Confession is good for the soul

Well, that's what they say, isn't it?  It certainly worked for me! :0D

After posting last night I got some of my stash out and made this for the Operation Tackle That Bead Stash blog. 

It's got a rivoli centre and lined amethyst drops round the outside edge.  It was inspired by the purple mitosis pic on the blog.  The bright purple ring just caught my eye and is repeated here in the lining of the drops.  In making it, I used up all but 15 of my gold delicas so decided to take a trip to Spellbound Beads in Lichfield to get some more.  As it happened, they were having a sale and I came away with a lot more than I intended.

Loads of stuff for inspiration and a kit for when I get stuck. :0)  I also managed to find blue seed beads to match a Swarovski crystal that I've already bezelled and has been awaiting a rope.  I'm doing a spiral herringbone to hang it on so it might take a little while but it's started. :0)  There are some lovely soapstone shapes in there that I can't wait to use.  I'm thinking a bead embroidered piece for them.  And some rather strange looking donut shapes that have Swarovski crystals set into them with little 'fins' on the back that you're supposed to use for putting on belts and stuff.  I'm gonna use those for bead embroidery too.

What a difference a day makes! :0D

Confessions of a Beader

It's confession time.  Are you ready?  You won't tell, will you?  Okay... Here goes

I haven't done any beading for the last 9 days!!!

I seem to have totally lost my mojo and I can't be bothered to do anything. :0(  I even bought myself three new books this week in an attempt to find some inspiration but, although they are fabulous, I don't have the beads I need to try any of the projects in them and everything here is such a mess, my beading stuff is all over the place, and it would just be a chore to get any of it out.  Humph!

Anyway, onto the books.   I bought 'Beaded Colourways' by Beverly Ash Gilbert, 'Beaded Allure' by Kelly Weise and Laura McCabe's 'Embellished Beadweaving'.  All three are full of wonderful projects and I really want to have a go at some of them soon so watch this space.  As soon as my mojo returns from wherever it's hiding I will have lots of pretties to show you!

I have another demonstration piece to come up with this week but I really don't know what to show them this time.  It may be a netted bracelet I think, hopefully pretty easy to write a tute for.

So, have any of you got anything to confess? ;0)

JCB's and Sparkly Things

Ok, so I finished the JCB cake.  It didn't turn out quite how I'd planned due to a lack of time after an unexpected shift at work, but I was eventually pretty pleased with it.

Adam liked it so I guess I did a good job.  He thought he was getting a 2D picture of a JCB or a photo stuck on top of the cake so it was a bit of a surprise for him. :0)  I also made him a JCB inspired card.

I really struggled with jewellery to wear to the party but eventually came up with these:

Sterling silver, rose quartz and Swarovski crystals.  Unfortunately the bracelet is no more. :0(  Dunno how I managed it, but it snapped towards the end of the night so I guess I'll have to remake it when I get round to it.  Fortunately, I think I only lost two crystals, so it's easily done. :0)

I do think I'm getting too old to be partying till the early hours though.  I've been asleep half the afternoon!

The website is coming along nicely, so I'm told.  Autumn is doing a great job in a fraction of the time it would be taking me to do it and I've been so busy this week that I've barely had time to look at it myself.

Website Whispers

So, I've started to sort out the new website - with a huge amount of help from Autumn, thank you! - and it's looking good.  All I have to do is figure out how to actually list my jewellery and kits on it and I'm away. :0D  Just as soon as it's all done I will give you the link and you can let me know what you think.  It might take a week or two though.  I'm just recovering from this stupid cold/flu virus that's been doing the rounds so I've been out of action most of this week and it's put things back a little bit.  I'd hoped to have taken pics of all the different colourways for the dragon kit and have them listed by now but unfortunately I haven't managed it yet.  Watch this space.

I've got a birthday cake to decorate this week with a model of a JCB on it!  I'm quite looking forward to the challenge.  Will post pics when I'm done.

Candy Stripe Bracelet

This is a pic of the bracelet that I used for the demo at work today.  It's a flat, even-count peyote strip in two colours and everyone left with a set of instructions to give it a go, so I think it was a success! :0)  I much prefer to use Delicas for this sort of thing but, since we don't sell them, this was done in Czech size 11 seed beads.  It's not perfect but who is? ;0)  I'm planning on an embellished version using size 8 seeds for later in the year so I guess I'd best get on with that too.  Next month's demo will be a pair of snowdrop earrings if I can figure out a) how to do them, and b) how to write the tute so that it's easy to understand.

I've listed some of the jewellery that I had in my Misi shop in my FB one.  Misi seems to be on it's way out, unfortunately, so I decided to remove my work from there before it disappears. :0(  Now all I need to do is get some more pics taken and sort the website out so I've somewhere that's 'mine' to sell from. 

Two posts in three days from me - more than my total for the whole of last year - things are looking better already. :0)  You may see things changing on here from time to time as I get to grips with it all a bit more - or you may not, if I don't!  Don't worry, I'll be back soon.

Donna xx

Stormfyre the Dragon

Well, so much for last year's list! Events in my personal life kinda got the better of me - again - and I didn't manage to do any of the things on it. I certainly didn't keep up with the blog!

So what's next? I'm really excited about the plans for this year!

I'm looking into converting the garage into a little beading studio where I will be able to teach. The monthly demonstrations that I do at the craft shop where I work have gone really well, with a small but loyal following, but now I'd like to expand their skills and I can't do that with the limited selection of beads that we stock in the shop. I'll still continue with the demonstrations but keep them to simple pieces and try some of the more adventurous stuff from home.

I've finally got around to making up some kits for this bracelet that I designed last year and now just have to take pics of the different colours available before I can list them for sale in my FB shop. Meet Stormfyre the dragon:

Which reminds me, I still owe Lynda a prize for coming up with his name.

I'm also in the middle of setting up a website so it's pretty full-on here at the moment! :0)

So here's to a happy, healthy and productive 2011!