KEBO Jewellery

I've been tagged

2009-05-09T14:06:00.002+01:00

I was tagged today by the lovely Kara who has the most gorgeous baby boy you have ever seen!

Right, here we go, be prepared to learn a bit more about yours truly....

8 Things I am looking Forward too.....

Going to Mexico in November...as long as the swing flu has cleared up, fingers crossed!
Talking my hubby to Dublin for his birthday and showing him where I used to spend most of my summers.
Being debt free...I've been in dept since I was 18 and I have finally got to grips with it!!
Going to my silversmith class, have been going for 3 weeks and am loving it!
Going on a picnic with my hubby on Sunday...we have never done it before!
One day being a size 10/12...I have loads and loads to go but that is what I want to be!
The last Harry Potter film
A cuddle on the sofa with my hubby while we watch a film tonight!

8 Things I Did Yesterday...

Went to work.
Sold some fimo stuff I never used
Saw one of my sisters
Picked up hubby's shirts from the dry cleaners ans dropped some off...I hate ironing!
Ate too much bread (bagel for breakie, baguette for lunch and toast for dinner)...I try not to normally eat any bread!!
Updated my website.
Tidied up...just a little bit!
Watched 2 episodes of Bones.

8 Things I Wish I Could Do....

Buy a lovely big house with a big garden.
Travel more.
Real magic...like in Harry Potter!!
Fly (I don't mean in an aeroplane!)
Fit in to a pair of size 10 or 12 jeans!
Loose Weight
Win the lottery
Neat piecing with a saw!

8 Shows I Watch....

Fringe
Bones
Heroes
Shameless
The In Betweeners
Dirty Sexy Money
Desperate Housewives
Gossip Girl

Those are my 8's. My turn to tag....YOU! Come on, you know you want to! Here's the rules, just in case you want to follow them:
1) Mention the name of the person who tagged you.
2) Do the lists of 8.
3) Tag 8 bloggers of your choice.
4) Let them know that they have been tagged!

So who do I tag ...

Where does the time go?

2009-05-07T17:30:00.010+01:00

Love Is In The Air Necklace
Sterling Silver & Murano Glass Heart

Wow, it has been almost 3 months since I last blogged. I can't believe how quickly this year is going! Last time I blogged there was still some snow on the ground and now the weather is beautiful (mainly!) and I can't remember the last time I wore a coat!!!

Love Struck
Simple Sterling Silver & Karen Hill Tribe Silver earrings

In the last couple of months, I have had a birthday, booked 2 holidays (Mexico and Ireland towards the end of the year) and started a new silversmith class which I am loving. I did one a few years ago which I stopped half way through as I was sick of spending the whole lesson waiting for the teacher to be free for advice and guidance!! With my new one, the teacher gives us very simple wire work projects that we can do if we are waiting for her which are great and the class is much smaller. When I have finished some pieces, I will post a picture!

Mooreland Necklace - SOLD
Karen Hill Tribe Silver, Sterling Silver & Lampwork by UK Artisan, Becky Fairclough

The above and below necklaces were a birthday present for one of my sister's. They are both on long Sterling Silver ball chains. I saw her today and she was wearing the Mooreland necklace and it looked great on. I love seeing people wearing my creations, it gives me a real buzz!

Candy Corn Necklace - SOLD
Sterling silver & boro lampwork from the US

I am such a Twit!!!!!

2009-02-08T09:33:00.006Z

Stepping Stones Bracelet

Silver Leaf Jasper, Sterling Silver & Karen Hill Tribe Silver

A few weeks ago I signed up to Twitter however I didn't have a clue how it worked and it was very difficult to read so I gave up before I even started!! After listening to the radio (Chris Moyles on Radio 1...yes, I know, he is a bit like Marmite, love him or hate him but I love him, his show has me laughing all the way to work!!) where they were going on about Twitter, I thought I would give it another try. That was Friday evening and by the time I went to bed on Friday night, I was addicted!!! Yet more of my life going to waste on the internet!!!!!!!!! My name on Twitter is KEBOjewellery.

Bubble Earrings
Freshwater Pearls and Sterling Silver

We still have snow on the ground here in Surrey/London but it is slowly melting away. Unfortunately I never got to make the snowman I wanted to make :o(

I haven't been up to much in the last week, mainly working at my full time job where I am a HR Business Partner for a global FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods) company. I have had plenty of opportunity this weekend to make some lovelies however my mojo seems to have taken a very long holiday. I realised that I have not made anything new since December!!! I have lots of ideas in my scrap book but not the energy or the inclination to actually go and do it! I have cut down on my magazine spend but thought I would go and purchase a copy of Bead mag in the hope that it would spur me on, but no!! It was a good read though as there are many people in there I 'virtually' know!! There is a 3 page article on my good friend Becky Fairclough which is a great read!

Kaleidoscope Necklace

Lampwork Bead By UK Artist Becky Fairclough, Sterling Silver & Karen Hill Tribe Silver

Speaking of Marmite (I was, promise, look a few paragraphs up!!!) I have discovered that Marmite means pot in French...God, I am full of useless informaton (if you ever want to know what the PG in PG Tips stands for, let me know!!!)!!! I would not say I am in love with Marmite but I really like the taste, the brand, the marketing etc (and not just because I work for the Company that makes it) and I have found a fab Marmite canvas that I am thinking if getting for my kitchen, what do you think?

In this post are some items I made in the last quarter of 2008, I hope you like them. I am going to make a real effort this week to do 2 things...make at least one piece of jewellery and do exercise at least once a day (I have 2 classes on Wednesday)!!

I love the snow!!

2009-02-02T20:54:00.006Z

Out the back!

Woo, who else had mega amounts of snow??? We live in Surrey, just on the border of London and when we have snow, it is normally pitiful and has disappeared within an hour. Today was very very different!! As I went to bed last night, there was a good few inches on the ground and I was all excited but when I went out of the house at 6 this morning (I was meant to be going to the gym before work!!), there was a foot of snow!!! Because we were up and out so early, no one had stepped on the fresh snow and it looked like something out of Narnia! It was so pretty, I didn't want anyone to step on it!!! That didn't last long!!

Our road

Hubby tried first to get his car out and it was not looking good, there was way too much snow on the ground and the cars were going no where. He is never someone who takes a day off work willy nilly and it was killing him not being able to to work. The trains and buses were also not running!! I was very lucky that I worked from home on Friday so it meant I had my work laptop with me and could work from home today...looking out the window at people playing in the snow was killing me but I had loads to do!!

Out the front

There was an ambulance in trouble so hubby and I decided to go and help push. Isn't it amazing how the community really comes together on days like today. In London, no one looks at each other let alone talks to each other and today was just so different. We were all rallying around trying to get the ambulance out and then later when I tried to move my car and it got completely stuck in snow, strangers put their shopping down to help! At lunch time I decided to walk in to town and pop to the bank (which was closed!!) and everyone was walking in the middle of the road, in the tire tracks and people were smiling, laughing and playing...it was a lovely sight!

Me after pretending to hubby that I was going to do a

snow angel and instead, he pushed me in a mount of snow!!

Hubby kept saying that it was crazy that the world stops when we have a bit of snow and as much as I agree, it is also because we very rarely have this much snow (last time was at least 13 years ago apparently but I would have said much more in London!!) and so the contingencies are not really there!! We are not as equipped as Scotland for example where they have snow a lot in the winter months!

Starburst necklace

Lampwork by Becky Fairclough, freshwater pearls and Sterling Silver

I think the funniest thing of the day was a phone call from my mum early this morning. She called to talk about the snow (as everyone has been today!!) and she said that she was awake at 3 a.m. this morning and she looked out the window and there was some teenagers making a giant mans bit (you know what I am talking about!!). She said when she saw it finished today it was about 7 feet tall and everyone was stopping and laughing when they saw it. I have never ever heard my mum say the P word and it was very amusing!! I then had update reports on people taking photos of it and then people knocking it down!!!!

Wild @ Heart
Lampwork by Becky Fairclough and Sterling Silver

Right, back to the jewellery, only 2 items to show you today and these were items I made at the end of last year but never put on my website!!! I am already falling very behind on my New Years Resolutions of making more and posting more!!!

Happy New Year everyone!!

2008-12-31T12:23:00.004Z

Well, it is nearly the end of 2008. It hasn't been a bad year for me, in fact, I would go as far as saying it has been a very good year!!! I am back working for a company that I love, jewellery sales haven't been too bad, I have managed for the first time in 15 years to have a savings account with money in it and I had a wonderful holiday to Jamaica.

I have added to my New Year's resolutions:-

Make more jewellery
Be a tidy jewellery maker!
Post more pictures of my work on my website and on here!
Actually do some silver smithing (I did a course but never continued it after!!)
Go to the gym at work every morning that I am in the office.
Eat healthily (even bought an electric steamer in the sales!!)
Learn some patience!!!!

Just a couple of resolutions then!!!! I know people say you shouldn't make resolutions as you are more likely to break them but I say poppycock to that, I am going to try really hard...well, until the 2nd week of January anyway!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hope you have all had a good 2008 and are looking forward to 2009. Happy New Year's one and all!!!

Signing off for my last post of 2008!!!

Kelly x

Merry Christmas one and all!!

2008-12-24T11:23:00.003Z

I wanted to wish you all a magical Christmas and I hope you have a lovely day, however you plan on spending it. Eat lots, drink even more and be patient with each other because we all know that when families get together, it can get quite fraught...or is that just my family!!! I must remember to practice what I preach!!!

I will be back in 2009 to update my blog properly and my New Year's resolution is to update my blog, my flickr and my website a lot more often...oh, and to make more lovelies!!!

Merry Christmas everyone.

Kelly
x

Rainy days and Mondays!!!

2008-11-10T20:35:00.005Z

Negril Necklace

Lampwork by Sam Halliwell, Fresh Water Pearls and Sterling Silver

I feel like I am always taking about the weather, more to the point, I am always moaning about the weather...I think I need to change my blog from talking about jewellery to the weather report!!! Actually, I love wet and windy...just so long as I am wrapped up warm in doors with a good book or a chick flick!!! The days that I don't like wet and windy are days like Saturday just gone when I met a lovely friend for lunch and a natter and then did some Christmas shopping in Kingston-Upon-Thames. By the time I got from the car park to the Slug and Lettuce, I was drenched!! Most people would probably go home after that but not me, as most of my weekends in the run up to Christmas are going to be taken up with fairs, I have to get all my shopping done now. So imagine it, me trying to keep my bag on my shoulder, the umbrella above my head and carrying loads of bags...which were very heavy and awkwardly shaped!! The worst part was having 2 bags made of paper and we all know that paper + rain = you have got to be joking if you think they are going to survive...which of course they didn't LOL!!!! I think the icing on the cake was my umbrella refusing to fold down whilst I was in the shops...much to the delight of everyone I hit with it hee hee hee!!!!

Negril Bracelet
Lampwork by Sam Halliwell, Karen Hill Tribe Silver and Sterling Silver

The weekend before (which was also wet and windy LOL) I met Becky Fairclough of Chameleon Designs for a spot of bead shopping at The Big Bead Show, Sandown Park. A great day was had and I bought some lovely beads and other goodies!! It was a great day, I met Julie from Lush Lampwork, had quick chat with Jean Power of Bead Mag (among many other things) and said hi to a couple of other people.

Negril Earrings
Lampwork by Sam Halliwell and Sterling Silver

Back to the jewellery...Here are 3 pieces that I made with some beads I got from the fair. I love these as they remind me of the sand and sea from the 7 mile beach in Negril where I was lucky enough to holiday this year. The earrings are made on longer earring wires.

Just rambling on...for a change!!!

2008-10-28T20:50:00.007Z

Slate Necklace

Don't faint...yes, I am really posting for a 3rd time this month!! Must be a record for me!!! Not much happening except I am starting to get moving on creating new work as it is soon the season to be jolly and hopefully, gift giving!!!

Marrakech Bracelet

I have recently added an application on my blog where people can 'Follow Me'! This is a great tool which helps you keep up to date with people posting on their blogs without having to check them out all the time. The Reader/Follow Me application lets you know when someone has posted something new just by logging on to your reader, it saves so much time. If you want to 'Follow Me' click on the link to the right of this page.

A couple of weeks ago I created a KEBO Jewellery Facebook page and I have a couple of fans already which is lovely. I love Facebook, it is such a great way to keep up to date with what friends are doing, my only gripe with it is that my sister keeps putting up mega embarrassing photos of me and tagging me in them so everyone sees them!!! She can't ever put any nice ones up...thanks sis!!!

I am not sure I will manage to post another post before the end of the month so see you all in November!

P.S. For some reason, I can unable to post any comments on Blogs all of a sudden. Anyone know why?

Tag, I'm it...3 times over!!

2008-10-21T22:04:00.007+01:00

Meadow - Stunning lampwork by Becky Fairclough

I have been tagged not once, not twice but 3 times by Jo of Gemheaven, Laura of Beads By Laura and Alison of Daisy Chain Designs

The rules are simple:-

1. Link to your tagger and list these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by including links to their blogs.
4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blogs.

Ok, no pressure to think of something interesting!!!

My full name is Kelly April...I am named Kelly after one of the Charlie's Angels and April because I was born on April Fool's Day!!! You can only imagine what it was like at school on 1st April!!!
I am a complete emotional bunny, I can cry at the drop of the hat...when I am happy, sad, angry, frustrated...the list goes on!!!
I love music and singing however I am the world's worst singer...which came as a great surprise to me 12 years ago...I was convinced I had a great voice until one day I asked my ex-boyfriend why he kept turning the stereo up when we were in the car and he admitted to me that it was to drown out my singing!!!!!!!!
I am a huge spendaholic, I just love spending even when I have no money...which is most of the time as I spend it as soon as I get paid!!!
I am addicted to buying handbags and shoes...is that the same as number 4?!?!?!
I am a serial dieter, I spend most of my life on a diet but just seem to get fatter!!! Maybe I should just give up dieting and I might actually loose weight!!!
I love to laugh, I could watch good comedies and comedians all day long and not worry about laughter lines!!! I watch Friends at least once a day and have been known on a couple of occasions to watch Friends on E4 and then again on a couple of hours later when they repeat them!!!

Midnight Ocean - more stunning lampwork by Becky Fairclough!!

Ok, now the difficult part, finding 7 people who haven't already been tagged!! If you have been tagged already, apologies!!

Izzy from Adventures in Glass
Maura from Blue Daisy Jewellery
Heather from Bumpy Beads
Nia from Gemwaith Nia
Billie from Glass by billie
Kara from Innocent Charms
Julie from Julie Merrett

Happy tagging...if there is anyone left ;O)

Shadow Grove - fabulous lampwork by Pam Purslow (focals) and Sue Mose (spacers)

Windy Day

2008-10-07T12:54:00.002+01:00

As I sit here and type, the weather outside is not good, the wind is very stong and the trees are bending back and forth and it is raining cats and dogs...I am very glad to be inside today!!! This is the sort of weather that makes you want to curl up with a chick flick with a bar of chocolate and a warm cuppa...unfortunately for me, I can't do that as I am at work :o(

What have I been up to since my last post??? Well, I went to see Madonna at Wembley with my sister and she was amazing...Madonna that is!! I also had a stand at the Ploughing Match and Country Fair in Guildford a couple of weeks ago. The weather then was fab which is just as well as it was outside. I have also been updating the photos on my website...so far I have only done the necklaces as it takes so long!!!

Whilst looking on Becky's Blog (Chameleon Designs), I saw that she had a link to a blog called Little People - A Tiny Street Art Project. Me being nosey had to have a look and it is fantastic, have a look.

I have also been interviewed by Sally of Sallers Blog. I do ramble on a bit so you may get bored half the way down!!!!

Rain Rain Go Away!!!

2008-09-06T01:12:00.007+01:00

I seem to talk a lot about the weather in my posts...maybe because we haven't had much of a summer this year!!! Anyway, for those in the UK, you probably experienced the rain as I did today. Hubby and I were going to do something nice today but the weather was so awful that we went to the cinema and saw Get Smart instead which I thought was very funny.

Waterfall Bracelet - SOLD
Boro Lampwork, Sterling Silver & Bali Silver

One good thing that came out of today was I FINALLY got around to adding pictures to my Flickr account and I also uploaded items to Etsy and Folksy. You can find links to these sites on the right hand side of this page.

If you have never heard of Folksy, it is a much needed UK version of Etsy...if you have never heard of Etsy, shame on you, where have you been hiding?!?!? Both of these sites sell some of the most delicious handmade items you have ever seen. I have my eye on several handmade bags on Etsy that I want...I have even seen custom made shoes...don't given get me started...my love of handbags and shoes is a bit of a sore point with my husband!! Anyway, go and have a look at these sites, you may be able to find yourself some lovely (Christmas) presents...for yourself! Sorry for mentioning the C word again but it is only a few months away...and it is my favourite time of the year...I can't wait!!!

I have also added to this blog, 2 buttons for subscribing (see right hand side). You can choose to subscribe to the posts or the comments...to be completely honest with you, the whole RSS Feed thing is a bit of a mystery to me so if you have any input, please let me know!!!!!

The bracelet in this post is one of my favourite. The picture is really awful and doesn't show it very well but I had only made it when a few days it was sold so I never got to take a proper photo.

Long Time, No Blog!

2008-08-26T23:34:00.011+01:00

Candy Corn Bracelet
So named because I think the glass looks like popcorn...only candy coloured!!

Where are the days and weeks going? I can't believe that we are nearly at the end of Summer...what Summer I hear you cry?!?!?! According to the weather report, we are going to have some nice weather here in London at the weekend!!

Carnival Bracelet - SOLD

Sterling Silver, Bali Silver, Karen Hill Tribe Silver, Garnets & Artisan Glass by Heather Webb

I saw these beads of Heather's and I had to have them straight away. Aren't they amazing? The colours are stunning and Heather called them Carnival and I couldn't think of a better name so had to keep it for this bracelet...hope you don't mind Heather?

It is quite a chunky bracelet and the tiny little beads are Garnet. I was going to be brave and also put Amethyst with it (as there is a lovely purple in the lampwork) but chickened out at the last minute!!!

Jo's Earrings
Freshwater Pearls, Sterling Silver and Swarovski Crystals

What have I been up to over the last month or so. Well, I have made a couple of new pieces for the website and I also designed and created by friend Jo's Wedding jewellery and hair pins. I was really worried about doing this as a girls wedding day is so special and she wants everything to be just perfect and when you are designing from scratch, there is a chance that she will hate it all!!! Luckily, she loved it and on the day, she looked truly stunning and so very happy.

This was one of the 3 weddings I had in July and August. Unfortunately I couldn't make the 3rd one as I was poorly...nothing serious!

I am also experimenting with different backgrounds and using my photographers daylight lamps... what do you think...bit more practice needed??? I like this background as it is similar to the background on my website...although looking at it on the screen it doesn't look that similar!!!

Speaking of nearly the end of Summer, I have started booking up for Christmas events...how scary is that?!?!?!?!

Jamaican-Me-Crazy!!!!

2008-07-04T22:10:00.006+01:00

I'm back!!!! I have been away for a while on my holidays...2 blissful weeks in Negril, Jamaica. To anyone who has not been, I could not recommend it enough if you want a relaxing holiday in a stunningly beautiful setting.

Instead of jewellery (cos I haven't made any!!), I thought I would post some of my favourite pictures from my hols...sorry to bore you!!!

YS Falls

My crazy husband after cliff diving from a 55 ft cliff
...but isn't the colour of the water amazing?!?!?!

The first time I have seen a real croc... I was convinced it was a
fake until the tour guide splashed it with water and it closed its mouth!!!!

Another first for me, this time the first time I saw a dolphin

Sunset at Rick's Cafe, Negril

Well, if you have reached this far down, congratulations on not falling asleep!!!

The colours and sights of Jamaica have really inspired me and I can't wait to get back to the jewellery table and create so watch this space!!!

Where's the sun gone?

2008-05-18T17:54:00.005+01:00

After
'Retro Restyle'
Lampwork glass, Bali silver, Sterling silver
and Karen Hill Tribe Silver

Hmmm, we were having such beautiful weather and now it has gone, we are back to grey skies here in not so sunny Surrey!!!

What have I been up to this week? Well, I was at a hen weekend on Friday and Saturday in Oxford and I had a fab time with a really great group of girls. Friday night I had way too much Champagne and acted a little drunk (to say the least) and we had a naked butler who had a lovely behind (don't worry, his apron covered the front!!!). Saturday day, we were supposed to be punting and pedaloing to a really lovely pub. If you have never heard of punting before, it is like a long narrow rowing boat, everyone sits in the middle and one person stands on the end with a really long pole and is meant to use that to push off!! It was a nightmare and very funny to watch. Luckily I was in the pedalo and and saw the funny side of it as I watched the other two boats going the wrong way down the river and unable to control their boats. 35 minutes later we had gone no where and we decided to give up on the punting and we all had pedalos. We had 2 miles to go and one of the pedalos started leaking (the boat yard just gave them a bucket!!!!!!) and another one would not steer. Out of the 4 pedalos, only 2 made it to the pub, the other two were abandoned along the river... I really don't blame them!!! When we were mooring up at the pub, I managed to eat a fly and started choking and a man sitting outside the pub asked me if I was the entertainment...bleeding cheek!!!!

This week I restyled one of my own bracelet. The picture below is what it looked like before (it was one of my first pieces using lampwork!!) and the picture at the top of this post is what it looks like now... 100 times better I think and I love wearing it, it is now one of my fav pieces that I wear!

Before

Here comes the sun!!!

2008-05-10T10:03:00.006+01:00

Beach Ball Earrings
Sterling Silver and hollow glass

Wow, what a lovely week we have had, summer is certainly on it's way!!! I haven't worn a jacket all week.

Orange Crush
Sterling Silver & Hand Blown Furnace Glass

Haven't been up to too much this week. I went to the gym last night...pause for a round of applause!!... and it was soooo hot. Got my car back this morning from getting the body work fixed just as I was starting to like the courtesy car!!!!

Rock Candy Earrings
Sterling Silver & Hand Blown Furnace Glass

I have an embarrassing story to tell...the day we booked our holiday, my phone rang at 6 p.m. with an unknown number. My hubby normally rings me at this time and if he is ringing from his office phone, it comes up unknown. As we had just booked to go to Jamaica, I answered the phone, 'yeah man' said in a very bad Jamaican accent...imagine my embarrassment when I realised that it was not my husband but a recruitment agency!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I couldn't apologise enough but luckily she saw the funny side of it and said I had made her day!!!

Prefect Earrings
Sterling Silver & Hand Blown Furnace Glass

I have been making some pieces which suit the current weather. The earrings have been made using bright pieces of glass ready for the summer!!!

Peony Necklace
Lampwork by Angie Finn, Ruby Fuschite, Sterling Silver & Swarovski

Own up, who stole April?!?!?!

2008-05-03T18:07:00.009+01:00

Space Cowboy Bracelet
Lampwork by UK artist Caroline Hannon
team with sterling & fine silver

Blimey, I have just realised that I haven't posted since early March, where has the time gone?

Well, what have I been up to? Hmmm, since my last post, I have had a birthday, played in the snow, played in the sun (hasn't the weather been freaky these last few months?!?), booked a holiday (we fly to Jamaica next month for 2 lovely long weeks...yippee!!!), lost a stone (in weight, not a gemstone!!!) and had a prang in my car (well, someone hit me and drove off...thanks whoever you are!!!!!).

Gaia (Earth in Greek) Bracelet
Lampwork by UK Artist Sue Mose teamed with fine silver

I have also commissioned someone to design me a lovely new website so watch this space!!! The lovely lady doing it for me has just started a new web design business with the most fabulous name which makes me break in to a smile every time I say it but I won't give it away in case it is a secret!!!

I have hardly made any jewellery since my last post. The first bracelet is made with lampwork beads by Caroline Hannon. I love this bracelet and wanted to keep it for myself however when I first made it, the design was slightly different and it was too big so I had to change the design and now it is just a tad too small for my wrist!!!!!

Gaia (Earth in Greek) Earring
Lampwork by UK Artist Sue Mose teamed with fine silver

I normally try and remove the shadows in my pictures but I thought I would see how they look by leaving them in, what do you think?

Oh, just remembered something else that happened in April, my sister ran her first London Marathon in 4.42 hrs which is fantastic especially considering she had a bad injury which took her out of training for over a month before the big day!!! It was also her 40th birthday (although she doesn't look or act it) on the same day and I want to publicly say a big WELL DONE, I am so proud of you!!!

Stormy Sunday!

2008-03-09T12:11:00.010Z

Hi everyone, I hope you are having a lovely weekend. It is a bit wet here in Surrey and I hear there is going to be a great storm tonight. I might be on my own with this but I love a good old storm but only if I am in doors wrapped up warm and can hear the rain splashing against the windows!!!! If I am out in it, that is a different matter, I hate having wet clothes and wet hair!!!Here are some more pieces that I have been creating over the last few weeks. The pictures seem a bit pale...I just received my new light tent and lights and think I am still getting the hang of it which is annoying cos I thought as soon as I used it, my piccies would come out perfect LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!

As you can see, I have been busy making earrings. The first pair are made with gorgeous deep purple amethyst stones on Sterling Silver hoops.
I have loads of Sterling Silver wire so I thought I would do some hand shaping with swirls and hearts.

The pair above are made with Ruby Fuschite which has real rubies embedded in the stone!!! I love this colour combo, fab for the summer!!!

This bracelet is made using one of my favourite gemstones, Ocean Jasper. In real life it is a very dainty looking piece.

Pinch, Punch, 1st of the month!

2008-03-01T22:17:00.010Z

Where did February go? I think I must have blinked and missed it!!! The weather has been lovely recently, very Spring like except last night...I thought we were in the middle of a hurricane at about 3 a.m. this morning, I could hear things being blown all over the place!!!

What have I been up to this last month? Well, my mojo has returned with a lovely tan and my head and note pad is brimming with ideas for new creations!!! I have been busy creating over the last few weeks and have finally got around to photographing some of them!!

I also went to a bead fair in Kempton Park in February and bought some Gorgeous (with a capital G!!) lampwork from a lady I hadn't heard of before, her name is Joanne Rohrer. The necklace, earrings and purple bracelet are made with her beads but I still have a couple of sets left and one has the most AMAZING aqua discs!!!!

It is Mother's Day tomorrow and I haven't made my lovely mum any jewellery as she now has so much, there isn't enough days in the year to wear it all...well, that is a slight exaggeration!!!

To all you Mummy's out there, I hope you have a lovely Mother's Day and you are spoilt rotten just as you should be!

Lovely day for a bike ride!!!

2008-01-26T19:28:00.000Z

What a nice day it was today! I decided to get on my bike (which is very unusual for me!!) and cycled in to town. Thing was, I forgot that I had my bike and bought quite a lot of stuff that was heavy!! Luckily (or not for my purse!!!) there is a great bike shop in my town and so I bought and had fitted a basket! When I rang my hubby and told him he nearly wet himself with laughter and called me a granny!!! It is not a wicker basket but a rather stylish black wire affair (it should be made of gold for what it cost!!!!). I have never had a basket on any bike I have owned and it is really weird riding with it cos it makes the bike REALLY heavy and I was wobbling all over the place!!!! I think now I have got the basket, I will get out on my bike more! Lets see how long that idea lasts for!!!!

Mojo is still sunning it somewhere but I did manage to make a new bracelet. It is amazonite, rock crystal and sterling silver. It is actually a bracelet that I took apart and made in to something different. The original design had Blue Chalcedony in it however it went discoloured and a yellowish colour which looked awful :o(

I did a children's jewellery making party last Sunday and some of the children thought it would be helpful to put all the beads together (bless!!) so I have approx 50,000 small beads to sort through before the next party in less than 4 weeks time...ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hope you are all enjoying your weekend :o)

Mojo's gone on holiday!!

2008-01-13T14:30:00.000Z

Hmmm, not sure what is wrong with me... I had nothing planned this weekend so thought I would sit at the old jewellery table and actually made a couple of pieces however I seem to have lost my mojo!! Instead, I managed to create a new banner (hope you like it...see top of the page) and have designed and ordered my new business cards.

I wanted something very simple and clean and hope I have achieved this...can't wait to see how they look in real like!

Even though my mojo is sunning it on a beach somewhere, I did manage to make a necklace and some earrings for a commission order. I seem to be having some problems photographing my jewellery at the moment so can't post a piccie.

In my last post, I forgot to say a big thank you to Becky Fairclough. When I was having my new logo designed, she came up with the idea to have the word 'jewellery' in a more swirly text and as soon as I saw it like that, I knew that was how I wanted my logo!! So Becky, THANK YOU!!!

I hope you are all enjoying your weekend :o)

New Year, New Logo!!

2008-01-05T19:31:00.001Z

Hey everyone...HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Back in October I had a new logo designed and I have finally got around to using it and I am loving it!!!! The style and colour is perfect, just what I wanted!!! Because the colour scheme is different to my original one, I also had to change my website colours which I am also loving!!!

So, no new jewellery to show today, just a new logo and updated website!!!

I would love to hear your comments.

Goodbye 2007...Hello 2008!!

2007-12-31T17:24:00.000Z

Goddess In Green
Rock Crystal & Green Aventurine

The Odd Couple
Lampwork by Laura Sparling & Sterling Silver

I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas and is getting ready for the merriments this evening!! Tonight I have my parents, sister and niece coming over for nibbles and games. We do it all again tomorrow when my husbands family come over! We have bought enough food to feed the whole street but it is better to over do than have people wanting more but there is nothing left!!!

Strawberry Smoothie
Lampwork by Caroline Hannon & Sterling Silver

In between shopping, cleaning and cooking today, I managed to make a necklace (Goddess In Green) and some earrings (not pictured). The necklace is a bit different for me as it is not a uniformed pattern and I always struggle with this!

Calla Lily
Lampwork by Beck Fairclough & Sterling Silver

HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!!!

Merry Christmas everyone!!!

2007-12-24T19:29:00.000Z

Castor Bracelet

Carnelian & Karen Hill Tribe Silver

Well, the big day is almost upon us and as much as I am a HUGE Christmas fan, I don't want it to come as it will be gone so quickly and then that's it for another year.

Zest Earrings
Carnelian & Karen Hill Tribe Silver

I thought I would post a few more piccies of what I have been working on lately.

Arabian Nights
Smoky Quartz & Bali Silver

Heart & Soul Necklace
Fresh Water Pearls & Sterling Silver

I love the colours of the Carnelian in the bracelet and earrings at the top of the post. The word 'Castor' means...to shine, to excel...in greek.

Finally, MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone. I hope Santa brings you everything you wished for!!

Kelly
x

Sorry for being a stranger!

2007-12-22T15:18:00.000Z

Fossil Bracelet
Black Sardonyx & Karen Hill Tribe Silver

I just looked at the date of my last post and can not believe where the time has gone!!!

Organic Ocean Bottle Stopper
Lampwork by Julie Fountain

I have been so busy at work (my other job that pays the bills!!) and then I had a stall at the National Trust Ham House for the first 3 weekends of December so this is really the first opportunity I have had to sit down and do whatever I like!!!!

Spotty Dotty Bottle Stopper
Lampwork by Caroline Hannon

Not sure what to say about the fairs at Ham House...it was in a marquee which was meant to be heated but a small heater at either end of the marquee didn't do much in terms of heat and so everyone was freezing!!! On the first two weekends the rain was awful and the ground outside could not handle it and so decided to come up inside the marquee and a few stalls got flooded!! Luckily mine was about a foot away from being in water!!! Despite all the this, I actually enjoyed myself as it is the best opportunity to hear what people think about my jewellery and I also got to meet some amazing stall holders selling gorgeous wares!!!

Anyway, I thought I would post just a few pictures of what I have been up to lately!!!

I am not going to wish anyone a Merry Christmas in this post cos I want to make sure I post on here again before the big day!!! Here's hoping I do!!

It can't be Sunday already!!!!!!!!

2007-10-28T13:01:00.000Z

Why oh why does the working week go soooooo slowly and then as soon as the weekend comes, bam, it is over in a flash!!!!! I hate Sunday's, almost as much as I hate Monday's...I get that dreaded feeling in the pit of my stomach thinking about the week I have ahead of me!!!!!!

Any way, enough doom and gloom, it is still the weekend and best thing is, the clocks went back this morning so we have an extra hour...yippee!!!!!

Yesterday I met a very good friend of mine in Kingston and we did a bit of shopping. It was great to catch up and I even got to visit the new bead shop!!!!

I couldn't sleep this morning and was up at 6 a.m. which is weird cos during the week I struggle to get out of bed at 7.30 but when the weekends come, I am up bright and early...I guess it is best to be up early than waste the day in bed!!!

I have managed to make a few bits today. The bracelet in the top picture is a commission and I love it. The deep purple against the silver is stunning. The customer wanted a design very similar to one I have done before. In the picture, it looks almost the same but in the flesh, they are very different and I am really pleased with it.

The earrings below are made with Sterling Silver and Rock Quartz...I never know whether to call it Rock Quartz, Clear Quartz or Rock Crystal!!!!!

This bracelet is made with Amazonite and Sterling Silver. The little round silver circle is by the very talented Hannah (Kutuu) Solomon.
I am really excited...I have commissioned a designer to create a new logo for me. They have so far come up with some great designs and I am very confused at the moment cos I love pink however they have done some with Aqua and I am really drawn to it!!!!!