Frustration, Fish and Cake

One of the four parcels I'm waiting for arrived this morning... but not one of the two that I really, really needed to come today!

Spent the morning researching goldfish with my daughter (12) who has decided she'd like some. We bought a book so she can read all about it before committing her money. Think it's going to cost her about £40 to get it all set up so she needs to be sure!

This afternoon I made my entry for the current challenge on the UKbeaders forum. We had to make a piece inspired by cakes! Here's mine - inspired by chocolate biscuit cake:

The mottled brown beads are Mica Quartz, the brown lantern shaped ones are Smoky Quartz, the cream ones are shell and in between is Sterling Silver.

It will be for sale on the website by the end of the week.

Postal Strikes, Christmas and Lake side strolls

Waited and waited yesterday morning for the postie to bring any of four packages I'm expecting... only to find it was a postal strike day... Grrrrrrrrrrrrr! I'm sure the posties have genuine reasons for taking strike action, but it's very frustrating when part of your business depends on the Royal Mail.... which I suppose is the very point they're making!

So much of my raw materials are bought through the internet I have a constant stream of packages arriving by post... which means most mornings here are like Christmas. Opening a packet of beads is SO exciting! My mind buzzes with ideas of what to make with impulse purchases and the things I've bought for specific projects arriving means I can get on and start something that's been in the design stage and I'm itching to make. I'm sure any other beaders out there will know exactly what I mean...

I saw my friend last night and showed her the blue pearl necklace (see below) which she commissioned for her mum. She was really pleased with it.

This afternoon we took advantage of the sunshine and went for a walk around Chew Valley Lake. Then we just HAD to go and have a reviving cuppa and a piece of rhubarb crumble! Bought a recipe book crammed with fantastic cakes (put on half a stone just looking at the pictures) which I'm going to have a go at when I've got my new cooker. The old one (inherited with the house) is just useless and I think the whole family is dying to try cooking with something more reliable. We'll be fighting over oven space. Won't do my weight watching much good though!

Ooops! Here's the aqua rondelles... really!

Friends arrived at that point last night! They were breaking their journey to Devon for their holidays. It was great to see them and we had a lovely time - eating, drinking and putting the world to rights until the early hours.


So this is the bracelet bought by the customer - and she asked me to make a necklace and earrings to go with it... but without the hematite. I like to give my customers some choice, so I've made two necklaces and earrings:





Which one will she choose?

And this one which is a commission from a lovely friend for a present for her mum to wear to a wedding. It's Sterling silver and navy freshwater pearls.

Hammering, banging and aqua rondelles...

Electricians here today... Hammering and banging started at 8:30... I bet our neighbours are glad they're going on holiday tomorrow (although I don't envy them a week in a tent with three small children - probably in the pouring rain!).

Escaped at lunchtime to the pub - and we sat in the garden for about the first time this year!

And I've made some jewellery! A customer bought this bracelet:

Hands, Knees and...

I'm plagued with injuries at the moment. Last week I sliced open my finger while cutting carrots and this week I'm hobbling on a gammy knee. I had it X-rayed on Tuesday and today went to my chiropractor to see what he could make of it... Turns out I have a 'joint mouse' - a bit of stuff floating about in my knee. So, I'm now at the mercy of the NHS awaiting an appointment... Tune in later to see how long it takes!

Anyway, I actually got round to some jewellery today. Some designing as I'm waiting for some beads which will hopefully be here tomorrow. Some making too - converted a spectacle chain into a necklace for a customer and made a couple of pairs of commissioned earrings.

Hope to make up some of my designs tomorrow - so there should be pics!

The start of something new!

Here we are then... a blog! Being a first posting it's difficult to know what to write, but here goes.
Today the children (15 and 12) broke up from school - so jewellery making time will be a bit limited from now until September. However, three (yes, 3!) parcels of beads arrived this morning, so I am itching to get on and make something. BUT today was a day for catching up on paperwork - accounts and such like - which is probably why I've been side-tracked into setting up a blog instead!

Also, we are in the middle of having major work done on the house, so everything is even more chaotic than usual. It should all be finished by mid-August... but you know what builders are like! Watch this space for updates on the eventual finish date.

So, that's what's happened today. I do hope you'll pop back and visit again. I'll be posting up photographs of new items, talking about my jewellery and giving you various snippets of background stuff.