and some of this...

What have I been up to?

Delivering the goods

Today, we went to Lunan Life and to ZigZags at Dunkeld to deliver jewellery which I have made throughout the week. Both places seemd happy with the selection I offered them - some freshwater pearls, some lampwork pendants, and some chain maille bracelets.
However, now I am back to square one and have no jewellery made and in stock (well, not much) so I still need to make some more to have on stand-by (never mind the Montrose Music Festival which is next weekend!!!). Eek! I really do need to make stuff - perhaps I should stop drinking wine and get on with it tonight. Nah, that's too extreme!

I'm in demand!

Well, not me but my jewellery, which is great but means that I really have to actually make some this week. I am seriously low on stock and I've had 3 outlets asking for more because they have sold so much recently;-)
Still didn't win the lottery so OH had to go back to work today after his holiday;-(

slowing down, speeding up

OH had the Bank Holiday off yesterday so my usual routine was interrupted, and I had to work at the Crafts of Angus shop in the afternoon, so all in all I didn't really get an awful lot of productive time. Though I did restock with some new pendants I had finished. Beautiful beads from Annelyse Taylor, I just set them off with some Swarovski crystal and chunky Karen Hill Tribe Silver beads and clasps. I like doing them this way, it does not detract from the simplicity of the focal bead.
I also worked on some chain maille yesterday so I supose I wasn't too bad.
The alternator belt on the car has gone so it went into the garage this morning. Which means I am currently carless.
OH is working today but is on holiday for the rest of the week. We have to build a fence to keep our chickens from escaping! On Thursday we swap our ISP and phone line over to Talk Talk, on Friday it is OH's birthday - he plans to go fishing with a friend and I have promised to drive them! Saturday we have a crafters social evening. So I think quite a busy week.

Websites

Going to spend all day today making websites. yeah!

Feeling out of sorts!

We're back to Monday again! Usually I have a plan for the week but my head is feeling fuzzy and I can't concentrate. I know I've got loads to do but I can't think what at the moment.

Ever growing lists...

I still never finished my Monday list and after last night I have added even more stuff to todays list! I don't think I am ever going to get to the end of any of my lists - I am doomed to perpetual failure.

Just got to make the best of my day at the house because tomorrow I am out and about again.

Tuesday is surprise day

Hopefully.

Today I am sending chain maille supplies to Australia!
And my list of things I need to achieve before the week is out is getting longer and time is getting shorter.

Monday is the start of the week...

It may seem obvious but when you work for yourself (and OH works Mon - Fri) then Monday morning becomes the time to plan what needs to be done in the week to come. Of course, usually I write myself a wee list on Sunday night. That's in front of me now and nowhere on that list does it say anything about updating my blog! Nor does it say anything about normal chores like feeding dogs, cats, chickens, cleaning coops, litter trays, and garden. All in all I think each day I spend approx 2 - 3 hours cleaning, feeding and exercising our pets! But that's another story.
I have a lot of Ebay parcels to go today. It seems I have stumbled on a winning product so I need to keep momentum up and stock levels high and current.
There are a number of other jobs on my list but dealing with emails is never there and I usually have at least 2 or 3 (business ones - never mind friends!) that need a reply.
However, I did have a lovely weekend, even got slightly sunburnt yesterday, we did get a few house chores done and it's another glorious day today.
So all there is left to do is just get on with it.

Chain Maille galore!

Well, it seems like evryone is doing chain maille - I keep getting asked ow much is it to send rings all over the world. Today and Australian has contacted me about them! I really should get more stock in but I am trying not to layout too much cash so I am trying to order lots of little packets but economically/financially I should do it on a massive scale and try to save some pennies (for me and the customers). However, I do not want to be left with a load of stock when people decide they've had enough of chain maille (though I would probably use it myself).
Anyway, I better try to keep up with demand.

Other things seem to be picking up in popularity aswell. I think perhaps there is some Feng Shui (sp?) going on. A tidy room makes good business sense, or something.

WTF!

Sometimes stunned silence is the only decent and proper response to emotional outbursts. And sometimes apologies are just too little, too late.
After last nights devastation I am left with loads to do to pick up the pieces (don't think we'll ever get the full jigsaw puzzle back) and absolutely no motivation whatsoever to do it.

Hopefully, some good will come of it all - some changes need to be made.

Job Done!

I love it when a plan comes together;-)
My spare room / work room is now finished.
I have space for all my beads, space to make jewellery, space to do chain maille, windows to gaze out of for inspiration, and even, a bed, a sofabed, some wardrobe space, a shelf and a drawer for any visitors who wish to stay the night! Wow!
I'm so pleased.
Now I just need to get some inspriartion!
OH is off for the Easter weekend so tonight feels like Friday night, and we have lots planned for his time off. We just have to organise our time to fit everything in;-)

Beady, beady, beady...

Well, BT has been here for 2 days and has cracked that whip hard! She has left me for a day and I now have to sort through things that she can't. Deciding where to put various beads, findings, unfinished projects, etc etc etc.
The room is looking great though (well, it will) and I now have a lot more space. I knew I needed to reorganise it but doing it on my own really just wasn't appealling. And she has done a great job of motivating and helping me.
As for chickens - when I checked this morning there were 2 very tin shelled and broken eggs in the house - looked like they had been laid from the perches. And one Light Sussex egg in the nest box. We think the other Light Sussex laid her first egg late yesterday afternoon. But the 2 broken ones also looked like Light Sussex, so I'm not sure what's going on there?

K is for knackered!

I got up at 4.45 this morning and I haven't stopp ed since - I'm knackered!
Just now I am waiting for Bertie to visit - we have made a deal. A trade of our time.
She is going to help me organise my workroom/spare room/stock room.
In return I am going to build her a website. We both win in this situation but just now I am not looking forward to getting started.
I will make a cup of tea and watch the chickens while I wait for her to arrive.

Getting that Friday feeling...

I have to go to the PO today as I have International parcels to send.
It seems that my Chain Maille jump rings are this seasons must have items. I am looking into getting more sizes so have ordered one larger size in a few different colours just to see how they go.
In between having to seriously think about getting proper a job (and that has sent my blood pressure high!) I am having lots of brain waves about expanding this business! The latest being that when the bedsit next door becomes available I will rename it the 'Beadsit' and that can be my new business headquarters! It certainly would be nice to get our house back but I'm not sure that the business could afford the rent:-(
It's good to dream though, apparently.

dreary Thursday

I'm sitting here with breakfast of a banana sandwich and cup of Earl Grey.
I have made an appointment with the nurse for this afternoon and I need to go shopping this morning. Funny how the thought of a trip to Tesco can just drain me of all motivation and enthusiasm. But it still needs to be done. Perhaps in between I will get time to sit and make some jewellery.
I am beginning to feel the need to open an Etsy shop but I seriously need to increase stock levels in order to do that...Watch this space

first day

Well, that wasn't so bad.
The first day of the fourth season at the Crafts of Angus shop has been and gone and went quite well.
Not too many visitors through the door but at least they were spending - that always makes us happy.
I have stocked it well so now I really, really need to make more stuff (I always seem to be saying this!).

End of March

As it's the end of March I always start to think of dreaded year-end accounts and stuff. Yuck.
But today (and a super sunny day it is too) I have to go up to the Crafts of Angus Shop at the House of Dun to restock for tomorrows first day of the new season.
I am not organised at all, and I was supposed to be there at 10am, so I better get a move on!

Where I went wrong...

Ah, I see, Mo being short for Maura and Montrose - that's where the confusion lies.
So it should be okay if I go along to support them against league-leaders Cowdenbeath on Tuesday night? Hmmm, I'm not sure if the door-staff will let me in!

Jinxed!

Well, what a fun-filled day it was yesterday.
The market was fine, weather not too bad, plenty of people and a good atmosphere.
Then mad rush home, lunch, shower and out again to the football.
Forfar 0 - Montrose 3
Forfar until yesterday were the 'best' team in Britain apparently because they had lost so few points over recent games. Well, yesterday, truly they were pants. The Montrose fans were put in fine singing voice by the friendly ref who sent one of our boys off early on for being lippy. Then we proceeded to make things easy for Montrose (who wear white shorts and no pants!) who scored 3 goals. The highlights of the game for me were the ref falling over his own feet and the big fat hairy Montrose fan shouting abuse and obscenities to anyone who would listen.
Then on the the Indian - which was okay. It wasn't great and I wouldn't rush back, but it was okay.
Then onto a crowded Plough Inn to try and watch Holland v Scotland. After the first 2 goals we left. Don't know what the final score was but I've come to realsie that whenever I show an interest in a team, they lose. So I have to say 'sorry boys, it was all my fault and I take full responsibilty'.

Happy Birthday to me!

All ready for the off now.
The weather could be worse but it is very windy and that is never good for my jewellery stall.
And I have a rotten cold so I will be sniffling all day - that never helps to sell anything!

Woohoo!

And today I find out one of my pieces in Dunkeld has sold!
Brilliant news!
Got to get my head out of the clouds now and get organised for Monifieth Farmers Market tomorrow. The weather forecast doesn't look kind - I'm not looking forward to it.

And it's my birthday tomorrow. Football, Indian meal, then more football - should be cold but fun!

lovely crafter chums!

Thanks to the generosity of one of my lovely crafter chums, I now have my jewellery in a new outlet in Dunkeld!
YAY!
Thanks Bertie xx

Sometimes...

It is easier for all concerned if one just keeps ones mouth shut!
Why do I never learn?

planning and plotting

I need to have a good days making today to win over two potential new stockists of my jewellery.
Also I am trying to organise a crowd of us to go and see Forfar play Montrose at Station Park on Saturday (which also happens to be my brithday) then on for an Indian meal and find somewhere to watch the Scotland v Holland match. I'm looking forward to a whole days entertainment.

germs...

Well, thanks to whoever was spreading their fluey germs around at Letham at the weekend - I now feel terrible.
I have a sore throat and a runny nose, and am feeling VERY sorry for myself.
Lots of things are happening here too.
I have a renewed sense of purpose and motivation to get on with all the things I have been putting off for ages - but now I just don't feel up to it.
I think I might have an egg for breakfast.

Yarks!!!

Got to get back on track with this...