Friday, July 27, 2007

Rosary Bracelet


Toby is away at the moment, camping in the Lake District, with Woodcraft Folk, a group he belongs to, have a look here:
http://www.woodcraft.org.uk/aboutus/who.php

So, as it's been a while since we posted, I thought I would show you a recent commission that Toby completed for our local Baptist Minister. He was given the top diagram, and the cross, and was asked to make a Rosary bracelet, which he has, as you can see in the bottom picture. Toby had to make 2 holes in the bottom Cruciform bead, so that he could hang the Invitatory bead from the main bracelet which was, as requested, threaded on beading elastic. A jump ring wouldnt have worked because of the exact bead positioning required. I think he has done a really good job.

Creating to commission, rather than just producing what you fancy, is a very different kind of work. It's not always so much fun, but you often learn new things, which you can then bring to your own creations (like drilling two holes in one bead perhaps?!). This is what I do for a living, I design and illustrate commercially, creating artworks to demand, not usually to my own personal taste, you can see my work here: www.omniadesigns.com

Penny.

Friday, July 20, 2007

meet experiment 1.........

.... this, is experiment 1 ( more commonly known as the esther-monster ), she likes chocolate, long walks, and cocorosie.

She is made from 100% reclaimed fabric ( mainly a pair of my old pyjamas ).

What does one think??

Toby.

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Etchings




I've been blog shopping again, this time I have bought a beautiful etching, ' Haemoglobin ' by Debbie (see her blog here: http://theimaginationofladysnail.blogspot.com/)
In the post with this etching came a wonderful suprise, a present of another one !!
' Hair and Tortoise ' which I have given to Toby.
Lastly, see the cute little card she made with a button sewn on it.
A big THANK YOU Debs!
Penny.

Monday, July 16, 2007

Charming !







Here are Toby's latest creations, pretty little mobile phone charms, for sale, at £2.50 each, plus p+p. He has photographed one attatched to my phone to show you what it would look like.
If you'd like to buy one, email Toby at: info@naturalattrill.co.uk
Pink heart and button charm SOLD.

Saturday, July 14, 2007

Birthday present


We had a record number of 20 comments on our birthday post! I hope you'll all come and visit us again soon.
Toby wrote everyones name on a post-it-note, rolled them up, and placed them in his Trilby hat. Out of the hat came tlawwife: http://smalltownrambling.blogspot.com/ Please email us your address so we can post you the birthday gift: info@naturalattrill.co.uk
Penny.

Thursday, July 12, 2007

Random Rock Drops



For sale, £5 each, plus p+p
Every bead is handmade, each bracelet unique.
email Toby: info@naturalattrill.co.uk

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Mossy Magpie Magic


This is the most beautiful scarf, made by our blogging friend Sybille, it reminds me of moss, with all the lovely colours and textures. It is really long, about 6 foot, just as I asked, (like the old Doctor Who scarves if any of you are old enough to remember!) and must have taken ages to knit. It is gorgeous, SO soft, and I love it! Sybille has just opened an Etsy shop, have a look here:
Penny.

Monday, July 09, 2007

Toby's badge

Here is a cute little badge that Toby has created for himself, it is made from a vintage vegetable ivory button, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vegetable_ivory, and criss cross black wires, on a zinc plated steel disc, with a brooch pin on the back. Could this be the begining of a whole new range I wonder...

Penny.
www.naturalattrill.co.uk

Saturday, July 07, 2007

blogday....

It's a year since we started blogging, and to celebrate we'd like to give you a present. Everyone's name who leaves a comment on this post, in the next 7 days, will be put into a draw, and whoever gets picked out of the hat, gets the present!
We'll announce the winner here next saturday (14th).
Whoever wins will have to give us their address to send the parcel to.

Toby.

Thursday, July 05, 2007

Etsy buy!


Here is my latest purchase, from blogging friend, and fellow greeting card illustrator, Marisa. She creates 'cutes' for a living, same as me, in the greeting card trade, except she is a digital whizz, and I paint all mine by hand.
In her Etsy shop Marisa sells her handmade creations, like felt folk, and also amazing handpainted pieces, this being one of them. I love the retro feel of the swirly hair, the patterns, and the cardboard background. Infact, if I had a little more spare cash I would buy more, I love her latest 2 red and green girls.
It's great collecting things from fellow bloggers and 'virtual' friends, have a look here: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5143515
Toby has been asking me for ages to set up a Natural Attrill Etsy shop for him, I am sure he would sell more of his jewellery through Etsy, it is somthing that we will get around to doing, but with work and school and life in general there never seems to be enough time, but there is, I just need to do it..........
Penny.

Wednesday, July 04, 2007

dioly birdy...

...This is a a small bird needle felted onto a vintage doily....
Toby.

Tuesday, July 03, 2007

Lettuce and felt....




...About a week ago i received a package from Sally ( http://lettuce-eating.blogspot.com/ or http://niddy-noddy.blogspot.com/ ) containing: allsorts of vintage trims and ribbons, some lovely buttons + beads, a hank of yarn, hand~spun by Sally, and, some fibers, which i used to make the top felted picture.
Thank~you Sally!!
Toby.

A sad time....

Sorry we havent posted here for a while, it's been a sad time, my Mum, Toby's Grandma, died on the 19th of June.
Many thanks to those of you who have very kindly emailed us and sent cards.
I hope we havent lost some of our blogging friends, thinking that we had given up the blog, we havent, infact we have a few new things to show you, so please keep visiting.
Penny.