Leading a double life...

I'm sitting here, at my Mum's dining table, with the TV going in one corner, the tumble dryer going in the kitchen behind me, trying to concentrate enough to write this blog post.

It's not easy – my brain doesn't quite know where it is yet, even though I've been here in the UK for five days. I'm typing on an unfamiliar laptop with a deadline because Mum's hairdresser will be arriving soon and they'll need the table.

Later, much, MUCH later.....

I started this blog post nearly three weeks ago. I am now at home, in Spain, typing away contentedly on my own computer. The only noises are the tapping of my fingers on the keyboard, the buzzing of early bees outside the window and the odd “clang” from Bryn's workshop.

It is a beautiful day – lots of sunshine and a temperature of 25 degrees C. Not bad for February! Back in the UK it was bloody freezing until the day I flew home!

I go backwards and forwards between Spain and the UK quite a lot. Three weeks there, six or seven weeks here, three weeks there, four or five weeks here, three weeks there and so on and so on.....

It does play havoc with one's life. Mum bought me a laptop so I could stay in the loop. Each time I visit I have every good intention of writing blog posts, rewriting the jewellery descriptions in my Bluetina studio, keeping up with my Facebook page, etc. but this almost never happens. I even take some tools, wire and beads with me so I can make something. This time, I took the boxes out of my suitcase, put them in the cupboard under the stairs and they were still there, untouched, when I packed again last Thursday.

I did see quite a bit of the grandchildren - I even went to stay with them for one weekend! That was great - I got to read the bedtime story and have lots of cuddles! The rest of the three weeks was spent organising things for my Mum and finding all the things on Bryn's UK shopping list. I swear it gets longer every time! I didn't see half the people I wanted to catch up with and, as you may have noticed, I certainly didn't manage any blogging!

Now I'm home, I have about six weeks to calm down, find out where my head is, stop trying to turn taps on the wrong way and get back into the “making zone”. I know just what will happen. I will have built up a good head of steam and have loads of ideas bubbling up when it will be time to put it all away, pack my bags and do the whole thing over again. Sigh.....

As I didn't manage to make anything, I have no new photos to post here and a blog post does not seem quite complete without a picture or two. You can look at my grandchildren instead!

Thomas and Alex playing the Wii (no batteries for Alex!)

Off to the UK Today!

I'm heading back to the UK tonight to see my family. I'm feeling a bit torn - part of me wants to go and see the grandchildren and the other part wants to stay home and make lots of jewellery! I shall be taking some tools and wire with me so I don't get withdrawal symptoms!

I shall be blogging from Leigh on Sea for the next three weeks!

A Collection of Rings from Jewelry Creators Unite in Numbers

I made another collection on Artfire featuring the members of the newest Guild around!

Give Me a Ring Sometime!

  Curated By: bluetina

ArtFire.com

Handmade Jewelry

A Woman's Work is Never Done...

Well, not by me, generally speaking. Except today. Today I had to do HOUSEWORK!

I wanted to do the ironing. I think "wanted" is the wrong word there. Perhaps "needed" would be better. We were about to run out of clothes to wear. I looked at the floor and the layers of dust on it. And the balls of fluff. "I can't do my ironing with that there!" I sighed. You know how things you're ironing sometimes end up draping on the floor. So I found the cupboard with the cleaning stuff in it - took me a few minutes. I recognised the broom after a while and found I actually remembered how to wield it!

"I'll just sweep up this bit" I said to myself. Of course, once I started sweeping, I couldn't seem to let go of the broom handle! It lead me into the lounge and then the kitchen and then the bedroom......

Then I noticed the dust on the sideboard, the dining table, the coffee table, etc. A couple of candles had melted all over the mantelpiece. (We have a lot of power cuts here - candles are essential). Then, of course, I had to vacuum up all the dust, crumbs and other unidentified detritus gathered in the middle of the room. THEN I did the ironing!

I'm not supposed to be doing housework. I have an official quote from my dear husband. "I don't expect you to do housework. You're far too busy!"

My heart leapt when I heard that!  Silly me, I assumed it meant that he would be taking over this onerous task himself! He does it when he feels like it, for which I can't blame him. I very rarely feel like it! The annoying thing is, he tells everybody that he's better at housework than I am. No, he's not better at it, he's just faster! Which means he misses bits. When I clean, I CLEAN! Which is why it would take me all day to do one room. He does the whole house in two hours and ignores the little areas he doesn't consider important.  The total inability to see dirt is hard wired into the male psyche!

Jewellery Creators United in Numbers - A new Guild on Artfire!

There is a new Guild on the block! Us girlies (and chaps) who make jewellery are extremely well represented out there in cyberspace. In fact, there are so many of us that being found is a big problem! Some of us on Artfire have banded together to address this issue. Our revered founder and fellow jewellery maker, is Yini of RedRubyonFire. She is encouraging us all to promote ourselves and each other in order to raise our collective profiles on the net.

I shall regularly be featuring the stunning jewellery of my fellow Guild members on this blog, whilst also doing a bit of shameless self promotion!

I took a wander through the Guild Roster and picked five studios at random to showcase for you today.

First up is Catherine of ShadowDogDesigns

Pink Rhodochrosite Earrings

Next we have Tina & Tammy of EntwinedVines

Burnt Orange Lampwork Necklace

And then I found the fancy wire work of ArtisticPendants

Turquoise Pendant

Who is next? Well, look at this from LindaLandigJewelry!

Silver Flower Necklace

One more and then it's my turn! Here is something from CricketCreekDesigns

Berry Necklace

And this is mine from my Bluetina Studio!

Silver Dangle Ring

Please go and have a look at these artisans' Studios - you will be impressed, I guarantee!

I'll bring you some more very soon.

Happy New Year!

I know it's a bit late! It's nearly February already!


Toothache disappeared by the way. I had to use my best Spanish to ring and cancel the appointment at the dentist. It never came back either. Very strange!

Hopefully, I shall be posting a little more regularly from now on. I have joined two new Guilds on Artfire which will keep me busy! More of that in the next post which follows almost immediately!

Toothache!

I'm sorry but I'm going to have to moan here. Tomorrow is New Year's Eve and today I have developed a toothache! I think I have lost a filling. I telephoned the dentist for an urgent appointment and they are closed tomorrow. Monday evening at 8 p.m. is the earliest appointment I can make.

If you hear any unexplained whimpers coming from a Spanish direction, it's probably me. Off to check how many painkillers we have in the medicine cupboard......