Showing posts with label crochet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label crochet. Show all posts

Monday, October 1, 2012

October ... from the first to the last!

     My, how time flies!  Doesn't seem anytime since special days of September were featured, and here we are in October with its own very special days, weeks, and themes for the month.
     This month's celebrations include Adopt a Shelter Dog, Breast Cancer Awareness, and Apple Month.  We hope that many dogs from many places will find forever homes this month.  This watercolor helps remind us that dogs need families, too.



Dogs come in all sizes, breeds, and colors.  From big to small, we love them all!





A serious concern for women and girls everywhere is breast cancer.  October has been set aside as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  There are fund-raisers of various kinds, with proceeds going to research or other organizations that help women who have been diagnosed.  Many wear clothing or jewelry or carry bags that exhibit the pink breast cancer awareness symbol, such as the earrings below.



Autumn is a beautiful time of the year, with the deciduous tree leaves changing to gorgeous splashes of color throughout much of the country.  We look forward to cooler days and special treats, such as apple cider, and a variety of delicious apples.  Although the apples below won't keep the doctor away, they are delightful to see.







The first week of the month has been designated American Craft month.  Our team has members across the world, not just in America, and every team member is a talented artist/crafter and their work represents a large genre of art forms.  Here is just a tiny sampling of some of their creations.




















Just past the middle of October, on the seventeenth, it is World Greeting Card day.  Just think how happy you can make someone by sending them a card in the mail.  Think how happy it will make you to do something for someone else.  And, last but not least, think how the U.S. Post Office would benefit by such a huge mailing!  There are many talented card makers, and here are two of them.





And to wrap it all up, we end the month on October 31 with Halloween.  Witches, black cats, jack-o-lanterns, ghosts, and all things black and orange.  















Enjoy your October, and remember, buy handmade.  And start with the Boomers and Beyond Etsy Street team for unique, well made, wonderful selections!

This post written by Pam Todd, whose hand-crocheted items for people, pets, and homes are featured in her Bags and More by Pam Etsy store.  Pam is a proud member of the Boomers and Beyond Etsy Street Team - Bbest.

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Falling into Autumn – as Keat’s the poet wrote in ‘To Autumn’

‘Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,
Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;
Conspiring with him how to load and bless
With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run;
To bend with apples the moss’d cottage-trees,
And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core.’

Although sometimes a melancholy befalls some at this time of year when they see the passing of the summer season of brightness fade into the possibility of chill winds of winter looming on the horizon, for others they see this season as the most colourful, exciting, abundant and vivid time of the year!
Personally, I find this the most amazing time of year.  The colours take your breath away and the abundance of the harvest promises tasty dishes for the long winter months ahead.  Gone are the days when we wish it could be a little cooler.  Now is the time to go for all those long lingering walks to discover nature’s palette, pick fruit off the hedgerows and see how the colours change in the light which in itself changes by the season.
Autumn is the time of year when nature offers us all her fruitful gifts to which we give thanks.
Whilst I lived in the Middle and Far East this is what I missed so much.  The changing of the seasons, the renewed hope to look forward to the next adventure.
Talking of adventures and walks I decided to look for autumnal subjects/items for sale within the BBEST group.  The wealth of talent available along with the choices offered leaves me speechless!  Take a look at some of the examples I found:
Butterscotch Flower Earrings by ZudaGay
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Bring the warmth of this colour to match your autumn wardrobe.
Autumn Leaf Original Photograph by BethPeardonProds
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‘This leaf looked lonely but also reminded me that fall is here'.’
Caramel Apple Candle by Aromafields
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Apples are always associated with this time of year and these would be scrumptious, if they were to be eaten!
Maple Leaf Magnet by Chris1
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A pretty reminder of autumn to have on your fridge to keep those important notes handy!
Autumn Leaves Mandala – window cling sun catcher by ClingingImages
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Typical colours to glow in the sunlight and spread the warmth of autumn.
Pumpkin Patch Original by Pfd Original Artworks
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What a wonderful example of the abundance of the autumn harvest!
Indian Corn Matchbook Notepads by Circle in the Sand
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Such a handy item to remind us of harvests.
Bunches of Sunshine by Yankee Girl
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Some of my favourite flowers that follow the sun as it moves through the day.
Jumbo Perle Medium with fall colours by Sassalynne
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A true reflection of the variety of warm autumnal colours.
After the Harvest by HeronKate
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There is nothing quite like a freshly harvested field with the promise of an abundance of crops to take us through the next season.
Autumn Rose felted coasters by J N Originals
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Autumn being a wonderful time for long walks, the temperature cools down once the sun hides behind the watery clouds and it is time to settle down indoors with a welcome warm drink.  These coasters make it all seem so much more cosy, don’t they?
Well, my BBESTer friends, what do you think?  Above is a selection of inspired items in the autumn/fall theme.  All catching the warmth of the glow of the diminishing sunshine but still giving us a wonderful sense of wonder at how clever nature really is!

Thursday, February 11, 2010

The ‘S’ word!

I wasn’t going to but couldn’t resist mentioning the dreaded ‘S’ word or ‘SNOW’.  Some of us, on both sides of the Atlantic, have been experiencing snowfalls that we will remember for many a year.  I can hear it already, ‘Do you remember in 2009, or was it 2010, when we were snowed in/under/on?’  Kids who don’t experience it will be amazed at the photographs!  But who wants to look at photographs of the white stuff when the BBEST team on Etsy can produce some of the most amazing work which has been influenced by snow?

imageLittle Winter Tree – original water colour ACEO by ColoursandTextures

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Mother of Pearl Snowman earrings by KatzKreations

imageHearts in the Snow earrings by Magdalene Jewels

image  Snow White ruffled scarf by BlazingNeedles

imageLittle House in the Snow – mini art quilt by Libertybelle

imageNative American beaded earrings (snow flakes) by JStinson

imageSnow Hare Cards by SixSisters

imageSnow Storm earrings by Gimmebeads

All the above items are amazing! What talent!!

However, although the snow has been an inspiration for many I think the time is drawing near when heads will turn to Spring and a renewed birth of a new season.   

I hope you don’t mind but I have included this post in my personal blog too!  I just wanted to show you all off to the world.

Thank you!

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