Charlotte Jane MacDonald

Delightful Doilies!

2010-04-21T16:14:00.000-07:00

My latest obsession is… doilies!

Granniesh, perhaps, but chic I say and look at all the different ways both paper and fabric doilies can be used!

This is a really simple idea but very effective. Why not spruce up tired pillows or cushions with doilies.

Cottage pillow by Octavi

Look at these gorgeous necklaces! I had originally thought that they were made from lace and resin but they are in fact etched glass, how pretty! They are made by Fox & Clover, check out there other jewellery.

Clutch and purse by Sew Lola.

Another piece of jewellery using doilies… this was an idea by Country Living.

Why not use paper doilies for art? I love it! (Especially with the small stitch detail)

These delicate illustrations are from a collection by Shuxin Liang.

I found this cute vase on Paper Mash. They used a recycled jar and doily.

MORNING IS THE PLACE FOR DEW - Upcycled Repurposed tiny lace doily dangle earrings from Glowstones.

These photographs are simply beautiful! Tidal Pool by Knitalatte.

This is possibly the most inventive use of doilies… frozen in water they make the most stunning decorations. How clever! These decorations are the brainchild ofResurrection Fern.

Tablecloth by Dottie Angel

Paint doilies with fabric stiffener and mould them around a bowl overnight to make this very elegant crochet bowl.

And last but not least one of my own pieces!

Crafty Egg time...

2010-04-04T10:47:00.000-07:00

I couldn't get over how quickly all the eggs sold out this year (I contributed to eating more than my fair share before Easter, how very bold!)

Anyway, I wanted to give something different this easter so came up with this egg box conversion.

I thought it made a nifty little gift.

1. Find an egg box and remove the label.

2. Buy, or alternatively create, some nice paper to use in replacement of the sticker. (I found this picture of Peter rabbit on the net, added the spotty background and made a simple repeat which I then printed out myself)

3. Cut a slot in the box for the ribbon to thread through. Or you could simply tie the ribbon around the box to secure the contents.

4. Add some nice shredded paper or perhaps some feathers as padding on the inside of the box.

5. Fill with some tasty eggs and hey presto!

Yummy!

(I couldn't find any attractive looking eggs but as an alternative idea, you could always fill with painted eggs, they make lovely decorations)

*Handed painted eggs courtesy of Sur La Table

Happy Easter!

2010-04-03T18:08:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter!

How adorable are these cookies from Sweet Ambs, an American based pastry artist. Her attention to detail is phenomenal and I simply love her use of colour. Check out her blog to see more incredible edible delights!

Sticky Stickers

2010-03-29T04:31:00.000-07:00

I was reminiscing the other day, about the obsession I had with stickers when I was a little girl. It didn’t matter where they came from; I loved them! (Though the ones that came free in the cereal packet were by far my favourite!)

On reflection, I think I probably drove my mum mad as I stuck them all over my bedroom furniture, the walls and the door. They now seem to be firmly fused and forever preserved.

Anyhow, that aside, it made me think about the current obsession I have, as an adult, with wall stickers. As I live in a rented apartment I don’t have any at the minute but I have already picked some out that I would love to buy!

Here are some examples I sourced out:

Birds on wire by Vinyluse

Bird cages by Popwall

Tall Tree with Leaves Blowing in the Wind - Dali Decals

Electric wire - The Surface Store

Making Toast!

This reminds me of the Little Prince Illustrations : )

How happy would this make you feel if you saw it every morning when you woke up- I love it!

I am a little obsessed by lace and doilies so imagine my delight when I found this! I love the contrast of placing these stickers on a concrete floor.

All the above are from Blik

Busy making...

2010-03-23T21:07:00.000-07:00

Here is a little birdie card I recently made.

I apologise, yet again, more bird imagery. I’m going to blame it on the fact that Spring is now here. (Yay to milder weather!)

Presenting… Creative Corrie

2010-03-23T20:56:00.000-07:00

I am in love with this Birdie mobile... so cute (and I say definitely not just for kids!)

I love finding out where fellow graduates of NCAD end up. Recently I was in touch with Corrie Hill, now living in sunny LA.

Corrie graduated with a degree in Embroidery and Art History and has now established her own business in the states designing infant and children's wear.

Corrie’s designers are so fun and fresh and have a lovely organic quality that you just don’t get from mass produced clothes. Each has it’s own individual twist and I just adore her use of small printed florals (a lady after my own heart!)

She is a very busy lady juggling her own blog, website, etsy shop and on top of everything, being a mom!

Wonderful Web

2010-03-18T17:16:00.000-07:00

I was looking back over my website files today (as a few small updates are in the pipeline) and its always a nice experience as you find long forgotten files.

One of those was the mood board I originally sent my web designer extraordinaire, Rebecca.

I absolutely love the website she put together for me and it is amazing to see how accurately she interpreted my vision (well- if I’m honest her vision far exceeded anything I ever could have imagined in my head!)

Thanks to all the fellow designers out there who inspired me with their gorgeous websites!

You truly are an inspiration!

Bird Brain

2010-03-15T08:51:00.000-07:00

I have gone a little mad this week and have birds on the brain… here are some lovely examples of birds by various artists, hope you enjoy them as much as I did!

Kate Wilson

Felt Sparrow Pincushion by Sea Pinks

Mary Emma Hawthorne

Rachel Loves Bob

Brooch by squirrellicious

Bird Patch by Tailor Made

Miniature embroidered pendant A morand Stitch

Birdie Mobile by Corrie Suillivan

Pattern swatch from True Up

Bird Stampers from Cavallini

Connemara

2010-03-08T17:45:00.000-08:00

As we have been welcomed into Spring this year by the most delightful weather I thought I would share some of my photos from the beautiful coasts of Connemara.

Ah, fresh air and a sea breeze, I can almost smell it : )

Perfect pantones

2010-03-01T01:39:00.000-08:00

I have spent many an hour milling over slightly different shades of colours in my pantone books and I have often thought how I would like to pull them apart so that I could see all the colours at once (like a naughty child!)

I would love to use them as wallpaper and then I found this lovely image of someone who clearly thought that it was a good idea too!

This amazing staircase is from an apartment by Tamotsu Yagi Design

Here are some other lovely ideas for pantones:

I’m not the only person who has probably spent too long considering the many ways pantone colours can be used, here are some brilliant applications of pantone references as discovered by missom. http://missom.wordpress.com

Pantone make-up (by Renata Veiga)

Pantone lego by acejet

Presenting... Farrell & Chase

2010-02-10T07:37:00.000-08:00

I was recently on a quest to find a creative wedding stationer to appear in the next edition of Confetti and to my delight I discovered... Farrell & Chase. I immediately fell in love!

Farrell & Chase was recommended to me by lots of my trusted contacts and I soon discovered why.

I adore the letterpress technique that Pamela uses (the leading lady behind the beautiful stationery) and she really does the vintage printing technique justice. Pamela's background in graphic design is evident from her gorgeous use of typography and the letterpress technique results in an elegant indentation effect that gives an almost pillow effect to the 100% cotton paper. One feel of any of Farrell & Chase's stationery and you will be hooked by the quality and Pamela's attention to detail! Check out Farrell & Chase's website to be spoilt for choice! (don't miss her beautiful blog!)

Before I go... also a big congrats to Pamela on her recent award of Best Wedding Supplier Website 2010! Very much deserved!

Customised napkins

2010-02-10T07:31:00.000-08:00

These bespoke vintage napkins were also made specially for the Confetti shoot but would make the perfect gift for any bride and groom. How many people (apart from perhaps the Queen) can say they own table linen embroidered with their monograms!

They can made to commission for any occasions and would be a lovely way to mark a christening, special birthday or any event that takes your fancy! €40 a pair.

Here are some of the little bits I contributed to the "Sweet as Candy" shoot.

2010-02-10T07:21:00.001-08:00

These sweetheart favours or chair decorations are made using sweet necklaces strung onto craft wire and finished with a rose and customised ribbon.

These menus feature love hearts for that extra sweetness!

Be creative and do something different and DIY for your seating plan. These are designed to be pegged to a ribbon and strung anywhere that takes your fancy!

Confetti Shoot

2010-02-09T14:23:00.000-08:00

This post is long over due as the latest edition if Confetti was published in January- shame on me!

Anyway, here is the latest shoot that I styled for Confetti, Receptions. The theme was "As Sweet as Candy". I had so much fun gathering everything for the shoot it almost made me want to get married!

I sourced traditional sweets from M&S, jelly beans for the Jelly Bean Factory, beautiful handmade lollies from Pandora Bell, an Irish confectioner and not forgetting an abundance of yummy macaroons from LaDuree.

I made lots of little pieces for the shoot also which I will feature in my next blog entry X

I'm back in the saddle!

2010-02-09T12:18:00.000-08:00

and I'm using this lovely image from damonabnormal to illustrate my point.

Have a look at his full range of photography on flickr : )

House and Home

2009-12-01T18:09:00.000-08:00

My latest contribution to House and Home
Wrapping paper tips to follow tomorrow!

Ermmmm…Macaroons

2009-11-30T09:07:00.000-08:00

26 flavours to have to painstakingly choose from...too much choice

Pinks to make the boys wink!

I couldn’t believe my eyes when I found Laduree in Dublin. (I then realised it has been around for a considerable time in BTs!) Macaroons, such a French icon, they brought back all the lovely memories of the tastiness of Paris! Not only are their macaroons a thing of beauty but their packaging and other little treats are to die for. I love their pastels shades punctuated by some utterly gorgeous vibrant tones. Laduree also stock gorgeous marshmallows: pistachio, rose, orange blossom and strawberry. As soft and fluffy as clouds. And my favourite macaroon flavour… Rose Petal : )

Alternative envelopes

2009-11-10T16:26:00.000-08:00

I love love love these stunning envelopes, such a clever idea from the genii at 100 Layer Cake. (I simply can not get enough of this beautiful blog!)

A very cute idea for a envelope liner by Getchichtenvonkat.

My love for vintage never fades. This envelope spent its previous life as an engraved map of Mississippi dating from 1886. Chasing Lightening Bugs do a beautiful range of gorgeous goodies.

These two chappies are from Adnagam- I just can't get enough of maps and old paper!

My love for alternative or recycled envelopes has officially been rekindled –Envelopes, I believe, are actually one of the most fun and often over looked aspects of successful card making.

Birthday Time

2009-11-10T15:43:00.000-08:00

If there is one thing I love it is making cards. Here is one I made earlier! (Happy belated birthday Paget) The envelope was made using a photocopied page from an edition of "La Vie Parisienne" dating from 1895! I simply adore the old illustrations. The present was wrapped in white tissue and then encased in a pretty doily, finished off with a ribbon.

Book in a braclet

2009-11-04T19:34:00.000-08:00

I found these old pics while trying to find some very old work on my external hard drive. I utterly love experimenting with materials to see what comes about and this little collection was the result of one of those occasions. They are made using tiny stripes of text from a ancient German book I picked up in Amsterdam (According to a random pair of German girls I met it is archaic German, perhaps even a Shakespeare equivalent, that was before I processed to partially shred the book.) The writings will however now remain forever trapped inside double sided sticky back plastic (yes the kind that you tediously cover school books with). These tiny pieces were then one by one threaded in the hundreds on to jewellery wire.

Brrrr!

2009-11-04T19:12:00.000-08:00

I think the sudden changing of the clock and long, damp nights has forced me into early hibernation… but no more!

I love…. prints!

2009-10-27T05:05:00.000-07:00

Whistles River Island
Centro Moda
Vintage (My mum's dress from her youth, now mine- isn't great when you can recycle clothes)
Vintage Dolly Day (another dress from my Mum's youth)
Noa Noa

I suppose this will come as no great surprise, but I just love print! No matter whether it is on fabric, ceramics, paper, you name it I get drawn to it like a bee to a honey pot. Here are some of some of the prints in my wardrobe. (Do you spot the reoccurring colours?- Yes, I am also addicted to certain colour palettes)

Moody seeds and weeds

2009-10-26T09:16:00.000-07:00

I am far more fascinated by seeds, leaves and dead plants than flowers when it comes to photography and my textile designs. I saw these delicate weeds while on a walk along the river bank in Arklow and thought they had an almost magical air with the still reflective water in the background.

The delightful work of Esther Coombs

2009-10-24T08:45:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share my discovery of … Esther Coombs. Her illustrative work is really stunning and I absolutely love her use of collage and her application of her drawings onto ceramics. Some people have a special skill when it comes to their use of line and Esther is one of these talented people. I saw her work in London and fell in love. I am determined to have a wall of plates one day when I have my own house (…sigh) and I think I will have to purchase one of Esther’s pieces to add to my expanding collection of plates. I also possess a rather large collection of tea cups and saucers (at some point I shall share some pictures of my treasures!) which I have been collecting for the last six years. I have always planned to do a series of decals to do my very own collection of ceramic drawings but Esther has really inspired me to hopefully get on with it! If you would like to own your very own Esther Coombs original check out her Etsy shop here.

Oh, the joys of eBay!

2009-10-22T03:16:00.000-07:00

I’m a big fan of eBay because you can always be guaranteed to find something a bit different and normally for next to nothing! My most recent purchase was this gorgeous vintage seed pearl necklace and it was an absolute steal. It’s so unusual and the detail and time that has gone into stringing this by hand is phenomenal. When it’s worn it resembles a lace collar. I lurvee it : )

Little Red Riding Hood

2009-10-21T09:48:00.000-07:00

I picked up the photo of this cheeky chappy in Budapest a couple of years back. I found it recently and it made me smile. I added the cute red hood.

Penguin Classics redressed in cloth

2009-10-21T05:55:00.000-07:00

I have recently joined a book club which has lead to spending quite a lot of time in bookshops, something which I would never object to! While browsing today I came across a stand of the most beautiful books I have ever seen. Penguin have given their classics a facelift with these superb cloth covers by the jacket illustrator, Coralie Bickford-Smith. The picture above shows some of the selection that is available to buy via the Penguin website. On further investigation I couldn’t find any images of the books I actually saw in the shop but did find the following image, aren’t the colours nothing short of amazing? I would be tempted to buy them just so I possess a rainbow bookshelf…emmmm! *images via Design Sponge

Textile Workshop Dublin

2009-10-20T09:33:00.000-07:00

Some of the work from the print workshop

Work by a member of the class from the Ready, Steady Embroider.

Here is a fantastic idea brought to Dublin by the creative duo Paget Scott McCarthy and Rebecca Devaney who have recently launched the Textile workshop. I think all will agree that’s great to finally see a contemporary creative outlet for all textile enthusiasts! Whether you just need to refresh your machine skills or would like some creative encouragement, they offer a broad range of classes. They have had great success so far and some brilliant work has been produced. Check out their website at www.textileworkshopdublin.com to see what’s coming up next and for further information.

The milk bottle social experiment

2009-10-13T15:21:00.000-07:00

I literally stumbled across this amazing milk bottles on a recent web trawling day (my life seems to consist of a lot of them at the moment!) I was bowled over by the detailed intricacy of them. They also have a great story behind them. Apparently unsuspecting residents in the West Midlands in the UK started to find these etched bottles on their doorsteps in return for the plain ones they left out the night before. The artist in question, Charlotte Hughes Martin, says "I like to think I'm cheering up people's days." I love her sentiment as much as the milk bottles.

The magical boxes of John Dilnot

2009-10-13T03:52:00.000-07:00

High Trail (58 x 18 x 7 cm)Spotted Woodpeckers (33 x 19 x 8cm)Moths Collection (26 x 19x 7cm)

Over Dover( 28 x 21 x 7 cm)

Since seeing the work of John Dilnot work last year in the RDS I have fallen in love with it! These beautiful boxes are actually very small so John must have the patience of a saint and a very steady pair of hands! They are so intriguing; I could have stared at them for hours. They remind me slightly of an animated nature lesson I would have had as a child. It is no wonder he has exhibited in galleries as prestigious as the V&A and the Tate.

Pristine Porcelain

2009-10-07T10:13:00.000-07:00

I don’t think you can really go wrong with porcelain or white ceramic. It has a wonderful delicate property and of course co-ordinates with everything! I just noticed I actually own quite a few examples that I have collected over the years so I wanted to share them with you…I am terrible for collecting and hoarding things which I think will become apparent as this blog progresses!

Ceramic origami bird- Oxfam. I couldn’t resist this, so novel!Love Brooch Heart with button (Glazed on reverse)

Heart shaped hanging decoration (I think they are meant to be Christmas decorations but I have them up all year long) I picked up the booch and the three hearts last year at the Crafts Fair in the RDS.

Vintage Buttons

2009-10-05T04:56:00.000-07:00

I was doing my usual trawl of the charity shops, looking for that special something and came across these little gems! They were hidden among the regular tat that you find in the jewellery section. The pearl buttons are actually blown glass and the eleven buttons came in this beautiful glass jar, all for €5! I’m not sure how well they would survive the washing machine so I’m thinking a nice brooch or added to a silk flower corsage….

Hello world!

2009-10-02T04:46:00.001-07:00

Here it goes… my first stab at my own blog and I’m very excited!