Aprilis

New Beginnings

2011-06-02T06:30:00.000-07:00

Three years ago i started a blog, I told you everything, major and minor. I abandoned you last year and i'm sorry. Life's been hard but it'ds getting better. It's time for a change for a new start. So here goes!

A rather long hiatus

2010-08-15T08:23:00.000-07:00

Wow what a few months, I have been neglecting you haven't I?

It's been crazy and my head has not been in the right state for blogging. I've not been very focussed on my work at all and although I am still suffering from sheadheaditus I'm am forcefully pulling my finger out.

So what's been going on then? Well, not much really although we do have a new addition to our family, well six actually! We adopted a stray kitty that had been living in my mums garden, she was so sweet and friendly and I couldn't resist taking her in. She was also heavily pregnant and I couldn't let her give birth outdoors and risk the fox getting the babies so we took her in and a week later out came six balls of fur.

Sadly one of the kitties wasn't feeding properly and died a couple of days later but the other five are doing well. They are three weeks old now and so cute, the can't quite get out of the box yet but I can tell that they will be trouble once they can. We are going to keep kira, the mummy and one of the kittens and find good homes for the rest.

Golden Cascade

2010-06-06T15:58:00.000-07:00

Swarovski Crystals and pearls wrapped with sterling silver wire.

I'll be back soon with proper post, life's a bit mental at the moment.

xxxx

Craft and Well being Fair 6th June - Oakwell Hall Country Park

2010-05-28T03:34:00.000-07:00

Aqua Crystals

2010-04-10T08:27:00.000-07:00

I'd like to introduce you to the newest addition to my bead family. These gorgeous aqua glass crystals are approximately 12mm x 8mm and are really striking. I have bought these in a few colours recently, all beautiful but these are my favourite. I've not decided what to do with them yet but I'll show you when it's done.

2010-03-30T14:15:00.000-07:00

Wow is it really Easter already? So it's officially spring and am I glad to see the back of Winter. I don't care if it snows or rains, in my head it's spring. It's been a crazy few months, winter is the busiest time of year at work and it has been seriously crazy this year with the extreme temperatures. Team that with the launch of a new business, jewellery designing and endless craft fairs and you've got a hectic few months. On Sunday I attended my first craft fair of the new year as a seller only. It was a little quiet but as always a good day out. I have another one this Saturday at Pudsey. I was surprised to see just how little stock I currently have but as I now work exclusively in silver it's hard to have a large amount of stock as it's so expensive.

So this week I am going to make as many lovely new pieces as possible ready for Saturdays market.

Then on Monday it's James' birthday. Not sure how we will be celebrating yet, that probably depends on how successful Saturday is!

Moonlight cascade

2010-03-27T08:56:00.000-07:00

This weekend I have said goodbye to two of my favourite pieces. I've obviously happy about this but I'm also a little sad, I'm going to miss them!

Well I finally got round to making myself a bracelet, I still haven't managed a necklace but I'm getting there. I've used Swarovski 6mm bicones in Crystal moonlight. It's actually a bit too big for me, how I've managed that I don't know! I've made it specifically for a murder mystery evening, James' mum bought me a lovely navy chiffon dress and it compliments it brilliantly, also the dress is a size 10 and fits perfectly!

Moonlight cascade

Happy first day of spring!

2010-03-21T14:24:00.000-07:00

Wow this weekend has gone fast! Friday night I met up with Carrie for a couple of drinks which turned into considerably more than that! I had a great time, it was a lot of fun. Saturday morning however was not, it wasn't the worst hangover I've ever had but it wasn't great. Carrie and I went out to check out some potential venues for fairs. We are very keen to get a lot of dates booked up quickly so we can start to advertise. We are already booking venues for Christmas!

By yesterday evening I was so exhausted but we went to Asda and did our weekly shop. Bought GI Joe on DVD (A decision we would come to regret) and came home and somehow I managed to stay awake for the duration of the waste of £7 film.

This morning Carrie and I went to the gym. it's been too long since I went last and I got tired easily, still I went and I'm glad. Achieving small goals and taking positive actions really increases motivation. I'm not focusing on my large goals, they're always there in my mind but I like to look to the smaller, attainable goals.

Afterwards James and I went to Crofton Heronry tor a walk. It was nice to have some time with James, at the moment I seem to be doing a lot of things without him so it was nice to just have a walk around the lake.

Afterwards we visited James' parents and came home now I'm here, talking to you!

Carrie has been working hard building a website tonight so hopefully very soon we'll be able to show you that too.

The next event we have planned is at Oakwell Hall on the 6th June. We are going to book a venue between then and now somewhere soon. We have a lot more venues to see and a lot of them look really promising. Oakwell hall is am amazing venue, we have big plans for advertising and we are really confident that any fairs we hold there will be incredibly successful.

I'm feeling good at the moment. There are a lot of positive things in my life and things are only getting better. If only I didn't have work in the morning things would be pretty darn perfect!

Simply charming

2010-03-13T06:19:00.000-08:00

I've recently developed a love of Charm Bracelets. Although some people have looked at them and said "they're not charm bracelets" I think they are, the "charms" are crystals.

I've run out of Fuscia and Amethyst crystals so I'll have to complete this later when I have more

This one will have Colorado topaz and golden shadow crystals on it

I love green and purple together.

Beautiful day

2010-03-08T04:22:00.000-08:00

I can't believe how gorgeous the weather is today. I think I speak for the rest of the country when I say "at last!". I've just been out in the garden with a couple of pieces and taken some photos.

The weather was great yesterday too but I didn't see much of it as it was our second craft fair. It was a little quieter this time, maybe because of the weather. It was the first really good weekend day for months and I would have probably gone out somewhere myself.

I've had today off work and it's been lovely. I got up at leisure (about 10am he he) and went out into the garden to take some piccies. I can't quite explain just how lovely it is to see such bright blue skies.

Unfortunately it's back to work tomorrow which is a shame, I love days at home!

2010-02-21T09:23:00.000-08:00

On Friday I finally joined the local gym. I went with Carrie who has been going for a few weeks. I was disappointed to see just how unfit I actually am. Luckily I don't have any muscle aches today, I obviously didn't work hard enough. Now though because of my epilepsy I have to get a doctors note to say that I'm okay to go. So I'll call them up in the morning which will hopefully mean I'll be able to go tomorrow night. My weight loss has slowed down so I'm pulling out all the stops this week. I'm going to measure all my food out and only drink water alone or with lemon.

For inspiration I can look at the horrible picture below. This was taken on my honeymoon and I could easily dwell on the fact that didn't lose weight for it or my wedding but I won't because frankly what's the point? I'll save the energy for the positive things I'm doing now.

I haven't received my vouchers yet so the makeover is yet to happen, I'm still jegging-less. I love shopping so I can't wait to get them. Once I have I'll post a picture and see if there is a difference.

Eye eye

2010-02-14T08:03:00.000-08:00

So I feel the need to share... I feel sorry for my right eye. My vision is perfect in my right eye so my eye liner is always perfect on my left eye. My vision however is not too good in my left eye so the eye liner on my right eye is always wonky. Doesn't seem fair does it?

Mini makeover time 2 - the earrings

2010-02-11T03:58:00.000-08:00

I'd definitely a sparkly girl, I love the twinkly things in like, I even love the words sparkly and twinkly. These earrings are not for casual wear they are for best. Didn't you just hate that when as a kid your folks would take you out and buy you a new item of clothing like just for example a swirly dress and then tell you it's for best.

"No you can't wear it to play on you BMX"

"Oh mum but Whhhhhyyyyyyyyy?"

I wanted to be a BMX princess! I'd strap Barbie to the front and do the best wheelies!

There's a mixture of clear and silver shade Swarovski Crystals with sterling silver chain all wrapped together.

I had forgotten that I made these a couple of months ago, not my finest work of art especially as all I've done is attach some chain to an ear wire but I like them.

Hammered sliver chain and an ear wire.

I think I'll make a pendant to match the spangly earrings next. We're going to our friends house on Saturday night so I'll get to wear them there. Bring on the weekend!

Mini makeover time

2010-02-10T08:06:00.000-08:00

Since joining weight watchers I've lost 8lbs which isn't loads but my ultimate goal is to lose 28lbs so I'm getting there. I've had ups and downs (Christmas and my Birthday) but with no major celebrations due for just short of two months I've got a clear run at my goal. Last weeks loss was 3.5lbs which really boosted my confidence so no I need a mini makeover.

You see the older I get the more important comfort is. When I was a teenager I didn't care about comfort, I'd wear the highest heels and go out without a jacket in December. Craziness! I have to wear an men's ugly polo shirt for work and because it's so horrible I just tie my hair back and don't wear makeup. Because I walk to work I wear super comfy super ugly boots which is fine cause I ain't walking 5 miles in kitten heels but I could take a pair of nicer shoes to change into at work. I feel like the practical ugly look is seeping into my non work wear and I don't like it. I looked down at myself recently and realised that I'm 28 years old and not making the best of it. I can't do much about my hideous work uniform but I can do my hair and put some mascara on. If my confidence drops again it'll take my motivation and will power with it and I don't want that. I have some gift vouchers due soon so I'm going shopping with them. I'm going to buy some..wait for it .... Jeggings! Yeah I know they are weird! For those of you who have no idea what I am talking about Jeggings are a cross between Jeans and leggings, like comfy skinny jeans. I want to be a more glamorous front to my business. I don't mean I'm going to be dressed up all the time, casually glamorous! I like this...

Shirt and Jeggings from Dorothy Perkins. Teamed with my knee high boots for a casual look, some heels to dress it up and my beloved flip flops in summer (not all at once of course!).

...and new jewellery. I'm not sure what I want something small and elegant or something big and bold? Ahh I don't know, luckily I can make both! I was over at Rachel's blog the other day and was admiring the beautiful necklace she has made for herself http://rachelluciejewellerydesigns.blogspot.com/ It made me realise that I never specifically make jewellery for myself so I'm going to. I know what earrings I want to make which I'll do tonight

On a vaguely related note I've decided to join Carrie http://www.lifechanges-uk.co.uk/ and do the race for life in July. It's only 5K but I have never been a good runner, I have no stamina so I'm going to have to train for it so when payday comes around I'm joining the gym Ahhhhhhh! I'm going to have to work really hard to achieve it but it will really help my weight loss too!

Craft and Wellbeing Fair

2010-02-08T08:11:00.000-08:00

Well I didn't sleep well at all on Saturday night. So many thoughts running through my head, will the stall holders turn up? will customers turn up? I was so worried that it would be a total disaster but quite the opposite. From the doors opening t 10am right until 4pm there were people there. Carrie and I were so happy and relieved. We certainly put the work in. A local newspaper ran an article and will do a follow up for us and we both delivered a lot of flyer's. this was all in addition to online advertising.

We've booked another one for the 7th March at the same venue just in time for mothers day. We are going to hire all the rooms and have more stalls. I'm going to have to limit jewellery stalls as over a quarter of the stalls were jewellers. My dilemma is that I now know a few jewellery sellers and I'd love to give stalls to everyone but I can't so I'm going to have to book on a first come first served basis. I think we do need more variety this time.

Many of the craft stall holders said that they weren't expecting to make much money as it was a first fair. I was very happy that they came despite their lack of expectation, I really appreciate their support and was very happy that their expectations were exceeded and most made a healthy profit.

Ultimately despite my nerves I knew we could do it and we were right! I'm very happy.

Only two days to go!

2010-02-05T08:45:00.000-08:00

I have to show you this...

2010-01-31T14:17:00.000-08:00

I know that you have all seen these pieces before but I'm showing off the Photography more than the jewellery. It's the hardest part for me and every now and again I see my photos getting better and it makes me very happy.

A work in progress

2010-01-31T12:25:00.000-08:00

It's amazing how much time running your own business takes up. I made a long to do list today and I've not got through half of it. I've compiled a data base of all bookings for next weeks fair, taken photographs of my new pieces (as we finally had some sun) updated Etsy, updated my website, updated my facebook page, visit the craft fair venue and updated my blog. This is the last thing that is going to do today. I haven't made any jewellery which is annoying. I really want to finish the piece below.

It's a little wasp like, made using black obsidian and crystals with yellow fresh water pearls but I like it.

Economy's gift

2010-01-26T13:16:00.000-08:00

How cool is it that the recession officially ended in the UK today? What's even better is that today is my birthday. What a nice present to receive!

I'm 28 today and I think I'm going to enjoy it. Firstly I don't like odd numbers, I always look forward to my next even number. Not sure that will be the case when I'm 29 though!

Secondly 2010 is officially my year! I have a good feeling about it. I received an order of silver wire today. I have lots of beautiful gems pearls and crystals but no wire so I haven't been able to make! then once I have made lots of lovely new pieces I can photograph them and add them to Etsy and Coriandr. I've never really given my shops the TLC they deserve. I've never spent enough time doing online marketing but now i have this beautiful Laptop I can.

Thirdly, my first Craft fair is less than two weeks away and I am so excited about that. Organising it hasn't been as easy as I hoped. Last week we had to change the venue as the local council were being very obstructive. I had to practically beg the market department to give us permission to hold the thing and then when they finally relented the charge for a license to hold it was so extortionate that we would have made a large loss. Our stall fees are low because I want to provide sellers with a great venue that wont break the bank. I was paying £50+ per stall before Christmas and making a loss. I'm happier with the new venue at www.thewhitcliffehotel.co.uk It's a lovely hotel, I got married there!

Well I have a half made amethyst and pearl bracelet that isn't going to finish it's self so I best be off.

If you are a seller and interested in holding a stall please email me at apriljaneellis@yahoo.co.uk

New laptop

2010-01-24T05:22:00.000-08:00

I am happy to report that I am typing this post on my new laptop. James and our families have very kindly bought me an acer aspire called Alexis for my birthday.

I'm having a little trouble with the A key. It wasn't working properly but I've restarted it and it all seems okay now, fingers crossed! I've become quite attached to Alexis and I don't want to have to take her back to the shop.

So now I don't have to sit on a barstool hunched over PC in the spare room. Na, the A didn't work then. Ah sorry Alexis, you're going back!

Update

Took her back and swapped her. Alexis mark 2 is good to go!

Elegance

2010-01-06T14:16:00.000-08:00

More Newbies - Opulence

2010-01-06T14:05:00.000-08:00

Aprilis 2010 new collection - Decadence

2010-01-02T06:58:00.000-08:00

Here we are, now this is just a taster of my 2010 collection. There will be three collections

Opulence, Elegance and Decadence.

Here's a teeny taster of Decadence

Pieces within the decadence collection are made using handmade lamp work beads, Swarovski crystals, fresh water pearls and sterling silver.

The Lampwork beads are made By Nial at Flame Jewellery http://www.etsy.com/shop/Nial Nial makes the beads and his lovely wife Sarah turns them into gorgeous Silver Jewellery.

Hope you like..

New decades resolution

2009-12-31T16:19:00.000-08:00

Like many people towards the end of any year I become very reflective. The instant boxing day is over I look to the year ahead and back at the glowing embers of the one passing. I was thinking about how my life has changed this year and I visited Rachel's blog and she made me realise that we are not just looking back over a year but over a decade.

My first decade as an adult has been incredible. Ten years ago I was in the final year of my A-levels, eight months away from university, I hated school and couldn't wait to escape. A summer job and several weeks of nervous anticipation of exam results were all that stood between an excited 18 year old and the rest of her life. University was all I hoped it would be, although I still lived at home with my parents I had a great time.

Six months after graduating I met James two days before my 22nd birthday, three months after that we moved in together four years later after buying our first home we married on the 25th May 2008.

Somewhere in and amongst all that I met a lady who worked for a cosmetics company - you know the party planning kind. She wanted to recruit me and I was genuinely considering it until James said, If you're going to do parties why not sell your jewellery? Why not work for yourself? That's two years ago now and whilst I may not have had the meteoric rise to success I had initially hoped for I can see that I am well on my way.

The first of January 2010 is the launch date of my newest venture Aprilis Events Management. The launch will be sadly lacking in Champagne and canopes as it only exists in my head and on my blog but it exits none the less. I have sold my wares at good and not so good fairs and I have learnt a lot from each one. I have realised that a sellers perspective is absolutely intrinsic to the success of a fair. Many organisers see the selling of all stalls as the ultimate goal at a fair which of course is their wage for the day. I however will only see my fairs as a success once I have provided my sellers with customers. I wish to cultivate a successful and loyal band of sellers by helping them to make a profit.

I realise that this is a challenge, especially so due to the financial climate. Lets face it, huge retailers throughout the world are collapsing before our eyes. I still believe though that as big business falls small business can rise. This all sounds very grand when in fact I'm a little nervous of my new venture but I'm confident that the only way I'm going to make my life my own is with the stubbornness that comes naturally, the confidence that does not and working my arse off.

Ten years ago in 1999 a 17 year old looked up and the fireworks filled with nervous excitement at the years ahead, tonight she does the same.

Here's to making this decade worth writing about.

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-24T13:49:00.000-08:00

Oh boy what a few weeks I've had. Markets all weekend, work all week, normal life squished in and amongst. Tomorrow will be my first day off in weeks and I am soo happy I get to sleep in! Yay!

The markets haven't been very successful. I was hoping to better the success the summer offered me but alas I haven't even equaled it. A new strategy will be developed for next year as I've learned a lot this year, it's been an informative experience.

Anyhoo, got to go, QI is on in a mo and then it's early to bed so Santa can do his thang!

I wish you and yours the most wonderful Christmas

XXX

another year goes by

2009-11-09T02:34:00.000-08:00

Once again I had a great time at Ripley yesterday and this time I did make a profit but it wasn't huge. It's a shame because the location is beautiful but just too quiet but you never know till you try! I think in the summer months when there are other events on locally it will be an excellent venue but in the cool autumn months the majority of people I saw were ramblers.

I was in reflective mood yesterday on the way home and I was thinking about how the last year had been. I was so nervous about my first Craft Market at Holmfirth back in February yet by Christmas I will have done 31 market stalls and a few jewellery parties and local events too. I was made redundant around the same time and things were scary for a while. Luckily that turned out okay in the end. I have around 10 markets between now and Christmas and they will really set the tone for next year. I never really make proper new years resolutions but I have a good few for next year.

I honestly believed at the time that 2009 could be my year and in many respects it has been but I was naive to think that I would leave work so quickly. I have learned a lot this year and been forced to accept that this is going to be a lot harder than I had expected. One thing this has shown me is that I can do it. I've never worked this hard for something I've wanted and I don't have to push myself I just do it. The rewards are worth the effort.

Recently, thanks to someone else, I have realised that I would love have my own events management company, organising fairs and such. This would ideally be in partnership with someone else and would really help me leave work. I have a mailing list of a lot of artists who have expressed an interest in attending such an event and I think that I have found my first venue. I'm keeping quiet for now but hopefully I'll be able to get it booked and begin the prep very soon.

You see, I'm pretty confident about this because as a regular stall holder I know what I want from a fair. I've been to successful and unsuccessful markets and I've learned a lot from both.

Here's a little progress report.

2008

2009

Unexpected possibilities.

2009-10-26T15:57:00.000-07:00

I can't go into too much detail but let me just say that I am rather happy at the moment. A new and exciting venture has been presented to me and I intend to embrace it. It's something I have always been interested in and if it goes well it could even help me get out of the day job quicker than I hoped!

In other news... I did an unexpected market on Sunday at Castle Howard, they had some cancellations and called me. Crikey it was cold! The wind was horrendous and the stall kept lifting. I was so scared that the rain would damage all my stock. The weather was fine at home but 40 miles north it wasn't. The market opened at 10am and up until around 3pm I had made £6! James and I were so miserable, cold, tired (we got to bed after 1am the night before and set the alarm for 6am) and impoverished. Then between 3 and 4pm a miracle happened and we sold quite a few higher priced items giving us enough for a couple of hot chocolates to warm the cockles and a very nice profit. I have to say that Castle Howard has never let me down. I've always doubled my stall fee at least. I've only got three more outdoor markets between now and Christmas and I'm glad because I'm a big ole wuss who doesn't like the cold. That being said all three are Christmas markets and I love Christmas so I'll love the markets.

I've bought a nice woolly hat from Tesco and some fingerless gloves tonight so I should be all snuggley next time.

Next market is Ripley the week after next. I'm looking forward to it. I had a great time last time and I feel this time will be so much better, plus it's indoor!

2009-10-19T15:07:00.000-07:00

Well I don't know about anyone else but I had a great time at Ripley this Sunday. Okay, so I made a loss, albeit a tiny one but as always I had fun. I met lots of lovely people and had several cups of free tea!

The place was great, the people and products were great and Elizabeth, the organiser was great, however there just weren't enough customers. The town was very quiet and the lord of the manor (how posh does that sound?) wouldn't allow much signage to be displayed and what was had to be in black and white. It was Elizabeth's first foray into event organising and I think she did a great job just for whatever reason it didn't work out too well for everyone. I will be attending the next one because it's November and it's in4expensive to book the table and I had fun!

You see something some crafters don't think about is that if you don't support people like Elizabeth who are working to provide us with venues in which to sell they'll never be successful. There aren't enough good fairs out there and I commend her and thank her for giving me the opportunity to sell at the fair.

Markets and massages

2009-10-15T14:04:00.000-07:00

I had a great day at Pudsey Arts Market this Sunday but sadly although it was fun it was not profitable. According to more experienced traders October is a notoriously difficult month. The month between the end of the summer holidays and the commencement of Christmas. That being said I am at Ripley Town Hall this coming Sunday along with Rachel and we are both hoping for a great day.

In other news I also had an amazing Indian Head Massage from my good friend Carrie on Tuesday night and people I cannot recommend her enough. You should really check her out.
In November Carrie and I will be attending The mind Body and Spirit Fair in St Helens and I am really excited, more details on that later.

Well it's almost the end of another long week at work, I'm so glad it's almost Saturday (although I have to work in the morning - no sleep-in this weekend!) The weeks just keep getting longer and harder and work just leaves me more and more drained. I'm generally a positive person but all the negativity there just gets me down. I have to fight really hard to avoid succumbing to it, but I'll keep fighting because I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and everyday it gets a little bit brighter!

2009-09-28T12:17:00.001-07:00

Small business owners club

2009-09-27T11:32:00.008-07:00

Wow am I ever excited! I got myself thinking about leaving work today and wow my minds a spinning. I met up with my friend Carrie the other day, I have known her for years and needless to say with busy lives I don't see her as much as I'd like. She is starting up her own business as a holistic therapist. It was lovely to see her talk with such enthusiasm and excitement. It's also lovely to see someone else embarking on a similar adventure. She had been to see some premises which proved to be perfect, once she has them she can start to see clients and the sky's the limit. If your local you should check her out at Lifechanges-uk if you're not local you should look anyway and become a fan on facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cleckheaton-United-Kingdom/Life-changes-uk/79697687402. Even if you are too far away to visit you should still visit, she is an inspirational young lady.

The good the bad and the simply gorgeous

2009-09-14T13:34:00.000-07:00

I'm feeling a little low at the moment, a little, erm, preoccupied. I'm finding it hard to sleep and I can't seem to concentrate on anything but my business. I just watched an episode of Voyager but couldn't concentrate on it, how weird is that? What's worse is that it's making me so angry that something so stupid could make me feel so bad. Again this isn't something I intend to discuss here or dwell on but when you spend nine hours a day somewhere it's hard to ignore it.

But this is my happy place so that's my little whinge over, it's done.

Oh, I have hugely wonderfully spangly news! I have a brand spanking new website!

Aprilis Designs

It's nowhere near finished yet but I'm not much of a web designer, The design isn't right but I'm using a limited template and HTML eludes me.

So it's not all bad, actually there's a lot of great stuff going on so good in fact I shall use bullet points for emphasis

My two bestest buds are getting married soon which I am really excited about because frankly it's about bloody time!

Another friend is about to drop a bairn!

James has suggested to me a financial target I really need to achieve in order to quit my job and it's a lot more attainable than I thought. I just need a really good Christmas.

I have met some really awesome people recently through my craft fairs and I'm loving it!

I have the best husband in the world and amazing friends (okay so that's not a recent development but sometimes you need a few crap days to help you see what's good)

Talk about turning a post around! Well I've cheered myself up so I'm off to get a glass of milk and get myself tucked in.

Nighty night!

Sunny sunshine

2009-09-10T05:40:00.000-07:00

Well it seems that this week we are having a belated mini summer. The sky is beautiful clear blue and the sun is beating down. Sadly it's not beating down on my garden thanks to a neighbours overgrown trees! We had about 30 minutes of sun before it fell behind the old Oak trees. However in those 30 minutes I did manage to get some photographs taken.

Fresh water pearl, amazonite, amethyst and rose quartz cluster earrings

Fresh water pearl, rose quartz and jasper wire wrapped earrings

Red agate choker

Red agate and butter Jade bracelet

Pearl charm bracelet with Swarovski, amethyst, rose quartz and amazonite.

Give a little lurve

2009-09-08T01:34:00.000-07:00

to my coriandr people that's what ama gonna do today. Etsys listing process is so blummin long and the big C's is so easy by comparison. Back soon
Mwwwaaaa!

So I guess it's Autumn now!

2009-09-07T08:28:00.000-07:00

I suppose I should have rolled out some sort of Autumn collection by now but me being me I've only just realised the time. If I turn to my left I can see that the trees in the distance have had very light dusting of gold.

I'm not sorry to see summer go but I am sorry that once again we don't seem to have had one. I am also sorry that daylight is slipping further away earlier and before long the weekends will be the only time I can photograph my work in day light, the best light of all.

Well I just took a break from this post to take some piccys and to feed Jimmy and I found that maybe I'm not soo Autumnally unprepared after all.

Coral and Smokey Quartz

In my head though I can see my winter range, bright silvers and icy blues, Emerald, Sapphire, blue topaz and Clear crystals. A bright sparkly glitzy range to get you through the cold dark winter.

Coral and Rainbow Agate

I've really enjoyed having the last week off and I'm determined to make the most of this one. I can't really say why I'm off but I can say that the thought of going back next Monday fills me with dread and makes my tummy churn. I'm trying not to think about it and when alone I have verbally told myself of for allowing my mind to wander there. Sadly finances dictate that I must go back, and I will, but I do so with a very heavy heart.

Citrine, Swarovski and hand made glass

Maybe I need a little dread though, maybe a lit match under my lazy bum is just what I need, I do feel determined but then I'm like that. My motivation is extreme, one minute I'm not the next I'm obsessive. I would say that I am obsessive at the moment yet in a few days with no new sales I'll crash and feel low. The rest of me thank goodness is a lot more balanced.

Red Agate, Golden Jade, Cherry Quartz, Coral, Rose Quartz and Red Adventurine

All that is not to say that I can't be bothered with the business, I can and there isn't a day that goes by that I don't make jewellery or do something on line it's just that to constantly market your work is tiring, that's why I like it here. On Twitter I feel like a spammer on message boards I feel like I'm feigning interest in others to fuel my career. The truth is that I'm not, I follow way too many blogs to visit each one daily but I do read them, I am interested and that goes for the Tweets I read and the forums I post in. I'm not much of a net worker, I never have been. I've never made a friend thinking " I wonder what this person can do for me" If you are my friend either in real life or in cyberspace then it's because of your value as a human being not opportunities your friendship may or may not present. I want nothing from you but friendship.

Golden Jade and Red Adventurine

I am in real life as rubbish at keeping up with friends as I am in this world but not a day goes by them I don't think about them and when I do meet up with them it's like we haven't been apart.

Golden Jade and Red Agate

As I don't have a market for a month things will be tight financially so I'll have to get more items in my shops soon. My silver order will hopefully arrive tomorrow and I can make more. I have loads of gemstone beads left, I could do with some fresh water pearls and Swarovski to brighten things up a little.

So here's to a productive week and a great weekend. I'm having some friends around on Friday to show off my new garden. In fact I hope my Internet-wary chief bridesmaid is reading this and can make it.

Nighty night.

Aah man

2009-09-07T03:29:00.000-07:00

I just typed out a really long post and blogger went bleeuuuuuurr and I lost it. So to summarise

V. V. Brown and Calvin Harris were awesome
The Qemists lead singer was a foul mouthed idiot
The Qemists were rubbish
The Qemists can't spell
I don't like people swearing in front of children
Calvin Harris should have been headlining rather than The Editors who were good but not lively enough
Jimmy got drunk on beer and haribo
The photos I took were rubbish
I had a great time
Festival toilets are horrible and I prefer tea to beer, yes people I am 27 not 77.
I'll be back later, bye!

Weekend wonderland

2009-09-06T03:10:00.000-07:00

So far this weekend has been relatively quiet by recent standards. No markets to attend and no visiting people. Yesterday was almost completely unproductive, well for me anyway. James screen printed a few T Shirts but I watched Voyager and the biggest loser and made a couple of pairs of earrings and half a necklace before running out of wire. Sadly my silver order did not arrive as expected yesterday, my fault, Saturday orders have to be ordered by midday otherwise they are delivered the following Saturday. I have emailed them asking that they send it next day on Monday. I can't go a week without tinkering!

This week I intend to sort the spare room out. I'm going to do a car boot sale and get rid of my junk. It's a good sized room so with the money I earn I'm going to board out the loft and then eventually turn the room into a workshop/office.

However today is going to be much more exciting than that because today we're going to Bingley live music festival. We went last year and it was good fun. Last year the happy Mondays headlined and although that's not my kind of music they were really good. This year it's Calvin Harris and the Editors.
I'm charging my camera battery as I type so there will be plenty pics coming your way!

http://www.bingleymusiclive.com/

Have a great weekend!

Show and tell

2009-09-04T05:50:00.000-07:00

Well here it is, one of last nights pieces. I think it needs a few more pearls. It's red jade (dyed), red agate, coral and cherry quartz on sterling silver with freshwater pearls.

The clasp is a little flimsy as the wire is too thin. I have a delivery of heavy SS wire coming tomorrow so I'll replace it then.

Tea-aholic

2009-09-03T06:43:00.001-07:00

Oh yeah, that's what I am. So far my week has gone -Tea - list - tea - list - tea - toast - list - pepsi raw (sorry Jimmy) more tea and so on.

I was planning on taking some more photos to add to the ones on Etsy but I've just looked out of my window and seen that it's raining, again.

Well, this computer chair is giving a me back ache so I'm going to go make a cuppa and a bracelet.

I'll be back later for show and tell.

Need more markets

2009-09-02T06:06:00.000-07:00

My next market is 39 days away! I can't go that long without a fix! That means that this week I'm going to have to really work hard on my stores. Blogging, tweeting and posting on forums all over the place just to get a little attention and hopefully some sales. I have been really rubbish at keeping up to them but today I've been listing new items. It's a time consuming process on Etsy but Coriandr is a much simpler process, it's all on one page so there's no waiting for pages to load and such plus its all in GBP rather that US Dollars. Yeah it's great and Rachel informs me that I was on the front page the other day. How great is that?

I do still love Etsy but I very much that I have ever been on their front page!

Artsmix at Castle Howard

2009-08-31T21:18:00.000-07:00

Well we got the weather I was hoping for. Yesterday was quite cold but dry and today was lovely and sunny. Castle Howard is an amazing place so I felt sure that if the weather was right, the sales would be great. I'm afraid that was not the case, don't get me wrong I did alright, made a decent profit but I was hoping for more, hoping to be one step closer to giving up work.

In actual fact I am a giant leap, several thousand steps and a 27 hour bus ride from giving up work.

I think that one big problem I face is the sheer volume of jewellers out there. There were probably 7 jewellers there today and a further 5 people selling jewellery in an amongst their other products. That's out of 20 odd stalls. The other problem is that everyone sold lovely jewellery. If it had been crap then I wouldn't mind but it was all great stuff! ;)

The only thing that I can do is work my bum off and continue to gain new skills and hone the ones I have.

I'm also toying with the idea of giving up plated metal. I'm thinking of working exclusively with silver, gold, gemstones, pearls, crystals and lamp work. It's a tough decision to make as this weekend it was my plated work that sold. People generally prefer the silver but can't resist the £5 price tag on my plated bracelets or £2 earrings. Problem is, from an artsy farty point I don't like making the cheap stuff, I don't feel that it represents my skills and I know that unlike silver when plated metal tarnishes, that's it, you can't polish it up so it has a much more limited lifespan. When I sell a piece of jewellery I want the wearer to keep it forever, I want them to know that it's one of a kind and that it was carefully designed and produced.I want them to look at it and feel a little happier, the way I did when I completed it.

As I have said before not everyone appreciates the artistry at craft fairs, many people just want a bargain. Yesterday a lady picked up a pair of £2 earrings made with lamp work beads and Swarovski crystals and said "are these sterling" I replied that they weren't and informed her of the quality of bead and she slammed them straight back down and said if it's not silver she didn't want it. I pointed out my silver earrings and told her that they are £10. Open mouthed and wide eyed she stared at me and said "£10 for earrings?" and walked off. So folks if you're looking for a bargain look else where.

I'd love your thoughts on this. Plated metal, should it stay of should it go?

Pictures from top

Rose quartz, quartz and amazonite
Quartz and amazonite
Quartz and amazonite
Rainbow flourite and amethyst
Amethyst and Quartz

All pieces on sterling silver.

Tomorrow

2009-08-29T13:00:00.000-07:00

I'm back at Castle Howard tomorrow for the Artsmix market and I'm really looking forward to it. Last month the market there was good but the rain meant that it wasn't great. Hopefully we'll get good weather. It is hard to run a business that is so dependant on the weather!

Green fingers pt. 2

2009-08-29T02:48:00.000-07:00

Phew, who'd thought digging up turf was such hard work? Actually that phew is James'. He did it all, well i dug up a bit but it was too hard so I had a cup of tea instead. Definitely more me! I did however bag most of it up this morning as I wanted to contribute. Then about 10am I got a call from work, we'd had system problems this week and we have a backlog to clear. So I went in for an hour or so to help out and when I got home it was done.

Now you have to imagine that the gravel was knee high grass and around it was a border with overgrow unloved rosemary and lavender. I hadn't really ever cut them back properly and they were leggy and beyond saving.

My folks very kindly gave us the table and chairs and James' folks bought us the gravel and death to weeds membrane beneath it for a very early Christmas present so the whole thing cost us some bin bags and sweat. Not bad! I realise that at the moment it looks a little bare but we are going to get some nice pots and plants and soften it up a bit and I'm going to scub the flags and get them brighter. The ones to the left are York stone so they'll look great. the pots will have to wait until we have a little more money though. We live in a backwards terrace so essentially the kitchen over looks the road and the living room over looks the garden and allotments which I love. The only downside is that there is a path through the gardens for access so my garden is cut in two, so patio one side large border the other.

I think it's a rather pretty view to have from your bedroom window. It's even better now that I'm not ashamed of my garden. I'm not the street scruff now! Well, I won't be once I've got the weeds out of my gutter!

Green fingers pt. 1

2009-08-24T18:40:00.000-07:00

My garden is currently a total embarrasment. James and I would like to pave it and although it's a small garden it's still an expensive job. This week we will endeavor to dig up the straggly weed infested lawn and cover it with Gravel. Preferably slate chippings as they are much more attractive. I'm not known for physical labour so watch this space!

2009-08-08T14:29:00.000-07:00

Not many people who visit my stalls ask me what my favourite colour is for two reasons

It would be an unusual question to ask some random girl at a stall

At least of half of everything on my stall is turquoise.

Black Agate, Turquoise and Sterling Silver.

Okay so half is a big ole exaggeration but I am really drawn to the colour and it always takes centre stage on the stalls. Thanks to my dad, centre stage is much more impressive than it used to be as he very kindly made me some shiny black shelves to raise my display busts at the back. I'm putting my recent success down to my improved displays. Even in the good old British summer rain at Castle Howard a few weeks ago I still managed a healthy profit.

Black Agate, Turquoise and Sterling silver, again!

I'm still no David Bailey but I do believe my photography (ahem) skills are improving. I'm using slightly more rustic backgrounds rather than aiming for the nigh on impossible perfect white.

Chrysocola, Swarovski Crystal and Sterling Silver.

I'm still really crap at keeping up to my blog, (obviously) twitter and facebook etc but .......

Chrysocola, Black Agate and Sterling silver.

James and I have just had almost two weeks off work and it's been great. I'm dreading going back on Monday like you wouldn't believe which in the short term is a bad thing but it's spurring me on. I guess that's why I'm here tonight, finally motivated. I must come on here more, I actually love blogging it's just that I feel so guilty spending all this time upstairs and totally abandoning James. It's fine on a Saturday but on a week night you get home, cook dinner, eat dinner, load the dishwasher, spend a couple of hours online doing all the things that you "should" be doing and before you know it it's bed time and that's your evening done! Once I get my laptop I can do all those things downstairs in the living room not up here in the spare (junk) room

That being said I'm going to try to make sure I get on every other day to blog and tweet. I have to go online everyday anyway to check my emails and etsy so I should just spend ten minutes saying hi.

Smokey Quartz, Swarovski Crystal and Sterling Silver

We have had a great couple of weeks actually, we spent four days at the seaside on the Yorkshire coast. I always say I'd love to live in the US, Canada or Australia but you know, the UK is a really beautiful place especially Flamborough.

August in England!

Oh and more beach huts!

2009-07-09T14:33:00.000-07:00

I've just watched day four of Torchwood and I have to say (insert welsh accent) bloody brilliant innit! Can't wait for day five!

Well I'm at the Waterfront festival this weekend but I'm a little nervous about the weather. It's forecast heavy rain. If the forecast is accurate I can see me making a big ass loss this week. We are a little skint this month so I really need to make a bit at least. Here's hoping! Still last time it was great so I'm worried yet optimistic.

I must must must remember my camera this time. I keep forgetting it.

Sleepy me

2009-07-05T11:16:00.000-07:00

Well the market didn't go as planned, it was a little quiet so I made a loss. The girl who organised it, Natasha has put so much work in and made a real effort so if I'm available for the next one I'll do it. The market was great it's just not well known enough yet but if stall holders persist then one day it will and they'll reap the rewards of their patience.

Anyhoo it's late and I'm sleepy so it's off to bed. Night night

Feelin' hot hot hot

2009-07-02T12:12:00.000-07:00

and I don't like it. It's 25degrees at the moment and I'm so not built for the heat. I don't get a tan, I turn into a freckle. I'm sure many of you, especially you guys and gals down under will wonder what the fuss is about. 25 degrees is hardly tropical but me no likey. I'm a big puny wuss! A few more days like this and I'll be praying for an early winter.

I've had a crap few days but I won't go into detail. Lets just say that small minded people really p**s me off. Why pass judgement on everyone else when you yourself are so obviously flawed? Self righteousness is not the way forward, live a little and stop taking yourself so bloody seriously!

Ahhhhhh, that's better. I just hate that one person can have such a massive effect on my mood. It's not a member of my family or a friend I shouldn't care really, but for some weird reason I do.

Never mind, market on Saturday and our nephew and his girlfriends 21st birthday party in the evening. Should be fun, I get to break out my new killer heels, I should take pictures.

Feeling great!

2009-06-30T06:43:00.000-07:00

I am just loving the fact that things are going so well for me at the moment. I had a successful weekend at the markets, I've got a market booked for this Saturday, a full weekend of them booked for the week after and so on. I've listed new items on Etsy and opened a shop at Coriandr (Which is wonderfully easy to use) and I've ordered some new display equipment. I've also been tweeting to try advertise my wares.

I know that I have neglected my blog and other sites over the past few months and I need to change that. The only difficulty is that I tend to get hooked on forums and things and I run the risk of my husband forgetting who I am. Work, business and home, it's tough to balance it but if I put the effort into this now one day I can eliminate work and only have two things to balance.

All of the markets are made so much easier by James for just being there. He's only missed one market and that was for our great nephews christening. He doesn't have to stay with me while I'm there but he does anyway and I am so grateful. Maybe it's cause he knows that if all goes to plan he'll have a housewife, cooking and cleaning all day, dinner on the (coffee) table when he gets home, gingham apron and everything!

Branching out

2009-06-29T13:22:00.000-07:00

I have to admit Artsmix has provided me with some great selling opportunities however I feel that I also need to be looking elsewhere. I'll continue with Artsmix but in between I'll be trying other markets and fairs. One such even is "The Stalls" Arts and Crafts Fair which I've been introduced to recently. The stalls are reasonably priced and the venue is Leeds Town Hall which is obviously inside and a well known location.

If you are in the area I'd recommend you go over to Natasha's blog and take a look. As you'll see from the pictures there are some really wonderful products on sale. I'm excited, it's going to be a great day!

New items on Etsy

2009-06-29T07:52:00.000-07:00

I've put a few items on Etsy today like these bracelets both made with sterling silver findings.

Carnelian

Butter Jade
I really need to promote my Etsy shop more. I realised earlier today that I don't even have a link to it on my blog! How ridiculous is that? Well now I do. I think my blog needs a revamp hmmm, where to start!

Shooby dooby dah, can't think of a title!

2009-06-28T12:45:00.000-07:00

Whew! This weekend has been a busy one. Craft markets all weekend at the Dragon Boat Race & Planet Leeds Festival. It was good but not as busy as I'd hoped but I covered my costs and made enough on top to book a couple more stalls. I'm still a million miles away from actually taking a wage. At the moment it's all going back in especially as I'm making mostly semi precious pieces. It's difficult at the moment because I've got enough stock, I don't really need to make more until I sell more, but that's the bit I love. I really need to put my money into new markets and display items.

Once again I met some really lovely people, I met Bianca at Twinklebug and Amy at Button Bazaar . Both ladies produce wonderfully unique and beautiful pieces and they're also both really lovely. You should definitely check them out.

Other than that there isn't much to tell you about, other than I almost bought a laptop on credit the other day till James stopped me. He was right to do so, paying £500 for a £280 computer is a bit daft. He did say that I shouldn't buy one as maaayyybeee someone might like to buy me one for Christmas! Only 179days, 2hours and 44 minutes to go!

Another order

2009-06-23T11:45:00.000-07:00

So I needed to buy some sterling silver ear wires for this weekends markets so I had a look at my suppliers retail site. It was going to cost about £30 for a few ear wires some head pins and some plated metal wires so I decided it made more sense to spend £70 wholesale and get shed loads more stuff for my money, so that's what I did. The order will be processed tomorrow and I'll get it the day after giving me Thursday and Friday nights to make the jewellery. So I bought SS wire, ear wires (the wire my supplier sells is just not strong enough to make my own) heart shaped SS chain (makes gorgeous extenders) and a few more gemstones. Yay, I can't wait!

I did however under estimate the amount of wire that you need to make a necklace. I've always used plated metal wire in the past which you don't worry too much about using up but I'm very precious with the silver. My wire wrapping has come along in the last couple of days, mainly because this weekend I finally bought some round nose pliers! Last night while watching The Biggest Loser Australia I made a lovely necklace made with Rose Quartz, blue topaz and blue lace agate. It's very pretty and as soon as I get chance I'll take some piccys of it.

Well, my salmon is cooked so it's off to have tea and then make another pretty in front of the biggest loser!

Ta ta!

Market Mayhem

2009-06-17T13:46:00.001-07:00

Well things are on the up! I've now done five Artsmix markets and each time I've had more sales than the last. Sales have been mixed, I've sold lots or pairs of £2.00 earrings but I've also sold some of the more expensive pieces. Sundays Pudsey market was so successful that I have been able to do a big order of Sterling silver wire, gemstones and Swarovski crystals which should be delivered tomorrow. I'm so looking forward to getting it! I decided the other day that my wire wrapping was getting good enough to start with silver. It's so expensive that I didn't want to mess it up.

It feels so good to see things start to go really well, there's still a long way to self employment but persistence is the key. All I need to do now is get online more and keep up to Etsy. I need to tweet, blog and re list and post on Etsy! I think I need a laptop otherwise James may forget who I am LOL!!

Lovely lovelies

2009-06-08T14:02:00.001-07:00

I love meeting new people, especially crafty creative people. I find it hugely inspiring to speak with other jewellery designers so yesterday for that reason was a great day. I attended the Artsmix Jewellery Showcase at the Loft in Leeds. It's a great venue, lovely new york apartment style interior with over sized arched windows and exposed brick work. The downside however was the lack of customers. It's a little off the beaten track, just outside Leeds City Centre, you wouldn't wander there accidental which is unfortunate as accidental customer are an important part of retail, especially in today's financial climate.

Once James and I had set up the table I had a wander around. Being a showcase everyone was selling jewellery which could have been a disaster but everyone had vastly different styles. Some of the pieces on sale were really wonderful. From the whimsical http://kitschensinkuk.blogspot.com/ to the super cute http://rubyrougejewellery.blogspot.com/ to the downright gorgeous http://rachelluciejewellerydesigns.blogspot.com/ . I chatted with all of the lovely ladies above and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Sadly I still can't retire on the profits but I'm getting there, just very very very very very very slowly!

This coming Sunday I will once again be attending the Pudsey Craft market for which I am hoping for good weather as it is outside. I am a big ole wuss, last time the market was on Easter Sunday and it was really sunny but cold and as the night before was James 30th birthday I was reeeaaaaalllly hung over. I even had to throw up in a bin! Yes I reached new heights or elegance and sophistication that day.

So wish me luck, I may need it and take a look at the ladies above, you won't regret it.

XX

New designs

2009-05-17T14:14:00.000-07:00

Please excuse the picture quality and the burn marks on my ironing board but here are a few of the pieces I made today. They consist of glass, Austrian crystal, haematite and silver plated wire.

What a weekend

2009-05-17T13:33:00.000-07:00

A great weekend that is. So I did a craft fair yesterday which went really well and my gorgeous Marina earrings sold! I was so happy yet kinda sad too, I love those beauties and it was hard to let them go but the lady who bought them seemed nice. I'm sure she'll give them the great home they deserve.

I lost 3lbs this week! Woo!! I've worked extra hard as the weight really wasn't coming off and I was diagnosed with an under active Thyroid.

I've also learned a new technique involving wire which I'll show you later and this evening I produced some beautiful pieces.

Over all, and you won't hear me say this kind of thing often, I'm really proud of myself.

Hey there

2009-05-06T13:10:00.000-07:00

Oh hello, have we met? Oh yes, I'm the girl who used to blog incessantly who now can't bear to put the computer on on an evening. Remember me?

I'm crap, no other way to say it, totally crap! Well I missed this place so I thought I'd stop by even though I'm not sure what to say.

My new job is insane, I'm so busy and stressed and irritated by it but at the same time I really like it. Strange I know, maybe I'm the one who's insane.

This months market at the Loft in Leeds was cancelled so I haven't done a market for a few weeks which is a shame but the ones I did were good, I won't be retiring anytime soon but after three markets who does right! My next one is on the first Sunday in June and I have a jewellery party booked at a friends house in a couple of weeks. I'm really looking forward to that one because James and I have the Friday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday off work and the Monday is our first wedding anniversary. One year already, it's hard to believe and wow what a year it's been.

So now I have to be prepared for jewellery parties so I'm off to sort my stock our.

Byyeee!!!

More beach hut loveliness

2009-04-14T10:48:00.000-07:00

These photos were taken by my wonderfully clever hubby James. I think that they are lovely.

Scarborough 07.04.09

2009-04-13T13:56:00.001-07:00

It was a lovely day in Scarborough last Tuesday, a little breezy but very pretty. I love the sea, it's very calming.

Scraborough is great because it's a perfect example of the great british seaside. Beach huts..

and an Americal Diner?

It's called the Harbour Bar and it does a mean BLT, the Ice Cream ain't bad either!

We had a stroll through Peasholm Park

and walked from the South Bay to the North and back again

Yorkshire Sculpture Park 06.04.09

2009-04-13T13:37:00.001-07:00

Last Monday we took a trip to the YSP at Bretton Park in Wakefield. I've been loads but it's a really great place to go if you just want to have a wander. There's some great art there

and of course the great British countryside

a tree, or two

this little fella,

and loads and loads of these

Lackadaisical

2009-04-10T04:35:00.000-07:00

to say the least!

James and I have been off work this week which has been great. We haven't had more than a couple of days off together since August so we were both ready for it. On Monday we went to Bretton Hall Sculpture park and on Tuesday we went to the seaside. It was really good to see the sea. I love it. I took loads of pictures but I can't find the USB cable for my camera so you'll have to wait to see them.

I'm doing a craft market at Pudsey on Sunday which I'm really excited about. I hope it's a nice day as the market is outside.

I really must make more of an effort to blog as I've been really crap and neglected it of late. That includes my weight loss blog, I've been doing okay with that but I really could do better.

Tomorrow night we are having a party for James and his friends 30th birthdays so we are going over to their house today to discuss food. I hope they like my suggestions as I am really looking forward to cooking up some tasty treats.

Anyhoo it's almost 1pm so I should really go and get dressed

Ta ta for now

What a couple of weeks!

2009-03-25T14:22:00.000-07:00

Well, here I am, spinning head and all. I've started my new job which is so fast paced and stressful that when I get home on a night I can't even be bothered to turn the computer on. Ive been feverishly making jewellery to sell at the many markets I have signed up for. The next one is the re launch of Pudsey craft market on Easter Sunday which I'm really looking forward to. I've discovered a jewellery supply store close to home which I may make my second home. I'm determined to be back here properly soon but lately I'm so tired I can't bear the thought of staring at a computer for one more second. So please don't leave me! I will be back on a regular basis, I just need to adjust.

Love you all

XX

I am alive

2009-03-17T14:45:00.000-07:00

but busy. I don't have internet access like I used to at work on my lunch so I can't post from there. I will be back shortly with more pointless posting.

XX

Not another post...

2009-03-06T08:11:00.000-08:00

Yes like it or not LOL

I took a scary step today. I opened a business account with ..... a credit card! Ahhhh, I've never had a credit card before so I think everyone around me will be a little scared. It is however for business use only. I'm not about to go out and buy shoes and handbags with it (although that would be great)It will allow me to pay for the stalls at the Artsmix Arts Markets. I knew that there would be several points when I would have to take risks and this was the first so fingers crossed.

Well I've been collating my receipts and getting organised so now I must start keeping a track of everything I sell as I registered as self employed with the Inland revenue today too. I also need to do a stock take and evaluate my assets (sounds pervy LOL)

I'm at Holmfirth Craft Market tomorrow and I'm hoping it will be a better turn out than last time. I hope that the 10,000 fliers they sent out early this week have made a difference and I hope that the weather is as lovely and sunny as it is today.

Right, I'm off to Posters Anonymous

Yup, you guessed it .... I'm excited!

2009-03-05T07:15:00.000-08:00

After being stood all day in the cold on Saturday and earning very little for it my darling husband decided that there must be better markets around that are more established and more geared towards art and less towards bought in stuff. So I suggested that even though I had searched extensively (obviously not that extensively) that he should look for himself and he did.

Well that clever boy of mine succeeded and found a company called Artsmix . So I had a look on their website and it looked great, so good in fact that I didn't think there would be any stalls left.

Despite my doubts I emailed the very nice lady and she sent me some application forms which I filled in and set back with photographs of my work. I ticked every date hoping that at least one would be available. Well she emailed me today and I've been accepted on every date I applies for, that's one a month from May until November and then three in December. I was amazed! Now the only issue is paying the £320 fee.

I have also been ringing around for public Liability insurance and I found that by becoming a member of the National Market Traders Federation for £78.00 I get public, product and employers liability insurance. How great is that?

All I have to do now is pull £398 from somewhere...any suggestions?

Loving Lampwork

2009-03-04T02:22:00.000-08:00

I've just been naughty and bought some more Lamp work beads, this time from Crafted Gems I couldn't resist. Sorry Jimmy!

When I first started making jewellery properly almost two years ago I knew very little about the components, I didn't know what Lamp work was or how to use tiger tail or make ear wires from silver wire. I used cheap glass beads that looked pretty but had no story but that's fine because i was learning, I still am. I like to tell a story. I did a jewellery party last week at a pub near my house and I took my lower cost items and lowered the prices further to meet the market. For ease I priced all my earrings at £2 a pair or 3 for £5 bracelets £4 or 3 for £10 necklaces £8 or 3 for £20. Most of the pieces were just simple pretty glass except for one bracelet. I was trying to tell the customer about it, give her a little idea of what she was buying but she didn't even listen which was just rude. I was trying to tell her that the bracelet was made of Chinese Jade which I bought from a market seller in Dubrovnik whilst on my honeymoon. Now if I was buying a £4 bracelet and someone told me a story like that it would make the piece all the more special. Plus the fact that I actually pay attention when I am being spoken to.

And that is ladies and gentlemen why I will never lower my prices like that again. If you want cheap crap go elsewhere. You get what you pay for. Funnily enough some one has convo'd me on Etsy today and asked me to sell them my Marina earrings for $15! Seriously WTF?! I'd made a serious loss if I sold them at that. THE PRICE IS THE PRICE IS THE PRICE

Anyway, moving on before I move into perpetual ranting. I really want to make my business as ethical as possible. The wholesaler I use only uses ethical suppliers and claim that their products are all fair trade. I want to replace the plastic carriers I use with recycled and re-usable packaging. To me the point of buying handmade goes beyond the quality of the piece and the skill involved, you are supporting someones dream. We should all support small businesses and we should all consider what we spend our money on more carefully. Times are hard for most people right now and it's time to put your money to better use. Obviously if you are struggling financially you aren't going to buy jewellery but you can buy from markets selling local produce and farm shops.

So to follow on from this I want to promote the people who create the beautiful beads that I use. When I sell a pair of earrings I want to be able to promote the bead maker and tell their story, and weave that through mine. Create a new story.

My newest creation... the story? Oh right, yeah, well, you see...errrrm?!

Mt First Treasury

2009-03-03T12:17:00.000-08:00

I'm so happy that I finally got a treasury. Please, go take a look here

Obsessed? I'm not obsessed, who said anything about being obsessed, not me not me. maybe you are obsessed and your calling me to mask your obsession?

2009-03-03T06:02:00.001-08:00

Okay maybe a little. Heres a few more pics of Marina

In day light
and with flash

My god how pink are my fingers?

Ok so I changed my mind

2009-03-03T03:47:00.000-08:00

They are on Etsy but I'm going to add some more photographs once I have some better ones.

The most beautiful earrings in the world

2009-03-03T01:04:00.000-08:00

I was a very happy girl last night. When I got home I noticed that there was some post for me. Now ignoring the £500 in energy bills the post was great. Firstly my comic arrived (Elle) and then my newest addition to the bead family my Marine Lizard beads made by bead artist Laura . My housework plans thus thwarted I sat with my pliers and made some earrings. I tried numerous combinations of beads, none doing the beautiful beads justice until I stumbled across the perfect combination. Now I've taken a couple of pictures and they really don't show them off properly. May I introduce Marina...

I was going to put them on Etsy but until I have some better photographs they're not going anywhere.

Laura's work is truly inspirational, these beads are so intricate and beautiful and that makes it almost too easy to make something gorgeous. The combination of the antique gold and olive Swarovski Crystals with the beads is amazing. I was so lucky to finally get to buy her beads. They sell so fast!

I must say I have Jelveh to thank as she convinced Laura to sell her lonelies. Jelvah is another amazing Lamp work artist you should take a look at. So thanks Jelveh.

One day I'll try Lamp work, put me down for a course next year Laura!

Holmfirth Craft and Food Market

2009-03-01T14:19:00.000-08:00

Saturday was craft market day in Holmfirth and although I'm not going to be retiring on the profits anytime soon I had a good day. On the way there we took a couple of wrong turns (my fault for reading the map wrong and his fault for not knowing better than to trust my map reading!) and so we were a little late but it didn't seem to matter as a few of the regulars arrived after us.

The market building itself sticks out like a sore thumb in picturesque Holmfirth, a mid 20th Century golden stone box nestled amongst the19th century blackened buildings. It's split over two levels. Upstairs leads onto the main street and the downstairs entrance is on a much quieter back street. They have recently reduced the size of the market, limiting the traders to one floor, curiously the lower floor. Inside the market has recently been painted and looks clean and much more inviting. The stalls were covered with sunshine yellow canopies with light bulbs running along making it all look very pretty from the outside.

There were about 5 unoccupied stalls and 10 occupied, 5 food and 5 craft. I have tasked myself with recruiting new traders. I'm going to approach local Etsians who create appropriate lovelies and invite them. I really believe that with a little perseverance this can be successful. In order to have a stall over the summer you must become a semi permanent trader now, it's quiet at the moment but it will be worth it in the summer, I'm sure. The council sent out 10,000 fliers this week and it's going to be advertised in the local press.

So If you or anyone you know would be interested in attending email me at apriljaneellis@yahoo.co.uk Please note that Jewellery stalls are all taken, sorry!

Running out of time

2009-02-27T01:53:00.000-08:00

Last night I was nowhere near as productive as I needed to be so I have a lot of work to do tonight. I'm going to make a quick tea and then get straight on with organising. I'm going to ask Jimmy (hello!) to nip to Tesco with Suki and get some sandwich fillings and nice bread for tomorrow and some bottles of water or pop so that I can make up a packed lunch (Thanks X)

The busts are great. A little small but some of the necklaces look amazing on them. I measured my fabric and its 9 foot by 5 foot and the stall is 10 by 4 so it's a little short but its wide enough to accommodate so boxes underneath that will give height. The I have two black acrylic hands that are great for bracelets and three Ikea jewellery trees. All of my display items are black and really show off the jewellery. I'm going to take some pictures throughout the day tomorrow and post them here on Sunday. I am a little anxious about it all, I want it to go well because I'm hoping that this could be a regular thing for me. Tomorrow the goal is to give out business cards and cover the stall and petrol costs. Obviously I'd love to make a decent profit but and it's still early in the season and the weather is still cold I'm not expecting miracles. Still fingers crossed.

Ooh, and Jimmy would you like to pick up a couple of packs of mince and some bread cakes for Saturday night burgers. (and maybe bacon and plastic cheese too?) xxx

Spring has sprung

2009-02-26T06:49:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited that Spring is almost here. The crocuses and daffodils are blooming and the snow has gone. The sky is dark grey today but I don't mind that, rain is good. Rain brings life...... and bad hair.

Tonight I'll be getting ready for the craft market on Saturday. Pricing items, pinning them to the boards packing up my display equipment. I'll try and get all that done tonight so that tomorrow I can step back, look at my stock and make some more to fill any gaps I see. I know I'm always going on about how excited I am well I'm uber excited about this! I need to have everything done tomorrow night as we have to be there for eight thirty on Saturday morning so it all has to be ready to go in the car. I'm also going to make a packed lunch and some bottled water as I don't want to be spending all my takings on refreshments.

Yesterday I ordered some display busts from a shop in Ireland and they arrived today. I had them delivered to my brothers house rather than work and I haven't seen them yet but my he took a piccy and sent it to me.

He's going to bring them down later and I can chose which necklaces to display on them. Ooooh even more exciting!

Bye for now

My adventures with Jimmy, Suki and Jeremy

2009-02-25T05:03:00.000-08:00

It's funny, almost two weeks ago now I was panicking, relatively calm on the outside but not so calm on the inside. Being made redundant by a company I have really enjoyed working for was tough, especially when you have just been told that profits are up and we are doing well. Then just five days later my dad offered us a little car he uses to go to the allotment in. She is Suki Suzuki Swift and she is lovely. Jimmy and I went a brum brumming all over this weekend. It was so good to be able to visit friends without having to make a whole weekend of it every time and it's been great to have him home at a reasonable time on a week night.

And then... a manager in another department, one I worked in when I first joined the company, offered me a position in her department. It was crazy, I've never had a week like it which tells you how generally great my life is. Sure there are highs and less highs but no real lows, I'm a lucky girl.

And then there's Jeremy. Ahh Jeremy was a lovely little green finch who decided to fly at full throttle straight into my office window on the first floor. Seeing him fall I ran downstairs to see him lying on the floor twitching and blinking. I saw no blood or obvious injuries so I very gently picked him up and he straightened himself up and hopped onto my index finger. He didn't move, I think he was stunned poor little thing. I have to say it felt lovely to have this gorgeous little creature in my hand. I sat with him for a while and he seemed to perk up a little bit so I took him over to a little bush and popped him down under it. At first he wouldn't let go of me but I soon convinced him that he would be fine. I went back inside and cut the bottom of a plastic water cooler cup and filled it with a little water and placed it next to him, I gave him a little tickle and went home. I felt so guilty leaving him and all night I was worried. The next day I ran straight over to his bush and he was gone. I heard later that a colleague had gone to capture him and take him home and he had seen her and flew away. See me and Jeremy, we're buddies.

Total turnaround

2009-02-19T00:50:00.000-08:00

I can't say much because I don't want anyone I know professionally to read this but lets just say that I no longer need to worry about a job. To celebrate the elimination of that need James is taking me to Wagamamas in Leeds on Friday night to celebrate that and payday! Mmmm Chinese Chicken Dumplings.

In other news my dad gave us a car the other day! How great is that. It's a little runaround he uses to go to the allotment. We are picking it up on Saturday, I'm so excited! James' 2 hour bus rides to work will be cut to a 45 minute drive (in light traffic) and I'll see him more and we wont have to rely on people for lifts. I feel so happy today, funny how things can turnaround so fast.

Muchos apologies for not being around much lately, my head has been all over the place but rest assured everything will be back to normal soon.

XXX

I'm in a treasury

2009-02-16T13:57:00.001-08:00

Thanks to Gillian at Iheartcrafts for including my blue wonder bracelet in her first treasury. I love being in treasuries but it is extra special when the creator is someone you admire so much. It's a beautiful selection. Thanks Gillian

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=40572

101

2009-02-15T14:35:00.000-08:00

So, there was shock, denial and then real internal anger, hidden from view. Now there is acceptance and clarity. Tomorrow I will update my CV (yes I know I should have already done that!) and have a look online. I've always wanted to work in schools, I think I'll look into being a teaching assistant.

So anyway back to the really important stuff. I've been creating! Yay! And it's about bloody time I can tell you. I've been really slack lately and not made anything. I sent a general text to all my girlfriends on Thursday apologising for whoring myself out but asking if they new anyone who would like to have a jewellery party. It worked, my sister has got me a stall at a local pub, they are having an, ahem, Ann Summers party and she said I could pop along so I will.

Here we have some lovely Amethyst and Citrine pieces, all made with sterling Silver fittings. I have just listed them on Etsy, I'm really going to try and push that over the next few weeks.

100th post!

2009-02-13T03:53:00.000-08:00

Should have been a positive one but I don't feel that way out so tough! LOL

I feel settled here. I know what I am doing and I do it right. I don't want to start again somewhere new, I love knowing what I'm doing. But, I have no choice so I'm going to take it as an opportunity for self improvement. Even though I don't feel particularly positive today I'm going to go to my friends house tonight, drink some wine and turn this into an exciting adventure. Worrying will achieve nothing I'm just going to look as hard as I can for a new job and really try with my jewellery too. I'm not going to whinge too much, people are losing their homes, families and lives at the other side of the world. My problems are tiny by comparison and I am thankful for everything I have.

crap crap crap crap crap day

2009-02-12T11:58:00.000-08:00

I'll keep it brief but essentially today I have been asked to relocate to London or be made redundant. Given the practical aspects of moving there it's not an option. Being epileptic I can't drive and it would take around 4 hours each day and cost around £80 a day when I earn around £50 a day. I have a house wth a mortgage here in Yorkshire and My husband works up here. So in 5 weeks I am out of a job and we don't have a disposable income. Practically every penny we earn goes on bills and food. I'll be back later when i'm less pissed off.

Black Sea

2009-02-09T12:29:00.000-08:00

I love this necklace, it's the first piece I've made in a week or two and I love it. The large stones are lack agate and that's teamed up with black fire polished glass and hand made lamp work beads.

This week

2009-02-07T14:53:00.000-08:00

I have honestly not known weather like this for years. My messy garden hasn't looked this good for years!

The streets are still covered with snow and there is more forecast for tomorrow. We have been lucky enough to see some sunshine yesterday and today but the snow is sticking around. Don't let the golden sun fool you it's still freezing

The day after my birthday I was very lucky to receive something really special through the post all the way from down under

I needed a case for my new camera and Camera Girl over at Light Renditions very kindly sent me one in the gorgeous fabric. She also sent me a mini version which as luck would have it fits the new I pod mini I got for my birth day perfectly.

There was also a new little friend in the package but I'll show her later.

I've been amazed by the interest in my new weight loss blog since i started it. Above all I've tried to be open and honest and that seems to work. I have a wonderful life but it still gets hard sometimes and I can be my own worst enemy. I was looking through other weight loss blogs and found some people who are really lost, trapped by their own expectations of themselves and eating disorders. People who I just want to throw my arms round and heal. If only I could.

It's bedtime soon. I want to have a great nights sleep and wake up refreshed tomorrow. It is after all another day

I did it

2009-02-06T03:59:00.000-08:00

Check out my new blog

www.aprilelliswomm.blogspot.com

Thanks

2009-02-05T02:51:00.000-08:00

I was considering starting a weight loss blog the other day and then I realised that I couldn't think of enough to say to fill it or make it in the slightest bit interesting so I thought I'd bore you guys with it instead. I was thinking that if I blogged my progress it might be easier to keep up with. I'm not overweight, despite what the Wii Fit says, I'm just a little chubbier than I want to be and because I am only a short arse I don't carry extra weight well. I have set the 28th March as my target date and my goal is to lose 20lbs. Yes this might sound a little unrealistic but I set this goal some weeks ago and have only lost a total of 2lbs so that's 2.3lbs a week to lose which actually doesn't sound too bad. So including this weekends weigh in I have seven to go before the final eighth week. Why the 28st March? Well because the following weekend I have my cousins wedding to attend and the day after is James' 30th birthday and one of my presents to him will be a slimmer wife (although he is happy with the one he's got) Hopefully that will also make me a more confident wife and eliminate the "I'm too fat to wear that" panics I get. So every Sunday or Monday I will post my progress and I wont be able to lie cause James reads this blog. Also by the 28th of March I am going to have saved enough money to buy myself a new outfit for the wedding to show of my new silhouette.

I'll also post any great tips or recipes that i discover. I'm really good at making chuck it in and hope for the best soups that are both healthy and yummy so I'll post whatever I discover.

I'm lucky that my lil' brother is a fully qualified fitness instructor and nutritional genius so I have him on hand if I need advice. I might even start an "Andy's health tips" section in fact I might set him up a blog and force him to write on it! Wow, that would be great and you'd all stop by would you?!

Off to start a blog

ta ta!

Random blogging

2009-02-04T05:09:00.000-08:00

My walk to work was somewhat treacherous this morning, the roads are very icy and the pavements are even worse. I was skidding all over the place until happily a colleague was driving past and picked me up. I'm bored of the snow now, I want to be able to wear my pretty little summer dresses again and have picnics and sit outside on a light evening and drink a glass (or two) of Blossom Hill white Zinfandel. Mmmmmm. Oh and not have to spend a fortune on gas heating the house.

The back of our house is actually the front. The kitchen overlooks a small road and the living room overlooks the garden and some allotments over the garden wall. The garden is split in two by a path that runs down the whole terrace. This year (probably may) we are hoping to patio the garden, it's very small and barely usable as it is so my plan is to pave this side of it and put some nice planters out and a table and chairs so we can have barbies in the summer. Plus then we wont be letter out immaculate gardened neighbours down anymore! The other side of the path is very small and we have a laurel bush and three largeish conifers. I'm going to build a raised bed and plant veggies. I'm also going to invest in a small water butt and compost bin. We are also hoping to rewire the whole house so I don't know how we'll manage but hey, we'll find a way. Me and my big ideas!

On a completely different note I've had to cut my blog list down somewhat as it's got over 40 blogs on it so I'm showing the 25 most recently published blogs. I do however still visit the others and you can see them all by clicking "show all"... obviously LOL.

The Karisma interview

2009-02-03T00:52:00.000-08:00

I have this week been lucky enough to be interviewed by the very lovely Karisma

1. What is the most amazing thing you have ever done in your life?

Gosh this is a difficult one. It depends on what you mean by amazing. The best thing I have ever done is marry James, our wedding day was the best day of my life and knowing I'm going to spend the rest of it with him is amazing.

When it comes to jaw dropping awe inspiring amazing I would have to say that the travelling I have done has been just that. I have seen some amazing places and had great times all over the UK and Europe. James and I have been fortunate enough to have been on two cruises and we have seen the most amazing places such as The Vatican City, Rome (obviously! We visited the Colosseum)Pompeii, Florence, Portofino, Barcelona, Dubrovnik, Korcula, Venice, Kefalonia, Corfu and France. As a youngster I spent time in Braunschweig, Germany and whilst there I visited Hamburg, Hanover, the Hartz mountains and Berlin. In Berlin we went to the Checkpoint Charlie museum and touched the wall. I've also visited London and Edinburgh (Despite what many foreigners believe all English people do not live in London and it is not the only city in the UK) and traveled extensively through England and Wales. Now I would love to go further afield, Canada, United States, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. I would also love to visit the Scandinavian countries and see the Fjords.

I also have had amazing times with amazing friends. I am very fortunate in that I have a really great group of friends who I love dearly.

2. If you could live anywhere else in the world, where would it be and why?

At this moment in time I would say Australia because I'm sat in a cold office looking out at snow. I'd really love to live in Canada but I think James would prefer America, California in particular which I have to admit does sound appealing but I'd prefer to live in the southern states of the US and play my country music all day wearing boots and a stetson!

There are so many places around the world that I would love to visit. I might just pack up and pitch my tent in Karisma's yard!

3. You sing like an Angel and are a very talented jewellery maker! Do you prefer one over the other?

What a lovely question, thank you very much. Most of my childhood was spent dancing and singing in my bedroom and dreaming about becoming an actress and singer so that's a passion that's been with me for a very long time. I guess I go through stages, when I was at Uni it was all I could think of (I did a Theatre Degree) or if I go to a gig I get all inspired and I go away with big ideas. Sadly I am probably one of the least motivated people you will ever know and I rarely follow an idea through so when after a few months of jewellery making I realised that I hadn't jacked it in like every other fad I'd had I realised that this was something special. My ultimate dream would be to move somewhere picturesque where there's a good but compact music scene and do small gigs now and again by night and make and sell my Jewellery by day. If I was forced to give one up forever I would chose the Jewellery because successful or not I could never totally give up the music

4. We all have embarrassing moments! What was yours and did you ever live it down?

Wow, erm well thankfully I haven't had that many. When I was about 10 I had to play home on the range on the guitar in a school play and the dress rehearsal was in front of the whole school. During my performance I heard sporadic giggling from the several hundred strong audience. Afterwards a teacher came over to me and suggested that I wear thick black tights next time as the whole school could see my nickers! I was horrified LOL

5. Do you plan to have children? If so how many would you like? (Be careful what you wish for! HEHE!)

No, neither myself or James want children. I realise we may change our minds and I'm open to that but I doubt it will happen. That being said I do love kids, James and I have 7 Nieces, 7 Nephews and last week we welcomed our great Nephew into this world.

Thanks Karisma, that was quite a challenging interview.

If you would like to be interviewed by me just follow the instructions below.

Here’s the directions:

1. Leave me a comment saying, “Interview me."

2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. (I get to pick the questions)

3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.

4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.

5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

Haven't heard my music? Visit www.myspace.com/apriljanewalker

The White Stuff

2009-02-02T02:13:00.000-08:00

So rare is it that we have heavy snowfall that here in the UK we are so completely unprepared for adverse weather. One or two inches of the white stuff sends us into a nationwide panic, as it has done today. I wish I had brought my camera because it sure is pretty but it's two maybe three inches at most and it's closed thousands of schools and caused countless road traffic accidents. The problem isn't that we are a nation of softies but that we are ill prepared for such weather. We don't have snow tires for cars or snow shovels to help us get out of our own garages. Buses stop running at the hint of snow and workplaces are left with a skeleton staff. It took me about 10 minutes longer than usual to walk the 4.3K to work, my feet are still numb but I got to work to find that colleagues who live closer to work than me aren't coming in because they can't get their cars out of their streets! These people are in no way unable to walk in they just see it as a good excuse, well I don't.

James unfortunately could not get to work this morning as neither of his buses were running and as we don't own a car and 50K is a long way to walk in the snow he was stuck. So he is at home irritated at having to use a days holiday. He'll be fine though, his Xbox will cheer him up I'm sure :)

Earlier on I was looking at the sun (yes directly) and it was so strange. It was really bright but you could see the snow moving across it like thick fog. It was quite beautiful but it's gone. The sky is solid grey and the snow is falling thick and fast.

Ohh we had a moment of bright sunshine but another big cloud is approaching although it is a little less solid and I can't see any snow.

My baby brother has just emailed me these pictures taken at his house. Last week when we met this little fella we were sure that spring was on it's way

However today the crocus sprouts are hidden below.

Oh and it's snowing again!

Follow me on Twitter...

2009-02-01T14:37:00.000-08:00

please. I'm aiming for twitter world domination but I can't follow more than 2000 people until 2000 follow me. I currently have 1320. Help!

http://www.twitter.com/aprilisjewels

Oh and hello February!

Friday yay!

2009-01-30T08:17:00.000-08:00

This week we are having a quiet weekend. I'm going to the pub for a quick pint with some of the guys from work and then home. Tomorrow I'm going to do the tidying I keep threatening to do and make some jewellery. Same again on Sunday and then pub quiz at night. I'm hoping for some sunshine so that I can take some nice pictures of pretty things.

Have a great weekend

Weekend pictures

2009-01-28T12:24:00.000-08:00

First things first, meet Barbarella

The Amethyst jewellery I made Cathy

One of the not so crystal chandeliers I bought for the hall and landing

My wonderful friends, my over enthusiastic hubby and my baby brother

The daffodils I mentioned before

and the lovely flowers Cathy and James bought me

One year older

2009-01-28T06:43:00.000-08:00

I'm 27 Yey! I love birthdays and I don't mind getting older. Maybe that's cause I'm in my 20's! I dunno but lets face it, aging is far better than the alternative right?

I've had a great few days. I had Friday, Monday and Tuesday off work so it was a really loooong weekend but coming back to work today was hard. I'll have lots of pictures to show you from my birthday party.

James' mum bought me some cut daffodils for my birthday and I totally love them. Tulips and daffodils are quite possibly my favourite flowers. As soon as I see them poking their little heads through the frosty earth I know that lighter nights and warmer weather will follow.

Of course I change my mind with the seasons so in a couple of months when we are. My friends Cathy and James also bought me some rather lovely flowers which are helping the daffodils brighten up the living room.

I think I will tidy the living room tonight, it is quite tidy but I think I'll tidy up the bookcase. We have a lot of sorting out to do in the house which I would like to have done by spring. Cupboards full of things in that we do not need. We have so many lovely things that people have given us over the last few years and so I feel that we need to get rid of the unnecessary crap so that we can show off the good stuff.

Bloggers block

2009-01-22T00:34:00.000-08:00

Yes, panic not I am alive. I have been suffering from a raging case of the above and in a bid to cure it I will attempt to write a post with a point.

First things first I have very kindly been given a Marie Antoinette blog award by my adoptive web mum Karisma

So now I have to pass it on. Hmm this is a toughy, I read so many blogs I'll have to decide that later. But for now thank you very much Mama K.

So on Saturday my parents very kindly took James and I over to Holmfirth to check out the craft market and I have to say I was very disappointed indeed. It was totally empty! There were three stalls and no customers. I'm not paying £20 to stand there all day and not sell a thing. I do feel that I would like to revisit the Market a little later in the year and see if it improves. the space is good and it's a popular with tourists. A very nice gentleman has just taken over running it and I spoke to a colleague of his today and she said that he is trying to restore it to it's former glory and I was wondering if there was anything I could do to help that. It was his day off today so I am going to call him tomorrow and have a chat about it with him. I'd like to encourage local crafters to get involved, i think it would be fun.

So afterwards we drove over to Hebden Bridge and had a look around there, it's a lovely little town, very picturesque and quaint. I asked about craft fairs and they have one once a month from the spring so I'm hoping that I can get a stall there at some point.

Tuesday was payday, thabk god, and it was a great day. We had a lovely healthy food delivery from Asda and I placed an order with my jewellery supplier. I bought some gorgeous things, Amethyts, citrine stones, black agate, crystal, swarovski crystals, Sterling silver beads. I'll show you what I made from it after I've given her it.

I have friday Monday and Tuesday off work this week for my 27th Birthday on Monday. Woo! On Saturday my friend and I are having a joint party so I'll be sure to post some piccys. It's fancy dress and James and I are going as Barbarella and Buck Rogers!

Herbal tea and cottage cheese

2009-01-14T05:42:00.000-08:00

My lunch today consisted of cottage cheese, celery, red pepper and tomatoes. Team that with Nettle and milk thistle tea and loads of water MMmmmmm! LOL. It was Okay but pie and chips would have been much better but I aint bobbing for five miles to ruin it with nice food! Next week will be different, next Tuesday is payday so I'm going to order food to be delivered and get some nice healthy food so that I don't have to make do with what we have. It's much easier to lose weight when you actually like the food you are eating and luckily for me I love salad, fruit and veggies. I can eat a whole lettuce in one sitting and love it but sadly within 10 minutes i'd be hungry for something else.

Tonights tea is sorted, one of our relatives very kindly bought us a slow cooker for Christmas and it's great. Last night I chopped some leeks, potatoes, carrots and broccoli and chucked it all in with some stewing beef and stock. Threw in some broad beans cause I love em and filled it with water and it's been cooking since 7.30 this morning on low. It feeds four so we are going to have it tomorrow too. I used lean beef so with the exception of the small amount of fat in the stock and only a few spuds in there it's pretty healthy. By the time I get home this evening it will have been cooking for around 10 hours so the broccoli will be mush but I've been craving veg after eating quite a lot of beans on toast lately. I am very suseptible to cravings, we don't eat a lot of meat and when we do it's chicken, it's rare for us to eat red meat but I get cravings for steak when I haven't had it for a while. I could just eat a plate of Veg but my body would tell me that it's not good enough and I need carbohydrates and protien too.

I can feel the hunger bubbles in my chest, better get another cuppa!

Walking on Air

2009-01-13T01:19:00.000-08:00

The new series of 24 started last night, I watched the first couple of series and liked them but couldn't be bothered to watch the rest so I left James watching it in the living room. I decided to do my usual thing of putting on my I Pod and dancing in the kitchen like Animal from the Muppets. I'm not trying to impersonate him you understand, it's just how I dance. So I'm dancing away to Pinks new album and I'm thinking "Hmmm physical activity, how unusual, i think I'll do more" So out comes Bob the Air Walker. We bought Bob over four years ago after seeing that a friend had one and having a go. It seemed so easy to use and not hard work at all.

Meet Bob

But Bob and I never really saw eye to eye, I didn't understand why he wasn't losing my weight and he didn't understand why he had to stay folded up against the wall in the spare room. He felt unloved and alone and I felt heavy.

But last night something magical happened, an alien stole my consciousness and replaced it with that of a self motivated determined person. She worked out like a crazy person, initially working to my target of just 20 minutes, she decided to round the calorie counter number up to a whole number and then realised that she was at 37 minutes. Might as well go to 40! 40 came but So What was blasting through the headphones so she decided to wait until the song had finished but by then we were at 44 minutes. Alien April obviously shared Human Aprils Obsessive tendencies and couldn't stop at a number like that, no she would continue to 50. Why not make it an hour she thought as U2 and BB King belted out When Love Comes to Town. As Bono disappeared Roxette took over with listen to your heart and took her to 60 minutes and 38 seconds. The number irritated both Alien and human April but her thighs simply would not continue. The Alien then floated off and left me knackered but happy! Now I know I said that it seemed easy when we first had a go on our friends Air Walker Bill but if you are doing it properly it isn't. I was going so fast, using my arms and legs to try and get as much out of it as possible and I feel great today, I'm a little stiff but not as sore and achy as I expected.

Tonight I'm going to get on our Wii Fit and so some rhythm boxing then tomorrow back on Bob.

Craft Market A'hoy

2009-01-12T02:36:00.000-08:00

I've been looking for a craft market to sell my wares at for ages now and I was beginning to get sick of looking when I discovered that there is a very local Craft Market in Huddersfield. I've never visited it before so this weekend I will be going to have a look around and size it up. I will be looking at the location, how busy it is and how the stalls are displayed. I want to make sure that if I do get a stall it's worth my time. I hope it is cause I'm really excited about it.

I'm also trying to get a treasury over on Etsy, I keep thinking I'm timing it right and the number will drop low enough for me to get one but when I go back its up to seven hundred and something. It's very frustrating as I really want to get one. I guess persistence is the key.

As 2009 is going to be the best year I've decided today that I'm going to get organised tonight, get some serious tidying done, I may even do some ironing!

Howdy ho

2009-01-08T02:31:00.000-08:00

It's trying to be a sunny day today, I really miss the sunshine. I'm really craving the spring now, just an hour a day more daylight would be wonderful. I'd love to see the sun high in the sky instead of skimming the horizon. I'm hoping it lasts so that I can take some better pictures of the bracelet I listed on Etsy today.

I made it last night from some of the pretty beads I was telling you about. I'm sure I've said this before but it really makes me think of spring. I'm loving turquoise greens blues and yellows at the moment. I'm definitely a seasonal girl!

It's the height of summer in Australia, I wish I was there now.

New year, new pretties

2009-01-07T07:40:00.000-08:00

I Finally got round to listing a few more items on Etsy. I've still only got 16 out of a couple of hundred up there though. I must get more up soon. My new camera is great but sadly my photography skills are not. I'm finding it hard to get the lighting right, I need a decent editing program so I can alter the brightness without altering the image too much. Tonight I have house work to get done but I want to make some jewellery too. I have some gorgeous beads that I almost don't want to use cause they are sooooo pretty but I must, that is after all why I bought them!

Peridot Rose

Azure

Atlantis

Strawberries and Cream

Jewelled Rose

Thank you followers

2009-01-03T17:02:00.000-08:00

I can't tell you how happy it makes me to see my little follower count rise. I just wanted to write a little note to tell you how much I appreciate that little mouse click you just did.
Love and hugs

New beginnings

2009-01-02T06:00:00.000-08:00

Oooh I feel good today, I love the start of the new year, I'm always so enthusiastic about new beginnings. I like to think about all of the amazing possibilities that the year ahead has to offer, about the changes and advances that I can make, the beautiful places I could go and the wonderful people I could meet. This is the outlook we should really all have all of the time but it's hard to live with a constant grin on your face.

So 2008 was a funny old year, some real ups and downs. Getting married however really outweighs the bad.

This year there are fewer weddings than last and hopefully that will help us out financially, it has been a very expensive year so in 2009 we need a break from big bills. We will be going away for James' 30th but I can't say where firstly because I haven't decided and secondly because it's a sup rise and he reads this blog! That will cost us but I'm going to try to keep the costs down. I will of course have met my target weight by then so I will need a whole new wardrobe. :)

I will be collecting my new tripod from the post office tomorrow and I am hoping for good weather so I can get some really good pictures and list some more items on Etsy. I do have over a hundred pieces of jewellery at home just begging to be re-homed.

The sun is beating down on me as I write this, I'll take it as a sign that 2009 is going to be our year, the best yet!

Happy new year to all

Deadlines

2008-12-30T06:21:00.001-08:00

I've never been much for self-motivation, I'd rather not do what it is I have to do if you don't mind. I'm a real one for running around at the last minute, I work better that way, under pressure, even though I know the lovely feeling of relief I get when I get something out of the way early.

At work I set myself deadlines all the time. My boss works at a different branch to me and only contacts me when she needs to so I don't have anyone looking over my shoulder and that means that I have to be quite strict with myself and get things done early.

The funny thing is that when it comes to jewellery making and crafting, i enjoy it so much that I rarely leave things, I'm still disorganised and chaotic but I get results. That's why I'm confident that I can succeed, because no other profession has ever inspired me in this way. I've never felt this enthusiastic about my career and I'm loving it.

Do you need deadlines or is it just me?