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

Metal stamped personalized bookmarks

I've been really busy this week using basic metalwork skills (new challenge) and have made some personalised bookmarks. 

I used 1mm aluminium metal sheet, cut,shaped,filed,sanded and metal stamped designs.  I plan the following designs.  Spiders,Religious,Hearts,Stars,Celestial,Butterflies,Princess crown with hammered framework,football,garden theme,dance,sleeping cat and paw,dog face and paw,best mom.  I am making up a whole batch so when i go to workplaces to sell jewellery i can do custom order and have them all out on display as i think they look better in a batch rather than odd ones - she says hopefully. 

Let me know what you think of my first few here.

I've also made this little aluminium stamped sleeping cat pendant with "shhhh" dont wake him theme.  Quite cute.  First effort okay and set on sterling silver chain.

I have given myself 2 days to finish off about another 6 designs and bead up the bookmarks then can list on my http://www.folksy.com/shops/LittleRedRobin shop.

Ta ra for now

Jenny x



Copper metal stamped whimsical plant herb markers for the garden

I love gardening but its been on the back burner for a while now as i've been so busy with jewellery making and family life.

However, i've purchased some metal design stamps and have made this set of whimsical style copper plant herb markers.   I used copper metal sheet handcut and shaped and stamped and oxidised herb names onto the plant markers.

I think they would look nice in the garden and make a great gift.   Let me know your thoughts?

Jenny

Little Red Robin Jewellery workshop day in Bristol

Today, Little Red Robin held their first Jewellery teaching workship in Warmley Community Centre, Bristol.  There were 7 students most who were new to jewellery making.

The students made some earrings using spiral headpins, eyepin connected earrings, hammered headpin beaded earrings using ball pein hammer and steel bench block (they enjoyed hammering the metal) and designed their own custom earrings too.

We then went onto making and designing a wired necklace with beadalon 7 strand wire some chose focal pendant and others symmetrical beaded necklaces to design.  We used crimps, crimp covers, wire guardian and findings to finish them off.

A short lunch break then back to our jewellery with the students finishing off with a copper or silver charm bracelet using techniques already learnt throughout the day. 

This was a very enjoyable day with all the students choosing lovely colour combinations and designing lovely items of jewellery. 

Next time i will take more photos with jewellery made by students and show as a gallery here on the blog. 

The bonus part of the day was that the community centre had an open day so tea,coffee and cakes were all available at any time!  and if you look closely you can see at the front of the picture my packet of cheese and onion crisps!

I hope the students enjoyed the day and that they may be inspired to be creative through jewellery or other hobbies (as some already do other crafts such as cardmaking and cross stitch) and return to future workshops i will run next year using other techniques.

I thoroughly enjoyed my day, it was quite relaxing, laid back and i was very impressed with their designing and colour combinations and their concentration to take it all in too, so well done to them all.

Jenny x

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

Vintaj brass experimentation

I've been busy designing a new range of jewellery and the first one has lucite flowers in woodland colours with swarovski crystal inserts, little brass vintaj acorn and amber beads.

Vintaj natural brass is not antique plated or chemically treated.  It is nickel free and lead free compliant.

I riveted a nouveau vintaj brass fairy to a blank altered disc with butterfly and added little charms on top.

I am quite pleased with the result, vintage style,unusual and lovely for autumn.  I am tempted to make something for myself and have lots findings and brass and antique brass and antique silver items on order.  

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