Nearly Over!

I always like to give you a photo so here is one for today. You remember the story of the frozen tree? Well, it defrosted and here is a photo of the finished article. It has just started dropping it's needles so when my son goes home later today we will dismantle it and have a good clean up - again. It only seems a few days ago that I was getting the house ready for Christmas. I suppose the next big deal will be me packing for Australia! Robert, husband, is looking at flights and our daughter wants to know if we are coming to visit her and the girls, so I think we will have to get a shimmy on!
We do not really 'DO' New Years Eve but we may go to friends or we may go to B.I.L. so will let you know!
Happy New Year everyone, and good luck for 2011.

It's a Tradition!!

Every year we buy our Christmas tree the Sunday before Christmas and then decorate it and eat mince pies and listen to Christmas Carols on TV! Oh! How lovely I hear your cry.
Well, this year we had planned to go to Manchester to taste the high life in the city with our son. Maybe go on the Manchester Eye, go to the Comedy Club and have a smart meal at a steak house where they bring the raw steaks round for you to choose (that bit is not so nice!) So, we bought the tree last Sunday and following instructions stuck it into a bucket of water outdoors to keep it fresh.

Weather conditions meant we had to cancel our trip as apparently the roads yesterday around Manchester were lethal. Our son drove around a corner and met a car facing the wrong way in front of him...driver went into a skid apparently and did a U-Turn. Scary for both of them I would imagine.
Anyway, we went over to visit the in-laws this morning in Corsham and almost did not get out of their estate. A lovely couple clearing the road of ice and snow (no not from the council!) gave us a push. We came home ready to bring the tree in and dress it whilst the mince pies were cooking.

The tree has frozen into the bucket.

That is all folks - Thought I would share that with you. I think it is hilarious, husband does not. Which I think is even funnier!!

See you soon x

oh! There they are!!

I made these a while ago and listed them. Subsequently the lady at The Lansdowne, Chippenham asked if she could buy them when we attended her Craft Fair. I did not have them in my stock box......no problem, I made another pair! Lucky eh!

Janice gave me a bag on Monday with bits of my jewellery she had 'found' in amongst hers when she was having a sort out. Yep, you guessed it. My little angels!!

So, I have now listed them and if you, or a friend, are quick you will be just in time to order them to have them in the post in plenty of time for Christmas!! Quick!

I have taken off the Rose Tinted Glasses!!

I have just been doing my accounts for my online sales for the tax year 2009/2010
Now this is something we all have to do and I know you all know what you are doing with your sales, pricing, promoting and generally flogging a dead horse but I have always chosen to ignore the obvious and carry on regardless!

Those of you who know me in person know I am a friendly, welcoming person. Everyone is my friend until they prove otherwise. Rather disorganised too! But....you also know I am one of those daft people who like to think I am funding my hobby!!! No offence intended!

So, back to the books. I am terrified of getting it wrong so I write down every single sale, if someone pays me £2 for a keyring I dutifully hand it over to Janice to put into the bank. Everything I sell is accounted for somewhere and today was the turn of the online sales tally :(

I have written down in a little black book, provided by my husband, every sale from my online shops inc postage and packing. Minus the commission fees to the site, listing fees and paypal fees, which I am horrified at may I add! (told you I was 'stupid') I do wonder how anyone selling at £2-£3 on everything makes any money.

So, although I have not added up my meagre sales and subtracted the commissions I know I am going to get such a telling off from 'him indoors' when he gets home!! I shall be at work so will have a slight reprieve as he knows he is not allowed to ring me at work to shout at me! Only 'nice' phone calls. i.e. Hello, how are you. Do we need any shopping.

So, here is a picture for you as always. The snowflakes are back in Folksy, sold all but the lilac ones, and I have even dropped the price. They were £4.50 now they are £3.25

I bet you thought I would have raised the prices!!!

I am Back!!

I have been a little busy back here at the old homestead but have now caught up and I have listed a couple of new items on Folksy in the December Elves Challenge. More later today I hope....

and......with a little help from my friends Joy and Chrissy I have made a start on packing up the presents. The Australian parcels were done and sent over a period of a few days last week and now I must start on the English parcels. (We do not send just one parcel in case one year it goes missing.)

I have, as usual, bought bits and pieces over the last month and now need to allocate them. I do try to shop for people and tick off a list but I see some gorgeous things on Folksy and Misi and I just have to buy them. By the time I come to wrap I discover I have several items for one person and have nothing for others! HeyHo! It is all good fun. I always think it is better to have a parcel with several small items than one big item I hate. At least you stand a chance of one of the three items being acceptable.

No? Never mind, they are all good quality items so I know they will not be wasted.

The parcel in the photo is wrapped using Phoenix plastic wrap over plain paper from Joy Shallcross and the tag is from Chrissys Cards.



Off to match up some gifts now!

Why oh Why Me!

I am working all day today (usually only 1.00 - 5.30) so off I toddle to bed with my book at 9.40 last night and lights out at 10.30. Lovely, warm and snuggle and asleep quick sharp. So, why was I awake and alert at 3.30?

Anyway, I have been on the computer doing the rounds of promoting and being nosy already and happened to pop a new bib for Lucy into my shopping cart!! I am now wondering if it is too early to have my breakfast! I could do some housework....or I have time to make the Christmas Angels for Alice and Lucy. As in the picture above. I am planning White and Silver for Lucy (Age One very soon) and Pink and Silver for Alice (just Three last week)

Yes, good idea, I will make the angels and then porridge and then out into the cold morning air and toddle off to the office.
Yesterday it was so cold indoors that I had to wear my body warmer and scarf ALL AFTERNOON!!

See you soon all, keep warm and cozy.

How Cute is This!

Have you met the Diddybears? Cute little hand felted bears with moving arms and legs. You can even buy a sleeping bag for them!
Although they are not suitable for children I am sure I know a lot of adults who would be VERY interested in having one for Christmas. Mine is half made! It is a gift so very exciting I must say.
The maker, Shirley, is so talented. I first came across her when she opened up a Folksy shop called Feltique selling the most stunning felt covered notebooks. This is her latest venture.
To toddle off to have a look, the shop closes for Christmas on December 17th so not long now!

html - Apparently

What a fabulous sunny day in Devizes again. Update on my progress....

I can hold my head up high all thanks to: http://www.folksy.com/shops/Squintessential and her html skills. I think that is what they are called!!

I can post clickable links into the Folksy Forum!!

The veiwings for my shop have shot up and since I started posting the pictures on the forum on Sunday I have had 2 sales!
Sunday it was a snowflake and last night it was a pair of Christmas Tree earrings!

So.....For you out there who can do all of the above I apologise for my excitement and to those of you who can not, YOU CAN!!

More from Folksy

Folksy have given us Sections for our shops. Brilliant. So easy to use as well, which will come as a great relief to my friend Rachael, she is my little web guru!!

Still At It!!

Good Morning on this blustery day. I am still listing in the November Sparks listing challenge. Day 11 and I have run out of images! This full time working is no fun you know, it is sooooo time consuming! Still, on payday I shall be a very happy bunny.
I digress............ I have resorted to a 'relist' today for the challenge and it is a very pretty grey glass bead bracelet Janice made in the summer. Click on the Title to go to listing.

As I always like to have a picture in my blogs here is a picture taken on a very wet and blustery night the night of the fireworks competition.
Have a good day.

Craft Fair

We had a lovely time yesterday at the craft fair. Apparently the footfall was a lot better than in recent times. A lot of the beads sold and a fair amount of the decorations as well as a few odds and bits.
The organiser brings along home made cakes for the crafters. Yum! The Diet Police will be relieved to know that I did not eat any of the gorgeous cake on offer. A-maz-ing!

Have a good Sunday.

Raining!

I decided that I needed better pictures of this necklace so I took it into the garden to have another try. This is the result! I have tried Macro and it does not work for me although I know it does for a lot of you. This is Intelligent Auto and is normally brilliant.

It just can not take the rain!!!

So, maybe tomorrow before the craft fair I may have more luck. Or Sunday.....
We are off to The Guildhall in Bath tomorrow, if it is not cancelled at lunch time! I am off to work now so will not be here if the email does come in.
Have a good day girls and boys.

Wake Up Jean

I am making a Christmas Shopping list at the moment. Ideas of things to buy and if anyone is interested, things I would like to receive.
I thought of something new just now. A new Memory please. The one I have is wearing out and so by Christmas I would appreciate a nice new alert memory please.

What prompted this? On Sunday I made draft listings of 6 items for the November Sparks on Folksy. I am working full time at the moment so I thought I would get ahead of myself.
I have just listed todays item FROM SCRATCH as in my tumble out of bed state I had forgotten that it was in my draft area on Folksy already.....as I was writing the description I thought it sounded familiar.

Have a good day all!

Bit of Fun

Good Morning! I am in the Folksy Listing club again this month. I ran out of items and did not get going with the October club but I am now ready to list every day. I have made, photographed and edited 6 items and have 2 more downstairs to do this morning. When and if it gets properly light....!
All I have to do is keep ahead of myself and all will be well.
It is a great way to keep me focused on one thing at a time as I do tend to trip about and waste time doing half a job.
So here is my first offering. Wine Glass Charms. I have done my research and the prices charged are between £1-£2 per charm so I have made up little packs of two and at the moment they are £2 online and may be £3 at craft fairs. (This did make sense to me when I printed the bag inserts)
Have a good day.

Half way there!

I am halfway through a cross stitch sampler. I do like band samplers, and this one is called a Rymic Sampler I believe!

Anyway it is in 6 colours, 4 pinks and 2 greens and I think it will be very pretty. It is to match a cot quilt handmade by Louisa Gault. I found her on Folksy and she made a larger quilt last year for my daughter to give to Alice.

This year is Lucy's turn. She will be One in December and we will not be able to be there so some special gifts from Granny and Grampy Apple are necessary. (Our name is Smith and I am NOT granny smith thankyou)I will show you the sampler and quilt before it is sent to Sydney.

Lost!

I logged in to check on all of the blogs I follow and my dashboard told me that I do not follow any blogs. What!!!!!!!!!!!

I refreshed the page a couple of times and you are all back. Phew!

I do enjoy popping into the blogs I follow and checking out the shops. All good fun and when people comment on my blogs I enjoy the feedback. I have even had some ideas given to me for items to make through the 'comments' so I would miss you all very much.

Just off out to lunch now to meet friends. We are off to Neston Farm Shop. It is such a beautiful day we are hoping to sit outside! (I have a jacket and scarf in reserve.)

Have a good day.

Wakey Wakey!

I am up so you should be too!
Here is a link to my new blog, bit rambling (I heard that!) but it was very early.
http://www.artfire.com/users/talkingbeads/blog/sleep-where-are-you

When you are really tired the best thing is to go to bed and sleep it off! So, why am I awake at stupid 'o clock with sore eyes, aching shoulders and a headache? Not a good way to start the day is it.

Still, I did decide to start another blog on my new Artfire shop! Nothing like work to relax you when you are tired...


As you have not heard from me for at least 2 days I thought I would show you my new blog and the earrings that were requested by Lisa following my last blog. I have since made the pair of white earrings for Mia.
(I do wish I could work out how to place the images INBETWEEN the text!

Have a good Saturday.

In the Beginning....

I was just looking for a photo for my shop and found a hidden file! It is ok, I was the one who hid it, then forgot about it!

I thought I would show you the first angels I ever made. That was 4 years ago. Eventually the ones you see today have evolved. Just by leaving off the wings and head I 'discovered' trees and then last year I saw a snowflake design in Bead and Button. So then I had the trio of Christmas Decorations you see today.

I have given you a link to my newest shop. I am going to concentrate on Artfire and Folksy from now on.

My Misi Shop is still there. I will not give up on it.

Happy Days

Yesterday I told you about my new shop on Artfire. I have had a sale from it already, a Misi friend bought a Christmas Tree from me. That Rachael is a gem!

This morning I woke to an email from Artfire telling me that I had been featured in a Collection called Strawberry Fields. I am very very happy about that. I have included the link for you to see his collection, you have seen my earrings before!

Happy Saturday to you all from a Happy 'Talking Bead'

New Shop!

Well, I have found another shop. Artfire is an American site and I am at the moment stocking my little page. It is all a bit beyond me at the moment but I will list a new item every day and then I shall learn as I go! This is for tomorrow.

I will let you know how it goes!

Not a Snowflake!

Well, here I am again. Weekend is here and I have been working full time for the whole week so was a bit tetchy and tired last night. Neither of us could be bothered to cook supper so I had porridge at 9.00 and husband had a take away pizza!! I know, don't tell the diet fairy.

So, bed by 9.30 and asleep by 10.00. Tossed and turned most of the night and finally gave in and decided to get up and do my first listing on Misi for months!
So, at 7.15 a.m. I have photographed and listed and StumbledUpon, Tweeted, Facebooked and Googled this bookmark.

They were popular last year at craft fairs, once people realised what they were!!
Have a few left so they are cheaper this year.

Have a good weekend and keep fingers crossed for good weather.

What would you do if there was housework to do, you are working full time (normally part time) and you needed to get ready for work and have breakfast?
I know, let's update the blog!!!
As you know I am making my Christmas Decorations and this is a small sample of the ones made so far.
Each one takes between 45mins and 90mins. So, that is a lot of Housework Evasion.
Have a good day girls and if you live in South West of England, make all secure, the storms are on the way.

Hello There!

We had such a lovely day yesterday. We went to the wedding of my brother in laws youngest child. Kitty has always been the family baby and is also a tiny little thing. She has a fun personality and is a very talented teacher and dancer. Anyway, she married the lovely Kirk at Coombe House, Blagdon and she looked fabulous. I do not have a picture to show you yet so popped in another snowflake!
I know, another blessed snowflake!!
Bye for now x x

This photo reminds me of the good time we all had at the Misi Event last year, and also, how many decorations we need to make for the craft fairs we have booked for this year!
We have a new snowflake design for this year, if you want to add it to your collection!!

http://www.folksy.com/items/694709-Christmas-Decorations

I am amazed to find that people are wanting our decorations in July! Yes, I took an order for 8 snowflakes in July...So, now the ball is rolling I am going to list these, two angels and a tree. I made these last year and they got lost at the bottom of the bag. I searched and searched at our final craft fair but they stayed hidden. I think chocolate and cream decorations are good. What do you think. Are you more traditional?
Anyway, I have also taken part in a swap on Twitter. I received such lovely gifts. A very pretty bead crochet bracelet from Mrs G Knits. Fabulous sunglasses case from PantsandPaper and a lovely beach bag from Harvey Crafty Cards.
This is what they had in return. A necklace made from seed beads.
The one in the picture is in all shades of brown and gold and reminds me of wet sand. It is for Sam at PantsandPaper. This picture is a bit dark. Mrs G had a purple one, the colour of the heathers on Bodmin Moor when we were driving to St Ives, and Nat at Harvey Crafty Cards should have received hers today, it is mixed blues and is so like the sea last Sunday at St Ives.
I am off to bed now, it has been a long day with work, ironing and beading!!!! See you soon x
p.s. Bother, the pictures came out on top of each other...I thought they would be one at the top and one at the bottom. :( Night x

I am very frustrated with Misi. I love that site. I was so excited when I had an email from Emma inviting me to sell on her new shopping site and threw myself into it hook, line and sinker.
Since it grew, and a new gubbins was required to keep up, there have been changes in the Members Area.
Misians will know what I mean.
This has slowed everyone down with listing and forums etc. I have to say I have become quite nippy when it comes to my listing schedule. Firstly I photograph up to 5 items. 6 photos each. Then I edit them all and place in a file 'to list' so that when I am ready I can go to the file and they are ready to go.
Once I decide to list it will take me only 5 mins or so per item to list. I then go onto Twitter, Facebook and Misi Forum to promote my new piece.

Today it took me over 30 minutes to list and forum it. I had to come out several times and go back in as pages would not load.
I always prefer to come out and go back in rather than sit and watch those little green squares!
It is the same as going through the back roads rather than sit for 20minutes in the Bath Road traffic jam.....
Anyway, I then took another 15 minutes going back in to pick up the link to Facebook and Twitter it. Not been to Facebook yet as I really really must get on and....
DO SOMETHING MORE INTERESTING!

Actually, I need to go and iron the sofa cover. The sofa is cream, and every year (for 4 years) we have had a man in to dry clean it with chemicals. Lovely man, but he tells us off if it is too grubby! This year we decided to wash it on a cold wash with detergent and Vanish!
The cushions came up a treat and they still fit!! So, emboldened (is that a real word??) with this success we decided to take off the cover. It is the back, arms and skirt. All in one piece and lots of velcro to attach it back onto the sofa frame.
It is clean now but not sure if it still fits. I shall iron it this morning and if it all goes well I shall photograph it and show you tomorrow.
Well, I shall photograph it for you anyway, especially if it does not fit, to brighten your day!

Here is the link to my necklace for today on Misi. It does not 'hot spot' anymore but please have a look anyway.
http://www.misi.co.uk/gifts/47914/Raspberry_Necklace.html

Looney Misi Members!

http://www.misi.co.uk/gifts/47594/Pooh_Bear_Bookmark_Kit.html

Here is my latest listing in the Looney Lister Misi Brigade. The Listing club worked a treat in May and I was so upset with the low morale on Misi recently that I decided to invest some money in listing a new item every day. At the very least I shall have full shops by the end of the month. The listings, if not sold! will still be there for the Christmas Rush so will not be wasted.
I feel sorry for any new sellers this year. They have had the downturn in the economy to contend with as well as the low morale of us 'oldies' because of the changes to the members side of the site.
Us Oldies have been a rather grumpy lot on the forums and I hoped that starting the Looney Listers it would bring more fun to Misi. So far I have been delighted with the response.
We have some great people listing something new every day and already the sales are coming in within our first week.
I have two shops and so I will be splitting myself between the two.
Please come on over and view me and all of my crazy friends!

Promoting

This is a piece of my cross stitch from years ago. I would think maybe 8 years ago, or more. I say 8 years as that is when my obsession with beads began.
I have listed it in my Folksy supplies shop. I am doing the daily challenge of listing in my Craft Cupboard shop. http://www.folksy.com/shops/CraftCupboard

I decided to concentrate on my supplies and odds and ends shop as I have recently, with the help of Rosy Tint, signed up for Google Analytics. This is a double edged sword as I now watch the figures on a daily basis, more time in front of the computer. Unless I list, blog, Twitter, Facebook and Forum every day about each of my shops I fall behind on the viewings. I can quite understand how people make the decision to close shops. It is not a case of 'just listing' we have to keep on keeping on with all of them.

But, which to choose to close down. I have better sales on Misi supplies shop, better sales on Folksy beading shop. Numbers are not brilliant, but I am hopeless at giving up on things so I am now in a challenge to list daily on Misi beading shop!

Anyway, my blogging figures were on the floor, so I am now blogging daily, the figures leapt 1,000+ % (from 3!!)

So girls, here is today's offering and now I am off to list on Misi, as I said I have done the Folksy one, and I may see you tomorrow if I have any news.....

At Last!!

I have sewn the buttons onto the cardigan!!
I have bought a skirt to match.
I am now ready to wrap and pack them off to Sydney and keep my fingers crossed that the cardigan still fits Alice.

In case some of you have not been following the saga of the cardigan!
I visited my daughter when she was pregnant with her second baby and whilst I was there Karen suggested that I make this for Alice..I then came home, ordered the very lovely and expensive wool from Debbie Bliss and started to make the cardigan as requested. After succesfully finishing the back, one side and 3/4 of the first sleeve I realised that something was amiss..I had misread the pattern and I was in serious danger of running out of wool.

So I did the only thing that seemed sensible, I put the whole lot into a bag and shoved it into the cupboard.

In January a very lovely lady finished it for me and just left me to sew on the buttons. I have just done that now, took less than half an hour.
Isn't it gorgeous?

I am now going to try and find the box with the Amigurumi pattern, wool, crochet hook (and I hope also to find a bag of patience in the box) and have a go at that.

See you in another year, or two. (I actually have a good friend in Wilton who loves to crochet. Wonder if she is free next January?)

Looney Listing

As I am in June Loones Listing Club this is today's looney listing!
They are from Mum's button box, and as I can not remember her wearing anything with them on I am happy for them to go.
I am wondering if vintage buttons, loose at £2 would be better if mounted onto a card and £5.
http://www.folksy.com/items/558605-Vintage-fabric-buttons?shop=yes

These are the sort of prices for carded buttons. I don't know. I have a stack of buttons still on the original cards, not complete. I shall see how I feel.
I will be listing too on Misi later.
I have decided to list something every day for the rest of June. I have been very lazy on Misi and the sales and views have dried up completely. So, for around a £6 investment I am showing that I still believe in Misi.
See you later.

Poppy Time

This is some of my cross stitch. It was found in a box of 'Craft Stuff' and I have listed it for sale!! It is on linen and at one time I always had an item of cross stitch next to my chair and made so many cards and samplers. Then I found beads...I am now selling off my beads, the ones I can part with that is and I have decided to sell off this as well.
It is sad, but I have had it, and another piece, for a few years and not made it into anything so probably will not now. So, if you are someone who likes to make stuff this is suitable for framing, a cushion centre or for cards. I would like to see it made into a little bag, something girly, fully lined so the back is not visible.
http://www.folksy.com/items/556653-Cross-Stitch
This is where you will find it.
Off to do housework now! I have been saying that for nearly two hours so MUST get on!

New tonight!

http://www.misi.co.uk/gifts/46912/Pin_Cushion_Base.html

New tonight at Misi shop 'The craft cupboard'

Hi!

This is an experiment for Rachel!!



http://www.dreamaid.com/viewProductAction.do?id=4494

I have found the Sales Fairy! Here she is on my keyring and she is staying there until I have a sale!!
No, not really. I am very pleased that she has been working hard for my during May and this is my homage to her. She is made with love and care and appreciation and I am letting her go to brighten your day.
She is for sale in my Dreamaid shop, so if you buy her you will be donating to a great charity.
I am completely useless, but lovely with it, and can not any longer put a link on a post. Used to be able to but not anymore...the link to my Dreamaid Shop is on the right hand panel of this blog. Unless I have lost that too.
Please have a look. x x

May Listing Challenge

Hello Again! This little bracelet is from my May Challenge over on Folksy. We are listing an item a day.

It is a great way to get a full shop which, according to 'the people in the know', is what you need if you want to sell. Full shelves and new items. Well, by the end of the month I shall have very full shelves. If I can I may join for June as well.

Sales and viewings are up, a little. I forum, tweet and facebook everytime I add something. I have it down to a fine art now. I can list and promote all of the above in around 15 minutes max.

I had intended to make a lot in the early part of the month but it did not last! I did not list yesterday's offering until nearly bedtime! So was up bright and early to photograph the bracelet so that I could list before breakfast today.

I am now working on a fabulous necklace, well fabulous for me! It is white and would look gorgeous for those of you with a tan. It even looks quite good on my old pink neck!! I would like to put something memorable on for the last day but this white one is as spectacular as I go.... Anyway, enough from me. Time for porridge.

Hello!

Boy has this been a funny month! I have been so busy (Ha!) doing nothing in particular and so I have not been on here to tell you about me...

I don't have much to report. Lots of emails to and from my children, photographs pinging back and forth. Actually, we do not send any pictures of our life to our children. I do not know why, we do 'stuff' but it seems a bit sad to send a picture I have taken of my husband and one he has taken of me! When we go out socially, which is not often as we are old and set in our ways! we feel silly taking the camera. Why is it ok to take pictures of our family and friends when there are children involved but seems 'showing off' when it is just adults.

Answers on a postcard please.

I am almost finished with my necklace I am going to list for Folksy Mayhemmers. If you have not heard of us, we are listing something new EVERY day. Some of my items have been made and not photographed but a lot are brand new. I have mixed them up. The necklace today is still on my beading tray so it is NEW. Photo later!

The image above is for sale. Not sure if anyone would want it, the clock face is for adding cross stitch, art or whatever you want to use it for. It does not come with glass. Anyone interested please let me know. Sorry this is so long, I had a lot of catching up to do!

What a lovely start to the Week!

Hi! What a lovely morning I had. A young friend of mine came over, well she is twenty something and I am sixty something, so yes she is young!

We have been talking about me teaching her to bead for ages but the calendar just did not work out for either of us. Today we both had a window and took it!

This is the result. Kate chose her beads and I showed her ONCE how to crimp and then we just chatted and drank tea for around an hour and Hey Presto! This is the first necklace Kate has ever made. So pretty, and I love that we agree about random beading. It has to be symetrical!! So, she is now obsessed, as I am, and we are going bead and pliers shopping on Wednesday. Shaftesbury look out. Two bead obsessed women will be there around 10.00. Thereafter to eat cake and drink coffee and drool over our purchases!

The Craft Cupboard is Back

Good Morning, just a quick word to tell you that I have reopened my The Craft Cupboard on Misi.

I have been meaning to sort out my beads for ages and always find a reason not to, but Thursday night I decided to 'get on with it' !

I have kept the prices low and included postage as a 'Come and Buy Me'. This is an expression I have picked up from Bargain Hunt the t.v. programme! So come and have a rummage in my craft cupboard and see it you fancy a few beads to be creative with.

For some reason I can not pick up the link, so please try. http://www.misi.co.uk/ then put The Craft Cupboard into search box.

Knitting Story

Good Morning, I needed to blog but no subject! I always like a photo on a blog and so went to my file to have a hunt. This button is from John Lewis and it is to go onto a jumper I half made for my grandaughter, Alice. I say half made. I made the back, worst bit as boring, the left front, could not remember how to do button holes so decided to do that later....then I made a sleeve.

I did as pattern told me. Increased every 4th row until ?? stitches. "Now measure and keep knitting with these stitches until ?? measurement." O.k.I Measured the sleeve and it was already longer than it should have been. Oh Shitake. So, my next move is to put it away into a bag and ignore it for 9 months!!!

A friend of mine was telling me how bored her Mum was as she had finished all of her knitting, it was during the snow and she could not get to the wool shop. Ping! I have some knitting she could finish for me, Emma! TWO DAYS LATER the knitting comes back FINISHED! But, with a note from the Mum congratulating me on the neatness and eveness of my knitting which was far superior to hers, my friend's Granny agreed! Imagine how I felt about that. Very very proud.

All I have to do now is learn how to read. :(

So, that is all for now. Off today to have lunch with some Wiltshire Misians (Misi Site Shop Owners!)Have a great Saturday.

p.s. John Lewis is a fantastic store. I bought the buttons but did not read the pattern properly (anyone surprised about that!) and I guessed the number I would need. A quick phone call to the Bristol Store, two days later they arrived in the post.

Brilliant service.

New at Talking Beads

Last night I made a sale! Whooppee, so exciting. I have not made anything new for ages but last night, in desperation, I sat looking at the beads. Making, cutting up, wandering off and then coming back and messing about and failing.

Suddenly I spied the little marble stone beads that I have had for ages. Just a few, I sold a bracelet using the majority at Christmas. I made a pair of earrings, the same style as the red ones above.

I then tweeted about them, and Bingo, within half an hour they had sold.

Now I know that is very unusual, and normally you can list, tweet, blog, facebook, forum until you are blue in the face. However, I was then enthused to have a go and make more.

The result is the necklace and earrings above. I am very much in love with the necklace and REALLY REALLY want it myself!

I will be a good girl though and list it on Folksy and see if it sells. If not....!!!

Hope you remembered the clocks changing, I didn't and was really thrilled to see that I had slept in!

Have a good Sunday.

New Me!

Here I am! I was chatting on Twitter to Natalie from HarveyCraftCards when she Tweeted that she is going to be offering branding and such, including avatar and banner as well as labels, letter heads etc.
So, as I like her work, I took her up on her offer. In less than an hour she had come up with this. Her brief: Fun, large beads, small beads. Quite loose. I love it. Sent a copy to Janice who is on holiday in Canada, she loves it too and bingo. We are ready to go. Thank you Nat.
http://www.folksy.com/shops/harveycraftycards

New at Talking Beads

Hello folks and folkesses! I am sorry I have not been about lately. I have been working on this little beauty (even if I do say so myself). For something so small it has taken a while to get right. I have already sold one to Sam at PantsandPaper and sent off two for road testing to Mrs G Knits and PussyGalore! Lovely names.
Anyway, this is a scissor keeper and a pin cushion.http://www.folksy.com/items/278925-Lilac-Scissor-Keeper This is the link to Folksy where it is listed with more images. Hope you like it. There are another 5 made and ready for their ribbons and tags. For those of you with good eyesight I agree, the hole in the card is very poor but I can not find my single hole punch... I will give it another few days to turn up before I go to Smiths to buy another one. Hopeless woman that I am ;)
Good Night for now x

Strength.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_8475000/8475370.stm?

I found this on Twitter, it is a very sober read and I have no flippant words or pictures to go with it.
Hope you read it too.

Commission!

I had a bit of a panic a few days ago and thought Royal Mail had lost a strawberry bookmark I had made for Mrs G. Although she was very sweet and more sad than mad I refunded the money and rushed off to www to look for more strawberries! Then, 30 mins later had an email from Agnes saying it had arrived! Whew! So, when strawbs arrived yesterday, very nice ones too, I decided to tell the story on the Folksy forum and Debs (Dinky Daisy) asked if I would make her some earrings with them. How fabulous is that! So, a happy ending after all. Thank you Debs.

http://www.folksy.com/items/230205-Strawberry-Earrings-Reserved?shop=yes

Three and A Half Weeks!

What makes you think that today is a toughie!!
I am on the Misi Slimathon and have been going great guns. Today I am recovering from a migraine. It is day two and I think 2 more doses of 'the wonder that is paracetemol' will see it off but I am feeling bit groggy and cold and HUNGRY. I am not hungry at all as I have just had some yummy porridge and coffee, but .....
I have choc and biscuits by the bucket load in the house but do not fancy them, do not know what I want so it is NOT HUNGER!
So, I am going to sit in my warm and tidy lounge with my beading and watch t.v. and relax ready for Tim Wonnacot at 12.15 when it really is time for lunch. Then off to work, which is nice and busy at the moment. That will occupy my mind.
Hope none of the other Misi people are having the same slump.
Bye People x

Craft Cupboard

http://www.folksy.com/shops/CraftCupboard

We have a new shop. It is on Folksy and is called Craft Cupboard. It is going to be for bead woven jewellery at the moment but other crafts will be listed as and when the fancy takes me!

Here is a picture of one of the items for sale.
Only 8 items listed at the moment as the light is so bad for pictures but that means more time to bead!

Hope you can pop on by and have a gander. Off to bed now, just sold an item online and the excitement and the diet has worn me out!!