4th August - Thrift Store Blog hop

I hope you are all having fun with my first blog hop.

For my item I bought these from a Cancer hospice shop for 50p each. They are little ornamental masks I found in the junk bin.

I have no idea why I bought these. For a start I am scared of clowns and these have been sitting in the kitchen staring at me for a while now.

As of this evening one of them has been painted in brown acrylic paint and one in lime green.

At least they look less like clowns now but still quite a challenge!

I hope I can make it in time for the challenge. It'd be quite embarrassing to miss the deadline of my own blog hop!

Bead Soup Party - What I Sent

As mentioned here I've signed up to Lori Andersons Bead Soup Blog party.

Here's what I sent to my partner. The sad news it that it never arrived :( I've just made another parcel up which is being sent out today and the Lovely Lori has changed our Blog Hop day to the last date to give Terri extra time due to the postage issues.

 I think this must be the worst taken photo I've ever posted on my blog before! I forgot to take the photo when there was decent light so it was a quick snap shot in the dark. You can't see how purple anything is at all!

Symbolic Handmade Lampwork focal bead by PrincessPeggy

In the parcel were:-
Amethyst nuggets
Handmade lampwork art bead focal
Purple cotton cord
Purple glass rounds
Silver toggle
Silver magnetic clasp
And a pack of amethyst glass hex seed beads.

Beads for Blogging - 1st Piece!

A while back I received some "Beads for Blogging" and received this lovely little lot.

And yesterday I finally finished my first piece!

I used the turquoise rounds and the agate teardrop. I found some agate crescents in my beads stash which matched the agate teardrop, and then just added some little silver rounds as spacers. Simple but effective.

And I'm keeping this one all for myself!

Tim Minchin Themed Bracelet

I've chosen the charms on this bracelet to represent the great man himself.

Koalas since he is from Australia
Stars cos he is one
Piano because he plays one
Shopping bags for the song "canvas bags"
Feet since he doesn't wear shoes on stage
Music notes as he is musical

This bracelet also has a cameo setting so you can stick in your favourite picture of Tim.

And a video by the great man himself :)

Amethyst Again

I'm a total sucker for amethyst!

Summer Necklace Colour Combo

Remember these lovelies that arrived from Skye as my prize for the Toolbox Bloghop Challenge?

 

I finally got around to making something!

Those bright orange focals really appealed to me as did the orange hearts and I teamed them up with the turquoise crackle glass I received too.

I added some orange grosgrain ribbon which matched the colour of the focals, and found some silver swirls from a parcel I received from a swap-bot member. I like it!

Competition Winner!

a Rafflecopter giveaway You have til the end of the month to claim your prize! :)

Link Challenge! - They've Arrived!

I signed up to the Link Challenge and they've arrived! I'm not too much of a snob when it comes to materials I work with. I believe that all materials can be used to good effect with a bit of thought. And the fun is in the thinking then creating. And I think I'm going to have fun with these acrylic lovelies!

I've already got a  few idea of what to do with them

I'm loving the opportunities this blog is giving me to work with unusual materials and to challenge myself!

Urban Geocaching In Nottingham

A few of my local bookcrossing friends had expressed an interest in starting geocaching so after the Nottingham bookcrossing meet we went to find the nearest cache.

Then the next one...

And the next one...

I was amazed that despite being from Nottingham that I had never walked along the canals. They've had a lot of regeneration lately so they are a much better area to walk around.

I just had to take lots of photos!

And then we saw a heron!

Altered Book - The Beginning

I've been liking the look of altered books for a while so thought I'd give it a go. This is my starting book. The ABC of Roses.

Rings and Things

I'm liking my new ring mandrel!

Thrift Store Blog Hop Logos!

Sandy has made some great banners and buttons for people who are in the Thrift Store Blog hop.

Hope you like them. I think they're great!

Normal Banner -> http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k546/chaoticskye1/Thriftbanner2.jpg

Wide Banner -> http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k546/chaoticskye1/Thriftbanner1.jpg

Sidebar Button -> http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k546/chaoticskye1/Thriftbutton.jpg

 Still time to join if you feel like coming along for the ride too. :)

Participants so far:-

Sarah - www.pookledo.blogspot.co.uk
Deb - http://greenshoot.blogspot.co.uk/
Kimberley - http://goddessesandbeads.blogspot.co.uk/
Skye - http://skyescreativechaos.blogspot.co.uk/
Ambra - http://chicandfrog.wordpress.com/
Beti - http://stringingfool.blogspot.com/
Emma - www.apolymerpenchant.com
Shelley - www.shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com
Tammie -  http://ttedesigns.blogspot.co.uk/
Leah - http://beadyeyedbunny.blogspot.co.uk/
Denielle - www.somebeadsandotherthings.com
Keri Lee - http://www.pinklemonade.typepad.com 
Rochelle - acreativechelle.blogspot.com
Pam - http://pamelas-studio.blogspot.com/
Ingetraud - http://ingetraud.wordpress.com/
Audrey - http://esperianterra.blogspot.com/
Julie Anne - www.thepeacefulbead.com
Sharyl - http://www.sharylsjewelry.blogspot.com
Micheladas - http://micheladasmusings.blogspot.com 

16th July - Swan Upping

I just love obscure festivals and events!

Today is the starts of Swan Upping.

Swan Upping is the census of swans which takes place annually during July on the River Thames. Swans are counted and marked on a 70 mile, five day journey up the River Thames.

Swan Cameo Necklace

Take Me Away with You - Print

Hand Painted Sea Pottery

15th July - St Swithun's Day

Saint Swithun was England’s Bishop of Winchester who died in c. 862


It is traditionally said that if it rains on his feast day then 40 days of bad weather will follow. 

Here comes the Rain - Print

Here Comes the Sun

Spring Rain -Batts

Today I am a Storm Cloud

Raincoat - Badge

Christmas in July Giveaway!

I thought it was time I had a little competition and what better time than Christmas in July to do it
I doubt there will be many takers but that means more chance for you to win it.

The prize on offer is a £10 voucher to spend in my shop


a Rafflecopter giveaway

£10 can buy you a few different things in my shop outright including:-

Labradorite and Silver Bracelet

  Or you could have £10 off a larger item such as :-

Summer Pink Choker

 

 

Crocheted Jewelley Experiment

I thought I'd have a  go at using a wire choker as a base to start a piece of crochet on. I've still got to sew in the loose ends, but I like it!

Fusion Muse - Beads for Blogging Have Arrived!

I've been so busy lately with one thing and another that I haven't had a chance to update about the Beads for Blogging challenge that Fusion Muse is running.

Free Beads for Blogging

My beads arrived!And here they are!

Is it just me who likes to take a photo of the packaging?

And here come the beads! What a selection! I'm going to have to have a good think.

Obviously the photos of the items for sale are much better than my offerings.

Mother of Pearl Rounds - Candy Coloured

I had no idea what these were at all when I opened the packet. The colours are so vibrant. They reminded me of additive full sweets from when I was a kid.

Pink Dyed Coral

I have to admit to not knowing what this was too! I love trying out new things. I think these are my favourite bead from the selection I received. but it could also be the larger faceted beads to the bottom right of the photo too.

I look forward to using them. Thankyou.