Let's get organised!

I have just fallen in love with lampwork - these little piggies I found in my stocking are the most adorable little creatures! I can see these being used many times :o)

So I thought I'd share my Christmas joys, and here are just a few of the things that Santa brought me.
As you can see, I've just about got around to labelling up 4 drawers of my new storage unit (isn't she a beauty) and I'm waiting for my 2 shipments of Christmas-money-bought beads before I finish organising - I can be a bit fussy about how things are stored! I just love the glass heart, it will make a lovely focal piece on a simple necklace, and the snowmen will be making a necklace and matching earrings :) for my own personal enjoyment when the snow returns in February (probably!)

You may notice a bit of a theme... Purple, and hearts, my Santa knows me so very well :) Now just to get myself some proper beading wire, and I can get threading! Tigertail is fine for now, but I don't think it's going to take me too far, can anyone suggest what to use?! I can't wait to make myself a beautiful bright bracelet out of these wooden hearts!


All that's left to do is to wait for my beadsdirect and e-beads orders to be delivered and I'm away! Oh, and find some time of course... 

Christmas Excitement

Finally! Christmas has been and Santa (otherwise known as the beloved fiancée) has delivered me some beautiful beads and I've even got a fab storage unit which I need to utilise! I can't wait to get my hands on it all, so watch this space!


On another note, I've spent more time looking through the wild world web and found this blog. Kate has put together some very helpful basic jewellery making tutorials, including making head pins, wire wrapping and securing bracelets/necklaces. Absolutely one of the best blogs I've found yet for help on the subject! 


And if you've not got the beads direct newsletter set up, head to www.beadsdirect.co.uk now and get some amazing bargains - I did on Christmas Day as soon as I received the message! There are some magnificent beads, charms and kits on offer, not that I'm trying to make you spend all of your Christmas money!

Christmas Giftage

Christmas is nearly here and I've managed to find a little bit of time to try my hand at making my first necklace! Just as well, as my mother in law was missing a main present! I did try to take a photograph, but as it was evening it didn't really come out too well!

Having made my first necklace, I am going to have to buy myself some beadalon wire, as tigertail does the job but I feel that it could have been better. It could also be time to invest in a beading mat... Basics basics basics! Once I am able, I am looking forward to being able to experiment some more with various materials and wires.

It's amazing how lovely it feels when you finish a piece of jewellery though, and you know that it came from your own hands. I've received good feedback from family and friends so far, and I'm hoping that I can make some lovely pieces to share with you lovely people in the New Year. 

3 sleeps to go until Christmas Day, and for the first time in several years I am really looking forward to it - the time off work will be a pleasant experience too! All of my shopping is done, including my Secret Santa, and tomorrow I get the honour of joining my supervisor to do the shopping for the company raffle! One of our suppliers has already donated what I'd like though... a Lambourghini! Remote controlled of course... 

I'll be blogging again soon!

Starting Out

So here's a few of my first attempts at jewellery making. I absolutely adore the purple butterfly set, and I want to try and make my first necklace to complete it! I'm also happy with the angel wings earrings (there are actually two but my niece was playing with the other at the time...) but I'm still not sure about the other navy bead earring... I never made a second as I'm not happy with how it turned out. I think it needs an extra silver ball on the bottom or something to finish it off. The thing that did please me about this was that I got to practise wire wrapping with the beads! It's really not as easy as it looks, but they did seem to get a little tidier by the last one.


I really need to start looking into what these classes entail as I'm desperate to start getting my jewellery out there - it would be lovely to know what everyone on the great wild world web thinks of my initial attempts! I would definitely feel happier putting jewellery out that I know has been made to the absolute best of my ability, and to that end I think I may have to invest in a wire jewellery book too - I just love these earrings by Cinnamon Jewellery and there are so many other beautiful things in her shop on Folksy, do go and take a look!




Anywho, I am off to try and find myself a suitable storage solution for my now-growing bead collection (the only thing now is to set myself up a proper work station, but that will probably have to be a thing for the future when I have a spare room...)

Autumn Treats on Folksy

I've just had a pleasant browse (again!) through Folksy and loved these Autumnal shades. From top left, these are; Autumn Leaves Handbag by Brigantia Designs, Brown Corduroy Puff Bag by Erin, Chunky Charm Bracelet by Elca Designs, Autumn Days Pendant by Red Bird Jewellery, Autumn Leaves Bracelet by Paisley Chainsaw & "Forever Autumn" Charm Bracelet by LJL Designs

I'm hoping to get chance tomorrow to upload photos of my first earring attempts - of course all feedback will be appreciated! I'm having trouble with being patient enough to wait until after Christmas when I know exactly what beads I already have before buying more! There are such endless options! I think even my mother is getting the bug for bead hunting now - but that could work in my favour :o)

On another note, I'm also having trouble in deciding on my Secret Santa present... I was hoping to have one of the girlies so that I could try out my new jewellery making 'skills' but unfortunately I have one of the guys... Oh what to do??

Oh and if anybody can tell me where I can get back issues (or anyone has old issues they wouldn't mind passing on!) of Make Jewellery magazine, that would be fantastic!

Hi there

Well, this is the start of my blog!

I've recently acquired an interest in jewellery making, and in the run-up to Christmas I'll be snatching every spare moment possible to learn more! I live in Suffolk in the East of England, not far from country, beach nor city and it's quite lovely sometimes.

I started thinking it would be nice to be able to make my own jewellery but it would just be another one of 'those things' that I would just never get around to. Then my mother in law had kindly purchased Make Jewellery magazine and whilst I was house sitting I came across it. That's what made me decide to spend a little money on a jewellery starter kit. Since then I've had small time to make small things, and a few pretty pairs of earrings have wound their way into my hands. Having shown an interest, my lovely attentive fiancee has been buying me beads left right and centre for Christmas so i'm very much looking forward to January after the Christmas rush when I'll finally have some time on my hands!

I love silver jewellery with semi-precious stones, and am interested in trying out wirework - thankfully I've just found a lovely little bead store right near my office which do classes for a wonderful £6 for 2 hours! I've hinted for Christmas....

When I'm not scouring the internet for pretty sparkly things and being a total magpie, I like to read and spend time with my amazing fiancee, and just recently have had a bit of time taken over by my wedding plans - who'd have thought?! I love horse riding - though don't get much chance any more - but I look forward to getting back on a horse soon!

This is where my adventure begins, and I can't wait to learn more about the beautiful wonders of jewellery making, and hopefully I might even be able to start selling when my pieces come up to scratch (then I'll be able to justify spending more on pretty beads!)