Chameleonite Jewellery

New Destash Supply Shop

2011-06-24T11:00:00.000-07:00

I've decided to destash some of my jewellery supplies and have put them in my NewBeads supply shop. Here is a selection of some of the beads available. I will be adding more as and when I have the time.

Moving On

2011-06-24T09:29:00.000-07:00

I've barely touched my blog since my darling Labrador Bailey passed away four months ago. The reason, quite simply, is that I've been too entrenched in the depths of grief to write anything of any substance.

The impact of losing a much loved pet should never be underestimated. There will no doubt be those who think (thankfully no one has actually said it to me) "it's only a dog". It hurts to even write those words. Bailey was a huge part of my life, my constant companion, my reason for getting up in the morning. He formed a big part of my social life. Through walking him I made friends with fellow dog walkers, some whom I've now known for several years. I started each day with a walk in the countryside, noting the changing of the seasons, chatting with other walkers, having the occasional coffee while we caught up with what's going on in our lives, even getting together for an evening meal in the pub.

I do still occasionally go for a walk, but it's just not the same without him by my side. I imagine him exploring in the woods, running ahead of me on the woodland paths. I know every favourite marking post, every blade of grass of the dark green tufts he used to graze on, the discarded sticks lying where he last chased them, his teeth marks still visible where he'd carried them off into the long grass to chew.

I know in time the overwhelming sadness will ease, and the tears and unbearable thoughts of those final few days will be replaced with memories of happier times of the joy he brought to my life. I just have to go through the grieving process and come out of the other side.

There is now a huge black hole that was once filled with laughter, love and companionship. I go through the motions of each day, making my jewellery, taking photos, listing items for sale in my shop. But everything in my life involves inanimate objects. My life lacks life. My life lacks purpose. My life lacks love.

Bailey's passing also coincided with my son moving out and into his own place. It had been on the cards for a long time, ever since he returned from university. What had started out as a temporary base for a few months had turned into 4 years, so it was long overdue. But the two events coinciding meant for the first time in my life I found myself living totally alone.

My son has suggested that I turn a negative into a positive; He reminds me that I am now free to do whatever I want with my life. I wish I could see it like that and run with it, facing the challenges my new life has to offer. The world is indeed my Oyster. But with that freedom comes responsibility... responsibility for my own life, and what I make of it.

Not having Bailey by my side shouldn't make any difference. Not having anyone there to hold my hand shouldn't make any difference. As my very wise son pointed out, all the major events that have happened in my life have been instigated by me. We may feel as if we need someone there to hold our hand, but essentially we are alone. No one can live our life for us. We enter life alone and exit life alone.

Maybe that's my problem. I am now completely free for the first time in my life, and it scares the life out of me. I have spent my entire adult life caring for others, and now all I need to care about is myself.

Freedom is frightening.

Or in the words of Janice Joplin "Freedom is just another word for having nothing left to lose"

Waxwings

2011-04-08T03:01:00.000-07:00

I've had some new visitors to my garden, a large flock of Waxwings. I've never seen this particular bird before and was curious by their rather exotic appearance, especially the rather fancy crest on top of their head. They descended onto the Cottoneaster bushes at the foot of the garden, only resting for a few moments whilst they greedily gobbled up the bright red ripe berries, before alighting in a rather startled fashion to visit other bushes in a garden further up the road.

I made a quick mental note of their features and went in search on the RSPB website, and eventually managed to identify them as Waxwings, a bird that breeds in the remote taiga forests of Scandinavia. They usually visit Europe in the winter when their breeding ground becomes overcrowded, resulting in a shortage of food which forces them further afield. If berries are in short supply either due to poor crops that year or because the berries have already been eaten by other hungry birds, they can come as far as Britain in search of food. But they usually only come as far as the east coast, from Scotland down to East Anglia.

I'm in Lancashire in the north west, which would account for me never having seen them before. Further research would suggest many sightings of large flocks of these beautiful birds are being seen further inland in many parts of the country.

Here is a rather poor photo I managed to get whilst they rested in the Cottoneaster. It's a pity I couldn't get a close up to show their beautiful colouring, but every attempt to get closer made them fly away.

Here they are taking flight.

RIP Bailey

2011-02-21T13:07:00.000-08:00

My darling Bailey crossed over the rainbow bridge this afternoon. My heart is broken in two. He was a wonderful boy; gentle, patient, intelligent and so very handsome. He was my best friend and I will always love him.

Thank you for enriching my life and bringing me so much joy.

Run free my darling.

Your heartbroken mum xx

Poppies

2011-02-06T13:15:00.000-08:00

I've neglected my polymer clay making of late, and as I adore Poppies I thought I'd try my hand at making one. I'm pleased with the way it turned out, but undecided if it will be a pendant suspended from a black suede thong, or made into a brooch. I made a slightly different one for myself which is on a fine silver chain.

Poppy

I've just remembered I bought a pack of silver precious metal clay about a year ago and still haven't made anything with it. It's a very different material to polymer clay, but I'll have fun experimenting with it!

New Look for the New Year

2011-01-19T09:38:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

Okay, I know it's a bit late and we're hurtling towards February, but better late than never. I've given my blog a makeover for the new year, and as I haven't had time to christen it with my first post until now there's quite a few new designs I want to share with you. More details can be found by clicking each link. So without any further ado..

First in line is a pair of vintage inspired earrings. I love the retro feel of these; I could almost visualise my mum wearing them in the 60's; a quick application of mascara... after spitting on the solid black block to soften, red lipstick, a light spray of Norman Hartnell's In Love, and she was ready to go.

Noir Earrings

Next in line is a sweet little pair of cream Czech glass flowers because Spring is just around the corner... wishful thinking!

Wood Anemone Earrings

I love the combination of colours in my latest addition to my collection; a charm bracelet of amethyst and peridot glass flowers interspersed with leaves, pearls and cute little silver puffed hearts for added tinkle!

Grapevine Bracelet

More spring flowers... ever hopeful that we've seen the back of winter, even if it is only January. These are from my popular lily collection with Swarovski tipped stamens.

Lady Grey Earrings
Following the same theme, here we have the same style of lily in a beaded necklace.

Nightshade Necklace
More flowers with these lovely Petunias.

Petunia Earrings

I have phases where I become slightly addicted to certain colours and they appear in my collection in increasing numbers. At the moment, just in case it has escaped your attention, it is purple and all it's variants; amethyst, lilac, aubergine etc.

Red is another big favourite at the moment, particularly bright scarlet red in opaque glass. I can't get enough opaque glass and seem to spend hours browsing suppliers looking for a shape I don't already own. Here I have teamed some rondelles with a bright red retro hoop to make this bold necklace.

Kiss Necklace
This next pair of earrings is a lovely shade of ruby red.

Very Berry Earrings

These blue Gentian buds are made from some vintage beads I have had for years and years.

Blue Gentian Earrings

And as it will soon be Valentine's day, I couldn't leave you without including a couple of heart designs.

Blossoming Love Necklace

Heart of Gold Necklace

New Designs Added This Week

2010-12-28T12:46:00.001-08:00

Another busy week making new designs. Here are the latest additions to my Etsy shop. Click on the individual titles for full descriptions.

English Rose Locket

Topaz Twist Earrings

Smoke Earrings

Starry Night Necklace

Heart of Steel Earrings

Caviar Necklace

Latest Additions

2010-12-13T14:19:00.000-08:00

I've had a busy week or so adding new items to my Etsy shop. All but two pieces are new designs, and two have been reworked. The Midnight necklace has had the beaded chain replaced with a plain one as I felt the original one was overly fussy and detracted from the pendant, and the Coal earrings have been re made in gun metal as I feel it complements the Obsidian cubes better than the brass used for the original pair.

Here are my latest additions. Click on the title to see the full details.

Posy Necklace

Midnight Necklace

Coal Earrings

Captivate Necklace

Mercury Earrings

Mercury Necklace

Pop Art Earrings

Pop Art Necklace
Flying in Circles Necklace

Denim Necklace

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Snow

2010-12-05T02:11:00.000-08:00

I don't think I've mentioned on my blog before, but I was diagnosed with seronegative Rheumatoid Arthritis about ten years ago. In the beginning I was literally crippled by it, unable to walk and pretty much housebound. But thanks to a little magic pill called Plaquenil, I steadily got my life back to something resembling normal. However, RA is unpredictable and flares of varying degrees are a common feature.

I had my right hip replaced six years ago when it had got so bad it was bone on bone, but I'd never had a problem with my knees until three years ago. Since then every winter has produced a painful and debilitating flare in and around my knee, mainly affecting the left one, but with some right sided involvement. It's not just the joint that's affected, but the whole supporting structure of tendons.

The reason I'm posting this is because I think there may be a definite link with the snow, or at least the cold. I've read that the body is like a barometer, and it has certainly been my experience that air pressure and damp affects my joints, but this snow thing has only just dawned on me. The last three winters have been harsh, with heavy snow fall, and I'm wondering if there is a connection. Whether my current flare in my left knee is down to the cold or the effect walking on a slippery surface has had upon my joints and tendons, I'm unsure. What I do know is I change the way I walk when trying to remain upright. Maybe that placed undue strain on the supporting structure of the knee?

This latest flare came on surprisingly abruptly, in fact I've never before experienced any flare develop quite so rapidly. I woke in the morning three days back, felt absolutely fine, showered, got dressed, then sat at my dressing table drying my hair. When I'd finished, I walked out of my bedroom to go downstairs, and that's when it struck. I suddenly felt a pain in my knee and as I struggled to walk down the stairs, easing myself down one step at a time, it swiftly spread throughout my knee, from left to right going via the tendons at the back of the knee. By the time I reached the kitchen I was hobbling around holding on to the worktops.

The knee is now swollen and warm to the touch and very painful, often disturbing my sleep during the night. My ankles are also swollen as evidenced by the deep rings in the evening where the tops of my socks have sunk into the flesh. Clearly there is no way I will be venturing out on the sheet ice that now covers the footpath. I doubt I'd be able to get out and about even if it wasn't icy.

I haven't been this bad in a long time, but I know from experience that physio is a waste of time, and if anything only exacerbates the pain and delays the healing. I've learnt that all I can do is rest and continue with my medication with the addition of some anti inflammatory cream rubbed into the area, and wait until the flare subsides. This may take days, weeks or months, I have no way of knowing how long it will take. But I'm also mindful that I need to keep moving whilst not putting undue strain on the joint. I usually manage this by daily walks with my dog Bailey. Just a gentle stroll around the woods. But that isn't going to be possible with the present icy conditions.

I hate feeling trapped at home. But I'm not here to moan, that doesn't help my mood at all, and stressing out doesn't help the RA to recede. I'd rather just accept it and work with it than against it. So I've been putting my enforced rest to good use by practicing some new jewellery techniques. All this wire wrapping is playing havoc with my thumb joints, but at least my knee is rested! It takes me a good while to get going when I've been sat still though. I'm trying to maintain a balance between resting and not sitting so long that I seize up. So I'm pottering around doing what I can here and there.

The only worry I have is that Bailey isn't going for his daily trek around the woods. Poor little lad is looking really fed up. I can't even get down on the floor to play with him. I've considered hiring a dog walker just so he can get some exercise. My days fly by as there's always something for me to occupy myself with, but he just lies in his bed sighing and wanting my attention. In many ways he's a very intelligent dog. I just wish I could get him to understand that I love him more than life itself, but at the moment I can't walk. It breaks my heart to see him looking so fed up. :(

Festive Banner

2010-12-02T01:52:00.000-08:00

The snow has put me in a festive mood, so I've designed a new banner for my Etsy shop.

I started by creating a pale grey marbled background and added snowy dots all over it. I didn't want it to be too Christmassy being mindful that not everyone celebrates Christmas, but I couldn't resist topping the C of Chameleonite with Santa's hat. I was quite pleased with how restrained I managed to be because my original design had a couple of Christmas trees and sprig of holly. But it didn't reflect my shop or say anything about what I sold, so I finally decided on one of my scarlet polymer clay roses placed at either end. Not very Christmassy, but such lovely festive colours!

You can see the scarlet rose incorporated into my designs in the side bar on the right. Details of the necklace can be found here, and matching earrings here.

Black Friday Sale

2010-11-26T02:24:00.000-08:00

I am offering Free Shipping in my Etsy shop from Friday through to Tuesday morning. All listings have been adjusted, so there are no coupon codes to enter, just click and buy. Happy holiday shopping!

Here are my latest offerings: Click on the Title Name to take you through to the item listing in my Etsy Shop for a full description.

Cafe au Lait Earrings:

Lemon Bon Bon Earrings:

Petite Fleur Earrings:

Sage Earrings:

Rebel Earrings:

Gold Pearl Stack Earrings:

Pink Pearl Stack Earrings:

Green Pearl Stack Earrings:

Be Strong

2010-11-16T14:18:00.000-08:00

Wrap your arms around my shoulders
Lay my head against your chest
Feel the hurt and all my sorrows
Take my toils and make them rest

Lift the shadows from my vision
Turn the darkness into light
Slay the demons that torment me
Tell me it will be all right

Lay with me until I slumber
Till the anguish does subside
Hold me close against your body
Through the night till morning-tide

Catch my dreams from where they scattered
On the winds of times gone by
Keep them safe for me my darling
Until once again I fly

Should I stir and weep, console me
Let me feel your presence there
Know that you are right beside me
Feel your breath upon my hair

Come the daybreak, when I waken
And the pain begins anew
Reassure me, I can make it
Seconds, minutes, hours through

Take my hand if I should stumble
On the stony road ahead
Be my guide and gently steer me
On this new path I must tread

Walk beside me on my journey
From my old life to the new
Keep my racing thoughts distracted
Wandering eyes upon the view

As I near my journey's ending
Lose your hold upon my hand
Let me walk along unaided
On into the promised land

Mel 16/11/10

Coming Of Age

2010-11-13T09:20:00.000-08:00

Coming of Age

I turned fifty at twenty one
By adding thirty years
Subtracting all my carefree ways
And multiplying fears
Not one to excel at maths
As you can plainly see
My workings out, they made no sense
Especially to me

I carried the remainder
With ease of heart and mind
And wore it as an overcoat
Not loose, the tailored kind
Buttoned up and belted
Old fashioned in my style
It covered up my youthful form
The added years belied

One and twenty candles
Adorned my birthday cake
Sticks of wax in candy pink
Topped with cotton wick
They didn't burn from both ends
Like the candles of my youth
Naked flames weren't dancing
Now much longer in the tooth

I was always on the outside
At odds amongst my peers
My age, rank and position
A traitor to the years
Cosmo, She and Vogue
Suave impostors by my Aga
Was home to Homes & Gardens
And back issues of Saga

When finally I came of age
On reaching big five O
The age that I'd been born to be
It felt like coming home
At long last I can act my age
Feel like I belong
Without the taunts and questions
Making me feel wrong

We are the sum of all our parts
'Tho I won't equal yours
The symbols may be different
My twos might make your fours
I have added noughts to mine
Where none were meant to be
But by God it feels good to be
The age I'm meant to be

Mel 27/10/10

Half Price Sale

2010-11-08T02:22:00.000-08:00

I'm holding a half price sale in my Etsy shop. A huge 50% off everything for the next 48 hours. Sale ends Wed 10th Nov 10.00am UK time. I need to make room for some new designs coming soon.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Chameleonite

What better time to start your Christmas shopping!

Someone Stole The Colour

2010-10-30T14:57:00.000-07:00

In the dead of the night
Where ghouls and demons play
An artist took his palette
Dipped his brush into the grey

He painted great wide swathes
Across the greens and blues
Blacked out the reds and yellows
Concealing all their hues

The stars he had to dab at
More than once or twice
To blot out all their brightness
For the darkness was his vice

The moon a silver slither
Took one brush stroke to conceal
He then wiped out the angels
With his artistic zeal

When I awoke at daybreak
And out of bed I climbed
I stopped short for a moment
Thinking I'd gone blind

The view from out my window
Was grim and grey and dank
No pale blue skies above me
No verdant grassy bank

Thinking the glass was misty
I rubbed it with my sleeve
Round and round in circles
But the glass did not deceive

It was then that I remembered
Your words the night before
“I'm sorry, I don't love you”
Then you walked out the door

The instant that you said it
My world faded to grey
Someone stole the colour
When you took your love away

Mel

Latest Additions

2010-09-26T08:49:00.000-07:00

This week I've added a few more memory wire bracelets to my existing collection. They're becoming quite addictive. I find the making of them very relaxing; there's something about threading beads in a sequence and watching the design build, that's very satisfying.

Dotty: A simple, yet striking design. Six wraps in black and white form a nice deep cuff.

Spangle: I love the zesty citrus orange and Lime in these crackle beads. They remind me of the hard fruit flavoured spangle sweets I had as a child.

Autumn Fruits: Many of the wooden beads in this bracelet are vintage ones I've had in my bead stash for many years. I seem to remember I bought them from Janet Coles Bead Catalogue... anyone remember her? This was way before the internet, and I loved pouring over the glossy pages of wonderful beads she had personally sourced on her travels all around the world. Here I've mixed them with apple coral and carnelian.

Christmas: I know it's early, but it will be here before we know it. A four wrap bracelet in festive red and green.

Beautiful Memory

2010-09-19T12:40:00.000-07:00

Decided to introduce a few memory bracelets to my shop this week. I like the simplicity of them, the fact they are easy to wear with no fiddly clasps, and one size fits all. But I absolutely hate the way they devour all my lovely beads!

I'm a typical magpie, I hoard my little beauties, take them out, play with them, gaze at them lovingly, then put them all away again. Well that's not strictly true, of course I do use them in my designs, but I'm not used to depleting my entire stock of my absolute favourites all in one sitting!

Simple to make they may be, but it's definitely not a case of less is more where the memory bracelet is concerned, in fact the more the merrier! I adore the deeper cuff style of at least 3 or 4 wraps or more, so looks like I'm going to have to go on a bead buying binge... again!

Mulberry:

Cool Water:

Autumn Berries:

Misty Ocean:

But I haven't given up on my polymer clay roses, and here is my latest....

Purple Passion:

Europe For Charity

2010-08-30T13:47:00.000-07:00

Etsy's European Street Team have set up the Europe For Charity shop on Etsy to raise funds for humanitarian relief organisations to send aid to such disasters as the floods in Pakistan.

Please consider supporting the Europe For Charity shop by making a purchase from a wonderful array of goods from all across Europe.

I have donated these earrings which can be purchased here

Heartstrings Earrings

Smooth Balls

2010-08-30T08:24:00.000-07:00

It would appear my creative muse has returned from her summer holiday. I wish I could afford to go away for as long as she did. Think she must have been on a world cruise for the length of time she's been gone. She certainly seems well rested and raring to go!

So on her return she was kind enough to show me how to make sterling silver headpins without the ball pitting. I don't know how she does it because I've been trying for what seems like forever. But with her majesty back in residence it seems I can do no wrong.... certainly where perfectly smooth balls are concerned.

Perfecting my balls has had a knock on effect... it opens up endless opportunities for new designs. Not only is it more economical to make my own, but I can make them whatever length I like, which is a great advantage, and much less limiting that using standard lengths with small balls.

So I've ordered some new supplies of silver to keep me busy, but whilst waiting for it to arrive, here's some new things I've made this past couple of days incorporating three different styles of ear hooks:

Lamplight Green Bellflower Earrings

Turquoise Polymer Clay Flower Earrings

Petit Pois Pearl Earrings

I'm back... I think

2010-08-22T08:05:00.000-07:00

Creeps in quietly, takes a look around... Oooh I haven't been here in ages! Have had a break from many internet based activities and feel better for it. Would like to report that I've been living it up in the real world, but alas I haven't... well nothing too exciting anyway.

My Etsy shop is all but dead, haven't added much recently apart from one necklace last week. Have been a bit naughty and just been renewing stuff as and when it expires. Have decided that Etsy isn't the greatest marketplace for selling jewellery. Not unless you make it to the front page, and since the introduction to Treasury East my regular front page spots have been zilch! Most of my other sales came from chatting in the forums... far too time consuming for what its worth. So not really sure where to take it from here... if anywhere at all.

Just seem to have lost my enthusiasm for the whole thing really, but maybe it will return if I don't force it... then again maybe it won't.

Still I'm enjoying my freedom... have even dipped my toe into the dating scene. Oh alright then I dived in head first. It's lovely having a reason to get dressed up for dinner dates and days out, even if it has meant treating myself to a new wardrobe of clothes, new make-up and having my hair done. I'd quite forgotten what it was like to wear mascara, and keep forgetting I've got it on until I rub my eyes, hence walking round looking like a Panda half the time. I play a lot more music these days too... and sing a lot too! Yes, life's good... but enough of that. Back to business...

Here's my most recent offering:

Misty Morning Necklace:

The Good the Bad and the Beautiful

2010-06-18T04:57:00.000-07:00

It's been a week of contrasts...

A few days ago whilst out on my morning walk with my dog, I offered to help a distressed rider who had slipped off her horse when it lost it's footing as they slowed from a canter to a trot. She was in extreme pain as she'd twisted as she'd slipped off and hurt her back. I felt she needed an ambulance but she insisted she would be OK in the car. So while her friends took her horse back to the stable yard I took her to hospital. I mention this only to draw a contrast with another incident the following day.

Thankfully there was no serious damage, it was just badly bruised. She couldn't thank me enough for helping her, but it was the least I could do and I would hope someone would assist me if I ever needed help.

What I did wasn't anything much really, yet it left me feeling really good for the rest of the day. I don't think I'm alone in experiencing a very gratifying feeling in offering to help someone in difficulty, I'm sure most people do. We don't consciously set out to help for selfish reasons, but there is definitely a reward in being nice to others. Doing something to help, especially without being asked just gives a lovely warm feeling.

The next morning I woke to find my garden shed had been broken into during the night and my son's mountain bike had been stolen. We both felt violated. It wasn't a nice feeling knowing someone had been creeping around in the back garden as we slept. Even though my son hadn't used the bike for a couple of years, it was still a horrible feeling. I imagine the person who stole it felt a similar gratifying feeling and warm glow as he saw the bike and seized it, just as I had felt when I helped a stranger the previous day.

My garden doesn't quite feel right now. It used to be my little private oasis where I would sit out as it was going dusk, glass of wine in hand, listening to the evening birdsong. Now I feel uneasy, my eyes scanning the shadows for intruders.

I don't feel angry, I just feel sad that someone chooses to spend their time sneaking about people's gardens in the dead of night stealing their belongings. There are far better ways of feeling good.

So, that's the good and the bad of life.... and now to something beautiful...

I found this feather whilst out on my walk yesterday. Isn't it striking! A little research leads me to believe it's from a Woodpecker.

I wish I could find more, I could use them in some of my designs. Polka dots are very fashionable!

This morning's walk revealed a four leaf clover nestling in a clump at my feet. I just looked down, and there it was!

It isn't the first time I've chanced upon one. But every time has been just like that... glance down and there it is! The times I've searched and searched I never see one... maybe they find us! :)

Cold Porcelain

2010-05-19T05:34:00.000-07:00

I've just discovered Cold Porcelain and a recipe for making it at home ... there are loads of recipes on the Internet, many which vary slightly in the ingredients, so I chose one and couldn't wait to get started.

After reading reports of some people's disappointment with their numerous attempts at perfecting the clay, I was a little apprehensive, thinking that I would either end up with a gooey mess, or something that was dry, difficult to work with and cracked whilst drying.

But I'm delighted to say that my fears were unfounded!

The clay appears to have turned out beautifully. I must say after previously working with Polymer Clay, the texture and light perfume from the Nivea cream in the Cold Porcelain is quite pleasant. Added to that, the low cost, natural appearance, low toxicity and no need to fire, and I can definitely say I am now a convert!

Yesterday I made my very first attempt at making a white rose and was amazed how easy it was. It isn't perfect and I will need more practice but I'm enjoying the learning process.

White Rose:

I had a little piece of clay left over from that rose, so I added a tiny dab of acrylic paint to make a pink rose. I'm not sure if the acrylic paint made the texture a little drier, or if it was drying out through use, or possibly a combination of the two, but it didn't seem quite as supple as when I made the white rose. As you can see from the photo, it has formed tiny cracks along the edge of the thinnest petals... which is no bad thing and I actually think it looks quite realistic.

Pink Rose:

Primarily I'd like to use my flowers in my jewellery designs, so I'm a little disappointed that I will probably have to varnish them to protect from moisture. I love the natural matte porcelain look as it is, so will have to try a varnish with a very matte look to try to retain the appearance of porcelain.

I'm going to experiment using various additions to colour the clay and want to try adding Mica Pigment powder for a subtle pearly, shimmery effect too.

So my conclusion is that it is a wonderful clay and one that I will enjoy experimenting with.

Birthday Sale BOGO Half Price

2010-05-14T05:22:00.000-07:00

It's my birthday next week and to celebrate I'm having a Buy One Get One Half Price sale on selected flower themed jewellery in my Etsy shop.

Many items are One Of A Kind, never to be repeated designs, so once they are gone, they are gone.

On purchasing two items, half of the lower priced item will be refunded through Paypal.

Check out what's included in my birthday sale here

Sale ends Friday 21st May 2010

Happy shopping! :)

Midweek Catch Up

2010-05-12T09:30:00.000-07:00

I've been experimenting with some new ideas, and one design in particular, in polymer clay this past week. But my creative muse seems to have abandoned me. I've worked the same design over and over and still I'm not happy with the end result. No matter, I know my muse is only away temporarily and will return. I've learnt to ignore it's absence rather than push for it to return before it's ready... far less frustrating!

In the meantime I've purchased some Mica pigment powders in gorgeous shades and will bide my time playing with them by incorporating them into the clay for some subtle effects. It'll be fun, even if nothing much comes of it. Who knows, a little bit of sparkle might just tempt my muse to return from its sojourn.

While I wait, I'll show you a couple of designs that I have recently made, the results of which I am very happy with.

Bow Belle Necklace:

Calypso Bracelet:

Everything's Coming Up Roses

2010-04-30T13:24:00.000-07:00

I've let my blog slip again! I really must make time to update it regularly.

I've recently started modelling... no not me, ha ha fat chance of that! I've been modelling with Polymer Clay, a medium I first experimented with over 20 years ago, and one of my first ever forays into jewellery making. Since those days , which seem oh so long ago, Polymer Clays have improved tremendously, or at least I think they have.

I used to use Fimo original, which is still available, but I am now trying out Premo by Sculpey. It's a softer formula, so is easier to condition before use. Even so, I do find it hard work on my poor arthritic fingers, so I was really thrilled to get a free pasta machine on my local Freegle (formerly Freecycle) site. It's a really sturdy Italian made one. This has made the job of conditioning and mixing colours a lot easier and quicker. There's a fairly limited palette compared to some of the other types of polymer clay, but they are based on an artist's palette, so colours can be mixed to make an infinite array of colours. As well as being softer it is also very durable after baking, because it is strong but retains flexibility, so is less likely to break as it isn't brittle.

So, what have I been making?

I thought I'd try my hand at flowers, in particular roses. My first couple of attempts weren't very good, but I eventually got the hang of it. I also scorched one by baking too long, something that shouldn't really affect the clay as it can be baked as long as you like, as long as the temperature doesn't go above that recommended, so maybe my oven has hot spots, or hasn't got a reliable temperature. I really need to buy a thermometer so I can be sure the temperature remains stable. But for now I have devised a way of protecting my items by baking them under an upturned cake tin to maintain an even temperature within the covered area, and only baking them for the shortest time. The rose that scorched had taken me ages to get just how I wanted it to look. It was a beautiful shade of violet and although it looks perfectly fine, no burnt bits or anything, it emerged from the oven chocolate brown! I was so disappointed, but maybe I can find a use for it. I believe certain colours are more prone to darkening than others, particularly transclucent and pearl ones.

Here are some pieces I have been making:

Nostalgia - Teal Blue Rose

Lemon Sorbet Rose

Old Gold Rose

Bubblegum Pink Rose

As you can see they all look a little different, that's because they are organic roses! I cut each petal freehand and sculpt each of them as I go along. I'm going to try using a petal cutter to make the petals a more uniform size, as there is a certain symmetry in nature. It will also speed up the process, but after cutting them out I still need to sculpt them, so they will never look identical, which is a good thing. But I actually like my organic roses as they are, so I may continue to do them freehand.

Monday Moodboard

2010-04-12T01:06:00.000-07:00

The weather is definitely warming up; people are walking around in T shirts and venturing out into their gardens to repair the damage of a long harsh winter. My garden definitely needs a make-over. So with this in mind, my Monday Moodboard is on a garden theme. Hopefully making this will keep it to the fore of my mind to get out there and tend my lawn and frost damaged plants in readiness for sitting in the fresh air creating my jewellery designs and taking long lazy lunches. Ah it's a hard life! :)

1. Spring Garden Bracelet - Katheyl
2. Wild Flowers - Artwatercolour
3. Lavender Days - Starrybluesky
4. Tulip Earrings - Antigoni

Check out more Monday Moodboards at Fleurfatale

Monday Moodboard

2010-04-05T02:55:00.000-07:00

Spring is in the air, the light is softer, days warmer, hearts lighter... and thoughts are turning to summer weddings!

1. Ribbon Sash - mammamiaeme
2. Earrings - vart
3. Bag - koopdegrace
4. Bouquet - staroftheeast

Front Page

2010-04-03T12:42:00.000-07:00

I discovered today that while I slept last night I was lucky enough to have my Spring Breeze Teal Lucite Flower earrings featured in this lovely Etsy Front Page Treasury made by EsmeDodsworthDesign.

Thank you Esme! :)

You can check out her lovely shop here:

Being on the Front Page resulted in the sale of my new Rosebud design earrings which I'm thrilled about, an enquiry about another item, and lots and lots of new shop and item hearts! :D

Friday Focus

2010-04-02T06:48:00.000-07:00

As I haven't done a great deal of creating lately, I thought I'd share my ramblings on some recent thought processes.

I have been pondering opening a second Etsy shop for some time now but couldn't settle on what to sell. Jewellery is such a saturated market on Etsy with many hundreds of lovely shops that it's very difficult to be seen amongst the masses, unless you have a unique product, or your prices are extremely competitively priced i.e very low.

I have yet to discover and develop that elusive niche, and I refuse to be drawn into a pricing competition of drastically reducing my prices to compete with many who sell very cheaply with the main intention of amassing high sales figures. I know some people sell cheaply because it's just a hobby, indeed it's mainly a hobby for me too, in the respect that I don't rely on it as a source of income. But I'd rather sell less often at a price which I feel reflects the care and attention to detail that goes into my creations, and it is important to me to feel my work is valued and appreciated.

Having said that, sales are slow despite working very hard on promoting my shop. I did briefly consider selling supplies as a means of increasing sales and income, but very quickly decided against it because there would be very little creativity involved, and that too is very important to me.

So where is all this leading? Well nowhere really.... just yet. Oh I'm such a tease! ;)

It is true, I have come up with an idea, though by no means unique, and it may yet still reside under the umbrella of jewellery... I'm not decided on that yet. I will have to see where my creative muse leads me. It's something I became interested in many years ago and have rekindled my passion for. So I've ordered supplies and will be spending time with my new hobby, which may or may not be the focus of a new shop. It will keep my creative juices flowing if nothing else.

But back to my jewellery... here are my latest pieces:

Rosebud Earrings:

These beautiful earrings were made with faceted Vintage lucite beads, topped with antiqued brass petal caps with an olive green Swarovski crystal nestled in the petals of the uppermost leaf cap.

Apricot Blossom Earrings:

I used faceted crystals of warm honeyed topaz for these little beauties. I have layered them with antiqued brass caps and topped them with dainty topaz Swarovski crystals.

Either pair would be lovely to wear this spring, and are suitable for either day or evening wear.

Monday Moodboard

2010-03-29T01:01:00.000-07:00

Spring has sprung and we've just had a fun Euro Week on Etsy which revealed many blossoming European shops with awesome talent. So in keeping with the theme of new beginnings, here is my very first Monday Moodboard with some European goodies to celebrate!

1. Bag - Marbled
2. Earrings - ZsBcreations
3. Wall Art - PopWall
4. Bracelet - AMIdesigns

You can see other lovely Moodboards on Fleurfatale's blog here:

Work in Progress

2010-03-27T15:19:00.000-07:00

Etsy's Euro Week has been frenetic with lots of wonderful Euro treasuries to make and browse. My clicking finger is worn out! I was very lucky to have been featured in no less than 10 treasuries this past couple of days, which is a record for me! I also managed to snag both a T west and a Main treasury, the first I have made for some time. But even with all this activity many people are reporting disappointing sales results.

I have spent today re doing many of my item photos, trying different backgrounds, and generally sprucing up some of the photos I was less than happy with. But there's still room for improvement!

My Etsy shop is a continual work in progress, I'm always striving to improve it. A few items have recently expired and it's been a tough decision whether to re list them or strip them down and make a new design from the beads. I do wish Etsy would allow sellers to view expired items so I can check how many views/hearts a particular item had to judge if it's worth relisting or better to pull the item and rethink the design. I'm not always on the ball enough to remember to check just before they expire... but I have just done so now with those about to expire this month and have some ideas in mind which I'll be working on over the next week or so.

Midweek Medley

2010-03-24T12:41:00.000-07:00

It's my 1st Etsyversary... exactly one year since I first joined Etsy! To celebrate I am offering Free Worldwide Shipping all this week. So why not check out my shop and grab yourself a bargain!
My Etsyversary also coincides with Etsy's Euro Week, a week long promotion of European members, their shops and lovely items.

In other news... the postman delivered a sweet little package today; it was beautifully wrapped, and inside there was a pretty leaf brooch made by the lovely and talented Anna from Sutekidane. I entered a competition give away on her blog, and I won!! :)

To enter I had to watch a video tutorial showing how to make the brooch and then answer a question. I've never entered a give away before, so will have to try entering more!

Thank you Anna, I will enjoy wearing your cute ladybird leaf brooch!

And before I go, here is my latest offering... a vibrant lime green pendant necklace that would make the perfect accessory for Spring!

Lime Crush Necklace:

Fifi Friday

2010-03-19T09:28:00.000-07:00

Still feeling poorly so not done a lot this week. My energy levels are depleted and it's all I can do to take my dog for a very short morning walk, then it's back to the couch for most of the day, and early nights.

But I managed to make, photograph and list a pair of earrings. It was an experiment really, to see if I could find a way to use these gorgeous beads that I ordered which unfortunately came without holes. I fixed them with super strength E600 glue inside the lower petaled bead cap. They are very secure, and I'm really happy with the result.

Fifi Earrings:

Poorly Sick

2010-03-16T13:10:00.000-07:00

Looks like I did way too much on Sunday and have triggered a major flare that's really painful and has drained me of energy. I really must learn to pace myself instead of frenetic spurts trying to cram in as much as I can on my good days. So I've decided to take a few days off my Etsy shop to recuperate.

A few early nights and lots of rest should do it. I'm still open for business and posting orders, I'm just not listing anything new for a few days. Or at least that's the plan... all depends how much boring daytime TV I can take before I'm lured into my studio by the call of the beads! :/

Forgot to mention these lovely earrings I made at the weekend and sold this morning. Will have to make some more... when I'm better!

Circle of Life Earrings

Sunday - a Day of Rest?

2010-03-14T14:29:00.000-07:00

Today is Mother's day in the UK, a day, as I'm sure everyone knows, when children show their love and appreciation of their mum. I received cards off all my 3 adult children, phone calls from the 2 who live away, a big box of chocolates from my daughter, and my son hoovered the house as a treat, which was lovely.

But Mother's day or not, I seem to have been busy all day. I was up early and out in the freezing cold garden photographing the earrings I made last night and edited them all even before walking my dog. After lunch I listed them in my Etsy shop, and set to work making a necklace, which meant more photos, editing and listing.

Here is what I made...

Ballerina Earrings: So called because they remind me of Pirouetting ballerinas.

Dew Kissed necklace:

Clematis Earrings:

I love these turquoise lampwork flowers. I first bought some last year and have just found them again in limited supply, so I bought quite a few for my bead stash. I also have them in a lovely shade of pale green.

I am fortunate to be currently featured in no less than 3 treasuries and an alt in another one. They are all beautiful and I'm delighted to have some of my items chosen. Thank you!

You can check them out here over the next couple of days:

Yay Spring:

Enigma Ring:

Raspberry and Chocolate:

I'm an alt in this one... Touch of Elegance:

Friday Focus

2010-03-12T13:14:00.000-08:00

It's been an odd week with 3 days of having to wait in for a man in a van... actually that's not true, today's man arrived in a very posh car. My boiler broke on Sunday and a repair was attempted on Tuesday to no avail, so the engineer had to order a part and come back on Thursday, only he didn't come back, another man did. Then today an insurance surveyor called to assess my broken kitchen sink (don't ask!). He was the one in the posh car. Heaven knows what the neighbours must think with all these men coming and going... possibly that I've fallen on hard times?

But all this sitting around... (who am I kidding) I am so house proud I have to clean up before allowing workmen in. I actually got to play with my lovely beads and made two new pairs of earrings.

These are my current favourites... I adore them and will have to make a pair for myself!

Secret Garden

These pink earrings remind me of Peonies and are suitable for day or evening wear:

Peony

The Wonder of Nature

2010-03-09T06:52:00.000-08:00

I start every day with a morning walk in the local countryside with my dog. I adore nature and being close to it. I love watching the changing seasons, colours and textures of the landscape.

But this morning I experienced something I have never seen before which totally fascinated me.
I had stopped for a rest on a bench and was sat there soaking up the sun's rays on a perfectly still bright morning with pure blue skies full of white fluffy clouds.

All of a sudden I heard a rustling noise. I looked up and a few metres in front of me on the grassy arboretum, a little flurry of leaves were being stirred up and dancing around. They started to flutter and swirl, gathering momentum as they they spiraled into the air.

It was about 3 metres wide and a couple of metres high, spinning just above the ground. As it picked up speed it started to travel directly towards me where I was sat. It was surreal, as everywhere around was perfectly still apart from this mini whirlwind of leaves. As it reached me I had to bow my head and close my eyes, the force was so strong with leaves flying in my face as it spiraled into me. It seemed to dissipate somewhat on hitting me and as it reached the trees behind it died out completely.

I was absolutely enthralled, and really wish I'd been able to capture it on video. So enthralled in fact that a few seconds later a couple came walking past and said hello, commenting how lovely the weather was, and I just had to tell them what I'd experienced.

It made me realise just how incredibly powerful natural forces can be. How easily a tornado can rip up houses and cars, tossing them into the air. This was incredibly tiny by comparison, but it was slightly unnerving as it headed directly for me, and I was startled at its force as it passed over me, the leaves whipping my skin. Later when I returned to the car and removed my zipped up fleece jacket, a leaf was actually tucked inside and stuck to my jumper.

It would be nice to think it was the forest fairies playing, kicking up leaves as they flew about. But it was more likely to be a little quirk of nature... though none the less fascinating! It was just a tiny thing, but I'm sure it will stay with me for a very long time.

Spring is in the Air

2010-03-02T06:46:00.001-08:00

I seem to have been so busy lately that I haven't had time to update my blog. I'm about to put that right with a gallery of my latest Spring Flower Collection. My flowers seem to be my best seller and after a couple of them were recently featured on the Etsy Front Page interest has grown (no pun intended) and orders have increased. So I figured I'd extend my range with some new designs. I can't claim they are botanically correct, but I have so much fun making them, and it beats gardening in this chilly weather!

Daffodils:

Nightshade Lily:

Bluebell:

First Dew:

Springtime:

Passion Blossom:

Tiffany Fleur:

Spring Green:

Summer Sky:

Lime Blossom:

New Year New look

2010-01-20T05:56:00.000-08:00

I've got a new look for my Etsy shop for the new year. I've made a new banner which I absolutely love, and plan some new packaging to go with it. After trying various designs and layouts, I opted for a more subtle look with turquoise rather than the bright colours seen above. However, it turned out that another Etsy shop already had a similar styled banner, so it was back to the drawing board.

When I first decided to change the look I initially intended to keep the brightly coloured spots, change the grey background for a brighter turquoise, and incorporate some photos of items currently available in my shop. But I had a real problem with the red circles. They looked great on the Seashore site I was working on, and looked lovely when I uploaded them to Flickr, but when Etsy got hold of them, they looked truly awful!

I tried everything I could think of to rectify the problem; saving to various file types, using web safe colours, toning down the contrast, but nothing would remove the dark outline and squiggly pattern on the surface of the circle. It looked very much as something viewed under a microscope; lots of wriggly worm shapes. The larger circles weren't too bad, but the smaller ones were very noticeable. I think they looked more pronounced against the turquoise than they did against the grey.

I ran a search in the Etsy forums and discovered others who had experienced the same problem with red, especially when used in conjunction with a darker colour. It seems to occur when Etsy compresses uploads and only affects certain colours. Red is the main culprit, but only if there is a block of colour, and at first it appeared to only affect warm colours. But after much experimenting by uploading different coloured spots on test banners (hope no one was viewing my shop at the time) it transpires that it affects red and royal blue the most, and purple and pink to a lesser degree. I tried replacing the red spots with orange and although it was a good clean colour, it didn't look right with the other colours.

I wasn't going to be beaten and spent hours trying various combinations, but I just couldn't get it to look right. So in the end out of sheer frustration I ditched the circles altogether and opted for the plain turquoise background. But as I said above, it turns out the layout was seen by some to be too similar to another person's banner. The colours, font, and photos were entirely different, but the layout was the same. Although the other shop owner didn't mind in the slightest, agreeing with me that it was a very basic layout, and was happy for me to leave it as it was, it didn't hold the same appeal for me anymore and I wanted to change it.

I tried various layouts, but couldn't get it to look significantly different, so I went back to my original theme of circles. Accepting there was no way around the red problem, and not liking any other substitute colour, I decided to keep it simple and use complementary tones of the main turquoise. I think the result is more in keeping with the way I envisage taking the style/look of my shop.

As is often the case, things that start off as an annoyance can often turn out to be a blessing in disguise. The resultant design is not only different, but I actually prefer it to the previous one. I'm also in the process of ordering some beautiful new packaging to match the new colour scheme. So all in all I'm very pleased with the way it's turned out. :)

Temptation

2010-01-08T03:24:00.000-08:00

I was listening to a debate on obesity in the House of Commons, and someone commented that it's not choices or lack of them that is the problem; the problem is we eat from habit and copy the behaviour of our friends and peers.

It suddenly struck me how much that applies to me. I'm very tempted by suggestion, be it from a friend, a conversation, a cookery programme or something I've read. I never realised until now just how easily I am led. For someone who tends to be a leader rather than a follower I find that quite shocking. Maybe I'm becoming more compliant in my old age, or lazy, or just couldn't care less!

When younger, I never tried drugs... still haven't; I just never saw the point in them. I rarely drank alcohol, and I trusted my own judgement about what was good or bad for me. But as I've got older I find myself acting on the merest hint of suggestion.

I can no longer watch cookery programmes on TV because if I see a dish that looks delicious, I just have to make it. If I'm on a diet, I might resist the temptation for a week or so, but inevitably I will eventually give in, and armed with my shopping list, will go to buy the ingredients. The thing is, more often than not I'm disappointed with my endeavors, the thought of the food far more appealing than the actual result.

The same can be said of talking to friends and family or chatting on forums. If someone says they are eating such and such for dinner, I think... oooh I haven't had that for ages. Or if never having tried that particular food/meal I suddenly develop an insatiable desire to try it.

The internet is a dangerous place for the unwary, and I'm not talking phishing, viruses, spammers and stalkers. I'm talking about that most dangerous of subjects, cake! I never used to eat cake until I joined one forum, and now find myself adding it to my shopping list with gay abandon, simply because it's constantly referred to. Likewise with alcohol; I used to drink a glass or two of wine at weekends. But chatting on line in the evenings, the drinking habits of others have somehow become my drinking habits, and pouring a glass or two of wine every night of the week soon became the norm.

I've always been wary of becoming a regular drinker, but drinking wine in the evening seems to be the norm for many people, and so it has become acceptable practice. We copy the behaviour of others, because if enough of them are doing it then it must surely be OK, mustn't it?

How easily the habits of others become our own. The recent snow has meant ordering my shopping online from Tesco. Clicking on my "favourites" made for shocking reading! There was all manner of unhealthy fayre on there, from cakes and bakery products, to chocolate, ready meals and wine. Many items I would never have previously noticed on the shelves, let alone bought. They looked oddly out of place scattered amongst the familiar brands I'd bought for years; aliens in a foreign land. It's enough of a surprise to see Tesco recommended products at the top of each section of my favourites, and unsettling if my particular brand is out of stock to see a similar unfamiliar alternative underneath. But these aliens were in my favourites because I put them there!

Can a remark or a suggestion from a complete stranger on a forum really have such an impact on my eating and drinking habits? Or am I just incredibly weak? I don't think it's just a question of weakness, although undoubtedly that does come in to it. I suppose it works very much the same way as advertising, or product placement on shelves. Or as in the case of Tesco, adding an item to the top of each section in my favourites; muscling in on my subconscious!

So, having acknowledged to myself how easily led I am, I've been through all my favourites on the Tesco web site and deleted anything that isn't what I would normally buy. Everything that is, except for Tesco's own suggestions, because annoyingly, they don't provide the facility to delete them! Drinking wine is now back to being a weekend only treat, out go the cakes, and there's to be no more baking... something that until recently I hadn't done for years.

I've also written a little memo to myself on a bright pink post it note and stuck it on my laptop so it's always there to remind me...

*Don't do as others do, do what is best for you!*

Looking Back Whilst Facing Forward

2010-01-01T03:46:00.000-08:00

I've never been one for celebrating New Year's Eve. I tend to find my thoughts creeping backwards, trawling over the past, and I'd much rather be looking forward in anticipation of new experiences to come.

But being the end of a decade, I allowed myself to briefly reminisce. I could hardly believe ten years had slipped by so quickly. Time sure seems to go quicker the older I get!

A decade ago I was in a very bad place, the lowest point in my life, so best not to dwell on it too much. I'm just incredibly happy to be where I am at this point in time. But it does feel good to see how far I've come and acknowledge all that is good in my life. Recounting lessons learned also acts as a gentle reminder to keep me focused and feeling positive.

Horrible as the beginning of the last decade was, I wouldn't wish to change anything about it, except maybe how I handled it, because my reaction affected those closest to me. But events helped shape me into the person I am today, and I am a lot happier with myself these days; less angry, less selfish and more compassionate towards others, with I hope, a willingness to try to understand people and their behaviour, even when it impacts negatively on me. I don't have to accept what they say or do, so long as I strive to understand where they are coming from.

What I can do is to chose how I respond, if at all. Forgiveness and letting go keeps me moving forward, resentment and hanging on keeps me in the past, and ultimately hurts me more. Understanding removes much of the fear and anxiety. Acknowledging and owning responsibility for any part I may have played is also imperative, because often our behaviour has some bearing on the behaviour of others. I can't change their behaviour, but I sure can change mine!

So here we are, at the beginning of another year/decade. The past 12 months have been interesting and rewarding. I reached a milestone in turning 50 and wanted to do something to mark the occasion. I also needed to get back in touch with my creative side, so I started selling my jewellery on Etsy.

The experience has been immensely enjoyable, if not profitable. It has led me down so many avenues, each one a new learning experience. I feel so much richer (or poorer - depending how you look at it) and more rounded as a person (that'll be the cake)!

Etsy is definitely THE best thing that happened to me this past year! I've had my wobbly moments (not cake induced wobbles...or wine for that matter)... although there's been plenty of those... rather the wobbles that shake your confidence. But that happens when you try to run before you can walk. I'm going to take 2010 at a steady pace and look forward to seeing where it takes me, and what I can learn along the way.

Happy New Year! xx

Ancient Broken Links

2009-12-28T07:36:00.000-08:00

Sorting through an old jewellery box I came across this broken bracelet that appears to use the same link as demonstrated by Boo in her beautiful "loop in loop" pieces, but here it has been used as a connector.

Broken Bracelet

I vaguely thought I'd seen it somewhere before when I was reading Boo's blog, and as it's at least 3000 years old it's hardly surprising. That's the link that's 3000 years old, not Boo's blog, or indeed this bracelet. It's a little over 30 years old and was the first piece of jewellery my ex bought me when we were teenage sweethearts.

I must see if I can fix it, although it appears to be missing a link...either that or my wrists aren't as dainty as they once were!

Or maybe it should remain broken as a symbol of our relationship.

Christmas Round Up

2009-12-26T13:22:00.000-08:00

I've had a lovely, relaxed and peaceful Christmas. We've had quite a lot of snow so I haven't used the car since last Friday. The steep hill leading up from our close to the main road is like an ice rink and I've seen too many cars skidding all over the road to even attempt it. So Bailey's daily walks have been limited to the green at the top of the road.

But today the footpaths aren't even safe to walk on, so the poor lad has only been in the garden. It has rained a little tonight, so I'm hoping it will help to melt the ice. My son very kindly did the food shopping at 7.00am on Christmas eve morning... he caught the bus there and back, so I really have had a lovely stress free break.

Snowy garden

Christmas tree and fireplace garland

Sepia Christmas

As far as my jewellery is concerned I haven't been very productive lately, but here's a necklace I made recently:

Lemon Sorbet Vintage Lily Pendant

I made these earrings today. Not very festive, and more reminiscent of balmy summer days by the sea. But I figured if exotic holiday adverts are shown on Boxing day, then why not. Anyway I have customers in Australia to think about!

Ocean Drops

Happy New Year to Everyone! xx

Recent New Additions

2009-12-04T04:36:00.000-08:00

I've neglected my blog lately, along with several other little bits and pieces, so last night I wrote up a "to do" list, and writing up my blog was top of the list!

I've been busy increasing my shop inventory, and here are some pieces I made recently:

Pippin - Apple Coral Earrings

I love these earrings. They remind me of little apples, or maybe cherries? I was walking Bailey in the woods when I came across some lovely autumn leaves and decided to use one in the photos as it picked up on the colour beautifully. That's something that is becoming increasing natural to me since I started making jewellery and taking photographs; I notice ideas for props all around me.

Staging my photos has become one of the most enjoyable aspects of my hobby. They don't always work out how I had imagined; sometimes they look really awful, but every now and again I'm pleasantly surprised by the results!

Raspberry Earrings

These earrings use colour washed vintage lucite in a lovely shade of raspberry. I quite like the way this photo turned out. I laid a piece of plain card at an angle across the jacket of a book that matched the raspberry beautifully. I think the contrast works quite well.

Ebony Earrings

I love the simplicity of these black glass and silver earrings. I've recently begun to introduce simpler designs to my range. I particularly like the little silver bead caps. They are so versatile and are an effective means of dressing up an otherwise plain bead without stealing any of the limelight or making them appear over dressed. For these I have used a neutral background to help them to stand out.

Hearstrings Earrings

These earrings are fancier than the previous ones. They started off as a simple trio of glass hearts, but I felt they needed a little something extra, and I had a short length of delicate sterling silver chain that was too fine to use as a bracelet so decided to add strands of it as tassles which look rather festive. The background for this photo was a lovely bronzed marble effect from the inside of a book cover. It's quite reflective so I don't feel it's particularly suitable for use as a background, but in this particular shot it does seem to make the colours pop.

Harlequin Earrings

Back to my simpler style. Here are a cute pair of earrings with a twist. Each vintage bead is made up of two interlocking parts to form the whole bead. I think the effect is really striking! Again, I used the simple silver caps to finish them. Another plain background this time, photographed from directly above to show off the pattern of the beads.

Innocence Bracelet

Innocence Earrings

Here we have a matching set of bracelet and earrings using beads of the most gorgeous shade of blue. I used sterling silver wire to wrap couplets of beads together. Again, the silver caps have been used effectively in keeping with the simple design, as has the background for the photos.

Next we have a black and silver bracelet incorporating some pretty floral lampwork beads to compliment the focal flower bead.

Astrid Bracelet

Tangled Web Earrings

Admittedly there wasn't an awful lot of design introduced here. These were some charms I came across in a bead shop, and I fell in love with them! My intention was to somehow incorporate them into a more detailed piece with the addition of beads, but in the end I decided "less is more" so kept them as they were, nice and simple, hanging from sterling silver hooks. I suppose it is cheating in a way, but they look so effective I couldn't resist!

For these I felt a steel background tied in nicely so propped them against a solid steel bench block on a black background. When deciding what to call these earrings various thoughts came to mind; webs, lightening... even bicycle wheels. Don't think I'd get very far on them though! In the end I opted for tangled web.

"O, what a tangled web we weave
When first we practise to deceive."

I wouldn't want to unintentionally dupe anyone into thinking I had made these charms myself. I don't think there is anything wrong with taking a charm and making a piece of jewellery out of it. It's really no different to threading beads onto a headpin or a pendant onto a chain. But they have inspired me to have a go at making some from raw materials, so they have served a purpose. Inspiration comes from the unlikeliest places!

Weekend Round-Up

2009-11-15T10:17:00.000-08:00

Members of the Etsy UK thread are running special promotions for individual members in the run up to Christmas. The lovely IslayBower has kindly volunteered to co-ordinate this mammoth task and is doing a fantastic job of keeping everyone up to date. The second half of last week was my turn to be in the spotlight. Members very kindly promoted me in various ways. QuercusSilver started a thread in the Promotions forum, other people tweeted my shop or selected items, some included my jewellery in their Treasuries, and BigBlueBed featured me in her blog, as did Angela Callanan in her Preciouslittlebirdy blog.

I was even asked to take part in an interview for Etsy member SnowdropAndDaisies blog. Snowdrops sent me a list of questions and I provided the answers which she turned into a lovely interview accompanied by a selection of jewellery photos from my shop. I think it fair to say she was a little surprised at my response, but very kindly took it in the humorous spirit intended. If you have time to spare, you can read it here. But you'd better make a nice cup of tea first... oh and a slice of cake... I do go on a bit!

It's been a lovely few days that's resulted in many views and hearts, and I'd like to say a big thank you to everyone who took part. Apologies if I've missed anyone!

In other news, here are a few new pieces I've recently made.

Clementine Necklace:

Olivia Bracelet:

Honour Bracelet:

What's In Your Trolley?

2009-11-10T04:13:00.001-08:00

Grabbing my Tesco trolley the other day, I happened upon a discarded till receipt the previous shopper had left behind. Picking it up, I popped it in my pocket; not because of an absence of bins, there were plenty of those, but because I'm nosy and wanted to read it over a cup of tea. I know, it's a bit sad, but you'd be surprised what you can learn from a shopping list. And yes, I know, wanting to learn anything at all about a total stranger is even sadder! But don't forget, I am nosy! Think of it as people watching from the comfort of my armchair.

So, back home, I unpack my shopping, pop the kettle on, slice the cake and settle down to inspect the shopping habits of my anonymous shopper.

Top of the list we have peach slices... oh wait a minute, they appear again a bit further down! Obviously likes fruit, particularly the kind that comes in tins!

When I was a child my nan used to serve tinned peaches with sterilised cream... also from a tin. The cream was thick, tasted of metal and separated slightly when dolloped on top of the syrupy juices. In the centre of the table sat a plate of bread and butter for dipping. Sounds disgusting, and it was!

But back to my shopper... there's more fruit with mandarins, plums, grapes and gooseberries. So I figure my anonymous shopper's preference for soft fruit indicates a problem biting into firm flesh... clearly not a vampire then! My suspicions are further aroused a little way down the list with the word Fixodent! Aha, thought so!

So, why do I think my shopper is female... well she likes baking; Stork margarine, bramley apples, treacle... unless the treacle is to keep her regular, hence the moist toilet tissues and quilted toilet tissues.

Moving on...

My shopper clearly likes to eat a well balanced diet; museli for breakfast with extra hazelnuts sprinkled on top... got to keep those bowels regular! Crumbed ham salad for lunch with baby plum tomatoes, little gem lettuce, radishes, red pepper and salad onions. Hold on a bit... red peppers! That's a bit exotic isn't it!! Afternoon tea... or rather percolated coffee...with a mince pie and dinner of Branston beans on toast (white sliced bread) or maybe broad beans, frozen peas and something from the freezer?

The trolley had been left next to the disabled parking bays, so I reckon she's got walking difficulties, probably on account of her arthritis. She really should lay off the acidic mandarins, they won't do her any good at all... neither will all that coffee (double purchase)... plays havoc with the rheumatism!

Age wise, I reckon she's in her mid 70's, possibly single, comfortably off, but makes her pension go further by doing most of her own baking, and cooking everything from scratch. Bet she drives a little Noddy Micra!

I would have loved to have found something a bit racy on her list, like an Italian ready meal, or a Vindaloo... that'd make her go faster than the treacle! Maybe a steamy paperback or CD of rock anthems. She could have made it a bit harder for me... I almost feel cheated!

So, what does your shopping trolley say about you? I daren't list mine. I'm having a comfort eating week, so lots of naughtiness; cake, choc and wine... with a bit of food chucked in for balance.

When I grow old I'm going to leave someone a really racy till receipt in my trolley! :D

Another First

2009-11-06T07:56:00.001-08:00

Don't you just love first time experiences... providing they're good ones that is! But even bad experiences can teach us such a lot. In fact I'd go so far to say that it's the bad experiences in life that offer the most valuable lessons. I've certainly found I've had my biggest growth spurts during times of adversity!

But enough of bad experiences. This experience is a good one, and one that I hope will yield a growth spurt for my Etsy shop, because I've just discovered that I've been featured in my very first Etsy Gift Guide!

This particular gift guide features freshly emerging shops that have been open for six months or less and/or who have less that thirty sales. It was AMIdesigns who first brought it to my attention by telling me she had suggested me for it. Thanks Alison! I then popped into the gift guide thread and rather cheekily suggested myself too! I think one or two other UK members might have mentioned my name as well. So thanks to anyone who did that I haven't mentioned. They're a great bunch over on the Etsy UK thread, always supporting and promoting each other!

In fact we're having a special UK promotional push in the run up to Xmas where we are promoting two UK Etsy sellers every week, and the current lucky seller is none other than AMIdesigns so please do drop into her shop and take a look at her wonderful range of jewellery, not to mention her new line in Xmas decorations! They really are fab!

So, Etsy get to choose which particular item they feature, and they have chosen my Ruby Tuesday Red Czech Glass Bellflower Earrings:

You can also check them out here along with the other lovely items featured in the Freshly Emerging Shops gift guide.

SALE - 20% OFF EVERYTHING

2009-11-05T06:42:00.000-08:00

I am having a sale of 20% off everything in my Etsy shop.

Sale ends Monday 9th November. Why not do some Xmas shopping and grab yourself a bargain! Pay the full purchase price and I will refund the difference through Paypal.

Happy shopping! :)

My first Custom Order

2009-11-03T14:42:00.000-08:00

This week saw another first for me, a custom order! It came about as a direct result of my earrings featuring in a treasury on the Etsy Front Page. The customer wanted me to make a pendant necklace using the same beads. I'm delighted with the way it turned out!

Vintage Powder Blue Lily

In other news, I have had another pair of earrings featured on Etsy's Front Page. This time it was for my Dew-Kissed Blue Lampwork Earrings which were included in this gorgeous treasury.

Playing Catch Up

2009-10-26T12:57:00.000-07:00

I've neglected this blog recently, so had better do a quick catch up of recent events/activities. First off, I finally made the Front Page of Etsy! A pair of my earrings were featured in CreamRose's treasury. I had been an alternate but she very kindly swapped me in at some point, and it made the front page. Thank you CreamRose!

It was my Maia - Vintage Green Lily earrings that were featured. I hadn't realised the impact a brief spot on the front page could have. I had an extra 560 views 17 shop hearts and 65 item hearts (25 for the lily earrings) and two enquiries about possible custom orders.

It took me a few minutes to make sense of the sudden increased interest. Admittedly, I hadn't been awake long and was on my first black coffee of the day. Then it dawned on me that I must have been on the front page. My Google Analytics visitor graph looks really weird; there's a little wavy line running all along the bottom of the graph, and then all of a sudden a witches hat appears as the line spikes upwards to the very top of the graph in a sharp point, and back down again to continue it's amble along the bottom.

I thought the witches hat rather apt... not because we're fast approaching Halloween, but because I had been moaning to fellow UK Etsian MoaningMinnie who is always on the front page, that I had never been on the front page. So she said she'd cast a spell to put me there. Low and behold that very night I was on the front page! How spooky is that!! MoaningMinnie makes hats by the way, not witches pointy hats, but beautiful vintage inspired cloche hats. Check out her amazing shop and see for yourself why she's so popular!

But enough of Minnie... this time it was my turn to be in the spotlight, albeit briefly, when the world and his wife was in bed.

Here is the treasured treasury:

In other news, recent items I have made include:

Vintage Plum Wine Bracelet

Chestnut Bracelet

Harvest Bracelet

Enchanted Whisper Necklace

Harmony Blues Bracelet

Front Page Treasury

2009-10-12T06:40:00.000-07:00

Wahey!! My Etsy Treasury "You Red it Here" made the front page whilst I slept. Hope all those featured received lots of views and hearts, and possibly a sale or two!

WARNING: Chainmaille is addictive

2009-09-26T12:29:00.000-07:00

Did I say I might not try making chainmaille again because I found it really difficult? Yes... but I also said I love a challenge! Guess which won!!

Actually, it should come with a health warning, because it's really addictive! But in contrast to last weekend's frustrating attempts, it's also proving to be really quite easy and very relaxing. I've jumped up a notch to a more complex design with the Full Persian weave. The trickiest bit is getting started, but once I get into the swing of it, there's no stopping me. It's really satisfying watching the intricate pattern develop and grow.

So this week's offering is a pair of earrings in a contrasting copper and bronze finish that I embellished with Apollo Gold Czech Bellflowers:

I also made a bracelet with the same contrasting copper and bronze weave which I further enhanced with Czech melons in a gorgeous rose gold and marbled olive gold:

I'm now keen to try my hand at other weaves and experiment with various combinations of materials and colours. So watch this space!

Weekend Offerings

2009-09-21T05:36:00.001-07:00

I thought I'd try my hand at something new this weekend, and as I've always admired chainmaille, I decided to give it a try. I love the intricacy yet simple form of chainmaille, but the more complex weaves leave me baffled, and my poor arthritic fingers aching before I've even picked up my pliers! So as a beginner I felt it would be sensible to walk before I could run, and start off simple.

Am I glad I did! I don't think I have the mind for chainmaille, even with a very basic link I got confuddled and kept having to undo it and start over again. I'd say there's definitely a knack to it. I'm surprised I didn't find it easy because I have a very logical and analytical mind that loves solving puzzles... but this was way too frustrating for my brain.

This first pair of earrings were easy as it's just straightforward linking. I alternated brass and copper for a more interesting look, hung them from Celtic knotwork, and added a little bunch of hearts to finish off.

Cross My Heart Earrings

The second pair were much trickier, and although a simple pattern, I kept getting in a muddle trying to get the links to lie in the right direction. It looks really simple, and for some it might be, but my little brain really struggled with it. Mind you, it was late at night, so maybe I was too tired. I hung these from Celtic knotwork too, and finished them off by threading small ribbed brass beads along the bottom edge.

Guinevere Earrings

I'm undecided whether or not to try again with something more complex. My heart tells me not to, but my head is stubborn and loves a challenge. But I'm not noted for my patience, so we shall see!

Autumn Collection

2009-09-16T10:36:00.000-07:00

I've finally made a start on the autumn collection for my Etsy shop with a couple of necklaces and a pair of earrings. I'm awaiting delivery of new beads and findings before I can really get stuck in, but yesterday's creative session went well, and I'm very happy with the results. One necklace is made with an antiqued brass filigree pendant to which I've wrapped bellflowers in Czech glass. I also made matching earrings but added a bigger central flower for the pendant. For the other necklace I've used vintage lucite in a gorgeous amber and these will pair beautifully with a pair of amber teardrop earrings I made recently.

Vintage Amber Lucite Necklace

Vintage Bellflower Filigree Necklace

Matching Earrings

Chinese Lanterns

2009-09-14T14:37:00.000-07:00

I've had a bumper crop of these Chinese Lanterns (Physalis) this year. The plant itself isn't particularly attractive, until the small white flowers turn into these beautiful bright orange lanterns; that's when it really comes into its own! For that reason I haven't planted it in the border, but have it in a large terracotta planter on the patio. For most of the year it's behind other more showy plants. But in autumn when things are beginning to look a little drab I bring it forward to steal the show.

Mind you, they soon fade; the tissue paper thin cases deteriorating to leave a veined skeletonised structure containing a small orange fruit. So before they are past their best I like to collect them for the house. I've displayed some of them here in a cream ceramic bowl of winter potpourri, but may collect some conkers as I think they would make a lovely pairing!

Topsy Turvy Seasons

2009-09-13T04:53:00.000-07:00

Browsing the internet for autumn colours for 2009, I came across Under the Loupe, a blog by jeweller Annette Piper, and in particular an article concerned with selecting stones and beads to compliment this years autumn fashion colours. This piece was written way back in March, and I was impressed by her forward thinking, wondering perhaps if I should have been planning this seasons designs and ordering supplies many months ago.

It was only when I saw her most recent post, concerning spring shows, that I realised she was in Australia and her March piece about autumn colours would have been written as they were entering autumn!

The reason I mention this is because I recently went through my Etsy shop collection changing and updating my tags to reflect the upcoming seasons of autumn and winter and deleting all references to summer. Bad mistake! I have potential customers in Australia, and have sold to someone there already. It must be really frustrating for them to be constantly bombarded with references to seasons months ahead of theirs and offered jewellery that is totally at odds with the colours they are wearing.

So, I shall pay a little more attention to my tags and promote some of my more summery colours, because many potential customers will be looking forward to the lazy hot days of summer while we're heading into winter, not to mention those who choose to spend their winters in warmer climates.

Creature of Habit

2009-09-09T07:50:00.000-07:00

Carrying on from my "Oh what a beautiful Day" post... it hasn't escaped my attention, and no doubt all of those who know me, that I am very much a creature of habit! I am very fortunate in that I have the freedom... if not the money, nor the energy, to do pretty much as I please with my days. Yet they rarely vary much from day to day. Health problems (fatigue and pain) prevents me from doing too much that's physically taxing, but that aside, there is a constant inner voice nagging me about not living life to the full... not packing in as many experiences as possible before I expire.

And yet, hand on heart, I can honestly say I love my life. I feel so incredibly content with my lot, and take enormous pleasure from simple things, such as my daily morning walk (pain allowing), reading, writing, music, creating jewellery... I'd like to say gardening, but my little patch of land is looking sadly neglected of late!

In the past, life has often felt such a struggle; family and kids... head down, trudging along on the treadmill of life, lurching from one crisis to another... and now it's simple, uncluttered, unfettered, peaceful and contented. I'm not in any particular rush to do anything... if only my inner voice would stop nagging me!

However, I am becoming increasingly irritated with one aspect of my daily routine. I love mornings, am definitely a morning person... but I hate getting going in the morning. All that palaver of showering, straightening my unruly mop of hair, applying moisturiser and just a hint of make-up to tone down my ruddy outdoor complexion. Basically I am sick and tired of looking at the same face in the mirror every single morning, tweaking it till it looks reasonably presentable... and I fear I am fighting a losing battle as the ravages of time catch up with me.

It takes me an hour before I am ready to go down for breakfast...an hour I tell you, a whole bloody hour!! I hate it, it is an hour of my day wasted, when I could be contemplating my navel instead of a face I barely recognise these days, even though I stare at it for a whole bloody hour every morning!

I put myself through this punishing routine every day before I go downstairs, because it'll more than likely be late afternoon before I go back up again. I've just been up now and realised I haven't been up there since 8 o clock this morning... not even for a wee. That's a total of 8 hours!! I must have a very strong bladder... or maybe it's the commode in the corner!

So, where is this all leading... well, I'm going to set myself a challenge to make some small changes to my routine... and who knows, tiny steps might lead to some mighty adventures!

Watch this space!

Oh What a Beautiful Day

2009-09-09T06:32:00.000-07:00

Such a happy day today! The sun is shining, and I managed to forget I was in pain as I drove along singing:

There's a bright golden haze on the meadow,
There's a bright golden haze on the meadow,
The corn is as high as an elephant's eye,
An' it looks like its climbin' clear up to the sky.

Oh what a beautiful morning,
Oh what a beautiful day,
I've got a wonderful feeling,
Everything's going my way.......

Until that is, I got out of the car and had to start walking. Ouch! I hobbled round the woods with my dog Bailey, sat on a wet bench and got a damp bum (I was that desperate) and hobbled back to the car. I think it's an inflamed sciatic nerve, but nothing that could wipe the smile off my face for very long. :)

On arriving home the postman brought me another little present... a most exquisite bracelet designed and made by the lovely Alison of AMIDesigns.etsy.com and my smile widened to that of a child on Christmas morning!

I fell in love with this gorgeous bracelet and bought it, even before Alison had time to list it after she previewed it on Flickr! It is absolutely dripping with dainty flowers and melons in an array of autumn shades. Every which way I turn my wrist, the light catches it and the beautiful iridescent colours change magically. I'm wearing it now, the tiny glass beads tinkling as I type. I will have to take it off before bed... or I could just stay up all night admiring it! :)

Look What the Postman Delivered

2009-09-08T10:01:00.000-07:00

What better way to brighten up a miserable grey and rainy day than for the postman to pop these little beauties through my letterbox!

I've had my eye on these earrings ever since I first joined Etsy and discovered Rachellucie's jewellery shop, and I have to say they are even more beautiful in person! I love them so much they are now my No1 favourite out of all my personal earring collection!

Rachel is celebrating her first Etsyversary, and is currently running a month long promotion offering free worldwide shipping and at least 10% off everything in her shop. In addition to her Etsyversary promotion, Rachel is donating 20% of the proceeds from the sale of selected items to Etsy project Embrace, set up by Etsy artisans to raise funds for the American Cancer Society in honour of fellow Etsian Laura Slocum of creatielytangled.etsy.com. The beautiful earrings above were one of the items Rachel included for this wonderful cause.

So what better time to pop along to Rachel's shop and treat yourself to a little something to brighten your day.

Yes! We Have No Bananas

2009-09-06T04:30:00.000-07:00

Not being one to be beaten... and a glut of over ripe bananas festering in the fruit bowl; I decided to have another go at baking a banana cake, as my first attempt was most unpleasant... when is a soggy bottom anything but!

My banana purchases are very specific. I buy them at the weekend in readiness for the start of the Monday morning diet. But my good intentions rarely proceed beyond Monday lunchtime, so the fruit bowl doesn't get so much as a cursory glance for the rest of the week. Until, that is, pesky little black fruit flies flit around my head attempting suicide by drowning in my glass of wine, which alerts me to the presence over ripe fruit.

Not wanting to waste the black skinned bananas, I Googled a recipe for Banana cake, and the top result was this one, which everyone seems to rate very highly. But sadly, mine was very disappointing. It was heavy, with a dense texture that was so moist towards the bottom it looked uncooked. Needless to say it went in the bin. Would have been a lot cheaper and less wasteful, not to mention time consuming, if I'd just chucked the bananas in the bin in the first place!

So, realising how futile it was, I didn't add bananas to my shopping list this week. Instead, I came home from the supermarket determined to put the over ripe fruit to good use and bake a banana cake to be proud of... well one that was edible!

Having thoroughly researched the subject, I discovered this isn't the easiest cake to bake and get good results, which made me feel a little better. Believe it or not, there are probably more disgruntled banana cake bakers out there than happy ones. I also discovered that I had probably over blended the mixture, as I used a food processor instead of doing it by hand.

Anyway, always one for a challenge, I decided that this time I would follow the recipe exactly! Well, when I say exactly... I didn't have self raising flour, so I used plain flour with the addition of baking powder and a pinch of bicarb and salt for good measure. Neither did I have enough castor sugar, so I substituted half with demerara sugar. But that apart, everything else was exactly as stated.

One hour and 10 minutes later I removed it from the oven.

Looking good...
Eager to see what it was like inside, it wasn't long before I cut into it to check the consistency.

Not a soggy bottom in sight!

But it was still a little warm, so I served up a couple of slices and left them to cool while I made a cuppa.

It was at this point I think I was going a little bananas as I surreptitiously glanced around the room in a suspicious manner, and announced to the dog that I hoped there weren't any cows in the kitchen. Yes you read right, I said cows, when in fact I meant flies! Why this should be I have no idea, bus I suspect it might have something to do with a fellow Etsy member called Cow who loves cake and is always on the scrounge for it. After a quick search under the table, behind the fridge and in the pantry I was satisfied Cow wasn't lurking, and my cake was safe to be left unattended while it cooled.

Never turn your back for a minute...

Spot the difference

I am happy to report my banana cake was delicious! I say "was" because it didn't last very long... possibly on account of a couple of slices going walkabout! It had a lovely crunchy outer, moist but light centre and was bursting with flavour. Although by morning the outer had lost it's crunch and become slightly moist, which I actually think I preferred. So to my mind it improves with keeping, very much as Parkin does.

'Tis Monday tomorrow, I need to start my diet and I have no bananas!

Pondering Self Esteem and Seeking Approval

2009-09-04T01:36:00.000-07:00

Self esteem - not to be confused with self confidence and self love... although closely related, is something we all need in varying amounts in order to feel we are doing okay. It's fed by our personal achievements, but also hinges precariously on the approval of others. A reasonably high level of self esteem provides us with a feeling of accomplishment, acceptance and self worth. A low level leaves us feeling we're of little worth, and in extreme cases, unlovable; as anyone who has ever been in an abusive relationship can testify.

Clearly some need more of this fodder than others in order to happily flourish. We've all met those self effacing, modest types who hate the spotlight, but are nonetheless content with their lot. But it's the self effacing ones who hog the spotlight; the ones who claim to suffer from low self esteem, yet appear to display a self love bordering on narcissism that intrigues me.

I know quite a few of these folk. They tend generally to be considered attractive, even beautiful individuals, who appear to adore showing off their physical beauty while protesting they are anything but. They are very hot on self promotion, their personal websites often displaying hundreds of self portrait photographs. Yet when questioned on this apparent contradiction, stress in elaborate detail how much they despise their appearance. But their behaviour belies their protestations. This can manifest itself in a variety of ways; dressing to be noticed, always striving for perfection in their physical appearance, often by a combination of extreme diets, grueling workouts and resorting to cosmetic surgery... yet they never seem satisfied with how they look, whilst displaying it for all the world to see.

Many, if not all the ones I know have suffered from an eating disorder. Perhaps they are deluding themselves, or maybe deep down they know they are physically attractive, because the compliments come thick and fast, when prompted... and their perpetual self promotion accompanied with self effacing put downs ensures a constant supply of reassuring compliments. They clearly need this reassurance to keep their levels high.

Self esteem is a fragile creature... starve it and it rapidly becomes emaciated... feed it and it thrives. There's no doubting we all need it, but why do some need it more than others? Is it constant over feeding that triggers an almost addiction like craving? There's no doubt beautiful people attract others, are generally successful and appear to lead charmed lives compared to the rest of us mortals who were less fortunate in the gene pool. So why do so many of these beautiful people feel unloved, insecure and lacking worth? Do they come to rely on the approval of others for their feelings of self worth?

Not that I'm suggesting for one minute that we shouldn't be generous with our compliments. I think most people would agree that praise fosters healthy growth far more than criticism ever did. It could be argued that we subconsciously expect more from beautiful people, or they themselves perceive that more is expected of them? Or is it that compliments were kept to a minimum because it was a given that they were beautiful, so deemed unnecessary... but clearly was necessary? We've all heard of the beautiful girl who was never asked out on dates because everyone assumed she must have a boyfriend.

I possess a high level of confidence, a fair degree of self love, and reasonable self esteem... but it hasn't always been the case. Abandoned by my mother as a baby, discriminated against by my childhood peers, a marriage devoid of affection and emotional support, and ultimate rejection for a younger more attractive model; knocked my confidence, my feelings of worth, my perception of my lovability, and fed my fear of abandonment.

My reserves all but depleted, I eventually recovered, fueled by a single comment from my childhood. I lived with my nan... we were very poor and living in an affluent neighbourhood, and because I was different (I was the one with no mum and dad), I had few friends. One day after being rejected once again by one of the neighbouring kids, I ran home and sobbed in my nan's arms. She took my face in her hands, looked me in the eye and said "they're only jealous because you're so beautiful". That one sentence must have planted itself deep inside me to carry me through, despite all the knock backs life had in store for me. Let me assure you, you would not consider me beautiful, not in the conventional sense, but I do believe I am beautiful.

Something similar happened to Dawn French (I could be her body double). When she was a young girl her dad asked her to come and sit down as he wanted to talk to her. He then proceeded to tell her how beautiful and special she was. All these years later, despite her weight gain and fading looks, she still radiates an inner confidence that translates into real beauty.

I'm sorry to disappoint those who were hoping for a conclusion... I don't have the answers. I am just curious why some people seem so contradictory in their behaviour and what they claim to feel about themselves.

But if you'd like to enlighten me, I'd be interested in your views.

New Necklace

2009-09-02T14:20:00.000-07:00

I made a new necklace for my Etsy shop today... the first listing I've made for a couple of weeks. I figured it was time I got my finger out and actually made something rather than just re listing existing stock. I'm really happy with the result; a gorgeous vibrant poppy button adorns a reto styled hoop strung on a mix of red vintage glass and black seed beads.

Retro Red Poppy Pendant

Recent Sale

2009-09-01T15:42:00.000-07:00

I was honoured last week to sell these art deco style earrings to a lovely fellow Etsian AMI

AMI also makes the most gorgeous hand crafted jewellery and very kindly blogged about her purchase Here

Here's a taste of some of AMI's beautiful work: Why not check out her shop... I'm sure you'll find plenty there to delight you!

More Improvements

2009-09-01T11:50:00.000-07:00

The makeover of my Etsy shop continues....

I've been working really hard at improving my photos. This is something I'm striving to perfect. But just when I feel I am happy with them, I tire of looking at them... and perhaps others feel the same? I think it's important to keep a shop fresh, not just by adding new items, but by sprucing up the display to keep the browsers interested.

I think my photography skills have come quite a way since my earliest attempts. My first attempts were awful:

But I soon started to learn about lighting and began to take them on a windowsill.

Then a lovely man, photographer JimJuris advised me to download GIMP and very generously and patiently guided me through the basics. I'm slowly learning how to use the various functions, and although I am improving, the results are still very hit and miss. But I have him to thank for getting me started, otherwise I really wouldn't have a clue about editing photos.

So after much experimenting, I improved. But I became complacent, opting for plain black or white backgrounds, an overhead shot as the main picture, and a few shots from various angles.

I was taking photos with the prospective purchaser in mind, making the pictures clear... but not very interesting. My views were low, bounce rate high, and Treasury inclusion virtually none existent!

It was the very talented artist Illusio who came to my rescue. She provided links to some excellent articles on photography, and suggested I check out other successful Etsians... the ones who always seem to be in Treasuries, and compare my photos with theirs. To do this I used a Poster Sketch; a very clever and useful tool for making Treasuries, but also ideal for making side by side comparisons of similar items.

I decided my photos looked boring, and although essentially telling the viewer everything they needed to know, it also gave them an excuse not to click on them which would effectively take them to my shop. I liken it to the jacket of a book providing a detailed synopsis and telling you how the story ends... giving you no need to turn the pages to find out!

So I decided to have a go at using props to "dress" my photos... make them more inviting! I searched the house for suitable props.. small trinket boxes and visually interesting objects, and composed an old fashioned letter on cream card in a fancy brown font to add a touch of vintage style romance! I actually enjoyed that bit... but that's the writer in me!!

Using props isn't as easy as it sounds when photographing tiny objects such as earrings, as there is the danger the prop will dominate. I'm still not entirely happy with some of my shots... too much prop showing in some, not effectively marrying the prop to the item in one or two, and terrible lighting in others. The latter hasn't been helped by the recent awful weather, so I've had to make do with a windowsill and more editing than I would have liked. I tried to construct a lightbox, but found its use far too fiddly and restrictive. I plan to re do some when the weather improves so I can take them in natural daylight, which is my preferred light source.

Here is a selection of some that I feel are OK'ish:

It's been a long, hard slog... I'd much rather be spending my time working at my bench making jewellery than taking and editing photos, but it's all a part of the learning process and hopefully improves the look of my shop. I've recently been included in some lovely Treasuries too... not sure if it's due to the new photos, or my bribes of cake that did it... but I am very grateful! :)

You can check out the rest of my photos in my shop here.

Playing Tag

2009-08-08T01:59:00.000-07:00

I woke up to discover I'd been tagged in the night. No, I've not got an ASBO, it was the work of Maisy 'cos I'm her new bestest friend (I told her she looked 25... it works every time!) Simply-Maisy

The price for this dubious honour includes, amongst other things... of which I will come to later: disclosing six revealing facts about myself to the worldwide web and his wife.

Hold on while I make strong black coffee and oven warmed Pain au chocolat for sustenance... and time to think!

*fills kettle and sets oven to 200°c*

5 minutes later... just waiting for my Pain Au Chocolat

10 minutes later... won't be a sec, just picking the crumbs off my shirt

12 1/2 minutes later... OK don't rush me, I'm coming!

Who's playing for time.... me never!!

OK, here we go...

Interesting facts:

1. I talk to myself. But more importantly, I answer myself too. No point in having a one way conversation, is there!

2. I met a famous writer cottaging in the country. Lovely man who invited me into his weekend retreat and gave me a signed photo. We discussed his latest work, and my creative writing classes.

3. Feeling we had forged a mutual bond, I took the liberty of sending him a piece of my writing to critique. He was very lovely about it, suggesting many ways it could be improved.

4. I remain embarrassed to this day

5. I have felt old since I was a child. Turning 50 recently, I felt I had finally come of age.

6. I've had more Internet dates than I've had hot dinners... I do eat a lot of salad!

Now for the boring bit:

The Rules of Tagging:

1. Rules may be changed at any time without notice. (I just made that up 'cos I'm a control freak). *Count that extra fact as a bonus*

2. Link to the person who tagged me *Would I dare not to?*

3. Post the rules on my blog *Doing it as we speak* (see fact No1)

4. Write six random/revealing facts about myself (see above)

5. Tag six people at the end of my post and link to them *more coffee and Pain au chocolat whilst I have a think*

6. Let each person know they've been tagged and leave a comment on their blog *This is sounding like hard work*

7. Let the Tagger know when my post is up *consider it done*

I have tagged:

1. Bigbluebed
2. Cowisland
3. Boojewels
4. MrSeb
5. Dinky-Daisy
6. AREJewellery

Me, Bailey, the chocolate bar, and why I won't go to heaven!

2009-08-06T04:34:00.000-07:00

Just back from a lovely walk in the local countryside. This is a daily ritual... the morning walk to ease me into the day. Many is the time I dread hauling my aching body out of bed to trudge through sticky mud. I'm an all weather walker, not like many who only get their fix of fresh air when the sun shines... although the sun did come out to play with me today!

Don't get me wrong, I'm not fanatical about health and fitness, good grief no... but there is a very good reason I put my old and knackered body through this punishing regime. I have a Labrador, and I take my dog ownership responsibilities very seriously! There's times I've been so crippled in pain I've hobbled along on crutches. But he's the love of my life and I'd do anything to make him happy! Well, when I say anything, I do have my limits... nobody gets to share my Thornton's chocolates...not even Bailey! Besides, chocolate isn't good for dogs... what a shame.

Talking of which... we were ambling along, my four legged friend and I, approaching a girl sitting on a bench, her bike propped up against it as she took a breather. Bailey's sudden enthusiasm to greet her took us both by surprise, as he rushed up alongside her, making her jump out of her skin! Then as quick as a flash, his head darted under the crossbar of the bike and his impressively long tongue flicked forward like a Chameleon's, to swipe at a chocolate bar she had put down on the bench. I mean, I ask you, who in their right mind would unwrap a chocolate bar and put it down on a smelly old bench that's had countless bottoms on sat upon it... some undoubtedly naked judging by the remoteness of the place!

Anyway, equally as quick off the mark, she grabbed it and shoved it in her pocket, as we both gushed our apologies... her, because she said chocolate was dangerous for dogs, and me, as I explained he'd licked it and she might not want to eat it afterall. But that didn't seem to bother as she clung on to it. Needless to say, Bailey wasn't at all impressed as he dived into her pocket nosefirst to try and grab it back.

On we plodded, and I detected a very autumnal feel in the air. It doesn't seem two minutes since I planted tiny spring kisses on tight new buds. This is another of my rituals... kissing virgin buds as they emerge from the tips of stark winter twigs. They hold such promise of brighter things to come, so I thank them with little kisses, after first checking no one's looking... I might be daft, but I'm not stupid!

So I was a little surprised to see that lady autumn had put in an appearance and ushered summer out the door. She'd curled the leaves and turned their tips gold and bronze...

She'd tipped the twigs with little fuzzy acorn caps...

Swept the carpet of buttercups, leaving just a few dotted here and there...

Scattered baby conkers on the ground...

Laden down the bushes with juicy ripe Winberries...

But she's a little late plumping up the Blackberries, so it'll be mid September before Bailey goes Blackberry picking...

Seriously, Bailey goes Blackberry picking every autumn. He looks so cute as he makes his way along the edge of the woods, nibbling blackberries from the brambles with his tiny front teeth. He prefers to find them himself than feed from my hand. Well he needs his five a day! He loves his fruit and veg, and has carrots, cauliflower and broccoli with his dinner and tea every day. Oh and the odd chocolate bar... if he's lucky!

I'd like to say that no living things were harmed in the making of this blog... but I can't. Once again I forgot to take my camera on our walk, so mother nature loaned me a few of her offerings to bring back home. I hate picking wild flowers, but as buttercups are freely available I took the liberty of picking one... all the other bits and bobs were found on the ground, except the winberries which were ripe for picking, oh and the fuzzy acorns, which will never mature now, so the squirrels won't have enough food and will starve to death during the cold winter months.

*Note to self: "Remember your camera next time!"

All Round the UK - with a twist!

2009-08-06T02:01:00.000-07:00

This Treasury lark is addictive... they should come with a warning! I made my second one this week, "All Round the UK" featuring, as the title implies, the talents of UK Etsians, but with a twist.... well, not a twist exactly,more a spiral/circle!

You can check it out here:

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=74509

I took delivery of a lovely stash of beads earlier this week and have had fun playing with them. I made my first sterling silver link wrapped bracelet with lovely deep raspberry red colour washed beads and red Czech glass flowers. I was really happy with the result.

Bracelet:

I absolutely love the beads in the earrings below. They're faux amber vintage lucite, and are so smooth with a gorgeous deep colour. Their beautiful simplicity is so striking, I didn't feel they needed anything else. I fell in love with them, so I made a pair for myself too!

Amber Lucite Earrings:

First Etsy Treasury

2009-07-14T08:24:00.000-07:00

I made my first ever Etsy Treasury! For anyone not familiar with treasuries, they comprise of twelve of your favourite items that are currently offered for sale by other sellers on Etsy. I really enjoyed compiling mine, although limiting myself to black and cream made choosing hard work, because there are so many lovely things to choose from. I'm really pleased with the result... not bad for a first attempt, even though I do say so myself! I think I might just have to make another one!

If you want to see it you'll have to be quick because it ends tonight.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=70365

Just in case you missed it, here is a screenshot in two parts 'cos my laptop screen is too small to show it all in one.

Treasury:

What's Left of my Garden

2009-07-14T05:16:00.001-07:00

I've really neglected my garden this year (and last), so I finally got my act together and did some work on it at the weekend. It's looking a lot tidier but really needs some tender loving care lavishing on it to bring it back to its former glory. There's not a lot in bloom at the moment (looks best in spring) so I took a few shots of what I could find before they all shrivel up and die on me.

Geranium:

Lily:

Astilbe:

Moth eaten Clematis:

Pink:

The fence needs painting, as does the chair and bird table (what's left of it), and I desperately need a new shed. The old one is dilapidated! Although the weathered look does possess a certain charm...

Shed:

Vintage Buttons

2009-07-11T07:40:00.000-07:00

My buttons arrived today, the ones I bought from www.SpareButton.etsy.com
Here is a selection... mostly vintage, and I can't wait to incorporate them into my jewellery designs. They might look dull to some, but I LOVE them!!

Just look at the size of those two glossy brown buttons.... more like dinner plates! My mind is racing with ideas for those two beauties; and those cute milk chocolate buttons look good enough to eat! Who said brown is boring! I love the trio of nutty nuggets, such an unusual texture, and they nestle so snugly into the deep bowls of the lush green buttons, it's as if they were made for each other. But I've not made my mind up what I'm going to do with them just yet.

They are all so gorgeous, but the stars of the show have to be the little coppery coloured diamonds! As soon as I saw them, I just had to add them to my collection. They have a lovely metal shank on the back with "Made in England" printed on them. I haven't a clue what I'm going to use them for, but I will have such fun experimenting with endless possibilities.

My love affair with buttons is growing at an obsessive rate. I am officially an Internet button stalker! I actually think I adore buttons more than I do beads... and that is saying something! I think I was born with my sister's share of button love, because she has a phobia about buttons... absolutely hates the things! They really make her feel quite ill, and I'm not even allowed to mention the word "button", let alone talk about my obsession. I always thought it was a rare phobia to have, but I've since heard it's quite common. I'm just glad I don't share her phobia... imagine a life devoid of glorious shiny buttons!! No, give me a phobia of blood any day... although a life devoid of blood would be, well... pretty lifeless really!

Anyway, enough of blood (yuck) pass the smelling salts!!

I am a hoarder of all things shiny... a typical Magpie. I love them for their individuality and often just enjoy looking at them in all their simple beauty. But I also love creating beautiful jewellery with them. Yet I have a confession to make.... I rarely wear jewellery myself, even though I own enough to fill several trinket boxes. As I say, I am a hoarder... but only of jewellery, beads and buttons! The rest of my little world is very ordered, neat and tidy, and I love nothing better than a good clear out... no clutter for me, thank you very much!

I'm really quite a plain person for a jewellery designer; I don't go in for fussy patterns, bright colours, garish outfits or lots of bling bling... except for my little treasures stashed away in pretty boxes that are for my eyes only... oh and the little treasures I love designing for others to wear! Maybe there's a secret exhibitionist inside me screaming to get out, because much of my personal collection is loud and brightly coloured. But it's rare I give them a day out. I'm much more likely to be totally naked "jewellery wise" or just wearing a simple, understated pendant or earrings, or bracelet... very rarely all three together!

Techniques, Materials and Improvisation

2009-07-09T12:43:00.001-07:00

It's been a mixed day weather-wise. It started out really quite chilly, almost as if it was autumn, and I walked Bailey with my fleece on. No Bailey didn't have my fleece on, I did! Bailey's got his own fleece. We went to the woods... not so many flies about as there has been of late, so for once I enjoyed a walk without getting bitten by horseflies! I've lost count of how many bites I've had this past week while it's been really hot and humid, and they don't half itch!

By mid morning when I had a hospital appointment, the weather had brightened and the sun came out to play.... just because I'd decided to wear black, so I looked really over-dressed! Well, I wasn't over-dressed for long, because I hadn't been at hospital 2 minutes before I was told to get undressed!

Then as I was driving home this afternoon the sky suddenly darkened dramatically. It looked like the end of the world was nigh. For a second there, I was in two minds whether to switch the radio on to hear if someone had pushed the button! On reaching home I was just going to run inside and grab my camera when my friendly neighbour called me over for a chat. Reluctantly I exchanged a few pleasantries, as you do, then blurted out "sorry can't stop I want to take a photo of the sky".

She must have thought I'd lost the plot as I hurried away casting my eyes heavenward! Anyway, through the front door, I grabbed my camera and sprinted upstairs (believe that and you'll believe anything!) and I managed to get this photo from my son's window (after scaling a mountain of clothes on his bedroom floor)! But it's not nearly as dramatic as it had been on the drive home.

I've had an evening of experimenting with various new materials and techniques. I've been working with copper wire and decided to try my hand at oxidizing it. I'd read somewhere that Rock Sulphur from the pet shop (used in dog's drinking water to supposedly cool the blood in hot weather) has the same effect as very toxic Liver of Sulphur, when oxidizing metal. Personally, I wouldn't add anything to my dog's drinking water, but please don't confuse Rock Sulphur and Liver of Sulphur, they are two entirely different things. Liver of Sulphur can be very toxic and you mustn't even breath the fumes, so NEVER ADD IT TO DRINKING WATER, YOURS OR THE DOG'S!

Anyway, I digress. I wanted to see if there was sufficient strength of sulphur in the Rock Sulphur to oxidize copper, but alas it didn't work! So tonight I tried the environmentally friendly method of using a hard boiled egg. I boiled the egg for about 20 minutes, and whilst it was still hot and with the shell on, I put it in a zip lock bag, and smashed it up with a rolling pin... after first making sure I hadn't yet added the earrings! Then I popped the earrings inside, rolled it up to expel any air and sealed it.

It's my first attempt at making hoop earrings. I fashioned the hoops on a wooden dowel... I actually used the wooden spindle on my kitchen roll holder, but any cylindrical household object would do.

Making the hoops was quite simple. I cut a length of 22 gauge wire, filed the ends smooth, then made a small loop at one end with round nosed pliers. After wrapping the wire around the dowel to form the hoops I slid them off and hammered them to work harden the wire. I don't have a nylon hammer, so I improvised by placing the hoops on the bench block and covering them with an old plastic transparent Tupperwear lid, then hit them with a hammer. Needless to say I won't be using the lid on my butty box anymore, 'cos it's a bit battered!

Not content with plain oxidized copper hoops, I embellished them with beads interspersed with tightly coiled copper in 26 gauge. This was the fiddly bit... threading the beads on was plain sailing, but wrapping the wire around the hoops made them lose their shape and the hoops were really difficult to re shape with the beads on. So I slid all the beads and copper coils off, straightened the wire with nylon jawed pliers, re did the loop fastener and re-fashioned the hoops on the dowel, and then very carefully threaded the beads and coils back onto the hoops. I then tweaked the straight end with flat nosed pliers to make a small hook to push through the loop to secure them.

The oxidizing worked quite well, and because I placed the hoops in the bag whilst the egg was still very hot, it only took about half an hour to turn them dark. But then I had to wash the eggy mess off the earrings, and polish them up which removed most of the oxidization, which kinda defeated the object. But they're still gently oxidized and less bright than they originally were. If you want a darker finish, leave them for longer, perhaps overnight

It's not a very good photo, you'll need to click to enlarge it in order to see the coils, but it's the best I could do at this time of night. As experiments go, the hoops aren't too bad, but they're way below the standard for selling, so I'm keeping them for myself and will keep experimenting and practicing until I'm satisfied with the result.

Oh, almost forgot to mention... I ordered some lovely vintage buttons. Watch this space!

The new slimline Bailey

2009-07-03T04:43:00.000-07:00

My handsome boy Bailey has now surpassed his goal weight of 36kg and is now a trim 35kg. We had intended that he try to maintain his weight this month, but even an increase in calories by adding a daily sardine or mackerel to his diet and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil on his dinner and tea still saw another 800g loss when we visited the vet's weight loss clinic on Tuesday. We had decided to increase the calories with oils and oily fish because his coat was dull with severe moulting (even worse than usual) and dry flaky skin when I brushed him. His coat is now in super condition, but in order for him not to lose any more weight I am increasing his food and taking him for fortnightly checks until we find the ideal amount to feed him. I'm sure he must feel a lot better in this scorching hot weather than he did last summer weighing almost 42kg.

Anyway, I thought I'd let you all see how great he looks now. :)

But before I do, here are a couple of before pictures:

This was taken last autumn just as he started his diet, weighing 41.9kg

In his couch potato days!

Doesn't he look so much better! Far younger than his 9 1/2 years.

Showing off his new trim tummy. He could barely roll onto his back before!

What a pity I'm not as disciplined where my own weight's concerned! Mind you, I'd look a right tart adopting some of Bailey's poses! That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it... the excuse that is, not the diet!

1000 views

2009-07-02T09:45:00.000-07:00

Yay! My Etsy shop has registered exactly 1000 views. Here's to the next 1000! Why not pop along to see my designs and help bring that 2000'th view closer. :)

www.chameleonite.etsy.com

Busy Busy Busy

2009-07-01T13:24:00.000-07:00

I've been keeping very busy this past few days designing new earrings, taking photos and making listings. Here are three pairs I've recently added to my Etsy shop.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=27179033

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=27090005

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=27085349

My First Sale!

2009-06-26T10:49:00.001-07:00

So sorry to hear of the death of Michael Jackson. My bedroom wall was plastered with posters of him when he was a cute afro-haired teenager, and I was a not so cute greasy-haired teenager. He was the same age as I am, and I read of his death late last night/early morning whilst trying to work my way through the maze that is Paypal and customs forms.

Now why would I be trying to figure out paypal and customs forms... because, wait for it....... I MADE MY FIRST EVER SALE ON ETSY!! WHOOOPPEEE

The custom item query came through at about 11.30, just as I was about to drag my weary bones off to bed. Thankfully I was able to accept it, set about making it (aren't I keen!!) and then sat there none plussed while I tried to work out how to do a transaction through paypal...easy when you know how! I'd paid for stuff with paypal before, but never sold anything, because just in case you missed it first time I MADE MY FIRST EVER SALE ON ETSY!! WHOOOPPEEE

It was also the fist time I'd ever shipped anything to America. Oddly enough the customer who bought from me lives in Los Angeles, where Michael died. So my first order came in late at night, was a custom order and was being shipped internationally... talk about throwing me in the deep end!

So, in years to come, if anyone asks me "can you remember what you were doing when you heard Michael Jackson had died" I will know exactly what I was doing... how could I ever forget!

RIP Michael. xx

2009-06-22T13:58:00.000-07:00

I had a lovely surprise this morning; a notification that a pair of my earrings had been included in an Etsy Treasury... the first time I have been honoured with such a privilege! I was over the moon and couldn't wait to take a look... but the site was down for maintenance!!

So to kill time, I walked my dog Bailey (with a spring in my step) and returned home eager to see the treasury. I logged in, clicked on the link... and got an error message saying my user name hadn't been recognised, and advising me to try logging in again. This I tried several times, as I became more and more frustrated. I've never had a problem loading the Treasury before. Why this time, the only time I had an item in a Treasury! Grrrr

So I popped over to Craft Cult to check on my hearts, and none of the pages would load. I felt like the worldwide web and his wife were plotting against me!

But I perservered, and eventually got to see my spot in the treasury. My silver framed red heart earrings... or bleeding heart, as they were called before the SEO fiasco when we were advised to ditch the cute names and replace them with descriptive keywords.

You can see them here: http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=66171 .

Bailey

2009-06-22T12:58:00.000-07:00

Here is my best friend and constant companion Bailey. I adopted him from the local Labrador Rescue when he was 5 years old. He is now 9 and I couldn't imagine my life without him.

Welcome

2009-06-22T11:53:00.000-07:00

Hello and welcome to my blog!

Following the recent opening of my Etsy Jewellery store "Chameleonite" www.chameleonite.etsy.com - I figured it would be a good idea to start my own blog.

Here you will find information on designs I am currently working on, details of my most recent listings, and snippets of information about my life.

But this isn't just about me. I will also be featuring the work of other artisans whose talents I particularly admire.

I hope you will enjoy visiting as my blog takes shape and continues to develop. :)