Hello, hello - hola! I'm at a place called Vertigo...

Just to state, for the record, that this blog post is dedicated to my colleague, the lovely, Niamh Pigott. What a sap. :-)

Anyway, I've been busy making since my last post. I've gone overboard really, making jewellery in the evenings, when I've got other things to be doing, so from now on, I may be a little quieter on the blogging scene. Although, my posts are few and far between, so maybe just expect as many posts as you usually do! I'm a busy woman I'll have ye know.

Since my last post I completed the green/brown necklace that I showed you a preview of. Want to see? Who am I kidding... Of course you do.

Unfortunately laying it down on the kitchen table doesn't really show it off very well, but I've got a (non-existent) style of picture taking, I might as well stick with it!

After finishing off that necklace, I wanted to create something completely different. Lighter colours, and something other than the heavy, full-on statement piece that the necklace was. So, I pulled apart an old earring, as one does, and used it as the center-piece for a wraparound bracelet. Something about this bracelet makes me think of rosary beads, not sure why, but that wasn't my intention. I love these crushed pearly beads that I picked up in Dublin months ago, but I felt I wanted to break up the piece with a splash of something... Orange just took my fancy that day!

I'm having a bit of a lust moment with gold things this summer too. I'm just throwing that out there. It may become apparent as you read on anyway...

I promised my lovely friend Kate that I would make her some jewellery. I promised her this months ago. I had the beads that I knew I wanted to use. I just wasn't sure. I had a bit of a brain block or something I think. But then I just came across a piece, as it turns out, of an earring, that I decided could act as the pendant of a delicately beaded necklace. It is with my deepest regret that I tell you upfront that the true colour of the beads didn't really come up in the picture. They were a really sparkly, pretty green colour, but they appear quite washed out here. Still, you'll get the idea of it I hope. 

The center piece is quite pretty and suits both the vibe I was going for, and the wearer herself. 

After this, I took a few days away from the bead game. It's stressful stuff I'll have you know. Plus it was the weekend, and I had decided to dedicate myself to Harry Potter. I'm the newest of new fans of the series, but I've become so invested in the lives of the characters that I just can't help myself anymore! I'm beyond excited about the final installment, The Deathly Hallows Pt 2 in 3D this weekend... The Ron-Hermione kiss! It's going to be fantastic, I just know it.

I went to Penneys (or Primark as some of you still call it) at the weekend too. Mostly just to buy clothes and bits for work, but how often can anyone go into Penneys and not buy at least one thing they don't really need? I did have an alterior motive when I waltzed in there last Saturday. I knew that the place would be absolutely teeming with big bracelets and necklaces full of lovely shiny charms that I could use for my jewellery making! I restrained myself and only bought two pieces, a charm bracelet with lots of lovely beads and hefalumps on it, and a really gorgeous necklace with an aviary kind of theme to it. I loved the idea of it, but the long dangly necklace thing doesn't really suit me. 

Now I've made a few bits for particular people, so obviously I can't be posting pictures of them just yet, surprise and anticipation are part of what make presents so exciting! But, I can tell you about the other things I've made...

One charm I salvaged from the hefty birdy necklace was a small gold owl. I'm having a bit of an owl moment right now if I'm being honest. I love the look of them, plus, again, Hedwig anyone? She's like the ultimate owl!  But in my books, any will do, so long as I can wear it. So, maybe not Hedwig. Anyway, I'm rambling, and no one wants that happening. I knew I didn't want a delicate, flimsy necklace for my owl, oh no. I wanted something tough and chunky to balance out the pretty gold shine. I received some incredible, angular wooden beads from a friend last Christmas, and I decided it was time to put them to good use. Once I had all the materials in front of me... 

... I had to come up with an idea for how I wanted to lay them out...

... And after that it was pure magic on my part bbz...

I like the angular beads with the diamond pattern of the chest of the owl...

From there I decided to go back to what I know... Bracelets. I used the general layout that I've used several times before, blocking a few colours along the length of the piece, but I included a charm, just for the lols. 

My gold hefalump on the cats-paw oak... Like that'd ever happen in nature. Ha!

I love the yellow beads I used for this bracelet... I'm struggling to remember where I bought them, but I have to try... I definitely need to invest in some more of these! I'm thinking I might hit a nearby town this weekend, in Kerry, to see what pretty bits I can find. And, obviously, I'm hitting Penneys again. 

My last piece that I'm showing you tonight is another necklace. Now, this is a longer piece, that once again I wouldn't go for myself, but I think the colour is rich and warming, and it's nice and sparkly which I love.

Again, it looks a little anemic in this picture, but the diamante bits at the end are a golden-orangy colour, and the beads are a slightly browner version of the same colour... LOVE.

Well, I think that's me sorted for another evening I think. I've sort of spoiled you this time, but as I said, I've been busy! Maybe, if you guys are lucky, I'll fit some more jewellery making into this weekend, and I'll have enough ammo to blog a little again next week. For now though, I must say toodles.

TIL: to write with a broken pencil is pointless...