Well Christmas Has Come and Gone!

Well I hope everybody has as a good a Christmas as I had. Why do we all get into such a frenzy of buying, wrapping and panic when it is all over and done with so quickly? Among my presents under the tree this year was a Secret Santa gift handmade for me by one of my Craft Forum buddies (rhulme) and I couldn't wait to see what I got. Here is a pic of the lovely goodies in my parcel which smell devine. However a big fat raspberry to Royal Mail who failed to deliver my Secret Santa pressie to its' intended recipient. I will be claiming compensation from them and donating the money to charity.

Britain's Got The X Factor,Soapstar, Superstar

If you haven't seen this programme you really missed a treat. Peter Kay as Geraldine McQueen is brilliant and now "she" is following me on Twitter along with Stephen Fry! If you haven't woken up to Twitter yet, get signed up and get tweeting, its great fun. Meanwhile I've put away my crafting for a few days while I try to recover from a nasty chest infection which doesn't want to go away. Im now on my second run of antibiotics so let's hope that I'm fully recovered in time to enjoy the Christams festivities!!

Winter Chill, ggrrr

Well dear son "Kevin" managed to pass on all his wonderful germs and I have been suffering from a chest infection for the last five days which doesn't seem to want to go. I've nearly finished the antibiotics but I sound like a 40 a day smoker at the moment. Anyhow another successful fair last weekend and the last of the season is on this Sunday at Farncombe Estate in the Cotswolds and it promises to be good. I am trying to get into the Christmas spirit but I am having great difficulty due to DS only having enthusiasm for getting lots of pressies but no interest otherwise. Anyway for good measure I have thrown in an old photo taken at a school nativity play many years ago.

I'm Being Held Captive....

by a 12 year old with a chest infection who is off school for a few days! Still it's given me chance to get busy replacing some of the things that I sold last week at the Warwick Victorian Evening. Despite the wind, which played havoc with the display, and the rain, which was heavy, lots and lots of brave souls turned out to see the lights switched on and enjoy the fair. I have just finished making another little clutch bag and I'm busily knitting skinny scarves in bright colours for a school fair this Saturday at Bilton Grange.

Busy busy

Well I guess I'm not the only one to have a lot on at this time of year, where is the time going to? I did a two day fair at the weekend which was surprisingly well supported and people were spending, oh yes Christmas is coming! I met some really nice crafty people there including Penny Varley a ceramicist and Amy who makes felted bags and jewellery. It's great to watch other people working at their crafts and I was definitely taken with the idea of trying some felting after watching Amy's demonstrations. I've also been busy with those knitting needles and have started on a shrug using some really lurid pink fizzy wool, it's going to be a really fun thing to wear I hope. Well I guess I should get back to my crafting desk but before I go take a look at the rings above, I have been having fun playing around with different styles.

Progress on the Knitting Front

I've mentioned here and on Twitter that I've taken up the knitting needles after a very long absence - probably about 25 years if I think about it!
I've started gently with a scarf, moving on through a few beanie hats and the latest, my pride and joy, a bag.


It is exciting to rediscover my love of knitting because there are so many fabulous wools out there to play around with. But don't worry there will still be time left for jewellery-making, and I might even get going on a few Christmas decorations over the next week or two!

Wow I got An Award!

Well this Marie Antoinette Award came out of the blue from the lovely Stephanie at www.mycalicoheart.blogspot.com, one of my favourites. I am really chuffed that Stephanie chose my blog to receive this award and now I have been asked to do the same for seven other blogs which I enjoy reading. All those people have to do is to link their blog to mine and then go do the same for seven more bloggers out there.



The Rules are as follows:-
1. Please put the logo on your blog
2.Place a link to the person from whom you received the award
3.Nominate at least 7 or more blogs
4. Put the links of those blogs on your blog
5. Leave a message to tell them

OK so here are the seven great blogs that I've chosen, check them out!

www.buffyscharms.blogspot.com
www.all-about-eden-saraeden.blogspot.com
www.lazydazyglass.blogspot.com
www.ethelandednastearooms.blogspot.com
www.23beechhill.blogspot.com
www.bluefishhandmade.com
www.roseberrylife.blogspot.com

Recognition at Last!

Well guess who is going to be included in a crafting spread in Prima magazine next March? Oh yes that will be me! I responded to a post on Crafts Forum from a journalist looking for women in their 40's/50's who have taken up crafting once their children have grown up. My little "Kevin" is now 12 so is beginning to do his own thing in life so I put myself forward and hey presto a telephone interview this morning. Now I promise not to let fame go to my head - but if you could just remove all red smarties from my craft room and lay on the champagne... At the very least I hope the article will include a big plug for Crafts Forum and all the wonderful crafters that I have come across who are all so talented.
Meanwhile I have included a photo of a fun necklace mades with lots of strands of seed and myuki beads.

My New Look!

I just couldn't resist showing off my new haircut! My hairdresser was a little taken aback when I told her to cut my shoulder length hair but I needed a change and I'm really pleased with the result. Maybe I should go buy some new clothes to go with my new image.....hehe.
This morning I found some fab pink "Angel Hair" wool on offer at only 49p a ball. There seemed no point in resisting so I need to check out some patterns and get the needles click clacking Oh if only there were just a few more hours in every day.

Thank Heavens for Charity Shops

Don't you just love charity shops? I was given this stash by a friend and it contains all sorts of wonderful goodies. There are some beautiful crystal necklaces, metal bracelets, pearls, a beaded lariat as well as gold and silver chains. I was so excited dipping into the bag to check out my treasure. Now I have to decide which pieces I can bear to take apart to turn into something even better!

It's Halloween Oooooohhhhh

It's halloween so what else would I be wearing but my new halloween pendant courtesy of Lazy Dazy Glass which I just love. No trick or treating for us tonight but I have laid in a huge stock of sweets for anyone that does come knocking.
It's the last day of a two week break from school for "Kevin" so the end is in sight. I will be able to get back to some crafting without the continual sound of gunfire in the background from the PS3!
Happy Halloween all and have a great weekend.:-)

More Blog Candy!!

Today I received my beautiful Halloween pendant which was made by Kathryn whose work you can see at www.lazydaisyglass.com. I haven't yet managed to take a decent photo but if you check out her blog you will find the Haloween competition that I took part in and will be able to see my prize pendant (the triangular one!). The last week has flown by and I seem to have started so many different projects but not been able to finish most of them. "Kevin" is on the second week of his half term break and much as I'd like to hide myself away in my craft room, I feel duty bound to make sure he is entertained.

Check This Out!

I am getting good at playing around on my computer and I managed to paste this here! I really do spend far too much time on the forum because it is so addictive. If you haven't yet discovered it then you really should.

Blog Candy

Just received these Halloween goodies from Jen Fee of Flurogoddess. "Kevin" jumped a mile when I crept up on him with the big fat rubber worm hehe! I love the badges and I am going to try creating some cards - that's a first - using the black and orange card.
I've been playing around with felt today as well as my paper beads, all will be revealed in due course.... And in an attempt to make more productive use of the many hours that I spend watching my talented son play badminton, I have taken up knitting again twenty years on. I have found some fab wool and I am starting off gently with a scarf and we'll see how things progress from there!

Well Nice was nice!

Just had to share this photo of the beach in Nice where I spent a few lovely days with my good friend Sue. We had a lot of fun - not least because my French interpretation let me down a little! It was 23 degrees so we managed to put in a couple of hours on the beach in-between shopping and eating.
More good news today from Craft Forum's Flurogoddess, Jennifer Lee, who let me know that I was a winner in her Halloween Blog candy draw. I'm really looking forward to receiving my trick or treat goodies!

I've Been Tagged!

Ooh I am all excited because I have been tagged by Kiamyka whose blog kiamyka.blogspot.com is now added to my blogroll. Well I have read the rules and here they are:-
1. Link to your tagger and list all these rules in your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by including links to their blogs.
4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blogs.

Ok so seven facts about me:-
1. I once attended a book launch party for George Best where I got more drunk than he did, introduced myself to him and then dragged his poor aged father off "to meet a few people". Embarrassing!
2. I became a Mum for the first (and last) time at the age of 42 against all the odds.
3. I can't sing in tune but I can muster up a really decent wolf whistle.
4. When I was five years old I appeared on a children's TV show where my sister and I beat the boys team to win a prize.
5. I once sang Maybe It's Because I'm a Londoner with Kirk Douglas at a book signing in Harrods.
6. My dream would be to retire to somewhere warm and sunny where I could make jewellery and be inspired by my surroundings.
7. If there were more hours in the day I would spend them reading and crafting.

I am going to tag the following bloggers:- candlesbylisa.blogspot.com, caroleecrafts.blogspot.com, sunrisecards.blogspots.com, lazydaisyglass.blogspot.com, mycalicoheart.blogspot.com, susieQinblogland.blogspot.com, and pennydog.wordpress.com.

Miscalculation...

Ok so I made a slight miscalculation and didn't have enough of these beads to make a necklace so guess what - it is now a very pretty bracelet! Yesterday I had fun making some paper beads which are now ready to varnish and then string.
The next couple of days will be busy as I'm lucky enough to be heading off to Nice for a few days with my good friend Sue. I know that we will spend some time (and probably too much money!) checking out what's new and different in the bead shop there but it will be fun so I can't wait.

Getting Creative

Where does my time go to? Sometimes there are not enough hours in the day to do all the things that I want to do and I end up going to bed with my head buzzing with ideas that I haven't had chance to try out. Well yesterday I spent the morning indulging my passion for books by hosting a reading group but I set aside the afternoon to get creating and came up with this crocheted wire necklace in copper and turquoise. Also under way is a three tone blue spiral necklace, time consuming but I know it will look great when it's finished! Meanwhile check out my blog roll where I have added Craft Forum's Jellybelly-Jellybrain. With Christmas round the corner you'll find all sorts of great ideas from JBJB.

Buttons!

Couldn't resist having a go at making covered buttons. Lots of my fellow crafters on Crafts forum have been creating these so I thought it was high time for me to join in and here is the result - my first little batch of tartan buttons. I really enjoyed making them so I can feel a lot more button-making coming on in the near future!
Meantime I had better get working on some new stuff for next Saturday's craft fair at The Claremont in Rugby town centre. Organised by Craft Forum's Critchley, this one is in aid of Help The Aged so it's good to know that money is going to a good cause and I am hoping to meet up with other forum members there.

I've Been Busy

I've been busy making this gorgeous bracelet. The photo doesn't really do justice to the vibrant colours, the greens and blue work so well together. Yesterday I bought some self-cover buttons which I am dying to play with but haven't found the fabric that I want to cover them with yet. I have all sorts of jackets just crying out for some new buttons to bring them up to date. Apart from the bracelet making the rest of the day just seemed to disappear in a cloud of housework, boring but necessary as the OH is due back tomorrow.

Dragonflies

I just love making these little fellas. I have made some into earrings and some into pendants and my friends love them. They also look great hanging in the window with the light streaming through, I could produce a whole bunch of them to hang up! After a busy weekend of visiting friends in Staffordshire and watching "Kevin" play badminton in Derby, it was so nice to spend some time today making bracelets - photos to follow when they're done.

Time for A Craft Fair

Up and out early to Hatton Countryworld. The new improved layout for the stand looked great - thanks Ted for getting those shelves done so quickly - and Sue and I were optimistic about the day ahead. Lots of visitors, lots of interest but not many people ready to spend. We even had our secret weapon ready, an enticing display just at the right height for those little girls to spy gorgeous jewellery made especially for them. I had to deploy my best sales techniques to ensnare them and persuade them to part with Mummy or Daddy's cash! Lets hope the fairs leading up to Christmas can get everybody parting with their cash.

My Beautiful Grandson

Just have to introduce you to my gorgeous grandson Oliver. This picture was taken at four weeks having a little snooze after lunch - so like his Dad! With one son of my own, two step-sons and now young Oliver it looks like it's going to be a while before I can indulge in all things pink. Oh well back to my jewellery making, if I wait long enough maybe two will come along together!

And So to A Wedding!

Zoe and Tom - seen here with my own sweet "Kevin" - were lucky enough to get married on the one dry sunny day that we have had in a long long time. A better match than these two I cannot imagine. Zoe looked stunning as she and Tom, proudly wearing his kilt, got the Caleigh off to a flying start. Lots of catching up with family members and plenty of new people to meet and a great time had by all in the decorated barn, which looked great due to the hard work put in by family members.

Time to Catch up With Sue

Yesterday I got chance for a coffee with my lovely friend Sue, (seen at the Pump Rooms in Leamington Spa) she is on the left in this photo. After catching up on the family gossip we turned our attention to what else but our jewellery making. Sue is very artistic and always has plenty of great ideas so she is a great person to do some brainstorming with. As ever I came away feeling inspired and eager to get back to some more crafting.

So Many Things...

Why is it that sometimes I have so many things to do and ideas to try that I end up not getting anything done? The offer of coffee at my friend Mandy's this morning proved too hard to resist. By the time I returned there wasn't a lot of time left to do much before the school run. I did manage to play around a little with a necklace that I am working on and I am almost happy with the end result.

A new Skill!

I'm feeling really chuffed with myself today because I've worked out how to download pictures from my digital camera onto my computer and how to upload them here afterwards. There's no stopping me now so I've posted this chunky bracelet which I made recently out of really weighty haematite cubes and metal spacer balls. Now I've got to take photos of all my lovely jewellery!

A work of Art

My photography skills leave a lot to be desired as you can see so this photo doesn't really do justice to this piece. The colours work really well together for an autumn feel and the weight of the necklace lets it hang really well. So yes you could say I am happy with the finished piece! Lots more jewellery making today, its creeping towards Christmas.......

Back to school

Ok so it's "Kevin"s first day back tomorrow and he starts senior school. This means he has been frantically catching up on homework which has been sitting around for nine weeks. It also means that I have left it to the last minute to start sewing on lables, buying stationary and worrying about rugby studs - and yes he did rub it in that I've had nine weeks etc etc. Still it will be time for me to start getting back to some serious jewellery making, and I have a heap of new ideas to try out. Watch this space!

Craft Fair

So to Atherstone Memorial Hall for a craft fair in aid of teenage cancer sufferers. Always happy to support a good cause and I know Emma Cartwright tried her best to get this off the ground. Sadly there were few visitors so not much to do but sit and gossip and have a look at what everybody else is doing! I particularly loved the woven bags from Rachel Sturgess, and resin jewellery by Pennydog - both fellow members of Craftsforum.co.uk.

Mummy's Boy

This little beauty is a such a Mummy's boy. Sully just loves to be picked up so that he can wrap his paws around my neck, he really doesn't think that he is a cat. He also likes to come walking with Kaiser, and if we don't wait for him to catch up he soon starts calling to us to hold on a minute. It amuses the neighbours at least.

Crocheted jewellery

I just love to make crocheted wire bracelets and necklaces. This one is one of my favourites, great colour and the crystals catch the light beautifully. This actually matches with a necklace but I've made loads using different colour wire and beads, including some pearls and swarovski crystals.

Meet Kaiser

This is Kaiser my crazy German Pointer. He's alternatively cherished and chastised by my two cats. He hasn't realized that he is nine years old and still rushes around like a puppy. Wherever I go in the house he is right there behind me - my faithful companion.

School Holidays

Why oh why are they so very long? "Kevin" has been off since July 4th and we still have half a week to go. We've just had Kevin's friend to stay for a couple of days so yesterday we went bowling, and I came last as usual. This morning we (and I mean we) are wrestling with some maths homework. Sadly we are both as bad as each other so its the blind leading the blind. I can't wait to have the house to myself next week and get back to what I love - jewellery making.

jewellery making

My biggest passion right now is making jewellery. I got the bug after being invited to a jewellery party two years ago, seeing some wonderful pieces and deciding "I could do that!". Now after going on several courses and working the rest out for myself, I am designing and creating my own. I love working with wire and particularly like making knitted or crocheted wire necklaces and bracelets. I'm in the process of taking over "Kevin's" playroom seeing as he doesn't use it any more. it is going to give me so much more space to indulge my creative side. At this rate I may even work out how to use the sewing machine at long last!

Olympics London 2012

It's official, Boris has accepted the Olympic flag and now we have four years to get London 2012 off the ground. After the razzmatazz of the Beijing opening, the arrival of a London bus (on time for once) didn't quite have the impact I would have liked. If the aging Jimmy Page and recent rising star Leona Lewis are supposed to represent the best of Britain then I am a little disappointed. Biggest cheer of course to David Beckham and rightly so - at least our youngsters can relate to him. Things can only get better as Tony Blair once said, and look where that got us!

My very first blog

Not quite sure why I decided to post my very first blog in the early hours of the morning but it seemed like a good idea at the time. It seems that everybody is blogging these days and I don't want to get left behind! My eleven year old - we'll call him Kevin for reasons that will become apparent -
will be so impressed (or so embarrassed) when he finds out.