Shamballa-style bracelets

In between skidding on black ice, rescuing a friend who's car conked out and needed a jump start and generally spending most of my days defrosting after waiting endlessly for buses, I managed to fit in another jewellery making class at The Beaderie , run by the fabulous Sally.

This class was how to make a macrame shamballa-style bracelet.  This style is bang on trend right now, so I was really keen to do this class.

We made two different types in 2 hours - they're quite quick to make, believe it or not.

We made a thin bracelet which incorporated two knots between each bead:

I went for blue/green colours with a a light turquoise cord

The finished article!

The knots look really complicated, yet they're so simple to do

 We then made a chunkier version, which is the type that you see in the shop:

Look what I made, Mum!

I was really pleased with them and plan to make a few more.
And to my friends with forthcoming birthdays, you really shouldn't have read this post.......you've probably just ruined your birthday surprise!

Modelling my new makes!

If you want to try these yourself, there are loads of great videos on YouTube.

Choccie and jewellery

While HP was happily destroying redoing our kitchen, I thought I would stay completely out of the way, so I confined myself to my craft room.  This gave me the perfect opportunity to make some jewellery, which I must confess I haven't done for yonks!  I've been more in to my knitting recently.

I wanted to make a little something for a lovely colleague whose birthday was on 7 July.  She's been very supportive over the recent troubles at work, so I wanted to let her know she was appreciated, so she got a silver memory wire bracelet.

She loved it, so I was most pleased!  She wears a few silver bangles, so I thought this would compliment them nicely.

Well, then I got on to a bit of a roll and made a couple more bracelets.

Had a few shells I wanted to do something with

Didn't have enough shell discs to make a full bracelet so had to put on a logo!

Then moved on to a couple of necklaces. 

Sadly the photos don't really do the colours justice.  There's a lot of shimmering going on there!

As HP has been working so hard, I thought he deserved a little treat so I got him some choccy as I was passing Thornton yesterday. 

 Speaking of chocolate, I realised that I didn't post any pics of the amazing stuff I got from Brussels.  Well, most of it didn't last long enough to get a photo taken, but I did manage to hold off long enough to take this beauty:

A thing of beauty is a joy forever - or about 10 minutes in this case!

The funky box the chocs came i

With all this refurbishment going on at home, it does mean the place is somewhat untidy and messy, so some serious housework is called for this weekend.  I really want to make up a top I've finished knitting in Sirdar Firefly (which I'm hoping won't be too small for me!) and do some work on a simple lace top I'm knitting.  We'll have to see how much time I'm left with after I'm done with the Cillit Bang and Mr Sheen.  We're  hopefully having some friends over for dinner next weekend so I do want the place to look nice.  I'm doing venison for the main course but need to sort out the starter and dessert.  Add to the 'To do list' - look for recipe inspiration.

Finished cuff

I finally finished the black cuff for A's birthday at the end of the month and I'm very pleased with it.  It's the first one of its kind I've ever made, so I was a bit worried how it would turn out. 

I'm not sure the pictures really do it justice.  It was a real labour of love, but I think the birthday girl will like it.