I am interested in counted beading similar to that found in Jill Oxton's magazine, Cross Stitch and Beading and would like to purchase some books on that technique. She uses the square stitch, but I would also be interested in other ways to create beaded pictures. Any suggestions would be greatly...

Have you priced 75,000 Austrian Crystals? The kimono I made was of fire polished Czech (simply because of cost), and the materials alone were a couple of hundred dollars. I did not keep track, because that way I could honestly answer Bob when he asked how much I had spent. (I'd never lie,...

Well I am back on line having been in parental/DIY hell for the past 4 weeks. It started with an innocent thought that I would declutter my bedroom (and boy did it need it). Then having done that, I decided that I (or rather my friend he he he!) would rip out the built in cupboard that was about...

Thanks to those who sent their good wishes, Dad has been released from hospital and is back home with us. Of course getting him there was another story altogether as he doesnt get into the car very well so i had to gently haul him in. He is still a bit weak and wobbly from sitting in bed for 3...

I've been beading for a couple of years now, and hiding here reading everything for about a year. I finally thought I better de-lurke and say hi. I have just finally figured out Dutch Spiral, which may seem crazy cos now I can do it, I see it is pretty simple. I've tried to make it for ages and...

Does anyone have any or know where I could get some anodised niobium wire? I am looking for about 5 yards of green colored at about 22 gauge, though I would accept lesser quantities and slightly higher gauges if thats all thats available. I also would quite like about 2 yards of blue, turqouise...

So with only 2 and a half weeks to go is anyone making anything for Christmas (or any other festival you may celebrate)? I just decided to make wire trees to hang on ear wires which I am hoping come in time. I think I will give them to 2 of the girls at work so we can wear them to our Christmas...

A friend of mine runs a stall at craft shows (rather posh upmarket ones) and she had taken some of my stuff to see if it would sell, and to get peoples comments if not. She called me today to say she had sold quite a lot this weekend and would I let her have more in the new year. Aparently...

But hopefully not long. The decorating hell has started again and this time its the bedroom where the modem plugs in. Now it should be fine, but knowing our luck it wont work when we plug it all back in again. So if I disappear you'll know why. i can read you all at work I just cant post, so no...

Woohoo! My bracelet arrived today from Sooz. It is just beautiful, a mixture of blue crystals and the tiniest seedbeads fastened with a cute little MOP seahorse. it is just stunning and I havent taken it off all day. I obviously have a little beader in the making cos when I was in town today my...

Well its official, bead artistes on line (and most of the ones responsible read he-) have ruined me for or more likely educated me on what a nice, well made piece of glass should be. I went to a bead fair today and took my sister to her first show. At the fair we saw 3 stalls selling lampwork...

My first ever lot of lampworked beads arrived in the post this morning. I was the lucky buyer of 2 of Kandices sets that she posted on her site before she went away. I got the Lime heart and the Royal Blossom sets. Well they are even lovelier in reality than they were in the photos, and something...

Does anyone know if there are glass beads available in a bigger than size 8? I am currently using 8's as beaded ball fasteners for things. I am just making a bunch of balls up to use as beads and I thought how nice bigger ones would be. I dont really want to use wood or plastic inners hence my...

Have a great Christmas everyone and a happy new year. :-) -- ally website: www.alcom.demon.co.uk

One of my elderly customers gave me a broken necklace recently, she thinks it is about 40 years old and crystal. Well tonite I took the beads off the cord they were on (which was gross!) and washed them as they were quite grubby. They have come up a beautiful clear with what appears to be an AB...

I got a piccie posted of the beads I wanted to know about. They can be seen on the beading page of my website (see below). I also posted a piccie of a necklace I made with some azurite/malachite beads I got for Christmas. :--) -- ally website: www.alcom.demon.co.uk

I have placed a few (well a lot really) of items on ebay.co.uk this week. There are a couple of lampwork beads I bought a year or so ago and then couldnt think of anything to do with, a set of Mother of Pearl, and some quilting fabrics (cos I know there are a few people here who do both). If...

Last Christmas I got my sister a few beads and a basic beading book. Well as some of you know she is inundated in children during the day (she's got twins, a singleton and she childminds) so she hasnt really done anything with it. This month I got a damaged copy of Bead & Button and when they...

Last Christmas I got my sister a few beads and a basic beading book. Well as some of you know she is inundated in children during the day (she's got twins, a singleton and she childminds) so she hasnt really done anything with it. This month I got a damaged copy of Bead & Button and when they...

I hope you have a good time, celebrating it the way you would wish. I hope that 2005 is great if not better for us all. :-) -- ally website: www.alcom.demon.co.uk