Happy Halloween Everyone!

Hope you all have a wicked time trick or treating and, of course, partying!!!!

Stay safe and have fun!

hugs

hello gorgeous xxx

Something for the Weekend......next weekend that is, if you order now! ;o)

Fantasy

A Swarovski delight consisting of 7mm pale blue glass pearls and an accent 8mm AB Crystal round.

Finished with a contemporary flower toggle clasp, very pretty!

Length of this bracelet is 7mm (excl clasp)

To order, visit hello gorgeous here

hugs

hello gorgeous xxx

Wahoooo!

One hundred followers.........on this little old blog

wahoooo!

Thanks to all of you who have taken the time to "follow", comment, give advice or simply just read the posts.....

I appreciate each and every one of you! :o)

There will be a giveaway at 150 followers....so please share with your friends,

but in the mean time my 100th ~ Illustrationboutique ~ will receive a little thank you for hitting the milestone!  Please email me your address.

Thanks again everyone!!!

hugs

hello gorgeous xxx

P.S. Those of you who read only....I would LOVE to hear from you, so don't be shy, take that step and leave a comment....I won't bite, honest! ;o)

Thank Folksy it's Friday!!

This week is all about, yes you've guessed it....

Halloween

Loop da Loop

Little Bird Too

Quernus Crafts

Mud Meddling

Glow Box Solar Lanterns

The Snail Emporium

Hope you have a spooktacular weekend!! ;o)

click on the name of each shop to be taken straight to the gorgeous-ness that awaits you ;o)

See ya next Friday!!

hugs

hello gorgeous xxx

Wish List :o)

This week it's all down to stress thanks to a certain teenager,

so firstly I would like to settle down with

A Soothing Baileys

followed by

A Relaxing Massage

and hopefully my stress levels will return to normal.....

and if they don't

let's just repeat the process! ;o)

Hope you like my wishes, what's yours??

hugs

hello gorgeous xxx

Twenty Question Tuesday

In your eyes, what’s Paradise?
A quiet house!! With two toddlers, that is HARD to come by! ;)

Prized Possession:
Those same noisy toddlers, haha!

Favourite medium to work with and why:
Natural gemstones, I am a magpie, I ADORE sparkly things and to think that these beauties are hewn from the earth fascinates me to no end!

Flowers or chocolate?
Flowers!! I worked at a large flower shop for 3.5 years before I got married and I am addicted to flowers!

Who influenced you the most?
Professionally, I would have to say Chan Luu, Jes MaHarry and Dana Kellin. Personally, God.

Who would you most like to go to Dinner with?
Off the top of my head, I'd love to just go out with my husband and some friends, by ourselves, that sounds divine!

Top Cat or Banana Splits?
Banana Splits!

Today I wore:
Yoga pants and a tee shirt....it's my work uniform!

Do you have a favourite online {bead, craft or textile} place to shop and would recommend:
Hmmm, well most of my favourites are wholesale only sites that are kinda boring, but I do enjoy looking at the Sundance Jewellery catalogue for inspiration!

What inspired you to do what you do?
At first it was just a hobby, that was nearly 10 years ago, I was basically inspired by boredom....then the true business woman in me was kindled 2 years ago when we desperately needed to get some more cashflow into our household.

McDreamy or McSteamy?
McNuggets!! I watch very little TV ;p

If you could do anything else, what would it be?
Professional Chef! :)

Favourite item of clothing:
Aforementioned yoga pants. I'm 8 months preggers and they still look great, and when I'm 8 months post partum, they will be even more awesome, I LOVE THEM!

Best childhood memory:
Christmas Eve’s.

Most cringe-worthy moment:
Going to the hospital to give birth to my firstborn....I'm a staunch home birth momma and the hospital gives me BIG TIME willies, it was not a fun experience.

Favourite holiday destination:
Home.

Which celebrity would you have as your best friend and why:
Robert DeNiro. I LOOOOOVE him! If he wasn't available though, Clint Eastwood ;)

Best “crafty” tip you can offer:
When you get a great idea and you're nowhere near your workshop....DRAW IT! I can't tell you how many fabulous designs have been lost because I didn't write them down.

What’s your Star sign?
Cancer.

What would you most like to see happen next?
To birth a healthy happy baby, peacefully, and have a stress free maternity leave from my work!

Thanks Sue!!! That was fun! :D xoxo

My thanks to the lovely Darrah for her participation in this week's twenty questions.....Darrah is the creator of some gorgeous jewellery pieces....swing by her Etsy shop Otis B Jewelry and don't forget to add it to your Favourites! ;o)

hugs

hello gorgeous xxx

Something for the Weekend......next weekend that is, if you order now! ;o)

Moss

Made with 12mm chinese green jade coins, accented with sterling silver beads and finished with a twisted sterling silver toggle clasp, this 8" (incl clasp) bracelet is at home whatever the occasion!

To order, visit hello gorgeous here

hugs

hello gorgeous xxx

Thank Folksy it's Friday!!

I can't believe it has come around again so quickly!

Where does the time go??

With the sudden change in temperature I have decided,  for this weeks picks,  

on things that need pulling out for the

winter

Blue Box Studio

Miss Frekkles

Spotty N Stripy

Max's World

erin

Pirate Treasures Jewellery

I {heart} this week's picks :o)

click on the name of each shop to be taken straight to the gorgeous-ness that awaits you ;o)

See ya next Friday!!

hugs

hello gorgeous xxx

Wish List :o)

Hand Stamped Copper Bracelet ~ Abstract Circle Design with Blue Azurite

{Cinnamon Jewellery}

Tracy {Cinnamon Jewellery} has "suddenly developed an interest in stamped metal jewellery".....and, as you can see her first attempts are simply gorgeous!

I would LOVE this in my collection! ;o)

Beauty in the Breakdown Ring

{Rosy Revolver}

Here's another beauty, by Jess at Rosy Revolver.....I get the feeling of the Wild, Wild West whenever I visit this blog.....the designs are simply awesome!

Hope you like my wishes this week, what's yours??

hugs

hello gorgeous xxx

Twenty Question Tuesday

In your eyes, what’s Paradise?

Relaxing on a beach somewhere whilst being surrounded by great friends & family.

Prized Possession

My very large jewellery collection.

Favourite medium to work with and why?

Lots of different pens & ink, I just love freehand drawing & the freedom you get with it.

Flowers or chocolate?

Chocolate!

Who influenced you the most?

Artist & designers such as Alexander McQueen, Jackson Pollock & Lucienne Day.

Who would you most like to go to Dinner with?

That’s a hard one someone who makes me laugh, either John Bishop or Leigh Francis, the comedian, or the lovely Scott Mills.

Top Cat or Banana Splits?

Banana Splits.

Today I wore:

Skinny jeans, white grandad t-shirt, long grey cardigan & my new dark grey calf length boots.

Do you have a favourite online {bead, craft or textile} place to shop and would recommend

I love buttons! I use The Button Company a lot.

What inspired you to do what you do?

It just naturally evolved, I’ve always been a very creative person & very passionate about art & design. 

If you could do anything else, what would it be?

I’d love to be a full time dancer.

Favourite item of clothing

All of my dresses.

Best childhood memory

Chester zoo with my mum & my sister.

Most cringe-worthy moment

Crying on television.

Favourite holiday destination

New York!!!!

Which celebrity would you have as your best friend and why

Scott Mills from Radio 1, I love a good giggle & he’s just great & really uplifting! I’m a fan of Taylor Laughtner! I love everything about Twilight!

Best “crafty” tip you can offer

Don’t be scared to experiment, as you don’t know where it might lead.

What’s your Star sign?

Cancer.

What would you most like to see happen next?

I’d like to collaborate with more US companies & I’d love to design an album cover for a band or musician.

I remember Chester Zoo, but for different reasons to you I suspect!  We took the  kids there when they were younger and it started to pour down with rain as we arrived and didn't stop until we left.....not many animals came out to play on that day! Hmmmmmm.... ;o/

As always, my thanks goes to this week's participant Rachael Taylor of Rachael Taylor Designs ~ please check out her designs ~ they are simply gorgeous! ;o)

hugs

hello gorgeous xxx

Something for the Weekend......next weekend that is, if you order now! ;o)

Liquorice

A sumptuous feel to this design created with large smooth black onyx coins and 8 mm sterling silver beads accented with a gorgeous 30 mm sterling silver hammered triangle toggle clasp. Sits nicely around the base of the neck.

Length: 18.5" 

To order, visit hello gorgeous

here

or

here

hugs

hello gorgeous xxx

Thank Folksy it's Friday!!

With the colder days fast approaching I have made this weeks picks all about chocolate

{hot chocolate that is!}

Y.U.M.

Devonly Crafts

Leanne Woods Designs

Audrey's Cat

Sarah Waterhouse

MadeByDeb

Carole Claxton Designs

click on the name of each shop to be taken straight to the gorgeous-ness that awaits you ;o)

See ya next Friday!!

hugs

hello gorgeous xxx

Life is Good!! :o)

Thank God for perseverance!

Ten miners already rescued ~ eleventh on his way up as I type!

Here sending good vibes for the remaining 22

:oD

hugs

hello gorgeous xxx

Twenty Question Tuesday

In your eyes, what’s Paradise?
A beautiful sunny day spent with my friends and family, and a barbecue :o) I might also throw a few palm trees in there too, and some snow!

Prized Possession:
I would have to say my lovely computer, as without it, none of what I do would be possible… apart from the sewing of course, but it keeps me in touch with the world on a daily basis!

Favourite medium to work with and why?
Fabric… I still love discovering new fabrics, colours and patterns, I can walk into a fabric shop looking for one thing, and end up coming out with armfuls of other fabric too, some linens and cottons can be particularly beautiful.

Flowers or chocolate?
Both if possible!

Who influenced you the most?
I think my parents, as they have always encouraged me to be happy and to love what I do and work hard.

Who would you most like to go to Dinner with?
Either Ryan Reynolds or Robert Pattinson, for obvious reasons!

Top Cat or Banana Splits?
Erm, I don’t think I used to watch either of these… how about The Poddington Peas!?

Today I wore:
Jeans, lots of layered tops (it was kinda chilly) and a knitted cardigan!

Do you have a favourite online {bead, craft or textile} place to shop and would recommend?
I would have to say Folksy… you always find such a wide variety of handmade products, it’s great for browsing and stumbling across new finds!

What inspired you to do what you do?
I was working in a textile-related environment, but not doing any of my own designs, when I could I escaped and began Charlotte Macey Textiles, I haven’t looked back for a second and love doing my ‘own’ work every day :o)

McDreamy or McSteamy?
McSteamy

If you could do anything else, what would it be?
Run a ski chalet!

Favourite item of clothing:
My navy woolly winter dress… so excited to wear it this year!

Best childhood memory:
All of them… summer holidays, birthdays, bonfire night, Christmas, we make a real ‘occasion’ out of all of the years events, and to be honest they’ve all been wonderful.

Most cringe-worthy moment:
Ahh I can’t think of one, but I’m quite a butter-fingers, so I’m always dropping things and knocking things over, eek.

Favourite holiday destination:
France

Which celebrity would you have as your best friend and why?
Hmm, probably someone really normal who I could just go for coffee with… perhaps America Ferrera, she’s brilliant in Ugly Betty.

Best “crafty” tip you can offer
Always make things that you like, you will have so much more interest in something that you enjoy doing.

What’s your Star sign?
Cancer

What would you most like to see happen next?
I would like a bigger studio, one day a lovely shop, an apartment in a sparkly city, to continue doing what I love and for Charlotte Macey Textiles to grow… not asking for much eh! Hehe.

MMmmmmm, yes Ryan Reynolds.....such a cutie ~ saw him the other day in The Proposal....definitely a catch in my eyes too!

Sending my thanks to the lovely Charlotte at Charlotte Macey Textiles for her contribution....pop on over to her blog...her creations are so clean and crisp and a must for any kitchen! ;o)

hugs

hello gorgeous xxx

Tweak! Tweak!

Did a bit of tweaking yesterday.......mainly the blog header above and the grab button in my side bar....in fact you may not even notice the difference!

If you take the grab button for your blog.....let me know if all's OK....hoping the code is in tact!

hugs

hello gorgeous xxx

I knew it had to happen....eventually!

Well, it has happened....my first spam comment!

I guess I have been lucky so far with no spam and no negative or critical comments.  I LOVE receiving comments from my followers and fellow blog hoppers but I would HATE for you to have to read comments from certain enlargement device companies for men!!!!

So unfortunately, I have had to put the moderator in charge......I promise to make sure ALL comments are published...good or bad.......but NOT offensive or abusive.

Please don't let this put you off leaving comments and, if you are a blog hopper or new to the blog, I would LOVE to hear from you, so go on ~ take the plunge!!

Have a fab week ;o)

hugs

hello gorgeous xxx

Something for the Weekend......next weekend that is, if you order now! ;o)

Firefly

An array of reds and sandy heated Agate rondelles make up this delicate bracelet, accented with 2mm silver beads between each Agate and finished with a fancy toggle clasp

Overall length of this piece is 8" (including clasp)

This is one that will be a staple in anyone's collection, to be called upon anytime of the day!

To order, visit hello gorgeous

here

or

here

hugs

hello gorgeous xxx

Thank Folksy it's Friday!!

I am lamenting this week....

trees

to be precise

Gooseberrymoon

Willow Wire Creations

Loving Luxuries

Polka

Lighthousegirl Crafts

Happiness Crafts

click on the name of each shop to be taken straight to the gorgeous-ness that awaits you ;o)

See ya next Friday!!

hugs

hello gorgeous xxx

Look What I'm Gonna Miss Out On

{see previous post}

 

  

hugs

hello gorgeous xxx