Quote of the day

"Happiness is not something ready made...
It comes from your own actions."
-- Dalai Lama


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Item of the Day

I called these earrings Pots of Honey because the color of the lampwork beads is such a warm golden honey shade which is further enhanced by the soft glow of the vermeil spacer beads, beadcaps and earwires.

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Europe Trivia - Europe is such a loving place

Now when I say that I’m sure you immediately think of the French people kissing everyone on both cheeks, and the open arms of the Italians or Greeks. I agree with all that. But this goes much further. The friendliness and love goes deep into our traditions and languages too.

One of my favourite sights is these houses on the Faeroe Islands that seem to be hugged by the very landscape that surrounds them. Of course, having grass on your roof means you have a quiet house, a warm house and the weight of the grass helps to keep your roof on in the incredible storms they get so far North. But I can’t help being a romantic.

The Danish also have this lovely tradition of having a small room in the house (away from where they receive guests) which is just for the family to gather in of an evening. It is usually furnished with big soft cushions and soft lighting. They call it a hygge-krog or a hugging nook. To be invited into another family’s hygge-krog is a great honour and is like being made part of the family.

There is a lovely German word too which is gemütlich. There is no real single English word for this but it is a way of using furnishings, lighting even scents to create a cosy and homely feeling. So that even a stranger entering the house will immediately feel at home.

And not to be left out; the Welsh have a lovely word too. This is Cwtch. It’s an odd word as it has many definitions. (one definition is a coal shed!) If a Welsh person says to “cwtch-up” it means to snuggle down among the blankets for a good night’s sleep. A cwtch can also be a hug or a cuddle but my favourite definition is for the shawl that is wrapped tightly around baby and then around Mam’s back to give her a hand free when carrying baby. Also baby can be close to her Mam and have a hug while Mam either keeps working or sits in a chair for a rest herself. This is such a lovely idea because even if mam falls asleep; the baby cannot fall and is held safely in place by the shawl. Who doesn’t want to be hugged to sleep?

Picture of Faeroe house by kind permission of Chris Webster

Picture of Mam carrying baby "welsh style" by the Museum of Wales

Item of the Day

ScribbleBook by Jenny Karlsson Design.
The text is handwritten with nib pen and ink:
"Think all you speak, but speak not all you think.
Thoughts are your own Words are so no more. - Patrick Delaney 1686-1768-"



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Item of the day: Botswana Agate earrings

Today's item of the day comes from Kitty Ballistic - a pair of earrings featuring beautiful Botswana Agate beads.



When I saw these beautiful agate coin beads, I had to buy them. They have a lovely milky sheen to them, and the banding is particularly attractive, although as you will see in the photo, the beads are not identical. I still think they work as a pair though, and the simple sterling silver earwires don't draw attention away from the agate banding.


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Item of the Day

Today's item of the day comes from The Sheriffs Daughter - a set of charms called "Handful of Eyes", in joyful anticipation of Halloween.


The seven charms in the set are made with great lampwork eyeball beads (Thank you, Hoss of Beads) - each is unique and has two eyes (so you can see trouble coming from two directions at once?) - with silver beads and Swarovski crystals. These could be added to earrings, strung on a chain or thong (singly or in a bunch) or made into a cell phone charm, or given to your favourite spooky chums...

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