Kiln For Sale

If you're a new beadmaker or if you're thinking of taking up lampwork then you may be interested to know that I've just put Anthony, my old Chili Pepper bead annealing kiln, up for auction on eBay. I used this kiln for about the first year of my beadmaking and then I upgraded to my current kiln. Anthony (can you figure out why he's called that?) has been sitting on a shelf for about two years or so. He's a great kiln - shiny red and specifically designed for annealing beads. I bought him from the States and I had to buy a transformer to make him work over here and that transformer is included in the auction. I've just replaced the Chili Pepper's relay and the kiln is in full working order. Runs like a dream. Please click here if you'd like to take a look at the auction.

Lots of 'Lonelies'

Total change of plan this afternoon. Sally came round with Robyn and the minute she walked through the door I could see that Robyn wasn't right. She looked pale and kept saying 'I'm freezing cold, Auntie Laura!' with a very sad look on her face. Sally took her temperature which was quite high so unfortunately we didn't go on our walk. She'd even brought Baby Annabell and Baby Chog (crazy name, but that's what Robyn calls her boy doll) who were going to come along with us in their pushchair. Robyn was so disappointed that she had to go home. So I told her we'd go next week and we'd take a picnic with us which seemed to please her. Shame - I was looking forward to an afternoon out!

So instead I spent this afternoon going through my 'Lonelies' jar and cleaning and stringing the contents together. Most beadmakers call their leftover beads 'orphan' beads. But you know me, I like to be a bit different so I call mine 'Lonelies'! This little lot can currently be found on eBay UK. Please click here if you'd like to take a closer look.

Post 100 - Woohoo!

I can't believe I've done a whole hundred posts! I've not been blogging that long but I've found some really great people via my blog, some of which have become friends and customers. Blogging rocks!

These are my new 'Hibiscus' beads. I sold a set of round beads on my site last night featuring this pattern and I wanted to try and make lentils featuring the design. So after a bit of design tweakage and many practice runs I came up with these. Quite surfy, don't you think?

They're currently on eBay UK. Please click here if you'd like to take a look at the auction.

'Purple Fusion'

Yep - more Fusion beads, this time in my favourite colour. Lovely, lovely purple. These ones are on eBay too.

My Fusion beads feature some really delicate stringerwork. I thought I'd post a photo to try and show exactly how thin that stringer is :

Normal glass rods are about 6-7mm in diameter. Pre-pulled stringers that you buy from glass suppliers are about 3mm diameter and the green stringer in the photo is one of those. Yes - those four thin white strands are my ridiculously thin stringer!

'Blue Fusion'

These beads are currently up for auction on eBay. The annoying thing is I've just noticed a typo in the item listing and now there are bids on the beads I can't put it right. Gah! I hate spelling mistakes and things and it's sooooo annoying that I can't correct it.

Anyway, I hope you had a good weekend. Chris and I went to see Sweeney Todd which was just fab! We also popped into Cambridge Art & Craft Market to see Sue at Sooz Jewels. It's always nice to meet one of my customers! Sue's made a lovely bracelet with some of my Anemone beads which you can see by clicking here.

Long time, no blog!

I've been quiet again but I have good reason. I've been on holiday, then it was my birthday but now I'm back making beads again like those ones up there that are currently on eBay.

Talking of beads, the world seems to have gone silver core beads mad. When I got back from holiday I waded through my fat and bulging email inbox and found three emails asking me if I could start making silver core beads.

I've been asked this several times before. Now I am a the proud owner of a Pandora bracelet which my friend Elaine gave me for my birthday I can see the appeal of the silver cores. My beadmaking buddy Helen at Beady Bugs has been giving me all sorts of silver core advice which I am extremely grateful for. You can see Helen's amazing silver core beads by clicking here.

And yes, after some go-on-mate-have-a-go emails from Helen I've decided to give this silver coring malarkey a try so I will keep you posted with regard to progress . . . . . . .

'Amber Glow' on eBay

I've got an eBay auction running - haven't done one for a while but I've had a couple of customer requests for one so who am I to argue?!

The auction can be found by clicking here.