Certified Book Addict

Hello again chums, what's this, another blog post already!

That's right, here I am, back with yet another thrilling installment of 'Life: as Jade Boylan'. Perhaps one day i'll discuss my uncontrollable online shopping addiction with you all, but for today i'll be telling you all about one of my most recent purchases, a rather fab custom laser cut necklace and brooch. 

I love a good laser, and I love a good book, so what better way to combine the two than with a pretty special laser cut necklace declaring my LOVE of books to the world! And a cute brooch to match. 

After all, I AM a Librarian so i can totally get away with wearing these at work sometimes. Or EVERY SINGLE DAY! Possibly.

Anyway, here's a closeup of the necklace. Yes I know... it IS rather flipping brilliant isn't it!

When I ordered the necklace I couldn't resist getting myself one of the speech bubble brooches as well! I knew I had to pick a quote about books, so this one by 'Frank Zappa' seemed like the perfect choice. Ah such is the eternal struggle of the book addict...

I often treat myself to various pretty bits n' bobs while perusing the internet, but this time I wanted something a little more personal. I've been going through a bit of a rough patch lately so I was looking for a little treat to try and cheer myself up a bit. 

Luckily, while trawling the interweb late one evening one one of my frequent shopping quests I found the incredibly marvellous Sugar and Vice shop online and as soon as I clicked on the custom options I knew I wouldn't be leaving without placing an order! 

The items available are all absolutely gorgeous and I have to say, super good value for money. I can't actually believe how reasonably priced everything on the site is! The designs are super cute and yet still totally affordable to the point where if you visit the shop (and you're like me) you'll probably be tempted to order more than one thing. 

BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS SO DARN LOVELY!

Both the necklace and the brooch are great quality with a really neat finish and a nice sturdy feel to them. I've bought laser cut jewellery in the past and it's practically fallen apart after a few wears, but these items feel built to last. 

I daresay i'll still be rocking my brilliant bookworm accessories for years to come!

  

Sugar and Vice offer loads of super duper customising options for necklaces, brooches and rings.You can get pretty much any phrase, name or word custom made into a funky accessory for you or someone else. What better way to celebrate how awesome YOUR name is than to get it made into a necklace so that everyone who sees it knows that YOU know who you are, even if they don't. (And let's face it, if they don't know you, it's obviously their loss!)

As well as tons of groovy custom options, Sugar and Vice also offer a whole bunch of sweet ready made accessories and treats. Scroll down to see a few of my personal favourites from the shop...

Yeah... okay so maybe i've kind of got more than a few faves! So much lovely stuff though! I'm already bookmarking things on the site for Xmas gifts for friends and family + the custom items make great Birthday gift ideas for anyone and everyone. 

I can prove it since My necklace and brooch were both Birthday gifts to myself and I just LOVE them!

Anyway I think i've posted more than enough gorgeous examples of smashing accessories to effectively tantalise and tempt your online shopping taste buds! 

To see even more of what Sugar and Vice have to offer, check out their Website

You can also follow them on Twitter, keep up with their news on Facebook or follow them on Instagram for lots of fab snaps of lovely stuff. 

And on that delightful note I shall bid you all adieu!

Now that i'm officially back in the world of the blogosphere I shall do my utmost best to try and maintain a regular routine of fun posts for y'all to feast your eyes on.

So until next time, that's all folks

Goodbye Summer Giveaway

hello dearhearts! it's that time again, at long last, i'm finally running another little giveaway here on the blog! (pause for cheering and applause...)

now i know what you're all thinking, "Jade, shut up and tell us WHAT WE CAN WIN!!!"

well you don't need to shout! just give me a chance and i'll tell you!

here it is then, here's the bundle of lovely goodies i picked up during my recent trip to Ireland + a few extra bits n'bobs

pretty tasty right! you bet it is, i'll actually be v jealous of whoever wins this stack of cuteness! maybe i should keep it all for myself!!! (*evil laugh*). nah, i wouldn't do that...

allow me to break it down for you then, first up we have a trés adorable apple watch necklace on a peachy chain. yes, of course the watch really works, however it hasn't been started yet to make sure it's battery will last for the winner!

there's also a v sweet set of post earrings, perfect for the imminent Autumn + a cute summery anklet (just because it's the end of Summer doesn't mean you can't still wear a little bit of it around your ankle!) and a v pretty Hummingbird ring

there's a funky handmade 'ugly doll' type keyring charm, because you can never have too many quirky keyrings, FACT!

and a cute star bow headband + a pretty purple hair-bow clip

then there's the frankly AMAZING owl shaped strawberry lipbalm... yes, it really is owl shaped!!! really!

see!!!

 what else?! well there are some fun tutti cuti kawaii stickers + a set of fun emoticon page tabs (ideal for marking out early Christmas Gifts + for dropping major hints about gifts you would like to receive)

AND a cute Fluff luggage tag (perfect for jazzing up your suitcase) + a sweet Hello Kitty pencil (because lets face it, who doesn't like a bit of Hello Kitty!)

there's also some of my own merch stuff, two sugary sweet postcards + a cupcake pocket mirror and a cupcake badge

+ a Sugar Skull circle sticker to stick on your fridge or your laptop or your face or whatever...

and that's the prize bundle! some very luuuurvely goodies there, i'm sure you'll agree. apologies for the dire quality of the pictures but then you all know how much my camera sucks!!!

right so, enough of the rambling times, let's get to to important part, how YOU can try and get your hands on the prizes!

oh and as always, the giveaway is open to entries from anywhere in the world, seriously, don't fret about postage or anything, that's my concern not yours, if you want to try and win some stuff then go ahead and enter, doesn't matter where you live!

right then, there are lots of ways you can enter + the more entries you get = more chances of winning (yay!)

you just have to click the options on the giveaway form at the end of this post.

firstly, if you don't already follow this blog (and if you don't then why NOT?! explain yourself...) go ahead and click Follow, that's two entries already!

leave me a comment, that's one entry

then you can 'Like' my facebook page, that's another two entries

you can Follow me on twitter = two more entries

and tweet about the giveaway = another one

(if you already Like/Follow me etc, just fill in the form accordingly, but beware... if you DON'T really follow/like my pages, i can check and i will DEDUCT entries if you're fibbing!) 

the giveaway will run until midnight (UK time) on Friday 14th September and i'll email the winner over the weekend.

that's it, that's all you need to know, so what are you waiting for!!! GET THOSE ENTRIES IN!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


+ until next time, that's all folks... xX

Moustaches and Matryoshkas ★

so i've had a fun day at college today, local artist/menace Juan Moore came in to teach us HNDers all about Book Binding and what not and by the end of the class we'd all successfully made our own little hardback postcard books!

genius stuff, even if mine did turn out so wobbly and messed up (damn PVA...) that i can't possibly show you a picture! it was a joyous afternoon regardless

also... i've been wearing my new Moustache necklace all day!

since it's Movember, and because i just hate to be left out of anything, i stitched this little beauty together yesterday afternoon at college and have pretty much had it on ever since! 

+ today i also wore my awesome Bow Tire necklace (from Plastic Bat) so it was double hit of coolness for sure!

i attached it to a small ball-link chain so that i can wear it ALL THE TIME! it's hand free you see... i'm not holding it up here, i was attempting (and failing...) to fix my hair! here's the finished necklace being modeled by my little teapot (a teapot that i actually made in my first year of college... yes really!)

because Movember is the perfect time to sport a fancy moustache and i don't see why boys should get to have all the moustache fun!

* * *

also...

look at what arrived today in the post!!!

really awesome and groovy Matryoshka prints! yes indeedy. 

each print measures 6x8" and comes with a one inch border in white meaning the final size is 7x9". sadly, they DON'T come mounted and cello wrapped... 

only one is mounted/wrapped and that's because it's going to be an xmas gift for a family member of mine. if you ABSOLUTELY one want mounted/wrapped, email me and i'll see what i can do.

this is a limited run of just 10 gorgeous quality Giclée prints featuring my little Matryoshka design + each one is numbered, signed and stamped on the back, printed on premium grade 308gsm Hahnemuhle Photo Rag Paper . un-framed

and who knows... they might be worth something one day ;)

to get yours or to treat someone else to one (for xmas maybe...) head on over to my Etsy shop - Jade's Shop

all prints will be tissue wrapped and sent out in hardened cardboard envelopes to ensure they arrive in perfect condition. 

* * *

another lovely thing arrived in the post today as well, a super duper postcard + 3 lovely stickers from the very fabulous Harriet Gray

i'm a huge fan of Harriet's work so i was delighted when i found out i'd won a little mini lucky dip giveaway on her blog. 

her work is just divine! to see more of it, be sure to visit her website here - Harriet Gray

* * *

in other news, believe it or not but this year at college i actually have a logbook! (gasp... shock horror!) here it is in all it's fabulous stickery glory...

to be honest i'm still not all that great at the actual content but it sure is colourful this year!

and i am trying... honestly!

that's just a sneak peek for now anyway, there's just under 30 pages filled in so far... a long way to go now though!

* * *

and that's it i think! tomorrow i'm heading in to town to collect my little cousin Sienna for a day of Xmas shopping... + i need to gather some more items to go into the Xmas giveaway bundle for the grand Christmas Giveaway Extravaganza... coming soon!

so until next time, that's all folks... ◕‿◕ ★ xX

♥ Jade's blog needs YOU! ♥

yes well... it turns out i've somehow reached 96 followers (you are all insane and i thank you for that) and you know what that means...

when i reach 100 there will be another GIVEAWAY!!!!!

aha NOW i've got your attention!

the last 2 giveaways have been sooooooo successful (and fun!) so i'm determined that this one will be just as awesome (if not even more so) 

so far we've had winners from the USA and Canada, proof of my willingness to ship the prizes anywhere! 

so who knows... maybe this time it could be YOU winning a big bundle of cute goodies!

anyway none of this matters because i'm NOT at 100 followers... yet!

this is where you come in my humble minions... sorry, i mean 'followers'! 

if you think you know someone that might like my blog (think.. hard!) then recommend it to them, 

suggest they 'follow' it and then we can get going with the new Summer Giveaway Extravaganza!!!

i only need 4 people... just 1-2-3-4 come on! that's not too tough is it!

and in a last ditch attempt to entice you to help me get these 4 followers, i'm giving you a sneak peek at some of the goodies up for grabs!

now if you've entered past giveaways you'll know that i buy a HEAP of awesome stuff to giveaway, i buy stuff for many weeks/days before i ship it all off so this is just the start of this bundle...

so, since i have a lot of followers from many different parts of the world, the first set of goodies have a British Summertime theme

ooooh don't they look pretty!

it's a groovy little set of jewellery bits and bobs from a shop here on the island

there's a little ceramic Union Jack teapot (and check out that cute polka dot bow!)

a (sort of) matching pair of dangly polka dot bow earrings

a sweet itty bitty ice cream necklace with cute charms

and my personal favourite.. in keeping with traditional British Summers... a teeny tiny little wellington boot! (+ a cute tartan bow and pearl charm)

aren't they divine!

it's further proof of my devotion to you all that i'm giving these beauties away and not keeping them for myself!!!

so... now you know what's up for grabs so far, and believe me... there will be a lot more stuff going into this bundle, as if these gorgeous bits and bobs aren't awesome enough!

ok, go forth my darlings and get me those 4 followers! then i can start the giveaway and YOU (yes... you) could be winning these pretty little treats!!!

you know what to do...

that's all folks ◕‿◕ ★ xX

ps - just heard the sad news that the singer Amy Winehouse has died! sad news, she was an incredible singer! what a voice :(

such a shame! she was so talented! here's my fave Amy Winehouse song, 'you know i'm no good'

Silly Little Strawberries ★

so today i have been very VERY busy

i woke up early (early for me!) and finished off a logo commission for a local company, then i edited a packaging design for another local business, then i locked myself away in my sewing cave (aka my bedroom) which is where i've been cooped up for the rest of the day

but look at what i made!!!

i finally used some of the flower patterned felt i bought aaaaages ago + some lovely little scrap fabric bits and pieces to make this little kimono

it took forever to make though since i sew everything by hand, my mum attempted to set up the old sewing machine for me but it just won't work, i wasted a good hour this morning on it but it just keeps jamming and making scary buzzing noises so i gave up!

anyway this little lovely is called 'Kimiko' and i hope you like her

i made another new little doll as well, little being the operative word since i messed up the templates a bit and ended up with much smaller body parts, the plus side was that she's so small the little blue dress i made yesterday actually fits her

but that's not all folks because as you may have gathered from today's blog title, i've not JUST been sewing dolls . . .

thaaaaat's right! i've been making some strawberry charms

quite a few in fact since i actually ended up making seven!!!

i made them all this afternoon after drawing some strawberries for a clients logo design, i guess it inspired me!

these are very similar to the first strawberry charm i made

you know . . . this one

only this time i used tiny glass seed beads for the pips instead of french knots, mainly to save my sanity but also because a little bit of sparkle is nice

what do you think?

tomorrow i'm heading into college to try and catch up on everything that i've missed + get some more sewing done, i'm thinking maybe cupcakes or toadstools for tomorrow!

tata for now 

that's all folks ◕‿◕ ★ xX