Jewellery making begins

WAY back in October last year I got a load of Jewellery making stuff for my "new hobby"! Well I have finally opened it. I figured with my life about to change as I tackle a new career I should use this last 2 weeks of freedom to get my head around it. I sat down, opened the books, checked You Tube tutorials and spoke to a man up the town in a craft shop! Pliers in hand I began. 

The kits and books I got for my 40th. Never opened till yesterday.

Job 1 was to break down all the old stuff and items I did not like. If any friends are reading this and have loads of junk jewellery they can give it to me! I want to recycle. Its my aim to make new out of existing items I have. Or as you will see below add items make matching pieces.

My very 1st earring was a simple drop one.

Used some bits to make a new pendant chain 

started on a necklace but messed up the end. Good thing about this hobby is its not wasted, its just pulled apart and put back in the box.

My 1st real go was to make earrings for necklaces. The brown necklace had one earring left of the original set. I broke it down and made a new pair that still matches.

Same with this black set.I had lost 1 earring.  I reused 50% of it and it looks brand new ( below)

This white set I loved the necklace but never liked the earings so broke them down and made fresh. 

NOW I started a whole new set..I had Black, Brown and white so decided on a blue set.

Spent AGES fannying about with the bead layout till I got it right.

the complete set! From scratch! With earrings! Dead chuffed with myself. Next I need a red set, pink set and green set.

My 1st days work!

I am hoping to be able to repair and reuse from now on

Slimming World Chinese Chicken and Sweetcorn soup

Have to get in to slimming again so started back on plan today. I have gained an insane 7+ pounds over the holidays! I can hardly breath in my jeans so its time to fix it! I follow a few Slimming World blogs and healthy eating sites through Facebook and Twitter and came across this recipe. I tend to copy/paste so can't remember where exactly I got it. I had a huge Roast Chicken last night with loads of left over chicken I decided to give it a try. Only thing that was harder to find was Creamed Corn. Got it in the end. This soup was ace! Just like the Chinese. Never added egg to soup before but it rated with me a 9/10. Is most defiantly on the menu again. 

The ingredients. Pretty simple. Just some stock to add to that.

The end soup with the string bits of egg in it.

Chicken and Sweetcorn soup (Serves 4)

1 bunch of spring onions sliced

Frylight to fry off the spring onions

14oz (400g) can of creamed sweetcorn

4 oz frozen sweetcorn (tinned is fine though)

6oz cooked chicken meat

1+1/4 pints of chicken stock

1 egg, beaten

Method:

1. Fry spring onions for 30 seconds

2. Add creamed and frozen sweetcorn, chicken and stock

3. Bring to the boil, cover and simmer for 5 minutes

4. Bring almost to the boil, add beaten egg slowly, while gently stirring soup to form egg threads

5. Cook until the egg has set - do not boil