Bit behind with my 52 Things Challenge -- Week 10 & 11

Yes I have gotten a bit behind with my challenge write up, I have been making things but just not had chance to do the writing up of it.  I can only write my blog on my laptop as I can't get pictures to load from my Samsung Tablet onto Blogger for some unknown reason. And as I am always on my tablet my blog gets a bit left behind because my laptop battery is completely fried and I need a new one, so my laptop is a bit of a chore at the moment.


So here we are then Week 10 first

I was actually off ill with a bit of a bug this particular week from work, but I did manage to put a pair of earrings together just before I was ill. I used some of my spiky pod like headpins in a deep dark blue CIM glass called Trade Winds, well originally I thought it was CIM Marine but when I checked the other day, I had it wrong, they are called Marine Spiky Pod Earrings, it doesn't matter as they are for me.

 

My own large earring hooks

I used black patinated brass metal bead caps and beads along with black patinated wire which I used for the hooks but I think it could be copper wire, these came from Fallen Angel on Etsy. I have others which I intend to use very soon as well.

I couldn't sell these headpins as I had dropped them after a photo shoot, so I just had to keep them for myself, not that you can see the tiny scratch on them.  Plus I need a pair of earrings in these colours for a top I don't have any jewellery for anyway!!  I do enjoy making jewellery for myself but I just never seem to get round to it much anymore!!



Right onto Week 11 then


I am getting to my torch at least once or twice a week now, as I really am determined to get more beads made along with new designs in headpins, cabs, well anything I can come up with.

I am still practising with my flowers and thought I would have a little go at putting one onto a cab, not sure if its quite good enough just yet, its a work in progress....

I will give it another go but maybe different petals next time, maybe a pansy!!!

I am enjoying my time playing!!


Oh and here is the rose bud you can see in the background

Its sort of between a full rose and bud really, maybe we'll call it semi-opened!!  Ha ha!!

Ta Ta

E x

New Button Designs

I have a few new designs for buttons

 

Spatter Lagoona Button

 

Seascape Button

I enjoy working the buttons they are always challenging and making sure the holes are good can be quite difficult at times.  I hope to come up with other designs too very soon.  The spatter design comes from the lentil bead designs I did way back last year, it is loosely based on the artist Miro.  I love abstract designs and want to create more designs in this way, I have a few ideas!!!   80))

I have also made some new cabochons in my seascape design too.  I was making some for my beadweaver friend Sue as she was making a piece for a competition so I made quite a few so she could choose which ones she wanted, the rest have been listed in my etsy bead store  www.chatelaineglassart.etsy.com

 

 

 

Ocean Tides

 

I do enjoy making them but sometimes they become misshapen (like the top cab did!) Oooppps!! It can be difficult to keep this design from losing the circular shape but with more practice I am sure I will overcome this!

Ocean Tides is the biggest at 28mm dia.  I make them on a white base with aqua for the sea and dark ivory for the sand with lots of decoration from silvered ivory stringer, yellow and coral dots to represent little corals etc. on the seabed and twisties for shell looking additions. A murrini is on each one for some added interesting detail like a jellyfish or sea urchin maybe!!

With the cabs I try not to get too close to the edge with the raised decoration as this can hinder the beadweaving encasement which holds it in place, thats why most of it is centralised.


Just need to go make some more me thinks!!  Maybe tomorrow ~~ Yeah!!!

Toodleoo for now

E x 

Torch Fired UP for 2012!!

Yes siree!! I cant believe how long its been since I have been at my torch, when I finally got out to my workshop, dusted off the cobwebs and set my baby alight ~ it felt so goooood!!


I seemed to have lost some confidence in myself but I kicked my own butt and got myself walking up the garden on a mission to make cabs for my customer. 

She purchased Pinkii from me to make into a ring and found when she received it she wasnt to sure if she liked the silver infused finished that the gunmetal glass creates on the surface.

So I told her I would be happy to make her a new one with a different black base glass.  Oh can I change the pink to turquoise/blue, no problem!!

So here is Blueii, cant wait to see what my customers' creation turns out like!! 


So torch is fired up, kiln dusted off and now I must get cracking and

MAKE MORE BEADS!!!



Only after my stinker of a cold has disappeared!!  On my second box of tissues already!!!

Boo hoo!!


Till next time!




E x
    

Anthea ~ Thumb Ring

I started out just trying to practice the weave technique and it has ended up as my first ring!!

I cant believe I designed it as I went along completely off the cuff!!! There are a few errors and I would probably do it a different way next time but all in all I am quite happy with it!!

Anthea 

Copper wire with an 6mm Faceted Amethyst bead in the centre (which happens to be February's birthstone). Weaving on the sides and some hand coiling and a few curls to finish.

I am hoping this may have enough Texture for the Inspiration Avenue Challenge for this week!!

I am now working on a basket weave one, I just received some  multi coloured Tourmaline beads today so they could find there way into it.

I will try and use my own beads in one soon!

I really must fire up my torch first though!! Dust those cobwebs off it!!  I havent made any beads yet this year, time to change that I think!!

This was the last bead I made a cabochon called Washed Ashore!!

Catch you all again soon.

E x