So am I controlling my arthritis, or is it controlling me?

 Lately I've been been feeling my Rheumatoid Arthritis a bit - I started Pilates a few months ago, mostly as a result of the infamous sideways saddle incident which made me realise I was doing too much to protect my weak left side, I could see how disabled I was becoming because of it - when it gets to the stage when you can't get on or off your horse without using a crane, its time to look for help, which I have found via Emma my Pilates teacher who is doing a fab job with some frankly crappy materials, to be specific, my bones.    

 

Other than the pilates with Emma, I've had a busy few weeks - I attended several trade fairs - such fun! There is so much stuff you could spend your hard earned pounds on in an attempt to generate more pennies; so much stuff you never knew you needed before you saw it!!  It's fun buying, chatting to people, going back to the cafe for another cake and capuccino because you know you're going to be able to put it down on the business and the taxman will just have to lump it....I could spend and spend at these trade fairs, and it all seems like it could be the next best thing.
The last thing you want to do is wake up in the morning with your credit card receipt and think 'oh no, I didn't really, did I?'  

Necklace Commission

I just finished this necklace as a commission - with a Vermeil wirework heart, gold-filled wire, chain and fittings, Vermeil beads and beadcaps and lots of Swarovski crystal; I've used some chunkier beads in this piece which glitter beautifully. 

February....

Hmmm...ever had that feeling you were meeting yourself going backwards or is that just a northern expression?  How about this one....one step forward two steps backward??  Or this one - something about a fly with a blue bottom???  (last one was cleaned up in case you are a little bit delicate....)

Its been just crazy hectic round here.   I've been charging up and down the country going to trade fairs and seeing suppliers and sourcing new stock - I love doing this, its always nice buying gorgeous new stuff and then dreaming of the jewels I'll make....not so nice are the bills I am expecting (gulp, wince.....) 

And the winner is....

The winner of my 'Be My Valentine Win A Necklace' competition is.....(drum rolll.....)....Teresa Wills.

Congratulations Teresa, your necklace will be winging its way to you shortly.  Comiserations to those who did not win, but there will be more competitions on the way....

Hope you all had a lovely lovely Valentines Day.

Love Stephanie xx

My Dad's Birthday Cake...

We had a party for my Dad's 70th birthday today, I just wanted to share a pic of this fabulous cake that my Mum had made, and also a pic of my fabulous Dad too!!   The cake had a figure on it which was my Dad on his favourite classic motorbike, and its correct in every detail even down to the numberplate - it was a masterpiece, and made my Dad very very happy!

The Day My Daddy Turned 70....

Its's official, my Dad is finally a grown up.   Not that he actually ever acts like it.   You know when you are little and everyone over 23 seems like a dinosaur???   Well, I remember asking my Nona (my maternal Grandmother) once if she used to wear crinolines in the the Victorian times - and I really did think I was being nice.  She was slightly ruffled and soon put me right.   Bless her.

Well, Dad turned 70 today, and I just can't quite get my head round it.  He's one of those people who's as healthy as a horse (well,