'Water' treat

I just couldn't resist posting these, taken this morning, after taking my daughter to the bus.

in fact it has prompted me to set up a new blog page , pleae take a look at 'Views from my Garden Gate', very much in it's infancy, to see some more of the same

With Christmas on my mind

Last night at Adams Grammar School, Christmas Fair.

my stall doesn't look very Christmassy does it?

Yes I always show some of my tiara's, even at Christmas Fairs, you never know

Today I was back at the Gallery

Having viewed my jewellery in the cabinet I decided that I should knit a red choker and matching bracelet, so I poured hundreds of tiny glass beads into a pot ....

and started threading, by the time I had finished threading I had gone off the idea of knitting.....

instead I thought what would happen if I threaded the beads into flowers and let the wire guide me,

well this happened

So I continued,

I stopped at a bracelet, but I could have continued to make a choker, maybe another day

I then helped Becky from Little monsters hang up the garlands in our Arcade, ooh it really does look Christmassy now, just in time for late night shopping tomorrow and the Eccleshall Christmas lights switch on, on Monday

A grey and miserable day

As all my jewellery is packed up ready for the Christmas fair at Adams Grammar School, I have taken today off, no jewellery making today. Instead I have been very self indulgent and visited lots of beautiful blogs, I have totally immersed myself with glorious images of lace sheets blowing on clothes lines and beautiful meringue buttons, and I have overloaded my senses with bright and wonderful colours,

and then walked my dog, Meg in this!

I'm sorry I didn't have my camera to hand when a peregrine falcon was being mobbed by a carrion crow, it caused quite a commotion, all the gulls lifted and the ducks.

I didn't want to be taking photo's of grey skies with drizzle being blown into my face, I guess I am just going to have to be patient,

At least I can escape into the land of blogs, what a wonderful thought!

Christmas Crystal Stars at Gallery @ 12

I spent another day at the Gallery today, I try to make the most of my time when I am there. First thing I do is have a good look round to familiarise myself with all the new pieces the artists have brought in, a lot of oohs and ahhs! Then I make myself a cup of tea and introduce my new items into the Gallery, today I brought in my crystal Christmas stars.

Then I settle down behind the counter or on the stairs with my knitting needles or crochet hook and spend the rest of the day creating, between customers. Today I used a purple wire to knit some simple square beaded brooches, a beaded bracelet and matching square beaded earrings, I also crocheted a simple chain necklace, if you go in please have a look and let me know what you think, the square brooches have already been admired.

Angela Smith prepares for Christmas sales

So it's been a week since my open day, I am still waiting for all the pennies, I will let you know the final amount when all is in and counted.

What have I been doing since then, well it's been a week of open days; I spent Saturday in the Gastronomy Shop in Gnosall enjoying all the wonderful aroma's coming from the kitchen, catching up with friends over cups of earl grey tea and tasting chutney samples as well as selling a few of my pieces of jewellery.

Sunday we held an Open Day at the Gallery in Eccleshall, it was warm enough to sit out in the arcade for most of the day and enjoy all the nibbles supplied by the members of the co-operative. and the mulled wine was very welcome too!

Then it was back to the workshop Monday and today to make up more jewellery including the freshwater pearl and Swarovski crystal necklace shown in photo, for the Christmas Gift Fair at the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust at Wolseley Bridge this weekend.

OPEN DAY

My Open day went ok. Thank you to those who did attend. and a very big thank you to those of you who came with your wares. Lisa with Lotty Box, Jo with her textiles including felt jewellery and cards, Bob with his glass, Jan with her knitted teddies, Helen with Cobwebs and Jacquie with Forever living products. We had a quieter day than I would have liked with only 6 visitors during the day time session and a further 12 in the evening. There was a good buzz about the studio all day, Jo and Jan sat creating throughout the day which added further interest and of course we had loads of cakes (Compliments of Jan) to keep our spirits up.

I haven't had all the pennies in yet but combined with the takings for a smaller one I held in October it looks as though we have made around about £175 for the County Air Ambulance in total. So thank you all again.

OPEN DAY REMINDER

Tomorrow Tuesday November 10th I am opening my studio's doors for a charity day in aid of the County Air Ambulance.
I will be open from 11am to 3pm and then again 7pm to 9pm, along with my jewellery there will be a few other stalls including some of the artists from Gallery @ 12 as well as some gift type stalls, there will also be refreshments, some cakes have been promised and I am hoping to make some chocolate praline today.
I started supporting The County Air Ambulance when a few years ago while holidaying on the Isle of Coll in the Hebrides I accompanied my daughter who was air lifted to Glasgow, with appendicitus. As you can appreciate this was a very worrying time for us which could have been a lot worse if the Air Ambulance service hadn't existed. So since having the studio in Seighford I have held at least one of these days each year, to help raise much needed funds for this vital charity.
I will post a report in a couple of days time, so watch this space!

Angela Smith's studio/ workshop

My workshop is situated in the quiet rural location of Seighford, Stafford. Just 3 miles away from the M6.

Last night I opened up my studio for a jewellery making workshop, I am always amazed at how many different ways the same beads can be used to make jewellery, and each workshop is totally different, last night the group started by making earrings and necklaces but as the evening progressed keyrings and mobile phone decorations were being made, even these designs were evolving as it went along, the key rings were being made by threading beads onto a long headpin and then attaching this to a key ring, by the end of the evening beads were being threaded onto coloured leather , the beads were held in place with a spring end which was then attached to the key ring - totally unique and individual!

Angela Smith in Gallery @ 12

For those of you who haven't yet ventured into Gallery @12, here are some of my pieces of jewellery you can currently see at Gallery @ 12 in Eccleshall.

click on this photo to look inside!

Knitted gauntlet using wire and amethyst coloured glass beads

Lime green Venetian Glass cubes with Swarovski Crystals