A stranded seed bead necklace and bracelet

This set is similar to a pink necklace that I did a while ago. The lady who commissioned it has red hair and didn't feel that the pink suited her, so I suggested these lovely root-beer and brown beads. They look lovely together and I really hope she likes it.

Two cards

These cards were made using some lovely 12 x 12 papers that I have and an Elzybells stamp. I used to love Elzybells but they have recently cut down a lot of the stamps they sold, including several that I was going to order for my birthday!

Oh well!

Ndebele bracelet aka herringbone!

I discovered today that the bracelet is herringbone stitch! I didn't realise that they were the same...doh! Here it is in another colourway.

A '100th' birthday card

My mum asked me to make this and seemed to really like it. The birthday girl is one of my mum's dearest friends, despite being old enough to be her mother!

Kwerner Challenge no. 17

WOW! Look at these gorgeous colours...I can't wait to get started. If anyone else wants to join in, have a look at the blog in my blog list.





I used slightly too green a colour. I was going with 'sage' rather than sage 'shadow'. I hope it is still allowed...

A 'Ndebele' cuff bracelet

I got this pattern from a book (see pictures) but didn't have enough of the right beads, so had to adapt the pattern. Also, it was meant to be a continuous cuff, not a bracelet, but I didn't want something that I would have to wear half way up my arm. I really love how it turned out. The first stage was a little weak and flimsy, but the size 11s really did add the stability.

The TA's present

These were not so time consuming as the Teacher's present! I made the main TA a pair of dyed red jade ear-rings, with each piece of jade on a head-pin, hanging from a chain link (similar to the faux turquoise ear-rings earlier on this blog). However, I forgot to photograph them...doh!



So, all I have to show you is the moonstone ear-rings that I made for the second TA. They are very simple but I think they look quite cute.

This is Max's teacher's end of year present...

...but it looks a bit mean. It has already taken about 4 hours and I am not even one third of the way through yet! For information, it is going to be a book-mark!



EDIT - 21st July

And here is the finished article! I spent most of today making the rest of it and it took HOURS! I love the final look of it but will be taking a break before making another as it is a bit repetitive!



This is the box I made, using a tutorial from KWerner's blog (see the link on my favourites). It was really easy, but looks so effective. If she doesn't like the present, she can use the box for ear-rings!!!

Mark and I worked as a team and did a blooming good job...if I do say so myself!

The kitchen chairs were looking distinctly worse for wear, so we re-covered them today. I am so impressed at the job we did, especially as it did not lead to a divorce! The fabric was a bargain at £1.99 per metre. I bought 2 metres, but only used 1 - so enough left for a 'project' of some kind then!

Swap on 'Mee Crafty'

I signed up for the swap on Mee Crafty and got paired with Juicy Fig. Now, bearing in mind that she has a female teenager and I have a seven year old boy, Chloe didn't make it an easy swap for either of us! Anyway, having had more experience of being a teenage girl than a junior schoolboy (grin), I think I got the better side of the deal!

I have finished the items and have been meaning to send them off for days so I can blog what I made, but I am being ditsy as usual and need to sort myself out.

Watch this space...

Kwerner Challenge

Isn't this such a cute picture?! If anyone else fancies doing the challenges, the link is here

Edit: 18 July

Here is my offering...

More Christmas cards - well, it is July after all!

Using the Basic Grey papers from 'Figgy Pudding'.

Labradorite lariat

I wanted to use the rest of the labradorite coins as a necklace, and thought that a lariat would be nice. So, I had a think and came up with my own design for one. I really like how it turned out and can now call myself an actual 'designer' (ooh, hark at me!) Now I just need something decent to display my designs on!

Labradorite bracelet

These labradorite coins were bought from Buffy Beads in Colchester (I understand that they also have a shop in Covent Garden). Max and I love going in there - he is really into crystals and even has a book on them! The lady in the shop was so impressed that he knew so many names of semi-precious stones that she gave him a large cherry quartz bead for his collection. He was so chuffed!

A pink and green card.

I used the kit I won as part of a magazine competition. It is by K & Co. as that was the category I entered. I was one of the ten runner-up winners.

Brick Stitch bracelet in 'Root Beer'

I am really in love with brick stitch. It gives such a lovely 'knitted' effect with the beads and they flow like fabric. Absolutely beautiful and really easy to do! The beads I chose are called 'root beer' and they have to be my favourite at the moment. I think I might make something similar to this as a choker, but slightly thicker and I might add a fringe. I will have a play and you may see the results soon!

Kwerner Challenge

This week's challenge was one that I had time to complete, so here is the card I made...

Ooh, I've had a mention!

I am so excited. Someone left me a comment who had seen me on this site. I didn't even know anything about it!!!

Thanks Rhonda for letting me know.

I fancied making some cards...

So I did!

New Necklace

I am SO proud of this one. It looks lovely on as the weight of the drops makes it sit close to the neck. I followed a pattern in the book I blogged a few posts ago. It was incredibly time consuming but worth every second. I would really recommend the book too!