I bet you're wondering where my piece is? All I can do is apologise, and ask you to hang on in there and visit at the start of next week, as I'm still very poorly :( my piece is so close to being finished too, but am lacking the energy for that last 'push'.
A big apology to Erin, who has organised this hop. It's a fabulous idea, and I'm so pleased to be involved in it.
Tune in next week for my (delayed) piece!
Wednesday, 29 February 2012
Friday, 24 February 2012
A little something
I'm still ill (I just feel worse every day!) but I thought I'd share with you one of the hairbands I've made for my bridesmaids.
The cherry blossom flowers were made using Laura McCabe's instructions found in her 'Embellished Beadweaving' book that I modified slightly. Then I attached them using a Swarovski crystal per flower and some artistic wire to the headband, and then covered the whole thing in ivory ribbon.
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| Taken with my iPhone camera, so probably not the best quality picture, but I hope you get the idea! |
I've made four of these so far, only two to go!
Thursday, 23 February 2012
Ill
I've been fighting to keep a cold at bay for a couple of weeks now, but last weekend I was whisked away to London for a belated Valentine's Day retreat. Naturally, because I was away from work and feeling a bit more relaxed, my body decided to lower its defences and now I'm ILL. Really ill. It couldn't have happened at a worse time, as the next couple of weeks are going to be so busy with work and my hen do!
I haven't had a decent nights sleep in four nights now, and I've had to turn away paid work because I'm too ill to do anything. Obviously, given that I have a wedding to pay for (six weeks away people! Argh!) this isn't good.
Whilst I recover, don't expect many posts from me I'm afraid. But please return on the 29th to see my piece for the Challenge of Music!
I haven't had a decent nights sleep in four nights now, and I've had to turn away paid work because I'm too ill to do anything. Obviously, given that I have a wedding to pay for (six weeks away people! Argh!) this isn't good.
Whilst I recover, don't expect many posts from me I'm afraid. But please return on the 29th to see my piece for the Challenge of Music!
Saturday, 4 February 2012
Take the Challenge!
Today is your last day to sign up to the 'Challenge of Music', set up by Erin Prais-Hintz over at Treasures Found.
Erin has come up with a wonderful idea to allow participants to choose a song that speaks to each of us personally and translate that song into an accessory. Sounds fun, right?
I am happy to say that I am taking part in this, as I think it's a fabulous idea to be inspired by music, and something I've never considered trying. Music is a major part of my life (I play clarinet and alto saxophone, and I am qualified to teach music!), and like so many different styles of music.
It's been tough to pick a song. I've been racking my brain for ideas for something to make inspired by my song of choice (I'll tell you what it is later!), and I think I've come up with a suitable design. Well, it makes sense to me, and is definitely my own interpretation of the song!
Sign ups finish today, and the blog hop will happen on 29th February, where all participants will reveal the song (and allow you to listen to it) and the piece they've made that's inspired by the song.
Erin has come up with a wonderful idea to allow participants to choose a song that speaks to each of us personally and translate that song into an accessory. Sounds fun, right?
I am happy to say that I am taking part in this, as I think it's a fabulous idea to be inspired by music, and something I've never considered trying. Music is a major part of my life (I play clarinet and alto saxophone, and I am qualified to teach music!), and like so many different styles of music.
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| I don't know what I'd do without music in my life |
It's been tough to pick a song. I've been racking my brain for ideas for something to make inspired by my song of choice (I'll tell you what it is later!), and I think I've come up with a suitable design. Well, it makes sense to me, and is definitely my own interpretation of the song!
Sign ups finish today, and the blog hop will happen on 29th February, where all participants will reveal the song (and allow you to listen to it) and the piece they've made that's inspired by the song.
Wednesday, 1 February 2012
January round-up
January has gone by so quickly, and I haven't had much chance to blog. I've been around, visiting other people's blogs, but I haven't had much to blog about.
PhD work is increasing exponentially, ready to be completed by the end of September. I've also been really busy planning my wedding, which is only 8 weeks away. I can tell you, I'm having sleepless nights, and when I do sleep I'm having nightmares about not getting my thesis, or things not being ready in time for the wedding. I wouldn't recommend doing a PhD and organising a wedding at the same time!
However, jewellery-wise I've had a good month: I had three sales in January, which is great for me! Sales have steadily been increasing over the last couple of months, and I've noticed that the less I stress about getting sales, the better I do. If I treat jewellery making as a hobby (which is what it's meant to be!) then I enjoy it a lot more.
The quilting is going well too. I made a cute little union jack bag for my friend's birthday earlier in the month, and can't wait to start making bigger pieces. But this might have to wait until after the wedding now!
I'm also really excited to say that hopefully (a big hopefully....) Anthony and I will be off to Japan later in the year, something we've both wanted to do for a long time. It'll be a celebratory holiday to commemerate finishing my PhD, and is something to look forward to.
PhD work is increasing exponentially, ready to be completed by the end of September. I've also been really busy planning my wedding, which is only 8 weeks away. I can tell you, I'm having sleepless nights, and when I do sleep I'm having nightmares about not getting my thesis, or things not being ready in time for the wedding. I wouldn't recommend doing a PhD and organising a wedding at the same time!
However, jewellery-wise I've had a good month: I had three sales in January, which is great for me! Sales have steadily been increasing over the last couple of months, and I've noticed that the less I stress about getting sales, the better I do. If I treat jewellery making as a hobby (which is what it's meant to be!) then I enjoy it a lot more.
The quilting is going well too. I made a cute little union jack bag for my friend's birthday earlier in the month, and can't wait to start making bigger pieces. But this might have to wait until after the wedding now!
I'm also really excited to say that hopefully (a big hopefully....) Anthony and I will be off to Japan later in the year, something we've both wanted to do for a long time. It'll be a celebratory holiday to commemerate finishing my PhD, and is something to look forward to.
Sunday, 1 January 2012
Happy New Year!
A big Happy New Year to you all! I hope you all had fun celebrating the end of 2011 and welcomed in 2012 in high spirits - I certainly did!
2011 has gone so quickly to me. And it struck me today that 2012 potentially will go even quicker. There are so many things that are going to happen this year:
1. I will become a wife. My wedding is in three months!
2. I will become a Doctor (of the PhD variety). This will be the cumulation of three long, hard years worth of work. There will be tears along the way leading up to this point I'm sure.
3. I need to find my first 'proper' job. This means not just a temp job to fund me through the next year of university. This needs to be a career-starting job. So I better decide what I want to do, and where I want to go to do it. Do I want to stay in the UK?
4. Travelling to the most amazing places with my soon-to-be husband: honeymoon in Aruba and then a 'congratulations on finishing your PhD' holiday in Thailand. Finally, seeing in 2013 in Germany!
2012 looks promising, but also incredibly busy. I'm worried that I won't have enough time for myself, and to do all my jewellery making and lamp working (and anything else I turn my hand to). This worries me, as it's what keeps me (semi) sane. So I'm going to make a another resolution to the ones added here:
To tell myself it's ok to have a break
For now, enjoy the remainder of the holidays, and I'll see you all for Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Blog Party signups on the 7th!
2011 has gone so quickly to me. And it struck me today that 2012 potentially will go even quicker. There are so many things that are going to happen this year:
1. I will become a wife. My wedding is in three months!
2. I will become a Doctor (of the PhD variety). This will be the cumulation of three long, hard years worth of work. There will be tears along the way leading up to this point I'm sure.
3. I need to find my first 'proper' job. This means not just a temp job to fund me through the next year of university. This needs to be a career-starting job. So I better decide what I want to do, and where I want to go to do it. Do I want to stay in the UK?
4. Travelling to the most amazing places with my soon-to-be husband: honeymoon in Aruba and then a 'congratulations on finishing your PhD' holiday in Thailand. Finally, seeing in 2013 in Germany!
2012 looks promising, but also incredibly busy. I'm worried that I won't have enough time for myself, and to do all my jewellery making and lamp working (and anything else I turn my hand to). This worries me, as it's what keeps me (semi) sane. So I'm going to make a another resolution to the ones added here:
To tell myself it's ok to have a break
For now, enjoy the remainder of the holidays, and I'll see you all for Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Blog Party signups on the 7th!
Friday, 30 December 2011
Holidays
Happy holidays!
I trust you've all had a fabulous Christmas and have had chance to relax, spend time with family (and possibly make some jewellery?) and just generally have a break?
Personally, I've been ill since Christmas Eve with a flu, which is not fun! I'm still not feeling quite right, but at least I have had another excuse to eat chocolate for breakfast and sleep until midday.
Tomorrow is New Years Eve - and the end of 2011 and the start of another year. I have a list as long as my arm already with what I want to accomplish next year, but more on that later. I have numerous new years resolutions too: I really want to take up quilting; learn and master a few more moves on the pole; lose a couple of pounds (doesn't everyone?!) so I can fit into my wedding dress(es - yes, I have two!); try and do a 10km run in under an hour and without breaking my ankle this year.
There's probably a few more. What are your new years resolutions?
I trust you've all had a fabulous Christmas and have had chance to relax, spend time with family (and possibly make some jewellery?) and just generally have a break?
Personally, I've been ill since Christmas Eve with a flu, which is not fun! I'm still not feeling quite right, but at least I have had another excuse to eat chocolate for breakfast and sleep until midday.
Tomorrow is New Years Eve - and the end of 2011 and the start of another year. I have a list as long as my arm already with what I want to accomplish next year, but more on that later. I have numerous new years resolutions too: I really want to take up quilting; learn and master a few more moves on the pole; lose a couple of pounds (doesn't everyone?!) so I can fit into my wedding dress(es - yes, I have two!); try and do a 10km run in under an hour and without breaking my ankle this year.
There's probably a few more. What are your new years resolutions?
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