Sing Choirs of Angels!

Angels... harrysdesk decoration 2011

As in past years I have used my favourite medium , men’s neckties, to make a decoration for the coming Christmas season.

This year was no exception.

I love how often the angelic crowd are mentioned in the biblical Christmas story, and so they have become, for our family one of the big symbols we associate with Christmas.

Every year we give the girls an angel each to hang on the tree, or sit on the mantle piece. It’s a reminder to them that God is much bigger than they can imagine, that there are things in this life they don’t yet understand and that we are all called to be messengers of the good news…… just like the angels were on the first Christmas.

Siver and Sky Blue..... no two the same.

My great friend Cathy McKay has written the poem this year, and I am so thankful to her for that.

Each angel comes with a printed poem for you to hang or use in your advent activities.

All for $12

....made from reclaimed neckties, buttons and ribbon.

Time weary waiting

On the long silent God to speak

Angel voices split cold, black silence

Saturating the void with glory

.

The dust-bound tremble, breaking under glory’s weight.

.

Fear flees with a word

God has left the glory of the highest

Slipping to the cold, dark earth

In the cold, black silence

Speaking, being, bringing peace.

.

Previously I have made stars and trees.

The angels, stars and trees can now be purchased via

• my etsy store,
• Recycled Market.
• …..or contact me directly.

harrysdesk now available at the Recycled Market

 

harrysdesk is now available through a new Australian born marketplace Recycled Market.

The Recycled Market is a brand new site springing up from Melbourne by the lovely Erica Louise and a friend.

And, yes, you have heard that name before…. Erica was one of my owl tutorial testers last year!

You can receive updates via facebook here.

Some very clever ideas here for Christmas.

 

Another Penhall!

Silvery grey Penhall..... with floral lining.

I’ve just posted this new one on etsy

It’s the second promised bag made using the colours inspired by you. You can see the green and blue version here.

I’m loving it, and was glad of the opportunity to put a silver grey bag together….as I have been wanting to use this colour combo for a while.

So thanks…..

The repositional rosette....

....and the back.

...the oval base with pleats...

The bag is also completely reversible. The other side is lined with a liberty-esque floral in blue green and grey tones with a touch of pink….so it’s a bit girlie.

...a peek at the inside....

The winning bag

The anniversary bag.

The drawing

The first of the anniversay bags is done…. and delivered.

Although the 5 years old says it looks like an upside down pair of undies, I have resisted the urge to name them knickers, undies or y-fronts…. or to enter into any conversation with her about who these ‘undies’ would fit…. even though she would love to.

The Penhall bag in small and medium. I added a button clasp which pulls the sides in a little.

No. The new bag will be called the ‘Penhall’.

Customarily I name new bags by the surname of the first person to own that style. Because …. as I mentioned earlier, Heidi already has a bag named after her….the “Broadbent’ (her married name) so this time I have used her maiden name.

So …introducing the “Penhall” with absolutely no reference to undies!….I think it’s best.

Now I better get cracking on the etsy ones…..

Did you win the anniversary bag?

Is your name Heidi?

Heidi is the winner of the anniversary bag!

The random generator must know something…. Heidi was the first person ever to buy a harrysdesk bag. So I guess it’s kind of fitting that she win the 2 year anniversary bag. She already has a bag named after her…so not sure what we will do about that one.

She wanted a green bag to go with her winter coat, so I had better get busy.

Thanks everyone who entered.

I love giving things away that I make… so I decided to award 3 more people (chosen randomly) to send a little something to. An owl brooch will arrive in the post for you soon.

They are Lauren, Sonyabossypants, and Claire.

And three more little treats, because it’s my 500th post.

SO congratulations… (randomly generated again from the last 5oo comments)

Ingrid, Cathy and Kate Marquez will all receive my latest creation. The fox brooch!

If anyone else would like a little fox for their cardi or coat….just contact me. It will take a little bit of time to get them listed in the etsy shop…. but there is really no need to wait.

 

Commission for Chrissie

Deep red with a touch of navy and silver...... a Wheaton.

Notice the vintage vintage car buttons.

Recessed zipper.

Inside zip pocket.

Adjustable leather strap.

Big book pocket.

Blogoversary give -away

Wow… it’s been 2 years today since I started blogging!

I’m pretty stocked that I have kept it up and that you guys have kept coming back for more.

Thanks!

Last year I had a harrysdesk bag to give away, so I spent a long time wondering how I could celebrate this year.

So…… here’s what I have decided.

This year I have designed a new bag shape…. and it will be the prize.

That’s right, it isn’t made yet….. but it looks something like the sketch.

You all get to choose the colours.

I will make three…. in the most favoured colours.

One will be given away randomly to one of you, and I will list the other two on etsy for sale. A 10% discount for every entry you make will come off your purchase …. should you choose to buy one of these.

To enter leave a comment below telling me what your colour choice is….

…if you want more entries, you can…. blog it, facebook it, tweet it….. or some other creative form of getting the harrysdesk name out there.

Just leave a comment and tell me what you did and I will enter you as many times as you promote what I do.

I probably don’t need to say this…. but I love creativity… so if you think of an exceptionally creative way to tell others about what I do …. extra entries will come to you.

The bag will also be named after the winner.

The competition ends May 30th.

Mother’s Day gift from harrysdesk

Answering a few questions that might be floating around in your head…

• Yes, your mother would prefer something from harrysdesk over an appliance!
• Yes, I can post it straight to her.
• Yes, because you read my blog you can have a special deal*
• No, you don’t have to be a mother to celebrate and get presents on mothers day
• Yes, it is totally ok to buy, wrap and open your own present without consulting with anyone else (especially those who may buy you something you don’t really want!)
• Your welcome!

* Type mummylove into the discount code box when you purchase items from etsy in the next week and receive 30% off your total purchase. To help it arrive before mothers day…. do it soon. Love you guys.

Commission Complete: A bag for Alison

Alison's black Wheaton.

This was a fun one to make, and a great way to start the new year.

Alison’s husband commissioned it to give as a wedding anniversary gift. Nice one!

The strap is adjustable and made from a belt.

It’s made from a mixture of vintage and modern ties, in black, navy and white.

Detailing with brass shank buttons and rings.

Cathy do you recognise these buttons?

Yes, they came from a bundle of buttons she salvaged from one of her local op shops.

They are gorgeous and almost look like studs.

Just right for this bag.

Inside…..

….and Lyndal might recognise this lining fabric…

Over the Christmas break I was given a suitcase full of fabric treasures from Lyndal.

The suitcase had a code lock, that I couldn’t break…. so after trying for a number of days…. I took to it with a hammer!

I am glad I did, because the treasures inside were worth it. Including this black, grey and bronze ticking.

… again, just perfect for the lining of this one….

 

Some new owls….

New owls for palace Panrty…