Sunday 31 May 2009

Naughty Widget

Do we disqualify Widget or give him extra points for effort and ingenuity?
I think we need to get the bunny maker to explain the rules - it's the tallest sunflower Widget, not the soonest to flower!
BTW you can become a friend of Widget the sockbunny on facebook and keep up with his antics - go on you know you want to!

Fancy letting a little colour into your life??
Check out this blog - with a collective of colouful items themed by Rainbow colours. Enough to brighten anyones day.

Friday 22 May 2009

Awards

In the past few weeks, I have been awarded a couple of blog awards. The first is by Sabine at Little Castle Designs. The second is an honest Scrap award from Alison at Amidesigns.
So, here goes with Sabine's tagging
8s about me (all of them, in no particular order):
8 Things I'm looking forward to:
1) Exhibiting at the Henley Arts Trail this weekend.
2) Seeing Eric Clapton in Concert next week. It was on my do before I die list :)
3) Catching up with the girls, hubbies and kids next weekend.
4) Moving South West in the next few years.
5) Visiting friends and family over the summer hols - must get that organised.
6) Taking up lampwork bead making - one day anyway.
7) Eating my own homegrown veg and fruit later this year.
8) Teaching a lovely lady how to make her own jewellery next week.

8 Things I did yesterday:
1) Made lunch for my parents and my inlaws
2) Bought a new kitchen clock and a paddling pool.
3) Hunted for some foldable chairs in the shed, but couldn't find them
4) Twittered
5) Read my very long blog list (two days away and lots of reading to do)
6) Bumped into my old lab tech and had a lovely catch up.
7) Uploaded pics onto flickr and facebook
8) Was tempted by lampwork beads by managed not to buy any - for now.

8 Things I wish I could do:
1) Make lampwork beads.
2) Sing - properly not just my warble.
3) Make jewellery full time.
4) Read people's minds.
5) Be more patient.
6) Be more organised and waste less time.
7) Sew properly using a sewing machine
8) Know the proper names for plants not just my names, and more about where they should be planted etc.

8 Shows I watch:
....hmmm I could fall down here too as I tend not to watch too much - lets see
1) The Mentalist
2) Heroes
3) Britan's got talent (well it is the weekend)
4) Kirstie's homemade home
5) QI
6) Read my blog list
7) Update my website
8) Make jewellery
Sorry about the last three, but there isn't enough else on TV that interests me.
And if you are not too bored of an all about me - here are my replies to Alisons tagging - I will try to get the logo uploaded later today.....don't hold your breath though.
There are a few requirements and they are as follows:-
I must thank the person who gave me the award and list their blog and link it
I must list 10 honest things about myself
I must put a copy of The Honest Scrap Logo on my blog.
I must select at least 7 other worthy bloggers & list their links
I must notify the bloggers of the award and hopefully they will follow the above three requirements also.
So, here's my 10 honest things:
1.I remember really insignificant things - like what someone had to eat at a meal out 3 yrs ago.
2.I enjoy making my own bread, jam, cakes etc. I also enjoy gardening and would love to have a market garden.
3. I don't always find being a stay at home mum easy, but I think it is the best start to life my child can have.
4.I miss Cornwall, but don't think I will ever get back there - at least I can go on hols.
5.My to do list is HUGE and never seems to get any smaller
6.I never seem to enough time to do everything I want to do.
7.I am really sensative to Cranial Osteopathy, I find it uncomfortable and slightly painful, most people don't feel anything or just a warmth.
8.I have more than enough beads already, but can't resist buying more.
9. I don't like it when people are two faced. When it is ok for them to do/say something but it isn't for you to. I find it mentally exhausting.
10. I have a physics degree and am qualified to teach to A-level. I much prefer making beads
Depspite the rules stating I need to post these on, it look as if lots of peeps have already had them and if they haven't they will do soon :) I also don't really have the time to hunt for those who have/haven't been tagged - my to do list is currently huge. Check out my blog reading list on the right for people who I may of chosen. However, if you want to fill in your answers and join the fun please do - let us all know and we can pop by to read your answers.

Sunflower update

Well, they are growing so that's a start :)
No pics of our efforts I am afraid. We had Diggy Bear to stay and he helped measure but I cannot find the photo anywhere!
So, here are a few measurements to keep you all going:
Grubby Gang - 1.5cm
Growing Pains - 7cm and 4cm
Abizara - 16cm
One More time - 17cm
Boris and Billy - 4.5cm and 6cm
Us - 24.5 cm
Dollie - picture below - 7cm and 11cm

Widget's are 7.5cm - you can check out his antics here. He also has a facebook fanpage if you want to be up to date with the latest bunny news from The Warren.
However, these all on the rather short side compared with sonny sunflower who is 50cm, yes 50cm - I think he has had a growth spurt!
Back soon with some more growth updates.

Wednesday 20 May 2009

Bead making again

So, you are offered a days babysitting - what do you do? Well, I persuaded Laura to let me have another play with her torch. Here are my efforts for the day.

It took me a while to get back in to the swing of things, I made a few basic beads - I love these colours and then I made some fritties. Note to self for next time - keep an eye on the sizes!
Then I made some floral beads, I am really pleased with these. Since last time, my dot placement is so much more precise. I love the plunged look as well.

Then I tried a bit of encasing - I found this really rather hard, but don't think my first efforts are too bad.

Then it got to about half an hour before I had to go and I had had enough of encasing (I was finding it hard and it was annoying me!). I was umming and ahhing about what to do so, Laura said "do a Jelveh". So, here are my beads, using up a little of everything that was left and a little bit of dichoric. Unfortunately one cracked. but it was great to practice more encasing, fritting, layering , squashing.

Well, what do you think for a second attempt? - that's about 12-14 hrs near a torch under Laura's expert tuition.
I am just a little bit hooked on lampworking now, I find it fascinating. Will I ever take it up? Who knows - maybe one day. Watch this space.

Thursday 14 May 2009

Lucky Streak

I must just be one lucky person at the moment as I have won yet another competition. This time the competition was being run by Kristin over at KSJewelleryDesigns. She creates the most stunning silver jewellery using Silver wire, Silver Clay and gemstones.
So, what did I win?.......this beautiful pendant. It is even more gorgeous in the flesh so to speak.
If you fancy one for yourself, why not head over to her blog where you can find links to all of her shops. If spirals are not to your taste, what about these gorgeous aubretia earrings?
Or these beautiful leaf inspired earrings?
She has lots of items to tempt you, which is your favourite?

Wednesday 6 May 2009

New items on my website

I've been busy over the last few days adding some new items to my website. Well the pics and prices are up, I now need a few spare minutes for the wordy bits, hopefully in the next few days :)

Waves against the shore - lampwork by Rachel Dawes
Caramel Twist - Lampwork by Rachel Dawes

Black Poppies - Lampwork by Chameleon Designs


Bali Blues - lampwork by Tinage Tar

Just a little pre-warning for you, my website will be shut from Weds 17th May until the beginning of June. I have two jewellery parties and then all my stock will be at the Henly Arts Trail. So, if anything takes your fancy, buy it before it sells.


Friday 1 May 2009

New home needed.....

Joy over at Purfect Purses is hosting a giveaway... this gorgeous hand knitted bunny.
If you think you can give her a good home, then head on over to Joy's blog and enter - good luck x