Back on the Horse - well, nearly...

Many of you will know that I have Rheumatoid Arthritis, and how it has ruled my life for about the past 8 years. When I was immobile at the beginning of the illness, I lay in bed thinking I'd never move again. Doing things like making jewellery were a long way from my mind. It started with an ear infection after a walk on a Anglesey beach, and that led to some viral thing ...and eventually I was diagnosed with RA.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year one and all! I hope the year brings you health, happiness and prosperity - I do realise that the last one - prosperity - seems to be under a cloud of gloom at present, but fingers crossed it won't be as bad as it is painted.

I spent Christmas very quietly with the horse and the cats - with a round of kidney and chest infections - what a good time for the mechanics to break down - when business is quiet!! With the Rheumatoid Arthritis drug I am on, Actemra, my immune system is virtually non existent so the surprise is how long it has taken me to get a bug.

I can rely on Mark's help with Merlin as he is now fully stable trained and has been going out into the frozen wastes when I can't go to the stables though I felt frustrated and bored and missed my horse.

Above: Our 'New Boy', Blue....posing for the camera.......(he loves to sit under the photography lights)

We went out for a stableyard Christmas meal, and had Mark's Mum for Christmas lunch before I went to see my parents...then nothing much else though Mum and Dad came over yesterday because it was Mum's birthday. It was the same day that Merlin turned 12, so he got treats in his feed and extra fussing...(a bit like Mum).

I went Sheffield to visit my youngest brother Jonathan and his wife Anna, along with the rest of the family...my brother Chris and his wife Amanda have two girls, Aimee and Verity; Verity who is four was insisting we all keep quiet while she told us a story...then my Dad got put in the 'naughty corner' for talking...it was funny....she is a bossy britches!

The new/used cat 'Blue' has settled in so well - he is lovely, a real sweetie - I wish my cat Cleocatra would think so too - she is soooo territorial!!

For Christmas I got a Sony E-Reader...Mark claims if I buy any more books the studio floor will collapse with the weight (I confess to a serious book addiction) so he thought that I could carry my books on this e-reader contraption....well...really....its just an excuse to buy more books, but now they are 'invisible'! (or at least, till I get the credit card bill...gulp....)

Have a lovely new year.

When one door....

“When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us.” Helen Keller

Free Earrings!!

A Christmas Newsletter offer went out to everyone on the mail-list today...spend over £60 (not including postage and packing) and you can have a lovely pair of free earrings made from handmade glass, freshwater pearls, Swarovski crystal and gold-filled pierced earring fittings (if you have non-pierced ears, let me know and I can convert to plated clips at no extra cost), all wrapped up in tissue and in an organza bag...perfect for a Christmas gift for someone or...just keep them all to yourself. The offer is open until the 31st December...have a happy, healthy and warm Christmas everyone!

Blessings Earrings - want some free??

A Trip To New York

My Mum and Me...
Just got back from New York with my Mum...it was the first time she had ever been to the States, and what a great time she had (I think)...I took her because she's had a tough

Where does time go?

Phew, where on earth does time go? Answers on a postcard, please....

I have lots of new work to go on the site but it will have to wait a week or so because I am taking my Mummy to New York - she's not been well and its a treat - she has never been to the States before so she is probably dizzy with excitement - I will get a chance hopefully to look around the New York jewellery scene and take inspiration from that. We set off tomorrow morning, so early it should be illegal. I guess that makes me chaperone to my Mum - I am hoping she will behave herself! We will visit Ellis Island, maybe go to the theatre (I am hoping to get tickets to see 'Wicked'), go and look round the interesting neighbourhoods, shop, shop, and shop, go to some Museums, and take a look at the Statue of Liberty. I am looking forward to this as I haven't been on holiday this year, and this has been made possible by my improvement in health.