Resin Pendant

It's been a while since I made an item of jewellery. I have such a large collection of finished pieces that need to find new homes. I have a couple of craft fairs coming up next month so I will add some of these to my table

However, always eager to try a new technique, I purchased some resin
medium from Indigoblu to make this pendant. I used a Rennie Mackintosh inspired stamp from the free set that came with this months copy of Creative Stamping, coloured it with watercolour pens, set this into the pendant blank and added the resin. Great fun!

Wire Work - My New Passion

I thought that I would post pictures of some of my jewellery makes. I dabble in all sorts but particularly enjoy working with wire.  I have a Facebook page (Kelpie's Gems) where I show most of my pieces. It is HERE if you would like to have a peek.

A Free Gift Goes to a Good Cause

As a member of the Create and Craft Club I have the opportunity of receiving free gifts during the year.  I don't always send for them as they need to be worth the £2.99 postage.  However, the last one was Craftwork Cards products so I decided that I could use them to make cards for charity.

Here are some of the 30 cards that I have made to date. 

I still have enough resources to make some more.  Not bad for my £2.99 outlay.  The base cards and envelopes were a purchased some years ago and I am delighted to reduce my stash, even if it is by a small amount !! These are on their way to the local Shelter shop.

I have been diverted recently to sewing and jewellery making projects.  Here are some of my makes.

 

 
 
 
 
 

30th Birthday

I made this card recently for a 30th birthday as well as a sterling silver and pearl bracelet. 

The recipient has been a dancer from a young age and is now a dance teacher alongside her day job. So I searched the Silhouette America site for a download and found this very appropriate Scottish dancer file and set my Silhouette  Cameo to work. I am still surprised that I can find file downloads that match even the most obscure topic on the site  - bearing in mind that it is essentially for the American market. Mind you, there are probably many Scottish Country dancing societies across America!!

And... to make use of my Tonic purchase detailed yesterday, I used some of the dies to build the card. (The cutting of the dancer was not a straightforward affair as the file came with  separate elements which I had to join together and then cut as an outline.)
Text was also cut using the Cameo.

 Here is the Freshwater Pearl bracelet that accompanied the card.

 

Still Thinking!!

I haven't finally decided on the designs for my next two commissions for special birthday cards. Panic mode has not set in yet. (I have spent a lifetime working best under pressure so there is time to produce the goods!)

In the meantime I have made a pair of earrings (as you do!)

Have uploaded them to my Facebook  Kelpie's Gems page.

Can't finish until I have recorded that it snowed this morning in Aberdeen. A friend was travelling North from here and she said that it was "More like a festive scene."    

Felt Brooches - Something New

As mentioned in a previous post, I have a stall at three craft fairs next month.  I decided to make some felt brooches to sell.

 A free gift that came with a craft magazine that I bought is a kit to make up three felt strawberry brooches.  I did make up one but wasn't happy with the design or quality of materials so I decided to make some to my own design and with supplies that I have in my stash.  (Took me a while but I eventually found the brooch pins that I had purchased a couple of years ago.)    

At the moment, I am also investigating the possibility of selling the things that I make online. My compulsion to create on a daily basis must be a recognised disorder of some kind. Perhaps Google will help!

I have hand sewn these - no glue was used.  However it did take me a while to complete them this way. I'm sure, in business terms, that this is not the most cost effective process. Glue would have been a cheaper option in terms of labour costs but I decided against it. If I had taken the quicker  route, I would have felt(no pun intended) that I had cheated in some way.

Will see how it goes.  One can only test the market.  Where are these cliches coming from?!!!  Has Sir Alan Sugar invaded my brain?  (I wish!)

Bag Charm Diversion

Another lovely day today.....in fact we made the news....  Aberdeen had the hottest day of the year!!!!???? 




So...last night I decided to sort out some of my jewellery supplies and I ended up making some handbag charms.  I hadn't intended doing this but the components just seemed to come together and make themselves!

The charms are all acrylic so the final pieces are not heavy.  With the amount that I carry in my handbags, this is quite a consideration!

• I am not sure about the ribbon but it can easily be removed if it offends.

I Don't Do Instructions.

The title of this post gives you a little insight to my personality!  I know that some of you will say "Neither do I" and others will say " That attitude just wastes time."  

Now. having taught for nearly forty years - the last few spent writing instructions for other teachers to follow -  I should really fall into the latter category.  Here comes the excuse.......  My creative brain is to blame - I have made things all my life  so I should be able to do things instinctively.

This has worked in the past.  I have constructed Ikea flat pack shelves and sets of drawers without being left with not even a screw.  Much to the surprise of my husband, I may add.    

You may be wondering where I am going with this post.... Here you are..

I purchased a Crafters Companion jewellery kit a while ago.  This promised a  necklace, earrings and bracelet. I made up the earrings and bracelet no problem (didn't need instructions).  I tackled the necklace this week.  Realised that it required a quick glance at the instructions.  Don't want to criticise the authors but..... What??

Here is the final product.   The let down in the instructions was the starting and finishing of of the cord.  I suppose that my creativity did come into play - i just winged it i!    Also, it took me ages to thread cords through the seed beads that you can see in the photo. They were just too thick.

On a positive note, I will recreate this necklace with my own beads and cord ....without reference to instructions.

Next!!

While I have been away from posting I have been making jewellery again.  I remember making chokers and earrings (1969-72) to supplement my grant* during my teacher training days. ( *Not a loan as my sons had.... and still have... to suffer!) I have dabbled over the years but I have now decided to concentrate mainly on producing pieces using semi-precious stones.

This is a necklace that I made using  Zebra Jasper and Black Onyx beads. The problem is that, once made, I find it difficult to let them go!

Something different....

I thought that I should use some of the jewellery making supplies that I have accumulated over recent months (nae years).  I have made various items as gifts in the past but would really like to take it on board as one of my main crafts.  I have a real desire to use silver clay.  This reminds me that I told this to a real jewellery designer last week, and, by an amazing coincidence, she was intending to make her very first piece in this medium that very day! For those of you that know Aberdeen, she sells lovely jewellery from her home in North Square in Fittie.

Anyway, I bought this linked stretch bracelet ( Doncaster - I'm beginning to think that I spent more than I had thought!) and added pink freshwater pearls and flat, circular shell beads. The bracelet comes with links already in place to  attach the head pins with the beads on. Of course, not entirely happy with it ........ I should buy my own tools and not borrow them from my husband's toolbox..... that might make a difference.

It's great to take another direction once in a while.

When inspiration leaves you....

I am suffering from cardmaker's block today. Inspiration has left me. I spend so much time blog hopping and marvelling at the talents of others that I often confuse myself as to which style of card to make next. I have discussed this on a previous entry because it is a constant problem for me.


What to do? Just move on to something else. In this case it was to make this kilt pin brooch. I have made several before so it was a quick and satisfying project. Now, will I keep it myself or give it to a friend? I could make another one.................