Beading/jewellery making is contagious

It might have been a few weeks since I last posted, but I haven't been slacking-not at all! In fact, I have been spreading the love of beading & general jewellery making to my family. 

Last week, my fab cousin Emma came to stay and we made jewellery and learned to do Nepal Stitch at my usual place, The Bead Shop Liverpool. 

Emma has been learning silversmithing techniques over the past couple of months, and is continuing in September. As a result of all this inspiration and bead-fuelled excitement, I convinced her to start a blog about her learning experience and exploits as a jewellery maker! I will put links to her site once she has put her project photos up. 

Add to this my parents. Both are creative people in very different and wonderful ways, and I can usually find them sitting around the dining table with me surrounded by real gemstones and other non-gem beads asking where the head pins are, if I have any odd-coloured findings, and if I can get a tube of copper seed beads for spacer beads!! I came home tonight from my beading class to find them hard at work!

Soon I will put our makes up for sale online. And try and get to a couple of craft fairs. In the meantime, please ogle our display of earrings!

Like it? I got the basket from a charity shop for under £2, the material, foam insert & dowels are all our own! Marvellous eh? The credit must go to my dad though for making it look so good, all I did was buy it!

So, what have I been making in my last two beading classes? I've learned Nepal Stitch and spiral stitch. Aren't they pretty?

I might have found a new favourite stitch!!

And so, this months inspiration? I think I might have gone into overdrive on the project ideas...

I can't decide where to start!!

I'm also trying to find some inspiration/knowledge about steam punk jewellery and the genre in general. I love vintage style anything up until the 1960's

and I love the writing of most kinds of fiction but I'm fascinated by the wonderful combinations that steam punk brings. So if there's anyone out there can can give me a hand to point me in the right direction there, give me a shout!!

Now, I have to go and design my August challenge for thebeadshopliverpool.blogspot.co.uk

Where shall I begin??