Monday, February 28, 2011

A little plug for JCUIN!

As part of my obligations to the Artfire Guild, Jewelry Creators Unite in Numbers, I'm supposed to do a blog post every month to showcase some of the members' wares. As it's now the last day of February, I thought I'd better get on with it!  Leaving things until the last minute is just one of my many talents - and here are another talented bunch!  I went through the list and picked some pieces from people whose methods of creation I aspire to.  Then I put one of mine on the end so you could see the difference!

First up is Sheila Wissner of JewelryArte.  Sheila makes gorgeous silver and enamelled earrings and pendants with the look of stained glass BUT she also makes these lovely, unusual copper bracelets. I would love to learn this technique!

Copper bracelet with dark patina roll printed

Next up is Spiral from the Philippines.  Her wire work is exquisite! Not sure I've got the patience to make something like this yet.
Wire wrapped weave necklace with seed beads

Andrea of ANZJewelryDesign makes these beautiful engraved silver pieces. Definitely beyond me - I probably haven't enough years left to learn this!

Rami Ovali Pendant 

The proprietor (sorry, I don't know her name!) of ArtisticPendants seems to have a steady hand and an eye for detail. Look at this for complicated! Wow!
Enchanted Green Pendant

And here we have the wonderful Gaelic Forge!  Mr. Gaelic Forge makes the jewellery and Mrs. Gaelic Forge runs the shop. Teamwork! This is next on my "to learn" list!
Hand Forged Celtic Earrings with Teal Patina
The nearest I've got to rival any of the above is this:

Black Onyx and Oxidized Copper Necklace and Earrings Set

I have taken quite well to coiling and hammering. Also now into oxidizing! What shall I learn next? Time management, perhaps?












Sunday, February 27, 2011

Let's talk about the weather...

Yesterday was gorgeous. Sunny, 25 degrees, light winds - lovely! Today is a different story. Very cloudy, cold north wind and trying very hard to rain! Just popping over to a neighbour's house for a barbecue - I think we'll be eating indoors!

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Leading a double life...

I'm sitting here, at my Mum's dining table, with the TV going in one corner, the tumble dryer going in the kitchen behind me, trying to concentrate enough to write this blog post.

It's not easy – my brain doesn't quite know where it is yet, even though I've been here in the UK for five days. I'm typing on an unfamiliar laptop with a deadline because Mum's hairdresser will be arriving soon and they'll need the table.

Later, much, MUCH later.....

I started this blog post nearly three weeks ago. I am now at home, in Spain, typing away contentedly on my own computer. The only noises are the tapping of my fingers on the keyboard, the buzzing of early bees outside the window and the odd “clang” from Bryn's workshop.

It is a beautiful day – lots of sunshine and a temperature of 25 degrees C. Not bad for February! Back in the UK it was bloody freezing until the day I flew home!

I go backwards and forwards between Spain and the UK quite a lot. Three weeks there, six or seven weeks here, three weeks there, four or five weeks here, three weeks there and so on and so on.....

It does play havoc with one's life. Mum bought me a laptop so I could stay in the loop. Each time I visit I have every good intention of writing blog posts, rewriting the jewellery descriptions in my Bluetina studio, keeping up with my Facebook page, etc. but this almost never happens. I even take some tools, wire and beads with me so I can make something. This time, I took the boxes out of my suitcase, put them in the cupboard under the stairs and they were still there, untouched, when I packed again last Thursday.

I did see quite a bit of the grandchildren - I even went to stay with them for one weekend! That was great - I got to read the bedtime story and have lots of cuddles! The rest of the three weeks was spent organising things for my Mum and finding all the things on Bryn's UK shopping list. I swear it gets longer every time! I didn't see half the people I wanted to catch up with and, as you may have noticed, I certainly didn't manage any blogging!

Now I'm home, I have about six weeks to calm down, find out where my head is, stop trying to turn taps on the wrong way and get back into the “making zone”. I know just what will happen. I will have built up a good head of steam and have loads of ideas bubbling up when it will be time to put it all away, pack my bags and do the whole thing over again. Sigh.....

As I didn't manage to make anything, I have no new photos to post here and a blog post does not seem quite complete without a picture or two. You can look at my grandchildren instead!
Thomas and Alex playing the Wii (no batteries for Alex!)

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Off to the UK Today!

I'm heading back to the UK tonight to see my family. I'm feeling a bit torn - part of me wants to go and see the grandchildren and the other part wants to stay home and make lots of jewellery! I shall be taking some tools and wire with me so I don't get withdrawal symptoms!

I shall be blogging from Leigh on Sea for the next three weeks!