Popped to Ardleigh car boot at the weekend - it opened at 6, we got there at half past ten... so we didn't get anywhere near round it, just did one end, but I came back with some treasures - antique keys, some bangles to customise and some gorgeous seedpod beads on a necklace which I intend to deconstruct :)
Anna and Val loved their pressies too, I shall post pictures of those when I get a moment (this blog is far too wordy, apologies) - Anna's was a decoupaged Autumn-themed bangle, and Val's was an oak leaf and bright blue square shell pendant with matching earrings :)
Also found myself at a little craft fair in Maldon on Saturday morning, fell in love with a whole stall full of bags, scarves, cushions, mirrors and frames, and bought a tutorial to make a mouse :) So my sewing skills will be pressed into service as soon as I find a fat quarter in a colour I like!
Back at work this morning - don't the weekends go quickly? Planning a vintage/fabric/beads spree with Lou on Wednesday in London, watch this space :)
C x
Monday, 28 September 2009
Friday, 18 September 2009
First evening shift on my own...
... I feel like I should be scared, but actually I feel like I know just about enough to cope - and there are plenty of shelvers and a lovely duty manager (Helen) around, plus Marilyn in Answers Direct, so anything I can't manage to answer, they should be able to... yay! This marks my induction as a fully-fledged Enquiry Officer, only it's unofficial, I think I'm meant to be with someone but Naomi has phoned in with swine flu so here I am. Poor girl... and considering I was sitting next to her for most of last night, eeep, I hope I'm not the next to go down with it! She and I are definitely going to start this after work craft club at some point, although I don't think it'll be terribly organised, just a bring-your-crafting-and-gossip-and-eat-cake kind of gathering a couple of times a month :D
I must get more photos into this blog, I'm sure it's not very interesting for you to read when it's just me waffling about work and life. I'm off to Cambridge on Sunday to meet Anna, and possibly Val & Holly as well, so if I can persuade them I shall be sneaking to some craft shops then!
Hoping this evening will be relatively quiet, I'm rather tired, my brain's broken and I'm too full of chocolate muffin to concentrate on very much... lol!
xCx
I must get more photos into this blog, I'm sure it's not very interesting for you to read when it's just me waffling about work and life. I'm off to Cambridge on Sunday to meet Anna, and possibly Val & Holly as well, so if I can persuade them I shall be sneaking to some craft shops then!
Hoping this evening will be relatively quiet, I'm rather tired, my brain's broken and I'm too full of chocolate muffin to concentrate on very much... lol!
xCx
Wednesday, 16 September 2009
a day off in the week
Wednesdays off when I work Saturdays (so every other week) - I still haven't got my head around that, hehe! Today was a good day, I didn't get as much done as I'd hoped and no craft at all, but I did go and get my eyes tested and for the first time since I started wearing glasses at the age of 4, I don't need new ones! One of my eyes is marginally better than it was and one marginally worse, but the overall change is small enough NOT to warrant a new pair. I can't quite explain how much of a milestone this is, but I'm incredibly happy about it :D
Just to top that off, the contact lens consultant has managed to find a combination of lenses that work for me, even though by the book I shouldn't be able to wear daily lenses. Squeee! So now it's a case of pick up the five trial pairs, test them for a week or so, go back and check my eyes aren't rejecting them and then I can have contact lenses again! And wear normal sunglasses! And have the choice between glasses and lenses. Eeeeeee!
Otherwise, I bought two Wispa Golds (yes, I'm stockpiling, they're limited edition), managed to resist everything in Chelmsford apart from what I'd promised Gran I'd buy, and finished a wonderful Katie Fforde book :) Popped into work briefly, Naomi has had a message from the craft gods (goddesses?!) in the form of an email encouraging people to start craft clubs and parties, which is what we've been planninng for a couple of weeks - I think this is a good plan and we should start as soon as possible! Going to have to plan what to bring fairly carefully though, I can't bring all my craft stuff at once! Maybe one of my decoupaged bangles, or a button bracelet... or a selection of beads and I can make more earrings!
Have realised this blog is definitely going to veer away from the craft experiment on occasion, but hopefully no one will mind... I'm not sure I actually have any regular readers so it shouldn't be too much of an issue, lol!
Things I'd like to experiment with: using headpins linked together to make a bracelet; chunky chain and toggle clasps for charm bracelets; soldering (this will involve buying the soldering iron Gran's been on about for ages); knitting flowers; turning Micrawave into a rally car. Ok, the last one's never going to happen, her engine isn't big enough, she's probably too old and I can't afford it... but I saw a rally-ed up Micra on a trailer and it made me smile hugely! I'm going to miss my little car when I have to part with her, it's going to feel like a betrayal :(
On a brighter note, I finished a matching pair of jewellery-related things yesterday, but as they're part of a present, I can't post them on here untiil the recipient has opened them on Sunday :)
Sweetdreams all!
C xxx
Just to top that off, the contact lens consultant has managed to find a combination of lenses that work for me, even though by the book I shouldn't be able to wear daily lenses. Squeee! So now it's a case of pick up the five trial pairs, test them for a week or so, go back and check my eyes aren't rejecting them and then I can have contact lenses again! And wear normal sunglasses! And have the choice between glasses and lenses. Eeeeeee!
Otherwise, I bought two Wispa Golds (yes, I'm stockpiling, they're limited edition), managed to resist everything in Chelmsford apart from what I'd promised Gran I'd buy, and finished a wonderful Katie Fforde book :) Popped into work briefly, Naomi has had a message from the craft gods (goddesses?!) in the form of an email encouraging people to start craft clubs and parties, which is what we've been planninng for a couple of weeks - I think this is a good plan and we should start as soon as possible! Going to have to plan what to bring fairly carefully though, I can't bring all my craft stuff at once! Maybe one of my decoupaged bangles, or a button bracelet... or a selection of beads and I can make more earrings!
Have realised this blog is definitely going to veer away from the craft experiment on occasion, but hopefully no one will mind... I'm not sure I actually have any regular readers so it shouldn't be too much of an issue, lol!
Things I'd like to experiment with: using headpins linked together to make a bracelet; chunky chain and toggle clasps for charm bracelets; soldering (this will involve buying the soldering iron Gran's been on about for ages); knitting flowers; turning Micrawave into a rally car. Ok, the last one's never going to happen, her engine isn't big enough, she's probably too old and I can't afford it... but I saw a rally-ed up Micra on a trailer and it made me smile hugely! I'm going to miss my little car when I have to part with her, it's going to feel like a betrayal :(
On a brighter note, I finished a matching pair of jewellery-related things yesterday, but as they're part of a present, I can't post them on here untiil the recipient has opened them on Sunday :)
Sweetdreams all!
C xxx
Tuesday, 15 September 2009
Looong day
Well actually it was a normal one but it felt like a long one... didn't have a lot of time off the main desk, which is fine becaue it makes the hours pass unbelievably quickly, but is rather exhausting at the same time! We had someone shadowing/observing us today from Customer Experience or some such random department - what possessed them to put me on the main desk when she was there is beyond me as I'm the least experienced, but it seemed to go ok all things considering.
Wore my decoupage bangle to work yesterday and got lots of positive comments, which is nice - could definitely do with making the next one smoother though :lol: Must find a Decopatch stockist near me, Mum and Dad (but especially Mum) were really enthusiastic about it and said they'd like to help, much more so than they were/are with my beading, horses and other hobbies, lol!
Mum's not very well, bless her, she threw up earlier and doesn't want any food and is very quietly curled up on the sofa which is unlike her, wish there was something I could do but she won't even drink water! Dad and I made bangers and mash and put chilli oil in the mash - sounds hideous but was actually delish!
Right, off to experiment with a few bits I'm working on as presents for people - I'm so behind with birthdays this year it's unbelievable and slightly embarrassing :S
xxx
Wore my decoupage bangle to work yesterday and got lots of positive comments, which is nice - could definitely do with making the next one smoother though :lol: Must find a Decopatch stockist near me, Mum and Dad (but especially Mum) were really enthusiastic about it and said they'd like to help, much more so than they were/are with my beading, horses and other hobbies, lol!
Mum's not very well, bless her, she threw up earlier and doesn't want any food and is very quietly curled up on the sofa which is unlike her, wish there was something I could do but she won't even drink water! Dad and I made bangers and mash and put chilli oil in the mash - sounds hideous but was actually delish!
Right, off to experiment with a few bits I'm working on as presents for people - I'm so behind with birthdays this year it's unbelievable and slightly embarrassing :S
xxx
Sunday, 13 September 2009
'galaxy' earrings and button charm bracelet
From street-chic jewellery by Susie Johns .
Had an unexpectedly quiet evening yesterday, Mum was babysitting and Dad was watching something complicated which I couldn't follow, so I got my jewellery kit out and this book, which is full of gorgeous projects. The results?
Button charm bracelet - this was my first attempt at using chain I'd cut myself rather than a ready-made charm bracelet, and I'd been looking for a way to use these gorgeous buttons for ages :)
I'm pleased with how both projects turned out and will definitely be doing some more from this book. First craft experiment - successful!
Had an unexpectedly quiet evening yesterday, Mum was babysitting and Dad was watching something complicated which I couldn't follow, so I got my jewellery kit out and this book, which is full of gorgeous projects. The results?
"Galaxy" earrings - opaque blue and transparent white rocailles with silver flower charms.
And later in the evening:
Button charm bracelet - this was my first attempt at using chain I'd cut myself rather than a ready-made charm bracelet, and I'd been looking for a way to use these gorgeous buttons for ages :)
I'm pleased with how both projects turned out and will definitely be doing some more from this book. First craft experiment - successful!
Saturday, 12 September 2009
new shop discovery!
Ah, Saturday night on an unexpected weekend at home - and unsurprisingly, I'm crafting :) Experimenting with memory wire and some of the beads I bought last weekend with Jen, it's going better than expected apart from one incident with the pliers and the silver plated wire falling out with each other, lol!
Discovered (well, was shown) a fabulous shop today, The Cheap Shop in Tiptree. Despite the name, it's not especially cheap, but it's an absolute treasure trove of creative materials - crafting heaven! Fabric, buttons, beads, jewellery findings and wires, rubber stamps, wool & knitting needles, papercraft, origami, a huge dolls house section and stationery... I could happily have spent several hours in there :) Managed to restrict my spending to some coloured wire which I'm now playing with, some novelty buttons (shaped like postcards!!) to experiment with and some miniature guinea pigs for Oakfield Stables :)
Back to the jewellery making :)
C x
Discovered (well, was shown) a fabulous shop today, The Cheap Shop in Tiptree. Despite the name, it's not especially cheap, but it's an absolute treasure trove of creative materials - crafting heaven! Fabric, buttons, beads, jewellery findings and wires, rubber stamps, wool & knitting needles, papercraft, origami, a huge dolls house section and stationery... I could happily have spent several hours in there :) Managed to restrict my spending to some coloured wire which I'm now playing with, some novelty buttons (shaped like postcards!!) to experiment with and some miniature guinea pigs for Oakfield Stables :)
Back to the jewellery making :)
C x
Friday, 11 September 2009
a pleasantly surprising morning
Surprised at how easy it was to get to work this morning, how un-stressful last night was and how helpful someone in the USA has been :) On my login and email check first thing, I found a response from Monica Lee, whose blog I'd left a comment on yesterday regarding the twirling film. She's sent me lots of links which I can forward to the customer who asked, which is really lovely and entirely unexpected :) I haven't watched them yet but will link to them if they're good :)
Managed to get into town early enough this morning to have breakfast with Torin before I had to be at my desk, which was lovely, although I think all the food we've eaten in the space of 12 hours has cost me about £40, lol! Never mind, when he's made it he can buy me dinner instead :oP
I have my first staff meeting this morning - I'm not sure what happens in one or what we talk about but I'm quite excited, lol! Maybe that will wear off one day... I'm still very much in the eee, new job! stage :) Talking of which, if I do nothing else tonight, I must finish my form for the EO position and submit it, it's not due till Sunday but I don't want it hanging over me all weekend.
No crafting opportunities have yet presented themselves this week, I'm feeling some planning coming on as I have next Wednesday off work but need to be in town for my eye test at lunchtime... this is seeming like a perfect opportunity to trawl the charity shops I don't usually get time to go into and see what I can find. And/or come home after the test and use some of the fabulous stuff I've been stashing at home. Either way, I'm rather looking forward to it!
Suppose I'd best go and serve some customers now :)
C x
Managed to get into town early enough this morning to have breakfast with Torin before I had to be at my desk, which was lovely, although I think all the food we've eaten in the space of 12 hours has cost me about £40, lol! Never mind, when he's made it he can buy me dinner instead :oP
I have my first staff meeting this morning - I'm not sure what happens in one or what we talk about but I'm quite excited, lol! Maybe that will wear off one day... I'm still very much in the eee, new job! stage :) Talking of which, if I do nothing else tonight, I must finish my form for the EO position and submit it, it's not due till Sunday but I don't want it hanging over me all weekend.
No crafting opportunities have yet presented themselves this week, I'm feeling some planning coming on as I have next Wednesday off work but need to be in town for my eye test at lunchtime... this is seeming like a perfect opportunity to trawl the charity shops I don't usually get time to go into and see what I can find. And/or come home after the test and use some of the fabulous stuff I've been stashing at home. Either way, I'm rather looking forward to it!
Suppose I'd best go and serve some customers now :)
C x
Thursday, 10 September 2009
Enquiry of the day
Has to be a lady asking about a majorette film, possibly called "Twirler". Eventually found it, it's called Twirl and was made for TV, released on VHS in 1981. Amazon link here: http://www.amazon.com/Twirl-VHS-Erin-Moran/dp/6300166147/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=video&qid=1252593465&sr=8-1 Isn't it gorgeously 80s?!
Wednesday, 9 September 2009
The Craft Experiment List
The List: an ever-growing and changing list of all the books with projects I'd like to try, in no particular order. Suggestions of both projects and books welcome!
JEWELLERY:
Street-chic jewellery - Susie Johns
Fashion beads - Sara Withers
Two hour beaded projects
The button craft book - Dawn Cusick
Precious metal clay - Xuella Arnold
Beading design with semi precious stones - Kim Gover
I love beading - Juju Vail
Beautiful beaded jewellery - Stephanie Bourgeois
Contemporary Jewellery Making Techniques - Vannetta Seechanan
Elegant knotted jewellery - Becky Meverden
Mixed media collage jewellery - Janette Schuster
PAPERCRAFT:
Paper details - Claire Richardson
New Papercrafts
Get creative with paper
Papercrafting with elegance - Anna Griffin
DOLLS HOUSES AND MINIATURES:
Hats in miniature - Lyn Waring
Miniature worlds in 1/12th scale (or Breyer Classic scale)
The art of the miniature - small worlds and how to make them - Jane Freeman
BAGS AND ACCESSORIES:
Making Leather Handbags
Crafting Handmade Shoes - Sharon Raymond
Freestyle handmade bags and skirts
Make your own handbags - Celine Dupuy and Dominique Turbe
Handmade bags: How to design, create and embellish beautiful bags - Terence Terry
GENERAL CRAFTY GOODNESS:
Green crafts for children - Emma Hardy
Fairy crafts - Heidi Boyd
60 super simple friendship crafts
Ready Made
Quick crafts
Scrap craft project book
Homemade - Elspeth Thompson & Rose Badger
Craftivity: 40 Projects for the Maverick Crafter
Strands - Jacqueline Myers-Cho
Alternacrafts: 20+ hi-style lo-budget projects to make
Make - Cath Kidston
Beautiful homemade presents - Juliet Bawden
Home-made vintage - Christina Strutt
Thrifty ways for modern days
Vintage crafts - Christina Strutt
The handmade basket book - Rebecca Board
New treasury of handmade gifts
Retro mania! - Judi Watanbe
Bohemian Style - Elizabeth Wilhide
Just Junk: New looks for old furniture - Linda Barker
CARDS:
Handcrafted cards: from elegant to whimsical - Paige Gilchrist
KNITTING/SEWING:
Not your mama's knitting
Bend-the-rules sewing - Amy Karol
BAKING:
Crabtree Bakery Cupcake Cookbook - Jennifer Graham
Fabulous cookies - Hilaire Walden
HANDMADE BOOKS/ALBUMS:
Creating handmade books - Alisa Golden
UPCYCLING/JUNK:
Doing up old junk - Joanna Jones
Funky junk - Stewart Walton
Garden decoration from junk - Leeann Mackenzie
New style for old junk - Julie Collins
Restyling junk using decoupage - Jane Gordon-Smith
The ultimate book of doing up old junk
Shabby chic interiors - Rachel Ashwell
JEWELLERY:
Street-chic jewellery - Susie Johns
Fashion beads - Sara Withers
Two hour beaded projects
The button craft book - Dawn Cusick
Precious metal clay - Xuella Arnold
Beading design with semi precious stones - Kim Gover
I love beading - Juju Vail
Beautiful beaded jewellery - Stephanie Bourgeois
Contemporary Jewellery Making Techniques - Vannetta Seechanan
Elegant knotted jewellery - Becky Meverden
Mixed media collage jewellery - Janette Schuster
PAPERCRAFT:
Paper details - Claire Richardson
New Papercrafts
Get creative with paper
Papercrafting with elegance - Anna Griffin
DOLLS HOUSES AND MINIATURES:
Hats in miniature - Lyn Waring
Miniature worlds in 1/12th scale (or Breyer Classic scale)
The art of the miniature - small worlds and how to make them - Jane Freeman
BAGS AND ACCESSORIES:
Making Leather Handbags
Crafting Handmade Shoes - Sharon Raymond
Freestyle handmade bags and skirts
Make your own handbags - Celine Dupuy and Dominique Turbe
Handmade bags: How to design, create and embellish beautiful bags - Terence Terry
GENERAL CRAFTY GOODNESS:
Green crafts for children - Emma Hardy
Fairy crafts - Heidi Boyd
60 super simple friendship crafts
Ready Made
Quick crafts
Scrap craft project book
Homemade - Elspeth Thompson & Rose Badger
Craftivity: 40 Projects for the Maverick Crafter
Strands - Jacqueline Myers-Cho
Alternacrafts: 20+ hi-style lo-budget projects to make
Make - Cath Kidston
Beautiful homemade presents - Juliet Bawden
Home-made vintage - Christina Strutt
Thrifty ways for modern days
Vintage crafts - Christina Strutt
The handmade basket book - Rebecca Board
New treasury of handmade gifts
Retro mania! - Judi Watanbe
Bohemian Style - Elizabeth Wilhide
Just Junk: New looks for old furniture - Linda Barker
CARDS:
Handcrafted cards: from elegant to whimsical - Paige Gilchrist
KNITTING/SEWING:
Not your mama's knitting
Bend-the-rules sewing - Amy Karol
BAKING:
Crabtree Bakery Cupcake Cookbook - Jennifer Graham
Fabulous cookies - Hilaire Walden
HANDMADE BOOKS/ALBUMS:
Creating handmade books - Alisa Golden
UPCYCLING/JUNK:
Doing up old junk - Joanna Jones
Funky junk - Stewart Walton
Garden decoration from junk - Leeann Mackenzie
New style for old junk - Julie Collins
Restyling junk using decoupage - Jane Gordon-Smith
The ultimate book of doing up old junk
Shabby chic interiors - Rachel Ashwell
My crafting experiment :)
I've always loved making things and since I started working at the library, I've been surrounded by a steady stream of inspiration - books, articles, like-minded colleagues who also like making things. We're planning to start a craft group (with cakes!) after work, and I'd also like to follow up some of the fantastic projects I've seen in the books we hold here.
So, this is my craft experiment - to make a list of books, magazines and blogs I like the look & contents of, and then to create at least one thing from each. This is an ongoing project as life keeps getting in the way of my inspiration and time to create :)
A warning... I'm incapable of sticking to one subject, so although I'm concentrating on jewellery making, the crafts featured will be varied, and there will also be some entirely unrelated posts every now and then :)
Happy reading!
Carla x
So, this is my craft experiment - to make a list of books, magazines and blogs I like the look & contents of, and then to create at least one thing from each. This is an ongoing project as life keeps getting in the way of my inspiration and time to create :)
A warning... I'm incapable of sticking to one subject, so although I'm concentrating on jewellery making, the crafts featured will be varied, and there will also be some entirely unrelated posts every now and then :)
Happy reading!
Carla x
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)