Sunset

sunset
Originally uploaded by aurorabeadz

Seemed apt really as this is likely to be the end of this blog but I have not quit at all just moved it to wordpress

http://samhalliwell.wordpress.com

Please come over to visit me, I would love to see you all. jewellery and beads will feature still promise!!!

Look forward to seeing you all soon, thank you so much for being with me here, come on over and take a lookie
Sam xx

Periwinkle

periwinkle
Originally uploaded by aurorabeadz

I am missing making beads terribly but simply do not have the time right now but I have found time to make more zentangles. These are fab as they can be picked up and put down so if I have 10 mins to spare I can do a little doodling! This is my favourite so far I love the way it all came together.

Hope you are all well, the heat is blistering here at the moment which saps energy as well which makes me less likely to sit in a hot shed with a torch! Never thought I would say it but roll on autumn when it is a little cooler! That said the heat has been so long coming this year I should enjoy it while it lasts!

TTFN x

Savannah Sports Day

Savannah Sports Day
Originally uploaded by aurorabeadz

It is that time of year when the schools have their annual sports day! This is Savannah's first sports day and I was lucky enough to be off this morning to be able to go and see her race. Bless them they all looked so bemused at the number of parents standing around shouting encouragement and taking pictures. Imagine my embarrassment at seeing Savannah come out with her T shirt on back to front bless her. All sorted though and put on the right way round by her teacher!

Andrew (Savannah's cousin) is in the same class as her so I have a few shots of him as well. They both looked like they had loads of fun.

TTFN xx

Up on the roof

Up on the roof
Originally uploaded by aurorabeadz

Got a thing for photography lately! I have been admiring my brother in laws' photographs (one of which you have seen on here!) and found out that my point and press camera has a couple of gadgets on it. Added to my photoshop elements I can play a bit with my pictures! This picture here is taken from my 2nd floor bedroom window and whilst not the best picture for composition I am so chuffed I managed to get the colours from the sunset.

Hope you are all well
TTFN xx

Closing down

It is with great regret that I am announcing the closure of Aurorabeadz. This is with immediate effect and for the indefinite future. I am not sure about this blog at the moment so I am not going to delete it but postings may be few and far between. 

Thank you for sharing my glassy journey this far. I sincerely hope it has not ended I am not selling my equipment but I am taking a step out for a while  and am not sure how long that will be!!!

TTFN, thank you for reading, for buying and for being with me

Sam xxx

Focal bead

P1030604
Originally uploaded by aurorabeadz

Sometimes things just seem to go right! I made a few beads last night first time on my torch for a good week I think. I made 3 focal beads which I am mostly happy with. I think I need to work on my ends, they are ok but tend to slant a bit. Not a mega problem at all just me being a perfectionist! Anyhoo this bead and a few others will be up for sale later on in my Etsy shop
TTFN xx

Elegance

Elegance
Originally uploaded by aurorabeadz

Only a quickie today a few things going on in my life right now that are demanding my attention but I am still here an just wanted to touch base with you all!

This focal bead is made with a base of black glass and with Triton shards laid over it! My photography skills are still a bit lacking so this picture does not do it justice, you should see the different colours in the silver glass simply gorgeous if I do say so.

TTFN x

Aurelia

Aurelia
Originally uploaded by aurorabeadz

Another little beauty for you to admire! This has been cored with 6mm silver tube (outer diameter) approx 5mm inner diameter! and so will fit Pandora and Chamilia bracelet systems. These will be available very soon in my Etsy shop!!!

Hope you are all well. I am about to go up my shedio and make some more gorgeousness (i hope ;o)) and have got a long weekend off with my girls and hubby. We are hoping to pop off sometime over the weekend to London to the science museum which the girls are very excited about!!!
Pictures will follow I hope. Have a lovely bank holiday weekend
TTFN xx

Falling Leaves, Grand Shaft

Falling Leaves, Grand Shaft
Originally uploaded by barry@undergroundkent

I want to talk about something other than me or glass of jewellery. I have a very talented brother in law who has a huge interest in the tunnels and features of underground Kent. He regularly enters war time tunnels (with permission i hasten to add) and is a very good photographer to boot! This awesome picture speaks for itself and is among a bunch of favourites that he has on his Flickr album. If you click on the picture next to my bit of blurb then you will be taken to his Flickr album and I would recommend you have a look
TTFN xx

Deep purple earrings

Deep purple earrings
Originally uploaded by aurorabeadz

Introducing my new range of earrings! These are still needing a little tidy up but I have been hanging on for ages to show you guys these and finally got them glued today!!! They measure approx 7mm across and have been glued with a strong epoxy to a sterling silver post. Once I have tidied them up they will be for sale in my Etsy shop. Expect many more in different colours etc and of course if you have a special request for a colour then please do not hesitate to contact me . They are selling for £8 a pair.

TTFN xx

Blast from the past

pink and emerald set
Originally uploaded by aurorabeadz

I have been looking back through my Flickr album and found this set I made in September 2008. I have not made a set like this since and am having some shed time tomorrow as it is my day off so expect some more of these!!! They are gorgeous to make and I have other colour combos I can play with!!!

Other business: thank you so much to the 8 people who left comments they were very welcome and boosted my confidence no end :o) I used a random number generator and person number 2 has won a little prize made by me and I will be popping it in the post asap! Congrats Karen I hope you like it xxx

TTFN x

SPECIAL LAUNCH OFFER

All of my little ladies!
Originally uploaded by aurorabeadz

To celebrate the relaunch of my Belita beads I have put together a little offer for you all.

Buy any 2 Belita beads and get 15% off OR buy any 3 Belita beads and the bracelet and get 20% off.

They are available through my Etsy shop here. You will need to go through Paypal and pay the full price as usual but I will then refund you the difference.

I am quite excited to be able to offer these gorgeous little charms. They make a beautiful gift and can easily become a little heirloom to be handed down. They can be changed to reflect the outfit you are wearing and are simply fab to wear! I wear mine loads!!!

I would love to hear what you think of these so please feel free to pop a comment in you never know one of you may just get a little surprise!!!

TTFN xx

Belita beads are finally on sale

Rhona
Originally uploaded by aurorabeadz

Yay I am so totally happy to finally announce that my Belita beads are on sale. I had so much fun today coring them and cleaning them up absolutely no housework got done let alone me eat lunch LOL.

Anyway my beads and bracelet set can be found in my Etsy shop and there will be many more to follow (if you all like them!!!)

TTFN xx

Deep purple

Deep purple
Originally uploaded by aurorabeadz

Quite simply I adore these and the way they came out! They also sold very soon after putting them up for sale in my Etsy shop!!! I love that feeling that I have made something and someone wants them straight away.

My beadliner arrived yesterday and I have 15 big hole beads waiting patiently for me to pop the silver core in so who am I to refuse the chance of some treasured bead time LOL. I am about to go up my shedio and line my beads pictures to follow shortly I hope and then grand launch of my Belita Bead range will be ready to go! I am thinking of a prize draw or something similar to launch so watch this space!!!

TTFN xx

BIG bead!!

BIG bead!!
Originally uploaded by aurorabeadz

I am kinda liking making the big beads they just take so darned long I can only bring myself to do 1 per session. They do seem ever so popular tho cos this one sold within a couple of hours of me putting it up for sale! It is quite scrummy and I hope its new owner is as pleased with it as I am
TTFN xx

Jens pind bracelet with lampwork beads

Jens pind bracelet with lampwork beads
Originally uploaded by aurorabeadz

Do you remember these beads!!! I made them a few weeks ago with the thought of a new lariat in my head. I made the lariat but was not happy with how it turned out so it has been hanging around waiting for some inspiration. This afternoon I was tidying up my beads corner and came across the bracelet I made a couple of weeks ago and thought "Wow those beads would look fab on there" and there you go. Jens pind chain maille weave with my own handmade lampwork beads embellishing it! On sale now in my Etsy shop!!!

TTFN x

Pretty Woman

Pretty Woman
Originally uploaded by aurorabeadz

I made a set of beads like this one last night and am very chuffed with them. They are called Pretty Woman as they remind me of the dress worn by Julia Robert's at the polo match in the film of the same name!
I made another set as well which will shortly be up on my website for sale

TTFN x

Belita Beads

Belita Beads
Originally uploaded by aurorabeadz

I finally got some torch time and whilst ideas lacked for sets etc I managed to make 5 more Belita beads. These gorgeous little beauties are waiting to be cored with silver tube and will then be available to buy. The bracelet is also handmade by me and the Belita beads will fit onto it!! I am quite excited by these and very glad to be able to offer them to you for sale very soon
(Promise!!!)
TTFN xx

Eeek I am sooooo sorry!

I have been really poor at blogging lately and simply this is due to the fact that I have not got a huge amount to share with you. What with my new job and all that I simply have not got any beads made and there is only so much you guys wanna hear about my life eh ;o)

Life is good still I am very happy and settled. I would like more bead time but that will fall into place and I am not gonna get stressed about it cos that ruins my mojo when I do get into the shed! My 2 girls are fine. Imogen is 13 in June and Savannah is 5 in June...doesn't time fly! Both ages bring with them a different set of challenges but we seem to be doing good right now they are both doing well at school and not getting into any difficulties that I am aware of.

Tony is fine the talk of redundancies that was being banded around 3 or 4 weeks ago seems to have gone quiet so we are keeping our fingers crossed that all has settled and now the weather is improving work will start to come back in. All in all things are plodding along!

I am loving my new job very much. I swore I would not go back to shifts and weekend working but actually it is not to bad at all! I seem to get a little more time to myself like if I am on a late shift then I have the morning to myself. Not really enough time to get into the shed but enough to do a bit of housework and keep on top of things, I get into my shed in the evenings still for a few hours a week. Working with patients again is so brilliant I have a real sense of achievement after each shift. The people I work with are fab and have made me feel really welcome.

I am hoping for some shed time tomorrow evening so hopefully more bead pictures will be on their way soon. I have made some rose murrini which I am playing with still so I hope to have some bead sets with roses on them to show you soon. I am waiting for my silver core stuff to arrive and then I will be making my Belita beads again to see as per my last blog so I am still beavering away just not as high profile as usual!!

I hope you are all well stay with me guys things will pick up again soon and I will have eye candy for you to drool over LOL

TTFN xx

Long time coming but finally.....

smaller rings for Jens pind bracelet
Originally uploaded by aurorabeadz

...I have got my head around the Jens Pind weave in chain maille and have made it small enough to go through my Belita Beads (silver core beads). I am therefore proud to announce that coming very shortly I will be offering the full system both bracelet and beads for you to design your own bracelets. I am quite excited by this and hope it will go well I think it is a fab idea to be able to offer a more affordable option to the Troll bead and Pandora bead systems but which also is compatible with them. For those of you who may be unfamiliar with these systems please google Troll beads, Biagi, Pandora or Chamilia to get an idea! A modern take on the charm bracelet and so easy to swap and change your beads around to match whatever outfit you are wearing.