TT: Christmas Wish Bracelets

In keeping with the Christmas theme I've got going at the moment, I thought I'd highlight a product I developed this time last year. 

I really need to redo these photographs

My Christmas wish bracelets are a great stocking filler - the popular wish bracelet style, a charm on a waxed linen thread - this time on a card with a Christmas themed poem. The idea behind wish bracelets is pretty simple, when you tie the wish bracelet around your wrist you make a wish, and by the time the bracelet thread wears thin and the bracelet falls off then your wish will have come true!

Charm can be anything you choose!

It's a super cute idea, and priced at just £1 plus postage, these bracelets would make fantastic stocking fillers, plus, you can choose what charm you'd like - so choose to suit the recipient, or perhaps choose something Christmas themed. Or you could have it with their name on, or a word that you'd like.

Wish bracelet with a name on - my name to be precise!

TTT: Spoonie Tips

Hi All and welcome to another Top Tips. As you all know, I'm a chronic illness sufferer - I suffer with M.E./C.F.S. which is a condition which involves chronic pain and chronic fatigue amongst other things. I'm about 10 years into being ill, and I've pretty much got it managed these days, although it's always a learning curve and can definitely throw me some curve balls. Here are my top tips for dealing with chronic illness.

This is my purple spoonie bracelet 

1. Organisation! It's my top top tip as it were... if you know what you need to do and how much energy each task is going to take it's a lot easier to manage those tasks without overdoing it. If you know you need to do the washing up, sort the laundry and send some emails then you can do the washing up, then send the emails, because that's a sat down activity, and then sort the laundry.

My spoon charms are one of my favourites

2. Pacing! Take breaks when you need them, don't feel bad if you need to take 5, or even 10 in order to get back on your feet. It's not always possible, so when it is, make the most of it!

My spoonie keyring can be personalised with any word or name

3. Communication! Tell people how you feel, let the people closest to you know when you're having a bad day - they can help! For too long I tried to deal with everything on my own, but I've learnt that the people who love me want to help.

My spoon jar is the perfect gift for a spoonie

4. Know your limits! Know when to say no to things. If someone asks me to join them on a half marathon, I'm going to say no, if they ask me to help them move house, I'll tell them I can help with packing tips, but not with physically moving them. I let my wonderful husband take Littlest Princess swimming on his own most of the time, because I know it drains me too much for the rest of the day.

My green spoonie bracelet and earrings

5. Do some things that are just for you, even at the expense of doing things that you feel are things you 'must' do. When you have limited energy it's easy to feel you have to spend all of that energy on doing the chores, but over a long period of time, that will destroy you. If all the energy you have left can be spent on doing the washing up, or on having a sandwich.... have that sandwich!

Zebra stripe spoonie bracelet.

TBT: Wish Bracelets

Today's throwback Thursday is one of the oldest products in my shop. I first came across the concept of wish bracelets when I received one in my goody bag for supporting the Molke kick-starter (I've waxed lyrical about my love of Molke a lot before, so I'll leave it for the moment). My wish bracelets come on a KPD card, with a poem explaining what they are and how they work. The different versions each have a different poem as well.

My wish bracelet

The simplest style of wish bracelets is this charm version - it's a simple charm tied onto a waxed linen thread, with the idea that you make a wish when you tie the bracelet on, and when it falls off, your wish will come true!

Close up shot of a charm wish bracelet

I've also made this lush mermaid version - these are a bit trickier, as the shell won't thread onto the waxed thread, so I had to find a way around it, but I managed it.

Close up shot of a mermaid wish bracelet

I've also got these personalised ones, where you could have a word or name put on. I also have a bunch of different colours to choose from, I've got brown, white and black listed in my shop, but I've also got at least purple and red in stock, and it's easy enough to get hold of different colours, so if you have something in mind, drop me a message over on my facebook page.

Close up shot of my mermaid wish bracelet

I always finish the ends of my wish bracelets with a simple clear bead, I feel it really adds to a more finished look.

The back (ends) of one of my wish bracelets

These are one of the cheapest products in my shop at £1 each - and I can do discounts on bulk buys as well. Don't forget, it's only 2 months until Christmas day today! (eeeek!) So I'll leave you with this picture of my Christmas wish bracelet. A perfect stocking filler.

My Christmas Wish bracelet

WNW: More wish jars

As I hinted on Monday, this weeks what's new, is some newer versions of my wish jars. I love creating these, they're like happiness in a little jar. My earlier versions were all fairy themed, but I've had some different ideas since.

My elf jar is a variation on the fairy jar

Keeping with the fairy theme, I was asked to make some for a fairy themed birthday party, but was asked for a more gender neutral design, so I made this magical elf jar.

This jar is perfect for someone you love

This heart jar is perfect if you're in a long distance relationship, it has a heart charm and some heart confetti in the bottom, and the poem attached says it's filled with love and kisses. 

A jar full of snow for a little Christmas gift

This one is perfect for Christmas - do you know that awkward person who says they don't want anything for Christmas, or says they're just dreaming of a white Christmas - which here in the UK is a bit of a hit or miss situation. This jar is full of fake snow and is a perfect gag gift or stocking filler.

My 'spoonie' wish jar

Whenever my friends are having a tough time, I always wish I could send them an extra 'spoon' of energy - if you feel the same way, you could always consider sending this. It doesn't actually contain extra energy of course, but it can often give you a boost just knowing that someone understands what you're feeling.

All of my different wish jars

I managed to take pictures of all of my wish jars lined up - there's one or two now, and I love this 'family photo' shot.

TBT: Wish Jars

Hi Everyone and welcome to another throwback Thursday. This weeks throwback is going to be about my wish jars. Now I absolutely adore these little beauties, and they're one of the best sellers in my shop. Whether they're going to be a stocking filler, or just a little gift to remind someone how much you care. Currently I have 4 different wish jars available through my shop, but there's another one or two (or four) in the works, so keep your eyes peeled.

The fairy godmother wish jar is without a doubt my most popular out of all of them - with a magic wand suspended by magic, and full of glitter - it's the perfect gift for any godchildren you might have.

My Fairy Godmother Wish Jar

This cute little fairy in a shower of fairy dust I actually made nearly 20 of for party bags for a fairy themed birthday party (it was awesome, the kids were totally convinced the entertainer was a real life fairy).

My Fairy Wish Jar

The mermaid version only has gold glitter in - it makes me think of golden sandy beaches. It's got a real shell suspended in it, and the poem talks of mermaid kisses.

The Gold in the Mermaid Jar makes me think of sunny beaches

Last but not least is the tiniest little angel wing - a perfect gift for someone who's having a tough time or who needs cheering up.

A beautiful Angel wing finishes off the quartet