New earrings...

I recently went on a very inspiring trip to Kraków, Poland.  Whilst there I fell in love with the work of artist Stanisław Wyspiański, particularly his incredible stained glass.

The colours are just amazing!

And then, for the first time in months and months, I felt inspiration creeping back, and the desire to try out some new jewellery ideas.

Apollo I

influenced by the colours in this wonderful glass:

I also experimented with some other Wyspiański-inspired colours:

Olea

and smaller pieces of embroidered and beaded felt:

Hydro

Berie

I like how these turned out - a little more delicate and feminine than my previous designs, and they all swing pleasingly from the ear when worn!

Now available in my Etsy shop :D

Etsy shop name change...

I have changed my Etsy shop name!  

It felt like putting my own, real, name to my work was the right thing to do.

The 'tastykaeru' address will still work, but from now on my official Etsy shop address is:

www.katetoft.etsy.com

:D

Happy New Year...

I'm not sure where my making will take me in 2012... .

One thing I have decided though is to change my Etsy shop name, so in preparation for this, and in celebration of the new year, I am having a sale in my Etsy shop throughout January: using coupon code HAPPYNEWYEAR2012 at the checkout will give 20% off all items.

Happy New Year!

Second chances...

On the 31st October I finally finished my second album of solo music.  I wrote, recorded and produced the whole project myself, and it took 2 years of (very) hard work and not a little frustration and struggle but also elation and fulfilment.

This album feels more like more of a risk than 'Human', my first CD, partly because I set myself the challenge of including more songs - which means lyrics and singing: both of which feel more personal somehow than instrumental pieces. The lyrics and music chart my journey through the last few years of my life, and the project is called 'Second chances'.

'Second chances '  is freely available to download or to stream online at my music website, here.

Inspiration...

Just back from a fantastic trip to Skye, Harris and Lewis, where the gold, copper and bronze of the Machair, the turquoise of the sea and the white of the beaches (and the big skies) were really inspiring...

Dramatic skies at Scarasta beach, Harris

Sunset at Neist point, Skye

Waves and a rainbow at Dail Mor, Lewis

KTPR002...

I'm nearly at the end of my period of almost-full-time working, and I'm really looking forward to having more time again for all sorts of makery and crafting.

One thing I have been managing to carry on with during it all has been my current music project (KTPR002).  

The teaser webpage is now live!

Zwierzyna...

My friend Kasia and I just opened up an Etsy shop!

We bring you... 'Zwierzyna' - where we will sell jewellery and perhaps pieces of artwork that we have collaborated on together, made from Kasia's illustrations and my fibre-y embellishments.

The first items to go into the shop are three brooches that we made a little while ago, featuring...

a dapper gentleman cat:

a proud fish-catcher:

and a playful fattycat:

we're looking forward to developing more brooches and other ideas!