What I did during the FA Cup Final!

I don't like to just sit and watch the TV and be idle, so here's what I made during Saturday's FA Cup Final. As Portsmouth won, I'm calling it Pompey Pink! It's a double shaggy loop (four bead bearing rings, per base ring) with pink magatama beads. I love what it's done to Pinky (you've seen his brother Perky in other pictures!) - he looks like he's wearing a wig - or turning into a King Charles Spaniel. LOL!
The next one I've made with antique copper rings and Chartreuse magatamas - single shaggy loops this time - and I rather like the combination.

This next bracelet features nuggets and button beads in Moonstone. The tubes in between are Thai Hill Tribe Silver.
And here's Pinky again! This time with a set made with shell nuggets and button beads teamed with freshwater pearls and Sterling Silver. I really like the earrings on this set - I might have to make some for myself.
And lastly in this bunch, a set made with dyed turquoise nuggets in four different colours with Sterling Silver tubes. I really like these oversized kidney earwires - I think they make a very striking pair of earrings.
Tom is still feeling OK about the GCSEs he's done so far. It was English Lit and ICT today. Do you know they're allowed to take the books into Eng Lit these days? No learning pages of quotes like when I was at school, back in the dark ages!

Thought I'd update you about WW too. I've been on a roll since we got back from holiday and I've lost 6.5 lbs. I'm really proud of myself. I'm trying to lose a stone by my birthday, but with less than four weeks to go, I'm not sure I'll make it... but I'll give it a damn good try. Watch this space!!

It's less than three weeks until our first big show - Bowood House Dog Show and Country Fair, so Sarah and I are madly trying to get our stock levels as high as possible. We're excited... and terrified... in equal measure!

Talking of terrified... the Weston College prospectus comes out tomorrow... with my photo in it. Eeeeeeeeeeeeek! I'll let you know what I think.

Black and White...

Blimey, Thursday again already! Why do some weeks go by in a flash and yet others seem to be a month long? Answers on a postcard...

Last Saturday was Chepstow Gem and Bead Fair. I dragged the family over there as it was 'on the way' to my mum's. It was actually a 20 mile detour, but, bless them, they didn't complain - and I didn't make them come round looking at beads, they went off for a walk.

The Fair was great and I managed to say hello to chums from the UK Beaders forum:
Su from Tillerman Beads (http://www.tillermanbeads.co.uk/)
Bea from Just Beads (http://www.justbeads.co.uk/)
and Graham from CJ Beadworks (http://www.cjbeadworks.co.uk/).
I bought lots of lovely things, especially from Eleanor at Twinklepieces (http://www.twinklepieces.com/) and some fab David Christensen glass.

Talking of which , here's the first item made with beads from my haul. It features a David Christensen large focal piece. I've married it with black onyx, both polished and matt, and Swarovski crystals. This was one of those - rare - occasions when I knew exactly how I was going to make the necklace as soon as I saw the focal.


This one will be added to the website today.

Also added to the website today, will be a selection of earrings - also made with David Christensen glass beads - like these!



I'm sure you can see why I got carried away on that stall!

Had a miracle result at WW... I lost half a pound! A miracle because I'd eaten soooooo much at the weekend. I'm trying to be extra good this week so the over-eating doesn't catch up with me next week... watch this space!

Ring-a-ding BLING!

Been making some rings recently - bling rings or cluster rings. I was inspired when I found these rings - when I was buying something completely different!

I'd not seen this shape before and thought they were really unusual and desirable... I made a couple using the wrapped loop method, but when I was trawling about looking at other people's rings, I found the suggestion of attaching the beads to the ring with jumprings. Well, that was it, I was off! Here are two of the first ones, along with a wrapped loop one with Swarovski crystals:

I really like this method. It is quick and gives a different look to the ring. And I can use my Miyuki drop beads, which are some of my favourites in the seed bead department. Lots of these on the website now.

The Christmas weight is slowly shifting. I lost 2.5 pounds last week, stayed the same today. Will try and have a good week this week, but we're away at the weekend which is always a challenge!

Am extremely happy to report that Tom got an A* in this GCSE Maths which he took in November and also that he passed his Grade 5 keyboard exam with distinction. Am thrilled for him.

It's all about remembering...

What a horrible, horrible morning. It's SO wet and windy. Roll on the spring...

I've been adding more things to the website: this time it's memory wire bracelets and bookmarks.

Bookmarks were a huge seller in the run up to Christmas. I made loads with little Swarovski crystal dragonflies - some will be added to the website shortly - and then larger ones with lampwork beads. All the beads are completely unique and have been made by some of the UK's best lampwork artists, so this is an affordable way for people to own a little piece of today's glass art. Here are a couple:

Memory wire bracelets continue to be good sellers. Part of their appeal, I think, is the lack of a fiddly clasp, as you just wind them round your wrist.

Today I'm off for a long meeting with Sarah, my partner in crime... oops sorry, my partner in craft fairs and jewellery parties. We're going to look back at the events we did last year and see how we can improve our operation and see what lessons we have learned.

But before that, it's the weigh in at WW. I've not been perfect, but I've eaten less than in the weeks over Christmas, so hopefully I shall have started on the downward slope. As long as I've made even the slightest inroad into the 5lb I put on over the festive period, I shall be happy!