( everyeskimo - I think I need these! )

As is often the case when one moves house (or indeed constantly for some, myself included) the hunt for treasures, nick knacks and storage solutions to organise and prettify your home with begins (or continues)....Being without bookshelves in the new flat, and getting annoyed with ever growing, teetering towers of books which surround me, I thought I should go on the search for something to store them in. I have visions of stacks of old wooden crates - an old, modern, modular bookshelf that can be re-arranged and moved as required.......

Beverage crate from elizabethwrenvintage Soda Crate from ingenuityondisplay

Whilst browsing I inevitably started looking at things that were not book storage....and fell in love with these floral Atlas mason jars too (northwest vintage treasures) I kind of have a thing about transfers and decals on glass though...it gives it a haunting feel that I love...

Unfortunately, all of this is in America....and I am not. So I guess I will continue to trawl the antique shops, visit the auction house street sale on Thursday and see what I find....not that that is really much of a chore!

Hello, hello....can you hear me?

Sooo, hello! We now have internet access, although my computer is currently on the floor and monitor balanced atop a cardboard box - I really must get a laptop, my desktop is on it's very last legs, is rather slow and would be considered a pensioner in computer terms...I also apparently have no space for it in the new flat. But, hoorah! I have still managed an etsy update! Lots of new things.......

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade lostintheforest.etsy.com

staring at an owl through a flowery porthole....

I am still alive, surrounded by boxes of 'stuff' and empty shelves waiting in eager anticipation for The Move.
I am mostly packed, which proves frustrating when I suddenly want to look at a book or watch a film, thank goodness the internet exists! All that is left to go is daily essentials - this includes fabric mountain, art materials, jewellery making stuff, computer, my toothbrush and coffee.

I am on a bit of a floral kick at the moment...maybe because of the beautiful weather, the vintage furniture fabrics I have been looking at, the big hole left by the disposal of my dried rose collection (I have been ruthless in my packing!) or the fact that my new flat will back onto the fabulous Botanics.....who knows how my mind works!?

All I know is that I want to fill my new flat with peonies, begonias, roses and beautiful floral vintagey things....such as this!


Utter perfection by littlepaperhome on etsy....I want a wall full please. Then I could make a giant chalk drawing of an owl, or something, although it would look as though you were spying on him through many floral portholes....I seriously think that would be the best wall in the world.

I hope you are all enjoying the long weekend! Just a quick note to say that I have started adding new bits and pieces into the shop this weekend...I'll carry on updating all week hopefully - although next week is going to be a busy one - 2 new exhibitions to hang at work, etsy meets, private views and looking at flats (I wasn't planning on moving...until I heard about this flat - hopefully it's as nice as it sounds!)...plus all the usual bits to fit in!

Above is Morveren...a locket inspired by tales of mermaids and selkies.

When I sleep I dream of play...

A fabulous package arrived this morning full of goodies from Alice Rebecca Potter - or sleepdreamplay - I'm totally in love with my owl brooch...and equally so with her balsa wood business cards, personalised with my name & stamped with her details on the back :)
You can see more of her work on her website here...or read more in her blog

Project Facade

I read about Project Facade in Embroidery magazine quite a while ago and have just stumbled upon it again...I've not seen the website before, it's fascinating

The sun was out this morning, so I took advantage and got some better pictures taken of yesterdays work...they (minus the epaulette one below) will be on etsy soon.

on the shore...

I had a lovely day today perusing the antique shops and charity shops of Edinburgh....I found a few old treasures, some of which have already been transformed into new treasures and some which have joined the ever increasing pile of beautiful things I'm not quite sure what to do with yet.

A selection of new necklaces & brooches (above) are coming to the shop very soon...I'm quite excited about them....so much so that one....or two might not actually make it! I will replace with something equally fabulous...:) I just have to wait for the sun to stay out for a wee bit so I can take some pictures that don't look so....blurry!

I'm on a bit of a military/nautical/damsel/fair lady kick at the minute....it possibly has something to do with the constant stream of traditional folk songs and sea shanties played in this flat.......

Lizarietz / masaoms / mothlove /easternsky /ninu / tiinateaspoon / dearbirthday / CassiaBeck / angeew / TeresaDenteBoyd / TheBlackSpotBooks / loveallaround

Some of my favourite things....go look at their gorgeous shops and maybe buy something....for me?

looking for a new home...

Images from five from the ground/good morrow

Today I have been getting rather excited about packaging materials and presentation....string, ribbon and paper. I think I have come up with a perfect solution for all of my broochy needs.....earrings and necklaces and other things are still, as yet, homeless.

I have also been beavering away with some new designs....more of that to come soon...hopefully hidden inside some beautiful packaging!

extensions

Apologies for my absence last week - it was my first week of working freelance, and although it wasn't really my first day at all, there was still a lot of learning...it was also a rather busy week with 3 exhibitions being hung! But, this is a new week...and things will be more settled

I'm working on lots of new bits and pieces for the shop....I got lots of new bits of vintage lace and fabric and buttons and ribbon and patches at the weekend, which will be making their way in the direction of etsy pretty soon!

For now, the 50% off sale has been extended - until Wednesday.....plus free shipping if you mention my blog....don't say I'm not nice to you :)

New beginnings.....

To celebrate new beginnings I'm offering 50% off everything at Lost in the Forest until May 10th. This will be your last chance to buy what is currently listed in the shop, so grab it while you can!

a shadow of myself

I would say my flat has returned to normal now that my ceiling has been fixed and walls painted, but I'd be lying. It's far from normal. It's a rare thing to be able to see this much carpet, to have cutlery in drawers and a have more than just a vague sense of order. But, it is nice and I think I may (attempt to) keep it like this! There are still the familiar piles of books and newspapers, but I can now navigate the rooms without having to climb over things. Anyway, having painted myself living in vile squalor, akin to Crack Fox in The Mighty Boosh I shall move on.

The eagle eyed among you may have noticed that my little Etsy shop has been unloved for some time now. I'm hoping to rectify that.....soonish. No promises of time scales yet, as I'm sure to break them. All that I was complaining talking about going on and not going on a month ago, is still going on...although not for much longer! I have 1 week left of my internship. It has been fabulous, I have learnt so much. I thoroughly recommend anybody to go and do something you love, even if it seems so ridiculous and scary and means being destitute for a while. At times I can't see how I have coped (thank you Chloe - my sister - whom I live with and who has put food in the fridge and covered the odd bill when I couldn't) but it has been totally worth it....for myself, my confidence, my art, my career......I can quite happily say that I will be continuing to work there on a freelance basis, at least until August, and then we will see what happens next. . And the actual change - the end and the beginning happens on 30th April so celebrating at Beltane .

Well, this post has turned out nothing like I had expected....it was going to be about new work....I guess it was in a way....but more about the polaroids and the ideas I have forming...ho hum, maybe next time.....

If you go down to the woods today...

So I'm doing things a little differently this year. No more bitty updates in the Etsy shop. Instead, whole collections. At the same time. Shocking. So, I'm beavering away ready for next week when I will have an update!

Incidentally, beaver (ignoring references to lady parts) is my new favourite word - did you know, it is also slang for beard. I'm quite fond of beards...


Anyhoo, beards aside (haha, I not have an image of all you men (as there are an awful lot of bearded men who read my blog) sweeping your beards to one side in anticipation of what is about to be said).....here is a sneak preview of what's coming next week. A little bit of a foresty theme, british birdies, eggs and leaves, maybe some mushrooms and moss and feathers. Maybe even some patchwork quilts and a picnic thrown in for good measure....

There may very well be further sneak previews, so please check back soon - or check the shop out next week for newness!

Etsyversary sale!

I told you it would be exciting! I've joined up with Indiesmiles and I'm offering 20% off all full priced items in the shop using the code 20SMILES from 16th-31st January! Just enter the code in the message to seller at checkout and wait for a revised invoice, or partial refund if you're impatient and want to pay immediately!

Excitement....coming soon!

It's coming up to a year since I started selling on Etsy. Not my real 'Etsyversary' as I was registered as a buyer before a seller. This is also actual time, not counting the 6 months I was without computer and therefore not selling, or making anything to sell as all of my stuff was in a box in a dusty attic somewhere ..... Anyway, a whole year....exciting eh?

It will be! Stay tuned for details of the excitement!

lace and buttons

These earrings were featured in the Etsy Victorian inspired Storque article along with some fabulous vintage and victorian inspired pieces.


I am particularly in love with the little doily pouches from forestbound whose etsy shop is here and blog is here

P.S - Keep an eye out for a shop update - I'm awaiting an important delivery, which I am hoping will arrive soon!

My present to you

It's nearly Christmas!! I am half way through putting up my decorations just now - paper heart and leaf garlands and star shaped lights! There is a cake of the birthday variety in the oven and it smells lovely. So anyway, this festive feeling appears to have put me in a good mood - and from now (well, a little earlier today actually) until 12pm GMT (midday) 19th December 2008 there is free shipping within the UK from my Etsy AND Folksy shops! The 19th is the last day I'm able to post anything that isn't being sent super fast special delivery as I'm travelling 'home' on 20th. So order early!!

It's a UK kind of day on etsy

Today, I have been out, out of my warm cosy studio in order to find important supplies which can't be delivered by the postman. I returned this evening to find a UK etsy invasion....and I seem to be somewhat at the forefront!


Firstly, a most wonderful article on UK sellers in the Storque written by the even more wonderful Eloise of HidenSeek.....not forgetting the, umm....help? offered by Mr. Bear. (pictured above) Go read it here. I am in there, hiding in the snow!


Secondly, a treasury I created featuring lots of fabulous UK sellers hit the front page. Which is still available for your viewing pleasure just here....although some things have been replaced as they sold.

aaaachooo

Just a quick update....the etsy shop update, and really any work at all has been delayed by the birth of my first (and only) nephew. Both baby Zach and mum weren't too well after the birth, and had to stay in hospital (dad stayed too) so I have been running back and forth between various flats, shops and hospitals, looking after the new family as best I could. Unfortunately, I forgot to take care of myself....so I am currently writing from my sick bed! I'm hoping a few hot toddies, tea and blog reading will nurse me back to health in a day or so (where is a handsome, caring man when you need one??) so I can go and visit my sisters new family now they're well and back at home!

Oh, and get lots of work done too....Lost in the Forest will be appearing at Made in the Shade III - Festive Weekender....I will talk more of that later when I am well!

Made in the Shade

Hoorah! Lost in the Forest has been accepted to sell at Made in the Shade a fabulous indie market at the Lighthouse in Glasgow.
25th October - have it tattooed on your brain so you don't miss it....regular reminders will be forthcoming :)