Not a handbag in sight, but more resin adventures

I did 'sort of' finish these at weekend, but only just got around to photographing. My latest progress report on the resin adventures, it has come to a bit of a standstill at the moment as I was awaiting some non-toxic resin to arrive. Also being the impatient person I am while I was waiting I went and purchased some clay and paints, have been working with that for a while, my first attempts are even more amusing than the resin, might photograph them another day to raise a smile or two, all a learning process but I am really enjoying some new challenges. Meanwhile I am still adding to my new Etsy shop, so dont forget that and joining in with my new team the Crafty Folk.



I made these for my friend Sylvia with her dog Zac on them. She is a pink person so they have been added to raspberry pink to suite her style. As you can see one of my first lessons is how to get the photograph to be a perfect round, I think I have found the right gadget for this for next time.





This one is for my friend Sian, with her Kelpie dog 'Tigger' as Sian is not really much of a jewellery person I made this one into a keyring for her. Again, I realise I need to work at these circles, but I think he sits quite well in here for a first attempt.






A range of necklaces here - spot the purple one, thats one of mine of course. The first dog is my Aunts rescue dog 'Sophie' the Staffie, the others are my own dogs, I am wearing Tess and Alfie on purple now, one of my favourites, yes I know the circles are far from perfect but I am happy to be wearing my dogs, and sure Auntie will like her Sophie.





I made some more teardrop pendants, and even added some necklace bails on some of them. This time I did suffer from an attack of the bubbles, which again need some work, and I also need some polish to shine them up a bit more.

I also learnt another valuable lesson about wearing gloves at all times with resin, even if you 'think' it might be dry enough to mess with it isnt! so lesson learnt to put gloves on again when taking box off the top to have a look, as if you drop one its then your instinct to pick it up, this is not a good idea without gloves. Oh and another one, to watch were you are mixing and take more care.

Hope everyone is having a peaceful evening, at least its not too cold yet, no heating on here yet.

~Bags of Swank by SimJaTa~

My turn for the A-Z of me

A few of my blog and craft friends have already done this, so must be my turn by now.


A - Age – 45

B - Bed size – Double, but I only get a third of it! OH takes up all the space.

C - Chores you hate – Shopping, I detest shopping.

D - Dogs – Well most of you know this one, I currently am owned by 3 of them Tess, Jaja and Alfie, 2 years ago we had 5 that was a bit much as they were all large dogs.

E - Essential start to your day – Shower, I discovered this when it broke this year, I really cannot survive the day without a shower.

F - Favourite colour – Was always purple, but for some reason I have an attraction to orange of late, so going for both.

G - Gold or silver – Niether, prefer pendants on leather.

H - Height – 5'3"

I - Instruments you play – Oh how I wish, would love to play the keyboard maybe one day, paper and comb anyone?

J - Job title – My company is SimJaTa, in order to create other things alongside bags I put down 'Crafts' so I suppose its crafter.

K - Kids – Grown up and left nest, girl age 20

L - Live – Southport, born in Southport - lived in Bradford for 7 years but moved back 16 years ago.

M - Mother's name – Doris

N - Nickname – My Dad calls me 'Looly', dog walkers call me 'Ruby'

O - Overnight hospital stays – Difficult pregnancy about 6 months of it in hospital.

P - Pet Peeves – Selfish, lack of consideration for others.

Q - Quote from a film – I am absolutely rubbish at remembering quotes.


R - Right or left handed - Right

S - Siblings – No

T - Time you wake up – 6.30am, have to get up then for OH work, dogs dont understand weekends either so 6.30am then too!

U - Underwear – In drawer, usually bought by family (they are not big on imagination)

V - Vegetable you hate – Swede

W - What makes you run late – Usually my elderly dog.

X - X-rays you've had – knee, shoulder, toe, knee (many on knee!)

Y - Yummy food you make – I just asked OH and he laughed! guess that means not.


Z - Zoo animal – All the cats, snow tiger the best. (seen in tenerife)



Not many pics of me as I usually take them, but here is one OH took on a visit to our friends with the sheep farm at Easter.

Dont get used to it, thats my bit done.

~Bags of Swank by SimJaTa~

Crafty Folk on Etsy

Since joining Etsy I have been lucky enough to have found the best team there, we have lots to do and spend our time as well as promoting ourselves - promoting each other. Our Team Leader 'Lillys night Garden' also was kind enough to start us up a daily list club, we are now on day 4 and enjoying viewing our new sparkly items and showing all on Facebook and Twitter, certainly keeps us out of mischief.


About time I showed off a few on here, so here are just a small selection of what is on offer from my superb team on Etsy.

Begin with our leader 'Lilly's Night Garden' and her latest dragonfly card



From 'Blue Daisy Glass' never too early for a Christmas Tree Decoration (you wont find these in high street shops)



'Gweddus Art' has this lovely ACEO of fantasy castles



Great to see 'Clover Jewels' join us, here are some hair pins from her, called Perfect Day



These gorgeous earrings from 'Lou Lous Luxuries' also have a matching bracelet in the Etsy shop



This would look great on your Christmas table, from 'Madmunknits' a Christmas Pudding tea cosy




'Mish73' has a super vintage finds shop going on, if you fancy a spot of knitting here is one of her patters




..and lastly from me here at Bags of Swank by SimJaTa, a new bag featuring a very cute Pug dog




Still an awful lot for me to learn on Etsy, hopefully this evening I will be joining in with the BNR? no, I dont know how that works yet but sounds fun, always good to learn new things keeps the grey matter in working order.
Speaking of which I have set another lot of resin to cure today, might even get brave enough to show you how that went next time.

~Bags of Swank by SimJaTa~

SimJaTa enters the world of Resin

Well, SimJaTa enters the world of Resin rather slowly. After a couple of weeks of research I ordered some kit, and waited for the nerve to begin.



Yes, they dont look too bad, but they were the better ones. My first attempt taught me an awful lot of lessons, but then I suppose that is the idea to learn by your first mistakes, but what a lot of them!

Now, I 'think' the biggest one was the weather, it was just sooooooooooo hot that the instructions I followed were not the same for tropical conditions, especially those we are certainly NOT used to here in the UK.

Are you ready for a laugh? here is what 'really' happened..





As you can see a catalogue of errors there. I did debate on whether or not to show you, but on my quest to learn I managed to pick up a new cyber buddy called Wendy who is also starting out in the world of resin, and probably so she can laugh her socks off at me she thought it was a good idea to show my beginnings, in the hope that as (IF) I get better the difference will show.

If I ever get good enough at this, I might make some brooches for sale in my Etsy shop but anything else will probably remain off line, as I do have an awful lot of potential customers already, everyone I have spoken to about this wants one - no pressure then! Just hoping if they are thinking Christmas gifts they might be happy to wait for Christmas 2012 as at this rate this year is looking pretty unlikely.

Still, I am told it is good for the mind to learn new skills - or is that more people I know who just like a good laugh? I am currently preparing for my next attempt, but thinking of waiting for the cooler weather this time (should be this week then!)

Meanwhile if you did want to purchase some fabulous resin jewellery - the best advice I can give you is to look here Shpangle jewellery thank you to Mick for his advice, and do try not to laugh too hard wont you?

~Bags of Swank by SimJaTa~

New Weekly Feature

Sorry, I seem to have been a bad blogger again. Dont know what happened really, I just got total block, couldnt think of a thing to waffle on about, how unlike me! Cant even blame being busy this week as since the shock of the totally unseasonal heat landed not been able to manage much at all, I did list a brand new patchwork bag in my new Etsy shop (see right) but not been able to settle to much else, even the new project has been on the back burner.
Never mind though, according to our ever reliable weather forcast (!) it will be the start of winter on Tuesday..

Today I am starting a new weekly feature from my Etsy team 'Crafty Folk' now Lillysnightgarden has explained in terms for a 3 year old so I can understand I might even get it right next time. The idea is we have one of us featured for the week and we each do a treasury with that person featured and choose a theme to add others too. So I thought I would add to that and do a weekly blog feature of the chosen one too.

This week its Mystics Realm
so I have chosen 3 of my favourite items from her shop, not an easy choice as I do like all her jewellery, so if anyone is watching that is looking for my Christmas pressie, here you go!

There are some lovely bracelets, I like this one



Necklaces, like this one



and even earrings, like these




So please do take a look at this great shop, and next week I will show you another one. I might even find something else to waffle on about before that, perhaps the start of winter!

Enjoy your weekend, those of you who like the warmth.

~Bags of Swank by SimJaTa~

Latest Custom Order

Fortunatly things are still ticking over nicely off line, here is my latest order a very special one as its for one of our group of dog walkers. His name is Trevor and he is owned by this lovely lurcher Woody, you can read more about Woody soon here
Alfies Blog
of course the bag is not for Trevor, wouldnt really suit him, but for his partner, I am hoping she likes it as its a surprise gift she will be receiving tomorrow.

Not much time for blogging at the moment, firstly I am to be learning a new craft which I have been busy researching you will be hearing more on that one. Lets hope its more successful that my hat making attempts (remember them?) but I will be sure to show you the failures as well as the hopeful successes, the idea is going down a storm with my contacts and I already have 2 firm orders and not even started yet.

Secondly I am spending far too much time on Etsy, not just transfering my shop there but also busy chatting in my teams, I am really enjoying the new friends I am making over there. I even managed to curate my first treasury this week, though it did take me about 3 days. Hope to try another over the weekend, I loved doing that too, must say I am finding Etsy a lot of fun so much to learn and just so vast, with so many lovely things to look at and make up for future shopping and gift ideas.

Thats all for now as Alfie wants me to go update his blog too while I am here. Hope everyone is warm enough, nights starting to draw in now and get a bit chiller.

~Bags of Swank by SimJaTa~

Supporting Handmade (2)

Morning all (well just about), I wont be about so much today come down with the most awful cold which is making my eyes stream away - not helpful for sewing or typing. So thought I would just get this blog written before I go lay down for a while see if that helps.

Whilst following Supporting handmade however its made
over the weekend I have noticed a few new shops joined in. This means more talented crafters affected by the changes at Folksy or made the decision to support the others who have, my own application has been submitted and I hope to join them soon. Plenty more upset over the weekend with affected crafters but alas no support from Folksy, or further words. Good job we all have each other and Supporting handmade however its made

Please do click on the pictures and go take a look at the wealth of talent below, the pictures will take you to their shops or websites. Soon be payday so you can make up a wishlist and bookmark the treats you fancy, or gifts for loved ones.

Starting with Pirate Treasures and this lovely Turquoise Pandora style bracelet



From "Handmade in Heaven" this is from her shop on Etsy as I couldnt manage to take the link from the website www.handmadeinheaven.co.uk a great idea for baby



From Made with Love Designs
one of her great cards, this shop does have cards for all occasions so worth stocking up on the ones you might need



From "Snow Queen Trinkets" one of my favourite pieces, this Indian Red Leaf Necklace




"Hearts and Crafts UK" has this lovely bird necklace, there is also matching earrings to be found in the shop



From "Chic Throws" anyone who has read my blog knows just how much I admire quilters, just look at this.. and there are other stunning quilted throws in her shop



"Kookie Candles" has lovely teacup candles in her shop, I love candles they also make great gifts, this one has the scent of orange




You will have seen "Lauras Jewellery" in my blog many times before, I do like this necklace, but dont forget there are lots of others in the shop




"Painted Ghost" has a website, I'm afraid I could not manage to take the link from, so here is her link

Painted ghost
Painted Ghost is a Nottingham, UK based store where you can buy individual, handmade items for babies, children and adults.
Home of the Bibbla dribble bib, Painted Ghost design and create handmade items for babies and children. We also create individual accessories for parents of little ones such as bags, changing bags and pouches.

Lastly just one insy wincy plug for me, my new Etsy shop hasnt had a purchase as yet - ok I know its only been here a week or so but I am going to loose promo time today with being sorry for myself, so here is my latest addition to Etsy



Please dont forget to keep supporting the lovely people above, purchases would be great but also perhaps the odd tweet, or facebook share would be good too.

Hope everyones start to the week is good and you are all staying healthy, vitimin C all round me thinks.

~Bags of Swank by SimJaTa~