Today's goodies for your delectation!

The kiln is ramping down as I write this so there is more to come! But here are a few for you to have a jaspers at! The one on the left is exactly the same set of beads as the middle picture but look at the 3rd bead in from each side! I have no idea what colour this is cos it comes from a sample box of Bullseye glass and is unlabelled. It may well be neo-lavender but it is definitely a colourshifting glass. I have mentioned these before but this is the most spectacular response to different light I have seen! The first picture is under the lights for taking pictures. The middle picture is under my halogen room lights! Sadly it was dark when these were taken so I couldn't see what effect sunlight would have!!!

The 3rd picture is of a comission I have been asked to make! The beads are my own and I have used them to embellish a byzantine chain maille bracelet. I hope it is liked!!!

Other news: I have not seen it yet but I am reliably informed that my beads are indeed showcased in this months edition of Beads and Beyond! It comes out tomorrow so it will be Friday before my local WH Smiths has it on the shelves so I gotta wait a bit longer to see em but needless to say I am quite excited!!!

TTFNx

Ta Dah...

...Today I submitted my tutorial for Beads and Beyond magazine! I think it is for the April 2009 issue (issue19) so there is a little wait Feb issue just come out so 2 issues to wait! Not gonna say anymore you will have to buy it LOL ;-) It is not anything to challenging but it is my first tutorial so I am looking forward to the feedback and response from everyone!

There is only one week left in my January sale so get on over to my website and have a look Aurorabeadz

Other then that not much else to report! I am making a jens pind necklace at the moment with my own jump rings that I have cut. There are a few things to tidy up with the Koil Kutter but I am quite pleased! I will post a piccy when it is done! Maybe a while cos it is part of some bigger project.

Well best be off eldest daughter is hanging off my shoulder wanting to go on MSN. The computer just is not mine anymore!!!
TTFNx

My first blog award

I have got my first award. Elaine from Chatelaine Jewellery has nominated me and I am chuffed! Nice to know my ramblings are read!!! Thank you Elaine. Now the rules are that I must show the award on my website, link to the person who nominated me and nominate other blogs for the award. So....of to think about who to nominate!

Other news....my fingerprint jewellery has really taken off I have 3 orders sitting here with me to finish today and another one to make. I have run out of bloomin clay so I need to get on and order some! I still have not managed to play with my Koil Kutter I have bought some copper wire so I will get to it! only 2 more days at work and then I am off for 2 weeks so I will have a play then! Watch this space for my chain maille jewellery.
My spacer beads are doing very well as well! Despite the fact that I thought making job lots of small round beads would be boring I am finding that it is really good practice. I am really getting the hang of making sets of beads similar sizes and getting really good puckers as well so I am glad I started this.
I have another idea in my head for the new year which I am thinking through so if it goes ahead watch this space and I will give you details soon!
I got my tax return back yesterday and I made £11 profit last tax year (I had only been in business for 3 or 4 weeks) and I have got a bloody bill for £40 odd quid! Ok its not a lot but I pay my tax in the day job and only made £11 profit so WTH is that bill about!!!!!! Makes you wonder why you go legit and above board!!!!
Right gotta go errands to run and jewellery to make!
TTFNx

A bit later.....Right I have thought this through and nominate the following for the award.
1. Melanie Moertel I have just discovered this blog and the beads on here are simply to die for I love them simply scrummy!
2. Sarah Downton I love how Sarah writes in her blog and she imtroduced me to this fantastic world of glass and for that I love her!

Please go see their work you won't be disappointed.

There are loads of people whose work I adore and their blogs are shown on the right of my blog! Dont' foget to have a look at their work and musings as well!!! I am always scouting around and finding more so keep checking back.

TTFNx

I'm so excited..

..don't take much to excite me but I have just taken delivery of my Koil Kutter so I can now make my own jump ring. Chain maille here I come. I do have loads to learn but this will compliment my beads beautifully. These are made by me with kits bought from Maille Queen

Now I can make my own jump rings and tumble them!!!!

Not just silver either although that is my fav but I can do copper, gold coloured wire etc etc etc!!! the sky is the limit.

Silence is golden..

...for my family but not for me!!! I love to talk and enforced silence is like a form of Chinese torture :-) The voice is well and truly gone so I really have to rest it so ensure it comes back soon! I am pretty convinced it is purely a viral laryngitis but I have never lost my voice completely before. On top of that I have the hugest cold sore on my bottom lip so well and truly run down I think!

Enough medical information what other news!

My party went well last night. I made a goodly sum of money which will get loughed back into stock pretty fast! My friend Kirsty came along as well and sold a few bits that she made hopefully she found that a real confidence boost her stuff is lovely. It was fab when she bought it round for me to look at the other day but the improvement since then is fab. It is so hard to say that without sounding patronising but encouragement is so important and the best compliment is someone buying your stuff. Thats why I enouraged her to do it boost confidence an all that!

My koil kutter is on order and I am seriously researching aspect ratio etc for my chain maille so watch this space more chain maille coming I think. If I can get jens pind cracked then I want to use it as the bracelet for my Belita Beads which I want to re launch after Christmas cos they have gone quiet to be able to provide the bracelet system has got to figure highly in this so that is my aim for the new year. Another aim is to crack encasing for my beads I am loving my lampworking at the moment there is no real pressure attached to it and I am having fun. Gonna load my Folksy shop and my website over the next few days so have a look.

Final news I have got a "Credit Crunch" range watch this space and I will let you know, very simple affordable beautiful jewellery coming soon!

Some of what I make...

Just a few of the things I make! All of the beads are handmade by me! Go lookie at my website and my folksy page, links on the right!!!

OMG Earache really hurts!!!

I have, for the first time ever, got a really painful left ear! It started yesterday afternoon whilst I was teaching and literally took my breath away. It feels like a stabbing pain every couple of minutes! It kept me up all night, 2am I was taking paracetamol for the pain. Just got home from the Doc's and he says it is not an infection, he had a right good look! Thinks that it is likely that I have got congestion from a cold (when??) and it has blocked my ears and throat which is why it hurts to swallow as well.
Now being a nurse I know all this, ears nose and throat are all connected, I knew it was not an infection really cos I have had no symptoms and this is probably where the problem lies. My speciality is cancer and I always go for worst case scenario so obviously in the absence of infective symptoms I have gone for a diagnosis of brain tumour! Now I feel a complete prat and a wimp cos I have taken the day off sick and really should I have done.
There is no denying I am in acute pain and every 2 minutes or so I get a massive stabbing pain which honestly could make me cry (I am a wimp as well!) but really a day off sick??? Actually yes! I have had this blasted headache for 8 or 9 days now and with that and the earache I feel quite justified in taking a day off, I am feeling proper cruddy!
Good news... Savannah is better having spent 2 days with spectacular temps of above 40C. Like I said the other day the amount of bugs going around is untrue!!!
What else can I share with you all...Only a week to go to my jewellery party and I spent last night making more stuff. I have just finished my first Jens Pind bracelet and am well chuffed with it! Blasted weave can be quite troublesome but once I got into it it seemed to go ok! I will pop some pictures up later on my website so you can see what I have been making so go take a look: Aurorabeadz
Mmm...what else! You know what I am in so much bloody pain I can't think so I am gonna sign off for now! I think a nap may be in order then some pictures!
TTFNx

Jens pind chain maille

I love chain maille and tonight have finally managed to get my head around the jens pind weave! This is a gorgeous weave and I think will rapidly replace byzantine as my favourite. That said they are the only 2 weaves I do at the moment!!!

Last night went well, my friend joined me to have a go on the torch. She did 5 beads and they were cool, the last 2 were fab, lovely puckers and everything so I think she may be back to have another go! She bought some of her jewellery with her and I am trying to persuade her to bring some to my party on 5th Dec.

I was supposed to be playing on the torch tonight to make my set of beads for the Beads and Beyond competition (which has published my letter this month!!!) but the jens pind got me and now I have run out of jump rings and can't make any more!!! Poo!!! Now it is too late to fire up the kiln, so it will have to be tomorrow night now!

Oh and the hotel is booked for the "Flame Off" in April just waiting for the tickets now!!!

Right ho time to go...

TTFNx