Various ramblings from a busy work at home mum of two! Websites, jewellery making, magazine publishing, and of course looking after her beautiful boys and very, very patient husband.
Yes dear readers, you read correctly!
I have actually got around to making something! Three things in fact! Would you like to see?
Moonstone, Labradorite, Black Onyx and Tourmalinated Quartz Flower Brooch
Garnet, Citrine, Turquoise and Carnelian Flower Brooch
Crystal Webbed Smoky Quartz Pendant Necklace
And if you really, really like them, you can buy them from my website :) I have to say that I was very tempted to keep the smoky quartz one for myself but so far I haven't given in.
Now, you may be aware that it was mine and Mr CL's 15th Wedding Anniversary last week and he surprised me with a bouquet of 15 beautiful Black Magic Roses (You can read about it here) I am a little reluctant to lose these wonderful blooms! I'm rather attached to them. So I've been working out a way to keep them a little longer (perhaps a lot longer).
I have hatched a plan. Yes, I know I should have started this a little earlier than Day 5! But hopefully it isn't too late. I am taking a three pronged attack. Firstly, I am pampering my roses by making fresh cuts in their stems every day and removing any browning petals. Here they are today at Day 5!
Still looking beautiful!
I have wondered what I can do with the petals but as they are the browning ones nothing is springing to mind. Here is todays batch.
I have however made an attempt with one of fresher petals. I have sealed it up into a pendant. Here it is:
Not sure if it will work but it's worth a shot!
Any eagle eyed people amongst you may notice that in the top picture there are now only 14 roses! This is because I selected my favorite yesterday and hung it upside down in the airing cupboard. I'm going to wait for it to dry (shame as it won't be as pretty) and then I intend to try to encapsulate it in resin. Anyone have any idea how to do this?
I shall keep you informed of my progress, but in the meantime any hints or tips re the resin would be greatly received.
Well, what can I say! It was our 15th Wedding Anniversary yesterday and Mr CL totally surprised me!
Although he does have a romantic bone in his body, it does tend to be rather well hidden. So I was totally bowled over yesterday when I received a total surprise! He had warned me that I was expecting a delivery before 9.30 so I did wonder if it would be flowers. This in itself is a wonder as he's never sent me flowers before! So you can imagine my delight when not only did a huge bouquet of flowers turn up but that it consisted of 15 (yes 15) Black Magic Roses!
Now there is a significance here as I had Black Magic Roses in my wedding bouquet all of those years ago. I cannot believe he remembered what they were called. Here is the actual bouquet from 1998.
There is also a tale to go with the purchase of my flowers yesterday that I thought I would share. Mr CL went to look for the original florist where the roses were purchased only to discover that it was no longer there. So, into another florist he went. The first hurdle was that the name had slightly changed, they are now called Black Bacarra Roses! Helpful? Not!
So he now knew what they were now called but the florist didn't have any and apparently for some reason Holland would be closed on Thursday! (Who knows why, holiday perhaps, anyone?)
On his way out of the door he was then called back so that the florist could 'make a few calls'. After four of them a friend in Covent Garden apparently had some so a deal was struck.
The flowers arrived (eventually as the delivery man got lost) and I was speechless! Not only had I been sent flowers by my husband but the thought that had gone into them was immense. To find the specific type of red rose, not just any red rose was all I needed to know that he loves me.
And I love you too Mr CL. With all of my heart and soul. ♥♥♥♥
What a fabulous weekend!
Our little family hopped in the car on Saturday morning and headed up to Birmingham to see Walking With Dinosaurs LIVE! at the NIA. (If you haven't seen it there are still a few tour dates left in the UK before it heads off to another country again for a few years, you can find details here http://www.dinosaurlive.com/)
They were ready to go for hours!
Now the Elder one was lucky enough to see this show the last time it was over here a few years ago with Nanny and Grandad. A fact that our dino mad smaller one was extremely jealous about. So when I heard that it was finally back in this country I had to book tickets straight away! Last October!
For those of you that haven't heard about this fabulous show it is the TV series made LIVE! They created dinosaurs costing over $10 million dollars for it and I have to say that they are fantastic! I have always wondered quite what life size meant when it came to dinosaurs as facts and figures are all very well but I haven't a clue how big things actually are! Well now I know!
The trip up to Birmingham was fairly uneventful if a little excitable and went without a hitch despite the sat nav deciding it wasn't actually going to talk to us! This meant that I had to man the instructions while trying to find the hotel. A Premier Inn. Yes, we did end up phoning them and asking for directions and yes we turned around and there it was! HaHa!
So, we arrived at the hotel and after half an hour headed out to find some food before the show. The weather could have been better, it was absolutely throwing it down with rain but we were all far too excited to notice at this point. We had a great dinner at the Gourmet Burger restaurant (Yum) and then it was off to the NIA (National Indoor Arena).
At this point we were half an hour early (before the doors opened) and when we got to the NIA itself confusion set in! I don't know whether you have been there but it is a large hexagonal building with huge doors on all sides. When we finally got out of the carpark and made it up to the arena entrances we didn't have a clue where to wait! Remember that it is still really, really raining! So, we walk ALL the way round this big building reading the signs on all of the doors. Each one seems to be for the various seating blocks. (we were in block 10). Mr CL thinks we need to wait by the door for our block, I'm not convinced so we head off round to find a 'Main entrance' which apparently doesn't exist. So off we go back round again and wait by the Block 10 doors. We wait, and we wait (still raining) and eventually others wander up as confused as we are and in a totally British way start lining up behind us.
So, 6pm approaches and we all eagerly await the doors to open so that we can pile in. At shortly after 6 a door supervisor appears and points us around the building! So yes, we have been waiting for half an hour (in the rain) at the wrong door and our lead is now defunct! So off we all march back round the huge building again to the Box Office doors. (Because that's obviously where you are supposed to go in isn't it, or is it just me that thinks the box office is just for tickets?) But never mind, we finally going in.
Well, after months (years really) of waiting we are finally in our seats. Surprisingly good ones actually, we are only 7 rows from the front! Still over half an hour to go though and for a small boy of 5 this is AN AGE! Luckily we purchased them light up, whizzy torches (oh the joy) at the gift shop so those keep them occupied. And then, it starts!
I shall note here that MR CL is on one end with the small boy next to him, then the elder one, then me. I can't wait to see their faces although the elder one has seen this before and is 11 so tries very hard not to look interested in anything.
So, the explorer is talking and we get a first look at some dinosaurs. To start with it is some tiny baby ones hatching out of eggs and then, one races into the middle of the arena.
Liliensternus
I look over at the small boy to see him avidly watching one of the huge
TV screens that are up on either side of the Arena. I catch his
attention and point to the dinosaur in front of him! Oh! His face! The
wonderment is obvious followed by (in a small voice) "I don't want it to
come over here!".
So, the show continues and we see Plateosaurus, and Stegosaurus.
At around this point I look over at the small boy and see him avidly in conversation with his daddy. Looks to me like he is giving a dinosaur lesson! (The small boy, not Mr CL). He is waving his hands about and telling his daddy some fascinating dinosaur facts by the looks of it! The Brachiosaurus are my favourite so far! There are two, a juvenile and an adult. They are massive!
We see lots more dinosaurs until the intermission when we decide to swap seats so that I get the dino expert next to me for the second half.
We see two Torosaurus fighting, three Utahraptors and a flying Ornithocheirus and then the bit we were all waiting for... Tyrannosaurus Rex!
Now at this point the small boy is a bit scared! I don't blame him as it was very big and very loud! It turns and looks right at him! He burrows into my side and says " I'm not scared! I just can't look at it right now!"
And it's done, and he stands up and shouts! "THAT WAS AMMMMAZING! I will never forget this!"
So the four of us head back to the hotel where two excitable boys eventually fall asleep and we both stay awake due to the noise of a nightclub close by. (And a very uncomfortable bed) But wait, I hear you say, doesn't Premier Inn have a guaranteed good night sleep policy? Well, yes apparently they do but me being me totally chickened out at telling them I barely slept a wink. Doh!
So we are home now and what a short but fabulous weekend we had. And like my small boy I will also NEVER forget seeing those dinosaurs.
If you love dinosaurs or know someone that does please check out the website as there are only a few more tour dates left in the UK and who knows when it will return.
So, that's what I did this weekend. What did you do?
Recently I have made a few creations for a lovely lady that emailed me with an earring challenge just after Christmas. Since then we have spoken quite a lot via email and Blackberry Messenger. I love to keep in touch with customers to see how they are getting on but have been thrilled by the results for Sarah and her family.
The other day she sent me three fabulous pieces of feedback and I would like to share them with you as I am very proud.
"I've wanted beautiful earrings for a while and 'nothing was doing it for me' in many, if not, all jewelers! I thought "this isn't right...I can't find ANYTHING, not even at Tiffany's!"
I started to become attracted to crystals and becoming more and more intrigued by their beauty and healing properties. I stumbled on Anna, The Crystal Lady's website and by looking through her creations I was certain, "this is for me, this is perfect"! I contacted her straightaway. I loved filling out her questionnaire and discussing different styles with her. My earrings are truly beautiful. I get compliments each time I wear them. The whole experience has been wonderful. Anna is such a warm and considerate person. Her creativity shines through in her pieces. The lovely wee pouch and booklet my earrings came with made it all the more personal and special. I know that I would love to have a collection of her creations, most definitely."
"After receiving some beautiful earrings from Anna, I really felt the benefit of wearing them. With this belief and my wish for my hair to grow a bit longer, I bought Anna's gorgeous Unakite hairclip. I've worn it almost everyday for 2 months now, and I've really noticed a difference, not only in length, but in quality and shine too. My hair is much more healthy! My hubby even noticed a difference! I can't thank Anna enough for wearing something that's beautiful but also beneficial too...Result!"
Not only did I hear from Sarah but I heard from her husband David too:
"For Valentine's Day, my wife gave me a personalised crystal keyring from Mystic Earth. It was something really different and unexpected which really appealed to me. I've found it really convenient carrying it around in my pocket. I've also felt a real benefit from the crystals' properties especially whilst at work."
I will be auctioning off some of my handmade jewellery over the next 2 weeks to raise money for Comic Relief!
The first piece to go up for auction on this blog is:
This beautiful 'Happiness' Bracelet is created using Carnelian, Sunstone and Citrine Gemstones and highlighted with Swarovski Crystals.
The bidding will start at £1 and run until Midnight on Friday.
Please leave a comment with your bid on this post and also your email address if you would like me to contact you if you are the new owner. If you would prefer not to leave your email please look out for the announcement on Saturday. OR leave a bid on the FB post for this item as we already have one for £5 for it :) Find the post here
Have you ever clicked on that 'Next Blog' button up left on your blog?
Because this afternoon (whilst I was supposed to be working) I did!
Now at first you think it may be totally random, but then you realise that there is some method to its madness. From what I can tell the 'next blog' has some loose (and in some cases incredibly loose) connection to the previous one. As you progress through blog after blog it is quite astonishing how far 'off the point' you can go! Eventually you just have to go back to your own blog and start again. Now where will this wonderful adventure take me this time, and so it goes on...
Shall we go on one right now? OK then, off we go ...
Next Blog ---
An Etsy seller who loves sparkly things, I can see the connection here. ;)
You can find Olive hue designs here
Next Blog ---
A bead lover from Malaysia, yes I can still see the connection.
Aha! I spoke too soon! We seem to have veered off course somewhat to a blog dedicated to a Danish model!
You can find it here
At this point I ran into a dynamic blog template which for some reason removes the next blog button so am forced back to start again.
This was quite a tame adventure, we will go for another one next time and see where it takes us.
Or you could indeed go on your own, do tell me if you end up somewhere exciting!
Thank you for joining me again. (And yes, I know, where have I been?) Well, what can I say - its been super hectic. I won't promise to be here more often like normal as I know I won't. But I'm here now! YAY
I wanted to share a wonderful photograph with you that I saw on Facebook the other day.
Isn't it fantastic! Now I don't know about you but I often feel like this. Hanging on by my fingernails! This tree is determined not to fall though isn't it.
Things may get tough but just keep on hanging in there as you never know what is going to happen in the future.
"I've wanted beautiful earrings for a while and 'nothing was doing it for me' in many, if not, all jewelers! I thought "this isn't right...I can't find ANYTHING, not even at Tiffany's!" 
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"For Valentine's Day, my wife gave me a personalised crystal keyring from Mystic Earth. It was something really different and unexpected which really appealed to me. I've found it really convenient carrying it around in my pocket. I've also felt a real benefit from the crystals' properties especially whilst at work." 
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