapped if you would like to give it as a gift. It has been donated by
Kathleen of Crymble's Confectionery.

Kathleen's shop is full of tasty delights including Scottish tablet, chocolate lollipops, white mice, fudge and macaroon. She also offers gift boxes for special occasions and wedding favours, just click here for her online shop.

EMAIL ORCHYDESIGN@GOOGLEMAIL.COM TO BID ON THIS LOT

LEADING BID NAME: ROBERT W

LEADING BID AMOUNT: £20

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LOT 12

This lovely necklace has been donated by Claire of Handmade Costume Jewellery and Accessories by Claire Hannah. It is made up of small and large hematite love heart beads, with pretty pink and blue cat's eye beads. There is a large hematite bead in the centre and a silver plated clasp fitting. The necklace is approx 24" in length and comes in a presentation gift box.

Claire makes and sells a variety of affordable costume jewellery including necklaces, earrings, bracelets and her popular liquorice allsorts and dolly mixture ranges. View her online shop here.

EMAIL ORCHYDESIGN@GOOGLEMAIL.COM TO BID ON THIS LOT

LEADING BID NAME: LIZZIE F

LEADING BID AMOUNT: £12

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LOT 13

Again this a lot that features 2 pretty items that will appeal to fabric lovers!

The first item is this beautiful bird shaped door stop in a fantastic flower style material featuring pink stitching. Scented with vanilla oil the bird measures 44cm from beak to tail. This item has been donated by Charlie of Crafty Chics.

Charlie's website features everything from cards to hair accessories and home items to jewellery, in fact everything you need in one place! Visit her online shop here.

The second item is the second donation by Karyn of Charliesue. A handy clasp purse with a pretty blue floral and bird cotton fabric outer, plain golden yellow polyester lining. Antique looking frame - overall width is about 8cm. Frame is hand stitched to fabric - no glue used. This means that you can even gently hand wash this purse without worrying that the glue will perish. A cute purse that will definitely brighten up any day!

Karyn is still in the process of developing her website but can be contacted at info@charliesue.com. You can also view the knitted beret she has donated further up the lots.

EMAIL ORCHYDESIGN@GOOGLEMAIL.COM TO BID ON THIS LOT

LEADING BID NAME: SIAN C

LEADING BID AMOUNT: £20

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LOT 14

In this lot you are bidding on 2 items, a necklace and earrings which are lovely individually but I also think would work well together.

The first item is this classic long blue goldstone chip necklace with sterling silver bolt ring clasp and finding bits which means it can be worn long or doubled up. This item has been donated by Marie.

Marie kindly makes jewellery to raise funds for the Japanese Akita Welfare Trust and you can find her items for sale on their website here. She can also be contacted by e-mail if you would like her to make something special for you at mafric@lycos.co.

The second item in this lot are these handmade silver earrings. They are made with ‘precious metal clay’ which turns into ‘pure fine silver – 99.9%’ when fired. These earrings are in a handformed ‘diamond’ shape with cute little holes! They have sterling silver earposts. The earrings have been donated by
Vicky of Venus Jewellery.

Vicky has a variety of handcrafted jewellery in her online shop which includes materials such as semi-precious gemstones, 'Lampwork' and 'Murano' glass,Swarovski and natural crystals and Abalone shell. You can visit her shop here.

EMAIL ORCHYDESIGN@GOOGLEMAIL.COM TO BID ON THIS LOT

LEADING BID NAME: SARA H
LEADING BID AMOUNT: £15

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LOT 15

This lot is for mummies and daddies and friends of mummies and daddies! We have 3 items in this lot, perfect for putting by for birthday and Christmas presents!

The first item is this cute children's pink fairtrade apron with pink gingham checked heart shaped pocket. It says Mummy's Little Helper and can be personalised with any name. It comes in a size medium, 46 x 56cm and has an adjustable fastening. The apron has been donated by

Ellie of Never Forget.

Never Forget offers a range of personalised embroidered gifts for home and family. Whatever the occasion, a newborn baby, birthday, engagement, wedding or anniversary, christening or naming day they can offer something that is lovely to give or to receive, visit their shop here.

The second item is this lovely hand crocheted muff and scarf suitable for a 5/6 year old. The muff is fully lined in white cotton, I personally think every girl should have one! This set has been donated by
Carol from Rhyme or Reason.

Carol is crafter of long standing, having worked at many types of craft, you can follow her blog here.

The third items in this lot are two personalised art hangers for children. The designs will be made up as required by the winning bidder and with the wording they choose added.

They are designed for pegging up children’s artwork, giving their mini masterpieces pride of place; however, they can also be used by an adult, and can have wording such as “recipes”, “important stuff”, “don’t forget”, etc. They are also ideal for displaying a child’s artwork at a grandparent’s house too. They have been donated by
Wendy at 1st Unique Gifts.

Wendy makes unique and special gifts and accessories which are hand-painted and hand-lettered by her, which means you can specify any name, virtually any message and even ask for special designs and colours. Visit her website here.

Please note that if you win this lot, I will contact you for the details you wish added to the personalised items.

EMAIL ORCHYDESIGN@GOOGLEMAIL.COM TO BID ON THIS LOT

LEADING BID NAME: ALLIE T

LEADING BID AMOUNT: £18

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LOT 16

In this lot you are bidding for the following 2 funky and stylish items.

The first item is this gorgeous pure white purse made from duchess satin with organza ribbon detailing and sparkly diamante button. It has a magnetic brass fasten and is fully lined. The design is 'UK Pride' and it is approx 15cm x 8cm in size. It has been donated by
Diane of Zukie Style.

ZukieStyle is a small independent business offering quality and bespoke handmade handbags and accessories. Each one is individual and commissions are welcome, visit the website here.

The second item is this stylish bracelet made from glass and ceramic beads in various shades of pink and purple. It's approx 21.5cm in length, including catches. The bracelet has been donated by

Lynne of Squinty Jewellery.

Lynne makes jewellery from broken things, old necklaces, bits of electrical items, etc. that she recycles into something new. Hence the name, 'Squinty', everything is handmade and probably nowhere near perfect, no two items are alike. To find out more visit here.

EMAIL ORCHYDESIGN@GOOGLEMAIL.COM TO BID ON THIS LOT

LEADING BID NAME: EMILY B
LEADING BID AMOUNT: £16

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LOT 17

This lot has been added slighty later than the others so please place a bid and help it catch up with the other lots that had a head start! You are bidding on 2 items in this lot both kindly donated by

Christine of Fluffy's Stuff.

The first item is this lovely, colourful crochet scarf in turquoise, purple and white stripes with a pretty bobble trim.

The second item in this lot is this beautiful white cotton crochet purse. It would make a lovely gift and could be used as a summer evening clutch, a bridal gift or even a make-up purse.

Christine crochets a variety of beautiful items including baby clothes, bags, cardigans and scarves. If you are interested in her work you can e-mail her at fluffy73@fsmail.net.

EMAIL ORCHYDESIGN@GOOGLEMAIL.COM TO BID ON THIS LOT

LEADING BID NAME: ELLIE B

LEADING BID AMOUNT: £15

Handmade Charity Auction

2010-04-21T18:59:00.000+01:00

I am really excited to tell you about the online charity auction that we will be holding shortly. The idea came after reading about another group of crafters that pulled their talents together and donated an item each to raise funds for the Haiti disaster. They held an online auction and managed to raise an impressive £823, talk about power in numbers!

When I found out my school friend Georgina was running the London marathon to raise £6000 for the Multiple Sclerosis Resource Centre charity I was extremely impressed, as after all we used to actively avoid running and could instead be found lurking in the bushes trying to find a short cut to the finish line! I knew that her motivation to do this must be something huge and felt that I wanted to support her in my own small way.

The centre provides not only support in the UK for MS sufferers but also provides a worldwide telephone support service. You can visit Georgi's giving page at http://www.justgiving.co.uk/georgigill to find out why she is running for this particular charity but in her own words she says
"Training for the London Marathon is one of the biggest challenges I have ever set myself but the Multiple Sclerosis Resource Centre is well worth the effort - the information and support they offer to people affected by MS is invaluable. They've certainly helped me through a couple of wobbly times and inspired me to maintain fitness and humour in the face of potential relapses."

***Quick update to say a big WELL DONE to Georgi who succesfully completed the marathon***

So, I have pulled out my little black contact book and put round my begging bowl and asked some other people if they would be prepared to donate a handmade item which we could put up for auction and I'm delighted that people have generously come forward to support the idea. Individually, this is a small gesture, but when grouped together it all adds up, look at the Haiti example I mentioned, not something you could do alone.

Very soon we will have our auction lots listed and that's when everyone becomes a winner. Crafters can promote their goods, buyers can bid on something really nice (ideal for unusual birthday or Christmas presents), Georgi gets nearer her fundraising target of £6000, the charity gets 100% of the money raised and most importantly everyone involved can feel good about helping out in their own way.

Below is a list of very generous and kind people that have already offered to donate something. I hope this list grows over the coming days and if you would like to donate something please e-mail orchydesign@googlemail.com. You can donate from anywhere in the world as all I need is an image and description to post on the auction, after all this is a charity that offers worldwide support.

PREVIEW OF LOTS WILL COMMENCE ON TUESDAY 27TH APRIL, BIDDING WILL OPEN ON WEDNESDAY 28TH APRIL AND CLOSE ON FRIDAY 7TH MAY.

ACCEPT OUR INVITE ON FACEBOOK AND INVITE YOUR FRIENDS ALONG BY CLICKING HERE

CRAFT DONATIONS CAN STILL BE MADE UP UNTIL THE AUCTION STARTS ON WEDNESDAY

Kind People so far!

Susan         http://www.dreamscotland.com/

Becky       http://www.aspectglass.co.uk/

Lynne      http://www.greetingsfromleith.info/

Anna        http://www.Rositahandmade.co.uk/

Kirsten      http://www.etsy.com/shop/sweethopefarm

Karyn        http://www.charliesue.com/

Mia           http://www.jewellerybymia.com/

Carol         http://www.carol-rhymeorreason.blogspot.com/

Charlie      http://craftychics.weebly.com/index.html

Moira        http://www.designunit.org.uk/

Ellie          http://www.neverforget.co.uk/index.php

CJ            http://www.curiouscatcreative.co.uk/

Donna      http://www.dmsdesignsstore.co.uk/

Claire       http://www.clairehannahjewellery.co.uk/

Kathleen  http://www.crymblesconfectionery.co.uk/

Lynne     http://www.facebook.com/pages/Squinty-Jewellery/312834668985?ref=ts

Marie      http://www.jawt.co.uk/forum/the-playground/50306-jewellery-and-prices.html#50306

Jackie    http://www.folksy.com/shops/Fiveforsilver

Frances http://www.designedbyfrances.co.uk/index.html

Michael http://www.michaelmurrayart.com/

Vicky    http://www.venusjewellery.co.uk/

Wendy   http://www.1stuniquegifts.co.uk/

Dee       http://www.zukiestyle.co.uk/

Please help us add to this list and add this blog to your favourites for auction updates :)

New Clip On Earrings

2010-04-14T13:04:00.000+01:00

At Orchy Design we listen to what you want and when we can we put those ideas into practice. On a regular basis we are asked about clip on earrings. Since we started we have offered stud and drop earrings for pierced ears only, quite simply because we didn't think there would be enough demand for clip ons.
We should have known better, after all I only had my ears pierced a few years ago and my mum had hers done shortly after. Part of this decision was due to the fact that we couldn't buy all the pretty earrings we liked as they were only for pierced ears. So, like I said, we should have known better!

At almost every event we attend we meet at least one person who asks for clip ons. For whatever reason (scared of needles, too old, never got around to it etc etc) there are a surprising amount of people with non-pierced ears. We felt that it was a shame our customers were buying other items of jewellery but couldn't have earrings to match. So, we investigated the practicalities and are pleased to say that we now stock clip on earrings! You can even buy them right now from our online store for only £8 including postage!

Our new range of clip on earrings available to purchase now

Normally we only attach sterling silver fittings to our jewellery, however we felt that due to the current cost of silver fittings we would have to put the prices of our clip ons above that of our pierced stud earrings. So, we decided to ask if people would rather pay less for a silver or gold plated fitting or more for the sterling silver clip. The general consensus was that people would be happier to pay less and compromise on the fitting, so that's why our online earrings have plated fittings. We realise that due to allergies or preference you may rather have a sterling silver clip and we would be happy to make these on request, simply contact us with your colour choice and we will provide a costing.

Your comments and suggestions are always appreciated and listened to. We always encourage feedback and when possible we make the changes that you have asked for as we value your custom and in return we want to provide you with the best service possible.

Susanne x

Our New Look Blog

2010-04-12T15:25:00.000+01:00

Hello and welcome to our new look blog. As with many things in our business this year our blog has had a revamp and we hope you agree that it's for the better! It is part of our aim to embrace the world of social media which also includes our new facebook page. You can visit our page to find out news, events, photos etc and if you become a fan you can even leave your own comments.

We are putting alot of work into keeping you informed of all the goings on in Orchy Design and there are even more changes on the way! You may have noticed the lack of stock on the website lately. This is because we will be introducing new ranges shortly and have decided to run down the items for sale at the moment to make way for the new designs.

The good news is that you can still visit us at one of our events and there are still a few items left for sale including these super sparkly stripey earrings with sterling silver fittings at only £14 including UK postage.

They have really vibrant stripes in silver, pink and green. As usual the photograph doesn't do them justice. We also have a couple of pendants and sets left.

Check back for more updates soon

Susanne x