I am hopeless at making flower canes, usually!
My petals always get squished at the top and my packing is not very good and they always seem to come out slightly lobsided!!
But for some strange reason this one worked out far better than I had even hoped for!
I am so happy with it! It has already been used on some of my multi-coloured sunflower beads for a new necklace today (there is a photo on flickr of one I did ages ago!). They are always popular and I am happy to have loads more cane now to be able to make some more.
I might just have to have a go at some more flower canes now! Any suggestions? What sort of flowers would you like on beads? I would love to hear from you all with your thoughts!
Tuesday, 30 June 2009
Friday, 19 June 2009
New Beads!
I feel a little like I have been in the desert for the last few months.
But now I feel as though someone came and gave me a lovely long iced glass of water! That someone knows who she is! The water tastes great and has revived me!
Creativity is a funny thing, it comes along and everything is just buzzing. So many ideas, not enough hours in the day to make them all a reality, so many possibilities, the future is crammed full of things you want to make and want to make possible. Then suddenly, for no apparent reason - gone - all gone. It is the strangest and most disconcerting feeling. You find yourself questioning whether it is gone for good - that muse of yours, fickle thing she is!
Suddenly all is dry and grey and nothing is working. All the excitement, all the possibilities are as if they never were. Not a good place to be.
I hope that I have learnt patience from this episode, because that is what is needed. Patience to know that from somewhere, when you least expect it, and when you are not exactly looking for it, then things will change again.
So, at last....at long, long, last, (it seems like a very long time to me anyway!).....some new beads as promised.
I have lots of pendants, earrings and beads in this series, but only these photographed as yet. I am excited as to where these may take me - lots of ideas running around my head.
It is nice to be back somewhere green again!
But now I feel as though someone came and gave me a lovely long iced glass of water! That someone knows who she is! The water tastes great and has revived me!
Creativity is a funny thing, it comes along and everything is just buzzing. So many ideas, not enough hours in the day to make them all a reality, so many possibilities, the future is crammed full of things you want to make and want to make possible. Then suddenly, for no apparent reason - gone - all gone. It is the strangest and most disconcerting feeling. You find yourself questioning whether it is gone for good - that muse of yours, fickle thing she is!
Suddenly all is dry and grey and nothing is working. All the excitement, all the possibilities are as if they never were. Not a good place to be.
I hope that I have learnt patience from this episode, because that is what is needed. Patience to know that from somewhere, when you least expect it, and when you are not exactly looking for it, then things will change again.
So, at last....at long, long, last, (it seems like a very long time to me anyway!).....some new beads as promised.
I have lots of pendants, earrings and beads in this series, but only these photographed as yet. I am excited as to where these may take me - lots of ideas running around my head.
It is nice to be back somewhere green again!
Thursday, 18 June 2009
Tease!!
There are some new designs coming - honest!!!
Pictures will be posted tomorrow (hopefully). I have been having fun, fun, fun! It has been so long since made a whole new series of beads and I am very Excited! Can you tell?
Thank you Lynda!
Pictures will be posted tomorrow (hopefully). I have been having fun, fun, fun! It has been so long since made a whole new series of beads and I am very Excited! Can you tell?
Thank you Lynda!
Sunday, 14 June 2009
Devotion to Duty
Writing this blog post is definitely devotion to duty tonight! It is Sunday Evening - I have done two Craft Fairs, getting up at 5.30 a.m. on Saturday morning and getting home at 6.30 p.m. and then getting up at 7.30 this morning and getting home again at 6.30 p.m.
Wonderful husband had made tea for us all, and I then did 2 hours of ironing (well, I think the children would have been in danger of being squashed if the pile had fallen on them, it was that big!).
So, I am somewhat tired, but thought if I did not post even a little entry in this blog then you would all get pretty fed up of popping in and finding nothing new, yet again!
I have a couple of ideas floating around in my head for new styles of necklaces that I am hoping will get made this week and I will post some photos for you when they are done.
But for now....... a cup of coffee and then bed! Tomorrow is a whole new Clay Day!
Wonderful husband had made tea for us all, and I then did 2 hours of ironing (well, I think the children would have been in danger of being squashed if the pile had fallen on them, it was that big!).
So, I am somewhat tired, but thought if I did not post even a little entry in this blog then you would all get pretty fed up of popping in and finding nothing new, yet again!
I have a couple of ideas floating around in my head for new styles of necklaces that I am hoping will get made this week and I will post some photos for you when they are done.
But for now....... a cup of coffee and then bed! Tomorrow is a whole new Clay Day!
Wednesday, 27 May 2009
Compact and Bijoux!
Do you remember the old chestnut that Estate Agents would roll out in the 80's and 90's? "This lovely studio apartment....all mod. cons..... central location......compact and bijoux!" It would turn out to be a slightly over sized airing cupboard in central London that would cost almost as much monthly as a mortgage on a 5 bedroom property in the Cotswolds! (Lovely, leafy, desirable area in Gloucestershire, in the West of England for all international readers!).
Now the phrase is never used in that context, well not in the Estate Agent's particulars that I read anyway, but is popping up all over the place in connection with beads. In Bath, there is a lovely shop called Bijoux Beads, and I see the word in connection with beads all over the Internet. Of course it is a French word meaning small, compact, neat or little (if my French is incorrect here, please someone correct me!). It fits well in front on the word "bead".
It also fits well as a description of my working area!
A fellow member of the Craftsman's Market in Cirencester, recently saw a photo of my so called "studio area" and was astounded that I could get anything done in so small a space! "How on earth do you manage?" he asked.
Well, it is a matter of having to! I feel very lucky to have a dedicated area to work on - it used to be the dining room table! - at least I don't have to clear away half way through a project so that the children can have their tea! Ahhh happy memories (not!).
It maybe small, it may be bijoux, but to me it is a little slice of heaven, where I feel totally comfortable and have everything around me that I need!
Mind you, that is not to say that I would not like a studio down the garden! The plans for that are just awaiting the lottery win!!
Now the phrase is never used in that context, well not in the Estate Agent's particulars that I read anyway, but is popping up all over the place in connection with beads. In Bath, there is a lovely shop called Bijoux Beads, and I see the word in connection with beads all over the Internet. Of course it is a French word meaning small, compact, neat or little (if my French is incorrect here, please someone correct me!). It fits well in front on the word "bead".
It also fits well as a description of my working area!
A fellow member of the Craftsman's Market in Cirencester, recently saw a photo of my so called "studio area" and was astounded that I could get anything done in so small a space! "How on earth do you manage?" he asked.
Well, it is a matter of having to! I feel very lucky to have a dedicated area to work on - it used to be the dining room table! - at least I don't have to clear away half way through a project so that the children can have their tea! Ahhh happy memories (not!).
It maybe small, it may be bijoux, but to me it is a little slice of heaven, where I feel totally comfortable and have everything around me that I need!
Mind you, that is not to say that I would not like a studio down the garden! The plans for that are just awaiting the lottery win!!
Thursday, 21 May 2009
Coral Grove
I have had quite a few comments on this new style of bangle, when I posted the picture of it first on Flickr.
I did not plan this style at all, it was just one of those "Oh I'll try doing this" sort of moments. The Bullseye Cane had been made for a different project and was just sitting there on my desk and I suddenly thought it would look good on the bangle.
I love textural pieces. Jewellery that not only looks good, but also feels good is a winner in my book!
It reminded me of coral, but the most interesting comment I had was that it looked like "octopus tentacles!" I know exactly what she means!
I did not plan this style at all, it was just one of those "Oh I'll try doing this" sort of moments. The Bullseye Cane had been made for a different project and was just sitting there on my desk and I suddenly thought it would look good on the bangle.
I love textural pieces. Jewellery that not only looks good, but also feels good is a winner in my book!
It reminded me of coral, but the most interesting comment I had was that it looked like "octopus tentacles!" I know exactly what she means!
Tuesday, 19 May 2009
Wondergirl!
I am beside myself with pride!
My beautiful, wonderful, talented and lovely daughter Katie, has won the first "Holt's Got Talent" competition!
We are so amazingly proud of her!
Singing on Stage
We live in a small village, not far from Bath in Wiltshire. It has an amazing community spirit and there is always lots going on. We have many clubs and organisations and a very thriving and brilliant Amateur Dramatic Society. They decided to hold a competition along the lines of "Britian's Got Talent" and they had the auditions last week. Katie got through, along with 14 other acts, ranging from pianists, dancers, bands through to singers, with ages ranging from 10 years old right through to OAP's.
Katie decided to sing "Colours of the Wind" from Disney's Pocahontas. She sang totally unaccompanied! She is only 13 years old, but she showed a maturity far beyond her years on the stage.
I have to say, that as her voice rang out over the audience, I got covered in goosebumps and experienced one of the happiest and proudest moments of my life.
Receiving her prize, a beautiful bowl, a certificate and £50.00 prize money.
With the Judges
Well done Katie - our own Wondergirl, because you are wonderful and I wonder how on earth I could have produced such an amazing person!
We love you so very much!
My beautiful, wonderful, talented and lovely daughter Katie, has won the first "Holt's Got Talent" competition!
We are so amazingly proud of her!
Singing on Stage
We live in a small village, not far from Bath in Wiltshire. It has an amazing community spirit and there is always lots going on. We have many clubs and organisations and a very thriving and brilliant Amateur Dramatic Society. They decided to hold a competition along the lines of "Britian's Got Talent" and they had the auditions last week. Katie got through, along with 14 other acts, ranging from pianists, dancers, bands through to singers, with ages ranging from 10 years old right through to OAP's.
Katie decided to sing "Colours of the Wind" from Disney's Pocahontas. She sang totally unaccompanied! She is only 13 years old, but she showed a maturity far beyond her years on the stage.
I have to say, that as her voice rang out over the audience, I got covered in goosebumps and experienced one of the happiest and proudest moments of my life.
Receiving her prize, a beautiful bowl, a certificate and £50.00 prize money.
With the Judges
Well done Katie - our own Wondergirl, because you are wonderful and I wonder how on earth I could have produced such an amazing person!
We love you so very much!
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