tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84436056105900151212024-02-07T04:33:15.088+00:00SongbeadsRebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14254291271007836270noreply@blogger.comBlogger663125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443605610590015121.post-16932634426901999952022-10-04T20:00:00.003+01:002022-10-04T23:27:47.170+01:00Autumn '22 Necklaces <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here we are in Autumn once again - and it's my 1 year anniversary of moving out of my home studio and into my shared work space! My desk is <strike>messier</strike> fuller than ever(!) and whilst I do occasionally feel like a bit of a sore thumb, I can usually manage to simply plug my headphones out, tune out everyone else and get in the zone. There's so much that has happened recently that I'd like to document here - primarily a return to craft fairs which has rejuvenated both my confidence and my desire to create - a house move at the beginning of the year - falling in love with dance even though I am filled with far more enthusiasm than ability or natural talent! And a return to silver-smithing (I can't quite believe I used to have a bench in my flat, I feel like a total beginner!) with an amazing teacher <a href="https://www.jacquelinebell.co.uk" target="_blank">Jacqueline Bell</a>. But today has been a long one, and so I am going to content myself with a post full of pictures rather than words. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Recently, I have found myself creating necklaces - new bracelets and earrings are still very much in the works, but necklaces are appearing at a rate I don't think they ever have before, in over a decade of being in business. I've always found them a little bit more challenging - perhaps because I rarely wear them myself? - but I've been creating necklace after necklace and I am loving the process. </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span>H</span><span>ere are my September and October (so far!) necklaces. Which one is your favourite? </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqgXB4s8ZgEabHaaOg7Fcy10CyDbqUPuIHw_Za-iIxxMSwFPMWhLa8DdZ6Hmjkw3xnBoiidn1Tmk8j0j3Kf75K5SmWUrb8STQf1hI6GeLixKE-R-eRqF3rg6T_wkN__hHv9OO18nU9LSTcgt6e0ylao-qZ4M6nZHGRkfWBR_IsVHYGLsEVIE7P-0ylHg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img data-original-height="2721" data-original-width="2040" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqgXB4s8ZgEabHaaOg7Fcy10CyDbqUPuIHw_Za-iIxxMSwFPMWhLa8DdZ6Hmjkw3xnBoiidn1Tmk8j0j3Kf75K5SmWUrb8STQf1hI6GeLixKE-R-eRqF3rg6T_wkN__hHv9OO18nU9LSTcgt6e0ylao-qZ4M6nZHGRkfWBR_IsVHYGLsEVIE7P-0ylHg=w480-h640" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Twilight (sold)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjkk2VRCWtRfu3NM2dfaZznQ1wt8yNilahwUe09jx0Y-OmeGWXbMQwbaGhrmE1FBzPQgWs2vz5HeH-KlvREg1aX8bCYwxuXR6AjRtBcbCKdTEx5s_1kkJQojeYfSwuxh8um9l5ySn2uYl_LFJGrRYz0-V189Vozh08oLnzaY9DDFD_GdSgGX3ICfDdybw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img data-original-height="2342" data-original-width="1757" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjkk2VRCWtRfu3NM2dfaZznQ1wt8yNilahwUe09jx0Y-OmeGWXbMQwbaGhrmE1FBzPQgWs2vz5HeH-KlvREg1aX8bCYwxuXR6AjRtBcbCKdTEx5s_1kkJQojeYfSwuxh8um9l5ySn2uYl_LFJGrRYz0-V189Vozh08oLnzaY9DDFD_GdSgGX3ICfDdybw=w480-h640" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Boo! (sold)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj38tUaNCkjrXFRpH57vZCXTf8By00T3zguAxDiRatfWp_Il3BdyeDlodoyp8dlsNETWbfPeJHEnAPyqdOkWqoYOyrw-jQ1JivAwKjH7dIu8o2hje1MTd_R1dbv5GTAk022SP_2oZAXihpUFY3CrckLtA_er4-6NkdP7noVyUy4MCMAl_Z_9F3ge-xVLw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img data-original-height="2112" data-original-width="2816" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj38tUaNCkjrXFRpH57vZCXTf8By00T3zguAxDiRatfWp_Il3BdyeDlodoyp8dlsNETWbfPeJHEnAPyqdOkWqoYOyrw-jQ1JivAwKjH7dIu8o2hje1MTd_R1dbv5GTAk022SP_2oZAXihpUFY3CrckLtA_er4-6NkdP7noVyUy4MCMAl_Z_9F3ge-xVLw=w640-h480" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/songbead/listing/1293204262/handmade-artisan-bead-necklace-nightfall?utm_source=Copy&utm_medium=ListingManager&utm_campaign=Share&utm_term=so.lmsm&share_time=1664908042239" target="_blank">Nightfall</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhJkgmPkt_OSQPXeQ7ZZ7ICoGAJ-zN-Qx4qEJyNGi1PL24D9jKF17yo_xKnjrVzqZIGWqVAhnP1lzKtHDqpKAbeQ-c6F4-p795-5Cv37pFOYgcVXEq5E9-xjM_-jKYCPOHny9giDp36xY3GbmhaPi4bRmjMp6f-8S9VDF1tRiZO-s8zS2MRk-QU0CRGEw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img data-original-height="2668" data-original-width="2001" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhJkgmPkt_OSQPXeQ7ZZ7ICoGAJ-zN-Qx4qEJyNGi1PL24D9jKF17yo_xKnjrVzqZIGWqVAhnP1lzKtHDqpKAbeQ-c6F4-p795-5Cv37pFOYgcVXEq5E9-xjM_-jKYCPOHny9giDp36xY3GbmhaPi4bRmjMp6f-8S9VDF1tRiZO-s8zS2MRk-QU0CRGEw=w480-h640" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/songbead/listing/1306242761/handmade-artisan-bead-necklace-dusk?utm_source=Copy&utm_medium=ListingManager&utm_campaign=Share&utm_term=so.lmsm&share_time=1664908076551" target="_blank">Dusk</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEivCrO2GVza2zFsWZwUBl_nKmosLJlUs5VZqDKIgwNMzaJPllrWKf0CVQzcJZ2TGa_GCD7lJ6UrmDN5Xzk7PHYhWUC93F974YfgDGELS1VVTueyJ9f2FCo3KGEI-dP1QdjHhk9yDFBi73O_d3RDUpsl93EwrC9QkKvLl7kWhdHdTTWRXbm0NdWY_r0Jgg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img data-original-height="2605" data-original-width="1954" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEivCrO2GVza2zFsWZwUBl_nKmosLJlUs5VZqDKIgwNMzaJPllrWKf0CVQzcJZ2TGa_GCD7lJ6UrmDN5Xzk7PHYhWUC93F974YfgDGELS1VVTueyJ9f2FCo3KGEI-dP1QdjHhk9yDFBi73O_d3RDUpsl93EwrC9QkKvLl7kWhdHdTTWRXbm0NdWY_r0Jgg=w480-h640" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/songbead/listing/1310747575/handmade-artisan-bead-necklace-midnight?utm_source=Copy&utm_medium=ListingManager&utm_campaign=Share&utm_term=so.lmsm&share_time=1664908100593" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Midnight Garden</span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYkBZAdl70_PayItztGJ82JaHzpaYhXIhNdivmFWxbSiB5sDfNlQBy2H_cta5jVFnWE2eZ7sObvM5jMFyDJiWCwIGRdxJWaih-st3RRyPWE3QUgSVUOIyuyJer3dqxqijnJWX6fR6NibjUdR0J5rvoJoEMIkU8JT2IgXXsDgjaEHLE-b18paFdsjp1ZA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img data-original-height="1297" data-original-width="1440" height="577" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYkBZAdl70_PayItztGJ82JaHzpaYhXIhNdivmFWxbSiB5sDfNlQBy2H_cta5jVFnWE2eZ7sObvM5jMFyDJiWCwIGRdxJWaih-st3RRyPWE3QUgSVUOIyuyJer3dqxqijnJWX6fR6NibjUdR0J5rvoJoEMIkU8JT2IgXXsDgjaEHLE-b18paFdsjp1ZA=w640-h577" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/songbead/listing/1314516433/handmade-artisan-bead-necklace-sloth?utm_source=Copy&utm_medium=ListingManager&utm_campaign=Share&utm_term=so.lmsm&share_time=1664908138620" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Habitat</span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjVy35g5-l2TJILvZ-zBzMBMis7KywZ4Dak6MkSPLAPC2M0j60hE8telolYrgbmhFpXfcn4ZrOG8y6CUA1n61rWGIIbXD4cl6Tx_XgMNtqlJ5ZBVxEClWLphPI66MqP8Z699AviRLMETksSX_ZSfa8PXV6aomYlzWDcMms6KrkoS46AHJgrcxoF1hH2IQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img data-original-height="1862" data-original-width="2483" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjVy35g5-l2TJILvZ-zBzMBMis7KywZ4Dak6MkSPLAPC2M0j60hE8telolYrgbmhFpXfcn4ZrOG8y6CUA1n61rWGIIbXD4cl6Tx_XgMNtqlJ5ZBVxEClWLphPI66MqP8Z699AviRLMETksSX_ZSfa8PXV6aomYlzWDcMms6KrkoS46AHJgrcxoF1hH2IQ=w640-h480" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/songbead/listing/1317954039/handmade-artisan-bead-necklace-night-and?utm_source=Copy&utm_medium=ListingManager&utm_campaign=Share&utm_term=so.lmsm&share_time=1664908166189" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Night and Day</span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgXE6yPZPRmdVWJs4Jd5Fy3HmfNvy9HDbbShqehzqMZ5uhX6puULVv9tRGcD-4aIKnbVNDHjgXGFhXVx_TZdfgb5eiDxh3BIEBLNvZxE-OlDzgpH_Nbqu63QQt6d6Vb9ow56OEcE6fHkjtbQR6ilbc-osmbf3CiY7RYAATcAzW3m6VEkItW5oMaLRJvpQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img data-original-height="1956" data-original-width="2608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgXE6yPZPRmdVWJs4Jd5Fy3HmfNvy9HDbbShqehzqMZ5uhX6puULVv9tRGcD-4aIKnbVNDHjgXGFhXVx_TZdfgb5eiDxh3BIEBLNvZxE-OlDzgpH_Nbqu63QQt6d6Vb9ow56OEcE6fHkjtbQR6ilbc-osmbf3CiY7RYAATcAzW3m6VEkItW5oMaLRJvpQ=w640-h480" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/songbead/listing/1304448722/handmade-artisan-bead-necklace-follow?utm_source=Copy&utm_medium=ListingManager&utm_campaign=Share&utm_term=so.lmsm&share_time=1664922362099" target="_blank">Follow your Arrow</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgLOFcj63128JXVujWdJ7ALJtyoNSM9aR6pQdnhKlPM717Y0o7bkn8MNMMYs9M154OPa_7eAKaJxXsObU-8JVpZMSL47iFqW8FhfqRe7GLGdwhjHb3vANGxfrgbv2bIh6-bauQPnOOenzr95kT160Imfl3H5ajh0L3qBHOgbnB0DcNJyn4ThYtatwMTvg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="2427" data-original-width="1820" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgLOFcj63128JXVujWdJ7ALJtyoNSM9aR6pQdnhKlPM717Y0o7bkn8MNMMYs9M154OPa_7eAKaJxXsObU-8JVpZMSL47iFqW8FhfqRe7GLGdwhjHb3vANGxfrgbv2bIh6-bauQPnOOenzr95kT160Imfl3H5ajh0L3qBHOgbnB0DcNJyn4ThYtatwMTvg=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Diurnal</span></div><br /> <p></p>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14254291271007836270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443605610590015121.post-65820447992836075572021-10-07T20:12:00.002+01:002021-10-07T20:16:00.181+01:00Autumn 2021<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Maybe its Autumn's inescapable 'back to school' vibes, but I almost always get a renewed burst of creative energy at this time of year. Did it happen in 2020 when time became distinctly shaky?! In all honesty I can't quite remember, but it definitely has this year. There are a number of additional reasons behind this - and the main one is that I have moved into an out-of-the-house workspace with Songbead! We are planning on moving house next year, and the new flat will not quite have enough room for a home studio, and so my wife and I took the decision that it was time for Songbead to spread her wings and leave the nest. Initially, I'd hoped for a self-contained studio but the venues local to me were full, and so I've taken a desk in a co-working space - not quite what everyone else based there does, but I'm not the only creative there. We have a writer, an interior designer and web designer amongst others - but still, I definitely feel I have the most densely packed desk, even after a week! </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIlyg75oUy07oeu2KHtwGEl8ZThGF7Uz_jBoZ1-kXl_1PQUJTHM2QxWcnJjMpDD2oyc3ju5LtMUNho9wL5qOj6wd5KIISto1OV75KhlgchyphenhyphenXbAMfO1IA3mbaJl5VSsPdqkV9iNQYV27GIG/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIlyg75oUy07oeu2KHtwGEl8ZThGF7Uz_jBoZ1-kXl_1PQUJTHM2QxWcnJjMpDD2oyc3ju5LtMUNho9wL5qOj6wd5KIISto1OV75KhlgchyphenhyphenXbAMfO1IA3mbaJl5VSsPdqkV9iNQYV27GIG/w640-h480/65512427084__7CC74966-B6E1-4C0C-898D-00702DF5072B.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">So far, so good, but the rent is a month by month rolling contract so if for whatever reason it doesn't work out in the way I want it to, there's nothing lost. It feels full of potential and low risk and I'm enjoying having to GO to work, rather than merely step into another room in our flat.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">There are other 'new' things happening which I won't list here, but suffice to say, Autumn 2021 feels back to school-ish plus plus plus! And so with this renewed sense of purpose, I have turned to my beads and created a few new pieces, with my head and heart full of the colours of Autumn. I am a little out of practice listing items on Etsy, but I am slowly getting them into <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/songbead?ref=seller-platform-mcnav" target="_blank">my shop</a>. I'll share the few I have managed to get up and listed today, and the stories behind them. (Aren't stories the best? Don't stories just make everything a bit better, and a little steadier, and make a little more sense? It's strange how often fiction can ground us more than reality.)</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaLuK8Vut0N2_u2kW3LWZulf2KKdLhAJJhQC94ORueQFle4-38pqpY3TdM3j59WVtGmbDicgl3-xHouSuAJv_Oeif4qSRC48jGtb-XJiAUgRuM-x8jCtWU3guRXBcpdz4zpZK2TlqGhfof/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaLuK8Vut0N2_u2kW3LWZulf2KKdLhAJJhQC94ORueQFle4-38pqpY3TdM3j59WVtGmbDicgl3-xHouSuAJv_Oeif4qSRC48jGtb-XJiAUgRuM-x8jCtWU3guRXBcpdz4zpZK2TlqGhfof/w640-h480/IMG_2764.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1084136136/handmade-artisan-bead-bracelet-golden?ref=shop_home_active_1&frs=1" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Golden Hour</span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">One of my favourite things about the changing seasons is how the light changes throughout the year. I admit, I struggle with the short, darker days of the colder months - but when the sun shines, it is at its most beautiful. The long, low light of Autumn is bewitching - a sunny walk home from school, a blustery yet bright walk along the coast of even a cosy coffee in town, looking out over the granite-toned buildings of the old town of Edinburgh. The light infuses everything with a little magic and its little wonder that special hour before sunset is called the 'golden hour' by photographers - nature's own filter. The handmade glass boro lampwork beads always put me in mind of this time of day - the deep, swirling colours within seem to hold so much. I have paired them here with some of my own handwoven glass rounds in a peachy lilac golden frosted tone, and a striking statement clasp, handmade and cast in bronze. The double strand of gold rondelles are faceted Czech glass, and the other metal elements are made from my favourite nickel-free brass with a hand-finished deep patina. This is a OOAK special piece, perfect if you want to carry a bit of golden hour magic around with you. </span></span></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvjvVaE4bPUh_9vU4kEf_fbdVFnS4ECau6kP52Huu7KCTeUdgUo3CAIM6qM7z8AroBKy1lihZPFI5jbgJs9eaGcH-D8WKnscCfqQsJGJc2Njxa7pkFq6wYe6LnI6XYRJiagNb8AZAlgCL5/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvjvVaE4bPUh_9vU4kEf_fbdVFnS4ECau6kP52Huu7KCTeUdgUo3CAIM6qM7z8AroBKy1lihZPFI5jbgJs9eaGcH-D8WKnscCfqQsJGJc2Njxa7pkFq6wYe6LnI6XYRJiagNb8AZAlgCL5/w480-h640/IMG_2790.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/970395879/handmade-artisan-bead-earrings-copper?ref=shop_home_feat_4&frs=1" target="_blank">Copper Oak</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Graphik Webfont", -apple-system, "Helvetica Neue", "Droid Sans", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; text-align: start;">A beautiful, burnished copper is a thing to behold! I adore these stamped solid copper oak leaves, complete with a rich, burnished hand-finished patina. They lend themselves to so many different colour combinations but here, I gone with the classic autumn leaf tones of glowing umber orange and a rich and vibrant aquamarine, in lovely Czech faceted glass rondelles. Long, light earrings that will sway and move like their real-life counterparts. The earrings hang from my own hand-formed oxidised sterling silver earwires, perfect for sensitive ears. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Graphik Webfont", -apple-system, "Helvetica Neue", "Droid Sans", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP-03eAkrTRo2Zm1Yga2V0-vqJaXtuxZO4cEY22lF79iovw44KW6k092V5S-71K830lMc9ziowY125P33Aa1m9WJFgEdKqKkqdsXq5_16nGckb02nw8bTLc8Kz7r4G7kfzsQ5ZbrUyrega/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP-03eAkrTRo2Zm1Yga2V0-vqJaXtuxZO4cEY22lF79iovw44KW6k092V5S-71K830lMc9ziowY125P33Aa1m9WJFgEdKqKkqdsXq5_16nGckb02nw8bTLc8Kz7r4G7kfzsQ5ZbrUyrega/w640-h480/IMG_2768.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1083977714/handmade-artisan-bead-bracelet-starbank?ref=shop_home_active_2&frs=1" target="_blank">Starbank</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Graphik Webfont", -apple-system, "Helvetica Neue", "Droid Sans", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; text-align: start;">I always love making some jewellery inspired by the changing seasons; I believe you can and should wear whatever colours and items make you happy all year long (I certainly do!) but as an artist, I can't help but be inspired each year by the changing of colours and light surrounding me. I also find it helps me to deal with the bit of me that struggles with the rain and the cold that sets in for a good while when the Autumn arrives here in Scotland. Here is one of my new Autumnal offerings. Inspired by the vibrant colours of my local park - one of my favourite places in the whole world - Starbank Park in Newhaven, Edinburgh. My children and I talk about the changing colours of the leaves and my daughter insists on collecting a bag-full each time we visit - I love to seek out the extra-vibrant ones and the orange beads here amplify their vibrancy even more! They are vintage glass beads which I have had for a number of years now, and they seemed the perfect pairing for the tiny white cottage, complete with a sweet green roof. This also echoes the park-keepers cottage within Starbank itself (which must surely be my dream home!). To pick up on the green roof, I added a handmade ceramic bead in a verdant green just above the cottage, and a few of my favourite stick pearls for good measure. The bracelet closes with a nickel-free lobster clasp and is adjustable due to the short extender chain. </span></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So there you go. Just a few new pieces in <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/songbead?ref=seller-platform-mcnav" target="_blank">the shop</a> today - but more will follow, hopefully tomorrow. And there are lots of older pieces, sitting in the shop, ready for their new homes. Will one of them speak to you? </div></span><br /><p></p>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14254291271007836270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443605610590015121.post-51668795243040400312020-08-11T19:17:00.002+01:002020-08-11T19:29:06.735+01:00The West End Fair goes virtual<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yep, it's been a while (what's new?!) but I am, as ever, determined to get back into this space and share more here. Now seems as good a time as any, as I can tell you all about this year's <a href="https://www.3d2d.online/en/songbead" target="_blank">West End Fair</a> which, like so many other things, has been detrimentally affected by the dreaded 'Rona. New owners took on 3d2d (the company that run this fantastic event) at the end of last year and I must say, I really feel for them - what a year to start! Nonetheless, they have been absolutely stellar, turning the cancellation around and transforming our physical fair into a virtual one in a matter of weeks. I'm very grateful for all of their extremely hard work!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.3d2d.online/en/songbead" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP18x4XKVcr7tDbiZh_ZYzjMXzdaUrYErzv0b8OX0NvDbV433SGe8jSqA4ihHt9eKeETsxo7jUrTN3wbH7sRkTBTu1vyvM_Wzyt_BnG_gJPJth9TYijHGREjelYjjGP9opfC-wKVorGeLI/s640/WEF-official-exhibitor-badge++post.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I've been working hard to get as much new jewellery into my West End Fair marketplace as possible and I wanted to hop in here to share in with you. Here are some of the new and exclusive pieces of jewellery you can find in my fair 'stand'. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio_w9jwnGcaRkcX1n-H48K7eYclWWUKf8Iu4aHBYJXR-lXYAsuRfDKAGz_QXfojvy2B-1SbsZQEvZJ2BIx7ut646ur69nF5At-ldWhpZ-y1N8K47LFAMt1k2sTgovVDwm63cOV0pjYd9Qu/s2048/fullsizeoutput_5e5c.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio_w9jwnGcaRkcX1n-H48K7eYclWWUKf8Iu4aHBYJXR-lXYAsuRfDKAGz_QXfojvy2B-1SbsZQEvZJ2BIx7ut646ur69nF5At-ldWhpZ-y1N8K47LFAMt1k2sTgovVDwm63cOV0pjYd9Qu/w640-h480/fullsizeoutput_5e5c.jpeg" title="Little Wing" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.3d2d.online/en/listings/1060620-little-wing-handmade-artisan-bead-bracelet-in-turquoise-silver" target="_blank">Little Wing</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJNOcKmsZHIGBwLnuacVdXt5YOIwmYrPp9hfKmwkizYNM_8mWbgasIoEDB0tR4EBI2JIJOJX3YCDMQr7w116t87jfzCOo-giWgrLU3fGzos3MBqe1bXjxR4EdmDygJpoEQBb6Q8tWIATRw/s2048/fullsizeoutput_5e53.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJNOcKmsZHIGBwLnuacVdXt5YOIwmYrPp9hfKmwkizYNM_8mWbgasIoEDB0tR4EBI2JIJOJX3YCDMQr7w116t87jfzCOo-giWgrLU3fGzos3MBqe1bXjxR4EdmDygJpoEQBb6Q8tWIATRw/w640-h480/fullsizeoutput_5e53.jpeg" title="Sakura" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.3d2d.online/en/listings/1060677-sakura-handmade-artisan-bead-turquoise-and-pink-bracelet" target="_blank">Sakura</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaqkLfU4ZsbrjtgxdNSnHqzl9k8vluNll7xKCIHDjRPAVWC_3suH3gCxQkJ3ezWEU67ucbdeHq-A26c6IAQlCaU_MbWlNWxrvLEtQ03kKfv9arA21m0E7fTH_x1wRwQdRJpdZPmX_uLquv/s2005/fullsizeoutput_5e61.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1504" data-original-width="2005" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaqkLfU4ZsbrjtgxdNSnHqzl9k8vluNll7xKCIHDjRPAVWC_3suH3gCxQkJ3ezWEU67ucbdeHq-A26c6IAQlCaU_MbWlNWxrvLEtQ03kKfv9arA21m0E7fTH_x1wRwQdRJpdZPmX_uLquv/s640/fullsizeoutput_5e61.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.3d2d.online/en/listings/1060664-dipped-handmade-artisan-bead-long-drop-earrings" target="_blank">Dipped</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf3AYFq1ivUkqf6C5_B88q7-VNhMLWoHEfhGPyeuW9scYe0uiXB-lAP-KiXIlPZIRsm9yfjH9c1x1NARVqI89dFGZZwKaG9q-8kNOPc1TMCAiqfpf2OH-6LcR5G2ih1bgEnSHUOPebAzC3/s2048/fullsizeoutput_5d9b.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf3AYFq1ivUkqf6C5_B88q7-VNhMLWoHEfhGPyeuW9scYe0uiXB-lAP-KiXIlPZIRsm9yfjH9c1x1NARVqI89dFGZZwKaG9q-8kNOPc1TMCAiqfpf2OH-6LcR5G2ih1bgEnSHUOPebAzC3/s640/fullsizeoutput_5d9b.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.3d2d.online/en/listings/1057989-hazy-rainbow-handmade-artisan-bead-bracelet-in-rainbow-tones" target="_blank">Hazy Rainbow</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXq5N8nWhTVug4r_jYZ9rsloUh5IAT3z_wYPA1P4GjtYjCptZlZrJBPplhOnp-MNAH8n-KGgN81BGjiir2EnadIh0ndbxs-oFyXT0cwfbKMimTfQxtzDEkbREJV-DdyOjgFv2ji3bsUUFL/s2048/fullsizeoutput_5da5.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXq5N8nWhTVug4r_jYZ9rsloUh5IAT3z_wYPA1P4GjtYjCptZlZrJBPplhOnp-MNAH8n-KGgN81BGjiir2EnadIh0ndbxs-oFyXT0cwfbKMimTfQxtzDEkbREJV-DdyOjgFv2ji3bsUUFL/s640/fullsizeoutput_5da5.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.3d2d.online/en/listings/1057974-indigo-handmade-artisan-bead-bracelet-in-blues-and-turquoise" target="_blank">Indigo</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV2xqUM9rNIUestf00k_0sZ9JLRHiJXnxMaPdCbngKMoxbRWOtSBoqijT0DE-N1eGz4n01_7yMBcB4RvTu53bfXg0Pm2tolmhGIy1Ghxn1C7ldmAr1EUrZ484YSxpm77IHClSFmR7QTTgI/s2048/fullsizeoutput_5dba.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV2xqUM9rNIUestf00k_0sZ9JLRHiJXnxMaPdCbngKMoxbRWOtSBoqijT0DE-N1eGz4n01_7yMBcB4RvTu53bfXg0Pm2tolmhGIy1Ghxn1C7ldmAr1EUrZ484YSxpm77IHClSFmR7QTTgI/s640/fullsizeoutput_5dba.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.3d2d.online/en/listings/1057822-paisley-handmade-artisan-bead-necklace-in-black-green-red" target="_blank">Paisley</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOR3oW_nTt-rxuea9Z6uxNHUsvKDNfkJI1zRXwCu-ynJ9OaV4MG-HAO65n50aKe3A1bPf912lCiNMNRmu0V6SHmgYYOeRK8DufM4drGqCT9r89ZvhwrHfX6r8-P2xtx-LLthNdMpPxJFGn/s2048/fullsizeoutput_5dc4.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOR3oW_nTt-rxuea9Z6uxNHUsvKDNfkJI1zRXwCu-ynJ9OaV4MG-HAO65n50aKe3A1bPf912lCiNMNRmu0V6SHmgYYOeRK8DufM4drGqCT9r89ZvhwrHfX6r8-P2xtx-LLthNdMpPxJFGn/s640/fullsizeoutput_5dc4.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.3d2d.online/en/listings/1057877-indigo-wing-handmade-artisan-bead-necklace-turquoise-blue" target="_blank">Indigo Wing </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgcToLmy6c_yft6Id5YjTFZMh5w0YRD3jvXsF5rTaSWQoCvyyIPmioqHqIlRos2-5nSq7-IzuL8W1bwemHqQPH2oQuPvbaTIMwqQmTAtxT8qdhi9EaPOeIVOP-V4bcKvsbKzNFcp3_v453/s2048/fullsizeoutput_5dd1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgcToLmy6c_yft6Id5YjTFZMh5w0YRD3jvXsF5rTaSWQoCvyyIPmioqHqIlRos2-5nSq7-IzuL8W1bwemHqQPH2oQuPvbaTIMwqQmTAtxT8qdhi9EaPOeIVOP-V4bcKvsbKzNFcp3_v453/s640/fullsizeoutput_5dd1.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.3d2d.online/en/listings/1057907-nouveau-handmade-artisan-bead-necklace-with-patina-pendant" target="_blank">Nouveau</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTeO4Z3Vv-G7fC7bWd0Mu3pQKJSyT67TcYaAG2gIlIY2U9d4xw0ofzcDE77b6BmdgpTJDZrkllQ54h72KblLNuV1GNIvQLOscsHkAO2PnUURuEd1FXyI239gi0wXvxBDyWPgdCSvGkN6pa/s2048/fullsizeoutput_5ddc.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTeO4Z3Vv-G7fC7bWd0Mu3pQKJSyT67TcYaAG2gIlIY2U9d4xw0ofzcDE77b6BmdgpTJDZrkllQ54h72KblLNuV1GNIvQLOscsHkAO2PnUURuEd1FXyI239gi0wXvxBDyWPgdCSvGkN6pa/s640/fullsizeoutput_5ddc.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.3d2d.online/en/listings/1057931-hazy-rainbow-handmade-artisan-beaded-bead-earrings" target="_blank">Hazy Rainbow</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj505MI_fNXBbPB1vvQIF1tWiXHylSecdiQXofe5Vu_6fchHwWLmFkokeHnee9d-_nHyRWgwZq3Xswkv5FAJIWv5kjopOS8Rfz3_hISvnNDw3TzSv41dGZkzdhRgDJ7cQAym1edWG-t6W2Z/s2048/fullsizeoutput_5df9.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj505MI_fNXBbPB1vvQIF1tWiXHylSecdiQXofe5Vu_6fchHwWLmFkokeHnee9d-_nHyRWgwZq3Xswkv5FAJIWv5kjopOS8Rfz3_hISvnNDw3TzSv41dGZkzdhRgDJ7cQAym1edWG-t6W2Z/s640/fullsizeoutput_5df9.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.3d2d.online/en/listings/1057787-sunshine-on-a-rainy-day-handmade-artisan-bead-rainbow-earrings" target="_blank">Sunshine on a Rainy Day</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPduM2vBEgVm8SXAuXzojWwIL3eemvWEsvOBA6O5iF51H4-lwVQDxJhCrLgCLB5qcCG8GDqbXQcfjBQ2D3GcVND6fnw2Ww4Ah_lEX7eTT7G2Bh2IPxgzIpLIiyhlKhE1QDFQUZ-MgM_niX/s2048/fullsizeoutput_5dfa.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPduM2vBEgVm8SXAuXzojWwIL3eemvWEsvOBA6O5iF51H4-lwVQDxJhCrLgCLB5qcCG8GDqbXQcfjBQ2D3GcVND6fnw2Ww4Ah_lEX7eTT7G2Bh2IPxgzIpLIiyhlKhE1QDFQUZ-MgM_niX/s640/fullsizeoutput_5dfa.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.3d2d.online/en/listings/1058031-peachy-handmade-bead-earrings-in-peach-and-bronze" target="_blank">Peachy</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhxNm5yX29fKIORd7A6ljPRmA7E7JC7BZidKBVjvngT7jaNe9uapwrRhKFbsfhb-0SnXKSRA8yjMpMnvlJc_Y456jFHAThldsWJerZTP_RQIxRG0qe0vfmarcLo0ZjzbPd0nE7vgakJs6l/s2048/fullsizeoutput_5dfc.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhxNm5yX29fKIORd7A6ljPRmA7E7JC7BZidKBVjvngT7jaNe9uapwrRhKFbsfhb-0SnXKSRA8yjMpMnvlJc_Y456jFHAThldsWJerZTP_RQIxRG0qe0vfmarcLo0ZjzbPd0nE7vgakJs6l/s640/fullsizeoutput_5dfc.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.3d2d.online/en/listings/1058007-flutter" target="_blank">Flutter</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I hope you'll stop by <a href="https://www.3d2d.online/en/songbead" target="_blank">the fair</a> and take a look at all the other incredible artisans exhibiting too. Like so many, designer-makers have been heavily hit by 2020 with shops being closed and now (understandably) quiet, and all of our summer (and beyond) events cancelled. Amazon has turned a gigantic profit during this global crisis - I fully admit I have called on their services for emergency Paw Patrol stickers, window pens and such like during the past few months! But I hope you'll agree that where we can, we need to support small, support local and make sure that we are all still here, able to make and exhibit physically next year - and without customers, that simply isn't possible. Shop if you can, cheer on, like and share if you can't! </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div> <p></p>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14254291271007836270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443605610590015121.post-27903815809615183302019-10-16T21:18:00.000+01:002019-10-16T21:18:00.001+01:00New larger beaded beads<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Something new has landed in <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/thecuriousbeadshop?ref=seller-platform-mcnav&section_id=19107592">The Curious Bead Shop</a>!</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBTodEZ19lr1UhO0ZoivNCcv-96ec3fw9sxWN0B8snApga6t9u4GJX96VZnFVkGt2Djw7N6LmlVIzWpGdjka0Dcn_FVWokiGlOphCYXtCwaBNfr3um5M3jP0AQCHvvs7CmZx5OfxlaEBMQ/s1600/Chunky+beaded+beads+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBTodEZ19lr1UhO0ZoivNCcv-96ec3fw9sxWN0B8snApga6t9u4GJX96VZnFVkGt2Djw7N6LmlVIzWpGdjka0Dcn_FVWokiGlOphCYXtCwaBNfr3um5M3jP0AQCHvvs7CmZx5OfxlaEBMQ/s640/Chunky+beaded+beads+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I've been selling my 10mm handwoven beads for sometime now, and I love playing around with the different colours of seed beads available (you may have seen my new <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/thecuriousbeadshop?ref=seller-platform-mcnav&section_id=15545115">Crunchy Leaves</a> Autumn collection which I launched last month). Recently, I was approached by a customer with a request for larger beaded beads, which is something I do in fact already make for my own jewellery - so I have decided to make them available in the shop. I've started with a small range of 8 different colours - inspired by sea view sunsets - most of these colours are already available in the 10mm size but <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/745173559/frosted-mauve-1-large-handwoven-bead?ref=shop_home_active_4&sca=1">Frosted Mauve </a>is a brand new tone. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR4c44jnuGUsR5T8Z5IMKNaxU5ehnGVfBvwuBtwAMvvg9hfBl5gTRDDIxBsSt2RU7E4S8Lg0OqKAC1JKckPwzTdOqNloAGm0qBKM33U360RC-rEwu-gY8a6ow2l40VzvHPJXLm1tnj9zfq/s1600/Chunky+Beaded+Beads+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR4c44jnuGUsR5T8Z5IMKNaxU5ehnGVfBvwuBtwAMvvg9hfBl5gTRDDIxBsSt2RU7E4S8Lg0OqKAC1JKckPwzTdOqNloAGm0qBKM33U360RC-rEwu-gY8a6ow2l40VzvHPJXLm1tnj9zfq/s640/Chunky+Beaded+Beads+2.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">These chunky beads are made using 3mm glass seed beads rather than my usual 2mm beads, and measure approximately 16mm in diameter in comparison with my standard handwoven beads which are approximately 10mm. You can see the two sizes side by side above for comparison. I really love the rustic, colourful character they bring to a piece - there's something incredibly fun and playful about them in this size. I also think they work really well with larger ceramic and lampwork glass beads - not just aesthetically, but because the centre of them is wood, they aren't too heavy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Don't worry if you are not a jewellery maker - below are a few of my designs featuring these larger beaded beads, so you can get your hands on them ready to wear. And if you are a jewellery maker, hopefully these will give you some inspiration for your own pieces. I've just shared bracelets here but I think they would also look fab in a simply strung necklace and could be a real statement piece! </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/songbead/listing/745194957/playtime-handmade-artisan-bead-bracelet?utm_source=Copy&utm_medium=ListingManager&utm_campaign=Share&utm_term=so.lmsm&share_time=1571256256466"><span style="font-size: large;">Playtime</span></a></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitJ19XyGINQfKkpiTdAf0EkMUA46jRkLnBiiQ3Dp49CM04sRhv_ZB2vgF87LojuzhPFfeUOvGSzJhQqHPG_DGpyzhUNPCa-AVRnCyie6zfhw0ZHqEpLODWFVm92SNHgRI-hdWVDd0Obmnk/s1600/IMG_2330.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitJ19XyGINQfKkpiTdAf0EkMUA46jRkLnBiiQ3Dp49CM04sRhv_ZB2vgF87LojuzhPFfeUOvGSzJhQqHPG_DGpyzhUNPCa-AVRnCyie6zfhw0ZHqEpLODWFVm92SNHgRI-hdWVDd0Obmnk/s640/IMG_2330.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/songbead/listing/721111477/golden-glow-handmade-artisan-bead?utm_source=Copy&utm_medium=ListingManager&utm_campaign=Share&utm_term=so.lmsm&share_time=1571255679841"><span style="font-size: large;">Golden Glow</span></a></td></tr>
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<br />Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14254291271007836270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443605610590015121.post-29656363179902459512019-10-01T10:37:00.000+01:002019-10-01T10:37:23.243+01:00FLASH SALE at The Curious Bead Shop!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr_tqNFRcRdSetVtTrurfWkqoC25jhBsU5y6nyrqMSn2VtRcJ91w9HBkv5syA0yTAPCChA8lE7PfyX4KQd1VOEVISEAuGdCASrE2-plQdnI0DZ8Lc9rc1lXQbhS9KtJsIR180jhcx0jvrc/s1600/Curious+Sale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr_tqNFRcRdSetVtTrurfWkqoC25jhBsU5y6nyrqMSn2VtRcJ91w9HBkv5syA0yTAPCChA8lE7PfyX4KQd1VOEVISEAuGdCASrE2-plQdnI0DZ8Lc9rc1lXQbhS9KtJsIR180jhcx0jvrc/s640/Curious+Sale.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Just a very quick post to say I'm having a FLASH SALE in <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/thecuriousbeadshop/">The Curious Bead Shop</a> today - it's the first of the month so why not? 25% off (almost) everything today - sale will run until 10.30am tomorrow morning (UK summertime). Head over to <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/thecuriousbeadshop/">The Curious Bead Shop</a> now!</div>
<br />Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14254291271007836270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443605610590015121.post-18242907677204141302019-09-12T12:55:00.002+01:002019-09-12T12:55:44.069+01:00September Song - a new mini-collection<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYvdEfLlyISm9DFe-RJHrd1NWz_67g9b5p7uBCpczGH149PODTV4xJrqsM4EczKLBRkUnOkAgsKgFfDGF6p66-6KtgPTc1KJVNJn0y2nnIFidnJ2XlZjRn2WiqACX7Nqv2qmiIqDgQxBB/s1600/September+Song+-+Songbead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYvdEfLlyISm9DFe-RJHrd1NWz_67g9b5p7uBCpczGH149PODTV4xJrqsM4EczKLBRkUnOkAgsKgFfDGF6p66-6KtgPTc1KJVNJn0y2nnIFidnJ2XlZjRn2WiqACX7Nqv2qmiIqDgQxBB/s640/September+Song+-+Songbead.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A new mini-collection has hit <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/songbead?ref=seller-platform-mcnav">the shop</a>! I don't always work in this way - creating themed collections of pieces - but for the new month and new season, I decided to have a play in this way, and I am pretty pleased with the results! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I began by collecting together a selection of my beloved handmade art beads - ceramics, lampwork glass, polymer, even a few metals thrown in there too. Most of these beads have been in my collection for years, and so it is a real treat to work with them - and about time too! I haven't really added to my art bead collection at all since the end of my pregnancy, but rediscovering these pieces is just as wonderful as discovering new pieces. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Within the collection, there are definite groupings although there is of course some overlap between them all. Firstly, a soft, Summer-turning-gently-to-Autumn collection of tonal greens, bronze and topaz. Perfect for the new season, but fresh enough to be worn all year round. (I am a great lover of ALL the colours ALL year round, but I know many folk enjoy having special pieces for each season.) These are playful yet gentle, soft yet fresh and I love the simple, natural feel that they have. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/songbead/listing/720916350/autumn-walk-handmade-long-bohemian-bead?utm_source=Copy&utm_medium=ListingManager&utm_campaign=Share&utm_term=so.lmsm&share_time=1568288827397"><span style="font-size: small;">Autumn Walk</span></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/songbead/listing/720916516/perchin-handmade-pressed-glass-earrings?utm_source=Copy&utm_medium=ListingManager&utm_campaign=Share&utm_term=so.lmsm&share_time=1568288693433"><span style="font-size: small;">Perchin'</span></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/songbead/listing/720916130/september-song-handmade-artisan-bead?utm_source=Copy&utm_medium=ListingManager&utm_campaign=Share&utm_term=so.lmsm&share_time=1568288723207"><span style="font-size: small;">September Song</span></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/songbead/listing/734773115/autumnal-handmade-artisan-bead-brown-and?utm_source=Copy&utm_medium=ListingManager&utm_campaign=Share&utm_term=so.lmsm&share_time=1568288746233"><span style="font-size: small;">Autumnal</span></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/songbead/listing/720916178/woodland-wander-handmade-long-bohemian?utm_source=Copy&utm_medium=ListingManager&utm_campaign=Share&utm_term=so.lmsm&share_time=1568288775735"><span style="font-size: small;">Woodland Wander</span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Next came the metallics. Only a few pieces here, and I am still working on a couple in this palette as it's one I adore. Warm, slightly oxidised coppers tone perfectly with deep, steely-grey silvers and warm rusts. These dive straight into the heart of Autumn and the earlier nights we are already having - the low light of a dusky evening, and the steely grey mornings we are often having here in Edinburgh. This palette will take you right through Winter and keep some warmth with you in the coldest months. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/songbead/listing/720916576/bohemia-handmade-artisan-bead-glass?utm_source=Copy&utm_medium=ListingManager&utm_campaign=Share&utm_term=so.lmsm&share_time=1568289033386"><span style="font-size: small;">Bohemia</span></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/songbead/listing/734772611/la-vie-boheme-handmade-artisan-bead?utm_source=Copy&utm_medium=ListingManager&utm_campaign=Share&utm_term=so.lmsm&share_time=1568289054381"><span style="font-size: small;">La Vie Boheme</span></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/songbead/listing/720916630/mercury-artisan-long-sterling-silver?utm_source=Copy&utm_medium=ListingManager&utm_campaign=Share&utm_term=so.lmsm&share_time=1568289077132"><span style="font-size: small;">Mercury</span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Lastly, a summer throwback - perhaps our traditional Autumnal Second Summer? Here's hoping - I like all the sunshine and heat that Edinburgh can throw at me, which isn't always much! Just along the sea path at the front of my house there is a slightly untamed grassy area. We only moved to our new flat in May and the walk along the sea front is one of my favourite things about living here. At one of the corners I pass daily grows a beautiful Buddleia, which has bloomed all summer in a glorious range of purples from lavender and lilac through to warmer, pinkier shades. It smells glorious and attracts a lot of beautiful butterflies and I have enjoyed passing it often over the past few months. Even on the coldest of current days, it is a shot of summer whenever I walk past it. These pieces are inspired by this tree and the summery feelings it invokes, whatever the weather.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/songbead/listing/734773089/coast-handmade-long-artisan-bead-drop?utm_source=Copy&utm_medium=ListingManager&utm_campaign=Share&utm_term=so.lmsm&share_time=1568289276369"><span style="font-size: small;">Coast</span></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/songbead/listing/734772785/buddleia-handmade-artisan-bead-bracelet?utm_source=Copy&utm_medium=ListingManager&utm_campaign=Share&utm_term=so.lmsm&share_time=1568289257132"><span style="font-size: small;">Buddleia</span></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/songbead/listing/734773013/jewels-handmade-bead-drop-earrings-in?utm_source=Copy&utm_medium=ListingManager&utm_campaign=Share&utm_term=so.lmsm&share_time=1568289227278"><span style="font-size: small;">Jewels</span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Which piece is your favourite? Which colour palette are you drawn to most, and do you go for seasonal colour changes or embrace them all, all the year round? </span></div>
Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14254291271007836270noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443605610590015121.post-47768145839891546532019-08-13T13:09:00.002+01:002019-08-13T13:09:18.069+01:00Sales!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirGx8BcS9vtK8ygRIJGDcTXvThDnh_RTexTnjkLZYM3KZgBzT8KHPaLnErBbQ34pedufvo5Fd_okmH-pzCYgNYZfuCuETbP5AWyexghO17ytv2K9pfsCunD3ik_WJ502V-O7szr_wQ7cXv/s1600/Songbead+August+Sale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirGx8BcS9vtK8ygRIJGDcTXvThDnh_RTexTnjkLZYM3KZgBzT8KHPaLnErBbQ34pedufvo5Fd_okmH-pzCYgNYZfuCuETbP5AWyexghO17ytv2K9pfsCunD3ik_WJ502V-O7szr_wQ7cXv/s640/Songbead+August+Sale.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Just stopping in very briefly to let you know that I'm having a sale in both my shops! 15% off at <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/songbead?ref=seller-platform-mcnav">Songbead</a> and a huge 20% off at <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/thecuriousbeadshop?ref=seller-platform-mcnav">The Curious Bead Shop</a>. Childcare is expensive (spoiler alert!) and as I'm still not able to do any craft fairs at the moment, my sales options are limited - so hopefully a treat for you with some money off, and some extra support for my family. We really appreciate it! I know we just have to get through the next 18 months and then when they can start nursery with state-funded childcare, things will be a little less tight. My wee family and I thank you gratefully! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAndoUZj4btMMU0_fhFreFFkOScj5JTjwunmmY8fSwVSmShc7LTMihzH9KyeG_OymNTGkOOS-MmEL4wn8jMWNVHuNX0VVybcVZkpQumz9YKEXQIIbxEfD2tBr5IRo4FbUgBWX6ZTcSaOdr/s1600/Curious+Sale+August+19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAndoUZj4btMMU0_fhFreFFkOScj5JTjwunmmY8fSwVSmShc7LTMihzH9KyeG_OymNTGkOOS-MmEL4wn8jMWNVHuNX0VVybcVZkpQumz9YKEXQIIbxEfD2tBr5IRo4FbUgBWX6ZTcSaOdr/s640/Curious+Sale+August+19.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<br />Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14254291271007836270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443605610590015121.post-45891614358413810532019-08-07T15:27:00.001+01:002019-08-07T15:28:23.547+01:00Mood Boards<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I've been playing around with a few mood boards, combining pieces of jewellery that could easily be worn together or in combination. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIqvOTIozfNOHH5jDtxil8gEk_zp57wIixOXN2-P2FK761W20Xl7FYgykchgnH0lNnrvxKiAkwkOnEflZ69hSS62EhLIE_epCpwLBc2gqcPf1fro0oVSihegPSOkXo2LivFH2h4CaNARh8/s1600/Turquoise+purple+songbead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1411" data-original-width="1600" height="564" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIqvOTIozfNOHH5jDtxil8gEk_zp57wIixOXN2-P2FK761W20Xl7FYgykchgnH0lNnrvxKiAkwkOnEflZ69hSS62EhLIE_epCpwLBc2gqcPf1fro0oVSihegPSOkXo2LivFH2h4CaNARh8/s640/Turquoise+purple+songbead.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">None of these sets were designed together but what can I say? I do love the way certain colours look together! Turquoise and purple are such very happy bedfellows. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguPRAxYrbYB8Ni7KOKY_4cIbGl-DfCAVEL3jqpdmIc57Z6kEw1YqFMZRhT2ZlwlxPhljK2xGp8rcjNxFp6d0lVsPqDK-BGz24LQ2kory107RpRc4iRk7S8vzfxM8knW6Hhu54dF_LLj3VV/s1600/Grellow+Songbead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguPRAxYrbYB8Ni7KOKY_4cIbGl-DfCAVEL3jqpdmIc57Z6kEw1YqFMZRhT2ZlwlxPhljK2xGp8rcjNxFp6d0lVsPqDK-BGz24LQ2kory107RpRc4iRk7S8vzfxM8knW6Hhu54dF_LLj3VV/s640/Grellow+Songbead.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here, a grey-blue bracelet alongside classic Grellow. I feel I need a proper Grellow bracelet in the shop though - what do you think? </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwBKQ7QjDuLblibZYWsnkPjLZbx72nodFmY2eBo0cBU1rKom9KIupLWchcUnGk6uY9HTfTLEaQxbR3DWoLDtX56xsn8vozlKSKQIhJu76HnPX1cU_WUBA_krL8D2WPy_zKTD-Jz-Q7GXX2/s1600/Turquoise+Red+Songbead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1235" data-original-width="1600" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwBKQ7QjDuLblibZYWsnkPjLZbx72nodFmY2eBo0cBU1rKom9KIupLWchcUnGk6uY9HTfTLEaQxbR3DWoLDtX56xsn8vozlKSKQIhJu76HnPX1cU_WUBA_krL8D2WPy_zKTD-Jz-Q7GXX2/s640/Turquoise+Red+Songbead.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Long-standing followers will know of my ever-enduring love of red and turquoise. They are such an ideal combination in my book, although I know they can be a little bold for some! Are you brave enough to embrace them together? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Which colour palette is your favourite? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">You can find all these pieces <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/songbead?ref=seller-platform-mcnav&page=1#items">in my shop here. </a></span></div>
<br />Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14254291271007836270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443605610590015121.post-12651125477870970552019-07-13T07:00:00.000+01:002019-07-13T07:00:04.901+01:00Earrings earrings earrings<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio5Ftcuj4enMzvfFMhZ4tnyN-4IhPPFI2ir-Uny_76EoiOfY5QOUpkt2sOSP4XviaUg6MZFvwoQddoxtWkW0nB6kXkfDm28bdidp5fsRfP16bFnXC35r7sATAW-VMRleRbP6V2Wsr-tYRx/s1600/fullsizeoutput_377f.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio5Ftcuj4enMzvfFMhZ4tnyN-4IhPPFI2ir-Uny_76EoiOfY5QOUpkt2sOSP4XviaUg6MZFvwoQddoxtWkW0nB6kXkfDm28bdidp5fsRfP16bFnXC35r7sATAW-VMRleRbP6V2Wsr-tYRx/s640/fullsizeoutput_377f.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/songbead/listing/720136227/playful-days-handmade-artisan-bead-long?utm_source=Copy&utm_medium=ListingManager&utm_campaign=Share&utm_term=so.lmsm&share_time=1562869494323"><span style="font-size: small;">Playful Days</span></a></td></tr>
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Do you love earrings? I really, really, really do. It's definitely the item of jewellery which I have the most of myself, and if I am buying jewellery from another maker, 9 times out of 10 it's a pair of earrings which I gravitate towards - not least because the price points are often smaller - statement earrings are definitely easier on my purse than a statement necklace, understandably!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQneyW1acV-tU4JvR-bxhWS6RuyQ-3BjiUks8FarWtMOUYbIAopyliGvbxLcmrRWZtfolBvq73jBZiRhFve-vFlMJyJoqPHJOzlKo3qeI6IPMHB1sjaxGxVhiZHHC9Ydza_szSs38hiZXx/s1600/fullsizeoutput_378c.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1422" data-original-width="1066" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQneyW1acV-tU4JvR-bxhWS6RuyQ-3BjiUks8FarWtMOUYbIAopyliGvbxLcmrRWZtfolBvq73jBZiRhFve-vFlMJyJoqPHJOzlKo3qeI6IPMHB1sjaxGxVhiZHHC9Ydza_szSs38hiZXx/s640/fullsizeoutput_378c.jpeg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/songbead/listing/720521897/hoopla-handmade-artisan-bead-hoop?utm_source=Copy&utm_medium=ListingManager&utm_campaign=Share&utm_term=so.lmsm&share_time=1562869530363">Hoopla</a></span></td></tr>
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As my going back to Songbead work happened just after a house move, it will probably come as no surprise to you that it was hard to find various things in the first few weeks. (Let's be honest - it's still quite hard to find various things even though we've been here almost 2 months now!) </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEe4qrtr6WXFQl_Z90BIPJPBqKs3O3OPBGwFOi1muNBR5jJgf2dTSG9IMDFN6lXngOfzOo7W9NjBgP1yiqHgnRffSUJ3xb6Y1NPtbs0eGjBzues-zelIbFbU_VTNv8cRV9m1ExgxBobrpD/s1600/fullsizeoutput_3796.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEe4qrtr6WXFQl_Z90BIPJPBqKs3O3OPBGwFOi1muNBR5jJgf2dTSG9IMDFN6lXngOfzOo7W9NjBgP1yiqHgnRffSUJ3xb6Y1NPtbs0eGjBzues-zelIbFbU_VTNv8cRV9m1ExgxBobrpD/s640/fullsizeoutput_3796.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/songbead/listing/720642517/tropical-treetops-handmade-bird-branch?utm_source=Copy&utm_medium=ListingManager&utm_campaign=Share&utm_term=so.lmsm&share_time=1562870302232">Tropical Treetops</a></span></td></tr>
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<br />One of those things was the little stand I use to photograph my earrings. It's nothing fancy - a solid wood flooring sample from B and Q which I have painted and drilled holes in, and strung some fine thread across to suspend earrings from, but it does the trick nicely. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/songbead/listing/706471682/blooming-handmade-artisan-bead-earrings?utm_source=Copy&utm_medium=ListingManager&utm_campaign=Share&utm_term=so.lmsm&share_time=1562869557116">Blooming</a></span></td></tr>
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<br />Anyway, it was one of the things which disappeared - until this past weekend, when we were sorting things out for my wife's 40th birthday party, and in going through a couple of boxes, it was unearthed. Quite a relief as I had a fair pile of earrings stacking up which I hadn't been able to take any decent photos of! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/songbead/listing/720335557/springtime-handmade-artisan-bead?utm_source=Copy&utm_medium=ListingManager&utm_campaign=Share&utm_term=so.lmsm&share_time=1562869605631">Springtime</a></span></td></tr>
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That said, in looking through my earring shots from a few days ago, I think it may be time for a new photography set up. Getting all the parts of each earring to line up and the earrings to hang parallel nicely is not easy when they are merely suspended from thread! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/songbead/listing/720638945/dusk-handmade-artisan-bead-earrings-in?utm_source=Copy&utm_medium=ListingManager&utm_campaign=Share&utm_term=so.lmsm&share_time=1562869460917"><span style="font-size: small;">Dusk</span></a></td></tr>
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So I am on the look out for something slightly different - where the earrings can hang more as they would from ears - in mid air, so to speak, and each earring to hang straight up and down, rather than leaning towards each other. Watch this space! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/songbead/listing/720333181/silver-and-gold-handmade-artisan-bead?utm_source=Copy&utm_medium=ListingManager&utm_campaign=Share&utm_term=so.lmsm&share_time=1562869641475">Silver and Gold</a></span></td></tr>
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<br />All of these earrings are now available <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/songbead?ref=seller-platform-mcnav">in my etsy shop</a> so hop over there now if you're as addicted to earrings as I am! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/songbead/listing/706474484/disco-inferno-handmade-artisan-bead?utm_source=Copy&utm_medium=ListingManager&utm_campaign=Share&utm_term=so.lmsm&share_time=1562869678950">Disco Inferno</a></span></td></tr>
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Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14254291271007836270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443605610590015121.post-22457934112612928852019-07-10T17:00:00.000+01:002019-07-15T08:48:34.542+01:00Firth of Forth or Whale Watching 2019<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "graphik webfont" , , , "roboto" , "droid sans" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">Back in 2014, I designed a bracelet using one of Kylie Parry's beautiful whale beads. (You can see and read about it <a href="http://songbeads.blogspot.com/2014/07/whale-watching-and-call-of-sea.html">here</a>). Upon starting my jewellery work again, and routing through my bead stash, I stumbled across another of these precious handmade ceramic pieces and remembered my old blog post so looked it up for a read through - only to discover these words:</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: "Graphik Webfont", -apple-system, system-ui, Roboto, "Droid Sans", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: "Graphik Webfont", -apple-system, system-ui, Roboto, "Droid Sans", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "graphik webfont" , , , "roboto" , "droid sans" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">"The sea is amazing in all its guises, and I do have dreams of one day having a coastal home, somewhere around Edinburgh. I just have to look at the sea to feel a sense of inner-calm wash through me. Ok, we don't have the weather of the Californian coast, but Scotland's not so bad-looking either!"</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: "Graphik Webfont", -apple-system, system-ui, Roboto, "Droid Sans", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: "Graphik Webfont", -apple-system, system-ui, Roboto, "Droid Sans", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "graphik webfont" , , , "roboto" , "droid sans" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">How fitting to reread this post at this time, only weeks after we moved to Newhaven, in one of the coastal prongs of Edinburgh's northern coast, right on the water. Of course, I knew I had to revisit and revamp my original design. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA0IcEaLId3Ld578joOEnDOlfUzopKA95eodGARsEClVtVSk6YNVai03vLQqLm9cACR5gALjqprTRMRgKDIghQPY7y51VgQd5VPZxALoWq0ypFasBEeqC14ZnQm7rekubCS4NKQIIThtmg/s1600/fullsizeoutput_3712.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA0IcEaLId3Ld578joOEnDOlfUzopKA95eodGARsEClVtVSk6YNVai03vLQqLm9cACR5gALjqprTRMRgKDIghQPY7y51VgQd5VPZxALoWq0ypFasBEeqC14ZnQm7rekubCS4NKQIIThtmg/s640/fullsizeoutput_3712.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "graphik webfont" , , , "roboto" , "droid sans" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">A medley of pressed glass rondelles with a smattering of lampwork glass and a few of the 'original' Indonesian drawn glass beads, and a full strand of dramatic stick freshwater pearls, making a bolder statement than the original individual keshi pearls. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQUkASzEWl42oHBkiG_xYxt0vy5pTVq4fA-HJK9GGmLi5FpOhIvjIYjvpCRm91ON_HtPivFbatCNfxhGilR7-dyg1KQV7GQFN0_Jc3s6vxkONCscsKZxbE9KR_X4iuea-CbcY1-o5px2SF/s1600/fullsizeoutput_3714.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQUkASzEWl42oHBkiG_xYxt0vy5pTVq4fA-HJK9GGmLi5FpOhIvjIYjvpCRm91ON_HtPivFbatCNfxhGilR7-dyg1KQV7GQFN0_Jc3s6vxkONCscsKZxbE9KR_X4iuea-CbcY1-o5px2SF/s640/fullsizeoutput_3714.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "graphik webfont" , , , "roboto" , "droid sans" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<br />Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14254291271007836270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443605610590015121.post-68215043930494012522019-07-08T19:52:00.001+01:002019-07-08T19:52:54.132+01:00A Drop of Gold - or Grellow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Some of you reading this may or may not know that I am, as well as a jeweller, a fairly passionate knitter. I fell in love with the craft a few years ago - actually as a response to being self-employed and needing to have something to do in the evenings rather than work! It turns out knitting is a whole world of its own with styles and celebrities and trends - and part of that, of course, is colour trends. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A couple of years ago, yellow really had a moment - specifically, yellow and grey, or Grellow. I'm not sure that moment has properly died down but when I started knitting, Grellow was one of The Things that everyone was obsessed with. There were Grellow cardigans, Grellow socks, Grellow mittens, I made a Grellow shawl....you get the picture. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here's the thing though: I'm actually not always a massive fan of grey and yellow together. Yellow, yes. Grey - hmm, sometimes (it can be a little dull....sorry not sorry...). Together? They really do have to be the right shades otherwise they're just too harsh for me. Edging towards bumblebee status. But it is undeniably a classic colour palette that really works and when I stumbled upon this stunning handmade porcelain pendant from<a href="http://roundrabbitextra.bigcartel.com/"> Round Rabbit</a> in my work stash:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I knew that I wanted to try my jeweller's hand at Grellow with it. Not least because I knew it would be a challenge. Firstly, the pendant itself is such a gorgeous contradiction in terms - the intricate nature of the detailing, the delicate almost formality of design and the bright, sunny cheerfulness of the bold yellow. I wanted to keep this feeling - the delicate playful formality that the dragonfly exhibits - and it was very possible that that delicacy could be squashed by putting a bold yellow and grey spin on it. Bear in mind that this pendant is all the more special as Nancy of Round Rabbit no longer makes beads and components. This one is a rare breed. But I think (I hope!) I did her justice:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Of course it's the high contrast between the grey and yellow that can make the colour palette in general work so effectively, so in order to keep this I knew I wanted to soften it with an ombre fading effect (another big knitting trend, coincidentally!). I had a string of variegated grey gemstone faceted rounds (I can't for the life of me remember what stone they are but they are extremely lovely!) that would work well in creating a fading band. I gathered a few other beads - handmade lampwork rondelles in grey, frosted semi-transparent white and deep yolk yellow, vintage German glass rondelles and some of my own handwoven glass {song}beads. They are a really unusual grey - they almost seem to be a shadow grey to me, if that makes any sense. They are frosted and very slightly transparent and extremely lovely. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I've used them between the larger beads in the main band as well so you can see how subtle they are. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">You can see here the depth of the yellows I have used - the lampwork glass rondelles are very slightly deeper than the pendant itself, a rich yolk yellow, and bring such a warmth to the soft and more subtle, delicate greys. There are a couple of flashes of soft but steely pewter - a hand-cast cap and a hook clasp, allowing the necklace to have an adjustable fastening for different length options.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">You can find A Drop of Gold<a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/705106178/a-drop-of-gold-artisan-bohemian-necklace?ref=shop_home_active_1&frs=1"> here</a>. </span></div>
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<br />Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14254291271007836270noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443605610590015121.post-24696516902801284612019-07-01T19:40:00.001+01:002019-07-03T11:48:46.482+01:00Return to work and life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">So here I am, back after rather a gigantic hiatus! I've been busy, growing and raising tiny humans which has been, I am sure no parents will be surprised to learn, hard and wonderful and unexpected and impossible and incredible and mundane and utterly life-changing. If you follow me over on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/songbead/">Instagram</a> or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Songbead/">Facebook</a>, you will have seen a few snaps of my twins (now coming up for 20 months, both crazy and also, how are they not older already because they've been here forever...!). I don't share tons because of course, they can't tell me whether they want me to or not yet, but I can't resist a few here and there. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgC3sKgnOCWs73QSIQBTTf8VOHf8hqAc6zHZgVi8cXjfV7gY0hazDXXHvcYY8SjFI6GYuFN_0LHWS_O0UTvxSda4C7uyukXNK15o5l7pfpxc01dMVUpleQgrTF68rJqeAOpGynsRJLbRal/s1600/7KIDEBEaQ4mddMZ0uwybFA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgC3sKgnOCWs73QSIQBTTf8VOHf8hqAc6zHZgVi8cXjfV7gY0hazDXXHvcYY8SjFI6GYuFN_0LHWS_O0UTvxSda4C7uyukXNK15o5l7pfpxc01dMVUpleQgrTF68rJqeAOpGynsRJLbRal/s400/7KIDEBEaQ4mddMZ0uwybFA.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Here they are, enjoying some Scottish sunshine and sand last week.</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We've also somewhat unexpectedly move house in the last 2 months. In April, our previous landlord (who quite frankly, has been fairly rubbish since we moved into our old flat) gave us notice so they could do 'major renovations'. Whether or not this is a metaphor for 'put the rent up significantly', we had to jump ship and find somewhere new pronto. Happily, we have for once landed well and truly on our feet, and now live in a flat which is not really bigger as such, but is laid out in a much better way for us as a family of 4; has an extra bedroom, open plan kitchen/living room space (which is really great for cooking when it's just me and the babies), outdoor space for playing and most wonderfully of all, an incredible sea view. Like, cross the very small road and there is, in fact, the actual sea (you can see it just behind both of the twins in the photos above). Thank goodness because the moving process itself was fairly grim! We are getting settled - the obligatory unpacked boxes still remain but we'll get to them. Probably. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Another big change that has happened in the last couple of months is that we have finally got some formal childcare in place. We are not amazing for childcare in the UK in my opinion. I don't know all the ins and outs exactly - I definitely do know know the finer details which I very much should do - but there's basically no government funding for childcare until the children are 3. Entirely what you are meant to do as a working woman for the 2+ years once your maternity leave ends, I'm not sure. If you are fortunate you can go down to part-time hours, take a pay cut and use your salary to pay for childcare. Or you can keep your full-time hours and use your salary for full-time childcare. Or you can give up your work, and stay at home with your child or children. Or bribe various family members and close friends to step in and look after your children for free. Hmmm. None of them are exactly amazing options really! And yes, this does affect men too but I think it's safe to say after 20 months in this world that the majority of primary carers (especially after maternity/shared paternal leave is over) are still women. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I am incredibly excited to get back to work (honestly!) and am doing a combination of family and friend childcare and a nanny (somewhat surprisingly, a significantly cheaper and easier option for twins than nursery, at this stage). Our nanny works 5 hours a week and that will go up to 9 come August. It doesn't sound a lot but oh my gosh, those 5 hours are wonderful! I'm still getting into the swing of it as she's only been coming to look after the twins for 6 weeks but it really is a lease of life for me - and therefore for the rest of the family too. Whether they quite realise it or not!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And that extra bedroom in our new flat? It's become my studio. Lots of books and my yarn stash as well, but it mainly houses The Curious Bead Shop (currently on pause whilst I find my feet in our new set up) and Songbead. And when the nanny is here, I make jewellery again! It really is so, so bloody fantastic to be back creating. I've knitted my way through the past 20 months and it has kept me just about sane, but oh my, it's so wonderful to be designing and making and weaving and photographing again. (I'd probably palm off that last one if I had a spare photographer to hand but until that happens, it's down to me!) I can feel that bit of my brain that's been dormant for almost 2 years leap back into action. A bit rusty at times for sure, but it's still there and fair raring to go. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So here are some of my new pieces, most currently listed in etsy, some on their way. It's damn hard to keep any kind of pace - the whole process of selling OOAK (one-of-a-kind) anything is slow and laborious and labour-intensive - no stock pictures here - so I am frustrated that I have pieces of jewellery that don't get photographed for weeks after being made (never mind the editing and listing process which is desperately slow and drawn out at the best of times) but I am getting there. I'd love for you to check out my new work! It has been a true labour of love, each and every piece. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjpJbI8E1A6SO9QwNwKW6CYTD5yyQHGaVuZz-zjuRpmG8s4pe4eO97WSo_o5DBzifRcIeb-oadtQTjrxEjp8VwxEyM9SGNBBxG-Ed5wuacJfkfp3acBjhqVmsQtg8dE_LR_5wN9THuNmQL/s1600/IMG_8608.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjpJbI8E1A6SO9QwNwKW6CYTD5yyQHGaVuZz-zjuRpmG8s4pe4eO97WSo_o5DBzifRcIeb-oadtQTjrxEjp8VwxEyM9SGNBBxG-Ed5wuacJfkfp3acBjhqVmsQtg8dE_LR_5wN9THuNmQL/s640/IMG_8608.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/699949948/whitehaven-handmade-artisan-bead?ref=listings_manager_grid"><span style="font-size: large;">Whitehaven</span></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidln_IQjVPVzsjuBGpcKD_9IZm89uaeMGpx5j763Ktc7Cyjr6_C_8YOYz6Yw29tXSTPhuB_zcEZJ-_-_RpuXQDsPRkm9WSNWfD1tOKc1MJiusj11fNgJ3BXKAT2BNW7nsRxuSNEnHyoVww/s1600/IMG_8624.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidln_IQjVPVzsjuBGpcKD_9IZm89uaeMGpx5j763Ktc7Cyjr6_C_8YOYz6Yw29tXSTPhuB_zcEZJ-_-_RpuXQDsPRkm9WSNWfD1tOKc1MJiusj11fNgJ3BXKAT2BNW7nsRxuSNEnHyoVww/s640/IMG_8624.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/713806675/sea-view-handmade-artisan-bead-bracelet?ref=listings_manager_grid"><span style="font-size: large;">Sea View</span></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAl7W1uhZWuXGAsmku-c64DeUQ_LRkcqZWacvs4F3TKb7AL3tarldcusxJZFEjbD9PMhYL7p9MYyBKbvlkFjLpy7N9eL_LXMbZtlE9CZwflJBNaQp1ALAVkszlMs_LT8Ay0Hcukzis748V/s1600/IMG_8658.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAl7W1uhZWuXGAsmku-c64DeUQ_LRkcqZWacvs4F3TKb7AL3tarldcusxJZFEjbD9PMhYL7p9MYyBKbvlkFjLpy7N9eL_LXMbZtlE9CZwflJBNaQp1ALAVkszlMs_LT8Ay0Hcukzis748V/s640/IMG_8658.jpeg" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/713805317/dipped-handmade-artisan-bead-long-green?ref=listings_manager_grid"><span style="font-size: large;">Dipped</span></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE9AAkZ1BvzOsNqdZOhporBbdkHBd3ocOwCqkuc1vCLpUCTlvkWdykDJmo4GguHNzwFjaQfH-mLGEp8W_JsCJzkYy6g6S8t1ADhOKLoqu4MqZllTcYh8VzMcBi_DiImpmUwJR1zkbxmQzG/s1600/IMG_8792.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE9AAkZ1BvzOsNqdZOhporBbdkHBd3ocOwCqkuc1vCLpUCTlvkWdykDJmo4GguHNzwFjaQfH-mLGEp8W_JsCJzkYy6g6S8t1ADhOKLoqu4MqZllTcYh8VzMcBi_DiImpmUwJR1zkbxmQzG/s640/IMG_8792.jpeg" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Carnival</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7SdM_SpiAa3OK7Z49UaXf9kNgOJDA6rGmGvYMT90G8LCE1EEJi2siHfdMfolVCxP5rqFHZjsrDnOgziJt98w0903fUBpZF9c-5lDfBv_W2QTcBIUoHbuI3c7uk1bAK5IN-7_l2Y9lv-uv/s1600/IMG_8806.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7SdM_SpiAa3OK7Z49UaXf9kNgOJDA6rGmGvYMT90G8LCE1EEJi2siHfdMfolVCxP5rqFHZjsrDnOgziJt98w0903fUBpZF9c-5lDfBv_W2QTcBIUoHbuI3c7uk1bAK5IN-7_l2Y9lv-uv/s640/IMG_8806.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/songbead/listing/704574064/vineyard-handmade-leafy-bead-earrings-in?utm_source=Copy&utm_medium=ListingManager&utm_campaign=Share&utm_term=so.lmsm&share_time=1562150902291">Vineyard</a></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidYeiX58hETIws4570TULEmJsfUkjqGTyWRLkTuVtWh_MiM-86TcxdPkzgLH8m8Jdm73oAw2iHUtrOQxeo3-Nfo-PqBxnwbHUvsh6zI0Q4RgtB9J672I9WqTKofOAOImavecP4vmL3tlOw/s1600/IMG_8812.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidYeiX58hETIws4570TULEmJsfUkjqGTyWRLkTuVtWh_MiM-86TcxdPkzgLH8m8Jdm73oAw2iHUtrOQxeo3-Nfo-PqBxnwbHUvsh6zI0Q4RgtB9J672I9WqTKofOAOImavecP4vmL3tlOw/s640/IMG_8812.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Golden Hour</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo4Te9WBXTw9lAlTwrF73G6YNKNcT7N_xkOfrZZQXd8QcRJitCWEWCo4Tdl8P1_E4Q42GYSf3_M-VeGKL5Mrd9YWVEfxQ1R8K0Z2DxGP826JWM9O46VACEQcl17unatMATKClgFy0d-qyG/s1600/IMG_8827.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo4Te9WBXTw9lAlTwrF73G6YNKNcT7N_xkOfrZZQXd8QcRJitCWEWCo4Tdl8P1_E4Q42GYSf3_M-VeGKL5Mrd9YWVEfxQ1R8K0Z2DxGP826JWM9O46VACEQcl17unatMATKClgFy0d-qyG/s640/IMG_8827.jpeg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/songbead/listing/704578630/portobello-burnished-handmade-artisan?utm_source=Copy&utm_medium=ListingManager&utm_campaign=Share&utm_term=so.lmsm&share_time=1562150875899">Portobello</a></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiowmwc-1ihvCiaGFjYNAR4xOCL8QM8C1WGCtG1GZFwfr9f8PyFUe_7vPmcdynDpjdwXa02slzZzub-z15urQgMwFja2Akx7H8caGwRSQn90NzFahf63um6flOsGUaqerWnQPK1jYwoTF6Z/s1600/IMG_8830.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1201" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiowmwc-1ihvCiaGFjYNAR4xOCL8QM8C1WGCtG1GZFwfr9f8PyFUe_7vPmcdynDpjdwXa02slzZzub-z15urQgMwFja2Akx7H8caGwRSQn90NzFahf63um6flOsGUaqerWnQPK1jYwoTF6Z/s640/IMG_8830.jpeg" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/718182461/harvest-artisan-bohemian-necklace-with?ref=listings_manager_grid"><span style="font-size: large;">Harvest</span></a></td></tr>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">(The real question is, have I been influenced by my new sea views or do I just love turquoise...?)</span></i></div>
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Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14254291271007836270noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443605610590015121.post-32252632119738369102017-10-28T06:10:00.000+01:002017-10-28T06:11:18.084+01:00A quick post - and a Sale for Songbead<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Just a quick post to let you know - in case you haven't spotted - that I'm having a big 25% off sale over in my <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/songbead?ref=l2-shopheader-name">Songbead Etsy shop.</a> This is in preparation for my maternity leave which I'm starting fully on the 1st November. There's so much I can't do already, but wrap and pack jewellery I am still managing, and with the help of my wife, parcels are still making it to the post office :-) My twins are SO heavy now, I'm struggling being on my feet for very long (i.e. minutes!), so it really is getting to the time where I just need to have my feet up, with a pot of tea and my knitting in hand. I've managed to knit up four tiny cardigans so far, 2 pairs of tiny mittens and 4 wee hats so whilst the twinlets certainly don't have a full woolly wardrobe quite yet, I've made a start. Anyone who has any good baby knitting pattern suggestions (nothing too tricky please, I'm still really a novice!), send them over to me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Anyway, on with the sale! The prices are already altered within the shop so there's no need for a coupon code - thankfully. So glad Etsy has introduced this new feature! It is a tiny bit fiddly to set up but so much easier once it's in place. Here are some of the pieces available in the shop now:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ1RhGTMuqaNGFNhHHvuEhyphenhyphenHJTsKE2XzIju-z-aA8SWSHp0WI7mOiUxdzAUB5coJ2fzBWidvMkmZKk1YPpIfi_cp1F3ddHXoFddtFWt-2slKYY7euza0FyJgvUmeZQcc5_qzYRPYB6M1rn/s1600/IMG_7736.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ1RhGTMuqaNGFNhHHvuEhyphenhyphenHJTsKE2XzIju-z-aA8SWSHp0WI7mOiUxdzAUB5coJ2fzBWidvMkmZKk1YPpIfi_cp1F3ddHXoFddtFWt-2slKYY7euza0FyJgvUmeZQcc5_qzYRPYB6M1rn/s640/IMG_7736.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/523187498/miro-handmade-artisan-bead-bracelet-in?ref=shop_home_active_22"><span style="font-size: large;">Miro</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJqWNHjscSiw8thSEt4bSLkmhP4J6hphztCey9MWvLbbQaoSgG5z4tMyxZdbnjXDyFw9l8hCkdDRGyO-MMQSKNikXomN6KvnbY-MKcGVE-qlwBR9tnG6h0JkYTWXz0GytIziqhaX8KlhAn/s1600/IMG_7816.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJqWNHjscSiw8thSEt4bSLkmhP4J6hphztCey9MWvLbbQaoSgG5z4tMyxZdbnjXDyFw9l8hCkdDRGyO-MMQSKNikXomN6KvnbY-MKcGVE-qlwBR9tnG6h0JkYTWXz0GytIziqhaX8KlhAn/s640/IMG_7816.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/537199547/flame-to-ember-handmade-artisan-angel?ref=shop_home_active_23"><span style="font-size: large;">Flame to Ember</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSmexd_gS4cZZwRHJEof0kTHRaExx0sjilRblUp-E_eIiU4RSSZhaNmt3s-rbDiOmkpRJYb3p_e-R4J62csFxmahtE8HXETUhnnN4w1xRiC-B43xfWIUfXGPwWaeK2-cC8e8OO8K54KWv8/s1600/IMG_8302.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSmexd_gS4cZZwRHJEof0kTHRaExx0sjilRblUp-E_eIiU4RSSZhaNmt3s-rbDiOmkpRJYb3p_e-R4J62csFxmahtE8HXETUhnnN4w1xRiC-B43xfWIUfXGPwWaeK2-cC8e8OO8K54KWv8/s640/IMG_8302.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/567748587/crocus-handmade-artisan-bead-necklace-in?ref=shop_home_active_1"><span style="font-size: large;">Crocus</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiblaTKbY01RE5gogmQ_Sj5uetRZTMbgYD3nn7bcac-6vmmidZNcEkvg2aT-bVE2u6UZCPs7rqyqGBIuEpRUn4R5rWVSd80x257b05z4JmrzjIiK7mxnPFPOL_ftmr-Mts3kfLotWMtnMIh/s1600/IMG_8193.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiblaTKbY01RE5gogmQ_Sj5uetRZTMbgYD3nn7bcac-6vmmidZNcEkvg2aT-bVE2u6UZCPs7rqyqGBIuEpRUn4R5rWVSd80x257b05z4JmrzjIiK7mxnPFPOL_ftmr-Mts3kfLotWMtnMIh/s640/IMG_8193.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/545931164/dipped-handmade-artisan-bead-long-royal?ref=shop_home_active_29"><span style="font-size: large;">Dipped</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifKYlQQwLHUtioumU1AFzADF9PFRThyphenhyphen1-XTK6dKv97UA8P63OOnLay5jvLYui6CuHkqXzRujR-GWa5OyQHfw0O8vnXO544IyqES0zz46DrIp7l3KGD617MQZ35GbQq87jWYq3a2TLQuAy6/s1600/IMG_7653.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifKYlQQwLHUtioumU1AFzADF9PFRThyphenhyphen1-XTK6dKv97UA8P63OOnLay5jvLYui6CuHkqXzRujR-GWa5OyQHfw0O8vnXO544IyqES0zz46DrIp7l3KGD617MQZ35GbQq87jWYq3a2TLQuAy6/s640/IMG_7653.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/522983562/polka-handmade-artisan-bead-bracelet?ref=shop_home_active_16"><span style="font-size: large;">Polka</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgc35OkxM5kpZOVIu3XpxWXOtz6nFsIYpqgGv2t71EbDq2SVC8Ho9wqg-IyzEnoTC_gxa7zxRgK6yrGEgXNAkgKYKBEh4bGPfEyGM6FW5Doo1B21RFKEiXVxmyDer562XpuA6tLQxjd53q/s1600/IMG_8282.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgc35OkxM5kpZOVIu3XpxWXOtz6nFsIYpqgGv2t71EbDq2SVC8Ho9wqg-IyzEnoTC_gxa7zxRgK6yrGEgXNAkgKYKBEh4bGPfEyGM6FW5Doo1B21RFKEiXVxmyDer562XpuA6tLQxjd53q/s640/IMG_8282.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/551796088/second-spring-handmade-artisan-bead?ref=shop_home_active_15"><span style="font-size: large;">Second Spring</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/553948474/pecan-copper-handmade-artisan-bead?ref=shop_home_active_3"><span style="font-size: large;">Pecan Copper</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/539926371/hoot-handmade-artisan-bead-owl-necklace?ref=shop_home_active_11"><span style="font-size: large;">Hoot</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/537874953/mariposa-handmade-artisan-bead-earrings?ref=shop_home_active_6"><span style="font-size: large;">Mariposa</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRgI34Rf5ZyEU1WG5_c3eAjPI3PXui_Tc95QR-DDglLFA-lssPOdZ0FEU7tW2SMG9kDFBfI9wtWBfY60shyRXbyDO6bx_wmpoqdCtLCmOqLQtCQsCMFk9lNcIPqKfk1KYQ4Ihkhgglzln/s1600/IMG_8294+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRgI34Rf5ZyEU1WG5_c3eAjPI3PXui_Tc95QR-DDglLFA-lssPOdZ0FEU7tW2SMG9kDFBfI9wtWBfY60shyRXbyDO6bx_wmpoqdCtLCmOqLQtCQsCMFk9lNcIPqKfk1KYQ4Ihkhgglzln/s640/IMG_8294+2.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/567746407/evening-glow-handmade-artisan-bead?ref=shop_home_active_2"><span style="font-size: large;">Evening Glow</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And remember, as always, I offer free worldwide shipping with all orders, along with the 25% discount which runs until the end of October. After that, my shop will be closed for several months - so if you have birthdays or Christmas plans coming up, or just need your <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/songbead?ref=l2-shopheader-name">Songbead</a> fix, then you've got until the end of the month to stock up! </span></div>
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Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14254291271007836270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443605610590015121.post-40851699396926226642017-10-04T09:06:00.001+01:002017-10-28T17:21:22.611+01:00Where have I been?<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Where have I been? It's reasonable question, especially if you don't follow me on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/songbead/">Instagram</a> or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Songbead/">Facebook</a>. If you do follow me there (or know me In Real Life of course!) then you may have an inkling(!) - for the most part over the past 7.5 months, I have been very busy growing not one, but <u>two</u> tiny humans. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Finally, after almost 4.5 years, our babies are almost ready to meet us - not that I have had a 4.5 year pregnancy I hasten to add (quite frankly, the usual length has been serious hard work and troublesome enough!) but a rather series of fertility issues with me took a long time to diagnose and then help which meant that it has taken us a long time to get to this stage. IVF at the beginning of this year was tough but amazingly, successful first time, and for that I am hugely and inexpressibly grateful. I appreciate that in that way, I am one of the lucky ones. Infertility sisters and brothers - we go through so much, and you have my heart. Our struggle has been short compared to many, and you are incredible warriors - never forget that. Infertility is one of the hardest things I've ever struggled through - with a twin pregnancy being by far the most challenging thing I have EVER done physically! - and it seems almost unreal that in just over 5 weeks, we will become parents and we will become a family of four. Incredible. I almost feel like I'm jinxing it by writing that, with so many obstacles we've had to deal with over the past few years - but every appointment I've been told the babies are doing well and I am trusting that my midwives and doctors know their stuff.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">As I inferred above, it's been a really tough pregnancy. The babes are doing well, which is by far the main thing, but for my part it's been a slightly complicated and continually physically challenging pregnancy, and I am more than ready for this part of the journey to come to an end - although babies, please stay in for a few more weeks! For this reason, work has been incredibly tough for me this year. I'm self-employed of course, and as most of you will appreciate, this means no sick pay, no annual leave, no work-supported maternity leave....thankfully, with a load of support from my amazing wife, I have got through this year with a limited but not too inefficient service (I hope!) at <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/thecuriousbeadshop">The Curious Bead Shop </a>(now closed as I prepare for my maternity leave) but a woefully patchy presence in terms of my jewellery over at <a href="http://songbead./">Songbead.</a> And precisely zero blog posts this year! Well, I figured that I really should write something before my two babies make an appearance. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7tZZ-Zw4jG4FRwIuCWnzcTsEbbdXmVRo_iULn6qRwrAzAfb9IK4g_qpPCvYo19HXgXdnMKP2dB2AXr3xmSqZ8EPTXmvxXk7YxqWPoyWbR5aCNTLfBWPSdV_0En6ugKU_cRDXYcVOZPbB9/s1600/Pregnancy+-+twin+bump+growing%2521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7tZZ-Zw4jG4FRwIuCWnzcTsEbbdXmVRo_iULn6qRwrAzAfb9IK4g_qpPCvYo19HXgXdnMKP2dB2AXr3xmSqZ8EPTXmvxXk7YxqWPoyWbR5aCNTLfBWPSdV_0En6ugKU_cRDXYcVOZPbB9/s640/Pregnancy+-+twin+bump+growing%2521.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>My brain isn't up to working out the precise weeks but I think I've got these bump shots basically in order. The main one is the most recent of course - me 2 weeks ago, at 30 weeks. Where are these babies going to go?!</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I won't bore you with all the details of the pregnancy - suffice to say, I am still feeling nauseous at 7.5 months (and on 2 anti-sickness meds still), I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes 6 weeks ago, and I have been absolutely exhausted from beginning to - well, not end as we're not there yet, but I'm still exhausted and I don't see that letting up anytime soon! (Yep, I know I will be seriously sleep-deprived when the babies appear - but I won't be TWIN PREGNANCY EXHAUSTED, which is a blissful thought, honestly). And of course, with my enormous bump, I am seriously uncomfortable all the time too. But just a few weeks left to go - we can do it, little bugs!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Because I felt the bead shop really had to be a priority, as I said above, it's my jewellery that has suffered. There's been a serious lack of creativity in this pregnancy, aside from the obvious(!); heartburn and reflux put singing out the window even when the most intense period of nausea and vomiting passed around 4 months, and Songbead really took a back seat aside from 2 or 3 bursts of making throughout the year. I've missed it dreadfully, and whilst I'm hopefully going to have all of my outstanding Curious orders out by next week, I am hoping to give myself a week or two of making once they are all out. It feels like it's good for my brain - I can't imagine there will be a lot of beading once there's three of me, initially at least, so I would love to get a little more done now. Good for the soul, too. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This past weekend, my wife was working, so I took the opportunity to sit down with the beads and do a little creating. I have a bunch of overdue custom work - sorry folks! See above for Pregnancy Problems and energy issues... - which I managed to cover about half of, but I also managed to make a few new pieces for the shop. I find with custom work, that's the best way - my brain has to work in a different way so it's good to intersperse it with new work as well. Here are some of the pieces I managed to create:</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinf1HpyirCYsnBcG-7SOWNlFW606q9Ls87tKqSaeS8wa4C7E4XJcFh_nUc6Yw0PH2Ya269o_8IX1oyDsssnq5EukzPbvWY1G3J9tndV_pJITN3uxKM1luA5ywtB_M4NUgUgMhQ7olzOa7w/s1600/IMG_8227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinf1HpyirCYsnBcG-7SOWNlFW606q9Ls87tKqSaeS8wa4C7E4XJcFh_nUc6Yw0PH2Ya269o_8IX1oyDsssnq5EukzPbvWY1G3J9tndV_pJITN3uxKM1luA5ywtB_M4NUgUgMhQ7olzOa7w/s640/IMG_8227.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Drop of Honey (SOLD)</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/562413835/poppy-field-handmade-artisan-bead?ref=shop_home_active_2">Poppy Field</a></i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisDxBWftypn7txII6hdTG0sN_D5p-y7ptQoKq4mfCUHB5-RxhbqdMvFXs5BrJYhr_f4koxPRtLjM6YbM26BszTvzgcKRWMoEvbdahd2iUeWAdCVsXMS3mvRciI9-AQA15yoNcTai3ot0u1/s1600/IMG_8218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisDxBWftypn7txII6hdTG0sN_D5p-y7ptQoKq4mfCUHB5-RxhbqdMvFXs5BrJYhr_f4koxPRtLjM6YbM26BszTvzgcKRWMoEvbdahd2iUeWAdCVsXMS3mvRciI9-AQA15yoNcTai3ot0u1/s640/IMG_8218.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/562054715/petroleum-handmade-artisan-bead-earrings?ref=shop_home_active_7">Petroleum</a> (SOLD)</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Woodland Walk (SOLD)</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPOhgmrEOFj4jYKPCX4qyO5zJeId00H5P9HbNk1vYIxDR18wRnDuMK3cIQp67_7BTwzRhvHIB3HkxBwpuJ7vXuggmxxONRo_ZoBj3znQKU6jZXXOTCSj4i70Qoi9svtezbjxm3SvQ1b2Qa/s1600/IMG_8216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPOhgmrEOFj4jYKPCX4qyO5zJeId00H5P9HbNk1vYIxDR18wRnDuMK3cIQp67_7BTwzRhvHIB3HkxBwpuJ7vXuggmxxONRo_ZoBj3znQKU6jZXXOTCSj4i70Qoi9svtezbjxm3SvQ1b2Qa/s640/IMG_8216.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/562048489/foxglove-unique-artisan-bead-earrings-in?ref=shop_home_active_9">Foxglove</a> (SOLD)</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXJrzNK68kk9bbB-JyyjbGWcFRmXQG0DihA-Imw0LlSHk-Y7lsgrwRjzuSXKUjPiII4sl03F-Rrpz9lxdPABXvsxyAPzWppksZusUFOP-890m0u_XHax379Q735lz1hB5nJzRmrWI9tAhy/s1600/IMG_8267.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXJrzNK68kk9bbB-JyyjbGWcFRmXQG0DihA-Imw0LlSHk-Y7lsgrwRjzuSXKUjPiII4sl03F-Rrpz9lxdPABXvsxyAPzWppksZusUFOP-890m0u_XHax379Q735lz1hB5nJzRmrWI9tAhy/s640/IMG_8267.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/548424260/gypsy-rose-handmade-artisan-bead?ref=shop_home_active_5">Gypsy Rose</a> (SOLD)</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR0tMV6Gju2BpYsbz3Z7_wEAdtbLVh1KSLnRZLboiR-zvWkCp-WG4bIl6JW3AfXlLcvwT4CUic4SGqe_WZT3HA1dMC2PNLIXfE-Nk3HApq1Z9xrF8pqaasIUCOUhHIjdLiWVVDh3eUNCJd/s1600/IMG_8230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR0tMV6Gju2BpYsbz3Z7_wEAdtbLVh1KSLnRZLboiR-zvWkCp-WG4bIl6JW3AfXlLcvwT4CUic4SGqe_WZT3HA1dMC2PNLIXfE-Nk3HApq1Z9xrF8pqaasIUCOUhHIjdLiWVVDh3eUNCJd/s640/IMG_8230.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/548243702/in-the-hedgerow-handmade-artisan-bead?ref=shop_home_active_10">In the Hedgerow</a> (SOLD)</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirAcqMGUyeGFOA4qhqVI31_OHOpyatfHYezf5ZH-SGvhM13zrpWAxw_uSunn6mxt-ual5mDdWXsFkwRQFpIKLk9UIySg8ujdRgFYunnuv6YKPdNS4a9tlX4usvUAOFgM-MFxnOFmCDgNyd/s1600/IMG_8254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirAcqMGUyeGFOA4qhqVI31_OHOpyatfHYezf5ZH-SGvhM13zrpWAxw_uSunn6mxt-ual5mDdWXsFkwRQFpIKLk9UIySg8ujdRgFYunnuv6YKPdNS4a9tlX4usvUAOFgM-MFxnOFmCDgNyd/s640/IMG_8254.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/562219125/flutterby-lane-handmade-artisan-bead?ref=shop_home_active_6">Flutterby Lane</a> (SOLD)</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">These are just a few I've managed to get into the shop over the past few weeks so do hop over to <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/songbead?ref=l2-shopheader-name">my shop</a> and take a look. The plan is to keep Songbead open until the end of October but as there is every chance that the twins could decide that they want to become early, that's not a guarantee. So if you have any purchases in mind for now - or now that it's October it's surely safe to say, potentially for Christmas?! - then I'd get a shifty on. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And of course, watch this space for some teeny tiny baby faces coming soon........I honestly and truly cannot wait to meet them! </span></div>
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Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14254291271007836270noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443605610590015121.post-24810802181946044302016-12-07T12:55:00.001+00:002016-12-07T12:55:32.577+00:00O Tannenbaum<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMflKtS8rNYa2f6wBZXqeg1i01uqwCNtwqN0JYKAeNpQsv_7kSgZ8FkDB0_E4PGm4tqlmGls70ErUDfEWk2tjq_5o4uaAKMlLPP5LPAxD2Hz26c0py1dQcgOcbXMV9i78MRuFoekJhrcuA/s1600/IMG_6800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMflKtS8rNYa2f6wBZXqeg1i01uqwCNtwqN0JYKAeNpQsv_7kSgZ8FkDB0_E4PGm4tqlmGls70ErUDfEWk2tjq_5o4uaAKMlLPP5LPAxD2Hz26c0py1dQcgOcbXMV9i78MRuFoekJhrcuA/s640/IMG_6800.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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A quiet combination of artisan beads, larimar and wood - each element reflecting the next.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq8APHoD0fpkIj7XpXDn-jcTM7K11QaTWtaNDVBpg-H8_aOczg1uvg2V8R7ifRmQcyYZl2kKyVOpi0Q0kJ72dJI-nS3vtJPorfrAiYsfY9WwcyuUrPxrZJ6xKjT1pdEYaoO1LK-wYQwbNF/s1600/IMG_6801.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq8APHoD0fpkIj7XpXDn-jcTM7K11QaTWtaNDVBpg-H8_aOczg1uvg2V8R7ifRmQcyYZl2kKyVOpi0Q0kJ72dJI-nS3vtJPorfrAiYsfY9WwcyuUrPxrZJ6xKjT1pdEYaoO1LK-wYQwbNF/s640/IMG_6801.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Glossy, smooth yet rustic wooden nuggets echo the branches of the regal fir tree of the clasp, and the darkness of the wood is picked up in the organic larimar slices, which also reflect the cool blue-turquoise tones of the button.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU8hmLil3ynVxt3CTvtnDnFb34sO_SAWutefSbg6maYR0p0Ua4TD4n6fEEbzyR1OiJlmgueOb145u17__bi3WfYua2leAIweomBNxFCukbQgMEXQ5Y9q5RN1h1AcsE1kzk4-jjRM3lBCRD/s1600/IMG_6803.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU8hmLil3ynVxt3CTvtnDnFb34sO_SAWutefSbg6maYR0p0Ua4TD4n6fEEbzyR1OiJlmgueOb145u17__bi3WfYua2leAIweomBNxFCukbQgMEXQ5Y9q5RN1h1AcsE1kzk4-jjRM3lBCRD/s640/IMG_6803.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Linked together with the grounding quality of the forest olive green - the tiny seed beads springing from the handwoven round, running through and closing the clasp and connecting the beads themselves. </div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/483789510/o-tannenbaum-handmade-christmas-fir-tree">Available in my Etsy shop now</a>. </div>
<br />Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14254291271007836270noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443605610590015121.post-55668024733386608102016-12-01T09:15:00.001+00:002016-12-01T09:46:23.405+00:002016 Mini-Retrospective - of Jewellery and Myself<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I have been rootling around in my pictures from the past year, partly in preparation for doing a proper retrospective of 2016 at the very end of the year, and partly just for curiosity's sake. I thought I'd share a few here - a bit early for a proper retrospective, but for one reason or another, I kind of feel like most of my 'moving forward' work - the kind of work where you feel like what you are creating is part of a progression; a continuum - was done at the beginning of the year. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It makes sense when I look back on this year. We are struggling (and have been for 3+) with infertility, and in the summer I was diagnosed - after a real struggle to make myself heard with the medical profession - with pretty extreme polycystic ovary syndrome and as hypo-thyroid. Although there was a sense of relief with both of these diagnoses, there has also been a sense of unravelling, of life becoming somehow structureless, and the waiting waiting WAITING for my thyroid to finally come under control and to a level where I can go ahead with IVF. It is fair to say if the first half of this year was filled with increasingly-hopeless desperation (not all of which has passed, I freely admit), the second half of this year - post-diagnosis, and especially since it became clear that my thyroid was worse and more unpredictable than initially thought - I've felt scattered and disorganised, and fairly aimless in many ways. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So that's where I'm at, and I'm sure if you look back at my social media presence - here and on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Songbead/">Facebook</a> in particular - that it's been sporadic. It's just me doing it after all, and when I've had a week getting thyroid results moving in the opposite direction to the one in which it's supposed to, and therefore further away from IVF - which is after all, still an unknown quantity - it's been terribly hard to motivate myself beyond that - at times, really impossible. Hope is a flickering candle which does go out at times for me. That's a struggle. Not only to cope without that essential light, but to somehow find a way to re-egnite it for myself. That's what I've been dealing with continually this year - each day I have to heave off the suffocating weight of infertility and childlessness to get up and get on - and some days that's easier than others. I'm sure if you have been through this or something similar, you will know exactly what I mean. You have my heart, you brave and dear and <i>resilient</i> warriors (even when this is the last thing that you feel), who keep on going, even when all you have that day is a thread of smoke leading up from your candle. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Who knows what 2017 holds, but this strange limbo in which I find myself needs to hold more space for my own creativity. For music - also completely gone from my life since the summer. For creating. These pieces which I'm sharing with you here all date from the first part of this year, but I see that forward-motion within them - that sense of progression that has forsaken me (or perhaps I've forsaken it?) latterly this year. Here's to more of this - not just in 2017, but even to claw some back this last month of the year, some of my own creative normality, would be a huge blessing. It starts with me, I know - it starts with my own intention. I just need to find the space to allow myself that intention - and the light. Always the light. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzbc19v-etbfAbnXiJ2Wg66s-kwmWh5zHwJOuoBaOryvtCM1kRpdxqRPJWs4_6OYG09PAF_gE7GyPug3nzIAQaxPT12pdopMQHPMyP4IGhcVI67GIydolwpq13qvqRmyzuuDe8opPy8sfs/s1600/il_570xN.917873307_3x25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzbc19v-etbfAbnXiJ2Wg66s-kwmWh5zHwJOuoBaOryvtCM1kRpdxqRPJWs4_6OYG09PAF_gE7GyPug3nzIAQaxPT12pdopMQHPMyP4IGhcVI67GIydolwpq13qvqRmyzuuDe8opPy8sfs/s640/il_570xN.917873307_3x25.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Songbead/photos/a.171117379649266.40648.125801497514188/994848740609455/?type=3&theater">Colour Me Purple</a></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This first piece that I'm sharing was I think the first time I used one of <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/SoulSilver?ref=ss_profile">Sally Soul Silver's</a> new triangle beads. These, along with her tabs, have been HUGELY inspiring to me this year. I turn to them with most bracelets that I make. The shape is just such a natural connector between a single and double strands - one of my favourite bracelet forms (and you'll see that in so many of my bracelets this year when I do a proper retrospective here later on). I also find that they sit perfectly on one of my own handwoven rondelles - a new shape from me this year - which is terribly satisfying. I'll be interested to count up just how many pieces have had this combination this year! I remember making this piece and thinking 'yes'. This works. This is me. This is something new, somehow. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>(I should say now, I'm not expecting you to necessarily see something 'new' in any of these pieces, or feel that they represent my best work of this year. I just know that they are all little pivots for me - significant cogs in the machine. Tangible signposts when I look back on the year.)</i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYTCcfmdb92hvFLkvBba5OUBuvD-YQIu4k_x5qJzjuCo6rT1-T1hAYVAu617iR5Zfysyl4lRyOdeSu1CTJd_3UKCuJBTWuuLH_XaTHBup9XQFetvrp3WKv8zVg_tAKMfpC7cuvhRsG9wIX/s640/il_570xN.921159378_54t3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Songbead/photos/a.171117379649266.40648.125801497514188/997569790337350/?type=3&theater">Florida Sunset </a></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here's another bracelet which you can definitely draw a direct line from Colour Me Purple to. Another theme with the pieces I consider my best and most significant this year, is the materials I've used. They've contained more of a mix of media than some of the others - handmade beads and Czech glass, yes, but also gemstones, pearls, vintage acrylic and glass, mixed-metals - and here, some fibre-coated copper wire (<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/WoolyWireEtc">Wooly Wire</a>) which I'd been hoarding for literally years. Different shapes, textures and colours - all contrasting yet all (to me) harmonising perfectly. In fact, when digging around on FB to find out when I made these I found I had this to say:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">'When I'm working with different materials, often individual elements seem to have their own character. Whether it's the colour, texture, shape or a little of everything, they bring their own little personality to the table and it's part of my job - a super-fun part! - to combine these elements together and tell a story with them.'</span></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYTCcfmdb92hvFLkvBba5OUBuvD-YQIu4k_x5qJzjuCo6rT1-T1hAYVAu617iR5Zfysyl4lRyOdeSu1CTJd_3UKCuJBTWuuLH_XaTHBup9XQFetvrp3WKv8zVg_tAKMfpC7cuvhRsG9wIX/s1600/il_570xN.921159378_54t3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This was about Colour Me Purple specifically, but it holds true to each of these pieces, and more.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw7VsIvcZxKXU9qVC06HUNVOb2qIKpLbvayddiz5Zqbo-CmywdniZu0Nf6-nIEMNN6EzwF-ZmPQkbLe15xiVcaLg5qoY7ELzQuu8MeQhU2psjqJgRVPBwZKkqO6v0hXQpEKTFZkLKejp0Q/s1600/il_570xN.928861904_7o7q.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw7VsIvcZxKXU9qVC06HUNVOb2qIKpLbvayddiz5Zqbo-CmywdniZu0Nf6-nIEMNN6EzwF-ZmPQkbLe15xiVcaLg5qoY7ELzQuu8MeQhU2psjqJgRVPBwZKkqO6v0hXQpEKTFZkLKejp0Q/s640/il_570xN.928861904_7o7q.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Songbead/photos/a.171117379649266.40648.125801497514188/1007306336030362/?type=3&theater">Gather Ye Rosebuds</a></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This last piece (for today) contains none of <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/SoulSilver?ref=ss_profile">Sally's</a> beads but rather the lampwork glass is all from<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/helenjewellery"> Helen Chalmers</a>, another lampwork artist whose work I turn to again and again. Her sense of colour is a continual inspiration - I adore colour of course, and love working with it but I find Helen's beads always push me that little bit further. That little pop of yellow in her Moroccan- or Gaudi- or just Helen-inspired tile design on the lentil, led me to <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/somethingtodobeads">Claire's</a> rose bud which for me, just *makes* this piece. The fragility of the crazed and torn petals, formed in delicate yet hard porcelain. Or is it those spiky, sticky freshwater pearls, another resounding theme from my jewellery this year? They definitely add something key here - organic, rustic, natural; each one unapologetically <i>different </i>from the last. Perhaps the rose is simply the perfect bridge between Helen's glossy, smooth, vibrantly organic beads and the pale nubbliness of the stick pearls. And of course, there's always so much texture and colour saturation in my own handwoven glass. The final touch - two vintage tin hand-formed caps from <a href="http://loreleieurtojewelry.indiemade.com/catalog/tin-snippets">Lorelei Eurto,</a> around my rose-pink {song}bead. The only spot of cool colour in this piece. Needed, I think.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I'll be back with more a more thorough jewellery retrospective when the year is actually over. But until then, I have my December creative contributions to make! I'm closing this post feeling inspired.</span></div>
<br />Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14254291271007836270noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443605610590015121.post-10580738882987673402016-11-30T12:47:00.002+00:002016-11-30T13:07:34.514+00:00Christmas Art, Craft and Design Fair this weekend<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJCqghHNvdoybCKJZZoftIDFA4QGwZVSZcXY3USFJUP-3mto7xYig3sI0TCpiOfiT8a9gEs1M4i6qi8yPRweSbtI1vKJtI8ur07_2CG8x0bWz7g9BTDdVZL14A_xpGD7vaYFbKpJPIb1aB/s1600/14915545_875155705953404_878761740130007901_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJCqghHNvdoybCKJZZoftIDFA4QGwZVSZcXY3USFJUP-3mto7xYig3sI0TCpiOfiT8a9gEs1M4i6qi8yPRweSbtI1vKJtI8ur07_2CG8x0bWz7g9BTDdVZL14A_xpGD7vaYFbKpJPIb1aB/s640/14915545_875155705953404_878761740130007901_n.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Coming up this weekend! Loads of amazing artisans will be there with a gorgeous selection of handmade goods. Do Christmas the right way - support handmade and shop local.<a href="https://www.facebook.com/3d2dCraftandDesignFairs/"> At The Assembly Rooms on George Street (Edinburgh)</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here are a few of the pieces I'll have on my stand (unless they are snagged from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/songbead?ref=hdr_shop_menu">my Etsy shop</a> first...!):</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/495573497/honeydukes-handmade-freshwater-pearl-and">Honeydukes</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/495574571/dipped-handmade-artisan-bead-ceramic">Dipped</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Perched</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/481599718/berriful-handmade-freshwater-pearl-and"><span style="font-size: large;">Berriful</span></a></div>
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<br />Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14254291271007836270noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443605610590015121.post-55365616386660669532016-11-29T00:08:00.004+00:002016-11-29T00:08:51.311+00:00A couple of the new pieces in the shop...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">I had a bit of a photography session this morning - still quite a bit more to go under the lens, but the mission has begun! I am going to be sharing them here with you this week - and there will be more to come as the week goes on and I get back to the camera. Still time to snag your perfect Songbead piece in time for the festivities! </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">You can also shop with me in person this coming weekend at <a href="http://www.3d2d.co.uk/dates.html">The Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh</a> with 3d2d - always a really great event - and in fact, I have a couple of tickets to give away! If you'd like to be in with the chance of winning them, then leave a comment below. I'll perhaps do something more official over on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Songbead/?ref=bookmarks">my Facebook page</a> tomorrow or Wednesday but I'll make sure to put any blog comments into the hat too :-)</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/481599718/berriful-handmade-freshwater-pearl-and?ref=shop_home_active_10">Berriful</a></span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Graphik Web', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">I couldn't come up with a title for this piece for ages - it contains so much of what I love about making jewellery; artisan-made beads, pearls, pressed glass, so much colour in so many of my favourite saturated vintage-inspired tones...in the end, I had to follow my colour love and go with my whimsically made up word 'Berriful' because those berry tones are really speaking to me, especially at this time of year! Perfect with a pop of turquoise. I've combined an artisan-made turquoise ceramic house with two of my own handwoven glass beads in contrasting purples with some gorgeous dyed freshwater pearls in rich and juicy burgundy (dare I say marsala?!) and beautifully rustic pressed glass chunks. I also used my 'end of day' process to create a short extender chain - a pile of beads left over from many hours of bead-weaving - to create a colourful backdrop for the larger beads.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/481685586/night-vision-handmade-artisan-bead?ref=shop_home_active_2">Night Vision</a></span></td></tr>
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I'll let you in on a secret - these are so-called because someone on Facebook said they looked like peas and carrots. Not quite what I had in mind when I created them but I can totally see what she means...! <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Graphik Web', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">Gorgeous handmade ceramic drops in a vibrant yet rustic orange hang from a pair of my handwoven glass rounds in a pale celadon-sage green. The ceramic drops seem to have been top-dipped in burnished gold - elegant and slightly decadent whilst still bohemian and earthy. bronze floral caps separate the ceramic and glass elements and the earrings hang from my own hand-formed oxidised sterling silver earwires, perfect for sensitive ears.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Graphik Web', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">There are several more new pieces which hit <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/songbead?ref=l2-shopheader-name">the shop </a>yesterday so do <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/songbead?ref=l2-shopheader-name">hop over and take a peek</a>!</span></div>
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<br />Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14254291271007836270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443605610590015121.post-15299344690176019052016-11-06T07:00:00.000+00:002016-11-06T09:56:43.939+00:00Stacked Earrings Challenge - Chapter 5<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5536080001391941586" itemprop="description articleBody" style="line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 636px;">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><span style="font-size: large;">Hello! Goodness me, it's been a while since the <a href="http://songbeads.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/stacked-earrings-challenge-chapter-4.html">previous chapter of this stacked earrings adventure</a> but we are back again, with <a href="http://expostfactojewelry.blogspot.co.uk/">Heidi</a>'s bead selection. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">This exchange is the brain-child of Swedish jewellery designer-maker,</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"> </span><a href="http://www.beadingbymalindekoning.blogspot.se/" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; text-decoration: none;">Malin de Koning</a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">, who invited </span><a href="http://expostfactojewelry.blogspot.co.uk/" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; text-decoration: none;">Heidi Post</a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">,</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"> </span><a href="http://beadyeyedbunny.blogspot.co.uk/" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; text-decoration: none;">Leah Curtis</a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"> </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">and</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"> </span><a href="http://www.somethingtodowithyourhands.com/" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; text-decoration: none;">Claire Lockwood</a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"> and myself to join her. Here's the lowdown in Malin's own words:</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><i><span style="color: blue;">"The idea is that I give each of us the same set of beads. Beads that I believe would be nice to use in earrings. Nothing exclusive, and no art beads. Just a group of different beads that I myself believe can be used in fun and interesting ways in earrings in a stacked style.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><i><span style="color: blue;"> I am longing to see how we all use the same things but in different ways. I am thinking we could all make at least one pair of earrings, but hopefully more. And that we are free to add our own extra beads and/or other components, if we at least use three (3) of the beads from my set in each design."</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Since Malin began this challenge back in January 2015, we've taken it in turns to send out little curations of beads, and all turning them into our own creations. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">It's been so fascinating seeing not only what people have in their stash, but what they choose - how they curate these little bead collections. I freely admit that my selection (last time) was more about assembling an interesting grouping of beads, rather than gathering together items for specific designs. I kind of think this adds something to the design process though - not least the fact that we all start nearer the same point when turning to the bead collection. I wonder if the other designers did the same? </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><span style="font-size: large;">Anyway, back to this round of the challenge. Here's Heidi's lovely curation (picture courtesy of Malin):</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's interesting looking at this collection here again, whole. You'll see below but I've stuck with a fairly muted, soothing colour-scheme in my creations - and I'm interested to note that, despite there being a fair quantity of coral/orange in Heidi's wee group, I've not used any of it - despite it often being a 'go-to' colour for me when designing. Instead, I've stuck to a tonal palette ranging from mint greens to cool blues to warm purples - nothing too contrasting, nothing too clashing. Fairly unusual for me, but I'm pleased with what I created! See if you agree...</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Anyway, here's what I came up with:</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/489959591/peacock-handmade-artisan-bead-earrings?ref=listing-shop-header-3">Peacock</a></span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">First of all, these long, elegant drops. I've used the peacock-silver biwa pearl discs and the moon-blue faceted rondelles here, connected with some gorgeous fancy chain in a co-ordinating gunmetal dark silver. You may think that those are the only one of Heidi's beads that I have used here - but no! You see those little handwoven rondelle beads? Inside are some of the little wooden discs - top left of the bead collection picture. When I saw them in Heidi's selection, I couldn't resist seeing if I could bead around them - and yes I could. Which leads me onto these studs...</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Not technically stacked earrings, but I wanted to share them here as they came from Heidi's beads - each stud contains one of her tiny natural wood discs and I love them! They are about 10mm across in width when fully beaded. If anyone knows a source for these discs, message me - I'd love to make more. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/476461556/in-the-fires-handmade-bead-earrings-in?ref=listing-shop-header-2">In the Fires</a></span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Next, a pair in soothing pale violet - almost like cape amethyst - and minty green. I was so pleased to find these Scorched Earth droppers in my stash - how perfectly do the colours go here? Both pairs of discs and the tiny flower caps are from Heidi. I just adore Petra's glazing work here - the way both base colours have so many other colours flashing in them. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/476463872/roundhouse-handmade-bead-earrings-in?ref=shop_home_active_1">Roundhouse </a></span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">These earrings are the cute shorties of the bunch. More of the pretty mind green spacers from Heidi, little wooden plum-purple cogs and some beautiful transparent glass rounds with deepest aubergine swirls throughout - topped off with some of my tiny handwoven rounds in dark pewter. I like the flashes of copper wire here and how they contrast with my hand-formed oxidised silver earwires.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/489961317/grafitti-handmade-bead-earrings-in-mint?ref=listing-shop-header-1">Graffiti</a></span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Lastly, these long elegant chaps. Glass rounds and violet gemstone chips from Heidi - and beautiful long porcelain drops from Round Rabbit. I love how the graffiti-style decoration on the rounds is echoed in Nancy's glazing. I purchased these drops in a 'grab bag' from Round Rabbit and I admit when I saw them, I knew I would struggle to use them in their gorgeous earthy olive-brownness - a lovely evocative colour, but not one I work with often. However, I started with the two upper beads and then just knew that I had to hunt down these drops to go with them as the perfect earthy foil to Heidi's beads' bright and bold colourfulness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And so that's it for this challenge - we've come full circle, each one of us having sent out a grouping of beads now. Who knows if we'll go round again....I've so enjoyed each of these challenges - and whilst we've taken our time with each round, that's been nice - no pressure to create things to deadline that we may or may not be satisfied with. I hope you've enjoyed following along with us! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now hop over to my friends' blogs to see what they created with exactly the same materials:</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.beadingbymalindekoning.blogspot.se/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Malin de Koning</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.somethingtodowithyourhands.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Claire Lockwood</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://expostfactojewelry.blogspot.co.uk/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Heidi Post</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://beadyeyedbunny.blogspot.co.uk/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Leah Curtis</span></a></div>
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Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14254291271007836270noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443605610590015121.post-81567137702271976342016-10-01T08:04:00.003+01:002016-10-01T08:14:11.447+01:00Speckles are so hot right now<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "graphik web" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">In the fibre world, 'speckles are so hot right now' is a familiar hashtag that you will see attached to artisan-dyed yarns - those amazing creatures which have been through a long and loving process of saturated dye baths, followed up by a flicked paint-brush splattering of multi-coloured speckles. Every time I see this tag on a beautiful skein of artisan yarn, I am so very reminded of my own end-of-day beads - and so this little bracelet is an homage to those lovely skeins. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "graphik web" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bead-weaving and knitting actually have a vast amount in common - not least the very ordered and almost pixilated nature of their construction - and my end-of-day beads really show this off perfectly - each orb is constructed from 96 individual 2mm glass beads, each one separate and distinct yet coming together to form an almost perfect sphere, with the help of nylon, a tiny needle and a steady hand. I've combined these burgundy-based speckled rounds with a gorgeous artisan lampwork bicone - this pale blue bead has an ancient-inspired feel to it - and a hand-formed chain of stainless steel, nylon and Japanese glass in a beautiful sea foam green - not forgetting a smattering of beautiful burgundy freshwater pearls. A real one-of-a-kind piece. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Find me - and this bracelet! - today and tomorrow at <a href="http://artmarkets.co.uk/york">The Art Market York </a>at York Racecourse. Open 1st and 2nd of October (this weekend!) from 10am - 4pm. </b></i></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "graphik web" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: left;">A note about the {song}beads in this bracelet - they began as some of my very special 'end of day' beads. These are each totally unique. Borrowing from a very old glass-working tradition, I gather the loose beads from the end of any [song}bead weaving session, and rather than tidy them away, I create a unique mix of seed beads, and stitch up little beads with these 'bead soups'. I love letting serendipity and chance take a part in my creative process like this! </span></div>
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Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14254291271007836270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443605610590015121.post-27841241355085328502016-06-13T22:05:00.000+01:002016-06-14T09:07:44.656+01:00Some news and some jewellery...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hello all! No posts for a while, where have I been, yada yada ya.....BORING - you don't want me to recite the usual spiel, so I won't. More importantly, I'm back on the blog now, and sharing a bit of news and a few new pieces of jewellery.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In my previous post from about his time last month, I mentioned that I'd taken up swimming again. It's safe to say that I'm still going strong! A couple of days after I wrote that post, I signed up to Swim 22 - a charity swimathon for <a href="https://swim22.diabetes.org.uk/swim-22/rebecca-anderson">Diabetes UK</a> where you commit to swim the length of the English channel (22 miles) over 3 months. Well, the challenge was meant to run from the 22nd February - 22nd May, and I signed up on the 19th May....safe to say that, much as I've been building up my distances, I did not manage it in three days! Three days no, but three weeks yes - I completed it a week ago with a rather epic 152 length (3800m!) swim. Pretty pleased with myself about that! You can still sponsor me <a href="https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Rebecca-Anderson19">here</a> - I've already raised over £500(!!!) thanks to several rather wonderful people - but I am sure that you, like me, know more than one person affected by diabetes, and so it's never too late to contribute. I need to get a silly photo of me with my Swim 22 swim cap on but I haven't managed that quite yet - it's coming! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Other than swimming, I have been galavanting about the country (my sister's Masters recital in London, singing lessons in<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilmacolm"> Kilmacolm</a>, concerts in Glasgow) and enjoying lots of gorgeous sunshine, although that's gone for this week, sadly. I have had an EPIC delivery of new beads for <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/thecuriousbeadshop">Curious</a> (I've got a 'New-Restocks' section now to make it easy for you to check these out) so lots of beads to count and sort, and I am awaiting more favourite metal spacers and - new to the shop - some artisan polymer from <a href="http://www.humblebeads.com/">Humblebeads</a>! I'm seriously excited for these to arrive - SOON, I am hoping! And, last but not least, I have found a little time to create more jewellery. I need to find a heck of a lot MORE time for this, as in 10 days, I am taking part in the <a href="http://royalhighlandshow.org/">Royal Highland Show</a>! First time for me so I'm excited/nervous/anxious - you know, the usual combination before a big event. It is a GREAT day out, so if you are around central belt Scotland on the 23rd - 26th June - or if you fancy a trip to Edinburgh! - then come and see me in the 3d2d tent. There will be tons of awesome craft exhibitors plus all the usual Highland Show excitement, so do come along. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now, onto the jewellery! Here are a few items that I managed to create over the last week.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqlXoIeoAyhScvs_6WCpHhwTOItEHv3q3uGA-8xDvKyar6uMO9QU1_0Rd1v2Xi52-lK0cLY8DR255t6cxxMCRqT_y0Us6kIxZbvGDPD5Vu8P9_DElT90kTQDQPGl8NFGdlD4tDHx0Y7u7M/s1600/Songbead+-+beathing+dreams.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqlXoIeoAyhScvs_6WCpHhwTOItEHv3q3uGA-8xDvKyar6uMO9QU1_0Rd1v2Xi52-lK0cLY8DR255t6cxxMCRqT_y0Us6kIxZbvGDPD5Vu8P9_DElT90kTQDQPGl8NFGdlD4tDHx0Y7u7M/s640/Songbead+-+beathing+dreams.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/386536840/breathing-dreams-handmade-sea-glass?ref=listing-shop-header-2">Breathing Dreams</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A lovely long beachy necklace, with artisan beads from me, <a href="http://soulsilver.co.uk/">Soul Silver</a> and S<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/swoondimples">woondimples</a>. I've combined these with some cultivated beach glass which is just delicious! Perfect over a simple vest top, or with a summer dress. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYEIae2qy5agVsUteQLQZ5jjGrg8ad70weond2SAV2v5NKpt4RbeVXVwBZdv0nCWFyVWcd3-jE_0_I_gmcQHKHN3B4uOisdoJPoKB_0qgL9QKwJdA9DCtWSH1EO6ENu1yOLlcRIe4jEKvG/s1600/songbead+-+citrine+earrings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYEIae2qy5agVsUteQLQZ5jjGrg8ad70weond2SAV2v5NKpt4RbeVXVwBZdv0nCWFyVWcd3-jE_0_I_gmcQHKHN3B4uOisdoJPoKB_0qgL9QKwJdA9DCtWSH1EO6ENu1yOLlcRIe4jEKvG/s640/songbead+-+citrine+earrings.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/386537130/fierce-handmade-bohemian-style-floral?ref=shop_home_active_2">Fierce</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I fell in love with these awesome ceramic decal 'shields' with floral decoration on them from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/grubbi">Grubbi Ceramics</a> - the combination of softly feminine and rustic is just perfect. I've combined them with some awesome rough-cut citrine and a bunch of mixed metals - Vintaj brass, and hand-oxidised copper and sterling silver. Yum! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg423X5QuLWnaycPjiNr4Ni8tcUnP-PfsKxV8NB1HsJP4V-Gi-Jg4zczV9_6YIYby-DCb04mb2Np7MwiLEM_KLnYXB-Lyh7jR4_lIm8RgY4yRFxyq3PKm2lkJHatm9bPu7QwnN_b0nD0r7b/s1600/songbead+-+diving+to+the+lilacs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg423X5QuLWnaycPjiNr4Ni8tcUnP-PfsKxV8NB1HsJP4V-Gi-Jg4zczV9_6YIYby-DCb04mb2Np7MwiLEM_KLnYXB-Lyh7jR4_lIm8RgY4yRFxyq3PKm2lkJHatm9bPu7QwnN_b0nD0r7b/s640/songbead+-+diving+to+the+lilacs.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Diving to the Lilacs</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This necklace was made sitting in the hot sunshine in Kilmacolm last week. What a joy that was! I had the factor 50 on for sure. I have had this <a href="http://roundrabbitextra.bigcartel.com/">Round Rabbit</a> diving swallow pendant for years (literally) and came across it whilst organising some of my MANY boxes of art beads, and felt that its time had come. I'm not sure where the double layer at the bottom of the necklace came from, but the pendant seemed to want it. Artisan handwoven glass from me, and a super-sweet word bead from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/grubbi">Grubbi Ceramics</a> again - the perfect turquoise glaze to go with the beautiful swallow.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4nICyIzUQfLshDggQIsOvByshj7thKFPUiBMa_E5vQ3pz5tJiWvpdMqPNad_TjjChWyRxF4iUaqpXoil94qZkRE1GmODyq_uMM7qpROK3_y9ZgcyG86P_JmL8_6LCZzWD5KDuiDXkdq3W/s1600/songbead+-+polka.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4nICyIzUQfLshDggQIsOvByshj7thKFPUiBMa_E5vQ3pz5tJiWvpdMqPNad_TjjChWyRxF4iUaqpXoil94qZkRE1GmODyq_uMM7qpROK3_y9ZgcyG86P_JmL8_6LCZzWD5KDuiDXkdq3W/s640/songbead+-+polka.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I had a custom order of these awesome polka dot nuggets from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/jasminfrench?ref=condensed_trust_header_title_sold">Jasmin Frenc</a>h made up a couple of months ago, and I'm so glad I did - aren't they just awesome? The black and white polkas go so well with so many of my favourite colours. I used a few with some lagoon-blue turquoise previously, but here I've paired them with some handwoven orchid purple rondelles, and some oxidised sterling silver. They've got a touch of the 80s about them, don't you think (in a good way!)?</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIClwX9DmjQWG1Z-N53EH0a4P1JUXzix5rNlAJlruh3e1qrQbEPH-4hboCxhK7blAerSO3uCznSaJGHENQHvdoJeXnx1gmOHcGuMv6ugXhrUSZp33SRZjN_ZjZkRZJ5YlGymdyYn346dgl/s1600/songbead+-+you+are+my+home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIClwX9DmjQWG1Z-N53EH0a4P1JUXzix5rNlAJlruh3e1qrQbEPH-4hboCxhK7blAerSO3uCznSaJGHENQHvdoJeXnx1gmOHcGuMv6ugXhrUSZp33SRZjN_ZjZkRZJ5YlGymdyYn346dgl/s640/songbead+-+you+are+my+home.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/400034283/soul-home-handmade-bohemian-beach-style?ref=shop_home_active_1">Soul Home</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Last but not least, I whipped up this little bracelet last night - ceramics from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/elukka">Elukka</a>, polymer from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/swoondimples">Swoondimples</a> and lampwork glass from <a href="http://soulsilver.co.uk/">Soul Silver.</a> A good friend of the top necklace, don't you think? I know I am not alone when I say that the sea is my spiritual home. It doesn't matter if it's a scorching day on the Mediterranean coast, or a blustery day on a Hebridean island - the sea puts me at peace in a way that nothing else can. (And I always have to take a shoe off and put a toe in the water - even if it's that blustery day we're talking about!) I've combined the artisan elements with my own handwoven beads as usual, and added in a strip of larimar nuggets. Very rustic; very beachy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm heading over to Etsy now to list all of these so they should be available online asap! Message me if you don't see what you're looking for however. </span></div>
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font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 42px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 3586px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 42px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 3586px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 42px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 3586px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 42px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 3586px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14254291271007836270noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443605610590015121.post-47974984782737676352016-05-11T23:06:00.000+01:002016-12-01T10:43:54.495+00:00Hello, and other ramblings...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Hello there! It's been a while since I carved out a little spot of time for blogging - even though I frequently think to myself "I must blog about this or that", somehow the time slips through my fingers like so much sand. I am now feeling like my blogging muscle is a little rusty, so I am just going to do one of those rambling posts; lots of pictures, telling you a little bit about the pieces and what else has been going on, in no particular order. Ok? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">If you follow me <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Songbead/">over on Facebook</a>, you'll have seen that I recently returned from a fab surprise holiday in Tenerife. I know a lot of people are a bit snotty about the Canaries, but I absolutely love them! Sunshine, gorgeous coastal climate, great food, lovely people - what's not to love? We stayed in the north-east of the island, doing the Air BnB thing, and this meant we were in a totally non-touristy thing too - an added bonus, as far as I'm concerned. As usual, I packed up a shit-ton of beads (I have problems...!) so that I could sit in the evenings, and make away to my heart's content. All accompanied by a glass or 4 of local Sangria! I say local in that way that local somehow makes it classier, but what I really mean is local i.e. from our local supermarket. Like a glass of local Lambrini here in the UK. (Although I'm sure you will agree, local Sangria over local Lambrini EVERY TIME.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sometimes when I go on holiday, I must admit, my eyes are bigger than my bead belly, and I end up coming home with a pair of earrings and half a bracelet, but not this time. I was seriously productive! We were in a lovely wee apartment, complete with a mountain-view balcony (we were very lucky - right on the edge of the capital, Santa Cruz, which is all industry and skyscrapers, but the from the block of flats we were in you would never have known) and so we ended up eating in most nights - fresh veg, fresh bread, local (ACTUALLY local) cheese and the occasional Gambas Pil Pil (a long-standing family favourite), all washed down with the aforementioned Sangria. Slurp. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkHgEjDP5LL7ckvMv-b1mRhJ8NV6dqUzu2riIN12jj_93rOOAWdi3EUq16U1xwfMDyhybbDcSdo7g-8KrMh-zt-DRFsV19PDDAraPhZLhS4R7wYRNo9ZJ6JkTG-Hwk9WM2Njko3Gt_x4ub/s1600/IMG_5187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkHgEjDP5LL7ckvMv-b1mRhJ8NV6dqUzu2riIN12jj_93rOOAWdi3EUq16U1xwfMDyhybbDcSdo7g-8KrMh-zt-DRFsV19PDDAraPhZLhS4R7wYRNo9ZJ6JkTG-Hwk9WM2Njko3Gt_x4ub/s640/IMG_5187.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Anyway, this wee bracelet is one of the first pieces I made on holiday. I've made a few of this design lately, and I do love it - the combination of the larger elements with the double-stand of more petite beads - artisan elements here from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/soulsilver">Soul Silver</a>, <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/somethingtodobeads">Something to do with your hands</a> and myself, along with a heavy helping of freshwater biwa petal pearls. I'm really enjoying using those teeny tiny seed beads more in my work - linking my handwoven {song}beads with the rest of my designs in an organic way. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Another holiday piece here - a really easy-to-make, easy-to-wear piece. Birds, flowers, artisan quirky beads and my favourite red and turquoise palette. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNyNV7nAzEWESFmCvwdIbeJI222V7bCFXUjJ4S8ABZoMkqd2Zy7yXEGoNu9-QxTjM3FKH2RWGaeBCl7sfGQ8hGCQoykN-kCeZ4SrqRCeLghs24J2WclZF7VLR0ptydW_o0f6CQST4T75hm/s1600/IMG_5322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNyNV7nAzEWESFmCvwdIbeJI222V7bCFXUjJ4S8ABZoMkqd2Zy7yXEGoNu9-QxTjM3FKH2RWGaeBCl7sfGQ8hGCQoykN-kCeZ4SrqRCeLghs24J2WclZF7VLR0ptydW_o0f6CQST4T75hm/s640/IMG_5322.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I bought a whole bunch of different sterling silver clasps from a new favourite findings supplier, <a href="http://www.thfindings.com/">TH Findings</a>, as I'm finding with my own metalwork, I'm using silver more and more. I still love my patinated copper and brass, but it's great to have silver as an option too. This is such a simple bracelet, it would be easy for it to be a little nondescript, but I think that wee heart clasp really makes this piece work. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> As you may be picking up, I'm going through a bit of a bracelet-y phase. I know, I know - what's new?! - but I'm just going with it. The bead shop, it's fair to say, had a fairly slooooow start to the year, but things started to pick up in March and April, and so my time for making became a little limited. For that reason, I'm just going with my gut when making at the moment, rather than imposing my brain upon the process too much - must make more necklaces! must make more links and earwires! - and such like. The ebb and flow of Curious is back to a bit of an ebb again, and so I am anticipating having a little more time over the next week or so - which is always the silver-lining of a bead shop ebb :-) This bracelet is one I've made since getting back from holiday, but I feel it's got some of the lightness that a good holiday always leaves you with. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAWrq8LHTC4IE_AK8GtUZ9xbqZkrAng2wXE1kCax9Qh0wPjJYmOHkiBlz_O7tseFfw9SnntVbwODBvXAGTwCpE3kdPyzMi-3JvZwHqBrr53TpL2Pn1FNBQT11DGEoZnvuji367nzTIs3lz/s1600/IMG_5370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAWrq8LHTC4IE_AK8GtUZ9xbqZkrAng2wXE1kCax9Qh0wPjJYmOHkiBlz_O7tseFfw9SnntVbwODBvXAGTwCpE3kdPyzMi-3JvZwHqBrr53TpL2Pn1FNBQT11DGEoZnvuji367nzTIs3lz/s640/IMG_5370.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">That cool bottle bead is one I snagged from <a href="http://lorelei1141.blogspot.co.uk/">Lorelei Eurto's</a> recent destash. No idea what Nehi is but I love the colour and design of the bead nonetheless! Again, you can see those seed beads doing multiple jobs here - my beaded beads, spacers between the larger beads, and forming a wee extension chain. I can't tell you just how long these take compared with popping a bit of chain or a few links on the end of the bracelet, but I love the visual texture of them, and how they keep the colour going within a piece. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I know on the other side of the pond - and Australia too, I think? - it was Mother's Day last Sunday. We had ours a while back, but Sunday *was* my Mum's birthday. Mum is a great supporter and wearer of my jewellery and whilst she of course has a great deal of patinated pieces (which is own my preference for most of the time), she is a shiny silver girl at heart. It was the push I needed to get back to the torch - sadly neglected by me this year, despite the acquisition of a proper bonafide jewellery bench. The torch came out, the hammer and block came out, the pickle was switched on - the tumbler did its magic, and so Mum ended up with some shiny shiny earrings and a shiny shiny necklace. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq3cqeF0iASEHRxrd6hG-1S7d_vhIi7in3V_z-gZ4h3KmqzXIg_iIMVoW230bouBG_UOy5mY0Vp7GJ6j8sB3wOeOXjmyBi4VeNxCDhCHbTJpLn6izTIudcdrgpz1SlYUEbFUkBR_MWZ9pS/s1600/13094232_1055701174524211_7759074254877266498_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq3cqeF0iASEHRxrd6hG-1S7d_vhIi7in3V_z-gZ4h3KmqzXIg_iIMVoW230bouBG_UOy5mY0Vp7GJ6j8sB3wOeOXjmyBi4VeNxCDhCHbTJpLn6izTIudcdrgpz1SlYUEbFUkBR_MWZ9pS/s640/13094232_1055701174524211_7759074254877266498_n.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> A break from my bracelet addiction....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT6UthiqEohYigQSgkxLONhVKT56kDfBvOEbhAi4hMaDT8ZsLG0xgvSTaFco35pe5pcUkjW9HDcILckUQ09VBD8PgoxYqDgTmXy_oHsS3gQ_MolXBjETJ5tsoXvmRtVmdEwDomSbbKikh9/s1600/IMG_5487.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT6UthiqEohYigQSgkxLONhVKT56kDfBvOEbhAi4hMaDT8ZsLG0xgvSTaFco35pe5pcUkjW9HDcILckUQ09VBD8PgoxYqDgTmXy_oHsS3gQ_MolXBjETJ5tsoXvmRtVmdEwDomSbbKikh9/s640/IMG_5487.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">More beads acquired from Lorelei here - I just love this soft Spring colour palette. I made those tiny peach {song}beads just for this necklace - just the right shape and colour to go with these sweet pink/purple freshwater pearls - as well as that gorgeous bouquet on the ceramic pendant. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> More pearls here - I go through phases - quite long phases(!) - with pearls, and this phase shows little sign of waning - more peachy, subtly textural pearls in this new bracelet below.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZmR4kp3W2ytDMs_8s0qOktsEv_vxb52btgpAnPPDd-bnYOyMMOT6bOAeZpNe3QUqKLx4OPEyceHGu7IEZT5PMY_yoAwulY8YmXSOefgmQfY5F0dOeg6Y7LCBivJ6r23pO2davPF0mT7qa/s1600/IMG_5542.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZmR4kp3W2ytDMs_8s0qOktsEv_vxb52btgpAnPPDd-bnYOyMMOT6bOAeZpNe3QUqKLx4OPEyceHGu7IEZT5PMY_yoAwulY8YmXSOefgmQfY5F0dOeg6Y7LCBivJ6r23pO2davPF0mT7qa/s640/IMG_5542.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Another bonus of the holiday was the amount of swimming I did over there. Ok, not all swimming, there was a lot of obligatory bobbing around in various pools in the sunshine, but also swimming. I made a point of starting the day by having a bit of a lie-in, but as soon as I was awake, getting into my costume and hitting the pool attached to our apartment block. I really wish my flat here in Edinburgh had a pool out the back! Although I think indoors would be vastly preferable here in Edinburgh. I did a short blast of 20 lengths each morning, but the routine of it reminded me just how much I enjoy swimming. Believe it or not, when I was in primary school, I went swimming 4-5 times a week with <a href="http://www.swimhearts.com/">Heart of Midlothian Swimming Club </a>. Over the past fifteen years, I've tried again and again to get into running, going to the gym, yoga, pilates etc. and all without real success i.e. being able to stick to them. (I actually really enjoy yoga and pilates, but find that I am a quite intimidated by the idea of joining a class - I imagine everyone else will be lean and beautiful, and live off green smoothies and little else - you get the picture. The type of class where I'd stick out like a sore thumb, in my mind at any rate!). I don't know why, but I've never really given swimming another go - not properly. But on the Monday after our return, I went along to some local swimming baths and joined up for a month. Not cheap, but not too pricey - and since then, I've gone every day but two. Slowly but surely, I've been building up the distances I've swum - I'm now doing a mile every day. A brilliant thing about the membership I've bought is that it allows me to use any of the ten council swim centres we have here in Edinburgh. So the past two+ weeks, I've been working out where these pools all are in Edinburgh, and fitting my swims into whatever I'm doing on a day - the pool near my acupuncture clinic, the pool near the parcel office, the 2 pools near my wife's work where I can get a lift to in the morning if I'm feeling like a super-early morning dip! I am not making any promises to myself - I don't want to let myself down and feel all the guilt that that leads to - but right now, I'm really enjoying it being part of my day to day routine. Which pool today? How many lengths today? Sadly, I'm not a size 8 already (what? Two weeks of daily swimming - WHY NOT?!) but I am feeling really good about it - and *actually* enjoying it. Long may it continue!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The last little piece I have to share with you today is really a pair. One of my lovely regular customers wrote to me and said that these two would go well together, and of course when I looked at them I knew that they would. I am never sure what I think about sets though. I like jewellery collectors to be able to pick and choose what they wear together - but yes, I would definitely wear these two as a pair. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUCFywLC3dwO66YMkj0dB8J4Hr3jfCJzKVl5S58XXIuzJVhKxsxp6TVi4os5pqHui2qOjnrarDQqxEHOGUWr6fgR3KvPyE8cw6pDPmnd7-DvOdDe4DYpdUvc76QRqeCKUJEwB1ZSOAdn7D/s1600/IMG_5551.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUCFywLC3dwO66YMkj0dB8J4Hr3jfCJzKVl5S58XXIuzJVhKxsxp6TVi4os5pqHui2qOjnrarDQqxEHOGUWr6fgR3KvPyE8cw6pDPmnd7-DvOdDe4DYpdUvc76QRqeCKUJEwB1ZSOAdn7D/s640/IMG_5551.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">As you'll see, I'm continuing with my love-affair with gemstones, as you may have spotted from several of the pieces above. A couple of weeks ago, when I was in the throes of a horrible throat infection which floored me for several days, I scraped myself out of bed and onto the bus to the <a href="http://www.theknittingandstitchingshow.com/edinburgh/">Knitting and Stitching Show</a>, which I knew from my Mum's visit the previous day had several bead stands. Including a really, really awesome gemstone stand - <a href="http://www.ilonabiggins.co.uk/index.asp">Ilona Biggins</a> - and, well....let's just say I went to town a bit there! She had very kindly passed on a free entry ticket to my Mum for me (otherwise entry would have been £16 - outrageous!), so she'd saved me a fair bit of cash already, PLUS I got a wee discount - probably because I spent so much it would have been rude not to. Oops. But just look at all the beautiful gemstones and pearls I snaffled! Well, you can't most of them - but have a look at those you *can* see! The gorgeous agate above, but more than that, the rough-cut amethyst. SO AWESOME. It is part of a mixed strand of amethyst and citrine (you can see a spot of that in the necklace above) and I could NOT leave it behind. Could I?! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl72J_8GGnXbtwoNcubjtW57Rw_FGsD7WMpl7lCqSX9KCQVIIbAU6L3JhyMohi0UcHmb3VPBxQHcRkVq1c9N-eX4heOLSnfyqpRwB5Ng3MtmbOJQF4wjyYBAiFBqGzKtBWtd_E5oZSx-5l/s1600/IMG_5558.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl72J_8GGnXbtwoNcubjtW57Rw_FGsD7WMpl7lCqSX9KCQVIIbAU6L3JhyMohi0UcHmb3VPBxQHcRkVq1c9N-eX4heOLSnfyqpRwB5Ng3MtmbOJQF4wjyYBAiFBqGzKtBWtd_E5oZSx-5l/s640/IMG_5558.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Just look how fantastic they look with the ceramic shards in these earrings! They came as part of a small set from France, with the bird in the bracelet above. Oh, and I should mention another bead in that bracelet above - the amazing lampwork disc beneath the bird. Look how *glowy*. How magical and otherworldly. All from the subtly wondrous hands of <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/uglibeads">Julie Wong Sontag of Uglibeads</a>. Seriously, if you didn't notice it a minute ago, take a wee scroll back up and have a peek. Yep, see what I mean? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Anyway, you've made it through this epic post! Well done, if you're still with me. I'll be back SOON with slightly shorter posts, when I don't have approximately 2 months so gallop through! Thanks for sticking with it and I promise, I'll see you soon. </span></div>
Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14254291271007836270noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443605610590015121.post-49582061670487485062016-03-17T22:18:00.000+00:002016-03-17T22:18:04.745+00:00A few new pieces...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A few new pieces from me....</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaz-h-4Cv6fEQr0shtEytA_SqjkkWdOq30d5KxAD1uXmJNvGjvpr31lbQ5I2lTdSrntJXWJZzUN_jozwEbtryTOr0ecrk61lXX4a_jh_DDMKIgqKvLAkmTBgR9iCYmFHGrbyMlDlicXJLb/s1600/Songbead+-+Sea+and+Sand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaz-h-4Cv6fEQr0shtEytA_SqjkkWdOq30d5KxAD1uXmJNvGjvpr31lbQ5I2lTdSrntJXWJZzUN_jozwEbtryTOr0ecrk61lXX4a_jh_DDMKIgqKvLAkmTBgR9iCYmFHGrbyMlDlicXJLb/s640/Songbead+-+Sea+and+Sand.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/272514796/sea-and-sand-handmade-turquoise-aqua-and?ref=shop_home_active_3">Sea and Sand</a></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/286217041/be-true-handmade-citrus-magenta-pink?ref=shop_home_active_1">Be True</a></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/272514100/golden-shores-handmade-turquoise-gold?ref=shop_home_active_4">Golden Shores</a></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBIyaVgno0E9BvEIEfN3IQ0Oqu7H8tHbeB3HAojrh16p3L3d42dEJQ5WDeT_BZL6cSJhZVzfi8l9_XrlqB4EPOsCQ_ZC04-HM_JVOlQ3HCvUExQ8C0B-Cs-XPptinxz7xdtDVy6C53xi7j/s1600/Songbead+-+Honey+Pot+Earrings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBIyaVgno0E9BvEIEfN3IQ0Oqu7H8tHbeB3HAojrh16p3L3d42dEJQ5WDeT_BZL6cSJhZVzfi8l9_XrlqB4EPOsCQ_ZC04-HM_JVOlQ3HCvUExQ8C0B-Cs-XPptinxz7xdtDVy6C53xi7j/s640/Songbead+-+Honey+Pot+Earrings.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/272469374/honey-pot-handmade-tawny-yellow-earrings?ref=listing-shop-header-1">Honey Pot</a> (these have a bit of a story to them - more about them in another post!)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Perching (link to this coming soon - I haven't got around to listing it quite yet!)<br /><br /><br />As you can see, most of these are available in my shop now -<a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/songbead?ref=l2-shopheader-name"> hop over and check it out.</a></span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D8443605610590015121%23editor%2Ftarget%3Dpost%3BpostID%3D741553058268759535%3BonPublishedMenu%3Dposts%3BonClosedMenu%3Dposts%3BpostNum%3D0%3Bsrc%3Dlink&media=https%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-X_GhJPhaz6A%2FVr3LjH5q3fI%2FAAAAAAAAIew%2FGjH5Fljd8iw%2Fs640%2FSongbead%252B-%252BFlorida%252BSunset.jpg&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=djwXQwSeoJvp&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 42px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 18px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D8443605610590015121%23editor%2Ftarget%3Dpost%3BpostID%3D741553058268759535%3BonPublishedMenu%3Dposts%3BonClosedMenu%3Dposts%3BpostNum%3D0%3Bsrc%3Dlink&media=https%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-X_GhJPhaz6A%2FVr3LjH5q3fI%2FAAAAAAAAIew%2FGjH5Fljd8iw%2Fs640%2FSongbead%252B-%252BFlorida%252BSunset.jpg&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=djwXQwSeoJvp&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 42px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 18px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14254291271007836270noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443605610590015121.post-63411230546289787212016-02-29T12:36:00.000+00:002016-02-29T15:40:43.790+00:00And the light poured through - the story of a bracelet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A couple of weeks ago, I snagged a few bundles of lampwork glass in a sale. Who can resist a good sale? (Not me.) One of the bundles was the set pictured below <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Puffafish?ref=l2-shop-info-name">Rachel aka Puffafish</a> had created a beautiful and unusual set of beads, with raku frit (tiny pieces of crushed glass) on a black background, encased in a thick layer of crystal clear glass. The raku reacts with the heat and beautiful colours are brought out to create unique and sightly unpredictable (in a good way!) results. The set immediately leapt out at me - I'm not usually drawn to black for some reason, but these were just incredible - a combination of the colours set against the dark backdrop, and the way light moves through clear encased beads, made this set extra special. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Rachel had entitled this set 'Fireflies' and you can see why - the flickering lights captured within perfectly mimic those tiny creatures (determined to see them in the flesh some day!). But they immediately reminded me of another beautiful form of light - the light that falls through stained glass windows, and specifically of a trip I made to Paris a few years ago, and <a href="http://songbeads.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/still-in-paris.html">an afternoon spent</a> sat in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Eustache,_Paris">L'eglise Saint Eustache</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Can you see what I mean - light falling on the stony ground, dispersed and softened by centuries-old stained glass windows? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I am lucky enough to have visited Paris a few times (although it has been far too long) and L'eglise Saint Eustache is one of my favourite places to visit. Built on as epic a scale as its more famous neighbour, Notre Dame, but not nearly as touristy - or quite frankly, as fancy - it has a quietness and a reflective, peaceful quality that I've always found incredibly moving. I'm not religious, but the solitude and peace one can find in a religious building is a remarkable thing. Last time I was there, I was by myself in the city, and I sat, taking it all in. I (discreetly!) took a bunch of pictures with my phone, and played around with instagram afterwards, trying to draw out the qualities I'd found within this huge, ancient building whilst sitting there alone. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's this last photo here that Rachel's beads reminded me of - I still remember sitting by myself, looking at the lights on the ground, and thinking how amazing they were, and how lucky I was to be there at that moment to take in the solemn yet playful beauty of it all.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHCrrc-6z_Y53uGjSW-gec21EnSqU_Qj57Vs7aYJBhb2bfan_m4kisfOo26fqNorOR0UfJznLLle5X4AX5N8F66W40-Qkd0V95eFyGRSYfA_Gr9x1gfBC2GJdPQ2zAt7mGex1XsuTUNhtc/s1600/blogger-image--1017402116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHCrrc-6z_Y53uGjSW-gec21EnSqU_Qj57Vs7aYJBhb2bfan_m4kisfOo26fqNorOR0UfJznLLle5X4AX5N8F66W40-Qkd0V95eFyGRSYfA_Gr9x1gfBC2GJdPQ2zAt7mGex1XsuTUNhtc/s640/blogger-image--1017402116.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And it's that combination of the solemn and the playful that I wanted to capture within this bracelet. I knew I wanted to use several of these beads in one piece for impact, and the same day the lampwork glass arrived, I also had a small delivery from Vintaj Brass - a small company who create nickel-free brass components for jewellers, and who are known for the beautiful, naturally developed warm bronze-brown patina which they develop on their pieces. A new component to me were these decorative bell caps - the perfect component to pair with my stained glass light beads:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Playful handwoven glass {song}beads in matte coral, and some pressed glass rounds in hyacinth and turquoise completed the band, offsetting the black backdrop of the lampwork and bringing out the glimmering raku flickers. I added a simple beaded extender and a heavy sterling silver clasp, which I oxidised to tone with the patinated brass bells. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You can pick up And the light poured through <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/269620297/handmade-bead-bracelet-in-hyacinth-pink?ref=shop_home_active_5">over in my etsy shop now</a>. </span></div>
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<br />Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14254291271007836270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443605610590015121.post-42502170457034219542016-02-25T09:35:00.000+00:002016-02-25T09:35:08.118+00:00A Sale!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/songbead?ref=hdr_shop_menu"><img border="0" height="491" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvX18uN_ry91nfUN-OsG_B1HZ2pX-7MCT6yqMRucCMHv1pi4O-iYugwRsu0XzPn6qWibow5wfQLGh6tq7ID3_PqYUlq0T3JUUqKoi05hSwHzOe_uMW3sGCfwiS4U80CgqsvKx43S_5kmxd/s640/Songbead+-+leap+year+sale+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Ahoy there! I'm having a wee sale. It's leap year, February is almost over and Spring is just around the corner - all things to celebrate in my book! </div>
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You can take 20% off all items in my shop with coupon code LEAP20. <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/songbead?ref=hdr_shop_menu">Click here</a> to jump straight into my shop! </div>
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Here's a few of the pieces you could snaffle if you are quick about it, including some *new* pieces that I loaded into the shop this morning:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnN1x061MFbrwY_AiMaT2fsX74jXBvfeMTZwlqPaVs74-XCWiRRvpKdFrdXNLDfQ_8KbL2cyJlMI5tF7Kji92_qsCnQwuV_J1EEetkuWFiGvkMYdszV3904F8HEWJDNMP26b3RhfeCmf8c/s1600/12742794_1004147389679590_7801321298128705181_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnN1x061MFbrwY_AiMaT2fsX74jXBvfeMTZwlqPaVs74-XCWiRRvpKdFrdXNLDfQ_8KbL2cyJlMI5tF7Kji92_qsCnQwuV_J1EEetkuWFiGvkMYdszV3904F8HEWJDNMP26b3RhfeCmf8c/s640/12742794_1004147389679590_7801321298128705181_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/268100863/handmade-stacked-bead-earrings-in?ref=shop_home_active_18">Mojito</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/263876350/looking-out-handmade-necklace-heart?ref=shop_home_active_21">Looking Out</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/260113314/crocus-handmade-bracelet-house-bracelet?ref=shop_home_active_16">Crocus</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/266909966/handmade-stacked-lampwork-glass-and?ref=shop_home_active_8">Sugar Spun</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/268101847/handmade-stacked-bead-earrings-in-mint?ref=shop_home_active_16">Spring Meadow</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/268254424/handmade-long-chain-moth-necklace-with?ref=shop_home_active_14">Fly to the Light</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/269774042/lemon-grove-handmade-bead-bracelet-in?ref=listing-shop-header-0">Lemon Grove</a></div>
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<br />Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14254291271007836270noreply@blogger.com0