Christmas Earrings

Swarovski crystal - very dainty and very sparkly!

More Wire-wrapping

Made with garnet nuggets and 4mm garnet coloured glass facet beads. The end cones are made from silver-plated 0.8mm wire. I love it!

Ain't Spring Grand!

This beautiful specimen is from my garden and looks stunning at the moment. I found out some information on it from the BBC Website:

Common Name: Christmas berry
Genus: PhotiniaSpecies: x fraseri
Cultivar: 'Red Robin'
Skill Level: Beginner
Exposure: Full sun, Partial shade
Hardiness: Hardy
Soil type: Well-drained/light, Moist
Height: 400cmSpread: 400cm
Flowering period: April to May

Photinia, or Christmas berry, is a genus of Asian and North American shrubs, which includes a group of evergreen hybrids grown specifically for their colourful young foliage. Most are forms of the garden hybrid P. x fraseri, with glossy dark green adult foliage, and variable red tinted young leaves, especially as they just unfold. 'Red Robin' is one, a choice form with eye-catching juvenile growth the colour of sealing wax, similar to a pieris. This is sometimes caught by late spring frosts, and some shelter is advisable. Plants enjoy a sunny or partially shaded position in moist but well-drained soil. The Royal Horticultural Society has given its prestigious Award of Garden Merit(AGM) to this plant.Looks good with:Chaenomeles speciosa 'Geisha Girl'Forsythia x intermedia 'Spectabilis'

What a FAB Blog!

The Vintage Moth is such a lovely blog - with old-fashioned pictures that can be used in your crafting. She has images like these...

...which are just so lovely. There are so many to choose from, all with a vintage look. I am personally in love with this one:

Egyptian Style Necklace/Choker

This was made from a pattern I bought at the bead fair at Five Lakes yesterday. The necklace takes about 6 hours to make but I think is worth every second. I bought some bulk beads from GJ Beads too and wanted to use them, so made it in green beads. Not normally my colour but I might be persuaded after this!

I have tried it on and it is just longer than a choker and sits in the hollow of the neck. It will go into my Folksy shop soon, when my fingers have recovered!

TTNP - A Little Bit More...

You might be able to see that I managed to add in the bridging beads and facets last night. I also made a start on one of the sides as I finally decided to make it into a full necklace. I haven't done any more though as Mum and I had a lovely day out.

Jewellery Swap on CB Forum

I signed up to be part of the Crafts Beautiful Aug/Sept ear-ring swap. At the point that I was ready to make my swap, there was some indecision as to what colour they were going to be, so I made one pair in each colour. I am not particularly happy with the blue ones but don't have many blue beads, so was a bit limited. Luckily, red was finally selected and I really like these ones!