I have previously posted on some chain maille bracelets that I made. Since then I have continued to try out a range of different designs - and it never ceases to amaze me at the variety of different patterns that you can make simply using metal rings. How many ways can you loop rings together and get something that looks completely different? Last time I showed you a European 4-in-1 design and a Helm's Cuff design. This time I will show you a Ruffles Cuff bracelet and my favourite Dragonscale … [Read more...]
Chainmaille Wallet Chain
A chainmaille wallet chain (and/or a key chain) is a quick and easy gift to make - particularly for a male. It is perfect for someone who is a keen traveller and would appreciate a bit more security for a wallet they keep in their trousers pocket. Wallet chains first came into fashion in the 1950s in the biker subculture as a pragmatic way of keeping their wallets safe as they rode at speed. In the 1970s wallet chains were incorporated into punk dress both as a way of preventing … [Read more...]
Make your own Candles for a Special Occasion
It isn't hard to make your own candles for a special occasion. My friend Doreen got me into making candles when she decided to make all the candles for the table settings for her daughter's wedding. The candles were going to be in wine glasses of different sizes and grouped in sets of 5 on each table - so they were going to need a lot of wine glasses! Thankfully none of them needed to match so they visited all the local (and not so local) Opportunity Shops to purchase and amass their … [Read more...]
Chain Maille Jewellery Designs
In the past I have shown you different chain maille jewellery designs and I have continued to explore the vast range of designs that are possible. I find that purchasing kits from Weave Got Maille is a great way to get exposed to different patterns. This time I explore a Double Orbital bracelet, a Tear Drops Necklace that builds on the Double Orbital design, and a Swirls bracelet that uses a repeating mobius unit. The Double Orbital (and Tear Drops) design are supposed to be a beginner's … [Read more...]
Rich Rose Geranium Body Butter Recipe
I've previously tried other cosmetic products with simpler recipes such as Mango Body Butter but Rich Rose Geranium Body Butter was my first attempt at making a more complicated cosmetics recipe that involved combining various phases at different temperatures. It was not particularly successful but I thought I'd share my learnings with you: The hardest part was trying to coordinate the temperatures of the different phases so that they reached the desired temperature at the same time. The … [Read more...]
Lavender Shortbread Recipe
This Lavender Shortbread Recipe is very simple, has a delicious flavour and is perfect to give as a gift. The biscuits (or the dough) can be kept in the freezer for when you need a little something to give to someone. You can experiment with different shaped cookie cutters if you want or use a letter press to stamp words into your shortbread as I did. Ingredients 250 g butter 3/4 cup icing sugar 2 tablespoons of finely chopped dried or fresh lavender flowers 2 cups flour pinch of … [Read more...]
Making Chain Maille Jewellery
I have got the bug for making chain maille jewellery - big time! I have been experimenting with lots of different chain maille designs and will share some of these with you. Since I managed to find a source of the required jumprings so that I didn't have to make my own like my friend Elena (see my earlier post for some of Elena's beautiful pieces) life has become so much easier for me to pursue this interest. Elena makes all her materials from scratch from copper or silver wire but the … [Read more...]
Lemon, Honey & Ginger Syrup
Lemon, Honey & Ginger Syrup is perfect for soothing those winter sore throats and giving a boost to your immunity. It is quick and easy to make and a perfect gift for someone who's not feeling well. Just add a couple of spoonfuls to a cup of hot water. You will need: a biggish piece of fresh ginger (about 100g) 1 cup honey 1 cup fresh lemon juice (6 medium lemons) Slice the ginger thinly. Boil ginger with 1 cup water in a small heavy-based saucepan for about 5 minutes, stirring … [Read more...]
Garden Trugs
A garden trug is a traditional work basket with many uses in the garden. I love their history and that this is an artisan craft that continues today. They make great gifts and can be filled with all sorts of garden and gardening goodies. Trugs have been used for centuries, coming of age in England in the 1700s when gardening became a pastime and passion. It is said that Queen Victoria fell in love with trugs in 1851 at the Great Exhibition and helped make them a desirable fashion … [Read more...]
Natural Calendula Antiseptic Cream Recipe
This recipe for a Natural Calendula Antiseptic Cream uses more natural ingredients than the simple Calendula Cream recipe made with Vaseline petroleum jelly that I described in an earlier post. You can make little jars for kids so that they can put "Owie Cream" on their cuts and scrapes or to tuck into your day pack if you are heading out into the Great Outdoors or travelling. It would make a great gift for the travellers or hikers in your life. Calendula flowers have bee used by many ancient … [Read more...]
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