BTW

 
First on my list today was some organising - a few jobs that didn't actually take that long, that I've been meaning to do for ages and will save me time now that I've actually done them! The one that's going to save the most time was finally organising the index cards that I write out the "recipes" for the clasps and pieces of jewellery, such as my Golden Collection, that I make to order. Although each piece turns out slightly differently as, afterall, they are handcrafted, the recipes help to make sure that they are made in the same way. However, the cards have been just bunged into the box for the last couple of years so that I've had to search through them each time - such a silly waste of time! I don't know why I'd put off organising it for so long, as it only took me 30 minutes! Tidying up the table it's sitting on is a constant job though......

And the rest of the day was spent on etsy orders. Something else that I've been doing to be more efficient is getting a supply of customs labels from my local friendly post office so that I can fill them in at home while I'm wrapping up the parcels rather than hold the queue up and fill them in at the counter.

Tutorial Tuesday - adjustable silk necklaces

Janna got me started using silk ribbons in my work after gifting me some beautiful silk ribbons in the Bead Soup ingredients she sent me for the last party, so I was really pleased to see Jennifer Cameron's tutorial for her beautiful coils that turn the silk into an adjustable necklace - such a simple but brilliant idea! You can find the step-by-step photos here (and have a look at her beautiful lampwork while you're there!)

Giveaway Winner

Thank you so much to all of you who entered the voucher giveaway - I'm just sorry that there can only be one winner! Until the next time, anyway. It's been great to read through all the comments. I'm so relieved that I'm not the only one with a messay area under a desk or table full of things you keep meaning to put away! It seems as if we're all too busy creating to have time to tidy up - or at least, to keep things tidy when we're in full creative mode!

Anyway, the winner as chosen from the hat (well, bowl) by Ben before I took him to school is.......

Jean A. Wells

Sorry there's no picture of little pieces of paper today, but T took my camera to work for a project and left for work before Ben did the draw!

Congratulations Jean! Please contact me (email address is on the left!) so that I can sort out the voucher for you!

While you're waiting...

...for me to post the winner of the £20 voucher, there's another giveaway to tempt you here!

Lesley Watt from Thea Jewellery woke up to her 100th sale in her Esty shop this morning and is celebrating with a giveaway! She makes beautiful jewellery and makes a lot of her own components, and the giveaway is either a beady goody bag or something to tempt those of us who prefer to buy jewellery than to make it. You can find her blog here and her jewellery on Etsy here.

The Poppy Challengers!

Thank you so much to all of you who left such lovely comments on the poppy challenge. It's always so much more fun with more people playing along!

I wrote everyone's names on pretty lilac paper and Ben picked five out for me and they are................

Jennifer Cameron
Kristi
Seaflowerstudios
Molly Alexander
Fiona

Congratulations! I will be emailing you tomorrow to get your addresses.

Thank you again to the rest of you - I wish I could have sent you all something, but I will be doing more challenges, promise! By the way, there are still a couple of hours to enter my £20 voucher giveaway - leave a comment on this post to enter!

There's still a little time left....

Thank you for all the comments entering the challenge and giveaway lotteries! It's always more fun with more people! And it's lovely to see so many new people (or de-lurkers?!) too - I'm looking forward to visiting your blogs next week.
There's still just under an hour left to enter the lottery for the Poppy Challenge, and the giveaway comments can be left until midnight tomorrow (GMT that is).
Good luck!

Made with love

Every halfterm Ben's class has a different topic, and all of the subjects are then taught around that topic. In the past we've had Superheros and The Night, and this halfterm the topic is one that has really caught the imagination of the parents as well as the children - Old Toys! The children have been comparing new and old toys, what they're made from, how they work etc, and had to interview a grandparent about their childhood toys. That homework came home the weekend of Jamie's birthday, which was perfect timing as Ben had four grandparents to ask!

Mum and Dad had a search through their loft and found some of my old toys for Ben and I to take into school yesterday. My parents moved six times (I think!) in about 9 years due to Dad's job so they've had to have a few clear outs, but they found some things I have very fond memories, including some Sindy clothes that my Mum and my Grandma made for me. Mum made the knitted jumper and skirt below, and Grandma sewed the rest. Grandma served an apprenticeship at a fashion house before the war, and it really shows in all the beautiful details in the clothes. Just look at the shaping on the bodice of the pink dress, and the layers in the skirt!

There are clothes for Sindy to wear during the day, made from material that Grandma saved from a yellow dress Mum wore as a girl and a pair of Grandma's trousers, party dresses made from a nightie and Grandma's and material from the suit she wore to Mum and Dad's wedding 40 years ago. How wonderful is that? And of course, every Sindy has to have a wedding dress, complete with veil! I remember Grandma giving me dolls clothes for several Christmases, and although I do remember loving them and thank her for them it's only now that I really appreciate just how much love and work she and Mum put into making them. I know that I have them to thank for my love of crafts and for teaching me to crochet and knit and sew - even though my sewing skills are very limited!

I don't have daughters to make dolls' clothes for, but I do have a God-daughter, two nieces and friend's young daughters who I consider to be family, so as they grow older (they're mainly preschool age at the moment) I will be adding to their dolls wardrobes. I made a start at Christmas with some knitted clothes for our eldest niece's Baby Annabell, and she loved them! She's already put her requests in for her birthday present!

This is the least blurry picture I managed to take of Katie at Christmas!