My Creative Space - Girls' Ring Sets

 Brygida ring set

It's hard to believe that it's been three years since I first started creating my range of girls' ring sets for Two Cheeky Monkeys - how time flies when you're having fun!  Of course, I made the decision to branch out into this line of children's jewellery because of my Two Cheeky Monkeys, who already had me making cabochon rings for them and their little friends.

Agnieszka ring set

The girls' ring sets seem to be a perennial favourite with customers from around the world.  I guess little girls the world over can't resist a cute ring with a flower on it!  So needless to say, every few months I sit down and work on another batch of ring sets to add to my online stores.  This week was one of those weeks where I worked on new sets, which garnered many oohs and ahhs from the Two Cheeky Monkeys.  Purple, blue, red and pink are all popular colours in this household.  What are the favourites at your place?

Kazia ring set

Things I Love: Creating With Felt

I have always loved creating with felt because it is a versatile, affordable and very easy to use craft material (very important when little ones want to join in the creating).  I love the fact that it comes in a multitude of colours and prints as well as in several types (wool, acrylic, recycled, etc).  Last year I borrowed the delightful Pretty Little Felts from my local library and had a lot of fun creating one of the projects from this book (see here).  So, this year I am thinking that I should use some of my birthday money given to me by various lovely family members and purchase a copy for myself.

Another great publication for felt crafts is Made in Felt, from the team which publishes Mollie Makes.  It is full of cute felt projects, many of which can be attempted by crafty novices and children.  And it also has links to great blogs, books and websites which share felt-based DIYs or sell beautiful felt creations.  Do you love to create with felt?

Upcycled Storage Solutions

If you personally know me or have been a blog reader for some time, you will realise that I struggle with messiness, hoarding tendencies and a need for clever storage solutions (see here and here).  Unfortunately, the Two Cheeky Monkeys have inherited my messy tendencies and need help too.  So when I was given Kayte Terry's fun Paper Made! for Christmas, I knew I had to try out the oh so cute and practical wall pocket/caddy.

I haven't decided what I'm going to store in my new wall pocket as yet, but Monkey #2 has already almost filled her little caddy with her huuuuge collection of loom band creations and Monkey #1 has started to put a few odds and ends into hers.  Maybe I should use mine to store the various bias tapes I use for my sewing projects?

More Birthday Celebrations

I hope you have all been enjoying my birthday month and Mother's Day celebrations on the blog!  Today I am unveiling the third, and final, celebration I have planned.  As I mentioned, this surprise is for those who love all things Domum Vindemia.

So...for the next 48 hours, I am offering 15% off in both my Etsy and Madeit stores!  Simply use the coupon code BIRTHDAY at the store checkout to receive your discount.  But hurry, because the birthday discount offer ends first thing on the morning of the 23rd of May.

My Creative Space

Do you remember my post last week about the new necklaces I've been creating?  I have been having so much fun working on more necklaces all week, especially these brightly-coloured ones which feature vintage plastic beads.  It's been like playing in a lolly/candy store with many of the beads reminding me of the Kool Fruits lollies I used to eat when I was a child!  What do you think - are you loving the bright colour combinations as much as I am?  And what is your current favourite colour combo?

My Running Playlist

Things are still pretty crazy chez Two Cheeky Monkeys, so today I'm sharing a little bit of music fun which keeps me entertained when I go running (and distracts me from the fact that my legs are hurting and that I don't like running!)  These three songs are just a small portion of my running playlist which is pretty eclectic but full of upbeat, thumping and generally activity-inducing tunes.  Enjoy!

1. Boomin' by Tobymac (Mr Cheeky Monkeys introduced me to this one).

2. Warrior by Havana Brown.

3. Firestarter by Samantha Jade.

My Creative Space

 

Things have been a bit crazy here at chez Two Cheeky Monkeys care of a minor carport cave-in (long story), but I still managed to find some time to work on new creations.  I'm re-visiting my love for asymmetrical necklaces for my Spring 2014 range and I am so excited!  The new range will include necklaces with glass pearls, stone beads as well as vintage lucite beads (my absolute fave at the moment).  I will also be including colour combinations I haven't used much in the past.  What do you think of the upcoming range so far?

P.S. If you're looking for the Sew Mama Sew giveaway, then head to this blog post.

Sew Mama Sew May Giveaway Day 2014!!!

Update: This giveaway is now closed.  A winner has been chosen and notified - congratulations Dixie.

I know you have all been waiting for it, so yes, it is time for the annual Sew Mama Sew May giveaway day!  This year I have decided to give away a Key to My Heart ornament/pin cushion specially made for this event.  Regular readers will know that these ornaments are some of my favourite items in my Domum Vindemia store.

So what do you have to do to enter my giveaway?  Simply answer one or more of the following questions in the blog comments.  Only the first one is mandatory, but any of the others will be gratefully accepted.  Most of all, I hope you enjoy the May giveaway day (week) and come back regularly to visit my blog.  :)

Important information: This giveaway is open to worldwide entrants and will run until midnight, 16th May 2014.  I'll use random.org to pick a winner and the winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email before I pick a new winner. PLEASE leave me a way to contact you if you are the winner; it would be very sad to find my winner is a "no reply" blogger.
P.S. I'm sorry that I can't reply to every commenter on such a high volume comment day.

Giveaway entries:

1. Let me know where you're from and who you would give this ornament/pin cushion to if you won. (Mandatory)

2. Follow my blog and let me know how you're following.

3. Sign up for my monthly newsletter: http://eepurl.com/DYez (let me know the email address you signed up with).

4. Become a fan of Two Cheeky Monkeys and Domum Vindemia on Facebook (let me know the name you're using to follow).

Friday Finds - My Friend Marcia

Today I thought I'd share some beautiful screen printed creations from a Melbourne-based creator, and friend of mine, My Friend Marcia.  She is new to the world of Etsy and online selling, but her store is already stocked with totes, cushions, bags and tees in a range of fun designs.  My personal favourites are the cushions and the tree designs - what about you?

Birthday Month Celebrations

Although it signals the end of milder weather and the approach of a cold winter, I love the month of May because I get to celebrate Mother's day with my family as well as my birthday.  I must admit that the Two Cheeky Monkeys family finds it a little hectic fitting in both celebrations in such a short period of time!

This year I have decided to celebrate my birthday month and Mother's day with my blog readers in a few different ways.  Firstly, I am offering a special free shipping discount in both of my Two Cheeky Monkeys stores FOR THE ENTIRE MONTH OF MAY.  Head over to my monthly newsletter to find out more about my birthday month discount.

Secondly, I will be celebrating this May by joining in the annual Sew Mama Sew May giveaway day (week, actually!).   Giveaway Day celebrations begin next week, so don't forget to come back to the blog to find out about my giveaway (see the photo above for a bit of a hint).

Finally, I'll be celebrating by offering a special surprise, for 48 hours only, during my birthday week.  I won't give anything away now, but this celebration is for those who love my Domum Vindemia stores. 

My Creative Space

After a week off from blogging, I am back and thinking through new ideas for the blog!  Although I have enjoyed having a mini break from blogging, I haven't stopped working on new creations for my stores.

This week I have finally been able to start work on literature bobby pin sets for Two Cheeky Monkeys.  The bobby pin sets had been popular in the past, but I briefly took a break from creating them to focus on other literature jewellery ventures.

So now that there are literature bobby pins once again in my stores, I am happily creating sets which feature some of literature's favourite couples.  There are, of course, Mr Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet sets, but there are also hair pin sets which celebrate Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet and Bronte's Jane Eyre and Mr Rochester.  Do you have a favourite literary couple whom you think I should celebrate with my bobby pin sets?