Thursday 26 February 2015

Week 8 -- Practising Flowers

I fired up the torch last Sunday and was eager to do some more practising of flowers and leaves.  I wanted to make some headpins with leaves and then I had a go at pulling some petals for a flower, they came out quite small and so thought I would try making a headpin flower, not sure if its any specific type of flower but it was fun trying.






I also had a go at making some rosebuds too.  Each one improved a little each time I tried but I find I keep over working the petals when I put them on so they lose the 3D texture of each individual petal (like the one on the left).






The one in front is the best one so far!!

More practising required!!


Will keep you posted!!


E x










Friday 20 February 2015

Making Flowers with Laney Mead - Week7

Ah half term which means no kids for a week, nice rest and relaxation, well not including my daughter who isn't really a kid as she is 17 nearly 18 so still no kids for a week!!!!!



Right then, I was booked for a lesson with Laney of Izzybeads to learn how to make glass flowers and leaves on Tuesday of half term, this was my birthday present.

She lives quite a long way from me, she is in Hereford which is practically in Wales, about 4 hours drive away! I live in Bedfordshire!

Off I went Monday as I was staying the night in a hotel on the Monday so no driving on the Tuesday morning except for about 15mins down the road, but I was driving back that night after my lesson.  So a long day ahead.

I had a great time, we chatted on Monday into the night, catching up and sharing anecdotes and also showing me what we were going to tackle the next day!!!

I was really excited!! Her work is amazing!! I had been waiting to do this for a long while now so I really was going to enjoy myself but I was quite nervous too.

Here is what we both made, Laney's demo beads and mine mixed in together.






The yellow rose was my first ever rose with a white rosebud and different leaf shapes to start with, for practice of pulling different shaped petals/leaves. The other roses and the pansy are Laney's of course!

I had great fun, quite pleased with what I had achieved, so now I'm home I have lots of practising to do.

I recommend having lessons in lampworking especially if you want to improve your abilities, I learnt lots of tips as well as how to put the flowers together and Laney sent me some tutorials to practice with too.

Thank you Laney for such a fab time     xxx♥xxx     see you at FO in April.

Til next time

 

E x




Tuesday 10 February 2015

Week 6 - Sunset Trails Heart

Well my torch has finally been fired up at last and so for this weeks 52 things challenge make is a bead.  I bought my puffy heart press at Flame-off last year (FO), with all my family ailments I never got to have a play with the press.  So now it is christened!!

I thought I would give it some of my 'trails' treatment in the decoration, with some nice orange and blue glass combination, I have to admit that adding murrini depends on how you feel. I didn't do a particularly good job of it but its there just not very noticeable.  I added some black stringer (trails) with the dot on dot decoration and this is how my first attempt came out.



Sunset Trails


I thought it wasn't too bad for my first go, it took quite a bit of glass to fill the press as it is deep.  I will be happy using it again.



E  x






Wednesday 4 February 2015

2 weeks ago

Well I have decided to let you in on my latest news. 

It is quite hard to do this but I am hoping it will help get things off my chest.

So, 2 weeks ago, I went to the hospital with my hubbie, Mick, he had an appointment with a neurologist as he had been suffering with a tremor in his right hand. He has had it for over 2 years and was told by the GP that is was a relaxed tremor as it only occurred when he wasn't actually using it. Over the last 6 months or so it has gotten worse as he was having difficulty with writing and fine dexterity!


He has been diagnosed with the early stages of Parkinson's Disease. He is 54 years old and so is currently still working, he is a Gas Service Engineer and works for British Gas. He has found working quite difficult over the last few years or so as has suffered with back problems.  We now think it has been accentuated because of his Parkinsons.

He has been on his new medication for 2 weeks now and his dosage has just been increased, he doesn't seem to have any side effects so far, which is great, but it could take up to 6-8 months before his meds will be fully functioning and helping him.  They should reduce the tremor and the other effects of the disease he is showing!

I have been trying to get my head around it and now and then I have down days but I try not to show him how it is affecting me right now!  It has been quite a blow, as you can imagine, but with all the other things that have happened recently, it has been quite difficult to come to terms with.

I haven't quite worked out how he has taken it, I think in some ways he is relieved to find out why he has been so tired and suffering like he has over the last few years. It now has a name to it!!!

For me its the long term effects it will have on his and my life in the future!  That's the difficult part that I just can't get my head around.

But for now we have to get him through to his intended retirement plan of 5.5 years time when he becomes 60! The consultant says he can't see a problem with that, actually he thought he has a 10 year potential if he needed it.  So that is very hopeful!


So there we have it, that has been my last 2 weeks!!!


E x








Monday 2 February 2015

Winged Boho Bracelet -- week 5 - 52 things

Yes I am ahead of the game this week, I spent all day Saturday making this for my daughters friend, she was going to her 18th birthday party that night, I hope she liked it! 80//



 
Winged Boho Bracelet

Antique brass charms and beads, chain, and clasp etc. with crystals, glass pearls, freshwater pearls and some glass beads with some suede ribbon in pink to complete the look.









I hadn't done a boho style before but I was quite pleased with the outcome, still a bit worried its to big for her, DD won't see her until college on Wednesday, so got to keep fingers crossed all ok!! ( I can always alter it!) The other thing is the metals, some people seem to be very sensitive to non pure metals, not me I might add, so hence the concerns!!











So I am pleased to be ahead this week, will try and keep it that way, so now, hopefully, I will be able to make other things ---  BEADS, BEADS,  BEADS!!! 

YES I WILL!!

E x