Artists Spotlight - Mel Harding of Inkydoodlecrafts

The last time I blogged about Mel, way back in May last year, I left you with the prediction that one day I'd be able to say that I knew her before she was famous. It's very nice to be able to smugly say...and here she is in print. Mel was discovered on Etsy recently by a journalist from Cardmaking and Papercraft Magazine and invited to be interviewed for a special feature!

Mel's beautiful blog is full of vibrant colour and photographs of her handmade cards and competition winning designs and she is also a member of the Jellypark design team so you can see her scrumptious designs regularly featured in the Jellypark e-zine.

This Dino card makes me smile every time I see it, so beautifully detailed and lovingly put together. I'd love to be in that little boys shoes :-D Rawrrrr

This cheeky little girl sums up just why Mel's cards are so very special. The main ingredient of Mel's Designs are beautifully and skillfully hand coloured toppers. Add to that hand stitched detail, mixed media embellishments and layers of texture with a side order of delicate punched detail and a real flair for choosing great colour combinations! Can you tell I am a fan?

I particularly love this card, a special hand coloured fairy commissioned by my lovely OH for his Mum for Mothers Day just gone. She's beautiful! Click the pic to go see Mels' blog post on how she was made.

And you can find toppers and more at Inkydoodlecrafts on Ebay

Jolene x

Artists Spotlight - Kayleigh Sexton

Today I'm blogging about Kayleigh Sexton, polymer clay artist and jewellery designer. Check out this journal, I absolutely adore it! This is Kayleigh's make for the New Year Journal Challenge on Craft Pimp Forum. It looks so tactile and softly shimmery that I kind of want to reach into the picture and touch it. Brilliant!

Kayleigh has just recently opened an online store called Polymer Clay Bits and Bobs where you can find a wide range of jewellery, cute and cool sculptural critters, custom options for cane slice covered photo frames and more!

To the right is a one of a kind beautifully detailed pendant, this one is made with my favourite colours, just my cup of tea! Click the image to visit Kayleigh's Flickr Photostream for a closer look.

If I had to describe Kayleigh's style in just three words they would be: vibrant, fun, tactile. I'm going to finish up with a diverse selection of Kayleigh's Craftyness to make you all smile.

You can see more online from Kayleigh on her blog Dizzy Kitten's Arty Farty Stuff and Kayleigh's Craftyness on Facebook.

Jolene x

Mini Mo' Febuary 2012 - Springtime and 'Shrooms

I'm celebrating the first signs of spring with my Springtime collection of glasswork for February and have used shades and tones that put me in mind of crocus petals and early spring flowers. This colourway uses Effetre Purple 272, Special Dark Lemon 412 and Periwinkle 220 with CiM Hades and Effetre 006 clear.

These zingy lime beads show the little yellow Flower murrini and twists of Dark Lellow ribbon twistie under encasement.

These are one of my most favourite kind of beads to make, clear core, ribbon twistie, encased. So pretty and effective.

Cloudbusting shards over CiM Dirty Martini and Reichenbach Antique Green 1012G

My second colourway for February is called 'Shrooms and uses rich colours in woodland tones. I've used CiM Sherwood, CiM Hades Effetre Crimson 432 and Effetre Dark Ivory 276.

A core of 432 with Woodland murrini and encased with Effetre 006. These beads show the murrini both under encasement and as surface embellishment.

'Shroom murrini over a core of Effetre grass green with twistie dots and swipes then encased.

This last little Mini Mo' beads that i have to show you are Red Riverrock shards over CiM Journey and CiM Sangre.

Jolene x

Frit N Chips lampwork supplies and Kitzbitz Art Beads

Artists Spotlight - Laney Mead

Laney Mead is a class act and you can get an up close view of her literally wickedly sharp sense of humour right here on Etsy.


Laney's blog, Life with Izzybeads is a lovely place to visit. You'll quickly come to see that alongside her talent with glass Laney is also a natural wordsmith and story teller. I recommend that you settle yourself down with a nice cup of tea and let her cheer you right up with one of her warm and gently humerus anecdotal tales about life as a creative, an animal lover and Mother to teenagers!


Alongside her chorus of cute critters Laney also makes stunning sculptural floral beads and has recently had several images published in the Soda Lime Times, a fabulously cool monthly e-magazine for Lampworkers.

Laney exhibits regularly at well known craft events all over the country and will be right there in the thick of it at the Towcester Flame Off in April this year. She also keeps a well stocked shop on Ebay.

Jolene x