Sunday, March 20, 2011

Mothers Day is coming up soon!

With this in mind I have trawled through the studios of the Handmade in Europe Guild and come up with some eminently suitable gifts for your Mama!

Blue note book from Ignis Fatuus
This little blue note book with a heart motif from the studio of Ignis Fatuus would certainly please a Mum or two!










Mothers Day card from Butterfly Crafts
Of course, you'll need a pretty card and this one from Butterfly Crafts fits the bill perfectly!










A beautiful bracelet from gr8jewellery

If your Mother is into jewellery, this pretty bracelet in gr8jewellery's Artfire studio should be sure to please her!







Hot water bottle cover from Noton
If her feet get cold at night, she'll really appreciate this lovely knitted hot water bottle cover from Noton by Raquel!








A garden for you wall from GreenWallNL
If she's got green fingers but not much garden, this could be ideal! It's a wall mounted planter from GreenWallNL.








A shawl from MadelinesWardrobe
How about a delicious lime green shawl from MadelinesWardrobe? Gorgeous, eh?











These should keep you going for now! I'll be searching for some more to post here so keep a look out!

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

A Collection for Handmade in Europe

I love doing these collection thingies! I pick a theme, go through the guild roster and choose the goodies, arrange them artistically and then press the button! Easy, peasy! This one has an animal theme -

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Bluetina has a new workshop!

My work space had become a bit messy, to say the least. I mentioned this fact to my dear husband a few days ago and now I have a new workshop! My husband is not a bit like me - he actually gets things done!

This was the space I had to work in - not very big, eh?







Everything was spread around the room which is also our spare bedroom








resulting in lots of messy corners








and too much getting up and down and walking. Mind you, that was probably the only exercise I got!







We hopped in the car on Friday, went down to the local wood shop and bought a length of kitchen work top and the bits needed to fit same.  Came home, had just one cup of coffee and then Bryn set to!

First we cleared the room and moved my desks.








And, what seemed like moments later, the work top had been fitted on top of two pieces of furniture that were already in the room but not efficiently used.






Now, this is MUCH better! Everything I need within reach and plenty of light coming through that window.







All my beads and findings in their little drawers, close to hand!








This desk is now my photography and packing station with my stock box sitting on top.







And this is my computer set up.








And, last but not least, the piece de resistance - the new tool racks my dear hubby made to help keep me organized!







Bluetina is a very happy bunny!

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!