To Bid or not to Bid?

There has been some discussion over on the Folksy forums recently about charity auctions being run on Facebook.
I for one think they are a great idea and help to raise funds for some wonderful charities - big and small.
I have not yet been directly asked to put anything in an auction but I have offered items to various auctions being run and indeed, I even ran an auction myself of my own items a couple of weeks back.
So this week, I am going to highlight some of the auctions that are happening on FB and some of the great causes that I know of over there.
The first one I want to share with you is the one that I held my auction for. http://www.facebook.com/Cefnigermanshepherdrescue?sk=info Its a wondeful place that rescues and rehomes German Shepherds. Thanks to everyone that bought items over £200 was raised.
Next up is something that is very close to my heart; fundraising for Macmillan Cancer Care. http://www.facebook.com/album.php?id=163410227043207&aid=52533 This is being run by the lovely Clare Holmes, who like me, has a very personal reason for raising money for such a wonderful cause.
One of the reasons why I like these auctions is the chance to see the work of so many other talented people! Over at this auction http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=44178&id=154395241249972&fbid=196596747029821#!/photo.php?fbid=196596760363153&set=a.196596747029821.44178.154395241249972&theater there are nearly 200 items up for auction, and there is some lovely stuff there!
An auction that will be happening soon is this one http://www.facebook.com/Eneshelmetappeal
and I've gladly offered a necklace.
Another auction starting soon is this one, http://www.facebook.com/album.php?id=163628576994623&aid=47753 and again it has some wonderful items in it!

Please check out these auctions and if possible make a small bid. They are all being done for some wonderful causes. If you get asked to help out, then please consider it. If you feel that you can't offer an item to them then just share the link around to your friends - the more people that know about these auctions the more money they can raise. If Comic Relief can raise over £74m
in one night, then I think it should be possible to raise a few hundred pounds for some often very small charities that are in desperate need of funds.

Share the love and make a bid!
Thank you xx

Small is beautiful!

We, buteartism, are a team! I make jewellery (amongst other things!) and Terry likes to paint. He usually paints large canvases and watercolours but recently we were both introduced to something called ACEOs.
The acronym stands for Artist Card Edition and Original.
They are miniature works of art created to sell, trade and collect. ACEO's come in all mediums, subject matter and styles as larger works of art but should conform to the standard size of 2 1/2 inches by 3 1/2 inches.
So armed with some offcuts of watercolour paper, he set to work and gave it a try! Whilst he was doing that, I set about looking to see what others had been producing! http://www.folksy.com/items/1406665-ACEO?shop=yes

http://www.folksy.com/items/1257909

http://www.folksy.com/items/1246617

http://www.folksy.com/items/1409545

I hadn't realised that an ACEO could be made out of any material; as long as it measures 2.5"x3.5" then anything goes!! Well, I might even give this a go!! As for Terry, he is quite getting into this, so here is one of his to finish with!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/69319120/watercolour-aceo?ref=pr_shop

Hope you like this little selection! Why not have a go yourself! It sure looks like good fun!

Motorbike Madness

I love motorbikes!!! OK, so I havn't actually ever ridden one or even been a pasenger on one, but my husband used to ride them and I have a friends who ride them!! I stand and stare like a kid in a sweetie shop whenever I see one go past on the road and have been known to go ga-ga if I see one parked up!!!


So in honour of my motorbike fetish, this blog
is dedicated to all those bikers out there!

Well, all bikers need the right gear! http://www.folksy.com/items/956765-Hand-Painted-Biker-Jacket-T-shirt-18M

They also need a bike!

http://www.folksy.com/items/945613-Low-Rider

When they are not out riding, most bikers have their head stuck in bike magazines, so this next item will make sure that they never loose that important article!

http://www.folksy.com/items/1118861-Bookmark-Motorbikes

And finally, just incase they ever forget who they really are, then my last item will really help!

http://www.folksy.com/items/1345137-Biker-Kilt-Pin-Brooch

Right, time to hit the road! See you later!

Vampy Valentine's

Its coming up to Valentine's Day and if you want to snare the man of your dreams then you might consider becoming a Vamp for the day!!
Here are a few ideas that are bound to set his pulse racing and help you win him over!
Every Vamp needs a pair of killer heels but if yours are a little bit on the shabby side then how about these
http://www.folksy.com/items/1343769-Steampunk-gothic-style-black-lace-shoe-clips to jazz them up a bit!!

Next, you'll need a bit of bling to catch his eye!

This lovely gothic style ring will go lovely with that sexy LBD!! http://www.folksy.com/items/1071841-Gothic-Black-Rose-Ring

Next up, you'll need a pretty necklace!

http://www.folksy.com/items/791353-Red-Black-Gothic-Key-Necklace

If you want to add just a little bit of intrigue to the evening you could always get yourself one of these! http://www.folksy.com/items/1241681-GOTHIC-ESQUE-Masquerade-Mask

And if he doesn't get the message after all that, I guess you're going to have to spell it out to him. http://www.folksy.com/items/1345401-Vamp-Kilt-Pin-Brooch

Hope all this has got you in the mood for Valentine's Day!!
Have fun xx

New from Old

I am an avid recycler - have been for years! And I don't just mean putting out my papers and tin cans to be collected for recycling! I love the idea of turning something that you no longer have a use for into something completely different!


So today, I'm going to showcase some of the items on Folksy that are just that - something old turned into something new!!


First up are these fantastic planters made from old vegetable sacks! http://www.folksy.com/items/825777-re-cycled-planters Would look really cool on a balcony or patio!!


Next are these funky coasters made from old magazines! http://www.folksy.com/items/1054965-recycled-magazine-coasters

Now the next items are really good fun to make! I made a few myself last year and gave them to my local Cancer Research Charity shop and they went down very well!!

http://www.folksy.com/items/805245-Recycled-Record-Bowl

The next items are a really cool way of using up the metal cases that you have lying around after you've used all those tea lights!!
http://www.folksy.com/items/1228097-Recycled-tea-light-flower

Here is a great way of reusing all those empty bottles that you might still have around after xmas!! http://www.folksy.com/items/1120317-Recycled-Spitfire-Beer-Bottle-Clock

Finally I want to share something recycled from my own shop that I set up to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Care. Its a pretty green leaf bracelet made from an old broken necklace! http://www.folksy.com/items/729497-GREEN-LEAF-BRACELET?shop=yes

I hope that you like this little selection of recycled items and will maybe look at some of your old, unused items arounds the house in a new light and get creative and re-use them into something useful!!

Until next time! x

Where did all the snow go?

It doesn't seem like over a month ago that virtually the whole country was beneath a blanket of snow!
We are now in a new year, even a new decade! Up here, the snow has gone, but they keep saying that its on its way back!! Today is damp and dreary!
Enough of the weather forecasts, lets look at some pretty bits of jewellery and cheer ourselves up!!

I have just found these stunning earrings
http://www.folksy.com/items/1232585-Curly-duck-feather-earrings-FREE-UK-SHIPPING


There is some lovely stuff in this shop, so go along and check it out!








These earrings are also lovely! http://www.folksy.com/items/1231673-Tribal-Inspired-Earrings



This is a lovely necklace! http://www.folksy.com/items/1230469-Green-jasper-necklace-with-purple-agate-pendant


http://www.folksy.com/items/1216097-Be-My-Valentine-Broochm/items/1216097-Be-My-Valentine-Brooch
This is a lovely brooch and would look great on a simple black jacket I think!


This is one of my latest pieces!
http://www.folksy.com/items/1198893-Blue-Glass-Necklace?shop=yes


And don't forget that I have a sale on of a few of my items so pop along and check them out! http://www.folksy.com/shops/buteartism


Until next time!

Shameless self-promotion!

I don't usually go in for full-on self promotion but needs must - I have to pay for a new fridge freezer so any sales would be very welcome!
Its only 18 days till Christmas and I had hoped to have made a couple of sales by now, but have had nothing since mid October!
So here goes - shameless plugging of my jewellery!! http://www.folksy.com/items/1028033-Jade-and-Serpentine-Necklace?shop=yes



http://www.folksy.com/items/795105-Pretty-Beaded-Bookmark?shop=yes

http://www.folksy.com/items/1026041-Serpentine-Necklace?shop=yes

http://www.folksy.com/items/959997-Mother-of-Pearl-Necklace?shop=yes

http://www.folksy.com/items/1099509-Pink-Bracelet?shop=yes

So there you have it! Just a few of the jewellery items in my store. There are some great little stocking fillers there and also some original artwork!
Please have a look, and whilst you are there why not have a look at some of the other lovely shops on Folksy!

Keep warm!