Was is really October....

that I last posted on here. Time flies by, doesn't it ? Most of my time has been taken up working on some commissions - but I can't post pictures just in case the recipient sees & it would spoil her Christmas surprise !

Family life has been busy, we hosted a surprise party for my dad at the end of November to celebrate his 80th birthday. He had a lovely day - we had a family meal at lunchtime & then the bash in the evening.

Christmas is coming up quickly - all our present shopping is done so tomorrow & tuesday will be my wrapping days. Our middle son has done his nativity and its our eldest's tomorrow. The house is decorated inside & out, and I've even done quite a bit of food shopping too. Christmas cards in the post....so really pleased, I'm going to try to have a relaxing time leading up to the festivities this year.

Is there anybody there ?

Having a wobble moment guys - now I know my infrequent ramblings are not very funny or even particularly newsworthy, but I just wondered if anyone ever reads them ? Could you give me a sign that someone occasionally browses .... or should I knock the blogs on the head ?

Answers below, please.....

Half term holidays......

Today we visited the Screech Owl Sanctuary at Goss Moor in Cornwall. Our eldest son is a bit of a 'twitcher' and has been desperate to go for ages. It was well worth the trip - fantastic numbers of wonderful Owls; chances to hold, stroke & get close too. Also a good children's play area to keep the others happy & tearooms too.

We went with my brother who took this great shot of Sam. We then finished off with a long walk on the beach at Crantock, which is a lovely clean Cornish beach complete with obligatory surf dudes ! Got home extremely tired but with a very happy little boy.

So I would definitely recommend it http://screechowlsanctuary.co.uk

In the mood for a competition ? This one is fab http://misiuk.blogspot.com/2009/09/amazing-autumn-misi-blog-giveaway.html

Do go and have a look and enter - the prize is amazing.

New listings....

My work area.....

I've been meaning to post pictures of my new work area in the conservatory. I have moved out of the playroom, as I got fed-up packing everything up each time. Now I can spread out a bit & there is a lockable door, so I know little fingers won't be playing with my beads !

This is the view that I have while I 'work', which is lovely.

I have managed to make a few new things lately - all now listed on Misi. Pop over & have a look if you have time.

I've been tagged by Jean......and Helen.....!

I was tagged a long time ago by Jean at Talking Beads & put this in draft and never got around to finishing it ! I have now also been tagged by Helen, The beading Lady......so here are my answers to Jean's (and Helen, your questions are almost the same - so this is my tag for you too !!! :-) )

My current obsession ? Strawberries with chantilly cream & meringues !

Any weird obsessions ? No obsessions but do have a phobia ...Fear of Ant Powder (don't ask!)

What are you currently wearing ? Cut off jeans & t shirt

What is for dinner ? Roast Lamb

Favourite Book ? To Kill a Mockingbird - read it for O' levels & love it.

Last thing you bought ? Sainsbury's grocery shop

What can you hear right now ? drilling - husband is putting up a shed !

Favourite flavour of icecream ? coffee

What do you think of the person who tagged you ? She seems a very friendly & lovely lady (and Helen is too !)

Where in the world would you go if I gave you a free plane ticket ? Australia

Who do you want to meet right now ? Robert Downey Jnr

Favourite colour ? turquoise blue although it does change quite often !

Favourite item of clothing ? jeans

What shoe size are you ? 5

You have £100 to spend, what would you buy ? new duvet & matching curtains for my bedroom (bored with current ones !)

Favourite time of day? relaxing when boys have gone to bed, plus cuddles with youngest in bed first thing in morning watching cbeebies

Who's style do you most admire ? Not sure really.

What is your own style ? relaxed yummy mummy (I wish !)

What are you going to do next ? put some washing on

Favourite films ? Sleepless in Seattle

Favourite fruit ? Strawberries

What inspires you ? my children

What is your favourite christmas carol ? Little Donkey

Do you have a dream job ? Successful published author or own a bead shop as we don't have one in Plymouth.

What's stopping you ? haven't written the book yet or won the lottery !

What would you change in the world ? poverty

Favourite animal ? pigs

Favourite tool ? hair straightners !

What would your job have been in Victorian times ? if I couldn't have been rich & owned a big estate then governess would have to do

How do you like your eggs ? Fried or poached but definately with a runny yolk


Ok, so that is me done - hope I've done it right. Now apparently I tag 8 different people and they a) answer the questions, b)rework the questions, delete the one you don't like & put in an alternative then c) add a new one of your own.

So I tag (in no particular order) ......


Swiss side jewellery etc
Beady Pool
Gemheaven
Just k jewellery
Enchanted handmade jewellery
Delicate sparkles
Magpie moments
Jewellery Designs by Laura

This is a random selection from the blogs that I follow. I've tried to pick bloggers who haven't been tagged for this before, but if you have then I'm sorry & just ignore me !!!
Best wishes, Lisa x

I promise to try harder.....

It's been a long time since I last blogged.....so I promise to try harder in future !

I have been busy sorting out my work area, sorting my bead stash and pricing up the new beads I bought on holiday. Plus it's the school holidays - so life gets taken over by 3 young boys who seem to require feeding every 5 minutes !!

As I mentioned last time, I have also set up my fan page on Facebook and to date, have 98 fans. I would love to get to the elusive 100 - I'm hoping it will happen soon. Thank you to everyone who is already a fan. If you like my fan page, then recommend me to your FB pals too.

Off to bed now, but hopefully it won't be as long next time until the next post. (PS I haven't forgotten that I also need to complete my 'tagging' - sorry !)

Become a fan....

Some recent creations above.........

The news is I've got around at last to doing my fanpage on Facebook. So for all you facebookers....click on the link at the bottom of this blog & become a fan.

Have spent time today measuring & remeasuring for a new desk. I need a bit of space for my creations ...at the moment I work in the playroom & have as much space as the boys care to leave me. But its not ideal - would like to de-camp into the conservatory, but can't find a suitable desk. I saw a lovely one online in Ikea, but (if the measurements can be believed) it is huge ! So the jury is still out .....

Right, off to bed now. Its absolutely pouring down outside, has been all day. Here's hoping for brighter weather tomorrow.

Back from hols .....store now open.....

We are back from our hols - we had a lovely week - sunshine all the way. Great places we visited included Abbotsbury Swannery, Chesil Beach for fossil hunting, Sandbanks beach at Poole, The Tank Museum at Bovington and Corfe Castle.

Also managed to search out two bead shops - discovered Jezebels Jewels in Weymouth (http://jezebelsjewels.co.uk/) and Beads47 in Poole(http://beads47.co.uk). Both well worth a visit if you are near.

So, the store is now open again. Hopefully I can get motivated to make some new designs & list them. I need to organise my work space I think - currently I am working on the table in the playroom, so have to clear up after each session, usually mid-creation ! I am thinking I might put a desk in the conservatory - have seen a lovely specialised one but it is way too expensive, so will have to improvise I think.
http://www.storage4crafts.com/shopx/product.php?productid=779&cat=0&page=1

I have also popped into Misi tonight just in time to catch the new layout of the site ! Wasn't expecting it, so was very confused at first (as usual) !! Looks great though and I see there is some information about the big forthcoming event on the 7th November in Bristol at the Paintworks. Go to http://misi.co.uk for more details.