What's this? What's this? There's colour everywhere...

What's this? a BLOG post?! surely not.

but yes, it is. it's been a year + one week since i last did a proper post on here and i thought, hhm... why not start again now! surely it's as good a time as any.

so why the sudden desire to inflict my opinions upon the world once more?

well for one, i was a smidge bored.

and for another reason, it's nearly Xmas time so i figured it might be nice to do a post about some of the lovely stuff i sell in my online shop, you know, as Xmas gift ideas for y'all

so here goes!

over the past year i've tried to expand my range of merchandise a little, so now i can offer even more funky stuff featuring my designs. here are a few of the things i think would make rather nice gifts for people you don't despise.

to start with, if you're in need a nifty stocking filler?! why not get them some groovy vinyl stickers to stick on their stuff - £2.50 for 3 

looking for something for the booklover in your life that isn't books?  then why not get them a bag that they can just carry their books in! + each bag comes with a free 38mm badge - tote bag £10

 

know someone with an iPhone 4/4s, then maybe you could get them a quirky cover for their phone + each one comes with a free matching postcard - iPhone case £10

 

if they have a sweet tooth maybe they'd like one of these pastel pretty cupcake necklaces - necklace on chain £8.50

or if cupcakes aren't their thing, maybe try a Macaron pocket mirror instead. each mirror comes in a little organza bag to keep it scratch free - pocket mirror £3.50

if they're particularly health conscious or the environmentally friendly sort then this set of bicycle postcards might be right up their street - His n' Hers Bicycle cards £1.75

if you're really struggling to pick something then a surprise goodie bag is always a fun gift. Each one contains 8 lovely surprises all bundled up in a sealed dotty treat bag! the contents of each bag are worth anywhere between £12 to £20 but i'll be selling these special treat bags at a verrrrry tasty price - Marvellous Mystery goodie bags £10 each

postcards can be nice framed so why not treat someone to a pair of funky folk art inspired designs - postcard pack £1.75

really not sure what to get the person that has everything?! then a piece of original artwork could be the perfect gift! 100% hand painted and hand drawn by me - original painting on heart board £40

 

 + obviously there is heaps more lovely stuff in my Shop, lots of other tote bag designs + pocket mirrors, postcards, badges, necklaces, greetings cards and stickers galore.
go check it out.
but only if you want to!

anyway i think that's it for now, who knows, perhaps i will resume regular blog posts now. better later than never right?! 

we shall see.

until next time, cheerio folks xX

★ ♥ August Giveaway ♥ ★

wait what... a giveaway... really?!

YES!!!!

i promised you all an August Giveaway to say thank you for getting me to 100 blog followers

so... without any further ado! let's have a look at what YOU could win this time!!!

oh my look at all that pretty stuff! please allow me to 'break it down' for you...

up for grabs we have, three gorrrrgeous British Summertime themed necklaces: an ice cream one, a mini ceramic teapot one + a diddy wellington boot  + tartan bow one + a pair of ridiculously cute polka dot bow earrings (from 'Accessorize' and Douglas, Isle of Man)

there's also a super duper awesome Hello Kitty embroidered luggage tag, possibly THE best luggage tag ever... fact (from 'Funny Love' Douglas, Isle of Man)

add to that four adorable pouting lips magnets, a charming little metal 'with love' tag (both from 'Curphey's' Douglas, Isle of Man) + a lovely embroidered felt lavender heart (handmade by me!!!) 

i'm also giving away one of my limited 'Let them eat cake' Postcards + 2 brilliant vinyl stickers featuring my 'sugar skull' and 'lollipops' designs (postcards available via - etsy shop and stickers available via - redbubble)

and last but certainly not least... since everyone LOVED the poodle necklace from the last giveaway (see original post here - Blog Birthday Giveaway) i decided to put another poodle necklace in THIS giveaway!!! 

+ i'm all adding an equally as adorable and gorgeous little bunny necklace (both from fabulous kawaii shop 'Funny Love' in Douglas, Isle of Man)

there's also this cute little fairtrade handmade mini notebook from Peacock & Ruby in Cork, Ireland

and a sheet of candy coloured kawaii bubble stickers from Accessorize in Cork

and last but not least... a yummy little rainbow swirl lollipop

pretty amazing and downright gorrrrgeous stuff right!!! 

and who knows... i'm off to Ireland on Sunday so there might even be a few more little bits and bobs added to the bundle!!!

♥ ♥ ♥

alrighty then on to the MOST important part! how can YOU enter to win it all . . .

oh and remember i don't care if you're on the other side of the planet, if you win the giveaway i will post this stuff out to you, no problem!

i know i have a lot of international followers and i don't want any of you to think that you can't enter!

YOU CAN (in fact, please do!!! the last giveaway winner was from Canada and the one before that was from the USA and those countries are soooo far away from where i live yet i posted it all out no bother! so i am happy to post these goodies out no matter where the winner lives!)

also, the competition is open to both BOYS and GIRLS! i know the stuff i giveaway is kind of cute and girly but lads, if you take a fancy to any of the giveaway goodies don't be shy, feel free to take part and enter the giveaway...

maybe you'd like to try and win the stuff for your girlfriend/wife, your sister, a family member or friend... 

GO FOR IT!

ok so to enter all you have to do is comment on THIS here post right here on this here page right here that you are reading... here just scroll down and leave a comment HERE

(even if it's just a word, leave a comment and you'll automatically be entered)

alternately, if you follow me on Twitter @jadeboylan you can retweet to enter or send me an '@' reply/mention saying that you want to be entered in the giveaway. just put 'count me in' or something to that effect maybe put 'gimme the prizes' or something :)

leaving a comment here is simple but if you don't have a blogger account you can send an email to this address telling me that you want to enter - info@jadeboylan.com

and you can also "like' or leave a comment on the Facebook Fan Page scroll down until you find a post mentioning the giveaway or just leave me a little wall post saying that you'd like to enter

it's  really T H A T  simple!

to gain extra entries you can also reblog me once or twice on tumblr - jadeboylan

i'll reblog about the giveaway at least once a day so just scroll my page until you find it or check my archive to find it quicker

(i had a surprisingly high amount of tumblr entries last time i did a giveaway in fact the winner was a tumblr girl so if you have a tumblr account i'd DEFINITELY recommend entering there as well) 

oh and for an extra EXTRA entry you can mention this giveaway in a blog post but if you do this then please PLEASE leave a comment linking it or send me a link so that i can see the post and count your entry

in fact one of the last Giveaway winners mentioned my giveaway on her blog so you know. . . get blogging dudes and dudettes!

♥ ♥ ♥

maximum of 6 entries per person

(that gives you a comment here/email, like/comment on facebook, retweet/mention on twitter, a blog mention or a couple of tumblr reblogs or multiple likes/comments/retweets if you don't use tumblr. also, if you do reblog it on tumblr please know that i'll only count up to two or three reblogs as separate entries, any more and you'll only be doing me a favour... they won't be counted!)

the giveaway is running until Midnight (UK time) on Wednesday the 31st of August 2011

so... you have 20 days to enter!!!

i will draw a winner on the Thursday morning (1st of September) using a random number generator

i'll post the results later that same day (the Thursday) and the winner will be notified via email, facebook, tumblr or twitter accordingly

so go NOW and enter the giveaway

DON'T sit there and pretend you wouldn't like to get send this little bundle of loveliness in the post... because i KNOW that you want it!

SCROLL DOWN THE BLOG ENTRY, LEAVE YOUR COMMENT AND ENTER THE GIVEAWAY NOW!!!

* * *

yay giveaway times again! i LOVE doing these little giveaways, i always spend a big chunk of cash on the prizes and i know it might seem daft for me to just give it all away to a stranger but i luuuuurve holding giveaways on my blog :)

i've been busy this week working on commissions + sewing some stuff, yesterday i had a lovely day with family + a trip to the theatre but i'll have to tell you about that another day!

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

Creative Café #5 ★

hey folks, hope you've had a nice Saturday so far, i spent the day cooped up inside watching old movies and relaxing, it's been utterly blissful!

i decided it was about time for another Creative Café post so get you tea/coffee/cocoa ready, grab some biscuits or some cake and settle down for some creative loveliness

today's post is all about a wonderful local artist here in the Isle of Man, it's all about Karen Tomlinson aka Purplecatscorner

i first discovered Karen's work in about February or April last year, her whimsical, girly style of painting just appealed to me straightaway and then last August i won a little giveaway on her blog

her work is always very sweet, pretty and wonderfully coloured, her delicately painted girls and fairies are just so lovely you can't help but like them! 

here's a bunch of some of her gorgeous paintings which are all available as prints via her etsy shop

Karen also creates pretty little bottle top necklaces featuring her work, i have one and it's the perfect accessory to brighten up an otherwise gloomy day

she also makes lovely printed tote bags, pretty bookmarks, greetings cards and fridge magnets

and recently she also started making these lovely fabric hearts

ah everything she creates is so pretty, i just love it all!

here's a photo of all of the lovely Purplecatscorner stuff that i personally own. . .

i won most of this in the giveaway last summer, in fact. . . 

Karen is currently holding another Summer giveaway on her blog!!! it's running until the July 4th

so for your chance to win some lovely Purplecatscorner goodies, head over and find out how to enter - Giveaway

if you fancy treating yourself or someone else to a pretty little something then head over to Karen's etsy shop - purplecatscorner

you can also check out her blog - Purplecats Corner

'Like' her work on Facebook - Purplecatscorner

and Follow her on Twitter - @purplecatcorner

big thanks to the lovely Karen for letting me feature her work here

all images and pieces featured in this post belong to Karen Tomlinson © do not claim, use, distribute, reproduce or trace ANY of her work without her written consent. All Rights Reserved

* * *

not much else for today dudes and dudettes, i have some more stuff to share but i'm afraid it will just have to wait until tomorrow!

in the meantime why not head over to my new candy coloured tumblr blog, it's full of stuff i like (only without all the boring rambling written bits!) - jadeboylan

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