Shop Stock

Hi Everyone
Another week gone ! The end of the week always arrives too quickly for me. I'm almost on target for my jobs this week. I have a batch of earrings ready for a local gallery and another for my online shops. I just need to photograph and deliver my stuff today. Here is a quick look at part of the batch.






My favourite from the batch is this one :






I may have to keep it for myself !
Ive decided I need to add a little 'handle' for the earring cards and will slot a tag onto the handle for the price tag/ sales code.
I have a run day today too, so will take advantage of some thinking time while I'm out. I find myself looking forward to a focused half hour. I'm going to organise some new design ideas in my head. I must have about 20 new ideas to decide on. My run time is great for this job. The quality of my items is important and I need to 'engineer' designs to help with finishing times. If I prepare beads correctly the quality improves hugely. I also need to find some new texture ideas - I'm considering going to the beach this weekend to find some items which can help.

I need to keep going with my metal skills too. I've not been practicing this week. Perhaps I can make something this weekend. I'd like to make a long link chain with a metal pendant. I'm inspired by this necklace by Amy Tavern.





I want to wear my 'necklace to be' so will tone it down a little ie design wise to be practical for everyday wear. I like the metal bows and particularly the long links chain. I'm not over skilled (yet) with metal so who knows how it will turn out.

Have a great weekend. Thanks for reading.

Keep polishing and others things

Hi Everyone
I almost completed my very short work list yesterday (minor miracle) ! I do have some extra polishing to complete today and a few small adaptations to a couple of the designs and I need to deliver some stock on Friday so will work hard to finish today ( the pressure is on). I worked in the sunshine most of the day yesterday and I did relax into my work - great. The sun definitely helped me through my day. It's a bit dull today.

Most days I come up with new designs for beads. It's completely taken over my daily thought processes and planning. I'm so busy most of the time but thinking of new designs is embedded, my solution to hang on to the idea (when it arrives) is to make a mini sketch of the idea. I have many pages of designs.
Here is an example and another few ideas I'm working on :



In addition, Ive found these lovely earrings, I especially like the colour contrast as well as the organic shape. I have an idea how I could make something similar. These are clay so much easier. Thank you to menemu - great inspiration.


I need an assistant to make up some prototypes !!! - any volunteers ? - no chance of course !

Thanks for reading.

Demands of the brain !

Hi Everyone
Today, I'm hoping to finish my latest batch of mini (button) earrings. Ive added a few more colours and will have even more to add to the batch but I'm waiting for a delivery of earring posts. I was going to make posts from sterling silver wire but this takes such a long time to get a quality shape with strength that I will buy them in for this large batch. I have orders for about 60 pairs ! - scary.
Here are the new colours after their initial bake. I need to paint them and rebake before polishing. I enjoyed making them yesterday. Somehow, it's a relaxing experience when I know what I'm doing.


I do love experimenting but sometimes there is a reassurance about knowing what the end result needs to be. The finishing does take time but I don't need to think too much (in a creative way) so it's not so 'brain demanding', hence relaxing.

Other news - I have been talking about making some little boxes for jewellery and I have a some paper versions which need decorating I'm going to think about what I can do today. The boxes are great as they are .... but I like the idea of adding a bit of art somehow. I will ponder this as I work. Here are the little undressed boxes at the moment :



I don't want to overdo things, just a little, subtle something. The sun is shining right now and it's such an inspiring view from my window - perhaps, I can produce something good today !

Thanks for reading.

My 'arty' life !

Hi Everyone
Not too much to share today. I did a Make Art Monday effort - I wasn't hugely happy with it this week. I got a bit bogged down in colours and detailed ideas. I did like the stones in the centre of the piece and will use them again. The idea of the painting is to represent my run this morning along by the river in Morpeth. The stones are my steps and the patterns either side represent the colours and shapes along the route. The colours came from my thoughts on the run and the lines from the visual journey along the actual path. Here is a look.



I need to add a splash of something on the right to lift it ? Although, I can see there are improvements to be made, the core idea is OK. My 'joy' is in the feelings generated by the shapes and colours of the experience. It is a bit of a blur and the features do merge (when running). My representative line of buildings is a constant reference on the left. I like the imagery - it does reflect my experience.

On other 'art' matters, I also added a little something to the stitched project and it's almost there. I will keep it simple and get it in the post to my swap partner in Portugal.




I plan to write a message to my swap partner on the back.


I also have a few metal earring ideas in the planning stage. I will base my designs on round silver, flattened balls and some clay flat beads. I would like to produce something like this :






Not sure how they will turn out but I will work on a few versions this week. You can see more about these actual items and more on my Pinterest board - metal jewellery. There's a link on this blog.

Thanks for reading.

Button Earrings and other things

Hi Everyone
Not sure I remember too much about the weekend ? - we have had very limited family time this weekend. Lots of running around. I feel I need a few days holiday to recover.

As it's Monday, I have another prompt for the Make Art Monday project - this week it's JOY. There is almost a Christmas theme (for me) to the words used with this project. Last week we had Celebrate. I feel rather challenged by the JOY word, outside Christmas ideas. However, I will keep thinking. My initial plan is to make a painted piece on two small handmade papers. I will split the pieces for presentation. My colour choice is ? - again, I'm drawn towards Christmas colours. I think I need to think about my version of the word 'joy' and use a personal replacement. New ideas will then be possible ? Will post my response tomorrow.

My other 'arty' thing is a response to the current stitched postcard card project. I tend to enter this initiative every year - Ive done at least three. If you are interested - here are the details.
I have more time to complete but I'm keen to finish it today. This is the front of my card so far :



I want to add some words and I have an idea for some images. My swap partner is in Portugal is time.

My other news is a quick preview of the new 'button' earrings I started last week. They have their little cards colour coded to the clay colours and I'm quite pleased with how they look.













I will keep going with this job this week. I'm going to turn the button earrings into a class so will work on that too.

Thanks for reading. Bye for today.