Periwinkle

Periwinkle

I know what you’re thinking; isn’t this the same pair from last week? Well, not quite. The beads for this pair also came from the pack of glass beads I just purchased. The pack contains several colors of beads and each color has several shapes. The only problem with assorted bead sets is that there’s no consistency. There are several beads each color and shape but not necessarily in the quantities to make a pair (or two) of earrings.

This periwinkle pair hang about an inch and a half from the ear. In addition to the glass beads there is a pearl and all the findings are silver plated. And like the beads in Sunny, you can see a swirl pattern in the coloring of the bead.

 

In case the pairs from the past two weeks have left you a bit bored, not to worry. I have a few things coming up that are quite different including one which is a bit earthy and another that's slightly elegant. So keep your eyes open for the next few posts.

£4.50 including UK shipping, $8.55 including US shipping

Sunny

I've had a lot going on.
 

I’m sorry about not posting anything last week, I was a little under the weather. I should start by saying that I have terrible allergies. I went to an allergist in 2002 and he told me I had the worst allergies of any patient he’d ever seen and this doctor was pretty old. After taking expensive prescription antihistamines for years I settled for over the counter meds.  I took Cetirizine or Zyrtec for the past year or two but this year it stopped working (as antihistamines do from time to time) so now I’m taking Chlorphenamine which is in the same class of antihistamines as Benadryl or Diphenhydramine, they are very effective but they make you very sleepy (and now are being linked to Alzheimer's disease). I also take Flonase every day. Neil tells me I shouldn't take so much medicine and I have told him many times that if I don’t take these meds I get sick. Well now he has seen firsthand what happens when I don’t take my medicine. Two weeks ago I forgot to take them (both the antihistamine and nasal spray) for about four days total. The first time I got sick I was in college, I left the doctor with an antibiotic, steroids, nasal spray, decongestant, inhaler and cough syrup. And at least once a year for the last four years I was in the US I had the same thing happen, I would go to the doctor and they'd give me an antibiotic, steroids (methylprednisolone) and a cough medicine in pill form.  Last week (and even now) I was feeling pretty rotten but I couldn’t really rest, Neil is ill so someone has to take care of things. Last Wednesday I definitely had a fever and woke up twice in the night drenched. I can only stand to do one strenuous activity a day (whether it's yard work, cooking or cleaning) then I'm useless for the rest of the day. I am now at the tail end of this allergy induced bronchitis.

Last Tuesday I had my first driving lesson. Two weeks ago I passed the theory test for my UK driving license. I have a license in Pennsylvania but that isn’t doing me any good here (especially since I need to get it renewed). But I had never driven a stick shift or driven on the wrong side of the street (and car). I didn’t think I was going to do well. To be honest, I was okay driving but starting and stopping are tricky especially starting. I have another lesson tomorrow then hopefully Neil will put me on his insurance and I can drive between lessons.

 

Lastly, the flowers. Fortunately while I wasn’t feeling well it rained for almost a week  straight (or at least it felt like it). So I got to take a break from watering the flowers. But on Saturday I still went out to feed them (which I’m supposed to do every two weeks). My  two favorite roses seem to be at the end of their bloom, but three more are just getting started.

 

This lovely little orange rose is just starting to blossom, and another two bushes are going to open any day now.

 

 

 

 

 I can’t wait to see what color they are.

 

 

 

 

 

 

As you can probably see from the pictures they have aphids which I have tried spraying with homemade natural pesticides and store bought chemicals (which Neil doesn’t like). The homemade one didn’t work at all, the store bought one did seem to work but I can only use it twice a year, and I’m afraid to use it now that I that have seen birds perched on the bushes. I hate bugs but I like birds.

Another bush about to blossom

Finally, for the reason you read this blog. Between being out of ideas and materials and being busy I hadn’t made anything last week. But then I purchased some glass beads. Honestly I knew exactly what I wanted to make I just didn’t have the supplies I needed to make them. So I went online and made a couple of small purchases. One turned out to be a bust, the beads didn’t look anything like the picture but I can’t really complain for the price I paid and they were buy one get one free (You get what you pay for is the lesson I am learning this year). I’m still waiting on the essential piece I need for my idea so I can’t make it yet.

The Last two Peace roses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I did get a large pack of glass beads from my favorite supplier and I am amazed by the range of colors that were in the pack. I wish I had my wardrobe from home, I would make myself a pair of earrings to wear with every outfit. Unfortunately I didn’t bring all of my pretty summer dresses with me, and even if I did I’d never get to wear them since it’s rarely hot and I never get to go anywhere (hopefully that will change when I get my license!).

 

The first pair I made reminded me of a yellow linen dress I used to wear at home. I HATE YELLOW! But I like wearing it, it looks good on me. But when I saw these little yellow beads I knew I had to make a pair with them.

 

The two oblong beads are glass and you can see a swirl pattern in them. Each bead is separated by a small pearl bead. The findings are silver plated and they will hang approximately an inch and a half from the ear. 

Although there were several hundred beads in the pack I bought there are only enough of the same beads for me to make one pair of these so if you want them for yourself let me know. 

£4.50 including UK shipping, $9.95 including US shipping

Sherri

Sherri & The Roses

 

Sorry I haven’t posted anything since the showcase. I had a creative spurt last month and made several designs then posted them all, I didn’t have any inspiration to make anything else.

 

 

I have been busy though. We have a huge front yard at our house and I recently became interested in caring for it. I’m a city girl, I don’t do dirt or bugs but we have 12 rose bushes in the front yard and I am trying to nurture them. Some have aphids, most of them have a fungal infection which turns their leaves brown but when they bloom they are lovely. There are several different types of roses and in many colors; orange, red, several shades of pink and one call a “peace” rose which changes color as it blossoms.

This one smells like Turkish Delight

I started a few months ago, in the winter I cut back all the brown dead looking parts; Neil said they should be pruned by 30% every year but he hasn’t done it in years. This year I did it. Now that they looked like they wanted to flower I’ve gone out every day and watered them. We don’t have a hose or a spout outside so I carry a gallon jug back and forth to water the bushes. I figure it is good exercise and besides it will make them pretty. Neil doesn’t want me doing all this work but I don’t really have anything else to do.

The Peace Rose

Aside from that I’ve just been trying to be a good wife, learning about natural cleaning products (I've become obsessed with vinegar) and trying to keep the house clean and make yummy food like pizza (which I think I finally cracked) and trying new recipes that we can both enjoy. This week I made North African Cous Cous, Neil even liked it and he’s a picky eater. Last week I made chocolate pudding and Sunday I made butterscotch pudding, Neil didn’t like the chocolate and refused to try the butterscotch. More for me!

This Sunday is Mother’s Day in America and my Godmother’s birthday is a few days later, and since I now have clip on earrings I decided to send her a pair. I had in my mind the pair I was going to send her but when I went to get them apparently they didn’t exist. I have the long pair (Birthday Earrings) and the pair on the chain but I thought they may be too long so I  made this pair especially for her.

Each earring has two garnets and one faux pearl bead. The findings are all silver plated.

 

Hopefully I’ll be inspired to make more earrings soon.

£5.00 including UK shipping, $9.30 including US shipping.
PS. I took these pictures on Monday and the bushes shown have bloomed more since then.