Once a Month Promise - February

I know I'm cutting this one right to the line but my (lame) excuse is that February has fewer days!

Anyway, coral has been on my mind lately, as I'm on the hunt for a coral bridesmaid's dress, so I'm suddenly finding myself attracted to a colour I normally shun.

This month's Once a Month Promise item is a perfect example:

Fused Glass Cabochons from Outrageous

I simply couldn't resist that bright, happy colour so I've ordered these fused glass cabochons. I already have something in mind for them, inspired by a piece I saw on the Oscars on Sunday. It should push my skills in a new technique as well so I'm really excited. They're coming from Australia, though, so who knows when they will arrive, fingers crossed it's soon, I can't wait!

What of last month's item?
Well as soon as they arrived I was inspired and knew exactly what to create with them. Unfortunately I've... misplaced the item so I can't photograph it to show you! I'm hoping a proper tidy/sort out in the next few days will reveal it, otherwise I'm going to have to buy another set and make another one (or 2, I really want to keep one for myself!)

Once a Month Promise - January

You may have noticed this logo appear in the sidebar of my blog a few weeks back and wondered what it was. Well, wonder no longer, I'm about to explain it to you.

IAMTHELÄB is running the once a month promise so it's best explained in their words:

The 1ÄM Promise is easy: It’s a simple promise to purchase 1 handmade item a month. Whether big or small, each handmade item you purchase helps to keep a artist in motion.

They are looking for 100 bloggers to make the promise, to buy handmade and help spread the word, but you don't have to be a blogger to take the pledge. You don't have to buy once a month either, simply raising awareness of handmade and increasing handmade purchasing is all supporting the handmade community.

Anyway, I have made the promise so I'm going to be buying at least one handmade product every month. To make it easier for me to find something to buy and to make it more fun for you to read I've decided to combine it with a regular giveaway and here's how its going to work:

I will buy a handmade jewelry component, probably beads or findings and make a piece of jewelry with it. The following month I will then offer that item to be given away on my blog. Hopefully this will also encourage me to try out different things with my jewelry. I'll share the details of how to win when I actually have the first giveaway item ready.

Anyway, enough boring details, here is my purchase for January!

Ceramic Beads from Captured Moments

I ordered them yesterday so when they arrive I'll have to work out what to do with them (they're curved so as to be perfect for bracelets but I'm not sure if that is what I'll make). I'll post the giveaway sometime in February, once I've had a chance to make something.