Life took over a while ago, and I've only had time for some very random activities outside work, toil and that sort of thing. However, looks like most of the wading in the darkness of little bling is over at least for a while, and I've been happily knotting and plotting away a half an hour a day on some nights lately. There's something very endearing about knotting pearls, it's pleasantly pleasing in the same manner as tea, cucumber sandwiches and an old black-and-white film.

The film in question was Stryknine and Old Lace, a Frank Capra Halloween comedy with Gary Grant and a couple of old dotties. May I present, Stryknine on the left, Old Lace on the right.

Both are made with my ole true and tried favourite ever rope technique, ie 2A+B, 3A+B in complementary colours. It's nice and lacey and has a nice amount of air to it, so that the rope doesn't get too poncy and grannyish.

Swarovskis, fresh water pearls and silk are go as per usual procedure. Stryknine has some lovely Tabac bicones, and Old Lace Morion AB. I think I got these rather strange but lovely colours from an sale a year ago, and they may, unfortunately, be unavailable these days. I don't usually go for fancy treatments, as I don't know how to handle the over the top blinginess, but I think I got a nice balance between over-the-top and understated here.