A New Addition To The Family

This is Rosie. We adopted her from the next-door neighbour, with their blessing I hasten to add! She spent most of the summer in our garden and we fell in love with her. When the weather turned cold, we allowed her to stay in the kitchen at night although we were still not feeding her at that point. However, when it got to the point that she was spending ALL her time with us and not going home for her food, I started to feed her. The neighbours were aware of this and happy - they had bought a puppy a couple of months before - so we agreed that she would remain with us.

You have no idea how much having a cat has changed our lives. I love cats but Mark and Max are both allergic to them. Max doesn't care because he loves them too, but we keep her in the kitchen, to minimise the sneeze-causing fluff in the rest of the house. Even Mark finds her cute and talks to her in the morning when he gets up for work. She has become such a part of our family...

A Few Things That I Have Managed To Squeeze In!

This is a bracelet that I made for my Mum for Christmas. I was making it right up to Christmas Eve! I think that she liked it. It was a very simple pattern, taken from 'Bead and Button' magazine, but it was quite time-consuming. I enjoyed making it though and the need for it to be finished meant that it didn't become a UFO!






I have actually been making a few things in the last week. I wanted to give some friends a bracelet for their help with various things, so I made these...

They are just simple strung bracelets, but I included Swarovski 4mm bicones in them, to give a little bit of sparkle.

So Sorry

I have not posted anything for TOO long. I have been working hard at my Weight Watchers job and have hardly had any time for crafting. I have designed another bracelet, but writing it up is something else! I must do it or I will forget how I did it...

Card-making has fallen by the wayside as all my WW stock is in the way of my craft boxes. I have made sure that my beads are easily accessible though! The intention to bead is there but the time isn't - oh for another two hours in the day and drip-fed caffeine lol.

Anyway, I wanted to post and wish everyone (well, anyone still looking on here!) a very merry Christmas. Happy new year to everyone too.

Photos of Magazine

The Day Has Come!

Finally, I can share my exciting news with you. I am a published designer! Bead magazine have printed one of my designs (see p50 of 'Bead' magazine) and actually paid me for it! So, I am a proper designer now...guess what job title is going on my passport next time I apply for one!

I will post photographs asap but I wanted to tell you the great news!

Finished WIP - Piatine Bracelet

This kit was really enjoyable to do. I normally get bored half way through and leave it to do at a later date (i.e. never!) It took me less than a (already very busy) week and I love the finished article. I am going to shorten the closure stitching though, as the bracelet is loose and I fancy it being more of a cuff. (My fault, not the pattern).

I really recommend Bead Merchant for all their things; beads, kits etc.

Something On The Go

I am currently making a bracelet from Bead Merchant - Piattine. It is absolutely beautiful and fairly easy (intermediate beaders and upwards - beginners might struggle). I am a big fan of Jill Devon's work, although I do think the patterns could do with a rewrite (just my personal opinion of course!) I love going along to her shop, on the first Saturday of every month, and having a good drool over all the beads for sale. I never come away empty-handed!

Teaser...

This is the month that I have been waiting for, for a verrryy long time! I can't tell you why yet, but I will once it is all official! I am really excited...

Plus, tomorrow is the day of my first meeting as a Weight Watchers Leader! Nerves is not the word for it! Please think of me at 10am tomorrow.

Necklace and Earring Set

I love this set. Really easy but so satisfying.

Vintage French Buttons

Looky looky at the lovely buttons I discovered in a little second-hand shop the other day. Apparently they come from French button factories and were made in the 1950s. As you can imagine, I had a whale of a time rummaging through all the boxes and had to restrain myself from buying the whole lot! I eventually settled on the ones that I would have bought for myself anyway.

They are on my Folksy shop...

So Much Going On...

I am really sorry that I haven't been around at all. I have been training to be a Weight Watchers Leader - which I have now finished - and it has been a little bit stressful! I passed the assessment though and spent most of today drowning in 30 boxes of 'starter' kit!

Despite not actually doing much crafting, I have ordered lots of clasps and a new beading book. I will post pictures when they arrive. I have also packaged up some vintage (1950s) buttons from France, which will be going on my Folksy shop as and when I get 5 minutes to sit down!

I am really trying to keep in touch with everyone else's blogs, but it is not as easy as it sounds. I have just made a whirlwind visit to some of my favourites, but didn't have enough time to have a good mooch. I think that craft may be taking a bit of a back seat for a few weeks!

I Am Not Around Much

Because I have been doing training to become a Weight Watchers Leader again. It has kind of taken over my life, and, what with the summer holidays, things have been a little hectic!

Anyway, these two bracelets are fairly quick to make and look really sparkly. I do love a bit of bling!

Final Picture for Teaching Staff

Max has had a great year this year. This picture is the last of three that I made and I think it came out really well. I am toying with making more of these - I just want to get the borders a bit more professional before I start selling them.

Been Away For A While - Back Now!

Just some items that are going on Folksy. Most of them are ones that I made for my C&G course. I love them but have SO many things to wear myself that I really do need to sell some!

Pearl's A Singer

I made this bracelet in about two hours and I think it is really pretty. I used freshwater pearls with gold lined 11° beads.

Lots of Things!

These are two of the three pictures that I have decided to make as teacher presents for the end of the school year. They work out to cost around £5.25 each, not including time obviously.

Above them are two presents that I bought for my friend's 40th. I got them from Folksy, from...

Natalie Farrell (make-up bag)

Snowdon (Fridge Magnets)

Both of them are totally gorgeous. I have loved Natalie's bags for a very long time and wanted to buy one for myself, but never had an excuse. Now I know that they are even more fantastic in the flesh, I will forget needing the reason and just buy myself one!