May all your troubles last as long as your New Year's resolutions (Joey Adams)

I can't believe it's been so long since I've posted, but in my defence, life has been pretty hectic.  

So, what have I been up to?

1.  Had a weekend in Brighton for HP's birthday:

This was the weekend that high winds and storms hit, so that was added fun!

Don't even think about it seagulls!!!

 2.  Met the in-laws in Norwich when they were visiting from the Wirral:

 

I really liked Norwich and the shopping is so much better than Cambridge (my budget doesn't extend to the designer stores in Cambridge!)








3.  Attended a masked ball for my best girl's birthday - the gorgeous Lady Char-Char:

She looked absolutely beautiful and a great night was had by all!

Some of us gals getting ready at Lady Char-Char's.

I did wear more appropriate shoes for the party, but it was more comfortable walking to the venue in baseball boots!














4.  Spent a fab Christmas with the folks in Devon (despite the occasional dreadful storm):

Don't know what my Dad was doing with the camera here!

I loved these giant snowmen on a balcony in Budleigh Salterton

Dad always does a treasure hunt game after dinner where you have to find various clues before you get your main prize.  This year, the clues were hidden in handmade penguins (made from Actimel bottles!)

 More of my Dad's origami.......

Some lovely walks.  You'd never guess that Devon had some really had storms looking at these photos

Frost in Bicton Park

This little robin was so happy to pose for a piccie!













5.  Left my job - hallelujah!  I really hated that job and life is just too short.  But, I've not been sitting idle.....a friend of mine is opening a shop where she will be selling arts and crafts from different designers and she has asked me to sell my jewellery in her shop!  It's only a few weeks off opening now, so I'm going in next week to help her with some cleaning, setting things up, etc.  I don't know how successful I will be, but it's sure going to be fun finding out.  I'll probably need to get a 'proper' part-time job in a few months to ensure regular income, but the creative side is something I've wanted to do for ages, so I'm so excited to have this opportunity.  Pics of the shop will follow once it's up and running....

Photos of some of my range will follow in another blog soon.  Till then, I hope 2014 is treating you all well.

Cute little hedgehog

A couple of years ago, we had a hedgehog who constantly visited our back garden, but then we didn't see it last year :-(  But now we have another little hedgehog visiting us every night - yay!!!  We know it's not the original one, but I like to think that Hedgehog number 1 said to her baby, "if you're ever in need of food, go to see these nice people at this address, because they buy in dog food especially for you, have a very snug little hogitat all set up should you want to hibernate there (made all cat proof, I should add) and if you make friends with them, they'll even feed you dog food straight from a spoon!"  Okay, I know that's an unlikely scenario, but hey, it's my fantasy.  I know I'm in my own world.....it's okay, they know me here.

Anyway, here are some gorgeous pics of our lovely little hedgehog:

Eating from a spoon HP is holding out!!

Isn't he/she totally adorable!!!!

How to make a beaded flower bracelet

How to make a beaded flower bracelet

You will need:
46 x 6mm fire polished beads
size 8/0 seed beads
size 11/0 seed beads
KO thread
2 x size 12 needles (I prefer the longer needles)
1 toggle clasp
2 x jump rings
scissors
2 x round-nose pliers

You can buy supplies and tools online from The Beaderie.

You will need a few more beads if your wrist is larger than 7.5".
If  your thread starts getting shorter on one end than the other, simply use the longer thread to reinforce your beads until the ends are of a similar length again.

1.  Take one end of the KO thread in your left hand, unwind thread holding the spool in your right hand and hold your arms as far apart as is comfortable.  Switch the end in your right hand to your left hand and repeat, so that you end up 2 x arm width of thread.  Cut the thread.  This should give you a comfortable amount to work with, but also ensure that you don't run out of thread before you finish your bracelet!

2.  Thread one needle onto one end of your thread and pull your needle down to the middle of the thread.  Thread your other needle onto the two other ends of thread, leaving an approx. 4" tail.

3.  Now thread on 1 x 8/0 seed bead, 1 x 6mm, 1 x 11/0, 1 x 6mm, 1 x 8/0, 1 x 6mm, 1 x 11/0, 1 x 6mm (see Pic 1)

Pic 1

4.  Create a loop of beads by threading back into the first 8/0 bead added (that's your very first bead).  See Pic 2.

Pic 2

5.  Then pull these beads down to the middle of the thread, so you have roughly the same amount of thread on each side.

6.  Reinforce the loop by threading back through all the beads.  Try to keep your tension quite tight throughout this project.  (Pic 3)

Pic 3

7.  Continue by adding 1 x 8/0, 1 x 6mm and 1 x 11/0 to one needle.  Pass the needle back through the 6mm bead you added, missing out the 8/0 and 11/0 beads.  (Pic 4).  Then add 2 x 8/0 beads.

Pic 4

8.  Repeat step 7 on the opposite needle, but add just 1 x 8/0 bead, instead of 2.  Close  up the loop of beads by passing the needle through the last 8/0 bead added to the other side (i.e. pass through the last 8/0 bead with the extra 8/0 bead - hope that makes sense!)  See Pic 5.

Pic 5

 9.  Reinforce the centre loop of 8/0 seed beads by threading back around them with one needle.  Make sure the two threads come out of the same bead when you reinforce (Pic 6).

Pic 6

10. Now add 1 x 6mm, 1 x 11/0, 1 x 6mm and 1 x 8/0 to one needle.  Add 1 x 6mm, 1 x 11/0 and 1 x 6mm to the other (Pic 7)

Pic 7

11.  Pass the needle through the last 8/0 bead added on the opposite side to close the loop of beads.  See Pic 8.

Pic 8

 12.  Again, reinforce the loop by threading 1 needle back through all the beads (through 1 x 6mm, 1 x 11/0,1 x 6mm 1 x 8/0, 1 x 6mm and 1 x 8/0), making sure that both threads come out of the top seed bead (Pic 9.

Pic 9

 13.  Continue steps 7-12 until the bracelet is the desired length.  If your wrist is 6.5" to 7.5", this will be when you have made 7 full flowers.  I have included some more pics below to show your progress will look.

14.  Once you have reached your desired length, secure the needle threads by threading back into your beadwork, adding a few half-hitch knots to further secure.  Depending on how much thread you have left, I would do this 3-4 times.
To make a half hitch knot, bring your needle up between 2 beads, make a loop and pull that knot tight, making sure that the knot goes into between the 2 beads and not over them.  See picture below.






15.  Using 2 pairs of round nose pliers, open up a jumpring and thread through the last 8/0 bead in the pattern and attach one end of the toggle clasp.  (See Pic 10).  Using your pliers, 'walk' the jump ring together to close the gap.

Pic 10

16.  Do this on the other end too and you're done!