Midsummer you say...

.. could've bloomin well fooled me!

(from Crash Taylor Photographer)

It certainly doesn't feel like it weather-wise, as I write is pouring down and blowing a gale outside. But I must admit I am feeling that mix of panic and excitement about the impending summer holidays, which happens this time each year.

The girls could certainly do with some time off school (why do they get SO tired?) and I have a huge amount of stuff I want to get done over the holidays. Sorting and clearing out toys, the girls clothes, all that stuff that I would probably get done a lot quicker without the help of two unwilling assistants; but lets face it, when they're not around I'd much prefer to be making jewellery!

I truly love spending time with my kiddos, and it will also be very nice not to dash out on the school run every day. But, (and this is a big, huge BUT) the mild panic happens when I try to figure out when I'll be able to work on my jewellery. In the summer holidays the sales tend to slow down anyway, but I still dream of new designs every night. I still want to refresh my stock, snap new pictures, blog, tweet, facebook, list, and most importantly MAKE.

at the moment I'm dreaming of vintage glass quite a lot!!

So, for the next few weeks, while school is still on, I'm going to work my little socks off, to try to get ahead of myself. To get those ideas that are swirling around in my head, onto my bench. I can list in the evening while the kids are asleep - but I'm not going to be able to hammer metal!

And then, I'll be able to slow a bit for the summer holidays, take a bit of time out to assess, and plan out that other thing that brings panic and excitment in equal measure.... (christmas)

Is that the time?

Oh wow, is that the time, five to September already? Cripes. The "summer" (hahahaha) is flying past.

It's funny that my usual feelings over the summer holidays with the girls seem to go...

Weeks 1 - 4 "oh the summer is way too short, I don't want them to go back....sniffle"
Weeks 5 - 6 "is it nearly school time yet?"

Love them as I do, I reckon they're good and rested now and ready for the new term. Then maybe I can have a bit of rest. Or at least make some jewellery!

It's been a busy old summer so far...

We saw the olympic torch come through town....

We saw some olympic cyclists come through town....

And played at being Jessica Ennis in the garden...

We went to Copenhagen for a few days....

 

They have a particularly wonderful food market there.... 

Then we welcomed Kipper to his new home...

Goodness me. Having a puppy reminds me of having a baby - up at night, clearing up "accidents". Bless him.

We've got a few more exciting things to do before the holidays are out. Paralympics athletics, friends and family coming to stay. We're also still decorating... the cloakroom, living room, hall, and bathroom are currently "in progress".

But as you can probably tell, jewellery has slipped a little down the list due to the non stop fun-fest in Pearce towers. I've done a few custom orders, and the sales have come in from the web shop - but no new designs or listings for a while. I'm itching to get back to it!

How has your summer been?

Holidays ahoy....

The girls finished school today. Six and a half weeks of summer holiday stretch before us and I am truly thrilled!

No school run. No packed lunches (I truly don't know why I hate making lunches so much - it's not as though it takes long, but I hate it. With a vengence!). No overtired school pick ups followed by Brownies. Oh and I get to see my lovely girls all day.

Bliss..... or so it seems at the moment. I'll get back to you on that in a few weeks when they're fighting over playmobil people and I'm trying to get some earrings made!

 Not only was school out today, but the Olympic torch went passed the top of our road!

How ridiculously lucky are we? I've been trying to make sure the kids realise how special it is; how they might not see another Olympics in the UK for 50 years, or more. I think they get it.

I haven't enjoyed watching sport on the tv for decades, probably since I was pre-teen, but I'm getting so excited about how it could inspiring the kids. Bring it on!

Jumping Jack

Kids are supposed to be excited about growing veggies right? Well Eve certainly is, but mainly so she can find new friends. Meet "Jumping Jack" her pet caterpiller....as you can see she made him (or her) a lovely new home. In the pic you only see the first stage, with the sugar snap pea leaves.... she then picked him some wild strawberries too, and fashioned a lid with air holes! She then put his house in a safe place on the sideboard in the hall. Without. The. Lid. On.

Jumping jack is now somewhere in the house, (possibly in the hoover). Eve is devastated (.....but I loved him, why did he leave....?)

Who'd have thought a veggie patch could produce so much drama.

Love where you live....

I was brought up in the Derbyshire hills, and if I'm honest most other countryside I see seems to pale in comparison to that beautiful countryside of my childhood. I've always craved greenery and though I had a blast when I lived in London for 5 or 6 years, by the end of that period I was itching to get out.

So when were looking for somewhere to live that was both "countrysidey" and commutable to London for Mr P, we saw this village and knew it was the one for us.

These pictures were taken last weekend, 5 minutes walk from my front door....I'm not sure I could ever move back to city life. I love where I live.... What do you prefer? Town or country?

Bonfire Night 2011

One of the best bits about living in a little village is the way the community get together to celebrate events throughout the year. In our village we have a FANTASTIC summer party, but the other key event is always Bonfire night.

The pole goes up on the green at the end of September - and for the next 6 weeks hedge trimmings and branches are put out and collected by the bonfire boys and girls. Take a peek at the video below....



And then the big night arrives. A procession with torches around the village, with a band, and the Guy out front. The cold dark night filled with excitement, and smoke. My littlies weren't that keen on going down this year for the big event - it's after bedtime after all, and this year both were just a little nervous about the fire (Littlest was also a bit worried about Guy Fawkes! - he was a pretty scary one to be fair, and over 7 foot tall!)

So a snap decision was made after we watched the torchlight procession, that maybe we'd stay home. We had family over, so had lots of fun playing games until the firework display started... then we ran into the front garden, and wow what a display.

What a show, and what a view from our garden. Brilliant.


It seems really strange that bonfire night is just a British affair. I guess no-one else would be that interested in celebrating Guy Fawkes failure to blow up parliament, but I always assume that this sort of festival would happen everywhere at this time of year, just with a different name, to bring a little light in the darkness, and to get rid of all those hedge and tree cuttings!


Hope you all had a great weekend whatever you were up to!


Becky x

A(nother) new beginning....

Every autumn I have a real sense of a new start. A fresh beginning. Probably more so in autumn than in spring to be honest.

Years of the back to school buzz have seeped into my subconscious, meaning that as soon as the leaves start to change and twirl to the ground, and once I have my pockets filled with conkers (by others you understand, not me) as we pass the horse chestnut tree on the way to school, I get a  sudden spurt of excitment and enthusiasm for the new things ahead.

This September has been extra exciting in our household...

... littlest has joined her sister at school! Eeeeeek!!! (sniff)

She's still there just for mornings, until tomorrow when she starts full days.

So far, she's loving it. I'm sure the adrenalin will wear off at some point and she'll be exhausted and grumpy but for now she is having the time of her life.

So, what am I going to do, home alone? I will dry my eyes and ha, yes you guessed it - I'm going to make jewellery. I'm still going to be childminding a couple of days a week, and we have just got planning permission for an extension to the house which'll eat up my time - but I'm so, so, so excited about having a bit of time to really get to grips with my jewellery business.

I've found in the past I've had lots of ideas, but at least two thirds never came to fruition due to a severe lack of hours in the day. That's all about to change!

We've also been getting some decorating done over the last few weeks, and jewellery making has been relegated from the spare room, to the garage (beats sleeping in the garage I suppose!). So that's all change too.  Yes, I can see it'll get a bit chilly in there as the weeks roll on, but at least I can hammer away to my hearts content without bothering anyone. And hopefully no one will complain when it's time to liver of sulphur the silver!!

I hope everyone else is enjoying their autumn. Whats new with you??

New house

Phew....busy busy busy - we move house on Tuesday, so I'm spending every waking hour, cleaning, sorting, painting, - you know the drill. Sadly, anything other than jewellery making at the moment!!

Anyway, I just wanted to let you see a picture of the new house that Chloe drew....it looks exactly like it....kind of....and to let you know I'll be back, and raring to go at the beginnning of March. See you then!
Bx

I found treasure!

When I was little I used to go and stay at my Gran's house every Tuesday night. It was great as it was nearer to school, I got a yummy cooked dinner, and I slept in her spare bedroom in a bed with an electric blanket - just thinking about it now makes me feel all warm and cosy.

In the spare room she also had a bookcase with some old books in,various classics in paperback, like 1984 which were a little old for me at the time, but she also had a set of 10 hardback Collins Junior Classics. God I loved those books. They were published in the early 60s, and were American and I used to spend hours and hours amongst their pages. I still remember my favourite story about 100 dresses. But that was nearly 30 years ago...

Then on Saturday night, huibbie and me were out on a rare night out to celebrate buying our new house, and walking past a charity bookshop guess what I saw in the window?

You got it!

I picked them up today. And I can't wait to read them to the girls - I hope they like them as much as I did.

Bonfire Night

Bonfire night - I love it!

I must admit I've never been entirely happy with the burning of an effigy on a bonfire, and it feels a little tricky to explain to the kids too, who felt a bit sorry for him. But I do love a good bonfire night all the same. The chilly night air, with that smell of smoke on the wind. Wrapped up warm with gloves and scarves, and the warmth of the bonfires, and the fantastic fireworks.

Nearly seven years ago we moved to a tiny village on the North Downs in the South of England, and little did we know then how big bonfire night is around here. The roads in and out close at 5.30 and remain shut until after 10pm, 20,000 people descend on the village green, and the display costs £50,000

It all starts in September with "pole up"

Then there are 5 weeks or so of people driving round the village in old blue tractors collecting people's garden cuttings,

Resulting in a pretty big bonfire

What do you mean it doesn't look that big?
That's my dad standing next to Guy in the picture below and he's over 6ft. It's huge!

Poor Guy - he looks a bit worried.... and rightly so.

 (fireworks picture from bonfire pics 2009 as I didn't take my camera!)

The morning after! The fire generally keeps going until Tuesday, with some old sofas always finding their way to the Green so people can sit and chat and toast themselves!

Exhausted children who stayed up well past their bedtime - Eve refused to come out with us this morning unless we got the buggy out.

Last year the bonfire raised £20,000 for local charites. So well done to all those who give up their time to make a difference to their communities.

Moving on

Well the summer is over for us (I know for some it's been over for a while) but the girls went back to pre-school and school on Wednesday *sniff*

I have to admit to being a little sad, its been a fun summer, and the first one that I haven't been working and stressed, or dealing with a teeny baby. But half term is just around the corner, and it's not like we haven't got quite a lot on in the next few weeks.

We put our house on the market in the first week of the summer holidays, and we exchanged yesterday! EEEEEeeeeeeep. Now we just need to pack, move and sort our selves out in the new place. The big day is in 2 weeks time. Best get cracking! OOOh and look at that lavender - must harvest some of that before we go.

It's good to move on, I know that its the right thing, but I do love "our" little house, where the kids have been babies, and grown up.

In the meantime Red Bird Jewellery is on a back burner whilst I pack, sort, organise, change address details on a million things, etc... you know the routine.

I'm hoping to be back with a vengence at the beginning of October in time for the Christmas rush!

Dublin - was brill!

Back again, and what a lovely lovely time we all had.

I must admit I was a little unsure what to expect. Anyone we'd asked about Dublin said it was brilliant, and they'd had an amazing time, "but oh... you're taking the kids... oh no we went pre-kids...., it was a hen do/ romantic weekend away etc..."

BUT we had a fantastic time. We had stayed in the south dock area, near Bono's recording studio apparently...

Here the old Dublin of dock workers and canal trade meets the new trendy Dublin of state-of-the-art theatres, offices and restaurants. The architecture is stunning!!

 
There's just an amazing mix of old and new all around.

We were only there for 2 full days so we didn't get a chance to do too much sight seeing - just the National Gallery and the Zoo, as well as a wander around the city centre. Unfortunately littlest is still a little young for too much wandering (we didn't take a buggy).

Hmmmmm looking at those fantastic markings on the giraffes gives me some jewellery ideas..
 
We took the girls out for dinner and lunch both days. On Richards birthday we went to a fab Thai restaurant Saba which was very grown up, but which catered for kids brilliantly, with colouring in, and a fab kids menu (fish tempura went down a treat!)

And did it rain?

Who cares!

A new blog?

(Picture by D Sharon Pruitt)

The other day I was thinking about starting another blog. A shiney new blog all about my the non jewellery part of my life.

 I've started making a quilt, and I also want to get a letterpress kit to play with. To be honest I always have some crafty experiement or other on the go, and as we're planning on moving house soon I can imagine these craft exploits becoming more and more frequent as I try to get the new place (when/ if we find it!) cosy and organised.

I also wanted to have a nice new blog about what I get up to with the kids. Trips out, projects we actually get around to completing. Life in general. All the stuff it's so easy to forget as they get older.

But THIS blog, now this blog is just to document my jewellery making adventures; new designs, inspiration, other lovely stuff I've seen along the way.

Hmm..

I have to admit, I get a lot of my inspiration from nature, and the world around me, but it doesn't change each week.

And as I venture more into silversmithing, given my increasingly hectic "real life" things are going to take a bit longer to make. But I definitely want to blog relatively frequently - because whose going to read a blog that gets updated once a month? - I know I don't.

So to cut a long story short,  to stop beating around the bush, to stop prevaricating..... I thought I'd combine it all into one blog. THIS blog can include all of the different bits of my life that I want to blog about. It will still have the same amount of jewellery, but a little more of the other stuff as well.

If you blog, how do you do it? Do you have separate blogs for different things. Am I making a big bloggy mistake?