I promise this is not the start of some regular theme of my blog posts, but bear with me and it will make sense. If you don't want to read about a charity my sister is working for and how you can help them, simply scroll on to the beady talk at the end. It's marked by a line of xxxxxxs.

Back in the summer my youngest sister got married and I shared the info and photos etc with you. Being charitable type of people, her and her new husband gave up their jobs and and moved to Bulgaria (for a year at least) to work for free for a charity helping orphaned children and young adults with severe physical disabilites and learning problems. As they first met when working at a school for children with the same problems I think you can see this is typical of them and where their hearts lie.

Bridget and Peter have been sending regular newsletters home to family and friends and receiving each one makes me laugh, makes me think and gives me pause in my busy life to consider all that I have and the different lives that other people lead. I can't even fully comprehend the lives these children and adults have, and whilst I will always love and admire Bridget and Peter for doing this, I of course wish there was no need for them to do so.

But if my wishes came true the world would really be a different place (just imagine the beads we'd all get in the post every day!). In the meantime I can just do what I can to have some impact on the situation. And part of that is using my blog to publicise something they're doing at the moment.

The two of them have set up an Amazon wish-list containing some essential and desirable items for them to take back to Bulgaria after they come home for Christmas. These items are partly to help them educate the children and partly to give some of the young adults their own possessions. What they say is:
"This year, we are supporting the ‘Small Group Homes’ project in Kyustendil, Bulgaria. These small group homes and flats house 24 children and young people with severe and profound disabilities. They were recently moved from an institution called Gorna Koznitsa, where 70 residents lived in inhumane and cramped conditions, often going without food, heating and basic amenities. These young people suffered emotional and physical neglect, losing their early childhood. Although they now live in better conditions, thanks to the work of The Cedar Foundation, they still lack personal belongings and toys. The wish-list is set up so items will be delivered to the UK, packed up and given to the young people at the beginning of next year. All you need to do is choose a gift or two and purchase them through the online wish-list".

So if you want to donate items the 3 easy steps are:
Step 1 - Click on the link I gave above or visit www.amazon.co.uk
Step 2 - Select ‘Wish List‘ and enter the name‘SENdluv'
Step 3 - Pick your gifts, change the delivery address to SENdluv, Chelmsford
The wish-list will close on Christmas Day and if you choose free delivery (for any items coming direct from Amazon) you won't even pay for that.

Emailing with my sister has been an education. Not having any experience in this world, I had never even considered things such as that whilst donations of soft-toys and dressing up clothes are always appreciated, most of these children simply do not have the imagination, experience or creative skills necessary to roleplay. They don't know how to play as they haven't done so before. I can't imagine a childhood like that. Hearing information like that just brings home to me the difference that small items can make in someone life. Whilst many of us are fortunate enough to have homes full of stuff, which gets added to at this time of year, these children don't. It was nice knowing that every penny I spent was going directly to an actual item that would be used. Nothing was being spent on admin or wages etc, which of course I understand charities need to spend to survive, but buying things things direct will have a huge impact.

I must admit I have just blown all of my Christmas present spending money on the wish-list and hope all those I usually give presents to will be happy with the jam they're all getting instead.

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Ok, enough chat about that! Onto to beady things.

I'm busy working on two new sets of instructions and hope to have them, and a new newsletter, all ready by the start of next week. The first set will be for these rosette brooches. Since putting up photos recently I have been inundated with people wanting to know how to make them so I've sat down and taken all the photos etc and they will be on the site by next week. All you need to make them are measuring tapes (at least 44 inches/ 110cm long) some paper fasteners, a hole punch and a safety pin.

I'm also working on finishing these beaded necklace which uses Delicas, wire and rivolis or different sizes.

Check back at the start of next week for the instructions or make sure you sign up for my newsletter to find out when they're available and receive a discount code.