Posts from Poppyfields

No, not another diet

2011-02-22T14:39:00.003Z

For some of you who know me, you will know I'm a big girl. And when I say 'big girl', I mean I'm fat :0( Now, my boyfriend loves me, my friends love me & my family love me, but there's a little bit inside me that really dislikes this!

I've always been big, from about the age of 10. Probably not huge but bigger than the other kids in my class & I went from being a fat kid to a fat adult. Men still found me attractive, I got married, then divorced and subsequently 'involved' again so I can't be that unattractive can I?

I've done countless diets to the point that I don't have a set of scales in the house. But it's all come to a head, or it did last year when travelling on a plane. G & I were sat in 'emergency exit' seats and the seatbelt wouldn't do up and I had to sit on my own, feeling embarrassed and humiliated. I promised myself that I wouldn't fly again like that!

After Christmas we booked a holiday of a lifetime to California. We're flying into LAX and driving from Monterey down to San Diego. There's lots to see and do and I want to make the very most of it. And of course, there's the 10 1/2 hour flight to get through. I started swimming in January with hopes of a sensible eating plan & exercise that would shed not just a few pounds, but some inches around my hips, bum & tum. I also signed up to the Swimathon to ensure I kept to the exercise until at least April.

Then, out of the blue an email arrives saying 'Get Gastric Band Hypnosis for 1/3'. I work in a business centre and one of the clients is a Hypnotherapist specialising in weight loss & she wanted volunteers to take part in her 5 session programme to lose weight for 1/3 of the normal price. I'd never been hypnotised & don't want a gastric band but I was up to give it a go.

I've had 3 sessions so far, with only 1 hypnosis session for Emotinal Freedom. This is to help with issues that may be interfering with the weight loss process. I've been weighed and measured and have so far lost 10 1/2 inches, (pretty much 2 inches all over) and now showing some good results as my clothes are looser and the programme I'm on means I'm never hungry. That's not to say that I don't have to have control over what and how I eat.

I'm having my hypnotic gastric band fitted tomorrow morning. When I'm in a trance my therapist will talk to me about losing weight and she will play a soundtrack of a patient being fitted with a gastric band, therefore making me think I have one and help reduce the amounts I eat.

Diets are the most boring of subjects, so well done if you're still with me! I'll keep you posted with the ongoing results but I'm not going to bore you senseless with this! Wish me luck!

Folksy Friday

2011-02-18T11:08:00.011Z

I'm Poorly.......

2011-02-15T14:43:00.004Z

yes, I've not been well over the last couple of days. To bore you with the details, I had a scratchy throat when G & I went out on saturday evening. This little tickle kept raising up and I kept swallowing to keep it at bay, especially as we were in the cinema at the time.

Sunday morning came and I just wasn't feeling myself and by the afternoon my head was burning up. But I kept going as I had the design idea in my head for the fused glass seascape.

The seascape is a slow process as I want it to be textured & slumped.....and just perfect! (It's tack fusing as we speak in the kiln)

In the meantime I made another little item called 'Bluebell Wood' & hope you like it.

Back to the story, yesterday I spent the day at home poorly. I'm not a good patient. I want to get out of bed and do enjoyable stuff rather than just laying there groaning & moaning. And there was no-one of groan & moan too as G had gone to work.

So I've got myself into work today inflicting my germs on Elisa.....sorry hon!

What's Your Mission Statement?

2011-02-08T15:13:00.008Z

When I read mission statements from places like Tescos I wonder whether it's an aim rather than a real belief in what they say they will do, and I also wonder whether they've actually been in their own shops recently.

This is Tesco's statement....

"No one tries harder for customers:

Understand customers better than anyone

Be energetic, be innovative and be first for customers

Use our strengths to deliver unbeatable value to our customers

Look after our people so they can look after our customers

Treat people how we like to be treated"

I'm not here to knock Tescos, they're just an example. Most retailers have something like this.

I was just thinking about this because on the www.folksy.com forum on Sunday someone was asking the question 'do you like what you make?' And it got me thinking, what do I think about what I make and do?

Personally I love what I make on the whole. The power in the belief that what I make is amazing and cool drives me on even when sales are low. I have to believe that my items are the best out there otherwise why would I keep on making things? I also believe that the finish of my items is fantastic. I'm not here to judge others but I know that I won't put anything in my shop if it isn't finished to the highest possible standard. I also passionately believe in excellent customer service. My day job involves me exceeding expectations in this area and I don't see why it should stop at my online shop. Ok, so this isn't so easy to prove in an online shop but buy something and hate, well, just drop it back to me, I don't mind (well, maybe a little bit :0) )

So the Poppyfields Design Mission Statement is....

The customer is always right even when I'm not sure they are. Heck, I want them to come back and also tell everyone how I was happy for them to return the item

I will be as creative as I can, as often as I can. This isn't always easy, I sometimes lose my mojo

My glass & jewellery items will always be beautifully finished. Handcrafted doesn't mean half-arsed!

Treat everyone like a King or Queen, better than you wish to be treated. You'll get it back anyway on the whole & everyone is a potential customer.

Delight & excite at every opportunity....oh sorry, that ones for my boyfriend :0)

February Valentinos!

2011-02-04T10:24:00.004Z

I'm pleased to announce I have FINALLY made a piece of jewellery this year! It's only February and I run an online JEWELLERY shop!!! My mojo had deserted me but it seems to have made it's way back to me.

It's good that it has come back because I've joined the Folksy February listing club. This is where you have to list something new everyday and the idea is that you support and help your fellow club members and get more sales. That's the general idea but this doesn't seem to happening with me yet, but hey, it's on the 4th Feb and I'm not sweating about it!

I've also drawn the lovely Natalie Ofkants of NofkantsCurios www.nofkantscurios/shops/folksy.com in the Valentines Swap. I thought it was a general swaperoo and was a bit thrown when I found out it had to be heart related! D'OH!!! Fortunately I've managed to get something together which I think she'll love but I can't show it yet as it'll spoil the surprise!

I've also finished the commissioned pieces for a gentleman who wanted a piece of fused glass with his and his wifes' initials in a Valentines gift. He asked me to make 2 pieces to chose from. My favourite is the picture at the top. Fingers crossed that she loves it.

It's Nearly February!! Hooray!

2011-01-28T13:45:00.007Z

So here we are again. Getting to the end of January which I'm really pleased about. January (for me anyway) is the most depresssing month of the year and it seems soooooooooo long. Everyone is a bit miserable as they're giving up something in a new years resolution, or is a bit broke because they're repaying all their Christmas debt. All I want to do is feel some warm sun on my face and not have to wear a big heavy coat.

Now I've got that off my chest I can say nice and happy things, lol!

I've been making some lovely glass things and he's a confession......I haven't made a piece of jewellery all year!! ha! I think I just made so much jewellery in the run up to Christmas that I've lost my jewellery mojo. I'm sure it'll pop it's head back up as I've got some beautiful beads sitting here begging, begging I tell you, to be made into something beautiful.

In the mean time I've been commission to make two Valentine pieces by a very romantic gentleman for his wife. I've made one 'safe' option which is their initials in a heart but I'm allowed to go crazy in the second one so opted for a stylised heart, with copper hearts, cupids & flowers; initials in glass again & more hearts.
My lovely friend Lucy (who makes beautiful silver clay jewellery) asked me to make a coaster for her desk. The design brief was "I was scattered confetti in pink and white".I've also made my first wave mould Poppyfield. There's been quite alot of interest in this already and I love it so I can see me making more. I'm thinking of maybe a cottage garden scene or a bluebell wood.....or the sea. The options are endless and I can't wait to get my hands on some more glass this weekend.

Happy New Year!

2011-01-05T13:32:00.004Z

Happy New Year to one and all!

Here I am again after a very busy pre-Christmas sales rush and a post-Christmas rush around the country visiting inlaws (well nearly) & family.

After the shop which after reflection actually went really well, Elisa and I then had a weekend slot at The Square Tower, Old Portsmouth. I woke up on the saturday to find it had been snowing (AGAIN!) but I set off only to get a couple of miles up the road before slipping and sliding deciding that nothing was worth risking my life! The next moring I got up again and set off. Got there ok but the pavement outside the Tower was a skating rink. Not sure if that was the reason or just the absolutely freezing cold weather but the Fayre was a complete disaster for everyone :0( But reviewing the sales I had meant that I did make a good profit which I have squandered on 2 courses with Warm Glass! Can't wait! Oh, and some moulds and some new glass!

The New Year brings resolutions to get fit and lose some weight in a sensible manner ready for an exciting trip to California in May. Also, sitting squeezed into a airplane seat for over 10 hours is an amazing incentment!

Looking to make lots of new glassy things in the kiln and I've got a wave mould coming so I can do 'standing up' pieces and I want to make plates, vases & useful items.

SHOP SHOP SHOP!

2010-12-08T16:25:00.007Z

Today is a VERY exciting day! Elisa & I have the shop!! Ok, so it's not that exciting if you're not involved but it's been a long time coming.

The other ladies involved are Lucy & Vidiya who make jewellery and pottery. Unfortunately we lost our graphic artist, but not to worry.

We set up the shop last night and it is FULL to the seams. And there I was worried that I wouldn't have enough stock. But it's the unexpected.

We are due to have a full house on our preview evening (tonight!!!) but I'm guessing we'll be very quiet the rest of the week. I'll get some photos tonight and give you an update soon.

I've been busy playing with the kiln, finally I hear you say! I've fired it up twice and I've managed to get a few good items already which I really pleased about. G was away on Monday night, and laying in bed I could hear a gentle hum. I suddenly realised that our bedroom is over the garage and that should the kiln decide to explode during the night, then we will feel the full force of it.....not that that'll ever happen. But it kept me awake for hours!Pop over to my Folksy shop where you'll find lots of lovely Christmas gifts and if you don't find anything you like in my shop, then you're bound to find it elsewhere on there.

Take care! x

Snow

2010-12-03T16:02:00.004Z

Have you done all your Christmas shopping yet?

I think I'm almost there! And thank goodness for that as I'm so busy with jewellery shops and events in the run up to the big day. Ah just remembered that I said I would make G's mum a cameo pendant from silver clay, ok, but I think that's almost it!

Elisa & I had planned a sale at the centre where I have my office but wouldn't you believe it that on the day we had 7 inches of snow and only 'heros' like Elisa & I managed to get into the office. I would have been stuck in the snow but her b/f has a 4 x 4 which can leap tall building, scale Everest etc etc so he came to the rescue.

The casualty of the snow has been G & my's Christmas 80's party this saturday. I didn't want to be responsible for slips, trips & near fatal car crashes on the motorway in this weather. No doubt we'll have revellers turn up in their party glad rags expecting to hear 'Relax' (only just got the words to the song about 2 years ago - yes, isn't it rude!) when the only relaxing will be me & G chillaxing with a bottle of red in front of the fire.

Next week the thaw is due which is good timing as Elisa and some other crafty pals have our shop in Portsmouth (Market Way - Pop Up Shops). Drop in and say 'hello' if you're passing. Oh, and buy all our stock too!!! ;0)

Exciting Times

2010-11-26T17:11:00.005Z

Elisa and I held a Jewellery Party at the home of the Lovely Lucy last friday. We love going to Lucy's as she always invites a fun crowd, so it's always very lively with lots of drinkies flowing (soft drinks only for me as I was driving - boo!)

We arrived and set up whilst trying to chat to her young son who is 6. He was enthralling Elisa with tales of his 16 girlfriends and how he climbs out of his window at midnight to go and see them. Methinks too many vampire films or Count Duckula???

We had the most amazing night of sales! Basically, if it wasn't nailed down or reserved for others then the jewellery flew off the table. Some people bought 4 or 5 items. I didn't get home until 1 in the morning but I didn't care. I promptly went to Monsoon in Chichester and spent the whole takings on a sparkly top for my 80s Disco Party, a beautiful red scarf, earrings (yes, I know!) and lots of other silly things.

We've also been offered the chance to sell to up to 60 ladies in a college & also the possibility to have stock in a shop in Petersfield. That's early days yet but I can see it doing really well based on who will be running it!

I hope you all have great plans for the weekend. I have Lucy (a different one) & Elisa coming over to do beady things tomorrow and then we may have to have a Kir Royale or 3 before tucking into chinese takeaway. Fortunately for G, he is at football in Manchester and won't be home til well after we've passed out!

Shop!! - 8-12th December 2010

2010-11-18T15:18:00.004Z

Twice in two days! I know, it's a record! But I thought it was time to really make an effort with the blog, so here I am again.

More news which I haven't told you about is that Elisa & I are having a shop, YES, a shop!!! Well, only for a week but given the amount of thought and planning required it's probably a good job it is only for a week.

We're holding a Christmas Gift Fayre to promote our crafty friends and will be selling jewellery, pottery, glass & graphic illustrations.

We've sat down today and talked through our plan, which mainly just involves turning up and hoping that our marketing campaign has worked. We've ordered flyers and will get some airtime from a local radio station on the day & get some local paper exposure.

Oh, and we've ordered some paper bags & black velour material for our tables. You've got to love it haven't you!!!

Main points are it's the Pop Up Shop, Market Way, Portsmouth, Hampshire and we'll be open properly for trade from 7pm on 8th December until 5pm on 12th December! We very much hope that you'll pop in and see us!

I'm Back

2010-11-17T16:53:00.006Z

sorry, sorry, sorry for being away for soooooooooooooo long! I wish I had a perfect excuse like...G whisked me off to the Antartic for a surprise 6 month holiday, or I've had the lurgey and been in quarintine, but actually the reality is that I've just been busy with life and the blog was the thing to have gone.

"What's happended in your life?" I hear you ask. Don't worry, I'll fill you in on it all!

But the main news is I'VE BOUGHT A KILN!!!!! Yes, it's very exciting news isn't it! It comes on friday morning and fortunately I've got all day, yes, all day sunday to play with it AND I've been allowed to keep it in the house and not in the freezing cold garage. The only slight fly in the ointment is that the man delivering said it's 'coming on a pallett' which indicates that it may be slightly bigger than I anticipated but I think that has to be all packing.

Other news is that I've had a lesson with silver clay Mistress Lesley Messam in her studio and I'm rocking and rolling on the clay vibe....and loving it, although it's costing me a fortune! I can do 50g of clay in a few minutes and that costs on Ebay £56. I desperately need to sell some gear to fund my clay habit!

Anyway, that's it for today. I promise that I will be back and I won't let it go months again!

Craft Fail

2010-07-06T16:10:00.010+01:00

Last night was the night! I had waited with anticipation for it to come, and when it did, I was bitterly disappointed. Now I know you think I'm talking about my glass dish, but actually, I'm talking about my sex life.....HA! Had you fooled, I was definately taking about my dish.

I spent 3 hours cutting and placing the glass squares, only to be pollaxed at the last hurdle and for it to not slump properly in the mold. Ladies & Gentlemen, the dish is lopsided :0( I guess the only saving grace is that in the sunlight you get these amazing coloured squared twinkling, yes, twinkling in the sunshine and reflected out. Glass, unpredictable, but gotta love it!

Anyway, onwards and upwards I guess they say. But here is another little item I picked up from the week before. I'm going to give it to G's mum as a birthday gift as she was born on Armistice Day, November 11, which we usually remember as Poppy Day.

Apart from that I've been beavering away and still trying to get my first sale on Folksy http://www.folksy.com/ Whilst I haven't made a sale I have found some new friends, and here is what they sell

The Chaffinch is from Lupin Handmade

The Passion Pink Earrings are from The Whimsical Wren

The Velvet Hairclips are from Ickle Imogen

I want them all!!!! Go visit them at http://www.folksy.com/

Who will buy?

2010-07-05T13:53:00.005+01:00

Since I've posting on Folky http://www.folksy.com/ I've been having a crisis of confidence. It's daft but bear with me.

I've been selling via jewellery parties, Facebook, Etsy & the like for the part 18 months now and I will be the first to admit that I'm not perhaps the most creative of people, but the jewellery that I make is of good quality & is well made. I take utmost pride in my work and would be mortified is something broke.

But I can't seem to get up and running with Folksy. I'm having lots of views, and people are adding the shop and individual items to their favourites list, but no-one wants to committ. And it makes me a little bit sad. Here's my sad face :0( to prove it.

Anyhow, I did however sell my first glass pendant (top pic) on Etsy http://www.etsy.com/ to a lady living in Texas. Who'd of thought that someone all that way away would want something of mine!?

But today bought presents! A bag from Elissa from Folksy. Her web address is http://www.notjusthandbags.co.uk/ It's absolutely darling and very well made.

And also some beads from redside designs http://www.redsidedesigns.etsy.com/ Beautiful things, just for me and no-one else!

July Jesters............

2010-07-02T11:54:00.006+01:00

................is the name I think that has been decided on. Wait up, you don't have a clue of what I'm talking about. Well, I've just signed with a group of other craft mad loons to promise to post an item every day of July in our Folksy shops. That means a whole lotta creativity has gotta happen!!! Let me tell you, sometimes, it just ain't happening.

The idea is that you promote yourself, your shop and a lots of other amazingly creative people who live in Folksy Land http://www.folksy.com/ (<-----click there to have a peek). We all make lots of sales and we make lots of new friends too. That's what I call win-win!

Obviously, I have to plug myself www.folksy.com/shops/poppyfieldsdesign where I've been busy beavering away making some more fab pendants, but hope not to get too engrossed in glass that I forget my love of beading.

So it's Friday, I'm at home for the weekend and I'm hoping to get my curtains made for the lounge. I'd never win prizes for my curtain making abilities but with the prices John Lewis et al charge for curtains I'm happy to go for the home spun look. Wish me luck & I'll post some of my craft fail pics on monday http://www.craftfail.com/ (check it out, soooooo funny)

Is it done yet?....

2010-07-01T12:10:00.005+01:00

......was my first question at my glass class on Monday. I of course, was meaning my mosaic dish that I had spent the whole class on the previous week. The whole day I'd had visions of coming into the studio and it sitting there in all it's beauty and wonderment.

Unfortunately not!

It looked as flat as a pancake, but a lovely pancake. It has been fused once so that the coloured glass 'squares' (that should read 'odd shaped, sort of square, but maybe more like rectagles') have all melted in, and as we sat in the class Kate slumped the disc in the bowl mould. So next week, I should walk in and find my mosaic dish sitting there, in all it's beauty and wonderment, along with my pre-slumped mosaic soapdish and poppy tile.

Why is it so difficult to get a good photo?

2010-06-29T16:14:00.007+01:00

Why oh why is it so difficult to photograph jewellery? I really struggle with it, and when you're selling your heart and soul online those photos are what makes or breaks the sale.

I looked at tutorials which have in the first instance been really informative & helpful and I've even found out where the macro setting is on my camera!! Then I worked out WHY it was such a useful little button!!

I take my photos, post them up in the hopes of not making a mint, just funding my hobby and having the pleasure that somewhere out there, someone is walking round in a pair of earrings/necklace/bracelet that was handcrafted by me.

My latest craze is to 'stage' my pictures. I've seen other online sellers with tastefully placed items such as books and feathers and what you can see in these photos are the fruits of my attempts. I asked E to pass me the book, only to find it was 'Diary of a Manhattan Call Girl' and every page I opened was littered with, hmmm, let's say words of a sexual nature! Maybe that would have created more interest in my jewellery!

My most favourite and most visited website is http://www.piknic.com/ which will allow you to give you more colour, more exposure, crop, rotate etc etc on your pics. It's not that I want be fake in anyway but I do want to show what my lovely jewellery really does look like! Apart from going out and buying a light box or investing is a super-duper, top of the range camera then this is going to be as good as it gets! For now anyway!

2010-06-24T10:37:00.006+01:00

G & I moved in together almost 4 months ago and I have to say, it hasn't been as challenging as I thought it could have been. Anyone who knows G will say whilst he is the loveliest, kindest, sweetest, generous man, his levels of patience leave something to be desired. And that was my biggest worry. Would he shout at me? Would he suddenly notice at I wasn't the person he thought I was and would he ask me to leave our new home? As it's turned out, we've rubbed along together quite nicely. When he stresses over things, I calm him down. When I'm being stunningly stupid, he explains things in the way you'd explain to a 4 year old. I guess it's just good old fashioned ying and yang.

We went out for dinner last night in the village and walking back he turned to me and said, 'I love living here with you'. Now you can either want to throw up into a sick bucket, or you can join me in saying 'Ahhhhhhhhh'.
Charlie is all settled and is taking ownership of every available comfy space; silk cushion on the sofa; window ledge; garden table & chairs; my craft room chair..........and the list goes on!E & I potentially have some BIG news. We have been offered a pop up shop in Portsmouth for a song. We can have for a week in December, which of course, would be our most opportune selling time. We're buzzing with ideas already but our attentions really have to focus on advertising and having enough stock. AAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH creation stations ready!!

Glass glass glass glass glass

2010-06-21T15:49:00.005+01:00

E & I had a great day with Kate O'Connell http://www.kateoconnell.co.uk/ at Making Space http://www.makingspace.org/ on saturday making fused glass jewellery.

Imagine....3 women, 1 ipod, & a loads of glass! It was such fun. It was an open access day which means which there isn't any specific tuition, a specialist is on hand to help. Poor Kate must have been fed up with E & I saying....'And Kate, what happens if.....' or 'And Kate, will this work if I do that.....' Amazingly, I only cut myself once and it was only a tiny little one. I thought I had made loads of things, and then I looked at E's outpouring of creativity. She made at least double what I had! Sheesh, and she's so creative! Hate her! (no, love E-bird!)The thing with glass is that when you put it together in your mind, it looks fab! It's this amazing creation which is fab and funky. Unfortunately, more often than not when you get it back, it just hasn't turned out as you had planned. I'm guessing you lose about a third, if not more, of all your work because it looks naff. It also doesn't help that some glass changes colour, so you THINK you've overlaid clear on your stunning creation, when in fact, it's a milky white. So your beautiful pendant suddenly looks like a cataract! Let me tell you, it ain't pretty!

Grumpy Face

2010-06-17T16:59:00.009+01:00

It's been a funny old day in the office. E came in with a face like thunder, which is really unlike her. 'What's wrong?' I asked.......Do you sometimes wish you had never asked?!!!

The last time I asked that question we ended up booking a holiday in Madrid to cheer her up. Unfortunately, we are all out of Bank Holidays this year (which is the only time we can go away together) as I am away with G on the August one. We have had to make do with any wheat free treat we could find....'have a bit of my Kitkat', 'no, it's got wheat in'.....

We took our trip to Madrid in May and had a fab time. The only downside was the constant threat of pick pockets. On the Metro on the way in a girl tried but I noticed her, and then again on the next day actually on the Metro train a young spanish guy in a group tried it on but I felt the zip go. No need for any alarms, just use rent-a-gob here! 'Pickpocket, pickpocket, he tried to pick my pocket!!!!' Amazingly they scarpered. We went onto the Sunday market and noticed that all the ladies held their bags close to their bodies and also the zip itself.

But the architecture in Madrid is superb and we also saw flamenco. Lots of laughs were had.

Looking forward to my extra day of glass fusing on saturday too. I am half way through a 5 week course but I couldn't resist a full day solidly making jewellery. I love the other ladies in my class but I seem to spend most of the time showing them how I made things and helping them so I don't get as much done as I'd like to. Results coming soon!

Catch up

2010-06-15T16:28:00.008+01:00

It's been a long time, I know, but I have been very very busy!

First, G & I moved in together on 1st March. G bought a lovely 4 bed house in a small market town in Hampshire. With a garden big enough for Charlie cat, a study, a craft room for me & a garage which I intend to turn into a craft studio....ooooooooooooooooooooohhh! How lucky I am!

We moved in on the same day, so we had 3 vans at the house with men running in and out. We unpacked quickly and managed to get settled. I'd like to say the house was all sorted, but not quite. We're getting there. There's a bit of manueourving about to do, but on the whole most things have a home.

The garden is beautiful. There are roses of all colours, clematis, honeysuckle to name a few. I would like to plant a magnolia tree and I've bought a olive tree to sit on the patio.

We've both had birthday's in the house and it feels like home. I'm very happy there and I know G is too.

So what's been happening on the craft front, I hear you scream. Well, after a distarious May Day Fayre where we sold hardly anything (and it was blinking freezing) E & I decided that we would stick to jewellery parties initially. They work for us, we have a good time, have a couple of drinks and if anyone buys anything, that's great, if not, well we've still had a good time. In saying that we have been asked to host a table at a Ladies Night at the Grosvenor Casino in Southsea. Fingers crossed for a successful selling night.

E & I have also had a chance to start doing some fused glass jewellery. We started by doing a saturday course at Making Space http://www.makingspace.org/ I absolutely love it! It's amazing that you can slap a load of dodgy cut glass onto another dodgy piece of glass and when fused it comes out wonderfully smooth. That's not to say it's not without its cock ups and disasters, but that's all in the learning curve I guess. I'm also waiting to get my bulk fuel adaptor sorted out (when the garage is sorted) so I can start doing my bead making again. I've had a go again at E's house and we also had a road trip to Flame Off 2010 where I realised how crap I am and how much I need to learn. E & I also had a road trip to Madrid. Amazing place but I had run ins with 2 pickpocket attempts....more to come of these subjects as I've rambled on far too much. Guess that happens when you don't write for 7 months!!!!

I will be back, I promise!

Newcastle is a loooooong way away

2009-11-23T17:13:00.002Z

It really is! It's just under 400 miles from G's front door to his parent house (which I may add is beautiful) and takes about 6 hours to drive....except of course if you're stuck in the traffic on the M1. There seems to be 2 mile stretches of roadworks with speed limits of 50mph but odd 1 mile stretches of 70mph thrown in for good measure. Of course I hate roadworks but appreciate that the surface needs to be renewed and maintained but what does frustrate me is work that's almost completed and say just needs the white lines painting but they keep it shut with nothing happening. Needless to say, it's annoying but then you see signs saying 'respect for road workers'. I never appreciated that road workers were 'disrespected'. Do people open their car windows and shout abuse about the amount of bum cleavage on display?

Anywhooooo, we were going to our 3rd wedding this year and 2nd at the same venue at The Grand Hotel, Tynemouth. A blustery & wet day but that was ok as we were inside and I had to meet G's extended family. I'm pleased to say they were lovely to me and made me feel especially welcome. His Mum was wonderful and told me how lovely it was to know that her son had found someone so lovely (now I'm blushing) as I'm so wonderful, kind and generous! It's not a wonder that I'm so modest!!!

We had a lovely day and the wedding went off without a hitch. G's second cousin who is only 3 stole the show by laughing especially loud at the Best Man's speech. I'm convinced she'd been paid.

If there was a small moan to be had, it was that our room was quite small and had lots of pine furniture in it. And the bed was solid! Whilst getting up in the middle of the night to regain some of my circulation I managed to stub my little toe on this little coffee table. You can only imagine me trying to muffle my cry and swear words to try and not wake G up. Fortunately, he sleeps like his had about 15 pints and is out like a light.

We drove back the next morning. I was negotiating the Tynemouth Tunnel when I saw a flashing safety sign. Getting closer, and closer it read.........'X Factor, Vote Joe'. That's where your road tax goes to people!!! :0)

G & I are now house hunting. Fortunately we are singing off the same hymn sheet as far as requirements go. We want 4 bedrooms. G wants a study, a spare room, our bedroom and then another room. G has hinted I can have it as a craft room, but he's secretly harbouring hopes for a pool table!

Life Is Good

2009-10-30T11:31:00.010Z

When I made my last post I'd completely forgotten to tell you about G & I's trip to Italy in September. How could I forget! This was my third visit to Italy this year (Milan, Venice & in the middle of no-where but vaguely near Perugia). We had an amazing time. We chilled out by the pool, we ate well, we slept well, we ......, well you get the picture! Apart from the mad drivers, and I'm discounting G at this point everything was good! Those Italian drivers, sheesh, they are loco! They just drive in the middle of the road & completely ignore the speed limits even though there appears to be speed cameras everywhere. Probably just for us Johnny Foreigners.
Anyway, we visited Siena, Lake Tresimeno & did a spot of wine tasting at Montepulciano. Mmmmmmmmmmm, except, we could see the grapes, we were almost within touching distance of them but the wine cellars were few and far between. The scenery was breathtaking and seeing as I bought a calendar, I can re-live it every day next year. Oh yes, the calendar purchase....when I had viewed nearly every calendar in Siena G lost the plot and said in a slightly loud voice, 'JUST GET ONE, THEY'RE ALL THE SAME!!' Ok ok, keep your wig on! Probably the only downside was that at the house, a Belgium family had the most adorable Old English Sheepdog puppies, yes, two bundles of fun. G has a phobia of dogs to the max, which I really feel for him about. Luckily after G explained to them the problem they ensured the dogs were always restrained. But I so desperately wanted to play with them! It was difficult but I knew I couldn't do it. Ah, but now my big news......drum roll please! G has finally asked me to live with him. I say finally because we've been talking around this subject for some months now. I knew he wanted to but G is ultra cautious and he wanted to be 100% certain, which is fair enough. He is going to buy a house for us & I will let mine. So we are going 'area shopping' at the weekend, and I'm very excited! I love moving house, I'm a freak, I know.

Poor Charlie who is already jealous of G will have his little nose put out of joint, but hey, he's a cat, he'll have to get over it. And yes, G has agreed to let me have a craft room, I know, MY OWN CRAFT ROOM!!!!!!!

Here I am!

2009-10-25T09:30:00.005Z

Goodness me, it's been 7 weeks or so since I was last here.....sorry, sorry, sorry!!!!! It's funny, only the other day I was thinking that maybe I shouldn't bother with this sometimes self indulgent blog malarkey but this morning I woke up to find the loveliest of emails in my FaceBook inbox. It's from a lovely lady called Kemi who wrote and thanked me for writing in such an honest format and speaking about things which hurt but in a positive way. That meant a huge amount to me. You write things here and assume no-one is reading......shows how wrong you can be!

Ok, so what's happened in the time you've, sorry, I've been away? Bloody loads! G & I have had our first 'anniversary'. Aaaaaahhhhhh, I hear you say. To celebrate he booked for us to spend the night at a lovely hotel in Surrey which had a Rat Pack tribute night. It was a great night. It was a night I learnt many things. Firstly, life does go on and that romantic love you think you'll never recapture can come again. And secondly, G has two left feet and when he told me he couldn't dance.....he wasn't lying! Darn it! I just love to dance! The best bit of the night was the people we were sitting with. Without wanting to sound middle classed, hoity-toity, they were working class with money South Londoners. Tommy even had his own gold tooth pick on a chain round his neck which Rose had bought him as he tore beer mats to shreds picking his teeth! But they were lovely, friendly people.

My Decree Absolute has come through and I am officially single again. It's very sad but definately the right decision. S & I had many wonderful years together but we are now very different people. We keep in touch and I have met his new girlfriend and she is just lovely & much more suited to him.

What is kinda weird and freaky is that S's g/f invited E & I to do our first jewellery party over at their house!!! They invited G but he feld odd about it. Getting over the fact that it could have been awkward, but it was a great night. E & I sold loads of things, and all the things I didn't expect to. The room was buzzing with interest and I loved every minute of it! We are now booked in for a jewellery party at a belly dance show and we have a stall in our office work place on 4th Dec.

Life's good and I'm appreciating feeling happy again.

Venice (again)

2009-09-01T15:47:00.014+01:00

You must be sick and tired of Venice!! Well, I'm back now and apart from harping on about it in this blog then you won't hear about it again, I promise (haha, fingers crossed behind my back!)So, early start for E & I on Saturday. The plane was on time and nothing unusual happened on the way...all well and good. Landed at Marco Polo airport and the heat hit us, 29 degrees and the humidity was up on the ceiling. We caught the bus into Venice and then managed to find the Vaperetto's (water bus) easily. Arriving at your hotel on a water bus is a new experience for me. We then lugged our cases over the Rialto Bridge and spent the next half an hour finding our hotel which was located down the narrowest of side streets.
After having a shower we hit the streets for a cold frosty one and then the rain started to fall, and fall, and fall! Thunder & lightening and those stone & marble steps became really slippy! Venice in the rain wasn't what I had planned for and it isn't a city that's really designed for that. All the beautiful canals and streets loose their sparkle and become grey and un-interesting. Even St Marks lost it's luster that even a coffee costing E8.50 wouldn't be able to re-capture.
The rain did stop and we headed back for dinner. We fell in our beds expecting to sleep the sleep of the dead but no, there was this huge lamp directly outside our window. We both tossed and turned. E put her head under the sheets and I had a flannel over my eyes to block the light out. The next morning after complaining the receptionist asked why we hadn't closed the shutters? Shutters?, what shutters???? D'oh!!
The next morning we caught several Vaperettos over to Murano. We looked around the glass museum and then went on the bead hunt. And to be truthful it was a bit disappointing. A couple of shops had some beads but on the whole it was other glass in various forms. We met some lovely people who were happy to chat and a few not so nice ones who tried to pressurise us into buying a very expensive polar bear sculptures and chandeliers (do I look like I have that sort of cash to spend?) E had incidents with young and old slimy men, one who suggested she could have something for free if SHE did something for free!!!! =:0( We then travelled onto Burano who's claim to fame is its brightly coloured houses. These were beautiful, so we sat back, had a drink and an ice cream to chill out....only for E to find a piece of glass in her ice cream. It just wasn't her day was it!Finally, our last day was spent snapping St Marks in the sun and wandering around the back streets which were lovely and cool. Someone must have been smiling on us and we happened to find two shops selling beads and the people in there were lovely. After spending a fortune we had some lunch by a beautiful canal where 2 Gondoliers were plying their trade. Pity the older, greasy one had his flies open! Imagine being flashed on a gondola down a back canal!!!!! We navigated the tiny maze-like streets back to the Rialto Bridge to pick up our luggage and begin to say our goodbyes. Venice IS beautiful, but it is spoilt too. The Rialto Bridge has graffiti on it & everything is so expensive. We sat in a little cafe and had two cans of cold drink and it was E7.40. This is out of place even for central London. Also, there's no-where to sit and watch the world go by as there are no benches. So it's either keep walking or spend a kings ransom on drinks in a side cafe. I also think the WOW factor has been lost as it's such a popular photographic topic. If I hadn't seen the Basilica before I'm sure I would have gasped in delight. When G & I were in Las Vegas we had a gondola ride at the Venetian Hotel. It was expensive and quite short but it was very romantic. The Gondolier explained a few things and sang to us. We kissed under the bridge and said loving things to each other. By comparison, the people in Gondolas in Venice looked a little non-plussed. Usually one party was taking video footage or photos, or the gondola was being sidled upto by 3 Vaperettos and on one occasion the Gondolier was on his mobile. I didn't hear one of them sing.....such a shame!I enjoyed Venice, but I'm not sure whether I would go back again.

Venice & All Things Jewellery Related

2009-08-28T16:32:00.002+01:00

So the big day has arrived, actually two big days have arrived!

Firstly, and probably more importantly for my future, today I can apply for my Decree Absolute. This means I will officially be divorced when it comes through. It seems an awfully long time to wait (6 weeks & 1 day) from the Decree Nisi but I guess it makes people think about what they are doing and the full implications. The worst bit for me have been the dreams; my dad dying, E dying, moving out of the marital home but moving just up the street next to a cemetery. The common theme seems to be death and I guess that's fairly understandable as I would have been married for 19 years this year and it's quite a big thing to get over.

Secondly and far more exciting, E & I are off to Venice tomorrow!! :0) Our flight is at 8.10am so it means a really early start but not even that can quell my excitement. We've thought about going for so long so it's a bit of a surprise that we haven't really planned what we are going to do when we get there. So we had a chat and we've decided that we aren't going to do the whole 'running around, looking at things for 2 secs and take a photo' thing but generally just amble about and take in the flavour of Venice. That's not to say we won't visit St Marks (or San Marco to us who know the lingo) with its' Basilica and of course we are staying right next to the Rialto Bridge. My only plan is to ensure I get a photo of an empty gondola tied up at the end of the afternoon with the sun going down, actually I'll just be happy to get some photos without millions of tourists in it..........and buy lots of BEADS from Murano so I can truthfully say 'Murano Bead Jewellery' without my nose growing like Pinnochio! I had a look at Etsy and the amount of people who say 'Murano....' when you KNOW it just isn't!!

E & I have just had a trial run at making our own ear wires and found it to be quite easy. That's not to say that there isn't a knack. Never again do I have to put boring earwires on my earrings....well, I do until I get the cup bur tool which rubs the rough edges down so your don't have blood dripping from your ear.

So 'Ciao' till next week!!

Venice

2009-08-21T16:31:00.003+01:00

Whoop! Whoop! Whoop! I'm really excited! E & I are going to Venice next week for the Bank Holiday. I'm not quite sure why I've suddenly got so excited seeing as it's been booked since March or April but I am!

I've bought a guide book and we've managed to locate our hotel on the map. That may sound a bit dense but if you've ever seen a Venice street map then you'll know what I'm talking about! We're staying in a little hotel http://www.locandapostevecie.com/ which is a stones throw from the Rialto Bridge, which is only then a hop & a skip from St Marks Square.

So I suddenly have the urge to make a list of things I need; sun cream, mozzie cream, after sun, 10 pairs of shoes, 16 changes of clothes, etc etc. Men, why do they make you feel like you take too much stuff on holiday with you. So what if I do want to take 10 pairs of shoes, they fit in the case and I'm the one dragging it through the streets and I have the weight allowance on our luxury travel conveyor (Easyjet to you!) I am slightly concerned about getting my bum in the seat and getting the belt around me to fit, it's always a bit of a squeeze but one day I won't be able to push my flab above the belt!

I told a work colleague we were going and she said stepping in the Rialto Bridge was like stepping into a 17th Century Oil Painting, which sounds kind of magical and awe inspiring. I hope I don't fill up like I did when G & I went to see The Last Supper.

I have told E that I want to get up at the crack of dawn and get to St Marks at say 7 oclock in the morning so I can take photos without millions of tourists in them.....bet everyone else has that idea. She said 'ok, we can get pissed on sunday night'. G will be in Edinburgh when I'm away, on a stag night. I'm slightly happier at his location. It was supposed to be Hamburg but the guys were all 'nipple tassel'ed out and are going for the paint ball option!

Sorry no photo today...maybe next week.

Catch up

2009-08-11T13:14:00.003+01:00

Oh dear, I haven't been here in a little while have I!

I've been a busy bee running around with G & E, making more jewellery and of course, trying to run a business.

E & I went on a stained glass 1 day course a little while ago. It was in Midhurst, run by a company called Artworks. Nancy who runs the company, and this course, is absolutely lovely and extremely patient.

She showed us how to cut glass in straight lines and curves and then encouraged us to design our own piece to make. But the first thing she told us was that we would cut our hands, and boy was she right! At the end I had 3 plasters over cuts and a burn from the soldering iron. It was good fun and despite my cackhand-ness I came away with a lovely piece which sits in my front window. I'm not sure if I'd want to do it as a full time hobby but it's nice to have had a go!

I got back from there shattered only to have missed loads of calls from G who couldn't find his car keys. That's what you get for putting them in the bottomless pit that is my handbag!

Last week we went to a friends BBQ where G & E got both got a little drunk & on Sunday we were on the road to Wembley for the community shield (that's football for those not in the know). I like the new staduim but it was so hot and the shape means there's no air circulating. So I hope you've been checking out my jewellery on http://www.poppyfieldsdesign.etsy.com/ 10% off for all blog friends

Glorious Goodwood

2009-08-03T14:28:00.007+01:00

The racing at Goodwood on the July course is the highlight of their racing season. I've been twice before (not this event though), once where is rained solidly all day and another time viewing from the restaurant. On this occasion I have never seen so many people crammed in.
The weather all week had been very poor, as in pouring with rain! And I was concerned that it wasn't going to be a nice day out but the morning bought sunshine which lasted all day.

G & I managed to miss the turning, which was completely my fault. It's not far from where I live and I just assumed I knew the way. But we got there where people were pushing and shoving to get in, almost killing themselves by crossing the road in front of moving buses and cars. It was all a bit mental!

Ladies day was the day before so I was really surprised to see so many ladies in vibrant hats, very, very high heels and beautiful dresses. Fortunately I had made some sort of effort and didn't feel completely out of place.
The first race we couldn't see because we decided to go to the top of the Grandstand but there were just too many people. We found a more suitable viewing spot for the rest of the day. G placed his bets with the bookies but I took the more restrained approach by betting on the tote. We both had 2 wins in the day, but his bet paid 4/1 where the mean tote only paid 2.5/1 :-( The first rule of gambling is to never change your mind on who you're going to bet on. I broke this rule to my own cost and missed out on a 9/1 winner! Drat!

But we had a lovely day, drove home with the top down on the car and realised we both had managed to get sunburnt!

I'm in love........(blush)

2009-07-29T13:57:00.002+01:00

oh dear, I've just been told of by E for saying how I had nothing to write today but she said, 'of course you have, you're in love!' So I stand corrected and hence the above statement.

G and I have been dating for 9 months now and whilst I have told him I love him a million times I'm really feeling it at the moment. I'd love to say that I'm all skittish, and dewey eyed but what I mean is that we are very happy together, and I feel really part of a two-some.

We have also shared some stuff over the past week or so, things from the past and information about each other that we've held back from revealing because we were scared to say, that it might frighten the other off.

So G, I love you and I don't care who knows it.

Poppyfields Design

2009-07-24T10:46:00.007+01:00

Well I've finally managed to get it all done! That's right, my online jewellery sales shop is up and running. The address is http://www.poppyfieldsdesign.etsy.com/

I know I was going to be called something different but wouldn't you know that when I went to register the name, it was gone! How annoying.

It's amazing how long these things take to do. Once I had made the decision I had to frantically start making things and if the creative juices aren't flowing, there's not alot you can do about it.

Even when you make the pieces, the next challenge is to photograph them. Luckily E found an great online tool which does amazing things to decidely average photos. It's at http://www.picnik.com/ You can lighten, darken, improve the colouring, put your name on......on and the list goes on.

Pricing is tricky. You want to sell, but you also want to get something for your time in making and your ability to be able to make, but not rip anyone off. My idea is that I'm only making things that I like, so if no-one buys, then at least I'll be left with jewellery I'm happy to wear.

The final challenge is putting them all up online. Goodness, how many different ways can you say 'this is a lovely bracelet'?

So have a look, please, and I'd love some feedback on my designs.

Happy friday, G is playing cricket all weekend so I have the weekend free to do all sorts of jobs. Mosaic tiling in my cloakroom...looking forward to it! :0)

I do like to be beside the seaside!

2009-07-22T10:45:00.005+01:00

I'm just back to work after a weeks break with my neices. Oh my goodness, I'm absolutely shattered and need another week off to recover! Not having any kiddies I never realised exactly how hard work it is, and I take my hat off to all the mums out there especially if they're working as well. It's really made me appreciate what a special job they do. It's just so full on!

My two neices, T 10 & K 7 live in Exeter and their school breaks up early for the holidays so that's why they were with me, and of course they wanted to visit their auntie who lives at the seaside.

There weren't many ground rules except they couldn't come and wake me up before 8.30am. I am so glad I said that as they both wake up as bright as buttons and it's non stop til the time they go to bed. I must admit to being quite strict, but that's how I was brought up so I hope they had a lovely time.

We managed to get to the beach even though the weather wasn't brilliant. We also went to the small Natural History Museum with its butterfly house, along with the park, and the tea rooms attached to the 9 hole pitch and putt. They serve the yummiest cakes, which are absolutely massive!G took the day off and took us to Monkey World. It's not a zoo but a rescue centre where apes and monkeys from around the world get sent when they are rescued from illegal homes. We saw so many beautiful monkeys & orangutans which was amazing. But my favourite had to be seeing the Lemurs. Just soooooo cute and we were all singing 'I like to move it, move it' from Madagascar. The keeper must be really fed up with that one!

Ta Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!

2009-07-10T15:00:00.006+01:00

It's done and I'm wearing it!!!!

They're here, they're here!!

2009-07-08T13:52:00.007+01:00

Hooray, I'm so excited!!

Sorry to disappoint you if you thought it was a minor celeb or aliens from Mars but finally my petite jump rings have arrived from Texas. The reason I'm so excited is that I really struggled to get the size that I wanted so I could make the elusive byzantine bracelet I've been desperate to create. So difficult to get, I had to get a custom order from a lovely couple called Ralph & Karen, who also gave me some fab advice too. I love you guys.

So, what's so special about this byzantine bracelet, I hear you ask. Well, to some, not much really but for me it the relisation of a beading dream. I saw one of these bracelets on Etsy and just fell in love with it! I couldn't work out how they had managed to get the rings to twist and turn. I found the an online tutorial and with some very inferior rings I tried to do it. I tried, and I tried, and I tried until one day I threw it across the room. I couldn't work out why I couldn't do it.

But now I know why I couldn't. Essentially, the technique I was doing was correct but the rings were the wrong guage size. In lay mans term, the wire wasn't thick enough to hold the shape.

In some ways, I'm a bit disappointed in how easy I'm finding it to construct. I expected it to be much fiddlier (is that a proper word?) So after getting this done I'm going to do another one, but this time in silver, as a special gift for me for hanging on in there.

Can't wait til E is back to work tomorrow so I can show (off) her all the things I've made whilst she's been away, like the Breaking Waves bracelet (above). I made a beautiful set called Delicate Darkness which was baby tourmaline rondelles with black ceramic beads but I managed to fall in love with it so had to keep it myself. G told me off, saying that wasn't the way to get things made. I also custom made and sold a pair of orange Tropical Trumpets to Melissa who works across the hall from me!

Hey ho, off we go for some more jump ring jinks!

Dragonfly Jewellery Designs

2009-07-07T11:57:00.009+01:00

A while ago I said I was opening up an Etsy shop to sell some of my jewellery. So I've been beavering away, looking at my beads and seeing what I can come up with. I'm not opening the shop until I have at least 20 items and I'm now half way through.

So here is a sneak preview of some of the things I will be selling. These aren't the final photos, as I can see that they need to be set up better and with better lighting. But hey, it's all a learning curve!

How to get ideas?

2009-07-02T12:01:00.008+01:00

I've been a busy bee this week, frantically trying to make things to put on my new Etsy shop. But it's really difficult to suddenly come up with ideas on demand. Quite often ideas come to me whilst relaxing in the bath or sitting in the garden, just generally daydreaming about beads....like you do! So far I have made 6 items to sell. That doesn't sound very much but I am trying to make things that I like, that I would be happy to wear, which also includes making sure the findings look good and fit well; jump rings that are closed properly and things generally look of a good quality. All too often I see hand made jewellery which looks un-professional and cheap. Handmade can be quirky and is the main reason people buy it but that doesn't mean you have to skimp on quality of finishing. My biggest nightmare scenario is that people will look at my items to sell and will say, 'oooh, look at those rubbishy jump rings' or words to that effect. Ok, so I'm not going to hear it but it will speak volumes if nothing sells.

I've also tried to get my head around photographing my items. I'm sure there's a tutorial somewhere on Etsy but looking at other sellers I've noticed that items in bright natural daylight look better than just rested on a laminate desk. I've been taking some photos of my existing jewellery to form a gallery so that I can look back and be proud of what I've done but also use it as a catalogue for ideas for the future. The pictures featured today are some things I made back in the beginning of my beading journey, and it's amazing to see how far I've come. I'm so much better at it now but I guess that just comes from practice. So be kind, and ignore the dust!If this all fails, I can at least say I had some fun making some jewellery and I can wear all my additional pieces. Hmmm, how about wearing all my chain maille items and doing my best Mr T impression? Fool!

A Lovely Weekend

2009-06-30T16:14:00.006+01:00

I'm back from a lovely weekend away with G. It was one of those weekends where everything felt perfect, even if in reality things weren't. I know, I know, I'm being a bit cryptic here.

We drove up to Oxford on Saturday afternoon. It was very warm and the Lions were playing the Springbok. G has just put me on the insurance of his car so he took the opportunity to shout at the radio whilst I drove and prayed I didn't scratch his little Merc. We pulled into the hotel car park and I knew we were about to step back in time, circa 1967 I guess.

The hotel had that sort of carpet which makes you go dizzy when you look at it, the pattern sort of rushes up to meet you. Mein host was affable enough but when asked for a good restaurant in the area he couldn't help and wasn't really sure about getting a taxi. I would have thought they were pretty easy things to help with. The room was clean but the bed was solid. G started to apologise but it wasn't his fault.

We ended up at The Trout (a pub) for dinner which was beautifully set on a river, with ducks begging to be fed and in fact flying up on the wall really begging to be fed!! G turned out to be a 'twitcher' and had useless facts on the plumage of the drakes (!) We had a lovely meal, great wine and the company was just perfect.

Pity I was awake all night due to a hard bed (I know I've mentioned that already!) and only one window that we could open. Oh yes, and the heating was on, barely, but still on.

The next morning we got up and had the most dreadful breakfast. Dirty cups, orange squash instead of juice and sausages which could easily pass as dog turds. I kid you not! We floated around the city until it was time to meet his cricket chums for the afternoon match against The Heartaches, a team lead by non other than Tim Rice. I could try and tell you I watched enthralled, but I sat watching for when G was batting and bowling. Unfortunately, but probably not unexpectedly, the Allstars lost. So time for a quick drink and then the drive back. I was so tired but very happy & I fell asleep the moment I was cuddled up with G.

What a lovely weekend, even with the dog turd sausages!

I've been adopted!

2009-06-25T13:59:00.005+01:00

Yes, sorry Mum & Dad, I've been adopted by someone else. It's a big black cat called Thomas.

A few months back I noticed that Charlie's food seemed to be going down alot quicker than normal but he didn't seem to be getting any fatter! Then one evening I went out to the kitchen to grab a cuppa and there he was, scoffing Charlie's food! I shooed him back out the cat-flap and hoped that he'd be afraid of me and not come back.

The next time I saw him he was sitting in the upstairs hallway, just having a lay down (like you do).

Then after that he was in the kitchen and when he saw me he nuzzled up against my leg. To this cat I'm obviously as scary as a big, squidgey marshmallow.

So I thought I be clever and shut the cat flap so he (and Charlie unfortunately) couldn't get in and this worked until I left the upstairs bedroom window open! D'oh! Charlie & Thomas could BOTH get in even though I thought Thomas was far too fat.

I had my bath replaced and E's boyfriend was taking the old one away for me, but Thomas found a little home in the shelter of it. Anyone would think he was a stray but he has a collar with a tag and phone number on it and his owners are probably wondering where he goes and what he gets up to.

Last night I came home and found Charlie & Thomas in the garden, catching the last of the suns' rays. Thomas saw me, no fear and continued to lay there. He even looked up obligingly for a photo call. So I guess he's definitely adopted me. Can I help it if he loves me???

Beautiful Flowers

2009-06-23T12:23:00.008+01:00

In the calm before the storm on saturday morning I took some pictures of the flowers in my garden. I just love flowers, all flowers, I don't discriminate!

The red roses are only short lived but they smell so beautiful and it takes me back to the days of my childhood when I spent alot of time with my Nana who had rose bushes growing in her garden. The other childhood smell is of Lilac. It instantly transports me to evenings in their garden, having fun and generally no worries.

The fushcia managed to survive the winter and is back with a vengance. Just look how gorgeous it all is.

The 'storm' was my neighbour knocking nails in the party wall so that the cats can't walk on it and make his dog bark. The 'storm' continued when he soaked me with the hose when I got the nails out, and finally ended when I called the police and they cautioned him for assault! Peace appears to be prevailing and Charlie & I have been back in our garden.

The 'storm' yesterday was speaking to PC World & HP regarding my printer which has already been replaced once. HP don't have a Customer Service department, only a Customer Complaints one, at least it was in the UK & not South Africa where their techy people are. PC World are the biggest waste of time and if I can find a way of never using them again, I will.

Zen thoughts, zen thoughts! Think of my garden to calm me back down!!!

Thank Crunchie It's Friday!

2009-06-19T14:03:00.002+01:00

Hooray, it's friday! Which means a lay in tomorrow morning before frantically tidying my house for a barbecue tomorrow evening. It's going to be a small event, just the 8 of us but then, my garden is only small. But you never know, there may be a surprise visitor or two. It's amazing the amount of people who say 'I might come, depends'. Depends on what? Whether it's raining? Whether you've got something better to do? Depends on the fluctuation of the pound against the yen? Who knows! Anyway, it just gives us more to drink and eat and enjoy.

Apart from that, I've just finished making a new chain maille called Scherzo, fashioned into a lovely silver bracelet. And just had my first order to make one for someone, how cool is that!

So that's it for this week, short and sweet today I'm afraid!

Moving Forward

2009-06-17T12:35:00.008+01:00

My friend E & I are jewellery making addicts, as you've probably guessed. We work together and in lunch hours or quiet moments apart from discussing our boyfriends, we discuss jewellery making.

We both started making jewellery about 2, maybe even 3 years ago when we found a local class held in a bead shop in Portsmouth. We had both been moaning about the lack of classes available when one saturday morning I got an excitable voice at the end of the phone saying we were booked in for a two hour basic. That's where it all started....... We did two classes and then we were away. As I said, the class was held in a shop where hundreds of strands of glass & semi precious beads and stones were hanging, just like an aladdins' cave.

E & I have gone on different paths as far as design is concerned. She likes big & brash stones, wild colour mixes wheras I prefer smaller stones, perhaps a little bit more classic designs. But we both have a love for swarovski crystals which sparkle in the sunshine.

With all this in mind, you can imagine that we've both aquired a huge amount of stock of beads and stones and at the beginning we always said we would make for ourselves but this just doesn't make sense anymore. How much jewellery can one woman wear??? E has also gone down the path of glass bead making herself after we went on a days tutorial where I have gone into silversmithing & my current fad is chain mailling.

So......a drum roll please, I invite you to welcome my new creation, Dragonfly Jewellery Designs. I will shortly be setting up my Etsy shop http://www.etsy.com/ for your perusal. This is exciting and scary at the same time, and it is way past time!

And the name, well I just love Dragonflys. I have one tattooed on my left shoulder and it was the first thing I made in my silversmithing class. G also bought me a beautiful Lalique glass one when we were in Las Vegas. And just check out this fab enamelled vase, from Fred Rich Enamel Designs. Oh yes, it will be mine!

A Different Type of Wedding

2009-06-15T15:45:00.005+01:00

G & I have just been to the most wonderful wedding. Whilst it was a bit of a trek from Southsea/Hamble to Newington Green it was all worth while.

The happy couple were officially married in a civil service a few weeks ago but decided that wanted something sacred to bond them together. The bride has a local Unitatian Chapel where the wedding blessing was held. It's very small and intimate. What struck me the most was that there was no cross or any religous icons but I could tell it was a place of faith.

The bride & groom met at the Altar, where the priest/vicar/religious man oversaw their vows. There were no hymns but there was a poetry reading and an opera singer sang 3 powerful arias. There was no traditional photographs but we were all shepherded to the reception and greeted with sparkling wine and canapes.

The buffet was magnificent! Lobster, oysters, crab, beef, venison, salads, breads, bitter chocolate tart, strawberries and wine.....bottles and bottles of wine! During the whole afternoon and evening live music played, all forms of jazz.

G & I fell into a cab at 11.30pm and managed to get the train home, falling into bed at about 2am

It really was the most wonderful wedding. There were certain formalities upheld such as the speeches but the biggest thing I felt was a warmth from the guests. I have only met the bride & groom once before but I was welcomed as a friend. I even had a dance with the bride's uncle! Man, did we cut a rug!! And most of the guests were dressed in the most vibrant of clothing. I admit, it was hard not to stare at the green hair and the yellow fishnet pop socks.

I should have know it was going to be a great day as it started with getting on the train to find an old lady with a budgie in a cage. The budgie sang the whole way there and was far from a disturbance. She even fed him a crisp through the bars!

Moan, moan, moan

2009-06-10T15:10:00.003+01:00

I'm usually quite a happy little soul of a sunny disposition, but sometimes things keep going wrong. I know it's usually in 3's but this has now been going on since the beginning of May. Firstly I had some bad news on the biological front, then a birthday that didn't quite pan out (who knew that Arundel Castle was shut on a Monday), friends that are probably not really friends anymore, blah blah blah, it's all so boring and yes, I am playing the world's smallest violin for myself! There is very little that is majorly wrong at this point in time but it's all the small stuff that's getting me down.

Anyway, the next thing that's happened is that I bid and won at a charity auction a wine tasting for up to 15 people. Friends had been invited and hotels booked, and I received an email Monday out of the blue to say that the company had gone into administration so it won't be happening. I had paid the money directly to the Charity so the company itself has no responsibility to me. They have been lovely and said they will pay me back the money but how bad is that! How bad do I feel?! The most annoying thing is that the wine is absolutely gorgeous and I would have bottle or 3.

On the up side, my strawberries are looking scrumptious! And I ate the only ripe one AND it's 100% organic. Not that I go in for all that, but it's nice to know where it's come from and what's happened to it. Knowing my luck, Charlie cat probably had a wee on it!! And I didn't wash it! Aaaaaaggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!

Also, some of my silversmithing work is going to be displayed at The Highbury College Art & Design Show on June 25th. This event is showcasing work from art & jewellery students. There's going to be a private showing where my guests can peruse the work at their leisure, ooooh, how posh.

Southsea D Day Celebrations

2009-06-08T13:15:00.011+01:00

G & I had a lovely day out at the D Day Celebrations in Southsea. The weather was ok, quite windy but I didn't take a cardy as I knew once we were marching down the seafront I'd soon warm up. It's a little over a mile each way, so armed with a very yummy picnic (thank you G!), a bottle of red & a picnic blanket off we went.

The main celebrations were based on Castle Fields next to Southsea Castle and included some fairground rides, various WW2 jeeps & ambulances, a spitfire plane. There was a massive queue to get into the D Day Museum and kids were clambering over the tanks which are outside.

There was a big band, playing swing music and a small dance area where young and old were dancing away.G & I ate our picnic and drank most of our wine before wandering around & planting a flag.

The highlight of the day was when a million poppies were dropped by a WW2 bomber. Shame it was so windy that they were instantly blown inland rather than land on us.
We then decided it was time to go home, so we walked into a very strong headwind back up the Esplanade on briefly stopping on the pier to play our favourite pony game.

Chain Maille

2009-06-04T15:51:00.012+01:00

I've got a new addiction!! My name is L and I'm a chain maille-a-holic! When you think of chain mail you immediately think of suits of armour and the dark ages but chain maille is (apparently) the new fashion thing (but don't hold me to it!)

It all started about two years ago when I saw a great byzantine necklace on my favourite website http://www.etsy.com/ If you don't know, Etsy is a site where people sell their handcrafted items. This could be jewellery but also could be paintings, knitted scarves, wooden boxes. Whatever you can imagine, it's for sale on there. But back to the byzantine.....it's made of linked rings that you can open and close, these are called 'jump rings' and they come in all different sizes, metals & colours. The shape seemed impossible to make so after an internet search I found some instructions but it was soooooo complicated and fiddly I gave up.

But down the line I've come back to it and attended a 3 hour workshop with my Mum where we made 4 different type of maille. Having come back (and lost my instructions - d'oh!) I've made a bracelet up of a couple of the designs and have found a free tutorial site http://www.cgmaille.com/ giving the full instructions of how to make about 50 different types.

So, with that in mind I've been beavering away trying out some of the beginner designs, and my goodness, they are not easy. But they are very effective and very addictive. It takes its toll on your hands and shoulders due to being hunched over with a pair of pliers and I know that makes me sound so very attractive.

Finally, be very afraid if you search chain maille on Facebook. There is a middle aged lady modeling a chain maille bikini sans underwear. I haven't quite decided how you get it on or off as there's no 'give' in it, maybe you just link the last ring together when you have it on??? Anyway, more seriously, why would you want a chain maille bikini, thong or the other thing which I haven't put a name to but would seriously make your eyes water!

Orchid Bracelet

2009-06-03T13:59:00.008+01:00

I've been attending an evening class in metal smithing this year. This has been a natural progression from the bead work that I started doing about 3 years ago. Whilst it's very satisfying making necklaces and ear rings, especially to colour co-ordinate with your outfit for the evening I've found it's now somewhat lacking.

When I started the class I'd never cut a piece of metal, let along create anything. In the first 18 weeks I learnt the basic skills of piercing (cutting), hammering, annealing (heating), filing, making domes, embossing, soldering, and the exam pieces was to create a textured ring. It's amazing to move forward so quickly and have a wearable piece.

I am now just finishing the intermediate level, where I have learnt to set a stone in a ring. The ring needed to be a 'statement' piece so after a practice ring to learn the art of setting, my creation was born! The inspiration was the folds of a dress I saw reading a magazine at the hairdressers - weird huh? Anyway, needless to say my narky teacher (sorry Amanda, but talk about split personality!) loved the idea and made me make it bigger and bolder than perhaps I would have chosen to.

My final exam pieces have to be a range of jewellery, based on one subject. This is how my love of orchids has turned into jewellery. I am making a bracelet, a necklace and a brooch. I have only finished the bracelet which is silver set with jade. It's not perfect, but it is unique. You can't buy it in a shop, order it online, that's pretty amazing. I will show all the pieces here when the are all finished.

A Weekend Retreat

2009-06-02T11:20:00.007+01:00

I've just come back from the loviest of weekends. I treated G for his birthday to a night in a 4 star hotel and dinner at the Michelin star restaurant, Le Poussin at The Whitley Ridge Hotel. Due to G's extremely busy diary in May (for that read various sporting events) we've only just been.

We stayed at The Rhinefield House Hotel which is in Brockenhurst. It's off the beaten track, in the heart of the New Forest and thank goodness for good directions as if you wouldn't find it if you weren't looking. We arrived just in time for afternoon tea and it was the most glorious of afternoons. It was hot with barely a cloud in the sky. After tea we had a stroll around the gardens and the woods. There was a wedding at the hotel and I thought it was just a wonderful setting, great for the photos.

After a wash and brush up and a quick drink we got a cab to the restaurant. Along the way we say lots of ponies grazing but one young colt obviously was in high sprits as he charged along the roadside and then dashed out in front of our cab! At the restaurant we sat on the terrace with an apperitif and watching the sun go down. It was so beautiful and very romantic.

The meal was superb. G started with sea bream & I had a cheese souffle, then we had confit of duck and we shared a pudding which was just titled 'chocolate'. This was actually 4 small desserts on a plate; fondant, baby banana split, mousse & rice crispies slices. Mmmmmmmmmmmmm is all I can say! All washed down with a Barola. We took coffee and joined a lively party who one member tried to convince us one was a MP. Maybe he was (as they all know how to stretch the truth), as he tried to tell me I looked 29 (!!) and must be on 'monkey glands' (!!!) After I fainted over the size of the bill we went back to the hotel for a nightcap before popping to bed feeling slightly drunk and quite full up

After just making it for breakfast we sat by the pool, such hard work in 26 degree heat! As it stared to cloud over at about 2pm we made our way home for a much deserved cup of tea.

Jewellery Display

2009-05-29T11:38:00.005+01:00

Here is my hand made jewellery organiser. It sits on a chest of drawers in my bedroom and you can see it's nearly full up! Every so often I have a little sort out and cut them up and recycle the ear wires and beads to make brand new creations. I bought this unit on Ebay (one of my favourite places) as my bits and bobs ended up everywhere and I'm not exactly the tidiest of people as it is.

Looking at the organiser I can only see one pair that I didn't make, can you guess which pair that is? Bet you're wrong, haha! I use glass, semi precious stones, pearls, swarovski crystals but never plastic. There's just something nasty about plastic, maybe it's my 'inner snob' fighting its way out. There's no weight to it, hmmm, I'm not explaining this very well am I?!

Anyway, all of these earrings are very easy to make and the nice thing is that once you've got the basic skills you can easily create some new earrings or necklace to match the outfit you're wearing. AND no-one will have anything the same as you, it'll be totally unique!

I don't sell my jewellery but I do make for friends and family, and I donate completed sets to my favourite charity, Make a Wish and they are used as prizes at their charity Balls.

By the Sea

2009-05-28T12:16:00.007+01:00

After yesterdays very rainy day it was lovely this morning and wake up to some sun. G has been in Rome for the European Cup Final and had texted me to tell me about the lovely weather there. But since ManU lost 2-0 to Barcelona, there have been no texts. I can only assume he's gone into mourning. He's flying back this afternoon, wearing black no doubt.

Anyway, after a little visit this morning from Charlie.....

I left for work this morning and decided to drive along the seafront. If I'm feeling a bit blue or down in the dumps it always manages to lift me. This isn't the place for explanations but it's fair to say I've felt better and am in need of a massive injection of....well, I don't know what, but I do know that seeing the sea makes me feel 100% better.

The beach was empty except for a couple taking a stroll, and there wasn't even any joggers which is a rarity. I took a couple of deep breaths as well as a few photos and I felt a little better.

I really love living by the sea. Last year was my first full summer here and the weather was so poor I didn't really get the chance to fully experience all that Southsea has to offer. But I am confident of a summer of sunshine and I'll try and ensure I have plenty of photos of local events. There's a big D Day event on the common on the 6th June with swing bands, marching bands and lots more. I'll be there!

Beads are better than SEX!!!

2009-05-27T11:20:00.005+01:00

Or maybe I'm just not doing it right?!?!

Here are just some of my beads, ready and waiting for me to have some inspiration and make them into something lovely.

Inspiration is a funny thing. You can sometimes look at the beads you have and a million and one ideas suddenly come to mind. Other times you can ponder, pair some up and nothing happens.

I guess, just like sex, if you're not in the mood,

well, it's not going to be great is it.

Looking in the box I can see some beautiful colbalt blue, hand made glass beads which are begging to be used. And I know I have some tiny blue sapphire briolettes which call out to me every time I open the box, along with some citrines and rubies. Obviously low grade, I'm not a millionaire or anything!!!

This poor little box was the first jewellery making box and now it's broken, and all sorts of odd bits and bobs get thrown in. But I spy some gems in there too! I can see some cherry quartz, red coral and dyed red jade. And at the top there are some lapis lazuli screaming 'get me out of here now!'

Back to Work Blues

2009-05-26T11:03:00.000+01:00

It's been such a lovely weekend, only partically clouded by a bit of bad news which I won't go into and now it's back to the office and back to do some work. At least it's raining, and in my funny topsy turny logic that's ok because I don't feel I'm missing out on any sunshine.

G & I bought a BBQ, (our first joint purchase :-) ) and G then spent a very long time putting it together. He was quite calm initially but began to lose his cool towards the end. I sat & watched and daren't say a word. We ended up with a slightly wobbly BBQ with a few screws left over (why does that always happen?) and a promise never, ever ever to buy cheapo flat packed goods ever again!

My garden is now beginning to come on. When I bought my house just over 18 months ago there was just grass and a small patio so I've had to dig out some beds for plants & start stocking the garden. This year I'm also growing some tomatoes and strawberries. Not enough to worry the providers of Wimbledon, but hopefully enough for a small bowl with some cream.

I'm a bit shy.......ah, not really!

2009-05-22T15:15:00.001+01:00

Well hello! I'm new to this place, want to show me around? Tell me where all the good places are to hang out? Where and who to avoid?

So this is the first post which I'm hoping is going to be the hardest and the rest will just flow from the virtual 'pen'. I'm not quite sure what to say so how about I tell you a bit about me, and if you're still reading at the end then that's gotta be a bonus!

My name is Lara and I live in Southsea, a hop and a skip to the pebble-y beach. I live in a little house which is called Poppyfields with Charlie my beautiful and very timid cat. I have a lovely boyfriend called G and it's all going well (just don't tell him I said that otherwise he'll think I want to get married!)

I run my own business which is great and employ my friend Elisa, which is great. I work on the basis that I won't ask her to do anything I wouldn't do and in return I get someone who gives 100% and doesn't take advantage of our friends status.

Elisa & I share a passion for crafts, specifically jewellery making. And I hope to be able to share with you some of my creations and maybe offer you some tips and hints for getting started along with anything else that I manage to create. I'm currently attending an evening class in metal/silver smithing, and am soon to graduate from the intermediate level. So every Tuesday evening I get to take my frustration out with a hammer on a very scared piece of metal! (Be afraid, very afraid!) I hope to get some pictures up soon of some of the things I've made and show you just how easy it is!

So apologies for this loooooooooooong rambling, keep with me, this could be fun!!