Giveaway winner and odds and ends

Many, many  thanks for all the lovely messages you left me on my 1st Bloggerversary. I have had so much fun this year and I look forward to many years to come. I wonder how old the very oldest blogs are.....I know some of my blogging friends have reached their 3rd bloggerversaries?

13 lovely ladies put their name into the hat to win my alabaster earrings.

I used my trustie sun hat, aka Jane's manual random number selector ;0)

And with the assistance of my son's hand out came.....

Hey yes Shirley....it's you :0)
Congratulations!
I shall be in contact with you to arrange sending them off to the USA. I hope you love wearing them.
Thank you everyone for entering. I always find these giveaways such fun.

In this post I also wanted to share with you my latest holiday charms. Whilst we were in Paris I bought 2 more.

These little charms are from Notre Dame on the left and from Sacre Coeur on the right.

I added them onto my holiday charm bracelet...it's filling up nicely now although as I said to my Hb there is plenty of room for some more...?!!







Another little bit of news is that I have a very exciting visit planned with my Mum and my aunt next Thursday..................

                                *********Squeal***************** yes I am going to see

                                                                    THE DRESS

It is on show at Buckingham Palace during it's Summer opening. I will be taking my trusty camera with me so that I can share my day with you. There is also a special exhibition of  Faberge Eggs which promises to be stunning. I can't wait!

I have also been buying some rather scrummy new beads to start to play with some designs for THE wedding of 2012, aka my darling daughter's. I am making jewellery for her, her bridesmaids and myself.

I found some wonderful rich creamy head drilled freshwater pearls and some gorgeous rice pearls. Recently my daughter and I went to a world famous oyster bar to eat, not to look at pearls, but I was fascinated to see where pearls come from. More from that visit another time.
I also bought 2 types of citrine, a yummy gemstone which goes really well with ivory/creams etc.

Here are the citrine in close up,I bought some  lovely faceted pear briolettes and some faceted nuggets.The colour is very pure and there are very few inclusions in the beads...yes that also means more expensive to buy ;0) Even if I do not eventually use any of these they are gorgeous new beads to add to my stash. Is it just me or do you feel you could eat yummy beads....they are like sweeties in my eyes...or is that just a jeweller's brain working?


And last but not least of my "odds and ends" I  also have another day tomorrow visiting  Red House, William Morris' house, which inspired the Arts and Crafts movement. Another place for my trusty camera again I think. It's turning out to be a most enjoyable summer, it's such a shame I have to go to work in between times!

Also just to say hi, and to say  that he is still enjoying the summer, I thought I would close with a photo of Billy (who has recently made friends with a very shy cat who appeared in the garden a few months back. We have called him/her Blackie, there is a clue there what colour he is; they are very funny together).

Thanks again for dropping in and for leaving your comments, I really do love to read them.

Bye for now,

Jane x