Stourbridge Bead Fair

I decided midweek that a trip to Stourbridge was in order as I found out that it's only about an hour and a half away from here and quite a few of my friends from Bead Buddies were going to be there either selling or buying.  I made cupcakes last night to take with me and got Steven to drive.  This is what I bought:

Top row: 4 sets and a focal from Vickie (Beads4Breakfast), 5 little beads from Lesley (Madcat).


Middle row: lentil set from Lush Lampwork, owl from Min Fidler, focal from Jeannette.

Bottom row: 2 silver clasps from George, focal set from Laney (Izzybeads).


I could have bought soooooo much more though!
 
The skull and zombie are actually for Kieran.  He's always asking me to make him something but, generally speaking, beads are girly so I've never really been able to.  I think I'm just gonna hang these two from lengths of leather thong and hope he likes them.
 
I fell in love with the owl although I've no idea what I'm gonna do with him.  I do know that he's mine though! :o) 

There's nothing like standing on the rocks at Godrevy with the waves crashing around you to make you feel insignificant!  I could stand there for hours watching the sea.

The other thing I love to do is to get my bare toes in the sand and walk into the waves.  Not too far - I can't swim - but I love the sea at St Ives.  It's so clear and warm.  We spent the other two days on the beach soaking up the sun.  A little too much sun, as my back will testify.  Ouch!

I took my beads with me as usual but didn't take them out of the box!  I did go and buy some new ones though. :o)  I wanted to make a metallic version of my Harlequin Cuff but didn't have any metallic Delicas so I had to go and fetch some.  This is how it turned out:

I love how different it looks from the original.  I might do a pastel version now.

I'm currently working on the Piet Mondrian inspired cuff for Linda, the winner of my August competition.  I must confess, I hadn't a clue about his work before Linda suggested it but I did some research and I think I've come up with something suitable.  The only problem I'm having is that it's all straight lines so I'm having to use square stitch.  Square stitch was the first stitch I learnt and I used it lots at first.  Now, I'm finding that my tension is dodgy and  I can't seem to get it to sit straight.  Give me peyote any day!  Thankfully, I'll only have to stitch it the once then I can do the tute and kit and it will be up to someone else to stitch them. ;o)

And the winner is...

I know I'm a few hours early doing the draw but we're unexpectedly going away for a few days tomorrow and I wanted to be able to take it with me so I can get it done in time.  Congratulations to Linda (Madam Steph) who entered over on the Bead Buddies forum!

I've been working on a few new designs (some from your suggestions) and have already managed to stitch one of them.  This was suggested by Nic and is based on her blog background.  Hope you like it, Nic. :o)

I've also been busy writing up tutorials for all the cuffs I've done so far and will be putting them up for sale as soon as I can.  Meanwhile, I'll leave you with some more recently completed ones.

Millefiori Cuff

Harlequin Cuff

 

Poppy Cuff

Competition Reminder!

Just posting a reminder of my competition.  You can check the details out here.  There have been some great entries so far and I'm busily trying to work my way through them in preparation for the draw.  You only have a couple of days to get your entry in, so what are you waiting for?

Exciting news...well, sort of.

The door and window for my studio are being delivered tomorrow!!! oD  Finally, work can start on the alterations - well, just as soon as Steven's back recovers!  He pulled it yesterday while lifting stuff in the garage and hasn't even been able to walk properly today.

I've got sore hands today after spending most of last night and almost all day today stitching a couple more cuffs together.  This time yesterday I hadn't even started them and now one is completely finished and the other is almost done. :o)  I can't show pics 'cos the first one is a present for a friend.  The other one is another zebra cuff for my SIL which I'd best get finished as she needs it for Friday.  Speaking of cuffs, if you haven't done so already, don't forget to leave me a comment about what pattern/theme you'd like to see on a cuff.  (See my previous post for details)

I'll leave you with a pic of my new beadies.  They were delivered from the States yesterday and I've already used some of the delicas.

Nice aren't they? ;o)