Special Feature Friday: Silver Spoon Creations

Edition 38

I always figured there where a small number of  things one could do with a spoon, scooping being the most important of those things. But, recently I found out that spoons are actually way more versatile! 

Silver Spoon Creations is an shop that sells jewelry made from spoons. Mostly bracelets, to be precise. 

At first you might not realize that they are spoons, but the more you look at them the more you see the spoon it was in a previous life. The spoons used for these bracelets are mostly the vintage type that are beautifully decorated. Silver Spoon Creations is run by the wonderful couple Tim and Veralyn. Together they work for this shop, Tim being responsible for making the items, and Veralyn being responsible for making sure the listings are online and handling the orders. 

This bracelet was created out of 2 vintage spoons from a company called Rogers, the spoons themselves where probably made around 1948. Today they make this beautiful bracelet! It is possible to personalize a bracelet by having initials or names engraved in them. This will be great as a gift, or as a memory. It is possible to order multiple bracelets from Silver Spoon Creations to give to your bridesmaids. 

Besides bracelets you can also find necklaces and key chains in Tim and Veralyn's shop. These items will be great to wear as a set! Just in case you can't get enough of spoon jewelry, I suggest you visit California Spoon Rings. This is a shop run by Tim and Veralyn's son, and his wife. 

Tim and Veralyn have been very kind to offer a discount to the readers of this blog: BLOG15

It is only valid for Silver Spoon Creations and gives a 15% discount. 

Special Feature Friday: China Teaware

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China Tea Ware is an shop based in Shanghai run by a family who has been in the tea business for generations. Mike is now the owner of his family's shop, and his mission is to brink China tea wares to the lovers of tea in the world. Different tea sets are used for different types of tea, this helps do draw out the best flavour of the tea. Because of the long history of tea ware makers and tea dealers in his family, Mike knows the ins and outs of tea drinking. It is the place to go to, for anyone who likes their tea time to be extra special. 

This is a Xi Shi teapot with a capacity of 190 ML. It is a piece of Nixing pottery of Qinzhou from the Fuangxi Province. It is one of the most famous types of pottery in China. Nixing pottery is well known for its unique functions. It can withstand strong acids and is non toxic. Furthermore, the clay maintains the taste and color of tea for days, the tea can be kept in the pot and will not spoil. The tea scent will linger in the pot long after it has been used. 

This is a pet monk made of golden yellow clay. His high is 10 cm. Tea pets are traditionally used in the Chinese tea ceremony. A tea pet will accompany you on every tea drinking adventure.

Special Feature Friday: Venus Velvet

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Venus Velvet is a jewelry shop on Etsy, it is run by Carolyn. Carolyn is from a family of artists and is delighted by any form of art. She gets great satisfaction from creating versatile jewelry. Carolyn took up jewelry making during her studies on the Ontario College of art. She loves working with precious metals and different colour variations. Her work is influenced by her Baltic background and the strong connections Latvians have with nature and craft. Each piece of jewelry is made by hand, in her green powered studio. When possible the tries to use ethically sourced and recycled materials. Respect for the planet and its inhabitants is a important aspect in the Carolyn's life, and  this can be found back in her jewelry. 

This is a modern geometric necklace created from brushed brass triangles. It's simplicity really stands out! It comes on a 18" sterling silver chain. The triangles are black and gold coloured, but it is also possible to get the item in full gold colour. 

These cute little earrings are shaped in two little raindrops. The second raindrop is made from a slightly thinner wire which makes it free hanging. This allowes for the second drop to swing around as you move, making them very playful. They are available in solid 10K or 14K gold, sterling silver or 14k gold filled.

Carolyn offers a discount for the readers of this blog, It is a 15% discount, valid for every purchase over $30. It is valid until the 31st of August 2014: SummerHeat15

If you would like to see more of Carolyn's work, you can visit her website, or if you would like to stay updated you may want to follow her on Twitter.

Special Feature Friday: Eve's Little Earthlings

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Eve is the owner of Eve's Little Earthlings on Etsy. In Eves shop we can find the most adorable little friends for young and old! Eve makes all the plushies she sells by hand. With 10 years of experience in daycare Eve was able to create items that stimulate imaginative play. Her items also encourage the use of motor skills. Eve's plushies are gender neutral and make for great gifts that will be cherished!  On top of these the items are made of eco friendly and often recycled materials. 

This adorable armadillo is made of re-purposed sweater wool, it is stuffed with wool fleece. He is very strong and sturdy, and is therefore able to withstand a lot of imaginative play! He can be washed in cold water and will last for years. 

These sweet woolly sheep stand by themselves, they are made of soft white wool and details are added in embroidery floss. Eve offers a lovely selection of farm animals, and sets of multiple types of animals are available in her shop as well. 

Special Feature Friday: Rachel Nadler Ceramics

Edition 34

The ceramic shop of Rachel is the place to go for unique lightning designs for your home. All the lamps are handmade, and this makes that Rachel has possibilities to change a design to your wishes. 

Rachel works from a small studio in her home. From time to time she collaborates with architects and designers. Her goal is to offer product that are functional and decorative. Rachel works mainly with stone and porcelain. Porcelain is translucent, and creates a warm effect when the light penetrates the thin walls of the lamp. Rachel often leaves her designs unglazed, so the item keeps its rough character and the natural beauty of the clay and porcelain remain. 

Besides lamps, one can also find vases, bowls and dishes in Rachel Nadler Ceramics. 

Why have one lamp as a centerpiece in your living room? This is a collection of 7 egg shaped lamps. The curving of the porcelain creates a special effect. The shades hang at various highs, creating a playful centerpiece for any room. The translucent porcelain creates a beautiful effect, when the lights are on.

This is a handmade wall light, it is made of white stoneware. Rachel uses a technique she calls "knitting" to create the holes in the clay. Some of the holes are filled up with colored porcelain, allowing for a soft colored light to shine trough.  

At this moment Rachel has a sale in her shop, so it is definitely a good time go and check out her items! 

Special Feature Friday: Eye Poetry Photography

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Irene opened her Etsy shop in 2007. She has been photographing for a long time, but it did not become a obsession until 2005. The success of her Etsy shop, Eye Poetry Photography, meant that she could quit her day job, and become a full time photographer. Something most photographers dream of! 

Irene combines "her love of travel and nature with a dreamlike aesthetic to create visual poems that evoke a sense of magic, delight, nostalgia and romance". Cities like Paris, New York, Venice and London who have been photographed over and over are photographed in unique ways trough her camera's lenses. 

I remember a school trip to Paris, we entered the Galeries Lafayette, and everyone spread out shopping. All I could do was stare at this huge glass dome, above an impressive open space with balconies at the sides. The craftsmanship and detail that went into the making of this building made me fall in love with it, more than anything else for sale in the shop. I only had to see this picture to know this was the glass dome I looked at all these years ago. Irene has captured this dome in such a way, that my memories, that where put far away, came back right away.

The focus on this picture is the bench, but the pillars of the bridge in the background are so well known, that everyone knows right away where this picture was shot. The soft light gives a feeling of romance and rest, even though it was shot in a busy urban environment.  This is what makes Irene's work so interesting. 

These are the horses of the Camargue, a beautiful nature area in the South of France, near Arles. This picture proves that Irene is not only a great urban photographer, but also knows her ways around nature. These horses look like they could come running out of the screen at any moment. The colors and composition would make this photograph a great addition to any minimalist designed home.

Irene's work has been featured by Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,  The Nate Berkus Show, Apartment Therapy, Daily Candy, Decor8 and Domino Magazine. Her work has been exibithet at the San Diego Natural History Museum, The Sundance Film Festival and Galerie Sakura in Paris. 

I can say that this blog was difficult to write, there where so many amazing pictures to choose from! Please go directly to her shop, to see all the other wonderful work Irene has done. All the pictures in Eye Poetry Photograpy are shot by Irene herself, every single one is a work of art! 

Irene kindly offers the readers of this blog a 15% discount on her items with this discount code: ISHJE15 

Special Feature Friday: Ella's Bows

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Last week my mother in law was staying with us! We had a great week, but because we where so busy all the time I had no time to write the Special Feature Friday. This week I am back with a wonderful shop called Ella's Bows.

Robin is the owner of Ella's bows, she started her shop on her own in 2009. She has 3 children, one girl and two boy's. What started as a one woman show has grown, and now many talented friends of Robin contribute to the items found in the shop. Because of this they are able to offer high quality baby clothes and accessories.

These headbands for newborns make for a beautiful accessory for your baby, it can be made in different sizes. Whether it is for your babies first pictures, Christening, or maybe a party, they will look beautiful! There is a wonderful collection available in the shop, in many different colors and sizes.

These adorable turtle hat and shield are made of the best and softest yarn. The outfit is crochet and has a unique look. If you are planning to have a series of photo's made of your baby, these items will certainly make for a wonderful, cute and funny image!

Robin offers the readers of this blog a 15% discount: Bows15

Special Feature Friday: Natural Clocks

Edition 31

This week in the special feature Friday I would like to introduce Natural Clocks. The owner of Natural clocks, Val, is originally from Italy. After finishing her studies she decided to move to London, where she met her husband. 21 years later they decided they wanted a countryside life, and moved to the lake district in north west England.

Here Val started a little gift shop in a rural village. However, soon she realized she wanted to sell more different and unusual items, instead of the ready made goods purchased from suppliers or whole-sellers. The area Val lives is a great place, with access to many different types of material to work with. This way her costumers know they get an items from the area. The items are unique and provided by nature.

Driftwood always has a very natural rustic look. This clock is made of a well weathered piece of driftwood that was collected by val on Morecambe bay. The clock hands are metal and the clock parts are quartz with a silent sleeping movement.

This desk clock has a wooden base and is covered by a beautiful vintage postcard. The print is sealed with an acrylic sealant and an acrylic varnish. The clock measures 12x12 cm. (5x5 inch)

Val has given the readers a coupon code for a 10% discount: COUPON10OFF

A new chapter, part 2

In April I wrote about my plans to introduce jewelry to Vallon des Trésors. Yesterday I had my day off from work and I decided to use this day to make this a reality. I am very proud to have these online, and I would like to show you two of my favorites!

The pink beads on these earrings are made of cherry quartz, they are topped off with a blue glass Czech bead. The two colors really compliment each other! the gold spacer beads and the earhooks are gold plated brass.

With the cultivated sweet water pearls and the golden plated connector these earrings are elaborate, yet not too big. The connector is decorated with flowers and swirls. They are real eye catchers!

These are just two examples of what can be found at Vallon des Trésors at the moment, and I hope you will all take some time to come around and have a look at the other pairs yourself!

Special Feature Friday: Mandarinas De Tela

Edition 30

From the playful world that lives in each one of us, 

I value innocence and I express it in my dolls, 

each one created with dedication and love ♥

This is the wonderful quote we can find on the about page of Isabel's shop, Mandarinas De Tela.

The items in this shop are very attractive, elegant and colorful dolls, every single one is designed and handmade by Isabel.

The dolls are first designed on paper. Isabel carefully picks a fabric that seems most appropriate to the doll she has in mind. When the sketch gets transferred to the fabric it is given life and personality. The dolls have their own details and characters, and each one is unique. Isabel's inspirations are music, colors, art, books, people and life experience. This is easy to see in the collection of dolls she offers in her shop.  

Parts of the doll are painted by hand, this is why Isabel's dolls have such a distinctive look! 

Besides dolls there are also brooches, necklaces and pendants for sale at Mandarinas De Tela. All in the same colorful style as the dolls.

Isabel has kindly provided a discount code for the readers of this blog, it is a 10% discount, valid until August 2014: MANDI10

A minimum purchase price of 25 USD counts for this discount code.

You can also follow Isabel on Facebook, Twitter  and her own shop blog.