New Vintage Cabochons Listed

New vintage cabochons listed on rosebudlia.co.uk. Just click on the picture.

New Photos for Old ~

It's time I revamped the pictures on my site www.rosebudlia.co.uk - but - whatever I do, I hate the end result. How can I make cabochons look inviting? Any ideas?

A crochet necklace with wild beads!

I have been playing with wire and my crochet hook and hey presto, a crocheted necklace! Cool me thinks .. It's a great necklace and fun to do if you have half an hour to spare! If you click on the picture you can see more pictures of it.

A Slideshow

Morning everybody! I have just discovered that I can do a Flickr slideshow. How on earth did I survive before the interweb? Anyway - here is the link - http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosebudlia/show/

Toodles for now! Sue xx

My reunion. Me, when I was thin ...

Well, this picture was taken back in the day when life on earth was fairly new and I was, yes, thin. (Actually, 1970). In the post below(ish) I said I had chatted to a boyfriend on the steps of the nursing home and got scaked for doing so. Well, these are the steps. I actually snogged here, and his name was George. And phworrr.. he was fabulous! If I remember rightly, he wore an orange and black striped tank top. Now, THAT'S style! Where are you George!? (Real name Ulus). I have your photo ... dare I add it here?

I asked my http://www.rosebudlia.co.uk/ customers to send me pictures from their pasts and I will add it /them to my site - so this is why I have thrown shame to the four winds and I am letting modern civilisation see my legs. As for the reunion I attended - it was hysterical and sad and lovely and funny ... and sad. My dear friends and I nattered away until we were exhausted and I loved every second of it. I was told I had the best memory for trivia. I am not sure if that's a compliment ...?

I am listing again ..

That doesn't mean I am leaning to one side ... it means I am listing jewellery etc on one of my sites. This time I am listing on my etsy site:
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5375699

I have discovered a secret hideaway of vintage bangles! Made in the early 1970s in Italy. I now have some for sale. Yippee doo! If you are a collector of vintage jewellery, then why not take a peek?

Oh, I haven't forgotten to report back on my reunion (details below). I am still recovering so it will probably be tomorrow!Toodles for now xx

An epic .. on a cabochon scale ..

I am in love with my cabochons, especially the Robby Hobby ones. Here he is .... isn't he sweet?

Some 39 years ago (1970) I started my training as a nursery nurse. I trained in Tunbridge Wells in Kent and when I qualified (NNEB - 1973) I spent my days being a nanny for various families here in the UK and in Switzerland. I also worked as a nursery nurse at St Mary's Hospital in Praed Street, Paddington, London. Now - all these years later (Monday 20th) I am going to be meeting up with some of the "girls" I trained with. Our reunion will feature photographs from the past and no doubt, we will all disolve into giggles when we see ourselves looking like something out of a very low budget horror movie. And of course, we will be reminded of things we got up to and probably would not want to tell our children about. After all, the saying, "Do as I say, not as I do" will no doubt have passed many a parent's lips at some point as it has mine.

My time as a staff nurse ended the moment it begun because, qualified for a mater of minutes (or so it felt) I was fired on the spot for entertaining a gentleman on the steps of the children's home. We had all been told that no male was to pass through the main door after midnight - but as there was no directive to say I couldn't talk to one until 4am on the main steps on the outside of the building, so, I decided to chat away with my heart throb of the moment. Matron's little helper and prize grass told on me, and, as matron was evil personified, and hated me - I was sacked and given 2 hours to pack all my possessions and was told never to darken the doorstep ever again.

I left, and, many would say, I have been a little tinker ever since lol! Now I am 55 and I am really looking forward to meeting up with my old chums and joining in with stories from our deepest pasts. In my heart I am still the 16 - 19 year old who had the most fantastic time training, partying, making fabulous friends, and who came alive when Marc Bolan was played at the ... disco ...

When we meet up, should I wear the skin tight pink satin hipster trousers I was so fond back then? I mean, I have put on a few pounds since then but keeping them had to be for a reason, right?

Pink Cabochons are a Designers Best Friend!

I have been listing more cabochons on my site http://www.rosebudlia.co.uk/ and I decided to make listings that feature colour ranges or styles. In one listing I have done a selection of faces, in another, blue cabochons, and also one in pink. I just love this pink selection so I thought I would share it with you.

I wonder if being addicted to cabochons is anything I should worry about ....?

Tunbridge Wells ... is .... pants?

Hello all, I need to have a moan! I have been in the jewellery business for about 22 years and I have been selling online for the past 6 years. I am one of the largest suppliers on planet earth of vintage plastic cabochons. These, along with beads and findings, are the staple diet for the jewellery maker. However, by far, my largest customers are from Europe and then the rest of the world. However, I can count on one hand my UK customers and out of those, two visit me personally and have a good search through my stock. These two ladies represent what jewellery enthusiasm is all about. But, two ladies with passion in my local area? What stops my local jewellery makers from going onto Google and looking for local jewellery making suppliers? I think the answer is lack of artistic spirit! I had a lady come to see me once asking for glass beads. My stock room is overflowing but she had eyes only for the beads she wanted. What stopped her eyes from wandering across the room? What stopped her hands from touching the millions of items? Yes, it has to be, lack of artistic spirit! The world of jewellery making is full of passion and creativity and even obsession - so please, if you love creativity and you are in the UK ... open your heart and mind and get creating! Touch, experiment, create, love your craft - and it will love you back.

I love my job!

For me, selling cabochons on the internet brings smiles on a daily basis. Why? Because I find myself "meeting" people right around the globe and before you can say flipperty jibbet, we are chatting away by email. Along with great and friendly conversation comes a like minded interest in jewellery making, and last night I heard from my new internet friend, Roos, in Holland. Roos made a beaded ring from one of my intaglio glass cabochons depicting the Virgin Mary. It was so lovely I thought I would show you. I hope you don't mind Roos! Roos is very recently married too so please wish along with me, every happiness to her and her new husband.

Some of my Bead bits and Bobs - Rosebudlia

After my walk with Harry the dog yesterday I am now unable to move without groaning. I wonder what possessed me to walk 1000 miles, in slip on ballet style shoes? Yes, I know, I am insane.

Anyway, today I am going to take more pictures of jewellery and cabochons as yet unlisted, and feet willing, I will get them up and listed on my site www.rosebudlia.co.uk asap.

Tesco's delivered this morning and right now I am famished, so - it's downstairs to raid the fridge for sustenance!

I have just taken my dog for a walk and I discovered a new track - which I followed. It took me HOURS out of my way and we a re both now home (obviously) and exhausted! Harry (yes, you read right) is asleep next to me on the floor, and I thought it was about time I started my blog. I have been meaning to get around to this for AGES but today is the day I set aside some time and actually got it going. Oh, this is Harry asleep with a bagel! (I don't know why either. Perhaps he needed it for incase he got peckish in the night?) Anyway, I will stop here for a bit because I have to list some cabochons on my site. http://www.rosebudlia.co.uk/ Should you want to have a peep, here is a video with a slight editorial difference about making cabochon earrings: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4uE9WAvW88 Later I'll be back to show you want I have listed and, more important, I want to show you what can be done with cabochons apart from putting them in settings. So, buy for now! Sue xx