A new adventure

It's been a while since I've done anything here. Lots happening in my life, after finally passing my driving test in January I now own a little car. It's a Citroen Saxo and although it's quite old it runs ok. Lots of people told me that after you pass your test is when you learn to drive, they were absolutely right. I'm getting used to not having power steering, hard work, but it's good exercise for my arms!

Well, since picking the car up on Wednesday 28th I've driven home from Barnstaple and back in again twice, have shopped in Tesco and driven down to Ilfracombe. I have a couple of people to thank for this new found freedom. First of all my incredibly patient instructor, Paul Troke. If anyone in North Devon is thinking of learnng I can thoroughly recommend Paul. Secondly my very kind neighbour Ross who came to look at cars with me, I know nothing about them, certainly not enough to choose one to buy, he also helped me park it properly the first time I brought it home, had trouble reversing up hill.

Today was a big one I drove all the way to Parracombe for lunch at the Fox and Goose. Lunch was delicious, I took my friend Mike up on his offer to park the car for me, got to get better at that. Thanks to Fran for organising the lunch. I then drove in to Lynton to visit the Art and Craft Centre for some gardeners soap. I bought a bar a couple of years ago and it's down to a tiny sliver. Unfortunately the people who make it haven't put their name on the packaging so can't tell you who they are.

I'm taking part in the first Ilfracombe Art Trail next weekend. My little house will be open from 10.00 - 5.00 on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th May.
I've just completed a piece that's been waiting for me to finish it for ages. Really quite pleased with it, I bought the sari silk strips recently and it seemed the ideal thing to make the support for this pendant.

Just a bit of a rambling catch up and new jewellery.

It's been a while since I wrote anything on here. Lots happened recently, first of all, and most exciting, I passed my driving test, took 2 and a half years and three attempts. Many thanks to my instructor, of infinite patience, Paul Troke

 All I need to do now is buy a car! That could take a while.

Secondly I took on the role of chair for the conservation group I belong to, only because we have to have one and everyone else was avoiding the question!

So far nothing too scary, just signing forms and supposedly chairing a meeting. 

Few bits of jewellery I've made recently:

This needs finishing a bit. silver wire melted onto copper heart.

Open Heart, simple silver and copper pendant.

This is a brooch I was commissioned to make for a friend. sea glass in the centre, czech glass flowers around it and a row of flourite beads with my usual vintage and modern seed beads. The pin is silver wire.

https://folksy.com/items/6597799-Silver-wire-and-Aventurine-Orbit-brooch

This is a new style of work, I had this idea running around my head for a while and I made it up as another suggestion for my frend's commission. Just silver wire wrapped around an Aventurine bead. The bead measures about 3/4" (2cm) long.

A new giveaway

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.