Blog Archive » 2011 » April - June

Fresh And new

posted: Thursday, 30th June 2011

After a day of work sitting at the computer yesterday I took some time out for an evening of fun and catching up with friends.

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Taking Stock

posted: Wednesday, 29th June 2011

I'm feeling like all my recent ideas are going nowhere and am having one of those 'I am rubbish at everything' moments. Added to that noticing that the year is half gone and I feel I have got nothing done and my mood is not good.

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Lots of Ingredients

posted: Tuesday, 28th June 2011

... not no recipe.

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Pearls, Pearls, Pearls

posted: Monday, 27th June 2011

Whilst clearing up recently I sat down and looked at the strands of the delicious pearls I was fortunate enough to manage to buy a few years ago. Ever since they have sat there and I've been doing that old beaders trick of 'saving for the right project'.

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A Pickle And A Dilemma

posted: Sunday, 26th June 2011

A less lazy day today which began with a trip to the Southbank (which I last visited back in March) for food, drink and sunshine.

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Talihina Sky

posted: Saturday, 25th June 2011

A lazy day today with some beading, some TV watching, the cinema and lots of sleeping.

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Spirals And Triangles

posted: Friday, 24th June 2011

There was a time when it felt like all I beaded were spirals, specifically variations on spiral rope.

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Ever Changing

posted: Thursday, 23rd June 2011

I'm still working away on my latest project and once again it is undergoing big changes.

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Triangles And Thoughts

posted: Wednesday, 22nd June 2011

Today is a busy day catching up from my day off yesterday.

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Colour And Culture

posted: Tuesday, 21st June 2011

Today is one of the highlights of my year.

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Colourful Clothes

posted: Monday, 20th June 2011

It is an eternal annoyance that as much as I love clothes, I hate shopping for them. I just can't be bothered. I want to snap my fingers and they appear, in the perfect size, shape and colour, in my wardrobe all ready for me to choose from in the morning.

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How Did That Happen?

posted: Sunday, 19th June 2011

One minute I was working in turquoise and black, then I blinked and I'm back in grey!

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Variations

posted: Saturday, 18th June 2011

I packed up my latest necklace yesterday to post off but not before taking some photos of the beaded beads threaded onto a bangle to show that they can be used in different ways.

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Bibelots And Objet Trouve

posted: Friday, 17th June 2011

On Wednesday I learnt the expression 'Objet trouve' which translates as 'found art' and fell in love with it- almost as much as I love the items themselves.

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80 Plus Beaded Beads Later

posted: Thursday, 16th June 2011

...and my new necklace is all done.

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Soaking It All In

posted: Wednesday, 15th June 2011

Many years ago (maybe 4) I once walked by a house that stopped me in my tracks and which I kept in my memory all this time.

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Beading And Feeding

posted: Tuesday, 14th June 2011

I've decided to have a lazy day today and take advantage of the fact my boyfriend has the day off work. So I spend most of it catching up on all those crime dramas I've recorded recently and not managed to watch

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Colour Therapy

posted: Monday, 13th June 2011

Well, maybe I'm not so mad after all!

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Brocante Score

posted: Sunday, 12th June 2011

Today we are up early to visit a brocante. This is a type of 'car-boot' sale, or flea market, where in a local village everyone sets up a stall and tries to sell their rubbish and convince you it's a treasure you need to take home.

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Green Shoots

posted: Saturday, 11th June 2011

Although we have had fantastic sunshine in the UK for months now, we have been without rain until the last week or so. Yesterday, before leaving home, the rain was as strong as I have ever seen it and the thunder was so loud and long that it scared all the local dogs and me.

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State Of Mind

posted: Friday, 10th June 2011

I am in a really good mood today, despite being behind on work, and having a bead room that still looks like a bomb hit it.

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Getting Closer

posted: Thursday, 9th June 2011

Can you believe I'm still tidying up?!

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Nearly There

posted: Tuesday, 7th June 2011

So my tidying up is still ongoing. I am at the stage now where it's nearly all done but what I am left with is the last fiddly, annoying jobs which are the hardest and make me want to just shut the door and leave it all as it is.

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Surplus To Requirements

posted: Monday, 6th June 2011

I am a hoarder. I admit it. I am also a buyer and an enthusiast and am interested in many things.

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Different Stitching

posted: Sunday, 5th June 2011

I had a very fun day yesterday teaching my Geometric Stars and once again got to see all the colour combinations everyone made. I completely forgot to take any photos though- sorry

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Forgotten Treasures And Found Delights

posted: Saturday, 4th June 2011

Whilst tidying up yesterday I found many pieces of beadwork I had forgotten all about, and even more excitingly, lots of unfinished items that I had packed away and then wiped from my memory banks.

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Eternal Optimist?

posted: Friday, 3rd June 2011

I'm busy packing for my Geometric Stars class tomorrow and in the midst of that, and a million other jobs, I decided to have a bit of a tidy-up of my 'bead room'.

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Squeezing More In

posted: Thursday, 2nd June 2011

Just when I think my brain is completely full and can't take any more (as evidenced by the amount of stuff that seems to be leaking out some days) I find new things to learn about.

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Colour And Light

posted: Monday, 30th May 2011

When some friends offered to teach me how to make my own lampshade there was no way I was going to decline the offer!

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May Newsletter

posted: Sunday, 29th May 2011

With all my recent travels I've not had time to write my newsletter but my nose is now to the grindstone and it will be sent out later today.

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Counting Down

posted: Saturday, 28th May 2011

I am still working on my urban necklace and by my count I only need to make approximately 10-12 more of these beaded beads before I can move on to make feature ones with different colours and designs- I can't wait.

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The Kindness Of Others

posted: Friday, 27th May 2011

I am still unpacking from my trip and as I do so the memories are flooding back and I am struck, when I unpack a ring from Kate Mckinnon and some beadwork from Marcie DeCoster, just how kind these gifts are.

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A Pile Of Potential

posted: Thursday, 26th May 2011

I realised today that I hadn't yet shown you what I bought from Gary Wilson.

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A Different Language

posted: Wednesday, 25th May 2011

This blog post isn't just an excuse to show you the rubbish and grime which exists on the streets where I live- I promise.

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Comic Cocktails

posted: Tuesday, 24th May 2011

I'm back in London, out of my sick bed and so it must be time for cocktails!

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Ring Dilemma

posted: Monday, 23rd May 2011

I'm just about awake now from travelling, but my cold which has plagued me for weeks now is still hanging around.

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Dustin's Beadwork

posted: Sunday, 22nd May 2011

I am still sleeping and recovering from travelling so in the meantime, whilst we wait for me to do anything more than that, as promised here are some photos of Dustin Wedekind's amazing beadwork. I love how he creates curves and shading with beads.

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Home Safely

posted: Saturday, 21st May 2011

My travelling all finished yesterday and I am safely home.

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Still Travelling

posted: Friday, 20th May 2011

I'm still travelling home today so can only treat you to these photos taken on our car-hunting walk the other day.

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Travelling Home

posted: Thursday, 19th May 2011

Today I begin my long journey home where I hope it is sunny so that the come-down isn't too hard.

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Slowly Back To Reality

posted: Wednesday, 18th May 2011

I am still in Tucson but my trip is almost over.

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Same, Same But Different

posted: Tuesday, 17th May 2011

When I was in Thailand a few years ago I kept hearing the saying 'Same, same but different' which means it's nearly the same, but not. It was usually used in reference to fake goods which were the 'same' as the 'real' thing, but obviously not the real thing.

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Questions And Answers

posted: Monday, 16th May 2011

Guess what? It's another sunny day here and today I actually get up early as there are more departures and Eggs Benedict for breakfast. The food and company, of course, make getting up early worth it.

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Increasing My Education

posted: Sunday, 15th May 2011

Another sunny day in Tucson and once again chatter draws me from my bed.

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Beading Comfort Zone And Exciting Journeys

posted: Saturday, 14th May 2011

After convincing myself the last few days my beadwork is all rubbish, I start the day by giving myself a good talking to and, after soaking up some sun and stroking Kate's lovely cats, I decide to hit the day full of positivity.

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A Bad Bead Lot

posted: Friday, 13th May 2011

I love waking up here in Tucson with the sun beaming in the windows onto me, the chatter of exotic birds drifting in from the garden and the chatter of beaders drifting in from the rest of the house.

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The Gang's All Here

posted: Thursday, 12th May 2011

Well, after feeling so down about my work yesterday I am determined to have fun beading today and seeing as Teresa Sullivan's taking the class I can't even imagine how today could be anything but fun!

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Keep Up The Good Work

posted: Wednesday, 11th May 2011

I wake up to another sunny day in Tucson and get started with a swim and then a visit to the shops with Kate.

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Your Ignorance Isn't My Bliss

posted: Tuesday, 10th May 2011

I am writing these blogs back home in London and reminiscing about my time in Tucson. I'm trying to write as accurately as I can, looking back at photos and scribbled notes about events, but I apologise in advance for being unable to capture the atmosphere of the time

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A Whole New World

posted: Monday, 9th May 2011

I have made it safely across the ocean to Tucson but feel all at sea.

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Great British Bead Show

posted: Saturday, 7th May 2011

A nice day today teaching at the Great British Bead Show and the first time I have taught my "Faux Cro" class.

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Late Beading

posted: Friday, 6th May 2011

Late in date and time that is.

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List Getting Shorter And Then Longer

posted: Tuesday, 3rd May 2011

I am slowly working my way through my to-do list but then of course keep finding new things to add to it.

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Spot The Mistake

posted: Monday, 2nd May 2011

So, after baffling myself with my beadwork the other day I once again settled down to bead a new version and this time it was obvious from the start how to do it.

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Back Home, For Now

posted: Saturday, 30th April 2011

The holiday is over and back to London I head, waving goodbye to the coast and beautiful scenery as I go.

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I love Roger

posted: Friday, 29th April 2011

I have no idea who Roger is but I love him for putting this little seat half-way up a steep hill. As I approached it I thought I was seeing a mirage but no, there was a seat just sitting there waiting to hold me for a minute or two.

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Swings And Sunshine

posted: Thursday, 28th April 2011

Another day, another cliff walk and this time I go in the other direction and end up in a play park. I have lost count of the number of times over the years that I have sat on these swings and soared high whilst admiring the views.

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Everything Comes From Somewhere

posted: Wednesday, 27th April 2011

I have written a lot about my designs and ideas and where they come from (especially on my Series pages where you can follow the evolution of some of my work) and this is an area which is an endless source of fascination for me.

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Heaven On Earth

posted: Tuesday, 26th April 2011

Whoever invented Cornwall knew what they were doing.

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Sea Inspired

posted: Monday, 25th April 2011

I have finished my beading and made two versions. They may need adjusting when I get home, as once threaded onto my bangle, I may want to alter the lengths but they are mainly done for now.

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Lights

posted: Sunday, 24th April 2011

I'm being super, super lazy at the moment. I actually feel as though I am on holiday- which is joyful!

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Out And About

posted: Friday, 22nd April 2011

So far my trip to Cornwall has consisted of swimming in the very cold sea, walking over sand dunes and lying in the sun reading. My sunburnt legs testify to this.

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Waking Up In Heaven

posted: Wednesday, 20th April 2011

I am down in Cornwall and the weather is glorious, the scenery spectacular, as always, and I can feel myself relaxing by the second.

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Colour And History

posted: Tuesday, 19th April 2011

My trip down to Cornwal starts soon but is delayed by some things I have to do, but once done, we treat ourself to lunch out at a very colourfully decorated Turkish restaurant.

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Shopping And Resisting

posted: Monday, 18th April 2011

A busy day with last minute shopping and packing before my trip down to Cornwall.

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Ends And New Beginnings

posted: Sunday, 17th April 2011

The sunshine is still here and I get some more beading done and finish my latest set of beaded beads.

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Back Beading

posted: Saturday, 16th April 2011

It's my bead group today and I resolve to spend the day beading something for fun for myself.

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Seeing Stars

posted: Thursday, 14th April 2011

I am down in Dorset now at StitchnCraft Beads teaching my Geometric Stars class.

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Paper, Packing And Publishing

posted: Tuesday, 12th April 2011

A busy day today but again I manage to not squeeze in any beadwork.

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Contrary Day

posted: Monday, 11th April 2011

So, I finally made my colour decisions, but since then it's all been down hill...

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Bridal Considerations

posted: Sunday, 10th April 2011

Patterns proofed, website updated, newsletter sent out and I am free to bead once again.

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A Day Of Ps

posted: Saturday, 9th April 2011

I'm working away on this sunny day getting my next newsletter ready.

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Fabulous Flame Off

posted: Friday, 8th April 2011

The sun is still shining and I escape London for the day to head to Towcester and the annual Flame-Off event.

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Spring Colours

posted: Wednesday, 6th April 2011

Colour is on my mind a lot at the moment as I work with new colours, the seasons change and I try to be more adventurous, and also as I spend some time updating my Colour Challenge blog with extra photos and writing on my recent colour use.

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Zetter Townhouse

posted: Tuesday, 5th April 2011

Another busy day beading and emailing but we escape in the evening for a London Cocktail Society meet-up.

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Urban Skyline

posted: Monday, 4th April 2011

I am working on a new project commission and getting to play again with colour, shape and form.

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Wirework Weekend Part 3 Featuring Fabulous Fabrics and Confusing Chairs

posted: Sunday, 3rd April 2011

Today is the last day of the wirework projects class and just enough time to cram in some more experimenting and inflict it on my students.

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Wirework Weekend Part 2

posted: Saturday, 2nd April 2011

Today is the first full day of my wirework projects class and, as always, I have made sure it's jam-packed with projects, inspiration, fun and education. I don't want anyone getting bored!

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Wirework Weekend Part 1

posted: Friday, 1st April 2011

I am Chichester bound today, to begin teaching a wirework projects class. The day is sunny, and I will be in the countryside for the weekend, so my mood is good as I set off.

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