posted: Saturday, 31st March 2012
Originally Kate Mckinnon and I were going to spend February holed up in France working away on our new book. But when we considered the weather... Tucson was by far the best option.
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posted: Friday, 30th March 2012
A few months ago I was asked to help out with checking the instructions for a new book on Beaded Bugs.
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posted: Thursday, 29th March 2012
Beading this hand is an interesting process. Although I have a pattern I'm working to I'm veering from it wildly as the design looks so different when beaded. I'm also going back over sections and cracking out beads to alter the picture as I go.
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posted: Wednesday, 28th March 2012
I'm back in London so it's only natural I should... go to a cocktail event.
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posted: Tuesday, 27th March 2012
Today was mainly spent trying to catch up with emails and life but this evening I settled down for some beading on my new piece which I want to post to Egypt in a week or so.
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posted: Monday, 26th March 2012
Today I am mainly sleeping and recovering from my travels, so here are some more photos from my week.
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posted: Sunday, 25th March 2012
Unfortunately our 6.20am flight doesn't take off for some reason and today 7 hours of travelling turns into a 18+ hour epic journey filled with language barriers, exhaustion and just wanting to get home.
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posted: Saturday, 24th March 2012
We've all been working so hard this week that it's a real treat to have a slightly later start with breakfast at 9am
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posted: Friday, 23rd March 2012
Today is the last day of class and a certain air of panic has taken over
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posted: Thursday, 22nd March 2012
Another breakfast in the sun and another boat trip down the Nile begins our day.
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posted: Wednesday, 21st March 2012
Once again a sunny day (I suppose that’s taken for granted in Egypt) a fabulous fresh breakfast and a boat ride on the Nile to class.
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posted: Tuesday, 20th March 2012
The rest of yesterday went by in a blur of sitting in a cold, very air-conditioned departures lounge before a short flight to Aswan.
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posted: Monday, 19th March 2012
I'm sitting in Cairo airport waiting for my internal flight to Aswan and the adventure that will follow.
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posted: Saturday, 17th March 2012
I head off to Egypt to teach tomorrow and a last minute panic has got me beading like mad.
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posted: Friday, 16th March 2012
... I just wanted them. A whole new 50g of shiny copper Delicas to play with.
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posted: Thursday, 15th March 2012
I wrote previously about keeping all my old samples and whilst I was in Tucson I was itching to get home and have a rummage through them.
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posted: Sunday, 11th March 2012
These last few days in Tucson have passed in a blue of diagrams, planning, laughing, stupid book buying, packing and pining.
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posted: Saturday, 10th March 2012
I can't even begin to express to you how hard we're working behind the scenes and all the plans being made and the progress which is occuring
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posted: Friday, 9th March 2012
It's still all go here at the ranch.
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posted: Thursday, 8th March 2012
After the excitement of the past few days, when the book leapt forward a huge lurch, I wake up tired and in need of food, confort, sun and beading. Seeing as I'm here in Tucson, surounded by friends, beads and sunshine all my wishes were granted instantly.
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posted: Wednesday, 7th March 2012
It was with great trepidation I awoke this morning wondering if the book cover we had fallen in love with yesterday still stood up to inspection the next - and I'm pleased to say it did.
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posted: Tuesday, 6th March 2012
More work, more sun, more fun, more Kate and Gabriella- all exactly what I need.
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posted: Monday, 5th March 2012
I awaken to yet another sunny day in Tucson, made all the sunnier to me because last night, before I went to sleep, I finished my latest bangle. The joy of remembering that on waking gets me out of bed and hitting the ground running.
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posted: Sunday, 4th March 2012
Right off the bat I want to apologise for another photo of a cat. But seriously, she looked so cute. Or maybe I've been sitting in the sun too long. Either way, today I seem to have rediscovered my camera.
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posted: Saturday, 3rd March 2012
Today is yet more beading but with the addition of diagrams.
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posted: Friday, 2nd March 2012
Today I once again wake up in Tucson. I ponder for a while why the house is so quiet and then soon discover it's because Kate is sadly unwell. A bad dinner has put paid to her for the day and so Gabriella van Diepen and myself soldier on, beading enough for all of us.
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posted: Thursday, 1st March 2012
Today I'm heading back to Tucson and even though the weather here has been a lot better than I expected for Colorado, I physically and mentally feel the need to lie in the sun and be surrounded by friends, beads and the possibility of going to sleep at any time I feel like it.
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posted: Wednesday, 29th February 2012
2012 has so far been an incredible year, so being able to enjoy this extra day in it is a bonus.
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posted: Tuesday, 28th February 2012
An early start today as I’m filming a video workshop on beading pentagons. Personally I adore pentagons and find beading them really enjoyable
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posted: Monday, 27th February 2012
I could never have imagined all those years ago when I first picked up beads just where they would take me.
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posted: Sunday, 26th February 2012
Today begins, of course, with yet more beading. I'm working away on a couple of projects which I'm keeping under my hat for the moment, and Kate is creating ridiculously wondrous beadwork which just makes me want to poke her with a needle
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posted: Saturday, 25th February 2012
More beading today. It is incredible to see the work that Kate has produced since I've been gone. Truly incredible.
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posted: Friday, 24th February 2012
Busy, busy, busy.
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posted: Thursday, 23rd February 2012
Just when I think my life can't get any weirder here I am, with not much notice, preamble or having-to-debate-it, back in Tucson.
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posted: Monday, 20th February 2012
On some of my many wanderings around London I had frequently passed a building in Bethnal Green which I didn't give to much thought to. It was obviously a municipal building of some description and I assumed it was still being used for local government purposes
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posted: Sunday, 19th February 2012
The other day I needed clothes hangers and went and bought some without a second thought.
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posted: Saturday, 18th February 2012
After debating changing the colours of my new project, the other day I went for it and ordered ones I hoped would work. All I needed were size 11 Delicas, 3mm firepolished beads and some size 15 Delicas to go with them, and I decided on a copper and blue colour scheme.
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posted: Friday, 17th February 2012
Regular readers of the blog will know that one of my favourite ways to while away the hours is sipping cocktails with friends. Add to that a love of finding hidden nooks, secret places and new homes from home and tonight was a pretty perfect night.
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posted: Thursday, 16th February 2012
I've been working away on all my new instructions, drawing diagrams, trying to decode my scribbled notes and re-beading pieces to double-check it all works ok.
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posted: Wednesday, 15th February 2012
Today I'm busy working on my new beaded beads project (which I'm keeping hidden- sorry) and writing my newsletter.
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posted: Tuesday, 14th February 2012
It's endlessly frustrating not being able to show you what I'm currently working on. I'm sure it also makes the blog frustrating to read. I hope explaining why I do it might help with that- if not then I apologise.
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posted: Monday, 13th February 2012
It finally occurred to me today that this latest project will use somewhere between 66 and 75 colours, depending on the length I make it.
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posted: Sunday, 12th February 2012
Today is the 3rd and last day of the course and everyone has been working really hard. It's shocking just how tiring sitting, learning and concentrating can be.
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posted: Saturday, 11th February 2012
I'm back at Great Missenden to teach a weekend of wirework and Viking Weave.
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posted: Friday, 10th February 2012
London has been hit by more snow the last few days and everywhere seem to have been turned into a scene of blinding white and dark black.
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posted: Thursday, 9th February 2012
That's it, I couldn't resist any longer and have started a new geometric bangle. I'm keeping it under-wraps for now but I'm loving it.
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posted: Wednesday, 8th February 2012
I'm working away on a geometric bangle I started in Tucson and hope to get it finished before I head back there again.
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posted: Monday, 6th February 2012
My latest geometric piece is finished and off to its temporary home to be photographed for Beads and Beyond Magazine.
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posted: Sunday, 5th February 2012
It snowed last night- finally. We have heard warnings of it for what seems like months now so it was actually nice to see it appear
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posted: Saturday, 4th February 2012
Another day, another voucher to use. This time it was for a Cryptic Covent Caper run by Hidden City.
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posted: Friday, 3rd February 2012
I'm busy working away on two different projects at the moment and there's a lot of contrast between them. One uses pearls and the colours of nature whilst the other uses Delicas and bold stripes of red, black and white.
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posted: Wednesday, 1st February 2012
At the end of last year I wrote a blog post which mentioned the work my sister and her husband are doing in Bulgaria and the appeal they had set up to provide items for the care-home and 24 residents with profound and severe disabilities they're working with.
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posted: Tuesday, 31st January 2012
As promised here are the rest of the photos from last night's meal. It was fabulous.
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posted: Monday, 30th January 2012
I'm working away on a new beading project and once again will be keeping this secret. All I can tell you for now is it will be beaded beads which will be geometric and use at least 3 different sizes of beads to create texture.
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posted: Sunday, 29th January 2012
I'm still zonked so spend the day relaxing and enjoying watching the delightful Daniel Craig be bold, beautiful and Bond.
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posted: Saturday, 28th January 2012
I am very excited to be having an exhibition of my work in the lovely shop StitchnCraft Beads near Shaftesbury this February. So my main job of the day is to pack up some beadwork and get it to the shop.
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posted: Friday, 27th January 2012
After days of beading, sleeping and undoing, my new versions of Key To My Heart are complete.
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posted: Thursday, 26th January 2012
Ever since I last worked on the components for this necklace I have wanted to make another one. Partly to see how it looks in another colour and partly to double-check my instructions and confirm that I can re-make the pieces.
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posted: Wednesday, 25th January 2012
I arrived home safe and sound yesterday and promptly began sleeping for most of the next week.
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posted: Sunday, 22nd January 2012
My last day teaching at Beads Gone Wild/ Crystal Creations Bead Institute in West Palm Beach, Florida and today is all about triangles.
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posted: Saturday, 21st January 2012
Another day, another class at Beads Gone Wild/ Crystal Creations Bead Institute and more fabulous beadwork.
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posted: Friday, 20th January 2012
After all my recent travelling to get here I was really looking forward to teaching my Rivolis Roses project.
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posted: Thursday, 19th January 2012
Today was a day of travelling. Because I don't drive, and there seemed to be no direct flights, my journey of what could have been a 240 mile drive from Spring Hill Florida, to West Palm beach Florida, took me over 1,300 miles and into a whole other state: North Carolina.
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posted: Wednesday, 18th January 2012
Today was more clothes trying on so instead I have some photos of a shop we found yesterday: Quilts On Plum Lane.
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posted: Tuesday, 17th January 2012
A day off from shopping today and a trip to Homosassa Springs to see manatees.
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posted: Monday, 16th January 2012
My first full day in Florida and it is spent clothes shopping.
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posted: Sunday, 15th January 2012
Sadly today I had to depart Tucson today but this sadness was tempered by the fact I was on my way to Florida for a couple of days rest (I may need a few months to recover from this last week) and then some teaching.
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posted: Saturday, 14th January 2012
When I booked to stay with Kate McKinnon I hadn't actually cottoned on that Kyle Cassidy was visiting her to run a day of photography class and portrait shooting. This was just an added bonus that I never in a million years thought would turn out so good
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posted: Friday, 13th January 2012
As soon as I'm up today Gabriella and Jeroen invite me out to scour local shops for interesting clothes and it would be rude to say no. One trip to Goodwill later and I have managed to buy 4 spotty dresses, and 1 striped one for contrast.
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posted: Thursday, 12th January 2012
Today was one of those days where even as you're going along experiencing it things look normal but if you stop for a second you're hit with the strangeness of it all.
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posted: Wednesday, 11th January 2012
The day starts with more beading before we head off to the airport to pick up Kyle Cassidy.
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posted: Tuesday, 10th January 2012
I left off yesterday in a state of shock (more on that later) and today brings new shocks. Kate has kindly lent me an iPad, and despite being a technobuffoon, I am actually enjoying playing with it
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posted: Monday, 9th January 2012
It's been a crazy few days.
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posted: Thursday, 5th January 2012
Having re-designed the centrepiece of my current necklace I suddenly realised I had made a very minor mistake right at the beginning. The piece still worked, but it looked slightly uneven. Maybe no-one else would spot it but once I'd seen it I knew I couldn't live with it. So out came the scissors.
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posted: Tuesday, 3rd January 2012
Just when I can see the end in sight with this project I go and change it all and add extra work. I seem to be a glutton for punishment.
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posted: Monday, 2nd January 2012
Finally, some beading talk and pictures!
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posted: Sunday, 1st January 2012
2011 flew by. It was a strange year for me in many ways, a lot of them written about here in over 270 blog posts, and it ended with me having travelled more than expected, meeting some amazing people and life just seeming weirder than I had ever imagined.
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