Chunky Wrist Warmers

I know it's not yet winter, but I was wool shopping, and spotted this gorgeous random chunky wool.

"What can I do with that" I thought to myself, luckily the shop had some patterns hanging around, and you could get a free photocopy of a pattern if you bought some wool. Result !

So this was what I ended up with, chunky wrist warmers in a random shade of burgundies. I nipped over the road from the wool shop to the craft shop and bought these huge wooden buttons to adorn them with - mainly so I would remember which way to put them on :)

They work great, lovely toasty warm hands, and free wiggly fingers :)

Have already started another pair, all of my mates with end up with these for Christmas no doubt........unless I get bored :)

Art Clay

Isn't it great when you trade skills?

I gave a Lampie Lesson and got an Art Clay lesson, result !

First of all I made a leaf, I painted a real pretty leaf with Art Clay paste, many layers, all dried with a hairdryer inbetween, then fired and then dipped in Liver Of Sulpher to give it a gorgeous deep colour.

Next I made a pendant for my daughter Shona's birthday, stamped with an alphabet stamper set, and textured with a swirly design. Then I added a green sparkly for her birthstone and polished it to a nice shine :)

Chuffed with myself I am :)

A distaster in the Kiln !

I was in such a good mood this morning, expecting to come into work and find some gorgeous glass handkerchief bowl. I have made a few in the past so I should know what I am doing - you would think !!

Instead I lifted the lid and my heart sunk. It looked like a glass explosion, I had forgotten to change the kiln setting and left them to get so hot that they totally collapsed into a motlen lump.

Even my beautifully planned dish came out wonky.

Big intake of breath, puff out the chest, grab the hoover, clean the kiln and start again !

Now what could I make out of this? :)

Splosh - Bottle Art Wall Hangings.

I had a cunning plan, but it didn't quite work, so the next best thing was to turn it around and try something else. Bring on Splosh ! Bottle Art.

Smashed up wine and beer bottles, arranged in an abstract manner and melted in the kiln, then a little strong wire added for a hanger, and in some cases a little matching dangle too :)

I have ideas for advancing this design, so watch this space - once I can figure out how to use the bottle cutter to cut perfect rings !!

Fused Pendants

It has been ages and ages since I did anything creative. I know people think that because I am surrounded by beads, and charms, and glass, and clay, that I play all day. The truth is I rarely do, every spare minute in the shop is spent working - bagging, pricing, counting, listing....and so it goes on.

But on Wednesday I scheduled in a whole afternoon to make glass pendants, and I really enjoyed it. Although I decided to use the big kiln and was rapidly running out of inspiration by the time I had filled it !

I made 50 in total, but I won't bore you with them all, so here is a taster :)

Disc Necklace / Beads & Beyond Aug 2009

Another submission, this one I called Chocolate & Marshmallow, and it consists of a series of complimenting BRICK STITCH (not Peyote as it states in the magazine) discs - each with a Swarovski Crystal centre.

The beauty is you can make as few or as many as you like, varying sizes and colour, and just hang them from a ready made polyster chain - funky !

Featured in Beads & Beyond August 2009, page 26.

A Pink Rocking Chair.

My sister, Julie, always wanted a Pink Rocking Chair. I set myself a challenge to try and sort one for her.

When one came up on Freecycle, I emailed and luckily got it, the lady said it was in need of some TLC, so it sounded ideal for my project.

First, my son Iain stripped it down, got every tiny little bit of varnish off it, quite a fiddly and drawn out job. Then husband Andrew glued the spindles back in and re-screwed the screws in to make the rockers secure.

Next , my daughter Shona gave it a couple of coats of undercoat, this part took ages as the top had to be done, then when it was dry, 24 hours later, it had to be turned upside down for the rockers and the base to be done. It had two coats.

We had to get the paint especially mixed as we could only find satinwood paint in pale baby pink, or deep burgundy. We opted for a Cotton Candy shade in satin so it wasn't too shiny. Again two coats, with lots of drying time inbetween.

I found a gorgeous grey material with a silver flower pattern which reflects every colour it is close to. From this I made a pad for the seat of the chair, and there was enough left for a little scatter cushion. I added two complimenting cushions from Morrisons, in Silver with Beads, and Burgundy.

She loved it :)....and I get my dining room back !!

Blueberry Cluster- Making Jewellery (4)

Making Jewellery Magazine, issue 4.

Chuffed to see my "Blueberry Cluster" design in the Supplement.

Made using varying sizes of Cats Eye Beads in 4mm, 6mm & 8mm, in a rich Royal Blue.

Each single bead was threaded on a pin and attached to a cable chain, its very bold, tactile, and heavy - you just have to shake it from hand to hand when you hold it :)

I would say it was around 300 pins in total, so it took a little while to make, I won't be making another in a hurry :)

Crocheting a Bag

Years and years ago...to many to mention, my Mother taught me to crochet. I started basic with the coloured squares with random scraps of wool, any thickness and every colour of the rainbow.

A couple of days ago my interest was pricked again, looking at a friends photos on Facebook, she had made a gorgeous crochet bag, have to have a go at that, I thought.

Nipped into town and bought some wool - when I say 'some', it was actually 2 carrier bags full, but I had to make sure I had a good selection of colours didn't I ? :)

Anyway.... here is the owner of the pattern.....

http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/crochet-bag.html

And here is the base of my first bag........





I think, perhaps, I have picked a bit too bright colours, maybe next time I shall tone them down a little :) Just in case you cannot see the colours, it is purple, mustard, coral pink and turquoise blue.

"Lilly Bells" Bracelet in B&B Magazine.

The New issue of Beads & Beyond has just popped through the door, and my "Lilly Bells" bracelet is featured :)

It combines Beadweaving with stringing.

I loved doing this bracelet, it is so delicate, but so lovely to make. Wether you make the cups in a solid colourway, or a mix, it can look equally as good.

I notice a stray thread in the photo on page 29 though, it is annoying me immensly, I might not have to look again :)

Let me know if you make one, I would be very interested to see :)

Swarovski Earrings.

Had a workshop last night in The Bead Shed. We made sparkly, swarovski, dangly earrings.

A simple design which looks totally stunning when worn, the light just bounces of the crystals and make them look like coloured raindrops. They are lightweight, yet swishy and eye-catching, just the thing to brighten up a summer outfit.

It is always interesting seeing other peoples colour choices, and there is always a moment that you think "I wish I had picked those colours", still .... you can always make another pair :)

These two simple pairs were made from the leftover beads and pins.

Finished my Pottery Course

....and what a slog it was :) I have realised I am no good at this medium, I don't like the feel of the clay, I am not good at designing with my hands, and the glazes never turned out like I pictured they would.

Still...it was a good experience if nothing else, and I have some ugly conversation points now.

And so the final finished objects, the old boot, turned out a bit too shiny for what I wanted, I initially wanted it to look like old leather freshly dug up from the ground having lain there for a good few years.

Then there is the cupcake, oh dear ! Not a huge success, the Cherry turned out pink, the pale lemon 'icing' too brightly yellow, and the paper case not quite white enough. Hard to please aint I ? :)

So onto pastures new, I love education of any description, I think everyone should grab as much and as many experiences as they can. Painting or French Language? Watch this space :)

And The Winner is..........

The winner of the draw for the Anenome Necklace is......

LORRAINE !!

Thanks for all your comments, and Lorraine I hope you like it. Will contact you for your delivery details.

Bead 16 Magazine - Front Cover :)

I am like a dog with two tails, I got front cover of Bead Magazine :) (mine is the cerise pink and lime green ones)

Of course I knew the bracelet pattern was going to be in, but imagine the thrill when the box of magazines arrived for my shop and there was my bracelet staring back at me in full glorious colour :)

It is a RAW (Right Angle Weave) design with 4mm cubes surrounded by seed beads, really easy to wear and you can make it as wide or as thin as you like.

I also made this in cream and bronze, it looks totally different.

Will sign copies for £25.00 :) (God loves a trier :D )

Goddess Money Pot - finished !

Tonight was my penultimate Pottery Class, and the Goddess Money pot has finally been finished and it at home sitting on the coffee table. She is about 12" high.

She is not really in proportion, but hey ! Whose perfect?

I also got my boot and my cupcake glazed and ready to fire, they will be finished next week.