Baboushka Decoration

I made a tree decoration using a lovely glass face cabochon.  I made her up as I went along but think that next time I make one I will put a lot more planning into the decoration.

There is so much enjoyment to be had from using a needle, thread and beads.

I am itching to get on and make another one as I have a stack of felt and faces to choose from. Deciding the colours is the hardest part!

Busy Beading

I have been busy with beads enjoying the slow motion of pulling the thread in and out of the fabric.  The above picture is a work in progress.  I am not too sure where  I am going with it yet or if it will even end up being a completed piece, but for now I am just enjoying the process of creating.  I have not bought anything extra to do this but have been consolidating the things I already have in the craft room.

If you are in a creating and crafting frame of mind you may wish to join Anne of My Giant Strawberry in her Handmade Joy Exchange.  I will be joining in this year, making and sending a little handmade joy made with love.  Please do go along to Anne's blog and join in if you wish to do so.

Despite the cold and grey days I have been a little bit hyper with excitement this week as I have been jolted into a realisation of what I want to do with my life and where I want to be.  I dare not share it with you all yet as my dream is in the early stages and may only ever be a dream but at least I have hope in moving forward and not being stuck at the crossroads!

Wishing you all a weekend full of wonder!

Beaded Pretties

I made these items a while back.  The rings are stretchy so one size fits many!  The pendants are woven with fine thread and the photo doesn't do them justice as they are really sparkly.

At the moment I feel like I am on a factory production line.  I had some bad news at the dental surgery yesterday so I need to make as much as I can before next Monday when I am being subject to a deep clean and tooth and bone removal!!!

It is fun making things for the craft fair but I am looking forward to making things for pleasure rather than profit once the day is over.  I really want to draw, paint and maybe make a doll or two.  I also want to take my jewellery making skills up several notches.

Thank you to everyone who reads this blog.  I hope some of my posts inspire you as much as your comments encourage me to keep on doing what I love.

Glorious Angels

I've been making lots of angel charms.  They are a bit difficult to see here as I have packaged them up into clear bags to protect them.  I hope they fly to good homes come November.

Purr-fect Beads

I am thrilled with my recent purchase of Czech glass cat face beads!  They catch the light beautifully and are skillfully made.  They look huge in the photo but are only about 12mm in size.  I can imagine making pairs of earrings with them or using them individually as a feature bead in a necklace.

Some people get excited about wool or fabric but quality beads, paper and art materials have me salivating at their goodness!!! 

A Charming Line Up

Making bag/purse charms is a pleasant diversion today.  I have even given them names from Regal Purple to Tutti Fruitti!  They are mainly made up of crystal, glass and seed beads and have a nice weight to them without being heavy.

These two are slightly different as I used silver coloured seed beads, volcanic rock, skull beads and a feature rose bead on each.  Do have a preference for any in particular? Are you drawn to certain colours?  Any feedback would be good!  I hope your week is going well.  It has been so warm and sunny here I think summer is struggling to let go.  Roll on autumn.  The nights are still far too hot!

Charming

I've been busy making handbag/purse charms.  They are great for personalising items or for people who don't/can't wear jewellery.  I may put them to sell in my etsy shop but am undecided on that at the moment.

I deleted my last post on angels in case you were wondering what happened to it.  I've deleted a few posts this year because I thought that they weren't up to par.  I may decide that this one gets the chop too, who knows?!!

Today has been a bright and very warm sunny day yet the grass stays wet due to the shortened hours of sunlight.  I really need to cut the grass and tidy the garden before the cold and wet weather sets in.  There is so much I should be doing but end up making handbag charms instead.

Beaded Cross Finale Finale!

I didn't have intentions to show any more beaded crosses for a while but as that is what I have been doing I thought I would show and tell!  For the blue and gold coloured cross I added some pale yellow glass crystal beads to give some contrast, and I made a smaller cross with silver seed beads with larger silver beads to give a bit more dimension.

I really should stop making these now as I have no plan for them other than to sit in a pile of 'done' stuff! The reason for all this beading is to keep my brain active.  I have also been doing Sudoku and Logic puzzles in the evening.  My brain craves something to do and I feel so wasted being at home with no real purpose other than to  'be around'.  I seem to live my life vicariously through others and would love to have a life of my own where I am earning a wage and given some worth to what I do.

Today is wet and miserable and I am in the second week of my husband staying off work with a trapped nerve in his back.  I selfishly want the house to myself and feel under scrutiny each time I come up on to the computer.  He hasn't said anything but I know he would swap places with me any day. 

If only I could get organised and write up a plan of action for my future.  Each time I mention self employment a row ensues and again I feel worthless and incapable. 

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I see myself as a deceased old woman atop a pile of projects complete and incomplete with the local authorities stating 'she didn't know which way to turn, so she stayed put'.  I really hope that my indecision's won't be the death of me!  I'd best crack on and draw up some kind of life plan lest the choice is taken from me.

By the way, I am not depressed.  I am just exasperated.

Beaded Cross Finale

This is the finale of the glass pearl bead necklace making for now.  I think I need to experiment with some other beads and designs and maybe use some semi precious gemstones too.  Whenever I am making things I do seem to like setting up a production line!  I learn best when I repeat something over and over again.  Once I have 'mastered' what I have set out to do, I stop and move on to something else.

Pity I am not doing a craft fair this year.  I think a table set out with these designs would make quite an impact, if only to pique people's interest.

Beaded Cross #2

I thought I should 'model' this cross so that you get a sense of its proportion.  As you can see it is quite a statement piece!  I used teal and cream glass pearls and really like this colour combination.  I am on a roll now.  What colour should I make next?  Hmmmmm, let me see.......................!

Have a lovely weekend!

Beaded Cross

Following on from my last post, with faith and folklore in mind, I decided to make a cross shaped beaded necklace with some glass pearls that I had been looking to use.  I really enjoyed the process of bead weaving and although simple in design, I think the look is very effective.

For some time I have been wanting to make jewellery with a purpose or a meaning attached.  Maybe I have found my niche? 

Angel Aura

I have bought these angel aura quartz crystal beads to make an every day bracelet.  They are 8mm rounds which are my favourite size of bead to use.  Interestingly (to me) they are lab created and pyroelectrically bonded with metals.  I am hoping that their rainbow hues will lift my spirits and give me something pretty to focus on each day. 

Sparkle and Shine

At this time of year I do like to add a bit of fun and sparkle to my jewellery.   I made the orange bracelet above to match perfectly with an orange and black outfit I am wearing to a Christmas lunch next week.  Whilst on a roll I made a purple and a white one too!  These photos-taken in a poor winter light-really do not do justice to the sparkle on these pretty beads.

Now, I am most pleased with these mother of pearl shell button earrings.  They are so light to wear and just a little more unusual than the plastic button earrings that are sometimes found.  They catch the light beautifully from across the room and dare I say it - across a candle lit table for two!

Florabundance

Another chilly day but the grey cloud has been interspersed with sun.  I didn't venture outside but decided to play inside with my beads instead and came up with a new bracelet design 'Florabundance'.   It really was a labour of love in terms of time and effort but I am pleased with the end result.  I showed it to my husband who said it 'had a lot going on'.  He has a point!

A stretch bracelet that is chock-a-block with Lucite flower beads and glass crystals.  Three pewter bees 'nestle in' among the flowers.  I really enjoyed designing this bracelet and hope to start putting this type of creation in my etsy shop which I have sadly neglected.

As you can see from the photo above, my plum tree has started to blossom.  Sadly there isn't an insect in sight to pollinate it at the moment.  I may have to appoint the help of a paintbrush to aid the pollination!

Until I hear the bees buzzing again and the birds singing, I will seek solace in creating gardens to wear in the form of jewellery in a bid to hasten their return.

Spring Green Beads

The 1st of March and Spring is almost here.  My astrology reading this month advises me to lie low for the first 2 weeks of the month so that is what I intend to do.  I have been looking at my birth chart this week to try and understand what the planets have in store for me.  I know astrology is looked upon as mumbo jumbo by many people, but when you have lost your way you look for any signs to guide you.

I have learnt his week that I was born with my sun in Aries, rising sign is Virgo and my moon is in Pisces.  What kind of career/lifestyle choice can I make from that? A fire,earth and water sign - all contradictory!  Aries is a dominant leader, Virgo is a perfectionist concerned with health matters and Pisces hates to conform!  I am more confused than ever.

Back to the title of this post.  I have acquired some beautiful green glass beads.  They have a soft opacity about them and make me think of a gentle Spring.  I don't think I am going to make anything fancy with them.  I sometimes think simplicity is best so I will make a stretch bracelet with maybe a spring hare charm to compliment the piece.  I will come back and show you the finished article!

Have a lovely weekend.

The Necklace

I have finally made my Bloggers Beads Necklace.  I used almost 6 metres of thread cut into 3 strands!  I had no plan of how the necklace would be and just made it up as I went along.

 I particularly like this part of the necklace.

 I like this section too with the glass bee and the intricately crocheted tiny daffodil.

 Beautiful beads.

Thank you to everyone that took part in this project.  Your generous gifts of beads have now been interwoven into a unique piece of jewellery that I will be proud to wear.  I know exactly which bead came from each of you which makes it extra special.

My gratitude goes to Vivienne, Toni (no blog as yet!), Rosie P, Helen, Zoe, Jill, Julie, Lyn, Sharon, Jane, Kathy, Janet, Lisa,Carol, Judy, Rosie B, Michela, Teresa, Anne.

I have sent out a small handmade gift to Jane and Sharon who were the winners of the draw.  I will be writing to everybody else that took part as a way of thanking you.  This may take a bit of time but you will get a letter in the post from me one day!

Winners Revealed!

Thank you to everybody who took part in donating beads for the Bloggers Beads Necklace.  Above you can see the diverse range of beads that I received and I think it is fair to say that it will be a challenge to make them all up into a necklace!  Can you see the bead or beads that you sent?

I drew out a name from all the participants that took part and the winner is Jane from Marigold Jam.  I then decided to have another draw just of my friends from abroad that had taken the time and trouble to send beads to the UK, and the winner is Sharon from Sallymomsprouts.  In due course I will send both of you a little handcrafted something!

As a thank you to everyone that took part, I would like to send you all a handwritten letter.  This may take a bit of time but it is something that I intend to do.

Now I need to put on my thinking cap and see how this necklace is going to evolve!

Bloggers Beads Reminder

Thank you so much to everyone who has sent me beads so far.  I have even received a bead all the way from Australia!  On receipt of the beads I will send you an email to let you know that I have received it and put your name under my 'Bead Donors' in the side bar.

I will keep this open for another couple of weeks and then I will draw a name from all the people that have sent me a bead and send the winner a little something I have made.  I do hope that I receive enough beads to make my 'Bloggers Beads Necklace'!

Apart from my goal of making 'the' necklace with the help of my blogging friends I have another goal that I wish to achieve this year.  I want to improve my level of fitness.  I decided that I will do this by walking more.

After reading about the merits of using a pedometer (counts the number of steps walked each day) I decided to buy one.  I read that the average person does between 3,000-4,000 steps each day.  Health professionals advise to walk 10,000 steps each day to maintain fitness and 12,000 steps to lose weight.

I walked to the vineyard and back today and this evening my pedometer reads 15,687 steps.  No wonder I am tired!

Bloggers Beads

I have been thinking about my word for the year which is create.  I have also been thinking about Clare's word for the year which is connect.

Linking these two words together I have a proposal that I would like to submit to you. (That sounds very formal doesn't it?)  My goal is to make a necklace using a bead from each blogger that has previously contributed to this blog.  The purpose of this necklace is that I can create it knowing that it is made with good intent and a connection to each and every one of you that leave me such kind and encouraging comments.

If you would like to play a part in the creation of my necklace, which I intend to wear every day, then please send me an email at simone.lindengrove@gmail.com so that I can let you have my address details.

I request just one bead from each of you, although you can send more if you wish.  The bead can be made of glass, plastic, ceramic, wood, metal etc, new or old and of any shape you desire.

When I have received an adequate amount of beads I will set to making a necklace.  I know that this will be a necklace that I will cherish as there would have been so much thought that has gone into its creation.

As an incentive for doing this, I will draw a name from all the participants and make the winner a little something, yet to be decided. I will keep this open for about a month to give people the time to send their beads to me.

I do hope that you will join me in this venture.  I can't wait to see what the finished product will look like!

Edited:  If you are unsure of what type of bead to send, I would request something that represents 'you' and your taste.  As long as it has a hole in it for threading then it is fine!