Handmade Monday - more of those tassel necklaces

Happy New Year blog followers. I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and New Year break.  Here's a quick pic of Lucca the dog enjoying the beach at Broad Haven on Christmas Day, when it was bright and windy.   

I kept crafting all the way through the break, and I'm still a bit obsessed with making dangles for the interchangeable chain necklaces. Because I always want my jewellery to have a touch of the ancient world about it - I like things to look like they could have literally been dug out of the ground! - I always love to use pearls, glass pearls in this case. 

That one is a bit Cleopatra, don't you think?

Five pearls in a row.

A lovely textured ring charm.

And some chainmaille with green Quartz beads. 

Would love to know which you like best?

One of my New Year resolutions is to do more tutorials on this blog, so please make sure you nag me if they don't appear, won't you?

Here's a link to Handmade Harbour where you can see what other crafty people have been making this week. http://handmadeharbour.blogspot.co.uk

Alison x

Wordless Wednesday: my doggie double

Lucca and a beautiful carved jasper pedant

Etsy picks Lovely Labs

This week I'm going to give in to my love of all things Labrador-related.

As I type, my own pooch is doing his ritual wandering around the room, trying to decide if his tea has given him enough energy to play with a ball on a rope for a while, or if he's really too tired and should get settled on the sofa for the evening!  When he does settle, he won't look quite the same as this beautiful brown boy photographed by sdgphoto, but it will be similar:

Earlier in the day, Lucca had a bit of a swim in the river, something he's lucky enough to do most days.  He's never been in a boat - I think we'll leave that one until he's a little calmer (when will that be??!) I love this print by nativevermont - it beautifully captures the classic Labrador pose when alert and interested, I think:

Being a very sociable fellow, Lucca meets up with numerous doggie friends during the walking day.  Seeing one other Labrador makes him incredibly excited - if he were to encounter this brood from thelab it would be mayhem:

But it is nearly time to get Lucca a little companion.  Not sure yet what type of dog, but he's already been named 'Ted'.  Maybe it will be another brown Lab and they'll look as adorable as these two from art4milkbones

Sleep has won over toys now.  Lucca says goodnight!