Getting Things Done

Hi, and happy new year.  I had every intention of writing a new year blog entry but time is racing away.  Mr Blue Kiln Beads has got a job!  But unfortunately it is in London which means a 5 hour round trip for him thus leaving the house at 6.40 and getting home 19.45 on a good day.  This means that yours truly is very much at the helm getting 3 children up and ready for school, packed lunches made, dinner planned and cooked, shopping, laundry basically I'm running the whole show.  I have a renewed respect for all those single parents out there who have to do it all, all of the time. I have had to re-jig a few things not least my morning a week volunteering at school just so that I can buy myself some time to get it all done and still be able to melt glass and plan workshops.

On the subject of workshops I have just finished the sample for my next workshop at Potato Patch Crafts

I can now put a very big tick next to this on my 'to do' list.  If you want some instructions and kit etc leave me a comment and I'll get back to you. 

That will have to be all for today, got to go on school run and get to assembly for one of my littlies to be presented with a certificate!!

Here's to 2012!

Another Handmade Gift

I have been wanting to make this little coin purse for a while now having stumbled across this blog.  I have had mum's sewing machine gathering dust and the other night I decided it was time to give it a go.  I managed to thread the machine and started to mess about with the settings.  Not sure what I did but there is something wrong with the tension which was pulling the fabric tight.  I sewed up my 'sandwich' of fabric and batting and decided to call it a day.

Not one to be defeated I decided to pull out the coin purse last night and to have a go at hand sewing it together.  Ta da,

Its not as square as it might have been had I used a machine but I am proud of it nonetheless.

I had to add a little Blue Kiln Beads flourish and added one of my handmade glass buttons to the zip.

Just got to get the ingredients for my Biscotti today and I'll be baking up a storm tonight/tommorrow.

A Festive First

We have started to get abit more into the festive spirit now in our house.  The tree went up yesterday along with some decs and today I made a wreath for the door, something I have never attempted before.  I would never claim to know anything about floristry so this was a complete shot in the dark and I made it up as I went along.

Ian and the children went foraging yesterday for holly and ivy.  We are very lucky to have a lovely wood across from our house

They returned with a bounty of greenery with lovely berries and some 'Old Man's Beard'.  I had a wreath tray thing left over from last year with the oasis still in it.  I soaked the oasis and hoped for the best.  It is hanging on the door as I type this but not sure it will stay when the wind picks up.  But it hasn't cost me anything so if it all falls apart I will chalk it up to experience.

Next on the list of  festive jobs is some homemade teacher gifts and this year we are going to make some Biscotti.  I have a tried and tested recipe!  I figure some home baking wrapped in a cellophane bag with some pretty ribbon will go down well.  I'll let you know how we get on.

Its all about me.....

I know, I sound rather like a spoilt child but its true.  I have been interviewed on the Frithappens Blog go take a look, go on you know you want to.....

Something for me

I made this necklace the other day and decided to keep it for myself!  Its a nice long necklace with sterling silver wire and Karen Hill Tribe silver beads all threaded onto some really soft leather thong.

A Fab day with 49Arts Playing with Paper

At the craft shop where I teach my jewellery making workshops we had an 'In the Pink Night' and I won a fantastic raffle prize which was to spend a day with Diana of 49 Arts.  We spent a whole day making two books

The main project was the large purple hard-backed book.  There is so much involved in the process, from finding the grain of the paper and making sure it runs the right way through the book, to deciding on the cover and inside sheets.  I made my book with the intention of it being a sketch book for my bead and jewellery designs but I can't bring myself to make a mark in it at the moment! 

While we were waiting for the glue to dry on the hard-backed book Diana showed me how to make the smaller notebook.

 Although I am proud of my sketch book this little notebook was almost more satisfying I think because we used materials and techniques that I can easily transfer to doing at home.  The cover is made of a scrap of leather that Diana had leftover from a pair of leather trousers that she was given. 

This little book would make a great teacher gift and the design possibilities are limitless, using all manner of recycled paper and fabric.

If you live in Wiltshire and are looking for a gift for a craft lover I would definitely recommend a day with Diana at 49 Arts

Some Bits and Bobs

Thought I would pop by and put up some pics of bits and bobs I've been working on.  I treated myself to one of Jolene's mini-mo club assortments.  I haven't used all of it yet but this bead is sporting the murrini, 


This bead has a core of light purple with some of the shards melted in which is then encased in clear and the design applied to the top

I bought this top the other day and decided to make a necklace to match 

The next few pictures show beads using a design I am working on whereby dots are applied on top of each other then raked to make a teardrop shape.

These have now been turned into necklaces and will be putting in an appearance in my Etsy shop very soon.

Thanks for looking!