Friday, October 28, 2011

Well, let me tell you ...

... about your versions of my "Pearl Cluster Necklace" Tutorial.

Firstly, let me say thankyou! The responses from the tutorial have been very flattering and I have been really chuffed to see it appear on Pinterest (and then get pinned and re-pinned again) and also the fabulous Beading Gem blog ... and at each and every location, I have appreciated every comment, and especially your emails and pictures.

There are so many tutorials and versions of how to make such style of necklace, so whilst I was putting the tutorial together, I did not think that showing people how to make this "my way" would have as much of an impact as it has done.

so, again thank you ... and moreso I need to give massive thanks to the creative people who sent me pictures of their interpretations. I knew that it would be a design that could be adapted to use different beads in different types, colours and sizes - and to see necklaces with a different flair really have made me grin like a cheshire cat ... and so much so, I want to share a few of my favourites with you too.

Firstly ... the first one that came in to fruitition, by the very talented Aster Sadler. She must have made this within days of the tutorial first being released. Absolutely gorgeous colour combination.


Asters Facebook Page - Seedy Beady

The next one of my favourties comes from Dorisanne Higgins - Mixing Pearly creams with Gold has given the neckalce such a luxourious style, and also shows how great the design can be for a bride.  I also love especially how she reduced the size of the beads at each end.


Dorisannes Facebook Page - A Little Bead Told Me

And finally on to one that shows how fabulous it is to use your bead soup!
From Ruth Duck at Pintail Jewellery ... Doncha just wanna get your hands in there and touch each different bead?!


Ruths Facebook Page - Pintail Jewellery

Here is another one from Jo, she is a member of the BeadBuddies Forum where I posted the tutorial. I was so happy to see a design using cubed beads.



So, I hope you like them. I hope to see more and more of what people do with the tutorial!



Thursday, October 13, 2011

Craft Pimp Team - Official Blog!

Hey everyone! :)

I know some of you know that I am a member of a great craft forum "CRAFT PIMP" which is a great place to gossip and share crafty wisdom and show off crafty items ... from sewing, to lampworking, to painting, to everything else ... the place is a great inspiration for any craftaholics like myself!



Well, now there is a blog to compliment the forum! *woop!* it also gives people the option to stay in touch with what's going on in their community though the blogpages if forums are not their thing.
If you're a sucker for crafty tutorials, subscribe to it as I don't think you'll be disappointed. All tutorials that are written by the forum members will make their way on to the blog pages! So you won't just get mine from SmittenKitten ... YOU'LL GET EVERYONES!

As you see, it's a brand new blog and it will feature more than just tutorials, it will have features and competitions too!

Go on ... follow it ... you know you want to! x

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

{Guest Blogger} Loki the Bobblecat

Hi, for those of you who have not had the pleasure of my company - let me introduce myself:

My name is Loki, and I have been led to believe by my house-humans that I am a "Bobblecat" whatever that means... I presume that since this word describes my breed, and considering that I only know other cats (not Bobblecats) that it must refer to the gorgeous multi-colours on my furrrrrrrrrcoat, and the fact that I have cheated death ... making me quite obviously a WINNER. If there are any other Bobblecats about, they would be winners too, but I have never had the luck to meet any other bobbles like me *meh!*

This past weekend - life was pretty normal ... I was getting a lot of attention from one of my house humans, who insisted on playing ribbons with me. Oh I love ribbons! The loops, twirls are easier to catch than "chirpers", ribbons are not as soft as chirpers, but still just as fun.

I got confused with one ribbon, as it had symbols on it, numbers and lines ... and the house human was not as playful with me when I wanted to play with this one, I do not understand why! She knows the rules of ribbons... it's fairly simple ... put them near me, in front of me, loop them round my body, run them around my neck, shake them a metre from me, or run them across my fur ... I ATTACK THE RIBBON! That's the rule! You show, you tease, you shimmy and shake the ribbon ... I POUNCE!!! and I'm great at it too ... I will dominate any ribbon that crosses my path.

Anymeow ... this past weekend I had a fairly successful Saturday night out on the hunt, looking for squeakers (you know - the things that squeak when they are squidged in your paws) and after feeling chuffed with my nights entertainment; I strolled back home just after sunrise, hungry for some supper. Food was served promptly as ever and off I went to find somewhere comfy for snoozies. I was very chuffed to find an open suitcase and off I snoozed dreaming about squeakers and chirpies.

When I woke a few hours later ... given a quick yawn and a stretch, I bobbled into the lounge for some food. I walk around in a daze until I have some crunchies, so it is important to get some more food down me for the strenuous next few hours of meandering arounf the house ... but before I reached my bowl, I got scooped up my a human and after a few strokes and cuddles ...

I was suddenly wearing a new collar! 

Bobble darn it! Why am I so dosey when I wake up?

Normally I'd be alert enough to defy such suffering. It was only after I was plonked down on the couch, I realised to the full extent what had happened. I had the humans looking at me, checking out my expression... with machines that flash and there was lots of "oooh so cute" and lots of loving... don't get me wrong, I love the loving ... I'm a creature born to be pampered, it was just the accessory that confused me... Had I missed something? The latest issue of catsmopolitan maybe? or was it in Cat's weekly?  Oh ribbons... is this now fashionable?!

Well, for a further 5 minutes I bobbled round the house, every now and again looking down at the thing wondering if it was going to be a permanent accessory. I'm a diva in this neighbourhood, I don't know if I could face going outside meeting my friends as a cross-dressing-bobblecat, or maybe I could? remember I am the only Bobblecat in this neighbourhood... so trend setting possibilites are possible!

BUT ... Just as I was starting to think that I could set a new style in the 'hood, I was scooped up again for some pamperment and then my new accessory got taken off! Oh thankbobbles for that!!!

Will have to plan my revenge ... after I have played with some ribbons of course!

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Crafter..oo! E-magazine - Out Now!

Well, first off - it's been a month since I last posted *bad girl I am*
Well time really just has flown – this past month has been full of …

♦ More wedding plans (still got lots to do)
♦ Painting the eaves on our new house (painful boring work!)
♦ Travelling a lot with work to Hungary (all good, but time consuming none-the-less!)
♦ Visitors! (Dad coming to see me!)
♦ Finalizing my projects, features for the new Craft E-mag before it got published :)

I’ve been busy that’s for sure – so I hope to get back to normal soon.

The Crafter..oo! E-magazine is a quarterly crafting magazine that is compiled by members of the “Crafter..oo!” Craft forum community. With features, tutorials, projects, hints and tips, hot and not … it’s been such a pleasure to work with fellow crafters to come up with this great magazine. For only £1.50 – there 64 pages worth of goodies for you to download to your computer and read at your leisure. I have been really lucky to have my Hollow Book project featured, and I have also written a feature on the hottest blogs and also a blog hints and tips. I feel very lucky to be part of the mag, and I’ve already signed up to run a feature/tutorial for issue 2 as well.


Will be back soon to talk more crafting! ♥
take care
Nicola
x