Must stop experimenting…
I didn’t realise how much of a short attention span I must have, there’s me, complaining about my boys and their severely short attention spans and it turns out they must take after me. This keeping a blog thing has made me realise that I’m great at getting ideas, often turning them into reality (either by mistake or design) but what I am incapable of doing is following them through with further progression - its always onto the next idea.
So no more! I have ‘experimented’ with my last new idea, I am only going to explore ideas I have already set in motion, like this one I started yesterday…
Its made from scraps of Amy Butler fabric I’ve had for a while, a bit of an old dress, an old shirt and a favourite but broken necklace, and of course a bit of crochet, a double shell trim that I extended to fit the flap.
I boxed the corners and lined it with interlining to give it some stiffness so it retains its shape. I’m now envisaging a whole range of them, all the same shape but with different fabrics and crochet bits SO I’M NOT GOING TO LOOK IN OR WRITE IN MY IDEAS BOOK. I’m going to work on this for a while, and my curtain ring jewellery, I think that can go a lot further too.
So it is written down I am only going to work on those two ideas, although its half term next week so If I manage to do anything it will be a miracle!
On a last note, the latest issue of that fab magazine Beads and Beyond has a tutorial for my Miyuki earrings. Those flowers are what I made that evening necklace and my beautiful green bracelet from as well - ooh - another idea I need to pursue…
Vintage Lace
No ramblings today, I’m busy making jewellery - new ideas - will post more when I have something to show!
So a nice piccie
Crocheted flowers waiting to go onto hairslides
and a bit of shameless promotion
I’ve put my Vintage Lace bracelet that I made for February’s issue of Beads and Beyond in my folksy shop - its a good Valentines day present!
Playing with rings
So I’ve been writing my latest tutorial for Beads and Beyond and basically Its how to cover curtain rings and what you can do with them. I did this a while ago and have had a few bits of jewellery in my folksy shop and some buttons in Claires Buttons in Cardiff.
I’d forgotton how versatile this technique is, and I’ve been using different things to cover like bracelets.
My first experiments:
What do you think?
Romantic Bracelet
14th January 2010
Ta-daa!
My latest tutorial - Vintage Lace, a bracelet worked in wire with freshwater pearls, and on the front cover too! (If you squint!) I love this bracelet, it looks complicated but like all good things, is actually quite simple.
So if you fancy a go get the latest Beads and Beyond Magazine, and if you do, let me know, i’d love to see how you get on!
Log Cabin Crochet (and a pie)
11th January 2010
You know when your doing something, then you get an idea you just have to try right away?
I was having a productive day, working on my next submission for Beads and Beyond magazine and it was going well, then I ran out of thread for the last bit. Can I get any more - can I ******. Admitidly it was old, but for heavens sake, why do maderia have to regually change their codes and colours? So I got out my wool to just wollow in the beauty of the colours (everyone does that, don’t they?).
As I was making the pie for tea, filling was left over coq au vin from last night (makes the best pie, really rich and tasty) I started mentally putting together colours, then using the edge of the rolling pin to nudge them in groups, then I washed my hands and the pie got a bit side tracked.
But how exciting is that little bit of crochet!!
Beads and Beyond - again!
11th December 09
I’m in it again! If you take a look in January’s issue of Beads and Beyond magazine, you’ll find a rather stylish vintage necklace on page 50! I had all these lovely bits lying around (yes, literally, you’ve seen my room) and wanted a way to bring them all together that didn’t look like a mish mash. I think I’ve achieved it here, and the brooch gives it a nice bit of weight too. Using the most simple of techniques, a chain anyone can do this!
Also there’s only 1 day left on the folksy upcycle ebay auction for Sue Ryder, there were some great entries which are now all up for sale, a few people have even bid on my doily rug! So if you want an unusual Christmas present pop over and place a bid, its all for charity don’t you know!
Golden Strands
13th November 2009
Who says Friday the 13th is unlucky- from now on I rename it Fantastic Friday! Why, well you obviously haven’t seen the December issue of Beads and Beyond magazine, page 60 to be precise. Showing my shocking inability to express myself verbally I keep alternating between saying ‘OH MY GOD!’, ‘I CAN’T BELIEVE IT!,and ‘I KNOW!’
Yes, that creation called ‘golden Strands’ is mine - in print!
I have to say I really enjoyed doing it, when you have to photograph and explain every stage of what you do it really makes you think. That enforced slowing down of the thought process is so beneficial, I have so many ideas that I tend to rush what I’m doing to get onto the next one, when if we slow down sometimes and notice what we are doing it can open up a whole new window we never thought about.
If anyone does try the tutorial please let me know and see your results. I will now finish on an apology for all the shouting and exclaimation marks in this post - I am a little excited!
Drum roll please…
14th October 09
Remember a while back I mentioned that I had some hopefully exciting yet secret news? Well, it was confirmed yesterday, I’m going to be in next months Beads and Beyond magazine! I sent in a tutorial for a crocheted necklace - and they liked it!
Just a short post as I need to continue alternating between screaming and dancing - speak soon!
