Instagram with Curling Stones for Lego People

As I've been a bit quiet on the blog lately, only posting when I have something I want to say, I find I'm using my Instagram a bit more often for bangle combos and updates...

If you want to follow me there, you can find me at curling_stones_for_lego_people but here are a few shots of what I've been buying and wearing this year so far...

L-R: New copper and brass bangles from Cottingley Treasuers, Work Wear - X Jewellery & Born of Fire,
Gig Time - old favourites with Eske Storm / Trollbeads / ACA Kreations / Endangered Trolls

L-R: Work Wear - X Jewellery and Born of Fire, Time for a Walk - Bluebell Woods, Iron Age Fort in Wales,
Old Favourites Returned - Eske Storm / Trollbeads, Born of Fire glass with Cottingley Treasures Bangle/Stoppers

John Grant's North Atlantic Flux - Sounds from Smoky Bay
L-R: Saturday, Sunday & Monday, newbies on Monday were Chocolate links X Jewellery,
Ohmbeads Typo Collection, Pandora leather with Born of Fire Glass.

My last Instagram post was showcasing that new Brass hammered bangle from Cottingley Treasures, had been umming and ahhing about what to pair with it to get the most out of it... I looked down at the pattern on my top and voila!

Cottingley Treasures Brass and Born of Fire Glass

I often think my Instagram can be quite an odd mix at times, lots of wrist shots but mixed in with walks and cups of tea!

Do you have an Instagram Account?

If you do/did, what do/would you post?

Meeting myself coming back...

I don't think anyone would be surprised if I mentioned I was a wee bit busy at the moment... it seems to be just what I do these days rather than being anything out of the ordinary!  It does make blogging a tad difficult though... loads of content, not enough time to write about it!

I did almost meet myself coming back at the end of the month due to two epic trips - of the travel kind not the oops accident kind thankfully.

The first trip went without a hitch and a marvellous time was had by all, but the second, which although last minute, should have been relatively straight forward... turned into a large saga.  I don't mind, as I often think some things happen for a reason, and it led to a chance conversation as I was somewhere I wouldn't normally be at that time... which led to another conservation which I had no idea was even possible, which, if any of it goes to plan (ha!), could lead to some exciting opportunities next year - so it's had a very interesting, but totally not expected outcome... nor anything I could have possibly imagined...

...and yes, that will remain cryptic for quite some time, but when I can eventually tell you about it, whether it happens or not, I'll remind you of this post!

In other news, I have been steadily buying bits and pieces, however, unbelievably I'm well on target for my New Year's Bead Resolution of spending less, go me!  Yay for preloved beads, lovely artisan makers and sales with HUGE discounts!

There have been a lot of Skeletons turning up; on X links, bone beads and full skeletons, not THE skeleton though before anyone gets too excited.  I've been a very happy bunny to have so many arrive!  I haven't taken many photos (bad Mars) so I'll just tease you with these two, the X link and the Bone Bead which is my new favourite bead.

One of my big treats was via a sale.  I added the Trollbeads Amethyst and Malachite Fantasy Necklaces to my collection; I'm ashamed to say that after waiting so long for an opportunity to buy them during a sale I've not done much with them... it's the whole meeting myself coming back effect.

I've indulged in some of the new Trollbeads Spacers, or new stoppers, but more on those another day... and I've even bought myself a Pandora Bracelet, well ordered it at least!

Yep, all of this in the last 6 months and I'm still on track, I can barely believe it myself!

What has surprised you this year?

Do you think I'll blow my "half year" budget in the last 2 weeks of the month?!

What's on my Wrist?

If you follow me on Instagram you might have seen this one yesterday!

I dusted off my Thomas Sabo Karma bracelet, or more accurately the jewellery box it was in, and paired it with my new Pandora rings from my shopping trip last month!

I rarely blog Instagram photos just by themselves, as that's what Instagram is for... but I think this one deserved an entry of it's own!

What do you think?

The World of Mars and Skewiff Scheduling

Well thought I'd better pop in and let everyone know what I'm up to at the moment as my blogging schedule is a little skewiff!

Side Stage View from Humber Street Sesh

I've been a busy bee in August; hanging out with my husband and friends when they all played a festival - they had sofas in front of their stage... and cover (it rained a lot in the afternoon) so guess where I stayed for most of the day!

Wales... for once in this pic it wasn't raining!

I did a bit of Pandora shopping before heading off on a whirlwind trip to Wales to catch up with family, celebrate a special Grandmother's birthday and generally chill out, with good food & drink and more bad weather unfortunately.  I also came home with some very special pieces of jewellery... but I'll save that story for later!

New Glass!

In other news - I bought some more glass and I've had my 2nd lampworking lesson - only 2 years after my 1st one! 

Pootling along by myself for the last few months, I decided it was time for some expert guidance in getting shot of some bad habits and attempting to learn some good new ones.

My own torch!

I've also taken the plunge and bought my own torch, after much umming and ahhing and driving friends and family insane with my constant, Shall I? Shan't I? questioning.  And, er, that is where the rest of my time has gone this month... I've been creating a little space for myself in my kitchen so I can make beads at home!

Alex Cramariuc - Elements Silver Set

Oh and I've also been gazing adoringly at my new bracelet made up of Alex Cramariuc Elements Silver Set... I did mention that Alex was the one designer that might break my New Years Bead Resolutions Budget and I was right, worth every single penny though!

So that's what I've been up to so far, I have a few things planned for the blog but my scheduling will remain a little skewiff whilst things settle down and I concentrate on not setting fire to the kitchen, or me, or the visiting cats, or anyone who tries to make a cup of tea at the same time... More on my progress later!

So that's me, what have you been up to?

Packing dilemmas & Pandora shopping!

All last week I'd been trying to find a tiny sliver of time to pop into town and indulge myself with the Pandora 3 for 2 ring offer, a 5 day window and I live within busing distance of town; it should have been easier...

Yesterday (the last day of the promo) I was determined to get there before the offer was over; I knew I definitely wanted 2 of the Pandora rings, so it made sense to pick up a 3rd for free!

Back in April I'd tried on a lot of Pandora rings I liked at the Hugh Rice Blogger Event - not all of which I showcased on the blog; so there was going to be a big choice to be made to settle on just 3, and not 6!

It's actually quite unusual for me to be so keen on a set of fashion rings.  When choosing rings I've always tended to seek out jewellers who work to a much smaller scale and craft rings that are not produced in their many thousands.

Pandora Spinel Ring

However, I fell in love with this Silver Spinel Ring from Pandora, this was my first choice and there was no way I was leaving Hugh Rice without it a 2nd time!

Last April I'd also spotted a lovely star ring but I couldn't decide whether I wanted to wear it on my thumb or my middle finger.

Pandora Spinel & Star Ring Stack

Pandora Spinel & Star Rings

Here I'm wearing it stacked with the Spinel ring, but it also fits on my thumb - bonus!  I think it will match my Starwheel charms from Elfbeads beautifully next time I change my bangle to match.

Elfbeads Starwheel Silver Charms

Ring shopping for me has to be done in person and not online, as even when I know my ring size, I have to try on rings in person as what I often love in the tray, I don't on the hand.

So which ring made the coveted No.3 spot?

Whilst I tried on all the lower priced rings I liked in order to make a financially sensible decision... the one I fell for was at the more expensive end of the scale due to it including 3 little wraparounds of 14ct gold on the twisted silver design.

What can I say... I love mixed metals in jewellery!  There was another silver and gold band that I liked that might have pushed me to buying 6 rings in total, but luckily for my bank balance they didn't have it in my size!

Having spent considerably more than I first intended, off I went... now all that's left is to decide which of these 3 rings are coming with me on my trip!

Have you indulged in any of the previous 3 for 2 ring offers from Pandora?

Spot anything you fancy today?

Spotlight on Hull Fashion Week Official Sponsors - Hugh Rice the Jewellers

Hull Fashion Week (HFW) hit the streets of Hull during early April, a series of events all around the city centre from the 4th to the Finale on the 11th.

One of my favourite events was the Blogger Event hosted by Hugh Rice, who were the official catwalk and stage sponsors.  If you think the name sounds familiar I wrote about them in my Behind the Scenes with Hugh Rice in 2014.

As I finished work for the week and headed straight out to meet the team at Hugh Rice and some of the other #HullBloggers I was a little concerned I might be late, but fate was kind, the roads were clear and I found a parking spot!

A quick tour around the store and then it was time for some research, being already familiar with Hugh Rice I headed for the part that I was very unfamiliar with but the one I intended to change on this trip - Pandora Rings!!

I keep meaning to go shopping for these and this seemed like an ideal opportunity... and taking advantage of the superb assistance from Kayleigh at Hugh Rice, away I went!

Pandora Rings at Hugh Rice
(Footprint ring is my own)

I spent a lovely time ring shopping and I've narrowed it down to that lovely Black Spinel Ring in the main picture as my first choice, which is unusual for me in that I don't normally suit rings that sit quite tall on my finger but that one was perfect.

I think I'm also going to stick the star ring and the hearts ring on my list too... and probably a few others that I haven't photographed... I'm very taken with these!!

Time for a few nibbles and to pop that empty glass somewhere and on to the next treat, the team at Hugh Rice had organised for us to see more of the jewellery they sell; ranging from "definitely out of my price range but please can I try it on anyway" to vintage and preloved pieces.  I think we were all a bit enamoured with some of these and we had our own favourites.

#HullBloggers learning about jewellery

I have to admit my inner geek came out during the next part as whilst people were getting their jewellery cleaned I got a bit gaga over the workbenches and tools... I think lampworking in a jewellery workshop is beginning to rub off on me a bit?

We had a great time wandering around Hugh Rice, I returned to enjoy some of the new Karma Beads whilst we also indulged in some more of those delicious pastries.

Karma Beads and Pastries

We had one last surprise waiting for us as the team at Hugh Rice had prepared us some goody bags... obviously being bloggers we have to photograph them first!

Photographing the photographer photographing the Goody Bags

So, what was in the surprise Goody Bag? Well you'll just have to come back next week month* to find out!

It was time for the #HullBloggers to say good-bye to the team at Hugh Rice and head out in search of some food to round off the day!

  Mission accomplished.

Any favourites from these photos? What would you choose?

*Sorry for delay! I'm having a little break as I'm out playing on the bus and with fire & glass,
although not at the same time as that would just be dangerous!!

P is for Pac Man, Pandora & Prisms

Pac Man was an arcade game in the early 80's that was hugely popular and was one of the first games to be designed with the idea of attracting a wider audience to game playing.

When Trollbeads first bought out Mr and Ms Ghost Fighter in Autumn 2013 I knew I had to have Pandora's Ghost Charm to represent the enemies.  Whilst this charm was recently retired I was able to find one - thanks to being tipped off by Victoria over at Endangered Trolls that retired Pandora Charms don't hang around in the same way that Trollbeads do as shops often return them back to Pandora once they're retired.

I only have one Pandora Ghost Charm but after making up this bracelet I'm hankering after some more!

Want to know a secret?  Look what happens after dark!

Well I had to try and recreate some of that arcade magic!

The glow in the dark beads are Trollbeads Inner Glow, originally released as part of the Halloween Collection in 2012, I used prisms as a (very) loose representation of the in game dots and power pellets and finished off with a chess lock to represent the pixels in early games!

Any gamers reading today?  Did you like Pac Man or did it pass you by?  For readers under a certain age, a'hem, what do you think of this retro game?