It has been pointed out that I have absolutely no excuse to avoid writing a blog at the moment!  So true, with so many of us at home every day. I, for one, am quite alarmed by this virus and certainly don't wish to catch it, I've had enough time in hospital and really don't want to reacquaint myself with it, so am staying steadfastly at home.  I do miss human contact, I like people and am genuinely missing my friends.
​

There are lots of beautiful Half Price jewellery items at Mary's Little Gems Winter Sale.  To see what's on offer follow the link to HALF PRICE SALE

Change of plan - the website will now be open over the Christmas period.  Please allow plenty of time for delivery if you are ordering Christmas presents. 

Just a quick blog this week - I'm busy preparing for Saturday,  I have my usual stall at the Christmas Market at Mendham All Saints Church. It runs from 10 to 3, and is the most Christmassy event I do. I love it and wouldn't miss it for the world.
I will have lots of new stock with me, much of it coming from my absolutely favourite supplier, fantastic quality sterling silver items made in the UK (all my stock is sourced from UK companies). 

It's amazing what a beer or two can do, it leads to husbands wearing ladies hats! This was in the pub (hardly surprising), I think he may have forgotten he was wearing it. Suits him though. We're off the the Beccles Beer Festival this evening so I wait with bated breath to see what might happen....
It has been a very busy week, with a Christmas Fair at Wortwell on Sunday and a private jewellery party yesterday. Tomorrow morning (16th Nov) I will be at Beccles Farmers Market and next Saturday at Alburgh Village Hall. It's all happening! Luckily I have both made and purchased lots of lovely jewellery which I will have with me. I have put some new items on the website, so feel free to follow this link new items. 
​As you will all be aware, its been a wet old week.  Otto and I have tried to take our morning walk between showers to save getting too wet. I don't know why we bother though, just because it's not raining does not mean that you don't get wet - our trees seem to have a considerable sense of humour and save buckets full of rain to dump on me and Otto as we pass by.  It's not so bad for me because I can wear a hat, but poor Otto got a real soaking from the Beech tree this morning, and I swear I heard a little chuckle. 

Firstly a little bit of bad news, I have had to put my UK postage & packing charge up to £1.50, I had found recently that charging £1 was really quite ridiculous. For your £1.50 you will receive your gift wrapped item(s) by first class post, in organza bags wrapped in acid free tissue paper and ribbon, all safely packaged in a cardboard box which will fit through your (or the recipient of your choice) letter box. 
This is a busy time of year for me, this weekend I will be at Halesworth Farmer's Market on Saturday morning, and at the Arts and Crafts Fair at Wortwell Village Hall on Sunday from 10-4. I will have plenty of stock with me, I have been busy making all sorts of jewellery over the last few weeks - some of which has gone onto the website, but if you want to see a large display of my "makings" why not pop along at the weekend. 
Between makes I have been enjoying the autumn colours, even if it's through a veil of rain! One of the joys of living "out in the sticks" is that I can just open the door and I'm straight out into the countryside. Cottage life is lovely at this time of year, the log burners keep us snug in the evenings and dark nights really don't matter when you're safe indoors. However, now that Otto isn't as young as he was he does need to pop out during the night. Strangely, he walks right round the bed to wake me up, but invariably Dick is the one who takes him out (probably because he wants one too)! Dog logic.  Wouldn't change him for the world. 
If you would like a look at some of the new items on the website click here new items

This week Dick and I celebrated our seventh wedding anniversary.  We have experienced real highs and lows during those years. We are blessed to live in a house that we absolutely love, we have our beloved Otto to keep us amused and the wonderful countryside to keep us happy.  On the downside I have dealt with horrible health issues,  although happily I am very much better than I was last May.  My only real continuing niggle is that I haven't been able to spend the time in the garden that I would usually do, but am hopeful that I will get it all sorted next year. Sadly at the moment poor Dick is suffering with a bad back, but seems to be on the mend and will hopefully be better next week. All of these things tell me to live for today, as you don't know what's round the corner. 
​I have however been very busy on the jewellery front, with orders coming in from the website and sales going well at markets. This Saturday I will be at Beccles Farmers Market, Dick is currently working out how he can watch the rugby while we're there (this is important to both of us!).  I will have plenty of new stock with me this Saturday, including the cards I made last week. I have added some Christmas earrings to the website this morning - I know that several of you will groan at this, but they have already been selling like hot cakes at my recent events. Why not have a look at my new stock by clicking on this link New Items

Those of you who have read my blogs before (and I apologise for not writing as many as I used to) will know that there is a certain amount of harmless lunacy in our household. This week Dick was out gardening and couldn't remember where he'd left his hat, I think the sunflower looked great in it! 
It's been a very busy couple of weeks - for some reason jewellery sales have increased by quite a lot, I have even been exporting to Germany!  Halesworth Market on Saturday morning was a fantastic success and I'm hoping this continues, but I'm not going to rely on it! I have been putting lots of new stock onto the website, but haven't had time to put all of my new stock on, so if you're in the area on Saturday morning why not pop along to Beccles Farmers Market to have a look? It's a market worth visiting. 

Dick and I spent a happy (?) half hour this week looking for his binoculars. We checked the house, sheds and garage to no avail, and I was beginning to think that his upcoming birthday present conundrum was solved (although this would have been quite an expensive option).  Eventually they were found hanging from the climbing bean supports in the vegetable garden, apparently he left them there when he suddenly decided to dig some potatoes...
I had just hung my washing out this morning, when a much awaited silver delivery arrived. The delivery man made friends with Otto (they all do) and we were having a nice chat about hollyhocks (as you do). Suddenly, and I mean really  suddenly, the heavens opened, he dashed for his cab and I ran to the house, I know I'm not much of a sprinter but I was soaked when I got there. 
We will be at Halesworth Produce Market tomorrow morning from 9 til 1, where I will have quite a lot of new stock on display, some of it had made it's way onto the website, but not all. Have a look at the new items section

My lovely husband truly excelled himself over the weekend, he spent all day on Sunday and Monday working his hands to the bone in the garden. It really has made a tremendous difference, although his back is now giving him some "jip".  Otto, as always, was a tremendous help, he spent most of the time laying at his usual viewpoint whilst occasionally pretending to be awake! Dick doesn't let me do too much of the "heavy" stuff, so I spent my time pottering in the greenhouse and dead-heading pansies (and feeling guilty for not doing enough).
I did, however, spend some happy hours in the workshed (a cross between and shed and a workshop). I made some pretty new fine silver pendants and earrings - these can be seen in the new items section of the website.
​We will be at the monthly Halesworth Produce Market this Saturday from 9am - 1pm, this is a lovely local market and is well worth a visit.