Thursday 8 November 2012

I've made !

I've been so busy with starting my new business Knottingways, I havent  had time to sit and make. But finally yesterday I sat back and decided to finish off a cuff I started awhile back.
I have so missed making, and it felt so good when I had finished. It has certainly made me want to get the c-lon out and make another one !


Pale heather c-lon, hematite and pale purple crystals with pale grey 11 seed beads. Finished with a pretty silver metal button.

Wednesday 19 September 2012

Where did time go ???

Wow!  I cant believe my last post was back in May........ where does time  go?
The answer to that  question has to be .... I've been busy starting up a new business, yes totallytilly has now branched out into www.knottingways.co.uk
Who would have thought that a challenge from a lovely dear friend would change my  life so much .
Working on micro-macramé was a challenge starting up Knottingways has been fun. Looking around Europe for suppliers (virtual looking) .... choosing lots of lovely thing to sell, making up a web site, (now THAT was a challenge !) and the most exciting thing .............. having a tutorial published in Bead Magazine issue 41. 
So many thanks to the lovely Dee Wingrove-Smith ...my beautiful daughter Kate and her work colleague  Filip who designed my wonderful logo to my Beadbuddies, Catherine H , Stephanie M to name two and last but not least Len my hubby.
So if you like working with thread or leather knottingways is there.
  
My beaded cuff in Bead Magazine

My fantastic advert
                                   









Tuesday 8 May 2012

Result Week !

Yes its  finally here.... this week the results  for Jewellery Maker of The Year competition are published.
So many beautiful makes it must have been a difficult decision. I was so happy just to have been picked but to get into the top 5 was awesome !
I also received a lovely  surprise to have my letter as star letter in last months Beads and Beyond magazine. Waiting  on  a goodie bag from Beads Unlimited !!



Purple Passion my entry into the competition..............................

Friday 13 April 2012

What a challenge can do ............

The last couple of months have been amazing....... I received an email  on the 15th February saying my Purple Passion bracelet had been short listed in the Beads and Beyond Jewellery Maker of the Year Competition. I was so surprised as this was the first time I had entered a large competition.
I rushed off to buy the magazine and wooo hoooo there it was in full print my bracelet!
  Voting began and on the 6th April, I found out I was in the top 5 !!! Mad panic then having  to send the bracelet in for the final vote.................now  just waiting.

I needed to expand on what I was making and the 36 strander came to mind............
 Now the challenge  began again..............
I hadn't a clue as to what or how I was going to do it, it just sort of involved, the Czech crystals and size 11 seed beads were added and this is the finished piece.



Having made one I had to make another.........



Then at the end of March off I went to London to the Big Bead Show at Sandown taking my bracelets with me. There a met with the editor of Bead Magazine Chloe, so watch this place for further news ......
So the last two weeks have been spent doing two commissions




This red and cream  one,


and


this black and silver one, both made with Czech crystals and 11seedies .
(thank  goodness the c-lon wont go through 15's) !!!  still reckon 15's are dust pretending to be beads.


I never thought that a challenge  set down by my lovely friend Dee Wingrove- Smith (www.facebook.com/wingsmithsbeadedcreations )  would take my work to this level.
So thank you Dee for making me realise that seed beads  (if only 11's ) are a wonder to work with and combined with the crystals I have started making these  beautiful cuffs.

Monday 30 January 2012

The Start of a New Year...........

The New Year has started slowly for making. Think it must be the cold weather, the thought of going out to The Den to make has not really provided me with inspiration. 
I did make a trip  to Crewe to meet up with Catherine a beadbuddie. Yes and what happened  she took me off to a bead shop.... Beads A Plenty based in Nantwich  http://www.beadsaplenty.co.uk/ . The lovely  Michelle Jackson  runs this little shop and online business. 
And yes of course I had to buy (would of been rude not too! ) Some matt and gloss  black Czech  crystals also two shades of a jade green.


So Black Passion was made..........................




I really enjoyed making this one, totally made up as I went along.




I think I might even send this into a magazine and see if they will publish it.