Lighten Up and Follow Your Heart....

A double bill this time as I have 2 things to talk about in this episode.

Winter Look

Firstly as the days are getting longer and we are actually packing up in the light at the market, I decided it was time to brighten up the stall. During the winter months we jewellery hawkers rely heavily on our lighting to grab peoples attention. There is also a sense of needing richness and warmth during the cold dark days so from October onwards the stall covers are predominantly chocolate brown. Strangely this also seems to make the lighting more dramatic.

Spring Freshen-up

However as Spring comes (and there is now blossom on some trees) people want to be reminded of the light sunny days to come. At this point it is time to go back to the cream cover and give the stall a freshen-up. My signage had suffered over the year and was looking decidedly tatty so I have invested in a couple of nice dark wood frames, to give some info about myself and the company and also to explain the methods of working I use and promote the repair service. The other addition is the embroidery in the triangle on the front of the table. My very kind friend Lez had my logo digitised so that she could embroider a piece for my Christmas present and after much humming and ha-ing amongst my Greenwich colleagues, we decided this was the best spot. Looks fab don't you think. The other little touch in the photo is my Valentines Hearts - which leads me on to my next topic......

Ah yes Valentines Day is nearly upon us! (or Hallmark Day as my less than romantic friend calls it) For the true romantics out there though there is some special stuff going on. From the Friday onwards the market will be decorated in a most "loving" manner and right through the weekend there will be special features culminating in the Valentines Market on the Sunday.
To celebrate I have produced some special edition necklaces, "Love Buttons" Featuring a fine silver heart button with coloured craft wire "stitches",  there are two colourways: pale pink with a weave finish on the button or red with a satin finish. Each necklace comes with a matching gift box, ready to give and they are strictly limited to 2 of each colour.

I will be at Greenwich Market on Friday 11th, pop down and see them in the flesh.

The Mojo is Back!!

I have to say that the past few months have been quite difficult and this has stifled my inspiration a great deal. Since we were told about the site closure at work at the end of March there has been so much uncertainty, not only around the job, but also about Nick and my wedding. We were committed to paying for certain things so we've had to do some serious rethinking about other stuff we wanted!!

This had a knock on effect on the jewellery making, which got so bad at one point that I was terriffied of going in the workshop (back of the shed) because everything went wrong when I did! Luckily the mojo has started to come back and I've made a few things in the last couple of weeks without messing them up. I've even managed to take photos and will be adding these to my website tomorrow.

Polymer clay is a new thing for me and I keep practicing the swirly lentils but can't always get them consistent so I'm really pleased with this one. Red is not normally my colour either, but I think this has really worked. As for the silver and gold bracelet, this is where I'm more comfortable, but I like building in a challenge so the clasp is my first try at a box clasp and just to make it extra tricky, it's a cylinder as well. Again really please with the outcome. I'll have some more to add in a couple of days.

I've also added to the blog links to my two favourite forums. The UK Beaders quenches my need for all things beady (as well as other media). Girls being girls, I've been on other beady forums and found them to get quite caustic at times, but I can honestly say that I have never seen a truly cross word on here. There are girls and guys from all walks of life, beginners and the unbelievably talented such as Emma Ralph and my favourite critter creator Emma Green . I've learnt so much from here and have hopefully been able to help others. In addition KitschKitty

runs the main UK Beaders website which has a huge suppliers list.

The Craft Forum covers all crafts and is again a really friendly place. It helps give a general perspective on us (soon to be) struggling artistes and broadens my world past jewellery. I expect that I'll be on these more and more in the next few months.

Wow! Looks like the gift of the gab has come back too! I'll shut up now!