tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26908136730249505802024-03-05T07:56:17.174+00:00Rings and ThingsBeads, beads, cabochons and lifeBlueMarmaladehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03661012306061897392noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690813673024950580.post-36041466624867385072011-06-09T09:24:00.000+00:002011-06-09T09:24:25.610+00:00Head LiceOh joy - yet another shampooing session coming up. I have on average treated my children once a month since Christmas. Each time they have been cleared and every time, a few weeks later, back they come again. Always from the same 2 classes and not the third child's class. It's costing me a fortune.<br />
All I can assume is that there is a floating child who is not treated and therefore the infestations start again. The School Nurse doesn't do nit patrol anymore - it is up to the parents or the teacher to spot if there is a problem.<br />
My DH is particularly sad about this - the nit nurse was the highlight of his pre-pubescent years, being the closest he could get to a big pair of boobs!<br />
Having said that, it was interesting to read that just looking isn't an accurate way to know whether there is an active problem. Nits can be easy to spot, but not the head lice themselves. <a href="http://archderm.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/145/3/309">Wet combing</a> is the way to go if you want to see if there are live head lice in occupation.BlueMarmaladehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03661012306061897392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690813673024950580.post-43474871711425112722011-06-08T21:38:00.008+00:002011-06-08T22:15:34.587+00:00Carnival timeI'm fiddling and posting - new job, new home. Same husband and children :-)<br />
I'm concentrating more on beads - of all kinds - rings and cufflinks.<br />
My instant fix.<br />
<br />
These are my Carnival Cufflinks in green (I have blue also).<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgW9NSnUkbOUgqEODOZzwY2DGD3KDnlTGQFfHvrKjJunxsqXrJNBepk66t8fty1UUnBNUJwC8Y2c_aTjgpewdwP52qg4XVyoqraHQrO3yfFY6YwTwge02An3B7BvW_SNMSatmTIbxk_RYB/s1600/blog.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615970231565758850" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgW9NSnUkbOUgqEODOZzwY2DGD3KDnlTGQFfHvrKjJunxsqXrJNBepk66t8fty1UUnBNUJwC8Y2c_aTjgpewdwP52qg4XVyoqraHQrO3yfFY6YwTwge02An3B7BvW_SNMSatmTIbxk_RYB/s200/blog.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 149px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 200px;" /></a><br />
I don't know why they make me think of carnivals - they're not even similar to Carnival Glass, but they look jaunty to me. So Carnival it is. They're glass from the 1950s and are West German. Most of the vintage cabochons easily available at the moment seem to be of that description and there are some excellent quality cabs available.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://faithsays.com/thumbholly.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://faithsays.com/thumbholly.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 295px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a>BlueMarmaladehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03661012306061897392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690813673024950580.post-54262741841686602272011-06-08T21:02:00.001+00:002011-06-08T21:02:55.884+00:00woohoo! Forgot my details and it has taken ages to find the email addy I used to set this up.BlueMarmaladehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03661012306061897392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690813673024950580.post-77316716134843796122009-01-05T23:54:00.002+00:002009-01-06T00:02:53.640+00:00Sand and SnowI've been away for a while, enjoying the benefits of a freezing cold Scottish beach with fog and rain and cold cold winds ....... and icecream and sandcastles and pirate houses and paddling. I feel quite sorry for my son, who seems to be a bit confused. It snowed at home today. He knows what the white stuff is. He knows what we're talking about, but he wants to go and play in the sand - I think maybe I should try to give him a summer holiday this year so he doesn't always equate sand with ice cold fingers.<br /><br />Anyway, I left my husband in charge for a few days and I have returned and he has quite delightfully tidied up. OK his tidying is more of the shove things in big cupboards variety, whereas mine is more of the take 2 months to sort things variety, but the place is pristine. I am seriously speechless. Alas though. He has also tidied my office. I'm not bothered about the paperwork, but I've lost all my craft knives! I'm reduced to using the sharpest kitchen knife to get clean cuts. I refuse to buy more so am living in hope that they'll turn up soon, partly because I don't like the idea of lost knives in a house of children. I give the search until the weekend and then I'm off to the pound shop. I will not replace them properly until i have lost all hope.BlueMarmaladehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03661012306061897392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690813673024950580.post-62340932621784541522008-11-15T00:09:00.007+00:002008-11-15T00:24:15.291+00:00Skull and Crossbones<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1JYEpTd3l04ZbtMNM2EqbArFDQGf-cP5shx3erhY4wpF_d5Rj_YJ9LgetRi3SNJuQuKLUYlVK14WMFYImlq6ADX32tCcePx08OoDf1pBfWcuVAHd8-SPht6oxrHLStj70wdJUfPLhgr1f/s1600-h/2008_11110005t.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268671463392548962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1JYEpTd3l04ZbtMNM2EqbArFDQGf-cP5shx3erhY4wpF_d5Rj_YJ9LgetRi3SNJuQuKLUYlVK14WMFYImlq6ADX32tCcePx08OoDf1pBfWcuVAHd8-SPht6oxrHLStj70wdJUfPLhgr1f/s320/2008_11110005t.JPG" border="0" /></a> LOL - I came up with an idea for some soaps, one of those random things when you look at all your stocks, thinking -is it too much - will people like it? Well, yes they seem to. So far I have made two kinds - grey background with hemp fragrance and red background with jelly bean fragrance. I did try my hand at red skull and crossbones on a white background but they didn't work. Maybe operator error but these ones do work so I'm sticking to them. I'm going to add two more - blue background with oceanish fragrance and green background with apple/pear etc fragrance or possibly yellow with lemon (though I've got a few lemon scented bars at the mo). People like them - definitely a boy targeted item :-D<br /><br /><div></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268672577491297986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGwntpCAWmPyL-IsfW8hebqUKY99TwbtDl72MXy81kEIJ5am3-FM4eZ1VfhmTxfMXnlfXvAy65z8oGdDEC_aXwAf3F052FcYW3uX9Sp3iHQPuyygPdRP5BEGbS1LGLvjZF5WPCd-te1z_T/s320/untitled.bmp" border="0" /></div>BlueMarmaladehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03661012306061897392noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690813673024950580.post-72189604248238810602008-11-09T21:59:00.002+00:002008-11-09T22:19:55.277+00:00Craft Fair - Handmade at OxfordI think a successful day - and I had fun :-D My sister and a friend cam e to help so I had the luxury of having a p break whenever it was needed rather than at the end of the day when all packed up! Sold well, but also sold all the box of soaps I'd marked out for Charity. Made £28 for the Royal British Legion so am quite chuffed. Popped the money in the collecting tin at the main doors and went off happy.BlueMarmaladehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03661012306061897392noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690813673024950580.post-5630771994494365332008-11-03T22:13:00.001+00:002008-11-03T22:14:05.017+00:00MizzleMizzling down out there and I'm working on new labels. Spent the evening at my photomanipulation class. Lovely people, horrible computers. The second time mine crashed I gave up and came home :-(BlueMarmaladehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03661012306061897392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690813673024950580.post-22641154414372307762008-11-01T23:09:00.000+00:002008-11-01T23:10:22.137+00:00RSS FeedI did it !!!!!!!!!<br /><br />I managed to set up a feed. :-D :-DBlueMarmaladehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03661012306061897392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690813673024950580.post-3136395734740767682008-11-01T22:35:00.003+00:002008-11-01T22:43:27.509+00:00Prep timeThe rain is pouring down and my garden is flooding. We put a new step in last year to keep us elevated a bit - and if you stand there in the dark and rain and wind it looks like a stream flowing through the garden. It's not - just a giant puddle - never buy a house on a flood plain with clay soil.....<br /><br />I have spent the day wrapping. New labels, new packaging, new soaps. I have also found two batches that just don't cut it. There's absolutely nothing wrong with them, but they just don't look good. I blame it on the central heating ;-) Anway i had a thought. I'm in Oxford on Sunday the 9th at a <a href="http://handmadeoxford.blogspot.com/">craft fair</a> at the town hall and I thought I would put all my end of lines and bits I'm not happy with into a big tray and ask for some money, I think 50p to a £1, or more if people want, and then at the end of the day I will give it all the the Royal British Legion.<br /><br />I think that's fair. And the soap will be used and not wasted.BlueMarmaladehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03661012306061897392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690813673024950580.post-21856747148587700672008-09-12T16:19:00.002+00:002008-09-12T16:24:31.433+00:00OopsOne of those days.<br /><br />Driving home at 4 in the morning. Filled up on fuel only to have my card refused and no cash on me. Luckily I think the lone lady worker thought i looked pretty harmless and let me in to use the cashpoint. Why though would the cashpoint give me money on the same card that wouldn't let me pay?<br /><br />Woke this morning to a letter from the fraud department with a list of transactions, explaining why the card was stopped. Not all my bills. Tesco online £600? I haven't shopped that way for over 2 years. So have to now check everything and wait for a new card. Do you think that was why I kept spending more money than I thought?<br /><br />Then school run, and I reversed into a transit van who was reversing at the same time. i thought I got away with it and breathed a huge sigh of relief as it was my husband's car. Big Saab I thought, built to last, no problems. I picked up one little bit of plastic and drove away. The wheel arches had been thoroughly cleaned by the collision and the other van was intact. DH gets home to tell me I've actually ripped the bumper off.<br /><br />Three things. No more now, I can't afford it!BlueMarmaladehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03661012306061897392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690813673024950580.post-14330230952570777092008-09-02T22:06:00.004+00:002008-09-02T22:10:51.761+00:00MatroyshkaI've been making matroyshka charms in one form or another for a while now. They sell well. But they're always different as I scavenge them from vintage pictures and suchlike or hand draw them. So I thought I'd try and get one into the computer - quickly. I can't find my tablet so thought I'd try paint, but as ever my hand just isn't steady enough. So...I tried basic circles and ovals and lines and came up with the matroyshka below.<br /><div></div><br /><div>The idea is that I change the pattern on her tummy to go with different colour combinations. I grabbed the nearest available image.That's why she has a goldfish there. Sheer laziness and not a view of her dinner.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241549738325333810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSiixQPrp-pYgzGpD_LiOFgSloO2amtkKoUKLJg0L-VQCobQwE1o7fmK5jcGswLsqdvOYXMCZk5P3LP8Tm3TCbuA_O_nni3DOALUqDcKJcVutYqiPuOFPhlYPLIQuUVkn28w5Y6V8D8f9p/s320/metrodraft.JPG" border="0" /></div>BlueMarmaladehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03661012306061897392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690813673024950580.post-2567291979557187232008-08-05T18:20:00.005+00:002008-08-05T18:28:42.338+00:00Herbal infusionsI love herbal infusions. They can be a way of using a herb well past the date that you would normally throw them out. Foodwise they can add an edge to your cooking and for making soap they can add fragrance, but also means that you can utilise the qualities of the herb without having the lumpy bits of the herb (which all tend to blacken up after a while).<br /><div><br />To make an oil infusion you need approx 500g of your oil and up to 8oz of the herb you've chosen. A double boiler/bain marie pot makes life so much easier, but if you don't have one you can use a normal saucepan with an upturned tin in the bottom - or something solid that won't be affected by boiling water.</div><div><br />Measure your ingredients and place in bain marie over continuously simmering water. Make sure the bain marie or bowl doesn't touch the bottom of the pan (which is where the tin comes in) and that the water doesn't bowl dry. Allow the infusion to cook for approx 1 hour, making sure the herb doesn't cook - deep fried infused herb tends to leave crispy bits. When infused you can start again with the same oil and a new batch of herbs to make a stronger batch. Basically, the longer and more often you can keep the process going the stronger the infusion.</div><br /><div>When you're happy filter the oil through ever decreasing filters. I tend to do the last pour through a coffee filter to make sure no bits are left, but it takes a long time to filter through – patience and a good book is needed, as you'll have to keep topping the filter up.</div><div><br />Alternatively you can pour the oil with the herb into a glass jar and leave it on the windowsill. It works best if you can leave it in the sun, but, if that's not possible then a warmish room will do. This kind of infusion takes between 24 – 48 hours, but some people will leave the infusion for weeks.</div><div><br />When picking herbs for soap making I like lavender (soothing), peppermint (aching muscles), calendula (skin rashes and inflammation), annato (colour), nettle (astringent), rosemary (scalp itching). You can use fresh herbs from the garden, but for longevity of the final infused oil it is best to use fully dried herbs to make sure that no moisture remains mixed with the oil.</div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231101248779197922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoV3tNQ1tgBE00SHG4cVPNoBZjpMakMQU-SBIRwngI4ei9W_HxzDWi7CgqRz7LZpnr55YWhL36wkechS0O-HTE1dwI2CfVud0RX-gaEgIIoRuJZWX64TDxNpm4d8EgxMP3wNQgNS3jIfJ8/s320/marigo16-l.jpg" border="0" /></div>BlueMarmaladehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03661012306061897392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690813673024950580.post-44267668081629407162008-04-08T17:27:00.012+00:002008-07-17T19:45:02.511+00:00Red KiteAn absolutely awesome moment this morning over my breakfast coffee. I usually have my coffee outside. Yes, even when snowing or raining (though I have been known to sit in the shed before now) as this is the only 10 minutes peace I'll get for most of the day. I had my coffee in one hand and my paper in the other when two birds sped past me really low down. I heard a thud and thought 'ouch, that has to hurt' when they came speeding back. A Red Kite following it's prey. The thud had obviously slowed down the hunted bird and right in front of me the Kite pounced. A few more panicked cheeps and there was silence with the Kite folding back one of its wings and just sitting looking around. Minimal movement of its head but lots of movement on its yellow eyes. A paving slab away from me. Yes, it would have been the perfect camera moment, but I just sat there watching, in a bit of a dilemma. When the wind blew the paper would flap and scare the Kite away, but if I moved to fold the paper that would also scare the Kite away. <div><div><div><br /></div><div></div><div>The weirdest thing was after the Kite flew off with dinner the sky was full of quickly moving birds. Obviously a lot of them had ducked for cover early.</div><div><br /></div><div></div><div>This particular Kite lives, I think, in the Kingswoods, and we often see it flying overhead. Too fast to ever get a decent shot though. We've often tried to tempt it down by imitating a wounded rabbit, but it only lowers down, has a look, then flies away. </div><div><br /></div><div></div><div>The <a href="http://www.redkites.co.uk/">Red Kite</a> was nearly extinct by the end of the 19th Century, so it's great to see it's survival and expansion of its breeding range to the point that, in this area, it's no longer a rare siting. We have a Red Kite breeding centre at <a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/brilliant/sites/toplodge/index.asp">Top Lodge, Fineshade</a>, just down the road and by itself it's a wonderful place where you can go and see them but also watch live video feeds and see exactly how the birds are doing.</div><div><br /></div><div></div><div>The view I usually see from the garden is of the kite sailing above, with a wingspan of nearly 2 metres when fully grown, it's a sight not to miss. We purposely go into the garden when we spot him and just stand and watch.</div><div><br /></div>This is what I saw today - my very own raptor in action.</div><div><br /><a href="http://www.photochart.com/photo_3596_Red%20Kite.html"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186934843090551682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSyeRhhhuBt7oJ32LBOU0dGFcER1G1LPYBvWXLZMoHtMHiVFWqvR5dQySeL_ARsegaoDSXHW0msEbyru3JlnYj-JspXimgabfGENjzA6olgRmYE0Y_KADF8ajknqQUEqyXvUlRnkDX_Ewc/s400/Red_Kite.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />No apologies for the size of the pictures - this is a superb bird and the bottom shot in particular is fantastic.<br /><br /><div></div></div></div>BlueMarmaladehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03661012306061897392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690813673024950580.post-40473341331526768642008-02-25T22:40:00.004+00:002008-02-25T22:53:51.333+00:00Why won't it remember me?The thing I hate about this blog is that it never remembers me. Everyone time I go to sign I put in the password and tick the remember me box - and it never does. That's a bit of a downer for the ego.<br /><br /><br />Life in the past few months has been busy. The soaps are still in the development phase. I'm just not happy with them, but I now have some lip balms on the loose. It would help if I actually listed some on my websites, otherwise they will never sell. My local farmer's market had promised to get back to me with regards to a stall, but they never did, so I will have to chase them. I think , from the comments made, that they class me as too expensive. Previously they had one lady who's soaps sold really well, and then another lady who charged too much and produced very bad soap which always left a scum in the sink when used. I didn't make the obvious comment about the local water as I was trying to make a good impression - maybe I should have.<br /><br /><br />The current works are tiaras though. I have a commission for a new design that I'm working on - butterfly hair combs. This photo is at the hedgehog stage:<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171054057086986018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimILnwlbWp-TRB6M4CvEO0Qh20sEcdGAm9s3ouvKvUZ-zU6-_n9VzMJroeU_q48n9AovGa44kyIBKUkPXvEurWYzQ5c7f6f-YLG9vrrYDlUwQ7PBEyhy_GTOU_piA2hP9br-8-wVd2m5iC/s200/2008_02250002.JPG" border="0" /><br />This one is half a wing completed. Just need to check that the buyer is happy before I carry on.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171054061381953330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJmV0YCZWkGBUfGYQsfGlOFkxZiND2pZ-wqI1EXLEYbPy6Y9KngZyW8epqWUjylztmcPF2bPTmLY3hEXVfZCyEzKdYN9fHYkGu6FudoBYkWI6TVHNHrcQ00KIVw3l3TNs4t_7BFMwTOPr/s200/2008_02250004.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />Apart from other tiaras I have also been asked to make some for a shop in Savannah, Georgia. Consignment basis. I hummed and hawed as I usually say no, but I like Savannah, which is why I swung over to a yes vote. 3 month trial and it'll be interesting. At least I can say - 'Red Sky Tiaras' as stocked by.... Shop Moss, Savannah. Red Sky International for definite :-)BlueMarmaladehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03661012306061897392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690813673024950580.post-6907155875371453872007-12-09T23:06:00.000+00:002007-12-09T23:38:13.920+00:00Soap ScentsIt's been a fun few months. Illness, both mine and the children, has taken up all my time and it's been enough just keeping up with the world let alone adding crafting time on. I have lots of projects in the pipeline and am having fun but not seriously crafting at present. I am still working on image transfer to polymer clay. I can do this and it works well I just can't find a suitable varnish to seal the images. It either stays sticky and doesn't set or sets and then becomes sticky after a few months. Tcch. The fine tuning is always the hardest.<br /><br />On fine tuning I've been making soap tonight. I have a new base recipe in development which is needing tweaking and I thought tonight I'd go for it and make a full size batch with a nice scent for christmas presents. It looks good so far. I know I shoudn't peek, buthey, we all do it. It's gelling nicely at present so this could be the definitive base. I've made up a new scent mixture as a heavier Christmas smell and have used 4ml ylang ylang, 4ml cinnamon and 12ml sandalwood. A nice treat for the nose and hopefully a good present for my friends.<br /><br />I've also been fiddling with soap wrapping. I like waxed paper. I like the bareness of it. Thinking on it though I think for the price I charge for a bar of soap maybe bareness is not acceptable. If you want to treat yourself you want something that looks good as well as feel and smell good. That makes it sound as if I overcharge! I don't . One of the reasons this new base recipe is taking so long is that I can't get the price in for less than £5 because there are so many goodies in it. OK if I ever get to be a bulk producer, but those days aren't here yet. Slow and steady and building , but not bulk yet. Anyway I have had a brainwave and have got some lovely paper that is affordable and now I'm prevaricating. Full soap wrap? Or strip of paper round soap? The strip looks good, but for hygiene maybe the full wrap. I need to sleep on it.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.puresoaps.co.uk/">http://www.puresoaps.co.uk/</a>BlueMarmaladehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03661012306061897392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690813673024950580.post-54492747509603213352007-08-20T21:34:00.000+00:002007-08-20T21:50:34.811+00:00Better late than neverAh well I keep slacking off or never really starting depending on how you look at it, but that's the problem at the moment - I'm having a few problems with my eyesight and so am avoiding computer work unless definitely needed. I know it's not going to make a problem but for reassurance that I'm not making the problem worse I'm resisting the temptation to be on here till all hours.<br /><br /><br />Anyhoo. Tiaras. I started making tiaras as a fiddly thing to replace jigsaws. Less space, less mess etc. etc. Don't you believe it though. Instead of bits of jigsaw everywhere now there's bits of wire, beads, tools, half finished headpieces...... I have fun though. They're very satisfying to make, and , yes, it's tempting to wear the finished product to do the washing up. Queen for the day and all that.<br /><br /><br />The last one I've had a chance to concentrate on was the Snow Queen tiara. Small coronet base and rows of wire 'twigs' all threaded with seed beads and wrapped in very thin wire, capped off with wire closed circles. Looks good and stops the beads falling off! It took me from start to finish about 10 hours to make. I think I should have picked bigger beads than seed beads, but then the effect wouldn't have been the same.<br /><br /><br />This the base of it. The base and main wiring alone took over 3 hours.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5100901836568248882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjemIERBtSdeg3iPjT19P-C-MZb6qTkM_zF2YeFu7l9xBEiZiu2cnVl1FqP0KuKoAlSD01BCgzSi6sMW8jyhk9a1Dhyr6qEld3SVHd9GJDNposDT9PeWeMgICKms2Cs63qVUe1ZEBTu_MWm/s200/2007_06300009.JPG" border="0" /><br />Gradually building up and supporting the many fronds.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5100902059906548290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDp20vOYyNDK494P5RbaFF0tDBcUekni_ZAmTNt-WMd8M2_IG3zMpQQSDZ5RTBmpzQCdAS8asEciFsa6A_4wV23HJtkZCkLl0I8vpDwOZdq1Lut5ylLiEr9TuVUpAx12YycL3AUF_R16M3/s200/2007_06300011.JPG" border="0" /><br />Completed!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5100902575302623826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgieDrikCGtfDZoc6sutWLtEfAoc4gkKWET9s5xkg7_kPVCpqMKPovxF9hnAPUPoRVNPhjhyXO6432q6cgEnGQ42J3prTTdP5e2J3ycfwDttuvkCG7AOY3kt7oMJ0gScE9nLYNQwlT_wKXb/s200/2007_06300026.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5100902729921446498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQIiOc8Ttlk3xE08NTjogp3CA9BRXhPW4VTF3YoNOEoi49L6tZn1dygpSOwmNaLI8nzno3_vNGDyYkdSsYUregCTHTOQAr8IwEVBiMSfyamkx5yUWKSCQO8oWWbx8Zrj2jpvjXrq_wgZWC/s200/2007_06300024.JPG" border="0" /><br />I have many more ideas in the pipeline but so little time. Funnily enough people seem to like the tried and tested designs rather than trying something new - so I don't get much (or none actually) chance to let my imagination run riot for someone. Anyone out there willing?BlueMarmaladehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03661012306061897392noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690813673024950580.post-25264947887422293982007-06-26T13:03:00.001+00:002007-06-26T13:04:29.024+00:00Oh Drat!Never fiddle with your blog layout on a night shift! I've managed to delete all the buttons and webring codes from here - oh it's going to take a while to put all those back!!!<br /><br />Maybe later.BlueMarmaladehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03661012306061897392noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690813673024950580.post-70529302232909907372007-06-26T03:49:00.001+00:002007-06-26T04:01:31.201+00:00Getting there!Well, who knew that things would be so busy lately! Not only on the work front but at home. Every one of my children is having repeated bugs, one after the other and what with work commitments on top, crafting and blogging are taking a distinct back seat.<br /><br />My latest mission is to complete the challenge for the latest EtsyUK craft challenge - theme being fairytales. No way will I win, especially after seeing bunny's entry, but I've started and spent hours trying to produce a Snow Queen coronet so I'm determined to finish. I will bloody well finish !!!! I can already see where things could have been easier for me so after spending days thinking it out putting it into action has produced the glitches that I couldn't foresee (although I probably should have!). I have 4 days to finish it in so you never know!BlueMarmaladehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03661012306061897392noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690813673024950580.post-13994111179420951612007-05-29T23:24:00.000+00:002007-05-29T23:35:31.559+00:00Fabric HeavenBit of a late night tonight. Am sitting waiting for my little one to settle. Chickenpox being rife throughout the children this past few weeks the small one is suffering more than most and, even though he's supposed to have recovered, he's still not 100%<br /><div></div><br /><div>Have discovered a wonderful fabric seller with genuine vintage fabric - from the bolt as well. Just have to save my pennies now and then one big shopping spree! Although I did buy some curtain fabric today so have already spent some :-(</div><br /><div></div><div>As part of the Etsy group we have a swap group which brings up some wonderful items. I got some lovely blue linen like material from <a href="http://SakuraFubukiDesigns.etsy.com">Sakura </a>and made a bag with a patterned wool mix. Her material gave the lovely contrast detail and an aqua blue cats eye glass toggle finished the bag with a loop closure. Now my sewing machine is working again (after months and months) I'm pretty happy. 3 visits to the repair man and I was beginning to think of giving up and buying a new one but today - taadaa - it works!</div><div> </div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070129321415079874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 209px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 154px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="263" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzS2xwllqZiWpnsYNpcXWQUvMCUH4AMkmqTVyCEkRU7LX_txFLRxUVwILE2dw1jqVIdKNoU1nJjw5EZVA1N6QbMEfWRpOK3EEEhN6qzW1eYFm4sPiS_gOHPLO5J5caYHd4cFKj_IcjmIaz/s200/2007_05290015.JPG" width="200" border="0" /></div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>BlueMarmaladehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03661012306061897392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690813673024950580.post-32306636183197107732007-05-23T08:02:00.000+00:002007-05-23T08:16:45.737+00:00Back on the Bandwagon<div>Well I started, then I neglected but hopefully now time is going to be a bit kinder to me. A month of night shifts and 3 children with chickenpox have meant I've been hoarding my time a little preciously. Hopefully I'm also going to be able to do some more making as well.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I have plenty of bags in the pipeline but I've now had to take my sewing machine back to the shop twice after a full service as it still stops working mid sew! Maybe I could handsew the bags - possibly add value? Unlikely. Jewellery wise I have some great ideas as well just not enough time or determination at present. I'm waiting on a macro lens for my camera so that might give me the impetus. I don't want to end up with hundreds of things to take photos of in one go. A bit lazy too. So I've been concentrating on soap making. Turned out some nice stuff but have had one complete disaster which I'm going to try and convert tonight. I had to stop in the middle of this batch as one of the children had fallen out of bed! Can't be helped as they're usually so good once tucked up and falling out of bed has never really been an issue - which really surprised me!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>On the nature watch front my hedgehog has been either fighting or mating, I'm unsure which. I got quite worried a few weeks ago when all I could hear was load snuffling noises from the garden which turned out to be two hedgehogs having a good sniff. They really are loud once they get going. So we'll have to wait and see. The hedgehog poo count has gone down though so I think only one hedgehog is still here. I think the previous 'incontinence' might have been related to just coming out of hibernation. Just as well because I really wouldn't have thought one little hedgehog could afford to waste that much food.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I also have a red kite that regularly hangs above my garden. I think he must live in the neighbouring woods and he's a real treat to watch flying by. We heard a major commotion the other day only to see him zooming past chasing a goose. I think that would possibly be a bit too much for him in a fight, but the goose wasn't having any of it anyway. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Otherwise I have giant (well not too giant but relatively speaking) spider balls everywhere in my garden. Love to take a proper photo (with a superb macro lens) but this will have to do:</div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5067666561397749682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFT_AsCHb0ypegWvol8r0-xvtqXKI9JBokLeII-33gW1vozspE-q0qIzj_e-57U_D8aSej0rgVdRGxJOdata4figaJTFOEGiwhMU7_B_vCM0jfQgJWbaJNFMKibbZLz6Y3tdVwPaHCe_xA/s200/2007_05210002.JPG" border="0" /></div>BlueMarmaladehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03661012306061897392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690813673024950580.post-11389224585524905942007-04-15T18:47:00.000+00:002007-04-15T18:56:15.756+00:00Ten things about me. Part Three & Final !!!Now I have a free moment (and the children and husband are sleeping) I can hopefully finish these. Sooo...<br /><br />6. I started my working life as a computer operator, then programmer (oh the joys of BASIC, COBOL and PASCAl!). I then became a factory worker, shop assistant, groom, bar maid, bouncer (for one night), and the list goes on. I also acquired three degrees along the way. I really wanted to be a pathologist (and not because of Quincy). Instead I applied for a job as a trainee veterinary nurse, but was considered unsuitable. I'm now a nurse and look after human beings - go figure that one!<br /><br />7. I have an incontinent hedgehog living in my garden. Or, if he's not incontinent he has regular buddy parties in the middle of the night.<br /><br />8. I failed art & design at school and was asked to leave the class and find something more suitable. Not my fault! I just can't draw! I can copy brilliantly but freehand drawing - no way. (Should I be owning up to that?)<br /><br />9. My first car was a 1967 old Post Office Bedford van complete with quadrophenic stereo and fully carpeted throughout.<br /><br />10. I married my first boyfriend, twenty years after we first met (sweet :-))BlueMarmaladehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03661012306061897392noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690813673024950580.post-73143473648411112422007-04-12T19:43:00.000+00:002007-04-12T20:04:39.599+00:00Ten things about me. Part Two !!!2. I've lost my train of thought now. OK. Got one. Back in my twenties I bummed around the country fruit picking. Oh, and firebreathing. I got very good at spitting, and burped paraffin like mad in the pub later! Least I think it was paraffin, which just goes to show (referring back to number 1) that time does fade every memory.<br /><br />3. I was deported from Singapore after entering the country illegally, about 10 years ago. I shunted off to the mainland and stayed at the top hotel in, I think, Jota Bahru. This was a 20 storey plus monstrosity and I was on the 22nd floor. Confidence building as it was, of the 6 lifts available one was permanently open with a sign in situ stating "Permanently reserved for the fire brigade".<br /><br />4. I, myself, have gone diving in Alaska. It was actually no colder than diving in Scotland. But then if you've ever been diving in Scotland you'd understand the slight understatement there. I spent the first dive basically bricking myself that a Killer Whale would appear in front of me only to surface to one of the best sights of my life. As I broke the surface of the water a Golden Eagle 'landed' beside me, grabbed a fish and flew away. I'd obviously disturbed his prey enough to distract the fish and enable the eagle to grab an easy meal. Totally awe inspiring seeing the speed and power of that bird.<br /><br />5. I used to go open ocean swimming with a complete nutter. Why? I don't know. This man was ex-SAS/SBS/who-knows-what but something dark and deadly along those lines. He was navy I just can't remember which 'elite' bit he was. Anyhow, we used to swim out to sea and go hunting sharks and other interesting things. Then all of a sudden he would just disappear from sight only to reappear aeons later after doing what I would class as record breaking breath holding dives. I swear I looked like a struggling fish on the surface the first few times he did that! Shark bait if ever anyone was. He just used to disappear. He'd never let me know he was off. Which after being p'd off the first few times was actually quite good for me because it taught me the value of paying attention to what was going on around me and not just what was in front of me.<br /><br />Oh yea - and I have swum with one of the most deadliest animals in the sea - a sea snake. Quite a venomous one as well according to the guide books. I actually thought it was a piece of plastic floating in the water. Had a good swim, just a bit nerve wracking trying to make sure I stayed permanently 5 feet away from it. I don't know if snakes value their personal space, but I figured this might be any reasonable animal's zone of tolerance.<br /><br />I have also nearly had a heart attack when faced by a cod. Anyone seen a real live one? Have you any idea just how large they are? I thought it was a bloody big shark and nearly dropped dead on the spot as it swam towards me!BlueMarmaladehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03661012306061897392noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690813673024950580.post-49218850286429707902007-04-12T18:34:00.000+00:002007-04-12T20:08:18.977+00:00Tagged!!! 10 Things about me (part one)Ooh I've just been tagged by <a href="http://sakurafubukidesigns.blogspot.com/">Sakura</a> and now am supposed to indulge in a bit of tell all with ten things about me - and then tag ten other people to keep the ball rolling. I'm trying not to read hers as I don't want to be influenced in any way. Ten things though, just pulled out of the air. Well I suppose the first one then is easy.<br /><br />1. I'm forty this year - I therefore have great claim to not remember things easily unless somebody reminds me about them, or gives me a hint. I apparently fed my son at 3 in the morning the other night and I can't actually remember getting up for him. Although that's probably exhaustion rather than age.<br /><br />2. Ah well this one will have to wait as I've been called to dinner, because this is MY night and my husband has to do everything!BlueMarmaladehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03661012306061897392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690813673024950580.post-26345960348348820242007-04-05T10:23:00.000+00:002007-04-05T10:39:21.715+00:00Ninja Challenge<div><div><div><div>Wow, it's been a week since I've been here! Busy week though. Trying to find car insurance as my own has gone through the roof. I tried one site that advertise as guaranteeing to be less and they quoted £1500 for the year for me and my husband - I've only got a little Peugeot! Anyway, what with potty training and teething going on and the usual lumps and bumps of childhood this is the first chance I've had. I can't say that things are peaceful around here. I have turfed the kids out to nursery, but the baby is lying in his cot, kicking heck out of the footboard at the moment. So a bit noisy, all in all.<br /></div><div>I've got 4 volunteers to test my new soap. I usually use friends and family, but as it seems to have been such a grotty winter for coughs and colds and generally people feeling like crap I've decided to spread the love a bit. Soaps should be ready in a couple of weeks.<br /></div><div>As for the ninja challenge, I didn't even get mentioned. Boo hoo. <a href="http://www.kezzaroo.etsy.com">Kezzaroo </a>won. That was really a no brainer, her being the Queen of Ninjas and everything. She produced a wonderful pink & cuddly bedtime ninja, complete with poop panel at the back of his babygro! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV0jDhF436uX8OoSJ6L7lPxtGh7QjyV72hy36sr7KzR6PlgCqV0Tf1vKAIEleO4jRARCDcKBGPLXwyUHuAP_hj4g4DWvHDo3R4WZsXr3u8fVpc0TSlfJbqgWO-5y3XdcsRBAPqy92z6h0o/s1600-h/441707728_3a480d43af.jpg"></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5049890356023568674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7-V40z34u4nJcbLKIOHMuOaqbgU4Qgc7SjunfRfUPDwIy_fcR9QK2SQ5euqXvmrtLJtylTVC-p3xlorF98jg_Mkny30MIdX9BcOSTjQnkmO_edGHXymGKb0cT1DsAmQ7KtUMgklQMnfaD/s200/441707728_3a480d43af.jpg" border="0" /><br /><a href="http://www.lilley.etsy.com">Lilley </a>and <a href="http://www.memake.etsy.com">memake </a>came joint second with a trio of polymer clay ninjas and a ninja purse respectively. Third went to <a href="http://www.askey.etsy.com">askey </a>for a great ninja greeting card. They can all be viewed through <a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/uketsychallenge/">here </a>. Me? I made a baby ninja bandana bib. My only excuse for failing so miserably was that the photo was very bad quality, although I did have a great model!</div><br /><div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5049891361045915954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5qOmQNncRNrTnr4gvVWwG0KYTQUXXbPEBEBvlvCVwDWtbf5up8E_DYEIMP3ADJu2wkcduzC1fLqlmsTTsPbRmZR-1DFgdQ-r9z_2U8LVWkB30J3RLKepQm7c4jqE3SZO7Neec4DPtiagn/s200/2007_03300009.JPG" border="0" /> <div></div><div> </div></div></div></div>BlueMarmaladehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03661012306061897392noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690813673024950580.post-75943919585937278142007-03-29T21:52:00.000+00:002007-03-29T21:58:49.989+00:00Always Fresh<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2OF5BwdrzAnIrJCDFC7Xx3Fy-EY5OlN3saLs2V-gpgL85zCtvPZySwQT707TKE9PUFlzy7RtUj1iouTvGmrgAkKlXeWJsnR7185GmzU-SGKeFQGBKxeb2XrRDhyWxzVpCVU1OdG3vO-me/s1600-h/2007_03280004.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047468699818939794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2OF5BwdrzAnIrJCDFC7Xx3Fy-EY5OlN3saLs2V-gpgL85zCtvPZySwQT707TKE9PUFlzy7RtUj1iouTvGmrgAkKlXeWJsnR7185GmzU-SGKeFQGBKxeb2XrRDhyWxzVpCVU1OdG3vO-me/s320/2007_03280004.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Well, I've been beavering away today starting to reduce prices in my etsy shop for the sale starting 1st april. The site takes such a long time to load that editing is very time consuming.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I've been listing (this time readymades on ebay). Gosh that doesn't half sound like contraband.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Had a sudden design inspiration whilst making soap last night resulting in the flower brooch. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>The soap? Still to see. It smells nice although not really of grapefruit & lime, but give it a few weeks and i'll let a few people try it out. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I've finished my etsy uk design challenge producing a baby ninja bandana bib - otherwise known as ninja pig. My son looks really cute with it on!</div>BlueMarmaladehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03661012306061897392noreply@blogger.com0