Christmas Cards For 2011

This is the card I produced this year. There were others, but this one was my favourite! I used ProMarkers for a professional look, but made sure that the label on the back told people that they were 'hand drawn, coloured, stamped and finished'. The design of the pudding was my own but it was very simple. Despite being simple, imagine how long it took to make 80 cards...

It was so nice to get my mojo back for a while. I have also started beading some bracelet kits - and I will post pics when they are finished. Despite my mojo raising its head above the parapet, I am not ready for designing again, so I ordered someone else's designs in kit form.

It Has Been A Long Time!

This is what was sent to me by my Crafter...oo Secret Santa - a lovely felted, silky scarf, a gorgeous butterfly brooch and a christmas tree decoration. All beautiful, so thanks to my santa! I sent my present off today so I hope that the recipient likes it. I stupidly forgot to take a photograph of it though...doh!

Disappointment For a Fellow Crafter...oo Member

Isn't it awful when we get bad service? With the internet now available for practically anything you wish to buy, you would think that many companies would up their customer service. But it seems that this is not always the case. A fellow Crafter...oo member recently had terrible service and she has blogged about it here...Domestic Kat.

I have experienced bad service, from a Folksy seller, and it does leave a nasty taste in the mouth. However, I do feel that there is absolutely no excuse for this from established companies.

These beads were made by a Gold member of mine at WW. We discovered a shared interest in jewellery making, although with different media. Last week, I went to her house, along with several other like-minded people, and we had a 'show and tell' session. She wanted to buy a bracelet of mine and I wanted some of her beads...so we did a swap - like the days before money! She calls herself 'Purple Duck'. As yet, she doesn't have a web-site, but I hope that she will set one up soon.


This piece is from Bead and Button magazine. I fell in love with the pattern when I saw it and HAD to make it. Once I got my head around the instructions, it was easy to make, although it looks much harder. I love peacock colours and I think that they suit the paisley pattern beautifully. I do intend to turn it into a bracelet but am a bit stuck as to which finding would be the best.



This bracelet is from the current issue of Bead magazine. It is really pretty and an easy pattern to follow. I am making another one in pinks and black.



This bracelet is a 'flat cellini' stitch. I am not 100% happy with it and cocked up the clasp somewhat. I think that the wave in the pattern is not obvious enough and I will be sticking to tubular cellini stitch in future - the results are more interesting.



And finally, this bracelet is also from Bead and Button. Again, I am not 100% happy with it, but not through anything I did wrong. I just don't think it looks as good as the ones in the magazine picture. Maybe my colours needed to be more diverse - contrasting instead of toning. What do you think? Comments very much appreciated.

Bracelets Galore

I have been a little busy. My beading mojo is back!

A Few Things

I have not been a very busy crafter lately, due to lots of reasons. I have been quietly crafting away though, doing the odd bit of cross-stitch or a bracelet.

Two bracelets that I have made are based on the design that I had published in Bead magazine. I just played with colours and I love the results, although I didn't follow my own instructions for the pattern! Once a pattern changer, always a pattern changer. They will be going in my Folksy shop soon, and I hope to be able to spend more time on stocking that up in the near future.

I also bought these hairgrips from Vintage Violet - a fellow crafter and friend from Crafter...oo. She is absolutely fabulous and a totally original crafter. I am in awe of her cross-stitch designs, especially her Tardis one. I was very lucky, because the grips had expired from her shop and she then offered me a discount on the original price...I do love a pretty bargain! Maximum Rabbit Designs

I'm A Knight...

Max's theme this half-term is 'castles'. So, what else would you expect but to have to make a medieval costume . I didn't help myself by leaving it to the last minute and having a mild panic, but I think that I came up trumps! Max is certainly chuffed with the outfit...amazing what you can do with Kanban card and an old pillow case!

Who, Me?

Butter wouldn't melt...

Bejeweled Blitz

I had to put this on here for posterity - it is my highest ever score! Not enough to make me first against all my FB friends (grr) but still a convincing second place.

And Some MORE!

I made these cards over the last few days. I have been buying rather a lot of Promarkers and playing with them. Sometimes I then feel like putting the results onto a card!

4 Cards

I am really into card making at the moment. I don't seem to have enough time to make something beaded, but cards only take a short while.

40th Anniversary Card

It is my Auntie and Uncle's 40th Wedding Anniversary tomorrow and I made this card for them. I really enjoy making cards that require hearts, as I love the occasions behind them; weddings, anniversaries, engagements - all wonderful things to celebrate.

I don't know about all of you but I think that 40 years of marriage is something worth a huge celebration! No marriage is without troubles, but to survive them and keep going is inspiring.

Congratulations to Jane and Pat - you are a great couple.

Bead Magazine - Out Now!

This is my third pattern in Bead magazine. I have a few ideas buzzing around in my head for more designs, but need to get them on to paper. That is a bit of a problem at the moment, a my life seems to be too busy for beading :(

Well, I say that, but I have been making a few cards and am currently sewing a cross-stitch pattern. I think that I might be all beaded out! I am able to make small and quick things, but more involved pieces are too time-consuming.

Sapphire Wedding Card

Mum and Dad have reached the amazing anniversary of 45 years of marriage! Congratulations to them and well done on not killing each other (hee hee). Seriously though, I know that I am biased, but I don't think that I have ever seen another couple with such a successful marriage. They really are something to aspire to.

Three Bracelets and a Cat!

Three bracelets that I am considering putting in my Folksy shop - I am not sure yet. The first photo is the most beautiful cat in the world - perhaps the post should have been called 'A Cat and Three Bracelets'...) I just can't seem to get a photo that is in focus though!

Yum, New Books

Yes, it was the time to buy more craft books (one can never have too many I find!) I bought these and am currently drooling over them. I even bought them at full price in the shops, rather than buying them from Amazon - I just could not wait for them to be posted!

Leaving Card For Clerk

One of my Sunday morning WW clerks has had to leave, due to moving house to a village too far away :( I am very sad about it as we are a great team at that meeting. Lee has been a big part of that and I think of her as a friend. This is the card that I made for her.

Bracelets & Card

These are a couple of things that I have actually managed to make lately. I have really been into card-making but it is hard to reach all my stuff, because of all the WeightWatchers stock! My beads are more accessible, but that doesn't mean that I actually have the TIME to do anything with them...

Earring Design

I am proud of this design. I sent it in to Bead magazine but it was similar to a pair of earrings that they have already scheduled to print :-( Never mind, I am still happy that the idea in my head came out so well. The earrings hang beautifully and look very pretty in the ear. The idea seemed to just pop into my head the other day and I made time to get it down on paper before I forgot what I wanted to do. This has happened a few times, so I have learnt from that! I normally design by playing with my beads, but this one was a substantial idea before I even got the beads out!