Kellas first, if you check out Victoria’s blog you can see the stage the necklaces were when I received them.  I struggled on this one, to me it seemed finished already and I really didn’t want to spoil it, so after a lot of deliberation and sketches I came up with this. 

Technically its not much, but I do think it is the finishing touch and I’m pleased with it, it doesn’t detract from the stunning pendant or gorgeous beads and reflects the copper wire wrapping and the turquoise colour nicely, with just a delicate flower suspended in the middlefrom a copper coloured chain.

To make up for the ‘lack’ of additions, and the lateness, I made a matching pair of earrings, crocheted with wire just like the flower.  I really hope Kella likes it!

Next up is Victoria’s.  To me, with the beautifully faded ribbon, the pearls and the hints of silver it just seemed to sum up a sort of faded glory.  I had a couple of ideas I tried with this one but they were all too sort of fresh.  And this idea just evolved from that really. 

Again I really like it, otherwise I wouldn’t have done it, and I just hope Victoria is as pleased with my additions.  I also made a little pair of matching earrings using a couple of the beads I was initially going to use in the necklace as they do go well too.

 I really did enjoy joining in with this, Its made me think in different ways and I’ve helped make a couple of necklaces that I’d never have thought of before and it has added greatly to my ideas pile.  So a huge thanks to Kella for organising this – I hope your pleased girls!

Update:  Kella really likes her necklace and has posted a gorgeous picture of her wearing it on her blog which I’ve pinched as it looks so good, whatdo you think?

Next up, I’m going out!   I know, can you hear the fanfare too?  Anyhow, I got this gorgeous dress in the sales, bright emerald green, quite 50’s in style.  I thought perfect occasion to wear my new glamerous necklace I made, the one with the wire flowers… but it doesn’t go. 

So I made a bracelet that does!

Finally, I’ve also been spending, but not too much, honest!  Thanks to the Craft Neutral Challange I’ve only bought some jump rings this year, eveything I’ve made has been from my stash, and that includes several necklaces, bracelets, earrings, scarflettes and gloves!  And after all, we have to support the wonderful craftspeople we have!

So, after browsing through researching some of my favourites shops on Folksy I  saw these gorgeous brooches by the amazing artist Amy McCarthy 

They are recyled beer bottle tops filled with various found objects like shells, bits of old jewellery, shards of glass and set in resin.  I think this one is my favourite

or maybe this one

Check out Amys other fabulous glass products in her folksy shop!

So a nice piccie

Crocheted flowers waiting to go onto hairslides

and a bit of shameless promotion

I’ve put my Vintage Lace bracelet that I made for February’s issue of Beads and Beyond in my folksy shop – its a good Valentines day present!

Okay, so no one has a green neck but it was the best thing I could display it on, and It doesn’t work so well on the clear vase.

I crocheted 8 flowers in wire, using 2 beads for each stitch on the petals and used the tail ends to stitch them together.  It is so light and soft and molds to your neck shape perfectly.  I love it – can you tell!

Ta-daa!

My latest tutorial – Vintage  Lace, a bracelet worked in wire with freshwater pearls, and on the front cover too!  (If you squint!)  I love this bracelet, it looks complicated but like all good things, is actually quite simple.

So if you fancy a go get the latest Beads and Beyond Magazine, and if you do, let me know, i’d love to see how you get on!

I’m in it again!  If you take a look in January’s issue of Beads and Beyond magazine, you’ll find a rather stylish vintage necklace on page 50!  I had all these lovely bits lying around (yes, literally, you’ve seen my room) and wanted a way to bring them all together that didn’t look like a mish mash.  I think I’ve achieved it here, and the brooch gives it a nice bit of weight too.  Using the most simple of techniques, a chain anyone can do this!

Also there’s only 1 day left on the folksy upcycle ebay auction for Sue Ryder, there were some great entries which are now all up for sale, a few people have even bid on my doily rug!  So if you want an unusual Christmas present pop over and place a bid, its all for charity don’t you know!

Who says Friday the 13th is unlucky- from now on I rename it Fantastic Friday!  Why, well you obviously haven’t seen the December issue of Beads and Beyond magazine, page 60 to be precise.  Showing my shocking inability to express myself verbally I keep alternating between saying ‘OH MY GOD!’, ‘I CAN’T BELIEVE IT!,and ‘I KNOW!’ 

Yes, that creation called ‘golden Strands’ is mine – in print!

I have to say I really enjoyed doing it, when you have to photograph and explain every stage of what you do it really makes you think.  That enforced slowing down of the thought process is so beneficial, I have so many ideas that I tend to rush what I’m doing to get onto the next one, when if we slow down sometimes and notice what we are doing it can open up a whole new window we never thought about.

If anyone does try the tutorial please let me know and see your results. I will now finish on an apology for all the shouting and exclaimation marks in this post – I am a little excited!