Friday 28 March 2008

It's a small world...

apologies to anyone reading this that also reads the "what I've been up to this week" on my Craft Markets customer forum...

It turns out that one of my fellow stall holders on Craft Markets - Susie from Die Cut Dreams - comes from Windsor too & we both studied catering at Slough College, but at different times. The spooky thing is that I met up with some old college friends a couple of weeks ago - Jill Davison & Nikki Trigg. We spent a whole afternoon remembering people & lecturers although their memories were better than mine. We weren't very good students & were always in trouble for skipping lectures. I hadn't seen Nikki since we left college in ---eeek --- 1976 (32 years ago). Jill & I stayed friends but had drifted apart & lost contact due to house moves about 10-15 years ago. Jill had been a very good friend to me when I split up with my husband. I had a small baby & my ex decided he didn't want to pay maintenance - but that's another story - I survived, did 2 jobs to support us.

Changing the subject completely & going back to crafting - I'm waiting for the Envirotex resin I've ordered to arrive & I can start playing "resin jewellery". This will probably have to wait as Nick has a week off work next week & we've got a few chores to do. We'll probably have some trips out too - weather permitting

Wednesday 26 March 2008

I've been to see the Queen...

Been into Windsor today to see the state visit of M & Madame Sarkosi. Mum said she was thinking of going on easter sunday & I decided to go with her. Windsor is my home town - went to school there & only moved out of the royal borough 7 years ago. I was thinking "what a stupid idea" as I drove up the motorway in the rain BUT it was worth it just to see all the beautiful horses. It wasn't very busy & we got a good position with a good view. I've been to quite a few of these occasions over the years - this was quite small scale in comparison. The soldiers all look so young & you can't help thinking that they've probably already seen active service in Iraq or Afghanistan. I'd forgotten what a lovely town Windsor is - although it was nicer in the good old days before it was such a tourist trap. You didn't have to pay to get in the castle grounds in those days & I remember when you could still go up the Round Tower & see a fabulous view. No constant plane noise either...

Tuesday 25 March 2008

back to normal...

well, as normal as it ever is here. What awful easter weather! We've given up expecting anything special at easter & just enjoy 4 days off work. I don't do domesticity so we went to the pub for lunch on easter sunday with Mum & Dad - had a lovely meal. Dad used to be a woodwork/craft teacher & I needed to bend his ear about making resin jewellery. He used to use resin & make fibre glass boats - the house used to really stink as the resin was powerful stuff. I've got a couple of books about making resin jewellery but they are american & use american products. The lady that runs my Art Clay workshops sells Envirotex - so I'm going to try that but I also am going to try to get some of the products that dad used to use. I'm sure I'll be reporting my disasters here soon... but hopefully, eventually, some lovely resin jewellery too

Saturday 22 March 2008

What a blooming awful day - we've had snow, sleet, lashing rain & sunshine - and its' sooooo cold. I've got the fire on to try & cheer the house up. Him indoors has gone to see his mum & take her to his brother for easter & I've been pottering around taking photos of jewellery to put on my websites. I swear it takes longer to photo the jewellery than to make it.

I added these two pairs of sterling silver earrings to SJB (secret jewellery boutique). I bought the dangles to add to some beads but when they arrived they were so pretty & simple that I decided they'd look better on their own. When you make jewellery you sometimes lose sight of the fact that it's got to be wearable
I finished the solid silver jewellery below yesterday - the little flowers have swarovski crystals in the middle & I made them for ME. The other circle earrings and flower choker are both on JKJ (Just K Jewellery)

Thursday 20 March 2008

here we go...




I've been meaning to do this for ages....


I'm Karen & I'm passionate about making my own jewellery - I enjoy having & running my websites too.


I write a few ramblings on my customer forum on the Craft Markets website but they are just about making jewellery & running the website, Just K Jewellery. I have another website called The Secret Jewellery Boutique but intend, eventually, to merge the two together and just have one name - Just K Jewellery.