Metal Stamped Jewelry

I have been busy working out designs with my metal design stamps this week.  I have lots more new jewellery planned, just need more time!This has just been listed in our Folksy shop today.

Dolphin,turtle,anchor, sea themed hand stamped pendant

My next plan is some mixed metal jewellery and earrings using metal design stamps too and oxidised pieces.

Ta ra for now.

WOWTHANKYOU very much

I am so excited tonight.  I've just set up a new shop on WowThankYou.  Only 6 items listed so far though as new but will be adding to it gradually.  Its so easy to navigate too and there are no forums to go on! so just craft and put on, obviously promote too if you want your items to sell.

All i had to do was work out how to change pixel size of photos to upload. 

You see since setting up shop on Folksy i am becoming a techie. 
I had never blogged, never twittered, never facebooked,never chatted on forums, now i do all of it.

What a funny old world.

Jenny

WHICH DIRECTION TO GO

Hmmm i havn't blogged for ages now.  I have been busy with little jewellery ventures selling some jewellery.    Now i have a lull for 2 weeks and then my first jewellery teaching workshop aaaaargggh. 

I seem to have lost a bit of momentum with the Folksy clarification on "handmade" and "hand assembled".  Although our shop all bar one item was acceptable in our jewellery lines it has made myself and my twin sister think long and hard about what exactly we are going to make and design with our jewellery.

My jewellery started with 6 week jewellery course with different projects and so i have leaned towards beaded jewellery and some woven jewellery which i quite like too.  My sister has attended silversmith courses and enamel and her leaning is towards silversmith techniques which she will still be doing along with some other ideas she has.

I am now thinking along the lines of more metalwork in some of my jewellery cold connections but making my own from sheet metal to begin with and expanding my skills gradually.  All this requires new tools!  I do have a vision of what i hope to be able to achieve in say 6 months to 1 years time which is totally different to what i am doing now which i find challenging and quite exciting although i will keep my hand in with other techniques too.

I would also like to blog more frequently with tutorials and blog on my experiments too it just all takes time.

Hope to be back soon with more news
x

Jenny

Swarovski toggle beaded and button lariat tutorial

 Materials i used: 1 Purple swarovski cosmic 20mm square "volcano"
Tan and cream buttons
Purple crackled glass 8mm beads
1mm diameter brown waxed cord


You could use any open toggle heart, swarovski cosmic circle, sterling silver hammered circle etc.  TIP make sure beads or buttons you are using will fit through the toggle. On this one i made my buttons smaller towards bottom of lariat so they would fit through. 
 

 Step 1 - Double over your 1mm waxed cord.  I had about 60 inches in total of cord doubled was 30.  Then thread two ends together through crystal and and back up through the loop of other end of cord (larkshead knot).



 STEP 2 - Make knot on one thread then add bead then tie another knot to secure in place.  I used stacked 3 buttons on other thread and knotted either side too.   

TIP if you have trouble fitting cord through bead cut end on a diagonal to make a point rather than straight across i used embroidery sharp scissors for this. If you use pearls you might need silk thread so look at your materials before starting.

 

  STEP 3 - Alternate on the threads with beads and stacked buttons.  I realised the buttons i was using were bigger than diameter of toggle so kept adjusted and made buttons small on second half of lariat so they would go through.  


TIP Make sure beads or buttons or crystals whatever you are using on end of lariat has enough weight on it and length to stay threaded through lariat toggle.  If you make short lariat and put little lightweight buttons they may come out!

Lariats can vary in length anything from 30 " to 50".  If you make longer one they can wrap around neck as choker and you could have the ends hanging down your back if you wear a nice backless dress for instance which looks unusual.  

I would probably make a lariat with sterling silver chain for that just buy flat cable chain 26" possibly and hang off crystal or pendant off centre with jump ring then on two ends add jump rings and 2 other crystals or beads or whatever you are using.  You can use chain,suede,organza and make other styles of LARIAT once you have made one.  Just use your imagination.  I finished off the end beds by just knotting twice under the bead this time and leaving small 1/2" cord.

 JENNY x

ANY QUESTIONS DO ASK

Fabric button panda bear bracelet

In honour of my new bracelet Purple Panda bear fabric button bracelet i am typing my blog in purple.

I've just made this bracelet wasn't sure about it, but went ahead, quite pleased with how it turned out.  Novel, original quite fun and will get noticed when worn.  The little pandas faces are so cute.  

Ta ra for now Jenny x

Friends,inspiring and fabulous

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So, to my first Folksy treasury.  I have included the following items from shops or people who are friends or have been helpful to me or who i find their work inspiring or my favourites.  I plan each week to showcase other Folksy creations.  Its lovely to be on FOLKSY and find so many people who are creative,inspiring and thoughtful. x
1. The Feltworks 2. Oakapple and Rose 3. John Robinson Photography 4. ModeAlisa - Clothing Etc 5.alibali jewellery 6. BaggieAggieToo