Ping goes the glass!

It's been blisteringly cold up here, which has slowed Mike down considerably as it's not as easy to work when it's so cold the glass shatters more than it melts, even in a heated studio. The 'giveaway' beads are in the kiln, photos will be up asap, and the specials keep on coming. Check regularly for what's on special and don't forget to sign up for the newsletter to be eligible for the giveaway.

Advent Calendars and chocolate

Advent calendars abound at the TillerBoat, chocolate rushes at 6am with the First Mate and later today, the first of the fabulous Lego Advent calendars will be opened. I toyed with the idea of a beady Advent calendar, a bead a day but it seemed like just so much work that it's been relegated to Good Idea But Not Practical.

So, have you seen the newest 'Thank You' specials? We've had a special on bead sets, and on the 'Fitz' beads, and on focals. Who knows what we'll dream up next? And, don't forget. Sign up for the newsletter here in the shop by the 15th of December to be eligible for the beady giveaway, names will be drawn from the list of subscribers. No purchase necessary.

So.....

Every day something new. Today it's getting the shop settled in, and making all the bits talk to each other, including the payment systems. PayPal seems to be working, WorldPay is getting there and of course, cheque and postal order works, as it doesn't require any sort of technical trickery to get it running.

Still... what do you think? A bit thin on beads at the moment but getting there. And some of Mike's new beads are worth the wait!

Feeling better than before

... which in a way isn't saying a lot because we've been down with the holiday lurgy in one form or another since November. It's worrying because whatever strain of virus this is seems to not go away unless you wait it out and really, really, REALLY fight it with lots of fluids, vitamins and a sheer determination to not let it get the best of you.

Mike's been down with it off and on for a month now, which means his beadmaking has slowed down too as some days he simply couldn't get out to the studio and torch. It's a bit scary sometimes when it's your income to know how fragile the balance between income and eating beans three times a week is. Fortunately for us, we keep the balance on the right side, and when Mike is in the studio he's very focused and concentrates on beadmaking. So, things don't get too far behind.

He's also had several contacts with various archaeology/museum departments who have been very interested in his historic beads, which has been great as the time and research we've put into the beads is really paying off now. It's not the easiest market of course, because you need to know the subject in depth as you get some very intense discussions about bead construction. But, it's going well and all the people who have received beads from Mike have been extremely positive.

Yaaay.

It's been raining like mad for the last month or so, in between bouts of freezing weather, which means the ground is saturated and the water runs off everywhere, including the street at the bottom of the hill we live on. Needless to say, but I'll say it anyway, it's just plain strange to sit in a boat halfway up a hill and watch the road down below flooded and cars stranded.

Isn't life odd and interesting?