Not much crafting today.....

What a beautiful day it's been today, we decided to make the most of the sun while it was out so took a long walk along the beach. I haven't moved far from the sofa since we got back apart from tidying up my sewing corner, although it looks worse now than when I started! The boys are off to football tomorrow so I shall be mostly sewing :)

I bought a great book last year from Spellbound Beads which has lots of beautiful Xmas decorations and earring patterns inside. Here's just one of the designs, watch out for a few more....

Beading between birthdays.....

It was my daughter's 21st birthday yesterday and my youngest son's 16th birthday tomorrow so I took advantage of the peace and quiet today to  recharge my batteries with a spot of beading.

I didn't make this bracelet today, it was one I managed to make last week, one of my friends at work ordered it, although I was so pleased with it, I was a bit reluctant to hand it over!!

I made this one today, another order from work, love the colour, its so fresh and reminds me of summer - despite the rain lashing down outside!

I am having a table at a 'Ladies Night' at a local gym soon so thought it was about time I made some items to sell. Love the heart on this bookmark, would have been really quick to make but I had a spot of bother with the jump rings!

A set of wine glass charms, the beads don't show up too well, they have turquoise and pink with a flash of silver running through them.

I had better clear the dining room table of beads now, as its going to be another busy day tomorrow. Hope to squeeze in some more crafting on Friday!

A bit of bling - a card and a bracelet

First photo today is a card I was recently asked to make a card for a lady who will be 89 soon.

 I've put the 89 on a circle to match the central greeting, along with 'Mum' on another circle for the person who ordered the card to position. 

I randomly stamped the images from a Hobby Art set, Floral Sketches, using Stampin' Up! inks. I covered the stamping with double sided sticky and sprinkled generously with glamour dust. This is a style I saw Jenny Mayes demonstrate at Newbury last year and is always well received.

The second photo is a bracelet I was asked to make when I took some of my beading in to work recently.

That's one of them, another 2 to make yet, one in turquoise and one in purple. I had forgotten how fiddly these are to make!

Off to make a start on one of the other ones now.

 x

Beads beads beads....

I had a few presents to make lately so I've got beads all over my dining table, and at times the breakfast bar!!

Here's a couple of the things I have made. I really like these beaded lariat style necklaces, reckon I need to make a few more in different colours, especially as I am having a table at a Ladies night soon.

Some wine glass charms, a lovely idea I saw recently so thought I would have a go. Great for people who put their drink down and don't remember where!

The little silver beads are stardust beads and have a lovely sparkly effect to them that doesn't show very well in the photo.

I'm off to make a charm bracelet now, going to sit at the table by the french doors where the sun is streaming in - got to make the most of this lovely weather while it lasts.

Enjoy your day.

Green beads....

Here's a bracelet I made during my blogging break 

The beads have been collected over the past couple of months - I just kept buying green beads so I've got enough to make another bracelet almost!

The beads are on wrapped loops, so a bit fiddly, especially when you're wrapping the last couple of beads as the bracelet is getting a bit heavy by that stage. Well worth the effort though, I took in into work and have got orders for 3 more. 

I love the movement in the bracelet, I will probably make another one in a different colour for me, with crystals or crackle beads.

 xx

Time to catch up - Beaded Baubles

I've neglected my blog of late, although I have still been crafting and taking photos, I just haven't got round to posting them on my blog. I hope to update it with items I've made over the last few months over the coming days....

Let's start with a bit of beading - Christmas baubles

and I enjoyed making it so much I made one on a different colour way

The bauble is 4cm diameter but it used up a lot more beads than I imagined it would. I've stocked up on baubles to make lots more in different colours :)

Not so sure I like this new fangled blogger - suppose it will just take a bit of getting used to!

 

Beaded bookmarks

Here are a couple of beaded bookmarks I made recently.

Not the best of photos but wanted to show you what it looks like when not partly hidden in a book. The gold wavy section is approx 8cm long.



This is how is looks when being used. I really like this style bookmark as I often lose my bookmark when reading in bed, at least with these you can stick them in the back of the book and be able to find it when you need it!



Another one - this one is slightly larger, the silver wavy piece is approx 14cm long.



In action again, these would look quite decorative if you had a line of books all with bookmarks in them!



I'm off to order more of the metal pieces, as I really enjoyed making them and think they would make lovely presents. I may even try selling some on Ebay or Etsy.

Even more beading!!

I had a lovely couple of days in Plymouth last week with my daughter, some quality girly time together. She walked my feet off round the shops on Tuesday, even so, I could not be persuaded to have one of those fish pedicures!

I also visited Tavistock, to catch up with my Dad and a visit to Rockin' Beads! Other trips to bead shops recently have resulted in me buying more beading supplies so I felt it was time to get organised.

Here is one of the results of my 'tidying my bead trolley'



This necklace was based on a one I bought last year but while making it, I ran out of cord, (I didn't realise how much thread all the knots took up) so it ended up being a lariat style rather than one that fastened up at the back. I much prefer how this ended up. I must get someone to model it as it looks much better when worn but couldn't persude Barry to wear it! Ebay here I come to look for a necklace display stand for future makes and photo shots!

I also made a beaded bookmark and a keyring but just can't get the photos right, had better get tidied up now, got beading stuff all over the table and breakfast bar!

Back to work tomorrow after a lovely 2 weeks off, still its only for 2 days, then off for another week - loving all these bank holidays :)

xx

A bit more beading...

Sorry, I've been AWOL again..... Had a busy couple of days, one at my sewing machine and the other 2 shopping :)

I have decided that its about time I finished off some of my UFOs before I start any new projects - hence being busy at the sewing machine on Friday. I NEEDED to visit a fabric shop so a trip to Chichester was the order of the day on Saturday. I didn't find anything to urge me to part with my cash :( so off to a Needlework Fiesta at Brockenhurst village hall on Sunday, 2 jelly rolls later and a lovely lunch in Burley saw my urge to spend fulfilled..... so sadly no cards made over the last couple of days.

Here are some keyrings I made last week but didn't get round to posting.



I thought it was about time I used these clips, so a few beads, some metal spacers, a charm and some tiger tail later - here they are.

Catch up soon

xx

A bit of beading....

Here are some of the things I've made over the last couple of days.

I bought this glass pendant a while back to make a necklace. I intended to put it on something a bit more fancy than just a piece of cord but have yet to find something I like so thought in the meantime I would put it on the cord until I find that something special.


Same thing as the above necklace, been lurking in the drawer awaiting that something special but actually I quite like this on the leather thong - what do you think?


I saw this gorgeous metal heart in Rockin' Beads, a fabulous bead shop in Tavistock. If you are in the area it is well worth a visit. The faux suede thong was from my stash and the closure is also from Rockin' Beads.


This design has been cased from my local bead shop DD Beads who stock wonderful beads, findings and Troll jewellery. If you don't fancy making your own jewellery they sell ready made stuff too. I love this lariat style necklace, the beauty of it is that you can adjust where the focal bead sits. Needless to say I bought faux suede in all the colours - which have just sat in the drawer. The idea is to use up all your odd beads, but I just had to buy more and of course more charms and metal beads! You only need one focal bead and then the necklaces in various colours to go with whatever you are wearing. If anyone is interested in buying any of these I am happy to make to order, just let me know what colours you would like, £10 for 3 strands and the focal bead, £3 for any additional strands.


Here is a close up of the dangly bits!


Off to the dentist shortly, hope to be back with more crafty things later.
Thanks for stopping by.

A bit of beading.... and some blog candy on its way

This project has been a long time in the making! One of my Mum's friends bought a beautifully beaded bauble last year. I just had to have a go at making one, but not having a pattern, it was a case of trial and error and adding my twist to the design.



It has taken about 3 attempts, the second one was nearly finished, as I was tightening the thread it snapped, so I cut it up and started again with Fireline, a lot stronger thread. This is the third version which ended up somewhat different, when it came to adding the beads at the bottom I didn't have enough in the right colour, so a quick dash to the local beading shop was in order yesterday. I finally finished it last night! I've got lots more designs buzzing round in my head now and ideas on how I would do it differently next time, so watch this space....

Sorry about the glare on the photo, it was the best I could do, will try to get a better shot later.

In celebration of my birthday tomorrow and recently reaching 10,000 hits I will be back with some blog candy later.

Better go and get ready for work now, have a great day .....

Spiral netting necklace

Finally I have finished the spiral netting necklace a friend asked me to make, despite things being against me..... first of all I had nearly finished the main part of the necklace when one of the strands broke and I had to start from the beginning again, then I had a real problem trying to get large beads to match the metallic seed beads for the dangles.



I'm really pleased with how it turned out in the end and made a cute little box to put it in. This is so easy to make, just from one sheet of A4, randomly stamped. I saw the instructions on a blog somewhere, sorry can't remember where, but if its your idea, let me know and I will add your info to my blog.

At last, another challenge and some beading

Where did that week go? My feet didn't touch the ground and so didn't get much crafting done, but what I did manage went wrong!!



Here is my entry for the challenge this week on PTW which is based on one of Katharina's fab sketches, I just love working with these! Thought I would use the opportunity to make another Christmas card, seeing as its only 10 weeks away, so I'm told!
Image is from Funstamps, coloured with Sakura Jelly Roll pens, I found my silver glittery one -yaaay I am sooo happy. BP, text embellishment and brads from Dovecraft, rest from stash. Just couldn't resist adding the crystal effect tinsel around the top - well got to start getting in the Christmas spirit LOL...



I did manage to fit in a bit of beading this week, above is an Xmas bauble I beading recently, going to make some more of these, but have a play with the pattern. I had nearly finished a necklace a friend ordered, just finishing the last row when the thread in the core row must have snapped! Ever feel that someone's got it in for you? I was very good and didn't lose my temper but spent the next hour cutting it up and sorting out the different coloured beads GRRRRR!!!! Must make a start on the replacement!

I finished knitting a waistcoat recently, I'd couldn't decide what size to knit but opted for the medium. Since starting it tho, I have been to WW and lost 2 stone so should have gone for the small. When I tried it on my daughter commented that it made me look like I had put my weight back on - needless to say it has been unpicked and I need to start that again also!

Here's hoping for a better week!

Finishing projects!!

I haven't had much time to make cards over the last couple of days what with going back to work, but I did sit and finish off a couple of beading projects at the weekend. The blue and gold necklace is the third one I have made, when I finished the other 2, people have wanted them - I am working on third time lucky, I might get to wear this one LOL.... I really love the blue bracelet, a pattern from Bead & Button, as it is really flexible and lovely to wear and the beading in the middle is my first attempt at beading round a crystal rivoli, I had nearly finished it and the rivoli popped out, so I had to re-do it!
I have also spent a lot of time over the past couple of days sorting through stacks of craft stuff - my friend's MIL has decided to give up crafting - what I hear you all cry .... so I am going to try and sell some of the stuff for her. Of course I get to have first lookee, there are so many lovely things there!! Some of the stamps are brand new and I have never seen so many punches even in my local craft shop!!

Been Beading....

I haven't made any cards yet this week. I went beading last weekend and this is the necklace I made. I am really pleased with the end result. I made one in blue and gold beads last week, which looked great, especially with a suntan, I imagine, as I am still trying to get one this year!

Have been busy this week, at work and home. Ellie has just become a Body Shop demonstrator, so had my party on Monday, had to drop her off and collect her from one last night and spent tonight updating Barry's cv.

Am off to make a couple of cards now, and should have plenty of playtime tomorrow, as its my day off....yippeee!! Catch up then.