We Have An Etsy Shop

Yes you read that right. We now have an Etsy shop and here it is:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ArayhasBoutique

We currently have two items available to purchase, with more to be added this weekend. So keep checking back to see all the lovely new things.

We have:

Pearl Rain headband, click HERE

And 

Cosy beaded beanie, click HERE

Thanks for taking a look, keep checking back for more items and have a great weekend.

xx

Pearl Rain And A Little Vintage

Lots of news:

• New range - first item    
• Our new vintage section 
• Stall news                        
• New competitions           

                     

In our last post we talked about some of the inspirations for our new collections. The first item from our 'Spring Showers' range is now available to purchase. It is a beautiful electric blue elastic headband with a white cloud featuring pearl 'rain' beads.

Pearl Rain

Available to purchase now from our Etsy shop.

Click here to purchase.

♥

Next, we have added a new vintage album to our Facebook page. Here we will feature real vintage finds that will be available to purchase. Our first addition was a pair of mismatched vintage decorative cufflinks. If you really like any of the vintage pieces and we haven't already priced them, then you can make us an offer.

Front

Back

Aren't they a gem of a find!

♥

We have also located a rather special artisan market in Manchester and we're trying to get ourselves a stall there. We will post more information about the market after we've had a visit and taken lots of lovely pictures. Keep checking back for updates about our stalls at this and other craft fairs.

♥

Lastly, we've decided to hold monthly 'Win It' competitions on our Facebook page where you can win an original Arayha's Boutique item every month by doing things such as sharing our posts. Each month's competition will be a little different. Don't forget to like our page and add us to your interests so you never miss a chance to win a prize.

 ♥ We're also having a giveaway when we reach 200 page likes ♥

xx

Upcoming Ranges: S/S 2013

 Shhhh... 

Here's a secret sneak peek into the inspiration for our upcoming S/S 2013 ranges at Arayha's Boutique...

SPRING

Spring in England is traditionally rainy (as is most of the year) and we have many 'Spring Showers', not to mention early morning dew caught on spider webs. Beautiful.

(Image: Pinterest)

(Image: Pinterest)

(Image: Pinterest)

It's inspiring some rather sparkly pieces here. I can't wait to get my hands on some 'rain' and make these gorgeous items to show you.

What's your favourite thing about spring weather, or spring in general?

♥

SUMMER

Does anyone else have a bad case of wanderlust?

♥ Daydreaming of sunshine, travels, camping under the stars and beachy shores ♥

(Image: Pinterest)

(Image: Pinterest)

(Image: Pinterest)

That settles it, we're designing a 'wanderlust' summer range full of items that make you want to travel, remind you of traveling, look beautiful and inspire beautiful daydreams!

 ♥

If you're not already yearning to travel or dancing in the rain, you will be when you see our new ranges. 

2013 will be a year of inspiration.  

xx 

My Attempt At Bokeh

I read that this was easy to do and I suppose it is but you really do need a manual focusing lens. I only had an automatic and it was very hard for me to achieve the bokeh effect. 

 Here is a great example of what the bokeh effect should look like, seen here in a heart shape:

(Image: The Photo Guide)

The site where the above image is from also has a great tutorial detailing how to achieve this effect 

CLICK HERE

Here are my results:

Cosy

This was my best result

A circle of  'hearts'

Closer to birds than hearts

I tried to create a heart shape but you can create all sorts of shapes including stars, circles, squares, musical notes... I even saw one with the apple logo.

I think I will be getting a proper lens for my camera so next time it will be easier and I can go bokeh crazy whenever I'm near fairy lights!

Have you ever tired bokeh? If not, why not give it a go and create some stunning photographs.

xx

New Products On Their Way

A new year, a new start and a whole lot of new products for you from Arayha's Boutique.

We have reviews on their way, beautiful accessories, clothing and the Lushie Plushies will be back!

A purple theme seems to be developing and some gorgeous summer worthy pieces are being created. So what if it's still chilly outside and warm sunny days seem far away, keep an eye on our Facebook page for some pieces that will bring a little bit of sunshine into your world and a big smile to your face.

Have a wonderful day daydreaming of the summer warmth and strolls on the beach.

xx

Check out our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ArayhasBoutique

Where I've Been, Christmas Festivities And Arts & Candies

 

I've been mainly at work, shopping and celebrating Christmas with my family. It's been a bit of a hectic one this year, no wonder I feel exhausted now.

For starters, I've been attending my Teaching Assistant course whilst doing my placement in a school all in the middle of their Christmas plays and shows, their classroom redecoration and festive arts and crafts. So much glitter was used I actually left a trail of it in the carpets when I walked around to do other jobs like photocopying (sorry mr caretaker man!). Then at my course we had a last-lesson-before-Christmas party where everyone had to bring food (I took chocolate dipped strawberries, the Iceland Italian platter and garlic and pepper chicken bites, they all went down well), I handed out a Christmas card to everyone which I don't normally do as I usually don't have anyone to give them to and I also won the 'Star of the week' medal which I have to try not to lose for two weeks now. So far so good...

Then onto work. I absolutely love fancy dress and any excuse to dress up I will take and run with it. We had a whole week to dress up if we wanted. I was going to stick with the one outfit but I got a little carried away... I had planned to just be a Christmas tinsel fairy all week but instead the week (and a bit) went a little like this outfit wise (and I say outfit, not costume because the clothes I made my costumes up from were actually my real clothes and not fancy dress... is it bad my normal clothes are already 'costumes' ?!):

Tuesday: An Elf (black skinny jeans, two layered green tops, a red 'skirt' ruched at one side, red ballet flats with red bows, an elf hat complete with faux ears and red rosy cheeks)

Wednesday: Tinsel Fairy (winter themed headband from my bridesmaid outfit, white slip on shoes I added glitter to, white leggings, a white tutu, wings, silver and white tinsel wrapped around my waist like a belt and an outrageous silver 'mirror ball' sequined dress)

Thursday: An Angel (gold tinsel wrapped around my head like a halo, wings, a skin / gold sequined long vest top, white leggings and rather a lot of gorgeous chiffon fabric wrapped and draped around my body to look a little 'Greek Angel')

Saturday: A Snowman (white cord jeans, grey 'Ugg' style boots with a silver star-burst pattern on the back, a white vest top with a cream jumper over it, a navy hat and a cute peach and silver scarf - I also cut out three navy 'coal' shapes and pinned them down my jumper)

Monday / Christmas Eve: Mrs Claus (red long sleeved top, white leggings, Text Santa hat, same tutu as before but with the Elf red 'skirt' layered over it, a black belt and my knee high black leather boots)

I really wish someone had taken proper pictures of my outfits so I could show you. I only have these of my fairy outfit:

Head piece

Glitter shoes

Tinsel fairy outfit

 

Everyone seemed to like my outfit changes and they made quite a few customers laugh so that's good. One customer even commented about how they remembered seeing me dressed as an elf earlier in the week and had come back in to see what I was wearing that day (it was the snowman). It's nice they remembered me.

Then of course we had Christmas, which I don't want to comment on too much as it didn't go really smoothly on the big day and quite a few arguments were had, as well as being sick. But the good things I can tell you are that after the meal we all had a good evening playing games and watching tv (Doctor Who and then a few films). We even had a few drinks which we normally don't do. 

I haven't really taken any Christmas pictures but I do have a couple of pictures showing some of the presents I received and of my cat Tim. I may take more pictures and add them. I know I have a turkey one on my phone somewhere.

Anyway, here are the few I have:

Lady Gaga perfume set

We handmade our own labels (Yes, the pom pom pile is also a label)

Pet present labels - silver paws with red glitter hearts

Tim checking out the presents

The turkey

Mmmm gingerbread!

Part of my Christmas present exchange with Miss Candy (of Arts & Candies) were these gorgeous gingerbread lady earrings that she sent me along with a Lush Bathos, Yankee Candle melts & candle and amazing fruity and herbal teas! (More images to come). I sent her a box full of cupcake goodness. I love these earrings, I wore them on Christmas eve with my Mrs Claus outfit to work, on Christmas day and Boxing day. I had lots of great comments about them and some people even said they wanted to eat them!

Another amazing gift I want to show you was given to me by my boyfriend (@61Neal on Twitter). It's something I had been wanting for a very long time and that I have been struggling to save up for.

He got me this:

Wow!

I'm SO happy with this, I still can't believe he just bought me a sewing machine! I've been so excited about getting one so I can make more things for Arayha's Boutique and now I finally can. So expect some great things being put up for sale in the New Year.

Well, as soon as I get the hang of using it...

First stitches. I was so scared I would break the machine

Going well and testing a few stitch options out

My sample, it's a bit rubbish but I will get better!

I don't really know how to end this post as I've rambled on quite a bit but I hope you've all had a great Christmas. What did you do? Did you get any surprises or have anything funny happen?

Festive hugs from and excited sewing elf

xx

Today It's All About Textures!

For some reason today I just started taking photos on my phone of textures that caught my eye as we went out to buy pet presents (yes our household does that - no outfits though).

Here are a few things that caught my attention:

1). Crisp frosty leaves on the ground (it's a bit blurry as I took it through the car window just before we set off). I've noticed leaves a lot over the past few days. It's strange just how fast the year has gone. I want to get a close up shot of a really frosty one.

2). Not snow but the remains of the frost we scraped off the window. Isn't it pretty. Such a delicate texture.

3). The lock on my bag along with some piping. I love the texture. It's cold to the touch but somehow looks warm and soft.

4). The contrast of different parts of my bag. The lining is rough but pretty, the zip is cold and sharp and the outside is soft and smooth.

5). The fur trim on my hood. It was dancing in the blasts of hot air from the heater in the car, it reminded me of frosty cold sea anemones (I still can't pronounce that word properly, it's a tongue twister).

We went to Pets At Home (a pet supply store) and bought Tim our cat a new bed, a catnip gingerbread man chew toy and catnip bubbles. We bought my sister and her boyfriend's dogs some chewy treats and then we popped into Asda Living (Asda supermarket minus all the food haha) and bought two giant rawhide bones for their dogs and also a sparkly Christmas deer for our room.

I cooked a roast for our tea and while that was in the oven I created a little Christmas corner in my bedroom with the sparkly deer and my mini white Christmas tree covered in candy coloured decorations.

I can't wait to decorate everywhere and make it all really festive, I love Christmas.

Wrapping paper at the ready!

xx


PS.-    I also took a picture of this Ice Dome yesterday, which has encased some moss... how amazing!