The finished article in more detail

Here is the 3D triangular shaped beaded toggle clasp of said finished article, a bit closer up and a little bit more in focus (I think!).

At last - the finished article!

Here it is at long last! I apologise this pic is a little fuzzy to start with, my photographic skills are not the best and I'm just using my camera phone!
Anyway this is the finished pendant necklace I've been working on for quite some time (I dread to think the hours put into it actually), but I'm extremely pleased with the end result. With the fastening (close-up pic in next post) I decided I wanted it in keeping with the rest of the intricate and detailed beading in the rest of the piece so chose to do a beaded toggle clasp, using the same seeds (crystal and smokey grey) as used in the rest of the necklace. It's a 3D triangular shaped toggle, fastens very well and secure - I've been wearing it since I finished it at 4.30 today, hauling about my 2yr old twins and unpacking the car, and it's shown no signs of feeling like it's about to come undone - so I'm glad I took the time to think about what kind of fastening to go for and the end result; it has added to the quality of the intricate beading I think! Anyway, I hope for those of you who may have been watching for this, it's been worth the wait - I'd appreciate your comments. Thanks for reading! (Oh by the way this piece COULD be up for sale, the price tag has to reflect the hard work and time I've put in, but for the time being I'm going to enjoy it for myself!) Jo x

I've been on holiday!

Hey all my followers, just a quickie to say I've not been around for about 3 weeks, bn on hol for two of those; and the past week since returning home has disappeared and I ain't got much to show for it I'm afraid! I did however get to make a necklace while on holiday, but forgot to photograph it - hopefully I could pinch it back for a pic as it was for my bro's girlfriend's birthday! Plus I made 'half' a necklace last week (pic to follow) 3 strand on black cord and using 4mm cubes strung onto the cord, with a pendant of a beaded square using peyote stitch in the cubes. The pendant is lovely and I kinda like it being strung on the cord, but lost my way after that and can't decide how to finish it. It'll be for sale regardless!

Necklace progress part 2!

Here is the finished neck band which I finally completed last night! This goes with the previously posted red/silver pendant which I showed you a pic of last week, or so!
I've made it using tubular netting in crystal and silver/grey size 11s, embellished with a spiral of red size 11s. The middle section where the pendant will be attached, and the ends where the clasp will be, is even-count tubular peyote stitch, using the crystal and silver/grey beads.
I'm now trying to decide what kind of fastening I want to use - I'm thinking of making a beaded bead and loop; watch this space though!
I'm off on holiday a week tomorrow, in my parents' caravan with the family, down to a lovely site on the coast just outside Kirkcudbright in Dumfries & Galloway - will be away for 2 weeks; and thoroughly looking forward to a lovely break, doing some fun stuff and livin' it up all on top of each other - can't wait!!!!

8 things

Hi all, the lovely Rachel at www.jivesjools.blogspot.com (please go have a look at her lovely work) has so very kindly tagged me for this new post! She's asked me to fill out the survey below on '8 things', sounds like a good way to get to know everyone and promote our blogs a bit more! It'd be fab if you can read on to see my '8 things' and then everybody I've tagged give it a go too!!!

The rules:
Mention the person who's tagged you
Fill in the lists of 8 things yourself
Tag 8 bloggers of your choice
Let them know they've been tagged

Here's my lists of 8:

8 things I'm looking forward to:

1. my holiday in 2 weeks time - caravan holiday with my kiddies and parents, down to Kirkcudbright in Dumfriesshire
2. taking some of my jewellery to a newly opened art&craft shop in my town for her to try selling for me
3. my son's school show tonight
4. 6 weeks of not having to get up for school run
5. running my jewellery stall at a busy craft fair in november
6. finding out if a friend of a friend wants me to make her bridal tiara, plus another 5 for her bridesmaids
7. getting my twin daughters toilet-trained and out of nappies
8. my daughters starting nursery in January

8 things I did yesterday:

1. went to matalan for some holiday clothes for my girls
2. spent too much money!
3. had lunch at my mum and dad's house
4. organised jewellery to take to the local shop for sale
5. filled in a job application form online
6. had an MSN chat night with my very special group of babyloss friends
7. had peace from my girls for a bit as my fabby friend Emma wanted to have them
8. laughed at my husband, his brother and sister who played Rockband last night

8 things I wish I could do:

1. get a successful business up and running with my mum, designing and making bridal and special occasion outfits and jewellery
2. win the lottery (helps if I bought a ticket though)
3. be able to afford a 7 seater car
4. find my husband a job that makes him happy
5. get rid of the excema that my daughters suffer from
6. have somebody to do all the diy jobs round the house for free
7. find a prevention for babyloss
8. control the weather

8 things I watch:

1. Lost
2. EastEnders
3. The Apprentice (although finished now)
4. Big Brother
5. Britain's Got Talent (yep that's finished too I know)
6. Masterchef
7. Deadliest Catch (really my hubby who watches this, but I kinda like it too - strange aren't I?!)
8. In The Night Garden (can you see a pattern forming here? I don't get to watch much TV for myself! This one's for my girls, honest, I can't stand it!)

8 people I'm tagging:

1. Emma at http://mrsgiraffe.blogspot.com
2. Alison at http://amidesignsjewellery.blogspot.com
3. Gill at http://beadography.blogspot.com
4. Steph at http://honeybootique.blogspot.com
5. Aimee at http://teenyaims.blogspot.com
6. Jo at http://joliciousjewellery.blogspot.com
7. Kristin at http://ksjewellerydesigns.blogspot.com
8. Ana at http://anabaird.blogspot.com


Have fun and keep this going!

Jo xxx

Necklace pendant - work in progress!

This is the finished pendant of a necklace I'm currently making. It's a design from a Bead&Button book, called (something like) Stich Sampler Necklace - basically incorporating quite a few different stitches, hence the name! I chose to make mine using red bugles, plus 3 different colours of size 11 seeds - crystal, silver/grey and red. There's also 3mm and 4mm bicone crystals in there too! I'm now onto the neck band which is made with tubular netting and peyote using all 3 colours of the size 11s. It may take a while for the next instalment on here, as it's quite a time-consuming project, although luckily I'm finding it quite easy to do, and thoroughly enjoying! Please do let me know what you think, and thank you for your time. Jo x

Bracelet

This is a bracelet I made ages ago, in a wavy rope design, using size 11 blue seeds and 8mm faceted teal beads, the clasp is a silver toggle. A very pretty little piece, if I may say so myself!