A new beginning !

Hi Everyone
We have an update on my ipad - who knows what could happen now with my blog ? I was hoping all the problems with crashing and uploading photos would be over and there would be a new beginning. But ...... not the case. However, life moves on and aim just going to keep going - with short posts.

Ive completed another batch of my 'button' collection.






More polishing needed. I use this stuff, it's great.


Next, I'm planning the 'glass' clay ideas and have made a Pinterest board to help me. Take a look - link button on this blog.
This is my favourite collection of inspiration ideas so far



I especially favour the 'hollow' bead.

Have a great weekend. Thanks for reading.

Display Job

Hi Everyone
I had another very trying day yesterday re the blog upload, as a result I'm going to keep things brief today with a short update of work progress.

Yesterday, I managed to finish another clay batch and make a display shelf for the 'button' collection as it's now known.
Here is a quick peek of the display hanger (rather than shelf) for the 'buttons'.



The display doesn't have any 'buttons' as such - it's for illustration purposes only - what you can see is the earring cards. The 'button' earrings are awaiting their display in the shop - a great little gallery in a village called Felton, Northumberland. If you are in the area go and visit - it's called Gallery 45.


I think the item presents the cards well and am going to make another for a second display. I like the wood colour and the contrast with the colours of the card design.

I have more new ideas for a glass-like clay collection next week. At the moment, I have a few sketches and that all but..... loads of ideas ! With the new 'glass' collection, I will have a total of six collections. I'm going to make a page on the blog (if I can get it to consistently work) to bring all the work together with some good photographs.

Thanks for reading.

Will the blog work ?

Hi Everyone
This is just a test re photo upload. This is one of the photo's I talked about yesterday. My collection do new metal earrings - unfinished as yet ! Perhaps today ?






Ive lost confidence in this blog app - I tried many times yesterday to sort the problem and wasted lots of creative time.
The other photo I wanted to share was this one



I was'nt over pleased about progress and worked on and off throughout the day on developing my almost hidden images. At the end of the day this is how it turned out.






More to go but it's getting there.

Thanks for reading (if you can !).

Tuesday is now Monday !

Hi Everyone
Another lovely morning of bright sunshine - wonderful start to my day !

I'm behind already ! - I think Mondays need to be organising days and that's that. Next week I will introduce this plan. So, today will start working with yesterday's plans.

I have a few metal series earrings underway. I now need a name for the collection - somehow once a name is created, the collection is 'born'. I like the idea of a group of items within a collection. I feel doing 'one off's' not very satisfying. The little group as they look need cleaning - I will start with this first. I'm sharing one of each style. Although they are similar hence the collection. Each has been designed to be subtlety different.


There should be a photo here but blogspot will not upload !



I will keep the design shape and produce a few charms which will form a necklace and a bracelet for each pair of earrings. That's the plan ! The silver posts need to be shaped (just in case you were wondering ).

I also have a clay batch to prepare - as per my plan for yesterday. This will take most of my day.

I had a disaster with the Make Art Monday painting - TRUST. I had an idea (see yesterday for details). However, things didn't turn out well.



There should be another picture here but no upload possible.




The painting has the beginnings of my 'metaphorical footprint' ! I see the clouds and the river bank route. I also see the 'veiled' trust images I need in myself (to finish my run in the desired time).The 'cloudy' colours are reflecting feelings (in my head, anyway). But ...... I need to bring it all together and provide a clear focus for the paintings. I'm going to try and place a tree or a house in there. I will use a thin line drawing which will represent the 'safety' of a clear or home image - which can suggest success. I know this reads as a rather fanciful interpretation and a contrived selection of words but that's what my mind is telling me to do. Perhaps, the paintings will tell the story when I get it right.

Thanks for reading

More Button Bead Possibilities

Hi Everyone
It's a lovely sunny day this morning - always a huge lift to my day. The Make Art Monday theme this week is TRUST. This offers huge possibilities and Ive had lots of things passing through my mind. I'm also off on another run and will finalise my ideas when I'm out and about. I think, I will make this exercise (no pun intended !) a regular start to my week. My initial thought is to work with something 'white' - with various shades of cream and some texture. Not sure why this comes to mind but I keep coming back to it. Ive decided my TRUST element will be trusting myself ie belief and relying on my own judgement and will go with my instinct.

I will share what happens tomorrow !

I also saw this lovely necklace in the new TOAST collection



Ive had an idea to produce something similar with the 'Button' beads used in my recent earring batch.







I will take a few colours /designs and try out a few combinations to compliment the earrings. Lots of little beads are involved when making a long necklace (especially when they are double layers) and I usually avoid the small bead necklace for this reason. However, I would like to try a few examples and think the beads will look pretty as a necklace. Perhaps, I can raise my production levels !


Other news - another weekend which has gone with a blur. Not sure what we did but there was lots of running around. I feel exhausted !

Ive got a full work schedule this week. I need another batch of earring buttons to complete for an order. I learnt lots from last weeks processes. Ive got some new ideas about surface design so will try them out. I also need to get a little display shelf organised for one of my wholesale customers. I will make it a simple wooden plaque with little hooks. I want the simple wood background to support the earring card packaging without taking away their 'centre stage'.

I also have a few metal earrings to finish and pack. I will finish these first later today - will share my results later in the week.

That's about it for today.

Thanks for reading.