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

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

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

Green fingers

No beads in this post but some general musing. I want an allotment. Now for those of you who know me you are probably laughing very hard right now!!! Sam....a gardener ha ha ha !!!!!! BUT....I have a fairly big garden and it would not be a major biggie to lose some of it to a little plot where I can grow some bits and pieces that I can use in my kitchen! It would be fab for the girls and would help a little with the shopping bill and enough with the "Good Life" jokes!!!

I believe the waiting list for allotments is quite big cos they are very trendy right now and TBH I am not sure I have the time to give an allotment the care it would need but a little plot in my garden is feasible! It was sunny earlier so I have been out and tidied up a bit and successfully pulled down my rotten fence which has now started me thinking that the time is ripe for some serious thought about a veggie plot! The weather is warming up the frost risk is pretty much passed and it will be nice for me to have something to do with the girls!!! They could weed and help keep it clean.

The question now is what to grow....suggestions please very welcome and if anyone knows of a blog or a website that they think may be helpful I would be grateful I need all the help I can get! Off to take some pictures of the garden so if it happens I have some before and after to show you all.

Other news: Happy Mother's Day to all the mum's out there. I hope you have all had a lovely day and been spoiled by your kids. I got a bacon sarnie and tea in bed and a plant and a great big hug which was lovely. Imogen is home tonight so I hope to get another hug later from her.

My new job as junior sister at my local hospital is going very well I am really enjoying it and hope that I am gonna settle in nicely. They are a great bunch and I am proud to be part of the team there.

I am getting into a routine slowly which means that the bead making is slowly coming back on line! I miss getting up to the shedio as often as I did but I am finding that the ideas are flowing a bit better when I do so a happy medium has been struck. I have also made some Belita Beads (my silver core beads for Troll, Pandora and similar bracelet systems) which I hope to core this week so keep an eye out for them.

I have some bits a pieces that have been languishing for a while so I feel a sale may be in the offing soon, watch this space.

Right best be off dinner to cook an all that

TTFN xx

Spring time??

I may be slightly premature here but the sun is shining it is quite chilly in the shade but in the sunshine it is very pleasant and I am feeling very spring like! The photo above was taken from a google search of "glass daffodils" (of course it has to be glass!!!) and I love this piece and it seemed simply right to show off today.

I have not had much time to bead of late and was hoping to tonight but I have had to swap my shift so hopefully tomorrow night now! Imogen is off in France till Friday so it is just me Tony and Savannah this week, I am missing her loads and strangely enough missing her bickering with Savannah!!! Aren't we odd!!!

I start my new job proper next week hopefully. I am picking my uniform up today and I have shifts for the next 2 weeks. No real change except I am no longer agency and I have more responsibility but the shifts will be the same maybe a few less late shifts so hopefully more beading time in the evenings yay!!! Despite being told by Tony that they may be making redundancies where he works life is good! Money is tight and potentially gonna get worse but I have my health my family and my friends, a job I love a hobby I adore and I am pleased with my lot!!!

TTFN xx

AND THE WINNER IS......

blushing posies!
Originally uploaded by aurorabeadz

.......... Rebecca Emery who left me a comment on my Facebook link to the blog! Rebecca I will contact you and make your bracelet!

I had 27 people in the draw so thank you so much for taking the time to leave me a comment and thank you for my birthday wishes a few of you left for the upcoming 2nd birthday of Aurorabeadz!

Other news: the beads on the right are available now to buy in my bead shop on my website here and I am hoping for some more bead time tomorrow night! So there will be more soon.

TTFN xx

Flower focal

Flower focal
Originally uploaded by aurorabeadz

When you look around at what spring and summer fashion trends are there seem to be quite a few flowers! I like making raised flower beads but have not made any for absolute ages so I decided to make some and the picture above is one of my beads! I ummed and ahhed about making leaves and stems etc but decided on abstract single flowers with different colour petals and am quite pleased how they turned out! I am thinking that some smaller round beads will compliment this long focal very well so I am hoping to get some torch time in this week and make some! I am also wondering about etching!

TTFN x

Heart Pendant

Heart Pendant
Originally uploaded by aurorabeadz

This is my latest creation. Again something I had a dream about!!! I envisaged it being a bit more puffy but I had great fun making it and learned loads. I have also done a different finish and used one of my dremel attachments to give it the brushed look!

I am really chuffed with it and would love to hear what you guys think of it!
TTFN xx

My first spinner ring

My first spinner ring
Originally uploaded by aurorabeadz

Having nearly got a spinner ring just before Christmas and then deciding I could make my own I have finally got round to giving it a go! This is my first attempt and there is a bit of a problem with the soldering (which split slightly when I flared the edges out) but overall I am quite pleased! It turned out to be the size I wanted it to be which is good and I am pleased with the hammered look! Gonna play with this design I think

TTFN xx

Sunshine award

Thank you so much to these following for nominating me for the Sunshine award:

• Silver Gems Designs
• Chatelaine Jewellery
• Continuum Designs
• Jean

There are rules that I am supposed to follow but this award has really been around so I would like to choose some people that have not had the exposure that this may afford them so for now simply thank you for thinking of me and linking to my blog. I have linked back to you and hopefully you will get new followers from it.

TTFN xxx

FHFTeam member spotlight - Ruth and Andy

As a member of the FHFteam on Etsy we all work together to promote each others work and this is a new venture. Each week we are going to feature a member of the Etsy team and help to promote them on our FHFteam on Facebook page!

From today until the 18th January it is the turn of Ruth and Andy, husband and wife team. The picture you see above is taken from their Etsy shop and I think it is simply divine and there are loads more like that. They also have a blog here so please go take a look, add them to your favourites read their blog and enjoy the glassiness!

TTFN xx

Pink swirl focal

P1030048
Originally uploaded by aurorabeadz

I am not generally a focal bead person despite the fact that I love them a lot! I simply find it quite challenging to get enough glass together to get a decent size bead! So I am very pleased with this little beauty! Made with clear glass and some of Val Cox's scrummy pink frit! and a little swirl on each side this is truly a lovely focal bead! And there are little round beads to match! (you can see them in my Flickr album here) I hope to get them up on my website to sell on saturday as I am working all day Sunday! I am also hoping to get another day on the torch tomorrow but I fear that I am brewing a cold! My eyes are so heavy I want to sleep and my nose is tingling does not bode well I am sure! Lets see what happens eh but for now I am having another torch day tomorrow!

TTFN xx

New Years Day

P1020996
Originally uploaded by aurorabeadz

Tony, Savannah and I went for a walk New Years Day there had been a couple of snow showers and more were threatening so we decided to go for a bracing walk along Margate beach and along the promenade to Garlinge where my parents live! The picture you can see here was the sight that greeted us along the seafront shortly before a hefty snow shower hit us! At this moment things were calm and it was quite pleasant walking along then the wind picked up and it snowed very heavily for about 20 minutes!

I love this picture I am not a very good photographer usually but I am quite pleased with this. There are a couple more in my flickr album if you want to have a look !

On the bead front I have had a good day today making beadies. The kiln is ramping down now so I guess I will have to wait till the morning to see what I have waiting for me in there. I am actually hoping to get some time in on Friday as well which will be really nice! My parcel from USA has arrived at last as well, I gotta pay £20 customs charges before I can pick it up so I should have that tomorrow! All very exciting!!!

TTFN xx

Light emerald frosties

Light emerald frosties
Originally uploaded by aurorabeadz

I thought frosted beads were appropriate for the current weather conditions across the UK. I have to say things have massively improved in Margate today there is very little evidence of snow and at the moment it is actually raining. I do know that things were quite bad yesterday in Sandwich, Deal and Folkestone, Dover way but here in Margate nothing, de nada, zilch.
Part of me is pleased cos I can send the girls to school tomorrow as they will reopen but I am quite sad not to have had the opportunity to go out and play in it with the girls. I have got some photos of them playing in it which I will upload later hopefully but I did not get the chance to go out in it with them properly!
These beads will be listed on my website later today as well as some more jewellery on my Etsy site sneak previews can be found on my Flickr album here
Stay warm, keep safe
TTFN xx

Earrings

Earrings
Originally uploaded by aurorabeadz

Here is (or should that be here are!!!) one of the 2 pairs of heart earrings that I have just finished. The hearts are made from art clay silver and I have soldered sterling silver posts onto the back for pierced ears. I am very pleased with these and will be offering them for sale soon.
Watch this space
TTFN xx

Fritty swirls

fritty swirls
Originally uploaded by aurorabeadz

Some of todays goodies for your delectation. I love making these beads they are simple but look stunning. The colour combinations are endless. I have ordered more frit and will be making more along this theme.

I hope you are all ok where you are, we are currently waiting for the arrival of the forecast snow but I have a feeling that is going to move right past us on this little corner of East Kent, typical!!!! Mind you I kinda hope so cos I need to work and if it snows the schools will shut and life will grind to a halt for a while!!!

Right best be off see you soon
TTFN xx

Happy New Year

I know I am a day early but I am working a night shift tonight and have a party tomorrow evening so I am not sure if I will get to the computer or not!

It is that time of year when we like to reflect on things done and not done and set goals for ourselves for the coming 12 months!

For those of you who follow my blog you will know I have had a bit of a rough ride this year. Leaving the security of my university job was a massive step but essential for my health and well being. I took 6 months out and got myself well again and am feeling fairly ok now! For the last 2 months I have been doing agency work as a nurse at my local hospital and have surprised myself with how much I am enjoying it. My initial thoughts were to make a go of the jewellery business and whilst that is still something I am striving to do reality has bitten and I need to be earning a regular decent wage which with the best will in the world the jewellery business is not able to provide me currently.

So my goals for this year are as follows:

1) continue to work in the hospital to ensure a regular decent wage (no more eating food at my parents cos I can't afford to buy my own!!!)

2) find the balance between working as a nurse and making jewellery ( this is gonna be tricky as I am working shifts again but where there is a will there is a way

3) save up enough money to do my level 1 silver metal clay certification

4) be happy and well and a decent mum to my kids and a good wife to Tony.

Maybe that 4th item should be 1st in my list as this is the ultimate aim of my life. I did not write it in priority order but as things came to me. I am smiling now as this is classic of my mind I really should learn to put myself first a bit more and stop pressuring myself so much.

I am off now to see what I wrote last New Year (and to go to work shortly) so I will leave you all with hearty good wishes for a Happy New Year. May 2010 bring you everything you want, health, happiness and with a bit of luck some relaxation from money worries!

Here is to 2010........cheers xx

TTFN xx

You won't get customers if you don't advertise!!

Yesterday I did a market in Margate Old Town. It is supposed to be a 3 day market and last night coincided with the turning on of Margate Christmas lights. This has cost me £50 for 3 days and yesterday I made £20 and apart from one other lady I was the only person to make a sale. Why is this??? Because it was really poorly advertised. There are posters around and I saw some posters at Imogen's school but there was nothing in the local press I even checked last night in case I had missed it.

Please don't get angry with me and think I am putting down the guys I worked with yesterday because I am most definitely not. They are a great bunch, enthusiastic and keen to promote Margate Old Town but at a higher level they are being let down. There was a torchlight procession last night with 2 local schools being involved and I knew nothing about it. There were fireworks and carols with the Salvation Army. I knew nothing about it. There was a mini market with local craftspeople selling their art and craft. I only knew about it cos I was involved.

The torchlight procession was lovely so nice to see all the kids dressed with christmassy LED lights all over them. This has happened for the last 4 or 5 years maybe more and I have lived here all my life (nearly 40 years) and I KNEW NOTHING ABOUT IT. You would have thought that even by osmosis it would have got around the Thanet grapevine is a wonderful beast but not with this little snippet! Everyone moans about Margate says that there is nothing going on well last night there was and how many people were there??? I know for a fact that people stumbling across the market probably totalled a maximum of 100 if we were lucky.

How to advertise? I am no expert but there are some very simple and free things that can be done to raise the profile of someone or something. I should know I have done it with my own business!

1) Facebook fan page
2) Twitter
3) Blog
4) Join forums on the internet and promote yourself.
5) Local radio may promote you

No money involved in any of these and not a great drain on time a group can quite happily work these things together and raise profile instantly.

Come on Margate sort it out and stop being so apathetic.

BTW I am back at the market today from 11 til about 1.30 so come along if you mention my blog you can have a 10% discount on all your purchases.

TTFN xx

Rose lentils

Rose lentils a
Originally uploaded by aurorabeadz

My mojo has returned and I am very happy. I made 3 sets last night and this is a close up of one of the sets! They can all be found for sale on my website here

Other news: I am quite busy putting shifts in at the hospital to earn some money and get us back on the straight and narrow! Thankfully I am getting plenty of work so that is good!

From a jewellery perspective things are quite busy as well what with everyone getting ready for Christams. I had a jewellery party on Friday but you will never believe what I did............I left my box of jewellery at home. It was an hour long round trip to get them and as many of the guests had not arrived I decided not to bother. We are going to do it in the New Year now! Honestly I could not believe it!!!

TTFN xx

I made some beadies yay!!!

So finally after an almost 3 week sabattical and very little going on in the lampworking department I am pleased to announce that Molly mojo decided to come home! She has had a well earned break and the creative juices are now flowing free. The only thing missing now is time but I am happy to grab whatever few minutes I can to make beads again and I can tell you I am one happy bunny.

Pictures soon the kiln is still hot so won't be till tomorrow!

TTFN xx