More blogging required

I am needing a kick to get me started,  I have finally added some posts this week but I really need to set myself some goals because I am totally unorganised at the moment.


I did promise to add more tutorials to my blog and so I need to make LISTS!

Yes back to the good ol' LISTS!

Whenever I lapse not using Lists I just go to pot!
Here we go then .........


1. Do tutorials for my blog.

2. Take photos of beads with new backgrounds to update them.

3. Make new beads and cabs.

4. Make some new jewellery, try out my new letter stamps and disc cutter

5. STOP PROCRASTINATING, get on with the jobs I need to do (see all of the above)

6. TIDY THE HOUSE -- ITS TERRIBLE!

7. Go to bed at a decent time! Not at 2am, 3am, 4am I'm getting to old for this!!

Hello my name is Elaine I have an addiction -----  LAZINESS! 

Blinkin' well pull your finger out and get on with something women!!!!

Right I am now officially told off -- will it help  ...........  I doubt it!!

E x

Top Tip Tuesday ~~ Design Tips Part 2 -- Interpretation

DESIGN TIPS ~~ PART 2 

 INTERPRETATION

 

In this second part of my Design Tips I will cover Interpretation and how to use your ideas for a design.  

When you get ideas for designs I find it best to keep them together for ease of access to the information you need.  I have found a ‘Diary’ to be valuable for writing down ideas for colour combinations, designs and even how I could execute designs onto a bead or in a piece of jewellery.  It is simply a notebook or sketchbook where all your ideas go when you have that ‘light bulb’ moment! 

They can strike at the most inconvenient time when you’re going to bed, on the loo (hee hee!) and of course when you are out of the house ~ at the office, in the park with the kids, now I was going to say ‘up a mountain’ but that is much more difficult to get onto paper and you could just plain lose that one I’m afraid, especially if you are hanging from a rope!!!!

But, then again, you may remember it when you come down off the mountain or you could, of course, have seen something which you may be able to take a picture of to remind you again later! 

A camera is another invaluable tool for a designer!!  Oh Yes! We don’t just need it for taking pictures of our work, that’s for sure, so remember to carry it with you at all times!  Don’t forget your Diary too!  Choose one that is not difficult to carry around with you, size wise that is, an A5 or even A6 would be very adequate.  I have to say I have a number of different types of Diary of varying sizes, some are notebooks and others are sketchbooks depending on what I need it for.

When I want to make some jewellery for myself or maybe even a commission, for instance, I would start by working out what colours I need for the particular outfit I need to compliment.  I need to determine what style I want for it ie. long, short, pendant, chain linked, simply strung, etc.  I then need to decide on the right amount of beads I will need to produce it, along with the colour combinations, patterns including what type of metals especially if I want chain included in the design and what would best suit the colours I have chosen as well as the shapes and sizes of the beads, what they are made from and then how they will be laid out!

Oh Yay, we are DESIGNING!!!

I know I make my own beads which means I can produce what I need for my item of jewellery, I realise not everyone can do this but it is then a matter of finding what beads you want to produce your piece of jewellery and purchase them from either a supplier or even a lampworker (like myself) whose style of beads you love and maybe even commission a set in your required colours.

Here is a commission I made for a friend, she wanted something simple and ended up picking out the focal bead I had previously made and so after making a few more beads in the same glass and some metal spacer beads, VOILA!

 

Star Bracelet

In my ‘Camouflage Mayhem’ range of beads, I made a set in an orange and brown colourway which were called ‘Tortoiseshell Flies’ maybe a bit of an odd name for a set of beads, I hear you say!! Well maybe your not saying that but I will explain a little of why I gave this range such an unusual title!

My Camouflage Mayhem range came about when I was trying out a new glass from CIM (Creation is Messy) ~ what a great name for a glass range/company, eh!!  and it is one of my favourite types of glass to use.  It was a green glass named ‘Commando’, dark green resembling an army camouflage colour.  Well this colour has some qualities that can come with some greens in the many glass ranges, it can be reactive with certain colour combinations, ~~ ivory being a great example.  So I did, I used ivory with the Commando and ‘Hey Presto’ I ended up with a dark webbed ring around the dots I placed with the ivory, onto the green. I then stacked more irregular dots and some of them reminded me of the actual uniforms that the military wear ~~ hence my new range was born!!!

GI Jane

My first set of beads In the Camouflage Mayhem range

I started to jot down other ideas in my Diary notebook, of colours that I could use to replicate different camouflage colours. Then a ‘light bulb’ moment struck me, Animals!  I could use their colours to inspire me in this range, as they use Camouflage to disguise themselves in the wild, birds, insects even marine life were all possible inspiration and open to interpretation in many different ways.

Now, have you worked out where the ‘Tortoiseshell’ comes from for my Tortoiseshell Flies set.

I think you may have guessed it!  ~ Ha ha!! 

BUTTERFLIES!! 

The Giant Tortoiseshell Butterfly to be precise. On visiting the local Whipsnade Zoo, where I had taken along my camera (don’t leave home without it!!)  they have a butterfly and insect garden and as I wandered around I captured some pictures of butterflies feeding on the flowers!  Unfortunately I have not got those photos anymore as my disc is corrupted sadly!  I have found a few on the net for you though!!

 

Gt. Tortoiseshell Butterfly

 

 

Tortoiseshell Flies Set

 

 

Peacock Butterfly

Look at those gorgeous colours, very similar to the Gt. Tortoiseshell

On my return I got out a book from my extensive “library” called The British Country Companion which has many species of butterflies, inspects, birds, etc. it has given me many ideas for colours for my Camouflage Mayhem range, what better way to interpret an idea than using wildlife or even nature to help guide you to endless possible design ideas.

 

 

Leopard

Little Robin Red Breast

 

Here are some other colours I have used for the range and I will name them and leave the rest up to you to decide where they have come from!!

 

Funky Uniform

 

Blue Tweet Tweet

 

 

 

 

Pink Leopard 

 

 

 

 

 

Daffodils and Periwinkles

 

My Glass Diary is filling slowly with other ideas I have come up with along the way.

 

Dotty Socks & Ducky

 

 

Socky Dots Beads

 

Ducky Dots

 

 

I now want to show you a few things to get you started, to help you with your own ideas! And run with it!

Monet's Garden

 

 

Nature, Marine & Animal pictures

Sweets and Desserts

I hope this has helped a little with your interpretation of things around us in nature, animals and even some more unusual things too!

 

E x

 

Next Time I will cover:

Design Sources ~ what and where to find ideas and how to interpret them.

Top Tip Tuesday ~ DAY 8

DESIGN TIPS ~ PART 1    

 

INSPIRATION  

 

Sometimes your mojo (inspiration/motivation) can leave you and you get despondent, not sure what to make or where you can get inspiration from. We all have those times and I am definitely no exception!!

From time to time I have a jewellery crisis and just don't want to make anything at all or worse don't know what to make or even what colours to use! 

And yet I may feel the need to make some new jewellery for myself, as my design ideas keep changing and evolving, I wanted, no needed something new to wear especially when adding new items to my wardrobe, if I had a special occasion looming like a family wedding, a christening or maybe a special party or two ~ just a for instance.  You MUST have something to go with your new outfit that co-ordinates, of course!  And ultimately to show off new creations and new found technical prowess! 

 
There’s nothing like a bit of self advertising is there!!!

 
So what to do???
 

So I would get out my sketch book and then look down at the blank page, rack my brains for ideas to come to me!! No joy!!  I would just put unfinished items to one side after getting beads and materials out but can’t seem to find anything to work with!!  Inevitably, I didn't make anything!

I have to say, I am lucky in some respects as I have more than one hobby/craft that I love to do but each one is linked to the other which can be an asset or sometimes a hinderance because my mojo is connected to both of them.
 
Right then, how about I make some beads instead! So off to my workshop to practice my beadmaking, maybe improve on my skills (which only practice will do!)  My lack of confidence heightens when I am not at the torch very often, I do lose the will to try new things out but I need to go have a play!!!

It has been of great benefit to play, new shapes, what colours to try, shall I make sets or focals, or maybe some special designs like flowers or butterflies for instance! What glass to use, how about trying out some of the new glasses I just purchased, especially the Double Helix Silver rich glasses (oooohh LOVE them!!) so many new types coming along, I am getting behind the times!!

 

OH NO now I have a new mojo crisis, what BEADS to make!!!!


HA!! 



So here's the crunch question 'Where do I get my Inspiration from'????

 

Well this is a good place to start ~~~

 

1. Other peoples work ~  No, its not right at all to copy others work or 'nick' it as it were but it can inspire you to create your own ideas to work from.

 
For instance, colours they have used, the type of materials or their design style which could be very different from your own but you could see potential from it for your own work.

My Boho Bridal Neckpiece a tutorial piece for Beads and Beyond magazine, this was inspired by one of Lilian Chen's designs I had seen in a US jewellery magazine.

I made it my own by adding beads and little tendrils and adding chain to it too

These ‘work in progess’ Earrings were also inspired by some of Lilian Chen's work and cultural background ~ Oriental/Asian

I have now scrapped this design as it was not working successfully ~ don’t be afraid to

change the design if elements are not succeeding, I felt this design was not stable enough

and maybe a little dangerous to the wearer!

 

2. ART Inspiration is a good tool to inspire those creative juices! Go to the Library for art books, check out some of the famous artists ~ that you like or know of and just LOOK!!!! Doodle in a sketch book, what colours have they used ~ together, have they come from a design era that inspires you ~ Victorian, Art Deco, Art Nouveau, Pop Art, The Impressionists, Surrealists, the list goes on.

Just have some fun with it!!

This era of the early 20^th Century still had Victorian influences but you can see some current trends taking on this style today but with a modern take on it.

At college we were told to brain storm ideas on a big piece of paper ~ put in a central idea/theme/word/historical era.

So say, for instance, we decided to use the words Art Deco we would then just throw down words that just come to mind, creating bubbles linked to bubbles to build up anything to do with Art Deco ~~




ie:  Clarice Cliff ~ bright colours ~ stylised ~ trees ~ strong lines ~ plates ~ jugs ~ glasses
and so on...........

Love the geometrical shape to the cup handle

And the hexagonal plate shape is fab

 

it can then spark off other words/ideas from these!

I love bright colours so Cliff has often come into my mind just because of the colours she used in her designs.

The Art Deco period had very geometric lines, I have some Art Deco Lamps for you below the bottom left lamp is so typical of Art Deco.

Here is some Art Nouveau jewellery, this era is very recognisable for its lovely curvy style, flowers and clean lines.

 

Here you will see some jewellery by Murrle Bennett ~ gorgeous!

 

Sorry it was scanned on the skew

 

  

And this is an ornate buckle by Liberty

 

©These pages were taken from a book of Vintage jewellery of the 20^th Century but I can’t remember its actual name



'Charles Rennie Macintosh' is another favourite of mine I love his stylised rose designs and when I started to make stained glass he was a very big influence.

 

3. Things around you that just jump out and grab you because you ~ like it!!

Everyday things in the street, in the park, driving along and what passes you on your travels and even things around your home or maybe something your children may be doing at school, history project, art project, even what they made in cookery class!! Who knows when inspiration can strike!

Historial ~ Cleopatra and her Asp - inspired by arm cuffs worn by the Ancient Egyptians

4. Finally Nature, this is a very popular inspirational tool with many facets from seasons ~ colours to plant life ~ trees, leaves, flowers, etc., ocean/marine life ~ shells, fish to all sorts of organic shapes like rocks and mountain ranges, shapes, textures, smells, the list again goes on and on!! I just love to use this one and most people love these themes too.

colours a superb

 

I Love Trees

 

 

 

great textures

 

steampunk influence in what seems a tree/root structure

  

My Autumn Sunshine set was inspired by the colours of the season

So what it really boils down to is ~~ don’t give up, don't be afraid to experiment, find inspiration from anywhere and everywhere, believe in yourself and do some research, do some doodling and go do some footwork then ……

 

THINK ~  What’s next!    NOT ~  I don't know what to do!!!



I hope it has been of little help if your mojo has gone walkabout, the up and coming season is a busy time of year when you really don't want it to wander off!!!!!

 

Have Fun!!

 

 

E x  ♥

 

NB: Some of the photos are my own work, some are of other designers work or sourced from books.

 

Next time I will be covering:    Part 2  ~~  Interpretation

New Glassy Goodies

OOOO look at me 2 posts inside a week!!!

But I was itching to show you my new goodies, I've been looking to have a go at them for weeks now and finally got going! 

Here they are

Yes they are glass headpins for all you jewellery makers out there!!

The main problem was how to successfully make them without burning me!  So the first go was with the red berries/rosehips and the red heart, I thought I would try tapeing them to a bead mandrel with some duck tape.  It did work but was very messy and sticky.

So then I decided to try a different idea and thought why dont I just wire them onto a mandrel and that worked a treat, it was good as I could spin them just like making a bead and didnt burn my fingers which was great!!

The bluedrops I also added some frit and then pulled them into a lovely pointy drop shape which I think are so pretty.  So I will definitely be making more.  These aren't annealled yet as I decided to batch anneal them, then I hope what will happen is the copper wires will darken as they will get annealled as well.  I will need to hammer them to harden them but they will look antiqued, these then could be used as earrings by using the wire as the earring hook all in one piece.

I will show you how that goes once I have annealled them so you can see what I mean!!




I have lots on this week as its my daughter Billie's School Prom on friday and still haven't made her tiara yet along with some bobby pins for her hair.  And I am writing the next tutorial for Bead magazine as well ~~~ what am I doing now ~~ well writing this of course!!!!!


So better fly and get cracking with the tiara ~~~  like now!!!!!


Right bye for now

E x

Busy Creating!

I cant believe how bad I have been,  I did promise to be good and up date more often but since I have had my new phone I have been whizzing around on that and neglecting everything I need to do here!!

So what have I been doing, well, I've been busy doing ~~~  various different things, like:

Pinterest ~ yes set up a new account  ChatElaine Wire and Fire

loving the storage of all sorts of fab photos around the net!

Come visit me there I have a new tab in my side bar too so you can visit me anytime you like

Flickr ~  ChatElaine Wire and Fire  ~~ I set up a new account just before christmas but never did too much to get it going ~~  I have been whizzing around finding contacts from my previous account (faerie wishes) I have shut my old one down but probably will only put more family orientated photos on there from now on.


Etsy ~  well you know I have two Etsy stores, I have been listing new jewellery and new beads too with more to come soon.

This one is in my jewellery shop ChatElaine Creations

I have new cabs and buttons in my bead shop ChatElaineGlassArt along with seascape beads and still more to come too.

 

 

 

 

 

I have been trying out shank type buttons too and here are my Hugs and Kisses set along with my toadstool as well.



 



 

 

 

 

I need to make more, more, more!!!! 

But life at home is very hectic at the moment and I just don't have enough hours in the day to get what I want done.  I have started doing my other job as swim club assistant along with running around sorting things for Billie as her exams are getting close, her prom too and we need to finish finding her outfit and Comic Con too with her costume still to create!!  We are making headway but all I seem to be doing is shopping, shopping and more shoppppingggggggggg!!  I'm exhausted!!!


More posts still to write so will try and get them done ASAP!!

See you again very soon!!

 

E x

Happy New Year for 2013

I never got to wishing everyone a Merry Christmas so thought I would make up for it by wishing you a very


HAPPY NEW YEAR for 2013


I have been thinking about the new year and what it may hold and I really hope it will be an improvement on this year ~ especially healthwise for me.  So I have been deciding on what things I want to do in the coming year!

I like to make lists ~ this helps me to remember to begin with, as well as having all my thoughts/ideas in one place to look back at.

Right were to begin???


1.  ART ~  I have been involved with helping my daughter in her Art projects for her GCSE's this year and it has made me a little envious and so I really want to get back to my paint brushes and get my canvases out (which are just sitting there doing nothing other than getting in the way) so why not get some paint on them and get them up on the wall.  Could use some collage images and some abstract art on them as well as maybe some of my daughters art here and there too, sort of a family collage painting, something along those lines anyway!

2.  STAINED GLASS ~ yes this is something I learnt a long time ago but havent done any making for a number of years!! The thing is I have a few areas in the house that need windows for that have been earmarked for stained glass.  Partly due to the fact I am unsure what designs to use for these areas along with the fact my workshop now is set up for beadmaking so my bench isnt fit for stained glass making.  I am unsure if I will be able to get this project underway this year but it goes onto the list, hoping I will get it done! 

3.  JEWELLERY ~  mainly tutorials, for the magazines and for here on my blog. I will just do those as I go along, making decisions on what as they come up.  I already have some in the pipeline anyway.  I do want to get more wirework pieces into my etsy store and am thinking about brooches/scarf rings, maybe finger /thumb rings and even some earrings too. 

4.  BEADS ~ now then this is a big issue!!  I have so many techniques to learn and also revisit to perfect the techniques also I want to come up with some new designs as well. 

Buttons (more, more and lots more!!)

Cabochons (love these, got some new ideas for cabs too)

Sets Designs ~ sockys,  focals as well as the sparkle beads (transparent small beads) too
 

 

 

 

spatter  

 

 

mayhem series

Jelly Roses, to name just a few

 

 

Focal Designs ~ Dynasty series,

Seascapes (like the cabs as well)

My Chatelle beads (Big Holes) get my new bead roller christened, this has different bead shapes.

Techniques I would like to try are  ~ the Chaos designs

~~  more DH silver glasses ~~ results arent always as good so need to get my technique more controlled!

Also need to get a better flame control this in turn will improve my designs as I cant always achieve the end result I want.   Just got out of practice I guess along with confidence too.

So need to be more positive and get cracking again!!!  Yep!!  Fire up my little Cricket!!


Roll on 2013!

80))


E x