Beaded Napkin Ties

I made these beaded napkin ties last year and they did look rather lovely on the Christmas table. If you enjoy beading and you wanted to make something similar, why not try these. 

The copper wire is the secret as it allows the beaded ends to be twisted over each other to hold the napkin in place. So simple and easy to do.

Lella Loves... Beading

You will need:

Copper wire

8 large statement beads such as a heart or a flower

8 large stopper beads such as a barrel bead

Allow 8 medium spacer beads per napkin ring

Allow 120 pearlised beads per napkin ring

Lella Loves... Beading

Take a piece of copper wire about 16 inches long and thread on on small spacer bead. Loop the copper back over the bead and twist to secure.

Lella Loves... Beading

Slide one of your statement beads on and then start to thread all your beads. Choose any colour you wish.

Lella Loves... Beading

Always allow equal amounts of beads and the same spacing.

Lella Loves... Beading

When you are happy with the length of your beading, take one of the stopper beads and thread it on. Now take one of each of the smaller beads, thread and re-thread the copper back down through the stopper bead.

Twist the copper to make a little stump and trim the excess.

Lella Loves... Beading

To make eight of these will take about 2 hours as the beading is easy once you have decided on your pattern. All the beads used in this blog-make came from Hobby Craft. Choose hand-blown, lampwork beads if you wanted something extra special.

The fabulous thing about handmade beaded napkin ties is that when you tell your family you made them, be ready for the compliments. They will enjoy using them too.

Have a lovely day.

Lella  xx

http://lellalovescreativity.blogspot.com

Vases (Test Tube)

Yesterday I wrote a piece on displaying silk flowers and there were lots of them in that lovely garden pot.

However, if you prefer real flowers, today's post is an idea to show you how you can buy a single stem and enjoy it without the need for huge water-filled vases or tubs.

Lella Loves... Vases

I paid 20p for this test tube at a car boot sale and I knew that it would make a handy vase.

Lella Loves... Vases

All you will need to follow this blog-make is a test tube, copper wire and some snips.

Lella Loves... Vases

Simply cut a piece of copper twice the length of the test tube and fold in half.

Lella Loves... Vases

Wrap the copper around the top of the tube and then twist until both wires are together.

Lella Loves... Vases

Now make a hook and fold the wire back around the top of the test tube.

Lella Loves... Vases

All you need to complete your look is a window sucker and a flower head of your choice.

So simple and yet so easy to make. I really enjoyed making it so please feel free to leave a comment if you make you own.

Pop back soon,

Lella xx

http://lellalovescreativity.blogspot.com

Vintage Glassware

Hello and good morning to another sunny Saturday :)  Today I am sharing with you some of my glassware which I have collected over the past few years.

These beautiful glasses are Edwardian lemonade beakers. 

They were sold in early mail order catalogues before the First World War when beautiful things were being made in England. I have a copy of the catalogue with this very beaker on sale for a few pennies.

Lella Loves... Vintage Glassware

I paid no more than £1 for this beaker so if you fancy drinking your next Gin and Tonic from a glass which is nearly a hundred years old, please look out for them at flea markets.

This is a lovely old measuring cup called The Graduate. It is a domesticate measure to help the household staff and cook avoid waste in the kitchen.

There are markers for ounces of sugar, flour and rice as well as four etched images showing the position of an egg in water to determine the egg's freshness.

Lella Loves... Vintage Glassware

This piece was given to me by a stall holder at a monthly flea market. He has known me for a while and because he knew I wouldn't mind the little chip on the rim.

Lella Loves... Vintage Glassware

It goes to show that you should get to know your dealers if you visit the same fair every few months as they will keep their eyes peeled for things you like.

Lella Loves... Vintage Glassware

This stunning glass measure is from a Victorian photographic studio. It is absolutely beautiful and would have been used for measuring out chemicals in a development lab. The numbers and measuring lines are all etched by hand.

If you like these pieces of glassware, do look out for them as they are not rare and add charm to any kitchen windowsill.

Have a lovely day :)

Lella  xx

http://lellalovescreativity.blogspot.com

Beaded Tealight Holders

Twinkly candles and tealights make doorways and porches enchanting and extra specially so in the upcoming season. Start saving old beads and jam jars and have fun following this project.

I have made lots of these in the past and having sat and threaded thousands of pretty beads - making me go boss-eyed - I try and buy beaded wire when I can find it.

Lella Loves... Beaded Tealights

You can make this tealight holder in less than 20 minutes.

If you want to try this project, please gather the following items together. You will need:

Jam jars or baby food jars
Beaded wire
(or craft wire and mixed seed beads)
Wire snips

Lella Loves... Beaded Tealights

Take your beaded wire and wrap around the top of your jar twice then overlap and twist to secure.

Lella Loves... Beaded Tealights

Leave one end long enough to be able to make the handle of your tealight holder and secure the other loose end to the neck wires.

Lella Loves... Beaded Tealights

Feed the handle end and twist around the neck wires to fix it in place. You want to make sure that it is strong enough to be able to hold the combined weight of the jar and the tealight.

Lella Loves... Beaded Tealights

And this is how your finished tealight holder should look like. Make 10 or 12 and line your pathway to light the way for friends and guests.

Hand-made items do make lovely gifts and these are so easy to make.

Have fun and get beading!

Lella  xx

http://lellalovescreativity.blogspot.com

Flea Markets

So, it is Sunday morning and you are wondering what to do today. If you asked me, I would say where else could you possibly go than to your local flea market or car boot?

Lella Loves... Flea Markets

Everybody loves a bargain and even though you might not be in need of anything in particular, I think it is good for the soul to be out and about, browsing the stalls and chatting to sellers about their items or the weather.

Falling in love with something you didn't even know existed when you woke up this morning: I love that! The joy of handing over £2 for a very special purchase. Fabulous!

Here is an old marmalade pot I bought last week for £1. It is a perfect pencil pot.

Lella Loves... Old Packaging

You can experience all the above if you go to a collectables market with an open mind.

Take lots of change, a bag of bags and if you meet a really lovely dealer who sells you a bargain, buy him a cup of tea.

*Tip: Sellers are there to make money! Most of them earn their living as traders. Be fair but please don't pay the first price they say. 

Example: You see a large pine trunk with a broken lock. The ticket swinging in the breeze says £22 and, as you let the ticket fall and you stand up to look, the stall holder says, "It's yours for £18."

This is where I say to you, take off another 10% or 20% and propose your counter offer with, "Would £15 buy it?"

A friendly approach and a reasonable counter offer will secure your item 9 out of 10 times when haggling with a true dealer because the pine box scenario happened to me last week.

After I offered him £15, he did the inward whistle suck and laughed. I quickly followed my offer up with, "Oh... Go on! You know I'm lovely!" This made him smile and he couldn't say no and I went home with a very lovely, solid pine trunk for £15.

One-off day traders will spend 2 days pricing everything and they will be horrified at the thought of discounting their wares. Either walk away or pay the lady if she has something you want.

Most of all, have fun. 

Lella Loves... Flea Markets

Lella Loves... Flea Markets

Lella Loves... Flea Markets

Please message me if you were inspired to go to a car boot and you found something amazing. Comments can be left at any time. 

Best wishes and happy hunting.

Lella  xx

http://lellalovescreativity.blogspot.com