a thousand apologies

I've not been updating this. Sorry, but, Sheesh. I have been busy. Really, really busy.

I have launched my own ecommerce site, http://www.tangerinedaisy.com/ and have been totally absorbed in that. I have started to look into advertising, buying wholesale and I am even considering expanding the selection already. I've made a Bridal head dress for a friend. She knows who she is, but, I cannot wait to see the photos. Their wedding venue is a little bit unusual.

On top of that. We are going to be on TV! Totally fed up waiting for my hubby to get round to getting us a new kitchen I applied to go onto Kirsties Homemade Homes! They accepted our application and we are now having the kitchen and dining room done, been filmed, been out crafting and generally having an amazing time. Got to say that Kirstie Allsopp is LOVELY. A really fun, relaxed person to be around. I was worried I would be all 'eeek, its kistie, in my kitchen' but she really gets you to relax so easily. Even John says so. It has to be true.

I've made a big decission.

I am so scared its unreal but, I have decided to go self employed. A number of factors prompted this, first up I was concerned about being fined humungous amounts of money by HMRC, but, a more deciding factor is that as a self employed person I can make contributions into my state pension. Its been a real concern of mine that I have not paid in anything for a number of years. Being poor and young in unpleasant, being poor and old is just terrible and the thought terrifies me. I am in search of a new company name though. There is already a 'real' company out there with my chosen name, so I need to come up with something unique and catchy and most importantly mine. I am running a competition on my Facebook Fan page for names. Feel free to come along, join the fans and enter a name.

I've been sewing over the weekend, surprise surprise. I am really proud of what I've made but, I can't tell you here because its for a secret santa, lol. However, I will be making more things and am really looking forward to it too.

Right, got to run, time to get ready to collect Arthur from preschool.

stoopid o'clock

I have a pain. Its a BIG pain. Its keeping me awake. Over the last few weeks (its been going on sometime) I have had less and less sleep. The good news is that I get to chat with my friend on MSN as she is in Canada, the bad news is that I am really tired, grumpy and generally not pleasant to be with. I have painkillers which dont do what it says on the tin and physio weekly who can't do anything as I am in so much pain. Its a real pain. LOL.

Anyway. To happier things.

I have a new sewing machine. Oh, it is so wrong but, I am in love with my new sewing machine. Its just amazing, its so fantastic I dont know where to begin trying to describe how much I love it. My main problem is I cannot find a single thing to make! I've looked and looked for a project but as yet, nothing jumps up and down shouting 'Make ME! Make ME!'. When it does though I bet I turn into a sewing demon. LOL.

I went to a craft fair today. Two and a half hours without a single child with me, surrounded by fantastic handmade goodies and tasty treats. I was having such a good time I nearly didnt come home. I spent LOTS, but, now have some lovely christmas presents. My favourite thing is the Roasting Planks! www.theroastingplankcompany.co.uk I've bought two of the large 'beech' oven ones, and a set of all 4 of the BBQ ones as presents but, I really wish I had got some of them for us too. I also picked up two GORGEOUS bedding sets. They were made for 'Pier', one of my favourite shops. Originally being sold by Pier for over £100 the stall holder, who made them, was selling them for £25 to get rid of them (as Pier is now, no more...). Again, I've bought one as a gift but the other I did buy for ME. Yummy. Also at the fair was a lady I've 'met' from the Making Jewellery forum. I so enjoy meeting people in real life, its good to get to know them that way. She lives near here so we hope to get together for a coffee sometime. There was also a lady from Castle Cary there! I think I may have got a little too excited about this, a sign that I am not happy anymore? Who knows! but, it was so lovely to speak to her, to chat about Cary and just make a small reconnection with home.

I've been looking at garden rooms again. Why do I do it. Its not going to happen. I do love the idea though. Can you imagine a small area, lockable, free from children and hubby. My own space. Its a thought that almost makes me cry with desire.

Finally I am starting to feel sleepy enough that I may get some despite the pain. So I shall finish for now. Ta-ra.

Apologies for the delay in blogs..

Life is chaos, chaos is life. Three children, a cat, 10 chickens, a husband, a house, hobbies, jewellery stalls... The list goes on. Add to that my very sore arm and shoulder and well, you can see its reasonable that I have not updated this for a while. Can't you? (please agree....).I've done the stall at the Preschool, and sold a bracelet and pair of earrings. Not a HUGE success, but, its a start, and preschool have said I can go back in a couple of weeks for the run up to Christmas. I am more and more wanting, needing to make this work. For the past few years, being a parent has been all I've had, but, as the children grow they are less dependent on me (I am no longer breastfeeding Howard) and can spend longer with others, Daddy, Nanny, Granma and Grandad. This means I am feeling kind of aimless, without a goal. I had hoped the allotment would fill that void, sadly my PND and leg pain but that out of the equation. Jewellery making though, I can do in spare moments, if I dont do any there wont be weeds growing, or harvest rotting etc. So, its all out for Something Sparkly? It has to work. Not least because John and I have invested rather a lot of money into equipement, beads and stock.
I seem to be drawn to beads in shades of green at the moment. I love green, its such a fresh, 'alive' sort of colour. At this time of year, when the gorgeous coloured leaves are almost gone from trees, when the weather is mucky, the world can seem rather brown, muddy and dull. Green is a vibrant, zingy reminder of warmer, cheerier seasons. The necklace set just above has some fabulous green foil beads and its been teamed with citrine green swarovski crystals. Its so lovely, though I do admit to a little bias regarding that point. I have another necklace set that is all one colour, but different sized beads add interest. Its a really bright lime green. Fabulous. I will try and get that added here later, though it has been added to my facebook fanpage if you'd like to take a look.

A models life is not for me..

I don't like photos of me. I don't like posing for photos either. However, today a photographer from London Lite came and took photos of me, the children and our chickens. My false smile was hard to maintain. Not sure when it will be in, though apparently the paper comes out on Wednesdays. The only thing that was good was that I was wearing Howard in an MT. YEH! Babywearing in the paper. Fantastic.

I need to make things desperately for my stall. I am concerned I do not have enough diversity. In fact, I may just pop into Kingston now, and see about getting some things. Update later...

ouchies ouchies

I've done something weird to myshoulder and arm. Not sure what exactly but flipin' 'eck it HURTS. Tried 4 lots of prescribed painkillers, the last lot seem to take the edge off but dont get rid of it completely. For now, I'll settle for that. The drugs make me 'drunk' but, its that or pain, and I know which I prefer.

The Jewellery making is in full swing now. I went to the bead show and bought some terrific beads and things. Bought some PMC to play with too, that will have to wait though as the torch that came with it is duff. I've made some childrens things, bracelets and necklaces, will need to work on my disclaimer details, as obviously these are not toys, even though they are likely to be bought for or by children. I've made a beautiful necklace and earrings set. (see the photos, red beads and green leaves) Totally gorgeous. BUT, when I worked out the costings it came to £65! Yikes. Not sure anyone is going to want to buy that. Oh well, I may just have to keep it. I've also got some new lampwork beads, from the show, which are beautiful, I just need to work out what I want to do with them. I dont want to rush in and try to make something just for the sake of it. Need to wait until inspiration strikes. I am trying to work out what to display my jewellery on when I take it to the preschool hall to try and sell it. I want it to look lovely, but, also can't spend a great deal of money. Until I start selling things, I am going to struggle I think. I've invested lots, and I mean LOTS of money into this already. I really need to either go for it, or stop I think, its kind of make or break over Christmas. If I dont sell any, well, I guess I give up. I'd still do it for presents but, I can't afford to not sell anything. So many people ooh'd and ah'd when I showed them the pieces but, when they went up for sale, no one bought any. Bit disheartening really. However, I am not going to give up yet! No, I am going to keep going, keep trying over the Christmas period and hopefully someone will like something enough to buy it. Positive thinking!

What a busy weekend!

Saturday was 'The Big Bead Show' at Sandown racecourse. My friend, Kate and her friend Helen and I all went along and spent WAYYYYY too much money. But it was fabulous. There were so many fabulous beads, and other jewellery making things on display as well as a multitude of different items being worn by their designers. (yes, I did where one of mine, I hope people looked at it and thought it lovely). I am now the very excited owner of a PMC kit. Precious Metal Clay is a revolutionary way of working with silver and gold and I am very, very excitedly looking forward to producing my own silver pieces to use in my Jewellery.
I've stil not had anyone buy anything from my site, which is disappointing but perhaps I was being just a little too impatient. However, I've made a watch, which I am going to run a competition for people to win. Not quite sure how to sort that just yet, whether to simply do a straight buy something and be entered, or whether to ask people a question about the site, and then draw for the winner. We shall see.
Today was little Georges Baptism. It was a terrific service, really lovely and the children were quite well behaved, all things considered. However, about 5 minutes after getting there my shoulder started to hurt, and it has not stopped all day, in fact I am sure its getting worse. I really can't take much more of this pain. Its constant. It never ends. I am taking painkillers like my life depends on it, and yet, it STILL hurts. ARRGGHHH.