Sunday 15th May 2011

I have started my new job working in a jewellers.  I haven't done any repair or jewellery work yet but I have sold some diamond rings!  I really love it so I hope it continues, its a great atmosphere, great people, there is a lot of scope for developing the business so I hope we can do lots more things there.

My other part time job has been put on hold for a month as there is not a lot of work at the moment but it has come at a good time because of my new job.  I also have a few orders to do so it gives me time to get on with that.

Had a wander around the garden the other day and saw the baby water hens which I haven't spied so far this year.  They are very shy and hide in the reeds and weeds in the pond as soon as they hear you.

I also wandered in to the woods where the kids spent many a hour playing when they were younger, the netting and the big chunks of log we sat on were still there, came over all nostalgic.

 Lots of bluebells as well

Maybe I will make them have a picnic up there when the rain stops before they totally refuse to spend time with me or leave home!

Plant pots

I planted my pot plants for this year last week and they have had a great watering over the last few days.

I have done 4 hanging baskets and several pots to scatter around the back of the house.  We have lots and lots of grass but no flowers as I am not a gardener (sorry Gramps, he was a market gardener and worked for the mammoth onion people).

Some of the pots which I have bought over the last few years have cracked in the snow and frost but some are still usable and look quite good.

I will take more images and show you the progress of them.  I have 2 cherry tomato plants and some strawberries as well as marigolds, geraniums, ageratum's and petunias .............

I have to get on with some earrings today and I have ordered some recycled silver so next week I can make some new designs.  I am doing my 'trial day' tomorrow at the jewellers so hopefully that will go well and lead to a part time job.

At the weekend I read an article in the Culture magazine of the Sunday Times on a bright new writer called Jenn Ashworth from Preston.  I did a blogging day with her last year which prompted me to start blogging so I feel quite honoured.  She has had 2 books published called A Cold Light and A Kind of Intimacy and is being compared to Ruth Rendell.   Well done to her. 

Birthdays .......

How great is this?
Daughter's birthday yesterday.  I did a surprise dinner party for her and 6 of her friends.  She had no idea and it was brilliant.  She thought everyone would be busy revising so decided to put her birthday celebrations on hold until after her exams.  It was great, they had lots of fun playing the sophisticated 17 yr olds ........

Table for 7 please .........

 Blowing and chasing bubbles ..... grown up entertainment!

Wednesday (interview day, sshh)

Had a great run this morning, just the right weather, a bit of a chill but bright sunshine, not too hot ....

http://www.girlsguidehq.com/events.html

I have donated the above piece to a Swish for Victory on May 26th at Colne. It is supporting Women's Aid, a domestic violence charity, click on above link for further details.  It is a Broken but Mended Heart, hope they like it and it helps raise funds.

May Day

Happy Birthday to my niece for today.

Busy week.  I did a Farmers Market yesterday at Hornby Institute which was great fun.  It was a good atmosphere, very small but the first one so hopefully it will grow.  I sold a few pieces and did some good promotion locally.

The Scarecrow Festival is still going on.  We went to the Scarecrow Parade and hog roast on Friday night.  Very cold but really enjoyed it.

We are off to the Ball Race today so my daughter can film it for her film of the whole week.

Tomorrow is the Fair Day, lots happening and hopefully we will bbq in the evening if the weather holds out.

Hope everyone has been enjoying these Bank holidays ..........

Tuesday troubles ..

Washing machine, water heater and lawn mower broke over the weekend!

Apart from that it was a great Easter weekend, my nephew came to stay and 2 lots of friends came over for dinner so we had a busy but fun time.  The weather was great, got gardening done and watched the #twicket yesterday in the sun.  Feel quite privileged to have been part of the first ever village cricket match to be streamed live on Twitter!

The people who viewed our house last week came back for another look but have decided not to put an offer in which is bad news but hey ho, we shall plod on.

I have been busy making earrings this afternoon.  I have enjoyed making this teardrop shape and I think these will be the ones that I donate the profit to a charity.

Let me know what you think and also what charity?  I am thinking about a soldiers/wounded charity ........

Good Friday

Its been another busy week so its great today is Good Friday and a long bank holiday weekend.

I had an interview for a part time job on Wednesday which went really well, they liked me and want me to go back next week.   I also saw  another job advert on the way home from that interview for someone to help out in a jewellery shop with sales and repairs.  I have applied but have heard nothing so far.  It would be great if I could get that position and carry on with my work, I would learn so much.

We also had a viewing for the house on the same day.  They are coming back today for another look so fingers crossed.

I have got some more jewellery made this week.

This bangle is made from square silver and has been textured with lines.  It is highly polished and looks really organic, my usual style!  It will be on my website for £38.

This bangle is made from round silver and sanded to a rough matt finish.  It gives it a sleek look that kinda glistens a bit from the sanded finish.  This will retail at about £48 on my website.

I have matching necklaces and earrings for both designs which I will post shortly.

I am hoping to relax today, get some reading done etc before the Easter weekend.  We have visitors for most of the weekend, my nephew and his family on Saturday and Sunday, friends for dinner Sunday night and Monday we are off to watch / help out at the first village cricket match to be streamed live on Twitter!