Indie Businesses and Socially Conscious Shoppers ComingTogether
Mandie's Page
RSS
Long Lost Blogger
Returns with apology for being away for so long! Perhaps its the school hols and having the boys around more that is keeping me on my toes, certainly there seems to be more mountains of washing and cleaning but I love having them under my feet! Anyway, just thought I'd drop in say "HI" to my bloggy pals and let you know I haven't forgotten about you.
Despite all the upset and uncertainty this year at home (we have tried so hard to keep things "normal" for the boys, but eldest is 18, astute and clever) he passed both his A Levels with fantastic grades and passed chemistry AS, so he has a year at collage to finish chemistry then probably off to uni.
Well peeps, its a half passable day here, its not raining YET at least so off now to mow the lawn which has grown furiously and I could lose a tribe in its depths............
xxx
Blue Peter Badge
Guess who bought this? Valerie Singleton! Now those of us of a certain age will remember her for her Blue Peter days and I always wanted a Blue Peter Badge! I didn't recognise her and so she had to drop her name into the conversation and out it popped from my mouth before I could be sensible, I asked her for a Blue Peter Badge.................not sure I made a good impression!Racing....................................
I went racing last night! I grew up next door to Ascot racecourse and I've never been racing before last night. My dear boss took 11 of us (all expenses paid) to Salisbury races, gave us each £10 for bets and onto a posh meal afterwards to celebrate our Salisbury shops birthday, its a year old!
I decided any winnings I had I was going to donate to our charity, Wateraid so some serious studying of form was called for.........................I decided to bet on the prettiest horses and had 3 winners in 5 races! So, broke even and £10 in our charity box.
I had a really fantastic time.
I've not blogged for days, possibly even a couple of weeks, sorry peeps.................This website thingy has driven me barmy, its been the biggest learning curve ever and to be honest I've had enough now, I want to get back to creating, I've missed it, bead withdrawal bigtime! So, its functional and will have to do for the time being, now I've got to learn to market it, another big learning curve I fear, talk about being dragged into the 21st century kicking and screaming.
AND, I've not bought any beads, my favorite beady people have been making the most gorgeous treasures that I've just drooled over from afar, Laura, Caroline and Izzy, watch out, I'm on the prowl, I feel a bead buying spree coming on!
Oh and today its HOT, really hot, lovely blue skies all round, my husband is doing a car boot, getting rid of some of the rubbish thats been lurking in the loft for years and I've got a list of chores a mile long, housework, washing and the grass needs mowing, what fun!
To a very special friend I'd like to say such a big big big THANK YOU! Jo, of Gem Heaven sent me a present........a pair of her beautiful earrings, which I've worn every day since ripping open the package. I'm trying to get a picture that shows just how beautiful they are, and I've longed for a piece of Jo's jewellery since forever. She's lovely and she's my friend!
I decided any winnings I had I was going to donate to our charity, Wateraid so some serious studying of form was called for.........................I decided to bet on the prettiest horses and had 3 winners in 5 races! So, broke even and £10 in our charity box.
I had a really fantastic time.
I've not blogged for days, possibly even a couple of weeks, sorry peeps.................This website thingy has driven me barmy, its been the biggest learning curve ever and to be honest I've had enough now, I want to get back to creating, I've missed it, bead withdrawal bigtime! So, its functional and will have to do for the time being, now I've got to learn to market it, another big learning curve I fear, talk about being dragged into the 21st century kicking and screaming.
AND, I've not bought any beads, my favorite beady people have been making the most gorgeous treasures that I've just drooled over from afar, Laura, Caroline and Izzy, watch out, I'm on the prowl, I feel a bead buying spree coming on!
Oh and today its HOT, really hot, lovely blue skies all round, my husband is doing a car boot, getting rid of some of the rubbish thats been lurking in the loft for years and I've got a list of chores a mile long, housework, washing and the grass needs mowing, what fun!
To a very special friend I'd like to say such a big big big THANK YOU! Jo, of Gem Heaven sent me a present........a pair of her beautiful earrings, which I've worn every day since ripping open the package. I'm trying to get a picture that shows just how beautiful they are, and I've longed for a piece of Jo's jewellery since forever. She's lovely and she's my friend!
Well,its off to mow that lawn .............................................................
A Storm In Silver.......
WOW, what a week.....Feeling a little bad about not blogging but the time has just disappeared so apologies all round!
Silver Storm Jewellery has been born! I've a website. Couldn't have Jewellery Craft coz someone else beat me to it so let the kids come up with something somewhere suitable and as we were having a lovely storm (I love storms) at the time Bobs yer uncle, Silver Storm Jewellery. To be honest, I'm not that sure, but they are dead pleased with themselves so heyho....
All I can say to all you computer geeks out there, good on you! I wish I could have afforded to have some sleek and sassy site designed for me but I had to do it for myself and I've not enjoyed the experience. Anyway, please guys go and have a look, It's a bit rudimentary and no online shop yet but getting there slowly and.................I'm putting you lot into the link section, hope you don't mind!
I made this for the shop, one of those rare moments in the last couple of weeks that I got to make jewellery, I loved this, its fun, chunky and funky, loved it so much I made one for myself.
My First Treasury
Dedicated to my friends at Flickr, all except a very important one who had no beauties in her shop due to having a jewellery party.......Brandi, Sharon, Catherine, Karen, Janine, Nicky, Caroline, Debbie and Ali................I'm hoping if I've done it right you should be able to see it here........."For My Friends"
I wanted to thank you all for your unwavering support and friendship!
A commissioned bracelet, when the beads were picked I thought it was going to look kind of boring but it grew on me.
Another commission, a necklace with loads of lovely beads just randomly strung, my heart sank! I'm a very symmetrical person, you know, knicker drawer all sorted into small, medium and large or in my case just large, large and extra large........I can't do random, I just can't. So imagine my horror when struggling to finish this one someone saw it and commissioned another!
And our Gerbil died today...................................I've still to break it to my youngest son! Good start to the weekend!
WOW, how thrilled am I...................
The lovely Catherine of La Perle has given me another award, that makes 2 in one week. To say I'm thrilled is actually such an understatement, overwhelmed and bouncing about with excitement would be a better description. The "Arte Y Pico" award, how special is that, THANK YOU Catherine! So look out folks, I will be passing it on to some pretty special and talented people soon.
Last weekend was hectic and the week so far has been fairly hellish. My poor sister has brittle bone disease and only a year after breaking her wrist which still has not healed, she tripped over her cat and broke her ankle, so she's in hospital feeling really miserable! The above necklace was made while I waited for news, it kept me occupied and focused, otherwise I may just have been going GA GA with worry. Annie, If your looking in, be up to see you soon with doughnuts!
I had two little beads left over from a set of Caroline Hannon's and was so tempted to stash them away for keeps but they made perfect earrings! Aren't the colours that swirl inside just beautiful.............Caroline, if you make anymore of these, can I have them please. :-)
And The Award Goes To........................
Isn't Caroline of Crafted Gems a poppet, awarding me this! I have made some very lovely friends here................. to those who pick me up and dust me off when my confidence has taken a walk, for every grin and snigger just when I've needed it, you all know who you are, THANK YOU ;-)
And Caroline, I'd give this right back to you for making lovely lovely beads and for putting up with me whinging when I've no money to buy them! AND I want to buy them all!
But to pick 5, thats really hard and Caroline has already nabbed Jo of Gem Heaven!
So, deep breathe, drum roll................................. In no particular order..... :-)
1. Izzy of Adventures In Glass Izzy, I keep missing your beads! Check out Izzy's website folks, her beads are little works of art and so tactile.
2. Kara of Innocent Charms Kara and her hubby are expecting their first baby, awwwwww, I'm so pleased for them and bless, I think Kara is finding the sickness a bit heavy going!
3. Janine of Cherished Trinkets Janine and her guy are embarking on a new adventure, they have moved home and jobs! Janine, hope you are having a wonderful time, hurry up and get those pliers unpacked, I'm waiting to see some wonderful vintage jewellery.
4. Sharon of Manamoon All of Sharon's jewellery is beautiful but her bracelets are something else, please go and have a look and be amazed! Sharon, thank you for your friendship and encouragement!
Blimey, one left.........would anyone notice if I broke the rules and had 6 awards? Oh, lets throw caution to the wind.......
5. Laura of Beads By Laura Apart from making beads to drool over her blog is guaranteed to make me smile!!!!!!!!!!!!
Phew...................I'm off to bed now!
I've Taken The Plunge..................
And opened an Etsy shop!
After months of deliberating and thinking, I've taken the plunge. I keep looking at all the talented artists there, it really is talent overload and just hope that my stuff "cuts the mustard" so to speak.
This bracelet has to be one of my favorites, the beads are by Caroline Hannon of Crafted Gems and are simply beautiful, the camera hasn't picked up all the lovely colours that swirl around inside, gorgeous.
This one is for Etsy and uses another set of Caroline's beads, I love her beads and want to buy them all and keep them for myself, to hoard and treasure and hold in my hot little hand........am I rambling, sorry, but they are the loveliest, I get very possessive of them.............my precious...............hmmmmmmmm precious, myyyyyyy ppprreciousssssssssssssssss ;)
As you can see, I'm loving the wire and making swirly things, another Etsy piece....................
I had a lovely treat today from a lovely friend! My poor blog has been somewhat neglected, I've had my mum staying with me for a week, its been lovely to catch up, chat and spend some girlie time.......................Anyway, rambling again.....................after a blog free week or so I discovered today that I've been given an award from the very talented, kind, gorgeous and wonderful Caroline of Crafted Gems (if it sounds as if I'm creeping you may well be right, I want to buy more of her lovely lovely beads).
I shall be passing this award on so what out!
Another piece of news, I've managed to get some of my jewellery into a jewellery shop in Bournemouth, sale or return, the terms aren't entirely satisfactory but its a start.
Think I've taken up far too much of your time, nite nite!
I have loved making the swirly wired pendants but wanted to expand on it. I've spent some time with pencil and paper, failing dismally trying to transfer the design to the wire (thankfully, just practice silver plated wire, so haven't filled the scrap pot up).......so I decided to suck it and see, let the wire go on a journey of its own.
I'm immensely pleased with this, my DH thinks it should be called "Storm Tossed".........Hmmmm, not sure about that AND its my first oxidized piece, boy the stuff smells, glad I was outside but might of upset a neighbour to two, its one of those "it wasn't me" smells!
Its possibly not quite right so its just as well that its mine for keeps and I've had the stones for so long that i've no idea what they are, I think they are a jasper of some sort... ;-) It didn't start life as a bracelet but I noticed that it sort of fitted nicely across my wrist and there you have it.
Anyway, I've some time booked off and I'm going down to Devon to see my folks for a few days, I'm leaving my boys (DH, included) to fend for themselves, I dread to think what the house will look like when I get back.
Have a lovely weekend!!!
STOLEN!
I'm so sorry to show this again but its been NICKED! Went to work with me on Thursday so customer could collect, put it on counter ready to pack up pretty in box etc, spoke to someone on phone, couple of customers came in and I spoke with them, all in all about 15 mins away from counter and it was gone....................................So now I've to make another. Bless their cotton picking bloody socks hey!
Profile
- About Me:
- Live in Dorset, UK, a beautiful county, mum to two lovely lovely lads. I love jewellery and I love to make jewellery, for a girl obsessed with beads I have the coolest job ever, I manage a bead shop in the historic market town in Shaftesbury!
About Marmalade Pink
Amy Steinberg
created this social network on Ning.
Marmalade Pink Badge
Spread the word. Get your own Marmalade Pink badge for your website or MySpace page. (Get Code)
Latest Activity
1 hour ago 
1 hour ago
1 hour ago
1 hour ago
1 hour ago © 2008 Created by Amy Steinberg on Ning. Create your own social network
Comment Wall (7 comments)
You need to be a member of Marmalade Pink to add comments!
Join this network
xxx
Best wishes
Liz
Cheers!
Amy