Scottie Dog Charm

One of my favouring all time beading stitch is right angle weave (RAW) especially using it to create 3D pieces. When beading a bracelet of crosses last year my husband glance over and for a moment he thought they were little dogs. He then asked me could I do a scottie dog? So as always keen for a challenge I picked up my needle, thread and beads and suprisingly came out with something similar to this little guy below who is 2nd generation.

My friends mum saw my phone charm (the original) and thought it would be a great little gift for a friend of hers. I used size 8 seed beads in this one and the chunky little red guy below but it looks great using size 11 too.

Good Friday

It was a very good Friday even if I missed posting yesterday.

My best friend Amanda was up from London who spent the day with me and the boys. We had a lovely picnic in the back garden and then a trip to our local park in Wakefield (across the road from home).

As there was plenty to do at the park we were there for most of the afternoon. We went on the miniature train run by local enthusiasts, a great ride for only 20p each. Then it was over to a bouncy castle and onto the play park where the slides are a favourite for Ben and Alex. On a day like that we couldn't go without eating ice cream and feeding the ducks, swans and geese and then finally exhausted we all went home.

Ruffled Ring

Its about time I finished off some of my work in progress (WIP) as it is getting out of hand. Here is a ruffled circular peyote piece which I beaded over a year ago just sat in a bag of WIP. It is quite a structured piece with a good ruffle effect due to the tension been kept nice and tight with rapid increase of beads on each row. 

After rooting through my findings box I came across a sieve ring that I picked up in London again well over a year ago. So the end product as you see below is a ruffled ring finished off nicely with a Swarovski bicone.

I was more than happy with the result. I just need more rings now to try out some variations on this theme.....can't wait!!!!

Happy friend

It was my first day back at work today after a week off it was a shame to leave the boys after such a lovely week. But on the flip side it was great to see all my friends / colleagues at work.

I finished a bracelet for my friend Jemma last night; using a pattern of Marcie Abney it was in last years June/July edition of Beadwork. It came in handy as my friend wanted an interesting bracelet to go with a new dress she had bought. I only had size 9 czech seed beads but it still has worked a treat I also added a press stud clasp rather than finishing it with the beaded toggle .

To say she loved it would be an understatement. There were many compliments on this from my other friends at work. Thanks to  Marcie Abney, please if you like this you should see more of her inspirational work on her fabulous blog la bella joya.

Easter Bonnet

Last week I was asked by my mother in law to decorate and Easter bonnet for my husband's grandma. I gladly accepted.

Time does fly when you have a deadline and although I had grand plans unfortunately time did not permit me to fulfill them.

First I created a flower braid using a pattern from Liz Thornton & Jill Devons book The Beaders Floral. Then I added some individual flowers including a daffodil using the herringbone variation from the same book (if you can make it out in the centre of the picture below).

It was looking rather pretty but not very easter like, so I popped on some feathers, chicks and a bunny I quickly sewed together from the kids craft box. And my finished product was not quite what I hoped but my husband's grandma was satisfied.

Birthday Boy

Its been a fun and sunny day just perfect for Alex my youngest birthday.

Good Start

I'm off to a good start 2 posts in one day.

I am on holiday from work for a few days for my boys birthdays. We had a lovely sunny day at home which involved playing with lego. I have forgotten how much fun lego is.

Here is Alex with the castle I made him. This is a 2 player game the aim of which is to create the strongest castle so that your lego people are not knocked over when the lego ball is thrown at your castle (its a game my husband played when he was a boy which my eldest Ben has soon become addicted to). Alex insisted on having a door after I had finished building it so luckily I incorporated a hatch door on top.

Here is the winner. Again I had to make this one too. Chewbacca is inside he was the only guy standing at the end I just couldn't knock him over.

First post.. and introduction.

I can't believe it's the eve of my youngest son's birthday and he is 3 years old tomorrow which means it has taken me 3 years to bite the bullet and start the blog I intended to write back on my maternity leave.

Here are my boys now playing happily in the garden today.

What made me take this leap? What is this all about?

Its all about trying something new and challenging myself. Here is my chance to show family, friends and anyone interested what I create and the experiences I encounter. But that said I will just have to see where this takes me.

Just a little bit of my bead weaving work there will be much more to come.