beady beauties....

So I got my table and my christmas tree (yeahyyy)! I also got these little beauties to stock up my bead draw.....

By my very favorite bead artist Laura Sparling who now makes beads to order! These photos do not do these beads justice they reailly are alot more beautiful then shown here!

With christmas coming up I've had a few requests for jewellery as gifts. So heres what I made up for my mum....

A very thin jens pind chainmaille braclet (thin enough to put pandora beads on if she should want to) with a hand made clasp. I was going for the slinky/femine look for this one as shes quiet petite and normal size jewellery just looks chunky on her! Not bad for a first atempt and I reaily enjoyed making it.

What a fantastic week!

I'm having a fantastic week!

First I get a letter from the much dreded tax man saying they owe ME money (which is always nice), Then we had a fantastic day with my neice on her first birthday and then I catch up on my blogs to find out that I have won a compitition!

Jennifer Cameron of Glass Addictions (FAB blog people so head on over and take a look) was giving away a copy of Clasic Chain Mail Jewelry and I won!

The funny thing was one hour before entering the comp I recived an email about the book and was considering buying it!!!

That leads nicly on to my newest make.....

I reaily loved the Byzantine braclet that I made but as I have such small wrists it looked really chunky on me so.... I have made one for myself with smaller rings!....

I did not even have to do the hard bit of working out all the complicated inner diamiter of the rings and wire gauge stuff because they had a really useful page on The Dragonfly Company about recommended ring sizes(there rings are as fantastic as there gallery is inspiring, I highly recomend them if your thinking of taking up chainmaille)!

A close up of my favorite galaxy bead from Flame and Glass 

I LOVE this bead! Isn't it great! But it seems that great galaxy beads are as hard to find as the preverbial needle in a hay stack!

Hope your all having as great a week as I am!



How dose your garden grow...

Wow what a lovely weekend! We have had that much sunshine I have a got a tan! Not sure that my veg are liking the sunshine and heat as much as I am though, it gets to about lunch time and all the plants start to wither and wilt.

I finally gave up on the peas today they just were not growing, but as I pulled them up and moved the poles and strings they were growing on I noticed that the squashes are taking over, they now cover at least 1/4 of my plot and I only have 2 plants! I have never eaten a squash before though so I just hope we like them as it looks like there will be loads!

The cucumbers have just started to grow now as well. I planted two different types, these are normal green cucumbers above, and these should be white cucumbers..... 

(I like to be a bit different)

Also saw this cute little fellow while checking my sweet corn....

And as we all know ladybirds are supposed to be lucky, so fingers crossed for my phone call next week!!!! 

These are the earrings I made a few days ago....

The three interlinking hoops was inspired by the flower chain pattern (chainmalle) and as they are flowers and in purple (my best friends fav color) they will be sent to her (Fleur) as a little surprise. 

As you have properly guessed I have been a little camera happy today, I took a photo of the bracelet I've been working on....

Also inspired by the flower chain pattern but the hoops were not quiet big enough to follow the pattern exactly so I adjusted the design. This ones not finished yet as it has no clasp, so thats what I will be doing tomorrow!