Clicking and clicking
With hooks and mouse! First off today a bit of experimenting - with cassette tape, (an old Prodigy one from my long distant carefree youth…) I’ve had this idea to make oversized chains for a while but hadn’t come up with what material to use. While doing a bit of cleaning (we’ve got visitors coming) I saw a plant pot cover I’d crocheted in video tape a while ago, it was going to be a bag but it was too noisy - but perfect as a glamerous pot cover! One thing lead to another and they need a bit of fine tuning, but what do you think? And do you think The Prodigy would approve?
Next up, I’m going out! I know, can you hear the fanfare too? Anyhow, I got this gorgeous dress in the sales, bright emerald green, quite 50’s in style. I thought perfect occasion to wear my new glamerous necklace I made, the one with the wire flowers… but it doesn’t go.
So I made a bracelet that does!
Finally, I’ve also been spending, but not too much, honest! Thanks to the Craft Neutral Challange I’ve only bought some jump rings this year, eveything I’ve made has been from my stash, and that includes several necklaces, bracelets, earrings, scarflettes and gloves! And after all, we have to support the wonderful craftspeople we have!
So, after browsing through researching some of my favourites shops on Folksy I saw these gorgeous brooches by the amazing artist Amy McCarthy
They are recyled beer bottle tops filled with various found objects like shells, bits of old jewellery, shards of glass and set in resin. I think this one is my favourite
or maybe this one
Check out Amys other fabulous glass products in her folksy shop!
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!
My stunning new necklace!
You know when the planets aline, the sun is shining, the boys actually listen (okay, scrap that last bit) but when everything works out exactly as you imagined it but better…
Okay, so no one has a green neck but it was the best thing I could display it on, and It doesn’t work so well on the clear vase.
I crocheted 8 flowers in wire, using 2 beads for each stitch on the petals and used the tail ends to stitch them together. It is so light and soft and molds to your neck shape perfectly. I love it - can you tell!
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!
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!
4th November 09
If any of you do your own craft fairs and make jewellery, you must visit Boo’s blog. Not only does she have gorgeous jewellery, but also lots of free tutorials. I’ve just made the necklace stand from her template and it really is amazing! Now I can display my necklaces properly as opposed to lying flat on the table. I am so envious of people who can think laterally (?) or is the word just clearly (!), i’m not sure, but she is one clever lady.
I’ve also been really remise in not mentioning the Crafteroo Children in Need shop we have set up again on Foksy. We have all donated items, and all the money goes to the charity, last year we raised over £600 for Comic Relief! So if you fancy doing your bit, while having fun at the same time, check us out here.
Finally, i’m buzzing this week, i’ve been featured on two, yes two fabulous blogs, one of my bracelets on Found on Folksy and one of my bags on UKHandmade. Talk about glowing!
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!
New earrings
25th September 09
Just a quick one, I’ve just made my earrings for tonight, in fact they are the second pair, the first didn’t go with the necklace, so what do you think? (if you click your mouse on any off my photos, they’ll enlarge)
I made a couple of my ring buttons for the main part, unfortunatly here in South Wales, the weather is dull dull dull so the picture isn’t as clear as it should be, but i’m pleased with them, and they are nice and light too, and jingle - I like to jingle!
(I didn’t make the necklace, it was off a wonderful friend)
Busy, busy, busy!
17th September
I am rubbish at this blog keeping aren’t I, could you imagine if I kept a diary? The diary itself would be a beautifully handbound book with lots of inviting crisp white pages, I would sully it with enthusiasum on the 1st of January, probably with a list of what I intended to document, and it would go downhill from there…
However, I do have valid excuses, the boys are back at school so its getting into the routine of clubs, I only got the time of 2 of them wrong, 1 by an hour, the other by a day! And I have just finished a hugely exciting, though for the time being very secret, project that if it comes off will be FANTASTIC!
The other project that has been keeping me busy is also secret, though for a different reason! I’ve signed up for another swap over on incy wincy stitches blog
and I am very excited! Ive been partnered with Gemma from jimjam sandwich and her stuff is beautiful! I love her use of fabrics and delicate embroidery, look at these
and she has a 15% discount in her folksy shop for National Cupcake week, I’ve got my eye on that blue one!
I’ve had great fun making Gemma’s jewellery, her favourite colours are teal and cerise, and i’m really pleased with what i’ve done. Its an idea i’ve had trundling through my head for a while, and I think i’ll do some for my shop, but I can’t post any pics, it’ll spoil the supprise!
