Tis the night before Christmas........

and all through the house, not a bead nor a button is in sight of this mouse. I'll lay my head gently on the pillow tonight, and wake in the morning looking a right old sight! Is it the wine, is it the trifle! That's making me feel this way, oh no it's that bloody Santa and his sodding noisy sleigh! Merry Christmas one and all, have a wonderful one.

Necklaces for Christmas anyone!?!?

It's begining to look a lot like Christmas

Well it will in our home as soon as I un-earth the Xmas tree and throw up a bit of tinsel here, there and everywhere. The un-heard of happend whilst on holiday, I only took about 9 or 10 photos! An absolutely none at the wedding I spoke of earlier! Didn't need to with so many others clicking away I knew I'd get to see heaps of them on Facebook and hopefully the happily married couple will send us 1 or even perhaps 2 or 3 as a Xmas present! Hint hint if you are reading this said couple!! The photo is my first ever beaded amulet purse, Xmas present to Sam. And I will attempt another one some time soon Sam, bigger so's you can actually use it! this one is cute and more decoration, you can perhaps get your lippy balm in it though and perhaps even a tissue, but please don't try and stuff ya cell phone in it, because I will not repair it! Purse or phone.
The holiday was great even though we had a few up's and down's. Another story to tell there, but not just yet.

Goodness me.....

It's been a month since I popped my wee little nose in here........ So I'm Back! Not that I've been anywhere, just things to do, people to see, but not many places to go. Oh yes the odd show and movie, dinners out etc etc., But we are off on Thursday up to the big 'smoke', Auckland that is then further up north to Matakana (step sons wedding) then back to Orewa for some beach time. So next time I pop in I'll have some photos to show other than jewellery ones. Well there might be some jewellery ones, I've made the bridesmaids necklaces! adieu for now.

Well you'll never guess what!

Yes...... it's raining! But we have had some lovely sunny days in between. This is what the heavy rain did last year to our river, that's a bridge under there somewhere!

For those that pop in and have a peek at this blog from time to time will notice that I've got a fancy brand new banner, thanks to a very talented lady whom I've never met but regard as a friend, and one day we will meet if we can get some of the other 'beadies' to join us in a beading retreat of some sort and at some place close to us all. One day........... So thanks once again Amanda, I love the banner, well done.

The sun is shining for me and my man.....

I've just recently made some jewellery just for me. I prefer to wear gold although I do mix and match from time to time. These pieces I'll be wearing for the first time at a wedding next month, now I have to look for an outfit to match my jewellery!

And it's roast lunch time again very soon, only I won't be cooking it! Too busy doing other things like this very pretty embellished button, and there's more in the pipe line. That's a miniature cup and saucer by the way, not a huge great button!

Oh I'm still chuffed about this......

http://www.beadaholic.co.nz/Beading_Information/Beading+Comp+2009+winners.html

With two weeks to go before entries had to be in, I decided 'yes I would have another go'! So started whipping up a couple of entries without a clue as to what I was making and they just sort of grew. Strange how that happens! And lo and behold, not one but the two of them got a prize. So yes 'I'm still chuffed about this'. And a shopping I shall go very soon. Thank you Beadaholic.

It's Monday and yep it's raining again!

We have had a couple of lovely sunny days though, so all is not lost!

Here's my September YOJ (Images) The image is a baby pic of 'me' which I've 'art gelled' onto a pink button and embellished with seed beads into a netted pattern. I've peyoted the bail and added baby bell flower beads at the base of it.

Right, now back to that rainy day..... it's a great day for beading!

It's overcast and looks like rain on the way.....

But hey it's my Mums birthday today, and we might be doing lunch or dinner! I baked a fruit cake yesterday and cut it into four little cakes and iced one for her, put a candle in the middle, no room for 83 of them! And I like to give her her own little cake in a special made box as well. No jewellery this year, she has enough! So we are giving her a stereo, small one of course so it can go beside the bed or on a table or in the kitchen..... whateva! And as well as having the CD system it also has a cassette deck, Mum has loads of cassettes and now she can play them to her hearts content. Sam (daughter of mine) has sent her two Dean Martin CD's and she thinks she has to come round to ours to play them....heheheheh. That's what she thinks! Anyway here's a pic of the cake, whoops the icing sort of slipped off a bit.

Out with the paper, time to make some boxes for a change

I found this flower I'd dried flat in a book some time ago, forgotten all about it until it popped out of the book. So got cracking making what I call my cup cake boxes, not that I've made any cup cakes but the idea is still there somewhere. And with careful positioning I glued the little darling to the top of the box. Not as easy as it looks I found out, as the flower was like very fine paper.

Hah hah.....

All I wanted to get was a video clip of Fleetwood Mac, Albratros! Love it. Oh well try again another day. At least I got another 'fwend' on facebook! Hi Amanda, I sent that bracelet to Sam today, good timing too as she had found out that day that her landlord was selling her flat, or going to try to, hard times, hard times........
Anyway, apart from that it's been a pretty good day, weather great and I started on a kilt pin as a present to customer. And now I hear the kettle boiling and it's nearly time to watch 'Fringe'.

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Facebook Jen Meiklejohn

Testing testing.......

It's still windy in Blendy

But lots of sunshine last few days. I've been playing with the Chinese knots again and mastered another one. Double coin knot and snake knot. And also bashed this one up cause I wanted to use this lovely green bead.

It's a windy Friday....

I suffer with hayfever, and this wind doesn't help. But, thankgoodness for flixonase cause that does help. I was determined to ignor the blog until I had two competition pieces finished plus my YOJ piece. The 1960's..... To be honest I can't remember what sort of jewellery I wore way back then, it was all about mini skirts, pointed toe shoes, back combed hair, flowery shift dresses (I remember those) I recall medallions on long chains, think I had one of those! So I tried making one, absolutely hated it. It's now in the UFO box. Decided I would go with the flower power theme and a brooch was born......

I didn't have a clue what I was making when I started with 18g peach coloured artistic wire, I sort of had a pendant in mind (type of medallion type thing!). Then out came the 28g copper wire and the crochet hook, my favourite tool. Crochet patterns came out next and the flower and leaf began to take shape. It didn't look quite right as a pendant so I stitched a brooch back to it and........ voila! que c'est bon?

Plenty of ideas on the creating table

but have come up against a brick wall! And the old headaches problem have been surfacing this week so have to give myself a break and just chiiiiiill!

Yeah just like that....................zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

It's raining it's pouring.....

Good day to stay inside and get cracking on my 1960's piece. So far this week I've come up with all sorts of ideas but don't really like any of them! Anyway, watch this space cause I might just have a brain wave today, rain does that!

A happy photo.

I only wanted the one photo from facebook and lo and behold I get the whole shamozzle (is that a word?) That'll teach me to muck around with stuff I don't know a thing about. Am listening to my favourite music, black birds evening chorus, and hark I hear a thrush in there too! Anyway here's the said pic, Dada and 3 of his darling daughters.

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Facebook Your Photos - Jens photos

Thought for today...... Look after ya muver.

What spelling mistake!

Here she is, my Mum, lady of the house although it's not her house she's waving from. I know there's many out there who no longer have a Mum, so I really treasure having mine living close to me now. She can be a pain in the arse at times, but I wuvs her.

This is the pretty I was trying to upload earlier

Our Daisy cat just loves her basket.

Loving copper at the moment

Also loving trying out these Chinese knots. This is a prosperity knot with sweet little button knots in between the copper beads. These are my favourite knots and ones I can now do without the instruction booklet.

Thought for the day..... watch ya spelling!

I'm so quick to check others spelling, I should check myself! Nice day to bead today (it's overcast and cold) I must get cracking on this months YOJ, theme is 'the 1960's', I should know all about that! And the pretty for the day is..... Oh nothing at the moment, the blog seems to be blocked. Back later.

Another day, another dollar.... I wish!

Spent heaps in the supermarket today, only shop every three to four weeks, anymore than that would drive my nuts! Now popping into a bead shop and I could stay there all day! Talking of beads, here's a few more pretties. Exotic bracelet. Crochet bracelet in Autumn shades.

This is now called 'Nature's Mantilla'

YOJ theme for May '09 'Nature'.

Love this one, yards and yards of 32g artistic wire was crochet into three pieces and then put together with wire and flat beads. Then decorated with tons of various seed beads etc., The brooch that holds it together has a beaded bead in it's centre.

Some items of jewellery I've been working on

A beaded button, button with a view. I think it looks like the sea with the sun shining on the hills. And pink and aqua beaded button, this is a beadhivedivas YOJ item for July 09, theme is 'precious'.