Santa's coming out

Secret Santa that is. We're finally doing the reveal on Bead Buddies, and here's what I received:

A little treasure trove of goodies - I hope you're all a little bit jealous :)

I really really want to post pictures of what I made but seeing as the buddy I made for hasn't yet posted any or guessed at who made them, I can't! Fingers crossed I will be able to soon though. I'm finding it really hard to guess at who made mine, I'm rubbish at this kind of thing.

Well, intending with all good will to stick to my resolution of finishing my UFBO's, I have started a netted chain to make my beaded pendant (picture to follow) into a lariat necklace. Only problem is that I have elected to do it in size 11's and it's taking a wee while to build up - who'd have known? Ah well, as long as I have enough beads it will be worth it - sneak peek tomorrow if you're lucky.

How are your resolutions going in the early days of 2011?

Christmas Cheer!

Merry Christmas everyone, I hope you have all had a fantastic and festive day - I've had a great time, and seen plenty of family, it's been lovely catching up. As I may have mentioned, my beloved hubby made me a stocking of beautiful beady goodness. Just in case you'd like a bit of an eyeful, here follow the full stash :)

I also got a lovely surprise in getting Laura McCabe's Embellished Beadweaving book from my sister! The paper was off this little beauty faster than you can say THANK YOU SO MUCH! Now I just need to find more time in the day to be able to do more beading... Any tips would be greatly appreciated. 

So how did you celebrate your Christmas Day?

Christmas Eve, Eve!

We had our Secret Santa at work today. I got THE BEST present - a fantastic-ly awesome woolly bear hat and a box of Quality Street. Love my secret santa - honestly though, still not sure who it is, but I will be wearing this hat until my head just boils over :)

All Christmas wrapping is now finished, I had a last minute dash to Paperchase (swit-swoo!) to get a couple of boxes for the last bits, but now it's all done, and tomorrow we can bring on the festive cheer because Christmas starts on Christmas eve for me and DH.

Tomorrow we are off to see DH's mum and family, Saturday is my family and Sunday is DH's dad/auntie's etc - Woop for busy family holidays. Just hope everyone's as happy with their gifts as I am with my secret santa :D On another note, it also means only 2 days 'til I get to open my beady secret santa gift - EXCITED! All will be revealed on Christmas Day don't you worry :)

Just noticed I'm very 'on' the smiley faces tonight. To be honest, I'm quite looking forward to Christmas this year and it's brilliant. I'm afraid due to all of the excitement recently I've not made any new beady type things, but my friend did like the beaded ornament that I sneakily attached to her secret santa gift... It's our little secret! Ooh AND I got to use one of my new MOO business cards for it's intended purpose of being an earring card, it looks fab, even though I say so myself - will post a pic when it's been opened and you can let me know what you think (professionally speaking...)

Hope you're all having fun getting ready for Christmas!

Christmas Wishes

View from the flat earlier this evening...

Well, it's nearly that time! I will be trying to get around all of my blogs that I follow but that seems to be far more than anticipated so if I don't make it to you, please accept my apologies and I hope you all have a fantastic Christmas.

I'm just about set now, with the arrival of my sister's present I'm just waiting for one thing in the post and keeping my fingers crossed... Especially since the snow has made such a comeback today. It was alright this morning, I went to my bead class and though the temperature was -6 it wasn't so bad - I sit at my parents for a few hours, and when I go out, the snow has covered my car and caused me to have to drive at 5mph for over half the journey because there's no traffic on the roads and my car just slips and slides... Add to that, several of the rear wheel drive cars coming past almost at right angles, and it wasn't my favourite journey ever!

Aanyway, here's what I made today - pretty little tree decorations to go on my small tree at home!

And finally, I made a little Christmas bauble for my niece, who we call Little Pig. Photos aren't brilliant, but it's quite cute :)

Well, I'm off to try and warm up! Fingers crossed the snow will be disappearing again soon...

Christmas Countdown!

Can you believe it is less than 2 weeks to Christmas? I don't know where the time has gone at all! I've managed to get my Secret Santa all packed up and now ready to go, hopefully it will arrive safe and sound. Had a bit of a faux pas with a finding and a last minute borrow from a friend - what a nightmare! Will tell you more when all is revealed after Christmas :) I'm quite excited to share as it's a first for me, having to use supplied materials.

I also invested in a pretty flower cutting stamp thing which I'm now obsessed with and have put into my Secret Santa, oh what fun and joy such simple things bring me...

So have you done all of your Christmas shopping? I think I'm almost there now, and have even written most of my Christmas cards... All that's left is to get them delivered to the recipients now ;) that's the bit I normally fail on. I just hope that my postie gets all of my mail delivered in time as there's more snow forecast, and the last bout meant no post for over 3 days! I would hate to think what the post system must be like out of town if it was that bad in the town centre...

I'm afraid as I've been finishing off my SS pieces, I don't have anything new to show you, so I will leave you with this!

Christmas Decoration Swap

The fabulous Tania Grey has made some Christmas decoration goodies in the kiln, so put them up for swap for beady baubles - now who am I to turn down such a lovely swap :) Here's my swap I'll be posting out this weekend (if the postie's ever get it to it's destination that is!)

I had to abandon my car at work last night and have my office manager give me a lift home, my supervisor picking me up this morning - wish me luck getting the little car home tonight for the weekend!

Happy crafting
x

Festival festivities

Aha, so it was announced this week the headline act for Download 2011 at Donington Park and WE ARE GOING! System of a Down are reforming and headlining, and I will not miss it for the world. For those who don't know, Download is a rock festival held here in the UK over 5 days with 3 days of music. Can't wait, just can't believe how much the ticket prices have been inflated this year - Download festival planners know we just can't resist a hook and line as tempting as System of a Down... The sinker just got sunk (and this is before any other bands are confirmed!)

Aaanyway, as I can't show you my Secret Santa piece/s, which be coming on rather well now after my little glitch, I thought I would share my first Christmas bauble! I did go out last night and purchase some gold and silver baubles so I can make some more of these pretties so watch this space, they're so lovely to do. Christmas tree presents I think - that personal touch for a not-so-wealthy Christmas that we will be having this year.

Are you planning on making your own decorations? What have you got planned?

Happy crafting!
x

Secret Santa

Woo, work's starting to pick up a bit now the weather's getting cold - good old heating maintenance... It's nice to get home and chill out of an evening and get down to some beading.

I got so excited this week - the arrival of my Secret Santa package for our Bead Buddies challenge turned up, and I was sooo nervous at the thought of what might be in the selection but I needn't have feared! Lovely colours and the beads are right up my street, so I have made a start. Just got to decide where I'm taking the started item... Wish I could give you guys the details but as it's Secret Santa, I can't do that until my Buddy has received and opened it! Something to look forward to ;) hopefully you'll love it - and hopefully my Buddy will too.

On another note, I took the plunge this evening and have opened a shop of Folksy - don't get too impressed just yet, I haven't listed anything, but now I have a reason to get my butt into gear and get over to my parents in daylight tomorrow to get some acceptable standard of photographs so I can get down to listing. Fingers crossed Little Treats will be up and running tomorrow evening - watch this space.

If you wouldn't mind spreading the word a bit - please 'like' my facebook fan page HERE - I'd greatly appreciate it.

Happy crafting
x

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!