Saturday 25 January 2014

Grow your blog 2014 - Gone Beading

2 Bags Full

I'm joining in with the Grow your Blog meet and greet event at 2 bags full and am looking forward to meeting new visitors as well as going to visit other bloggers. Welcome, come in and grab a coffee and settle yourself down as this is probably a post best told in pictures.


I have two blogs; this one is for my adventures in crafting, creating and ramblings on the general insanity that somehow forms my life. My other blog, called Pepsi Max Addict, is where I blog about the two cats to whom I am a long suffering and mainly willing servant.
 Swarovski and freshwater pearl set for a friend's birthday
 Fire polished crystals and haematite set for my Mother
I live in Scotland and this blog started off as a place for me to record my developing skills in jewellery making and beading. I love beading as it is great fun and probably one of the first crafts where I could create something that I could wear without apologising for the wonky nature of it. I also love having the skills to create special handmade gifts for friends which have special meaning or represented their specific tastes. 
 
 A decoration for the Christmas Decoration Swap arranged by Marianne. This beaded snowflake went to Jessie's Needle
An angel to send a friend a message of support
Over the last year I have diversified into new crafts such as decorative glasswork at Glasgow Metropolitan College with the fab tutor Kimberly, machine sewing at Clydebank College taught by Jenny, paper crafting, needle felting, paracord knotting and some wall art.
My His and Her's toilet door sign 
A basket liner for my towels
 A knitting needle and crochet hook case
 A birthday card
 My first glasswork pattern for my little dove
 Some paracord key chains
I have also been revisiting and refreshing old crafts that I used to enjoy but haven't touched in years such as knitting, crochet, punch tool embroidery and some hand sewing. I have also enjoyed the assistance of a good friend who has taught me how to read a crochet pattern which was something I had never learnt as a child/teenager.
A crocheted cotton washcloth with a bar of soap inside
 
One thing that is very obvious throughout this blog is that I am a bit of a control freak and hate being told what to do. This extends to arguing with my Sat Nag in the car, reading a pattern then ignoring it and my worst crime of all is deciding I've got an 'idea' then just totally free-styling things. Sometimes my approach pays dividends, like the fairy below for the Christmas tree, and sometimes it is a disaster but I usually 'fess up in a cautionary blog post.
I am a prolific maker of small things, I like my crafts to be absorbing but relatively quick otherwise I lose interest as something new comes along. I like to adapt the William Morris rule by only making things that are either beautiful or useful. I love reading, listening to audiobooks and occasionally just using my blog to have a little rant so you sometimes get a mixture. I've joined a virtual book group at Circle of Pines and am blogging about my latest read or listen on this blog.
Normally, when crafting I work at my dining room table, and often have to contend with a furry friend snoopervising, and my stash for each craft is piled into many corners. After moving to this house a room was joyously allocated as a dedicated creative space/craft room/study. However, this excitement is tempered by the fact that this room is chockfull of post-house move boxes which are now reduced to a height of around 7ft at present and the room has been christened the 'spare room of despair'. Still I live in hope.

So this me and my crafting blog in a nutshell really. I hope you have enjoyed stopping by, and if you'd like to leave a comment to let me know you've visited please feel free.

48 comments:

  1. I read both of your blogs today, and I really enjoy them. Congrats on joining the "grow your blog" thing, we're glad you're blogging, even if you're an "Apple-Hater"....... Lol;-)


    "Cheeky-Girly" (Ragdoll Mommy) :-)

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  2. You are very talented. I too have been dabbling into beading

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  3. I thought the room of despair was getting a good clean up? I love your beading, I used to make jewelery all the time, I gave it as present and loved it. Now I find more of my love turned to pursuits with yarn.
    Hugs,
    Meredith

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  4. Gosh what lovely things you are creating! I too have a furry helper (or four!) - not always as helpful as one might like!

    I hope you'll pop over & visit my blog too.

    dormouse.wibsite.com
    fatdormouse.blogspot.com

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  5. Okay... I officially am "stealing" your awesome words "snoopervisor" and "Spare Room of Despair"... :)

    Welcome to the Party! I am one of the GYB Party Volunteers and love your blog... I am your latest Follower and can't wait to get back to reading more. Cats, crafts and humour - right up my alley. Love your art too; such talent in so many areas! Best of luck growing your blog!

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  6. Hello Scotland this is Australia calling in to say I am your latest follower! You are very creative, I love the his and her toilet door signs!! Is it just me or is crochet the next big thing? It seems like it is having a revival, and quite right too!! Have I said enough to deserve one of those nice smiley face coffees? ;)
    Have a great GYB week
    Wren x

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    1. Hi Wren,

      I'm leaving my reply here for you as I cannot seem to leave a comment at your blog as I can't use the google comment box without agreeing to let it take over my contacts and the sidebar comment widget just kept saying sending, so I've no idea if you'll get my reply.

      What I wanted to say was thank you so much for your kind comments and yes, you've definitely earned yourself a lovely smiley coffee.

      Your blog is great and you are so well travelled. I love the Himalayan necklace story and the fact it is meeting up with the earrings.

      I'll look forward to returning to your blog and reading more.
      Love and best
      RedSetter

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  7. How fun to see the great variety of your creations! And what an angelic looking snoopervisor. There's nothing better than a furry Muse.

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  8. Great to meet you - I envy your talent :) Your blog is lovely.

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  9. I'm visiting from the Grow Your Blog party. Your jewelry is beautiful - you are very talented! I have seen several jewelry blogs so far during the party. I'm into papercrafts and also have a kitty that likes to watch me craft. I plan to look around a bit more and then be on my way to visit the others. I do hope you will stop by for a visit and enter my giveaway. Have a wonderful weekend! Hugs – Donna

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  10. Love your blog voice and lovely crafts! Visiting as part of the Grow your Blog event!

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  11. You do beautiful work and your blog is just lovely! I'll be following!
    Cathy
    CraftyCat

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  12. I love the knitting needle and crochet hook case. Gorgeous fabric!

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  13. Thanks for sharing all your interests and projects. :) I have 3 kitty snoopervisors, to help me with craft projects and household activities. Last night, one of them tried to lie down in my tray of Chain Maille rings. They seem to think the task lamp is a heat lamp specifically for cat naps.

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  14. Hello, glad to meet you with this blog party....lovely work.

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  15. It's really nice to meet you. I'm visiting from the GYBP. You are talented and make lovely things.

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    1. Many thanks for your lovely comment Dawn, I'm leaving your reply here as I cannot comment on your post without agreeing to let google take over all of my contacts.

      I'm following your blog and look forward to reading more about your and your thrifting.

      Love and best
      RedSetter

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  16. Just popping in to say happy Burns day :-) and enjoy the party! Xx

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  17. beautiful creations.. I'm a new follower.. coming from GYB... please do visit my blog
    -Berina
    Moxie Craftie

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  18. Love the crafting going on here! Beading is my daughter's craft but she doesn't have pierced ears so I benefit from all she makes. Works for me!

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  19. At first, I thought I was reading about my self! From the range of crafts to the arguing with sat nav and ranting on my blog! You've made some lovely things there, love the glasswork dove pattern, I love glass work - are you copper foiling it?

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  20. Lovely to meet you too! Thank you for visiting my blog and leaving a lovely comment :)
    I'll follow here too - I'm already following your kitties' blog :) x

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  21. Very nice to meet you. I love the crocheted washcloth and soap. What a great gift!

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  22. found/followed you from the gyb party... I do a bit of jewelry making myself. love your beading!

    hope you'll visit me as well!

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  23. Waving to you from cold snowy eastern Canada. I'm on the GYB hop and have enjoyed seeing all your lovely crafting projects!! And your handsome kitties too! I hope you'll drop by my blog and enter my giveaway!

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  24. I enjoy reading about all your crafting endeavors. I hope to get to Scotland some day.

    Thanks for visiting my redwork/ embroidery blog yesterday. My follow button is working now if you would like to stop back...

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  25. Fun post! I love your "snoopervisor". And your beadwork is beautiful. You dabble in alot of different things! Way to go! Enjoy the blog party. Hope you'll stop by for a visit! Aloha

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  26. Your work is just beautiful! The angel is just lovely! xoxo Jen

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  27. Greetings from St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada. Great craft projects. Thanks for sharing.

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  28. Saying hello from the GYB blog hop. Very pretty makings you have here.

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  29. You are very talented to work with so many crafts. I also make jewelry and stained glass. I'm looking forward to reading more about y our projects.

    Lisa
    http://lisayangjewelry.com

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  30. Hello I'm Lynet, nice to meet you, your blog is beautiful, I following now,I love to share with you from now on and we are good friends!Happy grow your blog

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  31. Wow you are multi-talented. I really like your bead work and your little kitty looks like a wonderful joy, cats are so therapeutic. It was so nice to meet you.

    Hugs
    Caroline

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  32. Love the work of your crafty, industrious hands! Visiting via Vicki's GYBP and enjoying your blog.

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  33. Hello from California. I enjoyed exploring your blog and will be following you. Ronda

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  34. Looks like you are never bored with life! Following you from GYB :)

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  35. Fantastic blog, nice post and nice to meet another fellow beader, looks like you enjoy coffee as well and making things tthat are only useful, I like that. Rant, on occassion but try to avoid this, lol. I'm a new follower, hope you visit my blog andwe become blog buddies, beading buddies.

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  36. Well, I just had to come and visit with you as soon as I discovered you were from Scotland, so hope you will share a bit of Scottish flare from time to time.......but I love all your craftiness, the little angel is such a delight and your mum will love that set!! I will be back for sure
    Hugs Sharm. ( Australia)

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  37. Hi, returning your visit - I live in the Midlands, UK - I just loooove that his and her sign - Jean Paul Gaultier would have been so proud ;)
    thanks for visiting my blog
    Neena

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  38. Lots of talents you have here...Looking forward to read more in the future..
    and thank you for visited my blog

    asri

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  39. RedSetter,

    Thanks for visiting my blog, Carolynscreationswa.blogspot. Glad to meet another beader, cat lover (even though right now I have a dog), reader, and general crafter.

    I have signed up to follow you on this blog. Hopefully soon I will get over to your other blog.

    Carolyn
    Carolynscreationswa.blogspot.com

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  40. Greetings from South Carolina, USA! Love your blog! I dropped by via Vicki's GYB party and am glad I did so. Since I have something going on my craft burner most all the time, I can so very much identify with your introduction blog post for the party. The fact is, I am usually thinking of what I am going to do next before I finish a current one. Sewing is, for me, a form of therapy and my latest interest is in making those little paper houses(sometimes referred to as Putz).

    Signing up to follow you on Google Friend Connect. I hope you will drop by to see me at my bit of Blog Land when you have a moment.

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  41. Hi, I'm visiting late with the GYBparty, from Germany. Love your variety of crafts! Am a new follower ;)
    Tina

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  42. Hi Lucy! Just popping over (a little late) to say thanks for visiting and joining my blog. I am intrigued by the culture and history of Scotland and look forward to reading more of your witty posts! Cindy from TheCranesNest.com

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  43. Hello Lucy, thank you for dropping by my blog. What a variety of crafts you do I did enjoy reading your blog.
    Jackie

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  44. Hi, I'm visiting from the GYB hop and have been enjoying the posts I've read so far. I love your "room of despair" description. Kind of fits every room in my house right now. I'm off to read your other blog now. I'm a total Pepsi addict and love cats, so it is calling my name!

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Comments are welcome and I read every single one