Pressed flowers fridge magnets

I have been for lovely walk today at Willsbridge Mill in Bristol.  Its so tranquil there, they have a lovely little wild garden and pond there and bubbling stream where the children can mess about in their wellies.

We collected some flowers today and have pressed them into flower fridge magnets  I have one set available to buy via my facebook page at the moment.  

I made these using a flower press from The Feltworks a lovely shop on Folksy 

We used buttercups, grass, daisies,salvia and cowparsley i am not sure what the little blue flower is offhand but do tell me if you know!

Jenny x

How to make twist wire bracelet

STEP 1 - Firstly select beads you want to use, smaller beads will give more dainty bracelet. I used green agate, malachite chips, green cats eye beads and toho beads for this project.  I used 26 gauge silver coloured florist wire you will need about 4ft x 2.
 
STEP 2 - Use one length 26 gauge wire at a time.  Leave tail of about 6 inches place on bead i usually use round one on wire.





STEP 3 - Cross wires right under the bead as shown in the photo, then twist 3 times using thumb and forefinger.

STEP 4 - Twisted bead will be held in place on 26 gauge wire now.  Take a finger space between this bead and the next one and do same mixing up beads and shapes as you go to create interest.

STEP 5 - Mix up seed beads and round beads the closer the beads the more wire you will use.  Check length around your wrist you will need extra as you will intertwine the 2 strands later. 

STEP 6 - Repeat with other strand. Leave tails of 6" either end.

STEP 7 - Grasp two ends and make Y shape then twist with thumbs and forefingers about 1/2 "

 STEP 8 - You need enough twisted wire to be able to make a loop with round nose pliers.

STEP 9 - Twist loop with round nose pliers and bring two ends around base of it to secure. (You could add lobster clasp at this point if you want to. so it is secured onto the loop and cannot come off.

STEP 9 - Plait and intertwine the two strands (careful not to overtwist or the wire will snap) and then the two ends by the twisted wire loop you will individually weave one at a time amongst beads until left with about 1" wire then use round nose pliers to create nice neat coil and tuck in amongst beads.  Do this with all four ends. 

STEP 9 - You will see i have added jump rings to the twisted wire loops you made and a mobius love knot (intertwined jump rings) and clasp to add some decoration to the bracelet.


You could make a necklace in the same way as this but longer length too and its great little project to use up all those little beads you have left over.  


Time to make : approx 30 to 45 mins.  Level Beginner to intermediate.  


Thank you.

 

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

RACE FOR LIFE TODAY

We did it.  Today we ran the 5km Race for Life in Bristol at 11.00.  It was very hot.  I ran with my two oldest nieces Elisha and Kyra and we all did well.  Elisha has a 5 month old son and Kyra a 1 1/4 year old son and me 2 children.  Despite no training we all did respectable times.

Here is our before shot.  We did not do an after shot!

I think between us we may have raised around £300.00. I may take up running now just have to fit it into my busy life!

Jenny x

RACE FOR LIFE

I have not had time to blog for nearly a month now with different school and home projects to do.  But tomorrow is RACE FOR LIFE.

I am running with my nieces in Bristol 5km so hoping it will be sunny day.  

I have raised i believe around £180.00 thank you to all who donated. Looking forward to the atmosphere there tomorrow.

Jenny x

Wooden,tan and red coloured memory wire cuff bracelet

Okay, i admit it i stayed up rather late last night (1.30) as i got carried away with the jewellery again.  But i made this eyecatching wooden bead,red glass,orange, wooden rondelle bead memory wire cuff bracelet.  It is a custom order i think!  Someone admired one i had made a friend and said they want 3! but i made one with more rings on it as i havn't enough beads so am hoping she likes it otherwise it will be going onto my Folksy shop i think.


Do you like the colours, red is my favourite colour so i quite like it myself.

How to make Swarovski cocktail ring jewellery tutorial

 So, a new idea here.  I have made a jewellery tutorial showing how to make a stunning Swarovski bicone cocktail ring, ideal for weddings, special occasions, prom nights or nights out.  A sparkling dress ring.  Can be made in any colour. 

You will need 37 Swarovski 6mm bicones of your choice. 37 4mm czech round beads complimentary colour, 38 delica seed beads complimentary colour and nymo thread,beading needle size 10 or 12 and sieve back adjustable ring and chain nose pliers.

 STEP 1 - Cut nymo thread about 36" and tie delica seed bead leave 3" tail. Bead through a hole in back of ring sieve plate add one 4mm czech bead,1 6mm swarovski bicone,1 delica seed bead.

 STEP 2 - Go back through swarovski bicone and czech bead into same hole you came up through do NOT go through delica bead.

STEP 3 - it should look like this.  Pull tight as you want your ring to be nice and taut not have all the beads floppy.  You need to pull tight between each set of these beads.

STEP4 - Bead around outside of ring or you could start from the middle if you prefer i like to do outside to get those beads as tight as i can then pack in the rest.  It does get hard to see the holes as you work into the centre.  


When you have gone through all holes you will need to secure on back of ring by weaving in and out of beads few times and tying off.  Then attaching the sieve ring to the base is fiddly, the trickiest bit.  I use long chain nose pliers to bend 4 little prongs on the back over carefully.

                               DAH DAH the finished product                               

Hope you enjoyed the tutorial.  Thanks x