Happy New Year!!

Just a quick note to wish everyone a very happy and healthy 2010. I hope it is a good one for you all ;-)

Love,
Zo
x

Long time, no blog...

...again!! Just where does the time go?! I have no idea, all I know is that there isn't enough time to go around in our household!! So much to do ;-)

Well I have been mega busy this past week. I've done a couple of really good jewellery parties, the first time I've done any since Christmas I think!! And I have more booked so that's great ;-) The market in town wasn't so great last week but I'm hoping this week will be better.

I have had some commission work to do which I've just about finished now so that's all good.



I sold out of all my coasters...can you believe it?! I'm really chuffed but my poor kiln has been working it's little socks off (as has the kiln operator!). I have some really cute designs in the pipeline (well, I think they are anyway!) so I will post some pics when I have completed them.


I met a really nice lady called Christina who's told me all about a new monthly craft fair so I'm going to give that a try next month :o)

Before I go, I just have to share this picture of my boys having a little go on my lovely Dad's Tramper... they just love it when Grandad comes round on it because they get to have a ride up and down (and up and down, and up and down...) the drive! Just look at the joy in their faces - all 3 of them ;-)


Right, I think it's about time I hit the sack now, it was a late one last night...and the night before....and the night before.... and I'll be all crabby tomorrow if I don't get some sleep SOON!!!

Night night all,

Zo
x

Catch up...

Feel like I'm constantly playing catch up at the moment...have got out of the habit of blogging already!! I've had a little go at 'tweeting' on Twitter , you can't write as much so maybe I'd be better suited to that (sometimes!). Then again, I do like writing when I actually sit down and get going ;-)
Anyway, we went to a grey and wet art market on Saturday which was a bit of a dead loss to be honest...seemed to be plenty of people around but no-one stopping to look. There were only 7 art stalls so not sure whether that was something to do with it...not really a lot to entice people I suppose, is it?!!
So because of the weather and the way we consequently laid the stall out to keep the goodies and customers dry, I didn't get chance to make anything on Saturday. But I have made up for it!! Oh yes! Here are some that I actually took pictures of:
a silver plated Swarovski ring:

a Swarovski set in capri blue and crystal AB:

a really long green Czech glass necklace and clipon earrings:


I have also finally finished off the picture for my friend's newborn baby, not great sewing but then I haven't done any for about 20 years...oh, and please excuse the rubbishy photo, I was in a bit of a rush...catching up ;-)


(I think the pictures will all enlarge if you click on them) x

Pancakes and ankles...

Crumbs, how time flies when you're having fun!!!

Went to market again today... it was a bit slow going to start with (maybe that was because we got there about 45 minutes earlier than usual??!!) but it ended up being quite a good day, thankfully. And no rain...which is always a bonus!!! The wind really picked up this afternoon though which is a bit of a nightmare; wind and jewellery don't mix very well!! The people in the gazebo next to me were making scrumptious pancakes and their batter mix got blown over when their gazebo went for a little flying lesson...the perils of outdoor markets, hey?! Luckily no-one ended up with egg on their face ;-)

I made a few commissions while I was there today, including my first ever ankle bracelet. It did look really nice and I caught myself thinking, hmm, maybe I should make myself one... but then I thought yes, but I live in trousers and not sure I really want to draw attention to my lily-white ankles!!! So that's the end of that train of thought!

And on that bombshell....I'm off to eat my well-earned chilli!

x

P.S. I will add photos of some of the goodies I made today later , once I've taken them (I forgot to take my camera to market - d'oh!).

Great weekend, not so great start to the week...

We had a fab weekend. We were at the Curdridge Show on Saturday which was really nice. It's the first time I've been there and it was a lovely day out (plus I saw lots of people I knew so had a good catch up!!). And we sold lots of nice things ;-)
Then we went straight to my Dad's 65th birthday party so a busy day!!

On Sunday we went over to the Isle of Wight for a very good friend's son's 1st birthday party. We haven't seen as much of each other since she moved to the Island but it was so lovely to spend time chatting, chasing the boys and eating lots of birthday cake! But talk about windy!! (The weather!). We went on the ferry so the trip over the water wasn't too bad, although Billy did shout at the top of his voice 'OH NO! WE'RE GONNA CRASH' as we left Cowes!

So...why has this week not started brilliantly? Well, whilst I'm super busy with jewellery orders at the moment - which is great - my other half was made redundant yesterday :-(
Although it's a bit of a worry he is definitely in a much better mood now he has been 'released'!! Maybe this is the fresh start he needed. So if anyone hears of an opportunity for a very good technical IT consultant/account manager let me know!!!

Well....do you want to see how they turned out??

The coasters I'm talking about!! I can announce that I didn't end up with one big blob of glass (thank goodness!) and I'm pretty pleased with how they turned out. One or two are a bit rough around the edges but you've got to expect that when you're using a different kiln I think. Generally I am well chuffed with the results!
I wanted to share a picture of them with you so here's the fresh batch still in the kiln:

Now all we have to do is sell them, any takers?! ;-)
I will report back after the weekend...until then....
x

EXCITING!!!

As I am at the Curdridge Show this Saturday and my glass stock is dwindling I decided I should really take lots more of the coasters with me but my kiln is just too small for firing lots of big things and is on non-stop as it is!! So..... I've managed to rent the space in a MASSIVE kiln for the day! I'm so excited! I just hope they come out OK, otherwise I'll end up with a massive glass wallhanging instead, LOL!
I set it all up this morning and am due to go and see the damage tomorrow afternoon.
Keep your fingers crossed ;-)

Just made it!!

Well, I said I'd post some pics today so here they are ... just a couple I'm afraid ... I made 'today' by the skin of my teeth ;-o


I will try and take more pictures tomorrow, much quicker than writing a thousand words!
Off to beddy byes now,
Laters,
x

It's been a few days

..since I last updated my blog, I just don't know where the time goes lately!!
Billy's at playschool this morning and Tom and I have just stopped for a coffee break...I took a few pictures of him because I suddenly realised that there aren't any on here (apart from his feet in the pushchair!!). So here is my littlest man enjoying his 'coffee' ...at least that's what he thinks it is but really it's just hot frothy milk with a little bit of drinking chocolate sprinkled on the top....and mini marshmallows if he's lucky ;-)
He was mucky before he started but even muckier by the end of it!! Just look at the glint in his eyes; I think he is going to be just as mischevious as his brother is....OMG wish me luck, Tom's not even 2 yet!

I've been making coasters this week; my stock was down to a big fat zero so I have started building it up again, here's a little peak...

there's more cooking in the kiln as we speak!

I also started making a little picture last night for my friend next door but one. I had to remind myself how to start blanket stitch though - don't think I've done it since I was in the Brownies!! Our friends had their first baby on Monday so I'm making a little picture for them, I've got to embroider his name etc on there yet but here's what it looks like at the moment so you can probably get the gist of the end product ;-)


I love making things, just wish there were more hours in the day....sound familiar??!!

Oh....talking of which I've just remembered I never did take those photos of the jewellery bits I made earlier in the week...Tomorrow, I promise!!!

x

Sometimes you can just never tell!

We went to market today. I never really know what to expect from a market. The ones you think should be good sometimes aren't and vice versa. One day you can sell loads of pearls, the next day it could be all crystals. You can never tell (or should I say "I" can never tell!).
This morning the weather was pretty unpredictable, it even dared to throw it down with rain on us!! That was a bit of a shock to the system after all this glorious sunshine we've been enjoying lately! Consequently, it was a pretty slow morning, not very many people around and those who were around were not stopping to look at the art market :o(
But then the sun came out and everything changed!! We ended up having quite good sales day so it was worth going in the end.

We came home (shattered!) to a big family barbecue which was lovely - thank you A ;-)

I have also managed to make quite a few new bits and pieces today but have not managed to take any photos yet so I will upload them when I do....maybe tomorrow but maybe later in the week!!

Until then...

Picnics and pony rides in the park

I've got to share a picture of my eldest boy with you...we had a teddy bears picnic with his playschool yesterday and they had arranged for pony rides for the children in the park. I didn't think Billy would be up for it but he loved it! Here he is with the biggest hat they had on his head (he has a rather large noggin!)...

It was a lovely afternoon and both my boys thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

The strawberry tea for Breast Cancer Care was today...not as well turned out as Nicola hoped but we did manage to raise some money which was great.

Some good news this afternoon - I had a repeat order for a ring I sold on MISI today. The lady had bought it for her Mum and loved it so much she wanted another for herself! It's such a lovely feeling when people write and say how much they like something you've made :o)
Maybe I need to make some more of these:

Nice invitations!

We've been invited to a 'members only' event at a local hotel......don't worry, there's nothing dodgy about it!! I did an event there last year and they are inviting local companies to have a stand for a couple of hours to promote their businesses. All proceeds go to Naomi House (a local children's charity).

We're also off to a 'strawberry tea' tomorrow for a couple of hours so looking forward to that. We'll be donating 10% of the proceeds to Breast Cancer Care so it's also for a very good cause :o)

I have just this minute finished making a bling ring which looks absolutely gorgeous in this sunshine!! I've taken a picture but not sure whether it actually shows it off to it's full glory...


It is lovely; I'm very tempted to keep it for myself but it has to go in the post to America!
I'll update more tomorrow ;-)
Until then,
x

Quick update

It's been a hectic few days here, carnival, parties, markets.... it's all go!!

I've just unpacked the truck from another market today - it was a nice day but a bit quiet (maybe because it was a nice day everyone had gone to the beach?!!). Anyway, we'll be at the Bargate in Southampton again next Saturday for the July Art Market...hopefully see some of you there!

PS Billy loved dressing up as a penguin in the carnival yesterday and they won 1st prize for the best lorry :o)

Perfectly Prom!

Here is the photo I promised of Jo's hairpins for her prom night; aren't they lovely?? Capri blue has to be my favourite blue out of the Swarovski range and we've teamed it with crystal moonlight to give it that extra bit of sparkle.
I hope Jo is pleased with them when she collects them later on today and I'm sure she'll be the belle of the ball ;-)

Great day ;-)

Had my best day ever at market today - it was great and the sun had his hat on too, hip hip hooray!! Trouble is I was so busy selling I didn't get any chance to make stuff so my stock needs replenishing quite a bit now...but that's not a complaint cos I just love making jewellery! You'd think after all these years the magic might have gone but it hasn't, don't think it ever will ;-)
Got to make some hairpins for a lady to collect next week so I will post pics once they're done; blue and crystal to go with a prom dress (which sounded beautiful)...
Also was my first week selling on MISI this week. I only put 2 rings on there to start with and I've already sold one of them - woohoo!! Need to get some more bits on there I think! I've also put some of Andy's Mum's paintings on there so have a look if you can ;-)
Right, off to go and scoff a paella that my man's made now..yum...

Something a bit different...

...to the usual kind of thing I make. This one's a bit chunkier. I saw the beads and thought they were really pretty so just had to buy them! But that's me all over, buy something before I know what I'm going to do with it (and when I don't really need it) ;-)

And here's a close up of those lovely beads:

New sparkly necklace...

Just finished off a new necklace - what do you think??
Liz commissioned a similar blue one last week and I thought it would look really pretty in this Swarovski crystal moonlight colour ....so I've made one! Perfect for weddings but I think it would look equally fab with any summery outfit.
Any of your thoughts are very welcome!!

P-pick up a penguin...

Here are the penguins enroute to playschool, with LOADS of layers of paint on!!













Also thought I'd share a picture of our breakfast this morning before we made them into scrummy American pancakes, yum yum!













Laters,
x

Berried treasure!

Took the boys strawberry picking this afternoon, we had to delve deeply to find them but the strawberries are absolutely lush ;-). Just a shame they were a bit thin on the ground today. I guess maybe the first couple of days after a nice weekend is not a good time to go if you want easy pickings! We had a great time anyway and the boys got to wander around the aquarium/pond shop afterwards too.

Boys have had a good day today I think. We did some painting of penguins this morning for the carnival float and I dug out some old stamps and ink pads for them to make pictures with; they seemed to enjoy it judging by the mess ;-)

As it was such a lovely day we spent most of it outside. We've had the bubble machine going in the garden, Billy's been riding his new (to him) bike...he's picked it up sooooo quickly, 5 minutes and he was off! Obviously Tom has had to follow suit on the little trike (except he needs blocks on the pedals cos his poor little legs don't reach!). And now they are both exhausted and crashed out!

So I guess that's my cue for getting dinner sorted. Got to re-paint the penguins tonight ready for B to take to playschool in the morning - it looks like they're part of some kind of gothic penguin sect at the moment LOL!

I'll try & post pics tonight
Laters
x

I'm here!!!

...I hope! This is the first blog I've ever ever set up so with a bit of luck I won't mess it up ;-)

All the boys have just gone out so I should be cracking on with painting the hall, stairs & landing while I have an empty house (which doesn't happen very often!!).

I'll let you know how I get on!