Anyone for Tennis? (Or Pimms?)

Summer is the time for tennis, and with Wimbledon just around the corner, I ended up creating a tennis-themed display for the charity shop!

It seemed like a fun idea to set up the window as if it were a tennis match, so I got to work with sports gear, and lots and lots of balls...

Green Gardens - A Window for Spring

...This has become something of a 'window displays' blog, hasn't it?

Here is the latest display that I created for Humanity at Heart, a small charity based in Sussex. This time the theme was 'spring gardens', and the spring weather came along just at the right time for it!

Some of the flowers from our plants section bloomed at the perfect time for the window display. Spring has truly sprung!
I made the little flowers that can be seen amongst the daffodils, using the sleeves of an old jumper, disposable chopsticks and ribbon leftover from other projects.

Easter Window Display

Last week was the window display changeover at the charity shop where I volunteer. The manager and I had decided in advance to have an Easter theme, as Easter is on its way!

After giving it some thought, and looking at the stock we had for the display, the theme ended up being along the lines of an Easter Egg Hunt!

Sun, Sea and Sand: A Summer Window Display

I've previously written about the Christmas and autumn window displays I created for a charity shop, and promised to update about this months ago. The weather has been sunny lately (I think spring is finally here!) so today I want to share photos of the summer window I created last June!

This was my first more challenging display, in that I decided to turn the display table into an ice cream cart.

Autumn Window Display

Not long ago, I shared photos of the Christmas windowdisplay that I put together for a charity shop.

As I wrote previously, I'd intended to post about some other displays that I never got around to writing about.

Today's post is about the autumn-themed window, created in September.

Once again, some of the photos here have unfortunate reflections of the buildings opposite, so the most 'complete' image also depicts the other side of the high street!

Sometimes, window displays are changed on the spur of the moment, other times they are planned out in advance, enabling me to look around for inspiration.

I decided to hang a long twig in front of an old net curtain after finding a photograph of autumn tree branches in the fog.

2014 Crafting Recap

2014 may have been a quiet year on the craft blogging front, as I became rather distracted with Doing A Thing, but here's a recap of some of my posts from the past year...

Vintage Measuring Tape Belt

Made using an old measuring tape, a buckle, eyelets and glue.

Paper Sticks of Rock / Beach-Themed Party Favours
Made from paper, card and cellophane.

Easiest Christmas Pine Cone Ornaments
Made with pine cones, pins and ribbon

Wire-Wrapped Beaded Leather Bracelets
Made with leather cord, wire, beads and basic findings
A project to use up some accidentally-bought leather cord.

Pearl & Leather Wrap Bracelet
Made with leather cord, faux pearls, and basic findings.

Cord & Chain Necklace
Made with cord, chain, beads, embroidery thread and basic findings

Upcycled Festive Heart Decorations
Made with an old pillow case, pillow stuffing and embroidery thread

Charity Christmas Window Display
Created from donated, handmade and recycled/upcycled items!

 Well, that's probably about it for this year. I'll post more leather cord crafts as I make them, and some others along the way. Until then, seasons greetings to you all. :)

Cord & Chain Necklace

Though I had some hassle getting cord ends that would fit my reams of leather cord, I finally settled for some coil end springs (which are slightly too big, but close enough).

So, armed with my shiny new pack of cord ends, I began experimenting and now I have this cord & chain necklace tutorial to share with you!

This project will take 1-2 hours; it took me a while because I made a couple of mistakes during the process.

Here comes the how to!