Better Later Than Never Is exactly What I Say!

Well hello!

Please accept my most sincere apologies for not keeping up with this blog thingamajig! Well I am really sorry - no honestly I am!

What with my little cleaning venture and the arrangements for my forthcoming wedding I have not had time for anything remotely involved with me or my jewellery!

I suppose the credit crunch epidemic that's sweeping this country like the bloody plague has alot to do with me keeping dead busy with my cleaning job - we all need money don't we?? I have not been spending money like I normally do and I've noticed that my customers have not been spending money on my precious little trinkets either. The shows this summer have been down in the takings - well my shows are in my beloved Yorkshire and you know what they say about us folks being tight and all that ha ha!

Alas not to worry eh! I will carry on regardless and see what the rest of the year brings.

I will try to fill you in on my wedding arrangements as it is only 6 months now till the big day and I am sooo excited its untrue!

Right here are some pics of my new jewellery and also one or two of the Mr Fabulous Marvin.

This one features Beverley Hicklin beads in fab turquoise and brown ( a favourite combination of mine) It is quite a substantial necklace with loads of lampwork, sterling silver, Karen hill tribe silver and my beloved swarovski crystal!

And last but certainly not least ..... Mr Marvin Marverari Wainwright!!

See you later xxxxx

OUCH the weather!

Assyrian.

Beautiful beads from Caroline Hannon mixed with Karen Hill Tribe Squares and rings, freshwater pearls and Sterling Silver chain.

Hey, what a week we have had with the weather being SO hot!! I am not complaining mind, just a little observation you understand!

I have been really busy as usual what with my cleaning business and making new jewellery pieces for my next show on 17Th May in Otley, West Yorkshire. Its a small agricultural show that I have been doing for a couple of years and has a really good turn out -so if your in the area why not come and visit - it is a great day out for all the family! Plug over now (LOL) I can let you know what else I have been up to.

I have decided to cancel my face book account - not because I have not enjoyed saying hello to my mates but rather because of all the annoying emails etc that you get when anyone has left a picture or message and also because I am spending far too much time nosing on other peoples lives and need to get on with my own!!

Its absolutely doing my head in so I have taken my bat and ball home and cancelled it all!

I don't know what it is about the sun that makes us want to get out and do some digging but that's exactly what I have been up to over the last couple of days or so, I have planted loads of new plants in my garden - second time in two years actually seen as though Marvin and Betty (the destroyer) ate all the last ones.

We now have a gate though to keep the dogs off the lawn and plants so at last I might have a bit of tranquillity.

Here is a pic of the dogs enjoying the sun (please note Betty's new knickers as she is on season - brill idea I think)!

I don't think we have ever laughed as much as when we first put these on her - ace arn't they??

Marv is flaked out!

I have also made some new jewellery goodies which will be going on my website for sale. On this necklace I am really chuffed with as the beads are tiny so have hummed and arrrrred over what to do with them.

Added to the beads are Karen Hill Tribe flower print beads and sterling silver beads and chain. I am going to call this one Angel Falls as the beads remind me of water.

Anyway nowt much else to tell but I promise I will get back to posting later in the week with some more pics.

Tarrah for now xxx

Loads To Tell!!

Hey, sorry for the lack of posts lately - I have been very busy and not just in a "cant be pestered" mood - HONEST!!

First I would like to share with you my new website which was created and set up by Ian Tubb who is the husband of my very lovely cyber space mate Jo of Gemheaven. I am thrilled to bits and pieces with the changes and it does look better - I was getting sick of all that pink ( I know thats unbelievable of me) and now its a very contemperory black and grey. Because of this change I have also decided to have a go at changing my photos and the backgrounds. Anyone who takes pics of jewellery and glass beads will know just how difficult it is to capture the beauty of the design and the brilliant beads so with that in mind I thought I would try a few different props on a slate background - which will go with my new look website!

Here is a picture of a handcrafted pendant with turquoise, silver and crystal strung on a sterling silver chain. I have used a candle as the prop and think this works quite well - what do you think?

I have really enjoyed taking the new photos and have absolutley loads and loads to put on my website too - here are a few more using different props

This one I have named "Marbles" as it looks like the marbles you could buy or indeed win when I was a young un! It has been photographed against a candle in a blowl with bronze pebble chips - I love this one - the fantastic bead is by Beverley Hicklin.

And finally ....

This one is a favourite of mine ( cant understand why) LOL!!! set agains a black background on a white textured candle - I really like this effect and will probably use this one quite alot.

I am going to be updating my website over the next couple of days so hopefully it will look better with the new pics.

On a more personal level, my fantastic 18 year old son Ben has decided that he is going to join the Royal Signals in the British Army ( these are the men who provide the communication for the rest of the army).

To say we were shocked is an understatement and to say I am worried is not the half of it - however, I can say though that we are immensly proud of his decision and if this is what my lovely boy wants to do then we will back him all the way! He has passed his first parts for the entrance and now has to wait till the end of the month for some more tests, then will be his fitness test and full medical so all being well he will be joining in August! I will keep you all posted on his progress over the next couple of months.

I have also been really busy with my cleaning business " Mrs Sparkles" and it has been really hectic with the phone calls and bookings etc - infact it does look like I am going to start employing to keep up with the demand so wish me luck please!!

Right off to finish some more photos and take the dogs out - No rest for the wicked is there??

love Bev x

The Invitation

Well its only 10 months now until the big day of mine and Doms and I thought I would let you have a peek at my first try at our wedding invitations. I decided to make my own as its so expensive to buy them! I have been quoted loads and loads and thought oh to hell with it I will make my own!

I have bought the card blanks from a wholesalers near where I live and it cost me £7 for 100!!!! I know I nearly keeled over when I saw they were this cheap - I previously had seen them on ebay for £10 for 50 so I have made a right little saving even if I say so myself!

I bought the silver hearts from crystal rose designs and wire wrapped the Swarovski crystal onto the heart and stuck it down onto the card. I am not sure about the wire to the side of the card so any suggestions would be much appreciated! All together the card has cost me about £1 to make and I only have another 60 hearts to wrap LOL!!! and of course the inserts to do which my sister Victoria has kindly offered to help me with!

Anyway here it is - drum roll please.............

What do you think??

I have also booked to go try wedding dresses on which I am soooo excited about - I can hardly tell you! I have seen a dress I love but its handmade and costs £1650.00!!! so will have to wait and see about that one! Anyone who knows me will know that I am a very comfortable size14 and am trying to lose some weight at the moment so I have been egged on by my friends to go have a colonic to help me rid some weight and obviously help me feel better and less sluggish so I have made my appointment for Wednesday 2nd April and promise to fill you in with the details ( well maybe not all the details ha ha )!!

In between all this excitement and working I have also been busy making jewellery - both for wholesale and for my website and shows one of which is coming up this Easter in York!

Here is one of my latest I have named it "Rainbow"

This unique piece features beads from the wonderful Caroline Hannon, Sterling Silver tubes and Karen Hill Tribe beads. The lamp work beads are beautiful and vibrant - I love it!!!

Right better get on with all the preparations for my show - or should I go sit on the sofa and have a cuddle with my Dom?? Ha ha I know which sounds more inviting don't you??

TTFN xxxxx

Some Mothers!!

Fantasty Retro

Hope you all had a fantastic Mothers day yesterday! I dont know why I expect a day of rest and pampering when I never ever get that - must be wishful thinking.

I visited my mum who other than being a total mentalist has a massive case of OCD and was cleaning as usual ( I wonder where I get it from)!!! I made her a lovely necklace and earrings set and bought her a bunch of flowers from my local Tesco ~ BTW can someone please explain to me why the cost of flowers rises about 50% on Mothers day? ~ Do they grow the flowers in magic fairy dust? Are the flowers brought to earth from another faraway galaxy? Or are our shop owners just down right greedy bastards? ~ Me thinks its the last answer for some unknown bizarre reason!

My lovely sons bought me the new Adel CD and a fluffy teddy with a mum heart on it ( sooo cute) We had a lovely dinner which I made although Jamie loaded the dishwasher and then I settled down to some good olde fashioned Ironing!! Fandabbydozy I thought - I wouldnt change a thing and I am sooooo lucky to be a mum!!

Is spring on its way??

Argonite

The mornings are getting a bit brighter don't you think?? Yesterday was a bit blustery but today feels lovely and fresh ~ even the dogs are behaving a bit better than usual!!

As you all know Ive been really in the zone for making new jewellery and yesterday was no exception. The necklace above was made using handcrafted lamp work by Dawn White - the beads remind me of coral reef.

I have a show coming up soon at Easter in York so am going to be real busy too - I have also been revamping my stall - and its taken some doing. I am going for a sophisticated black and cream look and promise to take photos when I have it set up at the show.

Haeddre

Here is another one from yesterday. The beads remind me of Scottish Heather so I have given it the old Scottish name for heather. Mixed with Karen Hill Tribe Silver and Swarovski Crystals and set on a twisted double thread of seed beads I think this one is one of my favourites so far this year!!

TTFN

xx

As Promised........

Here are some more pieces that I have made and am very excited about - first one is Coco Loco, the lampwork beads are by Dawn White and are just lovely - I have managed a set of earrings, necklace and a bracelet - what do you think??

I have also been hard at it on my new pendant range - and will get some pics together over the next couple of days although I swear to god I am no David Bailey and my camera is like an odessy to me!!

Right off to update my website

cheerio for now!

Love Bev x

The Mojo has been found!

Hurray I say!!

My missing mojo seems to have returned home to me! I was so worried that I would not find it again and did actually fear my business would die a severe and traumatic death!! But yay I am happy to report that I have found my likkle ikkle mojo again!

I have been beavering away quite happily since yesterday in between doing Doms accounts and my other evening job. I think it may have come back due to a conversation regarding sts necklace bails with my very good mate Jo of Gemheaven, I truly believe that the little convo we had spurred me on to make some new things.

This one is called Kebekol which means "to go sailing together" quite apt really considering the fantastic aqua colours of the glass and crystal blended with the turquoise!

I will be back again tomorrow hopefully with some more pics so

ttfn

xxx

Jobs Jobs and more Jobs

Isnt it always the same?? you get back from your relaxing no stress two weeks a year holidays to one of the most stressful times in your life!! I mean I got back last Sunday, started a new evening job on Monday, trained all week till 9 at night as well as doing a mammoth mountain of washing, drying and Ironing, cleaning, updating the website and trying to make some new jewellery. I feel absolutley jiggered if I am to be brutally honest! To top all this off is my pending wedding to my beloved Dom - I know its 11 months away but god dammit there are things to organise!!

I have been trying to make some nice little things though as the show season starts again at the easter weekend in March and I will be with Made In Yorkshire again on St Samsons Square in York. This is a really busy weekend and for those who can travel to Yorkshire I would really recommend that they try to visit York as it is really something else!

The neckalce above is going to be called Floribunda and the beads are from the fantastic Beverley Hicklin, I have teamed them with Sterling Silver, Swarovski Crystal and black agate!

The necklace below is called Coal as the beads are so black yet have sparkly little bits in just like a piece of coal. These beads are also handmade and from Bev Hicklins studio, I have added Sterling Silver and Crystals again along with karen Hill Tribe jump rings.

I am going to try to get some more stuff ready as well over the next few weeks - well thats if I have not passed out with blooming exhaustion!!

TTFN!!

Im Back!

I know its been a while and I apologise but I have been on my jollies to Cuba. We have had an absolutley fantastic holiday and to be honest I am depressed at having to come back down to earth!

Cuba is a very interesting place, in the hotel it was very geared towards the tourists and very "caribean", however as most people know, Cuba is a communist country so on the outside of the tourist district its a very different story. We went to Havana on a day trip which was great apart from all the propaganda about and all the beggars. It is steeped in history and we enjoyed a few Mojito's!! At night we went to the famous Tropicana show which was visited by the very famous or should I say infamous Al Capone!


Anyway now that we have had our holiday and the washing and ironing are done I have had chance to finally make some new bits and pieces a bit different to my usual stuff. I hope you like!!!

This one is a variation on my "slinki" range, handmade with silver rings and beads instead of the black rubber.

This one is my new pendant range handmade from Venetian glass tiles. I have added swarovski crystals and added as Sterling Silver necklace!

AND finally ........ a handmade bangle - no fastener needed!!

Back again soon with more goodies!!

Feliz año nuevo

to you all!! As we are off to the sunnier climate of Cuba on the 19Th of this month, I thought I would get into the spirit of things by saying happy new year in Spanish!


I have had a right time of it lately trying to make some new jewellery, on the flip side of things it seems that I have lost what a lot of my friends term as Mojo! I cannot be bothered or have the slightest inkling to make anything really, don't know why but i think it might have something to do with just being really tired after the Christmas rush. I have however got some goodies left over from my sales at Christmas and one of which is pictured below - it has some lovely metallic beads from Helen Brodt-Savage. I call this one Metallica!

I am hoping to make some new jewellery before my holidays and get it on my website but until then I do hope to at least keep this blog updated!

I have been gathering some fantastic beads as well from camps such as Beverley Hicklin and Dawn White so hopefully this will give me the boost that I need to get me going again. I have also been buying a mystery object for a great pendant idea I have so more on this as and when!

Anyway must fly so

Cheerio for now

love Bev xxxx