Commission

The other day one of the mums from school popped over to buy some jewellery for a good friend of hers who had a special birthday. Over a cuppa and a good natter this is what we designed between us. It's not what she had in mind when she walked through the door, but often that is how good designs materialise.

Beautiful lentil beads by Izzy Anderson, with large Hilltribe silver lentil beads faceted onyx and irridescent czech glass thin rondelles. All finshed with a startburst focal toggle clasp.
The bracelet has arrived safely with it's new owner and she says she is very pleased with her special birthday pressie. I hope you like it too.

Misty Moonlight

Finally we are slowly getting back into a routine in the Beady Pool household.
The now not so little man is at big school each morning, and is shattered but lovng it. This means I am getting a little more time to make and load some jewellery. Inbetween all the antenatal appointments which I seem to be having that is. Last week I had two lots of blood taken and a rather vicious anti-D injection - ouch!



On the jewellery front new from me is Misty Moonlight. Lampwork earrings in lushious lilac tones featuring artisan beads by Isabelle Anderson. Newly listed on Folksy.

Diary date
Beady Pool will be at the Music With Mummy Bracknell Coffee afternoon
Monday 27th Sept 1-3pm
Why not pop by for a cuppa, a piece of cake and some retail therapy?

Lush Lilacs

Beady Pool has been a little sporadic on the blog posting over the summer. It's surprising how little spare time you can find when you have a four year old under your feet all day. That and the fact we have done alot of visiting over the summer hols. Both sets of family (Cornwall and Essex) and some good friends "up North". With all the visiting and my sister in laws wedding we have been a tad busy to say the least.

However, hopefully things are changing, well for a few weeks anyway. My little man started big school part time earlier this week so I get my couple of hours a day back - yay.

This joy may be short lived as number 2 is now only 12 weeks away from arriving - or 10 weeks if the consultant gets her way and induces me early like I was with my first. In the meantime though, I am going to try to make the most of the next few weeks.

To start with I have been working with some gorgeous lilac and purple beads by the talented Isabelle Anderson.

Heather - available now on Folksy

Misty Moonlight - on Folksy later today/tomorrow.

I hope you like my new pieces.
Keep an eye on my blog over the next few days and I will be unveiling a new themed range - Karenza.

Delphinium

I bought this stunning set of beads from Isabelle Anderson ages ago and made them into this set ages ago too.

However, as of yet I have never listed them on Folksy.

But, by the end of today they will all be uploaded and available to buy. Perfect for a summer wedding....if the sun comes out again that is ;)

And the reason I named these beads Delphinium...check out those gorgeous colours.Picture taken from http://gstuff.co.nz/shop/garden/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=210&zenid=31954b8c5ecf9c62baf1a878e2519e70

Starry Starry Night

How gorgeous are these lampwork beads?
Deep cores of the most stunning royal purple decorated with a milky way of silver stars and then encased in clear for extra sparkle and depth. They are made by the very talented Izzy Anderson over at Flame and Glass.

I have handwired them using silver wire with silver beads, faceted purple crystals and my favourite Karen Hilltribe silver daisy spacers. The earrings hang from sivler earwires.

The pendant features two lampwork spacers and three more crystals all handwired to silver wire dangling below the main focal bead. An eyecatching pendant with loads of movement. As per normal with Beady Pool pendants it comes on either a 16 or 18 inch silver snake chain.
Both are available to buy from the Beady Pool shop on Folksy.

Charity Auction

Another talented jewellery designer friend of mine, Melanie Poxon of Kookie Designs has arranged a big collective auction for charity.

There are 11 auction lots on offer for you to bid on from a fantastic range of UK designers and makers featuring ready made jewellery to lampwork beads to make your own pieces. All lots are stunningly gorgeous - I have my eyes set on some of Izzy's earrings yum.

I have donated a gorgeous lampwork bracelet featuring beads by Laura Sparling which Mel has put in a lot (Number 1) with a pair of her scrummy earrings).

If you fancy placing a bid then please head over here to the auction and have a look at all the generously donated items on offer. All money raised from the auction will be split between two charities - Headway and Royal Free Kidney Patients Association.

All money raised from the auction will be split between two charities - Headway and Royal Free Kidney Patients Association.

The auction opened on Saturday October 24th at 10:00am GMT and there have been some really generous bids already. It closes on Monday November 2nd at 8:30pm GMT, so you still have time to bag yourself a gorgeous piece of unique jewellery or some scummy beads to add to your stash!

Sneak Peak

Well, the summer hols are flying past and our feet seem to of hardly touched the ground what with visiting Cornwall then Essex and then Stoke. We have had a few days though at home and importantly I have found time to make some jewellery and to buy some more beads! Here are just a few sneak peaks for you.

Delphinium - necklace, bracelet and earrings featuring stunning lampwork beads by Isabelle Anderson with freshwater pearls, rose quartz and hilltribe silver.

These lovelies and more will be up on the website in the next few days.

Housekeeping giveway

Each time I make a new peice of jewellery, I swear to myself that I will do all the necessary "housekeeping" with it straight away so I don't panic later. What I mean is that I will get my lovely BH to photograph it, I will price it, spreadsheet it, label it ready for a sale, upload it onto the website etc etc. However, despite good resolutions this very rarely happens.

So this evening, sees me once again printing and sticking in my studio getting ready for a jewellery sale. Great you say, fantastic news. Well, it is. What isn't is the fact that because I haven't done my "housekeeping" along the way it could be a very long night.

I have however managed to come up with names and prices all my items, except this one. I uploaded this onto Flickr a while ago and I still haven't come up with a name.

So, the question is - What do you think it should be called? The lampwork is by the very talented Isabelle Anderson and features both round and saucer beads in a clear blue. The saucers are decorated in silver around the rim and the round beads have an organic inspired core. I've completed the set with Hilltribe Silver and Czech glass.

To reward you for your fab ideas, I will ask my BH half to choose the name he thinks suits the set the best. The winner will then receive "Funky". A pendant made with lampwork by Angie Finn complete with a sterling silver snake chain.

Funky

You have until Tues evening at 8pm, after which I will attempt to get straight online an post the winners name. You can either leave you idea as a comment here on my blog or email me. I can't wait to see your ideas.

Housekeeping giveway

Each time I make a new peice of jewellery, I swear to myself that I will do all the necessary "housekeeping" with it straight away so I don't panic later. What I mean is that I will get my lovely BH to photograph it, I will price it, spreadsheet it, label it ready for a sale, upload it onto the website etc etc. However, despite good resolutions this very rarely happens.

So this evening, sees me once again printing and sticking in my studio getting ready for a jewellery sale. Great you say, fantastic news. Well, it is. What isn't is the fact that because I haven't done my "housekeeping" along the way it could be a very long night.

I have however managed to come up with names and prices all my items, except this one. I uploaded this onto Flickr a while ago and I still haven't come up with a name.

So, the question is - What do you think it should be called? The lampwork is by the very talented Isabelle Anderson and features both round and saucer beads in a clear blue. The saucers are decorated in silver around the rim and the round beads have an organic inspired core. I've completed the set with Hilltribe Silver and Czech glass.

To reward you for your fab ideas, I will ask my BH half to choose the name he thinks suits the set the best. The winner will then receive "Funky". A pendant made with lampwork by Angie Finn complete with a sterling silver snake chain.

Funky

You have until Tues evening at 8pm, after which I will attempt to get straight online an post the winners name. You can either leave you idea as a comment here on my blog or email me. I can't wait to see your ideas.

The one that, thankfully, got away....

See, I have not got to the stage of imagining things just yet! This is my feathered visitor - he was a bit scary flapping around! Looking in my bird book, I have decided he is a sparrowhawk, but if I am wrong please do tell me.

On a much more interesting note in my book and much easier to handle, below are a couple of bracelets I have been making, the top one features beads by Isabelle Anderson, the colours in the lampwork are just stunning.
This second one features lampwork by Caroline Hannon, the picture doesn't really to the beads justice. They are a lovely opalescent creamy yellow core encased in clear, I called this bracelet chess as the colours remind me of the squares on a chess board. Very sorry though, if either take your fancy as they have just gone to a new home.

The one that, thankfully, got away....

See, I have not got to the stage of imagining things just yet! This is my feathered visitor - he was a bit scary flapping around! Looking in my bird book, I have decided he is a sparrowhawk, but if I am wrong please do tell me.

On a much more interesting note in my book and much easier to handle, below are a couple of bracelets I have been making, the top one features beads by Isabelle Anderson, the colours in the lampwork are just stunning.
This second one features lampwork by Caroline Hannon, the picture doesn't really to the beads justice. They are a lovely opalescent creamy yellow core encased in clear, I called this bracelet chess as the colours remind me of the squares on a chess board. Very sorry though, if either take your fancy as they have just gone to a new home.

Admin Backlog

I don't know why really, but over the past month or so I have had no real inclination to make much jewellery. Reading other crafty blogs, it seems I shouldn't be at all suprised, others seem to go through phases like I just have.
Anyway in true me style I gutted my junk room - sorry studio yesterday. I took everything out, tidied them all up, had a good clear out and clean and then put it all back. I just seem to need to do that every now and again. When I start on the wardrobe though, then its time to worry!
It's not just the "studio" that has been cleared, I also got rid of some odds and ends on Freecycle. I LOVE that site, its the best thing for recycling. I managed to find a new home for some excess toys, some storage boxes which were just the wrong size, some old padded envelopes (I buy far too many beads LOL ) and some roll of cellophane left over from when I used to make cakes for WI Country Markets and everything had to be wrapped just so. Check out Freecycle here. It is so easy, find your local site, sign up, post an item and hopefully someone will take it off your hands. You can also reply to offers, obviously and ask for items. I picked up some autumn fruiting raspberry canes for my green patch yesterday.
After all that my brain is feeling a bit more chilled and I am back to making the jewellery. I am currently working on a charm bracelet using teal and purple beads by Laura Sparling.
I also managed to photograph the bracelet made with Isabelle Andersons beads.

Blue Moods

As ever beautiful beads from Izzy, in this set each one had a different patterning to it. I think they look stunning with the handmade Karen Hill Tribe hammered silver beads and the clear blue Czech glass.
Am off now to update my website, another thing I have been neglecting. I plan to upload all my current stock and then.....have a clear out!

Admin Backlog

I don't know why really, but over the past month or so I have had no real inclination to make much jewellery. Reading other crafty blogs, it seems I shouldn't be at all suprised, others seem to go through phases like I just have.
Anyway in true me style I gutted my junk room - sorry studio yesterday. I took everything out, tidied them all up, had a good clear out and clean and then put it all back. I just seem to need to do that every now and again. When I start on the wardrobe though, then its time to worry!
It's not just the "studio" that has been cleared, I also got rid of some odds and ends on Freecycle. I LOVE that site, its the best thing for recycling. I managed to find a new home for some excess toys, some storage boxes which were just the wrong size, some old padded envelopes (I buy far too many beads LOL ) and some roll of cellophane left over from when I used to make cakes for WI Country Markets and everything had to be wrapped just so. Check out Freecycle here. It is so easy, find your local site, sign up, post an item and hopefully someone will take it off your hands. You can also reply to offers, obviously and ask for items. I picked up some autumn fruiting raspberry canes for my green patch yesterday.
After all that my brain is feeling a bit more chilled and I am back to making the jewellery. I am currently working on a charm bracelet using teal and purple beads by Laura Sparling.
I also managed to photograph the bracelet made with Isabelle Andersons beads.

Blue Moods

As ever beautiful beads from Izzy, in this set each one had a different patterning to it. I think they look stunning with the handmade Karen Hill Tribe hammered silver beads and the clear blue Czech glass.
Am off now to update my website, another thing I have been neglecting. I plan to upload all my current stock and then.....have a clear out!

Catching Up

I've been a bit slack on the jewellery making front the past few days, I just seem to have been busy doing other things. Then again if i really wanted to make some I would have made some time :)

I did manage a couple of pieces, one with some lovely blue beads by Isabelle Anderson and the other a charm bracelet using a really summery set of beads by Angie Finn. I have named the latter Fresh as a Daisy, I think you may see from the pic below as to why! Really fresh summery colours and all those lampwork flowers.

Fresh as a Daisy

I took the plunge a while ago and joined facebook, but didn't do much about it. Kind of logged on, didn't upload a picture and then got a bit bored of it all. However earlier this week one of the lads I did physics with at uni managed to track me down. I did think that having a name like mine might make me easy to find, but it is surprising how many of us there are! Anyway found I have been and since then I have been a bit hooked. Finding the time to mail everyone back is proving time consuming, but I will get there at some time.

It's interesting finding out what people are up to - especially as most I haven't been in touch with for ten or so years - I look so young in some of those uni photos! Sadly though so far, only I have bought myself an alien for my solar system. Will try not to get too hung up on that matter.....off to cry over a cuppa :)

Catching Up

I've been a bit slack on the jewellery making front the past few days, I just seem to have been busy doing other things. Then again if i really wanted to make some I would have made some time :)

I did manage a couple of pieces, one with some lovely blue beads by Isabelle Anderson and the other a charm bracelet using a really summery set of beads by Angie Finn. I have named the latter Fresh as a Daisy, I think you may see from the pic below as to why! Really fresh summery colours and all those lampwork flowers.

Fresh as a Daisy

I took the plunge a while ago and joined facebook, but didn't do much about it. Kind of logged on, didn't upload a picture and then got a bit bored of it all. However earlier this week one of the lads I did physics with at uni managed to track me down. I did think that having a name like mine might make me easy to find, but it is surprising how many of us there are! Anyway found I have been and since then I have been a bit hooked. Finding the time to mail everyone back is proving time consuming, but I will get there at some time.

It's interesting finding out what people are up to - especially as most I haven't been in touch with for ten or so years - I look so young in some of those uni photos! Sadly though so far, only I have bought myself an alien for my solar system. Will try not to get too hung up on that matter.....off to cry over a cuppa :)

Design Weekend

I am so excited, some of my jewellery is currently on display at the 10th design weekend 2008 at Tatton Park. The shop that stocks my jewellery in Lymington, Loveit-Wantit, are at the trade fair and have taken some of my jewellery with them. Check out the Loveit-Wantit website for gorgeous home and garden items.
I am still working on putting paypal onto my website (Why does it all seem to take so long?) so in the meantime.....

Stormy Waters

Beads from the ever so talented Isabelle Anderson at Flame and Glass. The detailing reminds me of white horses but the colours of stormy seas hence the name. Keeping in with the sea theme I just had to use Karen Hill Tribe Silver Shell beads and the faceted Czech glass beads really bring out the blue in Izzy's beads.

Design Weekend

I am so excited, some of my jewellery is currently on display at the 10th design weekend 2008 at Tatton Park. The shop that stocks my jewellery in Lymington, Loveit-Wantit, are at the trade fair and have taken some of my jewellery with them. Check out the Loveit-Wantit website for gorgeous home and garden items.
I am still working on putting paypal onto my website (Why does it all seem to take so long?) so in the meantime.....

Stormy Waters

Beads from the ever so talented Isabelle Anderson at Flame and Glass. The detailing reminds me of white horses but the colours of stormy seas hence the name. Keeping in with the sea theme I just had to use Karen Hill Tribe Silver Shell beads and the faceted Czech glass beads really bring out the blue in Izzy's beads.