Jean's Blog

New Banner!

2012-01-25T20:04:00.000Z

What do you think of my new banner!! Big and bold eh?

Packaging

2012-01-24T11:34:00.000Z

When I receive a package from a fellow crafter I know I will always be happy with the presentation. As Crafters we know that the 1st impression counts almost as much as the quality of our work.
Just look at the packaging from Linentree. Especially the tag. Amazing. The little purse inside, which you can see if you click on the link, is going to be fabulous too.
I first found her whilst browsing the site that banned one of my items and led to me throwing my toys out of the pram and leaving the site completely!!!I bought some Christmas Gifts tags and was so delighted. Have a look and you will share my admiration.
I will get back to crafting again soon, but until then I am enjoying supporting others.

I have an iPad2

2012-01-15T19:50:00.000Z

No, I am not boasting. Just saying, my lovely husband bought me one for Christmas. Fantastic. More than I could have ever dreamt of. To explain:

My lovely husband is quite unpredictable when it comes to gifts. One year I had a feather duster. Another year a stainless steel pedal bin. Useful, but not romantic. On the other hand, I admire a bracelet in a shop window in June one year, he offered to buy it for me, but I said it was too expensive. That Christmas he quietly presented it to me after all of our guests had gone home.

That is why we are still together after almost 43 years of marriage.

Anyway, I digress into soppyness:))

Just to say, I have not worked out yet how to place pictures usingmy iPad. I will be working hard to learn!!!!

Happy New Year.

Evolution!

2011-12-11T09:40:00.003Z

Good Morning! I am feeling quite virtuous today as I have finished writing my Christmas cards, and I have a tidy house!
Not an amazing fact for a lot of you, but for me is a great achievement. I have been rushing around, enjoying myself, for the last two weeks. This included working full time instead of part time for a few days, and out 4 times socially in one week is NOT normal for me. So, hence my amazement at the achievement of the previous statement!
Anyway, back to the subject of the post. I wanted to make a Father Christmas decoration last year but I was stuck on the detailing. This year I made up my mind to do it. The first one had a dangling bobble on his hat, not what I wanted. Messy looking although still for sale on my selling site. Then I read about the story of Coca Cola dressing Santa in red which changed our view of how Father Christmas should look. Before the ad men changed him apparently he was called Mr Christmas. (Now before you tell me I am wrong, please realise that I am very gullable and believe most of what Google tells me..... I am happy in my own little make-believe world, so please bear that in mind!)
So, the link above this post shows you how they have evolved over the last few weeks and to say what fun it has been. I am able to continue to say that all of my Christmas Decorations are unique as I change the colours etc on every one. I really do fancy doing a gold one but it may turn out to look like Gary Glitter!
If I do not get back to you, have a very merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year x x

Calling Busy Little Chicken and Missy

2011-11-29T18:00:00.004Z

Hello Girls!
I am sorry to have to get your attention this way but I am embarrassed to say I do not know your real names! I tried to contact you through blogging but apparently the account I have that is enabling me to blog is out of date and I have to register again!! Never mind!

If you really want a Father Christmas then I am very very happy to list one each for you, but if you were being kind then please do not feel obliged.

Jean x x

Angels at Dawn

2011-11-29T08:55:00.002Z

As many of you know I left Folksy on principal. Mainly because they were bullying some of my online friends and taking away their revenue and secondly because they barred me from selling my angel charms.
I joined Support Hand Made and the girls on there gave me the ooomph I needed to reopen my Artfire Shop and get back in the groove.
This morning I was trolling around Folksy ( love some of the sellers on there ) and found 'my angels' but in a garish 'gold metal'
Cross and then fed up.
But, I decided to take my angels out of their box and start listing them on Artfire. I even found a mushy and sentimental edging for the image!
The keyrings were popular last year and so maybe I will not be too late for this year.
Apparently this weekend is going to be the busiest shopping day of the year as we will have all been paid for the last time before Christmas.
If you have some pennies to spend and want free shipping then pop along and look at my little angel, her name is Ruby.

HoHoHo!

2011-11-27T20:37:00.003Z

Here he is. First one hot off the mat!
I shall be improving him tomorrow, or maybe he is perfect, only time will tell.
I shall be selling him on http://talkingbeads.artfire.com
Wish me luck x

Why Now!!

2011-11-27T14:13:00.001Z

Good afternoon to you lovely people who follow my blog. I am in a bit of a muddle at the moment. Unfamiliar computer, no Paint Shop Pro and in the middle inventing a new Christmas decoration. I know I should be inventing in the summer months but working on Father Christmas in July is not something I find relevant. Good business sense, but not relevant!
So, here he is, not finished, bit lopsided but I hope it is obvious that he is Father Christmas. He needs arms as well and needs for his beard to grow, then he is done. I shall be sending him, and his brothers out to special friends this year. Unless I have a sudden rush of making and manage to list some next weekend.
If I have not been given my old computer tools back by then I may have a nervous collapse, so watch out as you may hear me screaming from Wiltshire to Scotland and back.

The New Me!

2011-11-20T19:09:00.005Z

How exciting. I have a new logo, business card, banner and identity.
Bonnitta designed it for me and I am very happy with it. Bon is a very clever girl and is well known in the crafty world and has helped to form new identities for many a crafter.
I am selling on Artfire now and have had a few nice little sales. All of them are my Christmas Decorations, but I will be listing more and more jewellery, once I get my new computer to understand me!
I have not been idle though, I have designed a new Christmas Decoration to go with my angels, trees and snowflakes. I will blog about the journey when I am happy with the outcome.
Bye for now.

I just love Shopping

2011-11-08T19:51:00.004Z

Please click on the title of this Blog:

As you know I love shopping for handmade goodies for Chritmas. I found this lady through Facebook and she was kind enough to buy one of my decorations. Not this one, as I can not find the image on my desktop! I am such a messy person. I can never find anything in the house or on the computer.... I need a wife to keep me on the straight and narrow!
Anyway, Jo is the girl's name, and there are so many things in her gallery that I would like to buy and especially the stockings advent calendar. Imagine having that to bring out every year. Gorgeous.
I am off to try and twist her arm, I shall let you know how I get on. HeHe!

SHHIM rules!

2011-11-04T18:48:00.002Z

I am proud to say I support SHHIM. Supporting Handmade However it is Made. A lovely bunch of girls, and one boy, who make lovely lovely items that want to come to live with me. The items that is.....

I am back!!

2011-11-01T10:25:00.003Z

As you may know I have had most of this year off! Not work, not life but beading.

A while back I decided to get back to listing on Folksy and all hell broke loose with their new criteria and I decided to leave. As a sensible business woman I just delisted everything, said goodbye on the forums and posted a message on my Facebook account.
NOWHERE ELSE TO SELL!
But, my friends at SHHIM (Supporting Handmade However it's Made) picked me up and encouraged me to reactivate my Face Book Shop, which I did.
I also remembered that Jean at Little Scruffs asked her to remind me that she wanted some mini Chritmas Trees for her bears this year. I would normally sit and wait for her to remind me as I am not very good at being pushy about my beading.
I did email her though and Yes, she would still like 5 for her bears. After I had made them I decided to show them off on my page and BANG I had two emails, Jean loves them "phew" and an order for 4 of my regular size trees!
So, it does pay to advertise.

I am in the middle of the commission so will post pictures when I have finished.
Have a good day.

SHHIM

2011-10-29T15:35:00.000+01:00

This may work

oooh it's cold!

2011-10-29T15:01:00.003+01:00

I am being a hero. I am sitting here with cold fingers and toes and I refuse to put on the heating. I think I will get my socks and fleece on in a minute. I am sure the temp is around 16 degrees so I am making a fuss over nothing really. Reason for this heroism? I heard a prog on Radio 4 this week about heating costs going up 25% this year. I have no idea how much we pay. I buy the food, hubbie pays for the cooking of it. Fair division of costs I think. But, 25% sounds bad to me. I was shocked when the price of my jar of coffee leapt £1 in one week back in the summer.

News from Devizes, I have divorced Folksy. Long story, but some of my items no longer suit their criteria and they have been so unfair to some of my friends who earn more than just pin money that I have cleared my shop. Cutting off my nose to spite my face comes to mind, but I hate it when the big boys are unfair to the little guys. I was never going to be a millionnaire selling jewellery online.

So, I am now a member of SHHIM. Supporting Handmade However it's Made. When I work out how, I shall add their logo and links to the side panel. They are a great bunch and I have bought from 3 members already.

I am going to be selling (I hope) via Facebook. There is a link at the top of this piece. Not much in there yet but all of my Christmas decs will be in there and my jewellery too. Some is new to you, some not. I would like the shop to work, I do have some exceedingly nice stuff that I have made! (I have been told to be bolder in promoting. Who, Me? Oh Dear.)
Hope to see you soon in my shop!

Dark Nights!

2011-10-01T20:08:00.003+01:00

I love them! Strictly is back! Merlin is back! Best of all, I am getting back into my crochet.
My skill has not improved at all, I just make one enormous Granny Square until I eventually run out of wool or patience. The last one was approx a metre square when I finally decided not to buy another ball of wool to use up the two colours I already had to do another band of colour! This one I have bought 2 balls of the green, I don't like it now, and 6 balls of the cream. It is lovely and soft and has a small percentage of WOOL in it. I am told you can not say you are using a ball of wool anymore because mostly they are a combination of poly-whatsanames!

Another good thing that I have discovered now that the light is fading around 7.00, I WANT to do some seed beading. I may start on a new project or I may get my hand in by doing some angels. The Christmas colours went well last year. My experimental ones (lilac and silver and pink and white) were not so popular. I will list the oddballs at a knock down price on Folksy and stick to the traditional colours of red, green, silver, gold. Oh, and Pearl.

I have enclosed a link in the title to give you a hint to my new project. No, not another heart pin cushion...... See you soon.

St Swithin's Day

2011-07-16T08:26:00.003+01:00

Was it really St Swithin's Day yesterday. Facebook said it was so I suppose it must be true. It remained dry here all day, with just a teeny tiny amount of drizzle late afternoon so we thought we would be safe for the next 40 days and nights...but around 11 p.m. last evening down came the rains! But, you know what they say, the gardens and the farmers need it so all is not lost!

You may have noticed I have not been around for a while, that is because of the little one in the picture!

This is my gorgeous little grandaughter, Lucy, at MY HOME when she, her equally gorgeous big sister, Alice, and my daughter, the giver of said gorgeous children, came to from Sydney to visit us for the whole glorious month of June. Lucy looks as if she has been on a Pitman Typing Course! Having them all here for so long was fabulous, exhausting and amazing and such a treat to be a real Granny instead of a virtual one. I think I was a good granny but you will have to ask my daughter that!

Pitman Shorthand and Typing courses will not mean anything to my younger readers. I am of an age when girls like me had only a few obvious choices of career. Nursing, Teaching, working in a shop or working in an office... No point being ambitious because you would meet a man, and very soon after leave work and have children. This was the general attitude in the circles I moved it during the early 60's. I took a course at Secretarial Course at Salisbury College when I was 17 and passed with good grades. I loved shorthand but was not that keen on the typing, which was a shame as there was not much call for a Shorthand Secretary!

So many things have changed in my time and not all for the better. I do feel sorry for girls who feel they have to go back to work to continue on their career path when they would much prefer to stay at home as full time Mums. Not all of us are destined to be Leaders of Men! There I go again showing my age....

That is one of my little soap boxes aired and as I have not had my first cup of coffee yet I think I will love you and leave you to enjoy the weekend.

Hi!

2011-06-12T22:07:00.003+01:00

You have not heard from me for a long while and I thought I must move my sorry behind and get back to you. No beading has been done since January I know but I am still here.

In early March I went over for my annual fix of the grandaughters, and of course their Mum, then I came home and went into a low self pitying mood and could not be bothered, sorry but it is true!

Then we heard that Karen and the girls would be coming home sometime this year so we started to decorate!! Actually, we started the bathroom last August...long story. So, in our usual lazy way we did not start to sort out our MOUNTAIN of clutter until she actually booked the flight. Which gave us 9 days to get ready....

We made it in time, 'it' included emptying our office of 3 filing cabinets and associated computer 'stuff' into our 13 foot square bedroom, so that we could put in a single bed and a cot. Then making space in the wardrobes in our grandly called guest room for Karen to put in 5 weeks worth of her stuff! This on top of cleaning the whole house, obviously. I think we did an amazing job :) It was worth it.

Anyway, this is a picture of my lovely girls jumping over their Uncle whilst he was watching the Grand Prix Quali yesterday! He was very very good tempered about it but drove back to Manchester this morning to watch the race on his own tv! Actually, as I type the retched race is still on, hence me writing this on the kitchen table instead of watching Case Histories!
I will come back in less than 5 months this time, I promise!!

New Light Box

2011-02-06T16:40:00.003Z

I have a new light box. It makes taking pictures a doddle and is multi-functional. My husband calls it A Bath. I call it A Shower. Talking Beads call it A Light Box!

I have heard of using the bath but was very sceptical about it. A few days ago the girls on Facebook advised me to try using the bath as my backdrop but because I have an unstable back I decided to use the hand basin to very good effect.

Today I decided to have a go with the bath! I gave it a quick clean and popped my necklace stand in and crouched down and took a few snaps. Voila! Here is the result.

This is now listed in my Folksy shop.

My husband will think I am mad, cleaning the bath every day!

With a little help from my Friends

2011-02-04T10:17:00.005Z

Yesterday I asked for help with my photos from the lovely Facebook Group I have joined (thank you Nicole). I was telling them that I was not happy with my photos and they suggested I should have the same background for my main pictures in my Folksy Shop. Lifestyle type pictures for the additional images.
They also suggested I use the bath as my background and that I may find the macro button to take the photos would give me more detail. I normally use the Intelligent Auto setting, which makes me smile as I like to think one of us is intelligent!

Anyway here are two pictures.

First one: In the hand basin ! which is under the window. Flash and bathroom lights off.

Second picture: Still in hand basin, flash off, lights off and Macro setting on.

Very interesting! I would not like you to think that my hand basin is blue, I am old but not retro....
Bye for now.

New Today

2011-02-02T09:20:00.003Z

At last I have listed it! I am going to do some lifestyle pictures later, but off to Granny sit now at Corsham. Have a good day all, I will. I just love my MIL even though she does not know who I am she knows she likes me!

Sad Day

2011-01-27T23:58:00.003Z

No Pictures. No Jokes. No Links.

I have now closed my Misi shops and removed all links to the site from my blog.

Good Night.

Crochet

2011-01-25T10:45:00.003Z

Pete from Bodrighy makes Crochet Hooks. Once I knew that I just had to have one and I am very very lucky because Pete and I have been doing some bartering and now I own a gorgeous Bodrighy Crochet Hook of my very own. Well, it could be called bartering, or that Pete and I exchanged gifts!

I do believe in having nice things if I can, it makes me believe my work will have more beauty too. I have pretty embroidery scissors with a hand made (by me) Hardanger Heart Scissor Keeper and I also have a hand crafted project box, also made from wood which I use every day.
I even keep my wool and patterns etc in a hand made cotton bag bought when I visited Australia.
I have probably spent too much money on these fine items but I do not care. Did you hear that 'Money Police' ?? I do not even buy them through the business!

I also HATE storing things in carrier bags. Carrier Bags are for carrying shopping home and then using as bin liners.

I just read this post back and I sound on the defensive. I do apologise. I was just saying! Have a lovely day whatever you are doing.

My Crochet!

2011-01-12T08:17:00.006Z

Oh Dear! Just had a coughing fit. This dratted cold is getting on my nerves.

Anyway, in case you have not heard, I am now into crochet! But I am not at the stage of buying wool yet so using up my old stuff. I have not knitted for some time, except for a brief attempt to knit a cardigan for Alice last year, so the supply is limited. My crochet hooks are even older than the wool. I did crochet in Devizes Maternity Hospital in November 1973 and they date from there. I was able to crochet booties in baby 4-ply then!!

The knowledge is still in there somewhere but it is trying to retrieve it. This little sample is not perfect but it is double crochet, I expect. My current project is a mix of double and what I call single crochet. I made a chain approx 14" long and I am going to crochet until the wool runs out and see how big it is, then I will decide what it is! The wool comes from a cushion I almost finished around 10 years. It is a dark lilac with a slight heather mix look to it. We shall see.

This is all in the attempt to gain enough courage to start on an Amigurumi Elephant.
Yes my friends, an elephant. Luckily it is only around 4" I think. I bought the pattern last year from Misi. (Click the Title Link to see the picture.)
He is adorable, or he will be! Irene Strange (Noodle's Mum) was so kind when I bought the pattern and I feel guilty that I have only made the chain for the first component! Just discovered too that Irene is on Folksy too. http://folksy.com/shops/irenestrange

Right, things to do. I need to tidy the house as I have been lazy for a couple of days and I need to eat something healthy. I have been eating biscuits instead of real food for 3 days!

I intend to go to work this afternoon. I am not headachey, high temp and achy today, just coughing like a miner! So, I should be able to answer the phone between coughing fits!

Have a good day.

At Last!

2011-01-10T08:36:00.004Z

Just to let you know that I finished the neck warmer!
I finished it a while ago and forgot to tell you.

For those of you who do not know, I bought the most beautiful long scarf from MrsGKnits who has a shop on Folksy. (clickable link above) I had been wanting it for such a long time and when she had a sale I pounced on it. When it arrived it was even nicer in real life but so loooooong it dragged on the floor. When I wrapped it around my neck I nearly drowned in wool!
So, I unpicked some of it and re-attached the fringes and all was well. But - I had a big ball of gorgeous wool which I did not want to waste.

Hence the Scarflette purchased from http://www.misi.co.uk/gifts/60868/Super_quick_knit_Neckwarmer_with_Giant_Bobble_Buttons.html.
The patterns are PDF and so there is no waiting for the post. Also, there is a special offer of buy one get one free (I think the offer is still on, check her page to make sure)
I have cheated and sewn the scarf together and will add some fab wooden buttons I have. It just goes over my head and is so cosy under my coat.

I am feeling very sorry for myself today as I have a heavy cold so I may be sitting indoors wearing a think jumper and my new scarf!

Red!

2011-01-08T10:43:00.008Z

I am in a red mood today, no, not red with rage but red beads. I am taking some new items to The Castle Hotel today for their cabinet and wanted something romantic to go with the vaguely wedding like jewellery I have ready to go. So, I woke early and made a necklace and 2 pairs of earrings with red hearts!

I you are desperate to buy the Necklace and earrings then ring The Castle Hotel, New Park Street, Devizes, direct and they will reserve them for you!!!! Just kidding, sort of......

As I am in a "use it or chuck it" mood at the moment I decided to sort/list the left overs...

Have a great Saturday

I am no Juggler!

2011-01-04T08:56:00.004Z

I wish I could juggle though.

For almost 2 weeks I have had a peaceful orderly life. I have been able to get up and do my chores and take time with my daily routine of shower, hair, choose from a cupboard full of clean and ironed clothes and have breakfast in my clean and tidy house and then pop out to visit or entertain at home. Pop into forums if I was in the mood and do the blog in a relaxed manner. Bliss.

My normal routine is about to land on me again as today I am back to work..... Now, for those who know me you are probably rolling your eyes at this blog! Friends and neighbours I work four and a half hours as a Receptionist. I am not full time, I am not a brain surgeon and I do not work down the mines. I do not bring work home with me and I am not on call 24/7.

So, WHY will I be in a complete muddle by the end of the week??

Because I spend too much time thinking of all of my chores and avoiding them instead of getting on with it.

So, it is now 9.05 and I have listed, forum'd and now blogged. However, I am still in my p.j's and not a cup of coffee in sight!

I am NOW going to GET ON WITH IT and I wish you a pleasant day full of achievements!!

p.s. the beads are my new listing, the first migrant from my Misi shop to my Folksy shop.

EDIT: Two hours later I am at least now in my track suit. So, I am now going to shower and go to work. At least I had a good breakfast and watched a bit of tv and cleaned 2 pairs of boots and hoovered around the whole of downstairs and ironed a couple of things (Rule Two!) unloaded dishwasher and restacked and put away the final Christmas Decorations.

I am now exhausted and need to walk to town to meet Janice for coffee! Should I take the car? It does need a wash and brush up at the car wash....No! that is £10
No wonder I am too tired to go to work, all of these decisions I have to make.

January Listing Club!

2011-01-02T15:08:00.004Z

As I am going to be organised this year I am joining the January Listing Club on Folksy, Resolution Revolution! I shall alternate the listings between my destash shop, Craft Cupboard and my other shop Talking Beads. That way I will have around
15 more items in each of my shops by the end of the month. Unless of course I sell some stuff.

I have done two months of the listing clubs and always sold more in those months. So, here's hoping.

I have not decided if I will list on Misi yet. I may just list in my destash shop. There are a lot of redundant beads in my bead box. They are usually snapped up a lot quicker than my jewellery! (Jean, that is not funny......)

Have a good day.

This is it!

2011-01-01T14:41:00.005Z

Well folks! This is the time of year when we all decide to make new rules for the year ahead. Only to break the rules by the end of the month.

So, not wanting to break with tradition here are my new Rules!

Rule One: Meet more of my friends for coffee
Rule Two: Keep an empty ironing basket

That is all, I am very sure of the first one, I kept that Rule last year VERY well. It was not a struggle at all. In fact I have some very good NEW friends who were, this time last year, Virtual Friends! They are now REAL and I am loving the interaction with them.

Rule Two is a real challenge as when I do a wash there is so much of it. There are only two of us so it takes a while to get together a whole White Wash, Coloureds, Hot and so for one day a fortnight, or so, I am trudging thro washing. By the time it is all dry there is a mountain of ironing and I am bored with the whole thing.
I know you are all shouting at me that I should put it onto a small wash cycle more often, but my machine is quite old and it only does certain programmes on a small wash. Now I have insulted the machine I expect it will play me up now!

Right, Bye for now. I am, as always, leaving you with a photograph of my son, nephews and brother watching Virtual Stock Car Racing on the computer. My son is the one on the right who can not quite believe the excitement of it all. My nephew, in red, is in the top 5 most of the time. Fascinating!

Nearly Over!

2010-12-30T07:42:00.003Z

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!!

2010-12-19T16:47:00.002Z

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!!

2010-12-15T20:25:00.004Z

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!!

2010-12-08T10:07:00.003Z

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!!

2010-12-07T08:32:00.007Z

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!

2010-11-30T04:49:00.004Z

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!

2010-11-24T14:50:00.002Z

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

2010-11-15T08:54:00.004Z

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

2010-11-12T07:38:00.003Z

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!!

2010-11-11T06:48:00.003Z

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

2010-11-07T07:40:00.006Z

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!

2010-11-05T08:03:00.002Z

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

2010-11-03T06:41:00.002Z

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

2010-11-01T07:07:00.002Z

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!

2010-10-31T16:28:00.002Z

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!

2010-10-24T11:30:00.002+01:00

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!

2010-10-16T07:05:00.007+01:00

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....

2010-10-08T09:47:00.008+01:00

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

2010-10-02T08:39:00.002+01:00

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!

2010-10-01T22:37:00.005+01:00

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!

2010-08-28T07:10:00.002+01:00

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.

2010-08-23T07:13:00.002+01:00

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!

2010-08-14T09:20:00.003+01:00

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

2010-08-06T06:47:00.002+01:00

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!!

2010-08-04T21:55:00.004+01:00

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

2010-06-16T08:54:00.004+01:00

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!

2010-06-12T15:03:00.003+01:00

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

2010-06-08T07:52:00.005+01:00

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!!

2010-06-07T11:09:00.006+01:00

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

2010-06-06T09:27:00.003+01:00

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

2010-06-05T10:11:00.005+01:00

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!

2010-06-02T20:03:00.002+01:00

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

New tonight at Misi shop 'The craft cupboard'

Hi!

2010-05-27T19:42:00.001+01:00

This is an experiment for Rachel!!

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

2010-05-27T08:53:00.002+01:00

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

2010-05-26T08:24:00.003+01:00

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!

2010-05-24T09:06:00.005+01:00

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!

2010-04-26T18:15:00.004+01:00

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

2010-04-24T06:19:00.006+01:00

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

2010-04-10T07:13:00.003+01:00

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

2010-03-28T10:24:00.005+01:00

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!

2010-03-25T08:52:00.005Z

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

2010-02-12T22:57:00.002Z

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.

2010-01-25T09:57:00.001Z

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!

2010-01-21T09:39:00.003Z

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!

2010-01-19T11:18:00.002Z

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

2010-01-12T23:11:00.004Z

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!!

I love parcels!

2010-01-09T08:07:00.003Z

Just look what arrived in the post! This is a gift from a friend in the crafting world. Shirley from Pussy Galore. It is a little Sock Kitten made to celebrate the birth of our newest grandaughter, Lucy Elizabeth. This was a total surprise and I am thrilled with it. The packaging was superb as well! I had commissioned Shirley to make me a photograph album, which be the way is also fabulous and this arrived in the post with it. I have put my Flickr link in for you to see the other items.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/45630730@N06/

http://www.folksy.com/shops/pussygalore This is the link for Pussy Galore

.3 lbs How much is that in real money???

2010-01-09T07:50:00.004Z

This is the money raised so far on my Misi Slimathon. It should actually be a bit more but could not work out how much extra for the .3 lb I am not worried as I shall make it all right at the end of March, closing date.

Kitty Bank is turned away because he actually has 'Chocolate Fund' printed on his tummy. If I can work our how I shall make a label to cover that bit. Just going to write another blog about a fabulous crafter. See you in a tick!

The photo that did it!

2010-01-02T13:18:00.003Z

I would like to say I look this size because of the angle of the shot....but if that was the case my son would look tubby too. The tree really was that big. Fabulous.

This person wearing my clothes with a very round face is me and I do not like it one bit. How can I be surprised at a photograph when I look in the mirror every day? Kidology I suspect, and being a stranger to my scales.

So, Slimathon Members, I am not happy to reveal the weight (blushes) but this is me now and I will update the picture at monthly intervals. Minus tree and son...!

New Year Wishes

2009-12-31T17:59:00.004Z

I am having a good old clear out. I have decided that if I do not know where to put something then I can throw it away!! Drastic maybe but having spent all day yesterday hunting out all of my receipts and invoices for the accountant I REALLY need to get my act together!

Thank you very much to all of our customers this year. We have sold far more online than we imagined we would and love you all because you appreciated our jewellery etc. Our accessories have been successful too so they will stay. Along with a new line in Seed Bead Jewellery and a new.....shh Jean.

New Year resolution? Oh Yes I have one! I am determined to push forward with our shops, we will be listing the kits (as picture) so that you can become as addicted to beading as we are.

Happy New Year to you all. Whichever way you decide to spend New Years Eve, have fun and look forward to bigger and better things for us all.

2009-12-17T20:32:00.002Z

http://www.dreamaid.com/store/talkingbeads

Just a little hello to say I am closing all of my shops for a few days from Monday (the post would not get to anyone by Christmas after that) but I shall have a sale on from Christmas Day!! After the Turkey dinners.....

Happiness is.....

2009-12-16T21:48:00.003Z

One: Jean at Little Scruffs, this teddy bear is an early Jean Grogan! I bought her for a friend at the Misi Event. Can not bear to let her go....she even has a pair of earring now! I am calling her Bette (Lynch!)
Two: The little sectioned dish next to her is from Noseks Just Gems. It is for my swarovski crystals. I love boxes with sections.

Sad, but true!

New bracelet

2009-12-16T21:35:00.003Z

Hello all. How is the Christmas rush going for you. I am very calm here drinking a gin and tonic watching Spooks. Scares me to bits, although I do not always understand it all. Roz is not centre stage today and she is my favourite character.

This is my newest item. It is not listed yet as still warm from the crimping pliers!! It will be tomorrow. Red holly berry colour teamed with chunky black polished lava beads on wire with a huge Karen Silver toggle. I love it. Tempted to keep it for me!! That is the gin talking!!

Night night girls!

Charms

2009-12-15T12:10:00.003Z

All done, Agnes likes them and they are paid for.

Will be with her ASAP. Post Office dependant!

Not a very good picture but it was 7.30 a.m.!

Angel Commission for Agnes

2009-12-14T22:05:00.001Z

Message to Agnes:

These are the nearest colours I have in stock.
Lilac - Peridot - Rose Pink

Are they ok? Speak soon x

Mo's Angels

2009-12-13T18:25:00.001Z

Here they are Mo, if they are what you were expecting I will pop them over to you.

Mo is a Misi friend and she asked for custom angels.

2009-12-12T16:28:00.002Z

Misi Wiltshire meet up! Now look at our faces and you would be thinking, 'Thank goodness I could not make it'!!!!

But, the lovely chap taking the picture at the pub in Rowde, took so long that we had frozen smiles....We had a great time, all of us got on really well and had fun over lunch. Mo very kindly brought along goodie bags for us all. Thank you Mo. Very very kind.

Left to right: Taz Bride, Jewels of Isis, Talking Beads, Talking Beads, Mornie G, Rosy Tint.

Thank you girls for a lovely lunchtime get together. Why don't we arrange another one, Mo.

More decorations

2009-12-07T18:22:00.006Z

These decorations, plus an angel, were inspired by the story about Indie-Meadow. A baby who died a little over a year ago. She is much loved and missed by her mother and big sister Paris Angel.

If you buy these I shall donate all of the sale price to the hospice where she and her family spent her last little time together.

They are in my misi shop.

Here is the link I could not get to grips with earlier. Tells you more than I can.

www.indie-rose.misi.co.uk

2009-12-06T20:11:00.003Z

As there is no picture to go with this post I am putting one in of me!! Shy little thing that I am. I was at the Misi Event. You can see our jewellery and decorations on the picture too. Anyway, I digress:

I found this on Misi Forum. They are swopping Christmas recipes. I fancy this one! I think it came from Natty Needles, but perhaps I picked up her name when I was doing the past and copy bit!

'How about homemade Bailey's Cream:

1 tin of condensed milk1 pint single or double cream depending how thick you like it - double is better!

About 1/4 pint of whisky or if you want it Irish use whiskeyAbout 4-6 heaped teaspoons of instant coffee granules, espresso is best.

Add the coffee granules to the whisky and stir til dissolved.

Mix into cream and condensed milk. Mix well together and place in a sealed container in the fridge until chilled.

Drink and enjoy.

This is made very much to taste so it is essential that you taste as you go and increase the amounts of coffee and/ or whisky until it suits your preference.
natty needles

I shall let you know if any more yummy stuff gets listed! Happy Sunday x

Custom order

2009-12-01T18:19:00.004Z

This little collection is for Amy. She ordered a set of three decorations in red, white and silver. I also made her a little dancing angel as well as the discount she was entitled to for buying three did not work on Folksy.

I hope she likes them, the picture is a bit dark, but you get the idea.

We are doing well with the dex and have our last fair on Saturday.

No time to make any more tomorrow as working at office all day...

:-( I miss those little lovelies when I can not make at least one a day! Just as well Amy wanted three!

Snowflake

2009-11-28T21:19:00.002Z

This is quite a poor picture of a new piece of jewellery. We were at the Misi Event recently and a lovely girl came along and was admiring our Christmas Decorations and asked us to design this little pendant for her. It is only just over 1" long and is on a 18" sterling silver chain. She loves it.

Just thought I would pop over and tell you I have a sale over on Misi and Folksy at 10% off plus free u.k. postage.

If there is anything you would like just ping me a message and I will put up a reserved listing which will include the discounts.

Happy shopping.

Whooppee

2009-11-13T22:32:00.002Z

So excited, I have just had my first online sale of my angels. Someone on Folksy did me a big favour and would not accept payment so I sent her one of the little angels (on the left) She liked her so much she has ordered a set in her own colour choice.

Best of all I have the beads to hand so can make them tomorrow and post them off quick sharp

Who says Friday 13th is a bad day??

I have embarrased myself!

2009-11-04T07:37:00.003Z

http://www.talkingbeads.co.uk/productDetail.asp?PID=1448I

I have just done something I have NEVER done before. I have done a mail run to everyone in my email address book!

I am still blushing. But, people do it to me and I don't mind so here it is. (she says as way of explanation!)

We make Christmas decorations and they are dipped into floor polish. (another post coming up I fear!) Anyway, the most recent I just popped onto a bottle to dry. I then received an order of gift tags from Misi and this idea was born! So, I have sent this link to everyone in the address book.... I am now going to change my email address!

Teenage Secrets

2009-10-14T11:40:00.002+01:00

This is my favourite holiday buy. We were on holiday in St Ives a long time ago when children were teenagers and an old chap (probably the age we are now!) was selling these, he had dozens. So I bought this, much to my husbands despair. It was only a few shillings and is a match box with the striking paper on the base. A few Christmas's ago I was looking for matches for the candles and remembered this. Only to find that half of the matches were missing. My son calmly told me that he and his sister would use them for their 'secret cigarettes' when I was at work.....and to think at the time you imagine you know your children ...NOT

But, the point of this post is to tell you about my latest make. On sale on Folksy and Misi £14 pluss p&p

Pudsey

2009-10-08T08:41:00.004+01:00

Just look when Hennie has made!

As Craig would say Fab-u-lous. (Strictly Darlings...)

These are for sale in aid of Children In Need at only £5 plus p&p so OBVIOUSLY one is needed for Alice and another is needed for her cousin Vonnie!!

If you NEED one too here is the link http://www.nimbleneedles.co.uk/5.html

Christmas!!

2009-10-06T19:01:00.002+01:00

Here they are, the Christmas decorations I have been making for the last month. Between us we have 75!! oooh! that is 25 sets. They have proved very popular over the last couple of years so let's hope there are still people out there who don't have any...

We often get asked where we bought the tree..that really really annoys us. (John Lewis 3 years ago!)

If you want one single it is £4 and there are lots to choose from on Folksy and MISI. Wish us luck.

The Red Sponge has gone!

2009-09-25T18:32:00.002+01:00

Do you remember this necklace. Made by Janice and one of the most expensive and stunning things on www.talkingbeads.co.uk (shameless plug!!)
Well, we were invited to take our jewellery to a Macmillan Coffee Morning today and guess what. I know, obvious or I would not be on here....it has sold!
Well done Janice and thank you to Gina for the sale. A percentage of the sale has gone to the charity along with 50% of sale price on the items we took that are listed on The Craft Cupboard I was telling you about before.
A good day all round I say. I could not go because I was tied to a switchboard all day, but I had fun too, Fun Friday really. Off to a workshop tomorrow to learn a new stitch...wish me luck!

New Tonight!

2009-09-22T22:53:00.004+01:00

Hello Campers! Here is my new necklace, hot off the press. Well, kitchen table really. I do like this but must not keep it. I am making for the shop we supply in town and Selina wants party styles so I have made this and a couple of charm bracelets. The bracelets have large 12mm pearls on instead of charms. I am pleased with them too! She needs another 10 items....

I am now going to take my bragging head to bed.

p.s if you want to buy it go to my Misi link and you will find it!!

What a Surprise!

2009-09-21T07:28:00.004+01:00

My last job of the day is to pop onto the forums at Misi and Folksy to see what has happened and to check my emails in case my daughter in upside down land had sent me a message. So, I absently clicked the send/recieve button and nothing seemed to happen, so clicked it again...........and look what happened!!

I stared at the screen thinking, for a second, it was a glitch, then suddenly blushed with excitement!!!

TWELVE of my items had sold just that minute to one lovely lovely lady. Whooppee!!

They sold on http://www.misi.co.uk/store_info.php?user_id=2936 This is my destash shop. I have been teaching workshops for nearly 5 years now and always make at least two samples for the ladies to look at. I sold 5 items the first weekend I opened up and then nothing until last night. Still excited this morning. I did not get to sleep for ages last night planning how I would wrap and post them all. My jiffy bags will not hold all twelve!!

Hope you do not think I am showing off...but good news does not come along every day. Now, where is that tissue paper and ribbon??????

Pudding has Arrived

2009-09-06T22:54:00.005+01:00

This garden ornament is a replica of an large ornament my Aunt had when I was a child. She sat in the 'front room' and I loved her. She was probably from a fairground and was painted garish colours. I then found this one at a nursery about 15 years ago and had to have her. She was named SHY GIRL. There was a Shy Boy with her but it did not have the same appeal. I am not a great one for garden ornaments but she hides behind the foliage, we don't see much of her in the summer but she peeps out in the winter!!

Anyway, I digress. The real subject of the picture is Pudding. He is having a chat in the garden to my little girl. He was posted by Anna from The Warren on Tuesday but did not arrive until Sat because of problems at the post office. So I thought he would like some fresh air!!! Yes I am as mad as Anna....He is made from a pair of Christmas Socks and is for Alice shhhhh!

For those of you not in the know, he is a Baby Sock Bunny!

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

Alice

2009-08-27T10:23:00.001+01:00

This is my little angel, and I don't want anyone to say that she is getting her clothes wet!! She is only 21 months old and is just having a fabulous time in the Australian sunshine.

Chocolate anyone!

2009-08-25T12:04:00.004+01:00

It is only Tuesday and I am fed up with this losing weight lark!! I am following a low carb regime....and I am thinking of putting £1 coin in a jar for every day I keep under 60 carbs a day!
So I am now obsessed with biscuits and scones. I made some on Sunday from my new Trex cookbook. Free with proof of purchase, get one they are great. The scones were the best I have made, and I make good scones, and the cookies, (I added dried cranberries as I had eaten all of the cooking choc drops), were amazing. So, by Monday my jeans did not need a belt to keep them up.
Hence finding this bracelet. I was thinking about choc and remembered this chocolate bracelet. It is for sale and is on my MISI shop under The Craft Cupboard and I only want £3 for it as this is the destash shop!

I have been doing my accounts recently and I need to stop spending unless I am selling...the nasty man from Westbury has asked to see my accounts so he can do my books. He is very sweet and when he tells me off it is more in sorrow than anger! Actually this is very good for me as I am now realising how much I spend on beads and pearls on the internet. Too much!

So, this bracelet is made from tiny seed beads in 4 stack herringbone stitch with a seed bead woven toggle. You are only paying for the materials, not the labour.

Now off to the day job, that pays for the bread, oh, can't have bread...

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