Sunday May 16th, 2010

Firstly dear loyal readers I would like to apologise for my lack of entries over this past week or so but there has been a bereavement in the family, my little baby hamster alias HAMMY tragically had to be put down. She was 2 and a half and had contracted a fatal illness. I'm coming to terms with it now but it broke my little heart and I have a lump in my throat as I'm typing this but I'm feeling a little better today. HAMMY was the first hamster me & Matty got together, we do have another one called MUI MUI who is a year old and we're going to get another one soon. HAMMY will never, ever be forgotten - ever. It's comforting to know that she had the best life we could ever give her and she'll be remembered for the way she lived instead of the way she died. R-I-P little HAMMY.

Moving on, I finally grew a pair and sent the infamous silver necklace and earrings to my mother as a very, very belated Mother's Day gift. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous by her reaction, I knew she finished work at the Bradford University at 4:00pm so I waited anxiously for her text, it was like the jewellery makers equivalent of waiting for exam results. When my phone vibrated at 4:18pm I jumped out of my skin (I choose to have it on vibrate because ringtones and message beeps made me jump, for a while I considered ordering a variety of gun shot ones from Andy McNab's website but living next to RAF Lyneham it probably wouldn't be the smartest of moves so I decided against it), I tentatively reached for my phone and read 'O2 have new offers, check out our website for further details...' or something along those lines. Groaning I was about to put the phone back when it went again, this time it was my mum and it turns out she loved them them all and went as far as to say she was going to take them to London with her next week. In the note I popped in with them I asked her to be brutally honest, it might have come across as though I was inviting criticism, maybe even begging for it. In truth I didn't want her say it was good just because it was me that made it. You'll never learn your craft that way.

While frantically searching through my sock draw in a desperate bid to find a pair that matched I found a carrier sack in there containing numerous blocks of Fimo, that I'd obviouly purchased at some point and completely forgotten about there was blue, yellow, flourescent orange, red, green and white. Hmmm, I just decided to have a bash at making some beads at some point, if I'm feeling daring I might try the funky looking millefiori look. Regrettably I don't have any clear varnish right now or I would have done it already, saying that maybe clear nail varnish will suffice I do have that, as long as they are bright, crazy and unique I'll be happy. I gave up on finding a matching pair and grabbed a 'High School Musical' I love TRoy sock and a 'Nightmare Before Christmas' one (please, please don't ask - I don't want to go there). Right now as I type I'm watching 'Ghostbusters 2' and briefly considered making a Fimo Slimer, but there's no way I could do him justice and I certainly don't have enough white to even thinking about attempting the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man - shame.

I was browsing through the Argos earlier this after just of curiosity to see if they still sold the Soda Stream (they do by the way) and while I had the catalogue in hand I examined the jewellery section to dare I say check out the competition and see what Elizabeth Duke was up, but I was taken aback by the sudden influx of 'celebrities' flaunting 'their very own' lacklustre designs. I'm sorry Coleen but there's no way I'm contributing to your handbag fund by paying £40 for a silver chain with some gold coloured crystal attached to it. Then there's Lily Allen seeking £23 for a 'base metal smiley face pendant'. It's not the prices that bother me so much it's more the unimaginative, flat and complete lack of character these mass produced products have. Now it may sound like I'm going off on a bitter rant but it just bugs me to see some silly ass 'celeb' gurning stupidly modelling their latest money-making scam, especially when you know that they'll never adorn them again. In the jewellery making magazines I
read each month I continue to amazed by some of the tremendous, original pieces sent in by their readers. They are the visual definition of talent, a talent to be envious of and not in the same caliber as the tacky 'celeb endorsed' nonsense that are an insult to every true jewellery maker. I just read that back, it does really sound like I'm having some sort of period induced rant doesn't it? Please someone agree with me, there must be someone who does surely, I'm not the angry, bitter, twisted person I sound like - the whole situation wound me up that's all.

It may seem that my ambition to work with resin might really happen, you see I've been doing some research and found that there is actually a kit specifically designed for resin virgins like myself, it comes with everything to get started - right down to the gloves. I showed it Matty and suggested he read it, much to my surprise he did and that initial look of horror and panic that he'd expressed when I first confided that I'd like to try working with such chemicals wasn't there, instead he seemed reassured at the inclusion of the health and safety information. The whole kit costs knocking on £40, which I'll admit is a lot to me living in recession Britain and all that but when funds allow it, it'll be a case of 'look out world resin Helen is has landed' (you best take cover).