Happy 2011

Well I have to say last year just flew and I was a little hopeless with posting last year.  I had big plans to post lots but that really didnt happen.  I have still be busy making jewellery, even had a small sale before christmas to sell off some stock.

So whats install this year??????

I have been having a bit of fun with stamping and resin, so I would like to do a little more of that.  Metalwork is where my interest is at the moment and to really get back into my chainmaille.

one of my favourate stamping/metalwork shops at the moment

Besides that I hope to promote my etsy store more, blog alot more and see if I can find myself a muse to help with my creating :)

picture courtesy of reiki fairy goddess

Other then that I have my daughter starting prep this year and I am starting a new job, so its full steam ahead in this household.

So what do you plan for the year ahead????????

Joined the Etsy world

Well I finally did it, Opened an etsy store. For those of you that are unaware of etsy it is an online shopping mall. Its very exciting and scary at the same time. When you start making jewellery one always wonders if its good enough, if people will like it, if people will buy it.......... Well i guess now I will find out.

As you can see I have added a mini store on my blog but you can also visit my store here

I did it, I make a tutorial well two actually

I have been a busy girl lately making jewellery for my sister, a few bits and pieces that will be at the end of the post. But the most exciting is my tutorials one paid and one free.

The free one is Helm weave and you can get the tutorial here

Now for the tada

These are my Helm rose earrings and if your interested in the tutorial you can purchase it here. You need to have a knowledge of Helm weave first.



I am now considering creating a piece for the EKKA so I will keep you posted.

beading jewellery

There is a wonderful site I have come to know and they do fantastic bead work called bead infinitum the ladies names are Gwen and Florence. Anyway I have purchased some kits from them but they also have some free paterns too.

Diamond Netted bead (purchased kit)

Rivoli Sunflower (another kit) (front)

back

Lastly while I have been waiting for some other supplies to arrive I decided to make there free pattern netted bracelet. I just used what I had so I havent really decided yet if I fully like the colours. Its lemon jade, carnilien and red adventurine.

Chain Maille

I have been a part of the beading forum for a good few months now and was introduced to the wonderful world of chain maille jewellery. Basically buy linking rings together in certains ways to get different pieces. I am sure there is a more technical way of describing it but that will do for now. This is the first piece I made called byzantine. I have only used small pics but will have a link at the end of this post if you wish to see them bigger.

After making this I was lucky enough to meet a wonderful lady named Cas. She makes her own rings and has great tutorials. After purchasing some I made the following:

Full Persian

Double Spiral

Butterfly (sorry its missing its clasp at the moment)

Then I got introduced to the wonderful world of spider. She is from the US and has wonderful DVD tutorials. I purchased DVD no. 2 and these are just a sample of some of the stuff I made. I used one of her copper kits.

The top one is dragonscale, then turkish round, snake or round maille, half persian 5 in 1 and lastly jens pind (one of my fav)

Ok well that is it for this post but I will add more of my chain maille later till then if you wish to see more go here . Also if you are interested in getting some great easy tutorials/kits visit Cas's website here

Thanks for looking.

Deb's lampwork beads

I have been lucky enough to me a wonderful women named deb at the bead meetings that I go to that makes wonderful lampwork beads. I have been slowly building up a stash but thought it was high time I make some jewellery with it.

First is a bracelet with crystals and silver spacers, some charms and a silver and garnet toggle.





Next is a pendant made with a lampwork beads and some swarovski's. I am currently in the process of making a double viking knit necklace to go with it.

FRONT

BACK

I am pretty happy with these ones.

If you are interested in Deb's wonderful beads head to here. At the bottom of this page is here email if you are interested in any and click on photo's to see her work. You wont be disappointed.