Watch bracelet

Been dying to make something with this charm since I found it on ebay a while ago! So here it is....silver heart charm with turquoise watch face, matt satin and glossy pearls in shades of aquamarine, airforce blue, seafoam and teal (6,8 and 10mm), tiny czech firepolish crystals and a toggle clasp. And you can use it to tell the time!

Nearly Christmas!

And what an exciting week it's turning out to be...all this snow in the days leading up to the 25th get us all hopeful that it may actually be a properly white Christmas, although knowing British weather there will be a huge thaw and we'll wake up to stories of flooding once again. Daisy has loved seeing the snow although she's been unwell so hasn't been able to go out and play in it - her daddy is less impressed as it took him almost 5 hours to get home from London last night. Only an inch fell but it caused travel and traffic chaos across the area.

I've been a busy bird in the last couple of weeks, catching up with orders from the jewellery party in November (one necklace took a week to make) and and with last minute requests coming in from the website. I've run out of Ladybugs bracelets! I had a wonderful request to make 3 bracelets with black ladybirds for a lovely lady whose children's father had died recently, and at the funeral a black ladybird with red spots had landed on all 3 of her daughters and then flown away - I was really honoured to be asked to make something so special, and I really hope she likes them. They're pictured above. I've also made some variations on earlier designs for a teenager (blue squares, elsewhere in this post...).

Since getting everything into the last-post-before-Christmas I have managed to actually make some pieces for myself using the beads I had for my birthday back in June. Who knew it would take so long to get round to it??? The pictures are scattered through this post - my favourite at the moment is the turquoise and copper bib-style necklace made with beads from Bijoux Beads but I also love the blue lariat necklace made with beads and findings from Spoilt Rotten Beads. I still have some gorgeous margarita daisies and some pink glass beads left so will get round to them soon.

I have to admit I'm missing stitching though and will be taking a Flower Fairy off to France with me after Christmas so I can get a fix in while I'm away...it seems ages since I've done any (in fact, it may have been last time I was in France back in May) and I hope I haven't lost the knack....

We're almost ready for the big day - my presents are all wrapped up and ready for Santa to deliver on Christmas Day, the stollen is made and will hopefully last at least until Christmas, and the tree is decorated. I finally have icicle lights outside which make me feel festive every time I look at them, and we've visited Santa at the amazing Victorian Grotto at the Museum of London Docklands. It's only a stone's throw from Canary Wharf so if you're in the area do go and see the grotto, it's gorgeous and guaranteed to make even the Grinchiest Scrooge feel festive.

Time, time ticking away!

It seems weeks since I've managed to post on here! Oh yes, it has been weeks...almost a month...but what a busy month!

The two markets I did - Festive Fair at Museum of London and the Christmas Market in Epping were really successful for me and for the lovely people I shared stalls with. Rhiannon at Mabinogion Crafts brought along her gorgeous chunky necklaces to the Museum of London, which were a great success. Their USP is that as they're made with rather lush ribbons and wooden beads it's almost impossible to be allergic to them, plus the purples and autumn hues are really on-trend. The lovely ladies from Victoria Rose Crafts and Lilly Roses Luxuries were my partners in crime in Epping and we all had a great day - Shivs brought along her newest make, 11 day old Lilly-Rose, and when breaking for feeds she made sure to bring back tea for the rest of us! After a horrendous week of rain and wind we were really relieved to see some sunshine, but it was pretty cold. You can see me all bundled up in this picture - along with my other half and daughters who'd stopped by to see us. The picture is shamelessly stolen from Rose as my camera failed to work on both days....

The slinky jewellery set sold as separate pieces (and I can get the rings again so will be making more), and I was really pleased that the Swarovski crystal tree earrings all sold, as well as my favourite Ladybugs bracelets. I'm now having a small sale over on my Facebook page and all orders will come free with a pair of Christmas Present earrings. I'm now racing to catch up with orders for Christmas as the website has been really busy.

In between all this craftiness, I did manage a day out in London with a gang of girlfriends - our annual Christmas knees-up, which was lovely. This year we went to see Priscilla, Queen of the Desert at the Palace Theatre - an amazing show! Check out a video here...

Party!

Last Friday was my first jewellery party! Having been coerced into it by two friends (one of whom hosted it) I was quite worried in case no one liked my jewellery but as it turned out I sold several items and took orders for many more - which gave me a great excuse to spend lots of time internet shopping yesterday. It was great to see what people were interested in, too - the Slinky bracelet was snapped up almost immediately and it's a great shame I can't get the components any more as I could have sold several. I have made a set for the market stall though, so hopefully they'll be just as popular. The little worry beads were also popular and I've had to order some more beads for those too, and I'll also be making keyrings for a little boy.

I now feel much more confident about the upcoming Christmas Market (4 December in Epping) and the Festive Fair (3 December at the Museum of London)! Better get making...

In other news...I'm loving salsa dancing on Wednesday nights, and almost feel as if there may be life after children after all! I may hold the record for the most time spent in the beginner's class, but as long as it's fun then who cares?

Finally, a new addition to the webshop is the Baby Bag Charm, seen here...

All behind!

Have you ever noticed that a weekend away is lovely but it seems to take forever to catch up on your routine? Here it is, Wednesday already, and I haven't done my weekend laundry or written a blog post...thank heavens for tesco.com or we'd all be starving as well.

It's all worth it though! My best friend and I spent a weekend away in a gorgeous hotel in Hellidon on the Northants/Warwickshire borders - we abandoned our children with their daddies and relaxed in the pool and the jacuzzi, ate great food and put the world to rights while wandering around lakes and Leamington. We could have done without the chest infection (me) and the stomach bug (her) but even being ill isn't so bad if you don't have to look after anyone else!

This week I've had a couple of Christmas orders in so have been working on those - the items I've come up with have a vaguely Victorian Gothic vibe to them which I quite like. These charm hoop necklaces are getting popular, so it was nice to make earrings to go with them for a change.

I've also just written the cheque for market trader's insurance, which makes it all feel terribly official. It's dawning on us all now that our stall is only a month away - will we ever have enough stock? Although Shivs at Lily Rose's Luxuries is probably thinking more about the impending birth of her baby, who is due to make an appearance any time now.

Batty? Possibly....

I mentioned last week that I'd had the weirdest request for a charm bracelet ever (or so I thought at the time...) and as it's now been gifted I can post a pic. Bats, shamrocks and a leprechaun makes for a strange combination but does look quite cute!

Again, I've spent the week making gemstone bangles for the Christmas Market, and also managed some Slinky bracelets in purple and silver - shame I'm supposed to sell them really....I've also listed them in my Etsy shop and my Folksy shop, along with some handmade polymer clay Ladybug earrings.

In other news, I read back through this blog(I've been at it for a year now!) and realised that one of the first posts I made was about a completed WIP - my daughter Tove, who was one on Thursday. She's now walking (just), saying a couple of nearly-words and eating everything in sight - I can't believe how time has flown. Here she is....and her big sister Daisy too. The clocks went back last night (hurray for the MIL reminding us yesterday!) and it's getting dark already, winter really is setting in. I love autumn and winter though, a perfect excuse for big casseroles (steak and Guinness, mmm) and jacket potatoes!

So, to bring back memories of summer I'm going to spend the evening making Flower Garden sets! Pretty pink and purple lucite flowers, pale green leaves and toho seed beads, all strung on a chain and suspended from ribbon. I wear my own one quite often and it never fails to get compliments.

Next weekend I'm off to a hotel with my best friend for a child free couple of days - luxury! I'm counting the hours...

Charming!

A record week in the life of Ladybird Beads, with orders coming in every day from people both known and unknown - I'm feeling hopeful that things are starting to take off and that one day I might be able to make a (small) living out of this...though I'm not holding my breath! I am now registered as self-employed in a very small way, so me and Mr Taxman (oo-ooh Mr Taxma-an....) are squared off, and I'm being ever so good about updating my records as well. Thank heavens for Microsoft Excel, or it wouldn't be so organised.

Anyway, back to the crafty stuff! It's mainly been charm bracelets this week, starting with a request for "a glam/retro one" for one of my sister's staff - the brief was pink, with shoes and handbags, and I think I pulled it off! She liked it, anyway (you can see it here....and the result was a second themed bracelet that I can't put up here yet (though it holds the current 'weirdest theme' record!), and an order from one of the other team members for a charm bracelet with rocking horses, horseshoes and pink beads.

There have also been requests for charm hoop necklaces and matching bracelets, a daisy chain necklace which is coming back for shortening (see, it's a full service here!), an amethyst gemstone chip bracelet, a Mother's Love bracelet and a necklace based on a bracelet/anklet I've made before. It's all go! I also found time for a kilt pin for myself, which I'd had on the list for a while.

Other news? Still going on the i-phone socks which are very relaxing on the Central Line, especially since my tube karma this week has been terrible. No stitching, but when I finish this sock I'll be getting on with my Flower Fairy for a while.

I finally talked my other half into taking me to Hobbycraft last week, and amazingly I only bought two circular needles and a useful tray - clearly taking a fractious 3 year old with me is the way to save money! She's had chicken pox and hasn't been sleeping so well, but fortunately we're past it. Now I'm just waiting for Tove to break out in spots in time for her first birthday next week.

Tonight, though, I've made a lasagne for me and my beloved, he's brought a bottle of wine, and we're going to relax for a change...unless the lure of the bead box gets too much!

What Kirsty did next!

Well, here we are at the end of another week, and autumn seems to have landed with a vengeance! The lovely crispy sunshine has been replaced by miserable rain, and my fleecy penguin pyjamas have been dragged out of the wardrobe once again. The good side of this, of course, is that its boot season once again - I love pretty flipflops and sandals but you can't beat a good boot. So far I've resurrected my beloved pirate OTKs and the black biker boots from last year, and I'm looking forward to the arrival of some new ones.

Today has been my weekly day off (I love this part-time stuff...) and while I started the day with good intentions about doing some beading/knitting/stitching I just went and had my hair cut instead: a bit of pampering does cheer you up!

I haven't been lazy all week though, I've been making gemstone bangles in tourmaline and amethyst, and have started one in jade...

...as well as making a replacement dangle for a kilt pin, finishing the autumn necklace for a friend's mum, and a mother's bracelet for my own mum's next door neighbour in France.

I also held a giveaway on my Facebook page a couple of weeks ago and have posted off a Sugar & Spice set to a little girl called Madeleine in South London. Keep an eye out for the next one by becoming a fan...

When I put it like that it looks like I've done lots this week!

Finally, I'm really excited about the bags that Rose over at Victoria Rose Crafts made for me this week! Go over and see her at her blog, she makes some gorgeous stuff. You'll find her at the Epping Craft Collective stall at the Christmas Market on 4 December, along with me and Lily Roses's Luxuries - stop by and see us if you're in the area!

Still wearing the Harvest bracelet!

Which was the only bright spot in a really, really rubbish day today - everything that could go wrong did go wrong and nothing that I had planned to do got done. I did get to see the Isle of Dogs from the 34th floor of the Citi building as well as the trading floor (where there was a man with braces!) though.

Forgot to mention yesterday that I met Rose from Victoria Rose Crafts on Saturday with her gorgeous daughter Rianna - Rose is making some pretty bags for me, and we met up to swap materials. Daisy and Rianna had a lovely time with wooden spoons. Drop in on her blog and check out her makes, they're amazing.

Tourmaline and carnelian chips arrived today in the post so I think I'll make some bangles up!

Autumn inspiration

Last night I finished a 'Harvest' bracelet which had been germinating on the beadmat for a few weeks as various bits arrived from Hong Kong and the US (hurray for Etsy suppliers) and I'm so pleased with the way its turned out. The idea for it came from some berry beads that I saw on Ebay and some lucite leaves that were already in my stash. The berries and leaves made me think of hedgerows, and when I found some gorgeous green glass apples and copper acorns on Etsy the whole thing came together. It's the most expensive piece I've ever made but I LOVE it. A lot. The finished piece is almost like a garland, and it feels great on - and it makes a lovely noise!

I built my outfit around it today and several people commented so it was worth it....what do you think? The second picture is a colour mix for an autumn necklace for a friend's mother, and the final one shows the mix on a chain with carnelian chips, which will eventually be strung on ribbon with fieldmice charms and gold findings.

Busy busy!

Christmas is suddenly sneaking up on me with the prospect of sharing a stall at the Epping Christmas market with LilyRosesLuxuries and Victoria Rose Papercraft, so I'm starting to make things in larger quantities than normal...it doesn't seem too far away now, which in one way is exciting. I've also been asked to do a Christmas shopping event in South London by someone who has seen me on Facebook, so hopefully this Christmas will be a good one.

Not getting much stitching done, but I have managed to finish an iphone sock on the tube in hot pink/orange/purple sock yarn, and here are a few of this week's makes. The Allsorts necklace is a one-off, but the Glacier clusters are for the stall, as are the earrings.

I'm also planning on making a few party necklaces and some gemstone chip bracelets in amethyst and candy jade, some phone charms and more earrings...there just isn't enough time in the day!

In Memory...

...I heard yesterday that an old teacher, mentor and friend had died after a fall. Although he had been suffering from Parkinsons Disease for several years and no longer knew what was around him, it's still a sad day and I feel like someone has turned a light out in the world. From Facebook conversations with people who knew him, there are going to be hundreds of us who feel the same way - he made going to school fun and he will live on in the hearts of all of us who were in his classes at Raglan Junior School.

I'll remember the ghost stories, singing 'Green and Yellow', the laughter and the inspirational teaching, the family holidays, the experimental winemaking (much later, of course!), the goldfish, the help and support he gave me over my PGCE course and the faith he had in me, the terrible jokes and the enthusiasm he always showed in the classroom. He was an amazing man and I miss him, my prayers are with his family. Rest in Peace, Mr D. Your grandchildren, children and wife have lost someone irreplaceable....as have we all.

The sooner we find a cure for this terrible disease the better - too many people are needlessly suffering.

Christmas @ Ladybird Beads

The nights are drawing in and someone told me how many days it was until Christmas (I blanked it out....) so I thought I'd start creating pretty stocking fillers and Secret Santa gifts to sell. I've been making bracelets but matching necklaces/earrings can be made on request! I've also been having fun with Fimo, making beads to turn into phone charms and earrings to give away as freebies for customers. My eyes have now been opened to the wonders of polymer clay, and I have some glitter effect red & white to play with next. Watch this space...Daisy also likes what she calls 'Mummy's playdough' and made her own ladybird and worm (which started life as a bug...)

The bracelets below were inspired by tree decorations and the way they reflect the Christmas lights and what tree would be complete without an angel?

Daisy started nursery last week, she's getting so grown up! I had expected her to bring home the usual pictures and junk models but so far all she's given me is a cold....ballet starts again this weekend and I know she's looking forward to wearing her tutu and being a 'princess' again. I love watching her dance, and she gets so excited that every so often she runs over and gives me a random kiss!

Hurray! I finished it...

Finally finished and packed off with my sister to hand over to my mum and dad this week...believe it or not there is a beautifully stitched Celtic ribbonwork border all round the outside of this....which I somehow managed to offset by an inch and a half so it had to be hidden. I didn't notice till I got to the framers, but fortunately he didn't laugh too much while I was in the shop! Never done that before.

I've also had almost 500 visitors to my website which is very exciting! Just started listing Christmas items like these cute Swarovski crystal tree earrings and glass gift box earrings. A free handmade gift will be sent to anyone ordering from the Christmas page at http://www.ladybirdbeads.co.uk/ChristmasatLadybirdBeads.html so please come see me!

First website order!

I'm quite excited this week as I've had my first order through ladybirdbeads.co.uk - a pretty pastel anklet and a Mother's Love bracelet that I sent winging off to France this morning. True to form, I was sooooo excited that I forgot to take pictures of them before I sent them off, though there are examples of both in previous posts...I have taken pictures of the gemstone charm bracelets I've been making though, so here they are. The pink one is candy jade with lots of different heart charms, and the purple one is amethyst. I'm currently working on an onyx version and will post pics of that when it's done.





I've also just joined flickr and have been looking at these amazing photochrom images of Wales from the late nineteenth century - I love seeing how places change over the years and some of these images take me right back to holidays at the seaside, as well as to my uni days in Aberystwyth. See them and more here http://www.flickr.com/photos/library_of_congress/3751657243/

The beads have taken over the wooooooorrrrldddd!

My poor stitching is suffering as I've been kept really busy since coming back from holiday with jewellery orders! I make a solemn promise to it here and now that as soon as this batch is out of the way I'll spend some time on it and take it to the framers so that it's ready in time for my parents' Ruby Wedding in September.

It's not all beads though, I have been knitting iphone socks for friends recently on the tube, which is a great excuse to buy all the gorgeous sock yarn there is these days!

Progress report

After a week away with no beads I've managed to complete half the Ruby Sampler border...the end is in sight!

New website...

...launched last night. After many things disappeared into the ether and much swearing on my part, http://www.ladybirdbeads.co.uk popped into cyberspace. It's shiny!

All kinds of everything!

Now that I'm back in work I have the joy of the hour-long commute on the Central Line three days a week and the only way to do this and stay sane is to have something to do (stuck in a tunnel? Excellent, I can finish this colour/row/square). I've even occasionally missed my stop and had to double back...so this week I've been knitting i-pod/i-phone socks for various friends and hopefully (eventually) for sale. I'm trying to work out a way to add beads...

The jewellery sales are also coming along well so my evenings have been taken up with that, but I really REALLY need to get on with my Ruby Wedding sampler since it needs to be finished and framed by September. I think I'll take it on holiday with me and leave the beads at home.

Yesterday I spent an amazing half-day at Spoilt Rotten Beads in Haddenham, Cambs (link halfway down the right of this page) on one of their beaded jewellery courses. Kelly, the tutor, was patient and helpful and even made wire-wrapped loops easy. The course was held in their gorgeous shop which sells exquisite handmade jewellery as well as beads and findings, so there was plenty of opportunity to shop...and oh, how I shopped. I had to stop on the way home and buy a new storage box...beautiful ladybirds, acid-etched beads, Indian glass beads, semi-precious stones and shells, unusual spacers and findings...I can't recommend them enough.

I suppose I need to think about Christmas cards too...there are just not enough hours in the day...oh to win the Lottery so I can give up work and spend all day at the craft box!

Twitter

I've just succumbed to the lure of Twitter...the link to my tweeting (twittering?) is on the right hand side of this page if anyone fancies following me! While you're there, have a look at the rather fabulous beading link I've added as well - Spoilt Rotten Beads. The stuff in their shop is totally hoardable and I am SO looking forward to my beaded jewellery making course there this coming weekend. And to spending my birthday money in the shop afterwards (rubs hands together in glee).

I've also been busy making anklets and bracelets recently - here's a couple of my favourites. They're all for sale in my brand new shiny Folksy shop or via Facebook.

I got an award!

Many thanks to Emma at Fairyqueen's Jewels for nominating me for this award!!


I must pass this award on as the rules say - comment on this blog; cut and paste the award logo and use it on your own blog; nominate 5 to 10 blogs you feel show great attitude and gratitude; link to your nominees within your blog post; comment on their blogs to let them know they received the award; link back to the person who gave you the award to show your appreciation.

I nominate....

http://fairyqueensjewels.blogspot.com/

http://fallenangeljewellerydesigns.blogspot.com/

http://cushie66.blogspot.com/

http://olivercharlespearson.blogspot.com/

http://crazystitching.blogspot.com/

Ladybird Beads Facebook Giveaway

It's my birthday tomorrow so I thought I'd break with tradition and give someone else a present...so, at some point tomorrow morning (Friday 26 June) one of my FB fans will win a lovely sparkly present! If you're not a fan already click the link on the right hand side of this page, and if you are a fan spread the word and good luck!

Happy Birthday to me...etc.

Inspiration...

...often comes from the strangest place. This weekend I spent a day with my sister who wanted to be Wonderwoman from a very early age (I think she is already, of course, certainly she's Wonderauntie). A conversation with her led me to a search for particular beads on ebay which I'll be turning into cuffs when they arrive. Everyone has days when they need a bit of wonder!

I'm currently looking forward to my birthday present from my other half, who has bought me a jewellery making course at Spoilt Rotten Beads. Check them out here, they have some gorgeous things http://www.spoiltrottenbeads.co.uk/

The Ruby Wedding sampler is coming along well - the lettering is done and I'm now working the ribbonwork border. I've also found some carved wooden lovespoon charms at Polstitches Designs which I hope I'll be able to work in somewhere. They can be bought here http://www.polstitchesdesigns.co.uk/lovespoons.htm along with beautiful hand-dyed fabrics and threads.

Some new finishes to show as well! The Ladybug bracelet has been popular, I keep trying to make one for myself but then end up selling them. I've made two of the Rainbow Fluorite cuffs as well - I love using memory wire as the finished bangles look so effective. By far the most popular piece, though, has been the Mother's Love bracelets - I think I've made about 8 so far and I keep running out of the letter I so I might need to start buying in bulk! The final two pictures are the She Sells Sea Shells bracelet, made of Tibetan silver and dyed pink shell coins, and a Raspberries and Cream set made with matt glass beads that I fell in love with.