Tagging!!

Well I have been tagged - twice - but unfortunately I do not have time right now to reciprocate - impending arrival of Mum and still tidying to do!

I much appreciate the sentiment girls - thank you so much - hopefully I will get my 'tag list' ready to publish in the next day or two.

back to jewellery

I seem to be back on track with jewellery now (apart from a couple of outstanding orders).

But the next big project will be to update my website - the photos take a long time to load apparently. (Even though I checked the page loading speed at various websites). Anyhoo, I need to revamp the photos, and perhaps the page design in order for the loading speed to decrease.

Mum arrives tomorrow and I am currently busy tidying the house (priorities!). Hopefully, I will put her to some good use while she is here.

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear

I have always wanted to have a go at researching my Family Tree - I've had a couple of interesting dabbles over the last couple of months, but nothing that took too much time!
However, on Saturday my OH was at the footie (what a waste of a day that was, but will he ever learn?) and when I got back from the Farmers Market there was a couple of Registry extracts waiting for me in the post.
Needless to say any thoughts of working for that afternoon quickly disappeared, and I was soon ensconced on ScotlandsPeople beavering away back to the 1850's. It is so addictive! I didn't stop until about 10pm that night and then was at it again all day yesterday - when I should have been working.
Of course, that meant I started making jewellery at about 7pm (after tea and dog-walking) and finished at about 10pm - just in time to watch House!
Amazing how guilt keeps you going.
Today - I must, must, must do some proper work. Lol.

Committee meet tonight

Seems like all I'm doing just now is organising meetings!
The Angus Crafts Association has it's first committee meeting since the AGM tonight. There are 4 new members to welcome and induct! It should be a good meeting but I think it might go on forever...
However, new enthusiastic members are what we need, God knows the old ones are getting scared away in droves.
Well I still have AGM minutes to write and more jewellery to make (don't I always).

Will make myself a nice cup of tea first though!

Monday morning comes round again

There's always loads to do on Mondays!

The weathers not bad so I should get some washig out but it's really beginning to feel like the long march into winter has begun.

I managed to get the Angus Ambassador entry for our Crafts of Angus shop into Angus Council on time. Phew! I was really beginning to stress out about it!

Over the weekend, though I haven't been very productive in real terms, I have been thinking a lot about different projects and have a couple of ideas for collaborations with another crafter in my group. Just hope I can pull my finger out in time for Christmas.

Also I have to get on with some silver mailleing so that I can get some stuff hallmarked and on sale on the website - I think they will really add another dimension to what's already available.

October is a month of talks and workshops - new to me. This gives me something else to stress about. Novemebr is an xceedingly busy month - at the minute the only weekend day I have off is 22nd November and I'm sure that will change by the time it comes round. Of course, I am already looking ahead with dread to those lean months of January, February and March!

Got to go work now.

Silver jewellery

Yippee, I now have my own hallmark!
Just got to make a load more chain maille pieces and then send them off to be assayed together to bring the cost down a wee bit.

Well it's all moving apace!

nearly forgot

I've got rather an important competition entry to compose and upload! lol!
Wish me luck!

Well, well, well...

Ok so I haven't been around for ages. I've been ignoring my blogging duties to attend to more pressing matters (like ironing! lol)
What can I say - I've been busy.
So todays list boils down to;
Ebay parcels;
application for one craft fair;
order some bits - mainly silver wire and chain;
finish necklaces and make more earrings;
If poss, photo finished necklaces;
oh and update website with sold pieces.

That should keep me going for a while.

getting ready for my hols

I now find myself with no urgent business to attend to. The House of Colour lady has cancelled me again, so I'm considering my position there. And the Brechin farmers market has also been cancelled. My mum comes over on Monday and we go away on Tuesday - down to Brighton for my brother-in-laws wedding. I'm looking forward to having time some off but I have a few things I need to deal with before I go. So I really should get on and deal with them, shouldn't I?

Chain Maille

I'm having a week of jewellery making.
The image consultant from the House of Colour who I was supposed to meet with yesterday called to postpone until next Monday so now I have plenty of time to stock up and try some new weaves.

What joy!

Also I had some fun with my Koil Kutter this morning to facilitate my Mailleing sessions for the entire week. YAY!

and that makes 4

Yeah! The meeting went well and I now have four outlets! Of course, I have since spent the afternoon making jewellery becase I am now seriously low on stock and I have two venues to fill at the weekend! What fun! I love being self-employed;-)

little bit nervous

I've got a business meeting this morning with a potential new outlet for my jewellery. The lady seems very nice and keen so I'm sure it will go well, but it doesn't stop me having little flutters in my tummy! Got to go and look out some jewellery to show/sell her.

thinking backwards

well, I managed to post the photos - you have to think about how you want your final post to look and then do it backwards. Don't know why I have all that space in between photos though?

lots of photies (hopefully)

A beautiful red poppies bead by Mindy MacGregor of Moogin beads. I just adore this bead and I am seriously tempted to keep it but I am a jewellery maker not a collector! Well, whoever buys it will love it just as much I guess.

A Moogin bead - reminds me of branches and cherry blossom

A couple of Emma Ralph sets given given similar treatment, finished with sterling chain and Thai silver clasps.

A pair of Emma Ralph beads simply made into earrings

A couple of single Emma Ralph beadies, simply embellished and finished with sterling rombo chain and Thai silver clasps

A copper and silver byzantine weave bracelet

A copper shaggy loops bracelet

I hate posting photos

I just can't get to grips with how blogger places my photos - it never puts them where I think they're going to go and then I can never write any captions anywhere near them.
Grrr.....
Will have another go, I s'pose

Sunday morning

After a rather heavy night last night I am contemplating how to spend today. Yesterday and Friday I made some necklaces I am really happy with using Sterling silver chain and some lovely lampwork beads from Emma Ralph and Mindy McGregor. I might make some more but I really should take some photos and up load them, for all the world to see.

Upwards and onwards

Things are looking really good business-wise. I'm struggling to keep up with demand on jewellery and finally, the Ebay bead shop is beginning to come back to life!
Yeah!

busy weekend

Well, we've just had a really busy weekend.
Today, I have to shower, get Ebay parcels done, go to the doctor, order some furniture online, make 2 bracelets and a necklace for orders and then make a matching watch and necklace. And if I've got anytime after that (yeah, right!) I really should put the last two tiles (sink splashback) up in the bathroom.
Oh well, times a'wasting, off for my shower.

getting photos done

Slowly but surely, keep an eye on my website cos it's going to be soon that the first items are available for buying direct from my very own online shop!
How exciting!
But I have to actually get on and do it rather than blog about it.
My buddy Mark came over on Wednesday and took some shots of a few necklaces and earrings for me. I'm hoping to get them published on site over the next few days, and then follow up with some more as I get them.
That's the plan anyway, Dog knows how it will actually pan out. LOL.

YIKES!

Wow, I really didn't realise it had been soooooo long!
I think the bolo tie shenanigans just drained me! Anyway, it has gone off now to it's new home, thank Dog.
I've been really busy with jewellery making recently. I now have 3 farmers markets to do every month and 3 shops to keep stocked so I'm really chuffed with that. If I could just find time to take some (decent) photos for my website I would be sooperdooper happy!
Today I've got one ordered necklace to make, some ebay parcels to post and the bathroom to continue painting, 2nd coat of gloss and then the first coat of some 'features', and I wouldn't mind getting out into the garden (if you could call it that). On top of all that if the sun comes out I really should be taking some photos.
Then I could actually post some photos here. Wow, that would be a novelty!

Bolo Tie Revisited

So I took the tie in for the customer to see.
Oh, that's nice. not at all how I imagined it, she says. WTF! You asked for a long thin diamond - that's what I've done!
But engraving won't stand out on that, she says.
Well, you said you wanted it engraved, but it's up to you, says I.
That's not what I meant, she says. WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Am I supposed to be a mind reader now?
She keeps Umming and Ahhing and I'm saying nothing cos I'm bloody fuming. She wants something on top of the diamond, with his initials that will stick out. More umming and Ahhing and I'm just getting ready to say, well, it looks like you've defeated me, you'll have to find someone else to do it.
When BRIAN saunters over to try to act as ACAS and come up with a resolution. How about a big red stone in the middle and engrave either side of it? (Ruby is the birthstone in question) So the customer thinks that's a great idea and I'm shooting BRIAN evils over the counter!
So now I've got to go away and waste even more time on it because I don't think it matters what I do she won't be happy and she certainly doesn't want to pay a fair price for the finished article anyway. Of course, BRIAN thinks he's done me a favour.
Her bloody husband even had the cheek to say 'Well, you've got plenty of time on your hands' WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just about leapt the counter to throttle him! Instead I just shot back, 'who does?'

tumbling

Have managed to get hundreds of copper and sterling silver jump rings and a fair few pair of earwires made and into the tumbler. There they will stay for the next couple of hours, then I can make up more kits for the Farmers Market this weekend:-)

can't sleep, won't sleep

Well, after tossing and turning in bed for an hour I have decided to get up. I've made myself a cup of Earl Grey and feel like if I'm going to be up at this time I really should be doing something constructive but I'm rather at a loss as to what.
The birds are beginning to start their dawn chorus and my cats are beginning to show signs of restlessness so it ain't really conducive. Taking photos would be good only I prefer to do that with some natural sunlight, and since it's still dark outside I guess that's off the list!

Bolo Tie

I was asked a while ago if I could create 'one of those things that country and western singers wear round their necks'! Well after some research I found they were called Bolo Ties. I had to order the findings from America and work with aluminium sheet, which I'm not overly familiar with but tonight I have finished it. I am meeting the customer on Thursday so I hope she likes it as I really don't have time to make any changes to it. She wants it engraved which I told her I can't do, and have suggested she takes it to the local pet shop - hope she's happy with that also!

Trying to decide where to start

I have so many things on my 'to do' list it's difficult to know where to start.
Ebay parcels are done, I have a box of mail from the past week that needs sorting through so I think I will make a start on that. Then I'll probably have to decide between tiling in the kitchen and listing more stuff on Ebay (specially since I have a box full of 3mm organza ribbon which needs photoing and listing also, all lovely new colours).
Just got to get on with it, I suppose!

Dundee Craft Fair in the Marryat Hall

I'm getting ready to go to the Marryat Hall Craft Fair in Dundee today. I'm not displaying my work, I am on the raffle stall instead. I think it will be a good chance to catch up with all my lovely crafting buddies. And I might even partake of a little retail therapy myself!

Has it really been that long?

I have to stop starting posts in this way. LOL. I really can't believe it has been so long since I posted!
The House of Dun shop has been very busy, I've been selling lots of chain maille which is good because I like making it and I feel that it's more 'artsy' than some of my glass pendants on suede thong which seemed to sell really well last year. Also I am now signed up for 3 Farmers Markets every month, Montrose 1st Saturday, Forfar 2nd Saturday and Brechin last Saturday. All of this is keeping me really busy. I've created some earring kits for the Markets (not allowed to sell kits at craft fairs or the House of Dun, even if they are my own). just byzantine weave in coloured aluminium for now. But I have a LOAD of copper and Sterling wire in for making my own jump rings, once they are made and tumbled I can make more kits, earrings and bracelets.

What happened there then?

The last few weeks have been a complete blur. Today was the day I was supposed to be getting back to normal, but it just feels like I have an ever increasing 'to do' list. I am slowly working through it though.
I had a couple of bureaucratic phone calls today which just made me mad. One to pay a bill (which isn't due to be paid til 29th March) which the company had written to me twice about and they had phoned my husband to remind him I had to pay it also. When I phoned them, they asked loads of security questions to make sure it was me!!!!!!!!!! That got me going for starters.
Then I phoned SSE Power Distribution. We have asked them to increase the power supply to our house so we can have a decent electric shower. So they sent us a bill for the cost of the works, it is full of jargon and they have never been to the house to actually see what is needed. They won't even talk to us until this bill is paid and there are a lot of clauses about how they can charge us extra if they see fit. So I thought I'd better phone to get a couple of things clarified before sending off the cheque, after all they have given the full name and direct number of a contact for just these questions. Good job I did. Turns out the work they have quoted for is not the work I had asked for! Both electricians I have asked for advice think the cables between the outside and my meter are too small and old looking. I would have thought that if the supply to the house is increased then the cabling must be made to comply with building regs also. Well, apparently not. Barbara Colquhoun (my contact at SSE) who has never set foot inside my house, says my cables are fine - there is nothing wrong with them, they have managed just fine up until now. And if that doesn't answer my questions and I'm still confused then I should go and speak to my electrician! How's that for customer service? Should I send the bill from my electrician to Barbara at SSE who just can't be arsed to her own job properly? No, I suspect not.
I can feel a letter of complaint coming on.
Too often companies rely on our complacency to rip us off and give bad service, well I think I feel the need to stop being a party to that little game.
The other company who have excelled at this recently are Direct Line who gave us a renewal quote for our home contents and buildings insurance for £900!!!!!!!!!!!!
When we phoned to tell them Tesco had quoted us £178 they said 'actually we underwrite Tesco so we can match that quote'. Thanks but no thanks!


Grrrr, it makes me so mad!

Phew!

Well thank God that's over with (at least until August!)
It was a busy and long day with takings down on last year but at least things were far more civilised!
Today I have been playing catch up with a few jobs which should have been done before (aren't I always?)
And I have learned that a have a couple of secret blog readers! Go on, don't be shy, introduce yourselves! LOL!!!!!

Bead Fair Mayhem

Another day staying at home counting beads, and findings.
Hope I sell some at the bloody fair!
Have to nip out to get change for a float from the bank, but apart from that it's count, count, count. Thank Gawd I don't do anymore of these fairs - I don't think I could cope. Can't wait til it's all over.
OH is off next week so we plan on doing loads of decorating etc, but I'm also going to try and persuade that a trip to Ikea would be a good thing. Which of course it would.

counting beads

Seems like every time I post here I moan about how busy I am!
Today, before going out for lunch with a girlfriend I have to count more beads for the Bead Fair, which is now looming with horrific nearness. Then I have to try and find somewhere that has a reasonable selection of bathroom wallpaper so I can buy some. Nowhere seems to have what I need/want.
With all the hassles that we are having in the bathroom and kitchen the plumber was just a honey last night - he just sounded so reassuring, saying things like, 'don't worry, we'll get round it, nothings impossible.' Bless him, I am so grateful to him, he really is worth his weight in gold. Just hope is bill isn't quite that high at the end!

Busy, busy, busy

I can't remember having a busier week in recent years!
I have hardly had time to sit down, literally!
But the kitchen is coming on and we now have a new bath and basin in the bathroom. Another busy weekend should see all the major stuff renewed and functioning and then it's just decorating to finish. Just, she says!
Also I have to start counting and bagging for the baed fair and I'm also waiting on 2 massive orders coming in so will have to deal with them when they get here.
And I may have signed myselk up for regular monthly fairs if that comes off - so I'll actually have to start making some jewellery!
Ugh, it's too scary to think of. I thought I would get less busy once the bathroom and kitchen were completed but it looks like it's just going to continue at this pace until I die! Which might now be sooner than I had planned, lol.
Oh well, got to get on, shouldn't really be sitting here - got stuff to do.

oh me oh my

What the hell am I doing sitting at the PC this late?
Waiting for the bread that just came out of the breadmaker to cool down that's what!
Oh and playing online Bingo! FGS!
My house is in complete mayhem - got no water in the litchen and the bath is nearly destroyed but you gotta unbuild stuff in order to renew it so hopefully by the 6th March I'll have a lovely new kitchen and a stunning new bathroom. That's the plan anyway!

Home all day today

Well I have a nice day ahead of me where I only need to take the dogs for a walk so I can be really productive round the house.
I have loads of findings to count and bag.
I could also do the weekends chores to save doing them this weekend.
I could strip the bathroom of all its tiles and wallpaper ready for the new bath suite going in next week.
I could prepare for doing the tiled splashback in the kitchen (though this involves a trip to Focus and I can't be ars*d).
I would like to get another 50 items listed on Ebay - but this may involve taking photos and the light isn't too good here today.
I could also create some space in the kitchen ready for the next lot of units going in over the weekend.
I could measure the kitchen and go and order the Vinyl we've decided we like.
Plenty to keep me going, just got to decide where to start!

k is for nackered

Well I got a load of findings through today - got to count and bag them ready for the bead fair which is 2 weeks on Sunday. Yikes!
And I'm currently removing everything movable from the second half of the kitchen, which is to be worked on this weekend.
I'm pooped!

better late than never!

Was helping out a friend this morning and got behind on my beady/jewellery work. I haven't done anything related to self-employment today but I did spend hours boggling at mortgage info, since I have to remortgage.
C and L came and picked up there cats who we have been looking after aswell - they just left and our poor dogs still haven't been out for their walk yet!

Groundhog Day...

Came and went without repeating itself.
This weekend we finished the half of the kitchen that we started months ago. Yippee! Just got the other half to go now.
Ebay have announced some changes that I think will be of benefit to me - thank God - I was beginning to wonder if there was any point in continuing. In ten days time I have the Bead Show in Perth, and I really need to get my stock organised for it.
And I am turning into a big fat monster so I better start dieting as I have a friends wedding on May 10th and I want to be a size 12 for it.
Better go now and do some proper work.

February already!

Well, I've done all my weekly chores this morning so I won't have to do anything too strenuous over the weekend.
I've got to list some stuff on EBay and wrap up some Ebay parcels, then I should probably just start counting beads for the Bead Fair, it's only 3 weeks on Sunday.
I eventually got the poly clay out last night. What I wanted to try didn't work the way I thought it would, when does it ever? But I got some nice beads anyway and learnt a lesson; I just can't get translucent Fimo to be translucent! I did however get some nice crackled foil effects.

at a bit of a loss...

Well, I just don't know where to start today! I got my Ebay parcels done, did a few chores in the house, it's snowing on and off so that is putting me off walking the dogs, and now I just don't know where to go on my list of 'things to do'.
I still have minutes to deal with but what I want to do is play with some ploymer clay. I have an idea for a bangle and want to see if it will work but that seems so frivolous when there are proper 'need to do' jobs. Ho Hum.
Think I'll have a cup of tea and think about it!

Aah, joyous bliss!

Well I got my tax return done last night with no hitches or glitches, thank goodness!

And just got interrupted to sign for a delivery of pearls which I ordered on Friday! Fantastic delivery times! And they all look great. And the sun is shining. Today is officially a good day.
I have the minutes of 2 meetings to write up and then I am going to take my dogs for a big walk on the hill. They deserve it. I have been ignoring them for a few days now and taking them for walks at the loch (not so interesting for a dog) in the dark. Between trying to get tax returns finished and the exhaust falling off the car on Sunday, they have had a pretty boring couple of days.
Anyway, will sign off to get on with the rest of my beautiful day!

I must not lose my P60...

Having spent the entire morning and half the afternoon looking for last years P60 I was nearly in tears when inspiration hit and I looked in an old school bag. BINGO!!!!!!
So now I have all the info I need to submit my tax return. Last night the submission took about 1 minute. I hope it's just as efficient today.
The tomorrow I guess I get my life back but I can't even remember half the stuff Ive been putting off until 'after the tax return'. There's going to be a huge list to write later today and then just going to have to start ticking off the jobs tomorrow.

Slow and steady

Certainly I am beginning to feel like a tortoise!
But I have submitted my OHs tax return tonight. I am so pleased. Got to be more organised for next year though.
I'm sure I say that every year, just like Christmas!
Tomorrow is my personal D-Day for submitting my own tax return. I did it on the 29th last year aswell.

The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men gang aft agley

Here is a random photo of harmony in our house, enjoy!

Happy Burns Day to You All!

Well yesterday was a complete wash-out as far as accounting was concerned!
I got some done but I've still got lots leftover to do today and although it's only been a day I can really feel that deadline fast approaching and the nightmare scenario of HMRC website lockdown when I'm trying to submit looming large! Curses, what a fool I am!
However, on a brighter note I did get my kitchen worktops cut yesterday. One of our friends phoned in the morning to say he might be round later, so I asked him to bring his circular saw and, bless him, he did oblige. So they need to have the ends glued onto them and screwed into place, and there's one small stretch of kickboard to fit, and OH's uncle coming tomorrow to wire in the chimney hood. Then that side of the kitchen will be complete! Wowee, that took a while!
The we need to start on the other side. Which really shouldn't take as long. I hope.

Suppose I better sign off now and get back to the figures.

Self-assessment 2!

Oh yeah and look what I remembered to download yesterday... cool...

Dagnammit! When will I learn? Doing year old accounts so that I can fill out my tax return doesn't help anyone except the taxman!

I think though that another steady day at it should see me filing my returns tomorrow, or maybe in the middle of the night to avoid overload on the website! I have to wait in for a delivery of my new chimney hood for my new cooker today anyway. Even if it comes early (like the bath suite did yesterday!) the only other thing I have to do today is take the dogs for a walk. So it's sums, sums, sums all the way from here for me! Ah joy!

The cooker and hood are getting wired in on Saturday morning, then the only thing that needs doing (on that side of the kitchen) is the worktop! Don't know who we're going to ask to do that though. Sneakily we are planning to go to the pub on Friday afternoon to 'bump into' a neighbour of ours, who is a plumber, to see if he wants the job of fitting the new bath suite. It all seems to be coming together now, after such a long time.

Once the tax is done, I've got to organise a new mortgage, and swap gas and electric provider - or at least check I'm still with the competitive ones. That'll be a trip to Martyn Lewis' website.

Self-assessment

I was at a tax course on Monday morning - self-assessment for the self-employed. I should have realised that because I have been filling out tax returns for 3 or 4 years now the course was probably going to be a bit basic. Well, the course was actually not too bad but the other people on it! Oh my God!!!!!! How scary were they? The course leader would say "the deadline for tax payments is the 31st January" and the next question from the floor would be "so when do we have to pay our tax by?" It was unbelievable!
Then I met a friend for lunch, which was nice.
On Tuesday I went and helped a friend with some work.
Today I'm waiting in for a delivery of my new bathroom suite so I'm going to get productive since I'm stuck in the house all day (potentially). First and foremost the dreaded tax reurns actually need filling out so I better get on with the accounts!

Bit the bullet

Well, I did order stuff after all. But since I have the Bead Fair coming up I managed to justify it that way.
Today, I need to get some new stuff listed on Ebay. I'm sure I even have the photos taken it's just a matter of getting the descriptions filled out etc, etc, etc. I even have some stock that I don't have photos of, maybe I could get really caught up if I put my mind to it.
Of course, there are always the kitchen wall units needing to be hung if/when I get bored! I had wanted to do that this weekend but the Husky racing is at Aviemore this weekend and I think we are going there on SUnday so that leaves us today and tomorrow to get units up. I'm sure K will come up with some excuse why we don't have time to do it, so I figure if I do it today while he's at work (and I've got a million and one other things I SHOULD be doing) then at least it's done.
Roll on my tax course next Monday morning - should be fun!

What a wet and miserable day it is today - rain, rain, rain.

I am still struggling to make Ebay financially viable. There are two thoughts that play on my mind and I switch between them constantly, should I throw more money at it in the hope that it will work, or do I cut my losses and run?
Currently, I am doing the former, which is scary. But the Big Scottish Bead Fair is coming up in February so that should help. both money-wise and profile-wise. Got to go order some more beads though! Well, what I should really be doing is sorting through the beads that I already have. Some of them have never been on Ebay, never been used in any jewellery, and never been bagged or tagged. Shame on me!

Entrepreneurial New Year!

Here's a photo of yesterdays walk with the dogs;

Well I can't believe Christmas has come and gone (again!).

Having been turfed out of my old part-time job for no good reason I am now officially full-time self-employed! Scary though that is financially, it means I now have no good reason to be miserable and I'm enjoying every moment of self-earned freedom. However, I do actually have to make some money, so I guess I actually have to do some work. I suppose selling beads will be my bread-and-butter income and selling jewellery will be the cream and sugar. Having said that, so far jewellery is going a lot better than beads but I think in the long term it will be the other way around.

I have a stack of bills and post to sort out this morning and then I have to start on last years tax returns (both mine and my hubbys).

Then I need to take the dogs out and get on with listing more beads on Ebay.

Right now though, I've got to remove a cat from my knee so I can go and get more coal before the fire goes out. It's pretty cold and miserable here today.