I'm still here...

Honest.
I have not been eaten by killer bees, eloped with my tutor or anything like that. I'm just -really- busy.
I spent the summer in the USA ,which was awesome and may prompt an actual, detailed blog at some point. Then again, it may not.
I was working at a summer camp and teaching kids how to make jewellery, including a bit of chainmaille, which was fairly awesome.Since I got back I've started back at uni. I'm doing a 1 year research masters which will (hopefully) lead into a PhD. I'm also:
* working part time at a candy shop
* running a proofreading business (reasonable rates - note me :P)* editing erotic fiction for Filament magazine
* running the university's Gilbert and Sullivan society
* having a social life

Sadly, this all leaves very little time for art/jewellery. I'm doing bits and pieces and will hopefully have some photos up at (or before) Christmas, but nothing major will be happening around here for a while :(

I am still taking commissions, so get in touch if you need anything :)

The Most Amazing Year Thus Far

Yes, I am inclined to be a tad dramatic at times.
But it's true! This year has been really, really great. And it's only March :)

That's the main reason why I haven't written recently. There's so many exciting things going on that I just haven't had the time.
Academic news first.
I had a meeting with my dissertation supervisor in February (I think) and he told me he wants to try and publish it. And that I should really apply to do postgrad work. Now, I've always wanted to do a PhD but put it off for various reasons. Alasdair telling me that I -should- gave me the kick I needed to apply for an MPhil (hopefully I can use that as the first year of a PhD). Only hitch was that I was planning on moving in with my partner in a different city. So, I rang him that evening and told him (he was thrilled) and he's now looking for work in Birmingham :D So not only do I get to stay in the city I love, but the man I love will be joining me!
I've been accepted onto the MPhil programme too, as long as I get a 2:2 or higher. Shouldn't be an issue :)
Publishing news.
I am the new fiction editor for Filament magazine! I applied a few weeks ago, got shortlisted and had to do a few tasks and the editor emailed me and said I'd got the job if I wanted it. Seeing as I'd be going into publishing if I wasn't continuing with education, this is possibly the most perfect arrangement. I'm enjoying it hugely and feel so proud that I'm contributing to such a great publication.
Ladies, if you haven't read it yet, I strongly suggest you order yourself a copy. They can be ordered from the website :)

What else...

Oh yes! My amazing boyfriend and a variety of friends organised a suprise birthday for me! When I walked in and saw them my first instinct was to try and run away - I ran for the door and it's only because Tom's bigger than me that I didn't make it. He kind of blocked the way.
So yes, that was immense fun.
I have a placement at an American Summer Camp for June-August! I get to teach children how to make various pieces of jewellery, which will be loooots of fun.
Funfunfun.

And for now, that's it. I'm spending the Easter doing lots of revision - I've only got 2 exams, but they're in early May and they're quite important :)
Will try and drop by again soooooon!

Gilbert and Sullivan

Afternoon!

Today has been a bit...disjointed. Lecture was fun (Greek Sexuality, always good for a bit of a giggle), swimming was also good but I just don't feel like I've got anything done!

Specifically in regards to the University's Gilbert and Sullivan Society. We're well under way with rehearsals for our next production, 'The Mikado', but we still don't have a comic baritone.
For those who don't know their G&S, the comic baritone part is a fairly major one. It also looks like a lot of fun to play :D But we just haven't had anyone interested in playing it come and audition. Or even tell us that they're interested.
It's led to myself and Siz trying to work out what we'll do if we can't find anyone. We can't write the part out - it's far too important and we'd lose most of the amusing parts. The best suggestion we've come up with is too change it into a spoken part only. So have a normal actor play Ko-Ko (comic baritone character) and recite the songs as if they were poetry or something similar. We'd have issues with and duets/trios, but at least we'd have the character there.

Can you think of any other options?

Prettty New Earrings!

Made and listed this evening, in a bizarre fit of activity!
Lots and lots of uni work done today as well, I managed to finish the 1st draft of my 2nd dissertation chapter.

Anyway, have some pretty earrings to look at :)

http://www.eiriel.etsy.com

Quick Update and Pretty Sewing Photos!

Evening all!
I have a spare few minutes this evening, so I thought I'd give you a bit of an update.
Life is, as ever, busy. Lots of dissertation work, lots of lecture reading and (oddly for me) lots of social contact. Bizarre...

Spent reading week at home, which was fun. For those who don't know, reading week is, supposedly, a week for reading. Science students tend to scowl at arts students because it's essentially a week of freeeedom that they don't get. They never believe us when we say we actually do -work- during our week off. Seriously! I do. Lots of work.
And...
well...
sewing.

Sewing is work, yes?














I is making a dress. A pretty dress, from a vintage 1950s fabric pattern and some gorgeous curtain fabric. Pretty!
:D
There will hopefully be more photos after next weekend, I only have access to a sewing machine when I'm at my parent's house so progress is somewhat sporadic. I'm planning on wearing it at my boyfriend's work-christmas-party-thing.

This week has so far been spent (apart from working) making 21st birthday presents for the twins! Somehow, they're going to be 21 in Thursday. Very strange. Photos of the presents will be appearing early next week...if I post them now the little minxes are likely to find them.

Brother bought a tarantula. Not sure how I feel about this. If I find a shed tarantula exoskeleton on my pillow, I will be less than impressed.

Oh, there will most likely be photos of the night out on Thursday. I'm off out to York to see Erin (female half of the twins), which will involve afternoon tea (we are British, after all), then cocktails in the evening followed by dancing. Excitement, I haven't been dancing since Spain :D I've planned my outfit and everything! Gorgeous purple/blue silk dress plus by black boots. I love them, they've got a 4" heel. Stunning :D

Anyhoo, must go now. Have to be up early to get to town before my lecture starts! Have a lovely evening :)

Pearl and Silver Chain

Just a quick one today, guys! A photo of a newly finished commission - a delicate silver necklace with tiny white pearls. I'm pleased with this one and will be making more! It really suits the customer as well. She's a friend of my mum's and she's a small, delicate kind of a person. I hope she likes...

I've spent this evening uploading the audiobook of 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows' to an ipod...sending it to my baby sister (she's in Cambodia for a year) as her Christmas present. There's 20 cds but it's actually not taking that long. I'm about halfway though :)

Anyway, I must go to bed now. Going to try and go swimming at uni early tomorrow as I need to start getting more exercise!

Progress Being Made!

Evening everyone!

It's been a busy, busy few weeks. I mentioned a while ago that I moved back up to Birmingham for the start of the new university term...things have settled down a lot and there's kind of a routine going now.
Lectures are up and running and they're mostly interesting. Not so glad about the Roman history side of the course, but given one of my other modules is basically on 'Xena: Warrior Princess' I don't feel like I can complain! Seriously, I've been told to watch the first episode as preparation for my lecture this week.
How lucky am I?

Societies have started again too, circus was really full on the first session. Numbers will go down over the term, but it's always good to see lots of new faces! Rehersals are starting for the first Gilbert and Sullivan production of term...hopefully it'll go ok. I'm supposed to be playing viola for it, though I haven't had any music yet. I'm sure it'll be fine...
Oh, and I'm going to church for the first time in a ages. It's good, a young congregation as it's at the university chaplaincy and there are some fantastic hymns.

Anyway.
That's the joy at the moment!

Funfunfun :) I've got a fair few jewellery design ideas in my head at the moment and when I have time I will make them and show you all!

And then I shall take over the world.
Bwahahaha!

Ok, so I lied

And didn't update on Sunday.

I had a good reason though! Relationship issues arose on Friday and by the time Sunday rolled round I just wanted to sleep. So I did :)

Uni is now back in full swing - I had my first seminar on Monday that went far too fast and I had a dissertation meeting with my supervisor today, which was both very confusing and very useful. Society activity is also back with a vengence. The first meeting of circus was packed, it's always good to see so many new faces :) Then I actually -went- to anime and manga, like I was meaning to for the majority of last year. I think part of today's tiredness is due to an overload of social activity.

This evening we have our first official fire spinning gig of the year! Hurrah! Not paid, but they're providing fuel which means we don't loose money on it :) I'm so looking forward to it, it's been a whole week since I got to play with fire! I'll try and get some photos for you :)

Ooooh and yesterday I finally managed to get a Treasury spot! :D I've been trying for weeks but have never quite managed it. So here it is, my 'Pearls Before Swine' treasury:
http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=84726

Anyway. I must go and find some lunch. And possibly make some kind of decision in regards to my dissertation title and chapter headings :/ Wish me luck!

Full post on Sunday...promise!

Morning all!
Apologies for the lack of activity recently, I've been busy getting settled back into uni life (meaning not getting anywhere near enough sleep...) and so have neglected business and blog!

Yesterday was spent at the societies fair on campus where I tried very hard not to scare the freshers too much whilst on the fetish society stall. As ever, we attracted many, many weird looks but we got about 10 new members and 60 people on the mailing list. We're hoping for some more today! We're also aiming to beat our record of 'people tied up at freshers' - currently standing at 18 over the two days. We got 17 yesterday, so I have high hopes!

Also had a committee meeting for the gilbert and sullivan society (light opera) which was good fun, can't wait for that to kick off :D

And now I have seminar preparation to do. Expect a proper post on sunday :)

Bad Day :(

Apologies for not having been very active. I spend Friday and Saturday moving all my stuff back up to uni in Birmingham and then what was left of the weekend was designated 'boyfriend time'.

So. I'm back in student accomodation...and it's already cold :( It's a better house than last year, despite already having given some of my housemates carbon monoxide poisoning, but it's just not a real home. I love spending time at my parent's house, it feels so much more real than this one! Have been floating quite aimlessly today. Went to the library to do some work only to discover upon arriving that I'd lost one of the earrings I finished making this morning. They're relatively inexpensive, but I was so proud and now I have to make another :( Unless, of course, someone finds it and hands it in. Alas, it's a 20 minute walk from my house to campus and I have no idea at what point I lost it!

I managed to list a new necklace/bracelet set today :) And actually, I listed one on thursday that I don't think I told you about :)
Mulberry pearls:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=31046763
Mint green pearls:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=31300443

I'm simply too sleepy to give you pictures, but please do have a look. They're very pretty and reasonably priced :)

There is some sunshine on the horizon! A friend has just sent me a text to ask if I'm up for the pub tonight. Most definately yes! That has cheered me up somewhat :)

I spent some of this morning going through a new pricing method for my jewellery. It's a commonly used one and in contrast to my usual 'guess what someone would pay' method, it takes into account things like wages and overheads. The issue is, the figures I'm getting out of this seem grossely inflated to me :/ I shall have to revise this and see what I can come up with!

Ok, I now need food. I skipped lunch (not a wise move, considering my current state of mind) and my stomach thinks my throat's been cut!