The Stylish Blogger Award

A nice big thank you to Uniquely Yours and Kokokelli blogs for nominating Ellie's Treasures for the Stylish Blogger Award.  I've placed it on my Our Day blog, so I can keep them all together.

Now, there's some rules attached to this award which are:

1. Thank the person and include the link for the nomination.

2. Share seven things about yourself.

3.Nominate 15 blogs for the award.
 
I can do numbers 1 and 2, but not too sure if I can fulfill number 3.  Instead I'll nominate 5 fabulous blogs well worthy of the award - please take a mo to visit them, thanks.
 
Seven things about me:

I've always been a lover of singing and dancing and often sing around the house or make up silly ditties to sing to whoever cares to listen!

I'm a bit of a "builder's tea" lover, with no milk and 1 sugar.  I could quite easily drink cup after cup and I think deep down the reason for this is that I feel having a cuppa will put off what I really should be doing.

I teach my two children (14 and 11) myself and have done for a number of years now.  It took my a long time to pluck up the courage to do, but as soon as I did it, I knew it was the right thing for my kids.  We've learnt an awful lot of wonderful things along the way, and have met alot of wonderful people too.

I'm a published women!  When working in childcare, I went on a fascinating course to learn about child schemas and wrote an paper on one of the children in the playgroup where I worked who demonstrated a schema as a way of learning.  My paper was chosen, along with a couple of others, to be published by the course leader, the wonderful and very inspiring Professor Tina Bruce, in a book she had written.

So I asked my kids what else I could say about me.  This is what they said: "you like to talk about maths all the time", "you're obsessed with horses' feet", "'tidy your room' are your favourite words", "you're cool", "your're fun and different to other mums".  Well at least I'm not a complete ogre then!!

I past my driving test first time when I was about 19 but wasn't at all eager to buy or car or drive around once I'd got my driving license.  I drove my hubby's car (then my new boyfriend lol) around the town I grew up in, but very quickly lost my confidence as the car was old and kept cutting out when standing in traffic for too long!  The only way to get it started again was to hop out and hit the starter motor with a hammer - not a confidence builder at all!

I love property and will always be looking at what's available on the market to buy.  I had the opportunity to work in an estate agents when I was in the 6th form, but decided having fun with the lads was a much better education!  I often wonder where my path would have taken me should I have taken that lead many moons ago.

For nominations, I've chosen the following blogs:

Angel Eden
Sleeping Cities
Classroom Free
Elibee Gifts
Home Ed Grows Up

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Woollie ponies and fairy toadstool brooches

The little Woollie "Barry" that I made for my nephew was so well received that his brother decided he'd like one too, this time in pale green and to be named "Tiny".  I was a little worried that I wouldn't be able to package "Tiny" up in the hard cardboard business box that I'd been using for all my other Woollies.  When I bought the batch of boxes from Hobbycraft I took all that were on their shelves (there weren't that many) and when I rang to ask if they had more they told me they no longer sold them.  Internet searches didn't lead to much either, so I was extremely pleased to find that there were two of these boxes left at Hobbycraft when I decided to pay a visit, just to see for myself.

Katie makes the Woollie ponies and I put the rest of the package together.  I think this one's very sweet, she has such a lovely face.  I wonder if I'll get any more requests for Woollies - perhaps their friends will see them and make enquiries!



I recently purchased three packs of tibetan silver charms which I knew immediately could be used to make pretty brooches for the shop.  I have fairies, curled up cats and toadstools.  I think the toadstools are my favourites (I've always believed in fairies!) and I have loved using them.  The first brooch I made I decided to keep, but have since made another which is now for sale in the shop (and pictured below).  The blue felt used for the background is a gorgeous colour, very striking against the embroidery silk flowers.  I hope I can find more of this colour felt as I only have scraps left which initially came from a recycling store. 

Another toadstool brooch I made was for my daughter's friend as part of her birthday present.  They are just the right size to accessorise handbags (which is where I've put mine), as well as scarves or clothing.  This one has two different mauve hearts, deep purple front and back and lilac sandwiched between.


So, what's next for Ellie's Treasures?  Well February has been kind for sales which means my shop is feeling a little low on goodies!  I've started cutting out more Patchy Pockets to sew using some fabulous materials.  I'm hoping to include a proper little coin purse into some of these new Patchies, just to update them a little.  I'll see how I get on!  Also, can't wait to use more of my new charms, certainly on brooches but perhaps also to decorate a couple of Patchies too.

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Valentine's Day - not long now!

It's that time of year folks when the little arrows of love are flying through the air.  I'm surprised some health and safety person hasn't put a ban on Valentine's day, it must be pretty hair-raising dodging those cupid arrows on 14th February!

So, what are you going to buy this year for your secret admirer, partner or bestest mate?  The supermarkets are full of the usual things - chocs, flowers and some mass-produced pink and red things.  Chocs are always welcome I know (can't be doing without a box of chocs at any time), but how about treating your special person to something a little different this year? 

The Folksy website has a special button to click that'll whizz you straight to all the lovely handmade goodies that have been tagged with the word "valentines".  That makes it a lot easier to pick something special doesn't it?  You don't even have to go over to the Folksy website, the big red Folksy heart is right here on my blog - look, it's there on the right hand side bar - click and off you go!

Before you leave though, you may want to see a couple of suggestions from Ellie's Treasures.

First, something traditional, unique and beautiful - for the lady.  Write little messages to clip inside with the two mini wooden pegs provided, or you could clip something else wonderfully special inside.



Don't want to go over the top with hearts?  How about this?  A great little gift.



Last posting day 1st class is Friday 11th February or Saturday morning for those in a mega rush but at always, I can't guarantee Royal Mail's delivery schedule so perhaps it's best you order asap!

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Custom Woollie - "Master Barry"

Here is "Master Barry", a little custom Woollie Pony just finished and mailed to my nephew who asked specifically for a Woollie named "Barry".  My nephew has already bought "Icy" through Ellie's Treasures, and my sister had purchased "Raspberry", so I was quite surprised to get another Woollie request from him.  Master Barry is particularly handsome I think.  My daughter actually makes the ponies, I make all the other little bits and bobs that pop into the box, but it took her a couple of attempts to get  Master Barry looking so lovely.  As my nephew asked for a yellow Woollie she used a yellow wool which, once completed, made for a rather chuppy stead!  She started again with a mix of two thin wools in lemon and beige and has produced, once again, a stunning little horse well deserving of his two rosettes.

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Folksy Friday

Goodness, it's been a while since I blogged a lovely collection of Folksy goodies.  I've found so many inspiring lovelies from fellow sellers this week so I thought I'd show them off for you.  Just click on the photo(s) you love to go straight to the relevant shop.  Enjoy!


Super cute tilly


LF Studio


The Doll House


JEWEL PALACE


Beeswax and Broomsticks


Helen Hallows

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