Prototype Rocky Beach Kit Leather Bracelet!

Ever since I wrote a blog post for the John Greed Blogger Challenge, I've been thinking about the bracelet I wanted to make to represent a UK Winter Beach and that walk on Flamborough Head.  It's become almost a mini obsession that I keep returning to, I've wanted a Rocky Beach Kit since they were announced as part of the Spring Collection 2013, but I also wanted quite specific examples of the beads.

Then, yes, you've guessed it, a kit came along with just what I was looking for at a great price.  Even better I had the choice out of 2 examples of each bead.  Someone else had first choice of the Fossils and Pebbles beads but amazingly they chose the 2 I wouldn't have picked so I got my original choices after all - I was feeling that the fate of writing that blog post was coming to fruition.

Rocky Beach Kit L-R: Sandstone, Fossils, Stone Flower, Pebbles, Cliffs, Sand Beach.

However, don't forget about my boilers!  I was feeling rather conscious of the fact, that as much as I have a long standing running joke about these in Curling Stones, that perhaps I should cut back on my jewellery spending so I can save up a bit more towards replacing my dear old wrecks.  Obviously the bracelet I have planned from the original post does involve buying a lot more new beads in addition to another bracelet and lock, but along came fate again with one of the new 2 toned leather bracelets from the same collection, barely preloved, in a sage green and blue, perfect for a "prototype interim new boiler friendly" Winter Beach Bracelet until I could afford all my new beads, bracelet and lock!

I chose some Organic Bubbles and an Azure Bubbles to go with the Rocky Beach Kit and of course Lighthouse, which I had totally forgotten I had!  This really is just a mock up bracelet as I have 2 very greeny Organic Bubbles to go with this combination but they haven't arrived yet; the blue Azure Bubbles really is too blue for a UK Winter Sea!!

Ta-daaaa! Quick prototype of my interim Winter Beach Bracelet!

Here is a reminder of the photos that have inspired this bracelet combination... just in case you haven't read the original post.  You can click on this link to see the original post in full.

I really love this bracelet and I intend to continue working on it as my finances allow; however I couldn't resist showing you this, even in it's "work in progress" stage.

John Greed Jewellery's Valentine's Day Blogger Challenge

Normally, as most readers know, I ramble on about my trollbeads collection in what may seem like quite a haphazard fashion.  Blog posts normally follow bead collecting patterns, a bracelet I've made or something that happened that week.  

My mood board for the John Greed Blogger Challenge
Center and repeated around the edges: Rocky Beach Kit £115
Bottom right: Silver Sea Urchin £35 and Silver Starfish £35
Top left: Green Jasper £47
Total £232

Today's blog post is courtesy of twitter; a fellow blogger mentioned the John Greed Jewellery's Valentine's Day Blogger Challenge.  Well one should always have a peep at these things... the challenge is to create a mood board (mine shown above) made up of jewellery from John Greed that you would like to have for Valentine's Day and to tell why you want these, the spending limit was £250 and you must pick a minimum of 4 items.  So as every bead has a story, here is my story and why I would love these beads!  

Flamborough Head, February 2006

Any wintery, cold and bracing but dry day, including Valentine's Day, is always improved by a drive up the coast with my live-in geek to Flamborough Head in Yorkshire for a walk along the beach.  I love beaches in winter, probably more than in summer and the east coast is very good for blowing the cobwebs away! It makes returning home to warm winter comfort food and a hot coffee even sweeter!

My jewellery choices to reflect this day can mostly be found in the new Trollbeads Spring Collection 2013.  I used the Rocky Beach Kit with 2 of the new silvers from this Collection and finally Green Jasper from the Trollbeads Autumn 2012 Collection on my mood board resulting in the start of my Winter Beach Bracelet to remember this day.

Something for my live-in geek

Amazingly (for me) there's even change to buy one last thing... a stack of bracelets for my live-in geek so he doesn't feel left out! I'm may have to "borrow" the middle one but I know he'd love the 2 brown leather ones, and at £16.95 for all three there's £1.05 change from the £250 total, bargain!

For all bloggers, fashion lovers and jewellery fans

for details of how to enter this competition please go here.

Happy Blogging and Good Luck to all!