Mid week mutterings

It's Thursday already - where did the rest of this week go?

I'm trying to find the time to make a card on the theme of friendship for the challenge at Daring cardmakers blog, but unless I pull my finger out I'll miss the first challenge.

I'm getting my stock ready for a craft stall I'm having early in November, just a small event at a school nearby but its something to look forward to and plan towards. As well as making sure I have a good selection of beaded jewellery and gift items made up to fill my stall I'm also concentrating on trying to make my display more eyecatching on a shoestring!!

I got a nice crisp new cotton sheet in a dark terracotta to cover the table with and have filled some pretty picture frames with hessian fabric to hang earrings and brooches on. I bought a small wooden chest which I want to have stuff spilling out of and a couple of baskets to have small items in so I'm pretty happy with how its going to look.

I need a nice table top mirror on a stand which I can also drape a few necklaces from and which tilts at an angle so people can angle it and try on the jewellery. I'm sure I saw some small but pretty ones in Au Naturale a few months ago but they haven't got any now - typical. I've looked everywhere and come up with a big nothing.

Is anyone else dreading the onset of winter? I'm hating the dark nights already and although it's still been very mild day and night todays raining and very windy. My arthritis flares up something rotten when its damp so I've got my grumpy head on today.

Its Sunday afternoon, very windy here in the North East but at least its stayed dry today which meant I could follow my favourite weekend pastime of having a mooch around my local car boot sale.

I go to the afternoon one as I'm not really a morning person but I like my bargains, (being an impoverished crafter)

I found a rotating spice rack with 20 glass bottles with lids which will be great for my craft room table top, it was only £2.00. I can put all my prima flowers, ribbons and stuff in it and have them all handy to view.

I also bought a pack of 50 Kleeneze blank cards and envelopes, they had never been opened and were only £1.50, very bright colours but they'll come in handy.

When I have more time I must try and work out how I can add links on this blog to my friends blogs - I really have no idea what I'm doing - can you tell??

If anyone ever reads my blog please bear with me - I'm completely new to blogging and only want to have a go so I can join in with some friends on an exciting new card makers blog.

I'm Jan from the North East of England and my hobbies are what have kept me sane for the past few years since I have been unable to work full time, in my usual job in retail management due to increasing health problems with arthritis in my spine, knees and wrists.

I am mad about beads and collect them from any and every source, when I can bear to actually use any I make jewellery including bracelets and brooches and especially enjoy a style called freeform peyote - heres just one of the bracelets I've made.

I also use beads on many of the cards I make too as my other hobby is papercraft. I have been making handmade cards for about 4 years now and have also dabbled with scrapbooking too.

I'm a member of a monthly scrapaholics crop which I love attending as I get so much input from other members it can last me a month to use up all the inspiration!