Y-beads

Grasshopper and teal dotties

2010-10-30T21:29:00.001+01:00

Grasshopper and teal dotties
Originally uploaded by Blue Kiln Beads

Projects

2009-10-04T09:41:00.008+01:00

At last I've finished the blue cardigan that I started in April.... I haven't been working on it everyday, but I have been hitting some technical hitches and needed help from mum to get me back on track which takes time. I'm really pleased with the way its turned out, there's a pretty picot edge on the sleeves and on the bottom, and a moss stitch border. Although it's short sleeved I think it will be fine all year around layered up with some long sleeve tops and blouses.

I have also been working on another knitting project. We have two new babies due to arrive in the family in the next couple of months. One of them, not going to tell which in case the mummies read this, is going to get this blanket to snuggle into. The colours are neutral because we don't know if the little bundle of joy is going to be a boy or a girl. The blanket still needs to be filled with wadding to make it extra cosy and then it will get backed with this really pretty fabric.

Its a very small print of latte coloured flowers on a cream background.

The next project for the other arrival is going to be a very colourful patchwork ball using this lovely array of fabrics I have gathered together:

I'll be dusitng off mum's sewing machine for this one I think. Wish me luck.

The shard beads from the last blog have become a bracelet, very simple but I think I like it. I can't decide if it needs some charm/dangly bits.....

That's all for now. I received another beautiful MiniMojo package from Jolene this week and I'm hoping to get in the workshop in the next few days to get melting more glass.

Hold your nose, take a deep breath and...

2009-09-29T21:12:00.015+01:00

......jump in. Sounds like a swimming lesson and today did feel abit like diving into the deep end. It is an age since I have had the energy to get into the workshop and today I did it big style. I fired up the kiln, gathered together all my tools and then..... total blank. I couldn't decide which colours to use. Then I remembered the lovely MiniMojo box from Jolene. I have signed up to receive one a month. I have been too 'scared' to dive in before now - not sure about using shards and beautiful twisties but I am going to get one of these boxes each month and if I don't start to use them a)they will pile up and b)I'll never get to know how to use them. Here are the results.

This is a picture of the shards on CiM Kryptonite and Chalcedony. I had quite good bead shapes until I applied the shards, in some cases I found I was pulling the bead out of shape while trying to pull the shard around the bead. I find the CiM glass is softer than the Effetre. However, I think these beads will look quite good when cleaned and made into the bracelet that has started to form itself in my mind, hhmmmmmm.

These three are CiM Kryptonite with some twisties from the same MiniMojo box. I had a hard time trying to decide what colour to use with these twisties, and I wasn't happy with the results so I decided to put the twisties away. I really like twisties on disc beads and disc beads are on my list of shapes to master.

I then decided to revisit a design I was working on before my latest 'break'. During my previous session at the torch I was playing with Rubino Oro and I managed to get some of the lovely deep pink shades that had been eluding me.

I was pleased with these beads at the time. The egg-shape on the far right was an experiment in stringer control and although the shape isn't very good the pattern is great, its quite subtle in this shot.This set is called 'Honeybee' not very original but what else could it be? So, as I said I've had quite a break from the studio and I made the next set at the end of a long session (well it was a long session by my current standards)

I like the colours, I think, but the pattern is not quite as even around the bead as I have achieved in the previous attempts. The main thing is that I have had a really good glassy session that I thoroughly enjoyed. I should have been designing some new workshops but hey there's always tommorrow!

Tea Parties and Fireworks

2009-09-28T10:16:00.005+01:00

So, the summer holidays are well and truly behind us and we had a great time. My girls love to dress up and get out their teaset and Reuben loves to join them and boy can he drink tea, he takes after his 'Grumps'.

The end of the summer break was marked with the Devizes Carnival and International Street Festival and a superb firework display that was a real spectacle without too much of the huge bangs synonymous with firework displays.

I have spent a few hours in the workshop but alas no photos at the moment. I have also been busy knitting, there will be some images promise. I know we've all heard it before but now my little boy is in nursery two mornings a week, hopefully I will soon be back to full strength and I can find a flow. I have bought a Mrsite and I fully intend to get this websote done once and for all. I am also in the process of designing some new workshops for the next timetable at Potato Patch Crafts so watch this space.......

Dotty Flowers Pendants

2009-04-26T20:15:00.009+01:00

The Dotty Flowers of a previous post have become pendants. This is version 1:

Version 1 was developed and so Version 2 was born:

These pendants came about after reading Kerry's blog entry about her 'Doodabs'. I love the way Kerry puts together beads that are totally unrelated and makes them work.

I have been having a play with some of the glass mum and I bought at the Flame Off. Please excuse the very poor photos, I just took a couple of quick shots while preparing food for the masses:

The base of this flower is CiM Smurfy with dots of CiM Lapis and Effetre Nile Green. I really like this colour combo so I think I will get these rods out for the next session.

Oh dear this photo hasn't come out very well. The base of this bead is Lapis with Nile Green and Smurfy stacked dots. I then encased the bead and lost the shape so I used my trusty mashers and nuggetised (new word). The result is a lot more pleasing to look at in the flesh. I did make more beads but they aren't worthy of even the slightest glimpse. I just wasn't getting in the flow today.

There is a bit of an update on the knitting front although its not good news. I finished the back section the other night and was lovingly inspecting my handy work when I spotted a dropped stitch on the moss stitch band at the bottom!!!!!!!!!!! I will admit I did swear, and I haven't looked at it since. I am hoping that mum can do a 'fix' for me, I am a perfectionist though so I am debating starting again with it......

Have a good week. Mum and I are going to Select at Bath, to look at the goodies and to consider whether we should go down the wholesale route, who knows we might exhibiting next year.

Knitting and More

2009-04-20T20:31:00.009+01:00

So, here are some pics as promised. I have been thinking for a while now about knitting myself a top so mum and I toddled into town a few weeks ago and I got a pattern, needles and some yarn (100% cotton Double Knitting) and this is progress so far:

This is the back, just a couple of inches to go and I can start on the arm holes. I don't think I would have attempted this if I didn't have access to a pro-knitter (thanks mum).

I have also got some beady pics to show:

Aqua Daisies, these are made with Effetre Ivory and Light Turquoise. I really like the way you get the grey/brown outline as the glass reacts. The next set 'Navy Batik Daisies' using Effetre Cobalt Blue and Ivory:

I am really pleased with the next set of beads. They are bigger and a slightly different shape to the ones I usually make. I am aiming for round beads rather than doughnut shapes. I used this tutorial as a guide, thanks Diana

I am really pleased with the way these turned out. However, as this is a new size/shape for me I found it difficult to space the dots evenly around the beads.

The next bead is a brightly coloured jolly chap:

That's all for now, we did buy some new CiM glass and some frit blends so I hope to get in the studio and play with them some time soon.

Oh dear

2009-04-18T21:07:00.003+01:00

This blogging lark hasn't been as easy to keep up with as I thought it was going to be......

I am busy creating though, I've got some beads to show and my new project. I will take some pics tomorrow and all will be revealed.

Had a lovely day today at Towcester Racecourse at the Flame Off 2009. It was a very relaxed day spent watching the pros make glassy creations, a meander around some bead stalls and a stop at Tuffnell Glass to add bump up the glass stocks. Now all I need to do is get in the studio and get melting.

Daisy Pendant Prototype

2009-03-18T22:29:00.002Z

Just a quick one this evening to share this pendant. The large daisy at the top is from Julie. The idea is that the daisies hang one at the top, one on the bottom with the other two suspended in between. I am not sure if I like it though, I think perhaps it looks a bit over done. Hhhmmmmm, it definitely needs a thicker thong in a dark blue.......

More Daisy Progress

2009-03-16T21:42:00.007Z

I thought I would post these daisy beads, I am so proud of them. Again, you will have to excuse the 'bead poo' I wasn't sure if they would survive the kiln and as it happens the little blue dots have fallen off.....(note to self, melt dots in a bit more)

This photo was also an experiment with lighting, camera and also a way to prop up the beads. I won't be using Blu-tack again. However, I do like the background so that might stay.

Its interesting to me how my opinion of my beads, and mum's beads changes. I thought the daisy beads in my previous post were quite good when I made them but now they have been superseded by these beads. When mum made the focal beads in the next photos neither of us was 'sure' about them. They were left in my bead box for quite a while, when I took them out having forgotten they were there they suddenly started to speak to me and this is what they became:

I am still playing around with backgrounds and photo editing but I am pleased with these shots. The colours are 'true' well, on my screen they are.

The daisy beads have now become a pendant, a prototype of one, all will be revealed in the next post.....

Practice, Practice, Practice

2009-03-06T11:59:00.009Z

Ah yes, the three P's. I have been practising daisy beads. I love the flower beads made by Cassie Donlen and Julie so here is my first attempt. You will have to excuse the bead poop (technical term for the bead release you can see in the hole of the beads), I don't think these will make it as far as the kiln.

My time at the torch is even more limited at the moment depending on how I feel day to day. however, this is the result of the next session:

I think my best effort so far is the large green flower (top right).

Mum and I had a lovely day together last weekend felting. One of my Christmas presents was a workshop in the lovely Shaftesbury shop StitchnCraft. I really enjoy trying my hand at different crafts and although it was a very enjoyable day I don't think felting is my thing. Here is a shot of the first peice I made:

We had to layer up little bits of Merino wool tops then added some strands of textured wool. This is done on a piece of sushi mat (in our case) some bubble wrap and net curtain. Add plenty of soapy water and roll and rub. That's a very condensed and simplified version of what we did anyway. The second piece I made was incorporated into my third piece:

My second piece was pinks and purples. The third piece was plain brown. The second piece was cut into squares then laid onto the brown piece and then felted in. I had thought it might become a cusion cover but in reality it will probably just find its way to the back of the cupboard...

Happy creating.

He won't thank me when he's older

2009-02-22T21:45:00.005Z

I couldn't resist. Reuben was chasing his sister around in her fairy wings so I thought 'why not?' and popped a pair on him.............. Don't think he will thank me when he's older.

I have been busy on the creative front. I have knitted but not quite finished a scarflette. And I have spent a couple of hours in the workshop experimenting with some glass. No pics yet but fret not I will get some done.

Hope you had a good weekend too.

Fresh Start

2009-02-19T22:06:00.002Z

I am not going to lament about how long it has been since I was blogging. I am going to draw a line and start afresh.

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So, the focus is going to be selling my creations, designing new workshops, getting stuck into my lampwork bead making and generally pulling my socks up. There will also be my attempts at other crafting thrown in.

I spend too much time surfing the internet lusting after items other people have made. However, there are times when such surfing pays off. It was my Grandad's 87th birthday recently, and I was faced with the oh so familiar problem of what do you buy for someone who has got everything? Just to complicate things further he lives in Canada so there is also the postage costs to consider. I was looking at Etsy when I came across Dana's shop http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5435702. Dlkdesigns offer some original jewellery and in particular cufflinks. Yes, my Grandad has got several pairs of cufflinks but I figured that if a girl can't have too much jewellery then surely the same applies to the men. I know there are lots of sellers of cufflinks but these are different because they are made using map. The bonus is you can choose your own map so I had one with Wiltshire on (where I live) and one with Ottawa on (where he lives), Dana also enclosed a handwritten tag to add the finishing touch. I was able to get a present that was very personalised, didn't cost the earth and I received an excellent service. A very happy shopper!

I had a session in the workshop today, the first time in ages. I am trying to make daisies..... Alas no photos yet, but when I get myself organised I will show some first and last examples.

That's my boy!

2007-11-12T19:54:00.000Z

The little chap is nearly 9 weeks old already. Where does the time go? I am sure it didn't fly quite so fast when the girls were babies.

Got a workshop to teach on Thursday night at www.potatopatchcrafts.co.uk better go and do some more prep.

Yikes!!!

2007-10-29T12:00:00.000Z

Time is really flying and my little dot Reuben is now six and a half weeks old!! Sorry about the lack of photos I promise to get snapping more.

We have had a wedding this month. My cousin Lucy and Ed got married. It was a great day. I love being together will all my family. Even my beloved grandad made it over from Canada with his wife Marie! Again apologies for the lack of pics I will try and get my hands on some. I have got a photo of my little monkies though all ready to boogie on down with the Barn Dance:

I have tried to spend as much time as poss with my Pop and Marie, the girls love Marie and were really having fun crafting with her at mum and dad's

Unfortunately the little diary I was scrapping for September has fallen along the wayside at the moment. I really wanted to try to get it done but the energy levels took more of a nose-dive than I had anticipated. I guess I can pick it up again at a later date.

Exciting news is that work has started on the garage!! I think I may have mentioned before that I went on a fantastic bead making course and got totally addicited? Anyway I did a course about a year ago. The problem is that we need a dedicated space for it away from the little people. What with one thing and another our focus was diverted. However, things are now back on track and we have got some brilliant friends of Graham and Yvonne's to help us out. The batons are up and the electrician should be here in the next fortnight to start phase one of the electrics!!! Watch this space.......

Off now to get lunch then wander into town while the sun is shining.

Its a boy!!!

2007-09-19T10:55:00.000+01:00

Reuben Graham Goodridge was born on 12th Sept and weighed in at 8lb2oz. He took his time in deciding to make his entrance keeping us hanging on for 3 days with cheeky little contractions here and there. Needless to say his two big sisters are very proud of their baby brother and take any opportunity there is to have a cuddle.

In continuing the Learn Something New Every Day class I can say that today (or this past week) I have remembered how blessed I am with a great husband and three beautiful children. Incidentally I have been creating a few pages here and there but I am playing catch up at the moment. There will be some updates posted soon.

Off for a walk now while the sun is still shining, might have to dig out the fleeces though.

A Couple of Pages

2007-09-10T11:22:00.001+01:00

I haven't updated here for a couple of days becuase I have been somewhat distracted by my waters breaking. Alas there hasn't been much action for over 24 hours so I thought I would try to take my mind off things and get as up to date as possible for when my little bundle does decide to make its arrival!

The entry for 6th Sept is a result of yet another trip into town where I thought I should get 2 hours of parking but actually I only used half an hour. A number of people in the town have benefitted from my mistakes here as I tend to give the unused time on my ticket to someone else....

My page for 7th Sept is based on imagination. I have been watching the girls alot over the summer and seeing some of the games they play reminded me that imagination is so vital and alive when we are young but often we lose some of the ability to imagine things as we get older. This page is missing a photo at the moment...

The prompt from Shimelle was to try a mosaic technique which I really like and I think this page will look great when it is finished. It has occured to me that I sould be keeping a journal of all the techniques that I have learnt through this course. Being so new to scrapping means that I have learnt several new things with each day.

The page for 8th Sept is about spending quality time with girlfriends. The girls had a friend over for lunch and when I looked at this photo I was reminded that it is ages since I shared good food and giggles with my girlfriends.

Shimelle's prompt for today suggested using the photo as the full width of the page and I really like the results with this.

So I'm off now for a hot curry, pineapple, run around the garden and anything else I can think of to get this baby moving with as little medical intervention as possible!

Sometimes I Take You for Granted

2007-09-06T11:13:00.000+01:00

Today I realised that sometimes I take my wonderful husband for granted. He has done so much for me and the girls recently. As I have got further into pregnancy I have been becoming more exhausted with running around after two girls during the holidays. Hubs has cooked meals for the next day, cleaned, ironed and fetched and carried for me. There are many other reasons why he is brilliant which I have journalled behind the pink circle.

Beacuse I'm Worth It!

2007-09-05T10:47:00.001+01:00

This page is all about learning that it is ok to treat yourself every now and again. I got a cute Cath Kidston make up bag that fits nicely inside my handbag, some eyeshadow, a lip gloss and a mascara. I was inspired by Shimelle's prompt to include some of the packaging from my purchases. I guess something else I learnt with making this LO is that printing a photo on plain old paper is perfectly acceptable, I really like how this LO came out.

I've been to see the midwife this morning. Baby is in a good position and is on track to arrive any day!!!!! Yikes, excited and apprehensive at the same time.

You Are Great Company

2007-09-04T11:42:00.001+01:00

Yesterday was the last day of the summer holidays for the girls. I can't believe that 6 weeks has flown by so quickly! I realised that actually I had a really great time with them and today I am missing them. The pink card at the top of the Layout has got some journalling in to expand on the day's 'lesson'.

I thought the photo was fitting because I have really noticed each of them developing a great sense of humour and this photo really captures that.

Some Jewellery and the next page...

2007-09-03T19:09:00.000+01:00

I have finally managed to take some very quick photos of the recent creations from Y-Beads. Both hubs and I have come to the conclusion that a new camera is needed, the one we have got is fine for snapping with but when it comes to trying to capture the finer details of jewellery it just isn't up to it. Any suggestions/recommendations would be gratefully received. So anyway here is the jewellery:

My return to school with the class with www.shimelle.com is going well - although we are only on day 3 at the moment. I have taken another picture of my title page as the other one wasn't very good. But I have decided already that actually 'I for Inspiration' may not be the key word I am looking for. I think I might change the title page at the end of the course. I don't know if this is cheating but I made the title page 'blind' as it were and I couldn't see how the workshop would take shape.

I completed page two last night. The lesson learned yesterday is that sometimes it would pay to shop around for household items rather than just go ahead and buy online. This applies specifically to the fridge freezer we bought recently. We did some research on Which? but rather than trawl the shops we decided we would go ahead and buy online.... We have decided that really the layout of the fridge isn't as user friendly as we would like it to be. We have also discovered that when you open the freezer door it leaks onto the floor!!! I'm not saying that we would have known this had we seen a model in the shop but I do think that had we seen the fridge/freezer in the 'flesh' we wouldn't have bought it. Ho hum, lesson learnt, build a bridge get over it. Just need to ring someone to get a new one. So, if you are still reading this you deserve a medal and here is a picture of page 2 although minus a photo at the moment.

So now I am off to create page 3. Its great, I have got lots of ideas floating around in my head and love to be switched on creatively.

No baby news yet, just lots of movement and feeling very heavy......

Learn Something New Every Day

2007-09-02T12:16:00.000+01:00

Ok so I have enrolled myself onto an online course with www.shimelle.com ! I must be mad because my baby is due 10th Sept and the idea is that we make a page every day. However, it should be fun and I am really looking forward to it. I have bought some georgeous stash from my local paper-craft shop it is called 'Phoebe'. Already I have strated with Flickr too which I haven't done before so I am looking forward to discovering my 'scrapping style' and learning some new IT tricks too. We will also be taking lots of photos so I am hoping that my photography will improve. So here are some pictures of my stash and my title page:

I have also been busy making some jewellery but the battery on my camera needs re-charging so I will put some pictures up with my next post.

Our Un-birthday

2007-07-02T21:14:00.000+01:00

The girls were born not long after Christmas so we decided that we would have a birthday celebration in the summer. We have held it in June around father's day in the past but due to recent events we moved the date to last weekend..... We have enjoyed good weather in the past too however, this weekend was a different story, at risk of stating the obvious it is Wimbledon week so it is foolish to expect anything other than rain!!! We still had a good time though at mum and dad's place. I decided that this year I would make cupcakes rather than a birthday cake:

The girls got loads of presents amongst which were some Spanish outfits:

We truly are blessed with georgeous girls. Only another 10 weeks to go until we find out if they are going to have a brother or a sister....!

Love is...

2007-06-29T18:03:00.000+01:00

receiving a beautiful bouquet of flowers just because he loves me. On Wednesday evening my lovely husband arrived home with this georgeous bunch of flowers:

What makes them more special is the thought that has gone into choosing them. I had red and purple as my wedding bouquet and it included gerbora, roses and statis all of which are in this bunch. I love him so much and I can't imagine life without him.

The sun is shining here at last but only briefly I fear. We have planned a picnic for the girls' un-birthday. They were born on 5th Jan which is quite close to Christmas so we decided we would have a party celebration each June/July. We have got a plan B which is to de-camp at my mum's but the idea was to be in a lovely park with a picnic so the children can run wild and the grown-ups can play frisbee...... We'll see how it goes.

Have a good weekend - I hope it doesn't rain too much where you are.

A Difficult Time

2007-06-25T19:44:00.000+01:00

Well, we have been having a bit of a time it of late. My father-in-law has been seriously ill and on the evening of the 8th June he lost his battle with brain cancer. Words cannot really express the loss that we all feel. He was a wonderful father-in-law to me and brilliant grandad to our girls. My husband has very fond childhood memories and as we look around the house we are reminded of all the help he willingly gave us in completing various DIY projects. Indeed life will not be the same without him.

Despite the unfolding of events we were encouraged to carry on with our holiday plans so the next day we headed to Devon. We had a lovely break, all things considered, and Ian came up trumps with the accomodation which was a well equipped and very comfortable barn conversion. We had a relaxing time on the beach and sampled many cream teas, clotted cream ice-creams etc..etc...

Here is a picture of the man I call my husband, brace yourselves for the hunk about to appear before your eyes......

This was taken in a museum in Exeter where we had a great time trying on wigs. This is one of the things I love about my husband, he has a great sense of humor and sense of fun, something that he inherited from his dad. I wish I had a better way with words so that I could capture the raft of emotions that we are going through at the moment. Perhaps I will be able to be more concise in a creative way when things are in better perspective.

Progress

2007-05-28T15:21:00.000+01:00

Ok its slow but sure. My brother and I have been trying to build my website for as long as I can remember. There are several reasons why progress is slow, not least the fact that he has recently had a promotion at work making him busier than ever, and I am pregnant, so evenings are hit and miss as to whether I feel like I can get work done, added to other family difficulties that are too lengthy and distressing to detail here. However, I have made some progress today and I have finished taking some more images of the products that will be for sale!!! When I tried to update the site though there was some kind of technical hitch.... I am determined to give it another go tonight though.

I hope you are enjoying your bank holiday. The best day for us here in Wiltshire was Saturday, it wasn't particularly sunny but it was dry and little bit warmer than it is today. We all met my mum, dad, brother and sister in-law at Bowood for a picnic.

These are a few action shots of the football match. Not sure about the rules in 'twin football' but you very definitely have to have a ball on each team.........

Anyway, enjoy what remains of the bank holiday.

What a lovely day

2007-04-22T15:09:00.000+01:00

Mum and I had a fab day together yesterday being crafty. I booked us both on a 'Scrap a Day' session as a mother's day gift. We had a great time at www.potatopatchcrafts.co.uk. I managed to finish two LO's:

Flower Fairy Daddy's Wellies

I did have the journalling done on the label for Daddy's Wellies but I had written 'Daddies Wellies Spring 07' so I whipped it off in disgust with myself, mind you it had been a long day. Note to self: don't forget to replace journalling.

I have also been doing some beading this week. Here is a piccie of one of the pieces:

It's a bracelet with a beaded clasp, I promise I will work on my photography skills, I tried to take a picture of the clasp too but it didn't come out very well.

Anyway, off to the kitchen to check on the scrummy marshmallows I have made. It is a recipe from the Sweet Baby James episode that was on last week, appeals to my sweet-tooth..... oh, and it does contain strawberries so it is partly healthy.....

Hope the weather is good where you are, enjoy the rest of your Sunday.

I've Been Playing

2007-04-18T10:19:00.000+01:00

I have been really busy recently working with my brother and trying to get the website www.y-beads.co.uk up and running. It isn't functioning fully yet but it won't be long. I have also been working hard to get a venue to hold some workshops so if you are in Wiltshire and interested in some beading workshops leave me a comment and I'll get back to you when details are finalised.

As part of trying to get the website up and running I have been working on some photos and playing with various photo editing software programmes. This is a picture that I had forgotten I had taken because I wasn't happy with it. This is the before-playing shot:

And this is after having a play:

Not sure if I am completely happy with it yet, I think it looks a little over done but it is definitely an improvement.

Anyway, off to play some more before I have to fetch the girls from pre-school. I hope you are enjoying the great weather.

Don't forget, feedback and comments are always welcome.

TTFN

Current Project

2007-03-26T13:41:00.000+01:00

Just thought I would do a quick post while the girls are asleep. Here is a clue as to the project I am currently working on, its very purple and twisty.... Apologies for the dodgy image, I really need to nail the photography side of things. Any tips would be very much appreciated.

Uh oh, I hear stirring from the bedroom. Take care folks, will post some more soon.

Scrapping

2007-03-17T13:47:00.000Z

I had a great night on Wednesday scrapping. No, not down the local nightclub, I went for an evening scrap booking. It was great, so many lovely papers to choose from and embellishments to rummage through. Here is a picture of what I did on the evening. These are my twins, they are 3 years old now but I think they were about 18 months in these pictures.

I was warned that scrapping can be addictive and they weren't wrong. I have booked myself and my mum onto a one day workshop in April - mum's mother's day pressie and well, she would want company on the day...... Stay tuned for some more updates on the beady front - I have been making lots.

Oh dear I have been neglecting you all

2007-03-13T12:34:00.000Z

So, I wouldn't be surprised if you had all given up on me. So much has been happening I don't know where to begin. I guess I will start with my new passion - lampwork bead making.

I went on a fantastic course with Beverley Hicklin, mum and I went for the weekend and had the best time. Beverley is the best tutor, she let us play with everything. It is so absorbing, I forgot who I was and where I was. Mum really took to it too so now we have decided that we really want to take it up. The problem is that in order to do it safely we need a dedicated space so that means clearing the garage etc.. then paying for all the equipment. But I am still having flashbacks so I am just as keen as ever to get going.

Big news is that the website is coming along and we are live but none of the pages are working yet as there is still alot to be done behind the scenes but at least you can have a taster of what is to come www.y-beads.co.uk.

I will come back later with some pics of pieces that I have created recently. Promise I won't leave is so long next time.

ooppss it's been ages....

2006-09-25T21:56:00.000+01:00

Hi there, I have just realised that it has been ages since I updated this blog. I have been really busy making stuff recently. I have managed to win some e-bay auctions for some beautiful beads which I have made into bracelets using Karen Hill Tribe Silver. I have also been making a few pendants using Swarovski crystals and sterling silver. Not sure if I have mentioned this on the blog but my pieces are now selling at a gallery in Devizes called the Bluestone Gallery so the bracelets I have pictured here are on sale there. Having said that if you see something you like I might be able to let you have if it doesn't sell in the shop.

In case you haven't noticed these are the beads that featured in my previous post......

Teal Tactility

2006-08-02T18:20:00.000+01:00

These are some beads I won on an e-bay auction. They are really beautiful, I'm not sure if this image really does them justice. The little pink bead on its own was little gift that was inside the envelope too. When I have decided what to make them into I will post an image. The lampwork artist is Rebecca Weddell, her website is www.beccasbeads.co.uk it is really worth a visit.

Its been a while

2006-08-01T18:45:00.000+01:00

I hadn't realised that such a long time has elapsed since my last post. Its not that I haven't done anything, far from it. I have had lots of exciting developments on the beaded jewelry front. I have now got my pieces being sold in a local gallery called the Bluestone Gallery. I was so pleased to have my work accepted there and it all looks really great in the glass cabinets.

I have been attending a business course provided by the Wiltshire and Berkshire Business Link. The focus was business skills and business planning. The aim is to get myself focused on producing a business plan to map out my strategy for total world bead domination!!

I have also started a bead group. We meet once a month to work on our own projects and generally support and advise each other on beady matters. If you are in the vicinity of Devizes contact me via this blog and I will give you the details of our next meeting. I am also working on some worksheets so that I can start to offer some workshops, and also sell kits of my designs.

I am a member of the Bead Workers Guild and I am working on some instructions for a piece that I made a while ago. I wore to the Wincanton bead fair and got so many compliments and questions about how I made it I thought it might be worthwhile seeing if the guild could use it for one of the issues of the journal.

So, as you can see lots has been happening. But I have managed to make time for beading. Here are some images of a technique called Ogala Butterfly.

This is my first attempt. It was supposed to be a bracelet but I attached the clasp on back to front - that's what happens when its late at night! The clasp was sterling silver so I had to salvage it for another piece. The outcome of this technique is similar to netting but it spirals. Quite a statement piece. I decided I would try again and make a necklace.

The necklace is a pretty lilac accented with a dark purple. I have got another project on the go so hopefully I will get that finished soon and post an image of it. It is very different to these pieces, it is green, blue, orange, yellow, red and white..... all will be revealed. How could i forget to metion that I have also joined a great forum at www.glassharmony.co.uk a forum dedicated to lampwork bead artists and a few interlopers like myself. I fully recommend a visit!

First attempt at Chinese Knots

2006-06-24T12:10:00.000+01:00

Here is my first attempt at combining Chinese knots with some of my own beaded beads. I enjoy making these beaded beads but until now I haven't really managed to make them into something that can be worn. I used to wear them strung on silver chain which was fine but I think the satin cord combined with the knots really sets the beads off nicely.

Wincanton Bead Fair - Heaven

2006-06-23T18:51:00.000+01:00

What a great day. I know it is now nearly week since the bead fair was on at Wincanton but things have been hectic here with trying to sort things out for the website.

I went to Wincanton with my mum, its so nice to get out just me and mum. There were loads of stalls including one held by a lady called Francesca Lawrence. She had loads of fantastic hand made wooden tools and she was demo-ing how to make beads with paper and wool, it was so exciting that mum and I bought a whole kit. I also bought a bead spinner, I have been looking for one for ages and those that I had seen tended to be on the expensive side. This one is a beautiful wooden one and it only cost me £22!!! I also bought a book by Suzen Millodot called 'Chinese Knots for Beaded Jewellery'. It is great, and has given me loads of ideas for how I can string up some of the more chunky beaded beads I make.

Developments on the bead group. I decided that I would like to join a bead group but there aren't any in my area so I thought 'why not try to set one up myself' so I did. We are very small at the moment which is fine because we meet in my dining room. I have had 2 new ladies contact me so hopefully our numbers will double at the next meeting.

Anyhow, better go. Lots to bead, things to do for the online shop etc etc....

Fab weekend

2006-06-12T21:24:00.000+01:00

What a great weekend. Finally I managed to get some work done for my website. I have had a shipment of beads sat in the office for a few weeks. I have been slowly working through it packaging it into tubes as and when I can while my twins sleep. But on Friday night and Saturday morning I was able to take images and start to catalog the stock. I've still got a fair amount to get through with pricing and labelling but progress is being made. I still need a website for it to get onto but my brother assures me it is in hand.

I thought I would post a picture of something that I made a while ago. I did have a good stock of jewellery to sell but I have had a fair amount of interest recently so my stock is dwindling, need to get the beading needle out.

This is a piece that I made after attending a course on how to use fresh flowers as jewellery. We used a variety of wires and so I got the inspiration to have a go. I usually make jewellery using a variety of bead weaving techniques.

The beads are high quality glass and the clasp is sterling silver. This piece is for sale so if you are interested drop me an email, yvette.goodridge@gmail.com.

These are a few pieces that I have ended up keeping for myself. The necklace is something that I made to go with an outfit for my brother's wedding. The large spiral is the result of an evening experimenting. I tend to thread it onto a silver chain just because I am unsure what else to with it. I think it cries out to be worn but the spiral is a statement in its own right and I feel that if I weave a necklace to put it onto, there would be too much going on.

Hooray

2006-06-04T14:13:00.000+01:00

At last I have got around to setting up a blog of my own. I'm not sure why I haven't managed it sooner, it was so easy. Nevermind, I am here now ready to vent my beading frustrations, share my completed projects and hopefully build a network of like minded bead addicts.