And this is some of Marlene's work:

You can see more on:

glassygear.etsy.com

glassygear@yahoo.com

I'm sure you'll like what you see!

The Winning Bracelet

The Big Bead Awards was a success for Ellie, who has won the 2nd Prize in the Under 16' category with this "Night and Day" bracelet featuring my glass beads! The idea was Kit's, and she had to show Ellie how to attach clasps etc, but the result is great! Well done, girls!!!

We had a lovely time: we saw and had a chat with Jean Power, editor of Bead Magazine, then we had the Presentations, then we had to go for lunch, after which we came back and had more chatting with my friend Marlene, who is a talented and very knowledgeable beader, bead maker and jewellery designer, and you can see more of her work on glassygear.etsy.com. We also had a chat with Sarah Downton, and we bought two lovely beads from her, Kit loves her blue fish, she's already put it on a string. This was not all: we bought some cabochons (a rip off - I spent £100 and the man charged me for the bails on top of that as well!), but never mind. But never again.

So it was a great day out, of course, we bought some gold leaf from Tuffnell, and I already managed to make some horrible beads with it (the photo is NOT attached!).

I've just discovered that I need to make a different post in order to put some more pix!

The Big Bead Show

Yesterday we went to the Big Bead Show. It was great: Ellie's bracelet won a 2nd prize in the under 16s' category - well done! We saw lots of familiar faces and had chats with all our glass/bead friends, the photos are to follow shortly! It's a bliss to have my computer back after all the de-bugging!

Staffordshire Hoard

If you have not been to Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery yet - you've got to go! Well done, Mr Herbert! The beauty of the pieces exhibited is unsurpassed, you won't be disappointed. It was a shame that those beautiful gold pieces weren't washed, as I came to look at the motifs, they remind me of so many things, this could be a book! And we only queued for 1&1/2 hours, the wait was worth it! I do hope it all will be left somewhere local, we made a little donation towards that. Now I am waiting for a proper book with photos, alas, this would take a couple of years, I guess. And we must come back to see the amazing trompe l'oeil of Patrick Hughes too.
No time to make beads!

The tablecloth is ready!

I actually went out this morning (not counting the boring 1/2hr drive to King's Lynn, because our local fabrics shop was closed - Wednesday, remember old days??!!) and bought a lovely new piece of amazingly lovely fabric. I had to do the end bits on the sewing machine - how nice that my Mum can't see them, she would definitely tell me off for those kinds of stitches! Anyway, you can see it for yourselves: these are just some shots of the sexy tablecloth that I am going to have on Saturday in Northamptonshire - it's GBUK AGM, after all, and I've got a stall. So you can come by and say hi!

I have bought some gorgeous beads from Beverley Hicklin, check her website out - www.beverleyhicklin.co.uk. Actually, when you think about it, it was probably these amazing beads that made me order this lentil press! It's been busy, I've been going mad with this press (I don't know how it has not yet disintegrated!) - alas, the poor poor beads have not been coming out perfect to be sold! Never mind, I need more practice, but one day I'll be fine!

Of course, I need to get ready for the Saturday AGM of GBUK as I have a stall there. I have planned to "revamp" my tablecloth, so lots of sewing is coming into my life. Sorry but no photos today - I ought to take one of the new lentils but it is raining so possibly 2mrw!

What's This?

This is what I thought looking out of the kitchen's window. I never planted any flowers near that brick garage wall, so what is it? I had to go out and inspect that tiny bright pink patch - it must have been a little seed that came in with the wind from somewhere, and I did not notice it and did not pick it out with weeds simply because I have been away for such a long time! And who said that flowers do not grow near walls, look at this one, it has never even been watered by me!

By the way, on the left is our Fat Cat. I think he is really proud to have been included into this special picture.

But yes, I am back at last. Some exciting things have happened, and I received this morning some new presses from the States. I am off to try them out!