Just found this, what I think is a moth cocoon attached to the summerhouse window frame. It was glistening in the frosty sunshine. The outer shell looks like it has a metallic golden sheen.

I have been messing around with some photos of shells and pebbles. 

Looking for patterns and textures to incorporate into my beads.

Photos of my new batch of beads. Combining a mixture of patterns, stripes, spots and twists in opaque Raspberry, light turquoise, transparent rose

 and Chai.

 

Stumbled upon a wild flower patch yesterday, thriving in a community play area in Somerset. The sky was blue, crisp cool air and a fantastic mix of
 flowers still holding on giving a lovely display.

Nasturtiums

On a sunny Saturday there was huge patch of bright orange and yellow nasturtiums at a friends garden. Buzzing with very busy bees I was taken by the twisted, tangled mesh of stems hiding underneath the lily pad shaped leaves. Although the natural colours of the plant are gorgeous, when cropping the images down I altered the colour to purples, turquoise and lime greens which seemed to enhance the patterns and shapes.

 

I even managed to capture a busy bee at work

I found some lovely thistles in my parents garden at the weekend. 

The blues and lilacs enhanced by the sunshine.

  

There was even a sneaky snail hiding amongst the spiky leaves.

Had a lovely afternoon on Lyme Regis beach recently rock pooling, building sand sculptures and swimming. I found this great piece of seaweed with fantastic twists and curls.

My new necklaces are now in my folksy shop. Please click on link to view.

Here are a few photos of my latest necklace. My opaque turquoise and ivory beads combined with transparent clear glass beads in baby blue and smoke grey. Threaded together with a mixture of complimenting glass seed beads.

 

 

 This necklace and two more will shortly be arriving in my folksy shop.

Here are some images of a commission for a matching necklace 

and bracelet I have just completed.

I used soft white coloured glass shaping it into cylinders, rounds and triangular beads. Then combined them with navy blue, clear 

and frosted glass seed beads.

Halfway through the school holidays and I have put bead making aside to create some soft fleece puppets with the kids!

They have been christened Ping and Pong Super Heroes!

 Beads in a makeshift transportation box on their way to the kiln.

reminding me of a complicated abacus

 

 

Beads finally in the kiln ready to be annealed

 

 

Along with the turquoise beads I have created some

 bright, bold, funky beads.

Opaque rich red, carrot orange, petrol green, lime green and 

transparent smoke grey.

Funky beads on mandrels

I have been busy making a batch of new beads. Combining turquoise and ivory colours in opaque and transparent glass.

The turquoise is so bright and refreshing, It makes me think of warmer climes with the sea glistening gently in the hot sunshine.

Before the rains came I visited a friends home and found a beautiful rose growing up the wall in their garden it was called "sunrise". 

The bud starts off a deep red copper, it then blossoms into an array of subtle pinks, oranges and yellows before reaching a dappled pinky white. The spiral shapes of the petals unfurling also caught my eye.

 

The perfume was also amazing!