vintage beadery

Holiday on the Jurassic Coast

2011-10-16T01:07:00.003+01:00

Just got back from a week in Lyme Regis, gorgeous little town with that scary sea defence The Cobb, (of French Lieutenant's Woman fame!) I managed to walk all the way to the end and back, (chickened out last time we visited and climbed down half way along). I really don't like high places and this is not just high, it slopes towards the sea too! we stayed in a part of Coram Tower, named for Thomas Coram who started the Foundling Hospital, walked a lot and learned about the famous and historical figures associated with the town.

'Granny's Teeth' old steps leading to the high part of the Cobb

This shot was taken in 2009 in December. High and sloping!

This part of the coast is famous for the archaeological finds along it, there are hundreds and thousands of fossils, along the beaches and some significant finds have been dug up here over the years.

We finally gave in and bought a rock hammer and went along the beach cracking pebbles open, mostly didn't find anything until we got right to the end of Monmouth Beach. There's a large area of limestone pavement here and sections of it have so many fossils it's astonishing, you can't step without treading on an ammonite.

These three photos show part of the pavement, every circular bump is another ammonite fossil!

Lovely bivalve shell fossil which forms a heart.

Fossil of a chambered shell.

We managed to chip a couple of fossil shells out of the smaller rocks and part of a crystal filled ammonite. I was really pleased to manage to chip two small sections of crinoid from one rock, this is also called sea lily and is related to modern star fish.

These two pictures show Crinoids, the top is a boulder covered in fossilised Crinoid remains, the star shape fascinates me, and this lovely clear single section is great.

some of the ammonites are huge and I wouldn't fancy running into one in the sea.

Four ammonites or fragments of ammonites.

Some of them have been covered with iron pyrites, or fool's gold, as the fossilising process has occurred, we found a large section with fool's gold on it, but the light was a bit rubbish for my little camera to take a good picture unfortunately. a lot of these fossil shells end up with quartz crystals in the chambers, very pretty.

When we weren't on the beaches or the harbour we spent a fair bit of time in the Town Mill area, a lovely redeveloped area with a working flour mill, a gallery, cheese monger, little craft galleries and individual designers shops. Among the cafes and restaurants is the Town Mill Bakery, this is a fabulous place, the cafe is a help yourself affair, two long tables with benches either side, the food is laid out on a third table and the plates are flat wooden boards. Bowls of butter and jam are left on the tables to be passed between the customers, along with jugs of milk and bowls of sugar.
Behind the food table is the working bakery with busy people kneading, rolling and baking. All the food is either eat in or takeaway.
Loaves to buy are laid out on a side table, regular sized loaves in a lovely variety, and giant loaves that can be bought whole or in halves or quarters.
They also sell jams and pickles and the jugs and egg cups, which I believe have come from the pottery in the Town Mill Square, are also for sale. We bought a quarter of a turmeric, carrot and fennel loaf, delicious with some cheese from around the corner. A wonderful friendly place, customers almost have to talk to each other, to get sugar or jam passed along, music is loudish and funky and it's definitely not the place for quiet reflection, but the staff chat and make you welcome, a very jolly place and a great concept.

We had a great week and I even found some little bits of sea glass among the fossils and bought a length of old lace from a great little vintage clothes shop.

I thoroughly recommend Lyme Regis as a place to visit, we had intended to go along the coast a bit more, but had such a nice time in the town we only managed to go to West Bay for an afternoon, Forde Abbey near Chard for a day (needs a whole blog to itself) and Charmouth on our way home. We also had a nice bonus in the shape of a Baroque music concert with Ensemble Amaranthos at the Marine Theatre.

as a post scriptI was surprised how many idiots think that chipping away at a very fragile cliff face is a sensible thing to do, I saw a family with a child of eight or nine perched on a heap of slate under a rock overhang chipping busily away, obviously some people think the warnings don't apply to them! Their dogs however stayed sensibly down on the beach and barked constantly up at them, perhaps they should have taken notice !

This is what the cliffs above the beach are like, I'm amazed they stay up as long as they do, there was a major rock slide between Lyme and Charmouth in 2008, completely blocking the beach, and still they chip away merrily..........

vintage beadery: Day out at Westward Ho!

2011-10-05T19:56:00.001+01:00

vintage beadery: Day out at Westward Ho!: Bit of a grotty day after all that lovely unexpected sun recently, we had decided to go to Westward Ho! , well known as the only place with ...

Day out at Westward Ho!

2011-10-05T19:56:00.000+01:00

Bit of a grotty day after all that lovely unexpected sun recently, we had decided to go to Westward Ho!, well known as the only place with punctuation as part of it's name. We realised that we'd never been there, despite living here for 7 years and having visited the West Country loads of times on holiday.
It's a nice Victorian village, with a broad sandy beach, it has a pebble ridge behind the beach which is probably part of the sea defences. There are plans to 'do up' the village a bit with a nice revamped green behind the beach, nice modern seating and lots of glamorous sea front apartments.
Being awkward types we walked along the pebbly, rather' bouldery', bit on the left hand side of the beach,

Wonderful row of wooden posts on the Westward Ho! beach.

which becomes ridges of slatey rocks leading out to sea. There's a nice tidal swimming pool in the rocks, where we watched a black Labrador having a lovely swim!
After lunch in a nice little cafe we walked along the prom towards Abbotsham Cliffs, very windy but rather a nice walk. We didn't make it as far as the cliffs themselves, perhaps we'll go back one day and walk a bit further.
At the end of the village, standing alone on the edge of the cliffs, is a terribly sad old house, it looks Edwardian or late Victorian, and is completely neglected and falling to bits, lots of lovely stained glass all getting vandalised by stone throwers. It's all marked as private keep out and there appears to be a camera in one of the windows! What a waste of a lovely building, there's rusty scaffolding on it in places so maybe someone is trying to bring it back to life. ( After some research turns out this is Seafield House)

Walking back along a concrete covered pipe I discovered that this is a fabulous source of Anomia Cepa shells, otherwise known as Jingle shells, they are a variety of small clam which live attached to the shells of other sea creatures or to rocks, even to each other if no other surface presents! This means that their shapes vary considerably,so much so that they were called Anomia, meaning nameless, as they look so different from each other. I've found a few on my local beach at Ilfracombe but we found loads at Westward Ho!, they seem to have a thicker shell than the ones I've found before but they have great colours and are really iridescent both on the outside and inside.

Here's today's hoard soaking in soapy water to get the sea off them! Aren't they pretty!

I have two pieces of jewellery made with these shells so far.

the first piece I made, I found these fragile sections of the shells with all the chalky stuff worn away leaving just the beautiful translucent colour, I've cast a copy of the shell in silver clay and hung the two pieces together, there's a tiny seed pearl glued at the lower edge of the shell itself
Reverse, showing the silver

,

This is a more recent piece with a dyed baroque pearl hung from a piece of silver wire, the wire can be turned over to hang on either side of the shell as I think both sides are beautiful, this is the inside of the shell, carefully cleaned to remove chalky remains of where the animal lived.

Very low tide

2011-10-01T20:46:00.001+01:00

The other day, Tuesday I think, we had an incredibly low tide, the previous high tide must have been pretty high too as the line of seaweed and junk was right up by the sea wall. I've never seen such a low tide here in Ilfracombe. Apparently these huge variations between low and high tide are called spring tides, nothing to do with the season obviously but has to do with the sun adding it's influence to that of the moon, Check out the Wikipedia article.
Anyway the effect of this amazing low tide is to make stuff that is normally covered by water available to explore. I took loads of pictures:

This is a bed of kelp with the sea breaking over it, I've never seen it actually growing before, obviously it's usually well below the water.

These three are an amazing undercut slab of rock usually not accessible even at low tide unless you're a rock climber.

Normally you can't access the left side of Ilfracombe's Wilder beach, as it has lots of ribs of rock which are hard to climb over, there's a stream, the Wilder stream, which runs down the beach between the main part of the beach and this left hand side too. If I could have been bothered to take my shoes off I could have got further, the heavy rain in the previous week made the stream very fast and full.

I've wandered into some bits of this half of the beach occasionally at low tide, but I never find much in the way of sea glass there so I don't bother much.

Lovely clear pool with water trickling into it, there are several springs all over the beach so water runs down it at several points. Apologies for the annoying dates on the pics. I had to take some shots for an Ebay claim recently and forgot to switch the date off again.

After admiring our local beach we went to Woolacombe to visit a little beach called Barricane, this is a strange phenomenon, it's tucked into some sharp dramatic rocks towards Mortehoe and the beach is made up of shell fragments and shingle. Either side are broad sandy beaches, Woolacombe on the left and Coombesgate on the right. As the tide was so low it was possible to walk out of the end of Barricane and round into Coombesgate, trouble is we stayed too long and couldn't get back! This wasn't really a problem as obviously there's a perfectly good way to get off Coombesgate beach, only trouble is it's a whole lot of very high steps
oh well, good exercise!

Here's some pictures of the weird rock formations on these beaches.

View out of the end of Barricane

An atmospheric channel between Coombesgate beach and Barricane

A cathedral of rocks surrounding a deep pool.

I suspect most of these things are inaccessible in a normal tide.

Since these are supposed to be blogs about my craft stuff, here's some stuff I picked up that day, waiting to be turned into something nice. The little shiny black one at the front is a stone, I'd love to know what it is, it comes off the beach just like this, shiny and smooth.
There's at least one piece of genuine black glass, and the little pale blue piece, sort of squared off at the bottom of the picture, is the only piece I've ever found on Barricane.

These are some pieces I'm working on at the moment, I've been doing a lot of starting and not much finishing !

top is a piece of brown sea glass, I have very definite plans for the finishing of that one, next round clockwise is a piece of fossil coral, not sure where that's going yet, and last is a lovely piece of ceramic, I feel that a piece of lace is needed for this one, just haven't decided how or what kind yet.

Apologies for the uncropped images, still trying to getPphotoshop CS3 to work on my new computer. can't afford the newest one, who can!

CRAFTfest

2011-09-11T21:01:00.000+01:00

This is an exciting idea that Creative Connections has come up with, come along and join us at the weekend.

See you all there I hope.

Barnstaple Pedal Car and Lawn Mower Grand Prix

2011-08-15T19:30:00.001+01:00

A mad event that took place along the strand in Barnstaple today. Raising money for the North Devon Children's Hospice and organised by the local college, Petroc, and the local ship building firm, Babcock.

There were a handful of mad pedal cars and a gang of souped up lawn mowers, along with lots of music and fun for kids.

I think the photos probably say it all:

Piggy's Peddlers in the fun fur pedal car with a curly tail.

Dick's Dastardly machine from the wacky races series

The Dastardly machine taking advntage of a lost chain on the Babcock pedal car

Piggy wizzes (almost) past

This orange creation was seriously fast!

Muttley takes over on the Dastardly car

And then there were they lawnmowers....................

A hairy cornering moment!

Getting near the end and a few more chances being taken..

The winner

Lap of honour

A little bit of the sound and fury.......

There was a lot of fun and some great live music, whole families and all ages

The live stage in the square outside the museum.

I took loads of photos and I'll load the rest on Flikr

Great fun day and the weather behaved itself too!

Latest Stuff

2011-07-20T20:15:00.001+01:00

Seems like a long time since I posted anything. So here goes. Recently the national sandcastle competition took place in Woolacombe Bay. This is an annual event to raise money for the local Hospice.

This picture shows an attempt on the world record for the most sandcastles built in an hour, unfortunately the attempt fell a few short but there are plans to try again.

Building teams hard at work on their entries for the main competition

Finished entries

The winner

second prize, can you spot the flames in his nostrils?

Another view of the winning entry

That flaming dragon again

Third prize from Ilfracombe Round Table

Smiley turtle

Woolacombe Bay holiday park entry

As you can see there were some amazing entries and lots of hard work.

Well done everyone and it was a glorious hot sunny day too!

The weekend before this, Ilfracombe held it's first ever arts festival, part of the North Devon Arts Festival, it was an amazing success and I took part in the craft fair in The Lantern, a lovely converted Methodist chapel in the High Street. I didn't make many sales but made a contact with a lady who runs a gallery at Instow, where I now have a few pieces on display.

This is a recent piece I'm quite pleased with, which is now at the Waterside Gallery Instow

Magical woods and pony foals on Dartmoor

2011-05-31T22:44:00.001+01:00

This weekend we decided to visit Dartmouth by way of Dartmoor National Park.

For anyone who hasn't visited, Dartmoor is a very large area of moorland in the centre of Devon. There's a very varied landscape, from wooded valleys to wild high moors like this one. The main purpose in visiting this weekend was to find Wistmans Wood, a small oak woodland in a valley not far from Dartmoor Prison. It's a really strange, rather magical place where oak trees grow amongst moss covered boulders, the trees themselves are quite small, and twisted by the prevailing winds into wierd shapes, covered in mosses and lichens.

This is a picture taken from just below the wood near the river. It's really difficult to negotiate your way through as the boulders are really packed in aganist each other and covered in slippery moss. It's a roughly 2 mile walk from a small car park at Two Bridges, just north of Princetown. As it's up on the high moor it's important to be prepared for rough ground and rapid weather changes; while we were there a family arrived with two children, a small girl in a summer skirt and t shirt and her brother in t shirt and jeans, the girl also wearing Crocs on bare feet. Even without the possibility of adders, there's the danger of clambering on wet moss in that sort of footwear. The adders of Wistman have the reputation of being more venomous than any others, probably untrue! It does seem a perfect lair for snakes though, especially under the rocks! Legend has it that the wood is haunted, first by the ghost of a dog and also by ghostly monk like figures, as the site is supposed to be connected with ancient burial rituals. For legends connected to the wood visit LegendaryDartmoor.co.uk/wistman.htm.

Here's a couple of dragons I spotted at the edge of the wood. There are all sorts of fantastical shapes, dryads and dancing demons, and figures absorbed into the mossy covering of the trees.

Here's a figure with an arm thrown over it's head, I'm not sure what happened to it's other leg, perhaps the Wisht Hounds got it!

We spent the night in Dartmouth, in a nice little hotel that had a view over the river, and watched the mist come in until you couldn't see anything past the hedge about 50 yards away.
Spent Monday mooching around Dartmouth in the drizzle, looking at galleries and admiring stuff we can't afford, went into both Simon Drew's gallery and shop, fell in love with several original artworks and settled for a magnetic notebook. Have to buy the T shirt with the Bayeux Tapestry on it and the caption: "I spy with my little eye something beginning with A". Genius, a lttle sick, but genius.

Having looked at the ridiculous queue for the car ferry to Kingswear, and the madly long road trip round, we opted for a passenger ferry over the river, Kingswear is a little boy's heaven, boats and steam trains!

Steam train with pretty pastel buildings behind

Steam engine puffing into the station

A view from the footbridge, where I relived a childhood memory, waiting for trains on a bridge in Portsmouth on our way to the beach, steam coming up through the boards all around you, aah that smell!

Went home back over Dartmoor stopping to photograph random tors, the clapper bridge at Postbridge and some very cute pony foals. We'd seen several mums with foal in tow but never where you could stop to take pics, until we found a whole herd with about four foals surrounding a parking area.

Jay imitating the angel of the north, in a very high wind!

The granite stack he was standing on, about 20 feet high.

Clapper bridge from below, there were swallows zipping in and out of the arches but far too fast for my little idiot proof camera to catch.

Aah too cute, the little fellow at the bottom was trotting back to mum after a brave foray away from her and a rapid return.

If you've never visited Dartmoor hopefully this gives a little flavour of it, I spent several childhood holidays here and my Dad used to climb the larger tors with my older sister scrambling after him, I'm a complete wimp, I used to get stuck three feet off the ground, embarrassing!

Here are some random images that I like from the two days.

Mist coming in over the West Dart river

Long may the national parks continue as they are.

May Day in Ilfracombe

2011-05-04T00:20:00.000+01:00

Monday Ilfracombe celebrated May Day. It's a relatively recent tradition, although I'm sure it is actually a revival.

It was a really cold morning, freezing wind off the sea, but here are some pictures of the parade and maypole dancing.

Town Crier, Roy Godwin, leads the procession.

Several Morris groups took part including a ladies clog Morris group and these black faced ones.

Junior and infant school children dancing round the maypole.

Having wound it one way, they dance it back again.

A chilly day but much enjoyed. Following the dancing and festivities, the 'Jack' is taken down to the beach and stripped of his greenery, unfortunately I missed that, I got so cold waiting for the parade that I chickened out and went home!

Quick update

2011-04-13T22:55:00.000+01:00

Very busy at the moment, other half is out there collecting census forms, boy is he gong to know his way around here when he's finished! For those more urban dwellers out there Ilfracombe is, as it's name suggests, a steep valley leading down to the sea, combe meaning valley, There isn't any part of the town that isn't up (or down depending where you start) a steep hill.

Ilfracombe seen from the churchyard part way up the Slade valley, where we live.

Ilfracombe, seen from a headland just outside it on the Combe Martin Road

Of course it's quite sprawly too, so the area he covers has small farms and isolated cottages, there are obscure little alleyways, and cottages behind big hotels, making it impossible to find them without the help of a friendly postie. He's also collecting out in Lynton and Lynmouth. Now when you look at a map, if it doesn't have contour lines, they look as if they are right next door, in fact you might wonder why they are two separate places,

until you get there and find that 700 hundred foot cliff that actually separates them!

This is Lynmouth Harbour, way up behind those trees is Lynton, accessed via an amazing water powered cliff railway, unless you want to be boring and drive!

What would make you proud of your country?

2011-04-04T23:24:00.001+01:00

A little rantette.

I don't know what anyone else thinks, I certainly have no idea what the politicians think, but here's what would make me proud:

Everyone having a safe and decent place to live.
Everyone able to feed themselves and their family healthy food.
Everyone getting a proper education.
Everyone feeling safe and respected no matter where they live, where they come from, what they believe or how old or young they are.
Everyone able to get whatever medical treatment they need.
(Nobody earning more money than anyone could possibly spend in several lifetimes).
Those are the things that would make me proud of my country, just my own opinion and I do mean everybody, no exceptions.
I think those are the things that we shoud be worrying about first, before anything else.
Come to that wouldn't those things make you proud of the world if we could get them for everyone?

Libraries under threat

2011-03-17T19:53:00.000Z

As a library and information assistant in North Devon I am naturally concerned about any library closures or cuts to services. Not least because my own job might be at risk, but mostly because I believe passionately in the necessity of free libraries in any worthwhile civilisation.
I found this on Daniel Solis' blog:

It's a T shirt design and only costs around £12.99, sorry if that's wrong but when I went back to check the money was in dollars! ($16.99)

I just thought it was brilliant. If you want to support your local library then what better way than wearing this T shirt.

Exciting day in Ilfracombe

2011-02-22T20:46:00.000Z

For the first time in what seems like ages my other half and I went for a walk on Sunday afternoon, it's either been raining, we've been too busy or something. We went for a blustery stroll on Wilder Beach, I picked up a few bits of glass and Jay found me a lovely lump of willow pattern ceramic I can't wait to start working with. We felt that just mooching around on our tiny beach didn't really constitute a walk so we set off for the harbour.

As we got to the railings overlooking the outside of the harbour I saw something just disappearing under the water, I thought it was a gannet fishing and then it reappeared.......A little curved triangular fin on a smooth grey back a dolphin! We walked out to the end of the harbour wall and scanned the heaving water, there were two at least, all we saw were their backs surfacing occasionally as they came up for air, these were dolphins fishing, not playing unfortunately but still very exciting. We watched for ages and I managed to catch a tiny glimpse on film. You need good eysight to spot the tiny black speck appear and disappear, they really weren't performing for their public that day.

You really have to watch carefully to spot the dolphin's back appearing and disappearing briefly twice at the left hand side.

On the craft front, I've been making some paisley brooches recently, these were the first things I made when I started beading. I needed to find something tomake for a little workshop I've been asked to do. I remembered this design and decided to use it. I'm kind of hooked at the moment.

These are a few, the big one is completely over the top, but the bead in the middle sort of asked for it really.

NHS Debate

2011-01-30T22:13:00.000Z

Please copy and send this letter to your mp find their email online by typing in a search for their name. The debate takes place tomorrow this is URGENT.

Dear

I write with regard to the proposed reforms to the NHS. I understand that the new bill on health and social care is to be debated in parliament on Monday 31^st January, and as a concerned constituent I hope you will take note that I, and I feel sure many others, are deeply concerned about the changes which are already going forward. I see Mr Lansley’s proposed ‘reforms’ as nothing less than privatisation by stealth. I read with deep concern Polly Toynbee’s article in the Guardian (18 January, Tory Free Market Hurricane will blow our NHS apart. ) in which she points out much of the following:

The proposal that GPs will take ownership of the £80Billion budget and ‘buy in’ services from “any willing provider” means in reality that GPs will face EU Competition Law. A GP could, for example, refer a patient to a local hospital with which s/he has had a long-standing trusted relationship, only to find that this referral could be ‘outbid’ by a private company, and the latter would win . In effect neither GP nor patient will control who is treated where - the law will decide.

Of course this might be perfectly reasonable, if the private provider could be trusted to give care to the same standard that we have come to expect from the NHS but this will not be the case. We are already aware of many botched operations which have gone ahead in ISTCs by doctors who are not obliged to perform by NHS standards. They are not members of the Royal College of Surgeons and not vetted for jobs. They are frequently foreign with a poor grasp of the English language. Under the previous Labour administration competition was introduced based on quality not financial cost and IPSO Mori reports (as reported in the Observer newspaper 30 January) that satisfaction with the NHS went up from 55 -71% under that administration, the highest percentage rise recorded by Mori.

If the proposed reforms go ahead private providers will have the potential to undercut all NHS surgery. Thus lack of funding will leave many hospitals in a very fragile and vulnerable position. NHS Hospitals could be bankrupted but also left with complex or emergency operations. If local NHS Hospitals go broke or can no longer offer unprofitable (but of course effective for the patient) services, what choice will be left to patients? They will either have to travel vast distances or be left in the hands of inexperienced doctors who neither comply with NHS standards or are accountable. Price competition ordained by the EU will decide which services survive and which die. It will also decide which patients live or die.

This process was begun under the last Tory administration in the mid 1990s and Lansley is ignoring all the evidence on the impact of price competition in the hospital sector and is endangering lives. But it seems that he is unconcerned. As long as the lobbyists for the businesses, which are angling to have a slice of the Health-care pie, continue to have the same cosy relationship which they already have with ministers and MPs in Westminster, the ordinary public stand little chance of getting a word in edgeways but, rest assured, we do not want to find ourselves in a situation where the private provider is allowed to consign us to a painful life following from a poorly performed operation, or indeed worse.

Of course surgery is only one aspect of the proposed reforms. Pharmaceuticals and other, clinical and medical services will all be up for grabs.

We also understand that many GPs are not keen on these reforms and Sarah Wollaston, a Tory MP who is also a GP, has publicly aired her misgivings, (as has former shadow health minister Stephen Dorrell). Other GPs are not against the reforms, indeed some look forward to running profitable companies, but this is not what healthcare should be about. David Cameron promised before the election that he would not tinker with the NHS – Too right – this isn’t tinkering – it’s major surgery – excuse the pun! Among the silken words he used to lull us into a false sense of security, he said ”spending on public services will actually be at the same level of GDP as it was in 2006 – 41% but in fact GDP has fallen by 6% since then. So in reality there will be a massive cut. This will lead to lengthening waiting lists, cancelled operations and hospital closures.

One comment on the Guardian blog on Polly Toynbee’s article points out that had Cameron been honest about his intentions for the NHS in his election manifesto he would most definitely have lost the election.

Please support your constituents and fight these reforms. I look forward to hearing your own views on this matter.

Yours sincerely

Thanks if you decide to do it.

200 FANS PRIZE DRAW

2011-01-29T19:20:00.000Z

There's space for one more fan on my facebook prize draw, 199 'likes' the prize is a little sea glass pendant with malachite dangles, hung on green ribbon.

Click below to add your 'like' and we'll draw a name out of the hat, or random number generator in fact.
http://www.facebook.com/vintage.beadery

Some new stuff

2011-01-15T22:22:00.002Z

I've always wanted to do something with recycled jewellery, I have a collection of bits of jewellery, a lot given to me by my mother, and some I've collected over the years. I started in a small way adding occasional bits to the beaded stuff as embellishments, but I actually took the plunge and made the pieces of an old brooch into pendants the other day.
These are made from a rather ugly brooch which was probably from the 1950s or thereabouts, I don't remember where it came from.

There were sparkly 'flowers' making up the brooch, three like this and two like the one below. I rather like the effect of the inadvertant flash in the right hand pic. I always turn flash off but my camera's default setting is auto, so my first shot usually uses flash, then I curse, delete it and turn the flash off! This time I kept it, it gives a good idea of the really flashy glass stones.

This is the other style of flower, the brooch was a bunch of flowers on thin metal stems emerging from a single crystal stone like the one in the centre of this flower. I have a drawing of the brooch, done from memory as I cut it up ages ago, but for some reason blogger won't let me load it.
I've just started to make a piece from the hands of an old clock, I bought three for 50p from my local collectors market, I don't think they come from the same clock although they are all made from blued steel, one is in better condition than the others and quite fancy. I've fixed two together, they turn, which is quite fun, I need to figure how to make a piece of jewellery so that they still can when worn.

I think I'll use a bead from this necklace, and maybe some other parts of it too somehow. Not sure how yet.

On a completely different subject I'm watching Agora while I write this, about the destruction of the great library at Alexandria. I work in a library which is struggling with too few staff, no lending dept manager and a ban on overtime. At a recent consultation meeting about budget cuts within the county council, a councillor was going around the groups of people voting for their ideas on what to cut, suggesting that closing the libraries would save lots of money. When he was asked what the schools would do without the library service he replied 'they have their own libraries.' It was pointed out that the county schools library service is where the schools get their library books from, he was amazed, as he didn't know that. It's very worrying that such ignorance of a service should be allowed to suggest closing it. I had a similar experience a few years ago, I ran an arts centre for young people, we offered classes in all the arts and had recently begun providing specialist assistance for young people with disabilities. The borough council responsible for it was required to make huge cuts and my centre was being offered as the sacrifice within the arts service. At a meeting with elected members I was asked to describe the services offered at the centre, when I had finished the councillors said, 'we had no idea you did so much there!' They still closed it though.
The fall of the Roman Empire began with the closing of a library.........

Going back to some old designs, maybe.

2011-01-07T23:28:00.001Z

For a recent, disastrous, craft fair, I unearthed some experiments that I made using polymer clay. They had been put away for a couple of years as I wasn't very happy with them. I re-strung them on ribbon rather than beads, which seemed to work well, and used a hand made T-bar clasp for one of them. I'm actually quite pleased with the results, I'd love some feedback as I think I might go back to making some of this stuff. Maybe make some beads?

This is probably my favourite piece, it's called carnival. There are layers of very thinly sliced canes and simple colours, mostly mixed with translucent clay so that they show through each other. It has a sterling silver wire bail, which is 'screwed' into the pendant by making zig zag bends in the wire and literally winding it into a hole in the pendant. This was the reason I hadn't tried to sell it as the original wire, baked into the pendant, had pulled loose. I think fitting it after the clay is baked works better in fact.

This one has needed a bit of polishing and refinishing as I think I actually over cooked it a bit, I rather like the slightly gothic look. I don't have a specific name, other than red and black heart, again it's layered slices on a red heart with a silver bail, this time just a simple loop.

This is a technique that simulates ivory. several alternating layers of white and translucent clay. The design is 'engraved' into the soft clay and then acrylic paint is rubbed into the design after baking. It has two small loops of silver wire in the top, and another at the bottom with a vintage silver heart suspended from it. The cord is hand woven from old silk thread using a medieval technique which takes FOREVER. I probably won't make any more of these cords, except for fun, as it's totally not viable to charge for the time!

This one is a large bead, about 3/4" across, using sliced canes again. The blue ribbon is quite long, probably about 30", to make a 'flapper' length pendant. The fastener is a T-bar style made from twisted silver wire, heated to fuse it and then hammered to flatten it a little

Anyway, let me know what you think, should I go back to making some of these? I'd quite like to experiment with some of the metallic powders and liquid clays that have appeared since I first started using it. I'd also like to get better at canework, although it's a bit too much planning for me, my working style is definitely organic, otherwise known as making it up as you go along!

Musing on where to go next.

2010-12-14T20:42:00.000Z

It's been a while since my last post, I've been busily making jewellery in anticipation of a Christmas sales bonanza, unfortunately the sales have not materialised. Now this is almost certainly my fault, I'm very disorganised when it comes to the essential business side of craft. Like hundreds of other makers I love making but really don't fully understand business, or at least am afraid of it and dislike it.

This is a stallI had at a fair in Bristol last christmas. Not great sales but some at least.

I've atttended two fairs recently which resulted in zero sales, this has never happened before and it's a blow to the ego as well as the pocket. I can blame the recession to a certain extent but that can't be the only answer. Either I am making the wrong kind of stuff or I'm looking to sell it in the wrong market.
When it comes to the kind of stuff I make, well there's a reasonable variety, I mostly make the sea glass and beaded jewellery but also wire wrap sea glass, make a small amount with silver clay and create pendants from pebbles making hand made silver mounts for them, I also make a little polymer clay jewellery. Of course it may be that none of it appeals to anyone!

This leaves trying to sell in the wrong market. I had several bits of advice at the first fair in Bath, including 'go to London', 'contact Liberty and sell to them'. Many people have told me that my prices were way to low, however when I had low prices I sold a lot...........of course I wasn't getting any money for my time and therefore could only consider it as a hobby. So now I'm in that difficult transition between hobbyist and business. HELP

The second event with no sales was quite depressing, opposite me was a stall selling manufactured goods designed to look 'crafty' and handmade, I don't suppose they had much influence on my lack of sales except to attract a large crowd, which made it difficult for people to get past to my stall. I think the main problem was price. Having followed the advice I've raised my prices although according to Etsy they should be doubled!

One rather unpleasant side effect of the second event was that, having passed on my disappointment at having a company who buy their goods rather than making them at the event; which advertised itself as supporting local made goods, I was told that as it was a local company that was fine, and was then told that my goods were no longer considered suitable for the site that organised the event, a site I was invited to join mind you!

I've started contacting outlets that seem to be at the slightly higher end of the market, lets hope they are interested. I'm not giving up yet although at the end of Sunday's event I felt like it.

Merry Yule everyone, and here's to a MUCH better 2011.

The next bit

2010-10-26T21:52:00.022+01:00

Ok, this is where I give away my darkest secret. I don't use pickle to clean firestain off silver! Shock! I use cream of tartar, I expect loads of people know that you can use this to clean metals, silver certainly, copper just goes green! I mix the powder with either water, or water and lemon juice if I'm in a hurry. Just until it's a thick paste, too runny and it won't coat the piece properly. If it get's runny add more powder. It comes in a tub for about 30 or 40 pence in a supermarket baking section.

I don't always clean the wire after I've heated it, sometimes I ike to keep the darkened look. I leave really black stuff in at least over night, rub the cream of tartar paste into the piece the next day and you should see a nice clean piece of silver.
You now need to mark the silver for drilling. You need to measure the holes drilled in the stone so that the holes in the silver match up. You can mark with a fine steel point through the pebble's holes, or if you are very clever or have a suspension unit for your drill, you can drill through the pebble into the silver, I don't recommend it though as the silver can easily slip out from under the pebble and you can end up with a hole where you don't want one. I use a good pair of dividers and a rawhide mallet. Measure the distance between the centres of the two holes as accurately as possible with the dividers, then place the points on the silver in the right place and tap with the rawhide mallet to mark the silver slightly. Make sure you are not too near the end and in the centre of the strip, also remember, you need enough space above the pebble for a chain or leather thong to thread through once the bail is bent in half! In other words don't put the holes too far from the end of the silver strip. Once you have the marks at one end mark the other end, trying to keep the same distance from this end of the bail. Hopfully you have measured your wire properly before you started, to fit on the pebble comfortably with a sensible loop above it when you are finished.

Now make the rivets, cut short lengths of silver wire, around .6 - .8mm thick, make sure they are longer than the thickness of the pebble. Melt the end of the wire in a torch flame until a small blob forms at the end. Hold the wire at the hottest part of the flame, just beyond the point of the blue section of flame. When it's in the right place a bright orange flare will appear behind the wire, watch closely and when the wire melts and runs into a small blob remove it from the flame and cool.

At this point either clean the prepared rivet as before, or leave it as it is if you like the oxidised look. The next step is to form it into an actual rivet. To do this properly you need a drawplate, a flat bar of steel with a variety of holes through it. They can be expensive but I got mine from an engineering firm and it was very cheap, I searched the internet for it. Put the prepared wire through the appropriate hole in the plate and hammer the end flat,

melted wire in the drawplate

Here's the rivet head,flattened, in the draw plate, top left corner. Make another.

All that's left is fitting it all together. You'll probably find that the holes need to be juggled a bit until the first rivet is in place. Place the pebble on a flat metal surface with the unfinished end of the rivet uppermost. If necessary trim it until only a short piece sticks out beyond the silver bail. Now carefully hammer this end flat. This is tricky, you need to ensure that the already flattened end of the rivet is firmly against the surface, with a natural pebble this is not easy, but if this isn't happening the rivet will just fall back through when you hammer it. You're aiming for a flat end rather than a bent over one, although as long as the rivet is firmly flat against the bail surface and you like the way it looks then that's ok. Once both rivets are fitted and properly flattened, file any rough or sharp edges smooth and there you are. Thread the pendant onto a chain or a length of thonging to complete it.

Here's one I made earlier.

Pebble Jewellery 2

2010-10-12T15:36:00.005+01:00

Here's how I make the silver bail to mount the pebble. First take a short length of silver wire, obviously the length depends on the size of pebble, I had a photo of the wire before working it but for some reason it's corrupted, I'm sure you can all imagine a piece of wire. I use 1mm diameter sterling wire, the stuff I bought is soft, which is ideal as it can be worked straight away. Cookson Gold sells all their silver wire in this condition, I don't always want soft wire but in this instance that's exactly what is wanted. The wire will get a little longer when worked as you are going to hammer it flat!

Here you can see the small flat faced hammer I use, it's a craft hammer with interchangeable heads but you can use any good small flat hammer. A ball pein hammer produces a different effect, you get ripples along the edge. The second image shows the beginning of the flattening process. It takes practise to get a flat straight length of silver, but I think the slight quirks are part of the style of these pieces; as the pebbles are natural the silver doen't want to be machine perfect. Watch your fingers, and make sure you're not hammering over the edge of the anvil, stay in the middle and work gradually down the wire.

Here's the finished length of silver, as you can see I haven't mastered perfection by a long way, the edge is uneven and the thickness is a bit variable but I like it fine like that. (Hmm gone a bit Scots there that's the influence of music, Wild Mountain Thyme playing on the CD!) You can see the original wire lying on the anvil. I bought this anvil and bench peg from Cookson's (see above) quite small and very cheap! You can use any bit of flat steel to hammer on but make sure that it is flat and smooth or it will mark the silver! I must point out that my silver smithing is very basic and self taught.
You'll need to anneal the silver now as it gets very hard when you hammer it and won't bend properly. To do this heat it with a small gas torch, at a push you can use a domestic gas stove, takes ages though! The silver must glow pale pink for 30 seconds to be softened enough to work it further. Check out this site for really good advice about annealing http://www.silverstall.com/annealing-silver-jewellery.html

Next time I'll talk about drilling the silver and making the rivets.

Pebble Jewellery

2010-10-04T22:36:00.001+01:00

This is the first of a short series about making a pendant from a natural pebble
First of all you have to find a suitable pebble, of course. I'm lucky enough to live by the sea so I have a good source, I only take one every now and then, this is not something you can do a lot of as beaches need their pebbles.

Here are a couple of pebbles waiting to be turned into pendants. You can also see the multi tool I use to drill holes in the pebbles.

The pebbles have two holes drilled through them using a diamond burr, depending on what kind of stone it is it can take quite a while to drill through. Choose thin flat pebbles so that you don't have to spend too long drilling, I also have a limitation in that my diamond burr has 'shoulders' so where the drill widens is the limit of the depth I can drill to. I make pilot holes with a hand drill before using the electric one otherwise there can be problems with the bit sliding off the smooth surface.

This picture shows the hand drill with the diamond burr fitted.

Here's the pebble with the pilot holes drilled. The holes are quite shallow, just enough to give the motorised drill something to sit in. I use a light oil like 3 in 1 to lubricate the hole, and help keep it a little cooler. You have to stop frequently to remove the waste from the hole and add a little more oil.

Here's the first hole completely drilled through.

Starting the second hole, It's probably quite foolish to hold the stone by hand, More recently I used a lump of plasticine to hold the pebble, unfortunately the stone gets quite warm so the plasticine melts a bit, it's a safer way to hold the stone still, just remould the plasticine occasionally. I cheated this shot a bit, I needed my husband to photograph me so we took the stone to his work where there's a LOT more space. I work under the stairs in our tiny cottage so not much room for photography!

The next bit is making the silver bail. See you then.

The Highlander

2010-09-21T11:02:00.001+01:00

The Highlander, originally uploaded by indri the second.

I love this unusual picture, I used to sell books on quilling, among others, in a gift shop I never saw the appeal 'till now. It's great to see an old craft being brough up to date with a really original twist.

Dads in the 21st century

2010-09-01T15:44:00.002+01:00

I've just read an article in the Autumn UK Handmade magazine, have a look, it's about the experiences of a modern Dad, dealing with, ocasionally, badly behaved kids in a positive and sensible way in the face of disapproval and suspicion from 'well meaning' nosy parkers.
I work in a library part time and we see all forms of the family in there, from the tired, frazzled and frankly impatient mother to the slightly bemused grandparent being dragged into the picture book corner by an enthusiastic toddler. Some of the worst parenting I've seen has been from mothers whose uncaring and selfish behaviour towards their kids has frequently appalled me, using the library as somewhere where they can let their kids run riot while they chat.

On the other hand when a Dad comes in alone with his kids he is usually the opposite, really focused on them and making sure they behave while enjoying themselves. Not all mothers are good and not all fathers are useless. I suppose the good fathers I see are the ones who have made a conscious decision to be the carer, wether on a permanent basis or just for a day, whereas the 'bad' mothers have perhaps been lumbered with kids they didn't really want at all.
The article talks about the portrayal of 'modern dad' on TV, I've often thought that the media has a huge responsibility towards the society they operate in, comedy particularly. It's easy, and lazy, to pick on a particular section of society and portray them as useless and bumbling or some other amusing characteristic, but people take that stuff in unconsciously and it becomes an established attitude if we are not careful. Racist comedy is, thankfully, a thing of the past but lazy comedy is still out there picking on other people and making their lives difficult. Librarians for one!

vintage beadery: what I've been doing

2010-09-01T14:22:00.000+01:00

vintage beadery: what I've been doing: "Life is a bit full on at the moment. I've been asked to create a range of jewellery based on vintage lace for a new craft gallery. I've got ..."

what I've been doing

2010-09-01T14:19:00.002+01:00

Life is a bit full on at the moment. I've been asked to create a range of jewellery based on vintage lace for a new craft gallery. I've got one piece finished already and another almost done. I've got loads of ideas buzzing around my head but no time to get on with them. I should have lots more time soon as from today there is no overtime at all at my part time job. Now if I could guarantee loads of sales of this jewellery then great but............
I don't have any photos yet as I'm keeping it under wraps until the launch. It will be a bit like this piece but without the moon face.

This is a section from a bracelet which is the first finished piece. I had to change it slightly to satisfy the gallery owner but it's looking good now I think.

I've just added some items with an autumnal feel to UK Handmade

check them out if you like I've got to start thinking along Christmas lines I suppose. I have a vague idea about ponytail bands, I've bought some, just have to do something with them now.

A new giveaway

2010-08-16T12:59:00.001+01:00

I've finally got round to announcing a giveaway on my facebook storefront. I mentioned it back in June but haven't got round to actually officially doing it. When I reach 200 fans I'll give away this little green sea glass pendant via a draw, including all the fans to date. Pop over and 'like' the page to be in the draw, and send all your friends too! http://www.facebook.com/Vintage.Beadery

Life has been a bit hectic recently with no car, my husband, Jay has been slaving over replacing a head gasket in every available hour, only to find that now it's all back together the fuel pump isn't working and we have no idea why. If anyone knows anything about Renault Scenic electrics please help!

I've polished the sugar tongs bracelet, but forgot to take a picture so I'll post that later. I'm quite pleased with it, but still can't decide whether to put a dangly pendant on it or not.

I've been working on a commission for a lady for a pair of cufflinks

These are the fragments I used but I was in such a rush to get them to her I forgot to photograph the finished article!

and also on a bracelet made with vintage lace and beads for possible inclusion in a new crafts gallery in Barnstaple , it's called Atelier and is really lovely but a bit tucked away.
I never seem to have any energy these days, all that walking I expect.
There are some benefits to having to walk home from the bus, there's a shortcut over The Cairn to my house from the bus stop and I spotted this plant growing down from the trees above in the sunlight the other day, it's either white briony or honeysuckle, not sure which. I also get to pick early blackberries. It's not much fun when it rains though, as the path goes under an old railway bridge just after this and it gets very muddy and slippery.

I'll post some pictures of my recent work another day.

Competition win from Zibbet

2010-08-14T20:31:00.001+01:00

I recently entered a competition on the Zibbet site, in return for promoting the site on my facebook page I was entered in a draw and won 3rd prize, which was $25.00 to spend on the site. In fact it was $25.00 paid into my paypal account, so technically I didn't have to spend it on Zibbet. Of course I would have felt terrible if I hadn't, so I had great fun browsing around. I eventually chose some great vintage beads to add to my stash and a hemp and copper bead bracelet.

http://www.zibbet.com/beadsbeadsbeadsandmore

http://www.zibbet.com/lucysbeadstudio

Check out the shops I bought them from and have a look at the rest of Zibbet while you're there, if you're a craftsperson you can sell there completely for free.

Messing about with silver

2010-08-02T00:14:00.002+01:00

I was trying to get a bit further with all the projects I have going at the moment.
The first job was a clearing up session to try to get a working area. During this process I found a little cheap St Christopher pendant I aquired when I bought a second hand chain. Well since he isn't officially a saint any more I decided to melt him. It's a fairly nasty little pendant anyway, (sorry if you have one like it)

Here's the original little pendant, about the size of a 5p and very thin, with an embossed image, which is not much clearer than that close up.

Here's the melted result, I'm quite pleased that I've managed to keep the little hanging loop. I like the colours on the reverse, I doubt if I'll be able to keep those if I want to clean the rest, I'll give it a try though.

I've actually combed some of the fleece, I bought two 'slicker' combs for dogs from Wilkos (wilkinsons for the uninitiated) for about £3.50 each rather than about 10 times that for proper carding combs. I've also started making the body for one of the paper puppets. The paper rabbit has a coat of gesso ready for decorating. I've really got to concentrate on one project at a time.

As a complete side issue how about this jackdaw posing for me in the local churchyard last week.

Oh and here's a slow worm who visited last sunday.

In the background you can see a clutter of moulds and deckles, a bowl of pulp and the paper rabbit, just to prove I'm working hard.

Treasure from Trash

2010-07-23T23:21:00.001+01:00

I've finally managed to make something that resembles a bracelet from the pair of old sugar tongs bought for £1.00 from my local market. It's not easy, especially as I don't really have any silversmithing tools, the tongs are not actually silver,they are some kind ofalloy, which I guess has brass or copper in it as it goes interesting rainbow colours when you heat it. As it has taken me so long to finish it's not polished yet, although I quite like the patination effect in places, there are some ugly marks I want to get rid of before I call it properly finished. Any way here it is for what it's worth.

Here are the original tongs, about 6" long and the spoon ends are about the size of small tea spoons.

This view shows the flattened spoon bowl.

This view shows some of the interesting colours that have developed on the metal, I need to decide wether to keep them or not, unfortunately some areas have actually turned black and not in a nice even way but in blobs and patches.

The other side.

I have a vague intention to make some kind of pendants from an old Tate & Lyle treacle tin, the sugar connection you know, and drill the bracelet to hang them from it, I'm not sure, or maybe just threaded on the narrow sections on rings so they move, may not do that at all, but I like the slightly steampunk look of the thing and I think that would enhance it. Well it's 20 past 11 on Friday so if I don't post now the deadline will have passed so that's that.

Flower Treasury

2010-07-23T16:24:00.000+01:00

Time for another treasury, with stunning imagination I've gone for flowers:

http://www.dreamaid.com/viewProductAction.do?id=4917

This pretty summery necklace, caught my eye, hand made foxgloves and a little butterfly peeping out at the right hand side.

http://www.dreamaid.com/viewProductAction.do?id=4059

Really unusual glass chips on this memory wire bracelet, never seen millefiore as chips before, lovely.

. http://www.dreamaid.com/viewProductAction.do?id=4700

It's really nice to see such bold fabric used for a little girl's dress. A lovely change from Bratz (Ugh) and other pink sparkly adverts.

The star of the show! I love this clever bag, so adaptable and well designed and vegan leather! I must investigate this material.

http://www.dreamaid.com/productImages/3556/Daisy%20muff%20bag%20Front1_490.jpg

Very clever lady.

http://www.dreamaid.com/viewProductAction.do?id=2968

These lovely old fashioned soap roses are a nice bit of nostalgia, this is the kind of thing my aunt used to have in her bathroom. A lovely gift for anyone, real elegance and beautiful packaging too.

http://www.dreamaid.com/viewProductAction.do?id=2424

Finally this dramatic necklace, a really different design and very elegant and striking.

Well of course I have to have a piece of my stuff in here too so here's mine

http://www.dreamaid.com/viewProductAction.do?id=4863

I'm not totally happy with the photo, I got carried away in the garden when the sun finally came out, but it's a pretty necklace anyway.

Hope you like my choices.

Vintage thingies thursday

2010-07-23T00:56:00.000+01:00

This is a link to a lady who has a regular spot about vintage stuff, I've posted something on there, I hope! Link over and have a look.
http://coloradolady.blogspot.com/2009/02/vintage-thingies-thursday

Paper and sheep

2010-07-18T20:24:00.001+01:00

Spent the day making 11 sheets of paper from the pulp, I've added some dried fuschias and some kind of wild cereal into a couple of the pages. I also put in some thin slices of shell which flaked off the inside of what might be an oyster or something like it. Bleaching doesn't seem to have made much difference to the colour so it'll be grey paper, oh well.

Yesterday a friend, who keeps sheep, gave me a fleece. It was fun bringing it home on the bus, I suppose living round here people don't think twice about a feed sack full of smelly wool. I left it outside last night and it's been lurking in the bath most of the day. The first lot of water was totally opaque brown! It's getting cleaner but it will take a while, then I'll have to card it, anyone know where I can get cheap carding combs? I'll probably use a couple of wire dog brushes as a substitute.

This is the fleece after several washes, one with grated soap in the water. I managed to pull a little out and wash it thoroughly, I laid it into a sheet of paper, not totally successful as the lanolin in the wool has repelled the top layer of paper. We'll have to see how it is when it's dry.

I had planned to make the limbs for the puppets from copper mesh with a bit of paper on it, so far I can't get the paper to stick to the mesh. At the moment the wierd Barbie has paper coated arms to see if I can make the limbs entirely out of paper.

At last the starch has arrived

2010-07-15T23:37:00.002+01:00

Yesterday morning the packet of powdered starch I ordered finally arrived, it took quite a while to get here, which is annoying as I've had all this pulp hanging around waiting for it. It's doubly annoying as I discovered that I could buy liquid size from a papermaking site much more cheaply than I thought. Ah well you live and learn.
I found a really strange doll in a charity shop yesterday. I decided I needed a teenage doll, like Barbie or one of those, to use as a kind of mould to create limbs for my puppets. The only one I could find is really weird. She has mauve translucent arms with glitter in them, partly translucent legs and very mad hair. She looks extra strange, as she has obviously lost her original clothes and someone has given her a pair of pink knitted shorts! More strange yet, when I got to work after buying her, I was rummaging in my bag for something and discovered that bits of the doll light up! Her legs glow red and her torso blue. Seems you might give a child nightmares with such a strange being. There's a slot in her back where the electronic gubbins are for the lights so I think she might have had wings once. She's wearing really odd pink boots too.

Very strange, I think you'll agree.
A bit of research has turned up the fact that she is a Fairytopia Crystal Barbie apparently from some ghastly Barbie movie
Here's what she should be wearing, poor thing, I was right about those wings.

I think the knitted shorts are a much better look, and the pink kinky boots! unfortunately one of her feet has broken off inside the boot. It's a good thing I only want her for her body! ( she'll be a template for limbs made from wire mesh) Luckily I have other plans for the feet, those scary permanently tiptoe barbie feet don't really do it for me.
I may redress her when I've finished using her, I can see all sorts of slightly punk fairy outfits coming to pass here! And maybe a metal replacement foot?.....ooh yes all sorts of possibilities. Of course if you've fallen in love with this little fairy you can find her on amazon and buy one of your very own, see the search box above.

The recycling project moves on

2010-07-14T00:36:00.001+01:00

I've made a few beginnings on the Beaford Arts recycling project. I've spent some time thinking about what should be included, the centre is about performng arts, and about outreach and bringing arts and community together. I started thinking just about a book, and I think there will will be one. I've begun to make some puppet figures, so far only the heads, I'm planning to represent a performance space and have some puppets that can move by some mechanical means. The movement wont be very sophisticated, probably a crank that turns to make them 'dance' a bit.

The heads are just faces because I'm making them with paper casting, I think they may stay that way, my thinking is connected to the ephemeral and artificial nature of a performance, putting on a mask or alter ego to perform whether as an actor or a more direct performer like a musician. I've always liked the Quay Brothers so an element of that wierdness might creep in.
I have a roll of copper mesh and I think the bodies may be formed from that, probably with more paper attached.
The rabbit has not been an unqualified success, it was really difficult to remove from the mould and I had to repair a couple of bits.

You can see there are a few cracks still, I'm not sure how to repair the outer surface, where it's whole and well moulded it has a wonderful silky smoothness which would be lost if I repair the outside with extra pulp, unless I can somehow put it back into the mould to redry. It took about 4 days to dry enough to take out the first time, and that includes 2 1/2 hour sessions in the oven and sitting it on a radiator at night and in the morning when we have one on in the bathroom.
I intend to give it a 'performance' element by applying a story to the rabbit's surface and some kind of noise creating thing inside. I'd like to have an electronic 'voice' inside the rabbit but it's proving very difficult to find one exccept on import sites that want you to buy 1,000 units! By the way does a rabbit make a noise?

Trash To Treasure

2010-07-07T21:36:00.001+01:00

Makers-online and Uk handmade are running a competition to make something beautiful from rubbish. I bought these sugar tongs for £1.00 from my local collectors and antique market. I've seen jewellery made from cutlery, admittedly usually silver, and wondered if I could do it too. We'll see.

Further moves on the recycle front

2010-07-07T21:07:00.000+01:00

I've made a start on the project, I've been amazed how much pulp I've ended up with from only a few brochures, maybe 1/2 dozen or so, so thanks to the lovely people at Beaford for the offer of another 75, but I only live in a tiny 2 up 2 down cottage!

Here are a couple of the containers I have in my kitchen, I promise the faces floated to the top of the right hand one without any interference from me, couldn't resist the photo.
As one of the events in the brochure is called Rabbit Faced Story Soup, I thought I should make a paper cast in an old rabbit shaped jelly mould that I happened to have in my kitchen cupboard.

I'm fairly sure there were more than one of these moulds once, possibly even three sizes. The pulp I've used for the rabbit is at a farly early stage and still very lumpy with big flecks of printed surface, it will be interesting to see if anything recognisable ends up on the outside, that might dictate how he gets finished.
I've been thinking about where this project is going, Beaford Arts is very involved in the communities where it takes the performances and has a policy of connecting artists withe the region. I've got a vague idea that my life and surroundings should come into the project somewhere. This morning while I was working on making the pulp finer I spotted a piece of kitchen paper I'd been draining raspberries on, and into the pulp it went.

I've made an experimental sheet of paper to see if it's working. I've sprinkled a few of the staples in between two layers of paper to see how that works.

Earlier today I was searching for thick square cut leather thonging, the only place that had any was Fred Aldous. I was really chuffed to find an old friend still in business, I had a Fred Aldous catalogue years ago before anyone had even thought of the internet, and there they are still trading, not only that but they sell Clothkits, how wonderful to find that they are still around too, I feel quite nostalgic. Anyone who was over 10 in the late 60s early 70s should remember Clothkits, they were and still are, a brilliant company selling screen printed kits for toys and clothes with real style. These days it's a real pleasure to find companies that have survived the times. Since we lost Woolworths I've been feeling that the whole world is wrong! You know what they say about not missing things 'till they are gone......

Arts Project

2010-07-03T22:40:00.001+01:00

I've set myself a project, following my appraisal at work where I was asked what I was personally doing to improve the green credentials of Devon (2nd largest county in the UK!) I spotted a whole load of out of date brochures for a local arts company,

Beaford Arts,in the recycle bin. I've decided to do something with them, so I've torn them up and they are soaking in a bowl on the floor. I'll either make papier mache or even some hand made paper. I've kept one set of pages back and a few of my favourites twice. I'll add some extracts, individual words and bits of images on the surface of whatever I end up making. I notice, looking for the website to link to them, that the brochure is printed on recycled paper, I like the idea of endlessly recycling things, changing their use and appearance each time and probably losing a tiny bit each time.

I'll probably pulp it tomorrow, I expect it will end up as paper, depends how I feel tomorrow, I've only really got one day to make paper, if that's what I decide to do, as I'm working part of every day next week. Oh yes and I'm going to a clothes swap party tomorrow afternoon. We'll see how it goes, no time for housework tomorrow!
PS I've kept the staples, or some of them, they came out still closed as I tore the brochures in half and picked them off the torn edges, maybe I'll add some to the paper too.

Ponds Cold Cream Rip-off

2010-07-01T22:39:00.004+01:00

Very, very unhappy with Unilever who make Ponds Cold Cream. I've been a fairly regular user until now. I wasn't able to buy it last time I tried, shortly after La Minogue announced she would be switching from botox to using cold cream. Clearly the good people at Lever rubbed their hands and immediately began thinking of how to increase the price. Having run out of the Boots version I bought instead I was pleased to find Ponds back on the shelf. I was a little surprised to find it now in a box,but at the same price so I bought it, in something of a hurry. On opening said, celophane wrapped, box I found a minute jar with a very large lid, in a box with a carefully raised bottom, the jar contained around 1/4 that the old plastic one did at the same price I had last bought it for. OF course there's now a lot more packaging as well,very green Unilever.

This is a rough idea of the difference between the two sizes of container. I haven't been able to find the pot I used to buy, I think it was the same size as the Boots one which is 200ml the new one is 50ml! The image is a bit exaggerated actually but you get the idea.
I can only hope that the celebrity interest fizzles out really quickly and leaves them with nobody, as I'm pretty sure most of their loyal old customers will feel the same way I do.
Boots will be getting my custom for future purchases of this cream unless they pull a similar despicable trick!!!!!!!!!

Well that's my vent over.

Facebook Giveaway

2010-06-19T19:47:00.001+01:00

I've made the draw for the pendant on Facebook, the winner was Dulce Matos Van Dyken. Congratulations to Dulce and thanks to everyone for taking me to 100 fans. Now about 200.............

How about this as a prize? What do you think? It's pale green sea glass, vintage beads and very fine old green ribbon with a tiny silver T bar clasp, which, by the way, won me a very nice prize from Kernowcraft. I wrote a review of these lovely little clasps and won a set of beading tools with sparkly pink handles, very chuffed!

Wordless Wednesday: Light

2010-06-16T13:10:00.001+01:00

Cars @?*!

2010-06-14T22:14:00.001+01:00

M ajor problems with the car, total disaster when you live in rural Devon. Luckily I have a friendly neighbour who gives me a lift most days.
I'm having a giveaway on my facebook storefront and there's only 10 fans to go until the draw. I've probably mentioned this before, but it's getting close now.

Here's the prize, so if you like the look of it pop over and 'like' my page on facebook http://www.facebook.com/Vintage.Beadery and good luck

Bring Back Mastercrafts

2010-06-10T22:30:00.000+01:00

There's a campaign running to try to persuade the BBC to commission a second series of the wonderful Mastercrafts. This was truly magical television, a real cut above the usual dross that seems to pass for entertainment these days, Visit the UK Handmade site: http://ukhandmade.co.uk/magazine/petition?destination=node%2F38
to sign the petition if you would like to see a second series. If you missed the first series you missed something really good. Watching people with real passion for their craft and skills that are almost lost to us, passing on their knowledge, watching people blossom and find their true vocation in life, frequently under quite trying personal circumstances, really inspiring and riveting viewing.

I am not really surprised, I suppose, that the decision has been made not to go ahead with a planned second series. There was no vicious infighting between the apprentices, in fact on several occasions they supported and assisted each other, all of them really wanted to win but all of them praised their competitors and admired their work. The three apprentices in each show were all really determined to succeed and all found strengths, and weaknesses, within themselves. A thoughtful and intelligent programme, too thoughtful and intelligent?

The box and some wonderful sunlit flowers

2010-06-03T22:57:00.004+01:00

Here are some pictures of my lovely box. It needs a lining inside the lid to finish it completely

Jay's website

The pieces of wood are the supports for the lid when it's a display box.
The photos aren't very good I'll have to take some proper ones in a properly lit space. I think its wonderful. I may line the compartments with felt as well.

I came home from work today to be greeted by this beautiful poppy, just opened and perfect.

By tomorrow it will be wide open and blowsy, We have a lot of trouble with these, quite a few of the buds never open and just shrivel up for some reason, if anyone knows why that happens let me know. The other plant is more prone than this one.
These buttercups are further up the garden among some herbs and wild strawberries.

I'm something of a haphazard gardener, for one thing I have no time and for another I haven't a clue what I'm doing. This is the front garden which does at least resemble a garden slightly!

The new online edition of the UK handmade magazine is out now

Anniversary

2010-06-02T15:52:00.001+01:00

This is a few days late, it was our wedding anniversary on Saturday (36 years!) and my lovely husband surprised me with a wonderful present he had made for me. I was a bit taken aback when he produced a huge parcel, as we were really up against it financially last month. He had spent two weeks making a beautiful box with my logo on the top, it has two layers of storage for jewellery and he has designed it so that the lid becomes a display pad. What a star! I haven't taken a photo yet but to see some examples of his lovely boxes you can visit his site on MISI

http://www.misi.co.uk/handmade/escutcheons.html

He takes commissions and can pretty much put anything on a box or a plaque that you like, *copyright permitting, as he makes the transfers himself.

*(Please don't ask for anything from TV, a book, a film or a logo belonging to any company or sports club as we will respect copyright and your request will be politely refused)

Treasury for Bank Holiday

2010-05-31T13:36:00.062+01:00

I've never done one of these, I was inspired by the first person in it, this gorgeous cat family is one of my favourite pieces, click on the link to go to the shops

http://www.dreamaid.com/store/SparrowPrimitives

I love these turquoise cats

http://www.dreamaid.com/store/katacat

Lovely cuddly feline, she has lots more in her store

http://www.dreamaid.com/store/ANGEL

http://www.misi.co.uk/handmade/dianajanemosaics.html

Nice simple design and fair trade too

http://www.misi.co.uk/handmade/elenachiesa.html

Finally a picture of my lovely Finn who we lost a couple of years ago, I've been looking at pictures of a kitten on someone else's site, getting that urge again!

I hope you like my choices, I only searched in Dreamaid and MISI so maybe I'll do a wider search next time.

I started working on some bits for the lace piece again last night, I've made a coil of copper wire; which I've melted and heat treated a bit, that echoes the pattern on the lace, not entirely sure what to do with it yet..........

My dreamaid shop

If anyone has any suggestions for the next move please feel free, I may ignore you of course but I may not.

Craft Blog UK: UK Jewellery Blogs

2010-05-29T22:03:00.000+01:00

Craft Blog UK: UK Jewellery Blogs

Latest stuff

2010-05-28T17:01:00.003+01:00

I've finished piece of jewellery that I posted about a few days ago. It's a new take on the pendants on torques. I've been working on this piece as a rest from the coffee lace piece which I'm a bit stuck on. I did have a minor inspiration last night, I'll try it tonight and let you know if it's a real breakthrough or a really rubbish idea!
Here's the new piece I'll probably post it on Dreamaid later:

This is the closeup view, the torque is about 16" round and fastens with a hook at each end which link into each other.

In my last post I mentioned my young friends getting married, I have the bride's permission to post this image in which you can see my tiara. When she returns it I'll post a closer view.

You can just make it out it's made with lots of different white and crystal beads, mostly vintage, with 1 blue one, 'cos you know "Something old etc......."
Beautiful dress isn't it and what a perfect day and location, high on the cliffs overlooking Watermouth Bay and Combe Martin. I think I got the name of the headlands wrong in my last post sorry, It's probably Lester point and Hangman point.

Friends getting married

2010-05-25T21:34:00.001+01:00

A nice couple I know, who both work in different parts of the library I work at, got married on Saturday. They're mid 20s, the perfect age and have been sweethearts for 9 years or so, practically since they were children. I saw some photos posted on facebook today and they were lovely. I lent the bride my first attempt at a tiara, more of a posh alice band really, but it looked really pretty, adding a little extra sparkle to an already lovely bride. Foolishly I haven't any photographs of it yet. Here's a picture of the view from the hotel they married in.

Eat your heart out, I live here! Well just up the road a bit, but I pass this view on my way to work in the mornings when I work with my husband. This is Little and Great Hangman cliffs off Combe Martin. The hotel is called Sandy Cove. They couldn't have asked for better weather and they had the whole day there, ceremony and everything. It's lovely having young people start their new lives together, they are the second wedding among library staff this year, both couples have actually been sharing their lives together for a while and have recently decided to formalise their relationships, I'm pleased that this is something they have wanted to do. Both couples have said what a nice feeling it is,and the bride from the first wedding expressed surprise that she actually feels different, she hadn't expected to want marriage, as she has no intention of having children, but when asked, she agreed and is now really glad they did.
I'll have some pics of the bride and the tiara later.

New piece and dead bats

2010-05-24T21:36:00.001+01:00

Yesterday I spent an hour and a half in the garden digging a bit more of the jungle. It gets taller every time of course and I managed to sting myself on some nettles I'd already dug out! When my husband got home from work we went down to the seafront for an ice-cream only to find that the van had gone home! We found that one of the harbour shops was still open so we got our ice cream, the van is the best in the area made by Hockings and is really delicious, hopefully there'll be plenty of other opportunities to indulge.
We went back out to the garden to lay some weed suppressing membrane when the air had cooled a bit and found a dead pipistrelle bat at the bottom of the garden, poor little thing. There are a number of suspects of the four legged variety around, and the bat's fur had a slightly matted look, as if it might have been in someone's mouth!

Here he is, these are the smallest bats in the uk but I think they're also the most common, apparently they are usually 3- 5cm long with a wingspan of 19 - 25cm. I've always thought they were really cute, but then I like mice too. I'm glad to know there are some bats around locally, not too surprising as we have a stream running past the front garden and a wildlife reserve at the back.

Meanwhile back at jewellery, I've put the lace piece on hold for a bit as I'm not sure where to go with it. I started this piece as a complete contrast and to go back to my usual style again. I had a sudden inspiration and it's growing onto the torque like seaweed on a rock.

I'm quite pleased with it so far, let me know what you think. The other side will match more or less and I have plans for some dangly stuff at the bottom.

My first commission

2010-05-19T19:58:00.000+01:00

I was commissioned at the weekend to make two pendants as bridemaid's gifts for a wedding next month. I was thrilled to be asked and the customer was really nice and undemanding, I've read other people's experience of having argumentative and difficult people who keep changing their minds. Luckily my customer had seen something on my MISI shop that he liked and wanted two similar items. After the exchange of a couple of emails the decision was made and I was able to go ahead and make what he wanted. He has paid me, lovely, and I'm posting his pendants to him tomorrow
The criteria for this customer were, handmade and preferably in Devon, I've provided a little 'story' to go with the pendants explaining where seaglass comes from which was something he particularly wanted.

This is one of the pendants, the other is almost identical.
Obviously you don't get absolutely identical pieces of sea glass, by the way that's a good tip for telling the real thing from fake stuff produced in a tumble polisher, if someone's offering a lot of 'sea glass' jewellery that all looks exactly the same shape or size you can be a bit sceptical about the sea glass. You get a lot of similar shapes, after all glass breaks in certainw ways because of it's structure and the sea acts on it in similar ways, ask a scientist! I have found it very hard to match two pieces, for pairs of earrings for example, you have to be quite forgiving n your matching, nearly rather than exactly the same.

Quick Laugh

2010-05-16T21:21:00.001+01:00

Found this face inside the onion we used for today's dinner, looks a bit worried, but then I would too!

Took the laughing pepper picture ages ago, can you tell that I get a bit bored cooking dinner?

More stuff about jewellery soon I promise.

10 minute holidays

2010-05-15T15:55:00.001+01:00

As owners of a tourist attraction we don't get summer holidays, we go away in November or December. Don't run away with the idea we are in the Caribbean though, last year we were in Branscombe South Devon. It's a lovely little village, we had forgotten that was where the Napoli broke up,

Link to the Wikipedia page about Branscome
The ships anchor, absolutely huge, is there as a memorial. Having seen the news reports, and now visited the village, it must have been horrendous! The village is very narrow and is all along one road spread for miles, with a tiny square where we rented a flat, and a couple of even smaller roads leading off.
As you can see the weather was brilliant, but it was December!
As you can imagine February, when the season starts officially, to November is a VERY long time. We have had some time off earlier this year but as it involved funerals and very sad times for our family not really a restful time.
We take what little time outs we can, like the walk on the beach a couple of days ago or a quick visit to a cafe after the weekly shop or as this morning after the bank run for the week.
It's amazing how much relaxation you can squeeze into ten miutes if you have to. I'm lucky as I get Sundays off when it's term time but that means a whle week of housework, gardening and anything else crammed into one day.
This approach to relaxation could apply to anyone, if you're feeling stressed take 5 or 10 minutes out, go somewhere quiet, a local park, your back garden, or just an empty room if you're at work, anywhere you can be quiet and preferably alone or with someone you don't have to talk to if you don't want to. Just stare at the landscape or the sky or an attractive plant, even a blank wall! It will pick you up no end. I'm hoping this will help other people to deal with their stress. if not maybe a book will help you find your own way to deal with it.

The joys of coastal living

2010-05-13T10:57:00.003+01:00

After yesterday's stint in front of a computer today started a bit differently! We left home early to stop and get some stationery and post the earrings I sold on Tuesday (Hooray, on Folksy). We always allow plenty of time in case of parking problems and as we found a little space straight away ended up a bit early. So, since our route to work is along Combe Martin sea front, we stopped for a little stroll. The only other people on the beach were two small boys, up on the walkway that takes you to an old silver mine entrance at low tide. Flat calm, sea gulls floating inside the breakwater, the rocks looking as if they were floating too.

BBC Devon website about mining history, some nice pictures too

I found a couple of bits and pieces for my jewellery, I find more ceramic than glass on that beach, there must be a rubbish dump from years ago somewhere near it. My husband suggested I try beading round a pice of a large terracotta flowerpot, that would be a challenge wouldn't it!

What a nice start to a day.

Most of these pictures are straight off the camera I hope they look ok, I usually have a little tinker with photoshop before I upload.

Found this book on Amazon looks like it would be interesting. I didn't know they did individual areas from the air like this, I've seen the UK one and it's fascinating .

Here's a further stage in the development of my new lace piece, it's giving me pause at the moment, I may want to add some other stuff to the lace, bits of silk perhaps or some little bits of the leather I backed the stone with, don't know.

I've finally decided the giveaway on my storefront will be this little piece:

Link to my storefront

So get everyone over there becoming fans please! I need 100 before I can give it away.

Learning the basics

2010-05-12T19:57:00.001+01:00

I've been training to be a computer basics trainer today, I spent most of the afternoon following a government approved training course called myguide. If you have a friend or family member who is terrified of computers I can recommend it, it takes you through everything from how to turn the computer on and off to sending emails and online banking. It was quite fun until I got 4 out of 7 in the email quiz, went back to do it again and got 3 out of 7! Just goes to show you if you think you know what you're doing you can miss the details and get it all wrong. Got tripped up in the adding an attachment section, their email system is quite different to mine and I kept forgetting and trying to do it the way I usually do!

You can always find a book instead I suppose and read that before you even touch one of these mad beasts. One part of the course was a crossword, where the clues were answers to basic questions about using a keyboard and a mouse. I got all the answers on the grid and it said I'd got it wrong! It did the same thing to my friend as well so a minor glitch there but it was fine otherwise.

Nothing Much

2010-05-11T16:54:00.002+01:00

Coming to the end of another working day, promise myself no computer stuff this evening, going to get on with beading work.
I while ago I gave out some sunshine awards after Joyknit was kind enough to nominate me. I completely fogot the last person's name and I think it was she who asked me to send her details of how I make the pebble jewellery. I sent her the first installment and then my hard drive crashed and I lost all my old emails etc. I've tried trawling for her - you know 'next blog'- as that's how I found her in the first place, she doesn't seem to be someone I'm following, twit that I am I forgot to do that. If you're out there please get in touch as I'd like to continue the series.

Also does anyone else use Open Office? Havingreal trouble with their database programme.

Sunday

2010-05-09T20:23:00.002+01:00

My only day off this week so I was determined to make the most of it. A latish start, I got up as my husband was leaving for work! I usually try to do an hour of yoga before breakfast but I've had a dodgy back for over a week so I was taking it a bit easy today. Breakfast, and then housework. Very dull but it's gotta be done don't it. I had lunch around 3.15, well I didn't get up 'till 9.30! then attacked our disastrous garden.

We live in a tiny 19th century cottage with 2 rooms down and 2 up but it has loads of garden, seemed like a good idea when we bought it! There's about 50 feet at the front which is relatively cvilised and almost looks like a garden.

By the way does anyone know what those white flowers are?

There's 100 feet at the back, fine except that it slopes very steeply. Outside the back door is a tiny yard with steps leading up about 6 feet or so to the garden, which hasn't had anything done to it for years. Last year our neighbour, who does gardening professionally, strimmed it down for us, took him a day and a half! We had dug over the bottom few feet and put fleece down, and some slate chips on the first flat bit, but that's it. So the last two sundays I've been digging a bit more, trouble is there's a lot of bramble which has roots about a mile long! By the way while digging I met a slow worm and a newt. At least the wildlife like the garden!

This is a view from our back bedroom window, the stone wall at the top holds back the bank leading up to an old railway line which used to run trains to and from Barnstaple and brought holiday makers from all over. It didn't close until the early 70s and is now part of the national cycle network. Actually that bit of wall is behind my neighbour's garden as the angle of the gardens is a bit odd, you can just make out the blossom from the smaller of two apple trees, we've never had fruit from that one as the crows get them before we've managed to struggle up there! There's the remains of a dry stone wall just above the fleece covered bit, I'm hoping to rebuild that eventually.

Here's a slightly closer view,you can see all the stuff I've dug out in the wheel barrow!

After my husband got home we sat out in the front garden for a cup of tea and spotted these new ferns growing against next door's porch wall under an old fuschia.

Planning to get on with some beading tonight, I have a repair to do for a friend who was given a piece of my work as a leaving present when she changed jobs last year. I need to find a way to stop my vintage bugle beads from cutting through the threads! Any tips anyone.

Saturday

2010-05-08T21:08:00.003+01:00

I read on someone else's blog that Saturday is a day for not doing much, or something like that, unfortunately I was at work today, a fairly busy day at the library becuase the weather was so awful. I suppose most places it's the same but I think perhaps being in a seaside area makes the weather more of a factor. I'm working away on that coffee lace piece, at the moment my head is full of ideas and not enough time to put them into practise. Frustrating, I'm sure I'm not the only one, we all have comitments in our lives, whether it's family or work or whatever.
One of my other strings, something else to keepme busy, is illustration. My husband is a writer and is currently updating a little book of nonsense poems we published a few years ago, I've done some black and white pictures to illustrate the poems and designed the original cover, I've done a few more pics for this new version and I must get on and do the new cover!

Here's a couple of the illustrations:

The speech balloon has something in it on the page!

Link to my husband's writing

Hopefully these pictures give you some idea of how mad the writing is!

New Lace piece

2010-05-05T21:43:00.019+01:00

I've started another piece using lace. This time the centre is really large piece of agate which I bought as a rather ordinary brooch from my local collectors market. It has fascinating pattern of swirls in shades of golden brown with faint greenish streaks. The lace is a wide coffee coloured piece with thick embroidered flowers and loops.

I've photographed it among the chaos of my beading mat, showing some of the beads I'm using. There's quite a wide slelction and all sizes from quite large old white beads to tiny ones, some of which I can't get on the needle properly, I have to be very selective with those. I'm influenced by a book I found in our library stack it's a book about Roman ruins in Libya, have a look at this mosaic (the third one down called 'fishing'), it is astounding in it's delicacy and realism. The colours of the stone are the colours of this agate with soft blue greys and dull reds. The plan is to embroider beads onto the net between the embroidery, trying to give the feel of the old mosaics and worn plaster of the roman buildings, As the lace is very wide I plan to create pleats in the top edges to creat a curve. I'm hoping this will echo the carved pillars. I think it will be quite special when it's done, I hope so anyway. I've discovered copper clay recently, I understand you can fire it with a torch so I might make some embellishments with that if I can afford to buy some.

Giveaway

2010-05-05T15:44:00.002+01:00

Hi I've finally decided, now I have a Facebook Storefront,to have a giveaway. Once the storefront reaches 100 fans I'll be giving a piece of jewellery away. I haven't chosen the piece yet but I will announce it soon.

May week

2010-05-04T15:06:00.003+01:00

As we came home from work yesterday, (the joys of owning a tourist atraction!) we spotted three of our local morris men in green rag costumes and black faces. It's great living here all those traditions are happily alive

This photo was taken about 4 years ago when we still took occasional days off, that first May bank holiday was always a bit dead in our old shop.
I've just opened a facebook storefront http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=388700616004&v=app_135607783795 Hopefully it might get a bit more attention than some of the other sites I'm trying to sell through.

Currently working on another lace piece, no pictures yet I'll post some when I get the chance. Here's my most recent finished piece.

I've called this one Green Egyptian I'll go and load it into Folksy & Coriandr and everywhere else now.
The 'stone' is a piece of very dark green sea glass. This type of glass is thought to date from as far back as the 17th century, it looks black until you hold it up to the light and tends to be very thick but very smoothly rounded due to the length of time spent in the sea. The piece uses mostly new beads in the woven necklace with some vintage ones in the mount and the loops hanging below. the 'gold' accent is part of a very gaudy 70s ring which I cut up, I've enamel painted the cut surfaces to get rid of the grey base metal! Effective though I think.

Finally, the finished Moon

2010-04-28T11:12:00.001+01:00

I've had a poorly computer for about 3 weeks or so, had to have a replacement hard drive! I've spent hours making it as it was, I expect I'll find lots of other things I've forgotten to put back.
Here, at last, is the finished Moon piece. Having no computer all this time has given me plenty of time to create, and to unpick that troublesome right side again!
at the moment I seem to be unable to post images, I've got a question in the help forum to try to fix the problem so in the meantime here's a link to one of my shops, where I'm about to post it for sale.
http://www.coriandr.com/item/6618/moon-in-the-clouds

Figured out how to upload pics!

Back Online

2010-04-26T22:35:00.000+01:00

Hooray, finally got my laptop back. I'll probably find all sorts of stuff that needs re-installing but for now it's working.

Windy day

2010-03-31T14:22:00.000+01:00

Yesterday we had some really dramatic wind, living on the coast you can get some exciting weather! I had to get a bus from where I work to a little hamlet which is as close as I can get to where my husband works at this time of year. He is usually waiting for me but yesterday he got held up by customers and I had to stand in the rain on this deserted corner, getting odd looks from a man across the way. It was chucking it down when I got off the bus, luckily it stopped and was just windy!

I didn't take this picture yesterday, actually I realise it's about 4 years old! but it shows the dramatic waves we get in the harbour, hopefully the people and lamp posts give an idea of the height of this wave!

I have done some more work on the moon piece but I haven't taken any more pics yet, again, not sure about the other side matching the first.

Here's a pair of earrings I'm going to post on Folksy today.

click to link to my folksy shop

At last

2010-03-28T16:58:00.000+01:00

here, at last, is a further stage in the devlopment of the Moon piece. I've now undone the right hand end 4 times! I was determined to actually add something new to it last night so stayed up much later than I should considering the clock change!

I decided that the lace looked wrong flat so I've wound a strand of beads around it. The strand is actually attached at the edge and a couple of points on the lace so it stays where I want it and doesn't just gather up at one end. I quite like it but I think there may be a lot more to come. I bought some more silver clay the other day with a voucher I got from Spoilt Rotten Beads. I have plans for little silver beads, or some such with lace patterns pressed into them. I shall probably have to have one of those trademark fringes along the bottom edge with the above beads on it.

Lots of primroses and primulas flowering in the garden and the first actual daffodil flowers, I believe we also have a few celandine growing on our steps, the steps are gravel, shallow wooden edged flat bits with gravel on rather than having a slope up to the door. Means that seeds take a good hold there most of the time!

Last 3 sunshine awards

2010-03-25T23:18:00.000Z

Here are the last three, sorry to be so slow with this. Really hard to choose between all the fascinating stuff.
http://laurenceramics.blogspot.com/
http://thesleepyvalleyco.blogspot.com/
http://niftyknits-somuchyarnsolittletime.blogspot.com

Another sunshine award

2010-03-23T23:51:00.000Z

Only 1 blog to pass it on to today, had to work until 7pm, so if I search any more shan't get any beading done. The moon piece is progressing slowly. I've reached that point where I'm not sure of the next move but I have some ideas so I'll post a picture when it's moved to a more interesting point. The sunshine award is 2 posts below by now sorry. Help I've forgotten who I nominated, Whover you are I meant it sincerely. I've left a comment on your blog so you'll know (added Weds)

Four more sunshine awards

2010-03-22T22:04:00.000Z

Ok now I have to find 4 more people to give this award to.

http://clairesblackcatswhiskers.blogspot.com
http://saraaires.blogspot.com
http://avintagewhite.blogspot.com/
http://helenplatten.blogspot.com/
Ok 4 more tomorrow and I'm done.
I'm going to work on that moon piece some more now, got some to undo before I can carry on.
Watching a sweet film called The Fox and the Child which I think is french originally but has a narration by Kate Winslet and a little dubbed dialogue.

Sunshine Award

2010-03-21T19:47:00.000Z

I'm going to find at least 4 blogs to pass this on to tonight, I've been a bit useless since I got mine. Here's what to do for those I give it to
The sunshine award is awarded to bloggers whose positivity and creativity inspires others in the blogging world.
The rules for accepting the award are as followers

Place the logo within your blog or post
Pass the award on to 12 bloggers
Link the nominees within the post
Let the nominees know they have received the award by commenting on their blog
Share the love and link to the person from whom you received the award

The Logo is in the post before this one 'cos I'm so disorganised.
So far I've nominated:
http://fairlygirly.blogspot.com
http://artbymimiwinfield.blogspot.com
http://blogbriallen.blogspot.com
http://northbrookdesigns.blogspot.com

2010-03-19T23:50:00.000Z

Many Thanks to Joyknitt for nominating me for the sunshine award, very chuffed indeed
I shall have to spend some time finding some more lovely people to nominate, might take a while, as Joy says there's so much great stuff out there. I've been working at my local theatre tonight, watching The Steve Howe Trio. Enormous fun just the right blend of Yes stuff re-arranged for this jazz trio and some excellent modern jazz, and I got paid! Now watching Prog Brittania 70's nostalgia night.

A bit further along

2010-03-18T22:36:00.000Z

It's coming along, I'm quite pleased with the beaded bit at the end of the lace, I may gather the lace in some way, I'm working on ways to do that, either with strings of beads wound round it or actually gathering it across the centre and adding beads once it's done. By the way technically it's not lace, it's net with embroidery on but lace is a useful shorthand. If anyone knows what the technical term is let me know.

Next phase of the moon

2010-03-17T12:49:00.000Z

Here's the first part of the necklace bit, I've decided to use some of that old lace as you can see, not sure how I'll finish it, watch this space.

New piece in progress

2010-03-16T00:36:00.000Z

I've started work on a new piece that I've had in mind for ages. I made a little pendant a while ago using a piece of rock crystal with a little painted heart under it. The pendant sold on MISI and I rather liked the effect.

I've had a disc of crystal for a while, I bought it from a local gemstone stall and it came from a chakra set. I've tried a couple of different approaches with it, going for an open mount with no backing but I didn't like it. I finally produced a drawing I was really pleased with. I wanted a moon face, which is difficult to get across without being too obvious and unoriginal.

The double face effect happened almost by accident but I think it was meant to be. this is the drawing attached to the background before beginning to work.

Here's the crystal on top of the drawing. Usually I would glue the stone to the background, but because the disc is not flat I haven't been able to do that. It makes working on it quite tricky but not impossible.

Here's the moon with it's finished mount. There's a lift row of old crystal bicone beads and a row of slightly uneven silver coloured seed beads. Because the lift row beads are not spherical gaps appeared between each bead, to fill these gaps Ive attached small ab crystal tube beads which lie all at the same angle against the bicone beads. After gluing the backing to white leather there's a finishing row of old opalescent white seed beads.
I now need to make it into an actual piece of jewellery. I think it will be somewhat similar to this one: Moonlit Water necklace although I've been inspired by Tom Binns use of lace in the Vogue article about his work and I have a fairly large collection of lace trimmings................... watch this space!

Vogue ad

2010-03-12T22:03:00.000Z

The issue of Vogue with my little feature in came out on Thursday. It looks quite good, just waiting for a response now. Hopefully there will be one! I have plans for a piece of jewellery which involves a clear crystal circular stone (a chakra stone from a set I bought) with a picture of the moon behind it. Usual mount of beads and stuff I expect, although I have a collection of old lace I've been wondering what to do with and saw a 'proper' designer in Vogue, a necklace of chains with lace. Might try adding some to this, see what it looks like.
I'll post some photos when I've got some. Going to watch The Bubble now. Bye

How to: Creating a mount around a stone with beads.

2010-03-05T23:12:00.003Z

For those who would like to know, this is how I make my work. This is the first stage; the stone, or in this case a piece of sea glass, is glued to a piece of stiff interfacing or something similar that doesn't fray. If you are using dark colours paint the backing to match if you like, as it can show through particularly at the edges. I've left it white to make it easier to see.

Stage 2, apologies for the slightly blurred image, this stage is only necessary if the edges of the stone are uneven or do not lie flat on the surface. If you are using a cut cabochon with a flat back you can go directly to the next stage.

This stage is called the lift row, it takes the beads up to a level with the top surface of the stone so that you can begin creating the mount itself. Thread about 3 feet of thread onto a beading needle. Attach the threaded needle to the backing close to the edge of the stone. Thread enough beads to go around the stone as closely as possible. The beads will need to be the right size so that their top surfaces sit level with the top of the stone more or less, bettter to be slightly below than too high. Take the thread back down through the backing at the same point you started so that the beads form a loop around your stone, then bring the needle back up about 1/4 of the way around and stitch over the original thread down to the backing between two beads, ensure that the beads still sit regularly around the stone. Repeat this at 1/2 way round and 3/4 so that the loop of beads is fixed down at 4 evenly space points. Now stitch the thread down between every bead, making sure that they sit as close to the stone as possible. When you have gone all the way round between every bead in the loop bring the needle up through the backing and take the thread through the holes in the beads as many times as you can round the loop until the holes are completely filled with thread. Fasten off the thread at the back.

Start a new length of thread and bring it up between the lift row and the stone. This is the first bezel row, if you are using a more normal cabochon with a flat back this would be your first row. Using beads of a smaller size than the lift row, if this is just your first row and has no lift row beneath it then size 10 or 12 is an appropriate size, with a lift row then that will determine the size if this row. Thread four beads onto the thread and put the needle back through the backing at the end of these beads, again down between the lift row and the stone, or as close to the edge of the cabochon as possible, ensure that the beads lay flat on top of the lift row if there is one, touching closely, make sure they dont dip down between lift row and stone. Bring the needle up again at a distance of two beads, behind the first four beads. Thread on two more beads and take the needle through the first four beads again. You need to use the finest needle you can, because you will be going through these beads several times. Thread four more beads onto the needle and again take the needle down into the backing at the end of these beads, then back up through 6 beads back, two beads behind the four you've just added, and thread through these 4 beads. Continue until you have completed the row. The last section may not accommodate 4 beads, so add as many as will fit comfortably, dont add too many or they will sit up above the row and look untidy. Now thread around and around the row of beads as before until the beads' holes are as full of thread as you can get them. Fasten the thread off and thread a new piece again.

Stage 4 2nd bezel row.

This is the last row of the bezel which holds the stone in place, if you are using a large flat backed stone you can add further rows after this, but it gets harder to do! As you can see the stone starts to disappear under the beads. Thus row is similar to the last but with a slight difference. Using smaller beads again, usually size 12 (or 15) on a regular flat backed cab. Bring the needle up between the first bezel row and the stone and thread on 4 beads, take the thread back down at the end of these four beads, ensuring they lie flat and as even as possible. For your first try use nice even modern beads so you get a really good finish and don't get put off, you can see in my photo that I've used old, slightly uneven beads for this row, I think it adds character! This time bring the needle up between the 2nd and third beads and take the thread back through beads 3 and 4. Add four more beads and take the needle down at the end of these 4 beads, back up between beads 2 and 3 of the last 4 and thread through beads 3 and 4 again. Continue like this until this row is finished and thread through the beads again until you can't get the needle through any more. this is the bezel finished. Your stone is now held firmly onto this backing as it would be by a metal bezel.

This stage is very simple, glue the completed bezel onto a final backing. I use clothing grade leather for mine but you can use anything that doesn't fray, there are specialist backing materials available from beading suppliers, in vinyl and stuff like that. Make sure that the glue doesn't go right to the edge of the stitching as you need to stitch through this bit, it's not a disaster but it makes things a bit easier if there's no glue here, once the glue is dry, I use normal PVA type glue, then trim closely through both layers make sure you don't cut the stitching.

Stage 6 trimmed edges.

Stage 7 edge row.

This row hides the edges of the two backing pieces and is crucial to get right. Using size 12 beads or a suitable size for your piece, fasten a piece of thread to the piece at about 2 mm from the edge and thread up through both layers at a slight angle to bring the needle out as close to the outer row of beads as possible Now you stitch a row, using brick stitch, around the edge of the two backing materials, thread a bead and go back through the backing layers again thread up through the bead, add another bead and go back through the backings, thread up through the second bead, pulling the thread out parallel to the work, thread a bead, back through the backings and out through the bead just threaded, thread another bead, stitch through the backing layers and thread up through the last bead and so on, keep the stitches very neat as they show on the back, make sure the beads sit neatly next to each other, you are trying to hide the join between the two layers. As you pull the needle back out of each bead keep the thread absolutely parallel to the work or this row will not sit flat. Go back down through the first bead when you reach the end of the row and fix your thread by working back through several beads and cut off, at the back, level with the surface. Use glue or nail varnish to fix it. I've actually used delica beads in this photo, rounder beads are easier to use for this stage. but I don't like an easy life.

This shows the back after the edging row is finished. Note that the beads sit round the edge flat, they don't stick down below the edge or up above it, this takes practise and care, to pull the thread out through each bead exactly parallel to the backing, if you pull upwards the beads will sit upwards like a pie crust! Similarly if you pull downwards you get a flange effect and the inner backing will show.

Now you can do the fancy stuff round the edge. Just a row of beads stitched onto the stitches of the edging row will hide them, like brick stitch but without going back through each bead, I like to go a bit nuts at this stage! You can do simple picots, frames of brick stitch or peyote, or mad fringes like mine, you can also do fancy work on the inside edge of the bezel if you like, best done before the final backing stage. This is the time for experiment and fun.

To buy the finished piece go to my MISI shop

The finished piece 'cheated' with the necklace part of this one, it's part of the beaded strap from an old evening bag I bought for the beads on it.

I'm sorry if these instructions aren't wonderfully clear, when you know how to do something you can think that you've explained it perfectly well when you haven't really. I thoroughly recommend the book 'Beading with Cabochons' by Jamie Cloud Eakin, which is how I learnt to begin with.

I know that there is a completely different technique using peyote stitch which doesn't use a backing and leaves both sides of the stone visible. I don't get on with this technique at all, mostly because I don't like peyote stitch, although other people use it very effectively.

I recommend using a thread conditioner like Thread Heaven or similar and 1G thread from Japan, be prepared to break a lot of needles, particularly if, like me, you prefer to use size 12s and 15s rather than 10s and 12s for your bezel rows, I've even used size 24 sometimes.

Happy beading folks.

Brick stitch instructions here: http://www.beadjewelrymaking.com/Arts_and_Craft_Idea/flat_brick_stitch_instruction.html
Or do a search, loads of people offering instructions. There's an excellent book 'Beading with Brick Stitch': http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_12?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=beading+with+brick+stitch&sprefix=beading+with
which looks like it might have gone out of print as it's quite pricey on Amazon at the moment.

Mothercare cosmetics

2010-03-04T10:42:00.000Z

I had a reply from Mothercare about the cosmetics in their Watford store, apparently they are for use by people using the photo booth concession, not for sale. I still think makeup has no place in a store for babies and young children.

Rant

2010-03-03T23:55:00.000Z

I am fairly incensed today, visited Mothercare in Watford, they have a large edge of town store there. Inside are a couple of concessions, Early Learning fine, Clarkes Shoes also fine and a cosmetics studio! Complete with those canvas chairs you find in Boots where posh cosmetics companies do a makeover and try to sell you stuff you don't want for outrageous prices! What's wrong with these people, this is a shop for kids up to about 7, how can they possibly either want or need cosmetics. I have written to Mothercare about it, I know I've been living in Devon for the last 6 years but really! I thought we were finally getting a sensible backlash against the adult nature of kids lives these days. There are all these lovely educational toys, pretty pink little girl dresses, and a makeup stand! I'm really glad my grandchild is a boy! Stand up for a real childhood for your kids not a miniature version of an adult.

blog trawling

2010-03-02T11:56:00.000Z

Been having a bit of a trawl around the blogs using that 'next blog' button. There's an amazing variety out there from really bland to really exciting and interesting. Lots of quilters, that skill eludes me totally, even looking at a book makes me glaze over. I'm not a planned crafter, my work evolves as it goes, I start with a central stone or piece of glass and just start beading, the most I do as a plan is get all the appropriate colours and add the next row as seems appropriate. I suppose that means my work reflects my mood quite well. A classic example is this piece:

http://www.misi.co.uk/store_info.php?user_id=1183

I actually had a drawing for this, but it was for a necklace! it took so long to do to this stage, plus it wouldn't curve as I wanted it to, so it became a bracelet and I made the silver shell button to finish it off. People seem to like it though so there you go!

Thanks to all my friends

2010-02-24T01:17:00.000Z

I've had a lot of support from friends recently, my neighbour who recovered all my photos and other vital stuff from a corrupted external hard drive, thanks indeed Ross! I must learn to back up properly, but I know I'm not alone because I tried to get a photo I thought lost for ever, from Redbubble where I'd uploaded it, and found a whole thread of folks in the same boat bemoaning the loss of cherished work. Found the photo in an obscure file in the end luckily as Redbubble don't allow you to re-load a photo from their site! Thanks to my work colleagues for their sympathy for a recent tragedy in my life, more because they've allowed me to just be normal and not dwell on it too much.

photo taken off the end of Ilfracombe sea wall thought it looked like the end of the world with the mist shutting off the usual view of the horizon. Taken last March.

Life is rubbish sometimes

2010-02-17T20:06:00.000Z

Life is not great at the moment horrible things happening to people I love. It will take a long time for them to get over it and I live a really long way away from them. There are times when you want the world to stop and go away.

regular stuff

2010-02-09T22:05:00.000Z

life is getting tricky, as usual, not enough money no transport, family dramas and all that. I recently got offered a really amazing opportunity which needed money to take it up. Not a lot of money but more than I have. Life gives with one hand and snatches away with the other. I'm doing what I can to raise the money we'll see. Aah well, I'm not wading through 45 inches of snow, nor struggling to recover from an earthquake or living through a war or a famine. So we'll just keep going and see what's round the next bend!

Here's one of my reasons to be cheerful my lovely grandson.

Friday

2010-01-29T22:47:00.000Z

Feeling better, back to work, thanks to all the lovely people for the suggestions and nice comments about the little heart pendant. Made three more last night in a variety of shades of red and pink, one using a piece of glass from a brake light!, gives it an interesting texture as it has that lumpy sort of little pyramids surface, I've never used a piece before, I'm not even 100% convinced it's glass, might be very hard plastic but it's prettty and came off the beach, naturally recycled by the sea. I've used the back of the glass as the outside so you just get interesting light effects from the textured surface behind it

day off sick

2010-01-28T15:13:00.000Z

Feeling a bit wobbly today, some kind of tummy bug so no food, lots of time online. Found this blog which is not on blogger but beautiful tiaras http://www.silvertiaras.com/blog.html . For my own work I've made this piece, sort of heart shaped, valentines day and all that, but can't decide what to hang it from , fine silver wire, some kind of beaded chain or rope? Got bored with all the usual stuff anyone got any nice quick solutions. Probably being ill making me feel lazy!

Need to come out of hibernation mode

2010-01-24T01:14:00.000Z

I don't seem to be able to get moving this year, made a lot of jewellery for a craft fair in November and slowed right down after that. I've done a very little since then and can't seem to getmy mojo going again. Somebody give me a kick or some inspiration. This is a piece in progress, I love this stone, it shone out of a pebble ridge at the back of Sidmouth beach, I had to have it, sorry Sidmouth but I don't think it was much of a loss to your sea defences. I think the wire wrapping is working, not entirely sure where that tail is going to end up, possibly down parallel with the one coming up from the bottom. with a matching 'blob'

Watching a film

2010-01-22T21:50:00.001Z

Just watched The Astronaut Farmer on DVD, really nice, slightly mad film. Says a lot about governments and having dreams that you don't let go of.

2010-01-20T18:13:00.000Z

Bike on railings at Budleigh Salterton at sunset.

AHA solved the mousepad problem, I hope. Needed to download a new driver. All done and now I have adjustable settings again. Getting aroud without a car at the moment, not fun in deepest Devon I live a brisk 20 minute walk from my bus stop and then about 35-40 minutes bus ride. Luckily my neighbour has given me lifts both ways most days. Much appreciated.

aaaaaaagh websites!

2010-01-17T01:12:00.000Z

Just spent all evening, literally, trying to reload my web pages, tiny modifications to each page and suddenly all the links didn't work, pages can't be found etc,etc,etc. Finally got it all put back together at10 past 1 in the morning having found that the whole file had somehow got duplicated causing all sorts of confusion on my computer; half the stuff saved in the original file and theother half in the rogue one. How do these things happen? All sorted now and there is only one file containing my whole website hooray! ( If anone knows how to make the mousepad on my laptop less sensitive please tell me :(

Ramblings

2010-01-13T22:46:00.000Z

Hello, just watched Moon on DVD very interesting film, proper science fiction and a good thriller too. Saw Avatar at the pictures on Saturday loved it! I'm being very lazy about jewellery making at the moment. I have some very nice pebbles from South Devon to work with, by the way I take maybe one or two small pebbles from any beach as they are necessary to the beach surviving, in fact some beaches have scary threatening fines for removing pebbles! I need to learn about the geology of these stones as I have no idea what I'm using.

Link to my Misi shop where the pebble necklace can be bought

This one is a small (1" approx) pebble from North Devon, not polished at all just as it came off the beach, drilled and with a silver mount. Photographed on it's home beach.

Monday morning

2010-01-11T12:08:00.000Z

Making the most of my last few weeks having Monday as my day off. We are threatened with more snow tomorrow, but as we are on the coast it rarely gets all that bad - buses still don't run though!
On a completely unrelated subject does anyone know why my computer's clock is permanently 12 hours wrong despite my changing it almost every time I log in?

STOP PANIC BUYING!!!!!! For heaven's sake unless you live in the wilds of Scotland or somewhere equally remote you will be able to get to the shops with a little effort. Rant over.

8/1/10

2010-01-08T23:49:00.000Z

Hope you like the slideshow, took me ages to load it. Firefox wouldn't do it had to go into another browser to get it loaded, firefox is great but some things just don't work at all. happy sledding or whatever.

New Year

2010-01-07T23:29:00.000Z

Happy New Year, here's hoping for a prosperous one for everyone, or at least everyone who deserves it and we all have a list of people who don't!

Here's a wonderful snowman made outside Barnstaple Library, the maker gave him a newspaper to read, but I substituted a picture book about a polar bear for the photograph. I don't know if you can tell but he has a proper nose and mouth. Just after I took the photo some kids thought it would be funny to dump him in the library foyer, oh hahaha. Shame as he was rather wonderful, and considerably less so as a heap of snow on a carpet!

Link to my redbubble page

2009-12-21T01:52:00.000Z

Loaded a couple of photos onto Redbubble, available to buy in all kinds of formats, or just to look at.

Back from a week away

2009-11-08T16:39:00.000Z

Went to Hertfordshire to visit family and watch our daughter graduate from the University of East London. Very thrilled and proud to see her in her gown and mortarboard. She got a 2:1 in graphic design with illustration and is currently on a NCJT course in photo journalism. I have her blog in my favourites.This is a blurry photo taken from across the room while she and her friends signed up for official photos.

Hope to post some better pics soon.

Also visited the adorable grandson and his lovely Mum and Dad, growing up fast, especially as we hardly ever see him living over 200 miles away. I'm sure you agree he is gorgeous!

A quick hi

2009-10-06T17:25:00.000+01:00

No time to post anything exciting at the moment. Preparing for a craft fair at Bristol Paintworks on Saturday Nov 7th. See Misi.co.uk

Saturday 19th September Carnival day in Barnstaple

2009-09-19T16:22:00.000+01:00

It's Barnstaple's annual carnival today. Great fun if you aren't trying to work! There''ll be fireworks tonight set off over the river taw so they reflect I'm sure it will be lovely but I'm glad I won't be there.
This is a picture of the Taw estuary taken one autumn recently.

I thought it was time I posted some images of my jewellery so here goes. I make the pieces by beading around bits of sea glass found on the local beaches.
I use vintage beads as much as possible although I have to use modern ones as well in order to have the right sizes and colours.

Above are examples of my work, Left is a pale blue fairly large piece on a silver wire torque. With lots of mad beaded dangles ending in a variety of beads in glass and semi precious stones. The right hand piece uses a piece of redish brown glass from the neck of a bottle, which gives a slightly heart shape. It hangs from 3 twisted strings of beads and has an edging of japanese beads with a tiny red glass heart.Follow the link for some instructions from Kimberley Chapman . If you're really into beading there are loads of great sites about it and some really good books, most of whichyou can probably get from Amazon or someone similar.

For some more stuff about sea glass see my website www.vintagebeadery.co.uk

Stuff I've found around the web

2009-09-19T15:39:00.000+01:00

This is a lovely black and white photo of a staircase from deviant art, I didn't want to copy and paste the image as it doesn't belong to me, but if you click the link above you'll see it and the photographer's other photos. Hope you like it. I have a couple of photos on there too. Link here. If you are into hand made stuff at all I reccomend you check out MISI and ETSY. I've got shops on both, but there's loads of great original stuff. Fabulous source of really unusual presents if you're fed up with chain store rubbish that everyone has. There's stuff for your house too.

Nice stuff from Lisa's jewels

BEAUTIFUL wedding jewellery from Georgina Etteridge

Tuesday 15th September

2009-09-15T16:10:00.000+01:00

Beautiful day in North Devon, blue skies at last! Went out on to Mortehoe on sunday evening, home of David Kennard the famous shepherd. Gorgeous sunset and a lovely flat calm. Sounds of sheep rrrrrripping grass and a few birds. Quite a steep walk in places but worth it. Makes a nice calm end to a day. Saw a pheasant and heard several others. Hardly anyone on Woolacombe beach now. The whole place starts to slow back down to a normal Devon pace.

Local Police in Barnstaple have been given powers to disperse troublemaking groups, not sure what I think about that. Problem is who decides what is troublemaking?

This is a view of Lundy Island from Morte Point.I've never been there, trouble with running a tourist attraction everything is closed or unavailable once you have any spare time. Oh well one day when we retire.

vintage beadery: Hello

2009-09-06T15:47:00.000+01:00

vintage beadery: Hello

Hello

2009-09-06T12:47:00.000+01:00

This is my first attempt at a blog. I'm an ancient jewellery designer living in devon. I make my jewellery using sea glass and ceramics washed up on the beaches of North Devon.
I also work part time in a local library and with my husband in his Brass Rubbing Centre within the Combe Martin wildlfe and dinosaur park a great place, full of mad animals you can get close to and noisy parrots. One of the parrots has learnt to whistle the theme from The Great Escape! Below you can see a rabbit happily feeding under a dinosaur taken at the end of the day when everyone had gone home.

Here's a picture of a piece of my jewellery I hope you'll want to see more. I have shops on MISI and Etsy I don't seem to be able to link to Etsy at the moment so if you can my shop is called vintage beader. I also have my own website; click on the photo to see it.

That's probably more than enough waffle for now. I'll try to update soon. Cheers everyone.