Bonjour, la Salutation, Comment allez-vous ? Salut!
Hallo, Grüße, Wie geht es Ihnen?
Hola, Saludos, ¿Cómo está usted?
God Dag! Hilsener! Hvordan har De det?!
Here’s the blog that never quite started…. so sorry about that!
I really did have the best of the best intentions!
So…
Craftybeans was created last year when I found myself (a crafty-being) minus a job and the inclination to go out and find one – (how do find something when you don’t know what you want?)
So I started messing about with my Fimo and Sculpey to fill the days – there really is only so much daytime TV I can watch it seemed…when lo and behold a dream was born.
This dream is misshapen and adaptable much like me… eh…I love making stuff. I made a lot for our wedding – out of necessity but thoroughly enjoyed it and liked the end product due to the fact things slightly less of field are my thing!
The blog did not start then as well I was making stuff and had all the time in the world – no money to enjoy it. It’s tough to write when all ones thinking about is about how many great things one could make if only one had more monies. Ugh money. I couldn’t take orders as well, I needed supplies! I really was saving others by not releasing my stream of consciousness’ at that time
Well the “man” after 8 months got to me and I had to go and get a job… hence the gap from August ‘til now.
I have found my feet in the job now and am ready to jump back into my creations.
I got the job to help fund my baby. I want to make original or not so original hand made keepsakes/pieces which can be totally personalised, dated and kept forever.
Green-ness. For the inner eco-warrior
What I am working with is not a “green” product. But my packaging and all other elements endeavor to be. Anyway it’s a keepsake. It could be dug up in 1000s of years to come 
Current projects:
I always assess if I am the correct person for the job at hand. My good friend wants some nursery rhyme charcters for her crèche. This is a great project as not only am I concerned with asthetics as per any artist I have to make it durable and think like a 4yr old – which frankly, I always enjoy!
I have a sizable order list at the moment and so am working these back orders 1st.
Well, that’s my absence and not quite appearance explained.
Now, for the blog…
Jan 09
January to me equals: Cold, miserable, post Christmas, non tinsel covered items everywhere. Lack of twinkley lights. Dark. Hibernate. Great time for making things if one can find the inspiration
Let’s kick it off with a bang! It has come to my attention that I am possibly the only person who loves creating and crafting and accounting… but hey! its all part of my charm! What can I tell ya? I turn 27 on the 29th (not too far now) which is good; I’m seeing my late twenties as a good thing. I have more drive to do what I want and am more stable on my feet to go do it.
As I mentioned I have a sizable order list, which I was starting to tackle until I grated the tip of a finger off – struck down in my prime. Finger is healing a treat and I should be back on the Fimo horse this evening!
Now February 2009 things I am about:
Knitting… the new hobby for the crafty-girl
I started knitting in Dec – I was taking a break from Fimo-ing and knitting can be done while watching mindless soaps/Masterchef! Woo!
I have so far got a giant hat, which can double as a tea cozy. I see this as a design plus. Oh yes.
A scarf and at the moment I am working on my 2nd hat – this one for my husband is sizably less colourful but is showing of my now expert stockinet stitch a treat! I love Colinette wool (http://www.colinette.co.uk/) it is pricy but betwixt the colours, quality and easy of working with it, its just splendid (I love this word – it saddens me it is not used more!)
BobbleArt.
Last January, around this exact time I went to a craft shop with my mother. Where for reasons I was unsure of, I purchased a canvas and a bag of coloured paper balls.
I then proceeded to sit and glue these to the canvas. Now I could state that I see it as a commentary of race and differences. Some oddly shaped some different colours but when it all comes down to it all paper balls. But In actual fact I did it because it was relaxing and kept doing it because it looks purdy. I have made 5 of these bad boys now. I think they are great! I highly recommend giving it a go or commissioning me to do one!
Wedding cake toppers:
Cake toppers, this is how all this began. Well cake toppers, a dragonosaur and a duck to be precise but more on that another time. For my own wedding, we didn’t really have a theme – Christmas as I am a Zmas enthusiast, second only to Buddy the Elf.
We had South Park styled versions of ourselves on the stationary. I wanted these on the cake instead of those boring old wedding clothed toppers.
The thing about those is, that you are in your wedding attire for 1 (2 in my case) days. I wanted the characters atop our cake to look like the cartoon versions of us – wearing clothes we wear.
So that was my aim, and I think that’s what I achieved. They are a bit different and certainly not for the bride who has been planning her wedding since she was four or someone who is conventional.
They are however a bit of fun. Which I think weddings should be all about.
At the moment I am making some toppers for a nurse and her Cork man. I don’t really do refined or overly delicate features. Friendly and cartoonish.
If that is what you like look me up
Other cake toppers:
Last summer I was asked could I make a Homer Simpson?
He is not on my site as well frankly copyright laws scare me and to sit and read them all to see if putting him up is an infringement I challenge you to pay full attention!
He was requested by a friends’ friend for her son.
He loves Homer, but all Homer merchandise is aimed at dads or has a beer theme. This is not something she wanted to impart to him at nine which is fair enough!
So for his 9th birthday I made a standing Homer at about 4 inches holding a glazed donut with the child’s name “iced” on to it.
He was a roaring success with the kid, which I was relieved about as you they say kids are the toughest critics. He has pride of place still to this day!
Keepsakes & Original Characters
I have a section up called beans beasties. As well apart from copyright law scaring me, its terribly gratifying to imagine, draw and create something from ones own mind. I am a serial craft blog reader, particularly www.craftzine.com. Seeing what people can do and do with their free time from this site really inspires me.
My original characters are all my own and their stories are all my own. If you request a character I will write them a story too. All characters are adaptable in colour and style. If given all the info I will create a new and unique one too! I can also create figures from photos. Like Ted and Alfie as are on the site!
What I am loving, and not so much this month!
February 2009
Piping hot:
Snuggly jumpers
Furry socks
Hot-water bottles
Lo-cal hot choc
Guitar hero
My name is Earl
Raisins
Wintery smell
Having my Zmas décor still up!
Seasick Steve – listen!!!!
Masterchef
ANTM – sitting in judgment of others – sweeet!
Buying cds
Nick & Norah’s infinite play list
Meeting old friends for an aul pint-eroo!
Audio books – the new reading!
Knitting.
Oh… that’s just cold tea…
The news. Doom, gloom with some more doom thrown in.
The necessity to watch the news.
Not being as good at Guitar hero as I had thought…
Lily Allen (ssssh now)
Bebo
Overcharging!
o One can purchase things such as ugg boots and wot not online for up to €80 cheaper, and that’s delivered to your door than buying in the shops. Then it’s OUR fault if they aren’t doing business.
o Well charge fairly then!
Consumer driven-ness. Buying the next thing wont make you as happy as if you made it!
Brands. Ick.
Lies.
Colds, flues.
Fake tan.
Charlie Bookers Screen wipe – dude, what happened?
Burnt Toast. Ugh
Low fat spreads, why don’t they melt? What the hell are they made of!??
Well there’s my February 2009/ 1st introductory blog! So go listen/ get some sea sick Steve, he will warm your heart, well if you like blues… And make stuff! Find an old pair of pj’s and make a draft excluder!
Making stuff is the very essence of Cool, Green and thrifty.
Very du jour as people who say “du jour” say!