Fascinating week with work ........ some great commissions for me and some other designers ..... also I took my new range to Finestra Gallery in Kirkby Lonsdale and they loved it so bought all my stuff, now I have to crack on with some more ...... always easier said than done in the school holidays!

We are starting a 2 week sale in the shop next week - sterling silver heaven for lots of people - so hopefully our sales will go up. It will be nice to get some new stock in for the autumn ....

My neice Heather is working out well for holiday cover in the shop! Had a few reservations but she is doing okay .......

Weather forecast is supposed to be good for next week so going to plan some outdoor activities ...... climb up Ingleborough with a group of us and our children ...... get some more cycling in, a bike ride to Bentham ........ maybe even a swim in the outdoor pool at Ingleton!

Wednesday 8th August 2007

We are now in the middle of our 'camping holiday' and have had a great time so far. Checked the weather forecast and went down to Oxford, beautiful weather so camped there for a few days and then moved on to London to stay with a friend. Have to say that I have enjoyed being under canvas, didn't think I would but the weather being so good its been great fun.

Took the children to the Tower of London yesterday and had a humourous beefeater guide that made all the difference to keeping the kids attention. Highlight of course was the crown jewels, got plenty of ideas for new jewellery designs! blingy tiaras, orbs, maces etc ........ went to Spencer Cooper gallery in St Katherine's Dock and enquired if they would be interested in some sterling silver jewellery, they didn't say no so will organise to show they some samples in September.

Had the usual fun people watching on the bus into and out of town, I love coming to London but equally love going home. Need to make abit more money so I can have a pied a terre in town!

Off to see some more culture today, hopefully the V and A and a few exhibtions at the Portrait Gallery if the kids can stand it! Should be off to Sussex tomorrow for a few more days camping as the forecast is good ............

27 July 2007

Thank God its Friday .................... the girls got back from their trip yesterday, they kinda enjoyed it! It was nice to have them back and it was our wedding anniversary so we celebrated with fish and chips and Prosecco! I made the Malteser cake which is actually a biscuit but truly delicious, very similar to Rocky Road that they sell in Starbucks which is made with marshmallows rather than Maltesers .......... all extremely fatteningly moreish!

Made it up Ingleborough on Tuesday (thought Tom wouldn't get back in time so I went for a 20km bike ride in the morning!) and really enjoyed it. It was very misty on top so we didn't stay long but we had a refreshing cold drink when we got to the bottom.

I went to Preston PAD gallery on Wednesday to drop off some of my jewellery to put on sale there. Its a great gallery well worth the visit and the long trek to the bottom of Church Street!

My new bangle is selling well (see it on www.thejewelleryroom.co.uk ) and I am going to make a matching necklace soon ............ I tend to wind down in the summer when the children are off school.

We are supposed to be going on a camping holiday this year .............. starting off in Oxford! Might have to do a last minute change of plan ........... will check the long range forecast and see what is happening with the weather. Those poor people who are flooded, I hope they can get sorted as soon as possible.

Lazy weekend planned, bit of tidying up, bit of gardening if the weather holds off ...........

23 July 2007

The school holidays are upon us ................... which I actually enjoy! I love that time with my children, we have time to chill and do stuff we never get around to doing .............. people always say 'nearly the school holidays' whilst rolling their eyes and I roll my eyes back.

Having said that now, our 2 daughters have gone away today until Thursday on a Youth Group holiday for the Catholic church ................ mmmm. We will see how they liked it when they get back.

In the meantime I can stay at work late and tomorrow we are off walking for the day with no restrictions on time, very strange feeling!

Had a few webs sales over the weekend (another silver bangle CAV31 ... proving popular!) and some sales of my own jewellery that people locally have asked for.

Off to have a look for a recipe for Malteser Cake which I will make for the girls when they gte home on Thursday.

Sales good at shop today which historically is unusual, normally quiet first 2 weeks of the holidays!

19 July 2007

What a week ............ I have managed to 'get over' Manchester and will apply to do their Christmas market, its all experience isn't it?

Made some more sterling silver jewellery this week which were all commissions and I have some designs I want to try out but that can wait until next week.

Yesterday I spent the day in Preston, I had a hospital appointment in the morning which went well as I was down to have surgery in September but they have decided to try alternative treatment first. Obviously I am relieved but twistedly I was thinking that I would have a genuine excuse (in my mind) to not run for a few months and not have to work for a few months!

Anyway after that I went on a mini shopping spree which I have to say is unlike me as I am not a shopoholic so I did enjoy it. Then I went off to Pad Gallery to see if they would be interested in having my jewellery in there and I think they might be but I have to officially apply first.

Today, weather great by the way, I got a bike ride in this morning, popped some jewellery in to a customer, mowed the lawn and have done a lot of admin/paperwork whilst listening to Radio 1 ............. loving Kings of Leon latest ...........

14th July 2007

Only just enough energy to say that Manchester Markets has been terrible so far .............. long days, spent alot on it and no return so far ......... only sold a few items so I am feeling despondent especially as I was all hyped up for a great weekend! Its going to be a real effort to get out of bed in the morning for the last day ...............

Tuesday 9th or 10th July 2007

Its been one of those days aahhhhhhhhhh ................. started great, went on a bike ride early, got home and did some tidying up, the postman delivered my hallmarked silver jewellery, allelulia .... everything was going great .......... and then I played with my website again and messed up so I have a gap at the top of the page so people are going to think it is blank! I have also got some code on the bottom of the page as well ......... its always so easy when you read the blurb and it says just copy and paste this code in to each page of your website!

THEN I phone up to check on the whereabouts of my mobile credit card unit that I need for Manchester Markets on Friday and ......... they have received confirmation from me by fax on the whole deal! What fax? Never received one! Soooooo, a nice guy called Patrick Shea (I pronounced his surname right first time so he was impressed, it was never that easy to impress a guy when I was single and younger!) has taken on my case and is helping me to achieve this mobile unit by Friday ...... but no guarantees.

Have managed to bake more bread and start to sort everything for Friday in the mean time ........ next week I was going to sell my jewellery at the Royal Lancashire Show but its been cancelled, will I get my money back? Think I will organise a jewellery party at home instead as I have a lot of jewellery to sell and also there is lots of stuff in the shop that I can reduce to tempt people.

And I've thought it was the 9th today.

Taking girls to Guides tonight, bit of shopping in Booths which means I will have to wait for my XL glass of wine ........

Ciao people .................