The Craft Barn Blog Candy

Have you seen this?  It's one heck of a prize to celebrate their 600th follower!

Just click the link in my sidebar - it will take  you right there!

What can you do on a cold, miserable, drizzley day?

Well I decided to finish off the bracelet I started yesterday so popped out to buy some clasps.

 

The bigger beads came from my old button tin which I rediscovered Thursday.

They didn't look much in amongst the buttons and junk - but I like how they look now!

 The colours change all around each bead and really catch the light.

I am trying to incorporate something of Kath's in everything I make.

There were some small head pins so I used those on the smaller of the beads to attach them to the chain.

 

I sorted everything out - and there are a collection of little beads.

 I have used some from the little packet right in the middle, a mixture of tiny blue beads.

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There's one either side of the magnetic clip at the top of the necklace chain, and ones either end of each of the beads which have a lovely metallic sheen to the glass and really make the 'button tin'  beads shine out!  (Although you can't see their beauty in these photos - poor light)

 

The earring hooks have all come from Kath's stash. You can see the little glass beads top and bottom.  They are the same colour in real life - but depending on how the light shines on them - they change colour.

I am getting so much neater using the header pins, making a ring loop and attaching them to the chains and earrings.  And also at making double ended loops and rings to attach the beads and clasps to the bracelets and necklace.

When I scrutinised the ones I have made in my two lessons - they now look very amateur - ish, so I am debating whether to take them apart - or wear them with pride as my first efforts.  

(The bits that look like a beginners efforts, are the wire wound loops - which don't show when the jewellery is being worn, unless  you absolutely scrutinise it!  So I think I will keep them as a reminder of where I started!)

Have you made jewellery?  Do you still?  If you have any links to your blogs with you projects on I'd love to see them.

 I am finding it a really calming and relaxing process - do you?

Jewellery Lesson No.2.

Well it wasn't a one to one lesson this time - so I struggled somewhat, and the technique took longer, but I did make a necklace and a bracelet.

 

So this is the bracelet - the big bead is central - I've just photographed it wonky.

The beads have a metallic finish except for the crystal ones.

 I used three beads to make the third charm from each end.

 

This is the charm style pendant.  

The tutor chooses the style and we get to choose the beads.

This weeks lesson concentrated on wirework - making loops etc.

Which we really stuggled with - but practice makes perfect and all that!

 

I have put beads either side of the clasp fastening, as I always struggle trying to find it when I try to do it up at the back.  There are a couple of glass beads with oriental calligraphy on them which are sweet.

This afternoon, I whizzed up the shop to buy some beads to make some earrings to match my bracelet.

More fiddley wire work - but I am finding it easier now.

 

Here is the bead board that Kath was using, when I visited her, and her red tweezers.

I am glad that I really concentrated when she was explaining things.

 

Here is a bracelet I am working on - I bought the chain, but forgot to buy the clasps, so back I'll go tomorrow to get some.

If you do jewellery making and don't have one of these boards they are great.  They are moulded plastic, and the top is suede like, so that prevents things slipping.  When you cut the wire - which you have to do a lot, instead of the bits of wire flying off sliding across with table, it hits the board and stays there.

The moulded sections are used for your beads and findings etc, and the measurements make it so easy to centre what you are doing - my bracelet looks askew as I laid it down when I had added the beads, but when making it, I could lay the beads out evenly where the markers are, and jiggle them about to get the design I like best.

   I spent a few happy blissful hours this afternoon, using Kath's board and tweezers and the earring findings are hers too.

And guess what - I found it so easy and never messed up anything!

Craft Room Treasure Hunt

There is a treasure hunt over at the Craft Room and also fortnightly challenges.   It's a great place to shop too - go have a look

Flower Arranging

Well I was in for a bit of a surprise at our monthly flower arranging workshop.  It was a nice distraction working there - you can just concentrate on what you are doing and your brain switches off to everything else.

I was given a large and a small foam ball and some foliage.

What would you do with those?

 

With some pins from my tool box, I used Laurel leaves back to front because I loved the underside best

And layered them around and around  overlapping them as they would in nature - I liked the effect.

My tutor said that it looks like an artichoke - that was a compliment by the way!

 

The smaller one - using the same laurel leaves but the right way around and randomly.

 With the addition of some flowering foliage

 

A bit of conifer from behind the hall

 

A couple of red baubles (not my idea)

 

Some wild ivy with berry heads

 

Popped in  here and there

 

Finished off with some sweet smelling pinks and 7 roses in bud

Finished!

Sorry about the photos - it was too dark to that them indoors and so I had to try and take some in the garden room with a glass roof and the arrangement on a glass table - not a good idea!

I know it's not art but this made me laugh, and made my husband jump!

I was just finishing posting on my blog when my husband shouted 'Oi' - something had landed with a thunk on top of the roof where he was sitting, and giving  him the beady eye!

 

Can you see who is tapping on the window?

It's none other than........

 

Zola Buddy Bantam - her namesake was a runner who always ran barefoot.

She obviously thought that it was time her and the others got fed.

The clocks have gone back - so the bantams queue up outside the door at 3.45pm now - which in their body clock is their usual feeding time of 4.45pm

Gozzie - who is a black Rosecomb bantam has the habit of sitting on the windowsill and tapping on the window to tell us that they want feeding.  She also does it when we are eating too!

 

This is a new trick for Zola!   I'll have to clip her wings again.

I called her down when I went out...

 

And she flew right across the lawn, almost to where their run is - in an attempt to get to the food first!

Cheeky thing.

From Trash to Treasure Art- Giveaway

Do you follow Lin Stevens blog?  I do, and she makes and transforms the most amazing things - wish she did online workshops on how to alter the things she has posted about today.

I couldn't believe my eyes when she announced that she is giving all the items on show to some lucky folks who enter her three year blog anniversary giveaway.    Why not go and have a drool at her lovely work - and enter her giveaway.  
 
Thanks for the chance to enter Lin  -  and good luck everyone