Creative Space update and more

In my last post 'My creative space' I posted a picture of my next adventure into the world of wire. Well I have finished and I am really happy with how it turned out. The first two pics are the process.

Now for the finished product

Up close

The next are a few pictures from my lastest challenges. Firstly was a wire monthly challenge with my qld beading friends. Secondly was my entry for Australian Beaders group on facebook. I loved what I created but sadly I didnt place.

So now onto my next challenge :)

My creative space

I have noticed that a few of my beading friends have been posting picture every Thursday of there "creative space" on an awesome blog Kootoyoo . Its so exciting seening what people are up too and really motivates me.

I have been watching for weeks and decided its finally time for me to participate. So here is my first creative space. I have decided to work on another wire woven pendant. So far I have picked out my colours/stones. Now just to start.



So watch this space and see it evolve :)

First wire sculptured pendant

Update: Well I was so happy when the theme on the beading forums year of jewellery was focal point. I thought my piece definately fit. So I entered it and yep I WON. Wooooohooo my first Year of Jewellery win.


Well I have finally given it a go and I have to say I am pretty happy about the outcome. My very first wire sculptured pendant. Thanks to a wonderful tutorial by Remy at Studio Health , I was able to create it. It is made from sterling silver and fine silver, blue lace agate, moonstone and some swarovski's.

The front

The back

So what do you think??????

Free Stuff, gotta love it

Since I have started my jewellery journey I have found alot of great designers. When it comes to wire work there is somewhat limited resourses. I have previously spoken about tutorials that I have purchased and have found to be fantastic. Today though my post is about some great free tutorials that I want to share with you.

Cage Bead Tutorial

Ocean Pearl Hoops plus many others

A Beautiful Connie Fox Garden Bangle

Gorgeous gold ring

I hope you enjoy these and will be adding more over time.

I fused, finally

Well I had the chance to do a silver fusing workshop and it was very exciting. Firstly we made headpins, next we got to make a ring. Firstly was creating the ball, my oh my that took forever and then after all the time I ended up flattening it, lol. Next step was stamping, this too was my first time so there was a couple of double stamps. Its not exactly round but I really like it and will definately be giving another go.

The last piece we made was the bracelet below just loved this one, fusing rings, then hammered. Sorry for the unpolished piece but it requires another link then I will tumble.
I have been also trying to create some new wire pieces building on what I have been learning lately. On the beading forum I am a part of they currently have a challenge which is TRON, based on the movie TRON if you are unaware of it, it was and 80's sci-fi style movie. This is my entry, it hasnt been judged yet so we shall see.

Lastly are two bracelets I have been working on for a friends children. The first an egyptian spiral and the last is macrame, its my first bracelet for a boy so hopefully he likes it.

Thanks for looking and any comments welcome.

Its a wrap

For those of you that dont already know in my last post I talked of a workshop I had done. Well I finally gave it a go on my own and I am very happy with the results. Although it is a little skewif, I am sure that will get better in time with practise. It is dyed howlite and sterling silver.














And so the journey continues. Stay tuned for the next installment.

Loving the new year a time for creating!!!

I finished these beauties the other day. Another wonderful tutorial from Perri Jackson. Beaded caps, they are not as neat as perri's but I love them all the same. Now to start creating.......







A while ago I did a weekend wire workshop I finally got around to making another ring. Very happy with this one and hope to do a wrapped cab soon.


Again using deb's wonderful beads, swarovski's and sterling silver. I created this necklace. I also did my first trizantine (not sure if thats the correct spelling) to attach the pendant. Something simple but I like it.

Next is an attempt of a friends tutorial, which I love sterling silver and red tigers eye, I believe.
This is my first ever commission designed as requested, Sterling silver and sodalite.

Last but not least was my entry for the valentine challenge on a wonderful new website JewelryLessons . I was trying to do something different other then hearts but it didnt turn out as good as I had hoped and only hearts made the semi's. Mind you what made it to the semi's where of a much higher quality and skill. Better luck next time. Oh and I called it circle of love, the infinate circle.

Thanks for reading and hope you enjoy the journey as much as me.

Do I have the skills?

Over the year I have been lucky enough to find out about some very wonderful jewellery artist, I have mentioned earlier Iza and Eni but there are a few more I would like to mention. Slowly but surely I am hoping to try all there wonderful tutorials to help increase my skills and techniques.

So the most recent tutorial I have tried is Celtic Coiled Bezel Pendant by Perri Jackson. A wonderful tutorial although I think I still need alot more practise on my wire work skills. This is my creation on the left. There are a few things different then they should be but all in all I am very happy with my creation. I have another of hers to try, beaded caps and will post when done. Be sure to check out her tutorials at ShaktipajDesigns .

The other people I will talk about in the near future is Corra and her wonderful designs and tutorials and lastly is Bobbi some more gorgeous designs and tutorials. I am sure there is more artist's to discover but for now I hope to learn and grow from them.

I won I finally won......

Why previously I have talked about being a member of the beading forum. Well every so often they run a designer quest. This is where a supplier, Cranberry, offers two packets, this time they were
The idea is to pick a pack, I picked the purple. Then used as much of the pack, the more the better, and make up to three pieces. Here is mine, a choker oh and I won the quest :)

Next is a bead meet challenge, made from size 15 seed beads, smokey quartz and a couple of deb's lampwork beads.


Next is my first attempt of huan's wire wrapped rivoli. Its a violet 14mm rivoli, crystal AB round and 3mm violet 2AB swarovski's. Sterling silver beads and wire.


Lastly our bead group decided to do a charm swap, colours to be used was purple, green, gold, bronze and silver. They are all very different charms in there own right but I love them. I made a double vision bracelet made from purple anodized aluminium to put the charms on. I just love it.


Thanks for looking.

More of what I have been up too

I have been keeping myself busy trialing things, learning new techniques and planning for a jewellery party before christmas.

I wanted to make some beaded rings and I found these two patterns on the web. The black and red one is RAW (right angle weave) using size 11 beads and swarovski's. Not sure what you call the beading around the pearls but the rest of the ring is brick stitch. Size 11 beads with a large swarovski pearl 6mm and two 4mm glass pearls I think they were. I have since made a few more with different colours and have now changed the band on the RAW ring to brick stick, it feels more solid.

After finally getting a grasp of beaded crochet rope I decided to make a necklace, pretty happy with how it turned out.

Our August bead meet challenge. It is called "weave a bezel" ( page 55 - step by step wire jewelry vol 3 no 2 summer preview 2007). Its copper wire with a sesame jasper cab.


Just a few earrings I have been making.

In August I was lucky enough to do a wire workshop run by Sir Paul Howard, Principal of the Gold Coast School of Wirecraft, in Queensland, Australia, & Lady Marie. Here are the beautiful things I made.

Sterling silver and the cab is mookorite jasper.
A gorgeous ring and bracelet, I just loved the ring and will be making many more.

Lastly was these gorgeous earrings.

I brought some 6mm natural fossil beads and have struggled to find anything to go with them so with little modification I used a free tutorial from bead infinitum I created the following beaded beads. Now what to do with them.

Octobers Challenge was make a tiara, This is my work in progress, have to glue and cover up the terrible wire wrapping. Sterling silver wire base with swarovski's and czech beads. It is going to be my daughters.

Its been a while

Well it has been a little while since I last posted so this post is going to have alot of pictures. I have been busy playing with beads (just cheapies laying around, with some good ones in the mix), making presents and doing challenges for my bead meets. Oh and a little wire work as well.

My mother asked me to make a necklace for her boss, she loves red so this is what I came up with. Using a tutorial I got from the bead infintium I started with that and then went from there and got this. I was pretty happy with how it turned out. For the necklace I just strung beads as it was the only thing that really seemed to match.

Close up

The back

I made these indian feathers using Iza's tutorial. She does just gorgeous wire work you can find her etsy store on the right.

Close up

This is my first attempt of african helix. I wasnt sure how it would turn out with the colours I picked but I just love it.
I was so glad for this one to be finished it just seemed to go on for ever. The stitch is celini. I think it looks lovely but I think this will be my only one.
Lastly I have spoken in previous posts in relation to our brisbane bead meet challenges. This is number 3 chosen by lavinia, from BEADWORK magazine August/September 2007 called Twilight Entanglement. This is my version.

Close up

I dont think I ever posted the first one. I will add it to my next post.

Thanks for reading.