52 things challenge

I've decided I need to get actively making again now my family seems to be well on the mend.

So I have decided to join in with the '52 Things' Challenge on the Craft Pimp forum.  

I will need to make something new each week and then show it on the forum -- whether its new beads, new jewellery or something completely new for me to try out. 

I have a number of new ideas of things I want to have a go at, I have just got some new materials to play with!  Also maybe doing some art painting which I haven't even attempted for years or just sketching in my sketchbook. There's quite a few to be getting on with ..

But firstly....

Torch needs to be fired up ....... working on that one --  sorted chair out so I can actually sit down!! (It had a pile of new glass sitting on it, now in a newly emptied drawer!!)

Then there is my new tools and some new equipment to experiment with, those I will show you along the way!

I also have some new books I received for christmas, so hoping to experiment with new techniques too.

I have to admit I really need to tidy up and move things around in my workshop as it needs a complete overhaul for it to work better for me. As, right now, it is very -- OVERCROWDED!!

Its driving me POTTY!!!!!!!  :-/


Now here is my first weeks' challenge make

 

Cracked Ice Copper Earrings

My cracked ice beads with copper findings and beads (my favourite I LOVE copper)
I know its late but we do have a little leeway for the first week.

So this weeks make (#2) will follow when I finish it ....  so will be back again soon with that.

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

Christmas is getting close!!

I have struggled so much this year trying to get ready for the arrival of Christmas!!  I can't believe I still haven't purchased any gifts other than my husband/daughter's present of a (joint) laptop.

Billie needs it for her school work so she can use it up in her bedroom for revision of her GCSE exams.  She got her Mock results last week and they were pretty good - some better than expected.  Her dragon for her Art & Design mock sadly broke in the kiln (previews in a previous post), she has glued it back together, hopefully with a good paint job it shouldn't be to bad!!  She then has her science resits in January, she got B's in 3 of them so we decided why not give them another go to see if she can get A's in those as well, she was only 2 marks off the chemistry one!!!  She can't lose as she keeps her best grade either way!! 

She will also resit her English language module which the school has agreed to put everyone back into resit it because of all the wooha over the government changes they made mid-year!! She got a D and her target grade was a C she was pretty devastated by that!!!  

So now we are trying to work out what she wants to do for the future, its so difficult making these decisions now, she is still 15 and trying to decide on her future.  She wants to carry on into the 6th Form and do A levels. She is suppose to pick 4 only, so wittling down from 11 has been very mind-blowing!!   I think we're nearly there now!!  Phew!!

Mick needs the laptop to download his music collection (records) when we had to wipe the system on the main computer I didnt know he hadn't saved anything onto disk/memory stick so he lost everything he'd done already!!  He was gutted!! So they are both sharing the laptop, I will need to get him an external hard drive I think to save everything onto so he won't lose it all again!!


So hence Christmas has taken a bit of a back seat, I just cant seem to get interested in it at all. My biggest problem is the fact my oven is cremating everything I put in it!! 80((  Yes its about 23 years old and has seen better days, the thermostat has gone and my hubbie says the parts are now obselete so that means I need to get a new one.  I dont want to get a new one, they don't make them like they used to (mine is a split level one) my kitchen is only half complete and I just didnt want to buy one right now, so what to do?????  January Sales I think cheap and hopefully cheerful!!!   So not much chance of getting a christmas pressie this year! 80((


Its my birthday again in January, only this is a biggy!! 

Yep 50!!

Oh gosh!!  I feel ancient, at 40 I seemed to change over night but 50 I really dont know how thats going to go!  I know one thing I really want to do something a bit different, special ~


a flying lesson!





            No not a glider a real plane!! 





Checked it out and I have found a company on the web

http://www.intotheblue.co.uk/flying-experiences/fly/flying-lessons/panshangeraerodrome/

this is at Panshanger in Hertfordshire so not too far!! I am quite excited about the experience but I will wait until the spring for better weather.  I am still trying to work out what to do on my birthday, I am thinking of doing an Afternoon Tea type gathering, I'm working on that one!!  Will update you when I have decided.



Thats it for now, nothing new to show you jewellery/beads wise, I am working on tutorials for Bead Magazine right now so got to keep that under my hat. 

One thing though I can hear my paint brushes calling me from my workshop, I might just have to go answer that call, must be all the art stuff Billie is doing at school, she keeps raiding my art and craft supplies and its making me think ~ I do miss it!  I need to get those canvases out which seem to be cluttering up my space!  Mmmmmmm problem with that though is I love doing life drawing, I might need to go join an evening art class!!

Maybe I'm having another mid-life crisis at 50!!!  Ha ha ha!!

Catch you next time!!

E x