A new idea is brewing

...Not gonna say much but I am having an idea! Some what of a diversion from what I make at the mo and if I can sort it out will be another string to my bow but I think I can make the new thing and the beads and jewellery work together..
Ha has that got your interest or what....

Watch this space.

Other news I have been making more spacer beads (about all I am good for at the mo!!) and I have found this completely delish yellow

It is Bullseye sunflower yellow and I love it. I am not normally a yellow person but this is very very nice. It is a striking colour and when I am winding it onto the mandrel it is the most beautiful undescribable colour, one of those beads that I wish stayed the same colour when hot as cold! That said the yellow that comes out of the kiln is just......sunny!!!

I have also made these 2 sets which will be up on my website tomorrow for sale!

TTFNxx

New listings on Etsy and my website

Getting my act together a bit with my beads! I got loads sitting around and feel like getting them up for sale! 2 pendants on Etsy here and I am about to go to my website here and upload some bargain basement goodies and a very colourful set of beads!!!

thank you
TTFNxx

Spacer bead queen

I am the spacer bead queen. My hands are shaking so much dots and lines are out of the question and my mind is like a grasshopper jumping around so much I thought I had best keep my work simple. This is quite therapeutic though. I am practising encasing and really feel like I have cracked it at last, I can encase quite nicely now and am very pleased with myself.

TTFNxx

I managed to make these!!!

I had a mega session on the torch yesterday and yes I only managed to make simple beads BUT... I have practised round beads and encasing and overall a good haul I think.

The encasing is fine sadly the glass is not! I appear to have a bad batch of Effetre clear which goes "scummy" when I heat it. This means that there are loads and loads of tiny bubbles. Does not affect the bead itself but aesthetically some people won't like the look. I have etched them which has made them look better and I quite like them.
TTFNxx

What have I been up to?

I promised I was not going to get to boring or maudlin on you but you just have to understand where I am right now so that some of this post makes some kind of sense.

After years (at least 2 or 3 but in reality a lot more!) I have been dealing with what I describe as a "low grade" depression. Most of the time I am fine there are good days and bad days! I have never had to take time off work for it. I do take meds but no time off. UNTIL.....This week. I give in...I just can't cope right now so here I am at home taking some time out!

My GP has changed my meds and signed me off for 2 weeks, Tony is worried sick about me and I am just chillin trying to get my head back on a bit!!!

Everyone keeps on going on about "me" time so I have taken the opportunity to get into the studio and make beads!!!! Well Wednesday I did not know whether to laugh or cry!!! I turned out a load of rubbish, yesterday I became the spacer bead queen churning out 40 small spacer beads in different colours!!! So I took that as inspiration today and thought I would go back to basics. I make little spacer beads all the time so I thought right make single colour beads but larger, practice getting round beads instead of "donut" shaped ones!!! Then I decided to practice my encasing using my crappy effetre clear rods that are so scummy it is untrue BUT...I can etch them once they are cooked and they will look fab! This afternoon I have churned out somewhere in the region of 50 beads or so and feel ok actually!

Can I make this pay....Can beads and jewellery ever become my main income???

BTW I am featured in this months edition of Beads and Beyond with another art clay tutorial. All in all today is one of my better days for a few weeks!!! Just gotta wait for the kiln to ramp down and see what the kiln fairies leave me!!!

TTFNxx

Inspiration and just gorgeous

There are so many beads and pieces of jewellery out there that I admire that I thought I would share some of them with you. This is just a sample of peoples work that I admire.

• Lorna at Pixiewillowdesigns
• Kate at Sublime beads
• Sarah Hornik
• Ali Bali Jewellery
• Dora Schubert
  

and there are so many others I could go on and on!!!!! Julie at Lush Lampwork, Keiara at byKeriara, Becky of Chameleon Designs, and I have not even started on the USA artists!!!

Right now I am just browsing round the internet and looking at what people make, I am off work for 2 weeks (no not holiday!!!) and just trying to chill a bit and browsing around the gorgeous stuff people make is relaxing!

TTFNxx

Your jewellery my beads!

I have just had an email from one of my customers who has made some jewellery from some beads she bought from me. I get such a kick from this....Thank you. I love seeing what you make with beads you get from me!