Friday 28 November 2008

Sending Sunshine

Brrr, I don't know about you but it's a tad chilly in Berkshire at the moment and a bit grey. No rain, just a bit grey. Definitely not the cheeriest of days to say the least. Days like this remind me that winter can seem long. I love Autumn and think winter is ok ( as long as it's a crisp cold day and not grey and muggy:)). But for those who don't, spring can seem along way away.
My solution - early narcissi sent from Scilly. Check these out aren't they gorgeous.

Because of their temperate climate Scilly can produce narcissi much earlier than on the mainland. When I was home in Cornwall over Oct half term I bought some Sols back up for me which had been shipped over from Scilly. Now that to me is amazing, daffodils in October. My favourite producer is Scent from the islands, they are a family business run from Churchtown Farm, St Martins. Their scent is intoxicating and can fill a room within minutes. Check out their website for some stunning photos of Scilly and fields upon fields of daffs - definitely a sunny sight :)

I'm off to order my mum some now as she has been unwell, I'm sure she will love them (If you read this mum, they will be with you Tuesday!). BTW they make a fab Christmas pressie as well, especially for the distant relation you don't know what to buy for......or is that just me with that problem? :)

Sending Sunshine

Brrr, I don't know about you but it's a tad chilly in Berkshire at the moment and a bit grey. No rain, just a bit grey. Definitely not the cheeriest of days to say the least. Days like this remind me that winter can seem long. I love Autumn and think winter is ok ( as long as it's a crisp cold day and not grey and muggy:)). But for those who don't, spring can seem along way away.
My solution - early narcissi sent from Scilly. Check these out aren't they gorgeous.

Because of their temperate climate Scilly can produce narcissi much earlier than on the mainland. When I was home in Cornwall over Oct half term I bought some Sols back up for me which had been shipped over from Scilly. Now that to me is amazing, daffodils in October. My favourite producer is Scent from the islands, they are a family business run from Churchtown Farm, St Martins. Their scent is intoxicating and can fill a room within minutes. Check out their website for some stunning photos of Scilly and fields upon fields of daffs - definitely a sunny sight :)

I'm off to order my mum some now as she has been unwell, I'm sure she will love them (If you read this mum, they will be with you Tuesday!). BTW they make a fab Christmas pressie as well, especially for the distant relation you don't know what to buy for......or is that just me with that problem? :)

Thursday 27 November 2008

And the winner is......

Fab time last evening - thank you to all who came along.
The winners of the fee prize draw are:
Falling Leaves jewellery set - Janine
£15 gift voucher - Kady
£10 gift voucher - Lesley
Congratulations to you all.
Off to my silver course now so more from me later.....

And the winner is......

Fab time last evening - thank you to all who came along.
The winners of the fee prize draw are:
Falling Leaves jewellery set - Janine
£15 gift voucher - Kady
£10 gift voucher - Lesley
Congratulations to you all.
Off to my silver course now so more from me later.....

Tuesday 25 November 2008

Freebie Time

In case you missed it in the waffle below. I am currently running a free prize draw to celebrate Beady Pool being on the internet for a year (ish) I can't quite remember the date :)

There are 3 yes 3 prizes. First prize is "Falling Leaves" a charm style bracelet and pendant featuring lampwork beads by Rachel Dawes, Karen Hill Tribe Silver and lots of Czech glass.

Second and third prizes are £15 and £10 gift vouchers to spend on jewellery at Beady Pool.
"What do I have to do?" I hear you ask.....well check out my website, choose an item you like the best and then either leave a post here of email me with your choice. It is as simple as that.
The winners will be chosen tomorrow yes tomorrow (Weds) eve at 9.30pm out of a suitable "hat". Not much time I'm afraid, so get choosing. Winners will be posted on here Thursday morning.
Thanks to everyone who has entered so far - it is really interesting to see what you all like. I hoping your input will help me with what I make in the future :)
Everyone who buys something off the website before Wednesday 12pm also gets into the prize draw, so you can have two entries or more if you would like.
Good Luck.

Freebie Time

In case you missed it in the waffle below. I am currently running a free prize draw to celebrate Beady Pool being on the internet for a year (ish) I can't quite remember the date :)

There are 3 yes 3 prizes. First prize is "Falling Leaves" a charm style bracelet and pendant featuring lampwork beads by Rachel Dawes, Karen Hill Tribe Silver and lots of Czech glass.

Second and third prizes are £15 and £10 gift vouchers to spend on jewellery at Beady Pool.
"What do I have to do?" I hear you ask.....well check out my website, choose an item you like the best and then either leave a post here of email me with your choice. It is as simple as that.
The winners will be chosen tomorrow yes tomorrow (Weds) eve at 9.30pm out of a suitable "hat". Not much time I'm afraid, so get choosing. Winners will be posted on here Thursday morning.
Thanks to everyone who has entered so far - it is really interesting to see what you all like. I hoping your input will help me with what I make in the future :)
Everyone who buys something off the website before Wednesday 12pm also gets into the prize draw, so you can have two entries or more if you would like.
Good Luck.

Sunday 23 November 2008

It's my party.....

And no I am not going to cry!
It's been about a year since I started Beady Pool on the internet. This Wednesday I am holding a jewellery party at my studio and I thought to celebrate Beady Pools birthday I would have a little prize draw. I love a prize draw, especially when it's free to enter....
I entered a draw a while back with Daisy Chain jewellery and much to my surprise I won. I am so so pleased as I never seem to win anything. Anyhows, here is a pic of the earrings I won, they are even more gorgeous in the flesh. The garnets and pearls go together beautifully.

Jo of Daisychain Jewellery makes the most gorgeous butterfly and daisy pendants. You can find her blog here if you fancy a read.

Well, that's enough about me winning, let me explain how you can win something from me.

I am going to have 3, yes 3 prizes up for grabs. First prize is this set of jewellery (yes set) - Falling leaves featuring lampwork by Rachel Dawes. Second and third prizes are gift vouchers (£15 and £10 respectively) for you to spend on a Beady Pool purchase of your choice.So, what do you need to do to enter.......well, you can enter just my checking out my website deciding which piece of my jewellery you like the best and then leave a comment here or email me. You can have a second go at entering by buying something from my website by 12 o'clock lunchtime this Wedesday (I say lunchtime as the party is in the evening and I want to make sure I don't sell anything in the evening that someone buys before then!). Each item you purchase will be another entry. All items bought at my party will also give you an entry. All entries will be put into a suitable pot and I will get one of my party guests to pick three names before they leave. I will then do my best to post the winner on here on Thursday at some point.

Good Luck!

It's my party.....

And no I am not going to cry!
It's been about a year since I started Beady Pool on the internet. This Wednesday I am holding a jewellery party at my studio and I thought to celebrate Beady Pools birthday I would have a little prize draw. I love a prize draw, especially when it's free to enter....
I entered a draw a while back with Daisy Chain jewellery and much to my surprise I won. I am so so pleased as I never seem to win anything. Anyhows, here is a pic of the earrings I won, they are even more gorgeous in the flesh. The garnets and pearls go together beautifully.

Jo of Daisychain Jewellery makes the most gorgeous butterfly and daisy pendants. You can find her blog here if you fancy a read.

Well, that's enough about me winning, let me explain how you can win something from me.

I am going to have 3, yes 3 prizes up for grabs. First prize is this set of jewellery (yes set) - Falling leaves featuring lampwork by Rachel Dawes. Second and third prizes are gift vouchers (£15 and £10 respectively) for you to spend on a Beady Pool purchase of your choice.So, what do you need to do to enter.......well, you can enter just my checking out my website deciding which piece of my jewellery you like the best and then leave a comment here or email me. You can have a second go at entering by buying something from my website by 12 o'clock lunchtime this Wedesday (I say lunchtime as the party is in the evening and I want to make sure I don't sell anything in the evening that someone buys before then!). Each item you purchase will be another entry. All items bought at my party will also give you an entry. All entries will be put into a suitable pot and I will get one of my party guests to pick three names before they leave. I will then do my best to post the winner on here on Thursday at some point.

Good Luck!

Friday 21 November 2008

It's Party Time

It is now officially less than 5 weeks until Christmas - when did that happen. I am sure last time I looked there were still about 12 to go!
If you are still hunting for that ideal present (like me, I has very good intentions to be organised this year!), I am holding a party evening this coming week where you can see all my individual handmade jewellery in the flesh so it speak! So, if you are local to me and I haven't sent you an invite, email me and I will let you know the details. To whet you appetites this is Tradewinds. A gorgeous set made with Coral, Czech glass and Hill Tribe Silver.

It's Party Time

It is now officially less than 5 weeks until Christmas - when did that happen. I am sure last time I looked there were still about 12 to go!
If you are still hunting for that ideal present (like me, I has very good intentions to be organised this year!), I am holding a party evening this coming week where you can see all my individual handmade jewellery in the flesh so it speak! So, if you are local to me and I haven't sent you an invite, email me and I will let you know the details. To whet you appetites this is Tradewinds. A gorgeous set made with Coral, Czech glass and Hill Tribe Silver.

Tuesday 11 November 2008

Gylly Beach, Gylly Beach Grandma

Half term saw me and my little man making the four and a bit hours train journey back home to see granny and papa in Cornwall. I've not lived down there now for near on ten plus years but in some respects it is and will always be home. It's funny really but lots of people feel an affinity with Cornwall and I do miss it, especially the sea. Whether I will ever get to move back is another story, what with the high house prices and the lower wages than in the Thames Valley. I am however lucky that my family are there and we can visit whenever we want - assuming my folks aren't off in their camper van! We didn't fantastic weather but it was okay and boy did we make the most of it - my mum is always on the go. My parents are fairly centrally located for both coasts, however this visit we spent most of our time visiting Gylly beach.

Gylly beach or Gyllynvase is one of Falmouth beaches just at the bottom of castle drive. Its a shingle and sand beach depending on what the tides have been doing and it has a fab beach cafe. I have a thing about their blackcurrant and white chocolate flapjacks and their burgers are rather good to! every time we said we were going to the beach my little man kept saying "gylly beach, gylly beach grandma". I am beginning to wonder if he thinks it is the only beach in the world! We whiled away literally hours throwing stones into the sea and into the rock pools - endless fun. The sea looked freezing, but there are a few locals who swim daily all weathers....brrrr, we were all dressed in about four layers and had to have (yes we had to) hot chocolates afterwards. It was the week of the North wind where England had snow - I haven't known Cornwall that cold for years.
Just outside of the cafe in the flower beads I spotted this gorgeous plant...isn't it stunning?


Due to Cornwall's Mediterranean climate lots of half hardy plants grow in its temperate climate. If you are ever that was and are even remotely interested in plants there are loads of gardens to visit - not just the famous Eden Project.

Just check out those blue flowers against the red of the leaves - nature can be so stunning and in October aswell! I did find out the plants name - it is related to a Puya (growing next to these plants) and it is a bromeliad of some kind, but for the life of me and many google picture searches I now can't find it...if I do I will let you all know. More jewellery coming soon...watch this space.

Gylly Beach, Gylly Beach Grandma

Half term saw me and my little man making the four and a bit hours train journey back home to see granny and papa in Cornwall. I've not lived down there now for near on ten plus years but in some respects it is and will always be home. It's funny really but lots of people feel an affinity with Cornwall and I do miss it, especially the sea. Whether I will ever get to move back is another story, what with the high house prices and the lower wages than in the Thames Valley. I am however lucky that my family are there and we can visit whenever we want - assuming my folks aren't off in their camper van! We didn't fantastic weather but it was okay and boy did we make the most of it - my mum is always on the go. My parents are fairly centrally located for both coasts, however this visit we spent most of our time visiting Gylly beach.

Gylly beach or Gyllynvase is one of Falmouth beaches just at the bottom of castle drive. Its a shingle and sand beach depending on what the tides have been doing and it has a fab beach cafe. I have a thing about their blackcurrant and white chocolate flapjacks and their burgers are rather good to! every time we said we were going to the beach my little man kept saying "gylly beach, gylly beach grandma". I am beginning to wonder if he thinks it is the only beach in the world! We whiled away literally hours throwing stones into the sea and into the rock pools - endless fun. The sea looked freezing, but there are a few locals who swim daily all weathers....brrrr, we were all dressed in about four layers and had to have (yes we had to) hot chocolates afterwards. It was the week of the North wind where England had snow - I haven't known Cornwall that cold for years.
Just outside of the cafe in the flower beads I spotted this gorgeous plant...isn't it stunning?


Due to Cornwall's Mediterranean climate lots of half hardy plants grow in its temperate climate. If you are ever that was and are even remotely interested in plants there are loads of gardens to visit - not just the famous Eden Project.

Just check out those blue flowers against the red of the leaves - nature can be so stunning and in October aswell! I did find out the plants name - it is related to a Puya (growing next to these plants) and it is a bromeliad of some kind, but for the life of me and many google picture searches I now can't find it...if I do I will let you all know. More jewellery coming soon...watch this space.