January 2016

Pale blue hollow bubble beads with swirls of palest soft green and grey.

After a successful series of Christmas events in my studio, at the Quay Arts, Tapnell Farm and Ventnor Winter Gardens, it was time for a little rest. Feeling refreshed, I'm now ready to start thinking about Spring and Summer, yippee!

Bell flowers, this time pale baby blue with mauve grey petals.

All these discs are destined for one necklace. A good illustration of  my first colours for Spring 2016.

I've not quite got the colours sorted yet. I've started with some turquoise, soft green and white. These are colours that work well and are so wearable. Always a good place to start.
I used a spot pattern on cream and black for my Autumn and Winter designs that proved popular. Attempts to use it in a Spring design haven't been too great yet, but it's early days.

Here are some experimental beads I've been making with some interesting variegated glass rods.

I've been having a few little experimental sessions and have come up with a sort of sideways heart design. Definitely a useful possibility.

Heart shaped patterns created by dragging dots of colour on white.

Affordable Arts Fair at Ventnor Winter Gardens

Just a short post this week, as I'm busy getting ready for the 'Affordable Arts Fair' at Ventnor Winter Gardens this coming bank holiday Monday artsisle.org. Monday 4th May 2015 - 11am - 4pm.
I've been making some pendants combining lamp work and fused glass, I'm hoping to get them ready in time for Monday. Here's a little preview of them fresh out of the kiln.

Fused glass and lamp work combination

Mad about Mauve

My Mauve Beads

 Whenever I have had the chance during the last 3 or 4 weeks I have been working on the second part of my Spring jewellery, which has a mauve theme.

Yesterday [Saturday], I had a super session making beads in my Summer house. I know it was a gorgeous sunny, Spring day, but as I had enjoyed a lovely long walk with Mark and the dog in the morning, I didn't feel I was missing out too much. Also the summerhouse didn't require much heating either, so win, win.

I didn't make all these beads yesterday, but was pleased that I stuck [more or less] to what I set out to do, that is, make mauve beads and I'm pleased with the result.

 With Mother's Day in mind, I took a small collection of my mauve and white jewellery along to the Quay Arts at Newport  quayarts.org. Hopefully I will get at least a few items added to my website and Etsy shops in the next day or two as well.Little House Jewellery at etsy.com  littlehousejewellery.co.uk

The two smaller beads are to combine with my knitted jewellery

Forthcoming Events - 2015

Open Studio Weekend 2013

Handmade Stall at West Quay Shopping Centre, Southampton
 - Saturday 21st March 2015
-9am -6pm
- First chance to see me and showcase my latest Spring 2015 collection in all its glory!

Isle of Arts Affordable Arts Fair at Ventnor Winter Gardens, Isle of Wight- artsisle.org
 - Monday 4th May 2015
 - 11am - 4pm
- Looking forward to this event in a beautiful location.

Isle of Wight Arts Open Studios - isleofwightarts.com
- Friday 17th July - Monday 20th July 2015
- 10am - 5pm daily
- I love this event because its a great opportunity to demonstrate exactly how my beads are created and made into my unique jewellery.

Mauve Bracelet Spring 2015

Open Studios Weekend 2014

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A Useful Pattern

Pattern from Pinterest

Original Handmade Bead Summer 2014

I love Pinterest! It's such a straight forward place to search for inspiration and ideas. Here's a good example, I found this pattern last  Summer and used it to create this bead. The jewellery I made with these beads didn't prove particularly popular, I think probably because the colours were a bit restricting. However, I really liked the design and decided to develop it. At Christmas I used the design more successfully with cream with metallic spots. This Spring I am really pleased with how it has evolved in the white and soft turquoise beads in my Spring 2015 collection. www.littlehousejewellery.co.uk

Necklace Summer 2014

Bracelet Christmas 2014

Necklace Spring 2015

Bracelet Spring 2015

Spring is on its Way! My New Spring Jewellery 2015

Earrings in Pale Green and Brown Transparent Glass

Long necklace of speckled flowers

White and Turquoise Mid Length Necklace

One of the lovely things about making beads and jewellery is that I am always looking ahead to the next season. The next season in this case is my favourite, Spring! So here I am in February and the first part of my Spring Jewellery Collection is finished.

This first part combines the freshness of white with soft turquoise opaque glass. The other part is pale green with pale brown transparent, with the impression of fresh new leaves and buds.

For the white and turquoise, I've combined spots, dots and a sort of spot, swirl pattern I first developed last Summer. For my pale green, I thought it just had to be flowers, particularly bell flowers.

My new jewellery can be found on my website littlehousejewellery.co.uk and also in the Quay Arts shop in Newport quayarts.org

Spot, Swirl Pattern Necklace