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.

I HAVE Been Making Things...Honestly!

There is a cross stitch that I have started. I am only sewing the cats as I don't want all the background. They are in this month's Cross Stitcher magazine - my favourite sewing mag. The card is for my Mum's birthday - it is A5, so large and I think it is lovely. I hope she does too.

Some Bits 'n' Bobs

These are Swarovski crystal earrings and the photo doesn't do them justice at all. They are really sparkly.

This set was made for my Mum for Christmas. Again, Swarovski crystal in with glass pearls.

Three 'Mum' Cards

Excuse the shininess - I fogot to photograph them before packaging them!

Christmas Fair

Well, I agreed to have a table at a local school's Christmas fair. I roped Mum in to help with the selling and then realised that I don't have nearly enough stock. So, I have been a busy bee this evening - hence the unfinished TTNP. I am really looking forward to having an opportunity to hear the 'public's' view on my work as well as other crafters. Sometimes I do get wrapped up in what I like and forget that others have to like it too!

Thanks Mum

See my earlier post for the reasons.

Big Thanks to My Mum

I wanted to sign up for the Level Two City and Guilds course, because I really need the design training more than the beading training. The second level makes the student do more of their own jewellery designing and takes every aspect that step further than Level One has so far. However, the course is four times as long and will cost quite alot of money. I told my mum this and said that I had decided not to ask Mark (my husband) for the money as I no longer work and I don't contribute financially to the household.

Yesterday, my mum offered me a quarter of the course cost with no strings attached. She said that she really wanted me to do the course as she thinks I would be good. This gave me the courage to ask Mark for the balance of the money. He agreed that I could have it as my 40th present (I will be 40 next October - before the course finishes). So, I booked up today and am really excited to be doing it!

Big thanks to my mum - without her really generous offer, I would not have mentioned the course to Mark and would have missed out. I love beading!!!

Pocket-money Bracelets

My friend handed me an envelope the other day and asked if I could fix the bracelet inside for her niece. It later transpired that her daughter had accidentally broken her cousin's bracelet and my friend had said, 'I know someone who could fix that for you!' So...when I got it home, I had a look and realised that I didn't have any matching beads to make the repairs with, so would have to start from the beginning and make a new one.

I had a go at making something similar, but couldn't get the thing to go exactly right. I didn't want to let my friend's niece down, so made something else completely, which I hope she will like equally if not more than the original. Then it struck me that my friend's daughter might feel a little sad, so I made a copy for her!

These bracelets took half an hour to make and could be sold for about £4, so would be perfect for fairs and school bazaars - so littlies could buy themselves something sparkley!

My son is such a sweetheart...

He made me this 'aword' for being the best mum in the 'would' (sic)

I was really impressed with his use of colour in it though, even if his judgement in mums is a little off!