Want a bargain?

When I was running an online shop I bought buckets full of Swarovski rivolis, baguettes, square crystals, navettes, etc., now, most of this I can use in designs - but the baguettes are awful to try and bead around, and the crystal AB rivolis are ridiculously overstocked. I’ve put both items on Etsy at a (very) knock down price, so if you can use ‘em now’s the time to grab ‘em! They certainly won’t be there forever!

The link is under ‘Etsy site’ in my blogroll on the left……………..

18mm rivoli baguette

I apologise for neglecting you!

As most of you know, I am home with a new knee. The euphoria of getting out of hospital in three days has worn off now, and most of my energy is going into staying positive. Without getting too boring, I have the pain of the operation, the pain of the added pressure on my already knackered shoulders by using crutches, and now the back has come out in sympathy. I am not feeling a very bouncy bunny.

On a lighter note, I’m working hard on the instructions for ‘Sonya’ - I’ll let you know why if I get ‘em done before the end of the month!

The next necklace will be called ‘Circe’ - I can’t remember why at the moment, but she’s down on paper, I have to see if the bits go together now!

That will do for now - it’s surprising how heavy a laptop can be when it’s pressing down on a bad leg. Next blog more positive - I promise!

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A joke………………..sort of.

My little sister sent me this - I take no credit, or blame!

Chicken Surprise

A couple go for a meal at a Chinese restaurant and order the ‘Chicken Surprise’,
The waiter brings the meal, served in a lidded cast iron pot.

Just as the wife is about to serve herself, the lid of the pot rises slightly and she briefly sees two beady little eyes looking around before the lid slams back down.

‘Good grief, did you see that?’ she asks her husband. He hasn’t, so she asks him to look in the pot. He reaches for it and again the lid rises, and he sees two little eyes looking around before it slams down..

Rather perturbed, he calls the waiter over, explains what is happening, and demands an explanation.

‘Please sir,’ says the waiter, ‘what you order?’
The husband replies, ‘Chicken Surprise.’

(You’re going to love this………………..
You’re going to hate yourself for loving this!…………. )

                                

‘Ah! sorry,’ says the waiter, ‘I brought you Peeking Duck!’

Artemis

This is Artemis - the goddess associated with the Dryads of the forest. Made as an anniversary present for Nina, after 19 years she deserves a gift!

The cabochon is a 4cm x 3cm Kambaba Jasper, and the shiney bits are Swarovski jet navettes. All hung on a St Petersburg weave necklace using Miyuki delicas and Toho seed beads.

I will not be making anything spectacular for a while, I have a project ongoing which will take most of my time, but I was e mailed a  very interesting design from my sister……………………who’s a better artist than me! That’s going to be the next piece!

Artemis

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Controversial……………moi?

I’m not going to say anything about last night’s ‘Pop Star to Opera Star’ vote. Except that to get rid of Marcella Detroit - one of the most emotion instilling coloratura sopranos ever to hit a recording studio - in favour of ‘Hit Me Baby One More Time’ Darius Dinesh/Campbell begs one question…………………do we have a new strain of flu that makes anyone voting by telephone tone deaf?

The ironic thing is that now Marcella’s been voted off I can watch the new series of The Mentalist next Friday at the same time as Bernie Nolan is wiping the floor with pretty boy.

See? I said I wasn’t going to mention it.

New design - Artemis - is nearing completion. I got talked into making it a ‘work in progress’ on my Facebook page, so it won’t be too much of a surprise when she’s finished!

New knee a week on Monday. It should be better than the left one was, there’s more to work with for a start!

Here’s some camels in Saudi Arabia…………………….

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Facebook update

I now have a ‘fan’ page on facebook……………………how conceited is that? Anyhoo, it  seems to work better that a group, so…………please feel free to fan me and boost my already inflated ego to heights hitherto unheard of! I’ll put the link in my ‘blogroll’ on the left of the page. ‘Blogroll’………………….????………………has it struck anyone else that we are accepting words into the English language that we would have told our children off for saying a few years ago? Just a thought.

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It may be a while………………..

………………….before I get back to any serious beadwork. This stupid body has other ideas, and I also have to get as much done as possible in the remaining room of the house still under piles of building materials. New knee confirmed as February 22nd, then I have to a. get the left shoulder chopped and fixed, and b. try and tell my favourite GP that the left hip’s on it’s way out - after his last words to me were ‘how many spare parts do you think the NHS has?’. I might save that one for a bit. As always, if anything exciting gets made I’ll put it here first!

Here’s a photo of me looking like Leonard Cohen…………………..

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Thank you, and Happy New Year!

I want to thank you all for reading this rubbish over the past year, and a huge thank you to the blog writers who have listed me in their favourites - I will get around to reciprocating the favour as soon as I can guys!

Lets see what 2010 brings shall we………………..? I’m quite looking forward to it! Here’s the graph for last years blog visits -

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I haven’t deserted you………………

I am still around! I’ve had a lot of stuff to do about the house lately - the joys of having a Victorian house which has no sympathy for the fact that I’m getting my knee done in February, and still needs wiring, plumbing, and plasterboarding. None of which I am capable of doing for any length of time.

With the expert aid of Codeine, wheatbags, and frequent Lavender baths I might get the front room liveable by next Christmas - which is why this one has been cancelled. This could be the long awaited ‘white christmas’ as well - typical!

Happy Christmas…………………………..or if you don’t celebrate it - Bah Humbug!

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Ophelia

You wouldn’t think something so simple could draw so much blood, or cause as many beads to break, but still………………..

It was such a tight weave, and I was playing ‘how many times can I get a needle through this little glass bead’, that something had to give - anyway, she’s finished, and this one is Nina’s!

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Katya

Here she is at last……………………..the first design since my shoulder went silly! I thought I might just go over the top and make something totally unwearable - suppose it depends where you shop really. ‘Ophelia’ is going to be much simpler!

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……………..and they’re off!

Well, it was actually supposed to be one, but I started making a beautiful spiral necklace for ‘Ophelia’ which didn’t quite go with all the pointy sparkly stuff I already had planned, therefore the beautiful half made necklace will be the base of ‘Ophelia’ and the sparkly pointy bits will be ‘Katya’. Which means I’ve gone from being completely unable to bead anything to making two designs at the same time………………hence the title of this post.

I have also discovered beading is not like riding a bike - the first two rivolis had to be pulled apart, as did the triangle, because they looked as if I’d never picked up a needle before! So, after using fingers as pin cushions, breaking beads, and shredding Fireline, I’m back to normal - oh, wait, that is normal.  Katya is definitely looking good though, I’ll let you know when she’s finished!

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Tentative steps…………………

I have started a spiral using 15s and 3mm fire polish. If I can manage that I am considering telling myself that I’m all better. I am aiming to be back on Etsy with some new stuff in the New Year, however, if I keep recovering at this rate it may be more like in the new month! As we are 35 minutes away from ‘the long dark teatime of the soul’ - 4pm on a Sunday, it’s a Douglas Adams thing - I shall see if I can force myself to do some work! No more literary masterpieces for a while - Jabberwocky is lined up for the next one - so I’ll find a funny……………………..

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The Raven - with no excuses for putting it here!

The Raven
By Edgar Allan Poe

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
“‘Tis some visitor,” I muttered, “tapping at my chamber door-
Only this, and nothing more.”

Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December,
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Eagerly I wished the morrow;- vainly I had sought to borrow
From my books surcease of sorrow- sorrow for the lost Lenore-
For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore-
Nameless here for evermore.

And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me- filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating,
“‘Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door-
Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door;-
This it is, and nothing more.”

Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
“Sir,” said I, “or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;
But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,
And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,
That I scarce was sure I heard you”- here I opened wide the door;-
Darkness there, and nothing more.

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortals ever dared to dream before;
But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token,
And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, “Lenore!”
This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, “Lenore!”-
Merely this, and nothing more.

Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,
Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.
“Surely,” said I, “surely that is something at my window lattice:
Let me see, then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore-
Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore;-
‘Tis the wind and nothing more.”

Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore;
Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed
he;But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door-
Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door-
Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore.
“Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,” I said, “art sure no craven,
Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from the Nightly shore-
Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night’s Plutonian shore!”
Quoth the Raven, “Nevermore.”

Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,
Though its answer little meaning- little relevancy bore;
For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being
Ever yet was blest with seeing bird above his chamber door-
Bird or beast upon the sculptured bust above his chamber door,
With such name as “Nevermore.”

But the raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only
That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.
Nothing further then he uttered- not a feather then he fluttered-
Till I scarcely more than muttered, “other friends have flown before-
On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before.”
Then the bird said, “Nevermore.”

Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,
“Doubtless,” said I, “what it utters is its only stock and store,
Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful Disaster
Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore-
Till the dirges of his Hope that melancholy burden bore
Of ‘Never- nevermore’.”

But the Raven still beguiling all my fancy into smiling,
Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird, and bust and
door;
Then upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking
Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore-
What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt and ominous bird of yore
Meant in croaking “Nevermore.”

This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing
To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom’s core;
This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining
On the cushion’s velvet lining that the lamplight gloated o’er,
But whose velvet violet lining with the lamplight gloating o’er,
She shall press, ah, nevermore!

Then methought the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer
Swung by Seraphim whose footfalls tinkled on the tufted floor.
“Wretch,” I cried, “thy God hath lent thee- by these angels he hath sent thee
Respite- respite and nepenthe, from thy memories of Lenore!
Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore!”
Quoth the Raven, “Nevermore.”

“Prophet!” said I, “thing of evil!- prophet still, if bird or devil!-
Whether Tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,
Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted-
On this home by horror haunted- tell me truly, I implore-
Is there- is there balm in Gilead?- tell me- tell me, I implore!”
Quoth the Raven, “Nevermore.”

“Prophet!” said I, “thing of evil- prophet still, if bird or devil!
By that Heaven that bends above us- by that God we both adore-
Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn,
It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name Lenore-
Clasp a rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore.”
Quoth the Raven, “Nevermore.”

“Be that word our sign in parting, bird or fiend,” I shrieked, upstarting-
“Get thee back into the tempest and the Night’s Plutonian shore!
Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!
Leave my loneliness unbroken!- quit the bust above my door!
Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!”
Quoth the Raven, “Nevermore.”

And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon’s that is dreaming,
And the lamplight o’er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted- nevermore!


www.poemuseum.org


Beadwork magazine

This mag is the best on the market for seedbeaders, and has some serious eye candy in it - as well as a lot of US adverts, but, like Playboy, it’s the bits in between that are good! Anyhoo, if you remember, I sent three designs in on the offchance that I might get noticed, well………………….. ‘Sonya’ will be in the Oct/Nov 2010 issue! I am more than happy about being accepted, even though I said I wasn’t bothered about being published - this may be a change of direction! Bad news……….? I have had to buy another copy of Microsoft Office to put all the instructions onto Word files - I deleted the original shortly after I bought this laptop in a fit of anti Microsoft pique. That’ll teach me.

Here’s this year’s figures for hits on this blog - thanks for looking!

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F1 season is over.

Now how will I get two hours of nothing to do every fortnight? Glad Brawn triumphed - did I say I told you so? However, tip for next season…………………?………………Alonso in the 2010 Ferrari. I have to be wrong sometime, but if I’m right you’ll never hear the last of it!

Now……………..have I got a Ferrari piccy……….? Nope, thought I had.

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Aha!!!  found one!

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Nothing against my left leg……………….

There’s a Peter Cook &  Dudley Moore sketch where Dud’s only got one leg, and Pete says ‘ I’ve got nothing against your left leg……………….trouble is, neither have you’. Which brings me to getting a phone call from my knee surgeon’s secretary yesterday making me an appointment with him on the 18th of November. We sort of agreed last time I saw him that getting a knee replacement would be a bit silly if I couldn’t hold the crutches - shoulder thing - so this will be a sort of date naming appointment now I have a set recovery period, about 3 months. I would have thought with my experience of being poked about within, and the wonders of Google, I would be able to do my own surgery soon - I’ll let you know when I get a date.

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Blackwork

Well, I finally finished the penguin I had started for Lesley’s christmas present…………………..last year. It took not being able to bead to get the blackwork stuff out again, and I’m quite glad I did! More stuff on the frame!

Shoulder healing very nicely, had a bath this morning and put a new dressing on, so as long as this keeps up I’m happy. Sketched and laid out the next necklace - sparkliest to date! I’m not starting until I’m up to it though, for once I’m going to do what the physiotherapist tells me instead of doing it my own way………………..which usually hurt more..

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On a totally unrelated subject………………part 2

Told you. See the entry for 1st May 2009………………………..I wish I had money on it!

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Choppy time again!

Got a date for the shoulder op - 22nd of this month………………..two weeks tomorrow. Nina’s trying to get me to do all the things I said I would do while I can still work both arms, I keep trying to explain that I wouldn’t be going in if it didn’t already hurt, the cats don’t really care as long as I leave instructions as to the rotation of assorted pouch flavours - beef?……twice in one week?…………are you mad?

I shall concentrate on finishing the blackwork penguin I started with the intention of it being my sister’s christmas present………….last year.

Looking at that last paragraph I may have a look at my Oxford book of English grammar when I get a moment.

Oh, and I beaded a ring - nothing fancy, but it’s a start…………..

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……………..if you can’t say anything good………part deux……

I’ve been a bit physically crap lately, which isn’t conducive to being a happy bunny, so I haven’t posted - that’s the only reason, ’nuff said. Back soon with more fun & frolics………………………!!

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Unaccustomed as I am……………………

………………………to bemoaning my lot, I am going to bleat on about this shoulder again - briefly. Although there may be ‘a bit floating about in it’ I discovered yesterday that I appear to have galloping arthritis in it - ‘Acromioclavicular O.A.’ to give it it’s Sunday name. Sooooo……………..surgery to chop and scrape it a bit, and a lot of weeks getting better - so the beading really is going to suffer, which is the point of making this public. Ce la vie………………….which translated is ‘bugger’.

NUUK - THE CAPITAL OF GREENLAND…………………….COOL EH?

Nuuk - capital of Greenland

Veronica!

At last I finished something! ‘Veronica’ is theoretically a component recycling project, made up of things I couldn’t make work at the time - I think she works now though.

So here’s Veronica, very purple, and very nightime-y……………………..

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A Peter by any other name…………………

Google ‘Beadsage’ and you will get Peter Sewell and Peter Farrington……………………….both me. For those who missed last year’s exciting instalment I changed my name by deed poll, and informed everyone, except, it seems, the domain registration people Nominet. Which is why I’m still showing as my old name, and people are getting confused! This has been rectified today - I shall henceforth be Peter Sewell - Beadsage……………………………probably.

On a lighter note, I’ve taken the leap of faith and submitted three of my designs to ‘Beadwork’ magazine for publication. Now I realise I am leaving myself open to comment if they don’t accept any of them, but I thought you may like to know - I always said I wouldn’t go down the ‘magazine’ route to fame, and I don’t think fame is the reason for doing this, it’s probably more of a ‘joining in’ game with my American contemporaries who dazzle us all with their own designs in print! I’ll keep you posted.

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Snake - DH Lawrence

I publish this poem at different times in different places just to keep it alive - it is far and away the most moving poem I have ever read, and vies with Poe’s ‘Raven’ for my favourite piece of writing! Enjoy.

Snake

A snake came to my water-trough
On a hot, hot day, and I in pyjamas for the heat,
To drink there. In the deep, strange-scented shade of the great dark carob-tree
I came down the steps with my pitcher
And must wait, must stand and wait, for there he was at the trough before
me.

He reached down from a fissure in the earth-wall in the gloom
And trailed his yellow-brown slackness soft-bellied down, over the edge of
the stone trough
And rested his throat upon the stone bottom,
And where the water had dripped from the tap, in a small clearness,
He sipped with his straight mouth,
Softly drank through his straight gums, into his slack long body,
Silently.

Someone was before me at my water-trough,
And I, like a second comer, waiting.

He lifted his head from his drinking, as cattle do,
And looked at me vaguely, as drinking cattle do,
And flickered his two-forked tongue from his lips, and mused a moment,
And stooped and drank a little more,
Being earth-brown, earth-golden from the burning bowels of the earth
On the day of Sicilian July, with Etna smoking.
The voice of my education said to me
He must be killed,
For in Sicily the black, black snakes are innocent, the gold are venomous.

And voices in me said, If you were a man
You would take a stick and break him now, and finish him off.

But must I confess how I liked him,
How glad I was he had come like a guest in quiet, to drink at my water-trough
And depart peaceful, pacified, and thankless,
Into the burning bowels of this earth?

Was it cowardice, that I dared not kill him? Was it perversity, that I longed to talk to him? Was it humility, to feel so honoured?
I felt so honoured.

And yet those voices:
If you were not afraid, you would kill him!

And truly I was afraid, I was most afraid, But even so, honoured still more
That he should seek my hospitality
From out the dark door of the secret earth.

He drank enough
And lifted his head, dreamily, as one who has drunken,
And flickered his tongue like a forked night on the air, so black,
Seeming to lick his lips,
And looked around like a god, unseeing, into the air,
And slowly turned his head,
And slowly, very slowly, as if thrice adream,
Proceeded to draw his slow length curving round
And climb again the broken bank of my wall-face.

And as he put his head into that dreadful hole,
And as he slowly drew up, snake-easing his shoulders, and entered farther,
A sort of horror, a sort of protest against his withdrawing into that horrid black hole,
Deliberately going into the blackness, and slowly drawing himself after,
Overcame me now his back was turned.

I looked round, I put down my pitcher,
I picked up a clumsy log
And threw it at the water-trough with a clatter.

I think it did not hit him,
But suddenly that part of him that was left behind convulsed in undignified haste.
Writhed like lightning, and was gone
Into the black hole, the earth-lipped fissure in the wall-front,
At which, in the intense still noon, I stared with fascination.

And immediately I regretted it.
I thought how paltry, how vulgar, what a mean act!
I despised myself and the voices of my accursed human education.

And I thought of the albatross
And I wished he would come back, my snake.

For he seemed to me again like a king,
Like a king in exile, uncrowned in the underworld,
Now due to be crowned again.

And so, I missed my chance with one of the lords
Of life.
And I have something to expiate:
A pettiness.

Taormina, 1923

…………….how do I put this………..?

I’m off sick. Between now and early next year I should be having a shoulder operation and a knew knee - yes I meant to do that! My beading is renowned for being tensioned to within an inch of it’s life, and with this stupid shoulder I can’t even get a decent grip on the thread let alone tension it, so I have to lay off the extreme beading for a bit.

So, the point of this is to say that although you may not see much new stuff for a while, it doesn’t mean I’ve stopped beading! It just means I have to draw my ideas instead of making them…………………for now.

I shall try to keep you updated without descending into the depths of hospital anecdotes and constant pain updates, I might even get out the Blackwork I’ve been keeping from you all!…………………..didn’t know I did Blackwork did you?

Now, where’s me funny piccy……….?

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Let’s hear it for craftsmen!

I got my new chessboard………………………sycamore and holly board from Chris Fox of works-in-wood.co.uk, and pyrography art decoration from my mate Si of woodtattoos.com. What a team! I needed a large board with 50mm squares to accommodate my oriental rat set, and had almost given up on getting one, it was only a chance remark to Si - and his willingness to accept a challenge - that got it made! Si put 30 hours of work into the pyrography, and it’s also going to be featured in the last chapter of his imminent book, so fame beckons!

As a small contribution towards the amount of work he put in, his wife Jane now owns ‘Elinore’ - that’s as it should be.

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If you can’t say anything good……………..

………………..say nothing at all.

Which is why I shall remain quiet about LloydsTsb, The Beadworker’s Guild, blondes who think I’m mentally subnormal because I’m doing 30 in a 30 limit  past the school which probably has their kids inside, the Inland Revenue telephone line which lets you press numbers for five minutes and then cuts you off because everyone’s having tea, morons who think anyone under the age of 70 uses a walking stick as a fashion accessory, and the bloody BNP.

So I won’t mention them.

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Factoid time

A light year is 5,865,696,000,000 miles………………….roughly, the nearest star to us not including Sol - Proxima Centauri - is about 4 light years from us……………….23,462,784,000,000 miles. The edge of the known universe is 15 billion light years away. Think of the air miles.

http://www.physlink.com/Education/askExperts/ae502.cfm

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Glasgow workshops cancelled

Due to the bone from hell floating about in my right shoulder, and the elbow from hell getting worse, I am not going to be able to make the Bead Company workshops on 25th/26th July. I’ve talked to Mike, and hopefully we may get something sorted nearer the end of the year, depending on when my impending shoulder op will be. There’s a possibility I’ll be getting a new right knee to match the left one this year as well, so things are going to be a bit up in the air. I’ll keep you posted.

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Tapuz

I am getting a lot of hits to my gallery and blog from Tapuz.co.il - as I am unable to read Hebrew, and Alta Vista Babelfish hasn’t caught up with middle eastern languages, I would like to say a huge thank you to members of that forum who have come to look at my work! I have no idea who mentioned me, or why, but somebody in Israel seems to like me! Thanks again!

Ossett meet up on Saturday

Just a reminder because it feels like an age since we were there! The theme is beading around a Swarovski Navette…………….I’ll go and see if I can remember how it’s done now.

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My Lovely Beads Newsletter

The amazingly talented Zoya Gutina also produces an online newsletter - in English & Russian - and has featured me in the May edition. http://www.mylovelybeads.com/php/newsletter/en/200905.html

Scroll down to  Natalia Ivanova’s beaded flowers as well - lovely stuff!

Selene

This is a bit different for me - no flashy crystal rivolis to be beaded around, although I didn’t totally forsake Swarovski! Maybe I’ll be reincarnated as a Magpie………………………I remember when I was a kid the neighbour’s son kept a couple of Magpies in a huge outdoor aviary, and at least one of them could talk. He also had a Crow that went everywhere on his shoulder…………………I knew some weird people when I was young! Anyway, here’s Selene………………..

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Copyright

I’ve put a link in my ‘blogroll’ to the UK Copyright ‘Design & Design Rights’ page. Copyright infringement is such a grey area that nobody really understands whether the piece they have made is original or someone else’s! I teach beadweaving, and, although I try to be original, I am teaching weaves and stitches which have been either published on the net or I have found them and forgotten where they came from. In theory anyone using anything I have taught them should ask my permission first - in practice it would be nice if they acknowledged the fact that I taught them the stitch! I always try to contact the originator of any technique I use, if I can’t then I give them a mention in my instructions. I have started using a new technique for making ‘bails’ for my pendants - the first one is on ‘Zara’ - which a few people have called ‘hearts’ - I like the idea of using hearts for bails, but it will cost me £37 to register it as my work. This brings me back to the link in my ‘blogroll’, I am covered under ‘design rights’, I think, probably, you tell me.

On a lighter note……………………….

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Zara

Here she is……………………….a little different, but she’s one of my favourites!

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Numpty alert.

I am sorry, but I’ve had to close the ‘comments’ bit again. China seems to have more English speaking idiots than we have ourselves if the amount of chinese spam I keep getting is any indication! It used to be comical seeing the ‘Engrish’ names they had invented for themselves - presumably in the vain hope of confusing a passing amoeba with the complexity of the deception - now it’s just irritating. So, if you need to get in touch with me, or feel the need to tell me how you managed to break a rib falling off the table while reading this and laughing, then e mail me - the addy is in a few previous posts (that’ll confuse the buggers!).

Pictures of ‘Zara’ will be uploaded tomorrow hopefully - if my necklace stands find their way home - meanwhile, another funny……………….

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Ossett beadweaving has evolved!

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Ossett workshop

Don’t forget it’s this Saturday! We’ll have a go at Lara, which incidentally, is also the stitch for Larissa……….only lots more silver & sparkles! We’re also planning to have a ‘democratic’ discussion for you to decide what you want to do next! That should be fun!! See you on Saturday………………..here’s ‘Larissa’………….

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On a totally unrelated subject…………………

I have been a Ferrari supporter since I was a kid, and a Schumacher supporter since he was driving for Benetton, but…………………………….here’s your next winner……………..

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Olga & Sophie!

The russian leaves are ‘Olga’………………….obviously……………….and the squary shaped ones are ‘Sophie’……………..not obviously!

Very sparkly and blingy, mainly because they’re made with sterling silver and fire polished beads…………………….

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Kits……………..again…….!

I’ve uploaded the bronze ‘Zoe’ and the sterling silver bracelet ‘Emma’ onto Etsy tonight - http://petersewell.etsy.com - the price is in dollars but paypal converts it all for you, and I’ve tried to get it as near to my UK price as exchange rates allow.

If you need to ask me anything drop me an e mail - beadsage@googlemail.com

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Beadsage new kit range!

OK……………….I’ve decided what I’m doing now - here’s the list……………click on the image to blow it up.

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Update time!

Well, I got home. Glasgow went well - once we mastered the original idea of 2 needle right angle weave, and made a few Russian Leaves! Haddington went well…………………..the ‘Zoe’ had no chance of getting finished on the day, but we managed to get all the components and stitches done, and the ladies combined some lovely colours using the Swaro bicones of their choice rather than mine! Edinburgh went well, mainly due to having my past students attending! This meant they could already do Russian leaves, so we could go straight into the spiral - which sounds easier than it is to start off!

Huge thanks to Mike at Glasgow and Jo at Haddington for looking after me, and thanks to Andy for getting me through Edinburgh on a Monday morning!

Watch this space for the next Scotland workshop!

The next workshop at Ossett is on the 9th May, and we’ll be making the ‘Lara’ bracelet using a Russian ‘rhombus’ weave - it’s like 2 needle RAW with a bit stuck on!

I shall now continue to get some kits made up……………………..I’ve promised a few by the end of April, so it’s a labour of necessity now! Time for another funny……………….

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…………..if it’s Saturday……….

………………it must be Glasgow! Haddington on Sunday, and Edinburgh on Monday. Then home. Then make up the new Beadsage range of kits! I hope to have half a dozen kits put together for early May, and will put them on sale through my Etsy shop - watch this space! I also have a new design which will be shown after Scotland - she’s called Sonja, and she’s sparkly, very sparkly, and moonlighty, and champagney, and pretty! See you after the weekend!

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Ossett workshop

Workshop this Saturday at C & J Armitage as usual! We’re doing ‘Double Diamond’ weave, and a quick foray into Brick Stitch!

9.30 to 12.30 - £15 with all beads.

Next Saturday I’m at The Bead Company in Glasgow teaching the 2 needle RAW  ‘Catherine’ choker, and Sunday and Monday I’m teaching the ‘Zoe’ workshop at The Bead Shop Haddington and Edinburgh.

The next Ossett workshop will be the 9th of May, when we will be making the ‘Lara’ bracelet……………

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LARA

Bead Embroidery….

I have fingers like pincushions, I had to wear surgical gloves to hold the needle, my eyes wish they were in someone else’s head, but, I made an amulet! I should really be getting ready for workshops coming up, but I really wanted to do something different! That’s it out of my system for a while now.

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I’m back on Facebook!

Yep, ok, I know what I said about them, but it’s still nice to find out I can access my pages! Got to go and play now……………………..yay for friendface!

‘Zoe’ workshop at Edinburgh!

The are still places left for the workshops at Haddington on the 19th April, and Edinburgh on the 20th April! Let me know if you want one of these places as soon as possible by e mailing me at beadsage@googlemail.com

This is one of my best designs, and thanks to Nina’s input, the pendant is removable for daywear!

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Mother’s Day

Well………………..she’s no longer with us physically, but she’s certainly still around! Happy Mother’s day Tina!

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