Lampworking with friends

I have just had the pleasure of spending the weekend with my lovely friend Felicity of Vine Creations in Werribee where we participated in a beginners lampwork class with Pauline Delaney.

Thi picture above is a little bit " Arty" I know. I had to leave my babies behind to be annealed and I took a quick photo of a selection of the beads I made. There were lots more than this so stay tuned in the weeks to come for the rest of them :)

It was FANTASTIC!!!! I learnt so much from the 2 days that there will be no stopping me now!!

Some pics of Pauline demonstrating.

2009 Hawkesbury Show

At the very last minute I decided to enter a piece into the Hawkesbury show this year - perhaps I didn't feel quite busy enough!

Anyway, imagine my delight this morning to find that I had received "Highly Recommended"!!!

Here is the piece I entered.

It is a Beaded cabochon strung using chain maille sections, threaded charms and woven threading.

Items for Winmallee Artfest 2009 - May 1,2 &3

I have started the making frenzy that will become my display at Artfest this year. I have been wrapping cabs and stones. The labradorite is from a lady at the markets yesterday and is an amazing stone.

This is a pic of the back of my pendants to show you how they are held in.And some more button bracelets to add to the growing range.

I am hoping to sell EVERYHING!!!! Wish me luck LOL.

Woven wire bracelet

I have been meaning to attempt this project for ages. Since I have plenty of more important things to procrastinate over, I became inspired by Joyce's beautiful bracelet on the beading forum.

Out came the book I got from Chanel and the 22 guage wire I was also given by Chanel (who, by the way, has a profile in the current issue of Beads etc...) and this is the result. I am really pleased and think it will be a keeper.

Care Bracelets

I have nearly 200 care bracelets for the Victorian fire victims ready to send off. Sophie, Maria and I wrapped them in clear bags while Pauline helped me make tags and tag the bags.

A special thankyou to the ladies of Craftworks and especially Angelica who managed to make 100 gorgeous bracelets while whe was laid up in hospital with a nasty broken leg!!!

Another special thankyou to the Dimmock and Lee-Griswald families of Hazelbrook public school for their generous donations as well as the other families from school who donated. Thankyou all for your help.

Thankyou Clarinda, Yvonne, Bernice, Sophie, Robyn, Kerry.. all the ladies in my beading class, Jo and her group of ladies for their efforts too.

I am happy to keep collecting these through to the end of April but this little lot will go off tomorrow to Bead on Kelly Street.

Again to those I have forgotten to name but certainly ALL of you that gave so kindly of your heart. THANKYOU.

And the winner is......

One World One Heart.

The winner of my button bracelet draw is comment number 6!

Congratulations to Letha. I have sent Letha a message and once you have replied with your contact details, I will be sending you your beautiful new bracelet!!!!

Thankyou so much to everyone for entering my draw and for such wonderful comments... and thankyou to those the commented on my other work and also became followers of my blog. You are all so lovely.

Unfortunately due to the bushfires we had here, I got very busy on some other projects (as explained in a previous post) so i didnt get the chance to go through and enter all the other fabulous prize draws that were part of this project. It is my mission though, to still go through all of your blogs and see your wonderful art :)

Care Bracelets for Bushfire survivors

I am totally behind this initiative of the lovely ladies at Beads on Kelly Street.

If you are able to make and donate a 3 round memory wire bracelet, you can send it to either BOK or you can send them to me and I will pass them on. I am going to get this idea going at Craftworks so I will have a parcel or 2 (or50) to send on anyway.

I know all you avid beaders out there have memory wire and you have spare beads, lets get making for these women that have lost everything. We know as women that pretty things for ourselves will always come after you have taken care of your loved ones. These ladies and girls will be rebuilding their lives and families needs before replacing jewellery for themselves. Let help give them a little smile.

" We want as many Beaders to start making Care Bracelets for the hundreds of women who have lost everything - we all have heaps of beads and memory wire - just make 3 turn bracelets - everyone can make these - there are easy and each one turns out differently. Mail them into BOKS we will wrap them, we will add a little card from who made it. When we have heaps we will forward them on to the affected areas. (We have spoken to our customers in the area and I am sure they will help with handing them out and if there is any ladies who live in the area who are on this forum please contact us). Lets make some pretties for these poor women. "

One World ~ One Heart Give Away!

One World ~ One Heart

I have joined the wonderful give away event run by Lisa Swifka, A Whimsical Bohemian, the creator and host of One World-ONE Heart. Please click on the logo above to find out everything you need to know about this fabulous initiative! AND to see all the other bloggers that are participating in the project.

Nellie's Giveaway

I have decided my giveaway will be this fabulous button bracelet.

Let me know you would like to be in the draw by leaving your comment on this post with a valid way to contact you.

This bracelet is an original creation of mine with gold plated rings and olive green coloured buttons.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The idea is to bring together many bloggers all over the world and to share in the spirit of giving but most importantly giving us all a chance to "meet" other people that we may not have otherwise met.

The bloggers involved have a giveaway on their blog and to enter all anyone needs to do is place a comment on this post expressing their desire to go into the draw for this wonderful item. You must also leave contact details such as your email, or a link back to you to enable us to get in contact with you should you be the lucky winner!

Bloggers have until midnight February 3 (PST time~USA) to enter their give-aways and visitors have until 10pm February 11 (PST time~USA) to enter the give-aways in the comments section of the participating blog entries. Anyone is eligible to enter.

The winners will be announced on Feb 12 and will be contacted by the blog owners.

At last, an "interesting" bead

Yaaaay, I LOVE this bead!

A watch for ME!

I have not had a new watch in a long time. bought a couple of cheapies and have also been known to wear my daughters barbie watch.

It is my birthday in a couple of weeks and DH asked what I wanted. I was about to say a really nice watch.... then DOH.... lightbulb moment! I could make me one of those!!!

Ordinarily I hate making watches.. clasps are an issue, getting the weight balance right, the sizing... such a pain in the patootie really. But this one has worked out quite nicely.I dont know who's lovely lampies they are. I got them in a heap of beads I got from desi about 18 months ago but I dont think she made them.... maybe she did? If anyone recognises them I would love to know anyhoos, they are beautiful and I have been saving them for something to make for myself all this time.

Sorry the photo is a bit bright. I was trying to bring out the colours in the lampies. They are purple, navy, lavender and iris gold ish. The swaros are amythest and light saphire and the pearls are bronze. I have used boho gold findings mixed with copper which seemed to work really well.

A Bridal piece

This is a bridal version of my charming necklace design. I think I will make a few bridal variations.... so if you know someone getting married :)

This charming necklace design is going to dominate my creative life over the next couple of months. Stay tuned to find out why!......

Beadiful beading classes with Nepean Community College

Below are details of classes I will be teaching this term. If you know anyone that might be interested please send them the link to my blog or to the Nepean Community College site.

This course is a basic beading course and covers most basic techniques you will need to create your own gorgeous jewellery and gifts.

Topics Covered include:
Different types of bead and make a bracelet focusing on threading
Earring design focusing on loops and bits and pieces
Focusing on stringing techniques make a necklace
Manipulate wire to make a wire wrapped bangle
Focusing on wrapped loops to make charms
Learn about crimping and finishing techniques and make a 3 strand illusion bracelet
Learn about wire gauges and make a mosaic pendant
Make your own project


Beaded Jewellery
Katoomba Centre
Tuesday
10/2/2009
Morning
8 weeks
22BEAM109

Beaded Jewellery
Springwood High School
Monday
9/2/2009
Evening
8 weeks
11BEAE109

Beaded Jewellery Introduction Workshop
Penrith Showground Pavilion Weekend
Saturday
21/2/2009
Weekend
1 day
96BEAW109

Wired Pendants

Some Border Wrapped Cabachons. I can wrap anything now!!!..... where are those shank buttons???? LOL.

More and more button pieces

Some more button jewellery. This first one was for Soph's birthday. The rest are button bracelets for this years market stock.

Another cuff - A secret santa gift.

Well it must have frozen over again cause I made another cuff :)

This one went to Enjii in WA.

About time I posted some Beads!

I have put the pictures in with my setup at the bottom and each lot of beads in order that they were made. This gorgeous red one is my latest. It is a "striking" orange colour over a white core. I am sure I have clouded the translucence with my loading, but hey... it looks good!

I know there are some that I have cooked the colours in, but overall I am very proud of my shapes. Now I need to get them larger and decorated... eventually I am sure LOL.

Items in my Etsy Store

Exciting News

Ok, where do I start. I have been offered the chance to have a luxury gift, something I have always wanted but would not ordinarily buy because of all those other practical things in life.

Well, I have made my decision and I have now ordered my own LAMPWORKING kit.

For those of you who don't know, lampworking is a form art using a flame to shape glass. I will be making my own Artisan lampworked beads!!! Ohhhh I am an Artisan!!!!!

I will post pictures and information on my progress for you to share my excitement with me (if you aren't as excited as I am..... you can pretend :) )

Workshops

I have now completed a series of workshops at the neighbourhood centre. Sure it was a paid gig, but it was the most rewarding experience I have had teaching jewellery making so far.

We had a huge group sometimes up to 20 ladies. They were a juggle as they all tended to arrive at different times but we managed. We created a few basic projects and some of them were quick at completing everything and some of them were very hard to encourage. In the end though I hope they all walked out proud of themselves and with some lovely new pieces of jewellery that the made THEMSELVES! I was very proud of them all, I know that much.

It was 3 x 2hr sessions over 3 weeks. Week 1 we made memory wire bracelets and drop earrings. Week 2 we made a strung necklace and tigertail earrings. Week 3 we made a foil bead choker and a book thong ~ and many many simple christmas decorations.

These ladies all inspired me to persue the teaching aspect of my craft and I just hope in a little way that I inspired them all into becoming little beadie monsters muahahahahahaha!!!!

So everyone, I am a tutor for hire :)

A knitted necklace

This necklace was made on a french knitter (a knitting nancy). It looks amazing in the reds. It has gone to a new home today. Enjoy Judy :)