Cyclamen coum and Pansies that I potted up flowering in the garden today, its bright and cold and feels like Spring

Yes, yes, I know -  week late with my greetings! Nothing new there then, I feel like I am playing catch up most the time at the moment.

Pain makes everything difficult, I feel like I am wading through treacle half the time. If its not the pain slowing me down, its the prescription drugs that leave you disconnected and soporific making it hard to think straight.

I day dream for hours when I have taken pain meds, unable to concentrate on the TV, or reading, or anything that takes much concentration.  Before I know where I am days, and then weeks have gone by.

Anyway, like most of you, I have made some, errr not what I would call resolutions perhaps, that would doom me to failure from the outset. Good intentions is what  I prefer to call them, little goals I set myself that are within the realms of achievable. This year is no different. Usually it involves me learning something new, something that will be useful to me.

This year it will be no different. I have really been enjoying making jewellery, and have sold a piece much to my own amazement, and had a couple of enquiries for commissions too, so hopefully in time they will come to fruition too.  In the meantime I have been concentrating my efforts of making things that may appeal to buyers as a Valentine gift for a loved one.

To this end I have been busy checking out and following all the advise given to me on my previous post about this.  I think I shall build myself a website, and perhaps add the items to Folksy too.  Think I will also apply to NOTHS and see if they will accept me, although their terms and conditions seem very variable and they don't tell you about their charges until after you have applied and been accepted.

So what learning am I going to do? Well, I have booked myself on a day long workshop to learn about how to use Silver Clay, and I have also booked myself on a part time 8 week course in Winchester, to learn more about the real gold and silver smithing craft, and learn to make literally everything from scratch, including chains and all my own findings.

Soldering small joints is one thing, and I have the ability to do that now, but annealing and hardening metals, and manipulating precious metals is tantamount to alchemy, and I need to learn this from an expert so that I can extend the range of what I am able to create.  I have designs whizzing around my head, but I lack the skills to make them. I am hoping by the end of the year to have resolved this.

I have also signed up to a couple of blogging challenges:

VP over at Vegplotting has come up with a cracking idea to get us all growing and eating healthy salads in her 52 week Salad Challenge so pop over and join in!

Secondly, I have also signed up to Annie, the Felt Fairy's  A Make a Month 2012 which is a good motivator for me to experiment and try out new things to make, and improve of some of those I have already attempted.

Onwards and upwards as they say!

Wishing you all, dear reader, 'A Very Happy, Healthy and Prosperous 2012.'